Part 10
6 months later
Raj's office
2 A.M. in the morning
Raj was working on his pc in his cabin. Everyone else including his P.A. and brother had gone home. He was the only one left. His eyes were red and puffy and he looked very sick with dark circles under his eyes. His eyes were fixed on the screen, his fingers flying over the keyboard. suddenly his cell rang. He looked down, distracted and received the call
Nandini:"Raj kaha ho? Office me ya nikal gaye?"
Raj:"Bas nikal raha hu bhabhi...ap abhi tak soyi nahi?"
Nandini:"Meri chodo aur ye batao k tum abhi tak nikle kyu nahi ho...pichle 2 ghante se yahi keh rahe ho k nikal raha hu nikal raha hu..."
Raj:"Bhabhi bas ye report poori ho jaye..."
Nandini:"I dont care Raj...pata nahi tumhe ho kya gaya hai...Vishal aur Baba bhi to office jate hai...magar tum par to jaise bhoot sawar hai...agar tum 5 minute me nahi nikle, to mai office a rahi hu"
Raj:"Nahi Bhabhi aap mat nikalna...its late...waise bhi you shouldnt drive"
(Nandini was pregnant)
Nandini:"Oh to atleast apko dhyan hai k its late...do you what time it is?"
Raj had gone back 2 typing with one hand, replied absently:"I think 12.."
Nandini:"Jee nahi...2 baj rahe hai mahashay...now are you leaving or not..mind it Raj mai sach me a jaungi..."
Raj knew that she was serious and thus shut down his pc finally.
Raj:"Haan haan...nikal hi gaya..I m in the lift..happy?"
Nandini:"thank God...And agar koi file ghar lekar aye to sach keh rahi hu, vahi faad dungi"
Raj chuckled as he got into his car and said:"Kuch nahi la raha...ab mai car start kar raha hu, so ghar pe milta hu"
Nandini:"Im waiting" and disconnected the call. She sighed and looked at Vishal who was asleep next to her. Not that he wasnt worried about Raj, but he was very tired that day. Other wise, usually he never slept without her. Nandini got out of her bed to warm food for Raj. She felt really concerned about Raj. He had changed a lot and that too very quickly...Everyone in the house had noticed this but they ignored it...but now the matters were getting out of hand. She went through the events as she lit the stove and placed the cooker on it. She couldnt put a finger on it but Raj had started to change roughly 6 months back....After he came back from London maybe. He had fallen ill after coming back, having high fever and weakness. She didnt know why but she felt as though this illness had something to do with his mental state. He was forced to take medicines. And when he had recovered after 3 weeks, which was a very long time for a person like him, he had started behaving a bit strangely. He wouldnt go out with his friends. He became very serious about his career...and slowly his working hours increased...At one point he stayed in the office for the whole night. He left very early in the morning and came back very late at night. He used to go for any work which may require him to go out of the town. Nandini felt that he was trying to avoid all of them and maybe himself as well. Whenever she tried to talk to him about this, he would divert the topic. She had shared her views with Vishal who said that it was useless to bother Raj because he was an extremely private and emotional person who needed some time alone. She wondered if talking about it would help again, when her train of thoughts was broken by the screech of tyres. She went to open the door and looked Raj who stood there dishevelled and dead tired with an apologetic smile on his face. She gazed at him with an angry look, but her heart melted at his smile. She tried not to show it as he stepped inside and closed the door.
Raj:"Kya bhabhi...kitni baar kaha hai, mere liye wait mat kara karo..ab to apko rest karna chahiye"
Nandini:"Tum mujhe mat batao mujhe kya karna hai...aur mujhe pata hai, agar mai so jati to tum pata nahi shayad subah wapas ate..."
Raj:"Nahi nahi..I was just about to-"
Nandini:"Shut up Raj...jhooth mat bolo...ab chalo khana garam kar diya hai maine, kha lo, thanda ho jayega"
Raj went to freshen up and sat down on the table, where Nandini had set up the table. She had made chilli paneer that day.
Raj:"Wow Bhabhi...this looks great"
Nandini:"Great tha...jab banaya tha...lekin ab to basi ho gaya"
Raj:"Oh come on Bhabhi bas ab kitna naraz hogi"
Nandini:"Raj mai kya karu tumhara...tumhe kya ho gaya hai..."
