It's winter evening, the cold winds are sending chills down his spine as he finds it hard to walk. His body was trembling, thankfully he has his friends who are helping him to reach his house but he's fearful of going to his own house. But he'll have to otherwise no one can save him from his father today except his mother. 

With some difficulty he reached his home, his friend rang the doorbell. Around a minute a lady in her late thirties opens the door and the guy almost falls but she holds him on time and saves him from falling. 

''Ansh!'' The lady panicked for her son. 

The lad is Ansh Shergill, the only son of ASP Vineet Shergill who's a dedicated cop. And the lady is his wife Anamika Shergill, she's a lawyer. Their son, Ansh is a school going boy and is 16 years old. He's the apple of his parent's eyes but today something happens because of which Ansh is fearful of his father.

Anamika pulls him inside and makes him sit on the couch, his friends stood at a distance. 

Anamika cupped her son's face to which he mewled in pain as the right side of his face was swollen, his right eyes were red and the imprint of fingers were clearly visible on his swollen cheek. It seems, someone has slapped him hard. 

Anamika fumed in anger, who had dared to touch her son. She's not gonna spare the person.

''Andh, beta ye kaise hua? Kisne kiya tera ye haal?'' Anamika questioned as her eyes turned teary to see her son in pain but Ansh didn't reply. 

''Ansh bata na, kisne kiya ye?'' She asked again but the result remained the same so she thought of calling her husband.

''Ruk, main tere papa ko call karti hoon. Wo pata laga lenge kisne kiya tere saath aisa.'' Saying so, Anamika turns to take her phone from the table but Ansh holds her hand with his cold trembling hand.

''Mumma nahi, please…  papa ko call maat karo..'' He cried, Anamika narrowed her eyes, she felt it was weird. 

''Haan, aunty uncle ko call maat kijiye, nahi toh wo aur gussa karenge!'' Ansh's friend says fearfully.

''Wo kyun gussa karenge?'' She asked. Ansh's friends exchange glances and look at Anamika.

''Kyunki… kyunki uncle ne hi mara hai Ansh ko!'' They told her, Anamika was shocked to learn the truth.

She turns to Ansh to question him but he falls unconscious. Anamika panicked, she sprinkle water on his face but it was of no use. She takes him in his room with the help of his friends and calls the doctor who arrives in no time.

The doctor did Ansh check up and told her that because of the pain he fell unconscious but she need not to be worried. The doctor prescribes some medicines and takes her leave. 

Anamika turns to his friends,''kya hua hai kuch bataoge tum dono mujhe!'' Anamika question.

''Kuch nahi hua aunty hum toh bas lonavala jaa rahe the aur pata nahi achanak se uncle kahan se aa gaye. Wo bahut gusse mei the aur unhine achanak se aa ke maar diya usse!'' His friends say Anamika finds it hard to digest but she knows her husband has anger issues. Maybe he was angry over something and Ansh became prey of his anger. 

She sighs, she needs to wait for him and talk to him, she can't decide anything on her own.

Ansh's friends leave the house while Anamika sits by his side. She caressed his head, she doesn't know why Vineet slapped their son but she finds it wrong. At Least he shouldn't be slapping him so hard, Ansh half face is swollen. She can't even imagine how much pain her son is going through.

She takes a deep breath and thinks to wait for her husband.

….

Around 8pm

Anamika was in her room talking over the phone with her client when a pair of hands rested on her waist, she first jumped at her place by the sudden touch but then recognised that it's her husband who had returned from his work. 

She finish her call and turns to him who pecks her cheeks, ''how was your day?'' He asked, smiling.

It's their everyday ritual to ask about the day when they are together.

Anamika shook her head,''thik thak'' she replied, he nodded and looked at her. 

''Kya hua, koi baat hai kya?'' She asked, sensing his hesitation.

''Naa, bas aise hi'' he says as he free her from his grip.

Vineet settled down on the bed and proceeded to remove his shoes.

''Ansh aaya?'' He asked not looking at her.

''Nahi toh, kyun?'' Anamika lies, she wants to know the truth and she knows Vineet won't tell her anything that easily.

Vineet instantly looked up at her,''wo aab tak nahi aaya, call kiya tumne usse? Pucha kahan hai?'' He question, she could see his expression turning to anger.

