FF : Bas Pyar Ho Gaya | Part 32 pg 153 updt 11.12. 2016 - Page 71

6 months later

Ram... I am not coming to office tomorrow..

Ram was engrossed in his laptop, did not notice when Priya had entered the room and was arranging his cupboard...

Kya hua... not feeling well.. He enquired lifting his eyes from the laptop..

Nahi nahi... woh kal karva chauth hai na is liye.. Priya said..

Oh.. Ram heaved a sigh... Toh tu kya fast rakhne wali hai?

Obviously.. phir kya ? Priya said..

Nahi.. I mean tu toh pehle kabhi nahi rakhti thi shayad.. Ram said hesitatingly.. I mean.. Germany mein! Toh ab .. agar sirf Ma ke kehne pe rakhna hai toh...

Ram .. please! Bohot fark hai Germany days mein aur abhi mein! Priya said .. Aur main kisi ke kehne pe nahi kar rahi hoon.. bas.. is baar mann kar raha hai! Look I know you don't believe in all these... so main tere pe kuch force nahi kar rahi... But mujhe woh karne de jo mujhe mann kar raha hai!

Okay.. par kal apna US clients se saath telecon hai na, toh mujhe bohot late hoga ..Ram remarked ... Tu shyam ko vrat thod dena..agar mujhe late hui toh!

Nahi .. tu jab ayega uske baad hi todungi..Priya said firmly...

Arey par bola na mujhe late ho sakta hai...Ram tried to explain..

Its okay... I will manage...Priya replied..

Uff .. Ram nodded his head.. Pata hai .. tu na bohot ziddi hai...

Oh ho.. yeh aaj pata chala tujhe ? Priya said teasingly.. Chal ab kam kar aapna aur mujhe bhi kam karne de . Do din haath na lagao toh cupboard ka kachda kar deta hai. Pihu ki cupboard bhi tujhse zyada organized rehta hai..

Okay okay... ab lecture bandh kar...mujhe bhi kaam hai.. Ram engrossed himself in his work...

Next morning Priya got up early, and dressed up in an exquisite red and maroon Banarasi saree, with matching gold jewellery. Priya had always been a very light and casual dresser; Krishnaji was surprised as well as happy to see her all dressed up for the occasion. It was the first Karva Chauth for Priya, and she performed the morning puja and rituals religiously under Krishnaji's guidance.

After finishing the Puja, she prepared coffee for Ram and went to his bedroom to wake him up, only to find that he had already left. It was only 7 am, and Bansi kaka informed that Ram did not even wait for the driver Inder, and drove himself.

Strange..Priya picked up the phone and called..but he did not pick it up.

After some time Ram messaged .. saying he had some urgent work.. so he had to leave.. and will be busy throughout the day. He mentioned he would try to come early in the evening. Priya was assured after getting his message, and got busy in the rituals for the occasion. Since this was Priya's first Karva Chauth, Krishnaji had invited few friends and relatives, and the whole house was full of guests throughout the day, and Priya was busy attending to all of them. Finally, it was evening, and all the ladies gathered on the terrace waiting for the first sight of the moon. At last , the moon could be seen and all the ladies performed Pujas and broke their fast with their respective husbands. Priya stood dejected at one corner of the terrace, watching all others enjoying as she waited for Ram. Krishanji came and sat beside her.. silently!

Priya... Phone kyun nahi karti use? Asked Krishnaji..after some time..

Kiya tha Ma.. office mein nahi hai.. Kahi bahar hai shyad.. busy hai .. phone nahi uthaya .. sirf message kiya..She said dejectedly...

Hmmm.. kya bola?

Bola ke use late hoga .. toh main vrat tod du...

Kya ? Aisa kya busy hai .. pucha nahi tune ?

Kya puchu Ma? Kal raat ko hi bola tha usne .. kuch US clients ke saath telecon hai toh late hoga ..

Aur tune kyun nahi insist kiya ke woh jaldi aaye? Krishanji asked firmly...

Insist ? Insist kyun karon Ma ? Ek toh use yeh sab cheezo mein biswas nahi hai.. uske upar hum dono... I mean .. humari relation toh...

Oh Priya please... Bas ab bohot ho gaya... har baar wahi baat mat utha. Ek baat bata mujhe.. tu pyar nahi karti use ? Krishanji looked straight into her eyes..

Piya could not look into her eyes.. and put her head down..

Ma.. woh aisa nahi hai .. actually kya hai ke .. She fumbled.. unable to find the right words...

