FF : Bas Pyar Ho Gaya | Part 32 pg 153 updt 11.12. 2016 - Page 86

Part 29

The next few days passed very swiftly, all being busy in various functions and ceremonies. The marriage went off well, and the reception was arranged at a huge banquet hall in the hotel. It was late in the evening, and Priya and Krishnaji had just filled their dinner plates and sat on a round table at one corner of the dining hall. They could see Ram at a distance, standing near the stage, holding Pihu's hands and chatting and greeting some guests. They had just started nibbling at their food after a long, tiring day when suddenly they could hear some ladies at the table in front of them chatting aloud.

Woh Pihu hai na ... Geeta ki beti ? One said... biting into her kabab... and pointing to Pihu ...

Yes... the other one replied, sipping at her fresh lime soda... Kitni badi ho gayi hai na? Geeta ke jaane ke baad pehli baar dekha usko..

Haa... she looks beautiful and happy too.. a third one replied... Ram ki jo dusri wife hai na... Priya... sach much bohot acchi hai. She takes really good care of her...

They had their backs towards them, and none of them could see Priya and Krishnaji , as they continued...

Arey shuru shuru mein sab waise hi hote hai.. The first one rebuked..Ek baar khud ka baccha aane do phir dekho kaise priorities badal jaate hai...

Haa woh bhi sahi hai.. The second one nodded..Its not easy to accept somebody else's child as yours! Isi liye toh Ram ne us se shaadi ki hogi.. ta ke dusre bacche ka option hi na rahe...

Matlab... mein samjhi nahi .. the third one asked..

Arey purane family friends hai... conventional couples nahi hai dono... The second one explained... Maine toh suna hai ke ghar mein bhi alag bedrooms mein sote hai dono...

Oh is it so... The third one replied...Mujhe toh itna kuch pata nahi tha...

Krishnaji nodded her head in disgust as she looked at Priya... she was biting her lips hard in order to control her emotions... and yet tears started rolling down her cheeks...

Ma... she said in a shaky voice.. Main thoda room mein jati hoon... Aap Pihu ko sula dijiyega .. please.. She left her half eaten dinner plate and got up to leave..

Priya.. beta dinner toh khatam kar le.. Krishnaji pleaded..

Nahi Ma.. please .. Priya's voice trembled as she went straight outside the banquet hall..

A tensed Krishnaji immediately called Ram, briefed him about what had happened, and urged him to go to the room upstairs.

Ram rushed to their suite, and knocked at the door...

Priya.. He called softly... Please .. open the door..

There was no response...

He took out his phone and texted... Please let me in Priya... I need to talk to you !

Within two minutes the door opened, and he barely entered when an exhausted and heart - broken Priya landed straight into his arms, crying inconsolably. He embraced her with one arm, and closed the door silently with the other hand...

Priya... he said softly.. running his fingers slowly through her hair... Look Maa told me everything... But why do you listen to such rubbish? Kyun sunti hai logon ka bakwas! Why does this nonsense even bother you!

I don't know! She whispered ... Sobbing still ... she lifted her head from his chest to look into his eyes... Ram... tell me... Tu bhi aisa hi sochta hai kya ? She asked earnestly...

Kya? Ram asked.. unable to comprehend what she meant!

Aaj... agar we have a child of our own, I would neglect Pihu ? Tu bhi yahi sochta hai .. ke I will differentiate? She asked.. Isi liye tu ... she stopped in between ... her voice breaking down in emotion

Priya... Ram's voice fumbled ...as he spoke.. I mean... yeh possible nahi hai ... you know.. phir...

I don't want to know about possibilities! I just want to know ...tu kya sochta hai! She insisted...

Look Priya.. Ram said lifting her face in between his palms... Main yahi manta hoon ke Pihu is as much your daughter as she is mine; yaad hai tune khud yeh baat bola tha mujhe, and nothing can change this fact! Aur ek baat bhi sun le... its true that Pihu played a big part in getting us married, but aaj almost ek saal baad I know ke even if Pihu was not there in my life, then also I would have married only you, because there is no one else who understands me better... For me.. it is you or NONE! He spoke those words in one breath, and pulled her into a hug. His reassuring words soothed her heart, as she clung to his broad shoulders easing her head onto his chest. They stayed in each other's arms for a minute, when a harsh sound of the doorbell made them break their silence...

