FF : Bas Pyar Ho Gaya | Part 32 pg 153 updt 11.12. 2016 - Page 82

Chap 27

Priya was the first one to open her eyes as the morning rays peeped through the curtains and bathed the bedroom in KM. She opened her eyes, and looked beside her. Ram was in deep sleep, almost in her arms, with his hands lightly placed on hers. She looked at Ram lovingly, slowly running her fingers through his forehead and his hair. Last night, she could understand the intensity of his emotions, of how he is caught between his past loss and his current possession, and she knew she must be careful while dealing with him. She looked at the watch, it was already 7.30am, she slowly crept out of the bed without disturbing him. Sudhirji had arranged for a meeting with his friend, advocate Mr Prasad, at 11 am to help them to appeal in the higher court. Priya got ready quickly and went downstairs to the kitchen.

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Minutes after Priya left, Ram stirred in the bed , half asleep. After a few minutes, he finally opened his eyes. His head was heavy, his vision was blurred, and it took a few more minutes for him to realize where exactly he was ! He stared vaguely around, scanning the room with his eyes in an attempt to recollect what exactly had happened last night. He was still in his shirt and trousers, and the case papers on the table, the burnt marks on the floor, and the bandage in his wrist helped him to refresh a few scenes from the last night, but he still did not know how he landed up in bed!

Shit! He exclaimed to himself, as he got up and paced restlessly throughout the room, cursing himself in anticipation of anything wrong that he might have done under the influence of alcohol. He remembered Priya and Krishnaji were in the room, he felt ashamed to have been drunk in front of them. I must apologize.. He thought to himself, and headed directly towards the kitchen.

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As soon as Priya entered the kitchen, Krishnaji greeted her with a smile.

Kaisa hai woh ab... She asked..

Thik hai Maa.. Priya replied calmly... So raha hai abhi bhi...

Hmm... Krishnaji nodded her head as she came closer to Priya and asked... Aur... kal kuch baat ki kya usne tujhse...

Priya knew what she meant, but somehow was too shy to reply directly..Kkya baat Maa.. she said..

Priya please.. you know what I mean... Said Krishnaji in an impatient tone... Kal raat kuch baatein nahi hui dono mein? Didn't he admit that he loves you ?

Woh Maa aisa hai ke he was not in his senses.. She said coyly, putting her head down.. he did blabber a lot, but bilkul hosh mein nahi tha woh Maa..

Before they could finish , they could hear Ram's voice from outside.

Maa kaha ho aap.. He called out as he entered into the kitchen and went straight towards Krishnaji.. Maa I am sorry Maa .. He said as he hugged her tightly.. Pata nahi kaal aisa kya ho gaya mujhe..I don't even know what I said or did.. I just could not control myself ...He said in one breath as he sobbed slowly ...

Its okay beta.. I understand ... Krishnaji said, slowly patting him on his back to pacify him... Kal raat se kuch nahi khaya ... ab jaldi se naasta kar le..

Ram slowly lifted his face, rubbing his eyes, as he saw Priya standing silently at one corner of the kitchen.

Priya I am really sorry yaar.. he said .. Actually kya hai ke... Before he could say anything further, Bansi Kaka entered the kitchen and informed that Dr Shah had come.

Priya had actually called the doctor to do a quick check up of Ram's wound in his left wrist. Bansi Kaka escorted the doctor upstairs as Ram and Priya followed silently. The doctor dressed up the wound, gave a tetanus injection and prescribed a few pain killers before leaving.

As soon as the doctor left the room, Ram sat up on the bed and called Priya and asked her to sit beside him. Priya came and sat beside him silently, her heart beating with expectation .

Priya .. I am really sorry.. He said looking straight into her eyes.. Kal raat ke liye! Mujhe pata nahi whether I have said or done something wrong... I am really sorry!

Priya looked at him intently... Toh...tujhe kuch bhi yaad nahi ? She asked..

Nah! He said .. bas itna yaad hai ke tu aur Maa mujhse kuch baat kar rahe the jab main neeche padha hua tha...

Haa.. aur uske baad? Priya asked anxiously..

Uske baad.. sab blank hai... Ram said in despair.. Mujhe aur kuch yaad nahi..

Ohh ! Priya heaved a deep sigh...Sach much tujhe kuch yaad nahi?

Nahi bola na... Par tu aise baar baar kyun puch rahi hai hai Priya ... Maine .. kuch galat kar diya kya? He asked in apprehension..

Nahi... She smiled .. tune kuch bhi galat nahi ki ! Chal ab taiyyar ho ja we need to go out to meet Mr Prasad..

Mr Prasad? Ram asked twitching his eyebrows... You mean advocate Prasad?

Yes..We need to prepare the papers as quickly as possible to appeal to the high court..

Par Priya... Tujhe pata hai na.. Kal gusse mein maine bohot saare papers jala diye.. He said dejectedly.. Ab pata nahi kaise dubara appeal karenge !

Oh.. don't worry.. I have a copy of all the papers with me...we can manage!

He looked at her surprisingly as a reassuring smile flashed across her face...

Copy? ... Copy kaha se mili tujhe ?

You remember , jab maine pehli baar tera cupboard khola tha, and took out the files to consult with Mr Prasad and then we had a big fight after that ? Tujhe saare papers wapis karne se pehle I had kept a copy, so I guess it should be fine.

