Sameer Khurana, came to his office well in advance. He was scared out of his mind, this time to open the letter. He felt guilty for leaving her like that and dozing off, but that didn't give her rights to ignore him, he thought. He was mad at her, but she wasn't there. He so badly wanted her in his life. The past one year had affected him, in worst of the ways. He started clinging to the fact that she loved him and her not mentioning that, hurt, hurt so badly that he started becoming sick. He stopped playing boxing, he had dark circles under his eye and he was detected with severe Acidity. He had been drinking more. He had lost weight and grew leaner. He didn't completely avoid his Son, but it would be right to say, he indeed tried to avoid him, at least in the last few days. Maybe he was anxious, but he didn't show it. In the last one year, Sameer over took his brother in business by almost 20%, his business had doubled because all he ever did was work.

8 lives, 8 lives were altered that day, with his ruthlessness... Obviously in a bad fashion. People from different backgrounds, men and woman, some young interns, old employees were fired...he didn't care, it was his way of snapping. His mother called him in lunch time,  he had ignored her since morning and she was getting worried as sick. Lunch time or not everything was same for him, because he kept on working. His mother never liked his wife and now what she felt was her soul was troubling her son, she badly wanted to get him married to Rachna, to save him,  or so she thought. Little did she knew, that his son was the one who had possessed her like a soul and abused her both physically and mentally. She had become so vulnerable during her pregnancy only to, still give him all her attention. She was the one spoilt by him, when she was alive and with his baby, but now that she was gone he was spoiling himself and her name.

Sameer finally picked the call, "Hello." he tried his best to keep calm.

"Hello." A soft voice came from the other side and he lost it, "Rachna... Why are you calling me from my mother's no..?" he yelled.

"She... She... She told to.. Here.. " shuttering she passed the phone to his mother.

And then he talked with his mom, with fake calmness. It wouldn't be wrong to say that,  he talked less and denied more about not marrying Rachna. But after the talk was over, he lost it and he threw his phone. Coincidentally his brother was entering and hit his head and he caught it before falling. Sameer stood up shocked, "Damn it, Sameer,  you have made it a habit to hit me on your son's birthday." he said. His brother was a happy man, with a happy family. Successful and handsome,  he had come here,  leaving his family business to take care of Sameer. Firing employees like this, was not good. Unlike, Sameer he had just inherited the family business.

"Aniruddh Bhaiya.. " Sameer went towards him. He immediately pulled Sameer in a hug. With a little hesitation, Sameer hugged him back. Pulling apart, his brother's eyes read pure sorrow. His baby brother, looked so sad and mad. So tired, lean, unhealthy. He immediately went out and ordered that Sameer's afternoon schedule was to be transferred to another date and the poor frightened Mr. Meherotra, Sameer's secretary looked so relieved. He came back inside and saw Sameer standing there shocked. Suddenly Sameer's childhood and Teenage moments flashed before Aniruddh's eyes, "Sameer... What have you done with yourself?" he asked,  sorrow clenching him. This was the brother,  he protected all his life, seeing him like this gave him pain. Sameer looked older when he was just 27.

"Ma, she is troubling me... " Suddenly after years Sameer complained to his brother, just like old times. They both smiled and sat down in the big, comfortable couch in his office. "She wishes well for you.... Rachna is a good girl." Aniruddh said but immediately regretted, the anger in his brother's eyes scared him. "You can't move on, can you?.... Even I miss gudiya." his brother said calmly.

Her beautiful eyes flashed in front of him. Wifey, that was how he used to address her. He hardly ever took her name.

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It was their honeymoon, they were in Bali, Thailand. They both just arrived and he decided, they should take a walk in the beach. So, they were walking in the beach, she was tired but she went with his decision. The air felt better, cool and calm. He suddenly left her hand and wrapped it around her waist. "Wifey...you look sleepy, we just landed." he said. But she wasn't sleepy, she was tired, of him. "It's not like that.... Why you call me Wifey?" she asked changing topic. He sat down and pulled her with him, "Because that's what you are.... My Wife." he said, but that had set her in thoughts.

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"She left me bhai... " he said, sad. His brother looked at him. They both sat like that the entire afternoon, chatting. "I was at Naitik's place yesterday." his brother said. Sameer nodded, "I see. But you guys always hang out together. Why are you saying this?" Aniruddh was shocked, Sameer was always businesslike, but it had multifolded. "Actually Grandpa, is very proud of you. He wants to meet you." He said. Naveen Singhania, was like their Grandfather. Though, Sameer was not close to him, but he respected him a lot. He was Sameer's inspiration to start the business. "I will see, when I can meet him." he said feeling a little better, that he had made really good impression on his idol. Aniruddh just nodded. "I am happy you're doing well in business Sameer, buy also rest, don't ignore Vedant and your health." he said before leaving. But Sameer felt better after the small meeting and unpleasant greeting. He left for home at night. No celebrations, were organized for little Vedant's birthday. I was busy, that was Sameer's excuse. He came home and could see his Son studying, he shook his head. Like Sameer the Kid also found solace in work. It was always either studying or learning. Vedant played, but that was in play school,  when asked compulsorily to play. In fact, Sameer was worried how his child was starting to grow fatter day by day due to inactivity. But he was a smart kid. If she would have been there, both of us would have been better. He thought bitterly.

