Removed - Page 15

Chapter 41

Mahabaleshwar,

Aryan - yahi soch rahi ho na ki ye mere paas kaise??

He held her hand n almost dragged her out of the cottage. Neha could feel his anger burning him, n next was her turn.

Aryan - Neha.. [his voice was calm] pichhli baar Arjun ne tumhe bahot acche se samjhaya tha aur sharab peene ke liye mana bhi kiya tha.. right? [Neha nods] to phir aaj phir se ye bottle tumhare paas kya kar rahi he? [his voice raised now]

Neha - bhau.. please mujhe de dijiye.. I need it.. please bhau.. [she pleaded]

Aryan - ye tumhe chahiye? [he forwarded it little towards her but before she could take it, he threw it n the bottle broke] jao.. le lo!

Neha - aap mere saath aisa nahi kar sakte bhau.. please..

Aryan - tum apne saath aisa nahi kar sakti Neha.. galat kar rahi ho tum.. main tumhe tumhari zindagi iss tarah barbaad nahi karne dunga.. tum iss tarah apni zindagi ke saath khilwad nahi kar sakti.. kyu iss sharab ki latt me apne aap ko nuksaan pahucha rahi ho? Mujhe tumhe ye batane ki zararat nahi ki sharab ki wajah se tum apni sehat ke saath kitna bada samjhuta kar rahi ho! Lekin mujhe ek baat samajh nahi aati.. tumhe kya zarurat he sharab peene ki? [he paused to think] aur wo sapna.. maine suna tha ki tumne kaha ki kash wo sirf ek sapna hota.. kya matlab he iss baat ka? batao Neha..tell me!

Neha - pehle aap bataiye ki aap.. Vivaan ke baare me kya jaante he? kitna pata he aapko uske bare me?

Aryan - uske naam ke alawa kuch bhi nahi janta..isilye to puch raha tha.. lekin tumne bataya hi nahi!

Neha - kuch nahi jante.. accha hoga ki kuch jane bhi nahi.. kuch raaz raaz hi rahe usi me sabki bhalayi he..

Aryan - ye tum kya keh rahi ho Neha? aur kaisa raaz?

Neha - [she was getting restless] nahi.. kuch nahi.. [she started walking but Aryan held her wrist to stop n she winced in pain, he held her left wrist which was wounded already]

Aryan - tum mere sawalo ke jawab diye bina kahi nahi jaogi!

Neha - bhau please.. mera haath chodiye.. mujhe dard ho raha he..

He left her hand but stood in front of her, crossed his hands across his chest.

Aryan - pehle mujhe batao.. kya tha wo sapna..

Neha - bhau.. please.. mujhse wo sawal mat puchiye jinke jawab main aapko nahi de sakti.. bahot mushkil se apne ateet ke un panno ko sab se chhupa kar rakha he.. unhe phir se mat kholiye.. please..

She quickly went back to her room. Aryan stood there thinking about what she just said. Aisi kya baat he jo Neha sab se chhupa rahi he.. pata lagana padega.. lekin kaise? Aur kahan se? he thought n then went back to his room.

~

2 days later,

Mahabaleshwar

Early morning,

5:30 a.m.

The team was set to leave back to Mumbai as the case had been solved successfully. As the team settled in the car, they drove for some 10 minutes.

Neha - Bhau aage se right lena!

Aryan - National Highway left turn pe aata he aur rasta mujhe pata he!

Neha - mujhe sunrise point dekhne jana he.. Mahabaleshwar aaye aur yahan se sunrise nahi dekha to Surya Narayan bura maan jayenge!

Aryan - hum seedhe Mumbai hi jayenge.. vacation pe nahi aaye he yahan!

Neha - 10 minit me kounsa pahad tutne wala he? chaliye na!

Aryan - no!

Neha - yaad he last time jab hum sab Mahabaleshwar aaye the.. that sunrise.. aaj bhi yaad he mujhe.. vahini saheb ki favorite jagah thi wo! [she said in a trance.. remembering those moments with Naintara]

Aryan stopped the car with a jerk, Neha was back in persent n just realised what she said. She mumbled a soft sorry n cursed herself.

