Chapter 22: Trading Emotions for... Dust!
A/N: Hello everyone! One of the more awaited chapters is finally here, since our beloved Kaka is finally back. Hope you enjoy this chapter. Please let us know your views through your votes and comments, they mean a lot to us.
Another thing, due to Ramadan and some increased workload for both of us, we may not be able to give updates every Friday. We are not going on a hiatus, but updates will be more spaced out, so do keep an eye on the notifications.
Love,
Ashley and Ayesha
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22nd January 1943, Roy Chaudhary Haveli
"Bahu!! Yeh kia ker rahy ho? Isey kyun de rahy ho apna baccha?"
The usual morning hustle-bustle was abruptly interrupted by a loud, booming voice from the doorway.
Bondita, who was running here and there while arranging breakfast for everyone, had taken a small break because Rudhir had started crying, as usual, for no apparent reason!
Batuk, who was waiting patiently for his breakfast, had immediately offered to babysit Rudhir while Bondita completed her work.
And as she was handing the protesting baby to his Chachu, the voice from the doorway stunned everyone in the hall.
Anirudh, who was just coming downstairs with Aaradhya, stopped mid-track as he saw the magnificent presence of his Kaka at the entrance of the haveli.
His heart leapt with happiness to see his Kaka after so long. But the scowl on his face as he glared at Bondita and Batuk instantly refreshed the bitter memories of all of Trilochan Roy Chaudhary's misdeeds with those two people… not so long ago.
Binoy, who was having his breakfast saw his brother too, and a wide smile bloomed on his handsome face as he instantly got up from his chair and exclaimed,
"Da… aap aagaye!"
The voice diverted Kaka's attention, as his stern gaze averted from the devar-boudi duo to his brother, and it instantly softened. A smile slowly crept to his lips, masking the scowl behind as he looked lovingly at his brother…
His brother…
His Binoy…
After so long…
His eyes glistened as he noticed the positive changes in Binoy.
Gone were his long, shabby hair and beard. He was sporting a moustache and immaculately cut hair and specs-the regulars of Binoy Roy Chaudhary before the 8 years that had changed him, and everything completely.
Wearing a simple suit, he had a napkin placed around his neck like a baby's bib.
His eyes looked clear, not glazed with the manic expression that had taken permanent residence in those orbs, diminishing all the sheer intellect that the man possessed.
While there were so many positive changes, Trilochan noticed blotches of food on the napkin-bib. A sigh escaped his mouth as he realized that his brother probably had difficulty eating properly without creating a mess. His smile wavered as he concluded that while his brother was back, he hadn't returned 100% yet.
Rushing to him, he cupped his brother's face lovingly while Binoy kept grinning happily. Trilochan pulled him in a tight hug and whispered,
"Binoy…mere bhai… dekho… hum aa gaye."
Then he looked at his face closely and noticed a couple of crumbs around his lips too.
The Binoy Roy Chaudhary from before, would not have let one tiny crumb of bread sit on his mouth like that, for even one second.
He was a cleanliness freak… a perfectionist… a man whose manners, etiquettes, dressing sense, perfumes, wine collection, and sharp intellect were exemplary.
That man had been pushed into a mindless abyss 8 years ago…
He had lost himself then.
But now, Trilochan could see clearly that the old Binoy Roy Chaudhary was resurfacing.
He wasn't there yet completely, but at least he was no longer lost in the frenzy of his own mind.
And Trilochan could not complain at all.
He had so much to be thankful for!
His brother was in his senses now, at least. He had called Trilochan himself, requesting him to return.
While it had been a totally unexpected call a week ago, however, Somnath had filled him in later about everything that had happened while he was away from the haveli.
He had left for tirth for an indefinite period more than a month ago. He was angry. He wanted people at home to not let him leave in the first place. But when no one asked him to stay after the great show-off between him and Anirudh, he had left in a fit with the thought,
Jo kerna hai abh yeh khud kerien. Buht dekh lia hum ne iss ghar baar aur karobar ko. Humare peeche jab yeh loag kuch nahi ker payein ge, tabhi inko humari qadar pata chalay gy.
But when Binoy called him, and later he heard that Batuk was back too, he couldn't stop himself from getting happy for Binoy and worried because of Batuk too.
