Chapter 43
"antara?! what happened?! You seemed disturbed." Geeta said looking worriedly towards her. "no momma I am fine." antara sighed and looked towards geeta. "I am sorry momma I can't go to pick you up. I hope you didn't have any trouble on the way." she said. "no antara. it was absolutely fine! mujhe koi takleef nahi huyi. Acha huya jo tunee raghu ko bhej diya station mein. Warna main to kho hi jati itne bare station mein." Geeta said looking towards raghu with a smile. "thank you beta. Tumne to kitni jaldi mujhe yahan tak paucha diya... antara to kahe rahi thi ki station se kafi door hain..." geeta asked. "arey aunty, kya hain na iss yeri ko shortcut se allergy hain... issliye jidhar bhi jana ho hunesha lamba rasta pakar ke jati hain.." he teased giving a secret mischievous glance towards antara's angry face. "hmm... waisey baat to ek tarah se sahi kaha hain tumne..." geeta laughed. "momma you too..not fare!" antara said in irritation. "dekh teri ma bhi apun ki baat maan gayi..." He teased from side. "tum too chup hi raho..." she said angrily. "momma I think you are tired. Aap ko fresh ho jana chahiyee..." She said. "acha aunty abhi apun khiskta hain... baad mein idhar tapkega aap se gappe lagane.." raghu said and woke up. "arey beta abhi to ayein... aur itni jaldi jaa rahe ho?!" geeta asked. "arey naii aunty... woo kya hain naa ki aaj kaal hawa bahut garam hain..." he said looking towards antara's boiling face, "too apun hawa thanda hone ke baad ayega.." he said with a hidden smirk. "thik hain beta... Par anna zarror." Geeta said, "antara issey darwaje tak chor ke aao... tabtak main ati hoon.." geeta stood up and went inside to get fresh. Raghu got the chance and came near antara. "eee antara, tune woo saree dekhi kya jo apun ne kaal tere ko diya tha?!" he asked with a naughty frown. "nahii!! Aur mujhe dekhna bhi nahi hain.." she pouted angrily. "dekh tu pahele apna dimag thanda kar aur meri baat sun..." raghu tried to say something. "kya sunnu main haan?! Tum mere sath itna bara mazak kaise kar sakte ho?!! Pata hain main paglon ke tarah poori station mein momma ko dhund rahi thi... Agar momma tumhare sath thi to mujhe ek phone bhi to kar sakte the..." her eyes were moistened. "to kya karta haan?!" he said with a bit irritation, "tujhe pata lagta ki apun teri ma ko lene station gaya huya hain tab to tu duniya idhar ke udhar kar deti... Mere ko jane hi nahi deti tu..." he said a bit loudly. "antara... kaun hain?!!" geeta said from inside. "raghu abhi tum jaoon yahan se please.." antara pushed him towards door. "arey yaar... tere se baat karni hain... bahut zaroori hain..." raghu said. "abhi nahin... please tum jaon... Baad mein sab sunlongi main.." she said and pushed him outside the door. "eee misscall... Tu kabhi apun ki baat kyun naii sunti hain?" he said in irritation leaning near the door. "sorry baba!! Lekin please ab bachpana mat karo... momma hain ghar mein..." she said in apologetic voice, "aur haan... thanks kit um meri momma ko yahan leke ayein... meri too bus itni late ho gayi thi... Pata nahin momma akele station mein kya karti..." She said in grateful voice. a smirk appeared on his face, "acha... itni batein suna ke... Khopri garam karne ke baad ab thank you!! naii chahiye tera thank you..." he said stubbornly. "sorry!! Mujhe wo sab nahi kahena chahiye tha... Par kya karoon... mujhe bahut dar lag raha hain... kahin momma ko shak na ho jayein..." she said with an worried face. "arey shak karne ka to baat hich nahi hain... tu pahele apun ki baat to sun... wooo apun ne..." but raghu couldn't finish his words and again geeta's voice could be heard from inside. "antara! jara idhar aa naa..." geeta called. Antara gasped, "raghu tum jaon yahan se.." she said in fearful voice. "par misscall..." but he couldn't finish the word and antara rushed inside. "yeri!!.." raghu huffed in disappointment and moved towards naik sadan.
