The bell rang and announced that the time for the class was over. The sound of the bell made all the students fidgety; Ragini knew that they were restless. However much passion they borrowed from painting, but doing a two hour special class was a tedious thing, really! But however she gave them a small concluding speech before the final wrap up. Subsequently all the students had gone. Ragini was rolling the additional chart papers, and all her minor belongings when her eyes met with Aman who was standing outside in the corridor. She went outside to meet him, he smiled at her. He was looking a bit tired.
"Gauri Bhabhi ne call kiya tha...isliye." She stated, looking at the floor. They were walking through the long passageway of the Institute.
"Oh!" Aman made her stop with his sudden reaction, "Toh Bhabhi ne call kiya tha isliye mujhe bulaya." He made a face. Ragini smiled.
"Nahi main khud tumhe bulana chahti thi, par soch rahi thi whether I should text you or not, Gauri Bhabhi ne woh kaam aasan kar diya." He nodded thoughtfully.
"Kal ke liye sorry bolna tha." She stopped and thought a bit how to proceed further.
"Mere liye painting aur specially woh exhibition bahot important tha...aur mujhe kisi bhi halat mein late nahi hona tha." She went on saying.
"Ok..ok..now forget it...mujhe toh tumhari sorry ki aadat padh gayi hai. Do din mein ek baar sorry nahi suna toh khana hazam nahi hota." Ragini made a gesture. Aman smiled and gave her a side hug.
"Mazak kar raha hoon." She slapped gently on his arm, "Ab aaya hoon toh thoda coffee peene chale." Ragini nodded smilingly.
"Tum log yahan kyun utar rahe ho? Ghar tak chhod deti hoon." Rashi said surprised, turning back at them. Tara came out of the car and looked at Seher who was tensed again. Tara knew that her nervous expression would compel Rashi to have a doubt on them. She held her hand and pressed gently,
"Thank you Rashi Di. Woh kya hai dad ka kuch kaam hai jo mujhe karna hai..." Rashi nodded.
"Theek hai, sambhal ke jana." And they both stood there until Rashi's car became invisible.
After she left, Seher turned to her,"Lekin Tara, woh stalker toh hamesha mujhe raat ko stalk karta hai, toh abhi woh kaha se milega?"
Tara smiled seeing her expression, "Khane se chipakna makkhi ki aadat hoti hai. Woh waqt nahi dekhta, bas khana dekhta hai so don't worry; woh hume abhi hi milega."
They began walking through the narrow and lonely road. Though it was only half past one, the road was quite desolate and a calmness was there except the chirping of birds which could be heard every so often. They were walking silently when they felt that they were not alone on that path; someone else was also with them, rather was walking with them. Seher was getting conscious but Tara knew that it was a trap for that stalker; so being calm was important for her. She was continuously giving her the strength to be steady. The road got a bend from where the main road was quite visible and the sound of vehicles could be heard. Tara stopped suddenly and before Seher could understand anything, she turned and seized his collar at once, making him flabbergasted. A boy of around twenty-five got a sudden shock as he never considered that he could receive this kind of outcome of his deed.
"Akeli ladki dekhte hi use pareshan karna jaroori hota hai? Sochte kya ho tum log?" Tara said to him, there was clear evidence of anger on her face.
"Yeh kaam accha nahi kar rahi ho." The boy replied gritting his teeth. Tara withdrew her hands from his collar, the boy adjusted it while looking at her in a vindictive way, Tara said nothing, but with apace she slapped the boy before he could understand anything. Startled when the boy understood what had happened to him, he felt a sharp irritation on the right side of his face.
"Galati kiya hai tune aur ankhe dikha raha hai mujhko...iss baar bas yeh stamp maar ke chhod rahi hoon, agli baar aisa karta huya dekha na toh aisa haal karungi ki insaan toh kya jaanwar ko bhi dekhne mein darr lagega tujhe." She said with a rageful voice.
The ireful eyes of his gazed at Seher, "Iska phal bhugatna padega tujhe." The boy said while rubbing his hand on his right cheek.
"Mujhe thappad mara dekhta hoon kitne dino tak bach sakti hai mujhse." And at once he ran away.
After he left, Tara turned to Seher. She was still a little scared.
"Kya hua?" she asked.
"Woh dhamki de kar gaya...aur..."
"Seher." Tara placed her hand on her shoulder, "Jo kutte bhokte hai woh kaat te nahi hai...so chill mar." After a long time she smiled.
The conference room was ready and was silent except some dim whispers which were floating in that snide air-conditioned room. Mrityunjay was late, more than he thought; seeing him the doorman greeted him and opened the door.
