CHAPTER 2
Jaya looked around the living room one more time before slumping onto the sofa. Everything looked perfect. She smiled looking around. As a child she had seen her mother run their home and had always dreamt of running her own home. She had got it. Her mother in law had handed over the reigns of the house to her soon after her marriage. Being a busy woman, she depended on her to take care of the family. She loved the family. All of them. Her father in law and mother in law treated her like a daughter. Abhay and Adarsh respected and loved her a lot. But the one person whose love was the most important to her didn't care. Her husband. It wasn't her fault , she knew. But she had never complained. But it hurt her. The silence was bearable but his words sometimes tore herheart.
She sighed looking around again. Sometimes she felt lonely. Mornings and evenings she would busy herself in her chores. Some days she would have shopping to do , sometimes attend some function or meet her friends. But somedays she felt lonely in the huge house with nothing to do. She had no one to talk to . And at such times she would think that she would someday soon have her sisters in law around. For about 3 years her Mumma had tried to convince Adarsh. Last year Vanshika ' s parents had visited them and expressed interest in an alliance. Things had worked out well. She liked Vanshika . Last week she had been to a wedding with Mumma when the Khannas had asked her about Abhay. They were her relatives and she knew the girl personally. Hence she had told Mumma. What was wrong in it?
Jai had made a fuss for no reason , she told himself. When she had told Mumma that Vanshika was a good match for Adarsh too Jai had fought with her saying it should be Adarsh ' s choice not hers. True Adarsh wasn't excited but it was common in arranged marriages. Things get ggood with time . Not everyone was like Jaidev. In Abhay ' s case there was nothing to worry about. He would have spoken up if there was any problem. Yet Jaidev had asked her last night
"Kya problem hai tumhari? Mere bhaiyyon ke life mein interfere mat karo. Kya chahti ho? ki iss ghar mein jo ladkiyan aayegi woh bhi tumhari tarah ki rishte mein jeeye? "
That was cruel. She wouldn't want that for any woman. A lone tear escaped her eye.
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"How is life? "Adarsh asked Swadheenta as they started eating.
" Fine I guess. Ek saal se practice kar rahi hoon. I am assisting someone. Uss se pehle ek do case khud liya tha. " She said.
" Haan aur woh cases jeeta bhi. Suna hai maine. Tum ne bahut logon ki madat ki hai. Then why did you join the firm? " He asked.
" I lack experience. Isliye Socha pehle kisi aur se seekh toh loon. " She said smiling and added " Aap bhi kuch kam nahin hai Mr Robin Hood. "
He looked at her surprised.
" Abhay ne bataaya? "He asked.
She nodded and said " auron se bhi suna hai ".
He smiled back at her. She looked beautiful with that teasing smile. He brushed off that thought.
"Tum Abhay ko kab se jaanti ho? " he asked.
"Just a few months. Simmi ne milaaya tha jab Abhay uss se milne aaya tha. " She replied.
" And you think they are right for each other? "Adarsh asked.
" Adarsh, Simmi meri Bachpan ki saheli hai. Main use acche se jaanti hoon . Woh dil ki bahut acchi hai par bahut sensitive aur insecure hai. Uncle ne hamesha use pamper kiya hai. Main hamesha pareshan hoti thi ki kya use mere aur Uncle ki tarah koi samhaal payega ya nahin. Par Abhay se milne ke baad main Kaafi khush hoon. He loves her so much. Aur Simmi bhi uss se bahut pyaar karti hai. Thats why I want to help them. "She said.
.Adarsh had been worried all morning. But Swadheenta ' s words somehow seemed to make him relax. His heart told him she wouldn't help them if it was wrong.
"Waise I ordered a two cups of coffee. " She said with a teasing smile.
"Coffee aaj pila rahi ho? " he asked laughing recollecting the past.
They both broke out laughing. Abhay , who had just reached the place was surprised at the sight.
"Sorry guys. Late ho gaya. And I have to leave soon. Waise aap logon ko hasta dekhkar lagta nahin introduction karaana padega. " He said taking a seat.
" Swadheenta se toh mil liya. Par Simmi kahaan hai? " Adarsh asked.
Abhay looked at Swadheenta and said " Bhai, mujhe laga Simmi ko aaj yahaan laana theek nahin hoga. Woh pehle se stressed hai. Shaayad hamari baatein sunkar aur stress legi toh bimar ho jayegi. "
Adarsh smiled at his brother's concern. Chottu really loved her.
"Sunn Chottu, Mom ko manaana easy nahin hoga. Humein soch samajhkar sab kuch karna hoga. " Adarsh told Abhay.
" I know bhai. Isliye toh aap donon se help le raha hoon. " Abhay replied.
" Toh yeh pehle kyun nahin kiya? Agar Mom ko pehle hi bata deta toh shaayad itni problem nahin hoti. Waise toh tu Mom se bahot baatein karta hai."Adarsh asked.
" Baat daal raha tha. Jaanta tha Mom aasaani se nahin maanegi. Mujhe laga slowly baataonga par ab lag raha hai galat kiya. " Abhay said sadly.
" Sach ko chupaane ka koi faayda nahin hota hai. Jitna der karoge utni hi baat bigdegi. " Adarsh said.
" Swadheenta ne exactly yahi samjhaaya tha. Same words. Par maine nahin maani. " Abhay said amused.
" What do we do now? " Swadheenta asked.
