{PLEASE IGNORE THE SPELLING AND THE GRAMMAR MISTAKES}

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There was a small yet beautiful apartment. Anubhav was combing his hair standing in front of the mirror while humming in his melodious tone in the hall. Karishma was beside him ironing his coat. Santu was also there packing his bag. And Pushpa ji came there with five plates of breakfast. 

Pushpa ji said, " Chalo bachcho aa jaao... Nashta taiyyar hain."

Santu came near her and looked at the breakfast. She complained in a childish tone, "Yeh kya Maa, aapne phir se poha bana diya. Maine aapse kaha tha naa ki mujhe upma khana hain..." 

Before Pushpa ji could answer, Karishma replied in a jolly and naughty mood, "Arey Santu, aaj toh bhai sab kuch ghar ke Raajkumar ke pasand ka banega. Hum dono ka kya hain...? Humare baare mein sochta hi kaun hain?" 

She was done with ironing Anubhav's coat. He looked at her. He went to her and held her ear. She hissed in pain.

He said, "Bahut bolne lag gayi aap, behna. Sudhar jaayiye. Aisi kainchi jaisi jabaan rakhengi naa toh koi aapse shaadi nahi karega. Aur hum aapko poore jeevan bhar humare saath yanha nahi rakh sakte. Iss liye thoda sa komal aur pyaara bartav kijiye."

"Aaa... Bhaiyya chhodiye naa... Dard ho raha hain hume... Aur kya aap baar baar hume shaadi ki dhamki dete hain... Maa samjhao naa inhe..." Karishma made a cute tone.

Anubhav laughed and left her ear. Santu said, "Aapko kya lagta hain, Karishma di, Maa bhaiyya ko samjhayengi?  Nahi... Hum dono ki toh kisi ko padi hi nahi hain. Woh apne laadle ka hi saath dengi. Hamesha ki tarah"

Anubhav smiled and said, "Wah! Maa, humare vidyalay ke paas ek natakshaala (theater) hain. Hum soch rahe the in dono ka dakhala wanha kara deta hain. Waise bhi din bhar nautanki ke alawa kuch karti toh hain nahi yeh dono..."

"Bhaiyya...." KariTosh became angry.

Pushpa ji said loudly, "Offo... band karo yeh ladna jhagadna... Subah hui nahi ki teeno ke teeno shuru ho jaate ho. Bachche nahi rahe ab tum log. Bade ho gaye ho. Kuch lihaz karo..."

"Inhe samjhayiye..." the trio of siblings said in a union pointing to each other.

"Chup raho abhi..." Pushpa ji raised her voice and then, said calmly, "Abhi chupchaap nashta karlo. Aaj Anu ke pasand ka nashta banaya hain, kal tumhari pasand ka banayenge Santu. Aur parso Karishma ka. Ab khush?" 

Santu smiled while Karishma said, "Arey, humara number itna last kyun? Bhaiyya ke baad hum paida hue the naa... Iss liye kal humari pasand ka nashta ban-na chahiye. Phir uske baad Santu ka! Yeh toh correct order hain."

Santu made a face, "This is not fair, di. Main sabse chhoti hoon toh mujhe zyada pamper karna chahiye. Kal humari hi pasand ka nashta banega. Aapka favourite nashta parso banega. And that's it!"

"Aise kaise parso banega? Kal banega" They both started to argue. Pushpa ji sighed. Anubhav smiled, sat on the plastic chair, and started eating. He said, "Jaldi se nashta kar lijiye. Warna aap dono ke hisse ka hum hi kha jaayenge."

KariTosh looked at him and then too sat on the plastic chairs beside him. They took their plates. 

Santu asked him, "Waise bhaiyya, aapke woh judwa bhai nahi aaye abhi tak..."

"Tumne pookara aur hum chale aaye... Jaan hateli par le aaye re..." Neil entered singing this song. He sat beside them on a chair. Pushpa ji gave him a plate of breakfast.

Karishma smiled while Santu made a weird face. She said, "Neil bhaiyya, aap yeh gaane ka kaam Anu bhaiyya par chhod do please... Badi meharbaani hogi aapki." 

"Haan haan udaa lijiye humara mazak. Thik hain, maante hain ki Anu jaisa nahi gaa sakte hum. Par aap bhi ek baat jaan lijiye, aapke Anu bhaiyya bhi humare jaisi acting nahi kar sakte. Sab fida hai hum par. Pata hain, humari performance dekhkar ladkiyon ne khoon se email karna shuru kar diya hain hume..."

"Khoon se email...????" Anubhav, Karishma, Santosh, and Pushpa ji looked at him. 

He passed a hopeless smile and said, "Woh aaj ke date mein khat kaun likhta hain? Iss liye bol diya. Arey aap log emotions ko samjho naa yaar... I mean humari acting dekhkar sab hum par marte hain. Aap jaante nahi ki hume sab kitna pasand karte hain... khaskar ki ladkiyan..." 

"Hehehe..." Santu showed her tongue to him.

Pushpa ji said, "Arey bas bhi karo tum sab. Na mauka dekhte ho na waqt, bas kabhi bhi shuru ho jaate ho."

