[E]
The Elevator door opened and GUNJAN entered the empty elevator. She was about to Press the Ground Floor button as she saw the door close,when suddenly... someone forced the door open. GUNJAN moved her hand back... and looked in surprise... this look turning to fear as she saw the person who had entered the elevator... SAMRAT... She was scared. She moved back... without looking at her, He pressed the 15th floor button and did not face her. She saw this and in a tone which reflected her fear, she said...
"Yeh aap kya kar rahe hain...Mujhe Ground-Floor par jaana hai..."
He said nothing...simply glared at her... She was very worried. gathering courage, she said again... "Please stop on the next floor... Mujhe jaana hai..."
He pressed the 'STOP' button... as the elevator stopped... He turned to look at her. She moved a step backwards. SAMRAT moved towards her, his eyes blazing with anger... As he moved closer to her, she moved back... till she could no more move back... she hit against the hard cold steel wall of the elevator...
She looked downwards as SAMRAT came very close to her. In a tone that not only reflected his anger, but also his pain, he said... " Kyun jaane doon tumhein...? Kyun manoon main,tumhaari baat...? Kya tum mujhe jaanti ho...?? Kya hum ek dusre ko jaante hain...? Tum mere saath aisa kaise kar sakti ho...? Main... "
GUNJAN was shocked when she heard these words. She looked at him... her eyes meeting his eyes... those eyes which reflected the pain his heart held. GUNJAN shut her eyes and when she opened them, she expected SAMRAT be looking at her. But he was not. he had moved his gaze away. In her soft tone, she said...Yeh aap kya keh rahe hain...?? Maine kya kiya hai...?? (her eyes were moist)
S - Kyun...? Kya tumne uss MONISH ki Company join nahin ki...?? Kya main pooch sakta hoon kyun...?? Tumne ek baar bhi nahin socha ki... (SAMRAT had raised his voice a bit as he asked her this question, but the hurt in his tone still remained...)
G - (strangely) What...?? Toh aapko iss baat se problem hai ki, maine MONiSH ki Company kyun join ki...?? Lekin kyun... ?? Kya chahte hain aap...? Ki, SHERGILL se nikale jaane ke baad main saari zindagi kahin kaam na karoon... ?
S - (Angrily) Jhooth... ! Bilkul jhooth... Maine tumhein nahin nikala tha...tum...tum khud SHERGILL's chhod kar chali gayi... Tumne 1 baar mujhse milna bhi zaroori nahin samjha... Kyun...??
G - Haan...Maine khud SHERGILL's se resign de diya...Kyunki, agar maine resign nahin diya hota... toh aap waise bhi mujhe terminate karne waale the... Aapko kya lagta hai... Uss raat ki baizzati ke baad main wahan aur ruk kar, apni aur baizzati karwane ka intezaar karti rehti...
S - (yelled but,convincing tone) Stop it... Just stop it... Maine...maine aisa kuchh nahin kiya... jo...
G - (Shockingly...) What...?? Yeh aap keh rahe hain...?? Aapne kuchh nahin kiya...?? Uss raat aapne jo bhi kiya... jo bhi kaha... Uske baad bhi aap umeed karte hain ki, main SHERGILL's mein work karti...?? Maine yeh job apni self-respect ko zinda rakhne ke liye kiya tha Mr.SHERGILL... Khud ki self-respect khone ke liye nahin...
Not changing her tone a bit... keeping it soft she spoke. But the tears in her eyes were not to be restrained. They slid down her smooth cheeks... she wiped her tears as she continued... "Aapne uss waqt jo chaha... woh kaha... Lekin,unn baatoon ka dard aap kabhi nahin mehsoos kar sakte...
Aapne kaha... Main paisoon ke liye kuchh bhi kar sakti hoon... Kya kiya hai maine paisoon ke liye...?? Khud ko becha hai...?? Kabhi khud ki keemat lagai hai...?? Phir kyun...?? Kyun aapko aisa laga...?? " She looked at SAMRAT... and SAMRAT, for once had no answer to this question.
