Khamoshi----A Veeba SS part-14 updated

Preetampura, Punjab. April 2018.

[All villagers were gathered in the large play ground of Preetampura. A stage was setup using some wood works. Sitting arrangements were made for everybody, by using an array of Garden Chairs. The stage was nicely decorated using flowers and garlands and sitting arrangements were made for 5 or 6 delegates. At one side of the stage there was a podium. Very good sound systems were setup all around the ground. A man of mid 40s was seen standing at the podium, with 3 elderly men and a lady of late 20s were seen to be seated on the stage.]

"Adarniye Sajjano. Aaj sirf Preetampura ke liye hi nahi bal ki mere liye bhi ek bohot hi mahtawpurna aur bohot hi khoosi ka din hain. Aaaj main apne pita ke sapne ko pura karne main ek aur kadam agge bara hoon. Mere pita Punjab k eek chotisi gaon Gurdaspur main paida huwe they. Humare gaon me us samay koye school nahi thi, gaon ke bachoo ko 15 kilo meter jana parta tha par ne ke liye, jiske kaaran humare gaon main bohot kam log par likh sakte they. Jab mere pita 10^th pass kiye tab humare gaon main 10^th class tak school bane. 11^th aur 12^th ki pariah karne ke liye us samay humare gaon ke logo ko 30 kilometer door Firozpur tak jana parta tha aur college ki parahi karne ke liye Amritsar, yah phir Chandigarh jana parta tha. Mere pita 12^th ke baad aur parh nahi paye...lekin tab se unke mann main yeh zid thi k eek din humare gaon main 12^th standard school aur college dono honge. Unhone apna construction ka karowar suru kiya aur dhire dhire unhe kamyabi milti rahi...humare jaon me 12^th standard school ka kaam khatam hone hi wala tha, ke mere pita ka dehant ho gaya, lekin marte samay unhone mujhse wada liya, ke kebal humare jaon main hi nahi bal ke Punjab ke harek gaon main jaha logo ko sikha ke liye milo sfar karna parta ho, wohan Higher secondary school aur college banane main madat karoonga. Pitaji ke guzarne ke 5 saal baad humare jaon main college bani. Aaj humare gaon ke hi nahi aas paas ke aur 5 gaon ke bachhe apni siksha apne gaon main hi puri kar sakte hain.

Kuch samay pehle mujhe Preetampura ke bari main pata chala, pata chala inhaan ek krishi Vidyalay hain, ek ploy house hain jiske sahare kishano ko kheti ke wari main nayi nayi taknike sikhne ko milte hain...lekin sath main yeh bhi pata chala ke Preetampura main koye Higher Secondary School, yah college nahi hain, 12^th ke parahi karne ke liye bachoo ko 7 kilo meter door jana parta hain, aur college ke parahi ke kiye sahar jaan parta hain...main Preetampura ke wari main aur bhi janna chahta tha...pata chala inhaan ki Panchayet koye Zameen par Higher Secondary school banana chahti hain lekin gaon ke hi koye nau jawan usi Zameen par ek shopping Mall banana chahta hain... ...main Preetampura se jurna chahta tha...rab ji ne meri sunli ...meri parichay Ratanji se huyi...aur aaj aap sab ka, mera, mere pita ka spana pura huwa...aaj Preetampura main college ka kaam pura huwa...umeed hain age chal kar Preetampura se kayee saare Doctor, Engineer, Govt Officers aur Businessman banenge...aur sirf Preetampura hi nahi...bal ki aas paas ke gaon ko bhi is college se faida hoga. Ab main Preetampura ke Sarpanch se darkwast karoonga ke who is subh apsar par kuch kahe..." The Gentleman sat on the chair allocated for him...a lady of late 20s walked up to the Podium.

"Adarniye Sajjonh. Saasti-ya-kaal. Aaj mere pass kuch kehne ke liye sabdh nahi hain. Sirf itna kehna chahti hoon aaj main bohot khoos hoon. Mujhe apne parahi ke liye 15 saal apne pariwar se door rehna para tha, umeed karti hoon aab Preetampura yah aas paas ke kisi gaon ke bachoo ko siksha poori karne ke liye apne pariwar se door jana nahi parega. Saati-ya kaal" She was walking towards her seat, the crowd kept clapping for a long time.

