The quiet complaint was too loud for Advay. He had only wanted to protect Miku but somehow Miku was on the other side of the coin refusing to see Advay’s point.
“Par tu mujhe bata deta na,….. bhai hoon tera!” Advay pleaded to reason out with him.
Miku refused to leave his stance. “Bata deta toh aap mujhe karne nahi dete….. aap khud hi kar dete.”
“Voh sach keh raha hai, Dev. Maa- Baba ka revenge mission tum akele control mat karo….Sab ko saath le lo.” Chandni tried pleading Miku’s case.
“Saath kab nahi liya maine, Chandni?..... Gangaram ke case mein Miku ko involve kiya tha na maine?”
“Par control poora tumhara tha, Dev!” Chandni stood her ground. “You are habituated to controlling everything…… actually what you fail to understand is that nothing is in our control…..That’s just an illusion!”
What was Chandni saying? Advay was suddenly reminded of Darsh’s advice. Advay’s fears always ruled his actions but there always was a creator above who controlled everything ….. Vahi Khuda hai!
Oblivious to Advay’s reverie, Chandni continued her point. “I strongly believe this mission is Mahadev’s will! ..... It will happen the way he controls it ….. If Kaaliya’s justice was to happen from Miku’s hands, it will!”
Her voice grew softer, almost pleading, “Don’t let worry crowd your thinking ….. Miku has his own destiny ….. But he will not fulfil his destiny till you give up your illusion of control…… You must just learn to believe…… I believe in Miku!”
Though it was soft and pleading, Chandni’s voice had steel in it. Advay heaved a sigh knowing deep in his heart that Chandni was speaking the truth though he would need time to digest it.
“Miku, listen to me, mere bhai!” He urged, “Let me send my men to identify who is the keychain guy.”
“No Bhai, please listen to me. Listen to what Bhabhi is saying. Let me handle this. This is at least one known enemy….. there were so many unknowns! You must focus after them.” Miku counterpleaded.
Advay was getting exasperated with this Devar-Bhabhi duo arguing against him.
“Miku, baat sunega meri?...... two have already been tackled. Let us not go for third immediately. Because then consecutive incidents may get CBI involved….. we need to earn the goodwill of people! Hadn’t you pointed that out earlier?” Having seen that Miku was nodding in agreement Advay continued his point, “That’s more important, Miku…… Currently, let us first finish the Development project, Take the villager’s blessings…. Later you can go after the guy.”
Seeing that both brothers were now on the same plateau and there wasn’t a risk of Advay’s wrath coming onto Miku, Chandni left the room to join Pooja in the kitchen.
At night, Pooja noticed Darsh’s absence from dinner. Just then Advay and Miku joined the dining table.
“Bhaiyya, DD went with you but didn’t return.” Pooja queried.
“Yes Pooja, he received a call from the hospital so he went directly there. He mentioned he’ll come whenever he gets free.”
“Hospital? Is Haider well?” Pooja was concerned.
“Don’t know actually. Praying for him” Advay touched his fingers to his chest in salutation to God.
Just then he noticed, listening to their conversation Chandni had overfilled his plate. Hastily, he held her hand to restrain her.
“Chandu….” He smiled to comfort her when she got hassled over her mistake. “It’s Ok. Iss mein se tum apna nikal lo.”
Chandni and Pooja exchanged pleasantly surprised looks. Pooja raised her eyebrows to query how come. Chandni shrugged her shoulders not knowing yet taking it as a blessing.
Naani had arrived till then and heard this comfort chat between the couple. She walked up to Advay and smiled at him.
“Toh phir maan lee tune meri baat?”
Advay wrapped his hand around her shoulders lovingly smiling back at her. “Not exactly”
“Then how come?”
“Just like that! I knew it was temporary and then Miku helped.” Advay’s smile broadened thinking of Chandu defending Miku.
Naani raised her brows not understanding the exact meaning but she sensed Advay’s happiness and her smile broadened too.
“When things are good between you both, my soul is at rest.”
“Naaaniiiiii………What about me? Meri fikar nahi aapko?” Miku came and wrapped his arm around Naani pulling her towards him.
Naani gave a flying thappad. “Haa naa, teri fikar jaise main kabhi karti hi nahi?”
Miku tipped his head back and laughed knowing Naani cared for him too.
“Vaise tu mera sayana bachcha hai… Apne pita jaisa…..” Naani patted his cheek.
“Aur main?”Advay whined.
“Tu Nana jaisa…… humesha mujhako saatayega.”
Everybody laughed and felt at peace now that Advay’s silent treatment and his angry mood were over.
The peace was short-lived for all. Darsh returned very late at night. Chandni and Pooja had kept each other company with girl chats on the patio while waiting.
Both came in as Darsh came and asked almost in unison, “How is Haider?”
“Not good.”