"momma, these sarees are for you." antara said and handed over the sarees to geeta. "arey wahh!! They are really really beautiful. you choose them for me?!" geeta asked in admiring voice. "yes, you liked it!" antara said with a huge smile. "off course, my antara's choice is always best!" geeta said sweetly. "thank you momma!!" she hugged her. "okk okk... now what about those others two packets? You got something for yourself?!" geeta asked. "yeah!!.." she said with a little coy face. "hmmm let's see what my daughter had brought for herself." Geeta said and opened the first packet. "wow it looks nice. It will definitely suit you." geeta said looking at the red saree. "thx mamma..." antara said. geeta took the other packet. Antara's heartbeat rose a bit. it was the saree which raghu brought for her. she didn't even saw that. what actually did he brought for her?! her breath stopped in anticipation. geeta opened the packet and both of that became steal for a while. "MERVELOUS!!" it was the first word came out from geeta's mouth when she saw the thin black net saree with silver and red border. She took out the saree from the packet and stretched on the bed. "this is extremely gorgeous and beautiful!" geeta said with a smile. no doubt it was beautiful. the thin black net over which the small silver designs were glowing beautifully. Antara took the saree in her hand and saw how her hand was quite visible under the thin black transparent garment. She understood how she would look while she would wear the saree. She flushed immediately and her chicks caught the deep red shade. That's why he was asking frequently about the saree. God he was...! "antara come here..." geeta said in excitement and brought her near the mirror. She placed the saree on antara's shoulder. "You will surely look stunning in this saree. Just like a princess." Geeta said with warm smile. a small coy smile spread on her face. "but tell me one thing. is that ur choice. As well I know you, I didn't think it can be your choice!!" geeta asked still keeping that smile on her face. "momma actually..." antara couldn't finish the word as geeta said again. "job hi ho... jiski bhi pasand ho bahut achi choice hain.. Seems like, the person knows you quite well." Geeta commented. Antara's chick caught another deep red shade. At that moment geeta's phone rang. "oh must be noor. I am sure ishan's tantrums has increased as I am not there." geeta said and rushed to pick the phone. Antara stood there near the mirror admiring the saree. That small coy smile and blush was still intact to her face. her phone rang. Her eyes amused a bit looking at raghu's no at the screen. She picked the phone. "haan bolo..." she said slowly with an embarrassed smile. raghu grined widely listening to her voice. he was lying on his cot keeping his ine hand under his head, "dekh liya?!!" he asked. "haan.." she answered from the other side widening her smile. "kaisi lagi?!" he asked with a frown. She didn't answered and there was a long silent pause. Antara's blush was increasing time by time. "eee tomatar ki tarah sharmana bandh kar..." he chuckled. "chup raho..." her embarrassed voice float from the other side, "tumhe aur kuch nahi mila... mujhe pata hain tumne mujhe ye saree kyun gift ki hain... seriously raghu, tum din be din besharam aur beparwa hote ja rahe hoo.." she said with a fake anger in her voice. "aur tu din be din aur jyada tomatar ban rahi hain.." he teased from other side. "shut up!!..." she said in embarrassment from other side. "arey ye to bata pasand ayi ki nahin?!" he asked without leaving the matter. "bahut sundar hain!! mujhe pata nahin tha tumhari pasand itni achi hain!!" she said. "tu bhi too meri hi pasand hain!!" his voice suddenly became intense making her heart flutter. Her breath became uneven. Though he was not in his front still she could feel his intense gaze. "antara!!..." he said in that slow husky irresistible voice which always caught her off guard. "haan.." she said holding her breath. "tu woo saree pahenegi naa?! Mere ko tujhe usme dekhna hain! bol meri baat rakhegi naa..." he asked in his intense voice. she breathed heavily. Her heartbeat had again rose. "woo main..." she said in coy voice. "antara, ishan wants to talk to you!!" geeta said from other room. "raghu momma bila rahi hain... main baad mein baat karti hoon tumse..." antara quickly cut the phone. "misscall... ee misscall!!" raghu said impatiently. But she had already cut the phone. "dhet!!" raghu punched on the cot impatiently.
