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"Mumma, aap mujhe breakfast de dein. Mujhe late ho raha hai office ke liye.", Sahaj said as he once again glanced into his wrist watch for the nth time since last ten minutes.

(Mom, give me my breakfast. I am getting late for office.)

"Tch! Thodi der wait karlo, beta. Accha nahi lagta mehmaan se pehle hum naashta karne lag jaayein.", Saumya said as she kept a butter on the table.

(Tch! Wait for a while, son. It does not look good to start breakfast before the guests.)

"Hadd hai! Pehle mera morning walk miss ho gaya aapke iss mehmaan ki wajah se aur abb main office bhi late jaunga. Shabaash!", Sahaj exclaimed irritated with his disturbed routine for the first time in last nine years.

(This is too much! First, I missed my morning walk because of this guest of yours, and now I will also get late for the office. Great!)

"Itna kyun chhid rahe ho tum, Sahaj? Ek din routing upar-niche hone se kucch nahi hota. Kabhi yeh robotic life ki jagah ek normal insaano wali life bhi jee kar dekho, accha lagega.", Saumya humoured ruffling Sahaj's neck length hairs, making him give her a stink eye.

(Why are you getting irritated, Sahaj? It's okay if you won't follow your routine for a day. Sometimes try living the life of a normal human instead of this robotic life, you will feel better.)

"Badi mushkil se baal set kiye hain, Maa. Mat kara karein aise.", Sahaj chided setting his hairs once again with his fingers.

(I have settled my hairs with great difficulty. Don't ruin them.)

"Aur ek din ki baat nahi hai, Maa. Pehle din aate hi itna hungama kar diya hai aapki iss mehmaan ne.", Sahaj said making Saumya frowned and she asked, "Kya matlab?"

(And it is not about one day, Mom. It is just her first day here and your this guest has already created a great drama---)

(---What do you mean?)

"Pehle toh she came here suddenly without informing Heer. Phir aadhi raat ko she asked heer to pick her up from the airport. Aur jab wahan pick karne gaye hum toh madam phone receive nahi kar rahi thi, you know why!? Because she was sleeping like a log. Mushkil se authorities se permission lekar we went in to get her and you know what she did?", Sahaj exclaimed, his tone so much dramatic at the end making Saumya curious to know more.

(First of all, that she came here suddenly without informing Heer. Then in the middle of night she asked heer to pick her up from the airport. And when we were there to receive her, madam was not answering the calls, you know why!? Because she was sleeping like a log. With great difficulty, we got permission from the authorities and we enter the airport to get her, and you know what she did?)

"Kya kiya?", Saumya asked in a whisper as if they were talking about something thrilling.

(What did she do?)

"She accused me of eve-teasing her. Chhedne ka ilzaam lagaya mujhpar ke main usse chhed raha hoon.", Sahaj said throwing his hands up in irritation.

(She accused me of eve-teasing her. She said that I was behaving mischievous with her.)

"Ohh! Galat fehmi ho gai hogi bacchi se.", Saumya said smiling lightly, while Sahaj looked at her in disbelief.

(Ohh! She might have misunderstood you.)

"Main bhi kisse complain kar raha hoon!", Sahaj said before he continued, "Aapko toh kabhi koi galat lagta hi nahi hai."

(Who am I even complaining---)

(---You never find anyone wrong.)

"Waise, mumma, you ask her why she came here.", Sahaj said and Saumya looked at him frowned which Sahaj replied saying, "I mean if she has came here to uske koi relatives yaa koi toh honge. Toh woh unke ghar nahi gai, aur Heer ko bulaya airport se pick karne. Woh bhi aadhi raat ko."

(By the way. Mom, you ask her why she came here.---)

(---I mean if she has came here then she must be having some relatives or closed ones here. But she did not go to their house and instead asked Heer to pick her up. That too in the middle of the night.)

"Haan toh?", Saumya asked confused making Sahaj sighed before he said, "What I mean is mujhe lagta hai yeh ladki apne ghar se bhaag kar aai hai."

(So what?---)

(---What I mean is that I feel this girl has came running secretly from her house.)

"Sahaj.", Saumya sighed at his son's assumptions before she continued, "Will you stop judging each and every person as and when you feel."

"Lekin, mumma---", Sahaj argued only to be interrupted by Saumya who said, "Aisa bhi toh ho sakta hai ke yahan uske koi relatives rehte hi na ho."

(But mumma---)

(---It can be also possible that she do not have any relatives here.)