Are you okay ? He whispered ...

Hmmm... she replied... popping her head above his chest...

He freed her from his arms , and told her to rest inside as he opened the door.

It was the gang of the giggling girls, they wanted Ram and Priya to come down for a family photo session. Ram excused himself , saying Priya was unwell, and needed some rest.

Let me order some food.. He said, once the girls were gone... Maa ne bola mujhe ke tune kuch nahi khaya..

Nahi please... mujhe kuch nahi chahiye.. She said reluctantly...

Uffo... aisa kaise chalega.. Kuch toh le le...

Nahi please.. I don't want anything!

Ram sat beside her and asked softly... Priya... I don't know why you become so sensitive at times... specially about Pihu! Kya fark padhta hai kisne kya bola... why cant you just ignore!

Bas mujhse nahi hota.. she said calmly..I have my reasons for this... tu nahi samjhega!

Arey yeh kya baat hui... he argued.. tu samjha toh sahi...

Priya looked at him calmly for sometime and then her eyes moistened a bit... Because... I have lost my child once...she said in an almost inaudible voice...It hurts somewhere!

Wwhatt? Kkya bol rahi tu! Ram looked at her in surprise, trying to understand if he had heard it right!

Haa... Priya continued in a low voice... I thought a baby could civilize that monster... But ... I lost it ... I had a miscarriage at the fifth month... They told me it was a baby boy...Priya's voice quivered... her eyes bore the testimony of the tremendous pain and anguish that she must have gone through... but she did not break down this time...

Ram on the other hand had a shock of his life... he could not utter a single word for seconds... tears flowed from his eyes ...he did not know why!

I am sorry Priya... he said finally..Mujhe .. pata nahi tha... tune kabhi bataya nahi ...kabhi share nahi ki...

Pata nahi... Maine is barein mein kisi se baat nahi ki... she said trying hard to control her emotions... Bas aaj tujhe bata diya!

Priya... I know ... Before he could complete the sentence the intercom rang. An irritated Ram got up reluctantly to attend the call. There was some over enthusiastic Tai ji on the other side, explaining tomorrow's rituals at the house of the Kulkarnis with the new bride, and that they needed to be at the house by early morning. Ram somehow heard her out patiently, and said yes to everything that she asked for. After 3 minutes , she stopped , reminding him finally of the next day's rituals before hanging up.

Ram banged the phone down, and looked at Priya... she sat on the couch... quietly...

Ram sat beside her...none of them spoke for a while!

Priya.. He finally called softly...Chal... bag pack kar lete hai.. lets go ..He said holding her shoulders and urging her to get up... Yaha aur accha nahi lag raha...

Kaha jana hai ?

Ghar... he said firmly... I don't feel like staying here anymore!

Par ... Ram.. tomorrow people will expect you.. She said faintly...

Arey aisa kuch nahi hai hai.. Shaadi toh ho gaya na.. these ceremonies will continue for ever.. Mujhe aur accha nahi lag raha.. He said ...Tu bag pack kar.. I need to talk to Maa..

Ram told Krishnaji that Priya was too upset, and he wanted to take her away from the crowd. Krishnaji agreed, she said she would talk to the Kulkarnis tomorrow and explain them. It was almost 10 pm , and she suggested Ram not to go back all the way to Mumbai, but to check into any resort in Lonavala for a day to liven up Priya's mood. Ram agreed, and finally it was planned that Krishnaji and Pihu would join them tomorrow in the same resort for a day before they get back to Mumbai.

Priya felt a bit better as she removed all the elaborate jewellery and her saree and changed into a casual white Tee with a pair of denims. Ram too changed into a casual check shirt and a pair of cotton chinos.

Lets call a cab.. Priya said packing her bag... I don't feel like driving, car yahi pe chodte hai..

Its okay.. I will drive .. Ram said.. Kal Maa aur Pihu ke liye dusra car arrange kar denge...

Priya looked at him surprisingly... Tu drive karega? Are you sure...

Yes.. Ram reassured her... No issues... chal jaate hai..

Priya glanced at him for a second, and nodded her head with a smile .

