Hey guys my lovlies. I seriously was not interested to end this book. At least not this way but seeing the response "I'm hurt,I'm deeply hurt!" I never asked to you for votes. Non of my books have any targets. And more over I ask you guys weather to continue or no also. But...

Writing is my new found love. And I'm enjoying it. Though I'm not able to publish my books on regular basis but there is not a single day that I go without writing. Its has become my habit and I do it daily. Because I'm loving it. Ya I agree that updates were very slow and may be some of you lost interest in reading. But guys I could not help. I had my final exams back to back and the that too of two consecutive Semesters at a time.

Of course I'll not leave watty in any condition but ufff can't say. any way. This is the last chapter and trying to justify the whole story. And this will be lengthy as I don't want to continue (at least this book)

Sorry for the bak-bak but I guess it was needed.

Part 23

______________

At the end..!

Continued...!

R: ghanti..? Konsi ghanti..?

A: wo aap nai samjoge. Chodo.

R:tho samjou.

A:pehele me tho samj jaou..!

R: this was rude.(sad pout)

Soon they called that day. And Annika was handling rishi with much care and love. That love which she was not ready to accept. That love which was unaware of. That love which confused her.

She needed somebody for now to talk about this. Of course she can't discuss this with rishi itself.

Soon her phone ringed.

She was lying on bed on her side facing the ceiling with all these thoughts.

She saw if rishi was disturbed. But due to the medication he was sleeping.

Soon she brought the volume down of her phone. And looked at time.

A: iss waqt...? (Soon she received) papa..? Kya hua..?

V: ye tho mujhe puchna hai. Ki hua kya hai. And why didn't you inform us.

A: (she pulled out from her duvet and tip toed to balcony silently) papa.. papa.. shh.

V:what sh..?

A: ap mujhe bolne doge..?

V: ok sorry. Batou abhi.

A: papa kuch nai hua hai. And waise apko pata kaise chala jab me ne apko nai bataya..?(being a bit spectical)

V:oh hello. Miss. CID I have friends in almost all the hospitals around. Wo Dr. Sha ne bataya. He said ki tum waha thi. So just asked and usne pata karke bataya. That's it.

A: ha. That's it. Kuch nai hua. Halki si chot ayi hai. Aur kuch nai. Ab teek hai wo. So rahe hai.. and apne itni raat ko..?

V:wo me abhi hospital me hi tha. Surgery me busy tha.

A: oh papa. Apne khana khaya..?

V: ya.. I'm mean canteen me khaya. Abhi ghar Jake. I'll have.

A: ok. Dyan se jaana.

V: ya.. sure.

A: (she came inside near her bed) And go Soon take care. Love. You.

R: lov...u..ani..ka...

(soon she shot looked at rishi..,was he awake or what..? No he murmered in his sleep)

V:(chukled listening rishi's words) love you too. Bye.

A: ap jaise soch..(vardhan had already hung the call before she could continue) inta pyaar karte hai mujhse.. ki neend me bhi bad-badaye lekin apki harkate mujhe confuse kardeti hai. Dimag ki dhai ban jati hai.

Aur pata ye konsi awaz hai. Bar bar ye ghanti ki awaz sunai deta hai.

Mujhe khuch khudkithod sochna padega.

Soon the sun rays hit a peacefully sleeping couple. Annika got up.

She rubbed her eye cutely to find him sleeping with a pout. She smiled seeing him.

A:aahhhh🥱 aaj me jaldi utgayi😅 rishi se pehele..Nice improvement. Waise bhi tiered lagte hai.

She was staring him when she again heard the sound of bell. She caressed his hair and got up.

She got freshed and went into the kitchen. She prepared lite breakfast and soup for him.

When she reached her. Their room. She saw rishi had woke up but still sitting on the bed.

A:Rishi..?

Rishi turned to look at her at the direction.

He was amused with the act of hers.