"Toh banda advance mein hotels book karva ke aata hai, Maa. Yaa uska humare yahan rehne ka plan hota toh pehle uske parents aapse baat karte. Aise achanak koi bhi kisi ke ghar nahi chala jaata, aadhi raat ko.", Sahaj said and Saumya sighed before she exclaimed, "Yeh joh tum baar-baar 'aadhi raat' word bol rahe ho highlight karke, mujhe lagta hai tumhari neend bigdi hai aadhi raat ko iss liye tum uss bichari bacchi ke piche pade ho."

(Then the person book room in hotel in advance, mom. Or her parents would have a talk with you about the same if she had plans of staying here. No one goes to someone's place like this, surprisingly, that too in the middle of night.---)

(---The way you are highlighting the word 'middle of night' again and again, I feel you are angry with that girl only because she ruined you sleep in the middle of night.)

"Aap puchein usse ke woh yahan kyun aai hai. Main pakka bata raha hoon ke yeh ladki apne ghar se bhaag kar hi aai hai. Likhwa ke lein lein aap mujhse. Aur yeh bhi puchein ke kab wapas jaa rahi hai.", Sahaj said, being irritated of waiting for his breakfast.

(You just ask that girl that why she has came here. I am sure she has secretly eloped from her house. I can give you that in written. Also ask her that when she is leaving from here.)

"Haww!", Saumya exclaimed dramatic shock making Sahaj looked at her weirdly, and Saumya said further, "Sharam karo, Sahaj. Yahin sikhaya hai maine tumhe!? Ke koi mehmaan aayein toh usse puchein ki 'kab wapas jaa rahe hai aap'."

(Haww! Have some shame, Sahaj. This is what I have always taught you!? That if someone visits you, then you ask them 'when are you going back'.)

"Pehle toh aap yeh be-fizul dramein dekhna band karein. Aise over-dramatic expressions deti hain aap ke maine aapse aapki property hi naa maang li ho.", Sahaj said agitated with his mother's over-dramatic self in each and every thing.

(First of all, stop watching those dramatic and stupic daily soaps. You give such loud and over-dramatic reactions as if I have asked you for your property.)

"Aur, hum usse apne ghar mein rakh rahe hain toh thoda toh satark rakhni hogi naa, maa. Kya pata sach mein hi apne ghar se bhaag kar aai ho aur kal uski family hum par kidnapping and abduction ka charge laga dein.", Sahaj said, knowing more about how the world is these days.

( And secondly, if we are letting that unknown girl stay at our place, then we also have to be careful, mom. Who knows if she has really eloped from her house and then her family comes accusing us of kidnapping their daughter.)

"Accha, sab pata kar lungi main. Abhi tum thoda shaant ho jaao.", Saumya said and gulped when Sahaj glanced into his wrist watch, once again.

(Okay, I will ask her on my own. Now you keep calm.)

Saumya sighed in relief when she heard Kahaani and Heer's voice coming nearer to the dining area. Finally!

"Good morning.", Kahaani greeted cheerfully before sitting beside Heer.

"Good morning, beta.", Saumya greeted back smiling widely. She instantly liked the vibes coming from Kahaani.

"Good morning.", Kahaani whispered softly looking at Sahaj, who looked up at her and nodded curtly before he said, "Breakfast timings are sharp 08:30 in the morning. Kal se please be on time. Baaki sab ko kaam par bhi jaana hota hain."

(Breakfast timings are sharp 08:30 in the morning. Please be on time from next time. Others also have to leave for their office.)

"Bhai, woh actually Kahaani ka luggage chori ho gaya tha na airport par toh uske paas kapdein hi nahi the abhi pehen-ne ke liye. Aur mere kapde isse loose ho rahe the. Iss liye humein thoda time lag gaya.", Heer interfered defending Kahaani, knowing how much her brother hates people who do not work according the clock.

(Brother, since Kahaani's luggage is?stolen at the airport, so she did not had anything clothes to wear right now. And my clothes were also quite loose for her. That's why it took us some time to come for Breakfast.)

"Bag chori ho gaya tumhara? Kaise?", Saumya asked shocked and Kahaani immediately replied with saddened face, "Jee aunty. Woh airport ke cafeteria mein bethein bethein meri aankh lag gayi. Aur uthi tab pata chala ke mere bags hi nahi hai mere paas."

(You luggage got stolen? How?---)

(---Yes, aunty. Actually I slept unknowingly while sitting in the cafeteria. And then when I woke up, my luggages were gone.)

