The sun was shining bright above in the sky. The roads were crowded, birds were roaming searching for water and all were having their lunch. There was peace and silence all over, except the Airport. The Indigo flight which landed Ahemdabad just 15 mins ago had a family which was all worried and in hurry. Just then the young lady's phone rang..

Lady-Ha Preeti,....Ha hum abhi hi land hue hai, main bas cab hi dhund rahi hu.....Ha main aa hi rahi hu.

Soon the family sat in a cab and left the Airport.

***********************************

The whole Maheshwari Mansion was silent. People were gathered in and out the bungalow. Just then a cab entered the gate and Naina came out of it. Rakesh and Rama along with Naina were shocked to see the crowd when they found 2 familiar faces.

Naina: Preeti!!

Preeti turns and sees Naina.

Naina: Tu yaha kab pohochi??

Preeti: Abhi 15min pehele. Humme jaise mummy ne bataya hum waha se nikle.

Naina: Sab kaha hai??

Pandit:Munna aur Uncleji ander hai. Bohot log the issliye hum yaha aagaye.

Preeti: Aap log andar jaiye, Sabke zarurat hai.

Preeti says with a worried expression. Naina and Rama-Rakesh go inside; as they step inside Naina gasps and all their eyes well up seeing the most jovial person Dadu sleeping forever.

Naina and Rama start crying while Rakesh controls his emotions. They all touch Dadu's feet for the last time. Rama and Rakesh stand up but Naina couldn't, she lost all her strength and cried out. Rakesh holds her by her shoulder and makes her stand.

Rakesh sees his friend sitting all lost with an expressionless face. He goes towards Vivek and settles besides him.

Vivek: Yeh sab kya hogaya Rakesh, kal tak hum sab has-khel rahe the aur aaj saara sanata chaa gaya yaar.

He looks at Rakesh with hopeless tears in his eyes. Rakesh could not take any longer and hugs him tightly.

Rakesh: Sab theek ho jayega Vivek, sab theek ho jayega.

Hearing Vivek's sobs Rakesh also lets his tears roll down. Meanwhile Rama and Naina search for Swati.

Naina: Swati!!

Naina calls Swati and hugs her tight. They both sob hard and then part away.

Rama: yeh sab kaise hua beta? Parso hi hum sabne Kakaji se baat ki aur aaj yeh khabar.

Swati: Pata nahi aunty, subha Dadi ne uthane ki koshish ki toh Dadu uth hi nahi rahe the Dadi ne hum sab ko bulaya aur fir doctor aaye, unhone kaha ki neend me hi Dadaji.....

Swati narrated everything and shed her tears.

Naina: Dadi kaha hai??

Naina asks and Swati takes them to Dadi's room.

************************************

Naina and Rama stepped in Dadi's room only to see her all devasted. She sat staring at the corner of the wall while Vishakha sat besides her weeping. Many ladies old and young came in to pay their condolances. Rama sat infront of Dadi and held her hand.

Rama: Kakiji!!

Dadi did not respond. Naina sttod besides her and held her shoulders.

Naina: Dadi, dadi kuch boliye na.

Vishakha: Bol hi toh nahi rahi hai Mummyji. Ab tak ek boond aasu tak nhi nikla, aisa kiya toh tabiyat kharab ho jayegi par woh maan hi nahi rhi rhi hai.

Rama: Kakiji, aap agar aise hi karengi toh kya Kakaji ko accha lagega. Saara gham andar chupake, dabake kya Kakaji such se jaa payenge. Aapna dukh aap jitna chupayengi utna hi bojh dil pe padta rahega. Aur aapke dil main toh Kakaji hai na, toh kya aap apne dil pe , Kakaji pe saara bojh dalengi?

Naina: Dadi mujhe pata hai ki Dadu ko aap rote hue nahi acchi lagti lekin agar aap khudko yu dukhi karti rahengi toh woh bhi chain main thodi rahenge. Kisike liye nahi Dadi bas Dadu ke liye hi sahi par apna dil halka kijiye.

Hearing Rama's and Naina's words Dadi's eyes well up; she closes her eyes and lets her emotions shed off. Preeti and Swati too joins in the room and all mourn for the great loss.

************************************

Munna and Swati were attending all the visitors while Rakesh and Pandit were consoling Vivek. Vishakha and Preeti were with Dadi and all the other ladies. Naina came down the stairs searching for Sameer. She had expected him to be by his family but could not see him anywhere. She thought of asking Vishakha before nut just couldn't seeing her condition and thus came down to ask Swati.

Swati was going in the kitchen when Naina called her out.

Naina: Bhabhi....woh...Sameer kahi dikhai nahi de rahe.

Swati: Woh...Sameer apne kamre se bahar nahi aaya hai jabse usse pata chala ha Dadu ke bare mein. Main gayi thi pehle par unhone kuch kaha nhi. Tum agar jaa rahi ho toh use neeche le please.

