CHHOTI SI ASHA

Hopes

Sameer climbing down the stairs in a hurry. He had a blue folder in his hand. Dressed in a yellow shirt and black jeans, the features of his face were charming as usual, but the soulful smile and living spirit of life was missing from his eyes.

It was not that early, but still early considering the stressful last day. But at one side when everyone was sleeping peacefully after a stressed day, all he had an almost sleepless night. He got up early, get ready and came downstairs to go and start his mission.

Sameer was about to leave, when suddenly he realised something. He went in kitchen, prepared her glucose water and fill in bottles, and also filled snacks in different containers. After some minutes, he was again in the room before his lifeline. He quietly kept all the things there, checked her medicines and once again ready to leave.

Suddenly, she squirmed, whined and opened her eyes. Her eyes twitched and a sweet smile curved her lips when she saw him before herself. It seems like every other day to her. She got up and he was ready to embrace her, but no, this was not exactly like any other day.

Though Sameer smiled and mumbled a good morning to her, but she could sense the gloom behind it. She saw him deeply and could clearly see the dark circles that telling her about his sleepless night, his empty eyes that even his smiling lips failed to hide. She tried to got up with a startle, when he quickly hold her and said,"aaram se Naina... Dheere se utho..."

"Sameer... Tum... Kha jaa rahe ho tum...",she got up slowly, but hold his hand tightly and asked soft but hurried.

"Don't worry... ek kaam se jaa raha hu... Tumhare snacks aur dawaiya rakh di hai, please pareshan mat hona aur khana waqt pr khana... Naina promise me ki apna pura khyal rakhogi... Ab atleast itni toh ummeed kar sakta hu naa tumse...",sameer sat beside her, hold her hands and said softly. But even if his ignorance, the resentment surfaced slightly in his tone.

Her face darkened a bit and seeing her lost smile, Sameer forced himself to remain sane and polite. He leaned slightly, kissed her forehead and said softly,"jaldi aane ki koshish karunga jaan, lekin agar der ho jaye toh khana kha lena aur sari medicines time pr lena... Waise mera mobile shuru ho gya hai toh mai tumhe call karta rahunga aur koi bhi problem ho, you can call me too..."

Here Naina too vowed not to increase his miseries more. She smiled and nodded understandably. Sameer got up to leave and even took some steps, but suddenly turned around, came to her, hugged her tightly and kissed her forehead once again, then left.

Just when, Sameer reached downstairs, the landline phone rang and seeing no one around, he picked up the call.

It was the call from his PA Natasha. She reminded him about the upcoming meeting.

"I can't come. Cancel the meeting.",he sternly replied listening to her reminder.

"No sir... I mean I can't sir... This is a very big deal and it can't be rescheduled... We will lost the deal...",she hesitantly informed him.

"Do me a favor Natasha...",he said.

His cold and stern tone set her pores jittery, but she replied with a yes.

"Set the factory and office on fire...",he said.

"What... Ye... Ye aap kya kah rahe hai sir",she was sure that she had heard something wrong, but no she wasn't.

He repeated,"yes... Bilkul thik suna tumne... Office aur factory me aag lga do, aur agar tumse nhi lagti toh don't worry, mai khud lga dunga, but don't you dare to call me again... The factory, work and office will be shut down till my next notice... Am I clear?"

There Natasha was too stunned to reply anything, but before she could gather her sanity and reply or ask something, Vishakha listened everything and reached to him in a jiffy.