It was late at night and geeta and antara was getting ready to go for bed. Antara was searching for a chance to talk with geeta about raghu. but she was becoming hesitant all the time. What would be her reaction after knowing everything? Though he was quite impressed with raghu but when would she come to know about his reality being a gangster? Would she be able to face the fact that her daughter chose a gangster as her life partner? She was hell worried and as well as scared. "hmm!!.. my daughter had really became expert in households!" geeta commented looking at her hovering around room and keeping each and everything at their own place. "momma.." she sighed and looked towards geeta, "I want to talk to you about something and it's really important." Antara said. geeta looked at her cautious face for a while and smiled, "so what's the matter?" she asked in quite normal voice. "momma actually I want to talk to you about something serious matter. Please don't be mad! I just want to say that..." but before antara could finish again geeta's phone rang. "ufff... this ishan!!..." geeta pouted, "antara go inside room. I am coming after talking to noor. Then we will seat together quietly and listen to your important matter." Geeta said and went to receive the call. Antara sighed and went inside the room. God! She was missing each and every chance to talk to her momma about raghu. she came in her room disheartened. She crashed on the bed with gloomy eyes. she didn't know why it always becomes so complicated for her. she closed her eyes in frustration. "EEE MISSCALL!!!" antara gasped and jumped on the bed as she heard the loud whisper. "misscall!!!..." again she heard his voice. "raghu!!" she gasped and looked everywhere in search for him. "eee yeri mundi ghumana bandh kar aur idhar dekh..." His voice again came and antara understood that it was coming from balcony. Antara gasped and rushed towards balcony. The scene startled her. he found raghu hanging from the railing and trying to get her attention. Raghu grinned towards her wide eyes. antara rushed and leaned on the railing catching his hands. "tum?!!" she said with a hell confused voice and expression. "mooh kyun bana rahi hain?! idhar iss balcony pe too bas do hi hain jo aise latakte hain... ek too woo bappa ke mandir ke pujari ji ka paltu Bandar jo har Monday ko tere se kela lene ata hain... aur ek apun hain jiska halat aaj Bandar se bhi kharap ho gaya hain." he said in irritated voice he was still hanging from the railing. "par tum yahan aise latak kyun rahe hoo?!!" she asked. "to kya karoon... Teri ma kya aa gayi tune ghar pe apni no entry karwa di... to latakne ke siwah apun ke pass au kuch chara hain kya?!!" he said in irritation. "raghu aisamat karo tum gir jaoge..." she said worriedly. "arey chor yaar.. jab se tu ayi hain life mein tab se gir raha hoon.. pahele Kashmir mein udhar baraf mein gira... Aur tere sath wooo... Fall in love kar ke gir para..." He blabbered. Although his English was hilarious till antara's heart thudded loudly at his last sentence. How casually he admitted his feelings each and every time, without noticing time and place. "are subha ke baad pura din tujhe dekh naii paya... Tu kya jaan ti hain apun kaise ye din kata?!" he looked intently to her eyes. "raghu main jaanti hoon... par main kya karoon... mamma se baat kar ne ka mauka hi nahi mil raha hain!! ab please jaon ...Raghu!!!!..." she screamed as his feet were about to sleep she quickly caught his collars to support him and raghu regained his balance. Both of them panted heavily and looked towards each other's eyes deeply. "tum thik ho?!!" she asked worriedly. He smiled gently, "tujhe dekh liya naa... ab thik hoon!!" he said in his deep voice fluttering her heart. Avoiding his intense gaze and composing herself with a deep breath she said, "dekh liya naa... ab please tum jaon... mujhe dar lag raha hain.." she looked here and there worriedly. "dekh misscall... thori sans le le... Aur aram se meri baat sun..." he said. "nahin raghu abhi nahin... pahele main momma se baat kar leeti hoon... fir tumse milungi... thora sa to bharosa karlo mujhpe..." she pleaded. "arey tujhe itni fikar kar ne ki zarurat hii nahi hain... teri momma ko woo..." but again she mumbed him as she heard some sound and moved back fearfully. It was the flower vase fell on the floor due to the push of the curtains who was flowing due to heavy wind. "tum jaon yahan se... momma dekh lengey to humgama ho jayega.." antara said worriedly