Here' the 52th chapter.
Enjoy reading.
"Mumma Mumma..."
"Yeh dekho maine dlawing bna li..."
"Ab aapki tuln (turn) hai... Aap bhi thank you wichh (wish) likh do...", Mimi said as she extended the card to her Anumaa.
Anokhi looked at it and her lips curled into a smile seeing the image.
A person's drawing was there on the page and she appreciated her daughter's drawing skills. She seemed to have the feeling that she had seen someone similar in real life as well. However, because it was a drawing, she brushed her thoughts aside.
"Mimi..."
"Yeh toh bhot achcha bnaaya hai aapne..."
"Unko bohot pasand aayega aap dekhna...", she said smiling.
"Laao... Mumma ko color do..."
"Aur aap bhi mere paas aao... Hum dono milkar thank you wish likhte hai...", she said, taking Mimi's hands in hers, and writing something on the top of the page as a wish for the person named "Laddoo".
"Laddoo ne aapki help ki thi naa... Isliye Mumma ne bhi unke liye ek achchi wish maangi...", she said after she finished it.
Mimi, who had fun writing it, exclaimed, "Woww Mumma..."
"Laddoo ko yeh bohot pachhand aayega..."
They both looked at each other smiling.
The following morning had arrived.
And Anokhi had arrived at the college with a present for him; it was his birthday today.
Though she was upset with how he had treated her the day before, but she didn't want to back down just for the sake of her Aastha Maa.
Aastha had called her last night to ask if she talked to her son, but she had lied to her because she didn't want to hurt her.
As a result, she decided to give it one last shot today, on his birthday.
As a birthday present, she had purchased a bouquet and a card with greetings written on it, which she would present from Aastha's side.
She had arrived early and rushed to his cabin, where she was relieved to discover that it was empty.
She hesitantly but quickly moved inside and up to his desk, seeing this as an opportunity not to face him.
She arranged the flower bouquet and placed the card on top of it.
She sighed, but as she turned around, she was on the verge of a heart attack.
She took a step back when she noticed him standing at the door.
"Ab mere gair maujudgi mein... Mere office bhi aane lagi ho tum...", he said staring at her.
"S... Sorry Sir...", she said nervously.
"You can leave...", he said as he walked in.
He was on his way to the desk when his gaze was drawn to the bouquet there, and he abruptly said, "Ruko..."
Anokhi, who was about to walk out, slowed down.
She turned around, terrified, as he approached the bouquet and picked up the card.
He took a look at it.
Happy Birthday Shaurya
- Maa
Anokhi stood behind him with a hopeful smile, thinking that he was happy, but what he did next proved her wrong.
With a wrathful expression on his face, he approached her and asked, "Kya hai yeh ?..."
"Kya sochke tumne yeh-..."
"Sir...", she interrupted.
"Yeh... Maine nhi..."
"Aapki Maa... Aastha Mam ne bheja hai...", she said with a hopeful smile.
His rage grew, and he said, "Yeh..." as he pointed to the card.
"Tumhaari handwriting hai...", he gritted his teeth.
Anokhi was taken aback on getting caught. She had hoped he wouldn't find out about it.
She immediately apologized, "I'm sorry Sir..."
"Main toh bas Aastha Mam ki taraf se aapko kuch dena chaahti thi... Kyunki unhe bohot bura lag rha tha ki vo aapke liye kuch nhi kar paa rhi hai... So... Isiliye maine socha ki aap-...", she was explaining to him, but paying no heed to her, he did something shocking.
He ripped the card apart and blew it on her, yelling, "Out!!..."
She was terrified and took a step back, but when she saw him enraged, she felt guilty for dampening his mood.
She walked up to him saying, "I'm so sorry Sir..."
"Main aapko dukhi nhi karna chaahti thi... Main... Mera vaisa koi intention nhi tha..."
"Voh...", she muttered, fidgeting with her fingers.
"Aaj aapka birthday hai Sir... Kam se kam aap aaj ke din apna mood kharab mat keejiye... Main... main chali jaaungi Sir..."
"Haan jaao !... Aur saath mein yeh lekar jaao !!!...", he yelled as he ruthlessly hurled the beautiful bouquet of flowers in her direction.
"Huhhhhh !!!...", Anokhi cried out in pain as she became its unfortunate target.