Naina was shocked hearing Swati and slightly nodded. She went towards his room but stopped at the closed door; she twisted the knob and exhaled seeing it not locked. She opened the door and only saw darkness spread due to the closed curtains. She walked in and saw Sameer sitting on the floor with his knees close to his chest. The charming and cute face which always made her smile was all expressionless. Naina sat besides him but he didn't move at all. She placed her hand on his shoulder and called out his name to which he did not react. She moved a little more closer and called him again louder.

Naina: Sameer....Sameer please idhar dekhiye.

This time he looked at her and her eyes welled up seeing his tears making their way.

Naina: Sameer-

Sameer: Dadu ne aisa kyu kiya Naina? Mujhe yu akela chod ke kyu gaye woh? Kya mujhse koi galti hui hai jiske wajah se woh naaraz hai?

Sameer started blaming himself for losing his Dadu and started panicking.

Sameer: Mujhe unke paas hi rehna chahiye the, main agar yaha hote toh woh aise nahi jaate. Sab meri hi galti hai.

Naina: Nahi, nahi Sameer, aisa kuch nahi hai. Dadu aapse hamesha se hi khush the aur rahenge bhi.

Sameer: Toh woh chale kyu gaye Naina? Mujhe..Dadi ko chode kyu gaye woh?

Naina: Yeh toh aapko hi puchna hoga na.

He looked at her with confusion.

Nina: Aap Dadu se mile kaha hai ab tak. Jabse woh hospital se aaye hai aap yahi hai. Kya aap unse mile begair hi alvida kahenge? Unka aashirwad nahi lena?

Sameer's eyes started crying harder and nodded.

People from family and friend circle were visiting and paying their condolences to Vivek. Suddenly their eyes shifted to the person descending down. Sameer stopped in the living room looking at the most lively person he knew, all silent. He went towards au and sat near his feet. All the times that he spent with him played in front of him. Dadu's smile, his anger, his teachings all came in front of his eyes. The man who taught him to value, who taught him to respect, wh taught him to live, was laying lifeless. Sameer's emotions could not hold up his tears anymore and he started sobbing bending down to Dadu's feet.

All present there were watching Sameer with tear filled eyes. Vivek too joined Sameer weeping aloud while Munna held Sameer's shoulder also breaking down. They all cried when the priest came closer and said.

Priest: Vivek bhaisaab antim sanskaar ka wakt ho gaya hai. Vidhi ki shuruat kare?

Vivek wiped his tears and stood up, he asked Munna and Sameer to also get up and then nodded looking at the Priest. The Priest told him to apply a small tika on Dadu's forehead and then to place a garland on him. The Priest asked the other family members to circumambulate around Dadu. Dadi and all the other women came down too. Vishakha made Dadi sit on mattress placed besides Dadu and then takes his blessings. Followed by Vishakha Swapreena also touches his feet while Samundit were out tying the arthi.. Soon he men took adu on their shoulders following Vivek who walked front of them with an earthen pot in his hand.

The moon was behind the clouds, the stars were all dull. The atmosphere was dark and so was the Maheshwari Mansion. All the final rituals were over and only the family was back in the house. Swapreena were in Swati's room when Ramdhari knocked and asked.

Ramdhari: Bhabhiji subah se kisi ne ek ann ka daana nahi khaya. Isiliye hum hamare ghar se thods khana le aaya hai. Kaho toh parso du?

Swati inhaled and closed her eyes. She then got up and said.

Swati: Bhaiya apne kyu taklif li. Ab khair koi khayega ya nahipata nahi, main inse baat karke dekhti hu. Aap jaiye ghar hum ab dekh lenge.

Ramdhari: Ji bhabhiji.

Saying this Ramdhari left. Naina too got up and went to Swati.

Naina: Bhabhi, Dadi ne subah se unki bp ki goli nahi khayi. Abhi khalengi toh acha hoga warna unki bhi tabiyat kharab ho jayegi.

Preeti: Ha Swati khana unhe khilana hi padega aur advait bhi bhuka hoga na.

Swati: Hmm. Hum pehle Sameer ke kamre mein chalte hai, sabse baat karte hai, sabse baat karte hai aur fir decide karenge.

Preena nodded and the trio went Sameer's room. Sameer and Munna both were sitting silent remembering about the fun they had with their Dadu. While Pandit was consoloing them continuously.

Pandit: Sameer, Munna tum dono ko apne aapko sambhalna hoga Dadiji, Uncleji, auntyji already bohot dukhi hai, unhi tumhe ho toh support karna hai. Please apne aapko sambhalo.

************************************

Just then Swati knocks and enters in followed by Preena. Swati sits on the bed beside a sleeping Advait.

Swati: So gaya Advait.

Munna: hmm.

Swati: Dadi ne subah se apni goli nahi khayi hai aur na hi papi ne. Unhe khana de ayenge?

