It all happened in a blink of a moment!
Darsh looked back at Pooja and their gazes locked. His eyes were like molten dark orbs, baring his soul to her… beseeching her…..challenging her……….hoping for her.
Her woman’s instinct clicked in and she knew that the song was meant for her specially! He was reminding her of a saga that could have been but never happened; yet was destined in the stars, maybe!
Her heart took a leap and soared in the skies. Could she fly, too? No! The heart was too badly broken already. The denial crept in her eyes. Darsh felt incredibly bleak for a moment. To negate it and quiet the thoughts in his head, he looked away.
The family had been mesmerized by his heavenly voice. Their faces lit up in appreciation. There was a lot of commotion around as everybody exclaimed to everybody. But two hearts stayed away without a word……far away on opposite poles.
A small hand crept cupping Darsh’s cheek and he checked himself. He turned back with a smile to stare directly at an adorable Aadi. Aadi looked at him very intently as if searching for something and then a small hand slipped into his and Darsh knew his heart was taken. Already he could feel protective instincts snapping to life. Aadi’s eyes were Pooja’s, except without the dark pain or ever-present almost forced happiness.
They were so guileless, they directly hit the soul. It was beyond poignant to remember that Pooja had been this innocent once.
“Hi! I am Aadi!” He pointed out to Advay “He is my CM. Chiku Mama. And she is sweet CM. Chandni mami. What should I call you?”
“Hey Buddy! Just call me DD and you know what? Myself and AD need a buddy.”He pointed to the drums and smiled at Aadi. Then he pointed back to Advay, “As such I call him AD; so I’ll call you buddy, ok?”
“But, I have a buddy already, MM, Miku Mama!”
“So you already have enough Mamas; why more? And buddys are friends, right? So buddys can be more than one.”
“Ok DD! I’ll be your buddy but only if you teach me to play like you!” Aadi put his small arms around Darsh and hugged him lovingly. Aadi was so adorable Darsh would have to have been made of stone to resist his effervescent charm.
“Of course, I will!And even your CM will. He knows the drums. He played drums first during Ph.D. Then later he acquired guitar skills.”
“Is that true?” Chandni looked at Advay with puzzled eyes,“You never told me.”
Advay leaned close to her, “What’s the fun in me telling everything. Did you know in Allahabad that apart from Maths Professor, I was also SkyTel founder and owner.” He smiled, “Don’t worry! You have all our life to find out more secrets about me. I won’t let you get bored ever.”
Pooja smiled broad at Chandni, “Come, I’ll show you hispics from those days on my laptop.”
In Pooja’s room, Chandni excitedly looked through the huge folder of Pooja’s memories of her college days with Dev.
“Didi, he wore jacket suit to college, is it?” Chandni was taken aback.
“No dear, not at all.”
Pooja threw her head back and laughed heartily. The photos you are seeing are of my final year college day. Bhaiyya had already finished his Ph.D. and launched SkyTel. He played the drums especially for me on my group’s request. And my ! The way he played, it was awesome! I walked with my head high for the rest of the year.”
He did look great playing with engrossed look. Chandni never realized how time passed browsing through her handsome looking husband in younger days.
“Chandni, myself and DD will just go out for a while and return.” Advay peeped in Pooja’s room.
“Wait a second!” Chandni rushed out and returned back with his jacket. “The air is getting cold. Please do wear this.”
“Chandu, I am used to Europe weather. I don’t need it.”Advay was just about to dismiss her.
“For my sake, please!” Chandni urged pausing her hand on his arm, her eyes silently beseeching him.
Advay shook his head, women were fussy and his katto was epitome of fussing. After the jogging incident, she had taken him for the checkup and after that she all the time fussed over him like a child. For anyone else, he would have rebuffed; but for her, somewhere secretly he enjoyed it……..and as such, if her motherly instincts were somehow satisfied with this, then he was all for it!
“Bye Bhabhi. Bye Pooja. See you later.” Darsh waved his hand.
“One minute! If you call Pooja di, just Pooja; then why are you calling me Bhabhi every time? Just call me Chandni!”
