“Why, Danish?” Baba couldn’t understand his son’s decision, yet he kept his hopes up. “What did she reply?”
“Nothing!” Darsh restricted his reply to the question. Baba would know Pooja’s reaction from the recording he was going to share.
“Naturally! .....Bechari seham gayi hongi….. poor girl must be so embarrassed.” Baba chided, “You know Pooja, Danish. She is a sensitive, very private woman. I don’t think such public proclamation of your love would have appealed to her.”
“Baba, dil ki baat hai……. Itne din dil mein hi rahi…… Now that I was saying it, I wanted to scream out my love in front of the whole world…….. And then music comes to me naturally…… Rather, she has brought me to these concerts stuff….. I genuinely felt that was a better route to express the depth of my sentiments.” Darsh defended himself.
“Always remember Son. Think from her perspective, not yours. That way love blossoms better.”
“Baba now my boat has sailed. There is no looking back now. After a very long time, life feels worth living. I want to enjoy every moment, the way you found happiness with Ammi. After all, even you were bold in asking her to elope with you to London. Ammi toh maan gayee thee na!” There was a smile in Darsh’s voice. He felt confident of what he was doing.
“She agreed because that was the only possible way for our love to survive…… In Pooja’s case, I’ll advise you to take things lightly and help her relax. Don’t crowd her with your emotions. If she retreats into a shell, it will be impossible to break it.”
Darsh realized baba’s warning was right. Maybe he was crowding her with shayari and everything. He would keep the fire burning in her heart, but ensure that she felt relaxed with him. He smiled in confidence as he got ready.
Abba was sipping his hot cup of tea when his mobile rang. It was Mamaji.
“Salaam, Maamaji. Aaj aapne yaad kiya?”
“Miku ne call kee thee. Development project ke budget mein kuchh kami aa rahee hai. He was asking whether the temple treasure can be used but I refused knowing the recent happenings in the village. It will unnecessarily bring doubt to him. He then said he’ll speak to Advay about their personal money to be utilized. Advay is currently travelling someplace, so we have to wait. He asked me to put EVERYTHING in your ears.” He stressed on the word as it was their code language to discuss revenge mission.
“Mamaji, the work seems more or less complete. All the basic structures are ready perhaps. It must be just the internal work pending. But why take out further income from them? After all, it’s the work for the villager’s benefit. So let people contribute whatever is feasible from their end.”
“Should they make a speech and request the people then?”
“Rather not. If said by them, people will take it as a compulsion and the goodwill will suffer. Let you and I undertake this responsibility. I’ll spread the word in my community and you approach your clan. Let people come up voluntarily to support the work. This way they will have self-respect and better involvement in the work going on.”
A short stark silence followed.
Mamaji whispered, “Then it will have to wait after ‘everything’ is over.”
Abba understood immediately, “Planned for today, right?”
“Yes.”
“Anything for us to do?”
“No. Not at all. We are out.”
Miku had specifically advised both to stay in the background since their involvement would directly link to Raizada family. Everything would be remotely handled.
Shikha was bursting with enthusiasm being very happy with her lavish purchases when Darsh came down ready to go out for a meeting. He walked up to the dining table and picked two bananas. As he was eating those, he joined the family checking out Shikha’s new dresses.
“Adi, have your lunch here.” Pooja picked Adi up to make him sit at the dining table but he struggled and escaped.
“I want to have my ice-cream,” Adi whined.
“Didn’t you give him already?” Chandni enquired to Miku while putting away the groceries.
Miku grinned, “Yes! He had one. He wanted more. I thought the whole family could have. So, I got a family pack.”
“You can have a slice later. Lunch first.” Pooja spoke firmly crossing her arms on her chest.
“No. Ice cream first. I’ll eat later.” Aadi was obstinate.
“No, Aadi! Lunch first!” Pooja's voice rose.
“Sweet CM, tell Mumma na….” Aadi made a plea to Chandni.
“Aadi, your mumma is right. Eat a little and then you can have ice cream.” Chandni tried to reason.
“Nooooooo……….” Crying he walked away.
Darsh walked to him and wiped his tears.
“Mumma is bad. Sweet CM also bad…… all girls are bad.” Aadi’s angry tears continued.
“Buddy, girls are not bad; they are just different.” He made a mad gesture revolving his finger above his ear. He put music on and started singing making a smile gesture.
“Ladki kyun, na janne kyun..”
Aadi smiled immediately in response.
“ Ladakon si nahi hoti” Darsh held Aadi from back by his shoulders and walked up to Miku. Miku put his hands on Darsh’s shoulder. Adi’s mood improved immediately in this train like walking together.
“Sochati Hai Zyada, Kum voh samjhati hai ” Darsh made a mocking face matching the line and put a spoonful of pulav directly from the serving bowl to Aadi’s mouth. Aadi ate the morsel with the music and dancing going on.
“Dil Kuchh kehata hai” Darsh walked to the dining table where Pooja stood staring directly into her eyes and served a plate. Pooja knew the song was meant for her though it was being sung for Aadi.