[Panchayet Bhawan, Preetampura]

" Arora Saab, Preetampura ke harek insaan apka aabhari hain...aap ke madat ke bina yeh college kabhi ban nahi pati...humare pancho ke paas itne paise bhi nahi they, aur na jaane kab hum log paise ekhthaa kar paate..."

"Aare...aap to humeh Sarminda kar rahe hain Veeraji...main khood ko bhagyaban manta hoon jo mujhe kisi acchee kaam ke saath joor ne ka mauka mila...main ek byapari zaroor hoon lekin...apne pita ka sapna mere liye bohot mainey rakhte hain...aapne bhi toh apne pita ka sapna pura kiya...aur phir dekhiye na Preetampura ke krishi vidyalay aur poly house se jo taknike inhaan ke kishano ko sikhne ko milraha hain...kal ko humare gaon ke kishano ko bhi who sikhne ko milega"

"Ji zaroor...mere Papaji neh yeh sapna sirf Preetampura ke liye hi nahi dekha tha...balki poore Punjab ke liye dekha tha"

"Veeraji...kash humare desh ke 20% larkiyaan aap ke jaisy soch sakti...toh sayad humare desh ka naksha hi badal jata..."

"Aab aap mainu sarminda kar rahe hain Arora Saab..."

"Accha Veeraji...aab mujhe izazat dijiye...agle hafte humare goan ke Sarpanch aap se milenge...aap log decide kar lena kab aur kaise aap humare goan ke kishano ko training denge...Namaskar"

"Ji...Saasti-ya-kaal"

[Firozpur, Punjab...The same day, a few men of mid 40s were standing and taking to a handsome guy of early 30s]

"Bhai Baldevji...aab to aap ko adat par chuki hain in sab ki...toh is liye aaj hum log aap ko koyee badhaye nahi denge...Amritsar, Jalandhar, Hosiwarpur, Phagwara, Ludhiyana ke baad aab Firozpur...Amritsar-Chandigarh highway ke upar aur uski aas paas ke ilakon main yeh 6^th Mall banaya aap ne...harek Mall ke banne ke baad us ilake ka economy hi badal gaya...logo ko naye naye karowar sujhne lagi...sab log khoos rahne laage...ziyada snakha main bachhe aab school aur college main parhne lage hain...agar school yeha college door bhi hain toh bhi log parwa nahi karte...sabke pas kamse kaam 2 wheelers to hain...hummeh to yekin hain ke aap poore Punjab ka economic status badal kar Punjab ka naksha hi badal denge"

" Oh Modi saab, aab itna bhi maat tariff karo ke main hawa mai urne lagoon, aur akele konsa teer mara hain maineh...yeh shrey to mere poore team ko jata hain...aur aap bhi kahan in saab se alag ho...who pehla Mall jo humne Amritsar main banaya thaa...tab kisne paise diye the?...kisne Preetampura k eek 10^th pass nalayak par bharosa kiya tha?"

"Yeh toh aap ka barappan hain Baldevji...jo aap aaj bhi hummeh itna maan dete hain...nahi toh aaj aap ke samne ...humari haisiyat hi keya hain"

"Modi saab...aab aise sarminda na karo...abhi toh mainu aap ka saath aur bhi ziyada chahiye...agle mahine se Khanna peh naya project suru karne wala hoon"

"Aare aap ke liye toh jaan bhi hazir hain Baldevji"

"Accha Modi saab...chalo ander chalet hain...apne hi mall se kuch kharidari kar lete hain..."

"Ji zaroor"

...to be continued

Part-2

[That evening, B3 house. Balwant was crawling on the floor of the large hall, with a little girl sitting on his back. The girl was continuously saying "chal mere ghore...tik...tik..tik" and Balwant was moving from one piller to another. This is Gunvi, daughter of Gunjan and Ranvee, age 2.5 years]

B: Oye puttar...aaj toh hum pure Punjab ka sayar karenge...yeh agaya Jalandhar...[once again the little girl said chal mere ghore ...tik...tik..tik..and Balwant started to crawl again and stopped near another piller]...ab yeh aya Ludhiyana...[Gunjan came running down from the first floor]

G: Gunvi...abhi neeche utroh...Nanu ko dard ho raha hoga...uthroh neeche...

