Na Jaane Kyon...

Chupana bhi nahi aata

When Sameer reached home, his eyes were still glazed at the realisation... and mind was a jumbled mess.

Vishakha placed a hand on his arm, "Aaj kitni der kar di tune, Sameer. Thak gaya hoga. Coffee lega ya juice banwa dun?"

Sameer nodded, "Room mein bhijwa dena. Ramdhari ko bolna strong chahiye mujhe... aur ice daal ke."

Vishakha watched with confused eyes as he went up the stairs. He hadn't answered her question. And what he said... strong was how he liked his coffee, but ice was needed in the juice. His conflicting instructions left her wondering what exactly he wanted.

"Ramdhari, Sameer ke liye achhe se ice daal ke juice bana de aur saath mein uske style ki coffee bhi. Room mein de aa. Aaj shayad zyada hi kaam kar liya hai toh dono chahiye usse... ya phir usse khud hi nahi pata kya chahiye." Vishakha instructed Ramdhari.

Nanu heard this as he came out of his room. He was equally surprised. It was unlike Sameer to be not aware of what he wanted. He had always been very clear about his choices... coffee after office and juice after evening workout. But this week, he had followed this routine only twice. As far as he could recall, Sameer had not gone without exercising for so many days at a stretch... unless he was unwell. Nanu was worried.

"Ramdhari, la yeh tray mujhe de. Sameer se baat karni hai, main uske paas hi jaa raha hun." Nanu extended his hands as Ramdhari came out of the kitchen with a steaming mug and a tall glass with condensation on its surface.

"Hum pohocha dete hain na, nanaji." He insisted.

"Arre de na. Tujhe kya lagta hai main buddha ho gaya hun jo itna sa kaam nahi kar sakta?" Nanu forcibly took the tray from him.

"Sameer ke liye toh papa aaj bhi pata nahi kya kya kar sakte hain. Kabhi kabhi lagta hai mujhse zyada woh Sameer ki mummy hain." Vishakha smiled affectionately, watching her father going towards her son's room with a determined gait.

Sameer was sitting on the edge of the bed... his gaze stuck somewhere on the wall, his shoulders slumped as his elbows rested on the legs, hands clasped together against his chin, brows knitted and mouth set in a thin line. That is how nanu found him when he entered after the knock wasn't answered.

"Kya hua, Sameer?" After placing the tray on a table, nanu touched his head lightly.

"Na... nanu! Aap... aap kab aaye?" Sameer stood up, shocked at the sudden touch and voice.

"Jab tu duniya bhar ki tension leke baitha tha. Itna bhi kya pareshan hona, Sameer. Kaam ko itna khud pe haavi mat hone de ki apna routine badalna pade. Iss hafte tune shaam ki exercise bhi nahi ki, na dhang se khaana khaya. Beta, jis problem ke liye tu tension le raha hai woh itni badi nahi hai. Zyada se zyada kya hoga... yeh stock unsold reh jayega... aur yeh main extreme case bol raha hun jiska chance naa ke barabar hai. Hum itna nuksaan utha sakte hain, Sameer. Pehli baar loss thodi hoga. Aur beta, business mein nafa nuksaan chalta rehta hai, usko iss tarah dil pe nahi lagate. Tu toh mera sher hai, pehle bhi kitni saari problems ko saath milke humne solve kiya hai, isko bhi kar lenge. Bas tu apni sehat mat kharab kar... ek saath coffee aur juice, yeh kya baat hui? Tujhe pata hai na garam thanda saath mein nahi pina chahiye." Nanu tried to alleviate his turmoil.

Sameer lowered his eyes. He didn't like the fact that he was causing such distress to nanu... and that too, with both of them being on different planes.

"Aap theek keh rahe hain, nanu. Mujhe itni tension nahi leni chahiye. Main... main theek hun. Aap chinta mat kijiye." He smiled for his grandfather's benefit.

A relieved grin spread on nanu's face, "Shabash. Mujhe pata tha tu samajh jayega. Chal ab jaldi se fresh hoke neeche aaja, dinner ka time hone wala hai."