Thanks for the likes & comments!Over to.. Part 37
Later that night...
There was a knock on nani's bedroom door.
Nani(thinks): Hum toh HariPrakashji ko doodh deve ki khaatir manaa kiye rahe.. Laagat hai oo bhulaaye gaye.
She is surprised to find Anjali outside the door.
Nani: Anjali bitiya,kaa baat hai?
Anjali: Nani.. humein aapse kuch poochhna tha.Kya hum andar aa sakte hain?
Nani: Ha,ha! Aaiyye..
She notices Anjali looking tensed.
Nani: Kaa baat hai bitiya?Pareshaan laagat hain...
Anjali: Hum soch rahe the ki.. Rakshit se baat kar k shaadi ko postpone karva den..
Nani(shocked): Kaahe? Kaa aap.. byaah ki khaatir taiyyar naahi hain?
Anjali: Nahi nani,waisi koi baat nahi hai. Hum toh.. taiyyar hain par Chhotey taiyyar nahi hain!
Nani: Chhotey ne kaa kaha aapse?
Anjali: Unhone kaha kuch nahi nani,lekin unhe chehre se yeh saaf zaahir ho raha tha ki woh.. dukhi hai.. kyunki ab.. shaadi k baad hum dono ko alag hona hoga. Shaayad is baat se woh pareshaan hain,haalaaki unhone aisa kuch nahi jataaya. Unhone yeh zaroor kaha ki jab unhe Chhoti ne shaadi ki khabar sunaai toh unhe khushi nahi hui thi..
Nani(sighs): Humka tau daraaye diya aapne! Itni si baat ki khaatir aap aapan byaah ki taareekh aage badhaana chaahat hain!?
Anjali: Yeh itni si baat nahi hain! Humein Chhotey ki chinta ho rahi hai. Woh.. is shaadi k liye abhi taiyyar nahi hain.
Nani: Byaah aapka hui raha hai ya Chhotey ka?
Anjali: Humara ho raha hai... par alag toh hum dono ko hona padega na shaadi k baad,Chhotey us separation k liye abhi taiyyar nahi hai!
Nani: Tau oo wakhat rahte taiyyar hui jayenge! Aap kaahe itni chinta karat hain bitiya?
Anjali: Kaise taiyyar honge,nani? Aur kaun taiyyar karega unko?
Nani: Chhoti bitiya hai naa! Oo Chhotey ko sambhaal lengi! Aapko oo k rahte Chhotey ki taniko chinta kare ki jarurat naahi hai!
Anjali: Aapko toh pata hai naa,Chhotey aur Chhoti kaise hain!? Baat-baat par bachhhon ki tarah ladte rehte hain! Aur phir jab khud se jhagda nahi sulajhta toh humare paas aate hain. Ab.. shaadi k baad,ek.. hichkichaahat aa jayegi un dono me.. kya pata,phir humare paas aaye ya naa aaye?
Nani: Hum tau ee ghar maa hi honge naa Anjali bitiya! Jaun aisan kuchho bhi hua tau oo dono humre paas aa jayenge! Aur aap tau aapan Chhotey ko jaanat hai! Aap chaahe dharti ki kauno bhi kone maa rahe,oo ko jab aapan di ki jarurat padegi,oo aap k paas jarurai pahuch jayenge!
Anjali gives a small smile.
Nani: Aur raha sawaal Chhoti bitiya ka,tau oo ko bhi mauka dijiye,aapan pati k saath aapan maamlon ko khudai suljhaane ka!Jab aap hiyaan naahi hongi,tau oo pahile khud koshish karengi,aur jaun khud se naahi hua tau aapko phone karengi ya tau humre paas aayengi! Kaa pata,oo ki koshish rang laaye!
She ran a hand through Anjali's hair.
Nani: Chhoti bitiya par bharosa rakhiya,bitiya.Oo aapko ya humko ya aapan pati ko niraash naahi karengi! Aur humre Chhotey aaj jaisan hain,oo k vyavahaar maa jaun badlaav aaya hai,oo sab bitiya k kaaran hi tau aaye raha,ee naahi bhooliye!
Anjali nods.
Nani: Rakshit babu aur oo k parivaar wale aapka intezar karat hain. Ab aap aapan Chhotey ki chinta aapan bhabhi ko dijiye aur aapan naye jeevan k liye taiyyar hui jaiyye!Theek hai bitiya?