Pata nahi yeh Batuk abh koi mazeed gadbad na ker de! Anirudh aur Bondita bahu tou hain hi jazbaati aur fitoori. Arey woh ladka apna dushman khud hi hai. Uska koi bharosa nahi kab kia ker dalay. Anirudh aur Bahu ko, aur unke bacchon ko koi nuqsan pohancha dia, tou?
The scary thought had made his heart sink as he decided,
Nahi… humien turrant hi haveli wapis jana chahiye. Wahan Batuk naam ka khatra mandlaa raha hai aur hum aise yahan haath per haath dharay nahi beth sakte. Aur phir Binoy bhi tou chahta hai ki hum ajayein wapis.
With that thought, he had returned, but the first thing he saw made him shocked and then instantly wary.
His bholi bahu was handing over her child to that dangerous boy herself!
And Trilochan couldn't keep quiet while watching this.
Reverting his attention, his smile vanished as it got replaced by a scowl again.
Calling out to Bondita, he sternly said,
"Bahu, uski goad se baccha wapis lou. Yeh kahin iss masoom se bacchay ko phir koi nuqsan na pohancha de."
As Bondita's mouth hung open at such a preposterous remark, Batuk's heart broke into millions of pieces.
Pain spread all over his face as he quietly tried to hand a now silent Rudhir back to Bondita.
But that was when a hand settled on his shoulder assuringly.
Turning around, he saw his Dada holding Aaradhya in his arms. His face was hard and his eyes were cold as he looked at their Kaka and said tightly,
"Kaka… Aap ko dekh ker mujhe khushi hui thy. Aap buzurg hain iss ghar ke, aur mien khush hua tha ki aap wapis agaye. Lekin aap ki iss baat ne mujhe phir se buht ziada niraash ker dia."
His voice was now laced with the hurt that he had seen on Batuk's face, and his eyes moistened as he caressed Batuk's back lovingly while continuing to look at his Kaka as he said,
"Batuk mere bhai hai. Mera, aur aapka khoon hai. Aur mujhe aur Bondita ko iss per apni jaan se bhi ziada bharosa hai. Batuk humare bacchon ke liye aur hum sab ke liye 100% surakshit hai."
Having said that, as if to put emphasis on his words, he looked at Batuk whose eyes were now filled with his tears. Smiling reassuringly at him, Anirudh extended his daughter to him to hold.
Batuk, who had returned Rudhir to Bondita and had been feeling like crap, now looked at his brother.
Anirudh saw the hesitance in his eyes, and blinking reassuringly, he told him through his eyes that "it was okay."
Feeling slightly better, Batuk looked at Bondita who was also smiling.
Slowly reaching out, he carefully took Aaradhya in his arms, and instantly, his heart refilled with a tremendous amount of love and happiness at having the little bundle of joy close to him again.
Kaka's eyes were ready to explode out of their sockets as this display of complete defiance.
He still didn't take the hint to stay quiet and interjected angrily,
"Anirudh, kia tum bhool gaye ho ke iss ladke ne humare parivar ke sath kia kia kiya tha?"
Anirudh didn't like the hatred that Kaka's tone held for Batuk.
Batuk also was just now silently holding Aaradhya to his chest, as if trying to gain strength from that little baby.
She too seemed to have felt her Chachu's plight, as she also decided to cling to him and gurgle in her baby voice, trying to communicate with her Chachu and divert his attention from the suddenly tense atmosphere.
Bondita held Rudhir close to her heart as it hammered with apprehension. She had seen her husband's tightening fists and clenching jaw, and she knew that he would surely blast any minute now.
However, Anirudh didn't blast. He controlled his anger and just out of respect, he kept his voice neutral as he said,
"Iss ladke ka naam Batuk hai Kaka. Yeh humara Batuk hai. Aur mien kuch nahi bhoola Kaka, mager shayad aap bhool gaye hai tou mien yaad dila dun: Iski ghalat harkaton mien aur yojanaon mien mostly aap bhi shamil thay. Iss liye sirf isko dosh dene ka koi faida nahi hai. Iske ilawah abh Batuk badal chuka hai. Iss liye Kaka, mien aap se minnti kerta hun, aap bhi badal jao! Apna sochne ka nazariya badal dou. Tirth per aap ne buht punnya kamaya hoga. Please apne acchay karmon ko zaaya na hone dien."
