Daksh was in the airport, waiting for Avantika. He was very much tense, by the news of her sudden arrival. He was impatiently waiting for her when he received a call from his mother. He picked up the call.. 

'hello' he said, his eyes still fixed on the passengers who were passing by him.

'Daksh kaha ho tum, Avantika aa gayi hai aur tumhara kuch pata hi nahi hai.'' Shakshi said from the other side, Daksh gets shocked by the news.



'kya?? Main toh airport par hi hoon, fir wo ghar kab chali gayi?? Daksh asked, his tension level increased.

' nahi dekha hoga usne tumhein. Aab toh wo aa gayi hai, tum bhi jaldi aa jao.'saying so Shakshi ends the call.

Daksh grew worried, he ran to his car immediately, he needed to reach home as soon as possible before Avantika spilled out the beans to Shakshi. 

Settling himself in the driver seat, he drove towards his home, not wasting even a second.

But his bad luck, he got stuck in the traffic. By every passing second his tension was increasing. He hit his hand on the steering wheel, a small memory flash before his eyes.

... 

It was a pleasant day. Avantika has returned from the USA after completing her studies. Vineet and she were talking in the hall.

'itni patli kaise ho gayi?? Hostel wale aache se khane ko nahi dete the kya?? Vineet asked, gazing at her.

Avantika gave him a look,

' kahan patli hui hoon.. Main toh pehle se bhi jyada moti ho gayi thi, issliye dieting karni padi 'she replied making faces. 

Vineet smacked her head

' waah beta.. Hum tujhe USA padhne ke liye bhej rahe hai ya dieting ke liye?' Vineet asked.

Avantika glare at him but let it go,

' wo sab choro na bhai. Ye batao mumma aur Big. B kahan hai 'she asked.



Vineet sigh, ''mom apni friends ke saath kedarnath aur vaishno devi darshan ke liye gayi hai, kuch dino mein wapas aa jayengi. Aur Daksh Delhi gaya hai, do - char din mein wo wapas aa jayega aur apne saath kissi ko le ke bhi aayega.' he said excitedly.

Anamika gaze at him,

'kisko le ke aa rahe hai Big. B.. Lekin kisko? she asked confusedly.



' jab wo layega tab dekh liyo 'he replied smiling broadly and winked at her.

' nahi na bhai, please abhi batao na.. Kisse le ke aa rahe hai wo 'she asked impatiently.

' nahi, nahi, nahi.. Meine uss se promise kiya hai ki main kissi ko nahi bataunga iss baare mein aur main apna promise todta nahi 'he exclaims.

' huhf.. Koi mujhe kuch nahi batata.. Main mumma se aap dono ki complaint kar dungi 'she said which made Vineet laugh.

' arey, wo aa raha hai, fir pata chal hi jayega. Thora sa patience rakh le, uska aane ke badh toh ghar mein sehnaiya bajegi 'Vineet said happily.

' sehnai.. Matlab Big. B hamare liye bhabhi le ke aa rahe hai 'she asked to which vineet nodded positively. '' O my god.. O my god.. Big. B bhabhi le ke aa rahe hai ' Avantika started jumping like a five year kid out of happiness 



' dekh tu Daksh ko maat batana ki meine tujhe sab bata diya hai.. Tu aise react karna jaise tujhe kuch pata hi nahi hai 'Vineet said convincingly, she nodded positively.

' thik hai, main unhe iss baat ki bhanak bhi nahi padne dungi ki mujhe sab pata hai 'she said, smiling ear to ear.

Vineet slapped on her shoulder,

' battishi dikhana band kar, warna usse aise hi pata chal jayega ki kuch gadbad hai. 'he said.

' aap is baat ki chinta na karo, unhe kuch pata nahi chalega 'she assured him.

' bhai, main toh bhabhi se milne ke liye  bahut excited hoon.. Bhabhi kaisi hongi. Mujh se toh intejar nahi ho raha 'she said impatiently.

' aab dekha toh meine bhi nahi hai, aaj tak sirf sunna hai. Unhe dekhne ke liye toh main khud bhi excited hoon 'he added.

' bhai. Bhabhi ka naam kya hai 'she asked.

Vineet was about to say when a loud voice hit his ear drum.They turn and find an angry Daksh standing at the door.. 

' Daksh /Big. B!'' both vineet and Avantika said in unison.

Daksh moved towards them.. 

' tu toh do - teen din badh aane wala tha na, phir aaj kaise aa gaye 'Vineet asked,  Daksh didn't reply, he kept on moving towards them.

' hamara surprise kahan hai. Dekh aab mujh se aur naa chupaya jayega, main sab ko batane ke liye bekarar hoon 'Vineet said impatiently but Daksh was silent.

Daksh stood in front of him, he stared at Vineet sharply, ''kyun kiya tumne aisa. Kyun kiya 'he shouts.. 

Before vineet could say anything, Daksh slapped him hard. Vineet and Avantika were left shocked as Daksh had never shouted at them, he has always been very caring . And today, he slapped Vineet.

' Big. B, ye aap kya kar rahe ho 'Avantika said, barging in between them. Daksh pushed her aside and held Vineet's collar.. 