Pooja knew DD was never a person to give very curt answers. He was under huge stress though he made every effort to not let it show on his face.
“I’ll serve you some dinner.”
Darsh shook his head in denial. “Nah! ….. not in the mood.”
“Kuchh toh kha lo.” Pooja pleaded.
Darsh’s smile was weak, “Thanks, Pooja. Par aaj sach mein man nahi.”
Chandni’s heart melted at his distressed look, “Ek glass doodh laati hoon. Utna toh….”
Darsh didn’t have the mental strength to resist the women. He acquiesced.
“When I came to see Haider, I had thought he would improve. You were starting treatment the next day, right?”
“Yes. That treatment failed to bring results. We changed the treatment again. Somehow there are unforeseen side effects. We had to stop the treatment and start tackling the side effects.” Darsh stated quite a matter of fact.
“What will you do now?” Concern was clearly written all over Pooja’s face… For both, Haider and Darsh’s own sanity.
“Jahan Insaan ka bas nahi chalata; vahi allah ki marjee ki had shuru hoti hai. I am going to Madinah. Vaha jaakar koi mayoos nahi lautata. Al-Madinah al-Munawwarah ke dar se ek katara bhi mila toh mere saare kaam sanwar jaayenge.”
“I’ll come with you.” Pooja’s response was instantaneous.
Just then, Naani came out of her room hearing the voices. Almost everybody had not been able to sleep. As she was walking towards the stairs, Advay came out of his room and helped her come down the steps.
“How is Haider, Darsh beta?” Naani queried.
Darsh walked up to her and narrated everything again. His voice choked with emotion towards the end. “I am really scared, Naani!...... Haider chhota bachcha hai abhi…. Jindagi dekhani hai uss ne…Ussko kuchh ho gaya toh Ammi mujhe kabhi maaf nahi karegi.”
Naani pulled him down hugging him instantly patting and caressing his back. “Kuchh nahi hoga Haider ko, beta! Tumhari Ammi ke hi aasare mein hai voh aaj bhi; uska baal bhi banka nahi hoga.”
Naani’s embrace controlled Dev’s breaking emotions. His voice was fraught as he spoke still in her arms. “Naani, par mere treatments kaam nahi kar rahe. Tod najar nahi aa raha.”
Naani patted him a little more and then took him away to look into his eyes. “Aayenge, Beta. Mahabharat ka yudh kuchh ek din mein nahi jeeta tha; yeh toh tera yamraj ke saath yudh hai….Time toh lagega, par tu hi jeetega!”
Naani’s words brought a small relief in the tense situation.
“Naani, hum log Madinah ja rahe hain.” Pooja informed.
“Jaroor jaao.”
“Naani, main bhi jaaongi.” Chandni pleaded.
“I would have loved to come, too. But I shall stay here and appeal to Shivji with the Maha Mrityunjay Mantra.” Naani folded her hands and touched to her head in salutation.
Then she turned to Darsh, “How are you planning on going? Do you have your plane here?” Both families owned their own planes so, it was quite common and normal to travel in them.
“No, Baba has taken it. I can always get it flown down but I don’t want to tell Baba at this stage. It will stress him. Haider is very important to him…. Because of Ammi…… We shall have to take a regular flight.”
“That’s not an issue at all. We all will come.”
Chandni spoke enthusiastically, taking for granted that Advay would join….. Darsh was his best friend after all! She looked expectantly at Advay but he turned without a word and went back to his room. Chandni’s face fell completely. How could he not say anything in such a stressful situation? How could he stay aloof as if Haider was not of concern to him? She had not expected such indifference from Advay. She hung her face in mortification to hide her embarrassed tears pricking at the back of her eyes. Her discomfiture didn’t go unnoticed by Darsh. He patted her head.
“Worried about AD? Don’t be! You need time to understand your husband. He is a completely unique person.”
Somehow, Chandni could not decipher Darsh’s patronising words but Pooja did and smiled to herself.
“Can you take me now to meet Haider?” Naani asked Darsh again.
In all this commotion, Miku also came out of the room and joined the group.
“It’s late,Naani. It will be trouble for you. You must sleep a little.” Darsh tried to reason.
“Bairan raat hai, beta. Aaj neend nahi aayegi. Usse ek baar dekh loon main……”
Everybody left for the hospital to meet Haider. Darsh messaged AD to come directly to the hospital.
Haider was in a special ICU ward. Nobody was allowed to enter but Darsh being the treatment team allowed one person at a time inside.
Naani was the first to go. She was shaken to see all the tubes stuck inside and the ventilator in his mouth. She made the courage to go near and placed her hand on his head. Haider opened his eyes and recognised Naani. She immediately smiled at him encouragingly.
While still keeping her hand on his head, she closed her eyes and recited invoking Mahadev.
“Om TryamBakam Yajamahe, Sugandhim Pushti Vardhanam
Urvarukmiv Bandhanat, Mrutyo Mokshiyaha Mamamrutaat.”