A gasp escaped Batuk's mouth on hearing such barbed words in an extremely composed tone from his elder brother.
Bondita, Sampoorna, Shashwati, and Somnath were also gaping at Anirudh with open mouths and widened eyes.
But Kaka felt as if his head was about to explode.
Although Anirudh hadn't screamed as he usually did, his words were caustic.
And Kaka hated the way he was being treated by his eldest nephew!
His complexion darkened as he was about to retort angrily when he felt a hand clutching his shoulder.
He turned his head angrily towards his brother, whose eyes held a strange sadness now as he said,
"Da… jaanay dien. Mujhe bhi mere bete Batuk per poora bharosa hai. Aap…"
Noticing that Trilochan was about to say something, Binoy who knew that if his brother said one more word against Batuk, Anirudh and possibly Bondita both would turn ballistic, wisely shook his head and gesturing towards the table, said,
"Da, ann samnay hai. Aap ke liye bhi naashta lagwata hun."
And then, without giving him any chance to agree or disagree, he quickly turned towards Sampoorna and said,
"Sampoorna, please zara Bihaari ko kehelwa ker Da ke liye nashtay ka intizaam ker dou."
Sampoorna, who understood how her husband was trying to diffuse the situation, just nodded quietly and did as she was asked to.
In her heart, she was so so so thankful to the Lord for making her husband regain his senses. And then, looking at her Jethji, she just sighed as she thought sadly,
Mere pati beemari se uthe hain. Mager unko bhi itni samajh hai ki kab bacchon se behes kerni hai aur kab nahi. Batuk bhi zehni tor per beemar tha, aur woh umer mien bhi chhota hai, mager uss ko bhi yeh samajh hai ki kab chup rehna chahiye. Jethji ghar ke baday hain, aur inko tou koi maansik rog bhi nahi hai. Lekin phir bhi, har maamlay mien bolna, aur ghalat bolna jaise inhone apne ooper farz ker lia hai!
As if taking the cue, Som who was sitting at the table rose up quietly and said, "Kaka, Welcome home. Aap ke beghair yeh ghar buht khali khali sa hogya tha."
His anger slightly mollified, he nodded to acknowledge Som's greeting. And that was when the tinkling of anklets from the doorway caught everyone's attention.
A smile bloomed on everyone's face except Som's, as the girl who entered the house said with a cheerful voice, "Namaste."
And then, as Kaka turned towards her, she stopped short.
She was not expecting to see him. But as soon as she felt his unflinching and expectant gaze on her, her manners kicked in and bending to touch his feet, she quietly said, "Namaste, Zamindar babu."
A small smile tugged along Kaka's mouth and laying his hand on her head, he said, "Jeety raho, khush raho Tapur beti."
Slightly taken aback by the honey dripping from him, she just smiled unsurely, and quickly passed a general smiling glance towards Anirudh, Bondita, Batuk, Sampoorna, and Shashwati, she turned towards her patient and jauntily said, "Kaise hain aap, Binoy babu?"
Binoy, who knew why she had come at this time, just gently gave his ashirwaad to her and smilingly said, "Mien theek hun beta. Jis ka tabeeb tum jaisa ho, woh mareez kaise theek nahi ho sakta?"
Tapur's smile widened at this response. Making him sit back in his chair, taking his wrist to check his pulse, which was a norm since she had begun her treatment, she chirped, "Kia Binoy babu. Aap ko kis ne bola ki aap koi mareez ho? Aap tou bilkul theek ho."
As their friendly bickering continued, Anirudh sighed and decided to forget the bitterness that had crept in through the walls of the haveli, he smiled and took his seat at the table.
Batuk, who was holding Aaradhya quietly sat beside him too. Shashwati had hated how her Cool dada was so badly treated. Feeling extremely ill at ease, she pulled her chair close to Batuk and whispered in his ear, "Cool dada…tension na lou. Aap iss Aaru paaru ko goadi mien liye raho. Isko utaro ge tou isne Kaka se bhi ziada ghadar macha dena hai ghar mien!"
With a small smile on his lips, Batuk whispered back, "Ager yeh tumhari Aaru paaru ko pakde raha tou naashta kaise kerun ga? Bhook bhi tou lagy hai!"