S

he all set. Freshed up. Dressed up. And with breakfast and all. He took time to register this. For now he was still shocked that she. The Annika. The late latif was up so soon. That too before him. No matter she had to go to office but he was the one who would wake her up everyday. And today all of a sudden.

A:Rishi..? Kaha kho gaye hai ap..?

R: tum sach me Annika hi ho na..?(he asked really being amazed)

A: Rishiii.... (she came near him) utho. Jaldi se fresh ho jaou. Aur ye breakfast karlo.

R: lekin Annika...

A: kuch lekin-wekin nai. Utho abhi kahana thanda ho jayega..

R: mujhe nai khana ye sab.

A: ab me bana ke layi hu na...(Cute pout)

R: uske liye tho mujhe khana padega. Hai na..

(Seeing her cute pout he couldn't stop himself from smiling, to which Annika nodded excitedly)

R: teek hai. Me fresh ho jaou..?

A: hanji. Ab chalo... utho..

she held his wrist and pulled him up. Inoreder to get him out of the bed, this was out of annika's character. He went inside and the door behind was shut.

A:geyser on hai. (She informed him)

As he went in side he saw his bathrobe and towel was hanging on handle. Hot water was ready. He smiled at this small changes in Annika. But hoping for too much would hurt him. He knew.

Shortly he came out and again was in shock. He suit was set and was lying there on bed. His hanky and wrist watch was matching with the suit. His breakfast was there beside the tray also had his medicines.

He smiled ear to ear. He raised his eyebrows in amusement.

R: ek hi din me itna badlav Annika.. pata hota tho bohot pehele hi accident karva leta.

But soon his smile vanished.

R: par kahi hai wo special treatment aise tho nai jaise ki jaan Jane se pehele ganga jal pilaya jata hai..(he face fell)

A: arrey ap aise kyu kahde ho. (She entered the room) Change karo. Aur khana thanda horaha hai rishiii...

(she was passing him but he stopped her by bring his hand infront of her by blocking her way. She raised her eyebrow in questioning manner)

R:kya.. kyu karahi ho ye sab.

A:(mujhe pata chal jaye tho batoungi na) kuch nai aise hi.

R: mat karo. Don't.

A:kyu..?

R: kyu kar rahi ho..?

A: nai kar sakti .?

R: kis haq se..?

A: ap nai chate ki me karu..?

R: tum baat ko ghumaou mat. Bolo kyu kar rahi ho.

A: kyu ki ap bimar the is liye. Milgaya jawab.. ab hatiye.

(She passed him and reached cupboard to take her things as she had to go to office)

R: mere liye difficult mat banou Annika. Aise aas mat jagaou ki me badme akela pad jaou. Aur me apne apko handle na kar paou.

A: apki problem kya hai rishi.

R: seedi baat Annika. Mujhe tumari is ek din ki meheman nawazi nai chahiye. And don't make me used to it.

A: ap mujhe galat samj rahe hai rishi.

R: sab sahi samj raha hu. Tum ek na ek din mujhe chodke chali jayegi Annika. I know. So please mujhe tumari adat mat lagaou.

W

ho the hell told him that Annika will leave him

Saying this he took his outfit and rushed to change. Annika would wait for him if she was not late. She left to her office.

And soon rishi too left.

As she reached her office she got busy with the new work load as it was festival season she had got many orders for the event management.

Everything was lined up. And still the piled up things in her mind were not letting her do her work properly.

A: ek tho ye toyhaar ka tham jam. Upar se pata nai rishi ko achanak se kya hogaya hai. Kabhi kabhi mujhe na khud pe shaq hone lagta hai kahi me unke saath galat nai karahi hu. Neend me bhi mera naam lete hai par jab me samne hu tho mujhe bagane me thule hue rehete hai. Mujhe na ye pagal bana k hi manenge.

Swati(Annika's assistant) came in breaking her train of thoughts.

S:mam wo Rishi sir aye hai.

A: kya..? Kyu..?

S:mam. Mujhe kya pata..(smiling nervously)

A:teek hai 2 mint baad bej do.