Anjali: Ji nani.
Nani hugs her.
**********
When Khushi came out of the washroom,she saw Arnav sitiing on the recliner.
There was something about his body language that unsettled Khushi and gave her a creepy feeling.
One look at his drooping shoulders,crestfallen face & downcast eyes and Khushi forgot all about the questions for which she wanted answers.
He didnt even acknowledge Khushi's presence,not even when she came & stood right in front of him.
Khushi(thinks): Kahin koi.. buri khabar toh nahi? Kahin babuji ya... kisi aur ko..
Her mind came up with tens of disturbing images which made her heart sink.
Khushi: Arnavji..
Still,no response.
Khushi kept one hand on his shoulder & caressed his head with the other.
Khushi: Arnavji,kya hua? Aap.. aise.. udaas kyun ho gaye?
When Arnav looked at her,she noticed his eyes were brimming with tears.
Khushi(shocked): Kya hua?
In response,Arnav hugged her-wrapping his arms around her waist and resting his head on her stomach.
**********
Khushi panicked when she felt & heard him sob.
She had never seen him sob or cry like that.
Fearing the worst,she firmly held his shoulders
Khushi: Kya baat hai,Arnavji?Kuch toh boliye...
Arnav took a deep,shaky breath before he spoke again,in a choking voice.
Arnav: Aaj mujhe aisa laga jaise.. maa phir se mujhe chhod kar chali gayi..
Khushi(confused): Maaji?
Arnav: Is baar toh.. main khud unhe chhod kar aaya.. (sob) Na main tab maa ko jaane se rok paya aur na.. aaj bhabhi ko... jaane se...
He was so overwhelmed that he couldnt even complete his sentence.
***********
Khushi heaved a sigh of relief.
Khushi(thinks): Hey Devi Maiyya! Hum toh kya se kya soch baithe the!
She heard Arnav's shaky intake of breath and wondered..
Khushi(thinks): Bhabhi ko toh jana hi tha! Isme.. itna udaas hone wali kya baat hai,Devi Maiyya? Humein toh samajh nahi aa raha hai ki Arnavji.. is tarah se kyun.. react kar rahe hain?
Her inner voice answered: Tu apneaap ko Arnavji ki jagah par rakhkar dekh le, tujhe pata chal jayega!
Khushi: matlab?
Inner voice: Teri amma k jaane k baad tujhe teri mausi,yaani ki Garima amma ne pala. Tujhe unhone teri apni amma k jitna hi pyaar diya! Kal ko woh.. tujhse alag ho jaayengi, toh tujhe kaisa lagega,Khushi?
Now Khushi,somewhat understood how Arnav felt.
She knew he deeply regretted not being able to save his mother from committing suicide.
And now,there was another thing which he was regretting,not being able to stop Ramaa from going back.
Khushi(thinks): Unhe yeh samjhana hoga ki bhabhi ko toh jana hi tha! Unka ghar toh Lucknow me hai,woh yahaan kaise ruk sakti thi?Aur waise bhi, bhale hi Arnavji ko un me maaji ki jhalak nazar aati ho,sach toh... yeh hi hai naa ki maaji ab.. kabhi waapis nahi aayengi? Unhe is sach se rubaru karvaana hoga!
Her inner voice stopped her.
Inner voice: Kya yeh in sab baaton k liye sahi waqt hai,Khushi? Tu Arnavji ki haalat toh dekh hi rahi hai.. Tujhe lagta hai aise me,agar tune kuch samjhaya, toh woh teri baat samajh payenge?
Khushi: Yeh baat toh hai!
Inner voice: Yeh unse baat karne ka nahi,unhe sahara dene ka waqt hai!
Khushi: Par hum unhe sahara kaise de payenge? Humse unke aansu aise hi dekhe nahi jaate. Aise me,hum unhe chup kaise karvaa payenge?
Inner voice: kaun keh raha hai tujhe unhe chup karvaane k liye?! Hum toh yeh keh rahe hain ki tu.. bas unka saath de! Unke paas baith.. unko gale se lagaakar sahare de! Unhe yeh bata ki tu unke saath hai,ab woh akele nahi hain!
