“Mera Miyaan Kaha hain?”Chandni immediately noticed Danish being alone.
“Mannat ka dhaga bandhane gaya hai.” Danish informed jovially.
Both Pooja and Chandni smiled in surprise. Pooja got up immediately, “Chalo, main bhi vahaa jaakar baandhati hoon Haider ke liye.”
Danish held her back clasping her arm, “Bandhenge, par doosari jagaha…..AD gaya hai voh Bachcho ke liye mannat vaali jagaha hai.”
“Kya?” Both Chandni and Pooja spoke in unison completely surprised.
Pooja was surprised Bhaiyya was not the type to believe in mannat and all.
Chandni was astonished because her Dev had insisted on believing that their love itself was enough. She remembered his words while watching the setting sun on their return from Allahabad. She knew he claimed Adi to be his son on Diwali day and had also proved it by giving him his kidney. Time and again, he had implored her to believe in just him being enough like the time when her first snowfall evening was here in Paris.
Danish could see her brow crowding with too many thoughts all bombarding together. He put a comforting hand on her shoulder, “CD, tere miyaan ko samjhana asaan nahi…… voh apne liye nahi, tumhare liye dhaga baandhane gaya hai.”
Chandni stared open-mouthed. Danish’s information about child mannat had caused a lump in her throat. His words further spiked the dormant lump to swell, and before she could even think about controlling them, tears started streaming down her cheeks. Feeling utterly helpless, she covered her face with her palms…and she sobbed.
She had known her husband was like the Himalayas, the summit could never be seen, and she would just stand in his shadow, secure and comforted all her life.
Pooja hugged her immediately patting her back to comfort her, “Chandni, it’s OK. Shaant ho jaao.” She looked at Danish, "Can you not help these two? Something from your treatment?"
Danish's brows knitted together in a question, "What my genetic treatment has to do with conceiving?..... and come on, why are we even speaking about treatment? What's the hurry? After all, these two have been together just recently, right?..... Isn't this trip supposed to be a honeymoon trip?..... so just relax and enjoy yourself...... jab Allah ki marji hogi tab sab apne aap ho jaayega."
"He is right, Chandni. You must just learn to relax and enjoy. Things are going to be OK." Pooja tried comforting Chandni who continued to sob, thinking that even Naani had told her the same.
Pooja signalled to Danish that she would take Chandni to the hotel first. Danish agreed and advised her to eat as well before returning.
“What about you?” Pooja queried immediately still hugging Chandni.
“I’ll manage outside somewhere.”
Advay was tying the thread religiously, reflecting bleakly on life. All that he and Chandni had suffered individually and thereafter all anger that he had inflicted on her. He’d been so naïve and green, full of raw fury and revenge. He’d barely been able to restrain himself. For the first time in his life, he was aware of a sickening pang that he could only identify as regret.
All the torments that he had inflicted upon Chandni….. defaming her as an unwedded mother….. whereas now after their marriage, she longed for a child, but he had been unable to give her one. He had known from pooja the reason for Chandni to not accompany him to Spain. All his hurt anger had evaporated immediately and his heart just soaked Chandni’s agony.
So pure a soul, but not being blessed with a child....... Thinking of herself as a childless woman every time her nature's cycle betrayed them...... Only God from heaven could help them now. He knew he would be happy with a child, too……. but this time he was solely praying for his wife’s pain.
Danish managing outside somewhere was a poor roadside Thela-joint where he was having double roti with veggie.
Such a simple meal but Danish ate voraciously having not eaten anything since yesterday. He thought of it as Allah’s blessing….. for any person rich or poor, hunger was the same ….. If one lost his hunger, even having a sumptuous meal in front would give no pleasure……whereas even a poor man having worked hard for the day enjoyed his simple meal with equal happiness as anybody eating in a five-star restaurant.
Having finished his meal, he then proceeded to the place where the poor were being fed. Going to the office, he made a donation of a million thanking Allah for choosing him to have the ability to donate. He prayed for every living being to get enough food through Mother Earth and thanked her as well for being so kind as to not take anything in return while giving so much to all her children.
Having tied the thread, Advay turned in a hurry as he had to race against time back to Paris. The prayer for Haider was done and for Advay work was worship so there wasn’t any reason for delaying his return.