''Nahi, wo apne friends ke saath gaya hai na kahin ghoomne aa jaayega thodi der mei!'' She replies.

Vineet growls in anger and dials Ansh's number but Anamika snatches the phone from.his hand.

''Arey, tum call kyun kar rahe ho usse. Aata hi hoga thodi der mei, itna late toh chalta hai.'' She says.

Vineet glares at her,''tum rehne hi do. Tum yahan sochti hi reh jaaogi aur tumhara beta saari duniya ka kand karke baith jaayega, fir kahogi bacha hai. Lao mera phone!'' He taunts her and tries to snatched the phone.

''Excuse me, usse jaane ki permission tumne di hai meine nahi toh mujh pe chillane ki koshish bhi na karna samjhe.'' She shouts on him. 

''Mujhe tumse ladne ka koi shawkh nahi hai, phone lao mera.'' Vineet orders.

''Haam haan, tumhe bas bewajah maarne ka shawkh hai. Itni behremi se toh koi criminals ko nahi marta jaise tumne mere masoom bete ko maara hai.'' Anamika yells over him and throws his phone on the floor. 

Vineet was left stunned, how did she come to know that he had slapped Ansh.

''Ansh ghar aa chuka hai kya?'' Vineet asked, this time politely.

''Haan, aa chuka hai aur aab tak behosh pada hai. Mujhe pehle hi bacho ki baat ka vishwas kar lena chahiye tha, bewajah main aab tak tumhara wait karti rahi ye soch ke ki kuch baat rahi hogi lekin nahi tum ho hi aadh paagal. Main pehle bata rahi hoon agar mere bete ko kuch hua na toh case kar dena meine tumpe.'' Anamika shouted at the top of her voice and left the room.

Vineet watched her going and sigh deeply. She's already misled by the kids, great!

Yeah, he did slap Ansh and he hit hard but there was a reason behind it which his wife doesn't know. He understood her concern for her son but what Ansh did wasn't acceptable and so forth he ended up slapping him.

Flash back..

Vineet was in the Lonavala check post for a case. His informant told him that a drug paddler whom.he was searching from past two months was to sign a deal with an unknown guy in Lonavala. So, Vineet planned to catch him in the way itself. 

Vineet was checking a truck and interrogating the driver when some sounds attracted his attention. He tilted his head and found three boys sitting who were on the bike were arguing with the constable. Vineet headed to them as he found the constable wasn't being able to handle the boys.

As he reached close to them, he heard one of the guys.

''Dekhiye, aap mujhe jante nahi mere papa police officer hai unko pata chal gaya na aapne mujhe yahan aise roka hai fir toh aapki job gayi.'' The boy says, threatening the constable.

This anger Vineet, the guy is so mannerless his parents must haven't taught him anything or his parents are too upset of his behaviour that they prefer to be silent now.

As he reaches a little closer he notices cigarettes in their hands, the kids nowadays are too advanced and shameless they take up bad habits easily.

''Humei aapke papa ko janne ki jarurat nahi hai beta, aapne galti ki hai toh fine bharna hi padega.'' The constable says, at the same moment Vineet stood by the boys. 

The constable looks at him,''dekhiye na Sir, ye teeno ek toh ek bike pe teen log baithe hai upar se underaged hai, driving license bhi nahi hai aur aab ye mahasaye mujhe apne baap ki dhamki de rahe hai.'' He says, sarcastically glaring at the boys.

Vineet stood by the constable and asked the boys to remove the helmets but they weren't ready to. Forcefully Vineet removes the helmet of the first guy and is left shocked to see the person, it was Ansh, his own son and the other two were his friends.

Vineet gritted his teeth, his own son has broken the law. He's smocking at the age of 16, driving being underaged and above all he's using his name to get out of this, threatening the constable by using his name. 

''Papa… ye… ye jhooth bol rahe hai… meine kuch nahi kiya papa..main..'' Ansh says stammering, he puts all the blame on the constable as he throws away the cigarette. 

But Ansh was left shocked when he received a tight slap from his father such that blood started to ooze from the corner of his lips.

Ansh looked at his father in disbelief, his father just slapped him.for the first time in his life. Tears trickled down his eyes.

