It was a pleasant morning, the birds were enjoying the weather by flying in the sky. A cafe was floating with the crowd.

Muskan entered the cafe. She was disturbed so she came there. She saw only one table is vacant and it was the same table where she sat yesterday. She goes to sit there then she took out her glasses and the novel. Muskan started reading that. Sameer entered the cafe and he was moving to the table but he stopped to see Muskan. He came there and sat. Muskan looked up and was surprised to see him. She thinks then she shrugs off her thoughts and starts reading. They did not order anything as they are the regular customer and everyone knows what they want so when they come, their order reached on their table.

Karan saw Sameer and Muskan, he frowns to see them then he smiled and came to them.

Karan: Hi.

Sameer and Muskan smiled. They replied to him. Karan holds the chair.

Karan: Do you know each other?

Sameer and Muskan looked at each other. Sameer smiled

Sameer: no.

Muskan: I came first. All tables were filled so he came and sat here. Kal bhi asa hi kuch howa tha.

Sameer was looking at him.

Karan: Oh. Waise tujhe pata hai ye is ki table hai. Ye hamesha yahan bethta hai is liye ye table khali thi.

Muskan was shocked.

Karan: Staff kisi ko nahi bethne deta yahan tu meri friend hai is liye kisi ne roka nahi tujhe.

Muskan: oh.

Muskan looked at Sameer.

Muskan: I am so sorry.

Sameer sighed it's ok with his hand which was kept on the table.

Muskan: mujhe nahi pata tha ye aap ki table hai.

Sameer: It's ok, you can sit here.

Muskan looked here and there for a chair.

Karan: Muskan, chill kar yaar. Tum dono ek dusre ko nahi jante main tum dono ko introduce karwa deta hun.

Karan goes to the Sameer and he holds his shoulders: Muskan, yeh Sameer hai mera bohat acha dost.

They smiled.

Karan: aur Sameer.

Karan goes to the Muskan and he holds her shoulders: ye Muskan hai. My childhood friend.

Muskan kept her hand on Karan's hand. Karan stands in their Centre and Muskan and Sameer were sitting on the chair.

Karan: lo ho gaya introduction. Problem solved.

They smiled. Someone called Karan.

Karan: excuse me.

Sameer nods. Muskan sets her hair. Karan goes. Muskan and Sameer looked at each other.

Muskan: I hope, you didn't mind, I sat here.

Sameer: not at all, waise bhi main akela hi bethta hun. So relax, chill.

Muskan smiled. Their order came and they starts having it.

Sameer: so, Muskan, who is in your family?

Muskan was about to bite the sandwich. She stopped and looked at Sameer.

Muskan: only me. When I was eight years old, my mamma passed away and six months ago, my Dad...

Muskan looked down. Sameer felt bad.

Sameer: I am sorry.

Muskan smiled.

Muskan: it's ok. You say, who is in your family?

Sameer smiled.

Sameer: my mom, dad, my grandmother.

Muskan: lucky man.

Sameer murmurs: I wish, I was.

Muskan: what?

Sameer smiled.

Sameer: nothing.

Muskan was not satisfied but she nods. They resumed their breakfast.

Muskan: ok, I should leave now, I am getting late for the office. Bye.

Sameer: Bye.

Muskan kept the things in the bag and goes to meet Karan.

Muskan: ok, Karan, now I am going.

Karan: ok. By the way, tere dad ki will ka kya howa?

Muskan looked at him. She sighed.

Muskan: Sham ko batati hun.

Karan: ok.

Muskan turns to go. Karan wants to say something.

Karan: ab, Muskan.

Muskan turns to him: han.

Karan hesitates to ask.

Karan: woh kaisi hai?

Muskan looked at him. She understands about whom he is asking.

Muskan: I don't know, Karan. Main do din se osay contact karne ki koshish kar rahi hun per us ka koi ata pata nahi hai. I wish ke uncle ne jaldbazi na ki hoti to aaj tum dono sath hote.

Karan looked down.

Muskan: I am sorry, main tum dono ke liye kuch nahi kar pai.

Karan: asa mat bol yaar, tujhse jitna ho saka tune kiya. Tu khud uncle ki health ki waja se tension main thi. Hospitals ke chakar and all phir bhi tu ne try kiya tha. It means a lot. Shayad humara sath Kismat ko hi manzoor nahi tha.

Muskan felt bad for him.