He looked at her, his regret evident in his eyes. But, GUNJAN was too hurt to notice that regret... She continued, her voice choked... " Agar mujhe paisoon ke liye kuchh bhi karna hota... toh main kabhi aapke office mein 9 to 6 ki job nahin karti... balki, kuchh aur kar rahi hoti... jahaan mujhe uske zyada paise milte... (wiped her tears) But,sorry to say Mr.SHERGILL... maine na toh kabhi apna Jism becha hai... aur naa hi apna Zameer..."
These words seemed to have hit SAMRAT the hardest. Each word that she uttered, pierced his heart...
Aapko lagta hai,main aapko phansane ki koshish kar rahi thi...?? Kya kiya tha maine aapko phansane ke liye...?? Bataiye mujhe...?? (She looked away as she turned around, her cheeks wet with tears... she continued...) Mujhe, aapka pata nahin... lekin aapke iss ilzaam ke baad main khud se nazrein nahin mila pa rahi thi... Aapne uss raat ek hi pal mein, mujhe meri hi nazroon mein gira diya... (tears again fell from her eyes... she wiped her tears...)
She continued... " Aapne toh mere Maa-Papa... meri parwarish... sabhi par 1 question mark laga diye...? Kyun...?? sirf 1 project file ke liye...?? Aapko mujh par yakeen nahin tha ki,maine woh File banai yaa nahin...? Its ok... Aap mujhe...meri working ability par kuchh bhi keh sakte the... Mujhe bura nahin lagta...
Lekin,aapko koi haq nahin hai ki aap mere Maa-Papa ko abuse karein... Unhone toh kuchh kiya bhi nahin... phir,kyun aapne unhein woh sab kaha...?? (She was sobbing...) Aap kya jaante hain unke baare mein...?? Shayad kuchh nahin...phir,aap kaise unhein meri galti ke liye zimmedar maan sakte hain... ?? "
SAMRAT moved towards her. He wanted to hug her, comfort her...but, SAMRAT knew he could not. He interrupted her as he tried to speak... " GUNJAN ! Main woh bas... "
GUNJAN turned around and cut SAMRAT off as she spoke in a voice that was breaking now due to her sobs... " Bas...?? nahin Mr.SHERGILL... abhi bas nahin... !! (wiped her tears) Haan ! Main maanti hoon... Mujhe kuchh nahin aata... Main kisi kaabil nahin... Mujhe nahin pata work kaise hota hai...? Iss liye shayad saara din mujhe 'Sorry' kehna padta tha... lekin,mujhe kabhi bura nahin laga... Kyunki,maine kabhi khud ko 'Sorry' keh kar chhota mehsoos nahin kiya...
Lekin uss raat... Uss raat 'Sorry' kehne ke baad... Maine 1 baat jaan li...woh yeh ki, 'Sorry' kehne ke liye zaroori nahin ki aapne galti ki ho... agar aap majboor hain... toh bhi aapko 'Sorry' kehna aana chahiye... 'Sorry' for everthing... (wiped her tears again)
Aapne hamesha hamare Class... Status... living standard par comment kiya... Maine kabhi kuchh nahin kaha... iss liye nahin ki,main kuchh keh nahin sakti thi... balki,sirf iss liye ki main kuchh kehna hi nahin chahti thi... Kyunki,Aap kabhi nahin samajh paayenge ki, 1 middle class ka member hona kya hota hai... Hamare Bank-Balance bahot zyada nahin hote... shayad 1 ghar ki umeed mein kabhi-kabhi puri zindagi guzar jaati hai... Hamare sapne bahot bade nahin hote... aur naa hi hum unhein puri hone ki shart rakhte hain...