looking inside. "naii jayega... Ane de jisko ana hain... apun nahin hilega idhar se." raghu said stubbornly. "raghu kya hain?!! kyun aise bachpana karte hoo?! Please meri baat maan jaon naa..." she said. "eee chup!!" he lost his patience at last and said loudly. antara became silent due to his loud voice. raghu hooped over the railings and came inside the balcony. Antara stood at side silently lowering her gaze. "kya hain?!! kab se bake jaa raha hoon baat sun, baat sun meri par tere ko to koi fikar hi naii... tere kaan kharap hain ya khopri ka screw dhila hain... sidhi baat samajh naii ati kya?!" he started to blabber again. she was still silent. "apun ki baat sunti kyun nahin tu?!!.. problem kya hain teri..." his voice suddenly resisted as she saw silent tears streaming down from her eyes. "eee misscall... eei... ro kyun rahi hain?!!" his voice loose the anger and caught concern. Antara lifted her moistened eyes to him which shattered his heart. "tumhe kya lagta hain... mujhe bura nahin lagta tumse door rahene mein?!" her chocked voice melted his anger. "tumhe kya pata... kya guzar raha hain mujhpe... tumse door rahena mere liye bhi bahut muskil hain... " she lowered her gaze. "ee nahin... miscall..." he cupped her face and brushed away her tears gently. "kitni ajeeb baat hain na... kuch naa kuch humesha humare bich dewar ban ke khara ho jata hain... sath rahena chahte hain... fir bhi rahe nahi pate..." Her voice broke. "arey chup ho ja yaar... dekh aisa mat kar... teri takleef nahi dekha jata mere se..." he said in broken voice looking at her sad face intently. He pulled her near and hugged her tightly. Antara also hide her face in his wide chest and shed her tears silently. Raghu hugged her so tightly like he was meeting her after ages. That small time of separation really made him mad. His possessive hands got around her waist tightly feeling her. he cuddled her in his strong hold. Kissed on her top, snuggled deeply through her hairs and placed kisses madly on her delicate nape, her neck, her shoulder like a thirsty person was drinking water after so long. Antara calmed down on his hold and silently felt his intense love through his kisses and hard caresses. She felt like she was meeting him after so long period. He lifted her face and madly kissed allover in her closed eyelids, in her chicks. her lips trembled by his each and every intense kisses and finally he took her lips in his. Both of them were overwhelmed feeling their closeness after a long days separation. Tears of joy flow down from the beneath of her closed eyelids. His intensity was bursting out. He caught her delicate nape in his hold and caught tightly around her waist. His soft kisses became hard and he sucked her both lips. her both hands clutched his shirt on his chest tightly as his hand roamed on her feature feeling her softness, her each and every curve which was quite visible over her yellow colored night kurti. His thirst and intensity had been increased due to that small separation. She was his everything. His world, his life, the only ray of hope in his miserable dark life, his wife!! Yes, he always considered her as his life's inseparable part from the day he put sindoor on her forehead accidentally in ganesh temple. He never tried to force anything on her cause he wanted her to accept him whole heartily and he was ready to give her as much as time she needed but if the situation made them apart anyhow, he was not going to tolerate that. he wouldn't let anyone come in between them. but for their odd situation he had to stay away from her. he was not even allowed to stay close to his life, he couldn't even touch his wife and show his undying love to her. his each and every feeling burst out in form of his caresses, his mad kiss and antara just melted by his each and every gesture. She got lost in his intense love flowing inside her uneven heart. after a long time when their emotions slowed down a bit they parted for air and gasped. Their forehead was still intact with each other and raghu was looking intently to her close eyelids. After a moment, antara rested her chin on his shoulder and raghu embraced her closing his eyes. the silent night breze touched the, and soothed them.
"thik hain noor...abhi main rakhti hoon.. kaal baat karte hain aaj kafi raat ho chukka hain.." geeta said and cut the phone. She headed upstairs to reach at antara's room. She was talking to noor and ishan for quite long time. She wandered if antara was sleeping already.