Anubhav finished his breakfast and put his plate on the small table before him. He wore the coat which Karishma had ironed some minutes ago. He took his bag. 

Everyone had finished their breakfast. Anubhav went to Pushpa ji and hugged her. 

He said, "Aaj humare liye bahut bada din hain. Aaj vidyalaya mein bahut prasiddh aur bade bade sangeetkaar aane wale hain. Aashirvaad dijiye ki hum apna rangmanch karya-sampadan achchhe se kare jisse woh khush ho jaaye..."

"Kya achchhe sw kare?" Neil, Karishma, and Santu asked while making confused faces.

Anubhav looked at them and replied, "Stage performance!"

They again made faces. Anubhav again looked at Maa and added, "Maa, waise toh humne isse pehle bhi kayi baar sabke saamne manch par gaaya hain parantu pata nahi kyun aaj alag lag raha hain. Satya kahe toh hum thoda sa chintit bhi hain.

Pushpa ji smiled and cupped his face, "Anu, tum kha ma kha tension le rahe ho. Hume poora bharosa hain ki tum bahut achchha gaaoge unn sabke saamne. Aur iske aage aur bhi bahut mauke milenge tumhe. Aur dekh lena tum ek din bahut bade gaayak aur sangeetkaar banoge."

Anubhav smiled and Neil complained making a cute pout, "Saare aashirvaad inhe hi dengi aap? Humari toh kisi ko padi hi nahi." 

Pushpa ji pulled his ear and said, "Nautanki ki nautanki hi rehna hain tumne. Aur suno, tum bhi ek din bahut bade abhineta banoga. Aur aaj ke tumhare play bhi mein bahut achchha karoge."

"Sach?" he showed his 32 teeth.

"Much!" Pushpa smiled.

Then, Anubhav said, "Achchha, ab hum dono chalte hain. Behna, aap samay par aa jaana. Hum thoda jaldi jaayenge kyun ki hume thoda sa purvabhyas (rehearsal) bhi karna hain wanha... Aur chutki, aap toh nahi aa paayengi apne abhyas ke kaaran..."

"Haan bhaiyya... Agar hume exams ki taiyyari nahi karni hoti naa toh main zaroor aati..." Santu felt sad. 

Anubhav cupped her cheek in his right palm, "Koi baat nahi, Chutki. Aap apne abhyas par dhyaan dijiye."

Neil and Anubhav were ready to go when KariTosh excitedly said, "All the best to  both of you."

They smiled and left.

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Santu was studying sitting in the hall. She went to her room to take a book. She found her book on her bed. She was about to pick up the book when her eyes fell on two things which were on the floor. Her eyes widened in shock. 

She picked them up and said, "Oh no... Maine bhaiyya ke bag mein unka flute or mouth-organ toh daala hi nahi. Mere dhyaan mein kaise nahi raha. Uff... Bhaiyya ko toh yeh do instruments toh chahiye hi chahiye hi chahiye apni performance ke liye."

She ran to Pushpa ji who was busy cleaning the dishes.

Santu said impatiently, "Maa... Mujhse ek bahut badi galti ho gayi hain..."

Pushpa ji looked at her and asked, "Kya bol rahi ho tum, Santu?" 

"Maa, yeh dekhiye... Main bhaiyya ke bag mein unki bansuri aur yeh mouth-organ toh daalna hi bhool gayi. Bhaiyya ki performances ke liye yeh bahut zaroori hain. Inhone issi se itne dino tak taiyyari ki thi. Di bhi thodi der pehle apni saheli yanha chali gayi. Woh toh wanhi se direct college jaayegi. Warna yeh unhi ke haaton se bhijwa dete."

"Santu, tum bhi naa... Itni chhoti si baat ke liye itna tension kyun le rahi ho? Anu ke aur bhi toh saathi hain college mein. Unn mein se kisi ke paas se le lega woh. Kisi na kisi ke paas toh mil hi jaayenge."

"Nahi Maa... Bhaiyya ne hume bataya tha ki sirf woh akele hain jo yeh classical performance de rahe hain. In fact, unhone yeh bhi kaha tha ki poore college mein koi bhi nahi jo in instruments mein interest rakhte ho. Aur woh kitni mehnat kar rahe the iske liye. Bhaiyya unn musicians chief guests ke saamne apne talent ko iss liye dikhana chahte hain ki kya pata unhe bhi koi chance mil jaaye ya phir kuch guidance hi sahi."

"Toh ab...?" Pushpa ji got tensed. 

Santu replied, "Mujhe abhi ke abhi bhaiyye ke college ke liye nikalna hoga. Unka performance shuru hone mein thoda time toh hoga. Main jhatt se dekar aaungi."

"Thik hain, beta. Sambhal ke jaane."

"Hmm..." Santu left in a hurry.

"Phir uske baad jo hua, uss cheez ne hum sabki zindagi jaise badalkar rakh di..." Pushpa blankly says to Haseena recalling those days. Her eyes are wet. Even Haseena's heart is beating abnormally. 

"Aisa kya hua tha, aunty?" Haseena questions with a strange fear. 

