Chapter 30

Bloomie

@bloomie

Part 30 [MEMBERSONLY][NOCOPY]

Flashback Ends……………………...

Arjun’s eyes widened in shock. Her mother shot herself in front of her? Unintentionally, but in front of her?

Riya: mujhe toh ye bhi samaj mein nahi aaya tha ki woh mar chuki hai, papa unke paas jaakar rone lage, tab unhone mujhe dekha. Woh apna gum bhul kar mujhe sambhal ne mere paas aaye, police aayi, body ko le jaa rahe the tab pata chala ki unke dusre haath mein note tha. woh jo uncle the na? woh mumma se firse mile the pichle hafte, unhe blackmail karne lage kyunki unka aur unki wife ka rishta tut gaya tha aur woh bachon ko lekar chali gayi, woh mujhe aur mumma ko apni zindgi mein laana chahte the aur agar maa ne mana kar diya toh woh sabko bata denge ki main unki beti hun, woh us stress ko jhel nahi paayi aur firse depression mein chali gayi, meri raksha papa karenge is par vishwas karke unhone apni jaan de di ye soch kar ki agar woh hi nahi rahegi toh fir na un par sawal uthenge aur na hi papa par (she sighed) mujhe zyaada logic toh nahi laga is baat mein par shayad depression ki wajah se unke dimag ne, sochna samajna hi band kar diya tha. Papa ko woh sab padh kar bahot gussa aaya, itna ki woh usi waqt us uncle ke ghar gaye aur seedha unhe goli maar di

Arjun: What?

Riya: ha, he died on the spot

Arjun: par aisa karne se kitni problem mein fas jaate, gharwaalon ke saamne, itne witnesses ke beech jaan buchkar encounter karne matlab murder maana jaayega

Riya: ha aur hua bhi wahi, woh toh acha tha ki unke senior ne unki help ki aur un sabne mil kar ye kahani batayi ki woh abetment to suicide ke liye arrest karne gaye the, unhone resist kiya aur haatha paayi mein goli chal gayi aur ghar waale toh uncle ki hi side lenge isliye unki gavahi ko nahi maana… uff! Par bahot mehnat lagi is sabke liye, woh teen mahine suspend ho gaye, circumstantial evidence aur benefit of doubt dekar, woh court se bach gaye but ek taraf se acha bhi tha, woh teen mahine ghar par mere saath the toh mujhe mumma ki maut ka zyaada jhatka nahi laga, main bhi sambhal gayi. And mujhe toh ye sab pata bhi nahi tha and us umar mein toh samaj mein bhi nahi aata, par jab badi hui toh samajhne lagi, sawal bade toh maine unhe bitha kar puch hi liya ki aakhir hua kya tha, tab unhone mujhe puri Mahabharat sunayi (she giggled) mujhe toh 2 din us sabko process karne mein lag gaya

Arjun suddenly realized the meaning of her words: isliye tumhe headshots nahi pasand?

It was more of a statement than a question. Riya nods. Her eyes moisten again.

Riya: jab bhi main kisi ke sar mein goli maarti hun toh aise lagta hai… aisa lagta hai jaise ki, maine mumma ko…

Arjun hugs her and she sobs in his embrace. He caresses her hair, comforting her.

Arjun: it’s not your fault Riya, tumne unhe nahi maara, unhone jo kiya woh unki choice thi, apne aapko dosh mat do

Riya: main koshish karti hun sir par… jab bhi woh nazara mere saamne aata hai toh mera pehla khayal humesha wahi hota hai

He gently separates her from him and hands her water. She gulps half of it down and composes herself.

Arjun holds her hand: theek ho?

She nods: ha… thank you

Arjun takes a deep breath (muttering): aur mujhe lagta tha ki meri family mein drama hai

But she hears it: matlab?

Arjun: kuch nahi

Riya: boliye na please

Arjun: kuch nahi Riya

Riya pouts: aapko pata hain, maine pehli baar kisi ko meri life history boli hai, aur aap mujhe aise suspense mein chod denge?