"eee miscall!!... tu chinta mat kar... sab thik ho jayega... apun hain na.. sab set kar dega.." he said gently caressing her back. "nahi raghu!!" she lifted her swollen face from his shoulder brushing her tears. She got some steps back to compose herself ad looked towards his questioning gaze. "woo meri momma hain. main baat karungi unse... tumne bahut kuch kiya hain mere liye par ye kaam mujhe hi karna parega.." she said slowly. "par misscall..." he tried to say something but antara again stopped her. "tum fikaar mat karoo... haan sayad momma pahele thora gussa hongi... Par mujhe pata hain sab jaan ne ke baad wo bhi maan jayengey..." she said in hopeful voice but again her eyes saddened a bit, "par jaan te ho... dil mein ajib sa dar baith gaya hain... jab bhi mujhe lagta hain ki sab kuch thik ho jayega tab kuch na kuch galat ho jata hain!!... agar momma nahin mane too...main tumhe nahin kho na chahti raghu ... Par main apni momma ke khilap nahin jaa sakti... Agar unho ne naa kar diya too pata nahin main kya karungi!!..." a lone tear escaped from her eyes as she lowered her gaze. She just couldn't tolerate the anxiety anymore. If she had to choose between momma and raghu then she didn't know what would be the consequence. Raghu was trying to tell her something but then another voice came from the balcony door which startled both of them. "AUR AGAR MAINE HAAN KAR DIYA TOOO?!!!..." both of them snapped back towards the balcony door with wide eyes and found geeta standing there and looking towards them with a mischievous smile. "momma!!!..." antara gasped and looked worriedly towards raghu. raghu also looked back to her with questioning gaze. Looking at their faces geeta was having hard time to control her laugh. "Seriously, the young generations of now days' are really impossible." Geeta thought. "momma woo..." antara said in slow voice. "tum too chup hi rahi antara!!" geeta said faking an angry voice. but antara didn't detected her fakeness as she was hell scared. "apne aap ko kya samajhti ho tum?! Bari ho gayi hoo iska matlab ye nahin ki apni manmani karoge. Maa hoon main tumhari.. tumhe kya laga mujhe bhanak bhi nahi paregi?!!" she raised her eye brows. Antara stood there lowering her gaze. "aur tum!!" geeta looked towards raghu's startling gaze, "kya kahan tha maine?!!" she asked in same voice. "aubty jii woo..." he scratched his head. Suddenly geeta couldn't control herself and burst into laughter and both of them get startled. "momma!!" antara was shocked. "mahan hoo tum dono... uff!! Raghu maine kahan tha ki main apna faisla baad mein sunaungi par yee nahin kahan tha tumhe antara se milne ke liye balcony se ana parega!! Darwaje se bhi aa sakte the tum... main nahin rokti tumhe.." geeta said laughing. "arey aunty jii apun kya karein... ye yeri too mere ko darwaje se ane hi nahi de rahi thi!!" raghu said in irritated voice. antara was standing at a side all shocked. Her startled gaze was moving on geeta and raghu's face. "momma!! Yahan kya ho raha hain?!!" she managed to say in stumbled voice. "arey teri dimag ki second hand tubelight ko jala aur soch... apun to kab se tere ko bata ne ki try kar raha hain par tu hain ki apun ki baat hich nahi sun rahi hain!!" raghu said in irritation. "mujhe kuch samajh nahi aa raha hain..." she was still in shock. "abey dhet!!..." raghu stroke his head. "raghu chor do... isssey samjhana tumahre bas ki baat nahin hain... ye kaam tum mujhpe chor do.." geeta said from side, "antara tum idhar aao.." she called her lovingly. Looking at her cheerful smile antara's all worries were gone. She rushed near her momma and hugged her tightly with a wide smile. geeta hugged her back too. Raghu stood there witnessing them with a smile. antara broke the hug and looked at her momma with wide smile. "aur raghu, agar antara se tumhari baat ho gayi hoo to kyat um yahan se jaa sakte hoo.. mujhe meri beti se kuch baat karni hain!!" geeta said looking towards raghu. "okkk aunty jii!! Apun chalta hain... bole too... GOOD NIGHT!!" raghu said and was about to hoop over the railings. "raghu!!" geeta frowned. "yahan se nahin main door se jaon..." she ordered. "arey aunty aap fikar mat karo... waisye bhi apun ko adat ho gaya hain balcony se jump mar ate maarte...ye too apni woo kya kahete hain... haan wooo parliament (permanent)darwaja hain!!" he said. both geeta and antara stroke their forehead in unison. "raghu woo parliament nahin permanent hota hain!!" antara said from side. "arey yaar ab itni raat gaye class mat le... chalta hoon... aunty jii bye..." he was about to jump again but again geeta and antara rolled their eyes. "arey aise mat dekho... jata hoon naa.. darwaje se hi jata hoon..." he rushed inside in irritated face. both of the ladies laughed in unison.