Aryan - team! What do you say? Want to see the sunrise or directly go back to Mumbai?

Manushi - Sunrise point!

Rehan - Maine iske baare me kaafi suna he.. hume jaana chahiye!

Abhinav - Idea to accha he Chief.. chalte he.. 10-15 minit late huye to chalega right?

Aryan - ok then!

They go towards the sunrise point, it is the highest peak of Mahabaleshwar. Laden with lush green trees the Western Ghats look extremely beautiful after the rains. They were at the perfect time for the sunrise. Within a few minutes, the sun slowly rose from behind the distant hills, an orange disk, looking like someone put a big bindi on the sky's forehead!

Neha - bahot khubsurat jagah he.. itni unchai se girne par kitni haddiya tutengi Manushi?

Manushi - zinda rehne ke 15% chances bhi nahi he!

Neha - really??

Manushi - oye! Itni exicted aur khush kyu ho gayi? kahi yahan se koodne ka irada to nahi he na tera? [she held her hand n pulled her behind]

Neha - are nahi.. darr mat.. main bas aise hi puch rahi thi! [she was looking down n the valley, the trees were really dangerous, when her eyes caught something that was glistening in shades of gold n black]

Rehan - wahan dekho.. kitna cute bird he

He pointed towards a blue-black little bird on a tree, everyone looked there except Neha. She went near the tree to get a better sight of the thing that caught her attention, her hands firmly holding a camera, ready to click a picture of the thing. As she moved forward, she directly slipped down the valley but ended holding a tree, on which stood a gold n black stripped snake, looking at her. She clicked a few pictures of it silently n then kept her phone back in her pocket, when she heard a scream, "Neha!!" She looked up but couldn't locate the source, but knew the voice very well, Aryan.

Neha - bhau.. par yahan se dikhayi nahi de rahe.. [she looked down n up again] oh.. main kuch jyada hi neeche aa gayi.. ab upar kaise jau?

Here, up Aryan n team was panicked as they weren't able to find Neha, just for a few moments they looked at the bird n Neha was out of sight, where did she go? There was no-one around whom they could ask. Suddenly, Manushi screamed again.

Manushi - Neha!! tum wahan neeche kya kar rahi ho?

Neha replied screaming - hanging garden me jhula jhulne aayi hu.. tumhe aana he?

Aryan - jaldi se upar aao! [he yelled angrily]

Neha slowly held the trees n climbed back to the top, thanks to the mountaineering training camps that she'd attended, she could climb up any slope n mountain easily, but this was for the first time without any aid or support, n it is difficult! But finally she made her way up. Only to be greeted by a hell angry Aryan n worried team.

Neha - hey guys.. chillax! Main bilkul thik hu..mujhe kuch nahi hua!

Manushi - wahan neeche kya kar rahi thi?

Neha - kaha na.. hanging gardens.. are wo main Uropeltis Macrolepis..I mean Mahabaleshwar Shieldtail.. commonly known as Bombay earth snake se milne gayi thi.. I just wanted to click a few pictures of this species! ujhe pata hi nahi chala mera pair kaise phisla aur main neeche kab giri!

Rehan - snake! Neha agar usne tumhe kaat liya hota to? Tumhe dar nahi laga?

Neha - it's a non-venomous n harmless species of snake.. but only found in the small part of Western Ghats!

Aryan - How can you be so careless Neha?? Ek baar bhi nahi socha ki ye kitna khatarnak ho sakta he ? Heights of being careless and irresponsible! [he shouted]

Neha - Bhau.. relax.. kuch nahi hua he mujhe.. ek choti si kharoch bhi nahi aayi he!

Aryan - really? [he held her hand n looked, Neha's sleeves had been torn n filled with blood till the elbows, her knees were also bleeding] to phir ise kya kahogi?

Neha - bhau.. zara si chot he.. thik ho jayegi! please.. don't create an issue of such a small thing.. aur agar aapko aur lecture sunana ho ya dant na ho to main keh deti hu.. main yahan se phir kood jaungi aur wapas upar nahi aungi!