S: teek hai mam. (Saying this she left)

A:ab ye kyu aye hai yehan pe.

(She Clent her table and made herself presentable. Then there was a know)

A:ya come in.

she was busy in arranging the things, her hair flew softly creating an un listened music. Her eyes were being tensed. Her papers were shattered. Her lappy was half flung open. He entered and lost in this innocent beauty. As she didn't hear any response. She looked up seeing him lost.

A:Rishi..?(this was the third Time she called him, she was searching something urgently now seeing her tensed face he came out from his la la land.

R: kya dundrahi ho.(not completely back here)

A:pani dundrahi hu.

R: peene..?

A: nai apke upar phenk ne😏

R:hein..?(now he was here, completely 😌)

A: ha. Kab se bula rahi hu. Kahan kho jate hai ap..? Anyway ajaou abhi.

Rishi ame and settled down in her front chair.

A:ap teek ho. Khana khaya..?

R:wooho..(raising his eyebrows)mujhe laga ki tum pehele ye puchogi ki me kyu aya.

A: koi aur hota tho yehi puchti. Ab batou pehele..

R: ha. Matlab nai. Khana nai khaya. Tumara wo breakfast khaya tha.

A: oh acha. Phir..

R: phir kya..? me yehan story suna raha hu..?😏

A: ap aise ghumte phirte aag ka gola kyu ban jante ho all of a sudden..? Bhuk lagi hai kya..?

R: lagi tho hai.

A: tabhi tho(exclaimed)

Did she knew him so well..? How..?

R: kya..?

A: chaliye pehele khana kha le te hai phir dekte hai.

R:ok.

Annika called for food from her canteen.

And they both settled on the couch. Beside each other.

Rishi had went to wash his hands and Annika was serving plates. She got a call from shrenu. Annika saw for rishi as she didn't find him she put it on speaker and again got back to serving.

A:ha shrenu bol.

Sh:me kya bolu tu bol. Kyu call kiya tha..?

A: arry ha. Mujhe tumse milna hai.

Sh: kab..?

A: as soon as possible.

Sh: sab teek hai na.

A: nai kuch teek nai hai shre.

Sh: Rishi kaise hai. Kuch hua kya..?

A: ab tu sab yehi puchegi..?

Sh: acha OK baba teek hai. Ajana Hamare adde pe😁

A: ok teek hai. 5 baje...?

Sh: Rishi ke bare hai kya..?

A: ha aise kehe sakte hai. Abhi chal bye.

He heard just the last two lines.

R: mere bare me..? Kahi antim Faisal tho nai lerahi hai. Muje chod ke Jane ki. Hey bagwaan itni jaldi jana tha Annika ko. 🤢

After his thinking process he came in and sat with her. Looking at her intensely in her eyes for finding answers. But what he saw was totally different from what he heard or we can say what he assumed. Because what he saw was care and affection in her eyes. But did she hold them ? At this moment when she was taking some strong decision. He was confused.

R: aur.?

A: aur kya khana Khayenge. Apko bhuk lagi thi na.

R: ha par.

A: par war kuch nai. Aaou chalo.

R:hmm.

He was eating. When A food partial was stuck in his beard and Annika saw this.

Annika closed up to him and removed that food particle. While all the time rishi kept on staring her.

A: kyu aye the. (Braking the ice)

R: haa...?

A:kyu aye the. Kuch kaam tha. Ya aise hi aye the.

R: Annika. Me.. tum.. mujhe chodke jaougi tho nai na..?

A:hein..? Ye kaha se agaya..?

R; bolo

A: nahi. Ok..?

R: jhoot.

A: ab me isse zyada kya bolu rishi...? Ap na Bohot hi ajeeb ho. Sach me.

With this she saw he had finished his food.

A:aur chahiye..?

R: haa...?! Nai nai.

A: teek hai.

She cleared the plates. And gave him the water bottle.

A: tablets hai saath me..?

R: nai laya.

A: teek hai. Le lena baad me. Bhul na mat ok.

