"Ye lijiye SIR, apki coffee.. " She kept the muh on his desk and was about to leave.

"Meine tumhe jane ko kaha kya..." He said without looking at her. She stayed there making a face.. He took a sip of coffee and choked it.

"Kya hua... " She asked.

"Ye kya hai Naina... Coffee banana bhul gayi kya... Ye itni kadwi kyu hai... Where is the sugar... " He asked.

"Meine cheeni dali thi... "

"Nahi dali... It's bitter"

"Are mujhe pata hai, meine banai hai meine khud cheeni dali hai" She argued.

"Acha yakeen nahi ata to khud peeke dekho" She took a sip then looks at him.

"Theek to hai.. Bilkul barabar cheeni hai" Then her bulb switches on "achaa bacchu mere sath hoshiyari, ab tum coffee piyoge or bologe 'ab thik hai ab tumne pi li to meethi ho gayi' magar me tumhari chaal me nahi fasne wali samjhe" She did victory dance in her mind on catching his trick.

"Excuse me, mera style itna cliche nahi hai... Mana ki meine tumhe trick kia coffee pine ko, lekin uska reason flirt karna nahi, confirm karna tha.. Kahi tumne firse meri coffee me kuch mila to nahi diya... " He proved her wrong, "now give me back my coffee.. " He took his mug back, and started to drink it " Ab tum ja sakti ho" She left making a face

"waise sach me zyada meethi ho gayi" He said to himself.

########################

She was waiting for cab when a car stopped in front of her.. It was him.

"Chalo mein tumhe ghar chhod du... Waise bhi hamare raste ek hai.. " He said.

"Jee nahi no thanks, I'll manage.. Or haa hamare raste ab ek nahi hai..." Saying this she turned her face away.

"As you wish... Fir mat bolna baad me ki bataya nahi... " He drove away...

"Saadu kahinka... Agaya na apni aukat pe" She called him names.
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

"Papa am back... " She came back home.

"Sahi time pe ayi ho... Dinner lag gaya hai.. Jaldi fresh hoke ajao".

"Dinner itni jaldi... Hmm no problem waise bhi mujhe bahot tezz bhuk lagi hai... Mein abhi ayi" She quickly went in her room to get fresh.

After a while she came back and saw a man sitting with her father on dinning table... She came near him and got shocked.... "Tum... ".

" Hi...Tum agayi " He gave her his full smile

"Papa... What the hell is this man doing in our house" She asked angrily.

"Beta... Ye.. Ahhh" He got scared looking at his daughter's anger.

"Batata hu... Ab se kuch dino ke liye mein isi ghar me rehne wala hu" He announced.

"What... Kya bakwas hai.... Papa" She exclaimed.

"Bakwas nahi sach... Ab se me bhi isi ghar me rahunga.......tumhare sath... " He stressed on last line.

"Papa... Ye kya bol raha hai... How can he live with us" She argued.

"Ye papa papa kya kar rahi ho... Mujhse bat karo na... ".

"Dekho tum... " She pointed her finger at him

"Are are beta mein batata hu na...  Wo kya hai ki...."

"Sasurji... Mein batata hu na...". Said Rajveer. " Wo kya hai na, Abhimanyu India wapas agya hai.. Or acha nahi lagega agar apna ghar hote huye bhi wo or uski fiance hotel me rahe... Isiliye me yaha kuch din ke liye shift ho gaya hu.." He explained.

"Kyu.. Yaha kyu aye ho.... Delhi me hotels ki kami hai ya tumne mere ghar ko dharamshala samajh rakha hai.. " She questioned him

"Wo... Mujhe hotel me rehna acha nahi lagta or Dharamshala kis baat ki bakayeda rent de raha hu mein".

"What... Rent? " Naina looks at her father.. He took her in a corner to talk privately.

"Wo beta... Ab ye hamare business partner hai.. Or major shareholder bhi yahi hai... Hamari company ka future inhi ke hth me hai or inhe naraz karna hamare future ke liye sahi nahi... Or inhe yaha aise hi rehna sahi nahi laga to... Rent ki baat chiddi... Or waise bhi ghar baithe paisa aye to kya pareshani hai kuch hi dino ki to baat hai".

"Magar papa..." She tried to protest.