Raj stiffened in middle of taking a bite.
Raj:"Mujhe kuch nahi hua hai bhabhi"
Nandini:"Raj ye tum jhooth bol rahe ho...sabko pata hai, pehle tum kaise the aur ab kya ban gaye ho"
Raj bowed his head...He had heard this from her before as well... And it was getting a bit difficult to avoid questions now.
He looked up with a dramatic expression and said, "Jab mai office nahi jata tha to sab kehta the k ladka kaam nahi karta, ab kaam karta hu to musibat hai...I wonder what you guys want..."
Nandini:"Raj...Tum shadi karlo"
Raj's head snapped up and he looked at Nandini. Composing himself he said
"Kyu?Apko meri azadi se jalan ho rahi hai?"
Nandini smiled and said"Haan, aisa hi samajh lo...I think ab tumhe tumhari biwi ki zaroorat hai, jo tumhara khyal rakhe aur tumhe thoda sa sudhar bhi de"
Raj laughed:"To usme kya hai, mera khyal rakhne k liye aap ho na...Aur jaha tak baat rahi sudharne ki, to vo to hone se raha."
Nandini hit him on his head lightly."Kitne ziddi ho tum...Sur sahi kehti hai"
Raj dropped his spoon at her mention. He recovered quickly and asked as casually as possible
"Sur..Kya kehti hai mere bare me?"
Nandini had turned to arrange the chairs and thus didnt see his expression
"Yahi ke tumse koi baat manvana asaan nahi hai...Aj hi phone pe baat hui thi, pooch rahi thi tumhare liye"
Raj:"To kya kaha apne?"
Nandini:"Yahi k pata nahi tumko kya ho gaya hai, sare din office me baithe rehte ho"
Raj:"To kya kaha usne?"
Nandini:"Kuch nahi..kya kahegi..tumhe badi fikar ho rahi hai, kya kaha usne..." she joked
Raj didnt reply and started eating his food extra fast. Nandini came and sat down next to him again and said in a low voice, "Raj Im serious about your marriage...Ma Baba bhi tumhare liye ladki dekhna chahte hai...tumhe koi ladki pasand hai to batao"
Raj flared up suddenly"Apko kaha na maina mujhe koi shadi wadi nahi karni"
Nandini was taken aback at this sudden reaction. Raj himself was surprised. He quickly apologized
"Bhabhi im really sorry I didnt mean to...pata nahi kya ho gaya hai mujhe..."
Nandini:"Its ok Raj...par is baare me sochna...kaisi ladki chahiye tumhe?"
Raj:"Ek ladki achi lagti thi mujhe..par mere apne bhai ne mujhe dhokha dia aur usse shadi karli! kaash apki koi behan hoti jise mai pata leta...par uski bhi shadi ho gai! ab batao mai kya karu"
Nandini laughed and said:"Raj tum nahi sudhroge...aur meri behan-"
She suddenly stopped looking at Raj in a strange way. Raj saw her face and said
"Kya hua Bhabhi...ap mujhe aise kyu dekh rahi hai?"
Nandini:"Tumne abhi abhi meri behan k baare me kya kaha?"
Raj:"Kya kaha..yahi k uski shadi ho chuki hai, galat kaha?"
Nandini:"You mean Sur"
Raj:"Ofcourse who else"
Nandini:"Uski shadi...iske baare me tumhe kaise pata chala?"
Raj:"Obviously usine bataya...kuch problem hai kya bhabhi?"
Nandini:"Usne tumhe kya bola?"
Raj:"Aap aise kyu pooch rahe ho?"
Nandini:"Pehle meri baat ka jawab do Raj"
Raj:"Arre mai usse mazak kar raha tha k ab uski shadi karwa dunga par wo emtional ho gai aur kehne lagi k uski shadi ho chuki hai, aur is baare me kabhi usse baat na karu"
Nandini lapsed into silence and Raj continued to look at her expectantly. When she didnt speak he said"Bhabhi I dont want to interfere par Sur...uska husband kaha hai? Mai usse mila, uske sath raha to mujhe aisa laga ke uski life me koi bahut badi problem hai, jo vo sabse chupa rah hai...mai usey khush dekhna chahta hu Bhabhi...She is a nice girl, par pata nahi kyu aisa lagta hai k usey khushi se darr lagta hai..."