Giggling, she patted his shoulder playfully and whispered back, "Don't worry na jab Shashwati yahan hai! Mien aap ko khilaon gy!"
Shaking his head at his sister's sweetness, forgetting his woes and smiling openly now, he replied, "Thank you my Shashu bear. Mager tumhare Cool dada itne bhi uncool nahi hai ki baby pakad ker khaa na sakien. You just watch me ke mien kaise aik haath se khaata hun while holding Aaru securely. Lekin haan… Chai peete hue tou I will have to put her in her cot. Garam chai near her would be dangerous."
While they were busy in their dilemma as to where to put Aaradhya down, and how to do that so she didn't mind, Bondita brought the new wooden bouncer that Anirudh had recently got custom made by a carpenter, near him. Handing over Rudhir to Anirudh for a while, just until the food came, she quickly went to the kitchen to fetch his, Batuk's and Shashwati's breakfast.
Batuk and Shashwati saw the bouncer. Looking at each other for their useless planning when the solution had been so simple, they ended up chortling. Luckily, they were in one corner, and their voices were very low. So, no one heard their little exchange.
Kaka was carefully watching the interaction between Binoy and Tapur from his special Indian seat right behind Binoy's. He watched Tapur closely and as she laughed at something that Binoy said, Kaka sighed.
Yeh Tapur tou aik damm Kalindi Das jaisi lag rhy hai. Wahi aatma samman… wahi mareezon ke sath behtereen bartaav. Waise hi behtereen ilaaj kerne ki soojh boojh. Kash isay Som ne na thukraya hota tou yeh ladki humari bahu bann sakty thy.
Mager Som…
A wave of anger and frustration at Som's brick-headedness made him grunt in annoyance.
When Trilochan had been made aware of Tapur's incident of abuse, as well as the impression that the sisters had lied about it, he'd had no choice but to break off the alliance. After all, making such a girl a Roy Chaudhary Bahu would go against all his principles, no matter how much he wanted this girl - his beloved Kalindi come again - as his Bahu.
To assuage his conscience, he told himself that he would reconsider the alliance if Somnath stood up for Tapur and said he still wanted to marry her. After all, both of his other nephews had fought for their lovers. Anirudh had fought the whole world for Bondita's sake, and even Batuk had stood his ground when Trilochan had asked him to send that Bijli Mallika away, letting her stay in their home for almost six months. Alas, Som shared none of the strength of his brothers and had chosen to let Tapur go.
When Som had told him about Tapur treating Binoy on the phone, he had seen another opportunity to fulfil his wish of making Tapur his Bahu. He had told Som to reconsider and take back his decision of not marrying Tapur.
But Som had only said that "he would think about it."
Kitna samay le ga aakhir yeh sochne mein! Kaka thought angrily.
Bhagwan ne bhi kaise ajeeb bhateeje diye hain humien. Aik ki buddhi hamesha garam rehty hai, aik ki buddi hi bhrasht hai. Aur yeh Som… Iski buddhi tou humien samajh hi nahi aaty ke kab chal padti hai aur kab ruk jaty hai!
He noticed the longing expression in Som's eyes as he had stopped eating and was just watching the pleasant exchange between Tapur and Binoy.
Clenching his teeth, deciding to take matters into his own hands, he directed the force of his hard glare at Som. And then, Kaka cleared his throat to get Som's attention.
As Som looked at him, Kaka subtly gestured through his eyes to be ready for the talk!
Som nodded, his heart started beating fast because he knew what his Kaka was about to do now.
And he wasn't disappointed as he willingly let his Kaka meddle in his matters, as Trilochan Roy Chaudhary was habitual of doing!
He too had not liked it when his engagement broke, but he couldn't have countermanded his Kaka. After all, Tapur would definitely have not been an ideal Roy Chaudhary Bahu with that kind of a past.
With that thought in his mind, he had vowed to forget her and move on. However, after that day in the Kothi, watching her in all her glory, he didn't know why her looks and overall demeanour had pulled her towards him. He found himself thinking about Tapur more often than he would have liked afterwards. He started having moments when he dreamt of what could have been if he had not obeyed Kaka and demanded to marry Tapur….
