Nikhil was staring at Bulbul blankly, he didn't know how to tell the truth to his daughter.
Bulbul holds his hand,''bataiye na papa, bhai ne yahan kyun call kiya tha? Kis baare mei bol rahe the wo?'' She asked, constantly looking at him.
''Wo.. Wo..'' Nikhil was tongue tied, he doesn't know what to say.
''Papa, kya hua hai. Bhai ne yahan call kiya, matlab unhe pata hai aap yahan ho?'' Bulbul question.
She waits for his reply but then jerks him when didn't receive any reply from him,'' boliye toh sahi papa, chup kyun hai aap?'' She jerks him again, his silence was worrying her.
''Haan, usse pata hai main yahan hoon. Aur, issiliye wo gussa hai ki main yahan aaya.'' He replies as his eyes fill with tears.
''Gussa hai par kyun, unko kya problem hai?'' Bulbul question confusedly.
''Kyunki usse lagta hai main kahin tumhe sach na bata doon.'' Nikhil says trying to control his tears from.rolling down his eyes.
Bulbul couldn't understand what he's trying to say,''kaisa sach, aisa kya hai jo aap humse chupa rahe hai papa.'' Bulbul question sharply.
Nikhil stares at her for a few good seconds and says,''yahi ki jo sign meine property ke papers pe kiye the wo galat the. Wo jabardasti saari property apne naam karna chahta tha par meine papers pe signature badal diya.'' Nikhil then told her how his son rake over the business and has destroyed it now. In the name of business he's doing illegal work and now he wants the house and other property to use them for his deals. He also added that after he signed the papers his son threw him out of the house.
Bulbul was left shocked at the revelation, her brother was always a nice guy but how come he turned so bad.
''Bhai aisa kaise kar sakte hai, wo itna niche gir gaye!'' She couldn't believe what his father just said. She looked at him and found him sobbing by now.
Bulbul makes him sit and brings water for him, Nikhil takes a few sips. Bulbul holds his hand, she understands what he is going through. He has worked hard for his business and now it's gone that too his own son snatched it from him and established some illegal business. His reputed business is corrupt now.
''Papa aapne humei pehle kyun nahi bataya ye sab, aap chup kyun rahe itne din.'' Bulbul questions as she feels they would have stopped her brother from doing bad if he could have told him earlier.
''Main kya batata tumhe, main khud bhi anjan tha iss sab se. Kuch din pehle jab main usse bina bataye office gaya tab pata chala wahan kya ho raha hai. Meine usse rokne ki bahut koshish ki lekin wo nahi mana. Aur fir main tumhe ya baki ko call bhi kis muh se karta, meine kabhi kissi pe dhyan nahi diya aur aachanak jab mujh pe musibat aai toh kaise call karta main. Khudki hi nazron mei main gir gaya tha gudiya!'' Nikhil breaks down in tears saying so, Bulbul hugs him and tries to comfort him though it wasn't easy but he has to forget everything now.
Flashback over..
Nikhil sobbed at his destiny, Viren held his hand.
''Aap aisa maat sochiye ki aapka koi nahi hai, main hoon na.. Nikhil looked up at him, Viren flipped his words. I mean, Bulbul aur Anu hai na. Aap akele nahi hai, sab aapke saath hai.'' Viren assures him.
Nikhil presses Viren's hand,''Thank you so much Viren, tumhari jagah shayad koi aur hota toh mere itne bure bartav ke badh kabhi mujhe apne saath na rakhta lekin tum waise nahi ho. Meri gudiya bahut lucky hai wo usse tum jaisa jeevan saathi mila hai, kash main tumhari ahemiyat pehle samajh pata toh shayad aaj haalat kuch aur hote.'' Nikhil says with some regretment in his voice.
Viren shook his head,''aisi koi baat nahi, galtiyan sabse hoti hai aur fir aapne jo kiya aapke hisab se wo sahi hi tha. Tab aap gusse mei the aur kuch hadh tak sahi bhi, apni beti ko kissi aise ke haath mei dena jiske khudke pass rehne ko apna ghar tak nahi wo koi samjhdari ki baat hai bhi nahi. Shayad aapki jagah hum hote toh hum bhi apni beti jisko humne itne naazon se pala hai uska haath kissi aise je haath mei na dete jo usse do waqt ka khana bhi uski pasand ka na khila sake.'' Viren exclaims, Nikhil just stares at him.
How easily he understands his feelings, and even forgives him or says he was never angry with him. How can someone be so gentle and kind hearted.
His daughter is indeed very lucky to find Viren as her soulmate.