R: teek hai ab me chalu..?

A: arrey.. matlab mujhse milne aye the..?

R: may be. (Genuine smile)

Annika blushed.

R: and thanks for this lunch date😉

A: Rishi... ap pal bar me badlate ho. Mujhe pagal bana k hi chodoge ap. Haan!

R: bye *he kissed in the air* and left

A: ye rishi bhi na..!!

Soon the clock showed 4pm. She needed to speak with shrenu. She had to leave. She packed her stuff and rushed to their "ADDA" which was a open air restaurant! Beside the beach. Hearing those sounds of waves rushing to touch them. The strong yet soft breez that made her feel fly free. Having her favt Aloo poori l,walking bare footed. Was her favt thing. This was practised ever since they knew each other. They felt it would calm their mind and let their heart open.

Soon she reached to see shrenu waiting for her. They shared a warm hug.

S: kaise hai tu ani(she asked breaking the hug)

A: ek dum khidkhitod actually nai puri 2 rupees ki chal rahi hai.

S: arrey kya hua..

A: apna staan grahan karo. Batati hu.

S:tu nai badlegi annika..

A:😅

They took their seats and ordered for their food.

S: hm ab bata...!

A: ok. Sun. Me directly point pe ati hu. (Without beating the bush) Mujhe na rishi ki baat hi samj nai ati hai shre! Bolte hai ki mujhse pyaar karte hai lekin apne pyaar k liye kuch karte hi nai. Bolte hai ki me unhe chodke na jaou..aur dusre hi pal bolte hai ki wo muje uske paas chod ke ayenge...

S: ek mint kis ke pass..?(confused)

A: ab mujhe kya pata...! Bolte ki mujhe jab bhi kisi se pyaar hoga tho wo KHUD mujhe USS ke paas chodke ayenge.

S: hein ..?! (She let out a lite laugh) Ye kya hai. Matlab shaadi hi kyu ki rishi ne tumse phir...?

A: wahi tho confusion hai.

S:wo chod.. tu bata tu kya chati hai?

A: matlab..?

S: arrey wo..(before she could continue waiter came and placed their order.)

A/S: thank you(to waiter, with the sweet smile he left)

S: hm bata..?!

A:kis k bare me...

S: tu kya chati hai..? Rishi ko le kar.

A: filhal mujhe nai pata shre. Par me unki tarah confused nai hu.

S: tu unse pyaar karti hai .?

A: 🤐

S:ho sakta hai..?

A: pata nai. But shrenu me is rishte ko ek mouka dena chati hu. Aur wo hai ki mujhe allow hi nai karahe. Me try kar rahi hu. Par wo. Pata nai unka kis tarike ka pyaar hai.

S:tu khul k baat kar na

A: wo is topic pe baat hi nai karte... Aur agar kiya bhi, me bolu bhi par mannte nai hai. Me kya karu...?

S:ufff ye itna complicated kyu hai?

A: mujhe pata hota tho tume puchti..?😏

S:kyu aise lagraha hai ki wo sunte nai..?

A: like. Mujhe puchte hai ki me unhe chodke jaoungi ya nai. Me bolti hu nai. Bolte hai ki mujhe jhote tasalli mat do. Ab me ise kaise batou..? Hu tho unke saath. Ab aur kya batou. Aur kaise prove karu.

S: shayad unko tumari try dik hi nai raha. Kuch tho kami hogi.

A:matlab.

S: wo tho tum dono ko hi pata karna hoga.

A: pata nai hai yaar. Meri tho dimag ki dhai ban gayi hai. Jab mujhe kisi aur ke hote huye imagin kar sakte hai tho ye pyaar hi kaisa hai unka .? Chate kya hai wo. Ab shaadi tho ki hai na. Mouka dena chahiye na..? Ab me ise dheere dheere se accept karahi hu tho unko chul machi hai. Kis baat ka.

S: tu ye sab rishi ko kyu nai puchti .?

