OS- Khatti meethi hai teri kahaani

This is an OS about Anjali and Aman. It can be read as a stand alone but will make most sense to those of you who have read my story. (This is right after the chapter with the wedding in Part 2: OS- Anjali Di hai sabse sayaani)

OS- Khatti meethi hai teri kahaani

Anjali Jha wanted answers, needed them and if no one was going to give it to her, shewould find them for herself.

'It's myword against his' Chotey had said and she had to know whose word was true.

She wipedaway her tears as something a friend had mentioned came back to her.

Adetective, a private detective. Her friend had hired a private detective totrail her husband whom she suspected of having an affair.

Breathingdeeply to dispel her revulsion at the very thought, she decided that there wasno other way.

Shecouldn't go on living like this, with this predicament.

She wouldneed help though. And her first choice was NK bhai.

But shedismissed the idea almost at once, he was too close to Khushiji and wouldn't beobjective. Also, she couldn't risk Shyamji or anyone else in the family findingout what she was upto.

No, itwould have to be someone else. Someone trustworthy but from outside the family.

In herfeverish state, Anjali kept drawing a blank.

And thenshe heard voices.

"Mohankaka, pranaam" said a vaguely familiar male voice. "Aap yahaan kyakar rahe hai?"

"Arey,Aman beta tum?" Mohanji said, "Kaise ho?"

"Maintheek hoon Kaka, aap bataiye?" the voice said, "Aapke pair ka dardkaisa hai?"

Anjalifelt a piercing sense of guilt. When was the last time she had asked afterMohanji's health?

"Abpehle se behthat hai" Mohanji said, "Physiotherapy ke vajah se kaafisudhaar aaya raha"

"Dekha,humne kaha tha na" the voice said, triumphantly. "Iss baar beech mechodne ke baare me socha bhi toh khabar seedhe ASR tak pahunch jaegi aur mainabhi keh deta hoon, main aapko bachaane nahi aaunga"

Mohanjilet out a wheezy laugh. "Arey, nahi beta. Hum har hafte jaa rahe hai"

"Yehhui na baat, bahut jald aap humare saath fir se cricket khelne lagenge"the voice said, "Pari aapko match me bahut miss karthi hai, ek aap hi tohthe jo out hone ke baad bhi use batting karne dete hai"

"Bitiyako humara pyaar dena" Mohanji said, chuckling. "Vaise, kaafi der hogayi hai. Jaldi karo varna Arnav baba se daant pad jaegi"

"Ohdamn" the voice said, and Anjali watched his silhouette disappear fromview. "Vaise, aap yahan neeche kya kar rahe hai?"

Mohanjistepped away too and lowered his voice but Anjali managed to catch his words.

"Anjalibitiya kuch der baitna chahath hai"

The voicesaid 'Oh' and added, "Unki tabiyath toh theek hai na?"

"Haan,haan" Mohanji said, in a whisper. "Bas aaj kal jaldi thak jaathihain, tum chalo main unke saath ruktha hoon"

"JiKaka, pranaam"

For somereason, Anjali's heart was racing all through their exchange.

Her mindwas trying to tell her something, a premonition that wasn't making theleap from her sub conscious.

After itwent quiet outside, she almost heard a small click of realization as though a switch had been flipped.

Sheopened the car door and stepped out.

Lookingaround, she realized that she didn't remember his face well and the mandir areawas rather crowded.

But whenher gaze stopped at the man in the flower shop, removing his footwear whilechatting up the vendor, she was sure it was Aman Mathur.

He wasdressed in blue jeans and a cream, long sleeved kurta folded to his elbows.

It waswhen he took the pooja thal from the vendor that Anjali panicked and calledout.

"Amanji"

When hedidn't seem to hear, she broke into a run.

"Amanji"she called again, "Ek minute, rukiye"

He turnedaround just as she stopped a few feet short of him.

Hiseyebrows were raised as she held up a hand to gesture for him to wait while shecaught her breath.

"Ji,aap..?"

"HumAnjali hain" she said, clutching the side of her stomach. "Arnav kibehen"

Hisexpression cleared up at once.

"Oh,of course" he said, "I'm sorry maine aapko nahi pehchaana, it's beena long time"

Anjalishook her head to indicate it was alright while she studied his face closely.

Theremust be some reason why someone as leery as her brother trusted this manimplicitly.

She hadto admit that there was something innately dependable about his face. He had asquare-ish jaw line, the ruggedness of which was neutralized by the clumsylocks of hair falling into his dark eyes.

Anjalisupposed it wouldn't be so much about trust worthiness as his loyalties.

"Ma'am,aap theek toh hai?" he asked, when she didn't speak for several seconds."Do you need help?"

"Humtheek hai" Anjali said, lowering her gaze. "Par hume maddad kizaroorat hai"

"Ji,kahiye?"

