AkYa FF - The Knock of a Smile Last Chapter & Epilogue,PAGE - 45 - Page 14

CHAPTER - 8

Ananya woke up on the bed screaming Muskaan's name.Akash and Muskaan too woke up and Muskaan started crying loudly out of fear.Ananya picked her up in her arms and slowly started patting her.She said,"Na mera shona na rote nehi hai.Mamma hai na.Chup ho ja mera bachcha!So ja!"She took Muskaan to another room and made her go to sleep by putting her in her lap.She was patting Muskaan and was thinking about what Mrs Saluja and Mrs Rawat were saying.Ananya said in her mind,"Ma aur mummyji sahi keh rahi hai.Muskaan ko maine pyar diya hai,uska dhyaan maine rakkha hai.Vo sirf meri beti hai aur sirf aur sirf main hi uski ma hu.Main kisi ko bhi Muskaan ko khud se nehi cheenne dungi.Uske asli ma baap ko bhi nehi."Muskaan fall asleep and she took her back to their bedroom.Akash,who was waiting for her to come back,asked,"Kya hua Ananya tum itne zor se kyu chillaayi thi?"She replied,"Kuch nehi maine ek bohot hi daraavna sapna dekh liya tha apni Muskaan ko lekar,isliye thora dar gayi thi.Tum so jaao.Iam alright now."Akash nodded his head and lied down.

Next morning,Mr Rawat and Mr Saluja returned from morning walk.On seeing them Muskaan exclaimed,"Dadu,nanu,toc!"Mr Saluja said,"Ha ha dadu aur nanu dono chocolate lekar aaye hai."They took out big size chocolates.Muskaan's eyes glowed with happiness and she screamed,"Mamma mamma dadu,nanu bai(bari) toc!"Ananya came out of the kitchen and on seeing the chocolates,she said,"Aap log bhi na!Pehle ek Akash mujhse nehi sambhalta tha ab aap dono bhi.Uff!ab to ye maharani mere sar par beth kar dance karegi."Mr Saluja replied,"Arey jaane de na beta,bachchi hai isi umar mein to chocolate khaayegi aur Muskaan apne dadu,nanu se agar nehi bolegi to kisse bolegi?"Ananya smiled and said,"Abhi aap log jaaiye aur fresh hokar aaiye naashta ready hai."After all came,Ananya served breakfast.Akash was alternatively eating himself and was feeding Muskaan.Now a days,Ananya didn't have to feed Muskaan,Mrs Rawat and Mrs Saluja alternatively did the job since they had a lots of stories in their stock.While Akash was leaving for office,Ananya said,"Aaj agar zyaada kaam na rahe to late mat karna.Jaldi ghar waapas aa jaana."Akash leaned a bit on Ananya and asked,"Kyu kya aaj thora naughty hone ka mann kar raha hai?"Ananya said,"Kya Akash tum bhi na kahi par bhi shuru ho jaate ho.Ghar mein sab bare aaye huye hai aur upar se Muskaan bhi hai.Kuch to sharam karo."He made a face and said,"Ha ha ab to tum aise hi kahogi na kyu ki ab to tumhaare paas Muskaan hai.Beti se tumhe waqt kaha milta hai jo pati ke taraf dhyaan dogi?Hamesha to usiko lekar busy rehti ho."Ananya lightly punched on his chest and replied,"Achcha??Muskaan to mujhse zyaada tumhaari laadli hai.Main usko kisi bhi kaam ke liye agar mana karu to vo seedha tumhaare paas daurti hai.Mujhse mat kaho ye sab.Achcha suno na vo mujhe Muskaan ko lekar tumse kuch zaruri baat karni hai,agar kaam jaldi khatam ho jaaye to please ghar waapas aa jaana."Akash said,"Muskaan???Maine socha hamaare second honeymoon ke baare mein baat karogi."Ananya made an angry face and he said,"Ok ok baba aa jaaunga.Bye."He kissed on Muskaan's cheeks and bid her bye too.