Arjun faked a smile: Riya main Rathore nahi hu jo tum mujhe emotionally blackmail karke fasa logi

Riya: matlab aapke liye mere emotions koi maayine nahi rakhte?

His head jerked to her at the accusation. She looked at him expectantly. He sighed and shifted his chair closer. She grinned and caught hold of his hand, looking at him eagerly like a child waiting for a bedtime story.

Arjun: bore ho gayi toh baad mein mujhe mat bolna

Riya: mujhe kahaniyaan bahot pasand hai, aap shuru kijiye

Arjun: mere papa beech waale bhai the, Dada ji ka business, papa aur unke bade bhai sambhalte the, chote Chachu ki sangat achi nahi thi, woh zyaada tar awaragardi mein hi time waste karte the, un logon ne unki shaadi bhi karayi is umeed mein ki shayad responsibility se woh sudhar jaaye par aisa nahi hua. Uske ilawa sab kuch kaafi normal tha, main bada beta tha maa-papa ka aur humesha se…. sach kahu toh unka centre of attention. Main 7 saal ka tha jab ek accident mein bade Chachu, unki wife aur choti beti ki maut ho gayi, sirf bhai kisi tarah bach gaye. And jaise tumne kaha waise hi, us umar zyaada kuch samaj mein nahi aata hai, papa aur maa ne bhai ko apna beta maan liya and then suddenly main beech waala bacha ban gaya, na bade hone ki shabashi thi aur nahi chote hone ka pyaar, and maa-papa bhi bhai ko hadse se ubhaarne ke liye unhe zyaada attention dete the, unhe chacha-chachi ki kami mehsoos na ho isliye unhe sar aankhon par bithate the aur us sab mein, main fas gaya

Riya: aapko jalan hoti thi?

Arjun: jalan thodi si but usse zyaada gussa aata tha ki woh mujhe bhool gaye aur isliye main bigad gaya

Riya: bigad gaye matlab?

Arjun: shaitaniyaan karne laga, kuch na kuch shararat karke, tod-fod karta rehta, school waale bhi pareshaan ho gaye unhe samaj mein nahi aata tha ki complain kare toh kis baat ki kyunki padhayi kabhi nahi chodi maine bas shararati ban gaya tha, koi mujhe kuch karne se mana kare toh sabse pehle wahi karta tha, maa-papa jo bhi kehte, humesha uska ulta hi karta, maa toh fir bhi samjha bujha kar chup kara deti thi mujhe aur main ho bhi jaata tha, mujhe wahi toh chahiye tha, unka attention lekin papa bahot irritate hote the aur unhe irritate dekh kar main unhe aur gussa dilata tha, is beech achanak meri dosti chote chachu se ho gayi, jab bhi main papa se upset hota tha woh pahunch jaate the mujhe behlaane ke liye ya fir ye kahu ki… bhadkaane ke liye, haala ki woh mujhe baad mein samajh aaya

Riya: mere dimag ki ghanti baj rahi hai

Arjun: aur woh sahi hai

She raised her eyebrow: seriously?

Arjun: ha, main 14 ka tha tab papa ka accident honewaala tha, khush kismati se woh bach gaye aur zyaada damage hua nahi isliye police ko pata chal gaya ki brake fail hui nahi thi balki koi wire kaata gaya tha (her eyes widen) usi din maine chote chacha aur chachi ko jhagadte hue suna, chachi unhe daant kar keh rahi thi ki woh ek kaam bhi theek se nahi kar sakte ab firse unhe kuch saal wait karna padega taaki kisi ko shak na ho aur tab tak bhai aur main bhi bade ho jaayenge toh unki musibate aur bad jaayengi

Riya: oh god!

