Chapter 9

[NOCOPY]

Part 10

Arjun: but kyun?

Riya: har cheez mein kyun nahi hota Arjun……..........................

Arjun: woh mujhe nahi pata, lekin is jagah kyun valid hai…achanak kya hua?

Riya: achanak kuch nahi hua, mujhe pehle se pata tha ki aisa hi hoga

Arjun: kya hoga? kyun na bol rahi ho tum?

She sighed: Arjun main woh sab face nahi kar sakti…

Arjun: Riya come on, tumhare paas qualification hai, tumhari social skills achi hai, interpersonal bhi achi hai fir tum interview se dar kyun rahi ho?

Riya: baat woh nahi hai, mere padhayi ke beech kitna bada gap hai, main kaise justify karu use?

Arjun: Riya, they don’t care as long as you are qualified enough

Riya: ek do saal hota toh baat alag hai Arjun, this is huge! Upar se correspondence degree hai, what do I say to them? Ki I Was A Bloody Pro…

She was cut off by his palm covering her mouth. He gazed at her locking her eyes with his. Hurt reflected in them.

Arjun: Don’t You Dare Call Yourself That Riya!!

She lowered her eyes. He took his hand away. An uncomfortable silence rested between the two. She kept quiet knowing that she had unintentionally caused him pain. He sighed. Collecting himself, he normalized the atmosphere.

Arjun: Riya, agar baat justification ki hi hai toh tum unhe koi bhi kahani suna sakti…I mean tumhare paas NGO ka work experience toh hai, tell them something dramatic, jaise ki…..(thoughtfully) ha! ki tum apne parents ke saath accident mein fas gayi thi, your mom dies on the spot. Tumhare papa unse itna pyaar karte the ki jab unhe hosh aaya toh woh heart attack se mar gaye aur tum…tum sar par chot lagne ki wajah se coma mein thi. Fir jab ek saal baad tumhe hosh aaya toh 2-3 saal tum unki maut ki khabar sunkar trauma mein thi aur, aur ha! dono ne bhaag kar shaadi ki thi toh koi aur family bhi nahi hai isliye hospital waalon ne tumhe NGO ko de diya aur rahi baat proof ki toh Savita Tai haina? Bindaas hokar kahani suna do

Riya: you are a drama queen you know that?

He bowed : thank you

She shook her head as they burst into laughter.

Arjun: waise bhi, humans love tragedy, ye kahaani sunkar tumhe do second mein job mil jaayegi woh bhi achi position waali

Riya: baat sirf woh nahi hai Arjun

Arjun: oho ab kya?

Riya: tum nahi samjhoge

Arjun: tum samjha kar toh dekho

Riya: main kya samjhau? Main kuch bhi kahu tum humesha ulti baat se mujhe hi apni baat mein fasa lete ho

Arjun: are had hai ye toh, maine kya kiya? main toh bas apna view point kehta hun par…. (meaningfully) ha tumhe khud se zyaada mera view better lagta hai toh main kya karu?

Riya squinted at him. He rolled his eyes.

Arjun: are yaar, ab bol bhi do

Riya sighed and looked away: ye baat sach hai Arjun ki ye humesha se mera sapna raha hai lekin jo kuch bhi hua…. Main NGO ka kaam nahi chodna chahti. Bache toh hai hi lekin Arjun, saath-saath aur kitni ladkiyaan hai jo har dusre din waha aati hai, kuch waapis wahi jaana chahti hai, kuch nayi zindgi jeena chahti hai aur kuch ke paas toh umeed hi nahi hoti. kahi na kahi, kyunki main khud us, sabse guzri hu isliye mein unki behtar madad kar paati hun. Main unka dard samaj sakti hun Arjun jo… sirf koi aam social worker nahi samaj sakta, chah kar bhi nahi. main ye nahi kehti ki woh kuch karte nahi hai lekin… maine tum logon ki help isliye ki thi taaki kuch Riya aur bach jaaye (facing him) toh fir main inhe kaise chod sakti hu? I feel responsible for them

Arjun listened to her patiently. Every word from her mouth made him fall for her more. She had gone through so much yet she was so resilient. He was proud that he could be a part of her journey.