A reluctant spark of genuine interest gleamed in his eyes.
“I don’t call just anybody by name, only friends……Will you be friends with me? Mujhse dosti karogi?” Darsh extended his hand to Chandni.
Chandni shook his hand with a happy smile, “Yes! But first you must forgive me for that solid punch from before.”
“What Punch?” Pooja was curious.
“Because I called her babe, she broke my jaw earlier.” Darsh teased with a laugh. “CD has a strong right hand!”
“CD?” Chandni crumpled her nose in distaste “What’s this CD?”
“CD! Yes! Abbreviation of Chandni! AD-CD”
“Yuck! It makes me feel like you’ll put me in a player any minute! If Di is Pooja…… no abbreviation then why do I need one.”
“Chandni!” Pooja screeched, “Don’t encourage them. They’ll start again.” Advay and Darsh burst out laughing.
“Why Di? Did they have something for you, too?”
“PJ!” Both Advay and Darsh spoke in unison and both roared in laughter teasing Pooja. Pooja shooed them away, a smile erupting coyly on her lips.
“No! I stand by Di! We girls get no abbreviation! Pooja and Chandni, that’s it!” Chandni stood by Pooja’s side supporting her firmly.
It was enough that her husband called her Katto. If this madness spread, he would start calling her KG and that was just not done!
To avoid further argument, she promptly changed the subject, “Darsh, you have a beautiful voice;…..it touched my heart!”
“Excuse me!....... You never said that to me!” Advay raised his brows in disbelief.
“Tera Patta Cut” (You are out of the game) Darsh did not let go of the chance to tease.
Chandni was not the one to take anything with her head bent down.
Sweetly, she spoke in her swag mood, “Come to the room and I’ll tell you nicely!”
Advay turned to Darsh in pride, “I will never be out of the game! Mera patta koi nahi kaat sakata!”
Darsh laughed. With Chandni, he did not have to concern himself with the possibility that he might accidentally ruffle her female sensibilities. She was, indeed, a woman worthy of genuine friendship; especially when she made his friend such a happy man.
Advay smiled in his heart. People closest to his heart were all blending together!
“Where are you guys going?” Pooja questioned casually.
“Not Far! Just at Champs De Mars. It’s nearby here.” Advay ruffled her hair lovingly, as he did when they were in college. Their college days needed a reliving!
“You have changed, AD! Changed completely from how you felt about Chandni in those college days. You were obsessed then; you are obsessed now. But your feelings, poles apart! And man, how have you changed!
The absolute hatred you had in your eyes; those fire splinters could burn her universe! And now, if anyone dares to thwart her, you will burn their universe. Just look at you, man……doting over every word of hers!…….and back to clean shaven from the bearded look, huh?”
He paused for a second and looked far into nothing, “It must be a great feeling, right? To be wrapped around a woman’s finger that your life isn’t yours any more. And you wouldn’t have it any other way! You have found a great wife, Man!” He thumped on Advay’s shoulder.
Advay smiled with Chandu’s thought, “‘I know. I’m very lucky. She’s Amazing. The love of my life!”
pic credit original uploader
Darsh’s heart twisted. Advay had always been arrogant, yes, sometimes annoyingly so, but he didn’t take life for granted. And he obviously adored his childhood friend who was now his wife.
Advay continued, “Someday, you’ll know what that is like to feel the way I do!”
Dark shadow fell in Darsh’s eyes with the immediate memory of denial in Pooja’s eyes; but he blinked and masked his face immediately.
“Fat Chance! I remain a confirmed bachelor!”
To change the topic of conversation he asked promptly, “Tell me about what you had in mind when you called me here.”
That really helped. Advay’s focus shifted completely, as he started explaining.
Pooja and Chandni walked to Naani’s room with happy smiles on their faces. Naani was busy doing her Jaap(Chanting).
“Naani, even while on Europe trip, your chanting is necessary, is it? As such you pray every day, I wonder why?” Pooja grumbled with mock anger, lovingly hugging Naani.