Arjun: mujhe ajeeb laga, fir mere dimag ne kaha ki papa ko maarne ki saazish, unka jhagadna, unka mujhe bhadkaana aur bade chacha ki family ka bhi accident mein maare jaana kitna ajeeb ittefaq hai, maine maa ke saath share kiya tha woh shock ho gayi, uske baad un logon ne exactly kya kiya ye toh pata nahi lekin fir police aakar chacha-chachi ko le gayi

Riya giggled: iska matlab aapne apna pehla case 14 saal ki umar mein solve kiya aur woh bhi apne hi ghar mein

Arjun smiles lightly: aisa kuch hi

Riya: toh uske baad toh sab kuch theek ho gaya na? misunderstandings unhone create ki thi toh unke jaane ke baad woh bhi solve ho gayi hogi

Arjun: nahi

Riya: kya? Kyun?

Arjun: woh isliye Riya kyunki unhone mere gusse ko paida nahi kiya tha bas us aag mein ghee daala, meri jagah papa ne bhai ko de hi di thi isliye zyaada kuch farak nahi pada aur fir jab hum thode aur bade hue, plus 2 ke baad papa ne kaha ki main bhi bhai ke saath business samajhne lagu aur obviously main toh unki baat maanne se raha, aur sach kahu toh mujhe us sab mein interest bhi nahi tha, jab ghar ke andar maine itna anyay dekha ki property ke liye ek bhai apne hi bhai ko mar sakta, bacho ko maar sakta toh mujhse sehan nahi hua, kisi ko dukh deke khushi nahi mil sakti aur aise dukh dene waalon ko main khushi milne bhi nahi dunga, jab maine kaha ki mujhe IPS karna hai toh ghar par bawaal mach gaya, main ada raha, UG shuru hone ke baad pressure badta gaya aur fir finally ek din…

Flashback

Suryakant: BAS ARJUN!! BAHOT HO GAYA! BAHOT JHEL LI MAINE TUMHARI ZID! NA HI TUM IPS KAROGE AUR NAHI POLICE WAALE BANOGE!!!

Arjun: YE MERI LIFE HAI!! MUJHE ISKA JO KARNA HOGA MAIN KARUNGA!!

Raima tried to calm the father son duo: Surya shaant ho jao, Arjun please apni zid chod do!

Arjun: main zid kar raha hun? Toh fir ye kya kar rahe hai? Inki Bhi Toh Zid Hi Hai Ki Main Business Join Karu!

Dhruv, the elder brother and Vedant the younger one stood helplessly on the side watching yet another fight between them.

Suryakant: HA HAI MERI ZID! AUR YE ZID TUMHARI ZID SE PAIDA HUI HAI

Arjun: Aapki Problem Kya Hai!?!? Main Jo Bhi Karu Usme Aapko Takleef Kyun Hoti Hai?!

Suryakant: Kyunki Tum Kaam Hi Aise Karte Ho! Aur Kya Milega Tumhe Us, Sarkari Naukri Mein?

Arjun: Aap Yaha Zinda Usi Sarkari Naukri Ki Wajah Se Hai Dad! Yaad Nahi?!

Raima: Arjun..

Arjun: nahi maa! Aap beech mein mat padiye

Suryakant: Ye Kya Tareeka Hai Apni Maa Se Baat Karne Ka? Thodi Bhi Sharam Bachi Hai? Tum Chale Jaoge Toh Humare Business Ka Kya Hoga? Rawte Industries Ka Kya Hoga? Rawte Industries Ke Maalik Ka Beta Mamuli Sarkari Naukri Karega Toh Humari Izzat Ka Kya Hoga? SOCHA HAI KABHI?!

Arjun: Main Kyun Sochu? Aapke Paas Toh Dhruv Bhai Hai, Toh Aapko Meri Kya Zaroorat Hai?!

The rest of them looked at him in shock.

Dhruv: Arjun tum…

Arjun: bhai mujhe aapse jhagda karne ka koi shauk nahi hai aur na hi mujhe aapse problem hai Lekin Main Wahi Karunga Jo Main Karna Chahta Hun!

