Posted:
I would like thank all my readers for reading,liking & appreciating my work! Honestly,when I'd turned the OS Jaldi aaiyye Arnavji into a FF,I'd never imagined that it would have 50 parts & go beyond it! It is only because of your love for this FF that it has reached the Golden Jubilee mark today.As a treat or a return gesture,here is the longest update I've ever written in my life! Hope u'll will like it!
Warning: Be patient. Since its a lonnnggg update,it'll require u to b extra patient.
Part 50
Arnav hands the phone to Khushi.
Arnav: Tum babuji se baat karo,main tab tak Aman aur David ko wapis bula leta hoon.
Khushi: Hello babuji..
Babuji: 1 minute bitiya.Garimaji tohse baat karna chahat hain..
Khushi: Ji,hum hold karte hain..
Amma: Khusi,ee sab ka hui raha hai? Arnav bitwa hiyaan aane ki baat kaahe karat hain?
Khushi: Woh 6 dino ki chhuti lekar aaye hain,amma. Keh rahe the ki hum sab k saath waqt bitaana chahte hain. Toh.. woh waheen rahenge jahaan hum sab rahenge.
Amma: Par bitiya,oo hiyaan kaisan rah payenge?Tune oo ko manaa kaahe naahi kiya?
Khushi: Humne koshish ki thi,lekin woh zidd par ad gaye hain. (sighs) Humein unki baat maanni hi hogi..
Amma: Arnav bitwa ne.. kuchhho kaha tujhse? Chillaaye kaa tohpar?
Khushi: Nahi amma. Hum toh hairaan ho gaye ki unhone humein daanta kyun nahi? Chillaye bhi nahi,gusiyaaye bhi nahi! Bas yeh zidd pakad k baith gaye hain ki unhe saraay dekhna hai aur saraay me rehna hai!
Amma: Tune oo ko bataaya ki saraay ka hovat hai,kaisan hovat hai? Kahin oo saraay ko hotel na samajh rahe ho..
Khushi: Humne sab bataaya us k baawajood woh humari baat maanne ko taiyyar nahi hai!
Amma: Ek aur baar kosis kar k dekh. Tu kahe tau.. hum Arnav bitwa se baat kar k dekhe?
Before Khushi could refuse she heard babuji telling amma not to interfere.
Khushi: Babuji sahi keh rahe hain,amma. Aap rehne dijiye. Aap bas.. ek extra khaat ka aur kambal ka intezaam karva dijiye.
Amma: Theek hai bitiya.
Khushi: Humein nikalne me abhi thoda samay lagega aur pahuchne me aadhe se ek ghanta lag jayega.Aaplog bhooke mat rahiyega. Naniji aur di ne jo mithaiyaan aur namkeen bheja hai,woh kha lijiye.
Amma: Anjali bitiya ne gobhi k samose bheje hain. Hum oo hai de rahe the tohre babuji ko itne me Arnav bitwa ka phone aai gawa.
Khushi: Achchha aaplogon k liye bhi bheje hain? Di sabka kitna khayaal rakhti hain!
Amma: Oo toh hai. Kitna kuch bhej diya hain unhone aur naniji ne.. Kal phone par oologan ko dhanyavaad keh denge.
Khushi: Ji.Chaliye amma,abhi hum rakhte hain.
Amma: Achchha bitiya. Sambhalkar aana.
_________________________________________________________________
Khushi: Aapki baat ho gayi Amanji se?
Arnav(nods): 10 minute me aa rahe hain woh dono..
Khushi: Cabinet me jo sara samaan hai hum use wahaan lekar kaise jayenge?
Arnav: Jaise woh sara samaan aaya tha,waise..
Khushi: Hum samjhe nahi..
Arnav shows her an empty duffel bag.
Arnav: Di aur nani ne sara samaan is me daalkar diya tha. Ise cabinet me arrange maine kiya tha.
Khushi: Oh.. Aaiyye,hum aapki madad..
Arnav(interrupts): No thanks! Tum baitho,main khud kar lunga.Waise bhi tumhe aisi condition me zyada time k liye khade nahi rehna chahiye.
Khushi: Humein aapki madad karni hogi,kyunki aapko pata nahi lagega ki kya bhejna hai aur kya rakhna hai. Sara khaane ka samaan hum.. wahaan nahi le jaa sakte hain.
Arnav: Kyun nahi le jaa sakte hain?
Khushi: Kyunki wahaan.. fridge nahi hai. Yeh sab kuch hum.. aaj khatm nahi kar payenge toh..
Arnav: Theek hai. Tum dekh lo..
He helped her till the cabinet.
Khushi: Hum aapko jo-jo de rahe hain woh-woh aap bag me bhar dijiye.
Arnav nods.
Khushi(thinks): Hey Devi Maiyya! Gussa karna toh door raha,Arnavji toh baatein bhi kam kar rahe hain.. Yeh kuch bol kyun nahi rahe hain?
Arnav(touches her shoulder): Kya hua?
Khushi: Aap.. humse naraaz hain?
Arnav doesnt say anything.
Khushi: Dekhiye,hum.. jaante hain humein aapse yeh sab.. nahi chhupana chahiye tha. Humein maaf..
Arnav(interrupts): Tumhe maafi maangne ki koi zaroorat nahi hai! Maine kaha naa,tumhe jo sahi laga tumne woh kiya,which is fine..
Before Khushi could say anything..