Of the kind of life, they could have led…
Of having someone who would care for him above all…
Who would be devoted to him first…
Jo sirf mere liye sochty… sirf mere baray mien sochty!
He couldn't believe his ears when, a few days ago, Kaka asked him to reconsider "his" decision!
He had been overjoyed! He even forgot to point out to Kaka that he did what he did because he thought that "that" was right and exactly as per Kaka's moral perspective!
But Batuk's shocking revelation that Tapur may have not wanted the marriage anymore stopped him from going to her and declaring his intentions. The fear that Batuk had been correct and that Tapur may dare to reject him left him with no option but to be content just looking at her.
He was therefore pleased when Kaka decided to take matters into his own hands. With Kaka proposing the marriage, in front of the entire family to boot, there was no way that Tapur could refuse.
She wouldn't even think about it!!!
The thoughts running in his mind made him super confident, and happy too as he watched his Kaka in action now. He knew the power of persuasion that his Kaka held.
Kaka put all his focus on Tapur, and then, cleared his throat again. This time, everyone stopped doing what they were and looked at Kaka.
His extra sweet gaze was fixed on Tapur as he started, "Tapur, beti, hum bata nahi sakte ke hum tumhare kitne aabhari hain. Tumne jo humare bhai ke liye kiya, iss parivar ke liye kiya, woh hum per ehsaan hai. Qarz chadh gaya Roy Chaudharion per tumhara."
Tapur's complexion heightened as she felt herself being the centre of attention in the entire hall.
Looking self-consciously at Bondita didi who had just served breakfast to the people at the table and set her own food next to Anirudh's plate, she stuttered, "Woh…aa…aisi kk…koi baat nahi hai, Zamindar babu."
Pleased that he was able to reduce the girl who looked so confident just minutes ago into a mush, Kaka beamed some more as he added, "Nahi nahi beta, hum sach keh rhe hain. Tum ne waqai Binoy ko theek ker ke hum sab per ehsaan kia hai. Aur iss ehsaan ko chukaane ke liye hum jo ker sakte hain, kerien ge. Tum ko iss ghar ki shaan se bahu banayein ge. Taaki tumhare ateet ka kaala saaya tumhare aanay walay kal per na mandlaa sakay. Bolo, kerou gy na humare Somnath se shadi?"
And then, as if this bomb was not enough, he decided to unknowingly sprinkle some salt by saying, "Arey bhai, Somnath bhi daaktar hai, aur tum bhi vaid. Humare hisab se tou tum dono ki jodi aasmanon per hi bani hai!"
Before Tapur could even respond, Som stood up from his chair and going to stand near Tapur, he first glanced at her pale face. She looked as if life had been sucked out of her.
Yeh tou lagta hai khushi se shock mien hi chali gai hai!
He erroneously wondered to himself.
And then, a frown marred his face as he looked toward Kaka and said, "Woh sab tou theek hai Kaka, lekin iske vaid hone ka koi faida nahi hai. Humari shadi ke baad yeh sirf kushal grehni bann ker hi rahay gy."
Tapur was… numb!
Only a few minutes ago, life was perfectly normal.
As per her routine, she was personally visiting her patient, monitoring his responses by engaging him in a discussion, checking his vitals side by side to adjust his medication.
The rest of the family also looked okay until suddenly, Trilochan Roy Chaudhary decided to turn her life upside down by proposing his nephew's, her ex-fiance's hand back in marriage with her!
And Som had just responded as if it was all but normal!
He talked as if everything was finalized.
As if… as if she agreed to it!!!
Tapur felt like her heart was breaking again as she recalled how mercilessly this Kaka-bhateeja duo had broken off her engagement after knowing about the sad incident that had taken place with her.
And suddenly… it all started making sense.
Ehsaan… Qarz…
Kaka had said those words a while ago for her as she had taken care of a weakness in the glorious Roy Chaudhary family.
And now, he was repaying her by ignoring her weakness!
He was offering marriage to her as a payment…because he thought that this payment would be able to mask her past… her weakness …
Ohh! Tou yeh kamzori ke badlay kamzori ka sauda hai. Kyunki mere ateet mien mere sath woh hadsa hua, iss liye yeh loag apni taraf se mujh per ehsaan ker rhe hain, taake mere ehsaan chuka sake!