Muskan in mind: kaise bataon tumhe ke wo insan ke sath nahi ek haiwan ke sath reh rahi hai. Uncle nahi jante ke unho ne us ghar ki jhooti chaka chond ko dekh kar ek heeray ko gawa diya.

Muskan: main chalti hun.

Karan smiled.

Karan: Bye.

Muskan: Bye.

Muskan goes. Sameer saw her going. He smiled. After days, he was feeling fresh.

At the time of the night, Sameer entered the home.

Lady: Sameer.

He stopped at his place to hear the voice. The lady came to him. She is his mother. She was of mid 50 but she looked young. Her skin was fair enough. She looked at her son who was not looking at her.

Ambika: maa ki baat ka itna bura maan liya ke do din se ghar hi nahi aya.

No reply. Ambika looked at him.

Ambika: ab tak naraz hai apni maa se?

No reply.

Ambika: beta, main teri dushman nahi hun. Yeh jo kuch bhi main kar rahi hun teri khushi ke liye hi to kar rahi hun na.

Sameer turned to her.

Sameer: main khush hun, mom.

Ambika: tu khush nahi hai. Ja ke apna chehra ainay main dekh kya halat bana rakhi hai apni. Pehle kaise teri khushi teri ankhon se jhalakti thi. Teri hunsi se yeh ghar jhoom uthta tha, khil uthta tha lekin ab, ab to jaise sab kuch murjha sa gaya ho.

Sameer: ab pehle wale log bhi to nahi hain na mom.

Ambika holds his arms.

Ambika: isi liye to kehti hun ke move on kar. Dekh ek baar teri zindagi main koi larki aa jaegi na to sab pehle jaisa ho jaega. Tera khud ka parivaar hoga. Bache honge sab theek ho jaega. Tu bus ek baar shadi ke liye han kar de.

Sameer turned away.

Sameer: mom, please maine kitni baar kaha hai mere samne dusri shadi ki baat mat kiya karen.

Ambika gets angry.

Ambika: kyun na karun baat han? Kyun na karun? Kyun na karun main baat? Main karungi kyun ke main teri maa hun aur main har haal main teri khushi chahti hun.

Sameer was looking at her. He turned to her.

Sameer: agar ab dubara aap ne is bare main baat ki to main ghar chor kar chala jaunga. Aur main mazak nahi kar raha.

Ambika was shocked.

Ambika: apni maa ko chor kar jaega. Apne dad, Dadi ko chor kar jaega. Bol. Han? Jo nahi hai us ke liye jo hain unhe chor dega?

Sameer was trying to control his anger.

Sameer: Mom, please.

Ambika: kya please, sachai yahi hai ke Maya humain chor kar ja chuki hai. Wo mar chuki hai.

Sameer shouts: mom.

Ambika: chilane se sachai badal nahi jaegi. Sach yahi hai ke wo mar chuki hai.

Sameer was panting and his eyes were teary. Ambika cried.

Ambika: ab wo wapis nahi aane wali.

She cried. Sameer looked at her with teary eyes and was crying. He goes. Ambika cried. She looked up.

Ambika: akhir kab tak mera bacha ase dard main rahe ga us ke dard per marham lagani wali bhej dijiye. Ab aur nahi dekha jata mujhse.

She cried and prayed.

On the other side, Muskan was sitting on the chair near the table. She rubbed her forehead.

Muskan: Kuch samjh nahi araha kya karun, kaise is mushkil se niklun.

She looked at the picture frame.

Muskan: Dad, aap ne mere sath asa kyun kiya? Ye kis manjhdhar main la kar chor diya hai aap ne mujhe?

She sighs and she thinks. She got up and goes as she was exhausted. Muskan came to the terrace and she looked at the sky. She came to the rail and holds it.

Muskan: God, ab aap hi koi rasta dikhaen mujhe? Please meri help kare.

Muskan closed her eyes and she saw Sameer's face. Muskan instantly opened her eyes.

Muskan: ye kya tha? Mujhe Sameer ka chehra kyun dekha?

Muskan thinks.

On the other side, Sameer was crying by sitting on the bed.

Flashback:

Ambika: kya please, sachai yahi hai ke Maya humain chor kar ja chuki hai. Wo mar chuki hai.

Ambika: chilane se sachai badal nahi jaegi. Sach yahi hai ke wo mar chuki hai.

Flashback ends.

Sameer clenched the bed mattress. He was crying.