Swati asks Munna and Sameer while they nod.

Swati: Aap sabke liye bhi le aau?

Sameer: Abhi man nahi hai bhabhi.

Preeti: Man toh kisi ka nahi hai par hum aise hi thodi na reh sakte hai. Atleast Dadi aunty aur uncle ko sambhalne ke liye toh tumhe strong hona padega. Abhi unbe hi tumhare sabse zyada karuyat hai.

Munna breathed loudly and rubbed hi eyes;blinking and controlling his emotions he rubbed his brother's back and then looked at Swati.

Munna: Tum khana laga do. Sabko de aate hai.

Swati nodded and all the girls moved to the kitchen.

************************************

Swati brought a plate and went into Dadi's room with Munna. Dadi was sitting on the bed with Rama on the side. Swati went near them and said.

Swati: Dadi thoda khana kha lijiye.

Dadi jerked coming out of her trance and nodded in a no.

Munna: Dadi aapne subah se kuch khaya nahi hai, aapko abhi goli bhi leni hai.

Dadi: Kuch nahi chaiye mujhe beta, kisi cheez mein mann nahi hai mera.

Dadi said pushing her plate forward. Naina was going upstairs when she heard Dadi. She came in and kept the plate that was in her hand on a table and walked towards the bed.

Naina: Dadi hum sabko pata hai par shayad hum samajh nahi payenge ki aap pe kya beet rahi hai. Par aap jitna sochengi aapko utna hi dard hoga. Pata hai yeh bhuna namumkin hai aur main ya koi aur chahta bhi nahi ki aap bhule ,bas iss baare mein sochke aap apne aapko yu taklif nhi de sakti na. Aapna khana nahi khaya, goli nahi khaya toh aapki tabiyat kharab ho jayegi na.

Saying this Naina hints Swati to make a bite and then continues.

Naina: Jab tak aap nahi khayegi uncle, aunty ya koi bhi nahi jayega aur agar aisa hua toh Dadu ko acha nahi lagega. Aap toh hamesha unhe khush dekhne chahti hai, hai na.

Naina raises her brows asking to which Dadi nods.

Swati: toh thoda sa khana kha lijiye na Dadi.

Swati says and feeds Dadi a bite. All smile emotionally and Rama takes the plate from Swati saying.

Rama: Jao bacho tum log bhi khana kha lo, main kakiji ke saath hu.

As soon as Swana and Munna step towards the door they see Vivek and Vishakha standing there with teary eyes. Vivek comes forward and keeps his hand on Naina's head saying.

Vivek: Aaj tum sach mein hamari bahu ban gayi.

Vivek blesses her and goes back to his room. Swati and Naina join Preeti and start giving away the plates. Swati makes the last plate for Sameer when Naina asks.

Naina: Bhabhi main de aau?

Swati agrees and Naina moves to Sameer's room with his plate.

*********************************************

The door was ajar when Naina entered, she saw him standing near the window. Sameer senses her presence and wipes his tears off which didn't go unnoticed by her. She went to him to give him his plate but he denied.

Sameer: Naina mujhe nahi khana, le jao yeh.

She held his hand and he looked at her, she hinted him to sit on the bed and sat opposite him.

Naina: kyu nahi khana?

Sameer: kaise khau Naina? Dadu ke bina kaise utrega gale ke neeche yeh?

Naina: Agar Dadu ne kaha hota toh kya aap khaate?

Sameer: of course. (Chuckles) unhone hi toh pehli baar khilaya tha khana mujhe.

Naina: hmm, ab jinhone aapko sabse pehla niwala khilaya unhe kaisa lagega jab unhe pata chalega ki unhiki wajah se aapne khana chod diya?

Sameer looked at Naina understanding her words.

Naina: mujhe pata hai ki yeh tough hai par aapko aage bhi toh badhna hoga. Isiliye nahi ki woh aapka kaam yah sapna hai par isiliye kyunki woh Dadu ka sapna hai, aapko khush dekhne ka. Aur jab tak aap khush nahi honge woh khush nahi honge, aur jitne jaldi woh khush honge utne hi jaldi woh hamare paas wapis aajayenge. Hai na?

Sameer nodded eating the bite that Naina made. She kept encouraging him to console himself so that he could look after his family. Soon she was done feeding him and was going down when he called her out.

Sameer: Naina!

Naina: ha?

Sameer: ah...tumhara khana?

Naina: main neeche jaake kha lungi.

Sameer: Sorry, meri wajah se tumhe late ho gaya.

Naina: it's ok, waise bhi aapne kha liya toh mera bhi ho gaya.

She passed a small smile and went down.

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Word count : 2461

Hey guys!

I know we are very very late for updating this chapter. We are really trying hard to spare a little time and write but it's really difficult as we have to study for our CET .

I promise that the next one will be up on time on next Monday. Till then please do vote and share your views on this chapter.

Love,
Shambhavi and Hemangi ❤