"Ohh! Yeh toh bahut galat hua.", Saumya exclaimed sadly while Sahaj looked at both the ladies with disbelief.

(Ohh!! So sad it happened with you.)

He was damn hungry and getting late for the office.

"Mum--", Sahaj was about to say something when an angry Kahaani growled hitting her fists on the table aggressively, "Hai-na aunty!? Ek baar woh chor mere haath lag jaayein. Uske ek ek baal ukhaad kar, usse ganja na kar diya toh mera naam bhi Kahaani Garhwal nahi, huh!"

(Isn't it, aunty!? I just wish that I get my hands on that thief. If I won't tore off each and every strand of his hairs and turn him into a bald person, then change my name.)

Kahaani took a deep breathe to calm herself and turned her eyes only to see Sahaj, Saumya and Heer-- trio looking at her with wide shocked eyes.

"Aap logo ko kya hua?", Kahaani asked, innocently, frowning with a smile, and othr came out of shock.

(What happen to you all?)

"Kahaani, beta aise gussa nahi karte. Bag mil jaayegi.", Saumya said, her voice nervous looking at Kahaani's 'Raudra roop'.

(Kahani, dear, no need of getting so much angry. I am sure you will get your belongings very soon)

"Haan, lekin tab tak mere pass pehen-ne ke liye kapde nahi hai naa!", Kahaani replied sadly while Sahaj sat there tiredly leaning back on the chair, and his hand folded near his chest, as he kept looking at the drama going on on front of him, hungry and irritated.

(I know, but till then, I don't have any clothes to wear.)

Koi iss bichare ko naashta hi de dein.

(Atleast, someone give this poor boy his breakfast.)

"Haan toh koi baat nahi. Sahaj hai-naa. Woh le jaayega tumhe shopping par.", Saumya said before she turned towards her son and asked grinning, "Hai-naa Sahaj? Le jaaoge naa tum Kahaani ko shopping par?"

(So, whats a big deal!? Sahaj will take you for shopping.---)

(--- Right sahaj? You will take Kahaani for shopping, right?)

"Mumma, meri meeting hain. Maine office bhi jaana hai kabse. Lekin koi naashta dein toh main woh karke office jaun.", Sahaj said, his temper getting high at the drama in front of him.

(Mom, I have an urgent meeting. If someone serves me breakfast then I can leave for my office.)

"Meri shopping?", Kahaani asked looking at Saumya with curled lips and saddened eyes, that even Saumya's eye turned teary.

(But what about my shopping?)

"Bade badtameez hote jaa rahe ho tum, Sahaj.", Saumya said glaring at her son who looked at him confused at the accusation.

(Day by day, You are getting too much rude, Sahaj.)

"Maine kya kiya?", Sahaj asked befuddled which Saumya answered scolding him with, "Iss bacchi ke paas pehn-ne ko kapdein nahi hai. Aur tumhe apni meeting jyada important lag rahi hai".

(What did I do?---)

(---This poor child does not have any clothes to wear. And you think your meeting is more important than this?)

Sahaj looked at his mother in disappointment, before he almost controlled his urge to roll his eyes at his dramatic mumma.

"Uff Mumma, please aap yeh dramein dekhna band karein. Kasam se, bahut jyada dramatic hoti jaa rahi hain aap.", Sahaj pleaded, while Saumya twisted her lips in displeasure at her son's words.

(Uff, mom. Please stop watching these dramas. I swear you are getting too much dramatic these days.)

"Mumma, main wapas aa jaun college se phir main aur Kahaani shaam mein chale jaayein shopping par? Wapsi mein golgappe bhi khaa lenge.", Heer proposed excitedly, only to be denied by her dear brother.

(Mom, after I return from my college, Can I and Kahaani go for shopping? We will also have waterballs while returning back to home.)

"Shaam ke baad akele bahar nahi jaana hai, Heer. Bahar mahol kharab hai.", Sahaj said, his voice strict leaving no space for arguments.

(You will not go out after sunset, Heer. The situation of the city outside is not safe.)

"Phir Kahaani ki shopping?", Heer asked sadly. She could see her golgappa vanishing from in front of her eyes.

(Then what about Kahaani's shopping?)

"Kal sunday hai. Main khud le jaaunga tum dono ko shopping par.", Sahaj said, dismissing the matter for any further arguments.

(Tomorrow, it is sunday. I will take you both for shopping.)

"Mumma.", Sahaj called his mother over-sweetly before he continued, "Abb agar yeh shopping pein discussion khatam ho gayi ho toh mujhe nashta de dein. Mujhe sach mein office ke liye late ho gaya hai."