He smiled: toh theek hai, lekin apne passion ko follow karne ke matlab responsibility chodna thodi hai

She felt confused: matlab?

Arjun: come on Riya, part time naam ki bhi koi cheez hoti hai, ya fir free lance kar lo? You can work from home…. As in NGO se. tumhara NGO ka kaam bhi chalta rahega aur tumhara passion bhi. Kabhi-kabhi shayad office jaana padega but I’m pretty sure agar tum do saal mein 4 saal ki padhayi aur job kar sakti ho toh ye toh bahot hi aasani se kar logi

Riya stared at him for a few seconds. It was possible. She wouldn’t have to compromise on anything if she did a bit of both. She slowly nodded.

Riya: ha ye toh hai, I’ll search for a few vacancies

Arjun(happily): ye hui na baat!! (turning to the vendor’s cart a few feet away) bhaiya do ice cream aur!!!

Riya: kyun?

Arjun: are meri treat

She shook her head: Arjun tum bhi na

Arjun: ha, ha main humesha tumhe apni baaton mein fasa leta hun toh ab itna compensation toh banta haina? Shaanti se khao na tum

Riya: fine!

Following Arjun’s advice she searches and applies to a few companies as a freelancer. While waiting for their reply, she continues to teach at Jeevan Nirmal.

One day-

A patio had an interesting class going on. A bunch of kids ranging from 8 to 14 years old were sitting cross legged on the floor for their art class. As usual, Riya did not bind them to what they needed to do. She used to let their imaginations flow. The best things after class were the pieces that were boundless yet bountiful of emotions.

They were all busy drawing and painting. Riya herself was sitting with a piece of paper and sketching a random scene in nature. However, that day one 10 year old was sulking. He just couldn’t make up his mind on what to make. It had been 10 minutes since class started. The others were already engrossed in their work.

A male voice sounded near her: bahot khubsurat hai

Startled, her head jerked in the direction of the voice but relaxed seeing Arjun there.

Riya: tum kab aaye? Aur is waqt?

Arjun sat beside her: woh ek case aaya tha kal, usi ke silsile mein. Raat bhar work kar rahe the toh aage ka half day holiday

She asked inquisitively: kaunsa case?

On the other hand, Prithvi, the 10 year old’s head sparked with a flame. He picked up his pencil and started drawing fervently.

Arjun: ek aurat ka murder ho gaya tha, mall ke parking lot mein. Uske bagal mein uska 1 saal ka bacha rota hua mila (her expressions changed to pain) hum office mein hi uska khayal rakh rahe the, uski family ke baare mein pata karne tak

Riya: fir kya hua? Uska husband mila?

Arjun: ha mila toh sahi, humne use bacha de diya. Bichara bahot disturbed tha. They had a love marriage aur bahot young bhi the, dono bas 27 ke hi the aur ye sab ho gaya lekin

Riya: lekin kya?

Arjun: hume kuch zyaada clues nahi mile, aage ki investigation kal karenge ye sochkar ghar jaane waale the ki achanak us ladke ka call aaya, bahot ghabraya hua tha, keh raha tha ki koi uske peeche pada hai. hum immediately waha pahunche par bahot der ho gayi thi, kisine use bhi goli maar di thi

Riya: what?!!?

Arjun: ha

Riya: fir….fir woh bacha?

Arjun: wahi toh, woh kahi mila hi nahi. Gayab ho gaya tha, hum bahot dar gaye, ye sochkar ki kahi koi use bhi kar na de par fir mujhe laga ki shayad use kuch nahi hoga. agar use maarna hi hota toh uski maa ke saath hi maar dete aur agar maan lo ki us time nahi maar paaye toh uske baap ke saath maar dete, agar uski laash waha chodi thi toh bache ki chodne mein kya problem?

