Two years later....

'Baba! Bachao!'

Rohit lifted his head, as Mishaye came running towards him, followed by Arihaan on her heels.

'Nahin chorrunga! Mishaye ki bachi!'

'Aray, aray! Dekh ke!'
Rohit quickly put down his papers, and caught his daughter to him.
'Kya hogaya?'

'Baba! Bhaiya maar raha hai!'
Mishaye buried herself in Rohit's arms.

'Jhooti! Dramebaaz!'
Arihaan stood with his hands fisted on his waist, in a defensive pose.

'Koi mujhe batayega bhi ke hua kya hai?'
Rohit took off his reading glasses with one hand, and put them aside, while pulling  Mishaye in his lap, with the other.

'Baba! Mishaye ne meri favourite car torr di!'
Arihaan looked upset.

'Mishaye! Is this true? Aap ne Bhaiya ki car torri hai?'

Mishaye buried herself in her father's chest.
'Maine to bas Bhaiya ko di thi..'

'Phenk ke? She threw it, Baba!'
Arihaan made a face.

'Mishaye!'
Rohit looked down at his daughter, who looked up at him with innocent eyes.

'But, Baba! Bhaiya ne khud bola meri car de do! To maine de di..he just didn't catch it!'
She shrugged her little shoulders, and Rohit stifled a chuckle.

'I said give it, not throw it!'
Arihaan frowned heavily.

'Chalo, bas! Bas!'
Rohit straightened up.
'Arihaan! Baba aap ko new car la denge..'

'But woh meri favourite thi!'
Arihaan looked on the verge of tears now, his voice shaky.

'Han, to bilkul waisi hi la dunga! Pakka! Come here!'
Rohit gestured to him, and Arihaan came.
Rohit hugged him with his free hand.
'Mera monkey to big boy hai na!'
Arihaan nodded.
'Or Mishaye..'
He turned to his daughter.
'Aap ne car torri, bura kiya na..'
Mishaye nodded several times.
'To phir aap kya bolengi?'

'Sorry, Bhaiya!'
Mishaye looked guilty now, and looked up at her brother.

'It's okay! Just don't do it again!'

'Okay, Bhaiya! Friends?'
She extended her right hand, which, as Rohit looked on, Arihaan took and shook.

'Friends!'

'But, Baba! Bhaiya ki new car ayegi to Mishaye ke liye kya ayega?'

Rohit laughed at that.
'Acha! Yeh baat hai! Kya chahiye meri precious ko?'

Her face immediately lit up.
'I want a doll, a Barbie doll!'

'Oh, ho! Okay! Baba will get my doll a doll for herself!'

'Yay! You are the bestest, Baba!'
She turned his head to give him a resounding kiss on his cheek.
Rohit smiled, and kissed her back.

'Mera kissie kahan hai?'
Arihaan asked, seeing what was going on.

'Aray! Mere monkey ka bhi kissie hai na!'
Rohit quickly kissed his son, satisfying him.
'I love you both, so much!'
Rohit hugged his children to him, trying to keep his emotions in check.

It had been two years and a couple of months, since the accident, and Sonakshi going into coma.
Days of hoping, praying, and sitting by her side, had turned into months, and then years, but still Rohit held on to that tiny ray of hope that told him, that Sonakshi will come back.

'Bhaiya! Bhook lagi hai!'
Mishaye looked at her brother.

'Mujhe bhi! Neechay chalte hain. Dadi ne chilli noodles banayi hain..meri or Mama ki favourite!'

'Mishaye ki bhi!'
Mishaye struggled out of Rohit's lap, and so did Arihaan.

'Baba! Hum jaate hain..'

'Hunh?'
Rohit had been lost in his thoughts, and had only heard them half attentively.
'Han, sure! Go!'

'Okay, bye Baba! See you later! Alligator!'
They both left, giggling together, as if they had never never come in fighting before.

Rohit gave a small smile, and shook his head at his children's antics.
He put on his glasses, and picked up his script.

Our children are as wonderful as you, Sona! I wish you were here..to help me raise them..I need you..

***************************

'Rohit!'

Rohit, on his way up the stairs, stopped at being called by his father.
'Ji, Papa!'

'Mujhe tum se kuch zaroori baat karni hai! Do minute hain tumhare paas?'

The slight innuendo was not lost on Rohit, because he knew his parents were not at all happy with him. According to them, he didn't give anyone, except his children, any of his time.

'Kya baat hai? Woh, Mishaye or Arihaan..'

'Dono Soham ke saath khel rahe hain..nanny hai un ke paas..'
Naren made a face.

Rohit turned back around from the stairs, and went to the living room, where Naren had been watching a cricket match.
'Okay, theek hai! Bolain..'
Rohit sat down on the sofa next to him.

'How's the shoots going?'
Naren began, shutting off the television with a flick of the remote.

'Fine!'

'Dono jagah itne busy ho..'

'I'm managing..'
Rohit's voice was a bit short, and Naren noticed.

'Aise kyun baat kar rahe ho? Hum ne kiya kya hai aakhir? Waqt tumhare paas nahin hai hamare liye..'