In the evening,Akash returned from office quickly.On seeing him,Ananya said,"Arey vaah aaj ek baar bola aur ekdam se meri baat maan li?Bohot achche husband ho rahe ho dinbadin."Akash replied,"Main hamesha se hi achcha hu.Apne ma-baap ka achcha beta bhi,apni biwi ka achcha pati bhi aur apni beti ka achcha papa bhi."Ananya romantically came towards him and started playing with his tie.He,very suspiciously asked,"Aakhir iraada kya hai?Kaunsi baat manvaani hai apni?"She replied,"Main kya hamesha tumse apni baat manvaane ke liye hi romance karti hu?"He replied,"Aajtak to aisa hi hua hai."She said,"Vaise ha aaj kuch manvaana to hai par mera nehi Muskaan ke liye."He curiously asked,"Kya?"She said,"Akash...vo main soch rahi hu ke...vo main...tumne kaha tha na ke agar 6 mahine pure hone tak Muskaan ke ma-baap nehi miley to hum usey legally goad le lenge?"He replied,"Ha kaha tha aur aisa karunga bhi."She said,"Vo main ye kehna chahti thi ke...ab to sirf 3 mahine bache hai,abhitak nehi miley to aagey bhi kaunsa mil jaayenge,to...hum is tarah se Muskaan ke life aur uski identity ko insecured nehi rakh sakte na."He asked,"Tum kehna kya chahti ho Ananya,saaf saaf bolo?"Ananya said,"Main ye kehna chahti hu Akash ke jo kaam 3 mahine baad karna hai,vo kaam hum abhi karle.Hum abhi Muskaan ko goad le lete hai."Akash removed her hand from his tie and asked,"What??Tum kehna kya chahti ho?"Ananya replied,"Main sirf ye kehna chahti hu ke uske parents ko agar milna hota to kabka mil jaate,par abhitak nehi miley.Bhagwaan bhi yehi chahte hai ke Muskaan hamaare paas rahe,isiliye main keh rahi hu hume usko goad le lena chahiye kamsekam Muskaan ke paas hamaara naam to rahe."Akash asked,"What nonsense?Kya bakwaas kar rahi ho tum Ananya?Hosh mein to ho?"She said,"Ha main hosh mein hu isiliye bol rahi hu.Tumhe kya lagta hai,usey uske ma-baap ne phek diya waapas lene ke liye?Nehi bilkul bhi nehi.Wo jis haal mein tumhe mili thi na usey sunne se saaf pata chalta hai ke kisine usey jaanbujhkar yaha chora hai."He said,"Par ye bhi to ho sakta hai ne ke uska kidnap hua ho ya vo kho gayi ho?Tum aise hi Muskaan ko apne paas rakhne ke liye faltu ka koi justification nehi de sakti."Ananya said,"Main justification nehi de rahi hu Akash.Sach bol rahi hu."He said,"No Ananya main aisa hargiz nehi karunga.Arey kisiki bachchi hai vo,uske ma-baap honge,uski ma bhi ro rahi hogi jis tarah se apne bachche ke marne ke baad hum roye the.Hum itne selfish nehi hai."Ananya said,"Main sochne par majboor ho rahi hu kyuki agar unhe milna hota to abtak mil chuke hote."Akash said,"Ananya Muskaan ek phool hai aur hum uske maali hai,maalik nehi.Hum usey roz paani de sakte hai,khayaal rakh sakte hai,bas aur kuch nehi."Ananya said,"Thik hai hum apni baat nehi karte hai par Muskaan uske baare mein to socho.Vo mujhe ma maanti hai,tumhe papa kehti hai.Ab uske liye uske ma-baap hum hai.Kya usse uske parents ko cheen lena ye selfishness nehi hai?"He replied,"Vo bachchi hai.Jis tarah se usne hume yaad rakkha hai,usi tarah se vo hume bhulkar unhe bhi apna legi."She replied,"Vo nehi apna sakti.Arey agar uske parents usko le bhi gaye tab bhi iski kya guarantee hai ke vo usey vaisa hi pyar denge jaisa humne diya hai."He said,"No Ananya Muskaan ki baat mat karo,tumhe Muskaan chahiye isliye aisa keh rahi ho.Tum apne baare mein soch rahi ho Muskaan ke baare mein nehi."She said,"Main dono ke baare mein soch rahi hu aur Muskaan meri priority hai.Ek baat bataao tum jo ye sab keh rahe ho kyat um uske bina reh sakte ho?"He yelled,"Ha nehi reh sakta,nehi reh sakta main.Lekin is vajah se main Muskaan ka bhavishya barbaad hone nehi de sakta,uski asli pehchaan usse nehi cheen sakta.Bas isilye kyuki hamaari apni beti nehi hai,hum ek dusri ma se uska bachcha nehi cheen sakte.Main tumhaare jaisa swaarthi nehi ho sakta."She too yelled,"Ha tum nehi ho par main hu swaarthi.Ha hu main!Muskaan ke liye bilkul hu main!Agar usey apne paas rakhna swaarth hai to ha hu main swaarthi aur main tumhaare jitna mahaan nehi ban sakti.Main jaanti hu...sirf main samajh sakti hu ke zindagi bhar ma na ban pane ka dard kaisa hota hai.Kitni taklif hoti hai zindagi bhar baanj hone ke bojh ko sehna.Ab bhagwaan ne mujhe dusra mauka diya hai ma banne ka main isey hargiz nehi khoungi chahe iske liye mujhe kuch bhi karna pare,tumhaare khilaaf hi kyu na jaana pare.Par main Muskaan ko khud se dur hargiz jaane nehi dungi aur agar usey mujhse cheenne ki kisine koshish bhi ki to main usey nehi chorungi.Now listen to me very carefully Mr Akash Kumar,Muskaan meri beti hai,main ma hu uski aur usey mujhse koi nehi cheen sakta."Akash said,"Apne obsession ko pyar ka naam mat do Ananya."Ananya said,"Agar ma ka pyar obsession hai to yehi sahi.I don't care lekin Muskaan yaha se kahi nehi jaayegi.Bas!"Akash turned against her and she left.