The meeting with a few key men introduced by Danish’s Baba while he was in Spain was fixed for tonight. While DD had proceeded to the Hospital, Advay had contacted the men and convinced them for the meeting. He couldn’t himself be absent now; after all the smart cajoling he had used to make all these important men take time out from their busy schedules. He had the time ahead advantage and he was going to use that.
After the cold in Paris, Advay was pretty hot and sweaty in Madinah and would love to change his suit to something comfy, but he couldn’t risk visiting the hotel. Chandni and Pooja would create a ruckus about his sudden departure. He would rather buy some clothes at the airport duty-free shops and change there itself. Instead of contacting Chandni or Pooja, he chose to text DD to inform him about the meeting and requested him to take care of the ladies as he was going to return immediately without seeing them. In a moment, Danish called him and both spoke in detail about their further strategy. Advay informed him that three of them could return back in the charter the next day or as they deemed fit. He was himself taking a normal ticket so as to move incognito as much as possible.
Danish met up with the ladies at the hotel lobby a while later.
“Bhaiyya kahaan hai?” Pooja queried.
“He had some meetings already scheduled so he had to return back. But don’t have to worry. I am there to safeguard both of you. Let me take you both around and visit important places.” Danish tried diverting the topic.
“What meetings?” Chandni was suspicious. Why had Dev chosen to leave without meeting up with them?
“Regarding work, naturally. Tera Miya kaam bhi bahot karata hai, CD.” Danish was again trying evasion.
“What work?” Chandni wouldn’t leave the topic.
“Regular……Whatever he is doing currently, same one.”
“He informed us that he was doing some Spain work.” Chandni’s eyes buried to the ground lost in thought what exactly had Dev mentioned then and whether he had mentioned any meeting?
“Yes, that itself. Correct guess!” Danish averted his eyes as he knew he was lying by omission in a sacred place.
Chandni’s gaze lifted and pinned him. She looked deep, saw the lie...... accepted it anyway and nodded.
“You two always do this. Tum dono ke beech kuchh na kuchh khichadi pakaate ho and then you don’t let anybody know what’s going on. Humne bas wait karana hota hai. Boom! kab dhamaka hoga? Where exactly has Bhaiyya gone and for what kind of meeting?” Pooja’s voice had risen in long time accrued frustration and anger.
Danish scratched in the back of his head smiling sheepishly, his eyes twinkling with mischief as he chose to avoid the answer, “Paidal chale, Sehat ke liye achcha hai. Otherwise, in cities, we walk from only home to car park, that’s all!”
Pooja threw her hands up in the air in utter frustration, “Chalo.”
Danish chose to walk ahead to avoid further bombarding from both women who were still talking about the same topic.
“You know Chandni, throughout our lives, these two have never ever let me in with any of their secrets. Always…. Always!” Pooja was still angry having been made to feel alienated.
Chandni smiled trying to appease her, “But Di, you are integral part of both their lives. Aur vaise bhi, Dev kahaa mujhe saare uske secrets batata hai?” Chandni shook her head in angry frustration.
Both ladies spoke in unison, “Men! Uff, yeh ladke!”
A fakir baba approached the group as they were walking asking for alms.
Danish put his hand in his pockets but he had no cash. Pooja stepped forward immediately and gave him money, “Baba, hum Hindoo hai, par Allah ke darbaar mein khade hain. Aapko humara diya chalega na?”
Danish added, “Haan baba, main bhi mushrik hoon. Mere Baba Hindu hai, aap ke liye kaafir to nahi?”
“Allah toh sabka hai, bachcho. Jo Man ka sachha, vahi Allah ka nek banda….Khuda jodi banaaye rakkhe” The Fakir blessed both touching their heads with his Morpankh.
“Baba, humari jodi nahi hai.” Pooja clarified hastily.
“Kaun Kehata hai? Fakir ki aakhon ko sab dikhata hai.” The fakir smiled mischievously and turned to Danish, “Kyun bachche, kya tera ishque paak nahi? Bata de!”
Danish started turning around himself raising his hand with palm upwards in reverence. The fakir did the same joining him.
Rab Ki Qawali Hai Ishq Koi
Dil Ki Diwali Hai Ishq Koi
Mehki Si Pyali Hai Ishq Koi
Subah Ki Laali Hai Ishq Koi
Girta Sa Jharna Hai Ishq Koi
Uthta Sa Kalma Hai Ishq Koi
Saanson Mein Lipta Hai Ishq Koi
Aankhon Mein Dikhta Hai Ishq
Danish looked straight into the eyes of Pooja standing transfixed watching the two.