"you are still so childish antara. why didn't you told me that you like that boy!!" geeta said while applying oil on antara's hair. Antara was seating near her closing her eyes. geeta was on the bed and antara was on the floor. "I don't know momma what happened to me. I was afraid that you wouldn't accept him." she said. "and why wouldn't I? he is such a nice boy antara. I don't have any reason to deny him." geeta said and massaged her hairs. Antara became silent for a while, "no doubt he is so good momma! I never meet such an innocent soul in my whole life and I am sure about that. but momma you don't know anything about him." she said in cautious voice. "about what?!! Being a ruffian?! A man who was in the top wanted list in mumbai police?!" geeta said. antara got another shock and looked towards geeta's smiling face with wide eyes. "momma!!" she almost choked in amusement. "he told me everything antara. he didn'ty hid a single thing about him. when he was bringing me from station he told me about himself in the way. he told me who was he. What was his real identity and you know, someone needs real guts to say everything like that! I was no doubt confused. But then he told me that he liked you. he wanted to be a part of your life and he knew that you wouldn't take the decision about my permission. He told me how your presence changed his life upside down. He told me that he wanted to change himself. He is ready to leave each and everything just for you! the honesty in his eyes, I never saw that in any guy. I understood that he really love you a lot. he also told me that if I think that he was not eligible for you then he would wait and made himself eligible for you. you don't know antara what a immense care I saw in his eyes for you while he was saying those words to me. He even requested me not to blame you for the fact. Cause, if someone had done the mistake it was only him, you were not be blamed anyhow. now what else I needed for the confirmation antara..." geeta sighed and smiled. Antara was startled listening to everything, "so that's what he wanted to tell me that he talked with you! but momma why didn't you tell me." Antara asked. "well, I want to c something. no doubt I almost decided at the way abput my future steps but still I told him to wait for sometimes as I need to think. I didn't told you anything cause I want to see your reaction. I saw clearly that how much he loved you but I want to see that my antara loved him equally or not! And when I saw you both face to face and observed your restlessness all the day everything got cleared in front of my eyes." geeta smiled widely. "not fare momma!! At last I am the fool one!!!" she said with a coy smile. "antara!!" geeta caressed her head lovingly. "I don't know what antisocial activities he had done that made him wanted in police list. But you remember your father's words?! He always said that we should hate the wrong did but not the person who did that. antara, might be his activities were wrong to some people but he is not the wrong person!!! I can bet on that. still there is some good thing hidden inside him and I know you can bring those out and make him a better person." Geeta said. antara smiled towards her mommma. "you know, momma!! You are the best!!" she placed her head on her lap. "actually you know antara... he told me that he lost his parents at a very tender age. There was no one to take care of him in this world. Jusy like you, he didn't get the shade of love and care and there was no one who could teach him the lesson of good and bad. And I know what kind of childhood those peoples have who lost their parents. Might be the circumstances lead him to the place where he is now. But still he could be changed. Woo kahete hain naa... heera to koyle ke khan mein hi milta hain... fir ussey tarashne ke baad hi uski chamak puri duniya mein fail jati hain..." geeta said, "aur mujh pata hain... meri antara iss kaam mein bahut mahir hain.. akhir doctor sahab ki beti hain.." geeta smiled. Antara lifted her face and looked at her mother's smile. "momma I know and I am trying my best but it is not so easy momma. And do you know the strongest wall between us? Raghu's god mother. Daya mai!!" antara said with firm voice.
Precap: geeta waved her hand and looked towards them with warm smile. she saw her daughter smiling the brightest smile she ever saw and the man standing behind her holding her hand, like her savior, protector. "doctor sahab I know you are so happy today, your little girl had grown up and found her right man just like we found each other." Geeta said in her mind. she continued to look at the platform till the train brought her out of the area and blurred them from her vision.
