US

Manvi was busy packing the stuff, Aarav came home from office and said "Manvi... yeh rahi mere 5 months ki mehnat ki kamayi.. Isse hum Mumbai mein bada ghar lenge"

She smiled "acha.. Lekin Aarav itne mein ho jayega?" she asked

"Nahi.. maine kaafi savings ki hui hai aur phir mera promotion bhi toh hua hai you just don't worry" he replied.

"Acha maine zaroorat ka saaman pack kar diya hai tum dekhlo kuch rah toh nhi gaya" she said.

Aarav nodded and packed other things. He thought "ab tak toh maa papa wapas aa gaye honge ghar phone kar leta hun"

He dialed the landline but it was not reachable. He sighed.. "Abhi bhi nahi lag raha hai.. Kal toh main jaa hi raha hun ab toh direct unse milke baat karunga"

He moved to the temple, removed his shoes and went ahead. He picked up their picture and caressed it. A smile came on his face.. "In bhagwan ko yahan chodke kaise jaa sakta hun main.."

He moved and kept the picture into the bag.

"Aarav.. Sab packing ho gayi hai lekin Aarav jab tumhare maa papa ka ghar hai toh new ghar kyun?" she asked.

Aarav replied "Manvi maine hamesha se chaha tha ki mera khudka bada sa ghar ko jahan maa papa mere saath aake rahe main unki sewa karun din raat.. Aur wo mauka main haath se kaise jaane dun bhala haan? Aur papa retire ho gaye hai akele maa papa kabtak manage karenge? Koi toh hona chahiye na unke paas unke saath"

"Baat toh tumhari sahi hai mujhe bhi wait hai unse milne ka jinhone mujhe itna acha husband diya.." she said.

"Acha.. main kuch adhure kaam pure karke aata hun" he said.

She nodded and he left.

Pune, India

Mithi said "mahesh Diwali aa rahi hai.. Aur kaam wali bai abhi tak nhi hai ghar ki saaf safai kaise hogi?"

"Ab yeh bhi main hi socho.. Office mein itna kaam hota hai mujhe" he replied.

Mithi spoke up "kaam toh mujhe bhi hota hai na Mahesh.. Iss ghar mein tumhari Maa bhi hai jinki wajah se servant ne kaam choda hai.."

"Toh main kya karun isme? Kuch din manage karlo maa chali jayegi toh wo maid khud wapas aa jayegi" he replied.

They heard a noise from the room, they went and saw Ruhana cleaning the room.

"Maa aap ye kya kar rhi ho?" Mahesh asked.

"Diwali aa rahi hai na toh socha safai hi karlun.." Ruhana said.

Mithi spoke up "lekin aapko yeh sab karne ki zaroorat nahi hai main kar lungi"

"Tumse apni beti toh sambhalti nahi hai.. Pehle zara uske baare mein socho" Ruhana said.

"Oh please mummyji.. Aap phirse meri beti ke peeche pad gayi hai.. Aur ye ghar ki safai karke aap dikhana kya chahti hai? Mujhe kisi cheez ki koi parwah nahi hai haan?" mithi asked.

"Aisi baat nahi hai Mithi.." Ruhana said.

"Dekhiye mummyji.. Iss umar aap yeh sab karengi toh kahin girwira gayi toh hamara hi kharcha badh jayega.. Already kharcha itna badh gaya hai ghar mein.. Aap please rehene dijiye yeh sab" Mithi said.

She looked at Mahesh and said "Mahesh ye kya kah rahi hai?"

"Sahi kah rahi hai wo maa.. Bekar mein kyun aap hospital ka kharcha badwane mein tuli hui ho.. Aur kitna mehnga hai yahan medical.. Aap rehendo please" he said and left from there.

"Waah beta.. Waah tum toh sach mein itne aage nikal aaye ho ki ab maa ki zaroorate tumhe fisul karche lagte hai.." Ruhana said.

"Jab bachpan mein tumhe chot lagti thi zara si bhi toh tumhare papa daudke le jaate they tumhe doctor ke yahan kabhi unhe toh kabhi khayal nhi aaya kharche ka. Agar humne aisa kuch socha hota toh shayad aaj tum dono bhai yahan hote hi nahi. Apne kharche kaat ke tum. Logon ki zarurat puri ki, tum aaj apni maa ko nahi sambhal sakte. Mujhe garv tha tum par Mahesh, you broke it all.

" she sighed and left to room.

Delhi

Deep was sitting down, Vineet sat on the couch beside him and said "Deep diwali aa rahi."

"Diwali toh har saal aati hai Dad isme khas kya hai?" he said.

