Chapter 25

Part 25

 

Last part

 

All of them were still in the Malkapur bazaar and Veer and Ananya had gone off together to find some food and Dharam and Sia were left alone sitting near a shop. There seemed to be this kind of awkwardness between them and they kept fidgeting and looking everywhere but at each other. There was much they wanted to say and express but both were in a dilemma as to how to put it through. They seemed to talk to the passer bys just in monosyllables but didn't say anything to each other.

 

Sia: (finally built the courage) Maharaj hame aapse kuch baat karni hai (Dharam looked at her alarmed) kitna kuch kehna hai hame aapse per ham jaante nahi kese kahe. Pichlee baar bhi jab ham mile the, tab ham yeh kehna sakhe lekin ab jab moka mila hai to ham kehna chahte hai.

 

Dharam: aap itnee pareshaan kyu lagrahee hai?

 

Sia: pareshaan nahi, ham bus hairaan hai (she tries to get up but feels a bit shaky) ham to bus aapko…(she can't continue and is nearly falling)

 

Dharam: (catching her in time in his arms) Rajkumari Sia! Aap theek to hai na?

 

She looked staright into his eyes as she lay their in his arms. For the few seconds she was there she was able to see so much love for her in his eyes that she didn't want to move. She wanted to remain like that forever

 

Dharam: (also kept staring at her, wondering what she was thinking. This closeness was creating wonders for both of them and their hearts were racing fast. Then he realized where they were) Sia, aap theek to hai na? Sia? (shook her a bit)

 

Sia: (came back to her senses) ha…ji… ha ham wo (got out of his arms and felt conscious) pata nahi bus aise hee chakkar aagaya tha (holds her shaky head)

 

Dharam: aap ne zaroor kuch khaaya nahi hoga (holds her hand and pulls her with him) yaha aake beithye, chalye (makes her sit down on a straw chair in the nearby shop and then he calls a boy) Suno zara paani lekar aana

 

The boy went to get water and then Dharam kept asking Sia if she was alright and took care of her. She just kept admiring his concern for her and an automatic smile came on her face. The boy came with water and she took some and then she felt a bit better but still he didn't allow her to move and told her to take it easy. They sat like that for a while.

 

Sia: aap istarha aaye hame bachaane accha laga hame

 

Dharam: ab yeh to hamara kartavya tha (both stare at each other with awe) hamara matlab hai ke ab ham Veer ko aise akele to jaane nahi de sakte the na or phir un daakooa se hamaree puraani dushmani bhi thi.

 

Sia: (short laugh) jo bhi tha, shukriya

 

Dharam: shukriya kehke hame sharminda mat kijye rajkumari.

 

Sia: ek or baat hai jiske liye ham aapke aabhaari hai. Ek baat jo ham aapse pehle bhi na kehsakhe.

 

Dharam: kounsee baat?

 

Sia: jab se hame yeh baat maaloom paree hai tabse ham beichaan rahe hai aapse milne ke liye. Aapka shukriya da karne ke liye (Dharam is still bemused as to what she means) ham jaan chuke hai ke aapne hamaree behen Bhoomi ke liye kya kiya or oske liye ham aapke karz daar banchuke hai. Ham kya hamara pura parivaar aapka ehsaan mand hochuka hai (Dharam thought about what she said and turned to the otherside) aap ko bura laga ham samajh sakte hai per yakeen maanye isme hamare chacha chachi ka kasoor nahi ke hame sachai pata chalee. Wo to baato baato me Bhoomi ke mooh se hee nikal gaya or phir ham se raha nahi gaya or hame sacchai maloom parnee hee thee. (he still didn't look back at her) ham jaante hai ke kitnee mushkilo se aapne yeh qadam uthaaya hoga or kitna kuch apna lutaaya bhi hoga to isliye aap hame yeh kehne dijye ke ham or hamara parivaar aapke kitne aabhaaree hai. Ham apne pure parivaar kee taraf se aap ko shukriya da kehte hai kyu ke wo to jaante bhi nahi ke kiska onko zindagee bhar ehsaan mand rehna hai.

 

Dharam: (stood up and walked out of the shop and then stood with his arms folded across his chest. He faced away from her) agar aapko hamara shukriyada karna hee hai to phir wo sirf apni or se kijye. Aapka parivaar kabhi bhi hamara karz daar nahi rahega, kyu ke hamne jo bhi kiya wo sirf aapke liye kiya tha Sia. Ham aapke parivaar kee bari izzat karte hai per sach poochye to hamne yeh qadam sirf or sirf aapke baare me soch ke kiya hai.  (she stands up and he turns around towards her) hame sirf aapki khushi or gham kee parwa hai or jab hamne aapko itna bebas or udaas dekha to hamse raha nahi gaya or hamne nirne le liya tha ke aapki khushiya waapis lautaaenge.