GV: Nahi beeji...mainu aur khelna hain...aur sawari karni hain...

G: Kaha na maineh...abhi neeche utroh...[she tried to pull her down]

B: oye rehne de puttar...thori der hi to khelegi...

G: Nahi Papaji...aap ise laad mat karo...sab ko aise ghora bane ko kehta hain...apke poore sarir main dard ho raha hoga...Gunvi beta...abhi Nanu bohot thak gaye hain...neeche uthroh...[Baldev enters the hall]

Bal: Oye Nanu thak gaye toh keya huwa...Mamu toh nahi thaka hain na...apne Gunvi ko aab Mamu sawari karwaenge...[He knelt down to the ground and took a horse like pose]

Gunvi: Mamu...mamu...mamu...[she ran up to him and rode his back, Baldev started to crawl]

Bal: oye Nanu toh sirf Punjab ka sayer karwate hain...Mamu poore Hundusthan ka sayer karwaenge...

G: Veerji...aap bhi na...kam se kam apna joota toh utar lete...[She ran upto Baldev and pulled Gunvi down from his back]...beta...Mamu abhi...abhi aye hain na...pehle mu hath dhow lene do...phir..mamu tumare saath khelenge...bohot saari kahaniya sunayenge...

Gunvi: Ji beeji...[Baldev stood up and took Gunjan's head to his chest..]

Bal: Kab aye tu...saab thik hain na...[she didn't reply anything...just hugged him tightly]

B: Aab keya dono bhai bahen aise gale lag ke khare rahoge...ya aapne piyo(father) se bhi miloge...

[Baldev walked up to him and touched his feet]

Bal: Paye lagoon Papaji...

B: Jeeta rahe puttar...aab yeh mat kehna...ke Papaji agle hafte naya project suru kar raha hoon Jana parega...muskil se mahine main ek baar ghar ata hain tu...[few tears escaped his eyes]

Bal: Nahi...papaji...is baar toh pura ek mahina rahoonga...agle mahine se naya project suru karoonga...accha Papaji aap ek bari mere saath ander chalo...[He picked up all the bags he had spilled, while entering the house...after a while both Baldev and Balwant returned to the hall, with Gunjan sitting with Gunvi]...aare yeh dekho mere paas keya hain...mere Gunvi puttar ke liye tohfa...

[Gunvi ran upto Balwant and in no time unwrapped the gift...there was a complete set of a fairy like dress]

Gunvi: Thank you Nanu...

G: Veerji...yeh aap laye hain nah?...[Baldev made a gesture to shut her up, Gunjan lowered her voice]...kab tak Veerji...kab tak aise chupte rahenge aap...aur kab tak chupate rahenge hum log...kiun is tarah jiyenge aap ...kab tak khood ko aise ek tarfa saza dete jayenge aap...

Bal: saant ho ja Gunjan...agar mere aise jeene se tere ghar main santi rahe...khuhali rahe...toh mainu yeh manzoor hain... Gunjan...ghar banana aur torna do no hi bohot assan hote hain...leking use banye rakhna...bohot muskil hota hain...[Gunjan allowed her head to rest on his chest and broke down in tears...Balwant walked away from the hall taking Gunvi on his laps]...ek baat bata Gunjan...Balveer kaisa hain...pareshaan toh nahi karta tum sab ko...

G: Thik hain Veerji...kisi ko ziyada pareshaan nahi karta...lekin Gunvi ko dekh kar bohot kuch sikh raha hain...kuch din pehle acahanak...Gunvi ki tarh Ranvee ko Papaji...bula raha tha...beeji aur chaiji neh sikhaya...mamu bolna...

Bal: [Tears started to dip down his chicks] mainu use mil na hain Gunjan...kal tu uske leke ayegi?..