With trembling fingers on her cheek, she turned around and noticed blood traces on her finger tips when she brought them close to her eyes. Her eyes had become watery as a result of seeing the blood.
Meanwhile, Shaurya turned around when he noticed silence and was taken aback by what he saw in front of him.
With tear-stung eyes, she looked at her fingers and then at him, saying, "Yeh kya kiya aapne...", a lone tear escaped her eyes.
He looked on shocked.
"Aapne..."
"Aapne mujhe maara kaise... Ssssss...", she hissed in pain as her fingers brushed there.
"Maine jaanboojhke maara ?...", he composed himself as he approached her.
"Baat karna nhi jaante aap-..."
"Achcha dikhaao mujhe yaar...", he said as he took her hands in his to examine the wound.
"Nhi !!!...", she exclaimed as she wiggled her hands free from his grip.
Some tear drops came out of her eyes and her voice shivered as she said, "Itna gussa..."
"Kyuuuuun ???...", she said, her eyes welling up.
"Tumhe kya lagta hai maine jaanbhoohkar kiya... Haan ?!..."
"Dikhaao !...", he tried to peer into the bruise once more.
"Nhi Sir...", she said calmly, taking a step back.
"Please don't touch me..."
"Bas...", she said, motioning with her fingers that everything was over.
"Bas...", she took a small step back but fell down due to a twist in her leg.
"Hey!!!...", he screamed, sprinting to her side to grab her.
"Bas Sir...", she said as she slid backwards on the floor.
"Rehne deejiye...", she said, showing her palm.
"Aur nhi...", she said, averting her gaze to hide her tears.
He stood up, agitated, and turning back to her, who was still on the floor, he clenched his jaw saying, "Tum kya kar rhi ho idhar?"... Haan ?!..."
"Kyu aayi ho andar ?!!..."
She looked at him and slowly stood up, balancing herself.
"Main bhi aapse milne nhi aayi thi..."
"Main toh apni shakal tak nhi dikhaana chaahti thi aapko...", her eyes turned moist again.
He looked at her befuddled.
"Main toh bas yeh bouquet rakhke yaha se jaane vaali thi..."
"Aur tabhi aapne rokke... Mere oopar yeh phenk-..."
"Mujhe koi shauk nhi hai tumpe kuch phenkne ka !... Dimaag khraab ho gaya hai tumhaara ?... Yeh mera institution hai mera cabin hai mera office hai !!!... Jo bhi mujhe chaahiye main vo karunga..."
"Agar mujhe koi cheez pasand nhi hai toh use phenk doonga samjhi !!!...", he said, turning away from her angrily.
"Sirf office hi kyun Sir ?... Aap toh apne class se bhi jinko nhi chaahte unko baahar phenk dete hai Sir..."
With an unbelievable expression, he turned around to face her.
He shook his head saying, "I can't believe it..."
"Mujhe accuse kar rhi ho tum ??..."
"Aur kiski permission se tum yeh lekar aayi ho !...", he said, pointing to the flowers.
"Inhe phool kehte hai Sir...", she didn't back off.
"Lekin aap ise bhi deserve nhi karte...", she said, her eyes brimming.
"Aur... Ab... Main sorry hoon Sir..."
"Maafi maangti hoon...", she folded her hands.
"Kyunki maine aapse yeh expect kiya tha ki aap ek aurat ki emotions ko samjhoge... Jise Maa kehte hai..."
He averted his gaze.
"Lekin main galat thi..."
He turned to face her and said, "Bhaashan dena band karo..."
"Dekho ANOKHI... Tumhe lagi hai...", he said calmly.
"Main...", he said, looking around.
"First – aid kit...", he approached his desk in search of it.
She smiled sarcastically as he rushed up to her and slid the sofa towards her to make her sit so he could do the first aid and said, opening the lid of the box, "Baith-..."
"Thank you Sir...", she cut him off.
"Aapne apne birthday ke din..."
"Mujhe...", she said, touching her cheek only to find that there was still some blood seeping from it.
"Mujhe yeh gift diya..."
"Thank you so much Sir...", she said with watery eyes, and smiling, concealing the pain beneath it.
Shaurya looked on shocked seeing her smile, which he knew was a fake, instilling guilt in him.