Tere Waaste Mera Ishque Sufiyana
Mera Ishque Sufiyana
He smiled as he sang softly opening out his heart for her ears only.
The world around disappeared and just two souls remained…. Lips were silent but eyes spoke.
“Paak dil ki muhobbat hai, kissi Ibaadat se kam nahi…..dekho, kaisi ajeeb Riwayat nibha rahe hain…… paaya bhi nahi, par khona bhi nahi chaahate.”
There was a naked vulnerability on his face……the kind that comes with true unconditional love…. His voice tore at her heart and she bit the inside of her cheek to prevent herself from blurting out something stupid. Something like she loved him.
Leaving the two loving souls in their own realm, the Sufi fakir had moved ahead when Chandni stepped forward and gave him money. She was surprised when he looked at her skeptically and spoke like a warning rather than blessing. “Jo maanga hai tune Rab se, vah toh rab jaroor dega.”
“Kya Baba, kya dega Rab?” Chandni was perplexed at his warning tone and couldn’t fathom whether there had been some mistake in her prayers.
“Tu hi Soch, tune kya maanga hai? …. Fakir ki baat hai, kabhi jhoothi nahi hogi.”
Chandni got really worried but could not decide what he actually meant. She had always asked for a baby. Her Dev’s child who would bring him peace. Here in Madinah, she had prayed for Haider’s health. What was it that Fakir pointed out?
Chandni couldn’t remember, but the Universe knew and the Fakir, too, with his godly powers. Without her realising, she had asked for Gouri like penance to get a baby.
After reaching the airport, Advay bought a comfortable T-shirt and changed. While he waited for the boarding, he got busy calling up the meeting members to confirm their attendance.
He also called up Naani, but ended up chatting with Maasi as Naani was still doing the Jaap. Aadi took the phone from his Naani and took his CM to task.
“CM, what’s going on? You N sweet CM gone with Mummy. My playing buddy Miku Mama and Shikha Didi went out. My buddy DD is also with you. SuperNaani full time in Pooja ghar. WHAT SHALL I DO?” He raised his voice on the last sentence.
Advay threw his head back and laughed. Aadi was so very innocent. “When we return back, we will all make it up to you, I promise, bas ek din aur…Maaf kar de.”
“Dekho CM, you have promised, so tomorrow you should be here with me.” Aadi warned.
“Yes, mere Super Aadi. OK tell me, tu mujhe mama kehta hai, Miku ko Mama kehata hai , phir DD ko kyun nahi?”
“Voh thodi Mama hai, voh toh mera buddy hai.”
“Arre, Mama nahi toh Chacha keh le, he is older to you.”
“Koi Chacha Mama nahi chahiye. Voh sab hukum chalate hain, yekaro, voh karo. Buddy is the best. He’s my friend.” Aadi stood his ground.
When the call ended, Advay had a cheerful smile on his face with innocent talk of Aadi.
In the same mood, he took a sip of water from his bottle and called up DD, “Hi! Tu akela hai na?”
DD laughed on the other side, “Yeh statement tera salaam greeting vala ho gaya hai…… Haan akela hoon. Just abhi Pooja and CD ko hotel pe chhoda. Dono paidal chalkar thak gaye the. Main ab vaapas Masjid ja raha hoon.”
“Mere baare mein dono pooch rahe the kya?”
“Poochh rahe the?? Interrogation chal raha tha mera poora! Bas pant gili honi baaki thee.” DD spoke dramatically.
Advay roared in laughter, “Chandni ne hairaan kiya honga.”
“Pooja kuchh kam nahi! Uss ka bas chalata toh kachcha chaba jaati mujhe…… Tera boarding kab hai? Time se pahuch jaayega na?”
“Bas ab board karunga. Pahochanewala just hand to mouth hoon.”
“OK, Have a safe flight. Take Care.”
Miku felt tired standing on his feet as he waited for Shikha to complete her dress trial one after the other. Losing his sleep last night had taken a toll on his stamina today and then it hadn’t been easy getting an Indian traditional dress shop in Paris. After a long search, finally now, they had reached a clothes shop owned by a Muslim who was selling salwar kurtas. Miku tried convincing Shikha for every dress she wore but she refused. After spending an hour on trials, she finally chose to walk out of the shop disregarding the shopkeeper’s appeal to buy something.
“Kya Mohatarama hain? Aap kaise jhel lete ho inke mijaaj ko?” The shopkeeper complained in frustration.
