Chapter 13

PS:- I had mentioned b4 that there will be 2 interns accompanying..but I thought 2 introduce all of them 2gther in the nxt chap. So none are entering
nw.

R:- "Woh actually..shaam ko didi ka phone aaya tha. Unhone mujhe bataya ke mummyji ka accident ho gaya hai."

Muskaan got up in a jerk. "Kya? Kab?"

Rahul took a deep breath. "Woh sab mujhe sahi se nahin pata. Di ne to mujhe chupke se phone kiya hai."

M:- "Serious hai woh?" He jus nodded.  "Tumne mujhe kyun nahin bataya?"

R:- "Apne chere pe tension dekho."

Muskaan calmed herself down. "Haan..lekin." Her voice reduced 2 whispers. "Par ab woh kaise hi?"

R:- "Woh kal subah hi pata chalega." His face became sad n distintrested in talking. He got up frm Muskaan's side 2 his.

Muskaan linked everything frm whatever happenned since evening. She understood. Rahul was always closest 2 his mummyji since childhood. He wanted 2 cry..but jus hid all his tension behind anger. She took a deep breath n put her hand on Rahul's.

R:- "Muskaan..humne jab Sanjeevani join kiya tha..tab pehle cheez yehi seekhi ke kabhi bhi personal or professional life ko mix nahin karna chaiye. Aur maine pehle baar puri responsiblity khud li..to hum kaise ja sakte hai?" Muskaan lost words. She silently lay down. Rahul also lied down next 2 her.
Now anger had disappeared frm his face..showing only tension. He turned his face away...pressing his fore-head on the pillow. Muskaan sighed, & pulled him towards her side.

"Main karti hun." She started pressing his fore-head.

R:- "Nahin..iski koi zaroorat nahin hai." Pushing her hand away.

M:- "Tum chup-chap so jao." To her suprise he dint say anything , but closed his eyes.

Within a few mins, he slept off. Muskaan clinged 2 his arm & felt a sudden thought. She had always been the loud one..always aruging , fighting..never in her life she cried in front of every1 incuding her parents..
She always made people realise that she was strong..but actually she was not. When she had developed infactuation towards Armaan during their internship , nd at a point was rejected..She cried..nd Rahul was the one who consoled her..today she felt that she cud also be the emotional support for someone..who had always been there for her..whenever she needed him..though they fought like cats n dogs always...they were emotionally attached...nd she was very happy..that she had found the one for her. Before sleeping she muttered.."I luv u Rahul" & slept off.

All the 4 got up & got ready 2 start checking the village people.

A:- "Good morning."

M:- "Good morning. Chai? Mujhe bhi chai pene hai."

A:- She gav her her cup. "Tum ye lelo main dusre leke ate hun."

M:- "Sure?"

A:- "Yaa..lo..main abhi aati hun." She went away. Muskaan while sipping tea was thinking abt Rahul's mom. Rahul's sister had called in the morning & said dat mummyji was fine nw..but still they were montinoring her. There was no danger nw. After the medical camp..both of them were going 2
Patitala. Her thoughts were awakened by Masiji.

Msj:- "Chai kaise hai?"

M:- "Huh? haan. bohot achi hai." She smiled avoiding eye-contact. Masiji smiled back. "Kya hua? Aap mujhe aise..kyun..dekh rah hai?"

Msj:- "Maina bahut khush hun. Kal raat main bhar aaye thi..tabhi maine dekha ki..."

M:- "Kya?" Giving a confused look.

Msj:- "Ke woh tujhe bahon main uttha kar le gaya." She chuckled. Muskaan's face was red with embarssment.

M:- "Nahin..woh..aise..kuch bhi..actually pere per me lag gaye thi..to main chal nahin paa rahe thi..to Rahul ne mujhe..."

Msj:- "Beta..pati ka naam nahin lete."

M:- "Jiiii???"

Msj:- "Haan. Tum sheher waale ye sab nahin samjhoge...waise isse to pata chalta hai ke tum dono me bohot pyaar hai." Teasing her.

M:-"Haan hoga." Her cheeks were getting red more n more.

Msj:- "Bas..ek hi cheez ki kami hai."

M:- "Umm..kya?"

Msj:- "Bacche ki..aur kiski.." Muskaan choked..suddenly the tea was burning her throat.

M:- "Abhi..abhi..to..socha..nahin hai..abhi sirf 2-3 months hi huye hain shaadi ko.." Anjali came.

A:- "Kya baatien ho rahe hai?"

Msj:- "Anjali beta main to bas isse samjha rahe thi..ke inhe ab 2-3 bacche kar lene chaiye." Muskaan spit out the tea. "2-3?" Anjali started giggling.

 "Aap ekdum sahi keh rahe hai masiji." Muskaan stamped Anjali's foot. "Ouch. Wt?"