“I pray for both my Granddaughter’s happiness, beta!”
“But we ARE happy, Naani!” Pooja stressed on the middle word.
“Yes, I know! But I want both of you to get your special deserved happiness!” Naani smiled.
Dark shadows fell on both Chandni’s and Pooja’s face.
Chandni remembered the way Dev had spoken of Achchu on their first morning after consummating the marriage. She knew that he shared that dream with her. And then, the content feeling she herself had every time she held Vidvaan in her arms even though he was her child only in name. They both desired the child from the depth of their heart.
The longing would never leave her heart; but she feared the repercussions of letting it dominate her mind. Last time, Dev had left her to go to Allahabad and then planned on going to London. She couldn’t risk the baby thoughts again in her heart. Not especially when he had convinced her and brought her for a love celebration in honeymoon. She steeled herself!
Pooja remembered the envy, though not malicious, she had felt while seeing her Bhaiyya-Bhabhi in love during Diwali. She had wondered whether the gloom in her heart would ever dissipate. And then, the happy feeling she had today when Darsh looked into her eyes, just momentarily, yet an offer for a lifetime.
The desire to love, to belong would always be there in her heart; but her condition now was like once bitten twice shy. She was well aware of the trauma Aadi faced knowing his father had left him and gone away. She couldn’t risk another failed relationship traumatising the innocent child completely. Not especially when Bhaiyya had gifted her this trip to enjoy as her own dream. She masked her heart and braved a wide smile on her lips!
“Naani, that expression on your face, you look smug! You knew that Darsh was going to be here, right?”
“I always know a lot of things!”
“Then why did you not tell me?”
“To see the happiness on your face with the surprise of seeing Darsh again after so long!” Naani smiled happily and the glow of happiness spread to both Chandni and Pooja.
“Naani, Pooja di, why is his name Darsh-Danish?” Chandni was perplexed.
Both smiled softly and then Naani spoke, “Yes! There’s a saga of love behind that name. His Father was Hindu Brahmin from Allahabad itself. He fell in love with a Muslim girl Abbu’s community. He wanted to marry her but society would never accept it. Neither her Muslim community nor his Hindu community! And then further, apart from being outcast, they had the risk of being pushed to death.”
Naani’s face darkened with a reminiscence of the fate that her daughter and son-in-law had; but she controlled her grief.
Pooja continued, “So they eloped and to save both of them from community wrath, he came to London with her and then settled in London permanently. I loved his Mum…..rather admired her hugely. Imagine, the strength of love, to drop everything you have and take a risk on your life!
And then further, his father reached the epitome of love treating her equally in marriage, never ever forcing her to change religion. Their home was so full of love….. They together prayed to Krishna and she did her namaaj in the same room….. When DD was born, to maintain that same equality, it was DD’s father who chose to give a dual name, ‘Darsh meaning Krishna and Danish meaning scientific knowledge and wisdom.’
Isn’t it a great name? And just imagine, this man has become such a renowned scientist making breakthrough discoveries.”
Pooja’s eyes sparkled with pride. He, Bhaiyya and she had grown up together and were close buddys. Chandni smiled sharing her enthusiasm and getting fascinated with the inspiring love story. The couple suddenly reminded her of Ammi-Abbu who had raised a Hindu child.
“Not only that! He proved his Krishna name true, too. Both he and Chiku were popular in ladies group, all through the college and later as well.” Naani laughed.
“Was Sasha in his college or met him later?” Chandni’s heart jumped and focused on her husband’s previous women.
“Oh Chandni! Why do you even think about her? Leave it completely. It’s the past, just bury it!” Pooja didn’t want to spoil everybody’s mood.
“Look AD, it’s not going to be easy. They are too powerful a party, lots of contacts in London.”
“I have a plan. I will attack the pillars of their power.”
“Your plans with Chandni turned out to be nothing more than crazed fantasies, man!”
