A U T H O R   POV

Vivhaan was lying on his stomach on bed while reading a book about crime scandal. Just then Ishita walked inside his room.

"Manners ishi. Knock on the door before coming inside. I don't like people coming inside without knocking" Vivhaan said but his eyes were fixed on the book.

Ishita scoffed at him and went to the door again and knocked it. "Can I come in Vivhaan bhaiya ?" She asked sweetly. Vivhaan turned around and looked impressed by her polite tone.

"The best and handsome Dr Vivhaan Chauhan bolo toh sochunga" Vivhaan joked. Ishita came inside and sat beside him. Vivhaan again focussed on his book before she could say anything.

"You did it again ?" Ishita said with a glare. Without looking up from the book he replied.

"Did what ishi ?" He tried to act nonchalant but it didn't work.

"You didn't go to meet that girl ? Why ?" Ishita asked but Vivhaan ignored her words. "Ky padh rhe ho aap ?" She looked at the book. "Wow. You don't like ladai jhgra and gali wali, you know ?"

"I know that" Vivhaan replied.

"Ye sunai de diya ?" Ishita asked and Vivhaan looked at her and smiled sheepishly. "Bade papa bula rhe hai apko neeche"

"Mai upar hi khana khaunga" Vivhaan said and again focussed on his book.

"VIVHAAN !!!" Piyush shouted from downstairs and Vivhaan sat up immediately.

"I won't help you this time" Ishita said and stood up to walk out but Vivhaan held her wrist before she could walk out.

"Iss baar kar do" Vivhaan requested. Ishita looked at him in disbelief.

"Apki galti hai. Pata nhi aap kyu kar rhe ho aisa bhaiya ? Shaadi karne bol rhe kar lo. Maybe you will fall in love" Ishita said and walked out of the room leaving Vivhaan standing helplessly.

Everyone sat on the dining table. Vivhaan sat too. Everyone's eyes were on Vivhaan to say something but he remained quite.

"The girl waited 2 hours at the cafe" Piyush said being angry. Vivhaan glanced at him and looked back at his plate.

"I had important surgery—" Vivhaan was trying to say but Piyush cut him off.

"Is that ishi ?" Piyush turned to Ishita who was also listening to them. Vivhaan looked up and pleaded her to play along in this lie. She looked at Piyush and smiled politely.

"Ji bade papa. The surgery went long" She lied and glared at Vivhaan. Meanwhile Vivhaan signed in relief.

"I will fix the date again. And don't try to embarrass me this time" Piyush said and stood up. He made his way to his room.

"Kyu karta hai Vivhaan aisa ? Thodi toh hum sab ki izzat ka soch lo ?" Rajesh said in disbelief and went away from there too. Vanisha just glanced at him and shook her head in disapproval.

Vivhaan too stood up and went upstairs to his room. He laid on his bed and was about to close his eyes then Ishita knocked on the door and came inside. He sat up to hear whatever she is going to say. She stood infront of him being angry. He pulled her down and made her sit beside himself.

"Tum phle kuch bolo usse phle hi bol rha hu. Sorry" Vivhaan said while holding his ears to which Ishita smiled.

"Pata nhi aap kab samjhoge" Ishita said and looked away while laughing a little at his actions.

"Ishi, Jab tumhe pyaar hoga n then you will understand" He said and laid on his back. Ishita looked at him being surprised by his words.

"Pyaar...." She whispered under her breath. "Aap accept karoge agar mujhe pyaar hogya toh ?" Ishita questioned to which Vivhaan looked at her.

"Ishi. Pyaar itni easy cheez nhi hoti beta. Focus on your career. Aur rahi baat shaadi ji toh doctor se hi karayenge ye log. Ab tumhe larka doctor pasnd aa jaye toh i don't think inko koi problem hogi" He said and laughed while saying it.

Ishita looked away at his words. Doctor ? Hell na. The one whom she loves isn't a doctor but an army captain that too with a child. Without saying anything she made her way to her room.

She opened her cupboard and pulled out a box. Where all her small chits are there— about him and a picture of him in his 20s. She just stared at the picture thinking about everything.

