Chandni hadn’t realized but Advay was checking out all his algorithms done earlier for different government purposes to find what security methods were used. He had taken the time when she had left the bedroom but she returned and started coaxing him. He had tried to dissuade her but she had switched to singing. Advay knew that his brain needed to be quiet and then he could find the solution for every problem. Accordingly, he had chosen the bathroom route to get some peace.
Suddenly, there was a sharp cry of pain. Awwwww…….
Chandni!.... His mind took notice and he rushed out immediately. Chandni standing near the bed turned to him but her face was distorted in pain. For a moment, Advay wondered if this was another nautanki from the overworking khurapati brain of his wife. But then his eyes fell on her foot where her toe was bleeding profusely.
Not knowing how to appease her husband, Chandni had purposely gone and banged her foot against the bed. The pain had made her wince but at least it had brought her husband out from his seclusion. Despite the pain, her lips parted in a weak smile just seeing the concern on his face.
Advay rushed to pick her up and put her on the bed. He immediately got the first aid kit from the dressing drawer and started cleaning the wound. She made a sound and he looked up at her. Mutely, she gestured to blow on the wound.
He made a face and blew full on the wound to assuage the burning sensation. She smiled at his care, however angry he was, he would not hesitate to care for her. He dressed the wound and put the kit back. When he was going away, Chandni called out.
“Paani.”
Without a single word, he filled a glass and passed it to her. When done, he put the glass back and started moving away when the second demand came.
“Pillow”
He looked at her. She had a pillow behind her. To his questioning face, she gestured to put under her foot. He did that making her comfortable and moved away.
“Phone” The next demand was immediate.
Advay was getting irate at her nagging yet he abided, passing her the phone.
“Whatever I ask, you are giving. Then give me maafi also, please.”
Now he understood what his wife was up to. All her demands were just to attract his attention. He chose to remain silent and went to take his tablet again to start working. Hardly had he put it on when she whimpered in pain. He looked at her and with his eyes and gestures asked her silently what was the matter. Maybe she needed painkillers.
She gestured towards her foot so he went and checked it again. There was blood on the dressing and the wound hadn’t stopped bleeding. His panic made him break his silence.
“ Chalo, doctor ke paas chalate hain.”
Chandni made a victory dance in her mind. At last her husband had found his voice.
“ Koi jaroorat nahi. Kichen se haldi lao.”
“Whatttt?” he couldn’t believe she was resorting to home remedies.
“Haldi… Haldi… English mein turmeric…. Spanish mein samajhaaun?” Chandni jeered.
Chandni and her tactics! Things that would never change in his life. But there was no time to argue. Bleeding had to stop. He ran to the kitchen and started throwing all drawers open to look for turmeric.
Murali saw him running and followed him to kitchen, “Bhaiyya, kya kar rahe hain? Kya chahiye?”
“Haldi, jaldi Murali!”Advay was in a frenzied hurry.
“Haldi Jaldi??.....matlab kya, haldi abhi ki haldi jal gayee kahee, tanaatan?”
“Tanaatan ke bachche, haldi dhoondh.”
Hearing the commotion, Shilpa came to the kitchen.
“Matar ka dana ji, jara haldi dhoondh de dengi?”
In a minute, Shilpa produced the small jar in front of Advay and he ran back to his room. Both kept looking at each other’s faces.
“Ok!......Ok! Now don’t spoil your mood over that!....... Tum nahi maanati, toh main jor bilkul nahi daalonga……” Darsh spoke quietly to assuage an angry Pooja.
“ Haan! Yeh mat kaho ki tum bhi kuchch mat maano…… Kyonki mere liye yeh chaar kadam hi asal jindagi hai……. Paak muhobbat ne dil par tumhara naam likha hai....... koi bottle ka label nahi Ke ek nikaala, doosara laga diya” Darsh made a face, and then searched deep in Pooja’s eyes.
“…..Aur muh se tum kitna bhi kuchh keh lo, kabhi apne khamosh dil se poochna, voh kya keh raha hai.”.
Naani stood watching these two bantering in love, a mischievous happy smile playing at the corners of her mouth. Darsh looked at her and smiled back.
“Naani, ek sher sunaun?……Mera nahi hai, ghabaraiyega mat.”
“Irshaad!” Naani acknowledged.
“Tera Haath, Haath mein ho agar,
To Safar hi asal-e-hayaat hai.
Mere har kadam per hain manzilen,
Tera pyar agar mere saath hai.
Meri baat ka meri hamnafaz,
Tu jawab de na de mujhe.
Teri ek chup mein hai chhupi,
Woh Hazaar baaton ki baat hai.”
Darsh’s eyes didn’t leave Pooja’s face all through Saahir Ludhiyanavi shaayari.
“Wah!” Nani cheered.
“Meri zindagi ka har ekpal,
Tere nashe se hai juDa hua.
Tere honth thirke toh subah hai,
Teri zulf bikhare toh raat hai. ”
“For God’s sake, please don’t say such things.” Pooja pleaded stopping Darsh halfway through the poetry.
