Like I had promised ppl... an update. just came in after submitting the thesis. thanks for bearing with the irregular updates. I am freee...
on this happy occassion, a sweet chapter. I find it sweet. let me knw what you think.
Dedicated to all the people who have stuck with this story...
PS: Listen to the song... Its the most beautiful song.
Nostalgia[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YAs2cQAiE8[/YOUTUBE]
Arnav shut his laptop and gazed at Khushi's face. She looked pale he mused.
So, its 'Khushi time' he thought. Each day after work he would sit besides her and talk. He had gone through so many topics with her in the past few days without her interruptions.
A soft tune played in his mind as he gazed at her sleeping form and it was decided.
He would sing her a lullaby. (Not that she needed it, sleepyhead.)
He propped himself besides her on the bed, holding himself on his arm facing her, humming the tune playing in his head.
"Khushi, do you know Ma used to sing it to me when I couldn't sleep. I used to love it back then. It is still my favorite song. I don't remember it exactly but still, i want to sing it to you."
His face adorned a soft smile, a smile that took the extra years from his face he had gained.
He caressed her face as he sang off tune and small tears gathered in his eyes. Nostalgia. It always made him teary but for once he did not fight his memories, letting them wash over him.
***
Suraj ki pahali kiran se, aashaa kaa savera jaage
chanda kii kiran se dhul kar, ghanaghor andhera bhaage
kabhi dhuup khile kabhi chhaav mile
lambii sii Dagar na khale
"Arnav, sleep. You have to go to school tomorrow."
"I cant-"
His Ma had pulled him onto her lap and caressed his unruly hair out of his face and sung to him this very song.
She rhythmically stroked his hair and sang in her melodious voice, the tinkle of her bangles a soft background to the music. He didn't know when, but awoke with the mornings rays of the sun.
***
Jahan rang birange panchhi, aashaa kaa sandesaa laayen
sapano me pali hansati ho kali
jahan shaam suhaani dhale
"No, Chotte, I will sleep here today."
"No, Di. I want to sleep with Ma."
"No, you were with her yesterday night. Today its my turn."
They bickered for nearly fifteen minutes, pillows and blankets in hand till their mother had pulled both of them down on the bed.
Adjusting them on either side, Asha Malik had smiled, happy to have such a beautiful family.
"Ma sing" her Chotte demanded and she hummed the first notes of his favorite song.
***
Sapano Ke aise jahan mein jahan pyaar hi pyaar khila ho
hum jaa ke vahan kho jaaye shikuva na koyi ghila ho
kahin bhair na ho koyi ghair na ho
sab milke chalte chale
"Why didn't he come today Ma? Its my birthday and he didn't come."
A twelve year old Anjali cried in her Ma's lap.
Their father had been out on business that week and he had forgotten his princess' birthday while Anjali had waited all day, door in sight for her father to walk in laden with presents. While, Arnav had banked on that opportunity to trouble his sister.
"He is not coming. He forgot your birthday. He doesn't love you." he had chanted the whole day and evening until she had burst into tears.
Arnav stood at the door, tiny tears pricking his eyes watching his sister cry. He hated it when she cried, he troubled her to no end, but still she had never cried.
That day he wanted to scream at his dad for making his sister cry, throw a tantrum till his sister would walk to him, tears forgotten, eyes twinkling. A new idea to melt his anger.
His Ma called out to him with her eyes and he had lay besides them, their Ma humming a familiar soothing tune.
***
aa chal ke tujeh mein leke chaluun
ik aise gagan ke tale
jahan gam bhi na ho aansoo bhi na ho
bas pyaar hi pyaar pale
Arnav did not realize when sleep overtook him as he sang to Khushi. He lay there, his head on her shoulder, hand across her waist and a peaceful expression on his face. Peace that had eluded him for so many years.
Anjali walked into the room, drawn to the familiar tune and the off key voice singing it. She found her brother sleeping peaceful after a long time and a small tear escaped her eye. Turning off the lights, she pulled the duvet over both of them, kissed their foreheads fondly and left. Wishing Khushi could hear her brother wherever she was.
***
The next morinng the RM saw a sight they had not been graced in the past seven years or more... A whistling arnav walking down the stairs.
Song courtesy: Kishore Kumar
So, what do you think??? Nice, cute, awful???
Let me know.
Do like and comment if you think it was worth it.
Devilways
Edited by Devilways - 13 years ago
193