Nandini looked at him intently and said,"Tumne sahi kaha Raj...uski life me ek bahut bada hadsa hua tha, jisse wo nikal nahi payi...aur jaha tak baat rahi uske husband ki, to vo admi jisse uski so called shadi hui thi uske sath khade rehne layak bhi nahi hai...He left her years ago..."
Raj was shocked at hearing this. He couldnt believe his own ears...how could somebody ever dream to leave a girl like her.
Raj:"You mean she is divorced?"
Nandini:"Not legally...but emotionally, yes.She doesnt consider it, but its clear that he wont come back...I was surprised ke usne tumhe apni shadi ki baat batai..isliye soch rahi thi"
Raj:"So...she still loves him?"
Nandini:"No..I dont know..she is scared of him...mai tumhe poori baat nahi bata sakti Raj cuz its very personal...ye sab bhi maine tumhe isliye bataya kyuki tum aur Sur kafi ache dost ho. Shayad tum uske akele dost ho...jise uski parwah hai...and you deserve to know..maine usey itna khush kisi k sath nahi dekha...khair..uske baare me tum kyu pooch rahe ho? something special? Please Raj ye sab janne ke baad usey chod mat dena"
Raj:"Ap kaisi baate kar rahi hai bhabhi, mai sari zindagi uska sath nibhane ko taiyar hu...bas, I think shayad mai uski help kar saku..she looks good when she smiles, doenst she?" He smiled thinking, why didnt I ask this earlier?
Nandini opened her mouth to say something but the phone rang. She looked at her cellphone wondering who would call at this hour. It was her mother, Mrs.Khanna.
Nandini:"Ha Ma bolo itni raat ko phone kyu kiya..kuch problem hai kya?......Ap ro kyu rahi hai....kya hua papa ko....WHAT? Mai abhi ati hu...ye kaise ho gaya....ap roiye mat mai ati hu"
Nandini disconnected the call, her face as white as a sheet. Raj was alrmed.
Raj:"Bhabhi kya hua?"
Nandini:"Papa fell from the stairs..." she couldnt speak anymore. Raj got up and hugged her, trying to console her. He gave her some water and asked,"Which hospital?"
Nandini was crying"Apollo...mujhe le chalo vaha...Vishal.."
Raj:"Ap yahi baithiye, mai bhaiya ko uthata hu...Dont move from here, ok?"
Nandini nodded, still sobbing and Raj ran up the stairs to wake up Vishal. He came down and saw his wife crying. Gently, he wiped off her tears and hugged her, kissing her forehead and telling her to relax. Raj came down with his parents and they all sat around Nandini, who looked as though she would faint. Then Raj and Vishal left for the hospital, both very tense.
Vishal:"I hope Papa jaldi thik ho jaye...Nandu ye sadma bardash nahi kar payegi"
Raj:"Kuch nahi hoga bhaiya...ap tension mat lijiye"
They reached the hospital and tried to console Mrs. Khanna who was in a state of shock. Vishal sat with her while Raj talked to the doctors who told him the condition was not good. Mr. Khanna had slipped from the top stair and rolled down to the last one, hurting his head and back very badly. Since he was so old and diabetic, his condition was worsening. He was in the ICU, unconscious.
He came back and delivered the bad news to his brother who looked confused and sad.
Vishal:"I think abhi mummyji ko ye news dena thik nahi hai, unki haalat bhi kharab ho jayegi"
Raj agreed. He looked up into Vishal's face and said,"i think hume Sur ko inform kar dena chahiye"
Vishal:"Haan, ho sakta hai uske aney se situation sambhal jaye"
Raj called up Sur who picked the phone after a few rings.
Sur:"Raj...is time, kya hua sab thik hai?"
Raj:"Tum kya kar rahi ho Sur?"
Sur:"Ghar pe hu, bas sone ja rahi thi..tum bolo kya baat hai? Is Nandu ok?"her voice panicked.
Raj:"Haan bhabhi thik hai...bas Sur..tumhare Papa..."
Sur:"Kya hua papa ko?"
Raj:"Tum India a jao, he fell from the stairs" Raj felt like killing himself for delivering this news to her because he knew she loved her father a lot. He heard silence on the other side of the line.