Aur unke aansuon ko behkar nikal jaane de,rok mat unhe! Jitni jaldi woh behkar nikal jaayenge,utni jaldi Arnavji sambhal jayenge aur phir tujhe unse baat karne ka mauka mil jayega! Unke andar jitna bhi gham unhone dabaakar rakha hai, maaji ki maut ko lekar,use nikal jaane de!
Khushi had to agree,her inner voice was absolutely right.
The best way to deal with this situation would b to let Arnav grieve and cry and let it all out.
But she doubted herself.
Khushi: Kahin aisa na ho jaay ki unke aansu dekhkar humaare aansu nikal aaye!
Inner voice: Toh kya hua? Nikalne de unhe! Unke saath baithkar unka gham baat! Ab khadi mat reh,kuch kar! Arnavji ko tere saath ki zaroorat hai!
************
Arnav coughed and Khushi panicked again.
Khushi: Arnavji,ek minute..
She tried to break free from his embrace.
Arnav looked at her,quite shocked,when she removed his arms from around her waist.
Arnav: Khushi?...
Khushi saw fear in his eyes,fear of letting her go.
He immediately warped his arms around her waist again.
Khushi: Bas ek minute,Arnavji!Ek minute.. hum paani lekar aapk paas aa rahe hain..
Her last sentence seemed to work as Arnav gave a brief nod & left her waist.
Khushi quickly brought him the bottle of water kept on the bedside table.
Khushi: Lijiye..
She held the bottle near his mouth
Since Arnav wasnt accustomed to drinking directly from the bottle,he choked on the water.
Khushi(patting his back): Aaram se...
She helped him drink the water and then kept the bottle on the coffee table.
***********
Khushi sat on Arnav's lap and drew him into her arms.
Arnav rested his head on her shoulders & wrapped his arms tightly around her waist.
Khushi kissed his widow's peak and ran a hand through his hair.
She was about to wipe his tears but held herself back & cupped his cheek instead.
Khushi: Hum.. samajhte hain ki aapko is waqt kaisa lag raha hoga. (kisses his hair) Hum aapke saath hain..
Arnav: Khushi,maa... Main.. maa...
He couldnt say a word beyond that,he was so choked.
Khushi: Jaante hain..
Those two words told Arnav what he wanted to hear and he let his tears flow.
***********
They sat like that for an hour or two.
After that,Khushi felt she could no longer keep awake.
Her eyes refused to stay open.
Khushi(thinks): Itni thakaan ho gayi hai,neend toh kabhi bhi aa jayegi! Arnavji ki peeth akad gayi hogi.. unhe bhi ab sona chahiye..
She softly spoke to Arnav,even as she firmly held his shoulder.
Khushi: Arnavji.. ab hum sone chalen? Bahut der ho gayi hai.
Arnav nodded.
Khushi got up and straightened herself and then she held out her hand.
Khushi: Aaiyye..
Arnav: Tum so jao,Khushi.Main..
Khushi(interrupts): Nahi! Hum aapke bina nahi soyenge! Chaliye aap bhi! Aapko yahaan aise akele chhodenge toh humein neend thode hi naa aayegi! Aaiyye..
She forced him to get up and then forced him to lie on the bed.
Once she tucked him under the duvet,she slipped into the bed & fell asleep within a miniute or so.
************
Arnav's mind played the flashback of his mother's suicide and Ramaa's waving him goodbye in loop,with the result that he woke up with a start,barely an hour after he'd fallen asleep.
Arnav: Maa!!
Khushi woke up,startled.
Khushi(switching on the lamp): Kya hua Arnavji?
She saw his forehead was drenched in sweat and he was panting.
Khushi: Aap theek toh hain?
Arnav managed a small nod.
Khushi offered water but he declined.
Khushi: Kya.. koi... bura sapna dekha aapne?
Arnav nodded again.
Khushi wiped the sweat off his forehead with her dupatta.
Khushi: Kya soch rahe hain? Bataiyye naa..
Arnav: Soch raha hoon.. subha bhabhi aur sabko... station jaakar mil aaun..
Khushi: Kyun?
Arnav: Bas.. man kar raha hai.. unse milne ka..
Khushi(thinks): Ab toh Arnavji ko samjhana hi padega!
***********
Khushi held his hands in hers before speaking.
