At night, Vineet’s dinner was again taken to his room as he was not well and his fever seemed to love him so much that it was not ready to leave his body. Kaushalya insisted to anamika to accompany her son for dinner as he may feel left out if nobody sits to have dinner with him. Anamika left with no choice but just nodded. 

Anamika takes the dinner in their room and places it on the table, she asks Vineet to have his dinner which he obliges and takes his seat. Anamika serves the food for him in a plate and forwarded, she serves food in a plate for herself too but Vineet finds many differences in the two plates. 

His plate has chapati, rice, dal and three types of curry in addition with a few fries while she just has curry and chapati. 

“Tum baki sab nahi khaogi?” he questioned. 

“Nahi!!” She replied briefly, astonishing him. 

She didn't bother to converse further and proceed to have her meal but his hand reached out to her. She looks at him and finds him offering a bite to her from his plate. 

“Vineet ye kya kar rahe ho tum? Main kha rahi hoon, tum khao. Mere paas abhi samay bhi nahi hai inn sab ka, already das bajne ko aaye hain, baki kaam bhi niptana hai mujhe, kal bachon ke school mei function hai toh mujhe wahan bhi jana hai, please don't start this again.” She requested him a little irritated by now as his acts are only making her rage. 

Why is he trying to be cozy and caring when the next day he will be the same again, running behind his family. 

“Meine aisa kya kar diya jo tum itna naraz ho rahi ho Ana? Tum hamesha gussa kyun karti ho mujh pe?” He felt disheartened with her words, his hand reaching to his plate. 

“Baat gusse ki nahi hai Vineet par mujhe kaam hai, niche sab bikhra pada hai mujhe wo sab bhi sametna hai. Main abhi tumhare saath ye khilane baith gayi toh kab tak wo kaam niptaungi main. I am sorry, par mere paas waqt nahi hai itna, main....!” She stops when she finds him gazing at her with a blank face, his face losing color, eyes losing motion. 

She just stared at him, a guilt ran over her to hurt him when he's not well. But then, she can't entertain him at the moment when she has a bunch of loads behind waiting for her, he needs to understand her position. 

Still Anamika was stuck, she found herself out zoned with his constant stare, though she tried to divert her gaze but couldn't until her phone rang, bringing her back to reality. She checks the caller id and realizes that her friend, Aakash is calling her probably to discuss his problem which he wanted to share at the cafe but she left the place abruptly. 

She received the call only to get scolded by her friend.

“I'm sorry Aakash, mujhe kaam yaad aa gaya tha toh aana pada. But i'll make sure to catch you tomorrow fir hum tumhara kaam bhi kar lenge, main address tumhe mail kar deti hoon tum direct wahin aa jana main bhi wahi milungi tumse.” She assured her friend who seemed to agree with her and after a moment they ended the call.

Anamika takes her seat again. 

“Kiska call tha?” He questions her, curious to know who calls her at night as she hardly gets any calls. 

“Aakash ka!! Use kuch kaam hai mujh se toh milne gai thi par der ho gayi toh bina baat kiye hi nikal gayi wahan se.” She told him and began to have her food, almost neglecting the situation she was in a few moments ago. While Vineet stared at her for several moments but when she didn't even glance at him, he silently had his food - - not even half plate. Anamika knew this would happen but she didn't bother to stretch it or comfort him, she really doesn't have time to romance with him at this hour when she has a whole lot of work left to finish. Yeah, she does feel bad for him as he's unwell and not having a proper meal but what can she do if his family doesn't care about it, only her concern can't change the scenario. 

They silently had their dinner after which, she took the plates to the kitchen where a heap of utensils were waiting for her. She let out a sigh and set to finish her task which took another hour of her day. By the time she finishes the chores, it was already 11:30 – just a few hours and the sun will be bright in the sky. 

Anamika enters her room only to find him sleeping soundly, she changed her dress and covered him with the duvet and slipped on her side of bed after checking his temperature which seems to be normal. She let out a sigh of relief and closed her eyes, she had a whole lot of work to do the other day. 

....

Next morning when Vineet woke up he found that he's late, it was around 11 in the morning. He sit up instantly, he had a meeting to attend. He ran to the washroom, took a shower and got ready. The fever was long gone and he doesn't even remember that at the moment, all he knows is he has to reach his office before 1:30 so that he can attend his meeting. 

After getting ready when he prepared to leave the house, his mother stopped him. 

“Bunnu kahan jaa raha hai, wo bhi bina kuch khaye?” Kaushalya asked, heading towards him. 

“Maa meri ek meeting hai, mera nikalna jaruri hai. Main office mei kha lunga kuch, tum fikra maat karo.” He assured his mother. 

“Beta sukar kar teri maa yahan hai teri fikar karne ke liye, warna teri biwi ko toh itni bhi fursat nahi ki tera intezaar kare, usse school ka function jyada pyara hai, apna bimar pati nahi!” Shanti Bua taunted which he ignored because he was already late and indulging in a fight with the lady meant wasting his time. So, without a word he left the house in a jiffy. 

.....

Aryan Cafe

Anamika again met with her friend Aakash and his wife at the cafe. The couple were there to get some help from the lady as they have been married for 10 years and still don't have a child because they both had some medical issues. 

“Aab toh logon ki baatein bhi sach lagne lagi hai Ana, lagta hai shayad hum kabhi parents nahi ban payenge. Kuch toh galat kia hi hoga humne jo ye saza mil rahi hai humein!” Aakash said, disheartened and disappointed. 

Anamika places her hand on his outstretched hand,”aisa maat soch Aakash, logon ka toh kaam hi hai kehna. Tu khud ko dukhi mat kar, hum iska solution nikal lenge.” She assured him. 

“Kaise Ana? Humne naa jaane kya kuch try kiya par koi faida nahi hua, kitne hi doctors badle par result wahi raha, shayad bhagwan hi humse ruth gaye hain.” Aarti almost choked. 

“Arey yaar, tum log kyun itne senti ho rahe ho? Main keh rahi hoon na sab thik ho jayega phir kyun tension lete ho. Dekho, tum dono bas himmat mat haaro, main aaj pata karti hoon, Vineet se bhi baat karungi, koi solution toh mil hi jaayega.” Anamika said in a firm and determined tone. 

The couple, though unassured or uncertain of their own destiny, decide to trust their friend, they nod to her to which she smiles. The three friends had a little chit-chat after which Anamika took her leave. She had to accompany her kids to home otherwise she would be in a great problem. 

....

To be continued...