Chapter 2

Dhruv's pov

I woke up as my alarm started to ring. I put on my sweats and t-shirt and went towards the washroom to freshen up.

I went out of my house and started jogging.

I reached a nearby park .It was 6 in the morning and some people were there doing their morning walk.

It's been my routine to wake up at 5 .

Whenever I sleep I always wake up at 5. I don't sleep much or I say sleep has left me long ago.

The calm nature of the morning soothes me and makes me feel free from all the stresses of life.

I went back to my home and opened the door with a spare key. Nobody wakes up before 7.

I went to my room and entered the gym of our house.

I was gyming, and suddenly my phone started to ring.

I picked up without looking at the caller id.

"Mr. Kapoor speaking," I said.

"Haan haan....ye hi din dekhne ko baki tha...jab tu mujhse...MUJHSE formally baatein karega..(yes yes, this day was left for me to see when you will talk formally with me..ME) " He said and hearing this voice I rolled my eyes.

"Ho gaya tera.??..subha subha naatak kar raha tu. (Are you done? You started your drama in the morning itself)" I said.

"Yes ...I am done." He said laughing.

I chuckled and said " You will never change. "

"How can I bro!!! I am the one and only Shaurya...Come on now you tell me how are you?." Shaurya said.

"I am fine yaar. When did you come back? " I asked.

"Yesterday.... My flight landed at 10:30 and then I thought to call you but then I remembered that you had a meeting with the Chefs so I didn't disturb you." He said.

"You should have called me...we could have met ..." I said.

"Hawww, miss kar raha hain mujhe? (You were missing me?)" He said.

Iska kuch nahi ho sakta...(He is hopeless) .

"Phone mein ghuske pitunga toh pata chalega tujhe kitna miss kiya main.(I will beat you entering into the phone then you will know how much I missed you.)" I said sarcastically.

"How sweet!!! This is why I love you so much, " he said.

I laughed .

"Okk listen, you have to come ....Maa is very much missing you. So you have to come. " I said.

"Yes...I am on the way bro...I am coming to meet Maa. See you then." He said.

"Okk...see you." I said and hung up the phone.

He is Shaurya Singh ,.My best friend . Not only best friends ,we are brothers.You grew up together and studied in the same school, Then during graduation we got separated ,as he was in India but I moved to the USA . Still we were in touch through the phone. He is the man who never left me in my toughest time .

Anyways, right now I have to take bath.

Shaurya's POV

Oh God!!! Delhi and its traffic.....

This traffic made me late to meet my Maa.

Yes, Maa means Dhruv's mother. But she is also my Maa. 

Why? I am telling you.....

My mom (Sunaina Singh) died after giving me birth. At that time there was none to support me and my father,as when my father was 18 my grandparents died in an accident and he was a single child. 

So there was none who was there for us. Then Maa came for us and stood by us. She treated me like his own son...and when I was able to talk ,I started calling her Maa.

Actually my father and Dhruv's father were friends...well, bestfriends (this is what my father and Maa told me and showed me their pictures during school, college and their Marriage) ..but they are not friends for many years .

Anyways....I looked at my watch and the time was 7:30 am and I entered Dhruv's house.

I was walking towards the stairs but suddenly a voice stopped me "Hey, Shaurya...how are you?"

I know very well whose voice it is.

"I am fine." I replied without turning .

"Umm...Shaurya...come ,let's go to the garden. I have lots of things to tell you." She said.

I was trying hard to show my discomfort.

"Shweta, listen..I am seriously not interested in gossiping with you. Actually I am here to meet Maa and Bro. So please will you excuse me now?" I asked politely.

"Ohh..that's why you are not 'interested'.. I don't understand why you still care for that man this much..I mean we all know how he is...You,Maa and Bebe (A/n : Bebe is Damini..) support that man always....it's so irritating." Sweta said rolling her eyes and with utter disgust.

That's it.