Pooja couldn’t fathom what was happening to her heart. After her separation, she had kept all her womanly emotions locked up in a dark corner of her heart……. Watching Bhaiyya and Chandni, sometimes she did feel sad that such beauty of love would never come her way….. but then she just converted her thoughts into feeling happy for them.
Darsh was saying the poetry in his husky honeyed drawl loaded with innuendo……. She felt like she stood in a hot spring ……..the stimulating pleasure…. raging through her entire being……For once in her life, she wanted to let go of all her control and just give in.
“Why not? Jo bol raha hoon Sach hai”
“Mujhe aisi baatein Sunana pasand nahi.”
“Toh tumhein Bhagwaan ka naam sunana bhi pasand nahi hoga, voh bhi sach hai.”
Naani laughed and Pooja rolled her eyes. His honeyed voice covered her skin with liquid heat. She gulped all her ready-to-burst womanly emotions, bottled the monster and slammed it back in her heart’s closet.
“Naani, aap has rahe ho? Are you actually encouraging this?” Pooja spoke in angry disbelief.
“Why are you getting so flustered? Voh toh dillagi kar raha hai…… aur yeh dil, dillagi na karein toh jindagi berang ho jaayegi.” Naani appeased Pooja but she rolled her eyes all the more.
With a broad happy smile, Darsh hugged Naani “Arre Vah! Naani, aap toh bade romantic ho!” He then wrapped his hand around her shoulder and looked at Pooja, “ Jara bataaye issko, mere dil ki yahaan aisi ki taisi ho rahee hain….. thoda toh reham karein.”
Naani patted his cheek, “Dil pe kissi ka jor nahi hota, tu sabra kar.”
Just then Murali and Shilpa barged in with concern written on their faces.
“Lo…. Yeh Tota-Maina bhi aa gaye….. Ab kya?..... Tumhein apni shaadi karaani hai?” Naani queried teasingly.
Murali blushed sheepishly. “Voh toh karnee hai par pehale matar ka dana ji se poochhana padega.”
Pooja burst out laughing, “Matar ka dana …..aur phir uss ke baad jee??”
“Voh apne Bhaiyya bhi toh Chandni Bhabhi ko alag alag naamo se pukaarate hain.” Murli justified in a whining tone.
“Haan didi, aur mujhe matar ka daana hi achcha lagata hai ab.” Shilpa supplied further.
“Par Naani abhi hum aapse alag baat karane aaye hain……. Voh bhaiyya aakar kitchen se haldi le gaye” Murali informed.
“Kyon?”
“Humein lagata hai, Chandni Bhabhi ko kuchh chot aayee hogi.” Murali completed the information.
Pooja got up immediately with genuine concern, “Kya hua Chandni ko? Main abhi jaati hoon.”
Darsh pulled her back by her hand, “Oh Madam ji, aap baitho. Haldi leke gaya hai AD…. It must be a small accident. AD will manage.”
Pooja removed her hand from his grip sitting back in her place though not completely convinced about his judgement.
“He is right, Pooja. Let the husband-wife sort out their matter.” Naani confirmed Darsh’s decision.
When everyone was invited for dinner, Advay joined the dining table first, his face dejected and his attire a sad-looking T in contrast to his regular confident stylish dressing.
Chandni came slowly trying to safeguard her swollen toe and her fallen spirit. As she struggled down the steps, Pooja rushed to assist her, both exchanging conspiratorial looks implying that things were still not all well with Advay.
Once back in her seat, Pooja offered tentatively, “Lao, Bhaiyya. Let me serve your plate for you.”
“No Thanks, Pooja.”Advay was curtly making it clear that Pooja’s usual loving techniques wouldn’t work with him today.
Pooja felt crestfallen. The day had started with happy fun but ended with a sad and aloof attitude of Bhaiyya in place of expected jovial Bhaiyya. Naani saw the interaction between brother-sister and intervened.
“Chiku beta, kaisa hai tu? Aaj milane nahi aaya.”
“Naani, main theek hoon. I am sorry, nahi aa paya. Kamare mein tha, kuchchh important kaam mein busy tha.” Advay apologised genuinely in a polite tone despite his angry mood.
When he spoke nicely to Naani, Pooja tried speaking to him again.
“Humara kya kasoor hai? Hum toh majaak kar rahe the.”
“Of course, kasoor hai! Chandni ne yeh bilkul theek nahi kiya.” Maasi erupted in justification of her favourite nephew.
She wasn’t vile towards Chandni anymore but the distinction between beti and bahu still remained.
“Ma! Chandni ne shaadi kee hai, koi gulaami nahi kee ke ek majaak bhi na kiya jaaye” Pooja scolded her mother and then turned to her Bhaiyya, “Bhaiyya, important update….. when Chandni was planning and doing this I supported her. Toh kasoor hai toh mera bhi hai…. Par hum Majaaaak kar rahe the!” She stressed the word majaak.
“Haan, toh main bhi majaak karoonga na…… tumhe kissi closed small space mein akele band kar doonga aur Chandni ko kahi unchaai per latka doonga!” Advay barked.
Chandni and Pooja again looked at each other and rolled their eyes. Naani tipped her head back and laughed.
