19th February - These Days of Ours.
OK, I've jumped ahead here a little ladies. Let me just set the scene for you.
Birwa's raaz is out. Don't ask me the how's and why's. Just assume it has happened. DM is considering what to do about it. In the mean time Maudeep realise that Santu is dangerously close to convincing DM that they are indeed running a flesh trade. They decide that drastic measures must be taken. They kidnap her. But while they are doing so, Birwa comes upon them. Slimeball takes her too.
The truck jolted along the broken, dusty road leading out of D'pur. With each jolt, Santu and Birwa were thrown against the sides of the vehicle. Both had hands tied behind their backs and therefore completely helpless. Santu looked at her daughter. She looked scared. Whatever happened to her, she could not allow anything to happen to Birwa. She hadn't sacrificed so much and come so far, only to let harm come to her now.
"Birwa, listen to me. There's no-one here in the back with us. And the driver can't see. There's only a canvas covering the back. Now is your chance to jump out"
Birwa looked at Santu in disbelief. "Have you gone mad? Jump out of a moving vehicle?"
Santu tried to get closer to her, but the jerking of the truck wouldn't let her. "Birwa, listen to me. You have no idea what Sandeep is capable of. You have to escape" Birwa couldn't understand what Santu was thinking about.
"They will see us, and then we will be in even more trouble. Aur, why do you keep telling me to escape? What about you?"
"Don't worry about me. You just jump out" Birwa looked at Santu. Once again, here she was trying to save her. She shook her head.
"Nahi maa. Ek baar pehle maine tume akela chod kar chali gayi thi, dobara chod kar nahi jaungi" Santu looked into her daughters eyes. Birwa had called her maa again. She wanted to throw her arms around her and hold on to her, but she couldn't. She had to save Birwa.
"I love you a lot Birwa. I loved you from the moment I met you all those years ago. You are my daughter and I will always protect you at any cost" So saying Santu swung her legs out and pushed Birwa out of the truck. Birwa went flying out of the vehicle and landed with a heavy thud on the side of the road. Through the floating canvas Santu caught glimpses of Birwa lying there. She hoped that she wasn't hurt. She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw in the distance Birwa slowly sit up on bent knees. It was better for her out there on the road, with a broken bone or two, than on her way to God only knows where and what.
As Santu was dragged from the truck and hauled into a ramshackle building, she saw Maulik entering it with Sandeep, just ahead of her. How low has Maulik descended, she thought to herself. She stared defiantly at him. Maulik did not or could not meet her eyes. He looked over her head and said nothing. Sandeep broke the silence.
"Maulik, leave from here" Maulik look startled.
"Kyun?"
"Just go from here". There was something menacing in Sandeep's voice and immediately the alarm bells started ringing in both Maulik and Santu's head. "Jiju, you said we would just kidnap her and send her far enough away so that she can never make her way back to D'pur. That's all. Now what are you thinking?"
Sandeep smirked. The expression turned Santu cold. She thanked God for having given her the foresight to have saved Birwa. "I want to teach this crusading saint a lesson. One that she will never forget. She tried to bring me down? Me? Now she'll know what happens to those who cross my path"
Maulik stepped back almost losing balance. "Jiju, you can't harm her. You said we would only send her away. You can't harm her!" Sandeep merely smirked nastier.
"I will get rid off her. When I've finished with her. Look Maulik I will do what I want. And I will do it with you here or not". Maulik's face turned pale. What had he done? What had he done? "Jiju!" he yelled. But he was cut short by a soft gentle voice.
"Maulik Bhai, jaiye yahan se. Leave me to my fate" Maulik looked at Santu incredulously. Had she gone mad? Did she know what Sandeep would do to her? "Santu, tum samaj nahi pa.." Once again he was cut short.
"I understand Maulik Bhai. I understand. Go. Right now I'm not asking you as the wife of your father or as Santu. I'm asking you as a mother. Please go" Santu didn't want her 'son' to see anything. No child should have to see this. Maulik looked at Santu, and for the first time he saw what she really was. He understood what she asked for. But how could he go? He tried to say something again, but this time Sandeep was not in the mood to engage in dialogue. He pulled out his gun and pointed it straight between Mauliks eyes. Santu shouted "Nahi!". Maulik took a step back. He looked from one to the other as he did so, before running out of the door.
