Hemadri and Tarini enter the house with cat paws. They find the hallway empty and they head into their rooms. But they freeze in their tracks at a stern voice. The sisters glance at each other and turn towards the source of the voice. They find their dad standing before them.

"Dad- aap!" The girls exclaim in unison.

"Aap soye nahi, papa? Itni derr ho gayi hai. Kyun jaag rahe ho abhi tak?" Hemadri asks, gazing at her dad.

"Aapko toh dawai leke so jana chahiye tha. Abhi bhi weakness hai aapko." Tarini moves towards him, holding his hand.

"Haan, Dad! Aapne medicine skip ki?" Hemadri peers at her father.

"Han, skip ki medicine, kya kar logi tum dono?" Jayant looks at the girls.

"Dad, ye galat hai, abhi ek din ka medicine baaki hai, aap aise chhod doge toh kaise chalega?" Tarini looks at him.

"Achcha, aur jo tum dono shaam ki gayi hui aadhi raat ko aa rahi ho, wo sahi hai? Like those little elves from your fairytales! Kitni baar bola hai late ho jaye toh phone kar do, lekin nahi! Dono ko fursat nahi hoti apne dad ko call karne kii! Pata hai kitna pareshan ho jaata hoon main!?" He scolds them while the girls bite their tongues.

"Mujhe pata hai ki tum dono badi ho gayi ho, khud ko sambhal sakti ho, lekin ye kya behaviour hai tumhara? Maine kabhi kahin jaane se roka hai tumhe?" He asks and the girls nod negatively.

"Phir kyun ye bachpana karti ho tum dono? Agar dobara aisa hua toh main sach mein restrictions laga dunga. Soch lo!" Jayant looks at his daughters,

The girls' eyes widen when he mentions restrictions. Jayant has been open-minded with them. When they entered college, he allowed them to do anything they wanted to, and just asked them to inform him of their whereabouts. The girls have followed him obediently. But, now that they have cleared college, things have gone a little haywire.

"Restrictions, noo! " Hemadri shouts dramatically.

"Dad, aap aisa nahi karoge. Aapne kabhi nahi kia." Tarini tries to distract him.

"Ab karunga na! Aajkal tum dono meri koi baat maanti hi nahi ho! Ye late aana! Bina bataye kahin bhi chali jaati ho! Tara, tu bhi toh gayi thi na kahin apne doston se milne! Aur teri behen ko bhi jana tha. Kyun, thik keh raha hoon na main?" Jayant looks at him.

"Dad, this is the last time! Please aisa mat karo. Ye galti repeat nahi hogi, sorry." Hemadri rushes to his side, trying to convince him.

"Papa, sorry! Abse nahi hoga. Aaj sab log masti ke mood mein they isliye late ho gaye. Aur hume laga aap so gaye honge." Tara lowered her gaze.

"Hmm, aur tum dono usi baat ka fayda uthati ho!" Jayant pretends to be angry.

"Dad! Aap gussa ho jaoge toh kaise chalega? Sorry naa! Tara ne toh bola tha jaldi aane ke liye, lekin maine hi rok liya tha isey." Hemadri tries to convince him.

"Han na, vo Tanya ki vajah se late ho gaya." Tara aka Tarini, makes a face.

"Han Dad, please aap gussa mat ho. We love you." Both the girls held his hands and apologised.

Jayant smiles; he's been only pretending to scold them. Having his girls close to him has melted his anger and he embraces them in his arms. He kisses their heads and asks them to always be in touch with him. Not having them around had left him restless. Hemadri and Tarini make a promise not to worry their dad too much.

Jayant assures himself that his daughters are in their rooms and are comfortable. He then returns to his room and his gaze falls on his wife's picture on the bedside table. He picks it up as if, he's talking to his wife, about their daughters.

His daughters are surely his wife's replica and he's blessed to have them around. He lays on the bed with a smile on his face.

Life seems good for this little family.

*****

Vikram and his mother see off Vineet and his parents. As their moms, Vinita and Kavya engage into a last moment conversation, Gautam and Vikram are busily eye-talking. It's something they can't speak about, most probably, Vikram is reminding Gautam about their conversation about Vandana and his relationship. Little Aaryav catches them as Vikram asks his father to think about their conversation.

"Chachu, aap kya bol rahe ho?" He asks innocently.

"Kuch nahi! Tum jaao, apni seat pe jaake baitho." Vikram tries to distract the boy.

"Noo, pehle batao, aap kya bol rahe ho Papa se? Aap meri shikayat kar rahe ho? Main dadi ko bataunga." Aaryav chuckles and tries to get out of the car.

"Arey nahi! Kisi ko nahi batana hai." Vikram holds him and lifts the boy in his arms.

"Tumne hi toh bataya tha, ki kuch baatein secret rakhni padti hai, toh abhi ye baat meri aur tumhare dadda ki secret baat hai. Vo mera buddy hai na!" Vikram tries to persuade the little boy.