Vineet paid the fine and also took the bike under custody and called the parents of the other two and asked them to meet him tomorrow. Completing the process the constable left from there, Vineet turned to Ansh who was standing at a side holding his cheeks, his head hung down.

Vineet moves to him and lifts up his head,''chup chap bina koi aur harkat kiye yahan se ghar jana. Jab main ghar aayunga tab aage ki baat karenge.'' He jerks his face and leaves from there while Ansh and his friends headed to their home.

Flashback end..

Vineet sighs deeply and moves Ansh's room. 

As he entered the room he found Anamika sitting beside Ansh who's still unconscious.. Vineet takes his seat on the other side of bed, Anamika shoots him a deadly glare and turns away her head. He knows she's hurt and worried for her son but it wasn't his mistake, it was Ansh's mistake and that's why he slapped him.

He tried to hold her hand but she pulled back her hand.

Vineet sigh,''meri baat toh suno'' he tries to say but she cutted him.

''Mujhe nahi sunna, niklo yahan se. Jao apne police station kyunki tumhara ghar toh wahi hai yahan toh waise bhi sirf muh dikhane aate ho aur uss se bhi aab mann na bhara toh bewajah mere bache ko peet liya. Aab kya hai, jao wapas'' she shouts and again turns away her head.

''Arey yaar, tum ek baar suru hoti ho toh band hoti hi nahi. Ye ghar hai hamara, tumhara court jo chillaye jaa rahi ho tabse. Pehli meri baat toh sun lo ek baar.'' He rolls her eyes. 

Vineet helds Ansh hand,''lo dekho.'' He says, Anamika looks at Ansh's hand and then glares at Vineet.

''Tumhe kya lagta hai meine kabhi biske haath na dekhe hai jo dikha rahe ho!'' She says.

''Wahi na, sirf dekha hai kabhi gaur nahi kiya.'' He parted his finger,'' dekho jara aache se.'' Vineet exclaims as he takes his hand nearer to Anamika who narrowed her eyes when she noticed a dark spot between his fingers.

''Ye kya hai?'' She was confused.

''Nishan hai, aur aise nishan tab padte hai jab koi smoke karta ho, lagatar.'' Vineet exclaims but Anamika doesn't understand what he means.

Vineet holds her hand,''Ansh apne friends sang Lonavala jaa raha tha lekin kissi study tour pe nahi balki sirf wo aur uske do dost the aur wo apne kissi friend ki bike se jaa rahe the. Tum janti ho underaged hoke driving karne ka kya natija hota hai lekin inn sahabjade ko iss baat ki koi chinta nahi thi kyunki usse pata hai agar kuch hua toh usse bachane hum aayenge hi aur usne ye kiya bhi jab check post pe isse roka gaya toh isne mere naam ka use kiya bachne ke liye wo toh uska bad luck tha ki main bhi wahin tha.'' Vineet reveals, Anamika was shocked to know the truth. 

It takes her a few minutes to understand his words. She again looks at him,''okay, usne galat kiya main manti hoon lekin Vineet just look at him kitni jor ka maara hai tumne. Pura ek side sujh gaya iske face ka, aise maarna jaroori toh nahi tha na.'' She says as she looks at her son and moves her hand on his swollen face.

''I know, mujhe aise nahi maarna chahiye tha lekin uss samay Ansh ko constable se behes karte dekh fir wo ekdum se palat gaya toh mujhe gussa aa gaya. Agar usne galti ki toh usse maanni hogi uski galti, ye baat isse samajhna hoga ki uske mummy papa uska saath jaroor denge lekin jab wo sahi hoga tab, uske galat mei hum uska saath nahi de sakte Ana!'' Vineet exclaims, his voice was stern though calm. 

Tears slipped down from Anamika's eyes, she could never even imagine this in her dreams that she would get to know such things about her son. She thought him to be an innocent child but he's spoiled and they need to teach him and lead him on the right path. It's just the start and if they won't stop him now then he'll be out of control so it'd better to control him now.

They came out of their trance when Ansh moved in his sleep, it seems he was getting conscious. He opened his eyes and found his parents sitting beside him. He instantly snuggles towards Anamika, his eyes turned teary to see Vineet, just one slap has scared him to the core such that he's fearful of his father.

