Sameeksha and Dilin were discussing what went wrong in the recent cricket match, where Abhishek did not play well once again. Suddenly Vidyut came in, "Tara ki tabyat kharab hai, uski responsibility tumne li thi na" He asked Sameeksha. She immediately stood up, "sorry Bhaiya" She lowered her lashes, "jaao jaake use check karo" He said showing anger in his voice. She nodded looking at the ground. Vidyut looked at Dilin and then left. 

Sameeksha looked up and took a sigh of relief. Dilin chuckled, "aap bhi darre hue the" She made a poker face. "Chalo na Tara ko dekhke aate hai" She said, "Bhaiya ko accha nhi lagega" He said. "Bhaiya ko boht kucch accha nhi lagta, chalo na" She said again. He nodded and they left for the shelter home where Tara was. 

"Choti pata hai" He said grabbing her attention, "kabhi kabhi mann karta hai yaha se bhaag jaau, fir tere bareme sochke ruk jaata hu" He said. "Bhaagne se kya hoga? Na Maa wapas aaengi, na Bhaiya ka gussa shaant hoga" She said. He hummed. 

Their father got married twice. A couple of years later than Vidyut's birth, his father married again. Dilin was from his father's second marriage. After Dilin, Devaki and Sameeksha were born from the first marriage of their father. Because of the second wife, Vidyut's mother was forced to leave her house and live in huts. She died when Vidyut was a teenager. Being the eldest brother, Vidyut had to take care of Devaki and Sameeksha. Their father died in an accident saving the elephants from hunters, and Dilin's mother died of depression. Vidyut took care of the jungle after his father's death. Dilin was an orphan, Vidyut had to keep Dilin with him but he never really forgave him for what his mother did, and nor did Devaki. 

The age gap between Sameeksha and Dilin was small, they were very close from childhood. Sameeksha shared a special bond with Dilin, and Vidyut never really liked this, but he never stopped her from talking to him. Devaki shared the same feelings as Vidyut.

"Yeh dekho meri aankho ke taare ko" Sameeksha said looking at Tara, "ek tu hi hai, jo Abhishek ki haar ke baad mera mood theek karti hai" She said caressing Tara's head. "Kya hua tujhe?" She asked, "Bhaiya isko check karo na" She said to Dilin. "Vidyut Bhaiya ne tujhe check karne ko kaha tha" He said, "check karte ho ya..." She said cocking her eyebrow, "varna?" He asked, "Raah..!" She said loudly. "Ruk na" He said and looked at Tara's body. "Koi rocket science nhi hai, uske per pe chot lagi hai" He said pointing at her right front leg. Sameeksha slapped her forehead, Tara made a funny noise making both of them laugh.

*******

Devaki was at the river with the elephants, Karan came there. "Kitni der se tumhe dhoondh raha hu" He said, she hummed. She was not in the mood of having a conversatiom with him. "Pichle kucch saalo me jitne bhi haathi maare gey hai mujhe unki report chahiye" He said, "yaha se free hoke tumhara kaam karti hu" She said. "Me yehi rukta hu fir" He said, she rolled her eyes. His presence was making her uncomfortable.

Sameeksha was coming with Tara and Dilin, "Sameeksha!" Devaki called her. "Haathio ka dhyaan rakh, mujhe kucch kaam hai" She said. Sameeksha nodded and Devaki and Karan left. Karan was surprised by how fast Devaki was walking, she used to hate fast walking. But today, just to get rid of him, she increased her cadence.

They reached Devaki's bedroom, she went to a cupboard and picked a file. "Purane 11 saal ka record hai isme" She said, he nodded. "Baaki Vidyut Bhaiya se poochna, mere pass ab time nhi hai" She fake smiled and left. He looked around, her bedroom was clean and tidy. Her love for Mumbai Indians was never going to die, their posters were on her wall. Books about Indian history were resting on the shelves.

There was an odd one, out of all history books, there was an astronomy book. He picked it and started flipping the pages. In the middle of the book, he found his photo of around six years ago. "How dare you!" He heard Devaki's voice, "meri cheezo ko haath kese lagaya tumne?" She asked trying to snatch the book. "Jesa tumhara behaviour hai, mujhe laga nhi tha tumne meri photo ese sambhalke rakhi hogi" He said showing her the photo.

She looked at the photo and then at him. She held it and ripped it in pieces. He was shook. "Yeh lo apni photo" She said placing the pieces on his palm. "Now get out please" She said calmly. He left the room immediately.

*******