The white Audi of the Kapoors sped across the Mumbai Pune Highway towards the Aambey valley, where a pool side cottage had been booked for them in just 15 minutes notice by the ever efficient Jenny.

Both of them hardly talked as they drove, each one of them engrossed in their own thoughts!

Ram's reassuring words had healed Priya , and she was feeling even lighter to have shared one of the most painful episodes in her life. She was suddenly in a very peaceful state of mind.

Ram on the other hand was far from being peaceful... his thoughts strayed to unknown and unprecedented corners of his heart. Priya probably wanted a child of her own, though Pihu is no less than her own child but still... did she desire for more? Getting married to him meant she could never think in that direction...and yet.. .. He remembered how she asked him ... agar we get a child of our own.. The way she uttered those words had a deep impact on him... and it kept on lingering in his mind.

They were around 10 kms away from their destination, when suddenly light drops of rain slashed against the car windows.

Priya's eyes glimmered with joy... Ram... do minute car rok na.. She said... dekh kitna accha barish ho rahi hai!

Arey par barish mein car kyun rokna ? Ram asked...

Uffo... Mujhe thoda bahar jana hai.. please .. Priya pleaded...

Ram knew she loved rain... and he hated it! But he didn't want her to be disappointed, and stopped the car at one corner of the road. It was pitch dark outside, and the greenery all around, drenched in the soothing monsoon rains sparkled as the car headlights bathed them. An ecstatic Priya leaned on the railings of the road, stretching both her arms as the light drizzle dripped across her petite frame. Ram was sitting inside the car, but some how felt restless seeing Priya bending too much against the railings. Ram called her twice, but she paid no heed to him, finally he got a bit irritated and came out of the car himself .

Priya... bohot ho gaya abhi andar chal...

Arey bas do minute... She said.. closing her eyes and smelling the rain...

Kya do minute ... puri bheeg gayi hai tu... He scolded looking at her , as her completely wet T shirt hugged her frame cosily. A strap of her inner garment peeped out of her T shirt.

Suddenly, the head lights of a patrolling Police jeep fell right on them, and the vehicle approached and stopped just beside them...

Kya hua Sir... Any problem? An on duty officer peeped out of the window...

No officer... Ram said trying to pose a smile... We are just on our way to Aambey Valley...

Are you sure... everything is all right... The officer said giving a glance at Priya...

Ohh yes.. Ram said..almost guarding Priya completely off the officer's sight ...We just came out of the car to enjoy the rain...

Hmm.. the officer smiled suggestively.. .. okay.. drive safely..

As the police car sped away, Ram turned towards Priya and began yelling at her... Yeh kya bachpana hai aandhi rat ko ? Aur... yeh kaisa T shirt pehna hai .. completely transparent hai yeh toh! Dusra kuch nahi tha tere pass?

His sudden words took Priya by surprise, and in the height of embarrassment as a reflex action she immediately folded her arms across her bosom..Mmujhe kya pata thi bbbarish hogi... She fumbled unconvincingly...

And what is this... He said furiously... dhang se nahi pahen sakti kapde ? Kaise dekh raha tha woh officer tujhe ... Before Priya could understand what he meant his right hand reached out to her shoulder and pulled back the strap of her inner garment inside her T shirt...

So startled was Priya with his unexpected action that she could not dare to look into his eyes , she put her head down , her cheeks turned crimson as she walked slowly towards the car..

Ram , still murmuring something, opened his bag to pull out a shirt and handed it to Priya... Yeh.. pahen le abhi...

Yeh toh bohot bada hai... She tried to protest faintly..

Let it be.. His voice was as authoritative as ever.. Just dal de upar se.. aise nahi le ja sakta tujhe!

Without further argument, Priya plunged inside the shirt, her lean frame barely occupied half of its volume!

The inmates of the car went back to complete the remaining 10 odd kms of their journey. As expected, both were quiet, caught in their own thoughts. Priya blushed to herself, though Ram's behaviour had embarrassed her a lot, she treated this as a major step towards transforming their equation. It took around 5 minutes for Mr Kapoor to cool down and realize what he had done, and it just added more confusion to an already confused mind.

