Chapter 18

P.S - Ok guys disclaimer what I have written in this chapter might not be correct for some even I have juggled with this chapter a lot but for me Prerna right now is actually falling for Bajaj and that was the real love of her life. so.. I have written it.

Chapter 18 - Questions but no answers

That night after Mr bajaj came home they all had dinner. The house was almost done and then he went straight to his room. She saw that he was trying to find something but couldn’t.

“Kuch chahiye aapko.”

“Haan mere kapde” prerna came and showed him were everything is.

“Waise main aapko kuch dekhana chahti thi. Aap aayenge"

Prerna took him to the last room.

"Workers ne dono colors rakhe the, girl aur boy ke hisaab se aaj se paint suru kiya unhone." 

Rishab was confused when he saw that the wall was pink and it hit him what she was trying to say. "Its a girl."

"Main bas aapke saath share karna chahti thi" Mr bajaj went inside the room and was looking around - " Thank you for everything you are doing for this baby".

"Aapne jo kukki ke liye kiya uske samne kam hain aur waise bhi duniya ke liye yeh Rishab bajaj ki beti hain and she will have everything"

"Kukki ke school main speech compitetion thi. She came first.”

“Aapne bataya kyun nahin mujhe. I should have been there.”

“Aap busy the aur office main jo kuch chal raha tha I thought.”

Later that night Rishab woke up and found Prerna missing. He found her in the kitchen eating cookies.

“Cravings” and they both laughed.

"Agar aur kuch khane ka man hoon to bol dijyega"

“Main kuch puch sakti hoon aapse.”

“Hmm”

“Kya hua tha aapke aur basu family ke beech main.”

Mr Bajaj face changed and he was about to leave. “Main aapko judge nahin kar rahin , accuse nahin kar rahin bas janna chahti hoon”

“Main is topic pe baat nahin karunga.”

“Ek waqt tha jab mere paas koi nahin tha baat karne ko. Aap mere friend bane, mujhe har baat share karne di, to main aapke liye who nahin ban sakti. Main bas aapka dard batna chahti hoon aur kuch nahin. please itna haq nahin banta mera.”

But Mr bajaj left and went to sleep. Next morning Mr bajaj was all ready to leave early even before Kukki was awake.

“kaha ja rahin hain aap.”

“Main aapse puchta hoon kuch to app bhi mat puchiye. Please.”

“Kya hau hain, dekhiye meri taraf. Please. Kyun is tarah se behave kar rahin hain aap. Aise kate kate se, mujhse koi galti hui hain”

“Aapko fikar karne ki zaroorat nahin hain main kuch nahin karunga basus ko aap hatiye mujhe jana hain.”

“Aap har baat main unko beech main kyun le aate hain. Why don’t you understand mujhe aapki fikar hain. Aaj 14 days ho gaye hain na aapne theek se mujhe se baat ki hain na, Kya problem hain.”

“I am so sorry but agar main aapko yaad dila do main aapko  Kukki ki maa bana kar laya tha, aur kuch nahin. Free ka time nahin hain mere paas jo aapko manata firo for stupid fights.”

Prerna felt like she was slapped and Rishab regretted what he had just said.

“Of Course, I am so sorry. Nahin nahin bilkul nahin I totally understand. I totally understand I have crossed my limits. Main main bhul gayi thi deal hain yeh, deal hain yeh. Kya karo aapki tarah business nahin janti nato hisaab rakhna bhul gayi. Yaad rakhungi.”

“Prerna main”

“no please Mr bajaj. You continue and you don't need to come to the checkup also main chali jaungi ”

Rishab just left from there.

Prerna went to meet her family for the day but every time she went there all they talked was about how she was doing wrong and what was she doing and she was just tired and she was coming back home when Kukki school called and said there was no one to pick her from school. Prerna brought her home and started calling Mr bajaj as to what he was doing that he was so late. She couldn't reach through after which he called Mr Mehra and he said that he had gone to a sight visit and they are not able to reach him now. Prerna waited for an hour and reminded herself that she only needs to worry about Kukki when she couldn't take it anymore. She left Kukki with nanny and went to the sight. She found Mr bajaj's car halfway and him nowhere. It was raining heavily and she was getting scared. When suddenly someone touched from behind, she screamed and then found Mr bajaj there.

“Aap yaha kya kar rahin hain? Kyun aai aap? Ab kukki ko kaun pick karega?”

“Kukki theek hain aur ghar pe hain. Ab chaliye. Driver gaadi leaayega.”