Tears start to flow in Pushpa ji's eyes and she says, "Santu ke ghar se jaane ke baad ekad ghante baad hume Neil ka phone aaya ki Santu ko kuch hua hain aur woh sab haspatal mein hain. Hum daude daude haspatal pahunche. Tab...."

Pushpa ji runningly came to the hospital. After a few minutes of searching, she found Neil, Anubhav, and Karishma standing in front of a room. Karishma was crying vigorously and Anubhav was consoling her. Neil was walking here and there in tension. 

Pushpa ran to them and asked holding Anubhav's arms, "Anu... Anu kya hua Santu ko? Aise hume yanha kyun bulaya tum logon ne? Phone par poori baat bhi nahi batayi... Santu toh tujhe tere sangeet ke saaman dene aayi thi. Phir woh yanha..."

Anubhav was looking at her with wet eyes. He remained silent. 

She asked in a bit loud voice, "Tum bolte kyun nahi? Kya hua hain humari bachchi ko? Kuch toh bolo..." 

Neil held her hand and said, "Maa, shant jo jaayiye."

"Kaise shant ho jaaye hum, Neil!? Humari bachchi wanha andar hain aur tum mein se koi bata bhi nahi raha hain ki kya hua hain usse? Kuch to batao..."

A tear dropped from Neil's eyes and he replied, "Kya hua hain yeh toh hum bhi thik se nahi jaante, Maa. Hum apne ek dost se phone par baat karne ke liye college ke pichhe wale area mein aaye kyun ki fuction ke wajah se poore college mein shor sharaba tha. Tab humne dekha ki do ladke Santu ko ped se bandh kar kuch karna chah rahe the. Hume dekhte hi woh dono wanha se bhaag gaye. Hum bhage bhage Santu ke paas gaye toh dekha ki woh behosh ho chuki thi aur unke muh se jhaag bhi aa raha tha aur safed safed powder jaisa bhi kuch. Hume kuch sujha nahi aur unhe uthakar college ke andar lekar gaye. Phir hum, Anu ne aur Karishma jaldi se unhe hospital le aaye!"

Pushpa ji was in shock. Who were those demons? What had her innocent girl damaged theirs that they did this to her?  

She asked with great difficulty, "K...ya k...kiya unn dono ne Santu ke s...s...saath?"

Her heart was beating with the speed of a bullet train. This was a very difficult and brutal time for her. Being a mother, only she knew what her state was!

"Main batata hoon ki kya hua wanha...?  A young boy nearly 19 or 20 came there with hanging a bag on his back. 

They all looked at him. His face was pale and his eyes were showing a rare kind of emotion. 

Anubhav asked him, "Kaun hain aap? Aur aapko kaise pata ki humare behan ke saath kya hua? Aur kya aapko unn dono ladko ke baare mein bhi pata hain? Kripiya karke jaldi batayiye..."

The boy looked at him and answered politely, "Bhai, mera naam Naveen hain. Main B.Sc. first year ka student hoon. College ke poorane wale jo gate hain, jo aajkal sunsaan rehta hain par abhi bhi wanha se college mein entry ho sakti hain, main wanhi paas mein baitha tha padhne ke liye. Kyun ki function ke wajah se poore college mein shor-sharaba chal raha tha."

He took a small pause and continued, "Tab maine dekha ki aapki behan wanha se andar aa rahi thi. Mujhe laga ki woh shayad nayi hain jo yanha se entry le rahi hain. Unhone mujh par dhyaan nahi diya. Woh thodi si confused bhi lag rahi thi. Iss liye main unke madad ke liye unke pichhe chala gaya. Maine ek do baar unko aawaz bhi lagayi par shayad woh kisi tension mein thi jo meri suni nahi. Woh galat direction mein jaa rahi thi. Iss liye main unke pichhe gaya unki madad karne ke intention se. Maine dekha ki woh humare college ki poorane wali laboratory room jo abhi khali hain uske aage jaa ruki. Main unse abhi thodi doori par tha. Phir maine aisa kuch suna ki darr ke maare ek pillar ke pichhe chhup gaya..."

"Uske aage kya bataya uss ladke ne, aunty?" Haseena asks Pushpa ji and adds another question, "Kaun the woh do aadmi aur kya kiya tha unn dono ne Santu ke saath? Aunty please batayiye naa... Humara dil ghabra raha hain..." Haseena's voice in the fear.

Pushpa ji cries loudly and says, "Sab kuch barbad ho yaga, Haseena... Humare haste khelte ghar pariwaar mein aag lag gayi... Woh aag jiske wajah se hum sab aaj bhi jal rahe hain..." 

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Hey friends, hope you all are fine there. See, I don't have proper knowledge about college festivals and musical instruments. I mean I do have an interest in music and classical music... uff... ahahahaha...

What I am trying to say is ki mujhe yeh nahi pata ki flute aur mouth-organ ko ek saath ek song mein bajaaya jaata hain ya nahi. Classical music aur mouth-organ ka kitna connection hain I don't know. But these instruments sound so amazing. That's why I wrote like this. Please dosto... Itna toh chalta hain naa... Please agar galat ho gaya toh chhota nadan bachcha samajhkar meri galti ko bhool jaana. Please