Miku put his hand around the shopkeeper’s shoulders appeasing him with a smile and pushed some cash in his hand. “Filhaal mujhse khafa hai; iss liye mujhe sataane ke liye aisa kar rahi hai. Nahi toh bade sachche dil wali ladki hai. Aap yeh paise rakh lo. Bachcho ko mithai khila dena.”
The man smiled in agreement, “Meri begam bhi bilkul aisi hi hai. Khafa ho gayee toh manana bahot mushkil ho jaata hai…… Par Saab, aap kuchh to le lijiye.”
“Theek hai, yeh pack kar dijiye” Miku chose the one he had liked the most. “Iss ka payment main card se karoonga.”
When he came out, he smiled at Shikha but she turned her face and walked ahead. Miku now knew this was her way of showing anger, but he still loved her because she wasn't inside different and outside different. If she was angry, she would show it, but when loving, her heart would be true. Of course, he would rather enjoy their time since they had come out now. He felt happy at heart in his love, nothing mattered as long as she was around. He remembered a song he had heard earlier in Allahabad.
Aye Rangrez Mere, Aye Rangrez Mere
Yeh Baat Bata Rangrez Mere
Yeh Kaun Se Paani Mein Tune Kaun Sa Rang Ghola Hai
Yeh Kaun Se Paani Mein Tune Kaun Sa Rang Ghola Hai
Ke Dil Ban Gaya Saudaai..
Mera Basanti Cho..la Hai, Mera Basanti.. Chola Hai
Ab Tum Se Kya Main Shikwa Karun
Maine Hi Kaha Tha Zid Kar Ke
Rang Dekh Meri Hi Tarang Mein
Rang Rang De Rang De Chunari Pe Rang
Kar Muhe Kapaas Pe Rang Naa Rukey
Rang Itna Gehra Tera Ki Jaan-o-jagar Tak Ko Bhi Rang De
Jigar Rang De..
Danish had his dinner early and returned to Masjid to do his prayers. The prayer group invited him again and he joined in singing. His faith was so strong, that he was not leaving any option for Allah than saving Haider. Once Haider was OK, he made a promise to return with Haider.
Kismat mein meri chain se jeena likh de
Doobe na kabhi mera safeena likh de
Jannat bhi ganwara hai, magar mere liye
Aye kaatib-e-taqdeer, madina likhde
Tajdar-e-haram
Tajdar-e-haram, ho nigaah-e-karam
Hum ghareebon ke din bhi sanwar jayenge
Haami-e-bekasaan, kya kahega jahan
Aapke darr se khaali agar jayenge
Pooja chatted with Aadi enquiring about his meals and instructing him not to trouble Naani and Super Naani and to be a good boy. When she finished with the call, there was a smile on her face. Aadi had enquired about DD and somehow that made her feel nice.
Seeing her smiling, Chandni teased, “Di aapko voh gana pata hai?” She then started singing, “Yeh bahaar , yeh samaa, keh raha hai pyaar kar, kissi ki aarjoo mein apne dil ko bekaraar kar.”
Pooja blushed knowing that Chandni had used her own trick back on her. “Chup kar. Dinner kab karna hai aur kahaan?”
She diverted the topic though she felt happy about DD’s expression of love today. Somehow, the Fakir Baba’s words had also encouraged her heart.
“Ek ghante mein karate hain, yahi manga lenge… Aap yeh bataaiye, Aadi ne kya kaha?”
Both women got busy chatting and gossiping.
Advay reached Paris and changed back into a formal suit at the airport itself. Without going home, he proceeded to the hotel where the meeting was fixed. Luckily, he reached just before they all arrived. During the dinner, Advay explained to them that it was for their own benefit to divert all their supplies to another government order which he had ready in hand. He convinced them to ensure that their sub-contracting suppliers whom he had earlier met up with also reserved all their supplies for the government order. He promised that the margin would be higher than what they usually got from Jimmy Papad King.
Just then there was a call from Mamaji but Advay’s phone was on silent. He ignored it as the meeting was at a high point of discussion. Different arguments came up but Advay countered them with professional smartness. Having finished his discussions successfully and knowing that it was getting quite late, Advay took permission to leave. The men asked him to wait for drinks, but he politely refused and got up. The most important man of the lot also got up in return.