' tu mere saath aisa kaise kar sakta hai. Meine kabhi sapne mein bhi nahi socha tha tu kabhi itna niche gir jayega. He again slapped him. Teri wajah se wo mujhe chor ke chali gayi, saare rishtey tod diye mujh se. Char saal se hum saath the aur teri wajah se aaj wo mujh se alag ho gayi 'he again slapped him, this time Vineet fell on the floor. He was shocked by his brother's accusations

' meine kuch nahi kiya hai.. Believe me, main aisa kyun karunga 'Vineet tries to explain, in reply Daksh slaps him again.

Avantika pushes him and shouts. 

' aap paagal ho gaye ho kya?? Kyun maar rahe ho vineet bhai ko 'she shouted angrily.

' tu bich mein maat bol choti.. Chup chap apne room mein jaa'' Daksh ordered

' nahi.. Main kahin nahi jayungi 'she shouts. 

Daksh holds her hand and locks her in a nearby room. Vineet came from behind , he pushed Daksh aside and unlocked the door, Avantika came out and hugged him crying out loud. Seeing her one brother accusing and beating the other has scared her.

' shhh, chup ho ja 'Vineet consoles her

Daksh makes them apart, his anger was on peak. He held vineet collar and dragged him towards the gate. Avantika followed him, she was trying hard to stop Daksh. 

' Big. B ye kya kar rahe ho aap, choro vineet bhai ko 'she pleads and holds his hand in order to stop him but Daksh jerks her hand.

He threw Vineet  out of the house and said,' aaj ke badh kabhi yaha aane ki koshish bhi maat karna. Mom ko main samjha dunga ki unka sirf ek beta hai 'he said angrily.. 

Avantika tries to go towards Vineet, but Daksh holds her hand and doesn't let her go.. 

' bhai please aisa maat karo.. Vineet bhai ko ghar se maat nikalo 'she joined her hand in front of him and pleaded, Daksh didn't pay attention to her words.. 

' Meena (their maid) 'Daksh shouts.. 

She came running' jee bhaiya 'she said, scaredly, seeing Daksh in anger has scared her as well.

' Avantika ka saman le ke aao, ye US wapas jaa rahi hai.. Abhi 'he declares looking at Avantika.. 

' main kahin nahi jayungi 'she shouts, crying.. 

' tu jayegi, aur ye mera aakhri faishla hai 'he ordered.

' aap hote kon hai faishla lene wale 'she shouts..

' Iss ghar ka malik, ye ghar mera hai, yaha wahi hoga jo main chahunga 'he  shouts back.

Meena came with Avantika's luggage. Daksh dragged her to the car and forcefully made her sit inside. He turned to vineet, who was sitting in the ground, and crying.

' meena, ghar aache se band kar lena aur kissi ko ghusne maat dena. Avantika ko flight mein bithane ke badh main bhi London chala jayunga. Jab mom aaye mujhe call kar dena.. Samjhi' he said loudly.. 

'jee bhaiya' the lady replied in a low tone.

Daksh sat in his car and left from there leaving Vineet.

... 

Beep beep.. Beep beep

Daksh heard the horn of the car blowing.. He came into reality and realised he was at the traffic point. People are blowing horns. 

He started his car and dozed off towards his home.

.... 

...

Daksh entered the house with heavy steps, he was sure that Avantika must have burst out everything in front of Sakshi..

He entered the hall and found Avantika talking to Sakshi and vineet. They look serious. Sakshi saw him entering, she stood up and moved towards him. Daksh looked at her fearfully, his throat dried up. He was sure that Avantika had told her everything and now his mother will surely slap him for his deeds.

Sakshi approached him and said, 'kahan khade the tum jo isse dekha nahi..  Aur Ye Itna paseena kyun aa raha hai tumhe' she wiped his sweat with the pallu of her saree..

'nahi bas.. Garmi ki wajah se' he said and sighed in relief..

 'Sukra hai, Avantika ne kuch bataya nahi. Par mujhe uss se baat toh karni hi hogi' he thought, Shakshi shook him.

'kya sochne laage' she asked.

'nahi.. Kuch nahi.' he replied.

'chalo' Sakshi said and moved towards Vineet and Avantika. Daksh followed her.

Anamika and 'Vineet were talking and laughing over something, Daksh interrupted in between.

'chhoti' Daksh called her. She turned to him, her face fell  seeing him.

'mumma, main bahut thak gayi hoon.. Room mein jaa rahi hoon main' she said and turned to go when sakshi said.

'arey aapne bhai se toh milti jaa.. Tujhe lene airport tak gaya, aur tu uss se bina baat kiye jaa rahi hai.' sakshi said.

Avantika turned to her and said,

'main toh aab yahi hoon na mumma aur bhai bhi kahan jaane wale hai.. After all ye unka ghar hai, wo kahin kyun jayenge.. Hai na bhai' She taunts him and leaves from there without waiting for any answer. Daksh let out a deep sigh.

'isse kya ho gaya' sakshi thought.