"Ekaisa kaam hai jiske baare me hum Chotey..I mean, Arnav ko nahi bataa sakthe. Infact, ghar me kisiko pata nahi lagna chahiye"

When shelooked up, she saw his expression had turned troubled.

"Ma'am,main ASR se jhoot nahi bol saktha" he said, sounding firm yet apologetic.

Anjalibit her lower lip, trying to find a loophole.

"Aapkojhoot nahi bolna padega" she said, "Bas jab tak kaam khatam nahi hojae, aap uska zikr mat kijiye"

When hecontinued to look uncertain, shuffling on his feet, she added,

"Amanji,kaam bahut zaroori hai, varna hum aapse aise nahi poochte"

Henarrowed his eyes and took a deep breath before slowly nodding.

"Kyakaam hai?"

Anjalicouldn't help her smile of relief.

"Nahi,yahan nahi" she said, "Hum kahin aur chal ke baat karthe hai"

Over hisshoulder, she spotted Nani and Mami emerging from the temple.

Feelingoddly panicky again, she said, "Aap ek kaam kijiye, mandir ke peeche dwaarpe humaara intezaar kijiye. Hum do minute me kuch bahaana banaa ke aatehai"

"What?"he said, looking at her as if he thought her insane.

"Dekhiye,Nani aur Mami neeche aa rahe hai, aap jaldi kijiye" she said, knowingfully well that if she stopped to reconsider, she would think herself insane aswell. "Aapke paas gaadi hai na?"

"Haan,par.."

"Great"she said, cutting him off, "Aap jaiye, hum aate hai"

She hadto practically shove him away when he kept gaping at her.

Anjaliturned her back to him and pretended to be on the phone as Nani and Mamiapproached.

She hopedthey hadn't recognized his profile while simultaneously trying to drum up areasonable excuse not to go home with them.

It tookher five minutes longer than the two she'd promised to shake off her family.Clutching her hand-bag and phone in one hand, she smoothed down her saree asshe hurried towards the back entrance of the temple.

Amanjiwas leaning against a car, speaking on the phone.

For onecrazy moment, she panicked that he was already snitching but on drawing closer,she recognised it to be work related.

He sensedher presence and turned around, making haste with his call.

"Ma'am,voh.." he said, when she stopped at the door on thepassenger side. "That's not my car..main bike pe aaya hoon"

Anjaligaped as he pointed to the Yamaha parked next to the car.

"Iwanted to tell you before lekin aapne bolne ka mauka hi nahi diya" hesaid, with the hint of a smile.

Shestared at the bike, blindsided by the onslaught of memories and emotions. Inanother lifetime she had ridden on a bike, cruising around the streets ofLucknow sitting behind her high-school sweetheart and then fiance. That girlwas so far lost now that Anjali didn't even remember her, leave alone feelinglike the same person.

And onlybitterness was left in place of those memories. That the person who hadpromised to be with her in good times and bad, in sickness and health hadabandoned her at the very first road block.

"Ma'am,vaise jaana kahan hai?" Amanji asked, interrupting her thoughts.

Anjalistammered. "Anywhere jaahan hum baat kar sakthe hai, without beingoverheard"

"Ok,ek kaam karthe hai" he said, clapping his hands together. "Paas meJava Park Cafe hai, hum auto me chalthe hai, ok?"

Anjalinodded, tearing her gaze away from the bike with some difficulty.

Amanjihailed an auto-rickshaw while she remained absorbed in her thoughts.

Sheclimbed into the auto thinking of how young and foolish she had been.

Amanjigot in beside her and gave the driver directions. He sat back and checked hiswatch.

'What areyou doing?' she heard a voice screaming in her head as the rational part of herbrain caught up to her.

Whoevershe asked for help, she would practically have to bare her soul to them. Theywould be privy to the most private affairs of her life, to the cracks and dentsof her every relationship and then eventually to the heartbreak that wouldfollow the truth, one way or another.

Had shelearnt nothing? Her own life bore evidence that no one should be trusted withsuch information.

Shesneaked a glance at the man beside her. A man she barely knew, whom she'd met agrand total of two times at random AR gatherings.

She forgot to offer to pay when they got down at the caf a few minutes later.

Her eyesdarting between the flower-pot lined driveway of the cafe and the streetoutside, Anjali shivered slightly.

"Ma'am,aap theek toh hai?" he asked, replacing his wallet into the back pocket ofhis jeans.

Unable tospeak, she opened and closed her mouth futilely.

"Ma'am,agar aap vaapis jaana chahthi hain toh it's alright" he said, observingher closely. "Main kisise kuch nahi kahunga"

Shestared at him.