Oh Priya... you know what.. you are such a darling.. He spoke with excitement as he pulled her into a hug... Tu nahi hoti na toh pata nahi main...

Are Okay.. okay.. ab zyada senti hone ki zarurat nahi.. She smiled .. reciprocating his hug..

Nahi Priya.. its not okay.. He said freeing himself from her embrace.. I always keep on offending you when you are the one who cares the most! Last kuch dino se maine tujhse thik se baat bhi nahi ki... I don't know how you tolerate such nonsense from me! Tere jagah koi aur hota toh ...

Koi aur hota toh kya ?

Mujhe aise koi nahi tolerate karta I know! Kuch toh bolta .. I am sure!

Mujhe bhi kuch bolna hai.. Priya said looking at his eyes..

Kya?

Ram... Zindagi mein ek raaste se chalte hue agar kuch galat ho jaye toh zaruri nahi hai ke dosh apna ho ya us raaste ka! Dosh sirf halat ka hota hai! Aaj kisi raaste pe chalte hue agar hadsa ho, toh kal usi raaste pe chalte hue kuch haseen bhi ho sakta hai , you never know! She smiled as she said those words, and silently left the room.

Ram thought for a while, and then got up to refresh himself. He was badly in need of a bath, his thoughts started clearing up once he stood below the shower. Priya's parting words were still hovering in his mind though... as he tried to decipher its real context.

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As soon as she came down to the kitchen, Krishnaji confronted her..

Kya hua Priya .. kuch baat hui Ram se?

Nahi Maa.. She nodded her head.. and briefed her about their conversation.

Dhat teri ki.. Krishanji put her hands on her fore head... But thik hai... Tujhe bas yahi doubt tha na ke whether he loves you or not, ab toh woh bhi clear ho gaya. Ab bhi agar woh kuch nahi bolta toh tu jaake us se baat kar ... openly...

Haa Maa.. par he needs some time.. Priya said in a gentle voice.. Kal raat mujhe pata chala ... how insecure he feels !

Mujhe yeh sab pata nahi Priya... Bas bohot ho gaya now I want to see both of you happy! She said sternly...Ya tu baat kar nahi toh phir main hi us se baat karungi...

Nahi nahi Maa .. Woh khud hi baat karega, bas thoda time chahiye.. Aisa hi hai woh.. I have seen this before! Priya said smilingly... Pata hai college days mein ek saal tak har roz mujhe Geeta ke baarein mein batata, par agar main bolu ke Ram ... you are in love toh he will deny! Phir jab 3 months Geeta was away at a Summer camp tab janab ko realize hua.. And you know Maa... he proposed her in 44^th attempt! She chuckled as she spoke ... 6 months se roz mujhe pakata tha.. Aaj bol dunga .. kal bol dunga! Actually maine Geeta se pehle hi baat kar li thi, so that she knew what to expect!

Hey bhagwan.. Krishnaji exclaimed... Biji ne uska naam sahi rakkha tha.. Golu ! Par Priya tu toh sensible hai na... Geeta ke waqt tu thi, ab tere waqt koi nahi hai! Is liye baat toh tujhe hi karna hai na?

Haa Maa.. but is baar baat alag hai.. he is stressed out with so many things... Thoda settle ho jaaye toh phir woh khud hi karega!

Look Priya... Aise is baat ko indefinitely nahi khich sakte! Next month.. tum logon ka first marriage anniversary hai.. So I give you a deadline... us se pehle .. you have to talk to him.. Nahi toh phir main hi baat karungi! Krishnaji said sternly...

Arey Maa.. yeh sab cheeze aise deadline se thodi hota hai? Priya tried to persuade her..

I don't know ...I gave a deadline and you have to follow it.. She ordered and moved out of the kitchen!

Priya heaved a deep sigh in tension... She knew this adamancy ... it was so Kapoorish!

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Ram and Priya sat silently as they returned from the advocate's office. They both were engrossed in their thoughts after an hour long meeting at the advocate's office. Mr Prasad had frankly admitted that though they could appeal at the high court against this decision, but their case was terribly weak. What it lacks is the motive.. He had said.. Without motive, this can only be an accident! He urged Ram to think hard, if he could establish some connection with those men who hit the car. How can a Travera disbalance a Honda city... was also a question that needed to be answered. The Honda city was Ram's first car, he hardly used it though! It was strange that Geeta opted for that car for her Pune trip.

Priya... chal aaj thoda shopping jaate hai.. Ram broke the silence ..

Shopping...? Achanak ?

Haa.. next week Gaurav ka shaadi hai... kuch bhi shopping nahi hua! Aur phir accha sa gift bhi toh lena hai!

Priya had a triumphant smile on her face as she heard this! Toh... hum Pune ja rahe? She asked ...

Haa ..

By car ... right ? She wanted to reassure she has understood it right..

Yes.. He said..

Okay... but I have one condition.. Priya said.. I will drive...

Tu ? Kyun Inder ko leke jaate hai na ? Ram insisted..

No... Priya said emphatically... I will drive.. and thats final..

Ram kept quiet for a few seconds, as if to drive away the fear that had nested at one corner of his mind... and finally said... Okay...

Oh great .. Priya said holding his arm in excitement...

You are happy na.. ? He enquired .. smiling

Yes... Very much... She smiled back...