"Jab tak meeting na khatam ho jaye andar kisi ko bhi aane ki permission nahi hai...office-staff ko chhodke." The man who had worked there for a very long time knew very well that how much serious he was with his work, he nodded.
"Sab log aa gaye na?" he asked while entering. Jairaj smiled, he sat beside him and started flipping a file.
"Sab log aa gaye bas Mr. Aman nahi aaye hai abhi tak." The man who was sitting beside him replied timorously.
The motion of his fingers stopped at once.
"What do you mean by nahi aaye?" He turned to him, "Maine kaha tha yahaan aaj sabko hona chahiye."
"Kya hua beta?" Jairaj's calm voice rose from beside him. "Meeting shuru kare?"
"Nahi kar sakte dad...kyun ki..."
"Sorry!! I'm late!" A guileless tone approached from the back. Everyone from the room turned in that direction and as expected they found Aman there.
(Aman's background theme:
Hoga Jaane Mera Ab Kya
Koi To Bataye Mujhe
Gadbad Hai Ye Sab Kya
Koi Samjhaye Mujhe
Main Aisa Kyun Hoon...
Main Jaisa Hoon Main Waisa Kyun Hoon)
"Kya mein jaan sakta hoon ki aap itna late kyun hai?" Mrityunjay said, placing the file on the table.
"Haan..." Aman restrained himself as Mrityunjay's cold eyes were set on him. "Actually coffee peete peete dhyan nahi raha." His ingenuous tone made everybody smile. A sound of titter enveloped the ambiance of the room.
"Are you serious?" Mrityunjay was shocked to hear such honest answer. "Yahan ek important meeting chal rahi hai aur aap...coffee...ridiculous!!" He made a gesture with his hands.
"No...not at all ridiculous! Woh log itna achha coffee banate hai ki aap ek bar piyenge toh baar baar peena chahenge..they are that much good!" His expression made no impact over Mrityunjay. He was rubbing his temple.
"Ho gaya?" Mrityunjay stared at him. "Now listen Mr.Aman, aapko coffee peena hai, ghumne jana hai...aap shauk se kijiye par mere liye mera kaam bahot important hai, toh achha hoga agar aap yeh sab karne se pehle aap hamara yeh project chhod de...Aur I think" He revolved his chair to face Gauri, "Mrs. Raichand ko bhi aapke iss project ko chhodne se koi problem nahi hogi." Gauri was looking at Aman, she shook her head slightly. She was disappointed.
"Sorry!" He said again. Jairaj was listening quietly for so long, now he realized that the situation was going out of control. He stood up rapidly from his chair.
"Beta, Aman sorry keh raha hai ab iss baat ko yehi khatam kar do aur hume Aman ki bhi zaroorat hai iss project mein...aur main yahan sabse kehna chahunga ki aap log iss venture ko bahot seriously le...itna sincerity toh aap log se ummeed kar sakta hoon..." He smiled and patted Aman's back, "Aao baitho." He sat beside him.
"Aapka beta toh aap se bhi do kadam aage nikla." Gauri said in a whisper to Jairaj. She smiled mockingly. Jairaj had understood her hidden meaning, but he remained silent because for him the conference was most important at that moment. He turned to the rest of the delegates.
"Meeting shuru karte hai..." And the conference started.
Tara was at home. The whole house was calm and silent; this solidarity was helping her to relax, but still that thought of the previous incident was making her tensed. She told Seher that the stalker couldn't do anything to them as most of the roadside romeos are the same, but if he did something to Seher, then what?? With this anxiety she was arranging her room when her phone vibrated.
"Hello...dad...!" She received the phone with a frown, as at this time Govind never called her.
"Tara...mere reading table pe jo files hai woh lekar abhi mere office aa jao..." His voice was tensed.
"Haan...theek hai...par aapki awaaz...sab theek hai na?" Tara asked.
"Haan chhota sa problem hua..."
FLASBACK:
"Govind aap papers laye hai na?" Govind was standing in front of the long conference table when Jairaj's voice made an approach towards him.
"Papers...?" He uttered, and suddenly realized that he made a blunder as he forgot to bring them. Yesterday when he was going back home Jairaj had told him to bring the papers next day as there was a meeting. But still he forgot! How could he do that!
"Sir...Main lana bhool gaya..." he could say just this much. He was ashamed as he never did such an improper thing related to business or related to the Thakur family.
"Aap bhool kaise gaye..." From beside Jairaj, Mrityunjay's voice raised.
"Khair..." Jairaj stopped him. "Aap abhi jaiye aur leke aaiye..." he said impatiently as he was aware of his mood today.