At night,when Ananya was patting Muskaan to sleep,she was not sleeping and searching for Akash.Ananya said,"Papa busy hai baby.So jaao,vo aa jaayenge."Muskaan nodded her head and said,"Na papa Mu!"She then acted of sleep.Ananya said,"Beta jaldi nehi soogi to bimaar par jaaogi."Muskaan got down of the bed and said,"Na mamma Mu papa!"She went to search for Akash.After coming out of the bedroom,she called Akash's name and started searching him.She at last found him outside,sitting in the garden.She walked to him and called,"Papa!"Akash turned with a jerk and was surprised to see her.She picked her up in his arms and said,"Arey Muskaan beta abhitak soyi nehi aur is tarah se raat ko ghar se bahaar nehi nikalte beta.Mamma pareshaan hogi na."Muskaan said,"Mu papa!"Akash too now understood a bit of her language.He said,"Papa ko dhundhne aayi thi beta?Main jaanta hu to Muskaan papa se kitna pyar karti hai."He made her sit on his lap and said,"Main teri ma ki baat manta hu beta,mujhe bhi taklif hogi tere bina rehne mein,par main is vajah se tujhe tere asli ma-baap se kaise alag kardu beta?Bol?Ye sahi hai kya?Teri ma ki taklif bhi main samajhta hu par uski khushi ke liye main ek dusri ma ko kaise rulaau.Main bas itna chahta hu ke tu khush rahe aur tujhe teri pehchaan miley bas aur kuch nehi.Hum tere ma-baap hai na to bol ma-baap swaarthi kaise ho sakte hai?Hai na."Muskaan was palying with Akash's T-shirt's button while he was speaking,after he finished,she gave him a smile as if she had understood each and every bit of it.She hugged Akash and said,"Mu papa!"Akash patted her back and said,"Papa loves Muskaan too."He broke the hug and said,"Today I promise you ke chahe tum jaha bhi raho but tum hamesha hamaare liye hamaari Muskaan rahogi aur hum tumhaare mamma,papa.Chalo chalte hai abhi sone."He picked her up in his arms and went inside the house.