''Agar main apni gudiya ke liye kahin ka rajkumar bhi dhundh ke lata toh wo tumhare jaisa nahi hota, in fact koi tumhare jaisa nahi ho sakta. Jitna pyar tumne usse diya hai shayad wo koi aur nahi de pata, main toh khair usse samajh bhi na paya. Aur aaj itne saalon badh bhi tumhe koi shikayat nahi mujh se ye dekh ke mujhe aur sharmindagi mehsus ho rahi hai ki kaise main tumhe pehchan na saka.'' Nikhil splutters as he gasps and joins his hand, Viren immediately holds his hand.
''Aap aisa maat kijiye please, aap bade hai humse. Aur waise bhi har family mei manmutaw hote hai lekin uss se rishtey tutte nahi. Humei toh khushi hai ki aap hamare saath hai aab hamari family bhi puri ho gayi. Jo ek kami thi wo aapne puri kar di hai.'' Viren says meaningfully. Nikhil was overwhelmed now, he can't ask for more, he has got a family again who are by his side and always will be.
He smiles at Viren who returns the gesture in the same manner.
Bulbul who was silent till now says,''uffo, kyun senti ho rahe ho aap dono aab. Chaliye khana khate hai thanda ho raha hai.'' She says and hands over them their food plates.
They took it smiling and the family had their lunch with little chit chat. The family is completed now and all they wish for is Anamika's well being as it is the only sorrow left in their life.
…
After having lunch, Bulbul cleans the table and asks Nikhil to return home but he refuses as he wanted to spend some time here with Anamika. After all he was away for a long time in fact he doesn't even knew about her existence so he just wants to be with her for sometime. Bulbul agrees as she and Nikhil move towards Anamika where Viren has already secured his seat beside Anamika.
Viren gazed at his daughter lovingly. He caresses her head and pecks her head lightly. Nikhil and Bulbul smile at this and secure their seat on the other side of the bed.
The sweet moment was disturb by the ring of Viren's phone. He checked the caller id and found that his manager was calling him.
Viren picks up the call and turns his face to the other side so that Anamika doesn't get disturb.
As Viren received the call, he was left tensed by what his manager said.
''Vikas, I already told you to manage everything. Meine kaha tha na mujhe call maat karna! Jo hai sambhal lo tum, main nahi aa sakta!'' Viren declares.
Nikhil and Bulbul exchange glances,''kya baat hai Viren?'' Bulbul question to which he shook his head negatively.
''Cancel it, agar wo nahi maan rahe toh na sahi. Main wahan nahi aayunga and that's final!'' Viren exclaims and cuts the call. He turned to the other two and found them staring at him.
Bulbul again asks him about the matter to which he sighs first.
''Nothing! Ek delegate hai jo mujh se milna chahte hai. Deal Vikas ne finalise kar li hai but aab wo mujhse ek baar milna chahte hai but it's okay, Vikas handle kar lega!'' Viren exclaims.
Bulbul and Nikhil exchange glances.
''Lekin Viren tumhe jana chahiye. I mean, Vikas ne deal bhale hi kar li but wo log Boss se milna chahte honge issiliye tumhe bula rahe honge. Ek baar ho aao na tum.'' Bulbul says in a convincing tone.
Viren shook his head,''Nahi, main kahin nahi jaa raha yahan se. Agar wo deal cancel karna chahe toh karde lekin main apni bettu ko chod ke nahi jayunga!'' Viren declares in a firm tone.
''Par Viren iss se kitna loss hoga tumhe aur rahi baat Anamika ki toh wo behtar hai aab pehle se aur main hoon na, Bulbul bhi hai. Jab tak tum nahi aate tab tak main yahin rahunga Anamika ke pass tum.tension maat lo.'' Nikhil assures him but all in vain, Viren was adamant at his place.
''Viren kyun zid kar rahe ho. Dekho kitne din se tum ghar tak nahi gaye. Meri baat maano, ek baar ghar chale jao aur fresh hoke office chale jana and believe me tab tak main yahan se hilunga bhi nahi.'' Nikhil says he tries his best to convince Viren.
Viren looks at him thoughtfully,'' Papa sahi keh rahe hai Viren, tum chale jao. Hum hai na yahan.'' Bulbul said supporting her father's statement.
Viren sigh and was about to say when he hears Anamika's voice. He turned his head and found her already awake. She was staring at him.
''Dad, i'm fine. Bilkul thik hoon main aab issliye aap ho aao office tab tak main mumma aur nanu sang rahungi.'' She says, holding her father's hand.
Now, Viren can't deny her words and so he agrees. He shook his head agreeing to her and after pecking her head he left the hospital.
….
To be continued.