Anamika feels relaxed when she finds Ansh in the hotel corridors. She takes a promise from her son, that he won't go anywhere, alone. Vineet also apologises to Anamika, since, it was his fault as well. He should have taken care of the boy. Anamika also apologises, she realises that she has over reacted, but it's not wrong. Anyone else at her place would have reacted that way. Even Vineet agrees with her, and he comforts her saying the same. Anamika feels his voice, very painful. She tries to ask him but he diverts her mind, and they discuss the project. Ansh is busy in watching television. Anamika and Vineet are working, when Ansh barges in front of them.
"Mumma! Bhook lagi hai.." he says cutely.
Anamika asks him to eat the biscuits, while Vineet checks the watch. It's almost 8 PM. It's been 3 hours since they are working. He looks at Anamika.
"I think ab hume dinner ke liye jana chahiye." he says.
Anamika looks at him. She's feeling tired, too much, to go into the hotel restaurant.
"We can order here na?" she asks.
"Nahi mumma! Bahar jayenge. Dekho na kitni sundar lights hain" Ansh chuckles.
Anamika looks at her son, and finds him looking out of the window, and the street lights in London are eyecatching and beautiful. Ansh runs towards Vineet.
" Uncle, mumma ko bolo na, bahar jayenge. I promise, main aapke sath rahunga. Please uncle." Ansh requests him, and Vineet can't deny him.
"Acha thik hai. Agar aapki mumma nahi jayengi toh bhi hum dono chalenge." Vineet says.
"Par fir mumma hume dantegi." Ansh says innocently which makes Vineet and Anamika smiles.
"Main kyun nahi jaungi, mujhe bhi toh bhook lagi hai." Anamika eyes them at which both Ansh and Vineet giggle.
"Toh chalo na." Ansh says holding Anamika's hand.
Anamika smiles and they move down into the hotel restaurant. Ansh asks for Italian Pasta, and they order some Indian cuisines. They have the dinner, and all the while it's Ansh who's talking, making the other two smile at times. After the dinner, Ansh looks at Vineet and Anamika.
"Chalo na! Bahar ghumte hain." he says.
"Ansh, kal subah ghumna. Abhi late ho gaya hai na!" Anamika says.
"Nahi na, abhi Chalo. Ansh ko lights dekhni hain. " the boy says.
" Zyada door nahi jayenge, Anamika. Chalo, chalte hain." Vineet says.
Ansh chuckles on hearing Vineet, he holds his hands and move towards the entrance. Anamika smiles, she has no other choice than to follow the two boys. She finds Vineet showing different things, lights, and stars to the little boy, while the latter is chuckling every now and then. She smiles, wondering, how well they have got along. She is lost in her own thoughts, when there is a tap on her shoulder. She turns to find Vineet, who's holding Ansh in his arms. The boy is asleep now.
"So gaya? Isliye mana kar rahi thi main! Laiye dijiye! " Anamika says extending her hands to hold her son in her arms.
" tum chalo, I am fine." Vineet says,maybe he is feeling at peace while embracing the boy in his arms.
They head back to the hotel, and up to their rooms. Anamika opens up the room while Vineet lays the boy on the bed and kisses his head. As he turns to go away, he finds that Ansh is holding her hand. He smiles to himself and gently frees his hand from the boy's grip. He looks at Anamika.
"Tumhe bhi aaram karna chahiye. Kal subah 11 baje hamari meeting hogi." Vineet says.
"Han, I hope we will succeed." Anamika says.
"We will. Ab tum aaram karo." Vineet says and moves towards the door when her words urge him to turn back.
"Aapne mere sawal ka jawab nahi diya." She says.
Vineet turns back at her. He remembers how he comforted Anamika.
"I understand Anamika. Ansh mein toh tumhari jaan hai, aur main, main apna sab kuch kho chuka hoon. I am sorry, main Ansh ka dhyan nahi rakh paya."
His trance is broken by Anamika.
"Aapne kuch nahi khoya hai Vineet. Jis tarah se aap rehte hai usey, khud se bhaagna kehte hain. Kab tak bhaagenge aap khud se?" Anamika asks.
"Anamika please, mujhe is baare mein koi baat nahi karni." Vineet says.
"Agar aap apne dard ko apne seene mein hi chhupa ke rakhenge toh kuch thik nahi hoga Vineet. Main janti hoon, jo aapke sath hua wo bhulana aasan nahi hai, lekin usse bahar toh nikalna hoga na!". Anamika says while looking at him.
" Mujhe nahi nikalna uski yaadon se bahar, samjhi tum! " Vineet says.
" Lekin isse aapko takleef hi ho rahi hai na, aur shayad Ruhana ji ko bhi. " Anamika says.
Vineet looks at her. Maybe, she's right. She has said this before as well. Even Ruhana used to say that his happiness is hers as well.
" Jab aap Ansh ke sath khush reh sakte hain, toh aage kyun nahi badh sakte. Main jaanti hoon aap Ruhana ji se bahut pyar karte hain. Lekin uske liye khud ko sabse door rakhna, udaas rehna, kyunki wo aapki zindagi mein nahi hain, ye kahan tak sahi hai? Bataiye na! " Anamika says.
" Ruhana, wo mera wajood thi. Aaj VK industries ka jo naam hai, wo sab uske wajah se hain. Wo hi thi jisko mere kaam se, meri khushi, meri udaasi se farak padta tha. Ruhana ne hi mujhe ye himmat di thi ki main ye business shuru karu. Uska hi vishwas tha ki ye acha hoga, jo ki hua bhi. Ye sirf meri mehnat hi nahi, Ruhana ki mehnat bhi hai. Agar wo na hoti, toh aaj main aur mera ye business bhi na hota. " Vineet says softly.
" Jab jeene ki wajah hi nahi hai toh aage badhne ka kya fayda, Anamika? " He says and looks at her.
Anamika is stunned and touched, at the same time. She's well aware that Vineet dearly loves his late wife, and can't imagine his life without her. But life must go on. And he should learn this fact. She looks at him and finds him teary eyed.
" Unki yaadein toh hain na. Aapke yun akele rehne se Ruhana ji bhi toh khush nahi hongi. Kehte hai na, jo log zindagi se chale jate hain, wo aakash mein se bhi hume dekh rahe hote hain. Aur jinse hum pyar karte hain, unhe dukhi nahi dekh sakte." Anamika says, trying to make him understand the fact.
" Aur wajood kabhi nahi mitta, Vineet. Ruhana ji aapka hissa hain aur hamesha rahengi. Na koi unhe mita sakta hai aur na hi unki jagah le sakta hai. Naye log aapki zindagi mein jagah bana sakte hain, lekin wajood nahi mita sakte." Anamika looks at Vineet.
Vineet sighs. He casts a look at Ansh and then Anamika which doesn't go unnoticed by Anamika. She knows her son is affecting him, bringing him back to life, to an extent.
" Jaise Ansh ne aapki zindagi mein jagah banayi hai, waise hi sabke liye raaste khol dijiye, Vineet. Ruhana ji aapke sath nahi hai, lekin aapke dil mein toh hamesha hi rahengi na. Sochiyega zaroor meri baat ko." Anamika finishes her statement with a light smile.
Vineet is grounded in his thoughts, he doesn't know what to reply, so he leaves to his room bidding goodnight to her. While Anamika watches him go, wishing that he understands her points.
To Be Continued.
Will Vineet understand what Anamika wants to explain to him??
Stay tuned.