Khushi: Mat jaiyye unse milne..
Arnav(shocked): Kyun?
Khushi: Aap kyun milna chahte hain unse?Milne se kya hoga?Kya wohlog Jaipur nahi jayenge?
Arnav had no answer.
Khushi: Aap kyun wahaan jaakar bhabhi ko aur apneaap ko aur taqleef me daalna chahte hain,Arnavji..
She took a deep breath before continuing.
Khushi: Aap.. chahe jitna bhi cha le.. bhabhi yahaan nahi ruk sakti! (squeezes his hand)Aur.. naa hi di.. ruk sakti hain..Unki shaadi k baad unhe apne sasural jaana hoga.. Aur aapko yeh baat sweekar karni hogi ki.. aap un dono se jab aapka man kare tab nahi mil sakte!
Arnav: Kyun?..
Khushi: Sab kuch aapke hisaab se nahi hoga,Arnavji! Aap honge Arnav Singh Raizada,lekin duniya aapke hisaab se nahi chalti!
Arnav's expressions told her that he realized the truth in her words.
Khushi: Maaji ko.. gaye huye itne saal ho gaye hain,phir bhi aapko unke.. sapne aate hain.. Aap.. unki maut ko bhula nahi paaye hain.. Unke maut ka aap par kaisa hua hai,kya asar hua hai,hum jaante hain.. par (sighs) Aapko yeh baat sweekar karni hogi ki... maaji lautkar nahi aayengi! Aur.. unke jaane me.. aapki koi galti nahi thi!.. Aap apneaap ko dosh mat dijiye! Aap unhe nahi rok paaye, baat sahi hai.. par aap unhe isiliye nahi rok paaye kyunki.. cheezen aapke bas me nahi thi! Na tab thi na.. aaj hain..
She cups his face.
Khushi: Kuch cheezon par humara bas nahi chalta,Arnavji.. Jaise aap.. maaji ki maut ko nahi rok paaye,waise hi aap bhabhi aur di ko apne-apne sasural jaane se nahi rok sakte! Aapko.. unhe jaane dena hoga!
She noticed tears in Arnav's eyes.
Khushi: Is baat k doosre pehlu par nazar daaliye- maaji.. ki yaadein toh hain naa aapke paas,aapke bachpan wali,achchhi wali yaadein? Aur di aur bhabhi aapke sampark me rahenge,hamesha!
She wiped the lone tear that had rolled down his cheek.
Khushi: Sikke k do pehlu hote hain-ek achchha,ek bura.. Bure k liye aap ro chuke,ab achchhe pehlu k baare me sochiye!Di ki shaadi hone wali hain! Kitne logon k jeevan yeh mauka aata hai,Arnavji,ki woh dobara apna sansaar basa paayen? Di khushkismat hain ki unke jeevan me yeh mauka aaya hain! Aap khushkismat hain kyunki is baar aapko bahut hi achchhe vyakti mil rahe hain, jeeja k taur par! Woh achchhe hain,unka parivaar achchha hai,ghar-baar achchha hai! Woh sab di ko pasand karte hain aur di un sab ko! Par agar aap hi unki shaadi me moonh latkaay phirenge,kyunki aap unse bichhadnaa nahi chahte, toh sab achchha hone k baawajood di ko khushi nahi hogi.. Kya aap unki shaadi ka din kharaab karna chahte hain?
Arnav: Kabhi nahi!
Khushi: Bas,toh ab yeh bhool jaiyye ki di aapse door honewali hain! Bas yeh sochiye ki di ki shaadi honewali hain! Behen ki shaadi me sabse zyada kaam bhai ko karna hota hai! Ab apni kamar kas lijiye aur shaadi ki taiyyariyon me poore man se jud jaiyye! Di ko bhi pata chalna chahiye ki unke Chhotey kitne khush hain ki woh dobara apna ghar basaaane jaa rahi hain!
Arnav looked at Khushi's smile & smiled a half-smile
The relief Khushi felt when she saw him smile cannot be expresed in words.
Khushi: Boliye.. karenge naa apneaap ko,di ki shaadi ki taiyyariyon me,khushi se shaamil?
Arnav: Khushi se bhi aur(puts an arm around her) Khushi k saath bhi!
Khushi: Yeh hui na baat!