“Chiku, beta Chandni ne jo kiya, galat kiya phir bhi uss se yeh ek baat achchi hui ki tu aaj vaapas bachcha ban gaya hai…… abhi tune jaise baat ki, voh tu bachpan mein karata tha.”
“Very right, Naani!”Darsh agreed, “Mujhe yaad hai, aise hi muh phulakar baith jaata tha…… and AD, by the way, tu CD ko faansi par mat Chadha…. Revenge ka idea maine iss ke dimaag meine dala tha….. Yeh revenge toh main kahunga achcha hi hai tere liye…..CD tere Alektorophobia ka treatment hi kar rahi hai….. Aise baar baar exposure se desensitize ho jaayega tu.”
“saale, tu baahar mil mujhko. Phir dikhata hoon tujhe….” Advay challenged, “Ek toh beech mein hi paani daalata hai…. Haddiya toot jaati toh?”
“Toh kya? Hisaab baraabar…. Tune kya meri kum tudavaayee hai ab tak?” Darsh returned the challenge, “Aur kya gire hain dono… Wow!” He gave a flying kiss in air, “AD ke upar CD…. Perfect kodak moment…khachak” He made a photograph action in air.
Almost everybody laughed, the dining table atmosphere becoming gay.
Miku tried appeasing his brother further, “Bhai, time got wasted today but from tomorrow, I shall make sure that Bhabhi and Di..”
“Miku, you’ll have some rice?” Chandni pushed the rice bowl right in front of Miku’s eyes not allowing him to complete his sentence.
It struck Advay immediately that all nautanki today was also to avoid business learning which he insisted but Chandni wasn’t interested. How dare she! His anger flared again.
“Miku, don’t bother. These people are not interested, why you want to invest your precious time! Let them be…. Vaise bhi apne man ki hi karate hain.”
Pooja and Chandni both made a bad face…… Advay was speaking the truth but he was guilt-tripping them…..Now they would have to necessarily learn from Miku.
Naani tried changing the subject, “Yeh Shilpa aur Murali ka taanka bhid gaya hai, tujhe pata hai kya?”
“Haan Naani. Mujhe bahot pehale se pata hai. I mentioned it before…..” Advay turned to Murali, “But Murali, sambhal jara…… Pehale peechche aayenge parva hai parva hai poochate aur baad mein jab parva karo toh rang dikhayenge apne.Voh kya bola tha ek baar? Naina thag lenge..... ” Advay threw his sarcastic words like a sharp arrow.
Chandni’s eyes pricked with tears as she knew the sarcasm was meant for her and the arrow had hit deep. She had once said 'Naina Thag Lenge' to him; now he was giving it back to her and it really hurt.
Really really hurt!......but at that moment, she wasn’t concerned about her own hurt but rather how much pain, hurt, anger had her husband carried in his heart till date….. Pain from the events that happened almost seventeen years ago, anger after their first meeting…… angry hurt after her realizing that he was her Dev… hurt at every fight they had had after their suhaagraat. Somehow, she would have to find ways to take off all the potatoes he carried on his mind.
Just then, Advay finished his meal and got up from his seat to walk towards the patio.. Chandni followed after him pleading with love........
Achcha ji main haari chalo maan jaao na!
Suddenly, a chair was pushed back and Darsh got up abruptly. It was his Ammi's favorite song used every time to appease Baba when he got angry and wouldn't relent. Somehow, the memory hit Darsh so hard that suddenly he was pushed into the past when she was actually singing this. He excused himself and walked away. Everybody watched silently.
Pooja excused herself, “Main abhi aayee.”
Naani spoke softly, “Ja beta, but focus on his need to be comforted……not on your anger that’s ready to erupt at every word of his.”
Pooja wondered what was this about Naani that she could gauge every thought as well. Pooja hadn’t mentioned Darsh at all, but Naani had known it.
When Chandni stepped on the patio behind Advay, he turned around and looked straight into her pleading eyes.
“Chandni, please leave me alone.” This time his forbiddance was so curt, it bordered on rudeness.
A sob rose in Chandni’s throat but she gulped it and went to her room. She gulped two painkillers andthen tried to cry herself away to sleep.
When Pooja checked in Darsh’s room, he wasn’t there. Pooja knew he would be up in the attic. He hadlearnt to find his solace in music but there wasn’t any music heard as shewalked up to the attic, rather a stark silence….. so stark that one couldn’t speak to himself even!
She walked towards him and placed her comforting hand on his shoulder. There were tears in his eyes.
"I miss her, Pooja." The words were spoken plain almost devoid of any emotion but years of companionship conveyed the pain that resided in Darsh's heart to Pooja.
"I know! We all do!"
Both stood close to each other in comfortable silence........ close to the boundaries of absolute trust...... doubts and anger melting away........... just a surreal feeling....... maybe love!
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Swag Chandu back with her Nautanki....... On One side she brings out the child in Advay ........on the other side, she brings back Darsh Pooja's original comfort.
Keep reading..... Hit your reaction button...... and comment to let me know your thoughts/views.
My sincere request to readers, please don't stay on mute...... express your views in comments.
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