“Thoda relaxing kar lete humaare saath. Drinks lete, kuchh gapshap hoti.Aap toh humaare saath jyada der baithe hi nahi.” He said smiling putting his hands out.
“I know and I am sorry, but ghar pe mera beta wait kar raha hain; iss liye phir kabhi jaroor.” Advay’s tone was politely enthusiastic.
“Fir agale baar family ke saath milenge.”
“Oh yes! Family aur order dono leke aaunga.” Advay smiled and took leave.
For a minute, he wondered why Mamaji was calling but it was very late at night in India now, so he chose to not return the call. He imagined the call must be something about PP. That topic could be discussed in the daytime. He didn't go home but chose to check into the same hotel, as he didn't want to disturb the household at this hour. Naani and everybody else had missed out on their sleep.
It was Azan call which made Pooja stir in her half-sleep early in the morning. Chandni twisted and turned in her sleep with a nightmare. As it proceeded, she screamed, “Dev Aadi ko bacha lo, Dev Aadi ko bacha lo…. Dev, Dev” She sobbed in the nightmare.
“Chandni..... Chandni….. Kya hua? Aadi ko kya?” Pooja shook her hard.
Chandni woke up and realised it had only been a nightmare. But an almost killing nightmare with the magical power it held. Though it was only a dream, it had been very vivid and Chandni felt the aftermath of the distress." Di, Aadi kahan hai? Aadi theek hai na?"
“Theek hi hoga, Chandni. Kal raat hi to huss se baat ki thee.” Pooja tried appeasing Chandni.
“Nahi Dee, fir se call karate hain…. Rather hum nikalate hain……Mera dil bahot ghabara raha hai.”
“Chadni Vaha raat hai abhi….. kaise call kar sakate hain? Subaha hone do , phir karenge.”
Chandni was not relenting and then Pooja also got scared in her heart about Aadi. She texted DD, “Are you awake by any chance? Can you come over?”
In a minute, there was a return call from DD, “Kya hua Pooja? What’s the matter?”
“Were you awake or did my text disturb you?” Pooja felt apologetic.
“Don’t worry, I was awake already. Fajr ki namaaz ho gayee. Tell me, is something the matter?”
“Chandni had a nightmare and she is feeling very restless. Could you please come over?”
“Yes!”
Within just ten minutes, Danish was with the two women, “CD, it was just a dream…. Your mind is all playing up on you….. Haider beemar hai, Tum Haider ki jagaah Aadi ko dekh rahi ho aur meri jagaha Dev ko….. Aur kuchh nahi….. Kal voh fakir baba ki baat se tum disturb ho gayee thee…. That’s why you got a dream.”
“Nahi…. Subaha ke sapne sach hote hain. I am worried for both Aadi and Dev….. Please hum log nikale?”
“Subaha hone do Chandni, Fir Ghar pe call bhi karenge aur chalenge bhi, trust me!”
He left the women and was just coming out from the hotel when his cell rang, it was AD. Danish was surprised as it was four o'clock very early in the morning in Paris. Worry crowded his mind too as he answered the call, “Haan bol!”
“Can you guys leave immediately?”
“What’s the matter?” Now Danish was really scared, something must have had happened to Aadi, he thought. Advay told him the reason, “Oh Shit! We’ll come immediately.”
“Un dono ko kuchh mat bata abhi. I want to be there with Chandni!” Advay warned. He had himself been surprised when Mamaji had called again very early in the morning. The news which he had related was shocking!
So Chandni’s dream had been a bad omen, after all, thought Danish. Getting a nightmare at such a holy place had to have some effect. He only felt relieved that it wasn’t Aadi. He returned to the women and told them to get ready without giving any reason, “We are leaving immediately. I’ll get the plane ready.”
Both women thought he was also worried for Aadi. Through the return flight, Pooja was exceptionally quiet. She prayed for Aadi to be alright and vowed that she would not let her heart think of any other happiness apart from Aadi.
As they landed, Advay was there to receive them. He came forward and hugged Chandni. Chandni was baffled by the concern on his face, “ Aadi theek hain na?”
“Haan theek hain, chalo.”
“You both go in your car, Myself and Pooja will follow in my car,” Darsh advised.
Pooja could not understand what was happening. Her tension was building every minute. “DD, will you please tell me what has happened?” her voice rose in anger.
Darsh’s tone was very quiet as he started the car, “Chandni’s father committed suicide!”
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Jyotiindia @Jyotiindia 4 months ago What just happened..