"Papa" the baby called to him and he went, "You're late" it complained burying his head in his father's shoulder. Slight tears, threatening to fall from his little eyes. He had been doing his daily routine on his Birthday also. The baby knew how other kids celebrated birthdays. It assumed that, birthdays are arranged by Mamas and since, he didn't have one, he can't celebrate. His assumption was not completely wrong. "Sorry Son. Papa had too much work." he said ruffling the boy's hair and settling down in the sofa in their grand mansion, meant for two emotionally distraught men. He shook his head and placed the baby in his lap, "My brave Son. Happy Birthday." he said gently, he had left before the young boy woke up and the baby left his lap and brought a painting.

He kept staring at it. It was a decent picture of him, his wife and the baby himself. It was not bad. In fact if someone knew them, they could identify from the picture that, it was them. "You made it?" sameer asked shocked. The baby nodded, "I requested Dev Sir, to draw and I copied seeing him." the baby said in a baby voice mentioning his drawing tutor, the baby had a thing for it, maybe inherited from his uncle. He cuddled, the baby. "Mama's letter?" he asked the baby preserving the painting to have it framed. The baby nodded and ran to his room with excitement. Though the baby still slept with Sameer but he had shifted his clothes and books to his room. "Careful there, young man." Sameer yelled and followed nervously. In the room..

"Papa will read for you." he said and snatched the letter from Baby's hand.

Happy Birthday, the hope of my life.
Yes, you're husband was hopeless. He thought but continued.

How is my handsome son doing? "Beta, Mama is asking, how are you?" he asked. The child unusually quite for his age showed a nice symbol. (👌)He smiled.

What are the gifts, he received. Say it aloud beta, MAYBE, mama can listen. Haan,  okay. Hope you get lots of love from everyone. He felt his heart being squeezed. No gifts at all. He read that quick and didn't elaborate off his son.

And I am warning you son,  be a good boy. "Be a good boy." he repeated and the child religiously nodded.

My son, will start school, this year. Beta,  I know you are little,  but never ever ignore your studies my child. "Study well." he said and the child nodded.

I hope you outshine the Sun,  my moon. He didn't mind elaborating the beautiful words. He felt guilty but let it go. He was not in the mood.

Happy Birthday,  and ask dad to give you some money from my side and donate it in the Krishna Mandir across Nana's house,  Haan? And you,  pray from my side to Lord that he should always keep you happy. My darling boy,  once again Happy Birthday. He read and immediately checked his watch. It was 8:45 already. He put the letter in box, lifted the baby and made a run for his car. He quickly drove to reach his destination. As he was driving his mind kept going back to her. And the child, didn't question, where they were going, just went along. One could not say the child was completely normal, incidents in his life had made him a quite boy.

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3 days into their marriage, again a Saturday, she sleepily entered in Sameer's office. "Coffee." she said placing the cup in table. He looked up from his laptop and tasted the coffee. But after a sip, he was surprised. "No mistakes, today." he said with a simple smile but she felt like a World War II victory. She grinned, "Actually... I wanted to ask, if I can go to my parents house. It's been 3 days and also I want to go to temple beside my Dad's house." she asked hesitating. He eyed her "No." he replied. She was shocked. "Please." she requested her voice desperate. "N. O. No, do you get. We just got married. You should be with me." he said. But you're working, she wanted to say. But she didn't wanted to fight with him. It always ended very bad. She walked out from there.

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In the temple, he thought the child to pray and himself prayed. Luckily the temple was open, he thought. He felt better being in temple. After he came out, they ate out and he was contemplating whether to go to his in laws place. He decided against it as he was tired and instead left for home,  trying to sleep. She didn't mention she loves the baby in this letter. Maybe she was tired, back then. She trusts me, that's why she had said all these complicated things to baby. She wanted me to go to temple and feel peace. Long after the baby, slept, without feeling very special on his special day, Sameer also slept staring at the Baby's drawing.

Had she knew that, Sameer would be so affected by her words, she would have added a few for him in all letters, at least initial few, if not for him, then for her son.

A. N:-
Namaste! Sorry for the super long chapter. I hope you guys are okay,  because after writing this chapter with such complicated emotions, I am only feeling drained. If you feel, Sameer has more part in this story and not Baby, it is because, the baby is little. Sameer's part will reduce gradually, from next chapter. And I wanted to know.. What you think..

Should Sameer remarry? Should he marry Rachna.. Why?

Thank you for Reading.

Please Vote, Comment and Share.

Be Happy.