G: Zaroor laungi Veerji...jaise jaise bara ho raha hain...sakal bilkul aap par ja raha hain...

Bal:...Vee...Vee...Veera kaisy hain Gunjan...

G: Thik nahi hain Veerji...duniya ke samne to humesha hasti rehti hain...lekin...maine dekha hain...raat bhar Balveer ko apne seene se laga kar roti rehti hain...kisi se kooch nahi kehti...mujh se bhi kuch share nahi karti...ander hi ander maari ja rahi hain Veerji...

Bal: Kiun...aaj sab kuch to hain uske paas...uske Veerji, uske Beeji, Chaiji, uski bhabi...Sarpanch ki koorsi...sab kooch to hain...

G: Yeh aap bhi jante hain Veerji...ke aap dono ke paas keya nahi hain...Veerji...ab mainu darr lagne laga hain...Balveer ab bara ho raha hain...kal ko sab kooch samajh ne bhi lagega...tab keya batayenge hum use.

Bal: kehna ...uske Papaji uske janm se pehle hi guzar gaye they...Veera hi uske Maa aur Baap dono hain...

G: Veerji...[Baldev walked away to his room]

To be continued...

Part-3

[The same evening SS house. All members of the family were gathered in the hall. Ratan, (the mother of Ranvee and Veera) was chopping vegetables sitting on the dining table, chaiji(grandmother of Ravee and Veera) was reading a book sitting on her favourite charpai at one corner of the hall, Veera was working with some files sitting on the centre table, Ranvee was writing something on a note book sitting on the stairs, a little boy was playing on the floor with many toys around him. This is Balveer, son of Baldev and Veera, age two years, suddenly he picked up a Sardarji doll in his hand and walked up to Veera and pulled her dupatta, right then Gunan entered the house with Gunvi on her arms and a packet in one of her hands]

V: Sonu beta...abhi beeji ko bohot kaam hain...tum jaake khelo...[Balveer once more puller her dupatta, Veera looked at him, he showed that Sardarji doll to her and said "Papaji"... everybody stopped their work, the pen fell from Veera's hand and Gunjan too dropped the packet, a few tears escaped Veera's eyes...she kept looking stunningly at Balveer's face...before anybody could react Ranvee walked up to Balveer and picked him up on his arms]

R: Aare Sonu beta...yeh Sardarji hain...chalo hum log khelte hain...[once more Balveer showed that doll and said PAPAJI, Ranvee looked disgusted...] kitni bar kaha hain tenu Gunjan...yeh sab guriya Balveer se door rakha kar...are who ladka hain...woh kiun guriyoon se khelega...

V: laiyeh Veerji...main sonu ko khana khila kar sula deti hoon...

R: Aare nahi Veera...tu kaam kar na...main khelta hoon Sonu ke sath...yahi phir...beeji, yeha Gunjan koye ise khana khila kar sula degi...[Veera didn't replied anything...she walked up to Ranvee and took Balveer from his arms]

G: Chal Veera, bacho ka khana maineh tiwaar kar ke rakha hain, aur unke khane ka samay bhi ho gaya hain...[they both went inside with the babies...after a while in Veera's room both Veera nad Gunjan were seen to be feeding their babies...] mainu maaf karna Veera...main janti hoon sonu gunvi se bohot kuch sikh raha hain

V: aare nahi bhabi...aap kiun maafi mang rahi hain...kooch galat toh nahi sikha usne...

G: Pata nahi use samajh main bhi ata hain ke us sabd ka matlab keya hain...

V: Aaj nahi toh kaal Samajh main aa jayega bhabi...aur use ghar main band karke bhi toh nahi rakh sakti...pind ke baki bachoo se bhi milega...tab najaane kitne acche...kitne bure sabd sikhega...

G: Veera...ek din jab Balveer tujh se poonche ga...

V: main nahi janti bhabi...main keya kahoongi...yeha mainu keya kehna chahiye...[tears started to flow down her cheecks, Balveer put his hand up and wiped her tears...Veera hugged him tightly]..main ek aachi patni, yeha ek aachhi bahu toh nahi ban saki bhabhi...pata nahi k eek aachi Maa ban pauoongi yeh nahi...