Hum jaise hain... jis haal mein hain... Hamein khush rehna aata hai... Hamari majboori hamari bebasi nahin hoti...woh hamari strength hoti hai...jo hamein aage badhne ko encourage karti hai... Hamare liye Badi khushiyaan important nahin hoti... kyunki,hamein hamari family ki chhoti-chhoti baaton mein hi woh khushiyaan mil jaati hain... jo kisi Bank-balance ke bade figures nahin de sakte...
Haan, Main hoon 1 Middle-class person... !! and I M proud of myself... Mujhe mere class se koi complain nahin... aur,naa hi mere sapne itne bade hain , jinhein pura karne ke liye mujhe aap jaise kisi High Status waale insaan ko phansane ki zaroorat ho... Agar aapko aisa lagta hai... toh yeh aapki problem hai... Meri nahin... Kyunki,main jaanti hoon ki,maine kabhi aisa kuchh nahin kiya...aur na kabhi karoongi... Mujhe apni zindagi guzarne ke liye aapki...yaa aapke paisoon ki zaroorat nahin...
GUNJAN spoke in her normal tone. Not once did she raise her voice while speaking her heart out. SAMRAT kept looking at her... his guilt writ large over his face... GUNJAN moved her fingers over her cheeks to wipe her tears. SAMRAT wished he could wipe her tears, hold her close to him... tell her he was 'SORRY''... but, his guilt and GUNJAN's words which were hitting him ensured he did not utter a word.
Maine agar MONiSH ki company join ki hai... toh unke saath 1 commitment bhi ki hai... hamesha unki company ke liye reliable rehne ke liye... aur main yeh 'commitment' ko pura karoongi... Toh aise mein aap...
The moment she uttered MONiSH's name, SAMRAT lost his cool. MONiSH and 'Commitment' towards him... these words ensured that SAMRAT's guilt gave way to anger. He came close to her. She looked downwards... she could sense SAMRAT's anger... she realised she had spoken too much. She was scared of this closeness. She tried to move back but realised that she was cornered... She was startled as she heard SAMRAT's harsh tone... " Tumne kaafi kuchh keh diya... Mujhe iss se zyada sunne ki aadat nahin... aur na main kuchh aur sunn na chahta hoon...
He hit his hand on the cold walls of the elevator... she was scared...very scared... he moved a step back as he continued... his voice as yet harsh... " Uss raat jo hua... Woh hum baad mein discuss karenge... now,Tumne abhi kisi 'Commitment' ki baat ki... ?? Lekin,uss 'Commitment' ka kya...? Jo tumne SHERGILL's ke saath kiya hai...?? Mere saath kiya hai...??"
G - (shockingly, ) What... ?? Kaisa 'Commitment'...?? maine aapke saath kabhi koi 'commitment' nahin kiya... (GUNJAN had no clue as to what SAMRAT was saying. She did not recollect having made any commitment with the SHERGILL's or SAMRAT. She looked at SAMRAT... )
S - (Strict tone) Kyun... ?? Tumne SHERGILL's join karte hue SHERGILL's ke liye... mere liye... honest rehne ki 'Commitment' nahin ki thi...?? Toh phir..unn 'Commitments' ka kya..??
G - (She moved her gaze downwards as she spoke in low tone...) Main...main... ab SHERGILL's ka part nahin toh...
S - ( smiled ) Koi proof... ??
G - (strangely) Means...?? maine resign diya hai...aur...?
S - Resign...?? Kaisa Resign...?? Kaun sa Resign...?? kisne approve kiya...?? Resignation approval ka koi letter toh hoga...?? Yaa...phir 'Resignation letter' par mere signature...??
G - (shockingly) What...?? Yeh...yeh ...aap kya keh rahe hain...?? Maine khud... Maine khud SHARMA Jii ko ...
S - Who is SHARMA Jii...?? Woh owner hain SHERGILL's ke...?? Kya unhone tumhein appoint kiya tha...??
G - (in tensed tone) Yeh...yeh... aap kya keh rahe hain...?? Zaroor koi misunderstanding...
