On the busy streets of Mumbai. Late evening.

In a cafe, A group of boys were enjoying themselves. Having snacks, laughing, pulling each other's leg. When Vidyut's phone rang.

Vidyut (looking at the caller ID): Hold on guys.

He received the call.

Vidyut: Hello bhabhi.

Mihika: Vid please tu abhi hi meri office aa jaa.

(Mihika: Vid please come to my office now)

Vidyut: Bhabhi sab theek hai na? Worried lag rahe ho?

(Vidyut: Sister-in-law is everything okay? You seem worried)

Mihika (requested): Vid main call par nahi bata sakti. Tu aa jaa na.

(Mihika (requested): Vid, I can't share anything on call. You just come)

Vidyut (worried): Bhabhi... Saurav bhai ne kuch bola kya? Please unki baat ko dil par mat lena. Aap to jante ho vo gusse wale hai-

(Vidyut (worried): Sister-in-law, does Saurav brother say something? Please ignore his words. You know he is an angry bird-)

Mihika (cuts him): Shant shant... Saurav aur meri koi fight nahi hui hai. We are good. Tu aana office. Kyun itne questions kiye jaa raha hai? Don't you trust me or what?

(Mihika: Calm down... Saurav and I are fine. You come to my office. Why you are asking so many questions)

Vidyut: Alright! Coming...

Mihika (Sighed): Good. I am waiting!

With this, he hung up the call.

Vidyut: Guys gotta go. Bhabhi ne jaldi me bhulaya hai.

(Sister-in-law asked me to come urgently)

Bidding bye to his friends, He drove off towards his destination.

Soon, he reached his destination.

Vidyut (knocking at the cabin): May I come in Ms. Mihika Singh?

He teased her. She nodded and seemed serious.

Vidyut: Kya hua bhabhi? Sab theek to hai na? Aap itne serious lag rahe ho.

(Vidyut: What happened Sister-in-law? Is everything alright? You seem serious)

Mihika: Baitho Vid. Mujhe tumse jaruri baat karni hai.

(Mihika: Sit Vid. I need to talk with you something important)

He nodded and sat on the chair in front of her.

Mihika (sighed): Main ye baat ke liye Ani bhai ya Saurav ko nahi bhulaya hai idhar. Tum jante ho dono gusse me koi bhi step le lete hai without soche. Both don't have any control over their anger. Ye baat serious to hai hi utni hi sensitive bhi hai. Main nahi chahti thi vo gusse me decision leke regret kare later on.

(Mihika (sighed): For this matter, instead of calling Ani brother or Saurav. I have called you as they have an anger issue. This matter is serious and sensitive as well. I don't want them to regret it later with the harsh decision)

Vidyut heard her words carefully. He was worried but nodded trying to be calm.

Vidyut: Aesi kya baat hai bhabhi? Please aese ghuma kar baat nahi karo.

(Vidyut: What's the matter sister-in-law? Please say it clearly),

He requested.

Mihika: Okay okay. But please listen to me carefully. Just don't react quickly.

Vidyut nodded.

Mihika: Umm... Me Rajput ke second wife. I mean Mrs Sarika Rajput. She died this afternoon.

Vidyut hummed. Letting her continue as his senses told him she wasn't done yet.

Mihika: Vidyut unki beti. She is here with me. She is just a mere 7-year-old kid. You know right Sarika ran away from her family to marry Mr Rajput. So now, no one from her family member is ready to take that kid with them. She is alone in this world. I wanted to confirm if you guys want to be her guardian or should I drop her at the orphanage.

(Mihika: Vidyut, she has a daughter who is here with me. She is a mere 7-year-old kid)

Vidyut looked at her with eyes wide open. As if asking her "Why you even thought that we would be her guardian?" Mihika got nervous. She took a deep breath and calmed herself.

Mihika: Abhi tum hurt ho and betrayed feel raha hai. So, maybe you feel like dropping her at the orphanage is the best option but I know Vibha maa ki teachings won't let you take such a step. If you do then will regret it later. So, I thought to confirm it once. I am no one to make decisions for her life. Sorry for troubling you and making you go through all this once more. I am sorry but she is part of your family. I am no one to make decisions for her life.

(Mihika: Now you are hurt and feeling betrayed. So, maybe you feel like dropping her at the orphanage but I can't Vibha mom's teachings won't let you take such a step)

Vidyut sat there numb. Digesting all her words. She stood up from her seat and walked towards Vidyut. She rubbed his back. Sensing her touch, Vidyut came back to his senses and sobbed hard. Mihika hugged him and caressed his hair.

Once, he calmed down. She broke the hug and made him drink water.

Vidyut: Di ab?

(Vidyut: Now sister?)

Mihika (cupping his face): Tum batao tumhara man kya kar raha hai?

(Mihika: You tell me what's your wish?)

Vidyut (controlling his tears): Mujhe nahi pata bhabhi.

(Vidyut (controlling his tears): I don't know sister-in-law)

Mihika stared at him for a few seconds.

Mihika: If you don't wish to keep her with you. I will drop her at the orphanage. Don't worry. Want to meet her for once?

Vidyut wanted to say no but his heart was against him. Listening to his heart. He nodded.

Mihika: Main leke aayi usko.

(Mihika: I will bring her)

She left from cabin.