She walked up to where the torn up pieces of the card that she had brought with hope, were lying.
She knelt down and began collecting those torn pieces with great sadness because, to her, those torn pieces were equivalent to broken pieces of her mother-like figure's heart.
Shaurya was seeing her quietly gathering the pieces.
On one hand, he wanted to go to her and collect those pieces, but on the other, his tough side wanted to stand silently there.
She stood up with the bouquet of flowers in her hand and walked away silently, not even looking at him.
While he stood there, agitated by what had just occurred a few minutes before.
Anokhi stormed out his office, outraged and hurt by the way she had been rewarded for her humane act. She was both upset and enraged.
Since it was break time, she headed towards the canteen to see her little daughter.
She was feeling depressed for what had just happened.
She walked inside, and Mimi came running towards her, smiling, "Mummaaaaa..."
Anokhi forced a smile on her face because she knew her baby couldn't see her sad.
Anokhi took her in her hands, and the next thing she knew, her daughter was in her arms, and her pain washed away. The angst she was experiencing had lost its way.
Mimi was smiling and about to tighten her arms around her Anumaa when she noticed the cut on her Anumaa's angelic face.
"Mumma !!..."
"Yeh kya hua...", her eyes misted as she touched there.
Anokhi flinched in pain, but held it back.
"Mi... Mimi... K... Kuch nhi hua hai...", she plastered her face with a smile.
"Nayi Mumma... Aapko... Aapko chot lagi hain... Aapko dald ho laha haina... Main... Main aapko davaai lagaaungi... Peeshh Mumma...", her voice shivered as she saw the blood clot on her Anumaa's cheeks.
Anokhi smiled and caressed Shona's face, seeing her reacting in such a way for such a minor cut.
"Mimi Shona..."
"Mumma sach mein theek hai..."
"Aap kehte hona Anumaa strong hai... Mujhe sach mein dard nhi ho rha...", she smiled faintly.
The real pain was in her heart, not in her injury.
"Mumma davaal laga legi... Theek hai ?...", she reassured Mimi.
"Plomish ?... Aap pkka davaai lagaaoge naa Mumma...", she extended her little finger.
Anokhi smiled as she extended her other hand's finger and interlocked it with Mimi's.
Mimi's lil finger was locked with her Mumma's, but she noticed that her Mumma's hand was occupied with something else too.
"Yeh toh flaaval (flower) hai Mumma...", her eyes twinkled as she saw them.
Anokhi's eyes fell on the bouquet and got reminded of his behavior.
She struggled to smile while saying, "Haan Mimi ... Yeh flowers hai..."
"Yeh kichhke liye hai Mumma..."
"Yeh... Vo... Yeh... Bas aise hi..."
"Yeh bohot chhundal hai Mumma...", she said, touching them.
"Mumma Mumma..."
"Main ek phool le loon ichh mein chhe..."
"Laddoo ke liye...", Mimi said innocently.
Anokhi looked at her with intrigue.
"Laddoo ke liye ?..."
"Haan Mumma..."
"Maine unke liye jo cald (card) bnaaya hai... Uchhke chhath de doon ?... Unko achcha lagega...."
"Awww..."
"Meri pyaari Shona...", Anokhi's heart melted.
Anokhi felt a little better when she realized that even though the person for whom the flowers were intended didn't respect it; that is, her intention of bringing the bouquet failed.
However, now there's a possibility that the a flower from the same bouquet will bring a smile to the face of someone who truly deserved it.
She felt happy thinking that nonetheless, the bouquet would be able to make someone named "Laddoo" happy.
"Yeh loh Mimi...", Anokhi said as she took a lovely flower from the bouquet and passed it to Mimi's tiny hands.
"Aap Laddoo ko yeh phool dena... Theek hai... Unhe vo card bhi bohot pasand aayega dekhna...", she said smiling.
"Theek hai Mumma...", Mimi placed a sweet kiss on her Anumaa's cheeks while holding the flower stem.
She stroked the petals with her tiny fingers, hoping that they would make her Laddoo happy.
The break was over, and Shaurya was in his cabin, dazed, recalling his actions towards her. He had no idea what was going on with him.
He was getting cranky just thinking about how she was silently collecting the ripped pieces and walking away without saying anything to him.