"Listen Ms. Shweta Kapoor... I haven't asked for a character certificate of Bro from you. Yes Me,Maa and Bebe know what he really is. That's why we love and care for him this much. So you better shut your mouth and goodbye." I spatted on her face.

I ignored her hurt filled face and moved towards Dhruv's room through the stairs.

I reached there to see Dhruv was working on his laptop and Maa was there sitting with him having tea.

I moved towards Maa and hugged her from behind .

"Hello beautiful " I said and kissed her cheek.

"Dhruv...who is he? I don't know him." Maa asked Dhruv with anger.

Oh No!!! That means I am in trouble.

"I am your Son who has been missing you damn so much since last week. But right now you are angry with him." I said softly.

"Yes....I am angry...you haven't called me for the last three days. 

I mean you are so busy that you forgot to call your mother. Wow!!!" Maa said angrily.

I sat on my knees and took her hands.

"Maa I am sorry. I was seriously busy. Please maaf kar do.(pardon me.) I will not do it again. I am sorry. Please..." I said.

" Ok I will forgive you. But you have to do something for me." Maa said.

"I will do anything for you. " I said.

" You have to have your breakfast here and spend the whole day with me And Dhruv you also have to take leave today." Maa said sternly.

"Okk Done my queen." Saying this I hugged her and she hugged me back.

"Oh !!! So.. I am long forgotten...huh!!!" Dhruv whined like a child.

We laughed and took him in our group hug.

"But Maa I can't take leave today. The manager and the head chef of the Mumbai branch are coming today for a meeting. So I can't take leave. But I will come back within 1 pm and join you guys for lunch. Then we will go for a movie ...what do you say?" Dhruv asked.

" Okay Beta. Done. " Maa said.

We all went downstairs for breakfast.

Almost everyone had taken their place including Bebe.

"Aa gaya mera do pota...chal aaja ....baith jah. (Here comes my two grandchildren. Come on, come and sit here)" saying that Bebe pointed to the seats on her right side.

Me and Dhruv went towards her and kissed her cheeks.

"Yes.....bhai you sit here....beside me." Samar said to Dhruv.

Samar shifted and Dhruv sat between me and Samar.

Shweta was sitting in front of me and started smiling looking at me. But I ignored her as always.

I don't give a damn to the person Who can't respect my Bro,the gem of a person.

"Good morning Shaurya. How are you?" Dharam uncle (Dhruv's father)asked me.

"I am fine." I replied politely.

Everything was perfect until the pathetic excuse of a human being joined .

"Sorry guys, we are late." Here comes the Tanishka Kapoor with her useless husband Mrinmay Kapoor.

"No problem beta. Please join." Dharam uncle said smiling.

(Hereafter whenever Shaurya is saying Uncle it is for Dharam,Dhruv's father. Mrinmay's father Dheeraj had died when Mrinmay was 6)

"Bhabhi,please bring more parathas .. Samar, Sweta, Mrinmay,Tanishka, Shaurya please take some." uncle said.



Parathas

Choti ma (Minakshi Kapoor) came and served us.

Maa refused to take another one and I know why. Because as usual Dhruv was neither asked for another one nor given another one.

"Umm...Parathas are finished. Malti (the maid) is making more. Dhruv thora baitho ,main abhi lekar aati hu.(Dhruv, wait . I am bringing it.)" Choti Ma said hesitantly.

Well, Choti Ma doesn't do it intentionally but any other day whenever food remains(which is intended to give Dhruv),either Mirnmay or Tanishka they take it saying they are "hungry" and Dhruv has to wait .

"Umm..umm.. Choti Ma..I don't need it. You don't have to bring it." Dhruv said.

But I know better than that. I know why he refused it.

"Dhruv, Do you need anything?" Maa asked him politely and stood up to go towards the kitchen.

Before Dhruv could reply , Uncle said ,"If he needs anything. He can ask and better than that he can help himself .You don't have to run for anyone."