" I have a plan. Main mom aur Simmi ko mila deta hoon. Mom ko nahin baataonga ki Simmi kaun hai. Simmi unhe impress kar degi. Baad mein baataonga ki Simmi kaun hai. " Abhay said soundin doubtful of his own plan.
"Chottu tu pagal hai? Kya plan hai yeh? Mom ko bewakoof banaana is next to impossible. Aur agar tum ne yeh kar bhi liya toh kya faayda hoga? Bas baatein aur bigdegi. Abhay, sach bolna mushkil hai par usi se sab theek ho sakta hai. Jitna jhoot bologe utna hi zyaada takleef hogi. " Adarsh chided him.
Swadheenta looked at Adarsh amazed. She felt immense respect for him.
"Haan Abhay. Ab sach bol do. Aur planning ki zaroorat nahin hai. Aur phir Simmi tumhare ghar bahu bankar hamesha ke liye aayegi. Toh naatak karke tumhare Mom ko impress karne ka kya faayda. They will have to accept each other as they are. "Swadheenta adde.
Abhay sighed "Haan . Jaanta hoon. I am just stressed. "
Adarsh put a hand on his shoulder and said " Tu pareshan mat hona. Hum mom ko mana lenge. "
Abhay nodded and then teasingly said "Waise aap donon ne dekha na aap donon bilkul ek jaise ho. You will make a good couple. Soch leejiye. "
"Abhay! !!" Swadarsh cried out in unison .
" Abhay pehle Teri love story ko anjam de? "Adarsh said and added " toh aaj sab se pehle tu Mom ko uss rishte ke liye mana karega. Kahin aisa na ho tumhare chupi ke wajah se mom baat aage bada de."
"Haan. Uske baad tum unhe Simmi se milaao. " Swadheenta said.
Abhay nodded "Ok. Par abhi mein chalta hoon. "
"Yeh sandwich lekar jaao. Gaadi mein kha lena . Tumhare liye hi order kiya tha. " Swadheenta said handing him a packet.
" No. Its ok. " Abhay said getting up to leave.
"Maine kaha na. " Swadheenta ordered.
" You sound like mom. You could be the next Suhasini Sinha in the family agar bhai chaahe "Abhay said with a crooked smile.
" Chottu. ...tujhe chhodoonga nahin. "Adarsh said standing up.
"Bhai, uniform main hoon. Please mat maaro. " Abhay whispered.
They broke out laughing.
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Simmi paced to and fro around the entire house. She looked at her phone from time to time. They would have just met, she told herself. She was scared. Abhay felt it would be better if she stayed at home. She knew he was worried about her health. But he didn't know that not knowing what was happening was worse.
She hadn't slept a moment the previous night. She couldn't bear to lose Abhay. She herself didn't know when he had become that important to her. She had met Abhay the first time a few months back at a friend's party. She had been a bit fearful after hearing that he was a police officer but once they had got talking she was attracted to him. They had met again and again and soon they were dating. But she hadn't realised how much she loved him. It was rare that someone remained her friend. She had no true friend except Swadheenta thanks to her own nature. People couldn't put up with her long. But Abhay had remained cool despite all her tantrums and stupidities. He protected and pampered her. She had cometo depend on him. She had known she suffered from some heart ailment and had never seriously thought about marriage or love. But then Abhay had proposed to her. The next thing she knew she was in a hospital. The sudden excitement and realisation had been too much for her. It was then that she had understood how sick she was. She had expected Abhay to leave her but he had surprised her by only becoming more protective and caring. Then she had realised what he meant to her.
She had known his family wouldn't accept her easily but she at least had a chance until last night. Thanks to Papa, she thought. But Swadheenta was with her and she trusted Swadheenta to do the right thing for her. For years it had been that way. But this time she knew there wasn't much Swadheenta could do. This thought broke her. Would she lose Abhay? What will she do without him?
Panic took over her. She tried to make her way downstairs but fainted.
She opened her eyes and saw her Papa and a doctor standing by her bedside. She was told she had fallen down the stairs when a maid saw her. Her father looked frantic.
" Tum theek ho? " the doctor asked her.
" Yes. I feel tired. " She replied.
" Tumhe sedative diya hai. Kuch ghande so kar uthogi toh theek ho jaaogi ."the doctor told her.
After a word or two with her Papa the doctor left. She watched her father sit down by her bedside.
" Simmi puttar, kya hua hai tujhe? Doctor keh rahe hain tumhe stress hai kisi baat ki. Kya hua? Maid bata rahi thi ki tu kal bhi bimar pad gayi thi. Please bata mujhe. " He said with tears.
" Kuch nahin Papa. "She replied.
" Nahin beta. Tu kuch chupa rahi hai. Maine hamesha koshish ki ki tumhe apni ma ki kami mahsoos na ho. Par shaayad mein yeh nahin kar paaya. " He said.
Simmi couldn't see him like that. This was her father. He had always loved her more than the world. She couldn't lie to him anymore. She had been waiting for Abhay to convince his family first. But she didn't see why she couldn't tell her dad. In fact this might make things easier. She took a deep breath and told her father everything.
" Tu pareshan mat ho puttar. Bas aaram kar. Main sab theek kar doonga. " She heard him say as she slipped into a slumber.
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Sorry guys. ..next update will have Swadarsh flashbacks. ..couldn't fit it here.