G: Honsla rakh Veera...sab thik ho jayega...

V: Ab toh honsla bhi tootne laga hain bhabhi...beeji, chaiji sab kehte hain...aulaad se bar kar koye daulat nahi hoti...usse bar kar koyee khoosi nahi hoti...bhabi mere liye na sahi...par Balveer...ke liye [her words were cut short as Ratan called Gunjan]

G: Ji beeji ayee...[she left with Gunvi...Veera allowed her head to rest on the edge of the bed...once more Balveer walked up to her and wiped her tears, she took him on her arms then went to the wash room and washed his face and then lied on the bed embracing Balveer and started to sing a song...soon after Balveer felt asleep]

[That night B3 house, Baldev was standing on the Balcony of his room, a cool soothing breeze was blowing his hairs away...his mind went back to an evening 3 years ago...he was standing on the same balcony when Balwant entered his room and touched his shoulder from behind...Baldev quickly wiped off his tears]

Bal: Papaji...aap is waqt mere kamre main...

B: main tujhe dantne, yah koye nasi yat dene nahi aya hoon puttar, baas tere sath kuch waqt bitana chahta hoon.

Bal: Ji papaji...bethiye...

B: dekh puttar mainu galat maat samajh...main tujhe galat nai keh raha hoon, sayad pind main Mall ban ne se logo ko faida hota...lekin puttar who zameen panchayet kit hi...tu koyee dusri zameen par bhi toh Mall bana sakta tha na...

Bal: Papaji who ek banzar jameen thi...upar se highway ke upar...ab aap hi batao humare pind main banzar zameen hain kaha...aur phir agar pind ke ander Mall banya toh ho sakta hain who utna kamyab na ho..jitna ke highway ke upar...par aab in sab baton ka keya faida papaji...pind neh toh apna faisla le liya na?

B: puttar chunab main ek jeet ta hain aur agla haar ta hain...aur phir sirf 10 votes se hara hain tu...iska matlab pindwale tujhe galat nahi mante...par unhe lagta hain School se jiyada faida hoga...

Bal: Papaji...agar humare pind walon ki aarthik sthiti main sudhar aatee tab to log scooter yeha bike le sakte they na? tab to 7 kilo meter door school jana koyee bari baat nahi hoti...Veera aur uske pariwar ne sabko yehkin dila diya Mall kharab hain aur School aacha.

B: Dekh puttar humare pindwaloon ko is bare main koyee tajoorba nahi hain...aas paas kahi aisa nahi huwa hain...jiski hum mishal de sake...jiske ankree de sake...

Bal: Jaane do Papaji aab in baton ka koye faida nahi...

B: Janta hain puttar jo 10 log tujhse ziyada Veera ko vote diye hain who kiun diye hain...kiun ki sab jante hain tera gussa bohot kharab hain...log tujh par bharosa kar ne se katrate hain...kuch der pehle Sandhanji ka phone aya tha...jusse main keya karne chala hain tu...

Bal: Papaji...is mamle main mujhe koye baat nahi karni hain...aap ke liye der raat tak jagna thik nahi...aap jake so jao...

B: Puttar...main chahta hoon tu is baat ko aage na bara...mitti daal is chunab wali baat par...aur haan main yeh bhi chahta hoon ke tu ek Mall banaye...log dekhe us main keya accha aur keya bura hain...

Bal: ab kaha se milega mainu zameen Papaji...

B: mere paas ek zameen hain...jo barso pehle tere dadaji neh tere liye khareedi thi, paar who Amritsar main hain...

Bal: thik hain paapji...main dekhta hoon agar Modi saab mann gaye toh main Amritsar main hi Mall banaunga...uske baad kam se kam pind waloon ko koye misaal, koyee ankree do de sakoonga main..

B: changa puttar...kal subha mujh se zameen ke kagazat le lena...aur soon this choonab ke fall ko apne ghar main maat la.

Suddenly he felt a drop of water fell on the back of his palm...he didn't noticed when tears started to flow down his chick...he went inside the room and lied on his bed.

...to be continued