From that day,Ananya stopped talking with Akash.The more he tried to talk with her,the more she ignored him.Akash shared the situation with Karan.Karan replied,"Dekh Akash yaha galat koi nehi hai.Tu apni jagah sahi hai aur bhabhi apni jagah sahi hai.Itne dino se vo tere paas hai,tum dono ne kitna pyar diya hai usey,bhabhi ka is tarah se uske prati lagaav hona jaayaz hai upar se jo haadsa unke saath hua tha uske baad ye sab bohot normal hai."Akash said,"Main samajhta hu par ye sahi nehi hai na.Agar mujhe ye pata hota ke uske parents ne sach mein usey chor diya hai ya mar gaye hai,I swear main abhitak usko goad le chuka hota.Par main adoption ke liye baat karu bhi to kis basis par?Kalko agar maan bhi liya jaaye ke humne usko goad le bhi liya phir uske ma baap aa gaye aur unhone case kar diya to?Vohi log jeetenge na kyuki hum logo ne Muskaan ko sirf kuch hi mahine paala hai.Kya us waqt hamaari taklif kam ho jaayegi?Nehi na?At the end of the day,yehi sach hai,ke hum uske asli ma-baap nehi hai aur hume ek bachche ko uske asli pehchaan aur ma-baap se dur rakhne ka koi haq nehi hai."Karan agreed,"Main sab manta hu aur dekh sahi bhi hai,abtak uske ma-baap ko agar milna hota to vo mil chuke hote.Chor de bhai.Main khud hi agle hafte ye case bandh kar dunga.Tu usko goad le le."Akash,with hopeful eyes asked,"Are you sure?"Karan said,"Ha.Main agle hafte ye case bandh kar raha hu.Tu kisi lawyer se baat karle."Akash was so happy that he hugged him and said,"Main tujhe bata nehi sakta ke main kitna khush hu.Main aaj hi jaakar Ananya ko bolta hu vo bohot khush ho jaayegi sunkar."Karan nodded his head.

