Vineet remembers his late wife and organizes a puja for her. His children, Dev and Aanya help him. They remember their mother and wife. The priest begins the puja when the twelve-year-old memory of the past pops up in Vineet's head.

*Flashback Begins*

It's a fine day. It's been three years since Aanya was born. Dev is 8 years old while Aanya is three years old. It's no other day, but the two kids are missing their dad, who is on a mission. Aanya and Dev are playing in their parents' bedroom as it is their holiday. Also, for ten days since Vineet is away, they sleep with their mother, cuddling close to her.

Moments ago, both mother and her kids were playing the cardboard game, but her phone rings, and she is busy talking on the phone. Dev tries to distract Aanya but the girl's question leaves him sad as well.

She asks about her father at which even Dev gets sad. For ten days, their dad is on a mission, he's a CID officer after all. And their mom is on leave. But there's no sign of Vineet, nor any call from him. The two kids sit sadly looking upon their mother, who's sad and tense at the moment.

"Lekin sir....ye possible nahi hain."

"Vineet bhi toh nahi hain. Main jaanti hoon mujhe kya karna hai lekin aise main Dev aur Aanya ko akele nahi chod sakti."

"Yes sir! Fine! I will call you back."

Ruhana sighs and disconnects the call. She looks at her children who are looking at her keenly. She walks to them and sits on her knees.

"Kya hua?" She asks them, sensing their sadness.

"Papa nahi aaye abhi tak!" Aanya speaks sadly.

"Aur aapko jana hai na?" Dev asks her.

Though he is just 8 years old, he understands that his mother has some work and she has to leave. Ruhana looks at Dev and pats his cheek.

"Han beta! Mumma ko jana toh hain, lekin..." Ruhana says and pauses at the moment.

"Toh aap jao. Main Aanya ka dhyan rakhunga." Dev says innocently.

" Nahi beta! Main aise nahi jaungi. Purvi maasi aati hi hogi. Fir..." Ruhana says and at the same time, she hears Purvi's voice.

" I am home!" Purvi smiles at Ruhana.

"Thanks Purvi! I am sorry tujhe aise yahan aana pada." Ruhana apologises.

"It's okay, Ruu! I know I am needed here. Mumma papa ke paas Sunita Kaaki hain naa!" Purvi says, recalling her parents.

"Aur waise bhi teri zarurat wahan hani. Bureau mein. Ye tera case hain, usko saza bhi tu hi degi. Tu jaa! Main Anu aur Dev, dono ka dhyan rakhungi." Purvi says, convincing her friend.

Ruhana agrees and after convincing both of them, she leaves for the bureau. There is a case of a human trafficking gang, which Ruhana had been leading, and she's called to the bureau. Though Vineet is not back, yet she has to go. She leaves the house bidding bye to both her children.
.
.
Three hours later, Purvi is checking her phone, little Aanya is fast asleep, while Dev is sitting beside his little sister. He looks at Purvi.

"Maasi, mumma kab aayengi?" Dev questions innocently to his mother figure.

"Ab thodi derr mein. Ho sakta hain, mumma papa dono ek sath aaye." Purvi says, while looking at him.

Thinking about both the parents makes Dev smile. Purvi smiles and begins to play a ludo game with the boy. After a little while, Purvi's phone rings. She is shocked to hear the news that one of her teammates gives her.

Before she could reply, the doorbell rings. Purvi opens the door and finds Vineet on the door. Purvi pulls him in.

"Thank god. Tum aa gaye! Wo Ruhana...." she says.

"Kya hua Ruhana ko?" He asks.

"Wo... accident....I mean she went to get hold of Raghu and his gang. Wo hospital mein hai." Purvi tells him everything in one breath.

"Hospital? Usey zyada chot aayi hai?" Vineet panics at the moment.

"Pata nahi. Tum jao, main hoon bachon ke pas." Purvi says and asks Vineet to go to City hospital.

*****
Vineet reaches City hospital and finds Daya and Abhijeet there. He looks at them.

"Kya hua sir! Ruhana thik toh hai na?" Vineet asks impatiently.

