Chapter 5
~The Necklace~
The morning was calm, bright and frigid. Like any other day, the Institute had opened and the classes have begun. After a successful painting exhibition, Ragini was the guest painting lecturer for that day. She was utterly professional so somehow she cleverly maintained her outer tranquil expression, but anybody who knew her personally could tell that she was actually concealing her inner fury. After arriving at the place she noticed that there was some time left for her class. She sat along the adjacent corridor when her phone vibrated under her palm. Reluctantly she looked at it and the caller name which was shining repeatedly on the screen gave her a sudden jerk. She received the call at once and as mildly as possible said, "Hello..."
"But dad...I can't take this project...It's too huge." Mrityunjay shook his head disapprovingly. They were in the dining hall, though it was forbidden to discuss any business related talk at the dining table, but today it was very important for Jairaj to convince him.
"But except you who else can manage this venture?" Jairaj tried once again.
Mrityunjay sipped his coffee and put it back gently and replied, "Dad I don't understand why you want me to handle this venture? Basically, you are far more experienced than me then why..." He stopped in the middle of his words to see Jairaj smiling.
"Yes, you are right...I am experienced...par jaise tumne iss venture ko hamare haath se jane se bachaya...uske baad mujhe lagta hai tum hi ise sambhal sakte ho..." Mrityunjay wanted to say more but the essence of faith and confidence which covered Jairaj's face were preventing him from saying anything further. He slowly nodded.
"Yeh kya tum dono breakfast table pe hamesha business ke bare mein baat karte ho." Jairaj turned to hear the familiar voice. Maya poured a glass of water and sat beside Mrityunjay.
"Mom, hum to bas..." But Jairaj felt an interruption, so he concentrated on his tea. Maya made a face and turned to Mrityunjay, who had already finished his breakfast and was getting up to leave.
"Ruk ja, mujhe tujhse zaroori baat karni hai." Mrityunjay looked at her and frowned at once. Maya was looking a little weary.
"Kya baat hai nani?" He sat down again and put a hand on her shoulder. Jairaj too was surprised to watch her like that, he looked at her with a questioning eye.
The small and inornate room was occupied with a smell of antiquity. Like an aged and packed incident's speechless witness, a complete stillness predominated the room though a mild sound was obstructing the silence. A long structure was standing in front of the closet and was trying to find something. His speedy motion of hands and restless eyes were set on the place.
"Dad main Seher ke saath... " Govind was startled and closed the cupboard at once. Then took some time and turned towards the door.
"Kya dhoond rahe thhe aap?" Tara was standing at the doorstep with a cup of tea in her hand. Her wrinkling forehead was directly questioning him.
Govind came towards her, took the cup from her hand and said, "Kuch nahi beta, woh office ke kuch important files hai mere pass, wahi dekh raha tha...theek thak hai ki nahi...tum kuch bol rahi thi?" Govind sat on a chair and unrolled the newspaper.
Tara nodded, but something was still annoying her, though she didn't ask him anything and replied, "Haan...woh main Seher ke saath bahar ja rahi hoon...jaldi aa jayungi..."
"Theek hai..." Govind gave an affirmative smile. Tara left the place. Govind heaved a sigh of weal.
"Main Gauri bol rahi hun..." Ragini couldn't understand why suddenly Gauri called her. She stated nothing, except a "Hmmm."
"Tum dono ke beech jagda hua hai?" Gauri's subtle voice raised from the other side of the phone.
"Not really..." she said abruptly.
"Maine tumhe phone kiya tum shayed soch mein aa gayi hogi...par baat ye hai ki kal raat Aman bahot pareshan tha. Waise tumhe toh pata hi hai woh kaisa hai...tum samajdar ho... I hope tum dono sab sort out kar loge..." Gauri stopped to take a breath.
"Haan...actually main thodi gusse mein aa gayi thi aur...par main Aman se baat kar lungi..." she replied.
"Theek hai." Gauri cut the call. Ragini put down her phone, and after a moment she sent a message to Aman, and left the place smiling.
"Nani hua kya hai?" Mrityunjay's concerned voice asked her again. Maya looked at Jairaj and then again looked at him,
"Lagta hai Jairaj ne iss bare mein tujhse koi baat nahi ki" Maya kept her eyes down. Mrityunjay and Jairaj exchanged a surprising glance.
Jairaj moved the cup aside and asked,"Kaunsi baat...?"
Maya shook her head disappointingly."Are iski shaadi ki baat... Maine usdin kaha tha tumse Jairaj, ki baat karo us se..."Mrityunjay as well as Jairaj became astonished.
"Aap shaadi ke bare mein baat kar rahi thi...maine socha business ke bare mein..." Jairaj answered mildly. Maya shook her head, "Tumhare dimaag mein business ke elawa kuch aata hai?" Jairaj didn't give any answer as he had nothing left to say.
"Nani...aap achanak meri shaadi ke piche kyun padh gayi...aap ka serial start ho jayega...aap jao." Mrityunjay got up from his place and took his blazer.
"Haan haan mazak udalo mera..." Nani turned her face. Jairaj smiled to see her and left.