"Lekinagar mujhpe vishwas kar sakthi hain then I promise to help in whatever way Ican"

It wasinsane, Anjali decided, but it was also her best hope.

"Anjali"she said, extending her hand. "Ma'am nahi"

With asurprised smile, he shook her hand and said, "Aman, not Amanji"

Shenodded and they walked down the driveway to the cafe.

"Aapkuch lengi?" Aman asked, after they were seated at one of couches hiddenbehind some artificial foliage.

"Coffee"she told the waiter before he could hand out the menus.

"Makethat two" Aman said, waving him away.

After theman was out of ear-shot, he turned to her with his eyebrows raised in question.

"Kuchbhi kehne se pehle hum ek baar fir yeh bataana chahthe hai ki yeh sab, yeh kaamhumare liye kitna important hai" she said, "Aur jab tak sab sach..Imean, jab tak kaam khatam nahi hota, hum nahi chahthe ki kisiko kuch patachale"

"Ok,frankly mujhe iss waqt thoda darr lag raha hai" he said, grinning."Kahin aap kisika khoon-voon toh nahi karaana chahthi hai na?"

Anjaliblinked, unsure if she heard him right. He covered his mouth with one hand,cleared his throat and made a fist, trying not to laugh.

Anjalididn't see her tears coming.

Shelooked away, horrified and blinked rapidly to keep them from falling.

"Ohdamn!" he muttered under his breath. He grabbed some tissues from theholder. "I'm so sorry"

Sheaccepted them and wiped her eyes.

"I'm really very sorry" he said, leaning forward. "Mera aapko upset karneka bilkul iraada nahi tha. I can be an idiot sometimes, main jaantha hoon aapkuch zaroori kaam ke baare me baat karna chahthi hai and clearly, it'sdifficult for you. I promise main mazaak nahi karunga and..and you can trustme"

Heappeared genuinely chagrined when she finally turned to him.

Anjalidecided that if she kept stopping to question the wisdom of her actions atevery step, she wouldn't get very far. Having made up her mind, she had toforge ahead.

Bitingher tongue, she shut her eyes and decided to say it in one go.

"Humek private detective hire karna chahthe hai apne pati Shyam Manohar Jha penazar rakhne ke liye"

He wasstaring at her open mouthed when she opened her eyes.

And wasthat disgust she saw in his eyes? She tried to remember how distasteful sheherself found it all and not let her temper rise.

"Chotey..Arnavko lagtha hai ki voh hume dhoka de rahe hai" she said, hurriedly."Hume yeh pata karna hai ki humare bhai aur pati ke beech sach kaun bolraha hai"

Hemanaged to mask his emotions well as Anjali couldn't tell what he made of itall.

"Dhokamatlab?" he asked, his eyebrows furrowed together. "Do you think he is cheating onyou?"

"Idon't know" Anjali said, cringing inwardly at how desperate she sounded."Chotey aur Khushiji ko lagtha hai ki Chotey ke kidnapping ke peecheShyamji ka haath tha aur uske pehle bhi unhone Khushiji.."

Anjalicouldn't finish her sentence, it hurt too much to say the words. She couldn'tpossibly explain what it felt like to be a woman whose husband was accused ofpretending to be unmarried to lure another woman into getting engaged to him.

He musthave gotten her drift though because he looked away, embarrassed.

Wipingher eyes with the tissue again, Anjali said, "Hum sach pata karna chahthehai, kya aap humari maddad kar paenge?"

"Privatedetective won't be a problem" he said, "In fact, main already kisikojaantha hoon and I can arrange for a meeting. Agar aapko voh theek lage thenfine, nahi toh hum kisi aur PI ko dhoond sakthe hai"

Shenodded, feeling at once relieved and frantic that what had only been in herhead so long was she had managed to say aloud. And it was now out in the world.

"Buramat maniye but I'd like to say something" he said, "PI toh hire karlenge but mujhe nahi lagtha ki aapka sabse chupake rakhne ka idea sahi hai.Chota muh badi baat lekin whatever he finds out, aapke saath kisi friend yafamily member ka hona zaroori hai"

Anjalismiled and shook her head slowly.

"Thankslekin yeh kaam hume akele hi karna hai"

He lookedas if he wanted to argue but the waiter arrived with their coffee just then.

"Aapshaadi me nahi gaye toh Cho..Arnav se daant khaani padegi" she said,hoping to head him away from the present topic.

"That'sok, ab aadat pad gayi hai" he said, picking up his cup. "The bestthing about him is ki voh zyaada savaal nahi karthe and by chance pooch bhiliya toh I can say ki meri beti ke vajah se der ho gayi which was trueanyway"

"Aapkibeti hai?" Anjali asked, surprised.

Henodded, his dark eyes lighting up distinctly.

"Paanchsaal ki hai"

"What'sher name?"

