"Mumma, aap ye kya kar rahe ho?" Rayanshi chimed in.
"Kuchh nahi beta. Aaj aapke mumma papa ki wedding anniversary hai na toh mumma, papa ke liye gift bana rahi hai," Priya smiled a sweet smile to her bundle of joy.
Every year on their wedding anniversary, Priya would make a collage of their pics together and put them in an ornate frame. She knew it was a futile exercise as Ram would never come to see them.
"Kya pata, shayad Ram aa bhi jaayein. Mera aur Anshi ka pyaar unhein yahaan kheench hi laayega. Tab tak, dil ko kush rakhne ko ghalib, ye khayaal achchha hai," she chuckled drily to herself. This was the hope which kept her going since last five years.
The initial two years had been very emotionally draining for her. Separation from Ram and then becoming a mother to Anshi were two herculean incidents of her life. After leaving Mumbai, she had cut herself from everyone – her ma-pa, Kartik-Natasha, Ayesha, even Rishabh and Dadi. Vikram and Neha had tried very hard to hold on to her, constantly checking on her every two days, but after she came to know that she was two months pregnant with Anshi, she had cut herself even from them. No one knew about Anshi, except for that one woman. And it was because of her that she had to see this day.
After Ram, it was Vikram-Neha's absence which had tormented her a lot. Following that disaster, Ram's friendship with Vikram had strained and Priya held herself responsible for this. "Meri wajah se aapki dosti par bhi aanch aa gayi Ram," she would curse herself everyday.
All those dented relationships had started pinching her. Those broken shards of fractured relations started penetrating her peace of mind and she thought it better to severe the last strands and get away from that place.
Since then, she had been rebuilding her world step by step, brick by brick. She turned herself into an iron statue within which nothing breathed. She filled her life with her work and Anshi's responsibilities. Still, something was amiss. The warmth of those dark brown eyes was missing. The strength of those arms was missing. The assurance of that embrace was missing. The tenderness of those hands was missing. The love of that heart was missing. Ram was missing. An important part of her life was missing.. No, her LIFE was missing.
"Mumma, main bhi aapki help karoon pls?" Anshi was getting impatient seeing all those pics of her mom and dad and was eagerly waiting to try her hand at craft. Even before Priya could say anything, she took a pic and started applying glue at it's back.
Priya couldn't control her smile watching her little tongue stuck out a bit and she doing all the work with her left hand. "pata hai anshi, aap bilkul apne papa jaise ho."
"Kya papa bhi meri tarah collage banaane mein aapki help karte they?"
"Nahi, par wo bhi aapki tarah sab kaam apne left hand se karte they aur aap hi ki tarah unki chhoti si tongue kaam karte hue baahar aa jati thi."
"Jhoot! Main toh chhoti hoon isliye meri tongue chhoti hai. Par papa toh bade aur strong hain, toh unki tongue chhoti kaise ho sakti hai? Wo bhi toh unki tarah hi big and strong hogi."
Priya laughed at her chatterbox's innocent analysis. She was truly THEIR daughter, Ram and Priya's 'ansh', a part of them. Her actions were all Ram's and her chatterbox nature was all Priya's.
"Mumma, ye wali pic dekho. Ismein aap kitne cute lag rahi ho. Aur papa bhi kitne Handson lag rahe hain."
"Handson nahi, Handsome.. mera bachcha," Priya said while taking a pic from her.
It was that very pic. Her favourite. Even Ram's favourite. The one taken at Maha-Guj border. All that came running back to her.
The Breast Cancer scare, Ram fulfilling all her wishes and taking her to Maha-Guj border to fulfill her craziest whim! They had slowly begun to like each other, care for each other and even miss each other. And then she remembered that Ganpati Madir, where Ram went for the first time before collecting the reports, just for her. He disclosed it later, his fear of losing her had made him enter that mandir and beg for HIS life. The way he related all this to her made her feel so proud and special. Yes, she was HIS. Oh, the feeling of belonging is so exhilarating.