"Deep Har saal diwali pe tum aur Mahesh ghar aate they.. Iss saal bhi saath mein.." Vineet spoke.

Deep replied "zaroorat nahi hai Dad, aap hamare saath ho maa mahesh ke saath hai aur waise bhi itna time kaha hai kisike paas ki jaye aur faltu ke kharche kare.."

"Kharche?" he asked.

"Haan Dad, har saal mumbai jaate they toh sabke liye kuch na kuch lena padta tha.. Faltu ka kharcha badh jaata tha.. Iss baar hoga hamare ghar mein hoga no extra kharcha" Deep said.

"Tum aisa kaise kah sakte ho? Mahesh bada bhai hai tumhara.. Aur tumhari maa..:" vineet spoke but was cut by Deep.

"Dad please.. Iss baar bahut busy hai hum aur Mumbai hum aate they sirf isliye aap aur mom bulate they warna humhe aane ki zaroorat nahi thi hum apne hi ghar mein thik hai.."Deep said.

Tara spoke up "Sahi kah rahe ho tum Deep. Aur Mahesh Mithi sab apne kaam ke kaam rakhte hai toh hum kyun na rakhe?"

"Lekin tum sab ek parivar ho" vineet said.

"Parivar? Mera parivar meri biwi aur bacha hai Dad.. bhai baad mein.. Aur aap khush rahiye na hamare saath diwali manayie" Deep said and left with Tara to the room.

"Toh inka har saal diwali pe ghar aana faltu ka kharcha tha.. Sach mein beta tum bahut door aa gaye ho itna ki parivar ka matlab hi bhool gaye ho. Kuch zyada umeed laga baitha tha main. Sahi kehti hai Ruhana, haar gaye hum. " Vineet said.

Ansh came to him, Vineet lifted him in his arms. He asked "senior iss baar Di Aarav chachu koi nahi hoga Diwali par?"

"Nahi beta.." he replied..

"Lekin mujhe chocolates dete they sab.. Iss baar mumma papa itni si denge" Ansh complained.

"Koi baat nahi Ansh aagle saal main tumhe bahut saari chocolates dunga diwali par" he said.

Ansh smiled.. "Senior.. Chalo room mein khelte hai"

"Chalo.." Vineet said and went to the room to play with him.

Mumbai

The next day, Aarav finally arrived in the city along with Manvi. His office staff was there to pick him up "hello Aarav sir.. Welcome to Mumbai"

Aarav smiled.. "Manvi finally main apne desh apne shahar aa gaya wapas" he said.

"Haan... toh chalo ghar chalte hai sabse pehle" she said excitedly.

"Nahi.. ghar pehle main jaunga maa papa ko surprise dene tum ek kaam karo inke saath jao hotel" he said.

"Thik hai" Manvi said, Aarav took the cab to home.

He reached the place where Ruvi lived. He moved ahead and was surprised to find the big lock at the house.

"Maa papa ghar pe nahi hai.." he was thoughtful. "Shayad market gaye ho yahi wait karta hun kuch der" he stood there.

It has almost been 3 hours he was waiting but there was no sign of Ruhana and Vineet. He was tensed and bewildered. "Maa papa hai kahan? Pados mein puchta hun"

He moved out and enquire the neighbours. They said "yeh makan toh pichle 5 mahine se band pada hai beta.. Koi nahi aaya hai yahan"

Aarav was shocked knowing this "kya?"

"Maa papa ne toh kaha tha ki do mahine baad wo wapas ghar jayenge.. Kuch samajh nhi aa raha hai mujhe" he thought and moved to the hotel.

He reached the hotel, and entered inside the room. Manvi asked "mile?"

He did not replied her instead sat on bed lost. She asked "kya baat hai Aarav?"

"Manvi main ghar gaya tha socha ki maa papa se milunga lekin waha toh koi nhi tha padosi ne bataya ki ghar pichle paanch mahine se band hai.." he said.

Manvi was shocked hearing this "kya??"

"Haan.. Manvi.."

"Aarav ho sakta hai wo dono apne kisi bete ke ghar hi ho abtak" Manvi said.

Aarav thought for while.. And replied "ho sakta hai.. Main unke ghar call karta hun"

He dialed Deep's landline but none picked up the call. He then dialed Mahesh's number but none picked up the call.

"Nahi koi phone nhi utha raha hai.." he said dejectedly.

"Aarav tum pareshan mat ho.. Ho sakta hai sab bahar gaye ho shaam ko try kar lena.." Manvi said.

"Hmm.. sorry Manvi tumhe abhi aur intezar karna padega mere maa papa se milne ke liye" he said.

"Main intezar kar lungi. Jahan itna intezar kiya kuch pal aur sahi. " she replied...

To be continued.