Sachin was shocked to hear something. He looked on and found Ruhana talking with her friend. He sighed and turned to the other side, found his mother talking to Ruhana's father.

“Dekhiye, humne aapko jo zimmedari di hain, usey nibhaiye. Lekin apni beti ko hamare bete se door rakhiye. “ she said angrily.

“lekin maharani, sach aap jaanti hain.. Wo dono hamesha saath rehte hain. Unhe hum alag nahi kar sakte “ he said.

She looked at him sternly…

“hum jante hain hamare bete ke liye kya sahi hai. Aap hame mat samjhaiye. Unhe yahan rakhna hamari majburi hain. Aur usey aapko saunpa. Lekin ab usey samajhna hoga. “ she said sternly and left.

Sachin was shocked.

“Ye maa ne kya bola? Majboori? Kyun wo ruhana ko humse door karna chahti hain? Aisi kya baat hai jo hum nahi jaante? “ he was confused, when Ruhana nudged him sprinkling water on him.

He managed to smile… “hum chalte hain bahut derr ho gayi hain. Aap apna khayal rakhiyega. “ he patted her cheek and left from there, while Ruhana shaked her head and hugged her father.

“baba...sachin bhi na… pata nahi kab kya bolte hain… kuch samajh nahi aata. “

Her father smiled and kissed on her head..

“ab aap so jaiye, bahut raat ho gayi hai. “ he said.

She smiled and left.

Next morning…

Angel opened her eyes with her phone buzz. She checked the time it was 8 o’clock of morning. She freshened up and moved downstairs. She saw Vineet and his family on table having breakfast. His mother was pampering him like a kid. She smiled painfully as She never got this love and attention from her family. She quietly left the place. She reached near the river in the jungle.She sat there with legs in water. She had silent tears in her eyes.

“Vineet ke mom dad kitne ache hai. Aur mere  unhe toh yeh bhi nahi pata ka unki beti hai kahan. Wo log aise kyun hai.Unke hote bhi akeli hoon main.” She was crying and tears falling down. Meanwhile She saw a hand grabbing her tears. She turned to side and saw Sachin there. She looked at him with teary eyes. She turned her face to other side..

“Aapko kya hua hai?” Sachin asked.

“It’s none of your business. just get lost.” Angel shouted badly at him. Sachin smiled.

“ Lagta hai bahut gusse mein hai aap. Aap chahe toh humein bata sakti hai.” He said politely.

“Haan main tumhe bataungi and you will.make fun of me.” She was in no mood to listen.

“Har kisi ki zindagi mein kuch na kuch toh hota hai par agar takleef na aaye toh zindagi zindagi nahi lagegi.” Sachin said.

“Haan lecture dena aata hai sabko. Jab maa baap ke hote huye bhi anath ke jaise rehna pade na tab pta chale.You know what mom dad ko bas apne status business in sabse matlab hai. Mujhse nahi. Unko.toh yeh bhi nahi pata ke unki beti is waqt hai kahan. Maa baap hai mere par unka sath.unka pyar nahi hai mere paas.” Angel cried badly.

“Aapki maa aur baba aap ko waqt nahi dete hai isi wajah se aap ro rahi hai.” Sachin asked.

“Ab kya likh ke doon. Ek baar mein bola samajh nahi aata.” She shouted badly at him.

“Acha maaf kijiyega.” Sachin said.

“You know what mujhe yahan baithna hi nahi hai aur na tumse baat karni hai.” Angel said while getting up. Sachin held her wrist and pulled lightly. Which she dashed to his chest. She was confused. He lost in her. Both were looking at each other.

He removed the hair strands from her face to clearing the view. She shivered bit when he touched her face. Both separated with some noises.

Both were looking in opposite directions in embarrassment. Both were silent.

“Aapke maa baba hai yeh hi bahut badi baat hai. Sochiye jinke nahi hote unka kya. Aapko ek achi  zindagi mili sirf unki mehanat ki wajah se. Shayad wo jis jagah pe ho woh unhe bahut mushkil se mili ho aur wo na chahte ho ke aapko bhi utna sangharsh karna pade.” Sachin said.

“Pyar toh nahi karte na mujhse.” Angel said.

“Jtate nahi honge par pyar har maa baap apne bache se karta hai. ab aap rona band kijiye aur achi si muskaan layiye chehre pe.” Sachin said tickling her. She started laughing.

“Sachin bhukh lagi hai.” Angel made pout.

Sachin laughed at her.”hum toh aapko phal hi khila sakte hai.” He said.

“Toh le aayo na.” She said like a kid.He smiled and left to bring the fruits.