Aryan - [glared hard at her] team, we're getting late.. chalo.

Manushi - chief.. Neha ka first-aid kar du pehle?

He nods n Manushi quickly gives first-aid to Neha. The wounds were a little deep, as she climbed up almost 20-30 feet without any other support. But Neha was silent as Manushi did the first-aid, did not even wince in pain for once, just kept her eyes tightly closed n bit her lips. After that they left for Mumbai, Aryan did not talk to Neha or not even look at her all the way.

~

11:00 a.m.

ESS team reached Mumbai Headquarters. Aryan asked team to take rest for a few hours n come back to office after lunch break.

Rawte Mansion,

Aryan n Neha reached home, they were welcomed by Shaina.

Shaina - Neha! ye kya hua tumhe? itni chot kaise lagi? [she asked after looking at her bandages]

Neha - kuch nahi bhabhi.. aise hi..

Shaina - Aryan.. Neha ko ye chot kaise lagi?

Aryan - tum hi puchho.. main thak gaya hu.. aaram karne jaa raha hu.. mere liye ek cup coffee bhijwa dena. [he said n went to his room]

Shaina - Neha.. batao na.. ye sab..

Neha - wo bhabhi.. [she paused for a while n then said] hum sunrise ponit pe gaye the wo mera pair phisal gaya aur main gir gayi.. usi wajah se ye chot lag gayi aur kuch nahi! Bas bhau thode naraz ho gaye.. ab mera pair wahan se phisal gaya usme meri kya galti he?

Shaina - Neha you should have been careful! Aryan issi wajeh se naraz he.. ab tum aaram karo.. main tumhare liye haldi wala dudh bhijwati hu.. tumhe accha lagega!

Neha - [made a face] mujhe haldi-wala dudh nahi peena.. main thik hu!

Shaina - Neha..

Neha - please bhabhi.. mujhe nahi peena!

Shaina - accha thik he.. tumhare nakhre to Arni se bhi jyada he.. kabhi kabhi lagta he ke tum 25 ki nahi 5 saal ki ho.. ya phir usse bhi choti!

Neha - I'm young at heart! ab main jau.. rest karne?

Shaina - thik he.. kuch chahiye to call kar dena! Okay?

Neha - okay..done!

Neha slowly made her way up stairs, taking one step at a time, the pain in knees made it difficult to walk, Shaina watched her going, ye ladki nahi sudhregi!' n then went into kitchen to make coffee for herself n Aryan n also made milk for Neha.

Later, Shaina went to her room, Aryan was leaning on the headrest of the bed, pressing his head with his fingers.

Shaina - coffee!

he opened his eyes n took the coffee.

Shaina - aapka sar dard kar raha he.. laiye main daba deti hu!

Aryan - main thik hu..

Shaina - [slowly massaging his head] main janti hu aap Neha ke liye pareshan he.. chinta mat kijiye.. wo thik he.. maine uske liye hladi wala dudh bhijwa diya he.. pata he.. bahot mana kar rahi thi.. [imitating Neha] mujhe haldi wala dudh nahi peena.. lekin maine phir bhi use de diya.. she needs it.

Aryan - good.. [thinking] haldi wale dudh ke liye to mana hi karegi na.. uske paas acchi khasi dawayi he.. sharab ke aage dudh thodi pasand karegi? main kya karu iska.. mujhe kuch samajh nahi aa raha!

~

Late evening

Neha was in her room, desparately searching for something, she had messed her whole room, it seemed as if a war had taken place in her room. "Kahan gayi??.. kahan jaa sakti he?" Neha said to herself, looking in every corner of her room. A knock on the door made her look there.

Arjun - ye sab kya he Neha? kya dhundh rahi ho??

Neha - kuch nahi.. aap yahan kyu aaye he?

Arjun - wo bhabhi ne bataya ki tumhe chot lagi he.. isliye..

Neha - Doctor he aap?

Arjun - Neha??

