Morning Singhania Mansion

(Manvi breakfast table par aati hai.)

Vanya: Good morning Collector Sahiba.

Manvi: Good morning Drama Queen.

Laksh: Aaj kis officer ki class lagne wali hai?

Manvi: Tumhari.

Laksh: Main toh ghar pe hu.

Manvi: Fir shaam ko tumse milti hu.

(Laksh ekdum seedha hokar baith jaata hai aur fake darr dikhata hai.)

Laksh: Mummy dekho na... Subah-subah hi dhamkiyan mil rahi hai.

Manvi: Dhamki nahi, warning hai.

Laksh: Aur yahi toh IAS power ka misuse hai.

Vanya: Main witness hu.

Laksh: Thank you, Vanya. Kam se kam kisi ko toh meri fikr hai.

Rajesh: Drama band karo dono.

(Sab zor se hass padte hai. )

Manvi: Fir shaam ko tumhe dekhti hu.

(Laksh turant apna glass side mein rakh deta hai.)

Laksh: Mummy, record kar lo. Collector Sahiba ne khule aam dhamki di hai.

Manvi: Abhi sirf dhamki di hai.

Laksh: Matlab shaam ko practical bhi hoga?

Vanya: Rest in peace, Laksh.

Laksh: Mere apno ne hi mera saath chhod diya.

(Sab hass padte hai.)

Subah ka mahaul hamesha ki tarah halka aur khushnuma tha. Singhania Mansion mein breakfast ka waqt aksar isi tarah hasi-mazaak mein guzarta tha aur Laksh ki wajah se har din ki shuruaat thodi aur entertaining ho hi jaati thi.

Tabhi Kavita ji breakfast serve karti hai.

Aur Manvi ke saamne baith jaati hai.

Kavita: Waise aaj jaldi ghar aa jana.

Manvi: Kyu?

Kavita: Kyuki aaj shaam guests aa rahe hai.

(Manvi suspiciously unki taraf dekhti hai.)

Kavita ji ke chehre par woh familiar expression tha jise Manvi bahut achhi tarah pehchanti thi. Aur jab bhi unke chehre par woh expression aata tha, baat aksar ek hi topic par jaakar rukti thi.

Manvi: Kaun guests?

Vanya: (dramatically)

Aur shuru ho gaya.

Laksh: Main popcorn leke aata hu.

Rajesh: Laksh.

Laksh: Sorry papa.

Kavita: Rishta wale hai.

(Manvi aankhen band karke ek gehri saans leti hai.)

Jaise woh yeh baat pehle bhi kai baar sun chuki ho. Har baar topic wahi hota tha aur har baar uska jawab bhi lagbhag wahi rehta tha.

Manvi: Mummy...

Kavita: Kya mummy?

Sirf milna hai.

Manvi: Aap har baar yahi bolti ho.

Vanya: Fair point.

Kavita: Tum chup raho.

Laksh: Main neutral hu.

Rajesh: Bilkul nahi ho.

Laksh: Papa evidence ke bina accuse mat kijiye.

(Sab hass padte hai.)

Table par phir se hasi gunj uthti hai. Vanya bhi muskura deti hai aur Rajesh ji sirf sir hila kar reh jaate hai. Lekin Manvi nahi hasti. Kavita ji ka tone sunte hi usse andaza ho gaya tha ki baat phir ussi topic par aakar rukne wali hai jisse woh har baar bachne ki koshish karti thi.

Kavita: Rishta wale aa rahe hai.

(Manvi aankhen band karke ek gehri saans leti hai.)

Manvi: Mummy...Phir se?

Kavita: Kya phir se? Sirf milna hai. Shaadi thodi karwa rahi hu.

Manvi: Aap har baar yahi bolti ho.

Vanya: Fair point.

Kavita: Tum chup raho.

Vanya: Main toh support kar rahi thi.

Laksh: Main neutral hu.

Rajesh: Is ghar mein sabse kam neutral tum ho.

Laksh: Yeh personal attack hai.

(Sab phir hass padte hai. Lekin iss baar bhi...Manvi nahi hasti. Uski smile kab ki gayab ho chuki thi. Jaise-jaise baat aage badh rahi thi, uska andaza sahi sabit ho raha tha. Yeh conversation phir ussi mod par pahunch rahi thi jahan woh kabhi jaana nahi chahti thi.

Kavita: Manu beta...Ek baar milne mein kya problem hai?

Manvi: Mummy mujhe interest nahi hai.

Kavita: Interest kab hoga?

Manvi: Pata nahi.

Kavita: Har baar yahi jawab.

(Manvi chup rehti hai.)

Uske paas jawab tha bhi ya nahi, shayad usse khud nahi pata tha. Pichle do saalon mein usne apni poori zindagi ka focus sirf kaam par rakh diya tha. Files, meetings aur responsibilities ke beech usne khud ko itna busy kar liya tha ki personal life ke liye jagah hi nahi bachi.Ya shayad...Woh jagah kisi aur ne kab ka tod di thi.