"Dekh beta meine aj tak teri haar baat mani hai fir chahe uske liye mujhe meri biwi ki marzi ke khila hi kyu na jana pada ho... Jo ki meri sehat ke liye haani karan ho sakta tha.. Kya tu apne baap ke liye iss namune ko kuch din jhel nahi sakti... " He made a sad puppy face. "Agr tu nhi chahti to thik hai mein isey jane ko bol deta hu.. " He sighed.

"Thik hai... Sirf 11 din,  aj ko mila ke uss se zyada nahi... Uske baad ye yaha nahi hona chahiye... " She told him

"11 din baad to waise bhi nahi hoga... " He mumbled

"Kya.. " She looks at him confused.

He bits his tongue.. "Mera matlab ab tune keh dia na ab wo 11 din ke baad yaha nahi rahega... I promise. " He convinced her.

"Office kam nahi tha ab isey ghar me bhi jhelo... " She murmurs looking at him and he gave her his dazzling smile.

Rajveer came near him.. "Wahh sasurji maan gaye apko.. Asambhav ko sambhav kar dia apne... " He praised him.

"Jab iski maa ko handle kar sakta hu to ye to meri aulaad hai" He boasted.

"Haa dikh raha tha kaise apke paseene chhut gaye the.. " He taunts him.

"Meri chhod Or apni dekh... 11 me se 1 din khatam... Abhi  tere pass 10 din hai.... Or agar 10 din me Tu kuch nahi kar paya  to left right left ho jana meri beti ki life se samjha... " He left warning him.

"Sahi baap beti jodi hai... " He sighed "bade papad bel kar baap ko manaya hai... Ab beti ko bhi pata lunga... " He assures himself.

*FLASHBACK*

Joining his hand, He was standing in front of him, bowing his head down.

"Tumhari himmat kaise hui yaha ane ki, ab ye mat kehna ki pairo se aya wo to mujhe bhi pata hai, lekin yaha karne kya aye ho.. Ab to Naina ne khud tumhe wo de diya hai jo tumhe uss se chahiye tha... Azaadi.. Fir ab" For the first time in life he was angry and why not he will be after all it was about his one and only child... His princess.

"I am sorry uncle, me janta hu meine apki beti ka dil bahot dukhaya hai usko bahot rulaya hai lekin me sach me uss se pyaar karta hu.. Me bas ek mauka chahta hu uska dil jitne ka... I promise me usko bahot khush rakhunga.. Usey bahot pyaar dunga jo wo deserve karti hai" He pleaded.

"Mein kaise maan lu.. Ki iss bar bhi tum natak nahi kar rahe ho.. Kya pata bhai ke pyaar me firse meri beti ki zindagi ke sath koi khilwaad kar rahe ho.. " He asked seriously.

"Me manta hu, apne bhai ki baato par meine andho ki tarah se vishwas karke bahot badi galati ki aur uska mujhe pachtawa bhi hai... Agar wo na mili to zindagi me kuch paya hi nahi.... " He went regretful.

"Office se ghar jate waqt sochta hu ki aaj kya socha hoga madam ne mujhe satane ka or jab ghar pahonchta hu to sirf andhera Or sannata pata hu.. Bilkul apni zindagi ki tarah.. " He said last sentence in whisper but Mr. Ahluwalia heard that

"Subha roz late uthta hu, kyunki adat ho gayi hai uska chehra dekh ke uthne ki, uska pyaar se mujhe tarah tarah ke naam se pukarna.. Bahot yaad karta hu, uska mujhe ajeeb ajeeb gane ga ga kar mujhe kam karte waqt irritate karna taki me sab chhod chhad ke rest kar saku... Uski choti choti bachkani harkate mujhe hasane ke liye.. Bahot yaad ati hai.. Uska Meri har choti badi cheez ka khayal rakhna yaad ata hai, mujhe dekh kar uske chehre par jo muskaan ati thi wo muskaan yaad ati hai... Sirf mujhe thodi si khushi dene ke liye wo har ek.kam karna jo usey na pasand tha wo yaad ata hai....Uski har ek baat uske jaane ke baad bahot yaad ati hai" He was in tears, his heart was paining remembering her.

