In The Garden Of Virtue & Vice

'Paani-puri'

Rohan saw devaki sitting on a bench. He went to her. Devaki noticed him but she didn't react.

'Devaki' Rohan said sitting beside her. She didn't reply.

'Devaki..I am sorry!! But hum usike liye yeh sab bol rahe the na' Rohan said. Devaki turned to face him.

'Ache se bola ja skta tha!!' She said.

'AREY YAAR HUM NAHI CHAHTE THE KI SARA PHIR SE...' Rohan yelled but as soon as he realised that what he said he stopped. 'Nahi chahte the ki woh koi musibat mei pade..tum already nahi mil rahi thi phir sara bhi chali gayi isiliye hume tension ho gya tha' Rohan tried to change his words, but devaki understood that something is fishy but decided not to ask him know.

'Mujhe aisa kyu lag raha hai ki yeh sara ka past janta hai!!' Devaki thought. Rohan snapped his fingers in front of her. She came back to reality.

'Kaha kho gayi?' Rohan asked.

'Nahi kuch nahi' she replied.

'Please ghar chalo!!' Rohan said.

'Nahi...mujhe thodi der yahi rehne ka mann hai. Tum jao' She said.

'Nahi mai tumhe yaha se lekar hi jaunga!!' Rohan said & held her wrist & stood up. Devaki looked at her wrist & then at rohan. He quickly left her wrist.

'Please chalo' Rohan pleaded. At that very time they heard paani-puri wale bhaiya's voice (😂😂😂). Devaki looked towards him & then at rohan.

'Chalooo...paani-puri khaenge!!' Devaki stood up in excitement.

'Paani-puri dekhte hi sab kuch bhul jaati hai yeh. Pagal!!' Rohan thought & a smile crept on his face.

'Ab smile kya kar rahe ho? Chalo...isse mera mood thoda acha ho jaega' Devaki said. Rohan came to reality as he realised he must be looking like a dumbo.

'Par yeh mujhe kya ho raha hai?' Rohan again went in his thoughts.

'Kitna sochta hai yeh ladka..mai chali tumko aana hai toh aa jao. AREE PAANI-PURI WAALE BHAIYA RUKIYE!!!' Devaki screamed & ran towards the stall. Rohan came to reality.

'Aree aree main bhi aaya!!' Rohan said & went behind her.

                             ******

Aarushi went towards sumedh who was sitting on the floor.

'Sumedh!!' As soon as aarushi took his name sumedh hugged her tightly, he started crying. Aarushi was shocked to see him cry. She patted his back.

'Sshhh!! Sumedh please don't cry. Dab thik ho jaega. Abhi sab koi apne ghar aa gaye hai na. Kuch nahi hoga. Chill!!' Aarushi tried to console him. Both parted away.

'Nahi aarushi use bohot bura laga hoga. Maine bohot galat kar diya aisa baat bolke. Par...par main use nahi khona chahta!!' Sumedh said. This sentence stabbed her heart. But she didn't showed her insecurity.

'Aree woh thik hai sumedh kyu ab tension le rahe ho!! Woh apne flat mei gayi hogi. Abhishek hoga uske saath, toh ab chinta mat karo. Chalo utho' aarushi said & made him sit on the couch. She brought a glass of water for him.

'Mujhe jaana hoga uske paas' sumedh said & stood up to leave. Aarushi held his hand.

'Nahi sumedh!!' Aaru stopped him. He gave her a confused look. 'Abhishek hai abhi uske pass. Unhe disturb mat karo' she completed.

'Hmm...sahi keh rahi ho!' He said. Aarushi made him sit again but his balance disturbed & he landed upon aarushi. Her eyes were closed tightly. He was looking at her face which was looking more cute. He smiled looking at her.

                            *****

Bandana went to sameeksha's ward. Sameeksha was awake.

'Kaha gayi thi tu??' Sam asked. She became alert.

'Woh...mai..doctor ke cabin mei gayi thi tere baare nei puchne ke liye' Bandana replied. Sameeksha sensed that something was wrong.

'Kya puchne gayi thi?' She asked.

'Mai yeh puchne gayi thi...haan!! Ki tujhe discharge kab karenge...haan yahi puchne gayi thi' bandana said hesitatingly.

'Kyu bekar ke bahane bana rahi hai tu momo!! Sach sach bta de ki main pregnant hu. Bas ab yeh bta tune khud kaise decide kar liya ki mai abortion karwaungi??' Sameeksha said. Bandana was shocked.

'Yahi soch rahi hai ki mujhe kaise pta chala' Saneeksha said. She nodded.

'Nurse ne btayi mujhe saari baatein!! Tune toh sabko mana kar rakha tha na. Kyu bandana kyu?? Kyu chhipaya yeh sab!!!' She asked & started crying. Bandana came to her & sat on the bed. She also started crying.

'Nahi phusky!! Main terese kuch chhupa nahi rahi thi..bas tujhe btane ki himmat nahi hui. Aur mujhe pta hai ki tu abhi apne career pe dhyaan dena chahti hai isilie maine yeh decision le liya' bandana said.