Sun rays enter Vineet's room through the small gap between the curtains. He grimaces as the rays fall on his face and turns to the other side.

''Good morning Baby!!"

A sweet serene voice fell in his ear making him smile.

He opens his eyes, orange hue light has spread all over the room. She was lying beside him holding the sheet tight in her fist, her eyes closed a smile playing on her lips.

''Good morning!" He uttered removing the loop of hair from her face to get a clear view of her angelic face.

Her broad forehead, tiny thin lips, sharp jawline and smoky attractive eyes. He can never get tired of that face, he can see it all his life just sitting before her. He wants her by his side, always.

He snuggles to her, to feel her warmth, to hear her heartbeat. But as he snuggles she disappears in a fraction of moment leaving him disheartened and astonished.

He let out a deep sigh and caressed the bed.

''I miss you biwi!!" He expresses tears automatically making their way out of his eyes.

Why do destiny play such a game? Why is his fate so cruel to him? What was his mistake?

Vineet breathed out!!! He needs to stay calm, he can't let himself low and let others know his weakness.

Vineet leaves the bed and heads to the washroom. He freshens up and leaves the room. At the same time he heard the doorbell. He rushed to the door and opened it.

He was left astonished and shocked. He couldn't believe his eyes, tears rolled down his. He instantly snatched the little creature from the guests who just visited him. It's Saumya and Jaiswal with Akshit in her arms.

Saumya was shocked, Vineet was totally changed, he looks like a goon more than a normal person.

While Vineet cries out loud holding Akshit close to his heart. He hadn't thought that he would ever meet his son,he lost all hope to get him back but he's here in his arms and he can't control his emotions.

''Mera bacha!!" He cries, little Akshit panicked and cries stretching his arms to Saumya while Vineet refuses to let him go. 

''Jeeje wo darr raha hai!!" Saumya told him as she held Akshit's hand to comfort the boy.

Manvi came out of her room hearing the noise. Jaiswal saw her approaching them, he was left stunned to find her at Vineet's place.

''Manvi!!" He exclaims, stunned.

He rushed to her,''Manvi tum yahan kaise?? Kahan chali gayi thi tum?? Tumhe pata hai main kitne tension mei aa gaya tha?? Wo Raghu bhi choot gaya jail se!! Manvi bolo, tum yahan kaise pahuchi??" Jaiswal questions her in a breath.

''Aap mujhe bolne denge tab main bolungi na!" She says Jaiswal makes a face and apologizes.

Vineet's loud sobs again reach her ears. She also hears Saumya's voice and immediately recognises her. Manvi was confused and surprised to find the couple out here.

''Ye fir kyun ro rahe hain!?" Manvi questions.

''Aaj bahut khush hai wo, itna ki khudko sambhal nahi paa raha!!" Jaiswal exclaims gazing at Vineet, he knew this would happen.

Manvi asks the reason but Jaiswal headed to Vineet who was by now sitting on the couch while Akshit was in Saumya's arm who's beside him. He couldn't take his eyes from his boy, his tears were uncontrollable.

Jaiswal patted his shoulder, Vineet looked at him and held his hand.

''Jazs, mera bacha!! Mera bacha!!" He cried, Jaiswal caressed his arms.

''Kahan the Vineet?? Jaane kab se hai hum tumhe dhundh rahe hai, koi khabar nahi mili tumhari, Kahan the??" Jaiswal questions him as he sits beside him.

Vineet doesn't reply, his attention was on his son who refuses to look at him and was holding Saumya tightly, hiding himself with her dupatta.

''Ye mujhe dekhta kyun nahi Saumya? Kya ye mujhe bhool gaya?" Vineet asks her, his face turning pale with each passing moment and Akshit's behavior towards him makes him glum.

Saumya looks up at him,''Nahi, aisa nahi hai. Wo bas aapko pehchanta nahi paa raha hai, aap badal hi itne gaye ho. Dekho, kya haal bana rakha hai aapne apna, kaise pehchane ye bacha aapko?'' Saumya expresses her point.

Vineet moves his hand on his face. Yes, he's changed. His beard has grown too much, his hairs are messed up. Vineet immediately runs to his room. He can't let his son forget him, he can't afford to lose him.

''Mumma!!!" Akshit calls Saumya, she patted his head assuring him that she won't give him to anyone.

