FF: Ek Aur Zindagi.. Ch:29 page 137

Part 1:

It was early morning and he was up in his usual time. After fresh up and jogging he was back home. He was ready in a few minutes and was in his SUV when Sameer called him. "ha bolo Rathod"

Sam: tum aaj office nahi aarahe hai right?

Arj: nahi aaj nahi. tumhe patha hai na, I told you yesterday.

Sam: ha yaad hai.. wo ... I was just confirming. usse pick up karne ka baad   mujhe zaroor bulana. kaafi time hue hai usse milke.

arj: ok. I will inform you.

They cut the call and he goes out. The ride was so silent. Each moment was exploding inside him to meet the someone special.

He stopped for a cup of tea on the way and then continued the journey. It was almost evening that he reached his destination.

St. John's Convent School.

He parked the car. The school was almost deserted. After all the summer holidays had started and students were leaving to home.
He looked his watch. Damn... he was late ... again...

He walked in to the corridor and saw Sister Agnus. "good evening Mr. Rawte. hm, tho aaj aap firse late ho."

Arj: sorry sister, I know I am late. aaj firse naraaz bhi hoge. kaha hai wo?

Sis: kafi naraz tho hai. Waha basket ball court me hai

Arj: lekin wo aur basket ball... how can...

Sis: he is so stubborn ACP sir. jab bhi time milthe hai thab ball ke sath practice karthe hai. abhi thak ek bhi bar ball net pe gira nahi, lekin firbhi koshish karthe hai.

He smiled at her words.

He walked towards the basket ball court. he saw him with the ball.

The ball rolled towards Arjun's leg. a boy of STD 2 turned to him...

He had wavy hair... black eyes.. and medium complexion..

Arj: hey champ!!!

The boy just looks at him angry. Arjun smiles at him and throws the ball. It hit the net. The boy follow the ball with his eyes. He looks at Arjun again and moves away and sits on the stone bench.

Arjun sighs and sits beside him. "Adi..." 

The boy gets up and stands in front of Arjun... "FYI !!! I'm not Adi... I'm Aditya Arjun Rawte... and Adi only for my dad, jab wo late nahi athe...samjhe ya samjhau???"

Arjun was looking at the boy, his son in front of him.  No wonder he had his anger with him. After all, Aditya is his son. He smiled sheepishly at the bo

y who stood in front of him with hands crossed across the chest.

Arj: I'm sorry baba, sachme kan pakadke sorry. I promise ab mien kabhi late nahi hoga.

Adi: apko patha hai, mere sare friends ghar gaye. Sirf mien hi baki hu. Apko patha hai, mien kithni lonely hogaye the.

Arj: I'm really sorry beta. Age se nahi hoga. I promise ke ab tum kabhi lonely nahi hoge. Pakka wala promise.

Adi looks at his dad's face, it was hard for him not to rush into his arms. Its been a long time since they have met. But he needed to show his anger too. Akhir dad late aye hai!!!

Adi: ok, mien apko maaf kar dunga. Lekin ek promise karna hoga.

Arj: bolo kaise promise chahiye apko.

Adi: 2 mahine ke chutti hai, aap mujhe hamesha uss stupid si aunty ke paas chod ke kaam pe nahi jaoge. You will take me with you. Khao promise.

Arj: you know beta, I can't always take you to the office. waha kaam hothe hai. but yes, kabhi kabhi aap hamare saath zaroor asakthe hai.

Adi: ok… aur ek aur baath….

Arj: ha bolo…

Adi: (thinking) nahi wo ab nahi… wo baad me bathauga.

Arj: as you wish. Ab tho mujhe maaf kardo. Please…

Adi slowly walks with a pouted face to his dad, and stands in front of him. Arjun sits on his knees to match up the size.

Arj: I'm sorry. Please maaf kardo. Please…

Adi smiles at his dad and hugs his neck tightly. Arjun smiles and wraps his son… no, his life in his arms. It was the best feeling he could hope for. Its been almost 3 months he haven't seen his son.