He didn't know why he dislikes it now when something happens between them and she leaves without retorting.
The most disturbing part was her statement of thanking him for inflicting wound on her.
When he remembered those words, a sudden flurry of sin washed over him, and in his deep thought, he had completely forgotten about his "princess".
His slumber was broken when he heard the voice of a nightingale.
"Laddoo..."
His eyes involuntarily travelled to the door, and there she was, his "princess, standing there looking at him intently.
"Princess...", his lips curled into a smile on their own as he noticed the little girl standing at the door with her smiley face.
He approached her without further ado.
"Princess..."
"Aap..."
"Aap yaha ?...", he peered outside to see if anyone was there, but to his surprise, no one was.
"Aap akele aaye ho yaha ?...", he asked, frightened.
"Nayi Laddoo..."
"Main toh Pinni Aunty ke chhath aayi thi... Vo muje yaha cholke neeche chali gayi...", she explained.
Shaurya heaved a sigh of relief listening to this and then he said, "Aaj aap khud aa gaye mujhse milne... Aapko meri yaad aa rhi thi ?..."
"Sorry princess..."
"Laddoo ko thoda sa kaam aa gaya tha...", he said sadly, lying, because the truth was that he was lost in someone else's thoughts.
"Koi baat nayi Laddoo..."
"Aap toh loj apna plomish poola kalte ho... Ichhliye aaj main bhi apna plomish poola kalne aap chhe milne aa gayi...", she said sweetly, melting his heart.
"Aap sach mein bohot Sweetu ho princess...", he bowed to her and stroked her hair.
Mimi giggled to this.
But then his attention was drawn to the fact that she was hiding something with her hands behind her back.
"Princess..."
"Aapke haath mein kya hai ?..."
"Kuch hua hai haath mein ?...", he asked, concerned.
"Nayi Laddoo... Lekin muje aap chhe kuch kehna hai..."
"Kya kehna hai ?..."
"Aap ek baal apni aankhein band kaloge ?...", she inquired cutely.
"Aankhein band karn hai ?... Lekin kyu princess ?...", he was perplexed.
"Aapke liye maine kuch bnaaya hai... Peeshh aap ek baal aankhein band kaldo Laddoo... Bachh ek baar plomish...", she requested.
"Okay Mimi..."
"Lekin aap pehle andar aa jaao...", he said as he held her shoulders and she took a small step forward, and he was smiling at the fact that this little girl was so enriched with manners that she didn't even try to enter without his permission.
He walked Mimi over to the sofa after closing the door. He got down on his knees and said, "Bolo princess..."
"Bolo princess..."
He took off his spectacles and said, "Main aankhein band kar rha hoon princess..."
"Yeh dekho... Theek hai ? ...", he closed his eyes.
"Haan...", Mimi smiled brightly.
Mimi took his large hands in her small ones after a while and placed a piece of paper with the flower there.
Shaurya sensed she was doing something with his hands, but he didn't opened his eyes for the sake of his princess.
"Ab aap aankhein kholdo Laddoo...", her soft voice came.
Shaurya opened his eyes with a smile on his lips and curiosity in his mind, and he was taken aback when his vision caught sight of the objects in his hand.
"Yeh aapke liye hai Laddoo...", she sweetly said as she looked at him.
With his heart overflowing, he looked at his princess, then back at the things in his hands.
A card with his "picture" on it, a message of "love" from his princess for him, and a "wish" at the top.
With moist eyes, he continued to look at it, taking in the image.
It felt like the best birthday present he'd ever received in the previous 30 years.
Even though he knew his princess had no idea it was his birthday, but it was no less than a heartfelt gift for him.
He was looking at it with teary eyes.
It was just pure love from his princess, nothing exaggerated, just simply beautiful.
And when he read the wish at the top of the card, he became even more teary-eyed, because the wish implied something he felt was impossible to achieve.
*Writer ki drawing😂😁 *
Little did he know that the person who wrote the wish would be the one to make it come true, and she herself had no idea.
He took the flower in his hands and gently caressed it with his fingers, feeling very blessed to have received such a lovely gift from his princess on his birthday.
"Princess...", he said softly as he cupped her face, and she smiled.
"Yeh... Yeh aapne..."
"Yeh aapne mere liye bnaaya beta..."