'Main bhi chala aapne room mein' Vineet said and ran to his room, Sakshi too left from there. 

Daksh moves towards Avantika room, he needs to talk to her. He can't let her tell the truth to their mother who's a heart patient, he can't afford to lose her.

... 

He approached her room and found the door of her room locked from inside. He knocked on the door. 

'kon hai' she asked from inside.

'main hoon, Daksh.. Tujh se baat karni hai choti, Darwaja khol' he requested.

She didn't reply nor she opened the door.

Daksh again knocked and said. 

'ek baar meri baat sun le, fir jo chahe karna' he said, again she didn't reply.

'beta, ek baar meri baat sun lo..Darwaja khol do, Please' he pleads.

This time she opens the door and moves toward the window and stands there. He followed her and stood beside her.

'jaldi boliye aapko kya bolna hai' she said, without looking at him.. 

He looked at her and said.. 

'itna naraz hai apne Big. B se. Ek baar dekhegi bhi nahi meri taraf..' he said painfully and held her hand but she jerked away his hand.

'aapko jo bolna hai boliye aur jaiye yaha se. Kyunki mujhe aapse baat karne mei koi interest nahi hai' she said angrily.



He sighed and looked at her, 'kyun aayi tum yaha?? He question directly.



Avantika turned to him sharply,

' ooh, toh aapko iss baat se problem hai. Fikra maat kijiye aap, bahut jald chali jayungi main yaha se, Mumma ne mujhe phone karke bulaya issliye sirf issliye yaha aayi hoon. Warna uss din jaise aapne mujhe nikala diya tha, uske badh main yaha kabhi nahi aati' she replied harshly, emphasising on each and every word.



'mom ne tumhe call kar ke bulaya?? Par kyun?? He asked confusedly.



' aapki wajah se. Vineet bhai ki tabiyat itni kharab hai aur aap unhe kya hua ye batane ko taiyar hi nahi. Issliye mumma ne mujhe bulaya hai, taki main aur mumma kissi aur Doctor se bhai ka ilaz karwa sakke.'' she reveals, Daksh was left shocked.

'what?? Daksh shouted, '' Vineet ko kahin aur le jaane ka sochna bhi maat'' he ordered.

'kyun naa le jaaye? Aap toh sach bata nahi rahe. Aur hum vineet bhai ko aise nahi chor sakte' she shouts.. 



'dekh, jis cheez ka tujhe pata nahi hai, uss ke baare mein maat bol. Vineet ko kahin aur le jaane ka matlab hai mom ko saara sach pata chal jayega jo meine pichle teen mahine se chupai rakha hai.' Daksh said, trying to make her understand his point. 



'sach.. Kaisa sach??' she asked confusedly, but Daksh didn't reply.

'bhai bolo' she shouts. 

'Vineet apni yaad dash kho chuka hai.. Pichle ek saal ka usse yaad nahi' Daksh replied finally.

Avantika was dumbstruck to know this.

'Kya bola aapne, Vineet bhai ki yaad dash chali gayi. Aur aapne ye sab mumma se chupaya. Aap aisa kaise kar sakte ho, mumma se itni badi baat kaise chipa sakte ho' she shouted at him.

Daksh shook his head,

'ye sab meine mom ke liye hi kiya hai. Tu aache se janti hai mom ko heart problem hai agar unhe ye sab pata chala toh wo bardast nahi kar payengi. Issliye ye sab unse chupa ke rakha hai meine' he said. 

'par ye sab hua kaise aur kab??? ' she asked, still in shock.

'ussi din, Jab main airport pe tha  tab mujhe Dr. Mathur ka call aaya ki vineet Mumbai - Pune highway pe behosh milla hai' he reveals.

Avantika raged to hear him,

'ye sab bhi aapki wajah se hi hua hai. Agar aap uss din unhe ghar se naa nikalte toh ye sab hota hi nahi. Bina kuch soche aapne unhe itna maara aur ghar se nikal diya. Ek baar bhi ye jaan ne ki koshish nahi ki, ki sach mein unhone kuch kiya bhi hai ya nahi. Bas nikal diya ghar se 'tears bream in her eyes.

 ''Jaroori toh nahi jo aapko pata chala wahi sach ho, dhokha bhi toh ho sakta hai. ''

She sits on bed. 

''Kitne khush the hum dono ki aap bhabhi ko leke aaoge, hum dono kitne excited the unse milne ke liye.''

She looked up at him.

''Aur aapne kya kiya, apna rishta tutne ka zimmedar thera diya unhe.Aakhir wo kyun aapka rishta todenge? ''She question through tears.

' kyunki jalta hai wo mujh se, usse jalan thi ki main apni life mein aage badh jayunga aur wo akela reh jayega, meri khushi uss se bardast nahi hui 'Daksh exclaims, hatefully.

' baas bhai chup ho jao. Aap vineet bhai ke baare mein aisa sochte ho main nahi janti thi. Main aur nahi sun sakti aapki bakwas.Chale jao yahan se chale jao. ''She shouts.

'tu maane ya na Maane, sach yahi hai' saying so, Daksh leaves the room... 

... 

To be continued..