Arj: I'm sorry Adi, I know aap mujhe bohot miss kiya hai. par kya karu beta, kaam bhi kuch aise hai…

Adi: I know dad, aap police me hona…. I know. Kithne chor ko pakadna hoga… its ok.

Arjun breaks the hug and cups Adi's face. He kisses his forehead. "mere beta tho bohot hoshiyar nikle…"

Adi: ha… mien bhi bada hoke police me hoge na… tho hoshiyar tho hoga hi.

Arj: hm… tho chale champ??

Adi: yes dad… chalo. Mere bag waha hai.

Arj: chalo lethe hai, aur sister se bye bhi kehna hai na?

They walk hand in hand to the office.

Adi: good bye sister. See you after holidays.

Sis: good bye Adi. Have a great holiday. Apne papa ke saath khoob maza lo… ok!!

Adi: ok sister. Chale dad??

Arj: ha chalo. Bye sister, thank you for everything.

Sis: oh it's a pleasure sir. Adi beta zara jake apke matron se bye bolke aao. Wo aap sabko bohot miss karenge na?

Adi: ha… dad, mien abhi aya.

Arjun nods and Adi rushes out. He knew what sister had to speak, he waited silently.

Sis: tho sir, iss bar bhi aap akele aye? I hoped at least this time…

Arj: sister aap mere bare me aur Adi ke bare me janthe ho… fir kyu aise umeed rakh rahi ho?

Sis: umeed se hi tho duniya chalthe hai ACP Sir…

Arj:  shayad aap teekh keh rahi hai sister. Par meri duniya sirf Adi ke wajah se chalthe hai…

Sis: isiliye meine ye keh diya Sir, ke umeed math chodo. Adi bohot acha bacha hai. yaha hum har tharah ke bache dekhe hai. kuch aise bache hei, jo ma-papa ke ek call late aye tho bhi naraz hoke bait the hai. aur rahi Adi ke baad, wo apse milne keliye ithne thadapthe hai, firbhi kuch nahi kehthe. He understands you well. Lekin wo abhi bhi bacha hai sir. Uske bachpana math cheeno. Now you got 2 full months for him. Please make it up for him. Jo bhi wo miss kiye hai, wo sab usse do. I know mujhe ye sab apse kehne ke zaroorath nahi hai. firbhi…

Arj: I know sister.I promise mien Adi ke har wish puri karunga.

Sis: and I have no doubt in that sir.

Adi knocks at the door and come in. "dad, matron se bye bol diya. Ab chale?"

Sis: bade jaldi hai apko jaane me?

Adi: ha sister, is baar bohot kaam hai. tho jaldi jana hai na!!

Arj: kaam?? Kaise kaam??

Adi: uffo… holiday hai dad… is baar khoob masti karega…

Arj: ok ok… ab iss pehle ke sister hame yaha se nikale.. chalthe hai..

Adi: ha chalo. Bye sister…

He runs out of the cabin.  Arjun and Sister laugh at his silly antics.

Arj: ok, sister bye.

Sis: bye sir. Par mere baath pe zaroor gaur karna. God bless you both.

Arj: God already blessed me with Adi, sister. Ab bas unhe mere bete ke khayal rakhna hai.

Sis: aur uskeliye God apko bheja hai…. and I'm sure aap dono ko koi alag nahi karega. Have a great time with your son…

Son… my son… he walked out feeling the pride in his heart… who said motherhood is the greatest feeling in the world?? May be that person never felt what a father felt!!!

"Dad… chalo….der horahe hai…." Adi was too excited to go home. Arjun comes and scoops him in his arms and throws his up in the air, catching him instantly filling the air with Adi's laughter. He then takes his to the passenger seat. He comes around and drives off from the school ground.

Sis. Agnus was watching the father-son through her window with a smile. "I wish sir, apke zindagi me koi aye, jo apke is pariwar ko pura banale…"