Shit! Yeh kya kar diya maine! How could I touch her b** ...Chi chi!!! Kya ho jata hai mujhe ... all this because of that scoundrel officer, and his filthy eyes! Ufff... bohot bura laga hoga usko! He gave a sly look to check if she was angry! Ab chup chap hai... room mein jake mujhe bohot gali degi! My God... how will I face her! Ram... you are such a waste! He reprimanded himself as he drove!

Within 15 minutes, they reached the resort and checked into their room. Ram did not speak a word, expecting Priya to shout at him! But to his surprise nothing of that sort happened; Priya calmly went inside the washroom first, and changed into her night dress. She asked Ram to change, and enquired what she should order for him. Ram asked for his favourite whiskey, and ran inside the washroom. Next 10 mins he prepared himself to ask sorry to her , almost rehearsing how he would face her and finally changed and came inside the room.

The deluxe cottage they were in had an attached deck , offering an ecstatic view of the pool and the surrounding nature. Priya sat on the floor, flipping her legs across the railings of the stilt, enjoying the cool breeze across the lake, and staring occasionally at the stars glimmering across the dark night sky. Ram came and sat quietly beside her. None of them talked for a while... Finally ... Ram broke the silence...

Priya...ek baat puchu ? He started tentatively

Hmmm...

Almost ek saal ho raha hai na apni shaadi ka ... ?

Yes.. Priya said with a smile...Its been almost a year... Unbelievable!

Accha... you don't regret marrying me na ? He asked..

Of course not... She said looking straight into his eyes... Aise kyun puch raha hai ?

Nahi.. I mean.. agar kisi aur se shaadi karti toh shyad you would have had a much more fulfilling marriage... You know what I mean...

Ram... please... She cut his words in the middle... Abhi thodi der pehle tune bola tha na... for you its me or NONE? It's the same for me Ram... it had to be you... or NONE! This marriage has been extremely fulfilling... believe me...

The door bell rung in between, and Priya got up to open the door. The waiter came in with a glass of hot chocolate and two shots of Jack Daniels.

Drink banau tere liye ? Priya asked softly once the waiter left..

Hmm...

Priya handed over the drinks to him, and sat beside him with her glass of hot chocolate...

There was an uncanny silence between them... both sipped at their drinks without uttering a word...

Ram finished his glass, and came back with a refill...

He took a sip and glanced at Priya... I am sorry... He whispered...trying to gather all the courage to face her...

Priya gave a soothing look to him... Sorry ? for what ?

Woh... actually.. I did not intend to ... pata nahi kaise.. He gulped a mouthful from his glass... Woh officer aa gaya na... toh ..

Its okay... Priya said softly ...

Okay? Ram looked at her surprisingly... Tujhe bura nahi laga ?

Nahi toh! Priya smiled back .. Kyun?

Nahi.. I mean... Ram fumbled as he gulped the contents of the whole glass.

Was he drunk ?... NO... it was just the second small peg! Then how is it that Priya is okay about the whole thing! He looked at her...She was still smiling at him... but this smile of hers was unknown to him! This is NOT the Priya he had known for years, something had changed drastically for sure! He knew what he had done was beyond the line of their friendship... and yet she was okay!! Unable to bear his confusion anymore, he abruptly got up ... Kuch kaam hai mujhe... office ka...

Haa.. chal main bhi andar aati hoon.. Priya got up to go inside.. Thand lag rahi hai mujhe yaha...

Priya went straight to bed, she was shivering a little bit in cold. Ram on the other hand sat with his Ipad, trying hard to concentrate on work but he could not! He navigated to hotstar for the latest in sports... Messi... Djokovic... nothing could pull his concentration back. Finally, he put the Ipad away and tried to sleep. He tossed helplessly in bed, trying hard to get some sleep. His eyes suddenly fell on Priya... her face was calm and peaceful, few stray streaks of hair played around her fore head, her lips quivered a little bit in sleep. For a second, his thoughts strayed to forbidden regions, and he sat up on the bed. He sipped a little bit of water, took his pillow and comforter and went to the couch to sleep. He curled up his heavy frame somehow in the couch, looked at a picture of Geeta on his mobile screen and whispered ... I don't know... Yeh sab kya ho raha hai! Believe me... Mujhe kuch nahi pata!