"Wo khali ghar uske bina sirf chaar deewaro ka makan ban gaya hai, dam ghut-ta hai mera waha, khane ko daud ta hai wo makan mujhe.. Uske bina mano jaise har taraf mayusi chaa gayi ho bilkul mere dil ki tarah.... Usne waisa hi kia jaisa usne mujhse waada kia tha..chalingayi wo meri zindagi se....jaise kabhi thi hi nahi....... " Trying to control.his tears from.flowing

"Bahot ansu bahaye hai usne meri wajah se uske har ek ansu ke badle usey sau muskurahatein dena chahta hu, uske har ghum ko khushi me badalna chahta hu, uske har dard ko sukoon mein tabdeel karna chahta hu" he was listening him carefully trying to analyse the depth of his yearning.

"To tumhe sach me pachtawa hai or apni galati sudharna chahte ho" He nodded "thik hai diya ek mauka.. " His eyes lit up "ek mauka to dushman ko bhi diya jata hai fir tum to hone wale damad ho... "

He got really happy "thankyou uncle, thankyou so much.. ".

" Bas bas zyada khush hone ki zarurat nahi... Abhi meri beti ko manana baki hai.. Uske bare me socho" He nodded "11 din hai tumhare pass.. Or tumhari ginti aaj se hi shuru hoti hai....In 11 dino me tumhe meri bacchi ka dill jodna hoga... Agar nahi kar paye to Naina ko hamesha ke liye bhul jana.. Samjhe" He said sternly while Rajveer nodded fearfully he never saw her father like this.. That's because he is for the first time behaving like a daughter's father... Who has been hurt by him... Quite justified.

"Chalo ab jaldi se apna zaruri saman leke yaha ajao.. " He said.

"Saman leke kyu... " He was confused.

"Ek kamra khali hai.. Kirayedar rakhna hai isiliye.. " He said sarcastically "are bhayi Naina ka dil kya hawa me mantar foonk ke jeetoge... Uska dil jeetne ke liye tumhara uske samne rehna bhi zaruri hai... Samjhe". He then realised what he is trying to say.

" Ohhh achaaa... Ab samjha"

"Pata nahi Naina ne is nil bata sannata me kya dekha.. " He eyed him from top to bottom... "Ab jao.. Jo lana hai jaldi leke aoo.. Naina ke ghar ane se pehele" He was about to go.

"Arey zara suno... " He turned around to face Mr. Ahluwalia.... Only to get slapped on his right cheek, he was shocked to the core.

"Ye kya tha.. " He was terrified

"Ye meri beti ko rulane ke liye... " Said Mr. Ahluwalia.

"Ohh... Chalo banta hai.. Koi nahi. " He was about to turn when Mr. Ahluwalia again called him.. And slapped him again on left cheek.

"Ab ye kis liye.... " He was dumbfounded.

"Ye meri beti ka dil todne ke liye... "

"Acchaa... " He said slowly... He lowered his head.

"Ahh Rajveer " Mr. Ahluwalia called him, he looks up only to get slapped again

"Now what was this for.. " He went self conscious almost crying.

"Beti ka baap hu.. Itna to chalta hai... Agar agey future me uska dill dukhaya ya rulaya to damad pe hath uthaunga... Acha thodi na lagega.. " He gave him sheepish smile.

"Acha hai... Bahot acha hai.. " He was again was about to turn when he called him again... This time he put his both palm on his cheek shaking his head left to right furiously "ab nahi khaunga... Pure janam ka kota pura ho gaya... "

"Are beta thappad thodi na marne wala tha.. Me to kehne wala tha ki aram se karna jo karna ho... Wo kya hai na Naina ki Maa ko tumhare Kaand ke bare me kuch nahi pata hai.. Bas usko pata na chale..Fir tum to Naina ki sanak jante hi ho or Era thehri uski Maa, to tum samajh hi sakte ho uski sanak kitni bhari padegi........" His eyes widened  silently praying to god for his safety "Warna kahi sach much Naina ko bhulna na pad jaye tumhe..." He warned him. He gulped his saliva fearfully.

"Chal ab jaldi ja or meri beti ko Pata ne ka idea soch.. You have just 11 days.. " He nodded and went away.

"Batao kya zamana agaya hai ek baap bahar ke ladke ko bolta hai meri beti ko patta le... Tch. Tch. Tch. Ghor kalyug Ram Ghor Kalyug". Mr. Ahluwalia said to himself dramatically.

*FLASHBACK END*