She thought bitterly, and then, unable to see the glee at Kaka's face and the snobbish expression on Som's features, controlling her anger, in a composed but firm tone, she said, "Mager aap se yeh kis ne keh dia ki mien shadi kerna chahty hun? Ya mien apna kaam chhod ker ghar-daari kerna chahty hun sirf?"
An unpleasant scowl appeared on Som's face as he replied, "Jab pati already doctor hai, tou tumhare kaam kerne ki kia zarurat hai? Aur waise bhi, tum konsa kisi university mien itne saal khapaanay ke baad vaid bani ho! Aisi koi khaas baat thodi hai jisko chhodna mushkil ho."
All expressions were wiped off of Tapur's face. Batting her eyelashes, in a very serious, almost deadpan tone, she asked, "Tou aap ko yeh kis ne keh dia ki mien, Tapur Das, aap se shadi kerne wali hunn?" And then, shaking her head, she asked sarcastically, "Waise bhi, mujh jaisi kam padhi likhi vaid se shadi ker ke aap ko kia mil jayega?"
A look of confusion and embarrassment appeared on Som's face as he retorted, "Tumhare pas koi vikalp hai kia? Mujhse shadi nahi kerou gy tou kia kerou gy? Sari umer yun hi loagon ke ghar mien paday reh ker unki seva kerty raho gy kia?"
This time, Tapur's face reddened, and she was about to drop her cool facade when a loud voice yelled, "Enough!!!"
Everyone gaped toward the source of the voice.
Batuk, who had been controlling his anger since his Kaka had begun his matchmaking shenanigans had lost it now totally hearing the shit tone and words that came out of his own brother's mouth.
Feeling like crap, he somehow understood completely how Tapur must have been feeling at that moment, and how hard she must have been trying to stand her ground without breaking down in front of them all.
Anirudh, who was also boiling with anger and was about to erupt, was surprised when Batuk beat him to it.
Taking Aaradhya from his arms, he subtly allowed him to take the lead.
And Batuk needed no more push.
Shashwati looked at both his dadas fuming, and quietly pressing her hand in her Cool dada's hand, she nudged him to go ahead and win this one for Tapur, and for every female in that household.
But before Batuk said anything, Binoy angrily shouted,
"Som, tameez se baat kerou. Tapur aur Tupur humari mehmaan hain, aur humari bahu ki behnien hain. Woh hamesha ke liye bhi humare ghar rehna chahien gy tou uss mien kisi ko koi aitraz nahi hoga. Humari khush qismati hi hai ki in bacchion ki Thaku maa hum per bharosa ker ke inko humare pas, humari care mien chhod ker gayee hain. Iss liye apni zabaan ko zara lagaam de ker baat kerou."
Tapur was very angry, but her vaid-instincts immediately kicked in as she realized that her patient was getting extremely agitated and hyper. Quickly patting him and giving him water to relax, she glared at Somnath. And then gesturing to Sampoorna to take Binoy inside, she waited.
Once he was out of earshot, biting her teeth, seething with anger, in a low tone, she said, "Janab daaktar saahib, mien aap ko batana chahty hun ki yeh sari behes hi bematlab hai. Mujhe aap se shadi kerni hi nahi hai."
Then, glaring at Kaka, she sarcastically said, "Aap ke Kaka ne apni marzi thopne se pehle jhoote munh hi sahi, mujhse poocha tou tha. Aap ne tou woh bhi zaruri nahi samjha. Aap iss khayal ko mann se nikaal hi dien ke mien aap jaise admi se shadi keru gy."
Somnath's mouth dropped open as he came in contact with such a direct blow of rejection.
Never in his dreams had he thought that a mere chit, whose own life was a mess as per his perception, would end up rejecting a shehzada gulfaam like himself!
Batuk and Anirudh were also watching this scene as a sense of satisfaction washed over them.
Exchanging glances with each other, Batuk then left his spot and moved towards Tapur.
