Rajveer paced around in his room. He knew he shouldn't have kissed Ananya. But he also knew that the moment wasn't about Ananya. It was about Naina. Anger about what Naina did. Missing Naina too much.  Missing the love he had become habituated to in the last few years. She knew..She knew how much he had always wanted a daughter. What had happened that she did not even tell him that she was pregnant. Was she scared he would not agree or was it some health issue ? Rajveer's head was throbbing with all this thinking. He wanted answers and nobody was there to give him any.

******

"Hey Annaya" said Gunny.

"Maj Randhawa. What can I do for you Sir ?"

"Please, call me Gunny. I am here to meet Rajveer."

"He is not in yet, but he'll be here soon." said Annanya. 

"Hmm...fine, Any coffee in this place ?" 

"There is a coffee machine in Raj's cabin. I ''ll show you."

"So..Annanya, Where are you from ?" asked Gunny leaning sexily against the wall, stirring the coffee.

Annanya who was about to leave, turned. "Chandigarh" she answered.

"Oh really, I went to college there. Chandigarh University. You ?"

"Xavier's."

"Wow...so the rumors are true..The most beautiful girls all go to Xavier's."

Annanya smiled uncomfortably. Was this major flirting with her ? Why ? The last time they met, he hardly looked at her.

Rajveer came at that moment inside.

"Hi Rajveer...was waiting for you." said Gunny.

"Sorry, I am late" said Rajveer, looking at Annaya who was decidedly looking down.

As Ananya left, Rajveer turned to Gunny. " I think someone is watching me." 

"What ?" asked Gunny. " Did you see someone ? Raj..I told you...not to reopen this case.."

"Arre...par mere paas kuch hai bhi to nahi...no proofs, nothing. Toh mera peecha karke milega kya ?"

"Well, they must be thinking you have something. That's why the case is reopened. "

"Hmm..Gunny...when Naina was working with you, did she take a leave for a few days, in June ?"

"I think so. Let me check my mail."

As Gunny opened his phone...Rajveer said " 9 th June ?"

"Yaa..9th and 10th. "

"Did she say why she was taking the leave ?"

"No. Why are you asking all this ?"

"Aise hi..tum log June tak mission ke bas starting point pe the right ?"

Gunny looked at Raj for a full minute before answering. " Yaa..We dint have much then... Ok, I have to go. You take care. "

Gunny left in a hurry.

*******

"Annanya" called Rajveer as he stood awkwardly at her desk.

Annanya stood up.

"Dekho Annanya...I m really sorry about yesterday. I was at a weak moment and...I...I...was not in my senses.."

"Raj...you dont have to apologize. May be you were not in your senses but I was...and I allowed it..so..its not your fault."

Rajveer stared at her

"I like you Raj...a lot actually..." she said looking down.

"Annanya..." Rajveer closed his eyes.

"I know...it's too soon for you. You have recently lost someone very special in your life....but I want you to know..I m not looking to take her place...I just want to have some place in your life...just want to be with you. I know it is not going to be easy for you, but I am willing to wait.  Think about it."

Saying this Ananya left. Rajveer leaned on her desk, tired. 

******

"Papa" called Naveen.

Rajveer woke up with a start. " Bacha. kya hua ? aap soye nahi ? "

"Papa..acha nahi lag raha ."

Rajveer touched his forehead. It was slightly warm. Naveen was coughing too.

"Ajao, papa ke paas so jaoge..sab theek ho jayega. " Making sure Naveen was warm and comfortable, Rajveer laid beside him, patting his forehead. 

Rajveer looked at his sleeping face. People called him a mirror image of Rajveer. Naina would get so irritated whenever someone mentioned it. 

"Log kya andhe hai...Mera beta bilkul mujh jaisa dikhta hai..."

Rajveer wondered if his second baby looked like him too.

*********

"Ananya..I 'll be late today. Naveen ko bukhar hai." said Rajveer. He cut the call and changed the towel on his son's head.

"Rajveer..pareshaan mat ho...I m here na. Tum jaa sakte ho kaam pe...Atlantic city mein shaya kuch zyada hi bheeg gaya..isiliye sardi ho gayi...he'' ll be fine." said Naina's mom.

Rajveer looked at her.

"Rajveer...deko na isse..kitna ,bukhar hai..chaliye hospital le chalte hai" said Naina , in an almost crying voice.

"Kya..thodi pehele tak theek tha ye" said Rajveer looking at the 1 year old in Naina's lap. " Temparature kitni hai ?"

"99 degrees"

Rajveer stared at her. "99 ? Naina..Tumhe pata hai na..normal human body temp 98.6 hai ?"

"Haan..par yeh toh usse zyada hai na...Rajveer hasiye mat...mein yaha itni pareshaan ho rahi hu..."

"Par kyun Naina..he is fine."

"Rajveer...mere bete ko thodi bhi takleef ho, mein yeh nahi dekh sakti."

"Nai ma. It's ok. I 'll stay ."

**********

Naveen twisted and turned in his bed. Rajveer tried to get him back to sleep, but he just wouldn't.

"Papa...mummy chahiye." cried Naveen.

Rajveer looked at him helpless. "Arre beta, kya chahiye..dekho meine soup bilkul tumhari mummy ki style ki banaya hai..thoda peelo."

"Nai chahiye" said Naveen. 

"Acha toh, mein aapke liye woh story read karu, jo mummy karti thi. " asked Rajveer.

"Nahi..papa..mujhe mummy chahiye..unko bulav na" yelled Naveen.

"Bacha...meine aapko samjhaya na..mummy bhagwan ke paas chali gayi..mein usse nahi bula sakta."

"Kyun nahi ? " asked Naveen stubbornly.

Rajveer got up from the bed. " Meine kaha na...ab bas..koi sawal nahi...chup chap so jao." said Rajveer sternly.

Naveen turned to sleep. As, Rajveer moved out of the room, he heard Naveen sob.

*****

At night, Rajveer tried to make the soup again. He adjusted it several times, but was not at all getting it to taste as Naina's. Giving up, he closed the container and went to check on Naveen. He was successful in getting Naveen in a better mood and after a hot bath, Naveen was feeling slightly better. He even drank the soup with no complaint. After putting him to bed, Rajveer went down to the kitchen Not in a mood to eat  dinner, he poured himself a bowl of the soup.

One spoon was enough to tell him that it was not the same soup he made. He put down the soup in shock.

"Maa.." he called out " Kya aapne soup ko theek kiya ?"

"Nahi beta..mein toh kitchen mein gayi bhi nahi..."

Rajveer wondered if his mind was playing tricks on him.