They both reached home and Kukki was happily enjoying a movie on tv. Mr Bajaj dragged Prerna to the room.

"Kyun aayi aap waha par. Janti hain kaisa rasta hain agar kuch ho jata aapko. Aur aapka check up thana aaj to aap kyun aai?"

“Chilane ki zaroorat nahin hain mujh par. Mujhe pata hain sirf Kukki ke liye hoon main yahan par, par fikar ho rahin thi mujhe.”- with that she went near the cupboard and took two towels gave one to mr Bajaj and another for herself. Just like that she started taking her jewellery down and drying her hair while all the time shouting at Mr. bajaj.

"Ab aap puchenge ki kukki to thi nahin mere saath. To kyun fikar ho rahi thi. Pagal hoon main shayad, shayad nahin bilkul pagal hoon main. Sab mujhse kehte rehte hain ki di tu wapis kyun nahin aati, wapis aaja. Ghar jao to maa suru ho jaati hain, shivi suru ho jaati hain, us din Basu baari main Anurag suru ho gaya tha, Sabse lade ja rahin hoon main ki ab yeh meri life hain, ab yeh mere rishte hain, par nahin,yeh to deal hain meri, deal nahin naukri hain meri hain na. Yeh kya .."

Her hair had all got stuck in her necklace and Rishab went towards her to help.

"help Nahin chahiye aapki"

She went in front of the mirror and was trying to fix everything but it didn’t work.

Rishab went near her,

"Maine kaha na nahin chahiye"

"Bas, Sheedhi kadhi rahiye aap" and he moved all her hair to the front and cleared her necklace. All the while watching Prerna in the mirror and Prerna was glued to the spot. But as soon as the necklace came out -

"Thank you" and she started moving away

Rishab stopped her midway and said - "Prerna I am sorry for maine jo kuch bhi shubh kaha, Mera woh matlab nahin tha. Aap itna hurt kyun ho rahin hain aur waise bhi maine jo bola galat to nahin bola"

Prerna turned around from the mirror.

"To kyun aap is bache ki itna care karte hain, kyun aapne meri maa ko court main bachaya, kyun us din mujhe unke saath ghar bhej diya deal ke bare main na sochte hue. Kyun? nahin malum aapko, to Mujhe bhi nahin malum ki kyun main itna hurt hoon, ki kyun suna lagta hain yeh ghar aapke bina, khali lagta hain, akela lagta hain,chahe hum sirf 2 baatein kare par lagta hain ki aap hain. Aap hain kuch galat nahin hoga, main kukki mera baby sab theek rahenge. Aapko hurt dekhti hoon to acha nahin lagta fikar hoti hain aapki. Kyun hota hai aisa. kyun kyun. nahin malum. Ek pal main aapne aur Kukki ne mujhe apni duniya main samil kar liya apni duniya bana liya par ab aisa kyun lagta hai ki aap log mujhse dur ja rahin hain" and dont know how but with all her strength she touched his  face "Kya galti hain meri kyun mujhse naraz hain aap log"

Rishab took her hand in his hand and placed another one on her cheeks carressing her "Aapki koi galti nahin hain. Main aapse naraz nahihoon apne aap se ho, apne aap se ki maine aapko hurt kiya, itna hurt kiya aur shayad aapke bache ka future bhi daw pe lagaya, aap mujhe deserve nahin karti aap yeh sab deserve nahin karti."

Prerna touched her head to his head, hands on his face "Main nahin jaanti main kya deserve karti hoon main nahin janti bas ab aur kuch khone ki himmat nahin hain mujhme mujhe akela mat chodiye mujhe akela mat chodiye", and dont know how before she could say anything Mr bajaj kissed her before he could stop himself or think of anything, then they were kissing each other and time went still and it was almost as if only they were there in that place lost when they suddenly heard a cry and they both broke it off, they were both gasping for breath and they looked at each other eyes and it hit them both what had just happened. Rishab retreated and Prerna shocked collapsed to the floor. Rishab left from there and Prerna went into the washroom. After sometime she put on the shower and stood under it for how long she couldn't remember. She came out of the shower, dried herself and looked herself at the mirror, her lips swollen. She should be angry she should be distressed but she was not, she was not.

 That night Mr Bajaj with great strength come to the room

“Prerna, I ..”

“Please leave me alone for sometime, please”

The words hit him like a stone and he didn't go anywhere near the room and had left for office early. 

 Chapter 19 - https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/topic/5160456?pn=24