Quietly patting her shoulders encouragingly, he tried to soothe her agitation and looking at Som, he said,
"Dada, aap tou doctor ho. Buht acchi university se padhe ho. Aap ko itna bhi khayal nahi aaya ki aap Baba ke samnay aisi baatien kerou ge tou un per kia asar paday ga. Woh theek horhe hain, abhi completely hue nahi hain. Aap se acchi tou Tapur haina. Woh vaid hai. Aapki terha badi oonchi shaan wali degree nahi hai uske pas, mager pushtehni hunar hai, experience hai. Aur woh usne buht saal apni Thaku maa ke sath reh ker seekha hai. Woh aap jaisi nahi hai, mager aap se kam bhi nahi hai."
Som was already reeling from the rejection. And now Batuk's caustic remarks made him go crazy with anger as he shouted, "Oh you Shut up, you useless man! Tum khud konsa kisi qabil ho jo mujhe yeh sab keh rhe ho? Aur vaid! Hota kia hai yeh!!! Kia mere jaise doctor ki barabri ker sakty hai kabhi yeh!! Arey ise tou khush hona chahiye, ke jo hua uske baad bhi iski aukat se behter rishta mil raha hai isko. Warna aisi ladki ke saath kaun shaadi kerega?"
When Batuk had interrupted Som earlier, he had thought that it was impossible for his brother's words to get even viler. Well, too bad… because Som Dada just proved him wrong!
If it had been old Batuk, he would have just ended up knocking his brother out. But, this new Batuk just smiled, and sharing a meaningful glance with Anirudh and Bondita, he said in a composed tone, "There… Som dada. Just see aap jaisa bada doctor kis terha aik ladki ke aagay haarne ke khayal se crazy ho rha hai. It's okay dada. I understand you. I have been in your place too. I mean," looking at Anirudh as if they shared a secret, he said, "I have felt this emotion. Lekin Som dada… Yeh sahi nahi hai. Aur aap per suit bhi nahi kerta. So, don't do this please. Aur haan, Tapur kabhi bhi aapke barabar nahi hou sakti. Kyunki Dada, woh aapse better hai. Don't forget ke jab bade bade doctoron ne give up kiya, wahan aik vaid ne, Tapur ne, Baba ko theek kiya hai. Aur rahi baat aukat ki, tou haan Tapur aapko deserve nahi kerti. Kyunki, jaise mien aapko pehle bhi keh chuka hun, she deserves better, woh aik khulay dimagh aur khuli soch walay husband ko deserve kerty hai."
As Som's face reddened with rage, Batuk shook his head, and laying his hand on Tapur's head, shocking even Tapur, he said in a consoling tone, "Som Dada…aap bhai ho mere. I know aap buht ghussa ho. But I really have to say this." Looking at Tapur, he smiled gently and said, "Tapur meri behen hai. Woh Big D ki bhi behen hai. Aur hum dono hi apni behen ki shadi ke liye aap ko na-manzoor kerte hain. We reject you, dada."
Somnath all but erupted in anger as he yelled, "Tum! Tum jaisa ghatiya bekar insan iss daaghdar ladki ke liye mujhe baatien sunaye ga!!! How dare you, Batuk?"
Tapur gasped in shock and Batuk, who was deciding how to handle his crazy brother suddenly got focused on Tapur. Her face had gone pale and she was now trembling. Worried for her, Batuk just ignored Som and pulled Tapur in his embrace and gently said,
"Sshh… sshh… Tapur. It's okay. Tum please relax hojao."
And Tapur listened to him! Actually!!
Anirudh, who had heard Som's bakwas also got up from his chair.
He had had enough!
He glared at Kaka, as if saying, "Look, what you have done!!! "
This was unbelievable for Kaka also. He realized that he probably was wrong in bringing up this topic like that! He was just standing and watching the smooth insult over insult of his dear bhateeja. He was so shocked that for once in his lifetime, he was rendered speechless!
Anirudh angrily shook his head.
Deciding to take control of the situation, he closed the distance in quick strides, with all his powerful aura, and came and stood in front of Batuk, shielding him and Tapur effectively. And then, he smoothly said, "Enough of all this now. Somnath, Tapur ki marzi nahi hai tumse shadi kerne ki, aur mujhe fakhar hai ki usne apna haq istimal kerte hue apni marzi batai. Mager tumhien koi haq nahi pohanchta ki tum uski ya Batuk ki beizzaty kerou. Kyunki Batuk ne bhi bilkul theek kaha hai."
