Chapter 4: The Children's Secret Meeting

A few days after finding Poornima's profile, Ajay couldn't stop thinking about it.

The more he read about her, the more he felt she would understand his father.

Not because of age.

Not because of circumstances.

But because both had spent years living for others.

Finally, he sent a message to the profile's contact person.

The contact person was none other than Zara.

Zara was sitting in her college library when her phone buzzed.

Unknown Number

"Hello. My name is Ajay Thakur. I came across Mrs. Poornima Qureshi's profile. I would like to discuss something regarding our parents if possible."

Zara stared at the message.

A few seconds later another message arrived.

"Please don't misunderstand. I'm not contacting for myself. It's regarding my father."

Zara's curiosity immediately increased.

She replied.

"Can we talk?"

Within minutes they were on a call.

For nearly an hour they spoke.

By the end of the conversation, both were surprised.

Their stories were incredibly similar.

Two parents.

Two sacrifices.

Two lonely lives.

And two children desperately wanting to see them happy.

A week later, Ajay suggested a meeting.

Not involving Veeresh.

Not involving Poornima.

Just the children.

To understand whether this idea could actually work.

The meeting was arranged in Delhi.

Poornima thought Zara was attending a college workshop.

Veeresh believed Ajay was in Delhi for work.

Neither suspected anything.

The following afternoon, Zara entered a quiet café.

Three people immediately stood up from a corner table.

A tall young man smiled.

"Zara?"

"Ajay?"

Both laughed.

The awkwardness disappeared instantly.

Ajay introduced the others.

"This is my sister, Rhea."

Rhea smiled warmly.

"And this is my brother, Ritesh."

Ritesh folded his hands dramatically.

"Namaste. Future conspiracy partner."

Everyone burst into laughter.

The ice was officially broken.

Soon they settled around the table.

Tea and snacks arrived.

The conversation naturally turned toward the reason they were there.

Ajay pulled out his phone.

The screen displayed a picture of Veeresh.

Standing beside villagers near a newly built water tank.

Simple white kurta.

Calm smile.

Proud eyes.

"That's my father," Ajay said.

Zara looked carefully.

"He looks kind."

"He is," Rhea replied immediately.

"He's also stubborn."

"Very stubborn," Ritesh added.

The siblings nodded together.

Ajay sighed dramatically.

"The man can build roads, schools, and hospitals but refuses to think about his own life."

Everyone laughed.

Then Ajay became serious.

"My mother passed away years ago."

The smile faded from the table.

"Snake bite," Rhea said softly.

"At a temple."

For a moment silence settled between them.

Ajay continued.

"After that, Papa became everything for us."

"He never remarried."

"He never even considered it."

"He just focused on us."

Ritesh smiled sadly.

"I don't think he ever bought anything for himself."

Rhea nodded.

"He would spend money on our education, our dreams, our future."

"And now?" Zara asked.

Ajay looked down.

"Now he comes home to an empty house."

The words lingered heavily.

A few moments later, Zara opened her own phone.

She showed them a photograph of Poornima.

The same one from the matrimonial profile.

The Thakur siblings immediately leaned forward.

"She's beautiful," Rhea said.

"Very graceful," Ritesh agreed.

A proud smile appeared on Zara's face.

"She's the strongest person I know."

Then she began speaking.

About the years Poornima struggled.

About balancing work and motherhood.

About raising Airav and Zara alone.

About the dreams she sacrificed.

The Thakur siblings listened carefully.

"When was the last time your mom thought about herself?" Ajay asked.

Zara laughed softly.

"Probably never."

Everyone understood exactly what she meant.

Because they could say the same thing about Veeresh.

Hours passed.

Stories were exchanged.

Childhood memories were shared.

Laughter filled the table.

By evening, all four of them felt like old friends.

Finally, Ajay leaned forward.

"So."

Ritesh grinned.

"So."

Rhea smiled knowingly.

Zara folded her arms.

"So."

Ajay looked at all of them.

"Do we agree that our parents deserve happiness?"

"Absolutely," Zara said immediately.

"One hundred percent," Rhea replied.

"Without question," Ritesh added.

Ajay smiled.

"Then we have a mission."

"A mission?" Zara asked.

Ritesh dramatically stood up.

"Operation Mumma-Papa."

The entire table burst into laughter again.

But beneath the jokes was genuine determination.

For the first time, four children from two different families shared the same goal.

To bring happiness back into the lives of the people who had spent years sacrificing their own.

Far away in Rajgarh, Veeresh was attending a village meeting.

And in Delhi, Poornima was correcting exam papers.

Completely unaware that their children had just formed an alliance.

An alliance that would soon change both their lives forever.

To be continued...