'Is there a point to this conversation? Because I need to go see my children..'

'To tum bhi to mere or Veena ke kuch lagte ho na! Hamare bete ho! Ab hum tumhari fikr nahin karenge to kon karega?'
Naren frowned heavily.

'Papa! Aap jaante to hain sab..'
Rohit sighed, knowing his father would shower the taunts unless he sat and listened to whatever he had to say.

'Han! Sab jaanta hun! Ke saara saara din ghar se bahar rehte ho..kabhi kaam ke liye, or kabhi hospital ke liye..'

'So? Kaam to karna hi hai..'

'Aray! I'm not saying that..'

'Then what are you saying? Bol bhi den..'

'I just meant ke you need to stop trying to manage it all..apna haal to dekho..'

'Kya hua mere haal ko?'
Rohit looked down at himself.
'Zinda hun, theek hun..'

'Rohit!'

'Kya, Papa! You know I have to complete my movie commitments..show chorrne ka soch raha hun..and the kids and Sona..'

'Yehi baat karni thi tum se..'
Naren looked a bit hesitant now, and Rohit frowned.

'Kya baat hai?'

'Woh..mein..'

'Papa..'

'Humain..matlab tumhari Mom or mujhe aisa lagta hai ke tum khud ko bohot zyada push kar rahe ho. Trying to manage work, the children..'

'Sona..uss ka zikr nahin kiya aap ne..'

'Woh mein..karne hi wala tha..'
Naren swallowed.

'Kahan..aap log to usse bhool hi gaye hain..koi bhi zikr nahin karta uss ka ghar mein!'
Rohit was getting upset now.

'Aisa nahin hai..'

'Phir kaisa hai! Agar mein har waqt Mishaye or Arihaan ko uss ke baare mein batata na rahun, to aap log to un ke dil se bhi un ki maa ko nikaal den..'

'Rohit! Yeh zyada hogaya..'

'Kahan zyada..it's the truth! Kher, aap ko baat kya karni thi? Jaldi bata den, phir dono bachon ke sonay ka time hojayega..I won't get time to spend with them..'
Rohit glanced at his watch, looking a bit impatient now.

'Woh, baat yeh hai..mein or Mom ko lagta hai..'
He hesitated again.

'Ke..'

'Tumhe doosri shadi kar leni chahiye!'
Naren said quickly, and Rohit became still.

He suddenly got up, and made to leave.

'Rohit! Ruko..'

Rohit turned back, his eyes furious.

'Kuch to bolo..'

'Aap ne jo kaha..uss ke baad kuch kehne ko bacha nahin hai!'
Rohit bit out every word separately.

'Hum to tumhare liye..bachon ke liye bol..'
Naren had stood up now too.

Rohit ran a hand through his hair in frustration.
'Meri Sona abhi zinda hai! She's not dead, God forbid, ke aap log usse jhutlaa den!'

'Rohit! Calm down! Meri baat to suno..'
Naren tried to put a hand on his shoulder, but Rohit jerked it off.

'Kya sunun? Or kyun sunun? I have a wife..I don't need or want another!'

'Lekin, Rohit..'

'Kya, Rohit! Yeh Rohit aap ka aaj tak saansen le raha hai, zinda hai, to sirf apni Sona ki khaatir! Warna mein kab ka mar chuka hota!'

'Rohit!'
Naren shouted.

'Kya? Aisi baat bolne se to kya, sochne se bhi pehle aap ko khayal nahin aaya! Ke kya keh rahe hain! Meri Sona zinda hai! She's alive!'

'Lekin woh un mein shaamil nahin hai! Uss ki zindagi standstill pe agayi hai, to tumhe to jeenay ka haq hai!'

'Mein jee raha hun to sirf apne bachon ke liye! They need me..'

'They also need a mother figure..'

'To Mom hain, un ki Nano hain, Pari hai! Or mein unse maa baap dono ka pyaar karta hun..'

'It's just not the same thing, Rohit..'

'Stop it!'
Rohit put his hands over both his ears.
'Mujhe or nahin sun na!'

'Sun na parega! Tum woh Rohit to nahin rahe jo pehle hua karte thay! Kisi ke liye bhi waqt nahin hai tumhare paas! Jo zara time milta hai shoot se, saara wahan hospital mein Sonakshi ke paas beth ke guzaar dete ho! Raat ko aate ho, to bachon ke paas, un ke saath..'

'To? Unko mein akela nahin chorr sakta! Na hi mein unhe un ki maa se alag karunga..'

'Maa to maa hoti hai! Woh to hamesha rahegi! Lekin tumhe bhi yeh zindagi guzaarni hai, aise akele sab handle kaise..'

'Jaise karta aaya hun! Aagay bhi karlunga!'
Rohit pointed his finger at his father.
'Lekin ainda aap mujh se yeh baat nahin karenge..'
Rohit was so angry, that tears began to stream down his face.

'Hum to tumhara bhala..'