"I am asking my son...not you. So you better don't talk between us." Maa said sternly.

Dhruv fisted his hand and shook his head towards Maa to stop her.

Tanishka was smirking and her good for nothing husband trying hard to suppress his laughter.

I was trying not to loose my cool and kill them.

Shweta rolled her eyes at her mother's answer.

I and Samar looked at each other and smiled.

"Oh hoo.... Don't worry. I am already full. So..." Saying this Samar cut half of his paratha and gave it to Dhruv and I gave half to Maa.

Dhruv shook his head and said "I am already full, Chote...you have it ." And he returned that half to Samar.

(A/n : Dhruv calls Samar "Chote" lovingly as he is his younger brother)

I know you bro...you are full or not.

Samar frowned and said " At Least take a bite". With this he made him eat two bites.

Maa and Bebe smiled seeing their love and bond.

Mrinmay beta..do you need anything?" Choti Ma asked .

"Minakshi .....if he needs anything he can ask or help himself. You come and eat." Bebe said ,Choti Ma nodded dejectedly.

She brought parathas and sat beside Mrinmay.

"What are you saying Maa? He is her child . She can ask. Besides she wants to feed his son then why Mrinmay would help himself." Uncle said.

"Dharam, you said this rule a few minutes ago to Dhruv and Shrestha. Then why it will not be applicable for Mrinmay." Bebe asked with fake innocence.

I and Samar controlled our laughter. Mrinmay's face was worth watching,he was red in anger.

"Bhaisaab (brother) rehne dijiye. Maaji thik hi bol rahi hain.(Leave it, Mother is right)." Choti Ma said softly.

"It's okay Bade papa(uncle). Leave it." Mrinmay said with his fake politeness making me roll my eyes.

"Okay..I am going. Bye ." Dhruv said and got up.

Maa got up and hugged him.

"Dad... bye." Dhruv said a smile which held a hope that his dad will talk to him .

But as always Uncle got up and left without replying.

Dhruv smiled sadly at Maa who was watching him with sad eyes.

Bebe gave him a teary smile.

I got up and hugged him followed by Samar.

"Oh God...too much emotional scene. You guys can entertain us very well, you know. Always trying to get sympathy with fake goodness " Shweta taunted us and the last line was for Dhruv.

"Yes...and you know what you can taunt people without any reason...." Samar said.

" Sab Sangat ka asar hai(everything is the effect of company) ." Bebe said to Samar indicating Shweta.

Shweta gave a boring look.

"You know what Sweta..if you can't respect the person then at least don't open your mouth which proves nothing but your idiocy." Shaurya said sternly.

"Please. Stop it." Dhruv pleaded.

"Yes . Leave it. We shouldn't waste our energy on some idiot who doesn't have any sense of judgment. And Sweta you should watch your words before throwing it on Dhruv...this is my warning to you ....I hope I am clear " Maa said in a cold and angry voice making Sweta gulp.

After that everyone left for his work.

Me ,Maa and Bebe went to Maa's room.

Dhruv's POV

I already informed my secretary Namrata that she doesn't have to come today as I am only going to attend a meeting which I can handle alone.

I drove towards my office .

On the way I started to think about the incidents of the morning.

I tried hard not to cry. That's why I left as fast as I could.

I am used to it so every time I prepare myself so that I don't break down.

But still every time I face the situation I lose my control over me and I break down.

I have to be more strong , I just can't break just like that daily.

Because I know this is my life. I can't make space in Dad's and Shweta's heart and life.

I have to live like this.

Author : But little did he know ,his life is going to take a drastic turn which he hasn't imagined. His life is going to fill with love....unconditional love.

Hi, everyone. 

Today's chapter was lengthy.  But it was needed .In this  chapter  I tried to show the relation between Dhruv and his family .

So, Did you guys liked this chapter ?

Let me know.

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Stay safe and healthy.

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