Raj:"Sur, Are you ok?"
Sur:"Im coming in a day"
She disconnected the call. Raj sighed and sat down on the chair meant for visitors. Vishal looked at him quizically.
Raj:"Vo a rahi hai"
Vishal nodded and went to check on Mrs.Khanna who was admitted in one of the rooms. She was not seriuosly ill but Vishal thought that it was better that she took some rest. Raj sat in the hospital for a couple of hours before his parents and Nandini came to the hospital. Vishal was pacing around the corridor while Raj sat still. On seeing Nandini, he almost ran to her and hugged her. She wasnt crying now, but her face showed that she could break down any second.
Nandini:"Kya hua Vishal..papa thik ho jayenge na?"
Vishal:"Ha, Nandu, vo bilkul thik ho jayenge" he hugged he again and his eyes met his father's. He shook his head a mere 2 inches and he understood. Dislodging Nandini from him, he made her sit on a chair.
Nandini:"Apne Sur ko inform kia?"
Vishal:"Haan, wo kal tak a jayegi"
They all waited, praying to God for Mr. Khanna. In the afternoon, around 1,Raj's mother forcefully sent him home as it looked that he would drop dead any second. He went home and took a hot water bath, his head aching because of the too many thoughts buzzing around in them. Finally, he laid down to catch some sleep and woke up after 6 hours, with the noise of his cell ringing loudly. He received the call without checking the id.
Vishal:"Raj, suno, abhi thodi der pehle Sur ka phone aya tha, vo London se subah 5 baje nikal gai thi. Aj shaam ko around 8-9 baje pahuch jayegi. Tum usey airport se le aoge?"
Raj's sleep vanished and he said,"Haan bhaiya zarur. ab kaise hai,papa?"
Vishal:"Thodi improvement hui hai, half conscious...baar baar Sur aur Nandu ka naam le rahe the, fir behosh ho gaye...doctor says he is trying, there is still hope"
Raj:"Thats good. ap bhabhi ko lekar ghar a jaiye, mai hospital ata hu."
Vishal:"Mera pata nahi, Nandu ko le jao...vo kafi thak gai hai."
Raj:"Mai abhi ata hu"
Raj reached the hospital and convinced everybody to go home, as he was rested. It was almost 8, so Vishal asked himto go to the airport,and drop others home while on the way. He would go after Raj was back. Everything was settled and Raj left for the airport, wondering what he should be feeling. The thought of seeing Sur after a long time was strangely mixed with happiness and sorrow. Shutting his thoughts, he dropped his bhabhi and parents at their farmhouse, which was nearby and drove towards the airport.
He reached there at 9 and came to know that the flight had already landed. Composing himself, he leaned against the barriers separating visitors from travellers and waited. After half an hour, he saw her and his heart skipped a beat. She was walking very quickly, her eyes searching the crowd for him. She was dressed in a black jeans and light white sweatshirt,her hair tied back in a loose ponytail. She looked much weaker than he had seen her before, with dark circles beneath her tired eyes. But still, her face was ever so beatiful.
Song in the bg-
Aaya woh phir nazar aise, baat chidne lagi phir se
Aankho mein chubtha kal ka dhuwaa
Mmmm..mmm…mmm…
Hal tera na hum sa hi, is khushi mein kyun gham sa hi
Basne laga kuyn phir woh jahan
Woh jahan dur jisse gaye te nikal
Phir se yaadon ne kar di hai jaise pehal
Lamha beeta huwa, dil dhukata raha
Khamaka bewaja khwaab buntha raha
Tune jo na kaha, mein woh sunta raha
Khamaka bewaja khwaab buntha raha
Jaane kiski humein lag gayi hai nazar
Is shehar mein na apna tikana raha
Durr chahat se mein apni chalta raha
Bhuj gayi aag thi, dhaag jalta raha (Movie- New York)
Sur spotted him and smiled. Raj kept gazing at her, unable to move. She came and stood in front of him, her eyes taking in his handsome face.
End
So dat was all fr 2day guys....I hope apko ye acha laga..aur nahi bhi laga to plz comment kar dena...mujhe acha lagega...i hope im not 2 late dis time...
love
Sur
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon
63