 

She has tears her eyes as she can't believe the guy in front of her could be so wonderful. The guy she thought she would never ever fall in love with, stood here in front of her changing her mind altogether.

 

Dharam: (came closer to her and took her hand) hamesha se hamne aapke baare me hee socha hai Sia. Aaj ham aapse kuch pooch na chahte hai (still held her hand and he saw she wasn't looking in his eyes. He put her face up so she was looking at him and he saw her moist eyes) in aakho me ham kabhi bhi yeh aasoo nahi dekhna chahte Sia, isiliye ham aapse phirse yeh pooch na chahte hai. Yakeen maanye agar aapka jawaab na hee hai to phir ham waada karte hai ke kabhi bhi phirse ham aapse yeh nahi poochenge.

 

She didn't say anything and waited anxiously for his question. Her heart knew what it was and she was also nervous as to how would she answer him this time.

 

Dharam: kya abhi bhi aap hamare baare me wesa hee sochtee hai jesa kai mahine pehle socha tha? Kya abhi bhi aapke dil me hamare liye sirf nafrat hee hai? Kya abhi bhi aap hamse koi rishta naata nahi rakhna chahtee? Kya abhi bhi…(he paused as he hesitated to ask her the next question but he had to do it as now was the last chance) kya abhi bhi aap hamse mohabbat nahi kartee? Sach sach bataaye Sia kyu ke hamare jasbaat or iraade me koi badlao nahi aaya hai. Agar aapka jawaab abhi bhi na hee hai to phir jese ke hamne pehle kaha aapse ke ham is baat ko hamesha ke liye bhool jaaenge. 

 

Sia: (too much overwhelment) ham kya bataye aapko, hum to khud apne aapse sharminda hai ke hamne kabhi aapse wo sab kaha bhi tha. Os waqt jo haalat the oske hisaab se hamne wo sab kehdiya tha aapko lekin…lekin ab kuch alag hee hai. (kept staring at him still thinking how to put it through) ab ham nahi jaante ke ham aapse kese kahe ke ham kya mehsoos karte hai, or kya chahte hai. Yehi samajh lijye ke ab hamare dil me aapke prati koi nafrat ya koi ranjish nahi. (his face lits up) ji ha ab hame lagne laga he ke shayad ham bhi aapse mohabbat karte hai. Jaante nahi kabse magar ab ham jaante hai ke yeh ehsaas sahi hai.

 

Both of them are really happy and they are still holding each other's hands not wanting to let go. Then Dharam wiped away her tears with his thumbs and she burst into happy tears again and she hugged him. At first he was stunned by the act as it was like the first official time she had hugged him like this. Once before when she had done it was due to other emotions but this time he knew she did it because she wanted to. Then gradually his arms went to engulf her too and he held her tight. This was the place where both wanted to be and wished to be forever.

 

Veer: ehem…ehem…

 

Both Dharam and Sia quickly seperated and went red with embarrassment. A laughing Veer kept staring at both of them whilst an astonished Ananya oogled both of them.

 

Veer: Ananya tumhe nahi lagta ke ab in dono kee chori pakri gayi hai?

 

Dharam: kya bole rahe ho Veer. Ham to bus…ham bus aise hee Rajkumari Sia kee madad karahe the wo onki tabiyat kuch…

 

Veer: ha ha to maine kab mana kiya (still the teasing tone) wese bhi inki madad to sirf tumhi karsakte ho        

 

Ananya: Kya Veer kyu inhe sata rahe hai aap?

 

Veer: (pretends to be offended) inhe me sata raha hu? Are Ananya tum nahi jaantee ke in dono ne meri kya haalat kardi hai. Raat raat bhar nahi soya hu inki wajese

 

Ananya: kya matlab?

 

Both Dharam and Sia panic and glare at Veer to not say anything or else. He just laughed as he was enjoying this.

 

Veer: kyu bata du ke raat ko tum dono…

 

Dharam: Veer! (warning tone) agar tumne ek lafz or kaha to ham tumhe chorenge nahi

 

Veer: ab yeh chupaane waali baat thori na hai or phir Ananya se kya parda

 

Ananya: aap sab yeh kya kehrahe hai hame to kuch samajh me nahi aaraha

 

Veer: chalo me samjhaata hu

 

Dharam: Veer! Ham kehrahe hai ke agar tumne kuch bhi kaha to tumhaaree khair nahi

 

Veer: are per tum itne darr kyu rahe ho Dharam? Ab me aisa wesa to kuch batane waala nahi hu…haala ke tum dono ne to aisa wesa hee kuch kiya hai.