"Relax, Vineet. Doctor treat kar rahe hain. Ruhana will be fine."Abhijeet says, pressing his shoulders.

" Lekin ye sab hua kaise? " he asks his seniors.

"Raghu ki khabar aayi thi. ACP sir chahte they ki Ruhana jaaye unse milne. Usko arrest karne. Lekin vahan encounter ki situation ban gayi aur...." Daya says and pauses.

"Ruhana ko bhi goli lag gayi.. Halanki Raghu ab jail mein hai aur ab toh usey faansi hi hogi. Lekin Ruhana yahan hai." Abhijeet says softly.

Vineet is told that while in an encounter, Raghu fired a bullet and it hit Ruhana on her heart. Though Raghu is behind the bars he is the reason for Ruhana's condition. Meanwhile, the doctor comes out and the three men rush to him.

"Doctor, how is Ruhana? Wo thik hai na?" Vineet asks impatiently.

"Dekhiye, operation toh humne kardiya hai. Exact condition toh patient ke hosh mein aane ke baad hi pata chalegi." The doctor says and takes his leave.

Abhijeet fulfills the formalities of the hospital. Daya asks him to go home but he denies it.

"Jab tak Ruhana ko hosh nahi aata, tab tak main kahin nahi jaunga." Vineet says firmly.

"Vineet, ghar pe bache akele hain." Daya tries to convince him.

"Purvi hain na. Aur aap chale jao wahan. Main yahan se nahi jaunga." Vineet says adamantly.

Well, he's shocked. He came home after 10 days only to find his wife hurt. He hasn't hugged his kids yet, and he's here in the hospital. He is silently praying to god to give the power to Ruhana so that she can cope. His trance is broken by the nurse's voice.

A nurse has been appointed to keep a check on Ruhana. She calls for the doctor and tells him that the wounds on her body have started to bleed. They have to stop the internal bleeding of her wounds. The three men are standing still, listening to the commotion.

.
.

An hour later, the doctor comes out of the ward. He looks helpless, and he breaks the news that because of heavy bleeding, she's sinking. They can't save her. Vineet is dejected. He is allowed to meet Ruhana.

He enters the ward and finds Ruhana lying on the bed.

An oxygen mask on her face, tubes and pins attached to her body makes his heart skip a beat. He moves closer to her and smears her head. She opens her eyes and looks at him. His eyes are teary. He takes baby steps towards her.

"Vineet...." she says, struggling to breath.

"Shh! Kuch mat bolo. Tum thik ho jaogi." He says, trying to convince himself.

"Nai....mujh...mujhe bolne do. It's time." Ruhana says, pulling off the oxygen mask.

"Ruhana...dekho, ye sahi nahi hai." He tries to put mask on her mouth.

"Nahi! Tum...tum ab Dev aur Aanya ka dhyaan rakhna. You....you have to do this." Ruhana says in her broken voice.

Vineet is heartbroken. He wants to say that nothing will happen to her. But she holds his hand, boring her eyes in his. Their eyes speak a thousand emotions. Before Vineet could say another word, Ruhana's grip loosens on his hand. Her hand drops off from his hand.

Her last words were the names of her husband and her kids. She's gone into a deep sleep forever.

*
*
Vineet is shattered. The lady has survived many storms but cannot survive the bullet that pierced her heart.
*
*

*Flashback Ends*

Vineet comes out of his trance and tears trickle down his eyes. The twelve-year-old incident is still fresh in his mind, heart and eyes. She still resides in his heart. He loves her and she is still alive within him. His eyes fall on Ruhana's portrait that is kept for the puja. The lady is smiling.

Meanwhile, the priest reads the last mantra and asks him to do his bit. Soonish, the puja is finished. Aanya and Dev serve the food to the priest and distributes the food to the poor. That's how Ruhana used to celebrate her birthday.

*****
An hour later, the three of them come home. Aanya serves the food for all of them and moves to call Vineet. He's in the same room, looking at the portrait of his late wife.

"Daddy! Lunch is ready. Aapne kuch nahi khaya, chalo!" Aanya pulls him by his arm.

