4| Ulfat

🦢 Ek bhi saans alag nahi leni,

Khench lena praan iss tann ke,

Hayee... Nahi rehna dooja banke 🦢

"You missed your school, Aashna?" Arjun teased his daughter as their car approached the gate of her school building.

"Little bit. I miss Diya more." Aashna replied as she kept her head on her father's chest. She was sitting in his lap with Maya sitting next to them.

"Of course you do." Arjun said as he placed a small kiss on Aashna's head. Diya is Aashna's classmate and best friend. They spend the whole day together and sometimes have play dates as well. The girls are very close to one another.

"We're here." The driver said as he parked the car.

Arjun got out with Aashna still in his arms and walked towards the other side of the car. The driver had already opened the car door for Maya so she got out and saw Arjun waiting for him. She walked up to him and grabbed his hand, intertwining their fingers as they started walking towards Aashna's classroom.

The school that Aashna was enrolled in was one of the most prestigious educational establishments of the state if not the country. They provide excellent education in terms of subjects and extra curriculum that a child chooses.

Nothing less than what you'd expect of the school as a brand, they provide comfortable one-on-one interaction with the teachers for the parents, making both the involved parties feel free to converse about the child's future.

"Welcome Mr. and Mrs. Singhania. Hello, Aashna." The woman who looked to be in her early 30s, said as she offered the three of them a warm welcoming smile.

"Good morning Mrs. Agrawal." Maya politely greeted her. Mrs. Agrawal was Aashna's class teacher and Maya has been engaged in small talk with her before once while picking Aashna up a couple weeks ago.

"Good morning." Mrs. Agrawal smiled as she pointed towards the chairs that were placed in front of her desk, offering them a seat.

The classroom was as expected, empty with just Mrs. Agrawal present there. She took her seat at the table just after the couple and Aashna did.

"Hello Aashna. Are you enjoying your holidays?" Mrs. Agrawal asked as she gave the kid a warm smile.

"Yes ma'am." Aashna replied and returned her smile.

"As we know, Aashna just got done with her first term exam. I've got the result here with me and also my feedback on her performance." Mrs. Agrawal said as she pulled out Aashna's result paper from the folder placed on her desk.

"She has done exceptionally well in both grammar and arts this time. She also has a good sense of colour compatibility according to her arts teacher and her spoken English skills have improved evidently. Her graph is appreciation worthy." Mrs. Agrawal said with a smile.

"Well done." Maya said as she kissed Aashna's head.

"I take it you're the primary reason behind her progress Mrs. Singhania." Mrs. Agrawal looked at Maya.

"Absolutely not; It's all her. I just try to help her as often as I can." Maya said not wanting to take the credit for Aashna's hard work.

She has been a great help to Aashna while she practices in the evenings but that doesn't mean she gets all the credit for it. After the last semester's above average grades, the little girl wanted to prove her abilities and has been working sincerely towards her subjects and grades ever since.

Arjun was in awe of his wife at that moment. He has first hand seen her work with Aashna with such dedication and patience. She had the most confidence in their daughter's abilities, way more than he had. The grades never really mattered to him as long as Aashna received proper education but Maya knew her strengths and has worked tirelessly alongside her to yield the desired result.

He kept a hand on Maya's, which was placed on her thigh. He intertwined their fingers and passed her a quick smile.

"Although Aashna is doing very well in all her other subjects, her skills in mathematics is what requires a bit more attention." Mrs. Agrawal said.

"As far as I know, she's good in the basis of the subject." Maya said. Aashna was indeed good at calculations so she couldn't collect what was the purpose behind this comment.

"Yeah she is good with basic calculations and formulas but her speed isn't up to the mark yet. Her mathematics teacher would suggest she practices more sums on a daily basis." Mrs. Agrawal explained.

"Oh okay. I will make sure she practices daily then." Maya replied with a small smile.

"That being said, she's just 4 right now. There's no need for her to take any sort of academic pressure. Let's let her enjoy her childhood to the fullest before she inevitably has to start working towards her studies. Apart from that no other feedback." Mrs. Agrawal said, clasping her hands together.

"I absolutely agree. Let a child be one." Arjun said.

"Here's her report card." Mrs. Agrawal said as she handed it to Maya.

"And this is for my dear Aashna." Mrs. Agrawal fished a chocolate biscuit from a jar on her desk and gave it to the little girl.

"Thank you ma'am." Aashna excitedly said as she received the biscuit. The girl quickly unwrapped it and took a small bite of it. A huge smile formed on her lips while she chew on it.

"She seems to love it." Arjun commented.

"I make these chocolate covered biscuits for my students. Whenever they behave well or perform exceptionally, I give them one. Seeing as Aashna has progressed so much this term, she absolutely deserves one." Mrs. Agrawal said.

"Great job, Aashna." She said as she raised her hand and Aashna gave her a high-five with a smile.

"Thank you for your time Mrs. Agrawal." Maya thanked her as she and Arjun got up from their seats.

"Of course." Mrs. Agrawal said as she herself got up from her previous seat.

"So Aashna, I'll see you next week?" Mrs. Agrawal said as she crouched down to her height.

"Yes ma'am." Aashna replied.