Sandeep returned the gun to his pocket and turned to Santu. "Toh, you have a penchant for fighting wrong huh?" He walked towards her with slow, measured steps. He took hold of one shoulder and with his other hand he ran a finger across Santu's cheek. Santu recoiled at his touch. She felt the bile rise to her throat. Sandeep pulled her towards himself roughly. "Let's see how good you are at fighting now"
He yanked her across the room and pushed her down onto a pile of dirty matting on the floor. Santu screamed, both in pain and in fear. Sandeep dropped to his knees and slapped her across the face. "Chup kar!" He tried to push her down onto the floor, but Santu raised her legs to his knees and pushed him away with all her might.
This only served to increase Sandeep's anger and resolve. He took hold of her legs and pulled her across the floor in one fell swoop. Santu felt her skin scrape against the cold stone floor. It burned, as if someone had lit a match to her bare flesh. She screamed again. And again felt the sting of Sandeep's palm across her cheek. Sandeep held down her legs and straddled them. He grabbed her by the hair and hit her head on the floor several times. Santu felt his hands tug at the pallu of her saree. She felt the pins that held it in place pop off and the pallu yanked away.
Somewhere along their struggle, the rope that tied her hands had loosened enough that she was able to free one arm from behind her back and she brought this promptly crashing against Sandeep's head. He had not been expecting it and it stunned him momentarily. Santu took advantage of that moment, and scratched his face with her fingers. In the event of doing this, she in turn caused Sandeep to scratch and tear the skin on her arms in a vain attempt to catch them. He was half-blinded by the sting of her nails running down his face. He grabbed her by the waist, pinching the flesh of her stomach in the process, and pinned her down. Santu felt as if she would pass out from the pain. Sandeep's leery face loomed above her's and through her hazy vision she could just make out the cold hard look in his eyes as he brought it closer to hers.
Suddenly, she heard a scream, and saw Sandeep fall back. "*****! *****! (two words that begin with k 😆). I will not spare you!" Somewhere in the distance Santu thought she heard the voice of malik. Had malik come? Was she dreaming? She felt fuzzy and her head swimmed uncontrollably. She heard something that sounded like a dull heavy thud. Several times. What was it? Where was it coming from?
DM lifted the log once more, ready to bring it down upon Sandeep's head. But instead, he suddenly felt himself fall back. Sandeep had grabbed DM's ankles and pulled causing him to lose balance and drop to the floor. Quick as a flash, Sandeep grabbed the log out of DM's hands and flinging it aside with one hand, with the other he produced his again and pointed it at DM. DM was three times as old as him and and an old man to boot. Granted he was strong thought Sandeep, but he wasn't so nimble anymore.
"You really should not have done that papa"
"Ay!" DM yelled. "Don't call me papa. Don't insult the status of a son" Sandeep merely sneered.
"Teek hai. Toh what shall I call you? Dharamraj Mahiyavanshi? Well, whatever I call you, the result will be the same. Because now as well as seeing to your wife I'm going to have to kill you too". He cocked his gun and aimed.
"Not if I kill you first Jiju". Maulik stood at the entrance, gun in hand and determination in his eyes. DM looked at Maulik. Right now, he didn't know whether to be dissappointed or relieved at the sight of Maulik here. Sandeep turned and shifted his gun from father to son. Dammit. He had banked on Maulik's cowardice. Maulik may be nasty, but he was too much of a coward to go all in, when it came to things like this. He had been sure that Maulik would have left.
"So you came back? Looks like all the mahiyavanshi's have a death wish in one way or the other", he sneered. Maulik simply pointed his gun. "Papa ko chod dijye". He felt sick and wasn't sure he could carry out the necessary if called for.