A: batya tho. Ki wo ye topic ko badne hi nai dete.

S: teek hai time de. Aur tu unhe bhi bata. Jo kuch bhi tera man me hai. Try it out. Shayad unko ye lagta hoga ki you are just trying to make him happy lekin genuinely aise chati nai. Like dil se nai karahi. Unko aisa lag raha hoga.

A: pata nai yaar. Mujhe bas...(sigh) anyway. Tu bhi sahi kehe rahi hai. Mujhe unse hi baat karni hogi.. aur tu bata. Me ne tumare bare me pucha hi nai...

Then they had some girly talks. And Annika backed home. And shrenu too.

She was tiered with the work and the things that were running in her mind about HER husband.

She needed to clear. She needed answers for this.

When she was back home she saw Rano and jay on the dinning having their late coffee in the evening.

Rano saw her entering.

Ra: Annika puttar..

A: ji mummy ji.

J: aja beta chai pe le hamare saath.

A: me fresh ho ke aou..?

Ra: ha ha. Ja jaldi aja.

A: ji me abhi ayi.

Soon she got freshed and joined the couple.

They had their talk they laughed they had their time.

Then Annika went in kitchen. While rano just saw her walking in. And went near her.

Ra: kuch chahiye puttar..?

A: nai mummy ji. Wo rishi ke liye chai bana rahi thi.

Ra: waise me ne suna ki tumne rishi k liye aaj breakfast banaya..

A: ha. Me ne try kiya. Pata nai unko kaisa laga.

Ra: usne hi tho kaha ki tum ne banayi thi. Aur usne khaya bhi hai. Lekin Annika. Tum dono ko beech me sab teek hai na..? Matlab me beech me tho nai gusna chati par pata nai kyu.

A: ji mummy ji sab teek hai. Agar teek nai bhi hai tho me teek kardungi. Apke bete ko na.. teek karna hi hai ab tho.(last line she uttered under her breath)

Ra: kya..?

A: kuch nai.

Ra: teek hai teek hai. Tum Karo. (She was leaving when she she rememberd why she had come behind her) arrey me tho bhul hi gayi. Annika. Hum na bahar jarahe hai. Shaadi ko. Wo Sakshi hai na...(annika's questioning look) arrey wo tumare papa ji ki behen ki beti. Uski shaadi hai. 5 din baad. Dheli me Hum abhi jarahe hai. Tum dono bhi shaadi thak ajana. Wahi batane ayi thi.

A: matlab. Ap jarahe ho..?

Ra: ha.. aur tum dono tho honeymoon ja nai rahe ho tho socha...

(Annika didn't let her complete)

A: ki ap aur papa ji chale jaouge 😅

(she pressed her lips together controlling her smile)

Ra: daat! Pagli. Bohot Shaitan hai tu Annika.

A: ok ok. Teek hai. Enjoy.

Ra: arry Hum jarahe hai Taki tum dono enjoy karo.

Annika smiled shyly and rano left. Soon rishi came in and he walked into the kitchen after getting freshed. To be honest he reached their searching for his wife. He was too eager to know her mood. What did she talk about him with shrenu. Why didn't she directly talk to him.

Annika saw him aproch her. She passed a sweet smile.

Rishi inched to her.

A: Rishi..?

R: kya baat hai. Aaj achanak se itna special treatment kyu..?

A: aise kuch nai hai.

R: phir..?

A: wo rishi. Mujhe apse baat karni thi.

R:(there we go) kis ke bare me..? Nai me actually busy hu kal bat karte hai hai na.. ha.

A: Rishi rishi baat tho suniye. Please. (He didn't listen) Acha chai tho pi lo please.

He stopped at his tracks. He looked back. She came and stood behind him and he turned back all of a sudden making the cup spil on his shirt.

A: phail gaya raita. Ap bhi na. Ek dum bache ho.

She said dragging him near the washbasin. And clearing his shirt while rishi kept on admiring her. She stood wiping his shirt while his hands involuntarily went to her waist.