Priya beta.. Krishanji said lovingly.. bachpan se janti hoon tujhe .. yeh sab baatein tu mujhse nahi chupa sakti. Krishnaji pulled Priya into a hug. Priya held her tightly, and buried her face in her shoulders...Ma...actually.. I did not intend to... mujhe khud bhi pata nahi aisa kaise ho gaya .. hum toh sirf dost they.. pata nahi mere sath hi aisa kyun ho gaya...

Arey toh galat kya hua ? Krishanji placed her hands on Priya's head and tried to pacify her.. Pati Patni toh dost bhi hote hai.. main aur Ram ke Papa dushman they kya ?

Nahi Ma .. aisa nahi hai... par woh toh mujhe sirf dost hi samajhta hai aur isi liye humne shaadi ki thi toh..its kind of a violation na.. of our relationship!

Nahi Priya.. koi violation nahi hai! Krishanji assured her.. Dekh Priya ... shaadi ke baad jab do log ek sath rehte hai, ek dusre ke zindagi ka hissa bante hai toh sab badal jata hai. Humarein zamane mein.. pehle shaadi hoti thi, phir pyar...phir dosti..! Tumhare case mein pehle dosti hui, phir shaadi, phir pyar... baat toh ek hi hai! Aur sach bolu toh mujhe aur bhaisaab ko toh yakeen tha ke ek din yeh hone hi wala hai nahi to hum kabhi bhi tum logon ki yeh dosti wali shaadi' ke liye razi nahi hote.

Par Ma..pyar toh sirf mujhe hua na.. woh toh abhi bhi mujhe dost hi samajhta hai..Priya exclaimed doubtfully.. raising her head from her shoulders..

Nahi Priya ... aisa nahi hai. Woh bhi tujhe pyar karta hai.. bas tune pehle realize kiya kyun ki tujhe kabhi thik se pyar mila hi nahi. Woh shayad abhi bhi nahi realize kar pa raha ..

Nahi Ma.. woh mujhe us tarah se pyar nahi karta! Agar uski kuch bhi feelings hoti toh kam se kam aaj ka din woh.. Priya broke down crying..

Priya ...aisa nahi hai! Yeh saab cheeze woh pehle se hi nahi manta tha! Is liye aaj ki baat pe conclude na kar! Krishanji caressed her hair.. pacifying her.Sirf ek baat soch..jis tarah se woh tujhe ek saal pehle treat karta tha... aajkal kya usi tarah se treat karta hai ? Kya kuch bhi nahi badla ?

Pata nahi Ma.. badla toh bohot kuch hai.. par... I cant read him! Priya exclaimed.. Kabhi kabhi lagta hai yeh pyar hai... aur kabhi kabhi... bohot gehri dosti!

Priya.. mann mein kuch bhi doubt mat rakh! I am sure he loves you! Main manti hoon aaj usne jo kiya bohot galat kiya. Par Priya dekh tujhe hi initiative leke thoda expressive hona padega beta.. tujhe maloom hai na woh kaisa hai..

Nahi Ma.. mujhe kuch bhi force nahi karna hai us par. Agar use sach much dil se feel hota hai toh woh khudh hi bolega.. till that time I will wait. Aur agar use kabhi bhi feel nahi hua .. toh bhi its okay! Main aise bhi bohot khush hoon Ma.. bas kabhi kabhi thoda expect kar leti hoon.. par woh meri galti hai uski nahi. Priya wiped her face and looked towards Krishanji.. Aap bhi promise kijiye aap use kuch nahi bolenge...

Thik hai Priya.. jaise teri marzi... par abhi toh uski khabar lungi main.. Krishanji started dialling a number...

Ma please use phone mat kijiye...Priya tried to interrupt...

Use nahi Gupta ji ko phone kar rahi hoon.. Par unka bhi phone switched off a raha hai.. strange! Krishanji exclaimed..Priya beta ... tu vrat todh de ab bohot der ho chuka hai..

Nahi Ma...Priya said calmly.. main bhi toh dekhu use kab meri yaad aati hai ...

It was almost close to 1 am when Krishanji could hear Ram's car entering the gateway. A visibly tired and fatigued Ram got the scolding of his life for not reaching home on time. Ram tried to explain something ... but Krishnaji refused to listen to him. She ordered him to immediately go to Priya, informing him that she had till then not broken her fast.

Oh God.. Ram thought to himself .. Yeh ladki bhi na..marwayegi mujhe kisi din.. He scampered upstairs to her room, but Priya was not there. He searched throughout the house, the rooms, kitchen, puja room .. and finally went towards the backdoor. That's the only probable place where he knew he could find her.

As expected Priya was sitting on the bench, she had changed into a simple salwar kameez and removed all the jewellery that she had worn throughout the day.