Kavita: Kab tak apne aap ko kaam mein busy rakhegi? Kab tak?

(Room mein dheere dheere silence chha jaata hai.)

Ab kisi ke paas mazaak karne ke liye kuch nahi tha.

Vanya: Maa...

Kavita: Nahi Vanya. Aaj mujhe baat karne do.

(Kavita ji ki awaaz ab pehle se zyada soft ho jaati hai.)

Woh gussa nahi thi. Unki awaaz mein sirf ek maa ki bechaini thi jo apni beti ko khush dekhna chahti thi. Unhe Manvi ki success par garv tha, lekin ek maa hone ke nate woh uske chehre ke peeche chhupi tanhaayi bhi dekh leti thi.

Kavita: Mujhe bas apni beti ki fikr hai. Baaki sabki zindagi aage badh rahi hai.Lekin tum...Tum wahi ruk gayi ho.

Manvi ki grip spoon par thodi tight ho jaati hai.Uska chehra ab bhi shaant tha, lekin Kavita ji ki baatein usse affect kar rahi thi. Sameer ka naam liye bina bhi baat wahi pahunch rahi thi jahan se woh saalon se bhaag rahi thi.

Manvi: Maa please.

Uski awaaz dheemi thi. Usme gusse se zyada thakan thi, jaise woh yeh conversation aur aage badhana hi nahi chahti ho.

Kavita: Main sirf itna keh rahi hu...Har ladka S nahi hota.

(Room ekdum silent ho jaata hai.)

Sameer ka naam aate hi Vanya aur Laksh bhi chup ho jaate hai. Woh jaante the ki yeh sirf ek naam nahi tha. Yeh Manvi ke uss daur ki yaad tha jiske baare mein ghar mein koi baat nahi karta tha.

Manvi: Maa...

Uski awaaz pehle se bhi zyada dheemi thi.

Rajesh: Kavita bas.

(Rajesh ji ki awaaz shaant thi.)

Lekin usme ek warning bhi thi. Woh jaante the ki yeh topic Manvi ke liye kitna sensitive hai.

(Kavita ji chup ho jaati hai. Lekin jo baat kehni thi... Woh keh chuki thi. Manvi dheere se khadi hoti hai.)

Manvi: Mujhe office ke liye late ho raha hai.

Aur bina breakfast complete kiye...Woh waha se chali jaati hai. Sab usse jaate hue dekhte rehte hai.Lekin koi usse rokta nahi. Kyuki sab jaante the ki jab bhi Sameer ka naam aata tha, Manvi apne aas-paas ek deewar khadi kar leti thi.Kavita ji usse jaate hue dekhti rehti hai.Unki aankhon mein narazgi nahi thi, sirf fikr thi.

Vanya: Maa...

Aapko pata hai na di ko ye topic pasand nahi.

Kavita: Mujhe bas apni beti ko khush dekhna hai.

Rajesh: Aur woh khush hogi. Jab usse lagega ki woh ready hai.

Kavita dheere se sigh karti hai.Rajesh ki baat sunkar woh kuch nahi bolti. Unki nazar ab bhi uss darwaze par tiki thi jahan se kuch der pehle Manvi gayi thi. Woh jaanti thi ki unki beti strong hai, successful hai aur apne faisle khud le sakti hai. Lekin woh uski maa bhi thi. Aur maa ki nazar aksar woh udaasi dekh leti hai jo baaki duniya se chhup jaati hai. Isi liye shayad... Manvi ka intezaar karna unke liye itna mushkil tha.

Evening Malhotra Mansion

Ashutosh finally ghar pahunchta hai.

Poora din meetings, presentations aur calls mein nikal gaya tha. Jab tak woh mansion pahunchta, shaam kaafi ho chuki thi. Sach kaha jaaye toh usse khud yaad nahi tha ki aakhri baar woh itni jaldi ghar kab aaya tha.

Jaise hi woh living room mein enter karta hai, sofa par baithe Aarush ki nazar us par pad jaati hai.

Aarush: Mom! Breaking news! Bhai ghar aa gaye.

Naina ji turant living room mein aa jaati hai.

Naina: Sach mein? Mujhe laga aaj bhi office mein hi rehne wale ho.

Ashutosh: Mom...

Aarush: Mom aap galat ho.

Naina: Accha?

Aarush: Bhai office mein nahi rehte. Office bhai mein rehta hai.

Ek second ke liye poora room silent ho jaata hai.

Phir Naina ji zor se hass padti hai.

Naina: Bilkul sahi kaha.

Ashutosh bas dono ko dekhta rehta hai. Poore din log uski presentations aur decisions ko seriously lete the, lekin ghar aakar usse koi seriously nahi leta tha. Aur ajeeb baat yeh thi ki usse isse problem bhi nahi thi.