S - Yes... !! Misunderstanding... !! Right word... Lekin yeh Misunderstanding mujhe nahin... tumhein hui hai jo,tumne yeh soch liya ki,Tumne SHERGILL's se resign de diya hai... for your kind information... Tum abhi 'Medical Leave' par ho...so 'Get well soon' ... Mujhe aur tumhaare Cabin ko tumhaara intezaar hai... (His hands crossed across his chest and the victorious smile plastered on his lips, SAMRAT spoke in a sarcastic tone...)
GUNJAN looked at SAMRAT... she was not able to understand a thing. She stuttered... in a voice laced with worry... "Aap...aap aisa nahin kar sakte...maine khud... Maine khud Resign diya hai woh bhi... "
S - (Strictly yelled) Enough is Enough !! Bahot der se tumhaari bakwaas sunn raha hoon... iska matlab yeh nahin ki,aage bhi sunta rahoonga... Tumne mujhe...mere office ko samajh kya rakha hai...? Yeh koi College yaa Coaching ki class nahin hai jo jab dil mein aaya chhod kar chale gaye... !! He came close to her again.
She shut her eyes...she was petrified... He saw the look on her face and the stray tear that left her eyes, slowly trickling down her cheeks... he too shut his eyes as he looked away exasperated... then moving a step back, he said... " Achha hoga... agar previous ki saari baatein bhool kar...chup-chap apni job ko continue karo... warna..."
G - Warna kya kar lenge aap...? aapko kya lagta hhai...mera koi nahin... Meri family nahin... mere...
S - (Cuts in very straight way) I don't care !! Mujhe koi farq nahin padta ki,tumhaare saath kaun hain... Maine jo keh diya..woh keh diya... SAMRAT SHERGILL ko aaj bhi 'Naa' sunna pasand nahin...
G - (worridly) Aap...aap...mere saath zabardasti nahin kar sakte...main...
SAMRAT came close to her so quickly... and said in his anger tone... "Main kya kar sakta hoon... Yeh tum soch bhi nahin sakti... Mujhe woh sab karne par majboor mat karo...Jo main tumhaare saath nahin karna chahta... "
G - (worriedly) Lekin...maine... maine already KHURANA INDUSTRIES join kar li hai... Main...main woh nahin chhod sakti...Aap...ap aisa nahin kar sakte...
S -Aisa tumhein lagta hai...but,Its not true... main kya kar sakta hoon...yeh mujhe tumhein batane ki zaroorat nahin... He glared at her... and then his voice that exposed his possessiveness... he spoke... Tum bina meri permission ke...kisi aur company ko join karna toh door...aisa soch bhi nahin sakti... achha hoga agar yeh baat tum abhi samajh lo...
G - (Shockingly) Means...?? Lekin... Aap... aap aisa kaise keh sakte hain...?? Aapne khud mujhse kaha tha ki,...aap mujhe apne office mein dekhna nahin chahte...aur...
Angrily, SAMRAT pressed the elevator button making the elevator move up some floors... she looked at the number displayed on the panel and then at SAMRAT... she wanted to say something, but before that SAMRAT spoke with seriousness... " Main yahaan uss raat ke incident ko explain karne nahin aaya... aur naa hi main tumhein koi explanation dena zaroori samajhta hoon...
Iss liye,tumhaare liye better hoga...ki,kal se Office aakar apne work par concentrate karo...naa ki previous baaton par..." (This was an order...His tone made sure she understood this very well... )
She looked at him, her eyes brimming with tears... He was looking at her...his gaze moved to her eyes... He could see the hurt, the pain and the fear in those pretty brown eyes.
She too was looking in his eyes...trying to read them... trying to read the reason of this immense anger that he was showing... but surprisingly, she could not see any reason... maybe she felt so b'coz, of her feelings for him...but, she saw something much different... She knew it could never be... She slowly moved her gaze away... and in a low tone, laced with fear, she said... " Main...main...SHERGILL's mein wapas nahin aaoongi...Aap..."
