It was dusk when Anamika returned with the kids, the programme which she thought would end at 2, stretched till 6 and reaching home it was 7. The family was out of control at her absence, Vineet too had already returned from office. His mother had served evening tea to the family which they were savoring when Anamika entered the house with chuckling and giggling boys. 

“Lo aa gayi maharani!!” Shanti Bua commented. 

Ansh and Advay ran to their father, showing him their trophy which they got for their academic performance in school. 

“Papa aapko pata hai, mujhe mere class mei sabse ache marks aaye hain aur meri drawing ko bhi Principal Maam ne school ke wall pe lagaya!”  Advay told his father, chuckling and proud of his achievement. 

Vineet patted his back with a smile and praised him to which the boy pecked his cheek and ran to his room with his little brother. 

“Tumhe nahi lagta bahut jaldi aa gayi ho tum?” Shanti bua questions Anamika.

“Sorry bua ji, function mei itna time lag jaayega malum nahi tha aur fir main beech mei se aa nahi pai, teachers ne aane nahi diya.” She told them to which Shanti let out a sarcastic laugh. 

“Haan haan, dopahar ko bazaar toh tumhara bhoot gaya tha na, tum toh badi masoom ho jo school se nikli hi nahi.” Bua taunted, giving goosebumps to Anamika who went to see her friend, but it seems Bua had seen her in the market. 

“main....main....” she stammered. 

“hmmm, aab jawab toh diya nahi jaayega tumse kyunki galti jo pakad li gayi hai tumhari. Toh jara aab batao school ka function chor ke tum market mei kahan ghoom rahi thi? Aur kyun?” Dadi demanded an answer. 

Anamika cast a look at Vineet who was gazing at her questionably. 

“dadi main....main Ansh ka dress thik karwane gayi thi. Aaj uska..uska performance tha na aur uski dress phati hui thi toh wahi thik karwana tha.” She lied because she knew if she told them about her friend the family would go insane. 

“jhooth!” Bua exclaims. 

“main jhooth kyun kahungi bua ji? Aap chahe toh bachon se ya unki class teacher se puch lijiye, unhone hi bheja tha mujhe!” Anamika suggested because she knows the family will never call an outsider to cross check her nor they will ask kids which may create any bitter feeling regarding them in their heart. 

“kyun bewajah baat ka batangar banana hai aap logon ko. Wo aa gayi hai na toh aab rehne do, jao beta fresh ho jao!” Aarnav says in order to halt the blaming game. 

Anamika nodded and ran to her room followed by Vineet, Aarnav and Kaushalya too headed to their room while bua and dadi were left grunting. 

“maa, ye jhooth bol rahi hai. Iske pass koi bag ya kapda nahi tha jo ye bol rahi thi. Ye ghoom rahi thi wahan, function ka toh bahana hai.” Shanti Bua said confidently to her mother. 

“main janti hoon wo jhooth bol rahi hai par ghumne ke liye nahi, koi aur baat hai. Ye jarur kuch kar rahi hai sabse chuppa ke.” Dadi spoke, narrowing her eyes for she's sure Anamika is up to something. 

......

Anamika enters her room and turns to Vineet who too steps in behind her. 

“Vineet main Aakash se milne gayi thi kisi aur kaam se nahi!” She discloses the truth before him. 

He stared at her for a moment, “fir niche jhooth kyun bola tumne? Sach bhi toh bol sakti thi na!” He questioned her in a calm and composed tone. 

Anamika nodded,”agar sach bolti toh bewajah ki baat badhti, hungama ho jata ghar mei kyunki Dadi ji ya Bua ji dono mei se kissi ko mera Aakash se milna pasand nahi aata. Un dono ko aise bhi lagta hai main galat hi karti aai hoon, main bigdi hui hoon. Aab unki iss soch ko main badal nahi sakti aur na hi apne dost ko musibat mei akela chor sakti hoon. Janti hoon jhooth bolna sahi nahi hai isliye tumhe sach bata rahi hoon.” She clarifies herself. 

Vineet let out a sigh and nodded. He’s happy that his wife at least shares things with him, it's enough that she’s being truthful to him. 

“Aakash ko kya hua? Koi problem hai usse?” he inquired while removing his blazer, moving towards the bed. 

“hmmm!! Unko gynecology ki help chahiye toh ussi ke liye meri help mangi usne. Maine usse keh to diya koi solution nikal jayega par i am not sure main kya karu ya kis doctor se consult karu unke liye. Abhi toh mere contact mei koi doctor hai bhi nahi, pata nahi sab kaise hoga!” Anamika shared her concern with him, fidgeting with her thoughts. 

Vineet thought for a while,”main kuch help karu?” He offers because he feels Anamika shares her problem because she wants some help from him and he will surely do that, after all Aakash is his friend as well. 

Anamikas eyes glittered with the offer, she nodded multiple times. 

“Dr. Shalini se contact karo, she can be of good help. Mere ek business associate hai, Mr. Pratap Mehra, Dr. Shalini unki hi wife hai. Meine suna hai, wo Mumbai ki best gynecologist hai, unse koi na koi help jarur milegi.” He shared the information with her, it excited Anamika.

“appointment?” she stressed. 

“Main le lunga wo, don't worry.” He assured her and smiled. 

Getting such great help from Vineet excites her. She ran to him and hugged him tightly, Vineet was taken back. His wife is suddenly happy with him such that she embraces him, just for a small help she oversees her anger and disappointment that he causes her. 

“Thank you so much Vineet!” she expressed her gratitude as she parted from him after a moment. 

Vineet smiled at her, he hesitated but cupped her face and pecked her head, she didn't resist instead reciprocated by pecking his cheek which came as another surprise for him. 

What has he done in the moment to be showered by so much love by his wife all of the sudden? He has just offered a help, a genuine help for a friend and his wife is super happy about it, why? Because he agreed to help? Or because he offered help for the first time instead of shouting over her for lying to the family? 

Whatever it is, he's happy with the change and determined to keep it intake. 

...... 

Dining table

Out of happiness, Anamika had prepared his favorite cuisines. At first she thought he was bluffing but she was wrong. He got the appointment of the said doctor and also offered to drop her at the place. 

When the family settled for dinner, they were surprised to see the variety of cuisine the lady had prepared. 

“kya baat hai bhai, aaj bina tyohaar itna kuch bana hai, kuch khaas hai kya?” Shanti Bua inquires to Kaushalya. 

“Nahi didi, kuch hai nahi bas aise hi jaane kyun Anamika ne itna kuch banaya hai aaj.” Kaushalya stated. 

“Maa wo Vineet ki tabiyat thik nahi thi na toh mujhe laga unki pasand ki chijein banau toh khane ki icha hogi.” She lied again to which the family does not raise any objection while it makes Vineet smile. He cast a look at her with a love filled soft gaze for god knows after how many years his gaze or their situation has been this soft. 

Bua and Dadi were observing their eye to eye talk and assume there is definitely something going on, probably another good news!? 

......

To be continued...