M:- "Chup kar." She whispered.

Msj:- "Maine kuch galat to nahin kahan na beta?"

A:- "Nahin masiji aap bilkul sahi keh rahe hain."

Msj:- "Dekha..ab tum isse bhi samjha do. "

Anjali put her arm around Muskaan. "Waise idea bura nahin hai..tum mujhe ab jaldi se ..maasi bana do." Muskaan gave a fake blush.

M:- "Haan Anjaliiii..kyun nahin.." Her voice suddenly becoming angry.Then she  rem wt Anjali had murmed last night. She decided 2 take revenge.

M:- "Anjali..sochlo..main tumhe maasi banau yaa phir...chachi?" She started laughing n walked off. At first Anjali dint understand..when she did she started running behind Muskaan.
 
A:- "Muskaan!!!!"

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All the four of them divided themselves..nd chked as many patients as they cud. They guided the people..nd wt they shud use & what they shud not.
It turned from a bright morning 2 a late sunny afternoon. The whole day passed wid them talking 2 the people..sharing each others talks on life. Comparing city n village life ect.

R:- "Kahan ja rahe hai?"

M:- "Basket-ball khelne." She replied excitedly.."Tujhe dekhayie nahin deta?"

R:- "Chup chaap jake bethja..abhi per toda hai aur basket-ball khelna."

M:- "Oyee..mera per toota nahin hai buddhu! Waise bhi main theek hun..tujhe chinta karne ki koi zaroorat nahin hai. Hmph!" Pointing 2wrds Anjali.. "Main bhi aaunge." She started 2 walk. But he caught her hand & pulled her bak.

R:- "Ek kaam karta hun. Teri mummyji papaji ko phone kar deta hun. Bol deta hun, ke tere per main fracture ho gaya hai. Phir aaj jayenge ghar pe ek mahine ke liye. Kya bolte hai."

M:- "Fracture..jhoota!!" Realising. "Haiyyo rabba! mummyji papaji..main to marjaungi. Dekh to mujhe na black-mail nahin kar sakta." He took out his phone & started 2 dial the no.

R:- "Ring baj rahe hai." She snatched it & cut the phone.

M:- "Theeke jaa rahen hun main!" Angrily. "Par tu mere saath chalega."

R:- "Arre...Atul mujhe bula raha hai..bye." He walked away.

M:- "Sun..leken..." She stamped the other foot & started walking back to a small seat mumbling 2 herself. "Rahul..ko naa main dekh lungi!!!!" While  walking she dashed Masji. "Oh! No. " She said 2 herself. Masji since yesterday was constantly asking abt Rahul..nd explaing why they shud hav a child. She kept advicing 2 her abt her marriage & why everything shud be perfect..She thought 2 herself, that her mom also had never told her so much! Muskaan got irritated but didnt say anything as she knew she meant well & respected her. So she jus gav a fake smile and kept nodding her head.

M:- "Sorry..kahan ja rahi hai aap?"

Msj:- "Mere puja ka waqt hogaya hai. Tum bhi chalo na." Muskaan saw Rahul who was laughing n enjoying wid every1. She got really angry. She decided 2 go wid Masji as she had nuthing 2 do.

M:- "Theeke. Chalen."

Where all were playing..close 2 dat was a small tulsi plant. Muskaan n Masiji walked towards itt..They put the puja thali on side of the plant. . Muskaan went n sat down & was seeing masji. As she lit the agarbati..she started 2 cough & wasnt able 2 breath. Muskaan got scared & rushed 2 her. She went inside,
got sum water..& a tablet. Masiji had an asthama problem. [Dunt knw wt shud be done. Pls excuse.]

M:- "Aap theek to hain?"

Msj:- "Haan. bas woh dhuyen[fog or smoke] se kabhi kabhi.."

M:- "Oh. Ab aap chod dejiye. Wahan mat jaye."

Msj:- "Leken beta puja adhura chodna ap-shagun hota hai."

M:- "Main khatam kar dete hun. Layee." She took the thali frm her hand. "Aap mujhe boliye main karti hun." She covered her head with the dupatta. Masiji kept telling her what 2 do. They started talking, laughing , giggling..Muskaan's face suddenly got a glow.

It was Rahul's turn 2 bat. He went & stood in front of the stumps. He stood in the waiting position, his head turning 2 see all his sides. At that moment his gaze fell on Muskaan. Her face glowing..her fair skin-tone luking more fair in the little sunlight. Her head was covered wid the dupatta..she was
smiling..nd going around the plant.. Seeing her so intensley he totally forgot that he was batting.nd dint hear the voice of the little child who told him 2 get ready as he was abt 2 bowl. He jus kept luking at her..n SMASH..the stumps hit & he was out. He jerked away frm his dream-world luking at the stumps.