Anamika holds him in her arms, her son is still a 2 year kid for her. Ansh hugged her tightly, hiding his face in her shoulder, and he started to shiver again. Vineet feels pity for his son but he isn't able to control himself when he finds  his own son breaking law's.

Vineet places his hand on Ansh's back to which he snuggles more to Anamika.

''Ansh, babu aisa kyun kiya tumne. Tumhe pata hai na mummy papa kitna pyar karte hai tumhe fir bhi aisa galat kaam kiya, kyun bache?'' She questioned holding him close to her.

''Meine kuch nahi kiya Mumma!'' Ansh cried, he's scared of getting scolded or again slapped by his father who already has warned him.

Anamika parted him,''jhooth nahi bolte Ansh! Papa ne dekha na tumhe aaj, fir bhi apni galti nahi maan rahe. Ye toh galat hai na babu'' she tries to make him understand.

Vineet again places his hand on Ansh's shoulder, he looks at him fearfully and holds his mother's hand tightly while Vineet pulls him on his lap. He holds him in his arms but the boy refuses to look at his father. 

''Ansh.. Ansh, papa ki taraf dekho beta.'' Vineet  makes him look at him. Ansh looks at him with teary eyes.

''Papa.. Main aab kabhi kuch nahi karunga papa.. Main.... pakka wala promise karta hoon main kuch nahi karunga.. Mujhe… mujhe nahi maarna Papa please.'' Ansh cried, Vineet hugged him and caressed his back.

''Susss, papa kuch nahi karenge beta. You know na papa tumse kitna pyar karte hai, lekin jo aaj Ansh ne kiya wo galat tha na issliye papa ko gussa aa gaya.'' Vineet says calmly.

Ansh parts from him and looks at his father with teary eyes,''main aage se aisa nahi karunga papa, kabhi bhi nahi karunga.'' He promised him. 

Vineet rubbed off his tears,''bache, ye hum tumhare liye hi bol rahe hai. Abhi tum bahut chote ho aur smoking bahut galat chij hai, tumhari health ke liye kitna dangerous hai wo. Aab papa ko bura toh lagega na kyunki papa ke pass toh ek hi Ansh hai na, usko kuch ho gaya toh papa kaise rahenge akele.'' Vineet says meaningfully, whatever he did on the lonavala check post was a sudden reaction but he wants to make his son understand how precious he is to them.

Ansh just stared at him with teary eyes, he was guilty of his deeds and understands that his parent's loved him immensely. He's16 and his mother still feeds him by her son, his father gets him everything that he wants. When his parent's is doing so much for him can't he just keep them happy by being a good boy. They have many expectations from him and he shouldn't be upsetting them by inhabiting bad habits.

Ansh hugged his father hiding his face in his chest,''i'm sorry papa, i'm really sorry. Ansh aage se kabhi galat nahi karega.'' He exclaims, Vineet and Anamika smile at his words. Ansh realises his mistake and that's all what they want.

Vineet pecked his head lightly and makes him lay on the bed,''papa bhi sorry hai.'' Vineet says as his eyes fall on the swollen side of his face. 

''It's okay papa, wo meri galti thi aapki nai.'' He says to which Vineet smiles. 

Anamika covers him with the duvet and pecks his head,''tu rest kar main tere liye kuch leke aati hoon'' she says and descends down the bed. 

Anamika and Vineet left his room.

Outside..

Anamika instantly hugged Vineet, Vineet wraps his arms around her.

''It's okay jaan!'' He says knowing she wants to apologize for her behaviour. 

She looks at him,''aab Ansh pakka kuch nahi karega na Vineet.'' She asked 

Vineet cups her face,''thoda time toh lagega na usse wo sab chodne ko jo usne start kar di hai. Aadatein na ek din mei lagti hai na chodi jaa sakti hai, samay toh lagta hi hai. But i'm sure wo apni baat nibhaayega!'' Vineet exclaims confidently, Anamika just stares at him and wishes that his confidence in their son shouldn't break because it will break him as well. 

Her stare at him says it all, her teary eyes are so easy to read. He leaned on and pecked her lips assuring her that everything will be fine soon.

….

The end..

Life is precious, don’t make it anxious. Quit smoking.

Smoking is injurious to health; don’t give your life into hand of tobacco.

Don’t regret yourself, regret your bad habits and eliminate smoking.