Arey Priya..tu idhar hai! Ram sat beside her, looking all exhausted.. I am so sorry..Main thoda phas gaya tha. Actually kya hua ke ...

Please Ram.. never mind.. said Priya calmly.. You are not answerable to me in any way, so just leave it..

Aise kyun baat kar rahi hai.. Ram said in a disturbed tone.. Meri baat toh sun le pehle ke kya hua!

Mujhe nahi sunna kuch bhi... tere reasons tere pass hi rakh.. Priya's voice was cold... and irritatingly calm..

Okay ... par tujhe bola tha na ke tu vrat thod dena ..He said firmly... Phir yeh sab kya hai! Ma ne bola ke tune...

Look ...Priya stopped him in the middle of his words... you did whatever you felt like .. and I did whatever I wanted to ! We don't owe each other anything... so.. for God's sake... just leave it! The harshness in her voice doubled his anger as well!

Okay.. He retorted... ..Agar aisa hi hai.. toh leave it then... Without a single word he got up and left the place...

Priya stood standstill for a while... her eyes moistening as she got up and entered the house.

She walked towards the stairs leading to their bedroom .. when somebody called her..Memsahab...

Memsahab... Car ki keys...

Inder.. tum abhi tak ghar nahi gaye ? Priya enquired...

Nahi Madam.. sahab ko chodne ke baad Mehtaji ko chodne gaya tha!

Mehtaji? Woh bhi the itni raat ko office mein? Priya asked surprisingly..

Office mein nahi madam... hospital mein! Inder exclaimed..

What ? Priya asked in astonishment... Kyun kya hua?

Aapko pata nahi madam? Guptaji ko .. subhe hi heart attack aaya ..Sahab aur office ke baki sab log.. udhar hi they! Abhi bhi raat ko ruke hue hai kuch log...

My goodness! Priya shivered in anticipation.. kaise hai Guptaji? Mujhe toh kisi ne kuch nahi bataya!

Woh thik hai madam! Isi liye toh sahab ghar aaye! He exclaimed!

Ohhh .. Thank God!! Priya heaved a sigh of relief.. Itni raat ho gayi hai.. Tum yaha hi ruk jao.. subhe chale jana! She said.. Aur Bansi kaka ko bolti hoon kuch khane ko le aaye..

Thank you madam! Inder said.. humne kha liya madam.. koi problem nahi hai! Bas .. sahab hi kuch nahi khaye .. subhe se!

Kuch nahi khaye? Kyun?

Woh... bole ke vrat hai toh...

Ohh.. thik hai! Priya heaved a sigh... Tum jao abhi!

Priya scampered upstairs.. straight into Ram's bedroom. These many years she could not remember a single instance where he would have fasted! Even when Geeta used to do all these, Ram would always make fun of her, and would insist not to indulge into such customs! And today..if indeed he fasted.. then it must be very very special!

Priya paced towards his bedroom and peeped inside...the lights were off, Ram was lying on the bed, his arms resting lightly over his forehead.

Priya entered silently, coming close to his bed and whispered ... Ab kaise hai Guptaji ?

Ram removed his arms and looked up.. Thik hai... tujhe kisne bataya ?

Inder! Said Priya.. slowly.. Tu bhi toh bata sakta tha!

Arey tum log tension lete is liye pehle nahi bataya!Aur wapis aane ke baad ... mujhe baat karne ka mauka hi kaha diya tune!

I am sorry! Priya said holding his hands...Ab baatein chod.. chal khana kha le.. Kuch nahi khaya tune!

Tune bhi toh kuch nahi khaya! Ram sat up on the bed facing her... Chal pehle vrat todte hai!

Abhi ? Priya said surprisingly.. Its 1' o clock.. pata nahi abhi tithi bhi hai ya nahi...

Arey goli mar tithi ko.. Ram said casually.. humein jab bhi maan kare tab karenge... Kya problem hai!

Okay... Priya smiled..Main puja room se thali leke aati hoon.. tu terrace pe aaja!

Ruk ek second.. Ram got up and walked towards his cupboard and took out a packet...

Ye le.. he took out a saree from the packet , smiling at Priya ...Yeh .. tere liye..

Mere liye ? Priya took the saree in her hands...a beautiful green silk with red border.. Its beautiful Ram... her eyes lit up as she spoke...Yeh sab kab laya tu ?

Kal raat ko hi laya tha... subhe dena tha par phone aaya toh.. I forgot! Ram said..

Raat ko ... matlab.. tujhe yaad tha ? Priya said, her voice choking in emotion..

Haan... Ram said .. pausing a bit..blushing..