Vidyut's POV: Kya karu? Ye sach hai aaj maa hoti to usko apne sath rakhti. Even though Mr Rajput is someone we hate still vo bolti bachi ki koi galati nahi. To hum usko kyun saza de. Or saza bhi aesi ke duniya me akele chor de. Vo masoom ko pata hi nahi kaun apna hai ke paraya. Usko kyun saza de. Kya karu main?

(Vidyut's POV: What to do? I agree if Mom was alive she would have asked to keep with us. Even though Mr Rajput is someone we still still she would have said the baby isn't at fault. Why we are punishing her? Punishment is like leaving her alone in this cruel world. That innocent child has no idea of anything. What to do?)

After a minute or two, Mihika walked in with a little girl Ruhi. Vidyut saw her.

Ruhi was scared because of the new people and surroundings around her. Her scared face reminded him of his mother. The moment his father forced his elder brothers to go with him. His mother was scared to lose them.
Ruhi was holding a teddy and hugging him tight as if her life was dependent on him. Vidyut is the youngest child. He was in his mother's arms that moment. She was hugging him like that as if her life was dependent on him.
Her swallowed big eyes, red nose, tears-stained cheeks and messy hair. Because of crying a lot. Reminded him of his mother's state.

He closed his eyes, letting tears roll down his cheek, taking out his emotional pain.

Ruhi (mumble): Mujhe mumma ke pass jana hai.

(Ruhi (mumbling): I want my Mom)

Mihika and Vidyut heard her words.

Vidyut (mumble): Main kya karu di?

(Vidyut (mumble): What should I do sister?)

His phone rang. He took it and saw the caller ID: Dadi. He swiped up the blue button, receiving the call. Mihika knew Vidyut needed some privacy. She took the girl and walked out.

Shalini: Bache dinner ka time ho raha hai. Tu abhi tak ghar nahi aaya. Kaha hai?

(Shalini: Child it's dinner time. You aren't home yet. Where are you?)

Vidyut (sobbing): Dadi... (Grandmother)

Shalini (worried): Vidyut Bache kya hua? Tu ro kyun raha hai? Sab theek hai na?

(Shalini (worried): Vidyut child what happened? Why you are crying? Is everything alright?)

Vidyut: Dadi... Sarika... Sarika Rajput nahi rahi. Unki beti hai 7 years ki. Dadi mujhe samajh nahi raha main kya karu? Usko ghar le aau ya orphanage chor doon.

(Vidyut: Grandmother... Sarika... Sarika Rajput is no more. She has a 7-year-old daughter. Dadi, I don't know what to do? Shall I bring her home or drop her at the orphanage?)

Shalini gasped. She was silent for a few seconds.

Shalini: Vidyut... usko yaha le aa. Main manti hoon mere bete ne jo kiya galat tha bahut but beta vo masoom ki kya galati. Usko puri tarah main sambhalugi. Tum bhai mat lena koi zimedari bas usse tu yaha le aa. Dekh galati na uske baap ne ki. Uski kya galati? Hai to vo bhi mera khoon na.

(Shalini: Vidyut... Bring her here. I agree my son did wrong but what's the fault of an innocent child? I will take care of her. You don't have to bother yourself with her responsibility. You just bring her here. See, his father is at fault, not she. She too has my blood)

She explained. Of course, the battle which was going on between his heart and brain ended here. With his heart, his dadi too doesn't want to leave that little girl in an orphanage.

Vidyut: Okay dadi. (Okay grandmother)

Shalini: Haa mujhe pata hai tu mera sab se samajhdaar bacha hai par phir bhi bache. Us par gussa mat karna. Vo dari hui hogi. Choti si bachi hai.

(Shalini: I know you are my understanding kid but still don't be mad at her. She must be scared. She is just a kid).

Vidyut: Ji dadi. (Sure grandmother)

With this, he hung up the call. He sighed and walked out of the cabin. He saw the Ruhi and Mihika. Sitting on one bench. Mihika trying to feed her.

Vidyut cleared his throat. Mihika's attention turned towards him.

Mihika: Kya socha? (Have you decided something?)

Vidyut: Ghar le jauga. (I am taking her with me)

Mihika nodded.

Mihika: Vidyut... her name is Ruhi. Ruhi ye Vidyut bhaiya hai. Aap inke sath jaoge inke ghar. (Ruhi, he is Vidyut brother. You are going with him)

She introduced them.

Ruhi (sobbing): Mumma hai vaha par? (Mom is there?)

Mihika patted her cheek, not knowing what to reply.

Mihika: Tum dono wait karo main iska bag leke aayi. (You two wait here. I will bring her bag)

Vidyut nodded. Mihika went in. Vidyut stood there silently. He was staring at her.

Ruhi (requesting): Bhaiya mujhe mummy ke pass leke chalo, please. I promise main kisi ko tang nahi karugi. Bilkul masti nahi karugi. Chocolate bhi nahi chaye mujhe. Meri mumma chaye.

(Ruhi (requesting): Brother, please take me where my mom is. I promise, I won't trouble you. I don't chocolates or anything. I want my mother)

She sobbed. Looking at her condition. A flashback played in Vidyut's mind.

"8-year-old Vidyut crying in front of his mother's photo. He asked his grandmother and elder brothers to take him to his mother, ready to sacrifice anything to meet his mother."

****

Here is the prologue of my new book.

Do shower your love.

Shoutouts will be appreciated.