 

Ananya: (eyes wide with shock)yeh kya kehrahe hai aap?

 

Dharam: ab ham tumhe nahi chorenge (runs after him and Veer ran away before he could catch him)

 

Sia just laughed at the two whilst Ananya was still confused as to what was going on. She came to Sia and wanted answers and Sia also knew what her sister was going through so she decided to take her out of her misery.

 

Sia: (hugged Ananya) Ananya aaj ham itne khush hai, itne khush ke kya bataye ham tumhe. Hamne kabhi nahi socha tha ke aisa bhi hoga kabhi. Tum yakeen nahi karogee per Maharaj Dharam ne hamse jo kaha hai ose sunne ke liye ham kitne beichain the.

 

Ananya: to iska matlab tum dono…nahi hame sach me yakeen nahi horaha

 

Sia: (pulls out and is really excited) yeh sach hai Ananya. Ham jaante hai ke yeh maana kathin hai or tum to kya koi bhi is baat ka vishwaas nahi karega per yeh sach hai. Wo abhi bhi hamse mohobbat karte hai or ab ham bhi

 

Ananya: (still finds it unbelievable) yeh hame namumkin jesa hee lagraha hai. (holds Sia's hand) sach sach batao Sia, ham jaante hai tum kitnee nafrat kartee thee Maharaj Dharam se or phir…

 

Sia: wo sab ham bhool chuke hai. Tum jaantee ho kuch baate bhool jaane me hee bhalai hotee hai. Ham maante hai ke ham hamesha se onse mohabbat nahi karte the jitna ab karte hai, per kabhi kabhi aisee baato ko ateet me chore dena chaheeye

 

Ananya: hame sach sach batao Sia, kabse tum Maharaj Dharam se mohabbat karne lagee ho?

 

Sia: hame theek tarhase to yaad nahi ke kabse (thinks over the previous events) ha shayad tabse shuruwat huwee hai jabse ham Bhavanipur gaye the or onka khoobsurat mahal dekha tha.

 

Both the sisters laugh together at their thoughts and are really happy for each other. Now they would be living together forever and both were glad and proud of their choices.

 

Dharam and Veer returned with Veer yelping as Dharam was holding his ears and making him apologise hundred times. The girls just laughed at them and then Dharam again composed himself in front of them. Now nothing was left undone between him and Sia and it was the best day of his life.

 

All four of them decided to return back to Sumaina now as it had been long since Ananya and Sia had been away from home. So much was left to be said and done still as the main part was to go and inform her parents of the new relation that had taken place. Sia knew that her father wouldn't have much objection but she knew her mother was going to be harder to crack. Somehow she knew that Dharam would manage alright.

 

As they were returning back he got a chance to talk to her alone again.

 

Dharam: hame Maharaj Dayavardhan ne bataya tha aapki onke saath mulaqaat ke baare me. Wese hame itnee hairaanee nahi huwee jab onhone bataya ke jesa onhone socha tha wesa bilkul hee nahi tha. Jab hame pata chala ke aapne kya kaha onse to osse hame or bhi aasha nazar aayi thi. Kyu ke agar aapko hamse koi rishta naata rakhna hee nahi tha to wo to aap khule aam hee kehdetee.

 

Sia: (laughs) ji ha ab to aap hame bohat acchi tarhase jaan chuke hai ke ham kuch aisa hee karsakte hai. Jab ham aapke mooh pe aapko sab bhala bura kehsakte hai to phir aapke pure khandaan ke saamne kabhi bhi jhijhak nahi sakte.

 

Dharam: wese jo bhi aapne kaha tha ghalat nahi kaha tha (she looks towards him slightly amazed) os waqt jese ham aapke saath peish aaye the wo bilkul bhi maafi ke laayak nahi tha. Or tab se lekar aaj tak ham apne aapko sirf koste hee aaye hai. Jis tarha se aapne hame naraaz hoke kaha tha abhi tak yaad hai hame.  "agar aap hamse insaano kee tarha paish aate naake jaanwaro kee tarha." Aap nahi jaantee kitnee takleef pohochee hai hame is baat se.

 

Sia: tab to hame kabhi ehsaas huwa hee nahi tha ke itna bara asar bhi hoga.