(Mom, now if this discussion on shopping is over, then can I get my breakfast. I am seriously getting late for my office.)

"Oh haan, main toh bhul hi gai. Tum log betho, main abhi Sheetal se kehkar garam parathe banvakar bhijwati hoon.", Sahaj sighed, looking at Saumya going to the kitchen and he will finally have his breakfast.

(Oh yes, I completely forgot. You all sut here, I will ask the maid to bring hot paratha-- an indian bread, for you all.)

10:30---- Sahaj sighed looking into the watch. He was supposed to be in the office by 09:00.

His eyes turned to glare at the girl sitting on his right, and who was now chatting happily with his sister, only after ruining his morning.

🖤

"Papa! Chachi! Chachu!", Garhwal house vibrated with Katha's loud voice as she ran down the stairs with her cellphone in her hand.

(Father! Aunt! Uncle!)

"Kya ho gaya? Kahaani ki koi khabar aai hai kya?", Khushi asked hurriedly as?l soon as she saw a smile on Katha's face.

(What happened? Did you get any news about Kahaani?)

"Di-da ka call aaya tha.", Katha said and everyone exchanged a look.

(I got a call from sister.)

"Kaisi hai woh?"

"Kahan hai woh?"

"Sab thik toh hai-naa?",

Dheeraj, Anand and Khushi asked in unison, eagerly awaiting a reply from Katha.

(How is she?

Where is she?

Everything is fine with her, right?)

"Haan woh thik hai aur abhi woh Mumbai mein hai. Apni friend ke ghar par hai.", Katha gave the details she got from Kahaani.

(Yes, she is fine and right now she is in Mumbai at her friend's place.)

"Hey bhagwan, bacchi akeli Mumbai tak chali gai. Main toh kehti hoon abhi ke abhi usse manaa kar wapas le aaiyein.", Khushi said, still worried for Kahaani.

(Oh god, she went Mumbai all alone. I am telling you, you all go and bring her back manofying her.)

"Koi zarurat nahi hai usse yahan wapas laane ki. Rehne do jahan par bhi hai woh.", Dheeraj said staring into nothingness.

(No need of getting her back here. Let her stay wherever she is.)

"Lekin bhaiya--", Anand tried arguing only to stop when Dheeraj looked at him with strict eyes.

(But brother---)

"Ghar se bhaagne walli ladkiyan awara hoti hai. Behaya and besharam hoti hai. Aur aisi ladki meri aulaad ho hi nahi sakti. Iss liye, Maine keh diya na ke woh ladki abb iss ghar mein wapas nahi aayegi, toh nahi aayegi.", Dheeraj declared loudly, leaving no space for arguments, before he left from there to his room.

(Girls who run away from their house are lowless and immoral. They are shameless. And such girl cannot be my child. And so I declare that, that girl would never enter my house ever again.)

"Apni jawaan bacchi ko aise hi kisi anjaan ke ghar kaise rehne dein? Kucch galat ho gaya toh?", Khushi said worriedly looking at both Anand and Katha.

(But how can we let our young daughter stay in between some unknown people? What if something bad happens with her there?)

"Chachi woh jiss ladki ke ghar par ruki hai woh bahut acchi ladki hai. Main aur di-da usse last year Lonavala camp mein mile the. I am sure Di-da will be fine there.", Katha said, assuring her Chacha-chachi who looked worried for her Di-da.

(Aunty, the girl at whose place sister is staying is a nice girl. I am sister met her last year during our trip to Lonavala canp. I am sure sister will be fine there.)

"Mujhe lagta hai, Kahaani ko kucch din wahi rehne dena chahiye. Agar usse jabardadti yahan le aayein aur bhaiya ne usse phir-se kucch ulta-sidha bol diya toh phirse woh ghar se chali jaayegi. Aur iss baar gai toh shayad call bhi naa karein.", Anand said and as the ladies gave a thought to his words, they realised that he was saying right.

(I also think that Kahaani should stay there for few more days. What if we forcefully get her back here, and then her father will say something to her in anger ,and if she will again elope from here, then that time she may not even contact us again.)

They can not take any risk when its about Kahaani. As they know how much stubborn and childish this girl gets at times.

"Lekin, phir bhi--", Khushi was still a little in dilemma but Anand comforted her saying, "Accha main sheetal didi se baat karta hoon. Agar woh thik samjhe toh Kahaani ko unke ghar hi shift karva denge jab tak bhaiya ka gussa shant naa ho jaaye."