Riya: kisne kiya ye sab?

Arjun: ladke ke parents ne

Riya: lekin kyun?!?!

Arjun: I told you na….love marriage. Ladki unke caste ki nahi thi, ladke ne unhe ghar chodkar jaane ki dhamki di toh woh jhuk gaye par khush nahi the

Riya: par fir unhone apne hi bete ko kyun maara?

Arjun: kyunki unhone use dusri shaadi karne ko kaha toh use shak hua…

Riya: ek second, unhone apne bahu ko maara, aur fir usi din apne bete se dusri shaadi ke baare mein kaha?

Arjun: yea

Riya: who does that? I mean crime karna hi hai toh thoda akal laga kar karo yaar

Arjun: these people did

She shook her head: fir?

Arjun: usne apne parents ko confront kiya toh unhone confess kar diya aur fir use fuslaane ki koshish ki par woh nahi maana, I mean obviously, he was heart-broken, uski biwi mari thi… woh complaint karne ke liye nikal pada toh unhone majburan use bhi maar diya aur bacha ladka tha toh woh use apne saath le gaye

Riya sighed: kehte hai ki pariwar se upar kabhi kuch nahi hota lekin jis pariwar mein rishte pyaar ke bajay swaarth se bandhe ho, unka kya?

Arjun: I guess, un pariwar mein aise cases hote hai

Riya turned to the kids: in bachon ko dekh rahe ho Arjun? Inmein se kuch aise hai jinhone apne pariwar ko kho diya, kuch aise hai jinke maa-baap ne bas gate par chod diya aur kuch aise hai jo police waale lekar aaye hai, in sabke beech koi rishta nahi hai lekin fir bhi ye ek dusre ko, hum sabko apna pariwar maante hai, ek dusre ke saath aise rehte hai jaise unka janamo ka rishta ho…..kitni tajub ki baat haina ki asli rishton ko dhool bante der nahi lagti aur ye log yaha dhool se bhi sacha pyaar dhundh lete hai

They shared silence for a few minutes.

Arjun: waise hum dono us maamle mein thode se lucky hai

Riya: matlab?

Arjun: humare parents ne humari supari nahi di

Riya rolled her eyes: mere maa-baap mujhe, meri supari dene laayak bhi nahi samajte

Arjun: oh god! Riya please aise bhaari joke mat maaro

Riya: joke nahi, fact hai

Arjun closed his eyes : maine kyun topic cheda?

Riya: ab ye toh tum hi bata sakte ho

Arjun: ha, ha saari galti humesha meri hi hoti hai

Riya: maine aisa kab kaha?

Arjun: matlab toh wahi tha na?

She went past the teasing and gazed at him intensely: Arjun, main tumhe kabhi bhi kisi bhi cheez ke liye blame nahi karungi…… main kar hi nahi sakti

His eyes locked with hers: kyun Riya?

His question snapped her out of her trance. She fumbled for words.

Riya: woh…(averting her gaze)kuch nahi

Arjun pursed his lips to suppress his smile but it was of no use. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Her eyes darted around for a distraction and settled on her art again. She picked up her pencil and continued sketching. Arjun looked on fondly. She could feel his gaze on her but didn’t dare to look up.

Arjun broke the silence after a few minutes: waise ye jagah kaunsi hai?

Riya(confused): Jeevan Nirmal

He chuckled: are mera matlab, tum ye scenery bana rahi ho, woh jagah kaunsi hai?

Riya: oh…ye toh bas aise hi, jo man mein aaya bana rahi hun. Asli jagah nahi hai

Arjun: waise tumhe portrait sketching bhi aati hogi na?

Riya: expert nahi hu but ha, kyun?

Arjun: meri tasveer banao na

Riya: what?

