Bhor

By the time they reached, it was already noon. Little Akshit was asleep in his mother's arms.

Jaiswal paid for the taxi and they headed inside. As Jaiswal had already informed the house help about their arrival, the house was neatly cleaned and their rooms were set. A lady leads them inside, she familiarizes the two strangers - Vineet and Manvi with their rooms and asks them to freshen up. While Jaiswal and Saumya too headed to their rooms.

Saumya made her little one comfortable on the bed and caressed his head. Her little one may have to leave her in a few days and she can't stop it after all Vineet has more right over him.

She let out a sigh and looked up hearing her name. It was Jaiswal calling her.

''Kya hai, kyun itni jor se bol rahe ho? Dikh nahi raha tumhe bacha so raha hai.'' She scolded him, and he apologized.

''Aab bolo bbi kya baat hai.'' She spoke, heading towards him.

''Mujhe lagta hai tumhe Vineet se baat karni chahiye, so kuch jyada hi react kar raha hai. I know usee gussa hai un logon ke liye par iska matlab ye toh nahi so unke jaisa ban jaye. Haan, unn sab ko saza toh milni hi chahiye par uska ek proper tareeka hai toh fir kyun khudko khatre mei dalna hai. Wo meri baat sunta nahi, tumhari maanega please uss se baat karo.'' Jaiswal verbalizes his point before his wife because he knows only she can convince Vineet.

''Main kya bolu unko? Apni jagah pe Wo bhi sahi hai, kaise roku fir unhe. Haan, unka tareeka galat hai par iss waqt unhe apni baat hi sahi lagegi. Itne jyada gusse mei hai ki sabki baat unhe galat hi lagegi unhe, sochenge sab unhe rok rahe hai air wo rukenge nahi. Kuch waqt unhe wise hi rehne do, jab gussa shant hoga tab baat karenge unse shayad tab hamari baat samajh aaye unhe. Tab tak ke liye unhe chedo maat, let him recover.'' Saumya says she understands the pain Vineet is going through. As even for Saumya it's hard to accept the reality of her best friend then how can she expect Vineet to act normal, he can't and she doesn't blame him for the condition.

Jaiswal nods, maybe in these few days in Bhor, Vineet may change his mind or they can try to convince him. Jaiswal doesn't want his friend to suffer anymore but if he breaks the law he would be definitely punished by the court which he (jaiswal) doesn't want.

''Bas wo gusse mei aa ke koi kadam na utha le. Manta hoon usse dukh hai, Anamika ke liye dukh mujhe bhi hai par..'' Saumya interrupted in between, Jaiswal looked at her.

''Yahi fark hai, tumhe dukh hai aur unke liye ye card nasoor ban chuka hai. Wo chah ke bhi iss chij ko bhula nahi sakte, haan ye main bhi nahi chahti ki wo kuch galat kar jaaye par iska bhi koi bharosha toh nahi ki tunhara ye court unn logon ko saja dee paaye. Ye toh tumne bhi dekha hi na kaise Manvi ko jhootha sabit kar diya tumhare court ne jabki ye baat wo bhi aache se jante hinge ki galti toh unn logon ki hi hai. Kya guarantee hai aab unko saja milegi, aab toh Manvi already jhoothi sabit ho chuki hai aur Jeeje ki baat koi maanega nahi, fir kya yoga!?'' She questions him, her voice turns rough.

''Tum itna negative kyun sochti ho, hum firse try karenge aur iss baar unko saza dilwa ke rahenge.'' Jaiswal assured her.

Saumya doesn't seem to be convinced but lets it go knowing their talk would turn into an argument and she doesn't want it.

....

9 pm

The small family gathered for dinner. Vineet stretched his arm for Akshit, his little one immediately leaned towards him. Vineet held the boy and pecked his cheek receiving the same treatment from him.

Jaiswal patted his cheek toh which he chuckled.

''Papa papa!!!" The little one called out Jaiswal, Vineet smiles slightly he can't blame anyone for the change.

''Sorry Jeeje, actually Itne din mei Akshit ne humei apna parents samajh liya hai.'' Saumya clarifies.

Vineet shook his head,''you don't need to be sorry balki mujhe tumhe thank you bolna chahiye. Meri aur Ana ki gairhazri mei tum dino ne Bubu ka itna khayal rakha, iske liye thank you word bhi kam padd jaayega.'' Vineet spoke, beholden. Jaiswal gently holds his hand assuring him that they are always there for him.

They had their dinner with a little chit chat, Manvi felt left out between them as they were mostly busy among themselves though Jaiswal tried to involve her in a few conversations but she couldn't connect and so she stayed silent listening to them.

Post dinner they dispersed to their respective rooms. Vineet took Akshit along with him to his room, and Jaiswal followed him.

Making his little one comfortable in bed, Vineet and Jaiswal move to the small balcony to have a conversation.

''Vineet, tum wahan kaise pahuche? Manvi ne bataya mujhe, tumne hi usse bachaya par tum wahan achanak chale kaise gaye?" Jaiswal questions straightforward, he was curious since the time he met them but couldn't get the chance to ask. Now that they are here together, he wants to know.

Vineet let out a sigh,''main unhe janta hoon, pichle ek saal se main unke hi saath tha!!" He told Jaiswal, shocking him to the core.

''Kya bol rahe ho Vineet, tum unke saath the? Kyun?" Jaiswal finds it hard to believe.

''Kyunki mujhe laga main unko help se Ana ke qatilon tak pahuch santa hoon. Police se pehle hi vishwas uth chuka tha mera kaise mei unka saath sahi laga, par ye kahan janta tha ki ye log sahi hai jinhone meri khushiyan barbad ki hai. Par uss inspector ki wajah se unn logon ka sach mere samne aa gaya. Agar Manvi wahan na hoti toh aaj uss Raghu aur uske bhai ki lash mere kadmon mei hoti.'' Vineet spoke out in anger.

This was another shock for Jaiswal.

''Itna galat faishla kaise le liya tumne. Pure Mumbai mei bas wo inspector Satyaprakash hi toh nahi hai na, tum kissi aur ki help le sakte the, unn logon ke pass jana kaise sahi samjha tumne. Vishwas nahi ho raha tumne aisa decision liya. Aab samajh aa raha hai achanak unn logon ke pass itna paisa kaise aa gaya, tum unko help kar rahe the aur tumhare hi paise se wo tumhare khilaf case ladd rahe the.'' Jaiswal hit his hand on the railing out of anger.

''Kaunsa case?" Vineet questions, confused.

''Tumhara case, Anamika ke murder ka case! Jab mujhe te sab para chala toh bahut disturb ho gaya tha, kuch samajh na aa raha tha. Kahin na kahin Raghu pe shaq tha kyunki Anamika uske against ladd rahi thi par koi sabut na tha mere pass. Tabhi ek din Manvi aai aur jab usne bataya ek hadse ke baare mei tab samajh aaya ki Manvi ne Anamika ke murder hote witness kiya hai, meine uss se sketch banwai aur usne Raghu ka sketch banwaya. Main pichle ek saal se Raghu ke against court mei case ladd raha hoon aur tum unko help kar rahe the. Kya tum ek baar mere pass nahi aa sakte the?'' Jaiswal was disappointed with him while Vineet was shocked to know the truth, his guilt increasing even more.

Vineet gazes at Jaiswal and says something that shocked the guy another time.

..

To be continued…