Dushyant woke up with a thud on the alphabet keys of his laptop, not to mention the loud bong, pressing them produced. He got up, and rubbed his eyes, realizing he fell asleep on his desk, working. The first thing he did was to make sure that the article he was writing had not been hampered by the keys that might have gotten pressed unintentionally. He sighed in relief, as he realised his work was safe.

His glance fell on the time, it was 8 in the morning. He figured he could get an hour more of sleep. He was about to go to bed, when he heard the sound of the bell.

"doodhwaala..." remarked dushyant in disbelief, as he walked out of the room to receive him.

***

Dushyant glanced at the milk falling into the pot in his hand, from the container in the milkman's hand.

"bhaiya shanivar hai, aaram se 9 -10 baje aaya karo na..." remarked dushyant.

"shanivar aapka hai, mujhe utni hi jaldi uthna padta hai.." stated the milkman, as he was done pouring the milk.

"thanks.." said dushyant, although it was not just for what he did today, it was for everyday.

The milkman acknowledged it as he walked to the apartment next door.

Dushyant closed the door and got inside.

***

Purvi got out of her room, tying her hair into a bun.

"oh, le liya apne doodh.." observed purvi.

"uhhm, akbaar bhi hai, although woh bahaut pehle se hi pada tha.." remarked dushyant.

"mummy-papa, so rahe hai?" asked purvi, as she took the pot of milk from him.

"haan, sone do, weekend hi toh milta hai.." replied dushyant, as he seated himself on the dinning table, keeping the paper on it.

"kya hua, thake hue lag rahe ho?" asked purvi, with concern.

"arre woh mera ethics ki class ka paper likh raha tha raat ko, wahin aankh lag gayi phir." Responded dushyant.

"chaye banao?" offered purvi, as dushyant nodded in agreement.

"uhh, ishita aaj nahi aa rahi?" questioned dushyant, noticing the time.

"nahi, college hai uska, aaj aur kal." Replied purvi from the kitchen.

"aaram kab karti hai yeh!" exclaimed dushyant.

"maine pucha toh keh rahi thi aage zindagi mein aaram ke liye abhi mehnat kar rahi hoon.." recounted purvi.

"ek normal college life bhi privilege hi haina..." noted dushyant.

***

"arre, aisa kaise case nahi ban raha hai! Arson, attempt to murder, damage to property...nahi hai kya law mein!" yelled dushyant to the constable, in the police station, who was unwilling to write the report.

"abe aise kaise attempt to murder? Ghar mein aag hi toh lagi hai.." argued the constable.

"ghar mein ek bacha bhi tha, kuch ho jata usse toh?" argued dushyant back.

Two police officers were walking inside. One of them immediately recognized dushyant.

"sun." He called the other officer.

"iss ladke ko mere paas bhej." He ordered, as he walked away.

"kambal hi karte ho..." remarked dushyant.

"oye, acp sahab ne bulaya hai tujhe.." said an inspector, as dushyant was puzzled.

***

Dushyant entered the ACPs cabin.

"shekhar uncle ,aap!" exclaimed dushyant, upon seeing him.

"aap toh vikas puri police thane mein posted the.." noted dushyant.

"ab nahi ho.." remarked shekhar.

"ek baat batao zara, kya chal raha tha bahar?" questioned shekhar.

"arre, yeh report nahi likh rahe hain...ek aadmi ka ghar jalaaya gaya hai sare aam!" responded dushyant.

"sunil avasthi?" confirmed shekhar.

"haan, aapko pata hai toh report..." confused dushyant.

"tumhare papa ka banda hai, privately matter investigate ho raha hai...humare kuch khabri lage hue hain." Informed shekhar.

"oh, toh humare ghar daawatein hi nahi, ghuss bhi dilwate the papa aapko.." remarked dushyant, as he crossed his arms.

"dekho, woh c.e.o sahab aur unki secretary, woh zara unka chakkar out of hand chala gaya hai...aur bhabhiji ko pata chalne pe, nikalna pada usse. Toh humein bas, shak hai, ki woh, aise badla lena chahti hoon..." Explained shekhar, as dushyant scoffed.

"yaar, kitni gere hue ho aap log!" exclaimed dushyant.

"dekho, dushyant..agar wahi nikli na, toh woh moh khulne se katrayegi ni...aur phir sab log phasenge, tumhare papa bhi. Toh behtar iss matter ko dabaye rakho." Warned shekhar.

"ek gareeb ka ghar jal gaya hai aap logon ke kaaran...bacha mar sakta tha uska!" exclaimed dushyant, before he left in disgust.

***

Dushyant pulled sunil out of the police station.

"jaante hain aap sameer arora ko?" questioned dushyant, as sunil's expression was of pure horror.

"isiliye apne bete ko bade school mein daal diya thana, haraam ki kamaai joh mil rahi thi?" interrogated dushyant.

"par beta, ab woh paise bilkul jalke raak ho gaye hain...aur woh paise waapas lene ke liye, mujhe meri dukaan girwi rakh kar loan lena pada." Informed sunil.

"kya? taaki woh paise rakh paaye, aapko loan lena pada?" confirmed dushyant, as sunil nodded in agreement.

"sameerji ne kaha tha, aise hi hoga.." added sunil, as dushyant sighed in disbelief.

***

"one...two..." counted purvi, as neelu lifted her toe.

Suddenly, dushyant barged into the room.

"papa, mujhe baat karni hai aapse." Stated dushyant, as sameer got up, perplexed.

"aisa kya ho gaya?" questioned sameer.

"bas chaliye, mere saath." Ordered dushyant, as sameer complied.

"main abhi aayi, huh." Said purvi, as she too followed them.

***

Purvi put her ear near the door.

"kitne lage the, mom ke operation mein?" questioned dushyant.

"yeh, kya, achaanak se puch rahe ho tum.." responded sameer.

"10 lakh ho jaane chahiye, hospital stay ko milake, right?" followed-up dushyant with another question.

"haan, par..achanak se...yeh sab.." replied sameer.

"aapne woh company ki black money use ki thi na?" posed dushyant another question.

"yeh sab tumhare jaane ki baat nahi hai." Replied sameer.

"chori ki thi na aapne? 2 bags gayab kiye, unke owners ko loan lene pe majboor kiya, jisse apne woh paise kahi aur rakhwaye, aur karze mein daal diya unn logon ko." Stated dushyant, as sameer remained mum.

"jab bhi kuch galat ho jata, aap yahi karte, jaisa apne sunil avasthi ke saath kiya." Noted dushyant.

"dushyant, samajhne ki koshish karo.." attempted sameer to defend himself.

"aapne embezzlement aur fraud kiya hai dad! Ismein samajhne ko kuch nahi hai. Not to mention, aap black money chupane mein shaamil hai company ke!" exclaimed dushyant.

Purvi overheard this, shocked, but knowing that this will be of a lot of use to her.

***

author's note: hey guys, the story has completed 20 chapters now, so i just wanted to know what do you guys think of all the characters so far? please tell me in the comments below, i appreciate hearing from you guys. btw, what do you think purvi is going to do with this information?