"Nani...main kar lunga shaadi...jaldi kya hai..." He smiled and sat again beside her and tried to manofy her.
"Koi nahi samajta mere dil ka kya haal hai... Uss hadse ne humse sab kuch cheen liya...pata hai mujhe, tum sab khush hone ka natak karte ho, par andar se sab bikhar gaya hai..." Maya sniffed.
"Nani please stop it." Mrityunjay said in a cold voice and closed his eyes. His smile vanished and an unbearable sadness overlapped his expression.
"Khair...waise tujhe yaad hai na aaj tujhe jewellery store jana hai..." she said in a mild tone. He nodded slowly.
"Haan kaise bhool sakta hoon..." And without saying anything he left. Maya silently wiped a small tear drop from her eye.
"Waise hum jaa kaha rahe hai?" asked an excited Tara while looking at Seher stealthily. They were on their way and Rashi was driving the car. In the backseat Tara and Seher were sitting. Seher was a little more silent today, though she was naturally timid, but today her expressions have something uneasy, as if she was frightened of something.
"Hum pehle market jayenge...mom ke liye kuch kharidna hai. Yahaan aane ke baad unhe kuch diya hi nahi...isliye." Rashi smiled.
Seher was startled to experience a warm touch on her hand, she turned to Tara. "Kya hua hai? Tu theek toh hai na?" Tara asked in a whisper.
"Tara...mujhe tujhe kuch batana hai...woh..." she mumbled and gulped.
"Mujhe... kuch dino se koi stalk kar raha hai." She said in one breath.
"Kya?????" Tara was shocked to learn this from her. She was being stalked by somebody for a long period and she was telling her now!
"I'm sorry...mujhe pehle batana chahiye tha...par I don't know why...main nahi bata payi" Seher said with teary eyes.
Tara pressed her hands and answered, "Relax...yeh cheez mujh par chhod de...bas tension free ho ja." Seher kept her head down and nodded. Tara's jaw stiffed. She knew what will be her move.
Rashi parked the car and they got down, the market area was extended and unfurled, the small shops owned one half of the pavement. Crowds were scattered hither and thither. They were walking and with that normal gossiping and chit chatting were also on in full swing. They arrived at the Plaza mall which was standing there keeping its head high. They got in and came to a jewellery store which resided there. The flashiness and glamour enveloped the place. The doorkeeper welcomed them and a salesgirl cordially approached them and they also got busy in choosing the ornaments.
"Arre sir...aaiye..." At once the front glass door opened and the manager came running towards the man who had scarcely entered into the shop.
"Aaiye sir...baithiye...aapka phone aaya tha..." The manager said with a mouthful of smile.
"Jo kaha tha woh ho gaya?" he asked while removing his dark glasses and sat in front of him.
"Apne jaisa kaha tha waisa hi kiya hai humne aur woh bilkul ready hai." The manager left no stone unturned to impress him, but he was so nonchalant that it was really difficult to understand whether he was impressed by him or not.
"Hmmm...Zara lekar aaiye..." he said and again without looking at him.
"...Hum abhi lekar aate hai..." The manager left hurriedly. Mrityunjay looked all around and then concentrated on his phone.
"Nahi...aisa nahi...kuch traditional dikhaiye na..." Rashi said to the salesman who was exhibiting them the ornaments. They were there for around 45 minutes, but neither Rashi nor Tara and Seher could choose the right match for Gauri. The salesman again got busy to bring out some more jewellery.
"Sumedh...Thakur saab ne jo jewellery bheji thi uska kaam ho gaya?" The man turned.
"Sir...bas ho gaya...thoda polish chal raha hai...30 mins mein ho jayega." He said. The manager just nodded gruffly.
"Jaldi karo..." And he left.
"Sir actually 30 min aur lagega...thoda polish ka kaam chal raha hai..." Mrityunjay rubbed his temple.The manager was finding words, "Aap kuch lijiye na...tea...coffee...cold drink..."
Mrityunjay looked at him and said, "No thanks."
"Mujhe toh mom ke liye kuch pasand nahi aya..." Rashi said disheartedly. Tara and Seher looked at each other.
"Hum dusre shop chalte hai." Tara said.
They were about to move, but suddenly Rashi's eyes stuck with a necklace placed in the display case.
"Aap zara ye dikhaiye..." she pointed at a slick neck piece.
The man placed the piece in her hand, the jewellery was trendy yet graceful.
"Yeh kiske liye?" Tara asked.
"Tere liye...idhar aa." She put the necklace on her. She looked even prettier, the necklace did a magic on her.
Tara was surprised and perplexed,"Yeh sab kya hai?"She turned and slew it."Mere liye matlab?"She looked at her right away.
It was already past 30 minutes. Mrityunjay had told his workers earlier to postpone today's meeting, but it seemed he would be late again today for the conference. The manager's desk was in front of him, he counted at that direction. The manager was doing something on his computer, he got up from his seat and came towards him.
"Excuse me, aap zara dekhenge aur kitna waqt lagega" The manager was startled and stood at once.