And then, turning towards Tapur who was still shaking in Batuk's arms, he embraced her and Batuk and said, "Tum ghalat ho Som. Buht ghalat. Aik ladki ke sath aik haadsa hua aur tumne aur Kaka ne soch lia ki woh uski koi khaami hai, koi kamzori hai? Where is your humanity, Som? Doctor ho na… kahan gai tumhari insaniyat? Bajaye iske ki tum Tapur ki situation samajhte hue thoda sensitively deal kerte, tum ne usko, uske aatma samman ko chhalni kerne ki koshish ki!"
Trying to control his own anger now, he took a deep breath and said, "Kaka ki rudhivadi soch se tou mien itna niraash ho chuka hun ki abh unse tou umeed hi chhod di hai miene. Lekin tum… Pata nahi kyun, tum se halki si umeed thy mujhe abhi bhi. Jis doctory ka tum itna bharam bhar rahay thay, jis peshe se tum munsalik ho, afsos, tum ne uska bhi maan nahi rakha. Mera tou kia hi rakhte!"
As Anirudh quietened down, he had suddenly become insanely dejected. Batuk noticed his Big D's sadness, and his own heart filled with some more pain. Patting Anirudh's shoulder, he looked at his now-embarrassed-but-still-not-conceding brother and said, "Som dada, aap tou modern zamanay ke ho na. How can you associate a woman's izzat with an incident from her past? Ager aik ladki ke sath zabardasti hui, tou iss mien uska qasur kaise hai? Aap ne pehle bhi yeh baat kahi thy tou mujhe accha nahi laga tha. Tapur per koi daagh nahi hai. Woh aik buht acchi, buht sacchi ladki hai. Woh un loagon ki bhi madad kerty hai jin se uska koi khoon ka rishta bhi nahi hota. Woh un loagon ko bhi akele chhod ker nahi chali jaty jinhone uske sath hi ghalat kia hota hai. Dada, aap mere bhai ho, lekin aap mujhe hospital mien akela chhod ker chalay gaye thay na?" His voice was now laced with unshed tears as he said, "Well, Tapur, jis ke pas saray reasons thay mujhe hate kerne ke, usne aisa nahi kia. Mera bhi ilaaj kia, humare baba ka bhi ilaaj kia. Aur aisi ladki ko aap daaghdar kehte ho?"
Shaking his head, he then looked at his Kaka for the first time in the eye, and then darting his gaze back on Som, announced, "Well, I am sorry to say. Tapur mien koi daagh nahi. Aap ki aur Kaka ki soch mien hai, dimagh mien hai, dil mien hai, aur aapki aankhon mien bhi daagh hai. Meri jagha khade ho ker dekho dada… Aap ko apne ander itne daagh nazar ayeinge jo kisi bhi bleach tak se nahi mit sakte. And same goes for Kaka. I am sad… very sad actually, ki mien aap loagon se associated bhi hun!"
And with that, he took Tapur's hand and extracting her from Anirudh's embrace, seeking his permission through their eye communication, he just whisked Tapur away from that toxic place.
Anirudh just sighed watching Batuk and Tapur leave.
He looked at Som whose head was now hanging low in shame.
He looked at Bondita whose eyes were shedding uncontrollable tears.
He then looked at Shashwati who was looking at Som with a happy-sad expression.
His eyes then moved to meet Kaka's and then, going towards Shashwati, laying his hand over her head, he addressed his Kaka and said, his voice dripping with hurt, anger, and extreme disappointment, "Kaka, dekha aap ne. Jis ghar mien behnon, betion ki izzat nahi hoty, jis ghar mien behnon aur betiyon ka apne maqsad ke liye istemal kia jata hai, uss ghar ke phir mardon ki bhi izzat nahi rehty. Aap ki soch ka asar Som per pada aur dekhien aap isay aaj…Yeh kis maqaam per aa ker khada hogya hai. Na yeh accha beta bann saka, na accha bhai, na accha doctor, aur na hi accha insan."
With that, he pulled a crying Bondita and a now-happy Shashwati in his embrace. Shashwati quickly picked up the bouncer that was carrying both the babies, and together, all five of them walked away too, leaving behind a completely numb Kaka-bhateeja duo.
They were left with nothing. Not even their jhooti aan, baan, and shaan!
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