"Jo log naseeb mein nhi hote unhi log se itna ishq kyu ho jata hai ?" She whispered at the picture. The next moment she packed the box back into the cupboard and laid on her bed.

She hugged the pillow tighter and told herself it's okay. But her eyes betrayed her words and a tear skipped from her eyes.

_________________________

"Dada. I want to eat desert after this" Arav said while showing his hands in a cute gesture and showed 2 fingers as asking for 2 desserts. Siddharth laughed at his actions and focussed on chopping vegetables.

"Only after you learn the alphabets" Siddharth said while focusing on vegetable while Arav pouted while sitting on the counter

"Then we will visit theif uncle" Arav said and Siddharth looked at him being amused.

"Thief uncle ? Not Ansh chachu ?" Siddharth asked to which Arav thought for a second before answering.

"No he is too loud" He scrunched his nose while thinking about Ansh. Siddharth laughed at his words.

"So Aru doesn't like Ansh chachu right ?" Siddharth asked while laughing at his son's expressions.

"He doesn't behave right with you either" Arav pouted. Siddharth looked at him— now serious.

"Aru ? That's a bad thing. We just joke around. Nothing much" Siddharth said and caressed Arav's cheeks.

"Really ? He always jokes alot" Arav complained to which Siddharth smiled.

"He likes to joke around" Siddharth reassured his overprotective son to which Arav finally nodded.

"So are we going to visit them ?" Arav said and showed his puppy eyes. Siddharth chuckled at his antics and kissed his forehead.

"Why not" Siddharth said and Arav squirmed in happiness. Just then there was a knock at the door. "Looks like we are having a guest. You learn the alphabets. I'm coming back" Siddharth said and turned to check who is at the door.

He opened the door and there Riya stood with a packet in her arms. "Surprise !!" She said and showed up the packet in happiness.

"Riya ? Didn't expect you at this hour. Please come inside" He guestured her inside and she too came inside with a smile.

"Thought you two might be starving. So I made dinner for you both" She said with a smile. Siddharth too smiled back at her before locking the door.

"It wasn't needed you know. But thank you. Aru will love to see you here" Siddharth said and guestured her to the kitchen where Arav was studying on the counter.

"Riya didi" Arav opened his arms in happiness and Riya too gladly hugged him. Both started talking within themselves so Siddharth focussed on cutting vegetables.

"I have some chocolates for you in the bedroom. Go and take it before you dada get to know about it" Riya whispered to Arav to which Arav jumped in happiness and ran to the bedroom leaving Riya and Siddharth alone in the kitchen.

"Aur kitne dino ki chutti hai apki ?" Riya asked. Now her focus is only on Siddharth who is engulfed in chopping.

"Uhm....I still have 4 days" He said while still chopping. Riya nodded while listening his words. She lives alone in her house so for her it's not a big deal to come at Siddharth's house.
Her eyes fell on his hands— sleeves up while flexing his veins— while cutting the vegetables.

"You know my parents were saying that marry someone this or that" Riya said and looked at his face to know his reaction.

"It means we are getting a party ?" Siddharth laughed while still chopping not thinking much about her words.

"Yeah..." Riya said and tried to smile. "Don't you feel alone ? I mean Arav have to live in hostel tho" She said and Siddharth looked at her.

"No we both are fine. And when your date of marriage will be fixed, don't forget to call me. I will take a leave from military because I know Arav would love to see you that time" Siddharth said with a smile. Before Riya could say anything Siddharth's phone rang and he excused himself to take the call as it was from his chief from military.

"Good evining Sir" Siddharth said with respectful tone.

"Good evening Captain Siddharth. I would like to inform you that you have to come back day after tomorrow" Chief said and Siddharth's face fell.

"But sir, I still have four days of vacation?" Siddharth asked and his mind ran to the thought of Arav getting angry again.

"I know captain Siddharth but the thing is the doctor for the military camp is coming and you know your presence is a must. We are sorry for the inconvenience" Chief said.

"Alright sir. I will be present there" Siddharth said and hung the call.