"Mere liye ?..."
"Itna pyaar karte ho mujhse ?...", his eyes were brimming.
Her smile faded as she noticed his watery eyes and she raised her small palms to brush them away.
Feeling the softness against his cheeks, he smiled closing his eyes, but what his princess did next, left him astounded.
He closed his eyes as her small nose and soft lips brushed against his cheek so softly like a feather.
When he could no longer feel the softness, he opened his eyes and placed his palm over his cheek, only to realize that he had been given a sweet smooch by his "baby princess".
With his heart warmed, he looked at her, who was standing before him, holding his face in her small palms.
His heart was fluttering as he remembered the moment that had just passed a fraction of a second before, and his cheeks warmed up as he remembered receiving the sweet kiss from his mini princess.
His cheeks flushed up and his lips quivered into a shy smile like a child.
He was overwhelmed when he realized how many surprises his princess had given him in a row.
But what drew his attention next perplexed him.
His princess was standing in front of him, but her lips were curved down, as if she was sad about something.
"Kya hua Princess..."
"Aap... aap mujhse naaraaz ho...", he couldn't decipher the meaning of that sad expression.
"Aapne mujchhe plomish kiya tha Laddoo... Ki aap nhi loge (roge)...", she lamented.
"Princess...", he said smiling, cupping her face, as he realized the reason for her sadness.
"Main... main ro nhi rha..."
"Yeh... Yeh toh khushi ke aansoon hai..."
"Aapko pta hai princess..."
"Yeh bohot achcha hai..."
"Bohot achcha lga mujhe..."
"Aaj tak kisine meri drawing nhi bnaayi... Aur aapne itna achcha bnaaya hai ki Laddoo khushi ke maare rone hi laga gaye..."
"Aapko chhach mein pachhand aaya Laddoo ?...", she inquired, her eyes bright with hope.
"Bohot pasand aaya Sweetu...", he caressed her face.
Mimi flashed her pretty smile listening to this.
"Thank you princess..."
"Yeh bohot achcha hai...", he said, lovingly caressing the card with his thumb with glossy eyes.
"Laddoo...", she called him.
"Hmmm princess...", he looked up at her.
"Aapko bula (bura) toh nayi lga maine aapko kichhchhi (kissi) di ?... "
"Meli Mumma bi agal loti haina... Toh main unhe kichhchhi deti hoon aul vo chup ho jaati hain..."
"Ichhiliye maine aapko bhi pyaali chhi kichhchhi de di...", she explained herself innocently.
Hearing his princess's puerile statement, that she was afraid of offending him, made his heart melt.
But how would he explain to her, that he felt something he couldn't put to words.
To give her the best answer, he gently bent his face close to her head and placed a gentle kiss there, which made Mimi's heart to jump with joy.
Shaurya expressed his love for his baby princess with this gesture.
"Laddoooooooo !!...", she held his hands in hers.
"Aapne bi muje kichhchhi di... Thank you Laddoooo !!!...", she was feeling overjoyed.
Shaurya smiled with his crimson cheeks when he saw her, but his heart was brrimming with happiness to see her happy.
"Laddoo..."
"Ek baat kahu ?..."
"Aap bula mat maanna peeshh...", she said cutely.
"Bolo princess...", he said softly, his gentle grip still on her face.
He anticipated her question, but what she asked caused him to leave his mouth agape.
"Laddoo..."
"Aapke gaal meli Mumma ki talah "shhoft - shhoft " nayi hai...", she said, her lips curving into a cute pout.
Shaurya's mouth dropped open as he witnessed the extreme cuteness with which she informed him that his cheek wasn't as soft as her mother's, and the reason for this was obviously his stubble.
Hearing the baby's cute complaint in front of him, his heart had melted to the point where he couldn't stop himself from hugging his princess.
"Meri Sweetuuuuuuu !!!...", he embraced his princess in his secure arms endearingly.
Mimi's pout had turned into a lovely smile, and the room was filled with sweet giggles.
They pulled away from the hug and both looked at each other smiling.
Shaurya looked down at the items in his hands and smiled again feeling happiness.
They say... JO TERA HOWEGA ZAROOR AAYEGA...
Likewise, the flower eventually found its way back to its rightful place...
How was it ?
Do tell me in comments 😊