“Yet I finally got Chandni, didn’t I?”Advay challenged him. “So the plans did not fail either. And then me and Chandni were different ball game altogether. From the very first meet, I could not deny the pull in my heart. Anyway, we are not discussing Chandni and me here.”
There was a smile on his lips with the thought of Chandni and of course, his friend was allowed to comment on any of his matters.
Advay needed his help and pacifying his doubts completely was important. Immediately after gifting Pooja the planned Europe trip, he had been reminded of the mishap that had happened with Chandni, almost a life attack on her; which he just could not let go!
At the same moment, he had thought of one man whom he could trust in Europe and that was Darsh! Accordingly, he had contacted Darsh and got his travel plan arranged to pre-discuss the plan while in Paris and then execute it while in London.
“DD, for your information, my plans always work. That is because I am very good at making plans and executing them.”
Advay spoke without any trace of arrogance. It was a simple statement of fact.
“Nevertheless, with this man any plan seems somewhat complicated.” Darsh murmured, “You know damn well the man has evil heart.”
“Who will know better than me? Blxxxx BxsXXXX tried harming my Chandni.” Fury sparked from Advay’s eyes. He would rather kill the man with his bare hands but he controlled his anger.
“Trust me, DD. The plan will work. Who knows? At the end of it, both of us may gain!”
Darsh uttered a heartfelt groan and closed his eyes. “I was afraid that you were going to say something like that.”
Advay went to elaborate the whole plan. Both were engaged in huge brain storming. Just like his every mission, Advay needed to gather as much intel as he could before plotting his next course of action. Information was the key to success, and he knew how to obtain that commodity. He moved in Society, so he had some useful connections in influencing world where he would get what he needed.
Darsh studied his determined expressions and considered all options.
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Comments (9)
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Neha @Loving2Missing2
+ 2
4 years ago
In this chapter I used the song, when Advay can't resist looking at Chandu's pic.Tu jo najaron ke saamne kal hoga nahiTujhko dekhe bina mar na jaau kahi(Just if you won't be there in front of my eyes, I fear I might die without having seen you) Exact lyrics chosen; when love goes wrong.Only Barun can portray the pain.The song Roke na ruke naina, is beautifully sung by Arijit. Do enjoy. For lyrics translation you can use the chapter/ or google.Picturisation of the love going wrong. Saw the movie with my daughter just yesterday. A series of sequences in film; but in Adni saga, Barun portrays Advay's heart experiencing the whole range of emotions. Loving2Missing22019-06-08 04:45:53
AnnDan @AnnDan
4 years ago
What are Miku and Shikha doing? What a pity i can't use smiles
AnnDan @AnnDan
4 years ago
Chandni remembered the way Dev had spoken of Achchu on their first morning after consummating the marriage. She knew that he shared that dream with her" - just love them.
AnnDan @AnnDan
4 years ago
Very sweet and peaceful history today. I almost always smiled. I really liked Aaadi. He instinctively searches for himself a father and seems to have found the most worthy one. I hope that Pooja will be happy.
Neha @Loving2Missing2
+ 2
4 years ago
Sharing to bring the same smile which came to my lips while watching and the same smile while singing on Arijit Singh lips.Watch at 12.12 min Arijit got the best duet award for the song . and he sings it w/o background. So beautiful. I chose for AdNI pain during Yeh galati nahi Gunaah hai track. How Barun would make justice to the voice with his expressionsEnjoy original song here as I do not dare to go in edit mode for old posts as the post gets disrupted with clubbing of words.Loving2Missing22019-05-31 11:48:41
Neha @Loving2Missing2
+ 2
4 years ago
A sharing from my own thoughts for those to happen to read the story.When Darsh came to meet the family, he explained his specialisation field. The reference comes as Darsh explained that while Advay was a mathematician; he worked on developmental biology his work relating to stem cells epigenetics.While reading the story do give attention to every small point because I have this style that some reference or a dialogue or a scene may come as not important or innocuous comment but later at some time it will impact.Darsh's work area I have chosen from my son's expertise field. You might wonder why is this necessary? Just wait and watch what happens next and how the reference gets multi dimensional impact in story.