"Aur fir aap mujhe wo song sunaoge jo aap mumma ko sunaate they." Aanya chuckles.

Vineet smiles at his daughter. The trio has their lunch, and post that, Dev begins to play the guitar. A tune, that was dear to Ruhana. Yes, Dev plays the guitar since he was 5-year-old. It's their way to bid adieu to the departed soul in their family. Aanya requests him to sing the song.

Nagmen hain shikve hain
Kisse hain baate hain

Dev plays his guitar and begins to accompany his dad, though his eyes are fixated on Ruhana's picture.

Nagmen hain shikve hain
Kisse hain baate hain

A teardrop escapes Vineet's eyes. It's Ruhana's favorite song. A memory popped in his mind.

"Tum na bas baatein karte raho." She slaps his arm.

"Arey! Main toh wo karunga jo tum kabhi bhool nahi paogi." He winks at her.

"Hello Mister! Baatein banana band karo. Kyunki baatein bhool jaati hain. Bas yaadein hi reh jaati hain, samjhe, mere bholuraam!" She says tweaking his nose.

"Achaa! Aur tumko kaise pata ?" He questions with a mischevious glint in his eyes.

"Kyunki aisa hi hota hain, Vineet. Baaton se zyada yaadein sambhal ke rakhni padti hain." She says, as she sits on the bed beside her son, who's fast asleep.

Vineet clears the tears of his eyes. She was right back then. He has just left the memories he made with her. Their love full moments, their banters, the birth of their children, all of that time is just a memory.

Baatein bhool jaati hain
Yaadein yaad aati hain
Baatein bhool jaati hain
Yaadein yaad aati hain

He picks Ruhana's picture from the side-table.

Yeh yaadein kisi dil-o-jaanam ke
Chale jaane ke baad aati hain
Yaadein.... Yaadein...

Aanya hugs him. She might have spent less time with her mother but she loves her. She has fewer memories of her mother but she knows that her mom loved her, and she is watching over her. She keeps her head on her dad's shoulder and listens to him.

Ye jeevan dil jaane
Dariya ka hai paani
Paani to beh jaaye
Baaki kya reh jaaye
Yaadein.... yaadein.. Yaadein

Dev's eyes are still instilled on the portrait of his mother begins to hum the song. He remembers that this was the first song that Ruhana taught him to play on the guitar.

Nagmen hain shikve hain
Kisse hain baate hain
Baatein bhool jaati hain
Yaadein yaad aati hain
Yeh yaadein kisi dil-o-jaanam ke
Chale jaane ke baad aati hain
Yaadein.... yaadein.... Yaadein...

Vineet gets up from his seat, his eyes roaming around the room. The whole room is decorated with family pictures. He touches their picture where Ruhana is looking at him, and he's posing for the camera.

They have wide smiles on their faces.

Duniya mein yoon aana
Duniya se yoon jana
Aao to le aana jaao to de jana

Vineet glances at both Aanya and Dev. He knows the two kids are missing their mom.

Duniya mein yoon aana
Duniya se yoon jana..
Aao to le aana, jaao toh de jaana...

Yaadein yaadein yaadein

Aanya begins to hum the song and hugs both her dad and brother.

Baatein bhool jaati hain
Yaadein yaad aati hain
Yeh yaadein kisi dil-o-jaanam ke
Chale jaane ke baad aati hain
Yaadein.... yaadein.... Yaadein.

Aanya chuckles as the song end. She looks at both the men.

"Aap dono sad mat ho. Mumma toh hamare sath hi hain na, hain na, dadda?" Aanya chuckles while looking at them.

"Yes, Princess! She's with you, she's with us." Vineet says.

"Exactly, in all the moments. Aur hamesha rahengi." Aanya says.

Vineet pulls both his son and daughter in a hug, glancing at Ruhana's picture, as if telling her, that he has still bonded them together, and she's the strongest thread, still holding them together.

*****

People may come and go, but memories last forever.

We should move on with the happier memories and build a life full of love.

**THE END**

Anamika_anu
Navkiran_Shergill
I hope you like it. ♥️Love yuuhh two♥️♥️