"Ekho toh batun" he said, with a laugh. "Officially toh naam Pari hailekin jo bhi usse miltha hai uska ek naam rak deta hai. Jaise meri Mom, vohusse bulathi hai Shatabdi Express"

Anjalismiled.

"Itnabolthi hai ki pados walon ne naam rakh diya hai Chattterbox Chatterjee and uskeNana Nani ke liye toh she's Miss India"

"Auraap?" Anjali asked, "Aap kya bulathe hai?"

Hesmiled, somewhat shyly. "I call her my little princess"

Anjaliwent still, as his words seared her heart like flaming pieces of coal going through and through.

'Little princess' 

'Raajkumari'

No, no,no.

She tookdeep breaths as she picked up her coffee andtook a sip even though it was piping hot. She couldn't go there, not now.

He lookedconfused at first, perhaps wondering what he'd said wrong but slowlycomprehension filled his features.

"I'msorry" he said, quietly. "ASR ne bataaya tha, I'm so sorry for yourloss"

"Thankyou" she said, in a hoarse whisper.

Afterseveral seconds of silence in which she reflected on his description of hisdaughter, she asked, "Aapne apni wife ke baare me nahi bataya? Voh kyabulaathi hai aapki beti ko?"

Almost assoon as she said the words, she sensed it had been a mistake.

He froze, his knuckles blanching as he gripped the coffee cup. She looked up andsaw that his face had entirely drained of colour.

"Usnehi Pari ka naam rakha tha" he said, his tone icy. "She passed awaylast year"

Anjali'sjaw dropped and she stared at him, flabbergasted.

"HeyDevi Maiyya" she said, under her breath. "I'm so sorry, hume patanahi tha"

"It'sok" he said, shortly.

Anjaliwanted to say more but his expression wasn't encouraging and she decided todrop it, to return the courtesy he had shown her.

But thetragedy of it all refused to sink in.

Despitebeing a grown woman at the time, Anjali had gone to pieces. How could a fiveyear old possibly cope with the death of her mother?

"AapMonday subah ko free hain?"

Aman'svoice brought her back to the present.

"Ji?"

"Mondaymorning" he repeated, "Around 11:30?"

He hadhis Blackberry in hand and was looking at her expectantly.

Anjalinodded.

"Kyaaap khud PI se milna chahthi hain?" he asked.

Anjaliwas confused.

"Aapchahe toh kisi middleman ko use kar sakthi hai" he explained, "TaakiPI ko bhi nahi pata hoga ki kisne hire kiya hai and you can stayanonymous"

She feltfoolish at once that the thought had never occurred to her. Somehow she'dimagined walking into a dusty office with a file and photos of her husband togive a bespectacled, balding man.

Shealmost laughed, thinking of how books and movies had corrupted her thinking.

Obviouslythings were different now in this era of technology. With all the mediasurrounding AR and her brother, it wouldn't take much for the news of herinvestigation to break out if she wasn't careful.

She feltsqueamish nonetheless about involving more people into this.

"Aapnekaha tha ki aap kisi PI ko jaanthe hai" she said, "Agar aap unhe kaamsamjha denge toh vahi baat hogi na, humara naam beech me nahi aaega"

Hisexpression turned thoughtful again.

"Ok,we can work this out" he said, slowly. "Main usse first baat karkedektha hoon, maybe I can meet him somewhere jahaan aap hume dekh aur sun sakthihai lekin voh aapko nahi. I'm sure he'll be used to it"

Anjalinodded, hoping he would be because she certainly wasn't. The thought of gettingcaught in the event that Shyamji was innocent pained her almost as much as itwould if it turned out that he wasn't.

Anjali had to make a conscious effort not to obsess over the possible eventualities. She had already spent many sleepless nights and it was not only trifling but exhausting. 

Theyexchanged phone numbers, saving it under false names and then argued over thebill.

Eventuallythey decided to split it and the auto ride back to the temple passed itsilence.

He waitedwhile she made sure that Mohanji had returned to pick her.

"Thankyou" she said, "Hum jaanthe hai ki yeh sab..this is beyond your callof duty"

"ASRne jo mere liye kiya hai uske saamne yeh kuch nahi hai" he said,"Iknow ki aapke liye important hai so you're welcome lekin please mujhe sharmindamat kijiye ma'am"

Sheglared at him.

"Imean, Anjali" he said, with a smile. "Main aapko Monday phone karthahoon"

Shenodded and said bye, heading to the car-park.

It wasonly when she was half way home that she realized what was nagging her.

Nanicalled her bitiya and Shyamji Rani Sahiba, she was Di and people addressed her as Ma'am. How long had it been since someone called had called her by just hername? Just Anjali, no strings attached. 

thetelleroftale2013-04-11 09:26:22