"All the updates and requirements for Aashna's next term will be sent to you via email and a text message." Mrs. Agrawal informed Maya and Arjun as she stood up to her full height.

"Very well. We shall take your leave now." Arjun said and Mrs. Agrawal nodded.

"Bye bye." Aashna waved at her teacher and received a wave in return as well.

As the three of them walked back to where their car was parked, Aashna ran towards the opposite direction as she spotted Diya there along with her parents.

Arjun and Maya walked upto Diya's parents and exchanged pleasantries. The girls missed each other and wanted to play together. Seeing this Diya's mom invited Aashna over to their house to spend the evening with them.

Aashna has been to their house countless times before for such hangouts so Arjun and Maya agreed.

They were headed for lunch outside and Diya's parents were yet to attend the parents-teacher meeting so they offered to pick Aashna up from the restaurant the Singhanias were headed to.

Arjun and Maya agreed to the plan and shortly the three of them sat in their car, driving towards the restaurant downtown.

The Jubilee Hills is a famous area of Hyderabad and it's full of fancy restaurants and cafés. Arjun had invested in one such restaurant there and they decided to pay it a visit for lunch.

Once they reached there, the three of them took their seats and shortly placed their orders. While the food was being prepared, they engaged in some casual conversation.

"So tell me Maya. Where would you like to go for a vacation this Diwali?" Arjun asked catching Maya off guard.

"As in ghumne janeke liye?" Maya asked.

For tourism?

"Haan aur kya." Arjun said as he shrugged his shoulders.

Yes, what else.

"Par hum abhi to May mei gaye the ghumne jab Aashna ka vacation tha." Maya said.

But we did just take a trip in May when Aashna had her vacations.

"Aashna gets two vacations per year. One for May and another for Diwali. So we take two trips each year." Arjun explained.

"Oh okay." Maya replied.

"So, where do you wanna go?" Arjun asked.

"Where ever you and Aashna like. I'm not good in choosing a place." Maya answered.

"Where do you wanna go in Diwali, Aashna?" Arjun asked as he looked at his daughter.

"Disney land." Aashna replied with enthusiasm as her eyes lit up on the mention of Disney land.

"Okay done. Let's go to Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia. I haven't been there except for business meetings either. What say Maya?" Arjun said as he looked at Maya.

"Fine by me. Let's go to Disney land." Maya said as she gave a smile to Aashna.

"Yes!" Aashna said in an excited voice.

"I'll ask my travel agent to book the trip in a couple of days." Arjun said as he quickly noted it down in his notes, on the phone.

"Aashna and I can start shopping from next week." Maya said and shared a high-five with Aashna.

"Whatever my girls want." Arjun said and kept a hand on Maya's. A cute blush quoted Maya's cheeks on his comment.

Their food arrived shortly after and they started eating. They wrapped up their lunch just when Maya received a call from Diya's mom, informing them of their arrival to the restaurant. They exited the restaurant and met Diya's parents. Aashna sat in the car with them and bid farewell to her parents.

Arjun and Maya waved at her and she shortly left. Arjun texted his men to keep an eye on Diya's house and look after Aashna's safety more as she isn't with him right now.

"Let's head back home?" Maya asked looking at Arjun.

"I'm sorry, sweetheart. I'll have to head back to my office right now." Arjun said as he kept a hand on Maya's shoulder.

"Par aaj to Sunday hai." Maya said as she pouted.

But it's Sunday today.

"I know but kuch documents par sign chahiye meri immediately. Postpone nahi kar sakta." Arjun said as he cupped her face.

I know but some documents require my sign immediately. I cannot postpone it.

"Theek hai, but jaldi," Maya got cut off as she felt Arjun's hand on her cheek pull her towards his chest.

Okay but be as quick,

A small sound was heard nearby. The couple looked back to see a small bullet wedged in the wall just behind Maya. Arjun's bodyguards immediately came out from where they were previously hiding from their eyes and escorted them inside the restaurant.

"Tum theek ho?" Arjun asked, frantically looking at Maya.

Are you okay?

"Haa. Ye kya hua?" Maya asked once they were inside.

Yes. What just happened?

"Someone tired to shoot you. The sound was of a bullet fired from a gun which had a silencer on." Arjun replied.

"What? How do you know?" Maya asked. She was extremely surprised at what might have happened a moment ago.

The bodyguards interrupted their conversation and escorted them to their car. They sat in the backseat and one of the bodyguards took the passenger seat. Arjun put up the partition between them and the driver.

"I saw a red dot appear on your forehead, like someone had you locked in as the target. I immediately pulled you away and the bullet landed on a wall behind you." Arjun said as he took her hands in his.

"Are you really okay?" He asked in a soft voice. He pulled her on his lap and placed a small kiss on her forehead.

"Yeah. I'm absolutely fine." Maya reassured him as she kept a hand on his cheek.

"Thank God." He said and pulled her into a hug. He heaved a sigh when he felt her heart beat against his own.

The fear of what might've happened, encased his heart. The fear of everything that happened before, could've repeated itself just say now and that was what he was afraid of the most.

He cannot let it happen, not again.

~ x ~

So... someone tried to kill Maya. Things are getting interesting.