"Kis doctor ko aane ki itni jaldi hai jo meri chutti kha gye ?" Siddharth said to himself. He knows Arav will get angry and he doesn't have any option left but to do what his senior said.

Later night the three did dinner and Riya went back to her house. Siddharth prepared the bed and laid down while Arav hugged him with his small hands.

"Dada ? When will we go to visit Banaras?" Arav asked. Arav always wants to visit Banaras because he is fond of God.

"Soon Aru" Siddharth said and caressed his hair to make him sleep.

Next day, Siddharth went to market as Arav was still sleeping— to get all the necessary things as he also don't know when he will get vacations again.

After grabbing necessary things from the market he sat on his bike but that wasn't enough Daksh stopped his car infornt of Siddharth. He walked out and stood infront of Siddharth being surprised.

"Didn't think to meet your brother" Daksh said with a smirk. Siddharth scoffed in annoyance and looked away. "Isn't it's too hard to live with you job ? You are raising a kid—"

"Don't say anything about my son. Why don't you get into the point ? What do you need from me now ?" Siddharth said and tried to control his anger.

"Straight to the point. You already know there's a land on the name of your mother. But before dying she names it under your name. Sign the paper. I won't disturb again" Daksh said while showing him the paper.

"You think I will ? That's my mother's property. And you know very well that i won't do it. Ask again and again. I won't sign the paper" Siddharth said and wore his helmet.

"Dad wants it. It's his right to take the property. Otherwise come to family dinner to have a direct talk with him ?" Daksh asked and raised his eyebrow in the challenge.

"Look Daksh ? I am already fed up with you and your family's games. Stop chasing me. Let me live peacefully. I didn't ask for my rights in the company right ? Then stay away from me" Siddharth said being annoyed as hell.

"Okay if you won't come then I'll invite your son. What was his name ? Arav" Daksh said and smiled before taking back the papers.

"Stay away from my son. I am telling you it won't be good for you" Siddharth said and glared at him.

"As you say brother" Daksh said and left from there. Siddharth frustratedly started his bike and drove back to home.

He entered the house and placed the things on the table. Just then Arav came out and started looking at the things.

"Where were you dada ?" Arav asked while finding some chocolates from the bags. Siddharth inhaled deeply and smiled at him. He sat down to match his level.

"Aru ? Promise me when I'll go to military you won't go with anyone?" Siddharth asked feeling scared.

"Like ?" Arav asked being confused.

"Like with.....my family?" Siddharth said. Arav brows thick as he looked at Siddharth.

"I don't like them. They aren't family. They never came to look after you" Arav said with an angry pout. Siddharth chuckled at his reaction feeling a little good. Arav came closer and wrapped his small arms around Siddharth's neck and rested his chin on his shoulder. "I won't go anywhere dada. I won't go anywhere"

Siddharth hugged him tightly and kissed his temple. "My baby" They both hugged each other for few more minutes.

After a long silence Siddharth spoke finally. "Aru ? You won't angry with me right ?" Siddharth asked and Arav pulled away from the hug.

"Why ?" Arav asked not understanding anything.

"Duty called" Siddharth said and Arav's face fell at his words. His eyes started getting teary and Siddharth panicked. "Aru ? It's important. I won't do this again next time. I promise" Siddharth said and caressed Arav's cheeks.

"You always say this" Arav said and ran inside the bedroom. Siddharth sat there on the floor as he know now Arav won't talk to him for few days.

He pecked the bag of Arav and him and took Arav to the hostel again. As they reached the door, he handled the bag to the caretaker and bent down to look at Arav and hug him before going.

"Is Aru angry ?" Siddharth asked while guessing so that Arav will smile at the silliness but it didn't.

Arav made his way to the lift and didn't even look back to Siddharth. Siddharth smiled weakly and waved his hands even if Arav didn't look. He knows Arav isn't happy with all this but nothing is in his hands. He is in the military and he can't do anything whatever he likes. He knows as Arav will grow up he will understand everything.

With a heavy heart Siddharth turned to go back to the bus which will take him to his camp area.