Neha - to phir meri chot dekh kar kya karenge? Use kam karne ke liye na to aapke paas koi ilaaj he na hi koi dawayi.. aap jaiye aur mujhe mere haal me rehne dijiye! [she resumes her search] Aise kaise gayab ho sakti he??

Arjun - Baby.. tum kya dhundh rahi ho batao mujhe.. main kuch help..

Neha - uski koi zarurat nahi he.. I can help myself!

Arjun - apni diary dhundh rahi ho na?

She looked at him biwildered.

Neha - aap.. aap..ko kaise..

He left without answering her, she stood in shock, Bhaiya ko kaise pata ki main diary dhundh rahi hu?' Soon, he came back with a diary in his hand, she recognised it, it was her! He gave it to her.

Arjun - maine ise padh li he.. [he said calmly]

Neha - Bhaiya! aapne.. meri.. meri personal diary padhi? [tears welled up in her eyes] how could you bhaiya? How could you??

she yelled n then collapsed on the ground, hurting her knees again, winced in pain. Arjun sat beside her, consoling her.

Arjun - baby.. tum thik ho na.. jyada dard to nahi ho raha na?

Neha - jyada dard.. n how do you define that?? do you even understand what you have done?? meri diary padhi aapne! kaise bhaiya?? kaise kar sakte he aap aisa?

Arjun - baby maine ye tumhe hurt karne ke liye nahi kiya..

Neha - but you did hurt me.. jo raaz maine itne salo se sab se chhupa kar rakha wo aapko pata chal gaya.. wo bhi iss tarah.. meri diary padh ke.. [she closed her eyes n let fresh tears fall]

Arjun - baby.. please.. rona band karo.. [he forwards his hand to wipe her tears but she stops him]

Neha - NO! no.. don't touch.. please leave.. leave me alone..

He didn't move, just kept looking at her, reading her eyes.

Neha - I said leave me alone! [she yelled]

Arjun - baby.. main kahi nahi jaunga.. main janta hu ki tumhe meri zarurat he.. [his voice was full of love n care]

Neha - bhaiya.. aap kyu nahi chale jate yahan se? [her voice was vulnerable, she tried to keep it firm but failed badly]

He cupped her cheeks with his hands.

Arjun - sambhalo apne aap ko baby.. tum iss tarah kamzor nahi pad sakti.. you are my strong baby.. tum to meri super-girl ho na.. aise nahi rote baby!

Neha could not hold more n cried her heart out, she always waited to tell what she was hiding, but was afraid so never told anyone. But now Arjun knew it n he was on her side, she had no fears now, so she cried out. He engulfed her into a warm hug, allowed her to cry, he knew that the tears needed a way out, though her each n every tear felt like a fire burning his heart.

After some time he felt she had stopped crying. He looked at her, she had fallen asleep. Her face looked little calm. Arjun picked her n carefully put her on the bed, making sure that she didn't get up, then pulled the comforter on her. As he walked back, he saw her cuddling her teddy bear.

Arjun said to himself - Bhabhi sahi kehti he.. Baby kabhi kabhi Arni se bhi choti bacchi ban jati he.. [he looked at her bandaged hands] kyu apne aap ko itni takleef deti ho? kya milta he aise khud takleef de kar?? [his eyes fell on bottle of alcohol] iss sharab se tumhara pichha chhudwa kar hi rahunga.. kaise bhi.. lekin bahot jald tum apne iss addiction se bahar aa jaogi.. ye mera wada he he tumse baby! [he walked out n stumbled on something, but held the wall for support] kamre ko kude-daan bana ke rakha he.. sab kuch aise faila diya he ki.. kahin na kahi ye meri wajah se hi hua he.. agar main wo diary wapas rakh deta to itni sari cheeze tootne se bach jati [he said seeing the broken vases] ab galti meri he sudharni to padegi hi!

He looked around n started arranging things back in their places. After 2 n half hours the room was like before, neatly kept, except a few broken vases n some other broken things. Arjun gave a sigh of relief n walked back to his room.