''Ye kaun hai?" Manvi questions finding an opportunity.

''Ye yahan!?" Saumya was stunned.

''Haan, Manvi tumne bataya nahi tum yahan kaise?'' Jaiswal put up his question.

''Wo.. Mujhe Vineet ji yahan laaye!!'' She told them.

''Kya?? Vineet ke saath!! Kahan mile tum!?" Jaiswal asks, stunned.

''Saumya!!!" Vineet shouts as he rushes to them.

He looks much different now. His face clean shaved, hair properly cut and combed. He almost changed himself in a fraction of moments.

Saumya smiles at him, Akshit too looks up to the newcomer. This time he doesn't hide away but stares at him.

Vineet sits beside them and tries to hold him. Akshit shouts finding the guy approaching him, Vineet's face falls.

Saumya calms the little boy and asks him to go to Vineet, he shakes away hiding himself in her arms.

''Rehne do!! Shayad usse ek don din lagge mujhe pehchane mei, main intezaar kar lunga. Aaj usse dekh liya, itna hi kaafi hai mere liye. Bhale hi wo mere pass nahi aana chahta par mere pass toh hai na, itna hi kaafi hai!" Vineet states gazing at the boy with teary eyes.

He doesn't mind if the boy is not recognising him. He's happy to get him back when he thought he would never see him again. He can't express his feelings, his emotions. His tears refuse to stop.

Saumya finds it hard to see him in such a condition. She can't even convince the boy, he's just two and can  understand things.

Little Akshit looks at Vineet who's crying while staring at him. He stretched his arm and rubbed off Vineet's tears with his tiny hands making him cry out more. Vineet holds his tiny hand and cries out his heart.

Jaiswal rushed to the other side finding it hard to control himself. He feels a presence around him, he turns and finds Manvi. Ohh!! She's asking him about Vineet and his worries. She seems worried and curious.

''Jaiswal ji, bataiye na kya baat hai. Kal raat ko bhi Vineet ji apne kamre mei bahut ro rahe the aur abhi bhi tabse ro rahe hai. Kya baat hai?'' Manvi questions him again.

She was not just curious but also concerned for Vineet.

''Aaj usne mahino badh apna khoya pyar paya hai. Usse dekhne ko jane kabse tadap raha hoga, aaj milla hai toh kaise roke khudko.'' Jaiswal expresses.

It confuses Manvi,''main kuch samjhi nahi aap kya kehna chah rahe hai?" Manvi says.

Jaiswal looks at her, how can he tell her about Vineet and his story. Though he can trust her also she is the one who's helping him indirectly. She is the eye witness in Anamika's case, he can tell her the truth.

''Akshit!! Wo Vineet ka beta hai Manvi!!'' He told her giving her shock as Jaiswal had told her that the little guy is Anamika's son.

''Anamika Vineet ki wife hai aur Akshit unka beta hai!'' Jaiswal clarifies her confusion.

''Fir wo aab tak kahan the?? Hum ye case ladd rahe the aur Vineet ji kabhi aaye hi nahi, kyun?? Aur aapne toh kaha tha Anamika ki koi family nahi hai, fir ab ye?" Manvi questions, she was very confused now. How is it possible for anyone to not participate in helping his wife to get justice? Why wasn't he there? Why did Jaiswal lie to her?

''Manvi mujhe nahi pata Vineet aab tak kahan tha, meine khud usse aaj dekh hai. Aakhri baar bhi jab dekha toh issi tarah toota tha aur aaj bhi waise hi paya usse bas fark itna hai tab dukh ke ansu the aur aaj khushi ke.'' Jaiswal let out a sigh completing his sentence.

Manvi was still confused, she had thousands of questions bubbling in her head.

Jaiswal makes her sit.

''Kabhi kabhi kuch cheezein hamari control mei nahi hota. Vineet ko kabhi meine itna dukhi nahi dekha par pichli baar aur iss baar dono hi waqt wo itna rooya hai ki shayad kissi ko yakeen na ho ki ye wahi Vineet hai jo logon ko hansata rehta tha!!" Jaiswal exclaims stealing glance of Vineet who's trying to hold Akshit.

''Pichli baar?" Manvi asks, Jaiswal breathed out.

He gazes at Manvi and says something that left her shocked and spellbound.

....

To be continued…