Devesh

I stepped out onto the balcony, seeking solace in the quiet of the night. The cool breeze brushed against my skin as I lit a cigarette, the flame dancing in the darkness. Inhaling deeply, I found myself lost in contemplation, my gaze drawn upwards to the serene glow of the moon, its gentle light casting shadows across the city.

Amidst the tranquility, my phone shattered the silence with its shrill ringtone. With a resigned sigh, I extinguished the cigarette and retrieved my phone from my pocket, bracing myself for the inevitable conversation that awaited me.

"Hello, sir," came the familiar voice of my personal assistant, breaking through the stillness of the night.

"So, did you find out?"

I couldn't help but let impatience creep into my tone, the weight of anticipation heavy in the air.

"No, sir, I didn't find any clues yet," my assistant's apologetic response did little to quell the frustration building within me.

"Kab? Kab tak main yahi sunta rahunga? Use dhundte dhundte paanch saal ho gaye, phir bhi tum abhi tak mujhe koi bhi information nahi de pa rahe ho",my voice betrayed the weariness that had settled into my bones, the years of waiting taking their toll.

(When will you find any clues? It's been five years of searching, and yet you still couldn't provide me with any information)

"I'm trying my best to find them, sir," my assistant's words sounded hollow against the backdrop of my mounting disappointment.

"But you're not finding them... I've been hearing the same thing from you for these five years... If you can't handle it, then get the best investigation team on board. I'm willing to pay whatever it takes, just get me all the information," frustration seeped into my voice, mingling with resignation and desperation.

"Yes, sir, as you say," my assistant's acquiescence offered little comfort, the weight of unresolved mysteries pressing down on me.

With a heavy heart, I ended the call, the burden of unanswered questions weighing heavily on my mind.

Turning my gaze back to the moon, I couldn't help but murmur softly, "You shouldn't have done that," the words echoing into the silent night, mingling with regret and longing.

Next Morning

At four in the morning, Tansi woke up. She saw Devesh sleeping beside her. Tansi had woken up at her usual time today. She got up, took out clothes from the wardrobe, and headed to the attached bathroom.

After coming out of the bathroom, Tansi started getting ready near the vanity. She had decided to wear a yellow anarkali today.

Then, she grabbed her books and sat down to read before heading out for a stroll in the garden.

Meanwhile, Devesh woke up when it was 7 AM. He got up from bed and went to take a shower. While looking for his clothes, he realized he had forgotten to bring them. He found a towel in the bathroom and wrapped it around himself before heading out.

Devesh felt relieved when he saw Tansi was not in the room. He went to his wardrobe and quickly changed his clothes.

Then, after some thought, he headed towards the garden. When he reached there, he saw Tansi lost in deep thought.

Initially, Devesh thought of talking to her, but then he felt Tansi should be left alone for a while. So, he went back inside.

*******

Everyone gathered for breakfast.

"Mom, Tansi and I need to go to the doctor today," Devesh said.

"Is everything okay?" Neha asked.

"Just a regular check-up," Devesh replied.

"But today, I had invited some friends and neighbors for Muh dhikhayi" Neha insisted.

"We'll be back before evening," Tansi reassured Neha, as she didn't want to risk her baby's health with late-night events.

"Koi baat nahi muh dhikhayi hum kal kar lenge.Tumhe jaldbaazi karne ki zarurat nahi",Neha said reassuringly.

(It's okay, we can do the face-to-face meeting tomorrow. You don't need to rush)

Tansi nodded in agreement.

Two hours after breakfast, both of them got ready and headed to the hospital for their regular checkup.

In the Hospital

Devesh and Tansi entered the gynecologist's cabin. "Hello, please have a seat," the doctor greeted them, and they complied.

"Hello, doctor," Tansi said softly.

The doctor, looking at Devesh, started to ask Tansi something, but before he could speak, Tansi glanced at Devesh and said, "My husband."

"Alright," the doctor said.

After some inquiries with Tansi, the doctor said, "Alright, now that everything else is done, let's proceed with the ultrasound."

Tansi nodded in agreement and followed the doctor to the ultrasound room.Devesh also simply followed behind them.

After coming in for the ultrasound doctor asked Tansi to lie down on the bed. After she did, the doctor instructed her to lift her top slightly.

Tansi hesitated a bit, as both of them hadn't fully adjusted to their marriage yet. But seeing Tansi's hesitation, Devesh felt compelled to leave the room.

Just then, the doctor said, "Aap kaha Jaa rahe ho? Aap inke husband hai na ! Apko apni wife ke saath rukna chahiye!"

(Where are you going? You need to stay here; you are her husband)

Feeling embarrassed, Devesh returned to his place. Tansi also adjusted her top slightly and diverted her attention from Devesh to the monitor.

Devesh also glanced at the monitor to divert his attention.

