Hearing the knock on the back door, Sidharth opened it. It was 11pm.

"Hi Udaas Agnihotri..", she puts up a smile even though she was extremely exhausted.

"Ma'am aaj late ho gaya aapko?", Asked Sidharth.

"Haan.. aaj kaam bahut zyada tha.. roz hoga.. tumhaare liye burger laayi hoon.. sorry, late ho gayi.", Said Sana passing him a pack of burger.

Flashback:

After taking off her Dino mascot, Sana puts on the apron and washes all the dishes in the kitchen. Post which, she wipes all the tables and mops the floor neatly. Post arranging the chairs properly, she takes a quick shower and returns home.

She had to do extra work since she had to make enough money to pay Sidharth. She could have got him to do those jobs but he didn't have any identification document or qualification proof with him to get the job. Hence she posed as an owner so that his mother could get enough money until he found a suitable job for himself.

Flashback ends

"Thanks Ma'am", said Sidharth taking the burger.

"Bahut bhook lagi hogi na Udaas Agnihotri?", Asked Sana.

"Woh.. main aaj shaam saamne garden mein paani de raha tha toh waha kuch pakke huye chikoo they, toh maine usse thod ke khaa liya tha..", he said hesitantly.

"Kya? Tum paudon mein paani dene gaye the? Maine mana kiya tha na ghar ke bahaar nikalne ko?", Said Sana in shock.

"Woh.. sorry ma'am ghar main baite baite bore ho raha tha toh.. maine dekha paude sookh rahe the toh maine paani.... Warna woh marr jaate", fumbled Sidharth.

"Dekho.. main samajh gayi par agar paani dena hai toh raat ko de dena..", said Sana.

"Huh? Raat ko?", Sidharth was confused.

"Mere karzdaar dekh lenge toh problem ho jaayegi.. isiliye din mein sabke saamne math aana..", she explained.

"Theek hai Ma'am, main raat ko paani de dunga..", said Sidharth.

"Aur suno.. apne marksheet copies mangva lo.. padhe likhe ho toh ye naukri kitne dinn karoge.. koi achchi naukri kar sakte ho..", said Sana.

"Theek hai Ma'am..", he nodded his head.

"Kal internet cafe jaake online apply kar lo marksheet copies ke liye.. yeh paise rakho .", she said giving some money to him.

"Ji Ma'am.", He said shaking his head.

"Woh.. ma'am.. mujhe kuch puchna tha aapse..", he said.

"Hmmm..", she hummed.

"Woh.. aapke Dino Burger ke kitne outlets hai iss sheher mein?", He asked.

"Hmmm.. 12 hai.. kyu?", She asked.

"Woh main kisiko doondh raha tha.. aapke outlets mein jo Dino mascot hote hai unmein se koi ladki mascot hai kya?", He asked.

Sana gulped as she was the only lady mascot among all the mascots in Delhi Dino. Why was he asking about her?

"Pata nahi.. maine kabhi dyaan nahi diya.. kyu?", She asked.

"Kuch nahi.. aapko takleef na ho toh kya aap uska address ya phone number de sakti ho?", He asked.

"Kyu? Uske ghar rishta bhejna hai?", Asked Sana.

Sidharth cheeks turned red as he blushed immensely. He nodded his head in denial while putting his head down which made her chuckle in awe.

"Pakka nahi? (He nod no) Sharma toh aise hi rahe ho. Kaun hai woh? Tumhaari girlfriend?", She teased him further making him turn even more red.

"Ji nahi.. main toh unse mila bhi nahi hoon.. mujhe unhe thanks bolna tha bas..", he said still blushing.

"Agar mile nahi toh thanks kis baat ki?", She asked pondering why would he want to thank her because technically he never knew that she had gotten his wallet.

"Thodi lambi story hai.. aap bahut thakhi huyi nazar aa rahi hai..", said Sidharth.

"Nahi.. tum batao.. mujhe jaanNa hai.. khaate khaate batao..", she said sitting on the carpet beside him while leaning her back against the wall.

"Hmm.. Woh.. mera ek bachpan ka dost hai.. actually dost kaha, dhokebaaz hai woh.. jab gaon aaya tha tab sabse shehar ki lifestyle ke baare mein bada dikhaava kar ke unpe robb jaadh raha tha.. toh maine usse kaam dilwaane mein help karne ko bola toh usne haan keh diya.. par main jab yaha aaya toh woh mujhse milne bhi nahi aaya. Uska diya hua pata bhi galat nikla.

Kuch din pehle mujhe woh stadium ke andhar jaate dikha.. tab mere jeb mein bas 200 rupaye bache the, toh saare paise de kar meine usko milne ke liye ticket khareed liya.. jab uske peeche peeche gaya to usne mujhe pehchaanNe se hi mana kar diya.

Niraas hokar main jab laut raha tha tab maine dekha ki kuch ladke stadium mein ek Dino mascot pehne saksh ko pair addakar gira rahe the.. woh saksh uss Mascot costume ke wajah se utt bhi nahi paa raha tha toh maine usko uttne mein maddad kiya aur waha se chala aaya.