(But still---)

(---okay, let's do one thing. I will talk to my distant cousin Sheetal. If she finds it suitable then we will shift Kahaani to their house untill brother's anger calm down.)

"Accha, meri baat toh karao usse. Uski awaaz sunke hi mere dil ko chain aayega.", Khushi asked Katha to dial Kahaani's number.

(Fine, let me atleast talk to her. I am dying to hear her voice.)

🖤

"Abb wapas bhi aa jaao ghar, Kuhu.", Khushi's pleading voice from the other saddened Kahaani. She knew her chachi was not saying for the sake of showing. She genuinely loved Garhwal sisters, specially Kahaani than anyone else in the whole house.

(Now come back home, Kuhu.)

"Haan, taaki baba kisi se bhi meri shaadi karwa dein, hain-naa?", Kahaani asked prickly, remembering three days back when her baba announced of getting her married to the first Alliance comes for her.

(Oh so that father get me married to anyone, right?)

"Arey bevakoof ladki, woh toh bhaisahab ne aise hi bol diya tha. Aise thodi naah tumhe kahin bhi shaadi kar denge. Baba hai woh tumhare.", Khushi explained her, while Kahaani pouted grumpily.

(Oh you stupid girl, he said that out of anger. He is your father. How can he get you married to anyone like that.)

"Haan lekin unhone meri padhai rukva di, uska kya?", Kahaani said, her fingers drawing randin patterns on the bedsheet.

(But he stopped my studies, what about that?)

"Woh toh umhone gusse mein bol diya tha. Hum baat kar lete thode din baad. Lekin aise ghar se bhagne ki kya zarurat thi? Aur woh bhi aadhi raat ko.", Khushi scolded her making Kahaani's lips jutted out in pout.

(That he said just in anger. We would have talked to him after few days. But what was the need of running away from your own house like this? That too in the middle of the night.)

"Haan, lekin abb agar main wapas aai toh pakka baba meri shaadi karwa denge. Aur mujhe abhi padhna hai, chachi.", Kahaani whinned making Khushi sigh. May be Kahaani was predicting right. This time Dheeraj might really make her married out of anger.

(But now if I come back home then father will surely get me married to anyone. And right now I want to complete my studies, aunty.)

Before they can talk anymore, there was a knock on the door and then Heer's head peeked inside cutely, making Kahaani gestured her to come inside. Kahaani quickly said bye to her chachi and disconnected the call.

"Hey, Kahaani.", Heer entered Kahaani's room and sat in front of her on the bed with criss-crossed legs as she asked, "Kya kar rahi thi tum?"

(Hey Kahaani, What are you doing?)

Kahaani smiled lightly before replying, "Kucch nahi, bss katha ki call thi toh usse aur chachi se baat kar rahi thi."

(Nothing much, I was just talking to Katha and my aunty.)

"Oh yes, Katha. Woh kyun nahi aai tumhare saath Mumbai?", Heer asked, and she did not miss to notice the shift of expressions on Kahaani's face. As if she wad nervous about something that she was hiding.

(Oh yes, Katha. Why didn't she came to Mumbai with you?)

"Accha chhodo iss baat ko. Aur mujhe batao ke how is you studies going on? You wanted to join architecture, right?",p Heer immediately changed the topic seeing how Kahaani was uncomfortable answering her previous question.

(Let it be. Tell me how is your studies going on? You wanted to join architecture, right?)

"Haan architecture.....accha hi chal raha hai.", Kahaani's voice lowered by the end of thje statement making Heer confused.

(Oh architecture....yes it is going fine.)

Last time, when Kahaani told Heer about her dream of becoming a renowned architecture, she was very excited and unable to control. But today, that enthusiasm and zealousness was missing in her voice.

"Kahaani--", Heer lightly kept her palm on Kahaani's and gave her a genuine smile as she comfort her, "We are friends. And you can share anything with me. And anything means any-damn-thing. And I would never judge you. I am not forcing you but just letting you know that if you ever want someone's back, I am always there."

"Thanks, Heer.", Kahaani said with a small smile, before she revealed, "Actually, main---main ghar se bhaag kar yahan aai hoon Mumbai. Woh bhi kisi-ko bataye bina."

(Actually I---I have came here running away from my house. That too without informing anyone.)

"Kyaa!?"

"Kyaa!?"

(What---)

(---What?)

And there were two shocked voices vibrated in the room.

One was of Heer, but who was the owner of the other one?

And as the girls head turned towards the owner of the voice, their eyes widen in shock looking at---

Sahaj!?