At the doctor's instruction, the nurse applied gel to Tansi's abdomen, which is typically applied before the ultrasound.

"Let's begin," the doctor said and started checking Tansi's abdomen with the transducer probe.

After a few moments of checking with the transducer probe, they proceed.

"You can see that dot? That's your baby," the doctor said, looking at Devesh and Tansi.

"My Baby," Tansi says with a lot of emotion.

"Would you like to hear the heartbeat?" the doctor asked Tansee.

Tansi immediately responded with a yes. Hearing this, the doctor pressed some buttons on the monitor, and the baby's heartbeat could be heard throughout the room.

Devesh was listening to the baby's heartbeat with great attention. He was already concerned about the baby, and now he felt even more attached hearing the heartbeat.

Meanwhile, tears of joy welled up in Tansi's eyes. It was as if Tansi had forgotten everything else.

After the ultrasound, both Tansi and Devesh discussed with the doctor.  Doctor advised Devesh to keep Tansi happy. Hearing about the baby's healthy condition was like a breath of fresh air for them.

They both then stepped out of the doctor's cabin. Tansi was holding the ultrasound image of her baby given by the doctor, while Devesh was watching her intently.

Suddenly, without Tansi realizing, a little child bumped into her. She was about to fall when Devesh caught her just in time.

He straightened her up and looked at the child with a hint of anger, saying, "Why are you running around here? What if Tansi got hurt?"

"I am so sorry," the child said, seeing Devesh's anger and then looking down.

"Devesh, stop it. He's such a cute child, and he even said sorry," Tansi said.

"But," Devesh started to say, but Tansi interrupted, saying, "Enough now."

Devesh listened to Tansi and then told the child, "Bas tumhare kehne par maaf kar Raha hu."

(I'm forgiving you only because of her request)

"And who should I ask forgiveness from?" the child asked.

"Okay, what's your name, baby?" Tansee sat down on her knees in front of the child.

The child's attention shifted from Tansi's question to Tansi herself, and he said, "Arav."

"Wow, that's a lovely name," Tansi said to the child.

"And yours?" Arav asked Tansi.

"I'm Tansi," Tansi told him her name.

"Di,  Aap bahoot khubsurat ho kisi pari ki jaisi.Mai jab bada ho jaunga na tab Mai apse hi shaadi krunga" ,Arav said in his innocent voice.

(Tansi, you're very beautiful, just like a princess. When I grow up, I'll marry you. Will you wait for me)

Devesh, hearing Arav's words, jumped in, saying, "She's already married. And I'm her prince. Find another princess for yourself."

After hearing this, Arav looked at Tansi, then said, "Tansi, I'll wait to marry you after your divorce."

"Oh ! Excuse me ! Mai to isse divorce nahi dene wala isliye tum kuware hi rehna",Devesh says, arguing with Arav.

(Oh! Excuse me! I'm not going to divorce her, so you'll remain single)

"Shaadi to mai Tansi se hi karunga",Arav says, placing his hand on his waist.

(I will only marry Tansi)

"I'll see how you marry my already wife," Devesh says.

Both of them continue their argument.

Tansi couldn't help but laugh .

"Okay, okay, now both of you stop fighting,"

Both stopped fighting at Tansi's request.

Upon this, Arav says, "I won't argue with this uncle anymore, just for you."

Before Devesh could say anything, Tansi said, "Acha Baby ye sab chhoro aur ye btao tum yahan akele?...I mean... tumhari mumma Kahan hai?"

(Alright, forget all this. Baby, where's your mom?)

"Phli baat to ye ki mai koi baby nahi hu aur dusri , meri mumma washroom gyi hai," the child said.

(Firstly, I'm not a baby, and secondly, my mom went to the restroom)

"Okay big boy ,Lekin tumhe yu yahan wahan nahi bhagna chahiye," Tansi explained to the child.

(Okay, big boy, you shouldn't run here and there)

Devesh's phone was ringing repeatedly, and Devesh kept cutting the call each time it rang.

Seeing him repeatedly doing this, Tansi remarks, "Devesh ji, I think you should pick up the call, it has been ringing since some important matter might be there."

Acknowledging Tansi's advice, Devesh says, "Alright, I'll come. Until then, you stay here," indicating towards the bench.

Then, he looks towards the child and says, "Then we'll take him back to his mother and go back home."

When Devesh returned and saw Tansi alone, he asked, "Vo bacha?"

"Acha Aarav ke baare me puch rahe ho? Uski mom aayi thi usse dhundte hue aur saath hi le gyi," Tansi told Devesh.

(That child, his mom came looking for him. She found him and took him away)

"Well, that's good. Let's go; otherwise, we'll be late," Devesh said.

Then the two of them left the hospital and headed home.

(Author:- If there is any mistake, I will correct it later; just let me know

in the comments😅)

To Be Continue ✒️

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