Miles away in Mumbai, it was late evening, when Ram entered the Ganpati mandir. It was the same mandir where he had come first time to beg for HIS life. Since last five years, he had been visiting this mandir on this day. THEIR day. The thought was hurting and comforting at the same time. Hurting, because it reminded him what all he has lost in life. Comforting because he atleast had a chance to create these memories. He was glad that Priya came in his life and made it beautiful. Thanks to her, he had some beautiful memories to treasure and rewind in his dark hours. But thanks to her too, those dark hours were a permanent fixture of his life now. What a paradox! What a mockery his life has become!
Thinking all this, Ram entered the small complex and sat at the farthest corner. It has become a ritual for him. He went to the temple but never prayed to the idol. He would just enter and sit in a corner for hours, contemplating. It was only at wee hours when he would lift himself up and drag himself back to Kapoor Mansion. Yes, it was just that, Kapoor mansion. It has seized to be a home. He could see through everyone living there. He only had Dadi and Rishabh by his side, but Rishabh had gone to America 4 years back. There was only Dadi left in that emptiness, who cared for him and it was only for her that he was still breathing. But no, there was no home for him anymore, anywhere in the world.
Ram sat at the temple, relishing his memories. Don't know why, whenever he visited this place, he would invariably start thinking of those 6 beautiful days of their life together. And he would then picture that Maha-Guj border scene before his closed eyes. That is his favourite place in the world now. It was there when Priya told him what she thought about love and he too started apprehending the meaning of all those emotions that created havoc within him at that time.
Those words came rushing back to him.
"Ram pls. Aap us frame ko haath bhi nahi lagaayenge, samjhe?" Priya warned him.
"Arey, ek baar hata kar dekhne toh do. Main kaunsa zabardasti kar raha hoon. Ab mom ne itne pyaar se ye painting humein gift ki hai, kam se kam ek baar dekhne toh do ki wall par kaisi lagti hai." He tried in vain to make her understand.
"Koi zaroorat nahi hai. Ram, aapke itne bade Kapoor Mansion mein aur koi deewar nahi hai kya is deewar ke alawa? Yahan laga kar dekhna zaroori hai kya? Nahi, main bilkul bhi is photo frame ko hatne nahi dungi," she said and stamped her feet.
"Tumse toh baat karna hi bekaar hai," Ram said getting irritated.
"Haan, toh mat kariye na. Kisne bola hai karne ko. Jab aapke man mein is photo ke liye hi koi affection nahi hai toh mere liye kya hogi? Ab toh main aapko irritating hi lagungi na. Neha sahi kehti hai. Aap sab husbands ek jaise hote hain. Koi apni biwi ki.."
"Arey meri maa," he interrupted with folded hands, "pls thoda break lagao. Ye kya bole ja rahi ho tum? Mujhe kya problem hogi is photo se? Infact ye toh meri most favourite hai. Balki ise toh maine apne office desk par bhi.." And he bit his tongue.
But the damage was done and Priya was always very quick in jumping on his words.
"Kya? Aapne hamari photo aapke office desk par.." she enquired amusingly. Awww, this was so sweet. Ram has definitely changed a lot. This was her chance to tease him and she was in no mood to let it go.
Ram was shying like anything, thinking ways to cover up.
"Arey wah! Aap itne romantic hain Ram. I didn't know that," she teased him.
"Oh madam! Koi romantic-vomantic nahi hoon main. Wo Vikram ne kaha tha isliye…"
"Kya? Vikram aapko batata hai ki aapke desk par kaunsi photo honi chaahiye?" she was having a gala time now, seeing him getting restless.
It was as if Ram was trapped in a quick sand. The more he tried to evacuate from the situation, the deeper he went.
"Ofcourse not! Woh toh main bas aise hi.. ek magazine mein padha tha ki family photo apne aankhon ke samne rakhne se din achchha guzarta hai, isliye.."
"Oh. Hmmm, matlab aajakl aapki family mein sirf main count hoti hoon, aur koi nahi?"
"Offo! Tum toh peechhe hi pad gayi yaar! Galti ho gayi mujhse jo maine woh photo apne desk par rakha. Kal subah office jate hi hata dunga wahan se. Khush?"