 

Dharam: aapkee or se bhi samajh ne kee baat hai kyu ke tab aapka aisa hee mehsus karna theek tha. Phir bhi aapka wo ghusse se bhara huwa laal chehra ham kabhi nahi bhool paaenge. Aapne kaha tha ke "pehli mulaqaat se hee aapne hame bata diya tha ke aapka guroor, aapka chota pan or aapkee khugarzee kabhi kisee ka bhala karhee nahi sakti or koi aapke saath khush reh hee nahi sakta."

 

Sia: (continues laughing) bhagwaan ke liye hamne jo bhi kaha tha aapse wo dubaara mat dhoraaye.

 

Dharam: ab ham aapse sachai to chupa nahi sakte Sia. Bachpanse hame sirf yehi sikhaa ya gaya tha ke khud kee hee socho or apne barabar ya oonche logo kee hee izzat karo. Wohi sahi raja kee neeshaani hoti hai. (turned towards Sia and stared at her with love) or aaj bhi ham aise hee reh jaate Sia agar tum hamaree zindagee me nahi aati or hame yu zindagi ke sahi maayeene nahi bata tee. (Sia smiled as for the first time she felt like Dharam thought of her as his own. The way he addressed her as 'tum' and not 'aap' did all the work) ab ham kabhi bhi tumhe khona nahi chahte pyaaree or hamaree Sia.

 

She linked her hand in his and rested her head on his shoulder as they continued to walk back. It was a beginning of a new journey where everyone had reformed to a new life.

 

Sumaina

 

When they all retunred the maharaj and Nivriti were pleased to meet Veer again and Dharam was a good surprise. They didn't tell anything about the daakoos fiasco as it would just make them all worried when everything was taken care of anyways.

 

Then came the shocker when Dharam went to the maharaj and asked for Sia's hand in marriage. He couldn't believe what he was hearing as it was too good to be true. Nivriti was also very shocked but then she was on top of the moon as this alliance was the greatest of all. All the previous back bites and grieviances against him were forgotten and she now could only think the best of him. However the maharaj was still quite skeptical about the alliance and he wanted to speak to Sia about it before things went any further.

 

Maharaj's room

 

He had called Sia in and she could see how he looked displeased.

 

S.M: yeh ham kya sun rahe hai Sia? Kya tumne yeh faisla apne hosh me liya hai? Jaha tak hame andaza hai tum to hamesha se nafrat kartee aayee ho Maharaj Dharam ko to phir yeh achanak…

 

Sia: ab pitaji ham wo…

 

S.M: wese to hame is rishte se koi aitraaz nahi kyu ke aisa rishta to hamare bhaag ye khol dega. Hame to sirf tumharee chinta hai Sia. (takes her hand and gives her a concerned look) ham nahi chahte ke kal ko aisa ho ke tum apne jeevan saathee kee izzat hee na karo. Ham wo dukh lekar nahi jee paaenge. Maana ke wo saare raajyo me se bare or upar hai per kya wo tumhe khush rakhenge?

 

Sia: (smiles) pitaji hame sirf yeh bataye ke aapko koi or to aitraaz nahi hai na, is baat ke ilawa?

 

S.M: nahi or koi nahi. Ham sab onhe ek ghamundi or khudgarz raja kee tarha se jaante hai. (thinks and studies Sia's face) per yeh sab ka koi matlab nahi hoga agar tum sach me onhe pasand kartee ho

 

Sia: ji ha ham onhe pasand karte hai. Bohat pasand karte. Haala ke yeh maan lijye ke ham onse behat mohabbat karne lage hai. Sach me pitaji onka ghamund bilkul bhi najayaz nahi. (the maharaj is surprised to hear all this) agar aap onkee darya dilee ko jaan paate to phir aapkee bhi rai yehi hoti. Ham maante hai ke pehle ham onse nafrat karte the lekin (wide smile) ab ham onse bohat pyaar karte hai. Onse accha jeevan saathi hame koi nahi milega pitaji

 

S.M: (sighs and gets up) agar aisa hee hai Sia to phir hame koi aitraaz nahi. To phir sahi me wo tumhaare liye sahi hai or laayak bhi. (kisses her forehead) tumhaaree khushi me hee hamaree khushi hai or ham tumhe sirf khush dekhna chahte hai.

 

Finally the maharaj saw that Sia was really happy and he agreed with the alliance. Dharam got the green signal which made him really happy and the happiest was Veer as finally his plan had reached its end. Finally Dharam and Sia were united. He got everything he had wished for, Ananya and his brother's happiness.

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