"Papa? Lekin you're the one who said all the time that he was no father to you!" Sandeep laughed. Maulik grimaced. He had said it. And often, But right now,those words, those sentiments seemed so painfully pathetic even to his ears. He stared straight at Sandeep when he spoke. He could feel DM's eyes on him.
"Whatever my misguided feelings, this man brought me up. I am his son. He is my father and I won't let you harm him" Sandeep's eyes narrowed to slits. Maulik was bluffing. But Maulik assured him he was not. Sandeep then smiled, a crooked, sly sort of smile. "But you were quite happy to let me harm your 'papa's' wife hmm?" Maulik flinched at his words. He had ran away at first. But he hadn't got far before whatever conscience still resided in him forced him to turn back. He had come for Santu. He hadn't known that his father would be here.
"I came for her. Whether I ever wanted to admit it or not, Santu meri ma jaise hai. Yehi haqeeqat hai" Sandeep shrugged his shoulders and replied nonchalantly. "Well as lovely as this family reunion is, I don't have the time to sit and enjoy it" He turned to DM and placed a finger on the trigger.
"Jiju don't. I will shoot you" Maulik steadied his arms. Sandeep increased his pressure on the trigger. Maulik locked his elbows and shifted the aim from the side of Sandeep's head to the side of his body. Sandeep gave the trigger one last pull, and a shot reverberated around the empty shell of the building.
He dropped his gun and staggered to the floor. Within seconds, a flurry of activity erupted around him. Maulik dropped his gun and stood rooted to the spot. Behind him, police officers ran into the building and scattered in all directions. DM leapt to his feet and run to the lifeless figure of Santu on the floor. He covered her with her torn pallu as best he could. He turned to Maulik and yelled for him to bring his shawl. Maulik was pulled out of his trance by DM's thundering voice. He ran to where Dm's shawl lay on a crumpled heap. He handed the shawl to DM. He dared not look at him. He looked at Santu instead.
DM covered her with the shawl and cradled her in his arms. He called out her name. Santu's eyes flickered. She knew that voice. It was familiar. It soothed her immediately. It was a voice that seemed to personify a warm, soft glowing light. She murmured a faint 'malik' before the blood rushed to her head and she blacked out. DM picked her up in his arms and swiftly carried her out.
(Later in the evening at M-mansion)
The doctor walked downstairs after spending a considerable time with Santu. The whole family was waiting for him. As he reached them, DM got up from his seat. He cleared his throat. It felt so dry and parched for some reason. "Doctor woh kaise hai? Woh...woh toh..." He struggled to find the words with which to ask what his heart feared the answer to. The doctor placed a hand on his arm and spoke calmly and assuredly.
"Mrs Mahiyavanshi teek hai. She is battered and bruised. She has numerous superficial injuries and is in tremendous pain. But she is OK. Do you understand what I am saying Mr. Mahiyavanshi? You're wife is alright"
DM slumped down onto the sofa and dropped his head into his hands. The doctor continued, "I have given her medication for the pain and some sleeping pills. Her mind needs to settle and calm down, and her body needs the rest and time to heal. She will wake up in her own time"
(Sometime later)
DM opened the door to his room. Santu lay asleep on the bed. He entered and closed the door behind him. He sat on the edge of the bed. Santu didn't move. Her arms lay, lifeless by her side. There were cuts and bruises along its entire length. DM took her hand in his and stroked it. Such small, delicate hands. He thought back to the day that he had first held her hand properly and had asked her why they were so tiny. Their wedding night seemed such a long time ago. She had answered "kyun ke inhe hamesha aap ki hathon ka sahara zaroorat hai" He dipped his head and felt the tears run down his cheek. He tried to stop them, but presently the silent tears became wracking sobs. He didn't know how long he had sat there.
For the next few days Santu slipped in and out of consciousness. For most of that time DM either sat on the edge of the bed or in his chair, just looking at her. Waiting.
A few more days pass before Santu is awake and alert. With the exception of the cuts and bruises, she is physically well. How she is faring mentally, only time would tell.
