14 year old purvi was engrossed in her book, as she reclined on her bed, in her room. she was on the last few chapters, of Jane Austen's, 'Persuasion'. Frederick Wentworth's letter was the ultimate confession of love, for the teenage girl. Unfortunately, a bell on the door, just had to interrupt it.

She marched to the door, muttering to herself, curses for the unwanted visitor.

She opened the door, annoyed, only to be met with a pleasant surprise.

"hey..." greeted kavin with a smile.

"hey..." replied purvi, finally calming down.

"woh, dushyant hai?" asked kavin, as purvi shook her head.

"woh mummy ke saath gaye hai, passport size photograph khichwani thi na, woh form ke liye..." responded purvi, as kavin's mouth formed an 'oh'.

"par woh aate hi honge, aap wait karlo." Blurted out purvi the next second.

Kavin glanced on the clock inside the house, and then at purvi.

"ok, sure.." responded kavin, as purvi immediately let him in.

***

Ishita locked the door, as sameer got inside. He seated himself on the couch, and started to untie his shoes, as ishita immediately brought a cup of tea for him. She placed it on the coffee table. Sameer glanced at the cup of tea and then at the clock.

"gayi nahi ab tak?" he questioned.

"jee, woh aapka wait kar rahi thi, bas jaa rahi hoon.." responded ishita, as sameer got more perplexed.

He just nodded in agreement, and walked to his room.

***

Kavin seated himself on the couch, as his legs fidgeted, and he looked around. Suddenly, purvi came with two scoops of ice cream in a bowl. She placed it on the coffee table.

"khaa lijiye, garmi hai itni bahar, acha lagega.." she offered, as kavin awkwardly accepted.

Purvi just stood by the couch, as kavin glanced at her, while taking a bite.

"uhh, tum, baith jao na..." suggested kavin, as purvi immediately sat down on the couch, at an arm's distance from kavin.

"achi hai..." remarked kavin, pointing to the bowl of ice cream with the spoon.

"haan, aapka favourite haina butterscotch.." uttered purvi, only to bite her tongue, upon realising what she said.

"woh, tumhe, kaise.." questioned kavin.

"bhaiya! Bhaiya, bhaiya ne bataya tha...." replied purvi immediately.

"woh baat karte hain mere baarein mein?" asked kavin.

"haan, aap best friend hai unke...baaki, hum dono raat ko baat kartein hai kaafi, sone jaane se pehle...actually, hum logon ka ek hi room tha jab tak main 11 saal ki thi, tab hi se aadat hai..ab toh khair bhaiya ke kamre mein music system bhi acha hai, gaane sunte rehte hai hum, dheemi volume mein..." recounted purvi.

"haat nahi lagane deta na lekin woh usse?" asked kavin, as purvi nodded in agreement and kavin chuckled.

"maine toh usse kaha tha, tereko girlfriend ki kya zaroorat hai, haina tera music system..." remarked kavin.

"music system nahi, unki coffee hai unki asli girlfriend. Subha-subha toh maa bhi yaad nahi rehte unhe, coffee peena yaad rehta hai..." retorted purvi, as they shared a chuckle.

"aur tumhe?" asked kavin.

"mujhe?" pointed purvi to herself.

"hmm, tum kya karti ho subha-subha?" asked kavin.

"mujhe toh hosh bhi nahi aata uthne ke adha ghante tak, jab tak maa chaye nahi pilati.." remarked purvi, as she chuckled.

"mera bhi yahi haal hai.." agreed kavin.

hmm, tum kya karti ho subha-subha?" asked kavin.

"mujhe toh hosh bhi nahi aata uthne ke adha ghante tak, jab tak maa chaye nahi pilati.." remarked purvi, as she chuckled.

"mera bhi yahi haal hai.." agreed kavin.

hmm, tum kya karti ho subha-subha?" asked kavin.

"mujhe toh hosh bhi nahi aata uthne ke adha ghante tak, jab tak maa chaye nahi pilati.." remarked purvi, as she chuckled.

"mera bhi yahi haal hai.." agreed kavin.

hmm, tum kya karti ho subha-subha?" asked kavin.

"mujhe toh hosh bhi nahi aata uthne ke adha ghante tak, jab tak maa chaye nahi pilati.." remarked purvi, as she chuckled.

"mera bhi yahi haal hai.." agreed kavin.

Suddenly, they heard noises from the door, signalling dushyant and neelu had returned.

***

Sameer picked out his night suit from the almirah.

"kya baat hai, purvi kahan hai?" asked sameer.

"woh so rahi hai, fever hai usse..." responded neelu, as sameer immediately turned to her.

"fever? Aise-kaise, tumne bataya kyun nahi mujhe, main doctor ko leke..." worried sameer, as he walked to purvi's room, when neelu stopped him.

"dawaai le li hai, ab fever nahi itna, bas halki si weakness hai. Aur ishita thi uska khayal rakhne ke liye.." assured neelu.

"tumhe phir bhi batana chahiye tha mujhe..." protested sameer, as a smile came on neelu's face.

"usko toh ek cheek bhi aati hai, aap ghar sar pe utha lete ho... bhukhar bolti toh pata nahi kya karte.." remarked neelu.

"beti hai meri, chinta hai mujhe uski.." argued sameer.

"maine janam diya hai usse!" exclaimed neelu, as sameer sighed in defeat.

"ab thik hai na woh?" he confirmed as she nodded in agreement, but he still wasn't convinced, and his glance was fixed on her room.

***

Ishita unlocked the door to her house, when savita noticed karuna, carrying a small packet in her hand.

"arre karuna, khidhar jaa rahi hai?" questioned savita.

"arre, acha hue tu mil gayi...tune toh sabji banayi hi hogi ghar mein...joh bachegi zara baa ke ghar de aana, sunil aur kavita wahi reh rahe abhi ayaan ke saath. Hum sab thoda-thoda ration de rahe hain, taaki iss mahine ka ho jaye unka. Baaki parvati aaj ki roti de rahi hai...." informed karuna.

Ishita glanced at her mother, who appeared seemingly hurt. But she quickly composed herself and nodded in agreement. Karuna left immediately, as ishita opened the door, and they both got inside.

"maa, please bura mat maan..." pleaded ishita, as she closed the door.

Meanwhile, savita could not stop the tears that were started to roll down her eyes.

"tu do din ki bhi nahi hui thi, jab nikal diya tha isne mujhe! Inhi logon ke ghar bheek maang rahi thi tere moh, koi doodh dede tere liye...kisine madad nahi ki...19 saal baad, yahi log, uske liye, uske biwi-bache ke liye, khaana dene ko keh rahe hain mujhe!" blurted savita.

"kabristan mein sooti thi main tujhe leke, bahaut mehnat karke yeh ghar banaya hai. Usne puri zindagi aish ki apne ghar mein, acha hua jal gaya woh...dukh hai mujhe iss baat ka, ki yeh nahi jalaa uss aag mein!" confessed savita, as she wiped her tears, and her eyes were that of, filled, with intense fury.

***

Author's note: we have crossed 70 votes and 20 comments! Thanks for all the love, really appreciate it. btw, aap sab ke dimaag mein yeh khayaal toh hoga hi ki kavi ke saath hua kya tha, well, thode se hint ke liye, sabse pehla kavi flashback, jisse chapter shuru hua hai, wahan pe agar aap dhyaan doge, toh ek choti si detail hai...woh aapko mil gayi, toh you can guess easily kya reveal hone waala hai. Toh ab dhoodho, aur batao mujhe reviews mein, aapko kya lagta hai, kya hua unke saath?