Tu na... bohot natak karta hai !Priya nudged him lightly in his arms..Ruk mein pahen ke aati hoon .. terrace pe...

Krishnaji's words were ringing in her ears as she almost run to her room, and closed the door! She clung to the saree , and cried...her tears washing away all her anger and turmoil of last few hours. Use yaad thi.. she whispered to herself.. kaal raat se .. yaad tha use! She took some time to gather herself and finally draped the saree , went to the Puja room, arranged the thali and went to the terrace.

The terrace was dimly lit, and Ram stood at one corner.

Kitna time leti hai.. main kab se khada hoon.. He said as she came near him... Aur.. phir.. He stopped as he saw her... she was the same... as he had seen her for years together.. yet .. something..was different! For a second.. his thoughts deviated in a direction where it has never gone before!

Aise kya dekh raha hai ! She quipped, pulling Ram out of his thoughts...

Kuch nahi.. tu puja shuru kar! He said..trying to gather his thoughts!

Priya looked around for the moon, but just could not see it.. She was perplexed as to how to start the puja, when Ram said softly.. Chand ki kya zarurat hai.. hum dono hai na! Waise soch.. agar mein subhe aata toh hum suraj dekh ke vrat tod te kya! He placed his hands around the puja thali, and they both together performed the puja. The next few minutes witnessed the most unique Karva Chauth ever... no mantras.. no moon... no tithi...no rituals...just two people caught in an unconventional marriage...in the path of realizing their unconditional love .. for each other!

After the puja, Priya bent down to touch his feet.

Areyy kya kar rahi hai.. Koi nahi dekh raha .. He said , lifting her up by her arms..

Matlab? Priya looked at him.. Tujhe kya lagta hai.. Main sirf logon ko dikhane ke liye karti hoon ?

Nahi.. aisa nahi hai... I mean..Main toh chota hoon .. toh phir... Ram looked at her hesitatingly..

Uff Ram.. tu na .. buddhu hai ekdum... she said, holding the water pot to make Ram take a sip.

Maine piya hai... pani... I mean nahi manage ho raha tha!

Okay baba.. thik hai.. Priya smiled, as Ram made her drink some water.

Aur.. do baar coffee bhi piya... Ram added!

Arey thik hai.. chill.. Maine hisab manga kya! Priya tried to pacify him...

Hmmm... aur.. He paused... Cigars ko pakad te hain kya .. fasting mein? Woh bhi toh piya!

Areyy bas kar ab! Priya giggled... Mujhe nahi sunna .. ab kitni hawa khaya uska bhi calculation karega kya!

Chal ab .. have sweets.. She picked up a piece from the plate...and put it into his mouth...

Rukh.. mujhe snaps lena hai..Ram picked up his phone and started clicking as both fed sweets to each other!

Chal ab... kuch kha lete hai.. Priya said finally.. bohot late ho gaya hai toh I will bring something light..

Light ? Arey aaj toh accha kuch bana hoga na? Mujhe sab khana hai!

Abhi ? Itni raat ko ? Priya rolled her eyes..

Yes.. please! Ram made a puppy face..

Okay.. Room mein hi leke aati hoon.. tu fresh ho ja! Priya smiled as she went downstairs into the kitchen to warm up the food.

Ram had an ecstatic smile on his face as he gorged on the delicacies laid out to him. Priya watched him with a smile, as she slowly nibbled onto her food!

Ram... she asked once they had finished their food and cleared off the plates... Ek baat puchu ?

Kya ..he said leaning onto the couch... lazily...

Yeh.. aaj.. tune kyun fasting ki ? Priya asked softly.. Matlab.. tu toh pehle kabhi nahi karta tha!

Aise hi... tera sath dene ke liye! He said ...

Sirf mera saath dene ke liye ? Aur kuch nahi ? She insisted once again!

Nahi re.. tujhe kya lagta hai main yeh sab cheezo mein believe karta hoon? He said smiling at her.. Chal ab .. let me sleep.. bohot tired hoon!

Priya sported a faint smile as she left the room, wondering what might be going on inside his mind!

Ram switched off the lights and prepared to sleep. His body was tired, because of the hectic schedule throughout the day , but his mind was restless. He himself has been thinking.. he had never planned to fast for the day.. but somehow.. Priya's messages kept on beeping in his phone throughout the day, and whenever he had a chance to eat, he somehow felt he should not! He could not decipher what made him do so, but then.. Ram Kapoor surviving on 2 cups of coffee and a few sips of water .. was just unbelievable! He stared at the bedside photo of himself with Geeta, and slowly dozed off to sleep!