All:- "Yes! Yes! out!!" and started running..

R:- "Aye! kya out? Main ready hi nahin tha."

C[child]:- "Arre bhaiya maine ready hone ke liye bola tha..aap out hain."

R:- "Nahin main out nahin hun. re-bowl."

A:- "Abe Rahul. Tu out hai..Muskaan ke tarah lad kyun raha hai?"

R:- "Atul..yaar main ready nahin tha yaar!" Nw getting irriated. Muskaan saw the commotion & came there.

M:- "Kya hua?"

A:- "Arre..Muskaan..acha huya tu aa gaye...iss Rahul ko samjha ke ye out hai..bina baat ke lad raha hai."

She went n stood in front of him. Getting closer n closer.

M:- "Oyye..bachon jaise lad kya raha hai? Out hai to out hai."

R:- Talking like a mouse. "Nahin. main..."

M:- "Oyye..ye tu aise kyun bol raha hai? Gale main aawaz nahin rahe kya?"

R:- Clearing his throat. In his normal voice. "Tu jaa yahan se..ye hamara aapas ka mamla hai..har baat pe tang adati rehte hai." Telling 2 himself. "Waise bhi yeh sab tere wajah se huya hai."

M:- "Kya bola?"

R:- "Kuch nahin." Trying 2 avoid her gaze.

M:- "Yeh tu man hi man main jo bolta hai na..main sab samjhti hun." eyeing him suspiciously.

R:- "K..Kya?" She dint say anything..still staring at him. "Jao mujhe batting nahin karni.." Throwing the bat & walking 2wrds the bowling side.

A:- Putting an arm around her. "Arre wah Muskaan! Tune to Rahul ko apni mutthi main band karke rakha hai..Main joru ka ghulam arre banke rahunga. Haha thanks yaar." Muskaan jus smiled.

Riddhima was walking in the corridor. her head spinning. She was n the general ward since morning & completed 2 surgeries. She stopped clinging 2 the wall. But took a deep breath & again started walking. But she cudnt take the pressure & was abt 2 faint. When on the right time Armaan came n caught her.

A:- "Riddhima..are u ok?"

R:- "Armaan..mujhe chakkar aa rahe hai."

A:- "Main to pehle hi kaha tha..ke itna kaam mat kiya karo tum..Chalo.".he dragged her till the cafe. He made her sit down.

R:- "Kya karun sirf hum hi to hai yahan." Armaan ordered coffee.

A:- "Is ka ye matlab nahin hai ke sirf tum hi kaam karo." Coffee came. "Chalo piyo."

R:- She smiled & started drinking. "yaya..ab tum mujhse thoda kam lelo."

A:- "Ofcourse. Mujhe sab bata do..aur tum ghar chale jao rest karne."

R:- "Nahin Armaan!"

A:-" Sssh!!"

R:- "Punjab se phone hai.." Muskaan gave a symathetic look. He kept it on the speaker. "Hello."

R-M[rahul's mom] "Rahul beta..tu kahan hai? Mujhse kab milne aa raha hai..yahan pe mere jaan ja rahi hai.."

R:- "Mama..app ye kya bol rahe hai?"

R-M:- "Bas..tu aur Muskaan kal hi aa jao Patiala..tum dono shaadi ke baad kabhi vapas hi nahin aaye..hume bhool gaye.." Sobbing.

M:- "Nahin mummy aisa nahin hai..hum Patiala aa rahe hai..kal hi" Rahul hit her on her hand.

R:- "Mama kal to nahin hoga..par ek do din main aate hai hum. Theeke bye.."

R-M:- "Bye puttar..jaldi aa jana haan.." Still sobbing. She kept the phone down.

R:- "Muskaan! Hum kal kaise jaa sakte hai..Sanjeevani ko hume leave application submit karna hai!"

M:-"haan..leken mummy ro rahe thi.."

R:- "Mummy theek hai. Kabhi kabhi filmy ho jaate hai. Bas."

M:-"Theeke..ab hum so jate hain. Kal jaldi nikalna hai." He nodded. Both of them slept.

In Patiala..Rahul's house.

Rahul's sister Pooja.

P:- "Oyye..mummyji..tusse kya acting karde ho..wah!" Rahul's mom blushed.

V[Vikram-Pooja's husband]: "Pooja sahi keh rahe hai..aap ne to kamal kita mummyji."

P:- "Ab aane do dono ko..ek mahine tak jaane nahin denge.." She chuckled. "Aur do din main to Rakhi hai..sab vasool karungi." [Evil smile.]

V:- "Exactly. Humara plan kamyab ho gaya..Ab mummy aap unke aane ki tayari kijiye.."

P:- "Ab aayega mazza!" Both of them hi-fied each other.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ *mansibhatia*2008-08-15 14:15:01