“Kuch Aur Hi Karti Hai” Darsh made the same mad gesture again and put another spoonful in Aadi’s mouth.
“Ladki Kyon Na Jaane Kyon Ladko Si Nahin Hoti” Another morsel went in Aadi’s mouth. As the song continued, Darsh kept feeding Aadi in a singing-dancing mode.
Miku joined in for the prose part, continuing the feed from his hand
I Mean You're All The Same Yaar
Hum Achche Dost Hai Par Uss Nazar Se Tumko Dekha Nahin
Woh Sab To Theek Hai Par Uss Barein Mein Maine Socha Nahin
Miku looked at Shikha signaling that the lines were meant for her. Shikha made her boxing gesture.
Chandni joined in with a smile and ruffled Aadi’s hair taking the plate from Miku.
“Jeena Ka Tumko Dang Sikhlati Hai
Tumhe Jaanwar Se Insaan Banaati Hai”
Aadi smiled at Chandni and ate the food she put in his mouth. The song and Aadi’s plate both were almost over.
Pooja smilingly took the plate from Chandni’s hands and pulled Adi’s ear lightly singing
Iss Liye Ladkiya Ladko Si Nahin Hoti!
Iss Liye Ladkiya Ladko Si Nahin Hoti!
The last few morsels went in Aadi’s mouth. The gay mood lingered in the family. Darsh looked at Pooja before stepping out. She was feeding Adi some more food. There was a happy smile on her face. Darsh smiled to himself once again knowing he had achieved what he had set out to do.
It was evening as Foolan, the famous concubine of the village, climbed Kaaliya’s house steps.
“Ghar mein hain kya jee?” She called out.
“Bilkul hain…….” Kaaliya’s golden tooth shone as he came out smiling. There was an immediate frown on seeing the dressed-up woman. “Tum aaj idhar kaise?” She was too expensive a woman. He managed to attend her dance once or twice but had never ever met her alone.
“Humesha aap aate ho. Aaj hum khaali the. Aur ek vilayati bhi thee. Kal ek maaldaar deke gaya tha.” She showed the whisky bottle hidden under her pallu.
Seeing the bottle, Kaaliya was immediately tempted. “Idhar nahi, Phoolan. Humaari jagah mein. Main baaki do ko lekar aata hoon.”
The regular place was the nearby jungle where every week the three friends enjoyed together.
“Main toh akeli aayee thee, kuchh alag sochake.” Phoolan bit her lower lip sensually.
Kaaliya was all the more tempted. Today seemed to be a lucky day!
Phoolan was waiting at the jungle mud road when Kaaliya stealthily joined in saving himself from villager's eyes. Both walked ahead together chatting sultrily lost in themselves. When they reached near their regular spot, Phoolan laughed at something and ran a little far. Kaaliya ran after her when suddenly his foot fell in a booby trap and within a moment, he was hanging upside down on a tree.
“Phoolan……Phoolan” Kaaliya screeched in panic but Phoolan had already run away taking her clue.
“Arre koi hai?........Koi bachao!” Kaaliya called out again and again getting more and more scared as the evening grew darker.
“Haan…… Hum hain. Purane Mahantji.” A deep voice echoed as surround sound in the jungle.
“Kaun….. Purane Mahantji?” Kaaliya was miffed even in his petrified state.
“Jinhe apni Patni ke saath tumne satara saal pehale jalaaya tha.”
“Voh toh kitni puraani baat ho gayee…… aur voh sab toh Ranjit ne humein paise diye iss liye kiya tha……. Dekhiye mera aapse koi bair nahi tha….. Mujhe jhod dijiye.”
“Humne tumhara kuchh nahi bigada tha; phir bhi paison keliye tumne humein maar daala……. Ab vahi aag tumhe jalaayegi.”
From somewhere a burning wooden branch came and fell on the dry leaves collected under the tree. The flames grew high surrounding Kaaliya as he screamed in pain. Soon the dry tree branches around also caught fire. His own life’s sins flashed before Kaaliya’s eyes seeing the fire around him. He remembered how Ranjit had bribed him with money. How they all had gathered against Mahant and Mahantani. How he had put fire on Mahantani and laughed as she caught up in flames. He knew his own sins to date were hitting him back. He kept screaming asking to be forgiven but all around him, there was only fire……… like the fire emanating from the third eye of angry Shiva.
Phoolan was already on her way to Mumbai in a car kept waiting for her outside the jungle. The driver passed her new ID card and appointment letter to a reputed Mumbai hotel. The driver then made an international call.
Miku stood in his room, his eyes shimmering with tears.“Maaaa….” His choked voice barely uttered the word almost the first time after so many years as memories came flashing back of the most dreadful day in his life.
The next morning, Kaaliya’s wife reported her husband missing from last evening. He had always been a menace in her life with his drinking and womanising habits. The police enquired and some youths of the village said that there had been a small forest fire last night. On further enquiry, it was further deducted that Kaaliya was a drunkard who always went to the forest with women. Some accident must have happened and he must have been burnt in the forest fire.