She kisses his cheek.
Khushi: Rahi baat bhabhi ki,aap bahut khushkismat hai,Arnavji ki aapko maaji k jaane k barson baad hi sahi,unke jaisa koi mila! Kitne naseebwale hote hain woh jinko maa jaisa hubahu vyakti milta hai! Is hi baat ko sochkar khush rahiye! Bhabhi se hum aapki phone par waqt-ba-waqt baatein karva diya karenge aur waise bhi,shaadi par toh aayengi hi na woh?
Arnav nods.
Khushi: Ab.. sab theek hain?Aap theek hain?Behtar mehsus kar rahe hain?
Arnav: Ha.. all thanks to u!
Khushi: Devi Maiyya ka laakh-laakh shukar hai! Kal raat ko aapko waise dekhkar humari toh jaan hi nikal gayi thi!
She hugs him,relief evident on her face and in her body language.
Arnav hugs her back..
Arnav: Tum ek baat kehna bhool gayi..
Khushi(confused): Kaun si baat?
Arnav: Main ek aur maamle me bahut khushkismat hoon..(breaks the hug) Ki mujhe tumhare jaisi biwi mili!
Khushi smiles.
Arnav: Main toh tumhe paagal samajhta tha,tum toh mujhse bhi samajhdaar nikli yaar!
Khushi beams with pride upon hearing that.
Arnav(kisses her forehead): Thank u! Kal raat ko mujhe sambhaalne k liye.. aur aaj subha yeh sab kehne k liye!
Khushi(cups his face): Hum aapko bata nahi sakte ki aapke hothon par yeh muskaan dekhkar hum kitne khush hain! Hamesha aise hi haste-muskuraate rahiyega! Aapki aankhon me aansu bilkul achchhe nahi lagte!
Arnav(kisses her palms,one after the other): Tum hamesha mere saath rehna, toh main hamesha smile karta rahunga!
Khushi(smiles): Pakka!
She takes his mouth in a chaste kiss.
Before she could break contact,Arnav bites her lower lip and when she gasps, he enters his tongue in her mouth.
The kiss turns from chaste to passionate and from passionate to searing within seconds.
He cradles her head to support her,while his arm moves protectively around her waist.
Khushi fists her hands in his hair and looses herself in the kiss.
After breaking the kiss,Khushi rests her head on Arnav's shoulder while he puts his arms around her.
Khushi: Ab theek hai! Humein toh yeh hi achchha lagta hai!
Arnav: Kya?
Khushi: Ki aap humein sahara den,humein sambhaale! Jab humein aapko sambhaalna padta hai,humari band baj jaati hai!
Arnav smiles at her choice of words.
Khushi: Kal raat ko humari kya haalat hui thi woh hum hi jaante hain!
Arnav: Phir bhi,tumne bahut achchhe se sambhaala mujhe,hats off!
He kisses her cheek.
Khushi: Shukriya! Achchha,ab hum so jaaye?Hum bahut thake huye hain!
Arnav: Sure!
Khushi happily lies down and pulls the duvet over herself.
Arnav: Ab toh sab kuch theek ho gaya naa?I mean.. back to normal?
Khushi: Ji haa,bilkul!
Arnav: Great! Toh we'll go as per our plan!
Khushi(confused): Plan?
Arnav: Humne jo decide kiya tha woh hum karenge!
Khushi: Kya keh rahe hain,khulkar bataiyye naa!
Arnav whispers in her ear.
Arnav: Hum dono.. saath me.. nahaane wale hain,aaj subha!
Arnav nips her earlobe and Khushi gasps.
Arnav: remember?
Khushi: Aap k hote huye hum bhool sakte hain kya?Bhool bhi gaye toh aap hain naa,humein yaad dilaane k liye! Lard governer!
Arnav hides his smile.
Khushi: Ab so jaiyye! Hum 7 baje se pehle nahi uthnewale!
Arnav: Done!
He wraps his arm around her waist and soon slips into peaceful slumber.
********
No precap.
Kindly ignore typos & mistakes.
Translation in the post below. PMs later.Next update on 17th.
Happy Diwali in advance to all those readers who celebrate the festival! May God bless u & ur families! Hav a happy & safe Diwali!
Edited by Smita.M - 12 years ago
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