"I heard you were a doctor. I didn't know you were a killer." Raj veer said in pain. The children who heard it burst into laughter. Nihan gestured them to keep quiet and helped him to get up.
"Uff Raj.... Allah knows the truth.. I didn't know it was you. Sorry.. sorryyy.. soorryy.. " Nihan said sarcastically.
"I thought I could give you a surprise. " He rubbed the painful part of his body and sat on a wall in the veranda.
"When did you land here? Gangamma didn't say anything about your arrival.." asked Nihan.
"That's why it's called surprise idiot..."
"Oh yes.. surprise... " Nihan sat next to him.
"Why?? Are you not happy?" he enquired looking in her eyes.
"Nothing.." She refused to look at him.
Suddenly, Raj Veer gestured towards the children. And they started singing with a loud voice.
"Happy birthday to you.. happy birthday big sister.." Nihan was shocked and turned to find
Gangamma, who is standing amidst the children holding a large cake. Her eyes filled with tears. She turned and pressed Raj veer's hand.
"You remembered??" She asked him in an exciting voice.
"How can I forget my one and only best friend's birthday, Monkey?" Raj Veer put his hand on her shoulder and smiled. She ignored him and ran to Gangamma.
"I don't believe you fool.. Just don't say anything.. You haven't sent a single message since yesterday night.. How long have I waited.." she stopped and hugged Gangamma with one hand. She then shouted at raj veer. "This was prepared by Gangamma.. not you.. And you need all the credit, don't you? " Hearing her words, he pretended to be sad. He came down after her and stood by Gangamma.
"Uff Nihan... this is what I got when I ran away from the U. S for you without even thinking once.. "
"Did I tell you to come here?? There is good peace when you are not here.. i want to sing like peace is here when monkey is not here.. come on kids.." Nihan called out to the children and they started singing along with her.
"Nii.. haaan... " He yelled and ran after her. Nihan ran around Gangamma without giving him a grip. Watching this, some of the children clapped their hands and laughed out loud.
Gangamma placed the cake on the table in front of her. She caught them both and grabbed their ears.
"Stop there.. Do you think you are still children?
You are old enough to marry..."
"No one will marry this frog... Girls will run away when they see him.. very saaad..." Nihan said and the children started laughing.
"If that's the case, I'll marry you. Come here." He said as he tried to catch her. Seeing that their dispute was not going to end like this, Gangamma intervened.
"My dear children... Stop atleast for the sake of these little ones... They're waiting for this cake to be cut "
"Just because Gangamma said so." Nihan said and he agreed with it.
"Then we are going to cut this beautiful cake for my beautiful children.. aren't we?" Nihan asked the children. They together screamed 'yess' in a loud voice.
Nihan cut the cake and feed Gangamma first. And she acted like she was hesitant to give it to Raj Veer. So he pulled her hand and ate the cake like a kid. The kids and Pappu took the rest of the cake. Moments were filled with joy and excitement.
"Where is it?" Nihan asked Raj veer.
"What?" He asked back.
"My gift.." she smiled as she held out hands to him.
"Why would I have one?" He asked shaking his head doubtfully.
"Because it's my birthday.."
"Uff Nihan... You are already twenty five.. and still asking for gifts like a child.. grow up girl.."
Raj Veer's words hurt her. Her face withered like flowers. As she began to pull her hands back, Raj veer gave her a box. Suddenly her face lit up and her eyes widened.
She quickly opened the box and pulled out the gift outside. It was a stethoscope. She noticed that the name 'Nihan' was inscribed in it. She observed it closely.
"It's a Limited Edition. Purchased only for you at a great price.. handle it carefully.." Raj veer said.
"I know.." Uncontrollable bliss ran through her heart like a horse. The next moment she hugged him and said. "Thank you very much Raaj... I am too much happy.."
Later, Nihan, Raj veer and Gangamma are sitting in Gangamma's office.
"What happened Gangamma... Is there any problem??" Nihan asked Gangamma when she saw everyone was silent. Raj Veer, who was still looking at his mobile, raised his head and looked at the two of them.
"So you don't know anything until now, do you?" He asked.
"What??" Gangamma gestured him to keep silent as she saw the concern on Nihan's face.
"So.., there is something going on.. okey.. Don't tell me if I am a stranger to you.." she said with a sad expression.
"Ohh no.. she started to be sentimental Mom.. I can't bear this.." Raj Veer pressed his ear and rubbed it. Gangamma smiled at them.
"Okey then.., tell me. You, the one with no sentiments.. what's the matter?" Nihan looked at raj veer for a convincing reply.
"It's about a badass business man.. he has filed a fraud case against our orphanage. It says us to evacuate in a month.." He lowered his head to his mobile again and stopped talking.
"Whaaat...??" Nihan looked at Gangamma in shock. She gestured yes to Nihan.
Nihan turned to raj veer, who was still playing with his mobile phone. It made her angry. She grabbed it from him.
"Hey.. my pubg..." He cried.
"Nonsense..." Nihan turned off the phone and set it aside. "First you tell me the whole thing in a comprehensible way.."
"It's not a big deal sweety... " Said Gangamma.
"They want our place to build a company. They asked in many ways, even offered a lot of money too.. But, can we give this orphanage to anyone? Is that why it started for? So when we rejected their offers, they found a new way.. that's all.."
"What kind of ' fraud case' is this..?" Nihan asked. Gangamma removed her glasses from her eyes and put them on the table and sighed with a slight dissappointment.
"It says half of our land belongs to the government and we have to give it back to them."
"Who's this fascist boss?" Nihan asked, standing up in a fit of rage.
"Abhay khanna..." This time Raj veer replied her.
"Who ever it is.. I have all the power to stop him.. "
"What power?" Raj Veer asked as he saw her confidence.
"Yes there is... Just stay with me...And you will understand.." Nihan looked at Raj Veer with her right hand extended.
"Don't do things you don't want.. They are all great people..." Gangamma advised.
"What if they are great? Do you think the poor people don't have any self respect..?"
"Yes she is right Mom.. I am with you fighter... let's fight together.." Raj Veer proudly placed his hand on her hand.
(To be continued)