She opened her eyes and spoke encouragingly, “Everything will be OK!”
His expression changed showing happy relief. Naani left and then Chandni went in.
Quietly she walked up to him. He was awake and she could gauge that he didn’t recognise her. She bent down and spoke softly in his ears.
“Main tumhare DD ke AD ki CD” There was a twinkle in her eyes and Haider reciprocated immediately watching Advay who at just arrived at the door. Chandni smiled knowing the relation made a nice sing-song tune, though she herself hated those short forms given by Darsh.
“Hum sab tumhare liye Allah Tala ke paas dua maangane ja rahe hai. Tumhe yeh ladai jeetani hai….. Hum sab ke liye misaal banana hai…… aur mujhe jab tumhari madat chahiye hogi, tab usse jaroor dena hai.” Chandni couldn't understand why those words had spontaneously come to her lips.
Advay stood there watching the duo his lips curved in pain for both, ….. Haider, young lad suffering so much pain and….. Chandni, because the mere thought of Chandni being in some trouble and needing help from Haider gave Advay his life scare.
One by one, everybody met Haider and then all returned home.
“We fly out in exactly one hour. Finish your packing fast.” Advay’s instructions to Chandni and Pooja were sharp.
Chandni stared at Advay. He had mentioned ‘we’. He was coming after all. She smiled with great relief as her heart couldn’t fathom her Dev being aloof or cruel.
“I will also like to come.” Miku requested.
“It’s better that you stay here. With AD and me both going, someone has to be here. And then….. Pooja is coming with us, so only you can be trusted to manage Aadi in her absence.” Darsh reasoned out.
“He is right, Miku. We will pray for Haider from here.” Naani agreed.
Chandni and Pooja packed at jet speed and all four were at the airport to climb in. Chandni was getting hugely surprised as the security process was different and then a car took them directly to the plane.
The moment Chandni entered, her eyes widened in awe, “Wow! This is so beautiful. Some special plane, is it?”
“This is Bhaiyya’s private jet, Chandni. For us, our family’s personal plane.” Pooja clarified joining Chandni from behind.
Chandni was more in awe. She had known he was wealthy right from the beginning when he had bought the haveli in Allahabad. She had seen his huge mansion in Mumbai. She had seen his office, too. But owning a plane was something beyond her imagination of richness.
“We didn’t use this last time?” She queried innocently.
“No, we didn’t. Because I hate flamboyance. I think Bhaiyya had this specially flown down for now, did you Bhaiyya?” Pooja turned to Advay joining the duo from behind.
Advay smiled, “It had come from India already but was in servicing. I just got it ready on an urgent basis.”
As they were settling Darsh wrapped his arm around Chandni, “Didn’t I tell you? Your husband is a unique person. A man of few words. He speaks more in action.”
Chandni smiled looking at her husband in pure veneration. She would need her entire life to understand this man.
“Jyada mat Chadha.”Advay stopped Darsh from telling her anything further. “Chandni, the one he owns is bigger and better than ours.”
“Ab tu maar khaayega mere se.” Darsh punched AD’s shoulder lightly, “Since when did material stuff competition start between us?” He turned to Chandni, “CD, don’t listen to him. That jet is bought by Baba. I just happen to use it when needed.”
Everybody settled and had refreshing tea. Once the flight was in the air and the seatbelt sign came off, Advay and Darsh both opened their laptops and started working.
Pooja and Chandni sitting across rolled their eyes at the men. Somehow, they would have to be distracted.
“What’s exactly Haider’s condition?” Pooja asked Darsh.
"He has developed delayed immunodeficiency disease. Such genetic disorders are seen from birth but somehow his has come late."
"Is it like AIDS?" Chandni queried.
"AIDS is an immunodeficiency disease and also does have a genetic background but Haider’s is a different type."
"How are you treating him?" Pooja queried.
"Through genetic engineering medication using a retrovirus as a vector to introduce autologous cell fractions.
"What all can be cured with such genetic engineering?"
"Many many diseases, cancers, sickle cell anemia, tissue rejections, many recessive disorders…countless actually."
“Oh God, may such a thing never happen in our family.” Chandni prayed.
“Ameen.” Darsh agreed, “God forbid, but even if something happens, we can still save the person. The medical field has made great progress with genomic medicine.”
The chat continued. What the group didn’t know was that Universe had kept such tragedy in store for the future. Darsh’s words were going to be put to test.
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Maha Mrityunjay Mantra- so powerful, it will make Haider OK. And the group is praying at holy Madinah for him.
What were Chandni's words? Will Haider be of help in future? Wait n watch, keep reading...
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Jyotiindia @Jyotiindia 8 months ago Hello, how are you?Saw your PM, I am not able to respond to you on it for some reason. Happy to read anything that you put across :)