Paidal chalte chalte mein harr ek dukhaandaar, showroom, bank sab mein kaam maangta gaya.. ek jagah kisine mujhse mera ID maanga toh mujhe pata chala ki mere jeb mein se mera batua gayab hai.

Phir jab main doondhte doondhte stadium pahucha toh waha ke watchman ne kaha ki andar koi nahi hai.. Niraash hoke main yaha waha bhatakta raha, na mere paas ghar tha, na paise na khaana aur kisi bhi naukri ke liye identity proof bhi nahi tha. Phir aapne mujhe yeh naukri di..

Aaj jab maine maa ko call kiya toh unhone kaha ki maine unko paise bheje jabki mere pass toh bhejne ke liye ek phuti kaudi bhi nahi thi.. Toh paise zarur uss shaksh ne bheje honge jise mera batua mila.. bahut sochne par main usko doondhne aaj phir wahi stadium gaya.

Stadium ke watchman ne kaha ki woh batua kisi ladki ke pass hai jo aapke outlet ka Dino mascot pehenti hai.. toh mujhe unhe thanks bolna hai kyuki unhone meri madad kiya. Aur haan main thode thode karke unko paise bhi waapis lauta dunga.. please aap mujhe unka pata dilwa dijiye", said Sidharth and looked at her face. Sana was already fast asleep with her mouth slightly open.

He smiled subtly and spread the blanket over her which she had covered him earlier. When she felt the warmth of the blanket, she hugged him like a teddy bear making him fall on the carpet and snuggled into a comfortable position in her deep slumber.

"Ma..'am..", he shivered at her touch, his breathing and heart beats were at peak. She was so exhausted that no matter how many times he called her, she didn't wake up. Giving up, he lay straight in a savdhaan position while half of her body was over his chest. His eyes were wide open unable to sleep while breathing heavy.

Sleep took over his tired eyes after few hours. Sana wakes up after sometime and finds herself lying over Sidharth while he was still lying stiff. She got up slowly facepalming herself and went upstairs to resume sleeping.
.
.
.

For the next few weeks, Sidharth keeps nagging Sana by asking her if she has found out his lucky mascot's address or phone number. Every time she just gives him some reason and avoids.

Sidharth on the other hand was determined and would never cease asking about her. One day, Sana gives up and asks him to write a letter to his lucky mascot and promises to deliver it through someone.

The very next day when Sana comes downstairs after waking up, she is met with one of Sidharth's most beautiful smile.

"Good morning Udaas Agnihotri.. aaj itne smile kar rahe ho, kya baat hai?", She asked

"Woh, maine yeh letter likha hai.. aap woh meri lucky mascot girl ko pahucha dengi please?", He asked.

"Achcha? Khush toh aise ho rahe ho jaise koi love letter likha hai..", she teased him just to make him smile.

"Ji.. aisa kuch nahi hai..", he blushed yet again..

"Phir itne sharma kyu rahe ho? Itna toh yaha ki dulhan bhi nahi sharmaati aaj kal..", she said.

"Woh.. maine aaj tak kisi ladki ko letter nahi likha toh..", he said with his head lowered, feeling extremely shy.

"Ohhh!! Itne handsome ho.. College mein kya kiya phir?", She asked.

"Ji? Padhaayi..", he replied.

"Uske alaawa?", She asked.

"Ji.. Uske alawa? Bas padhaayi.. aur kuch nahi..", he said with a confused look.

"Dath!! Waste kar diya tumne apni aadhi life.. kabhi kisi ladki ho cheddha ya love letter nahi likha kya?", She asked.

"Huh? Nahi.. mere college mein saare ladke hi the..", said Sidharth.

"Achcha? College kam jail jyada lag raha hai..(she muttered) Tabhi itne sharmile ho.. college ke baahar bhi ladkiyaan hogi.. kabhi unko nahi stalk nahi kiya?", she asked making him nod in denial and blush even harder.

Oh God!! He is sooo cute and sanskaari.. pata nahi letter mein kya likha hai.. restaurant jaake padhungi.

She thought while adoring his blushing face.

"Chalo.. burger khilaati hoon..", she said getting ready to leave to the restaurant.

"Hmm..", he hummed and walked with her to the restaurant. She went in and grabbed a burger for him and also packed another to eat in afternoon as usual

"Ma'am, kya aap bhi roz burger khaati ho?", He asked.

"Hmmm.. kyu?", She asked.

"Woh.. aapko pait dard.. (pauses) kuch nahi.. main chalta hoon..", said Sidharth.

"Hmm.. tumhaare marksheet aa gaye na? Toh resume taiyyar karke jobsite pe upload karo..", said Sana.

"Kyu ma'am aapko meri zarurat nahi hai?", He asked in surprise.

Itne din saath rehte rehte zarurat aur aadat bann gaye ho.. par meri bhi majhboori hai..

"Meri zarurat ke liye tum kyu apni career kharaab karoge?", She asked. He looked at her face, which looked dull and lost.

"Ma'am sab thik toh haina?", Asked Sidharth.

"Haan.. sab thik hai..", she smiled but it wasn't the same glowing smile.

_______________

To be continued.. ❤️❤️