Suryakant: Ye Mera Ghar Hai! Aur Yaha Ke Faisle Main Lunga! Tum Nahi! Jab Tak Tum Yaha Ho Tab Tak Tum Wahi Karoge Jo Main Tumse Kehta Hun, Samjhe!?

Arjun glared at him: TOH THEEK HAI!

He stormed up the stairs.

Raima: Suryakant, please shaant ho jao, main usse baat karti hun

Suryakant: toh itne waqt se kya kiya hai tumne Raima? Ab tak nahi maana, ab kya maanega? Ab pyaar barsa kar koi faayda nahi, agar bachpan mein use thapad maar kar chup kara diya hota toh aaj ye din nahi dekhna padta, main bhi dekhta hun ki kaise mere naak ke neeche woh police waala banta hai!!

Raima: lekin Surya…

Vedant(shocked): Bhai!!!!

They turn to follow his gaze. Arjun climbed down the stairs with a bag in his hand.

Dhruv: Arjun bag mein kya hai? kya kar rahe ho tum?

Arjun: wahi jo papa ne kaha

Raima: Arjun…

Arjun: is ghar mein unki chalegi toh theek hai, main apni chalane ke liye ghar se nikal jaata hun

The ground slips from beneath everyone’s feet.

Suryakant: aur kya karoge nikal kar? Is ghar ke baahar kya pehchaan hai tumhari? Ye blackmail karna band karo aur chup-chap apne kamre mein jao!!

Raima: Surya tum kya bol rahe ho? bas karo, Arjun meri baat suno... aise zid nahi karte

Arjun: aapko sirf meri zid dikhayi de rahi haina maa? Kyunki aapke pati toh galat ho hi nahi sakte, toh is galat bete ko ghar mein rakhkar waise bhi kisi ka faayda nahi hai

His brothers and mother try to protest but he thunders out of the mansion.

Flashback Ends

Riya stared at him in shock: aapne ghar chod diya?

Arjun: ha, waha se seedhe Sam ke ghar gaya

Riya: Sam?

Arjun: mera best friend, uske saath rehne laga, padhayi ki fees wagera ke liye main 2-3 laakh ghar se lekar nikla tha

Riya(surprised): aapne chori ki?

Arjun chuckled: technically toh mere hi paise the na?

Riya smiled: woh toh hai, fir?

Arjun: fir, roz magar ke liye maine college ke canteen mein part-time job le li, aur fir agle saal mujhe scholarship bhi mil gayi aur sab set ho gaya, main dobara ghar waapis kabhi nahi gaya, IPS clear hua, posting hui, I was doing what I loved aur fir ek din, Sam ke through main Roshni ko mila

Riya lit up: oh love story

Arjun smiled: ha, mujhe toh pehli nazar mein hi usse pyaar ho gaya, aur humari dosti hui, use bhi pyaar hua, hum dono ki shaadi bhi ho gayi, hum teeno ne apni hi duniya basa li thi (his expression changed) aur fir Sikandar ne

She gripped his hand, understanding his unsaid words. Silence set in for a few moments.

Arjun hung his head: sab kuch bikhar gaya, Roshni ke saath, Sam ka bhi haath chut gaya

Riya: kyun?

Arjun (sadly): kyunki main uski dost ko bacha nahi paaya…(he hung his head) mujhse uska ilzaam saha nahi gaya aur dobara kabhi bhi uske paas nahi gaya aur na hi woh mere paas aaya

He took a deep breath and composed himself. Riya tried to lighten the atmosphere.

Riya: waise kam drama nahi hai

Arjun smiled.

Riya: aap sach mein smile karte hue aur bhi acha lagte hai

Arjun raised his eyebrow: line maar rahi ho?

Riya pretends to think: uh….. shayad

Arjun: Riya!

She laughs making him shake his head in disbelief. They were interrupted by the sound of the door opening. The nurse entered with a trolley………………………..