"Sir...yeh account toh abhi bhejna hai check karke...aap ne hi kaha tha." Govind too didn't understand what to do.
"Woh bhi hai...lekin ab..."
"Sir..." he suddenly exclaimed as he found some idea. "Main apni beti se keh deta hoon laane ke liye..." The way he said it was as if this little sagacity gave him the happiness and peace of the world.
"Theek hai ..kuch bhi kariye...bas jaldi..." Jairaj said.
FLASHBACK END:
"Ohh...theek hai main abhi lekar aata hoon.."
"Haan...papers table par hi hai...closet kholne ki jaroorat nahi hai aur main samne hi rahunga..."
"Theek hai Dad..."Tara cut the call and went for her father's room. While searching on the table, suddenly she realized that on the previous day when she came to his room, she had found him searching something in the closet. When asked, he had answered her that he was checking his official papers. Then why did he say that the papers are on the table?? And today too he specially emphasized on his closet, what is the matter?? Did he really mean about those official papers or he was referring to something else?? And why was her dad so much worried about his closet??
With thoughts rumbling in her brain, she went on with her search until she found that red colour file with "Shekhawat Group of Industries" written on it. She took the file and left for the office.
IN THE CABIN:
Mrityunjay was sitting impatiently; meeting had come to a stop as the file was the thing which was needed the most at that moment. All important documents, designs were there.
"Kab tak aayengi woh?" He asked closing his laptop, a suppressed anger was there on his face though he didn't show it. "Aa jayegi woh beta...main Govind se ek baar milkar aata hoon..."
Tara was in the auto, sitting casually though a weariness was there on her face. Govind's behavior was very unlike him, which was making her restless again and again though she shrugged it off. But still her thoughts were loitering in her head. The auto stopped with a sudden jerk tearing her thought process. She stepped out and the plank where the name of the company was written grabbed her attention. The usual crowd was there on the road. She held the file a little tighter and started walking towards the main entrance when her phone vibrated in a whimpering manner. The caller name was showing "Rashi Di" on the screen, she looked at the screen to receive the call. And suddenly a car came running in at full speed. The sudden happenings made her perplexed as all her concentration was on her belongings and she heard a sound of splashing. She looked up and before she could restrict it, her phone and file all fell down and she felt a wetness on her dress and realized that it was muddy water. She looked at her dress and screamed.
"Hey, are you mad? Idiot!! Aise koi drive karta hai kya??"
A small crowd had gathered there. The car had already made a stop and came back in front of her and the glass window was lowered gradually. Aditya was sitting there holding the steering wheel.
"Tumne kuch kaha?" He asked reaching out his face through the window.
"Haan...kaha." Tara replied rudely while trying to remove the mud from her dress.
Aditya stepped out of the car. The curious crowd had already started to take interest in the fun. "Kya kaha tumne... zara dobara kehna." He asked again in a very serious yet mocking tone. Tara frowned at him and folded her hands.
"Maine kaha tum ek number ke badtameez insaan ho." She said gritting her teeth.
"Tumhe pata hai main kaun hoon?" His furious eyes were set on her.
"Mujhe nahi pata aur jaanna bhi nahi hai. Mujhse maafi maango." She said in an extremely cold yet fierce voice. "Main kisi se maafi nahi mangta." He replied back and this time in a forceful voice.
"Mujhse maangna padega." Her tone was becoming pelting.
"Galati tumhari hai. Main drive karte waqt tum jaise logon ke taraf nahi dekhta!" He replied nonchalantly.
"Tum kitne badtameez ho...ek toh mera dress kharab kiya aur upar se aise behave kar rahe ho jaise..."
But he stopped her.
"Whatever! Listen main kabhi kisi se maafi nahi maangta aur tum jaisi ladki se toh bilkul nahi!" He opened the car's door and sat there.
"What do you mean by tum jaisi ladki'?" She was furious as that was a direct insult.
He didn't give any answer. Tara banged on the car's door.
"Aage se samne dhyan rakh ke chalna." He said and before she could utter anything, his car moved on.
"Kitna badtameez hai." She murmured and took the file and her phone from the road, which was in a power off mode. She tried to remove the mud stain from her dress once again, but her toil went in vain. She entered the office with a sullen face.
Govind was strolling anxiously in his cabin when Jairaj entered. He was so much tensed and engrossed in his phone that he didn't notice him. He had called Tara half an hour ago but she hadn't arrived by now and to his surprise, her phone was also switched off. His restlessness was continuously suffocating him as he knew how to suffer remorse. "Govind...aapki beti se baat huyi?" He looked at the doorstep. Jairaj was as usual maintaining his calm approach, though a slender line of worry was there on his face.