"Kaunsa secret? Kya chal raha hai tum dono ka? Sham se dekh rahi hoon, baatein hi khatm nahi hoti tumhari." Kavya looks at the boys.

"Kuch nahi, maa! Vo bas office ki baat thi." Gautam says looking at her.

"Pakka na? Tum dono pe na doubt ho raha hai mujhe." Vinita rolls her eyes at the boys.

"Mujhe bhi, Dadi. Papa toh Aaryav ko kuch nahi batate, abhi chachu bhi nahi batate." Little Aaryav makes a face.

"Arey, tujhe maine bataya toh, hum Sunday ko jayenge ghoomne." Vikram reasons, trying to convince the little boy.

"Pakka? Aap plan change nahi karoge? Main aur aap jayenge?" The boy asks excitedly.

"Han han, hum water park jayenge. Pakka promise." Vikram says and in the next moment, bites his tongue.

"Uff, chachu! Aapne secret kohl diya." Little Aaryav hits his own head playfully.

"Sorry, buddy! Ab toh khul gaya, par hum jayenge. Tere papa mana karenge toh bhi unko le ke chalenge." Vikram replies playfully, causing the boy to chuckle.

Soonish the two families bid goodbye to each other and Vikram and his Ma enter the house. The lady helps the housemaid in winding up the chores. Meanwhile, she finds that Vikram is thoughtful. She stands by his side and ruffles his hair.

"Kya hua? Kya soch raha hai?" She asks.

"Kuch nhi, Ma." He denies, he can't tell her the real thing, else, she'd be worried.

"Are you sure? I mean main dekh rahi hoon, tu kuch pareshan sa hai. Tu bata sakta hai na apni Ma ko." Vinita persuades him to talk.

"Ma, tum hamesha kehti ho na ki ek rishta dono taraf se efforts lagane se hi chalta hai. Toh agar koi ek effort nahi daale, toh kya karna chahiye?" He asks.

"Tujhe kya hua hai, Vikram?" Vinita is amused as he has asked the question about the relationship for the first time.

"Mujhe kuch nahi hua, bas mujhe laga ki puchna chahiye." He asks, making up a story.

"Rishtey toh 2 logon ke effort se hi khilte hain, Vikram. Kisi ek ki koshish se kaam nahi chalta. Jab aap kisi se pyar karte ho toh unse thoda pyar expect kar lena galat nahi hai. Kabhi kabhi apni khushi ke baare mein sochna bhi sahi hota hai aur uss rishtey ko tod dena bhi thik rehta hai." Vinita says while looking at her son.

"Are you sure, Ma?" He asks.

"Haan beta, jis rishtey mein khushi na ho, respect na ho, usme bandhne ka fayda bhi nahi hai na!" Vinita expresses her point.

Vikram smiles, it seems like he's got his answer. He immediately hugs his Ma, thanking her.

"Ma, you're the best! Aapne itni easily meri problem hi solve kar di! And the party! Bahut mazzaa aaya!" He says.

"Ye sab Gautam ka idea tha. Vo hi aaya the mere pas aur maine bas uski help ki. Tujhe usey thanks bolna chahiye. Chal, ab kaafi derr ho gayi hai, jaake rest kar. Kyunki kal subah phir tujhe office jana hoga!" Vinita says.

"Yes, Mom! Kal kuch zaroori kaam hai." Vikram says.

"Han, bas kaam hi kar! Maa ke liye toh time hi nahi hai tere pas!" Vinita mocks anger at her son.

He smiles, he further adds something that leaves the lady touched.

*****

When Gautam and his family reach home, little Aaryav is already asleep in his Grandma's lap. Gautam parks the car and lifts the boy in his arms while his mother unlocks the house.

Gautam is relieved as Vandana is not at home, he will have a peaceful night today. He moves into his son's room and the boy wakes up. Gautam helps him change and then puts him to sleep. Aaryav falls asleep in no time. Gautam kisses his head and walks out of the room.

As he walks out, he finds Kavya pacing in the hall. He walks towards her.

"Ma, kya hua? Kyun itni pareshan ho?" He asks.

"Vandana kahan hai? Abhi tak aayi kyun nahi?" Kavya asks.

"Maa, vo apni friend ke yahan rukegi. Tum kyun chinta kar rahi ho?" Gautam replies annoyedly.

"Beta, vo kuch bata ke nahi gayi." Kavya says, unaware of the argument Vandana and Gautam had.

"Ma, vo mujhe bol ke gayi thi. Main tumhe yahi batane aa raha tha. Tum bhi uski chinta kar rahi ho, jisko iss ghar ki chinta toh nahi hai." He remarks.

"Kya bole jaa raha hai tu?" She glances at her son.

"Wahi jo sach hai, ma. Khair main sone jaa raha hoon, aap bhi so jao." Gautam says.

Kavya wants to ask something but refrains herself; instead, she watches him disappear into his room while his words have left her thoughtful.

To Be Continued.

Stay tuned to know more. ❤️