Sameer was driving home, as his mind wandered to what just happened in his office, two hours ago.

"sir,avinash ne bhi mana kar diya hai loan ka payment karne se..." informed ankit.

"yaar ankit tu itna manhoos kabse hogaya, ki jab bhi shakal dekhata kuch bekaar hi khabar sonata hai.." remarked sameer, as he covered his face.

"sir..." ankit, was left speechless.

"iska kuch pata hai tujhe?" questioned sameer, as ankit shook his head in no.

"kal office mat aana agar tujhe ek cheez na pata chali ho inmein se ek ke bhi!" scolded sameer.

"sir." Accepted ankit.

Suddenly, the door of the office opened, and kavin was in front of sameer's sight.

"jao tum.." ordered sameer to ankit, as kavin got inside.

"hairaan nahi ho, ki main zinda hoon?" asked kavin.

"nahi plan toh sahi mein bahaut acha tha, abhi tak meri maa ka rape hojana chahiye tha, mera khoon hojana chahiye tha, aur humara ghar jalke khatam hojana chahiye tha...par, aap yeh kaise bhool gaye, ki jab 14 saal ki umar mein ek hathode se, ek hi baari mein 3 logon ko maar sakta hoon, itne saalon baad meri abilities toh aap imagine kar hi sakte the..." cockily explained kavin.

"aap yeh bhi bhool gaye ki main unn logon ki nas-nas se waaqif hoon...toh, akele toh main karleta kuch, par phir aapka beta, jismein bilkul aapke jitna talent hai chalaki ka, woh bhi mere saath mil gaya...aur usmein, aap bhi involve ho gaye anjaane mein.." revealed kavin, as sameer got puzzled.

"woh kya haina, aakhri call namtej ne apne ghar, aapki gaari mein kiya tha, ki woh aapke saath hai, jab aapke bete ne hi apne naam ki jagah, aapka bataya...woh usse hi gaadi mein company ke ek in-construction warehouse bhi gaya, aap hi ke bete ke saath...basically, namtej ka chota beta, do saalon mein 16 saal ka hojayega, aur badla lene, aapke peehe aayega." Informed kavin, as sameer's eyes were wide open in shock now.

"kya chahiye hai tumhe?" raised sameer a question.

"meri maa ko joh paise dete ho na, woh bag rakhne ke, woh badhane honge...aur amount main dunga." Stated kavin.

"nahi manoge, toh uncle, aunty ko hospital dekhne main bhi aaya tha, jahan aapko kaala bag late hue bhi dekha tha...imagine agar jinn logon ke paise chupane mein aap itni mehnat karte ho, unhe pata chala ki aap chori kar rahe hain, aur kanoon mein toh iske liye aur bada jurm hain, embezzlement, fraud..." threatened kavin.

"thik hai, maan li tumhari baat." Agreed sameer.

"aap ke paas bas ek cheez the mere against, usse khona hi aapki sabse badi galti thi..." pointed kavin.

***

Neelu noticed the tea of cup that remained untouched by sameer, as the tea in it got cold.

"kuch thanda hi peena tha, toh cold coffee banwalete.." remarked neelu.

"hmm..." said sameer, coming back to earth.

"kya hua hai?" asked neelu.

"ekdum ajeeb cheez hui thi aaj, guard mujhe mubharak de rahe the meri beti ki shaadi ke liye, keh rahe the mithai bahaut achi thi.." recounted sameer, as neelu raised her brow.

"koi humari beti ki shaadi ki mithai..." attempted neelu to comprehend the situation, when a light bulb moment happened for her.

"unhone tumhare bete ke baarein mein kuch kaha?" questioned neelu.

"haan, woh dopeher ko aaya tha.. par dushyant toh pure din college tha, aur meri gaadi office mein hi thi shaam ko.." responded sameer, as neelu shook her head in disbelief.

"dushyant.." she muttered inside her breath.

"kuch kaha tumne?" asked sameer.

"tumhe laga maine kuch kaha?" questioned neelu back, as sameer nodded in agreement.

"hmm, budhe ho gaye ho! Kan bajne lage hain ab tumhare.."remarked neelu.

***

"kavin kya zaroorat thi uske paas aise jaane ki!" yelled meghna.

"zaroorat thi! tujhe kya lagta hai, tu mujhe batayegi nahi toh mujhe nahi pata chalega! Maa, mujhe pata hai ki teri tankha nahi hai jisse college ki fees bharti hai tu..par, tere paas apne liye kuch nahi bach raha hai...thode aur paise ajayenge, toh tu apne liye ek chappal toh khareed legi tootne par, usse baar-baar jodne ki jagah...kab tak mera sochegi, thoda apna bhi toh soch!" argued kavin.

"kavin, dekh, maine ab kuch hi saal aur jeena hai, teri puri zindagi padi hai! Main nahi chahti ki tujhe bhi aise logon se paise lene padhe jinn pe toh thuke bina, taaki tere bache padhlein...main nahi chahti ki tujhe kharche pure karne ke liye, appni tuti chapal das baar jodni padein...isiliye yeh sab kar rahi hoon,ki tu padh le beta, kuch hojayega tera zindagi mein.." explained meghna.

"jaanta hoon, tune puri zindagi dedi hai mujhe maa, jitna tere liye kar sakta hoon utna toh karne de..." insisted kavin.

"maa hoon teri, yeh kaam hai mera..." responded meghna.

"toh kaam mein ache hone ka koi inaam nahi milta..." remarked kavin, as meghna chuckled.

"thik hai, meri baat toh maanega nahi.." said meghna as she started to walk away.

"galat baat hai yeh, jab bhi apni manwani hoti hai, yahi kehti ho." Argued kavin.

"kyunki tu maan jaata hai.." replied meghna.

"iss baar nahi.." retorted kavin, as meghna shrugged her shoulders and walked away.

"maa! Maa! I'm serious..." insisted kavin.

***

Ishita got inside her house, shocked to see savita.

"tu, itni jaldi?" questioned ishita, as savita didn't respond, just continued to cook.

"maa.." called ishita softly, as she placed her hand on her shoulder.

"ek mahine mein yeh teesra ghar chuta hai, ishu!" exclaimed savita in distress.

"ek ghar mein bach ho gaya hai, ab unhone pure din ke liye ladki rakhli hai...ek toh shift ho gaye, aur teesre ghar ek naukri gayi...pura din dekha, ghar mil hi nahi raha hai, baaki kaamwali haandke baithi hui hai!" she continued to express her problems.

"woh toh bhagwaan ka shukar hai ki teri naukri abhi hai, toh ghar chal raha hai...warna pata nahi kya hi hota!" commented savita, as ishita realised that she might need her job more than ever now.

She certainly couldn't risk it to, the parents finding out that their son has been taking her out on dinners...

***