"Haan...haan...main abhi dekh kar aata hoon. So sorry sir...aapko itna wait karna padh raha..."Mrityunjay turned his face in despair and signaled him to go.
"Tara tu aisi shocked kyun hai...main tujhe kuch de nahi sakti hoon na?" Rashi asked.
"Di baat ye nahi hai...achanak aap...aise..." She found no words to say.
"Ho gaya...??? Kitna baki hai??"
The man was withdrawing all the jewellery boxes from the table, he kept his face up and said, "Ho gaya...aap sir ko yahan bhejiye...check karne ke liye"
The manager left.
"Agar uncle tujhe yeh diya hota tu aise hi sawal poochti?" she asked with a frown.
"Nahi par..." But she was stopped by Rashi.
"Main tujhe yeh gift karna chahti thi, tune mera dil tod diya." She turned her face and folded her hands.
"Sir...ho gaya...aaiye" The manager told a tired Mrityunjay. He was riled as he doesn't like laziness and after telling them yesterday by phone, they behaved irresponsibly. He proceeded to the counter with the manager.
"Drama karna toh koi aap se shikhe." She said smilingly. "Theek hai...theek hai main leti hoon...ab toh gussa chhod do..." Rashi smiled.
Seher took the necklace and placed it on her again and Tara turned to the mirror just at the moment the manager and Mrityunjay reached there. The salesman smiled to look at him, "Sir, sorry for being late...yeh ho gaya aap dekh lijiye..." The man placed a red velvet box in his hand. He opened the lid and touched gently on the necklace which was shining after being polished. It reminded him of many old memories and unconsciously his lips curled in a smile. But at the next moment he restrained himself and gave it back to the man.
"Ma'am...yeh aapka..." The person at the billing counter placed the box and bill on Rashi's hands. They left the shop.They arrived and sat at the food court. Tara was happy, and suddenly her eyes stuck with Seher. She was sitting benumbed. Tara set her hand on her and assured her that she was always there for her. She smiled back.
"Tara tujhe gift pasand toh hua na?" Tara turned hearing Rashi's voice.
"Haan...bahot achha hai." Rashi smiled childishly. Tara got the packet and brought out the box and opened the lid to see it again and her expression changed in a moment. Rashi and Seher exchanged a glance. Awestruck and amazed Tara looked at them and then at the box on her hand. She didn't find any word to pronounce.
"Aap log itni laparwah kaise ho sakte hai..." The staff along with the handler of the shop stood there with a shrunken expression. Mriyunjay turned on him, "Aap yahan khade kyun hai...do something...pehle toh bata dene ke baad bhi aap log ek kaam bhi complete nahi kiya...upar se yeh..."His voice rose a bit higher.
"Sir...hum" He tried to give an explanation, but broke off in the middle of his words.
"I don't want to hear any explanation. Kya hua kab hua kaise hua...mujhe nahi janna...mujhe meri Cheez wapas chahiye...kahi se bhi...Samajh Gaye..." His eyes almost piercing him, he nodded and went to the billing counter.
"Oh God...yeh log bhi na...dekh ke nahi dete...see bill sahi diya hai...par necklace kaise galat de diya...pata nahi kiska hai..." Tara said anxiously and closed the lid. They had realized a moment before that their necklace got exchanged with another piece.
"Ab kya..." Seher asked, facing a serious Tara.
"Aur kya...tum log yahan baitho. Main shop pe jaati hoon phir se...bekar mein pareshani..." she left grouchily.
The ambiance of the shop was still hot. Till now they couldn't find anything as to whom they had given that necklace. The bill was there, but only the ornament got exchanged. Tara entered the store and stopped at once to see a crowd there. Whispering talks were flying there and with that she could hear a ragged voice every so often. She ignored it and came to the counter.
"Aap log yeh kya karte hai...ek baar check to karenge dene se pehle. Yeh kisi ke saath exchange ho gaya hai dekhiye..." Tara gave the box.
The man checked it along with the card, and stood up,"Ma'am woh..."
But she halted him, "Kuch bolne ki zaroorat nahi hai...iss baar acche se check karke dena..." The man strained to say something again, but was again interrupted by her. At last he gave her the right thing.
"Ma'am...par..." His last try too went in vain.
"It's ok..." And she went forth.
The man came running to the place where Mrityunjay was still browbeating the manager.
"Sir...yeh aapka hai?" Mrityunjay turned and counted on the hand where the man held that same box with the jewellery lying there.
He took that from his hand at once.
"Kahan se mila...?" he asked. His eyes were beaming with happiness.
"Ek ladki aayi thi...galati se exchange ho gaya tha unke saath." He replied mildly.
"Kahan hai woh ladki?" Mrityunjay looked here and there.
"Woh toh chali gayi." He answered.
Mrityunjay turned on the manager, "Iss baar chhod raha hoon...agli baar dhyan rakhna." He put his shades back on and left the shop with rage.
TO BE CONTINUED...
Edited by mon.sayan17.com - 9 years ago
Pati Patni Aur Panga
Jaane Anjaane Hum Mile
Tum Se Tum Tak
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki
Vasudha