Arjun: are isme itna choukne waali kya baat hai?

Riya: tumhe khud ki tasveer kyun banani hai?

Arjun: bas yu hi

Riya: yu hi ka kya matlab hai? khud ki shakal dekhni hai toh aaine mein dekh lo ya fir photo kheench lo

Arjun: par mujhe sketch chahiye

Riya giggled: toh filter laga lo, aaj kal toh kitne saare photo apps hai

Arjun whined: par mujh tumse banwani hai, bana do na

Riya: mujhe nahi aati

Arjun: dekho Riya this is not done, abhi toh tumne kaha ki tumhe aata hai aur ab tum mukar nahi sakti

Riya: meri marzi

Arjun: par tumhe meri tasveer banane mein kya problem hai?

She was about to tease him when she realised it was a good chance to push him away. She made her face as serious and stoic as she could.

Riya : kyunki mujhe tumhari (not being too harsh) kyunki mujhe itne time tak tumhari shakal dekhne mein koi interest nahi hai

Offended, he opened his mouth to defend himself when the clock on the pillar rang a short alarm indicating the end of the class. Riya turned her attention to the kids as Arjun sulked. One by one they came and gave her their drawings. He inched closer to peep into the papers. At last, Prithvi put his paper on top.

Set against a heart-shaped moon and a starry sky, the silhouette of a couple was dancing in the centre.

Arjun: how romantic!

She giggled: ha cute hai, par Prithvi ye dono kaun hai?

Prithvi excitedly indicated towards the girl: ye aap hai (pointing to the boy) aur ye Arjun bhaiya

Shocked, they turned to each other. Riya immediately looked away and faked a scolding.

Riya: Prithvi kuch bhi mat bolo, chalo jao, class khatam ho gayi

Not quite understanding what happened, he ran off happily. Arjun was still gazing at Riya with a smile plastered to his face. She glanced at him for a fraction of a second before averting her eyes again.

Riya(taking the painting): main chalti hu

Without looking back or turning to him, she hurried away. Arjun let out a laugh as he leaned back shifting his weight to his palms.

Arjun: bache ko daant diya lekin painting khud lekar chali gayi? Kamaal ho tum bhi Riya

Just then Ayesha came there albeit annoyed.

Ayesha: Arjun sir, aap yaha hai? main aapko pure NGO main dhundh rahi hu

Arjun stood up: oho, main Riya se milne aaya tha

Seeing the straight reply, she put a step forward.

Ayesha: sir aapko aisa nahi lagta ki duty ke waqt aapko apne doston se nahi milna chahiye?

Arjun raised his eyebrow: waise duty ke time office property ko bedroom bhi nahi banana chahiye

Her eyes widened in shock as she turned into a tomato. How the hell did he come to know? She had never imagined she would have to be this embarrassed in front of a senior officer. Ayesha was dumbfounded, unable to meet his gaze.

Arjun smirked: but well, here we are. Khair, bacha de diya?

Ayesha fumbled: ji…main…mera koi bacha nahi hai

Arjun cleared his throat: main case waale bache ki baat kar raha hun Ayesha

She bit her tongue. How she wished the ground would swallow her.

Ayesha: h…ha, sir

Arjun (turning to leave): toh chale?

She could barely nod at his rhetoric. He stopped at a few steps and turned.

Arjun: waise tum chinta mat karo

She looked at him inquisitively.

Arjun: main Sam se keh sakta hun, bacha aa jaayega

He winked as she turned pal. She hid her face in her hands as he walked off whistling to himself.

Ayesha: Damn you Sameer!!!

Riya’s room-

She banged the door shut, afraid of Arjun following her. To her good fortune, no such thing happened. She let out a deep breath and stared at the painting in her hands. Her mind automatically imagined herself and Arjun in the place. A blush crept on her cheeks as she put it in her drawer safely, mv “Riya control!” ………………………..