Angel smiled.”Kitna bhola hai yeh.Na shal na kapat na koi fareb na koi naklipan.He is so real and innocent.I really like him.” She was thinking about Sachin but her trail of thoughts were broke by a voice.

“Angel aap yahan?” A feminine voice echoed her ears.

“Ruhana tum.aao na.” Angel smiled broadly to see her.Ruhana sat beside her.

“Aap yahan kya kar rahi hai?” Ruhana asked with some kind of fear in her eyes.

“Kuch nahi mood kharab tha.gusse se nikal aayi ghar se aur yahan puhnch gayi.” Angel said.

“Mood?” Ruhana raised her eyebrow.

Angel made irritated face.” Ab mood ka kya batau.haan main dukhi thi.”She said.

“Kyun?” Ruhana asked worriedly.

“Ab main theek hoon.Sachin hai na usne mera mood ek dum fresh kar diya.” Angel said with a little blush on her face which didn’t go unnoticed by Ruhana. She grew worried.

“Kya hua Ruhana? Kya sochne lagi”” Angel asked .

“Kuch nahi..Sachin aapko kahan mil gaye?” Ruhana asked.

“yahi jab main ro rahi thi.” Angel replied.

“Aap bahut bholi hai Angel.Aap yahan mat aaya karo.” Ruhana said which made Angel confuse.

Meantime Sachin came.”Yeh lijiye aapki bhukh ka ilaaj.” He said while keeping fruits in her lap.

“Ek baat batao yeh tum log mujhe aap aap kyun kehte ho.Budhi hoon main”Angel glared at both of them.

They laughed.”Hamare yahan sab aise hi baat karte hai.Sabko aap hi bolte hai.” Ruhana said.

“Par Sachin tum mujhe aap nahi bologe.I am feeling budha with this..” Angel complained like a kid.

Sachin smiled.” Theek hai hum aapko (Angel glared at him) Tumko aap nahi kahenge.” He said.

Angel pulled his cheek.”That's like a good boy. you are such a darling.” She said.

Sachin smiled but seemed confused.”tumhari aadhi baatein toh humein samajh nahi aati.” He said.

Angel just smiled and started eating fruits.

“Sachin aap yahan kya karne aaye the?” Ruhana asked.

“hum yahan se gujar rahe the.Inki rone ki awaz suni toh aa gaye.” Sachih replied.

“Aap inhe samjhate kyun nahi hai? Na aaya kare yeh yahan?”Ruhana gave him a look.In reply Sachin too gave her a look.

Ruhana sighed and left immediately.

“Kyun nahi aana chahiye mujhe yahan? Baat toh aise karte ho jaise ki tum log koi insaan nahi bhoot pret ho.aur yahan bhoot preto ka dera jo mujhe kha jayenge.” Angel said and broke into laughter.Sachin lost in her laughter.He came out of thoughts with Vineet’s voice.

“Tu yahan hai? Main tujhe kahan kahan dhundh raha hoon.”He said while hitting Angel head lightly.

“Main bas yunhi aa gayi.Tu uncle Aunty ke sath busy tha.” Angel smiled.

“Sidha bol ne apne boyfriend se milne aayi thi.” Vineet nudged her.

“Actually.” Angel winked at him.Both were laughing whereas Sachin was confused.

“Aap kya baat kar rahe hai?”Finally Sachin asked.

“Kuch nahi...Vineet ki lagta hai ki kaun yahan tujhse milne aayi hoon.”Angel said.

Sachin smiled.

“Acha Sachin ab hum chalte hai.” Vineet said while getting up.

Angel looked at Sachin once.She hugged him tight.”Tum bahut ache ho.” She whispered in his ears.Sachin smiled and too wrapped arms around her.Her touch generated a sensation through him.Some feelings were bubbling in his heart.Vineet coughed which made them apart.Angel smiled shyly and left with Vineet.

..

Sachin was still sitting there.He was smiling while thinking about Angel.Meantime Ruhana came there.She was looking at him with some tension.Tension lines were visible on her face.

“Sachin unki taraf akarshit ho rahe hai. Yeh sahi nahi hai.hamara aur unka koi mel nahi hai par Sachin ko yeh baat kaise samjhaye.Kahan wo sheher ki padhi likhi ladki aur kahan yeh is jungle. Maa ko pata chala toh. Nahi humein ihne  samjhana hoga ki jo raah inhone ne chuna hai wo galat hai.wahan siwaye barbadi ke kuch nahi milega.” She sighed.She was throwing pebbles in.water like Sachin.Both were in thoughts and the reason was same Angel.

To be continued..