'Kya bhala hai iss mein mera? Mein Sona ke ilawa kisi or ke baare mein soch bhi nahin sakta, and you..you are saying doosri shadi..no, no! How can you even..'

'Ek baar thanday dimaagh se socho to..'

'NO! Mein aisa kuch nahin karne wala! And don't even think that I will..'
Rohit strode towards the main door.

'Rohit! Kahan ja rahe ho?'

'Aap or aap ki soch se door!'
Rohit kept walking.

'Ruko to! Bachay..'

'Nanny ko bol dena ke aaj mujhe late hojayega! Unhe sula den..'
He opened the door.

'Rohit, I'm sorry..baat to suno..'
Naren called out, but flinched, as Rohit left, slamming the door shut behind him.

***************************

HOW COULD HE?

Papa aisa kaise bol sakte hain! Aisa kaise soch sakte hain?
Mein..Sona ko bhool jaun..no..NEVER!
Or shadi? Uss se pehle to mein marna pasand karunga..

Rohit strode into Sonakshi's room, and was met by the reassuring sound of her monitors.

'Sona!'
He sat down next to the bed, and lifted her lifeless hand.
'Sona!'
His tears fell unheeded.
'Please, bohot hogaya ab..wapas ajao..'

Rohit always tried to be normal in front of the children, his parents, but here, with Sonakshi, he always broke down, baring his heart and soul to her.
For the past two years, he had sat here everyday, talking to her, telling her each and everything, like writing it all in a diary.
This was where he found the most peace..being able to see her, feel her breathing, know that her heart was beating..

'I need you! So much! Now more than ever!'
Rohit cried, sniffing.
'Tumhe pata hai abhi kya hua? You won't believe it if I told you!'
Rohit squeezed her hand in his, and put his head down on the bed beside her.
'Sona! Pehle se hi akela parr gaya tha mein..magar ab koi bhi mere saath nahin hai! No one!'
He shook his head.
'Do saal! Do saal maine kaise guzaare hain, sirf mein hi jaanta hun! Tumhara intezar kiya hai, hamare bachon ko sambhaala hai, unhe tumhari kami mehsoos na ho, to jitna ban saka mujh se maine kiya! Magar aaj yeh sab sun ke..mujhe bohot ghussa araha hai!'
He lifted his head again to look at her.
'Mein tumhe bhool jaun? Doosri..'
He stopped, hesitating, as if Sonakshi would get angry when he told her.
'Pata hai abhi Papa ne mujhse kya kaha? He thinks hamare bachon ko mein theek se pyaar or care nahin de pa raha..magar, Sona..you know that I'm giving my two hundred percent! I leave myself no time to think or do anything else!'
He wiped his tears from his face.
'Tum..tum to samajhti ho na mujhe! Tum jaanti ho ke mein tumhare ilawa..'
He paused.
'Papa ne mujh se bola..mujhe to bolne mein bhi guilty feel ho raha hai! He said mein doosri shadi kar lun!'
He paused, as if waiting for Sonakshi to burst out furiously.
But she just lay there, no response from her side.
'Mein tumhare ilawa kisi ke baare mein soch bhi nahin sakta, much less marry! Aisa kaise bol sakte hain Papa! Or to or, he said Mom bhi yehi chahti hain! Har waqt shikayat karte thay ke mein busy rehta hun, time nahin deta..or aaj yeh bomb phorr diya mere sar pe!'
Rohit suddenly couldn't sit any longer, and started pacing the floor near her bed.
'Mujhe kuch or soojha nahin, seedha tumhe batane agaya!'
He stopped, and came back to stand near her again.
'I'm sorry, Sona! I'm so sorry! Magar tum pareshan mat hona! Mein aisa kuch na karne wala hun, na kabhi aisa kuch hoga! Rohit sirf Sonakshi ka hai, or Sonakshi sirf Rohit ki!'
Rohit said with some force in his voice.

His phone rang.
It was his mother. He left it ringing at first, but when it didn't stop, he had to pick it up.

'Kya hai, Mom! Maine bola tha na..'

'Rohit! Kahan ho tum?'

'Kya hai, Mom!'
Rohit's tone didn't leave any opening for proper conversation.

'Mishaye bohot ro rahi hai! Bol rahi hai mein Baba ke bina nahin soungi!'

'Oh..'

'Jaldi wapas ghar ajao tum..'
Veena didn't wait for his reply, and cut the call, leaving Rohit looking at his phone.

'Kamaal hai! Ghussa kar ke mein aaya hun, lekin aise bol rahi hain jaise maine koi ghalti ki hai!'
Rohit put his phone in his pocket, and turned to Sonakshi.
'Sona! Abhi mein jaata hun..subah aaunga milne..'
He leaned over and kissed her forehead, before straightening back up.
'I love you..more than you know..'
Glancing at her one more time from the door, his expression sad, he turned and left the room quietly.

He left, and five minutes later, the room suddenly became alive.

The monitor beeped in protest, as if calling Rohit back.
And astonishingly, there was movement from the woman lying there, as a hand lifted from the bed, trembling and slow...

To be continued..