(About a week later, it is late in the evening and most of the family have retired to bed. DM is waiting in the room for Santu and when she doesn't appear he goes in search of her)
DM walks up the stairs to the terrace. This is the last place, he thought. He had looked everywhere else. As he got to the top and stepped out onto the terrace, he saw Santu standing with her back to him facing out towards the land. It was a warm, balmy night. She seemed oblivious to his presence. He walked towards her and stopped. She didn't turn around. He walked closer and placed a hand on her shoulder. She didn't move. "Santu"
His voice washed over her and Santu instinctively turned and flung her arms around him, burying her face in his chest. DM in turn squeezed her tightly, enveloping his arms around her. He placed a cheek against hers. The warmth seemed to penetrate right through him.
"Phir se kahiye" She whispered.
"Kya?" he asked.
"Meri naam". He did and Santu laughed. A small tinkly laugh that seemed to come from deep within. "Ten years I waited. Just to hear my name upon your lips once more"
She still hadn't looked at him. Her face remained partially buried in his chest, and partially concealed against his. "Look at me" he asked.
"No"
"Why?"
"I'm afraid"
"Of?"
"Of opening my eyes and finding that you're not really here". DM smiled.
"Open and see"
Santu slowly lifted her head a little and opened her eyes. She looked into the face that had been her every thought in her waking days and her sleeping nights. DM looked down into the face that had evaded his eyes for nearly a decade. He was unable to fight his resolve any longer.
"Why didn't you come to me?" he asked. His voice an agonised whisper.
"Why didn't you?" she returned in the same manner. He pulled her closer again and leaned his cheek against hers. His hot breath on her neck sent a frisson of excitement through Santu. Santu brought her arms around and held his kurta. Her warm, shallow breathing made the hairs on the back of DM's neck stand up."It was always you malik. Always you". She tightened the grip on his kurta, and clung on as if for dear life. Her legs seemd in danger of buckling under the weight of her own emotions. DM pulled her in closer, supporting her against his own body.
Ten years, he thought. They had lost ten years. He wanted them back. The anger consumed him momentarily. But who was he angry at? Santu? Birwa? Arjan? himself? He didn't know anymore. He thought of all that they could have done in ten years. All that they could have achieved. All the love, companionship and happiness they had missed out on.
If he had been old when he married her, he was even older now. There couldn't be very many years left in him. He had seen the young girl. He now saw the young woman. He wanted to see the aged woman too. He wanted to see that with her. But most of all he wanted to fill her days with enough joy and love to see her through the days when he would not be here.
He slowly pulled his face away to meet hers. He saw what had always been there in her eyes, but had been too angry to be able to comprehend it. Santu's eyes glistened with tears. She felt as if she would burst from the unbound joy that bubbled inside her. She looked into those familiar warm dark eyes. Why had she thought he had fallen out of love with her? The love was always there. She just hadn't understood it.
DM leaned in close and kissed her softly. With each compression of his lips, Santu felt as if she would float away. A voice in her head whispered 'stop, please stop time'. DM held her tight. If there was a way to open his heart and put her away in there, he would do it.
Okay ladies. That's your lot. Apologies for the length. Now just a few points. I don't know what you all feel about Sandeep's actiosn in this. But I wrote it as such because I know that Sandeep is quite capable of doing something like this. I have a fear that he may try something in the actual show.
Secondly, I needed something drastic to make both Santu and DM realise just how much they both mean to each other and how easy it is to lose each other. I wanted them to understand just how close they came, and that in the light of that everything else suddenly seems so insignificat.
Thirdly, I don't want you to think Maulik has evaded justice. I want him to be punished. What he is doing in the show is unforgiveable. But truth be told, I like Shardul as Maulik and would be somewhat sad to see him go, if CV's decide to take that tack. But as I said that doesn't mean he should go unpunished. I haven't dealt with him here, as I leave it up to you, the reader to decide his fate.
And lastly, Sandeep isn't dead. That would be too good for him. He deserves to spend all eternity rotting in jail. Thus Maulik has merely wounded him.
OK, so enjoy
Edited by Rakhie_08 - 15 years ago
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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