When Miku didn’t come out for long, Chandani went to his room to check. She rushed to hug Miku when she saw his face all crumbled up with tears.
“MiiiKu! ……What happened, Miku?” She enquired in panic as both sat down on the bed. She kept patting Miku’s back lovingly till his sobs subsided.
“Meri maa ko jalaaya tha, aaj maine usse jala daala.” There was the odd satisfaction of revenge in Miku’s voice as he narrated his entire plan to kill Golden Tooth person.
Chandni remembered her childhood day. She remembered that golden tooth man. Today, justice was done. Both Devar-Bhabhi cried for a long in memory of Maa-Baba.
After a long time, Chandni wiped both their tears, "I am very proud of you, mere bhai!" Miku remembered his Bhai had once called him Chip of the old block. Today, he had proved it!
Early the next morning, Pooja’s cell rang. Seeing Bhaiyya’s number a smile lit up on her face. “Bolo Bhaiyya……How are you?....... Planning to settle in Spain or what?” She laughed at her own joke.
Advay was happy to hear her laugh as he relaxed in his hotel lounge. “How are you, Pooja?”
“Perfect!”
“How is Chandni?”
“Oh Bhaiyya, she is fine but she misses you a lot. All of us miss you, Bhaiyya.”
“How is Aadi?” Anxious emotion immediately crept into Advay’svoice.
Pooja knew her brother and her son were both equally missing each other. “He misses you most. He’s been cranky the whole time. But one way or the other, we are trying to keep him engaged.” She went on to narrate how he had acted cranky and how all had sung and danced last afternoon to feed him his lunch.
Advay laughed. “DD is one hell of a gem!”
Pooja changed the topic as his name came up, “You tell me, why call so early in the morning.”
“I need a favour, Pooja if you can manage it.” Advay was tentative.
“And what’s that?” Pooja smiled thinking perhaps a message for Chandni.
“Could you possibly take everybody out for a night-over? I’m flying back today evening and I want Chandni alone.”
“Oh-Oh! Do I tell her that you’re coming?”
“Not at all. I want to surprise her. Is it possible for you to manage?”
“Aye Aye Captain! Anything for you, Bhaiyya. I’ll text you once the rest of us are out.”
When everybody gathered for breakfast, Pooja announced that they were all going out. Everybody screamed in excitement.
“Where shall we go?” Miku asked in zeal.
“Nice, south of France…… There’s going to be a fireworks festival there tonight. We are going to enjoy that.”
“That’s pretty far!......almost a thousand kilometers! …..What came to your mind suddenly?” Darsh frowned.
“I think it’s the best way to see Europe…. By road! What say, folks?”
Darsh found it too impulsive a decision. “Pooja, don’t be silly. Adi will be tired. Rather, everybody will be tired. We can go tomorrow by flight.”
“We are not in Europe to hop into flights every time …..That way you don’t get to see the real Europe……. And we can take ample stopovers …..All of us can enjoy a road trip!”
Pooja’s fervor looked surprising to Darsh; but he didn’t want to be the one to dampen her mood. “I’ll make few calls…. Rest of you, pack your bags fast.”
As Chandni was hurrying to tidy up the kitchen before getting ready, Pooja came in. “Bhabhi, slow down…... sit here.”
She made Chandni sit on the kitchen stool. “Listen! Don’t get me wrong. But Bhaiyya mentioned he is going to make a call……Perhaps to you alone….. I think he might want to mend up. Perhaps you should stay back.”
Pooja looked tentatively at Chandni wondering whether this would anger her but Chandni’s eyes twinkled at the mention of Dev. “Did he tell you that? When is he coming?”
“No idea.” Pooja shrugged, “But isn’t it more important even if it’s just a call ….. I mean more important than the trip ..... And then again, Naani and Maa group will arrive anytime today or tomorrow…… So, someone should stay at home to receive them, right?” She urged.
“Yes, of course. I’ll stay back. I won’t mind.”
When everybody was ready with their bags, Miku looked at his Bhabhi, “Why aren’t you dressed?”
“Chandni will stay back……. She’s feeling unwell.”
“Oh! Then, I’ll stay with her.” Miku was concerned. He only stared at his Bhabhi wondering if she looked sick and totally missed Shikha’s eyes flashing in anger.
“Oh! Laxman ke avatar!” Pooja mocked, “No need. She’s not all that sick. She can manage alone. You’ll come with us and take care of Shikha….. and help me with Adi.”
“But then security has to be re-arranged.” Darsh intervened.
“Oh, my God! You and Bahiyya both! ...” Pooja gave an exasperated look as she stepped out. In her final bye, she winked happily at Chandni.
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There's no right or wrong way to profess love, is there? Baba disapproves Darsh's way of a public confession. What are your thoughts reading the chapter of confession? Do share in comments.
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