"Ji..." Govind came forth, "Maine to use bata diya tha par abhi tak kyun nahi aayi wahi samaj nahi aa raha...Tara itni laparwahi kabhi nahi karti." He answered in an ireful tone while again dialing her number.
"Lagta hai traffic mein atak gayi hogi..." Jairaj rubbed his temple. "Aapne use phone kiya tha dobara?" he asked him.
"Nahi, uska phone off aa raha hai. Aap chinta mat kijiye woh aa jayegi." Jairaj nodded and threw a small smile suppressing all his inner anxiousness and left the cabin. Govind came to the threshold of his cabin and again tried her number, but the same mechanical whining made him even more frustrated.
Tara was walking with speedy steps. The mud had dried by then, but the stain was making everybody stare at her. Though she didn't bother much, yet those curious eyes were making her conscious when she bumped with a man and restrained herself as well as the file before that could fall on the floor.
"I'm sorry...I'm sorry." She said at once looking at the man.
"Main ...woh.." She attempted to say something when she heard Govind's voice from the back and turned.
"Tara...kaha thi tu?"
Govind came forward, moving the small mob behind.
"Sorry Sir...aapko lagi toh nahi?" He said looking at him.
Jairaj shifted his curious gaze from Tara to him.
"Nahi nahi...yeh...?"
"Ji yeh meri beti Tara..." She smiled faintly.
"File kaha hai?" Govind asked her.
Tara gave the file to him and he put it in Jairaj's hand.
Tara looked at Govind and then at Jairaj.
"Sorry..." But Jairaj waved his hand in the middle of her sentence.
"It's ok...Koi baat nahi." And left the place.
After he left, Govind looked straight at her.
"Yeh kya hai Tara...itni der laga di tune aur phone bhi bandh aa raha tha tera...Jairaj ji kitne pareshan ho gaye thhe...aur yeh sab kya hai?" He pointed at her dress.
"Thoda sa kichad laga hai..." She said in a meek tone, trying to conceal the damage which she did.
Govind shook his head, after a bit of silence she asked, "Yeh kaun the Dad?"
"Mere boss...Jairaj Singh Shekhawat...iss company ke owner...bas ab tum ghar jao...aur sambhal ke jana..." She nodded.
After Govind left, Tara tried to start the phone, but it didn't respond. She thumped it on her palm, but it stayed dead. With a sombre look, she turned to go back when her eyes caught with Aditya, who had already stopped on seeing her. Tara's jaw stiffened as the flashback of their previous fight came vividly in front of her eyes. Aditya was looking at her, she soured her face and was about to cross him when Aditya spoke slightly turning his head.
"Lagta hai tumne bahar ka board nahi padha, wahan saaf likha hai yahan aire gaire logo ka aana mana hai."
Tara simpered but didn't turn, "Agar aisa hai toh bahar ek board aur bhi hai jo shayad tumne nahi padha. Kyunki agar tumne padha hota toh tum yahan nahi hote. Uspe likha hai dogs are not allowed."
A raged Adi turned at once.
"Apni hadh mein raho samjhi!" He said, pointing his finger at her.
"Tum mujhe apni hadh mein rehna seekhaoge, pehle khud toh yeh seekh lo..." Tara replied in a taunting tone.
"Tumhe pata hai tum kisse baat kar rahi ho?" Aditya frowned at her. "Aditya Singh Shekhawat hoon main aur iss office ke malik mere dad hai aur agar main chahoon na toh abhi isi waqt tumhe yahan se bahar nikalwa sakta hoon." He scowled.
"Ohhh" She goggled her eyes. "Phir toh mujhe tumse darna chahiye...kyun ki mere dad toh yahan ke employee hai...toh unki job ab khatre mein hai...hai na! Main toh bahot darr gayi Aditya Ji." She sounded out in a fake shrunken tone while emphasizing on the word 'Ji'.
Adi was growling in anger, because he had never dealt with such an uncommon daring girl.
"Main naukaro ke saath deal nahi karta; aur ainda kabhi mere samne ya phir iss office mein aane ki galati ki na toh main..." But Tara snarled at him in the middle of his sentence.
"Kya karoge?" She folded her hands. "Yeh sab dhamki na kisi aur ko dena." Now she pointed her fingers at him.
"Raees baap ki bigdi hui aulad." She muttered and left with haughty strides.
Adi stared at her pathway.
"Tum aise nahi manogi! Tumhe to apni language mein hi samjhana padega..." A slight grin appeared in the corner of his lips.
Anupamaa