Naina: Chalo. Seedha dinner table. No excuses.

Ashutosh: Mom important files—

Naina: Nahi.

Ashutosh: Bas do minute—

Naina: Bilkul nahi.

Ashutosh: Five minutes.

Naina: Zero minutes.

Aarush dramatic expression ke saath sir hilata hai.

Aarush: Bhai surrender kar do. Maa ke against Supreme Court bhi case nahi jeet sakta.

Aarush ki baat sunkar Naina ji phir hass padti hai. Ashutosh bhi usse dekhta rehta hai aur phir uske honton par halki si smile aa jaati hai. Ek chhoti si smile jo office mein shayad hi kisi ne kabhi dekhi ho.

Dinner Table

Poora Malhotra family dinner ke liye baitha hua tha. Yeh din ka woh waqt tha jab Naina ji kisi bhi haal mein sabko ek saath table par dekhna pasand karti thi.Aur Ashutosh ko andaza tha... Aaj ka topic kya hone wala hai.

Naina: Waise ek baat karni thi.

Ashutosh: Mom...

Naina: Maine abhi start bhi nahi kiya.

Aarush: Bhai ko pehle se pata hai.

Vikram: Mujhe bhi.

Ashutosh: Great. Main hi nahi jaanta.

Naina: Shaadi.

Aarush: Called it.

Ashutosh bas aankhen band karke sir hila deta hai. Jaise usse pehle se pata ho ki yeh conversation exactly kis direction mein jaane wali hai.

Naina: Tum 28 ke ho gaye ho.

Ashutosh: Aur?

Naina: Aur mujhe bahu chahiye.

Ashutosh: Mujhe nahi chahiye.

Naina: Tumse pooch nahi rahi.

Aarush paani peete hue almost choke kar deta hai.

Aarush: Emotional damage.

Vikram: Score?

Aarush: Mom - 105. Bhai - 0.

Iss baar Vikram ji bhi muskura dete hai. Ashutosh ki shaadi ka topic ghar mein utna hi common tha jitna company ki quarterly reports.

Naina: Ek baar mil toh lo kisi se.

Ashutosh: Time nahi hai.

Aarush: Haan. Bhai ka first love quarterly reports hai.

Vikram: Second love meetings.

Naina: Third love laptop.

Aarush: Fourth love spreadsheets.

Ashutosh: Tum log khana kha rahe ho ya stand-up comedy kar rahe ho?

Aarush: Dono. Multitasking.

Sab phir hass padte hai.Kaafi dino baad ghar ka mahaul itna halka lag raha tha. Aur shayad isi wajah se Ashutosh bhi normal se zyada relaxed lag raha tha.

Naina: Beta mazaak apni jagah hai. Lekin main serious hu. Ek baar mil toh lo kisi se.

Naina ji ki awaaz is baar pehle jaisi teasing wali nahi thi. Unki baat mein ek maa ki fikr thi. Woh chahti thi ki unka beta sirf successful hi nahi, khush bhi rahe.

Ashutosh: Mom... mere paas sach mein time nahi hai.

Naina: Time nahi hai ya mann nahi hai?

Iss baar Ashutosh jawab nahi deta.Kuch seconds ke liye table par khamoshi chha jaati hai.Kyuki is sawaal ka jawab shayad uske paas bhi nahi tha.

Tabhi...

Uska phone vibrate karta hai.

Normally dinner ke waqt woh calls aur messages ignore kar deta tha.

Lekin iss baar screen par jo message flash hua...

Usne uska poora expression badal diya.

Unknown Number

"She's asking questions."

Kuch seconds tak Ashutosh screen ko dekhta rehta hai.Bas teen words the.Lekin un teen words ne uska poora mood change kar diya.Chehre par maujood halki si smile gayab ho jaati hai.Aur uski jagah wohi familiar seriousness laut aati hai jo normally sirf board meetings mein dikhti thi.

Naina: Kya hua?

Ashutosh: Nothing.

Woh phone pocket mein rakh deta hai. Lekin iss baar...Woh dinner complete nahi karta.Seedha study room ki taraf chala jaata hai.Sab usse jaate hue dekhte rehte hai.

Aarush: Ye gaya.

Naina: Kuch toh baat hai.

Naina ji ki aankhon mein confusion saaf nazar aa raha tha. Kuch pal pehle tak jo beta family ke saath baitha hass raha tha, woh achanak itna serious kyun ho gaya tha? Vikram ji, jo ab tak chup the, dheere se bolte hai—

Vikram: Aur mujhe lagta hai... Ye business se related nahi hai.Room mein phir khamoshi chha jaati hai.Kyuki Vikram Malhotra ko apne bete ko padhne ki aadat thi.Aur unhe mehsoos ho raha tha...Ki baat sirf business ki nahi thi.

Aur shayad... kuch or.................

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

To be continued.

Thank you for reading Chapter 2! ✨

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