"Ram, aap mera photo hata sakte hain?"
"haan, toh usmein kya badi baat hai?"
"Achchha?" She had suddenly got serious.
"Kya hua?" Ram asked her apprehensively.
"Kuchh nahi," she said dismissively and went to the washroom.
"Ab kya hua yaar? Kya galat keh diya maine?" he wondered aloud. Oh, these women! It is impossible to talk straight to them. "Pata nahi ab kya bura lag gaya madam ko."
He was waiting for her to come out. As soon as she came out, he went near her..
"Priya.." he uttered gingerly.
"hmm.." she said without looking at him.
Bad signal Ram. Say something to make up to her.
Priya went to the dressing table and stood before the mirror. She started combing her hair absent mindedly. Ram went near her and stood behind her.
"Priya, kya hua?"
"Kaha na Ram, kuchh nahi."
"Dekho jhooth mat bolo. Ab itna bhi gadha nahi hoon ki samajh na sakoon ki tumhara mood kab achchha hai aur kab kharab. Bolo na, kya hua?"
Priya sighed defeatedly and turned to face him. She looked into his eyes and said,
"Pata hai Ram, jab aapne kaha ki aap meri photo ko easily apne desk se hata sakte hain toh mujhe ekdum se dhakka laga. Main janti hoon ki it's a very silly thing to say, but pata nahi kyun, man mein darr ki ek lehar daud gayi. Kahin aisa sachmuch ho gaya toh? Aapne apni desk ke sath sath mujhe apni zindagi se bhi nikaal diya toh?"
Ram stood their transfixed, horror dawning on his face, seeing Priya talk all that.
"Ye kya paagalon jaisi baat kar rahi ho tum? Aisa kabhi ho sakta hai kya? Tumhein lagta hai ki main kabhi bhi, kisi bhi haalat mein aisa kuchh bhi karunga? Pls Priya, ye bakwaas khayal kahan se aate hain tumhare man mein? Aage se kabhi aisa sochna bhi mat, samjhi?"
His horror was turning into anger now. How could Priya even entertain such thoughts?
Seeing the colour on his face changing, Priya suddenly broke out into laughter.
"sorry Ram, control nahi hua mujhse. Aap jabse mujhse behas kar rahe they. Toh isliye maine.. Sorry!"
He stood their gazing at his eccentric wife? What is this woman, man? Its so difficult to understand her.
Priya gave an apologetic smile to Ram and turned to go but Ram held her hand from behind and turned her towards him.
"Achchha? Mazaak kar rahi thi? Toh chehre ka rang kyun uda hua tha? Priya, jaisa ki maine kaha, main itna bhi bewkoof nahi hoon ki kuchh samajh hi na aaye mujhe. Main janta hoon ki tumhein sach mein darr laga tha meri baat sunkar. Saaf dikh raha tha tumhaari aankhon mein."
He brought her closer to himself and whispered,
"Priya, is darr ko hamesha ke liye apne man se nikaal do. Aisa kabhi nahi hoga. Na tum meri life se kabhi jaaogi aur na hi main kabhi tumse door honga, samjhi? Hum hamesha sath rahenge aur apni wedding anniversary ki golden jubilee manaayenge."
She looked at him mesmerized, touched by his understanding and relieved by his conviction in their relationship. That thought of living with each for all the coming years was so comforting and joyous to both of them. Yes, they would never drift apart because… they just COULDN'T!
Priya stretched herself a bit, placing her arms around his neck and gave him a peck on his right cheek. She then turned her face and went for his left cheek when..
"Beta, bahot der ho gayi hai. Jao, ghar jao." It was the priest there, advising Ram to go home.
"Ghar jao"
But where was the 'ghar'? Where was his home? His home was only with Priya and he didn't have any idea where she was.
Precap
"Hello, Priya. Main Krishna bol rahi hoon. Kya tum pls meri baat ek baar ke liye sun sakti ho Priya? Pls?"
Guys, hope you'll like the latest. I know the story is not progressing but I am still confused about which direction to take. Tab tak pls nok-jhonk wale FB se kaam chala lo sab. 🤔
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