SAMRAT cut her off... his tone told her that he did not care to hear what she was saying... in a casual voice, he said... " Maine tumse tumhaari choice nahin poochi hai , tumhein kya karna hai ? sirf woh bataya hai... Iske baad mujhe aur kuchh nahin sunna hai.." The elevator smoothly came to a halt and the door opened. SAMRAT moved to the side as he instructed her... " Jaao aur 'Meeting-Hall' mein mera wait karo...! Mujhe abhi..."
G - (cuts in her shocking tone) What...?? Mujhe...mujhe 'Ground-Floor' par jaana hai...wahaan MONiSH ...
S - (His frown returning and his voice turning harsh, he again yelled...) Don't show your concern for him...He is not your 'Boss'... Understand...??
GUNJAN jumped out of her skin as she heard SAMRAT bellow. She moved behind, looking down, her eyes shut... clutching the dupatta... as SAMRAT continued... "Chup-chap...woh karo , Jo karne ko kaha hai... uss waiter ko maine hi tumhaare paas bheja tha... iss liye,ab kahin aur jaane ki koi zaroorat nahin... "
She opened her eyes as she looked up again... she was shocked... she was about to say something... but , SAMRAT was in no mood to let her. He said in his normal, harsh tone... witha possesiveness " Aur achha hoga... agar tum iss baar SHERGILL's ke liye alloted seat par baitho... Mujhe tumhaara idhar-udhar baithna pasand nahin..."
She said nothing and hurriedly walked out of the elevator... She turned around and was about to say something, when SAMRAT spoke again... " Wait... I am coming...! Abhi zara tumhaare uss 'So called' 'Boss' ki bhi toh khabar leni hai..." He angrily hit the 15th floor button... she wanted to say something... but, the door closed and the elevator moved.
She said loudly... "Aap...aap... iss tarah zabardasti nahin kar sakte...Main...Main kabhi bhi..." But , she realised it was futile... neither could SAMRAT hear her and even if he did, there was no way he going to listen to her.
GUNJAN moved a step back. She looked around flustered. She could not fathom SAMRAT's behavior. Why was he angry?? And was that possessiveness she thought she heard in his voice?? Why would he be possessive about her??
Nothing made sense any more. She turned around to walk towards the meeting hall...her mind crowded with thoughts. ... (( Yeh aisa kyun kar rahe hain...? Kya ho gaya hai inhein...?? Mujhe achhi tarah yaad hai...Unhone mujhe khud office se terminate karne ki baat kahi thi... Phir...Phir ab aisa kya hua... jo woh mujhe wapas aane ko keh rahe hain...?? Main kya karoon...?? Main dobara wahaan nahin jaana chahti... Itni mushkil se toh woh sab bhulne ki koshish ki thi... Phir se woh feelings develope karna nahin chahti... Woh saamne honge toh...??
No...!! Main wahaan nahin jaaoongi... woh...woh..mere saath zabardasti nahin kar sakte... Main kabhi wahaan dobara nahin jaaoongi... never...!! suddenly, she remembered MONiSH... Oh God !! Woh MONiSH se milne gaye hain... woh bhi itne gusse mein... Kya karenge woh unke saath...?? Meri wajah se woh MONiSH ki bhi insult karenge... Meri toh kuchh samajh nahin aa raha...Kya karoon main... ??
1 baar unse baat karne ki koshish karoon...?? Lekin kab...?? kaise...?? Kya woh meri baat sunenge...?? Lekin...?? Lekin.. Main unhein wajah kya bataoongi...?? Kya yeh ki, Main unse Pyar karne lagi thi...iss liye, ab unse door rehna chahti hoon...??
Yeh sab...Yeh sab kuchh... itna complicated kaise ho gaya...?? Kaash... Kaash ki, RAHUL yahaan hota... ))
She had reached the Meeting-Hall. The attendant at the door held the door open for her as she walked in, lost in her own thoughts.
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