Akash hurried back to home and called Ananya,but she didn't respond.He went to the kitchen to her and dragged her to the hall and said,"Ananya aaj tumhe jo khabar sunaaunga na sunkar tum uchal parogi.Pata hai aaj maine Karan se baat ki,usne kaha ke vo log Muskaan ka case aur ek hafte baad bandh kar denge,uske baad hum Muskaan ko goad le sakte hai."Ananya's face glowed with happiness.She asked,"Tum sach keh rahe ho?"He replied,"Ha.Muskaan ki kasam.Maine tumpar usdin bohot chillaya tha na?Par main bhi kya karta tumse zyaada to mujhe jaldi hai usey goad lene ki,par main kanoon ke khilaaf bhi to nehi ja sakta tha na."Ananya said,"Main jaanti hu.Pata nehi usdin mujhe bhi kya ho gaya tha.Muskaan ko khone ke khayaal se hi mujhe dar lagne lagta hai."He cupped her face and said,"Ab Muskaan hamesha ke liye sirf aur sirf hamaari hogi.Hamaari Muskaan.Muskaan Akash Kumar.Main kal hi jaakar kisi lawyer se baat karta hu."Ananya nodded her head.They both went to Mrs Rawat's room where Muskaan was playing.Ananya took her in his arms and said,"Pata hai ma hum Muskaan ko agle hafte goad le lenge.Muskaan abse sirf hamaare paas rahegi."Ananya hugged Muskaan.She had tears in her eyes.Muskaan thought Ananya might have been hurt.She started checking Ananya's hand,the same way Ananya used to check whenever Muskaan used to get hurt.Ananya said,"Mamma ko chot nehi lagi hai beta.Aaj mamma bohot khush hai.Isliye aaj Muskaan ko jitney chocolates chahiye milega."Muskaan looked widely at her and exclaimed,"Mamma toc Mu?"She laughed and said,"Chocolate ka naam sunte hi kitni khush ho gayi ye.Ha ha mamma hi laakar degi chocolate aur vo bhi bara waala."Akash said,"Aur mamma roz chocolate laakar degi Muskaan ko."Ananya exclaimed,"Nehi!"Akash fled away and Ananya ran after him with Muskaan.Both mother and daughter attacked him and three of them had a pillow fighting.Well actually only Ananya and Akash were having the pillow fighting because whenever Muskaan tries to pull the pillow up,it falls from her hand.At last,she picked up her small pillow and beat Akash with that and he acted of falling on the bed.Muskaan was so amused that she giggled and clapped that she was also successful in doing the act.After getting tired,Ananya was lying putting her head on Akash's shoulder.Muskaan thought it to be her right to always lie in their middle so she pushed both of them aside and made her place in their middle and lied down there.They,out of happiness and excitement pampered her so much,that Muskaan got irritated and angrily said,"Ganni mamma,ganne papa!Mu!"Muskaan angrily folded her hands and called Mrs Rawat and Mrs Saluja,"Dadi nani!Nani dadi!"She called them as loud as she can and when they came,she said,"Dadi nani,ganne mamma papa.Mu!"Mrs Saluja said,"Oh to Muskaan ko mamma papa par gussa aaya.Kyu?"Ananya said,"Actually hum dono isko na bohot zyaada laad kar rahe the to ye cheer gayi."Mrs Rawat said,"Tab to thik hi hai.Ha Muskaan chalo dadi nani ke saath.Mamma papa se katti."They took her away.Ananya said to Akash,"Main aaj bohot khush hu Akash.I love you so much."Akash said,"I love you too."They hugged each other.

Akash completed all his discussions with a lawyer regarding Muskaan's adoption and he promised that within one week all the formalities will be complete.One day,they were happily playing with Muskaan when the calling bell rang.Akash opened the door and found Karan there.He asked,"Akash kya tune...uh...adoption ki saari tayyaria kar li hai?"Akash smiled and said,"Ha almost ho chuka hai agle hafte tak ho jaayega."Karan took a pause and said,"Ab nehi ho sakta Akash."Akash's expression changed.He confusingly asked,"Matlab?"Karan called someone inside.A man and two women came inside Akash's home.Akash asked,"Ye log kaun hai Karan?"Karan said,"Ye Mr and Mrs Sahay hai aur ye Mr Sahay ki behen Anjali.Ye log...ye log Muskaan se milne aaye hai."Akash asked,"Par main kisi anjaan logo ko apni beti se kyu milne du?"Ananya,by that time arrived with Muskaan in her arms and asked,"Kaun hai Akash?"Mr and Mrs Sahay were very happy on seeing Muskaan but Anjali was not.Mrs Sunita Sahay exclaimed,"Yehi hai...yehi hai hamaari Anu!"She went to Muskaan and said,"Aao Anu!"Muskaan made an angry as weel as scared face and cuddled more to Ananya and said,"Mamma!"Ananya stopped Sunita and said,"Dur rahiye aap meri beti se.Karan kaun hai ye log aur kyu milna chahte hai ye meri Muskaan se?"Karan said,"Iska naam Muskaan nehi bhabhi Anu hai.Anu Sahay aur ye uske chacha,chachi aur bua hai aur ye log usey lene aaye hai."It appeared as if a flash of thunder fall on their family and smashed their house and happiness.Akash and Ananya exchanged looks with each other.They didn't even imagine that their worstest nightmare would one day appear in front of them in such a way and would destroy everything.Ananya stood still hugging Muskaan more tightly as if trying to save the only treasure of her left in the world.

CHAPTER - 9