Arnav: aman aur David aate hi honge,we should hurry up.
Khushi(thinks): Khud toh kuch bol nahi rahe hain,hum koshish kar rahe hain toh humein bhi nahi bolne de rahe hain!
Arnav: Khushi,hurry up!
Khushi: Ji..
___________________________________________________________________________
Arnav was quiet during the car drive.
When Khushi held his hand,he let her hold it,but he didnt look at her.
He kept looking out the window whereas Khushi kept looking at him,wondering what was going on in his shaatir dimaag.
They were in the middle of an area which looked like a marketplace to Arnav when..
Khushi: Yaheen rok dijiye Shubham ji. (to Arnav) Pahuch gaye..
Arnav(nods): Aman,its time u leave.
Aman: Right sir.
Arnav: Shubham,tum ise helipad drop kar k waapis yaheen aa jana.
Shubham: Ji sa'ab.
Arnav: Car me petrol hai naa?
Shubham: Ji sa'ab. Bhabhiji ko lekar nikle tab bharvaaya tha.
Arnav: Theek hai. Dikkey se mera samaan nikalo..
Before Arnav could step out of the car,Khushi placed a hand on his shoulder.
Arnav: What?
Khushi: Ek baar phir soch lijiye.. Aap.. chahe toh.. ab bhi.. waapis jaa sakte hain..
Arnav: Main waapis nahi,andar jana chahta hoon!
He removed her hand from his shoulder & stepped out of the car.
Aman: Sir bahut gusse me hain,bhabhi..
Khushi: Hum jaante hain ,Amanji. Par yeh gussa nikaal kyun nahi rahe hain?Andar dabaakar kyun baithe hain?Aur aapne dekha,Shubhamji ne humein bhabhiji kaha tab bhi Arnavji ne kuch nahi kaha!
Aman: Woh hi toh! Pata nahi sir kyun chupchaap ho gaye hain?Daantte hain,cheekhte-chillaate hain toh sahi lagte hain! Aisa chupchaap ho jaay toh.. bahut ajeeb lagta hai!
Khushi: Aap bilkul sahi keh rahe hain!
Aman: Khair,aap apna dhyaan rakhiyega.
Khushi: Aap bhi.Devi Maiyya kare aapki aur Davidji ki yatra shubh rahe!
Aman: Shukriya!
Arnav(opens the door): Come..
Khushi: Ji. Yahaan.. log honge.. toh.. uthaiyyega mat. Bas.. aapka sahara de dijiye.
Arnav nods.
Khushi(thinks): Phir sar hilaaye! Arnavji ko ho kya gaya hai,Devi Maiyya?
___________________________________________________________________________
Arnav scanned the two-storeyed building in front of him.
It was white-washed & looked neat & clean from the outside,contrary to what he was expecting.
There was a rusted iron gate which lead to a courtyard that was surrounded by the buidling on three sides,in a c shape.
On the fourth side of the courtyard was the gate & the boundary wall.
The boundary wall was of fairly low height,thought Arnav.
Anyone could jump inside easily since there was no fencing.
His train of thoughts were interrupted when the iron gate opened with a creaking sound & a man of about 30 approached them.
Man: Jai Mata di sahab! Jai Mata di Khusiji!
Khushi: Jai Mata di, bhaiyya! Yeh sara saaman aap kamre tak pahucha dijiye.
Man: Ji.Aaiyye..
After he left..
Arnav: Yeh kaun hai?
Khushi: Murli bhaiyya. Yahaan k saare chhote-mote kaam yeh hi karte hain.
Few men were sitting on a charpoy in the courtyard,smoking & chatting.
They stopped chatting & started staring at ArShi when they passed by them.
Arnav: Tumhara room ground floor par hai naa?
Khushi: Ji.
Arnav: Aur ammaji aur babuji ka?
Khushi: Hum.. sab.. saath me.. ek hi kamre me rehte hain.
Khushi looked at Arnav.To her dismay there was no change in his facial expressions.
Arnav: I see. Come..
He helped Khushi climb the 2 short steps which led to the passage.
The passage was narrow & dimly lit.
On one side of the passage there were rooms & on the other side there was a parapet,demarcating the courtyard from the passage.
Most of the doors were closed since it was past 11 pm. One door was open & a middle aged woman was sitting outside the room on a stool.
She stood up when she saw Khushi.
Woman: Areh Khushi,itni raat gaye kahaan se aa rahi ho?Aur.. yeh kaun hai?
Khushi: Yeh humare pati hai. Hum inhe lene gaye the.
The woman appeared shocked.
Woman: Aap London se aa gaye?Aur phir Dilli se yahaan bhi aa gaye?Waah!
Arnav was a bit shocked to know that she knew about his London visit,still he didnt show it.
Woman: Achchha. 1 minute rukna..
She peeped inside the room.
Woman: A ji suniye..! Dekhiye toh,kaun aaya hai?
Man(from inside): Kaun hai Sheela?
Woman: Arnavji hain!
Arnav was even more shocked when the woman reffered to him as Arnavji.
A few seconds later the man came outside.
Khushi: Namaste uncle!
Uncle: Namaste beta! Arnavji,aap toh tarso hi London gaye the naa,meeting k liye?.. Itni jaldi aa gaye?
Arnav: Ji meeting nahi conference thi.
Before uncle could ask something else..
Arnav: Excuse us.. Hum subha milte hain!
Aunty: Ha,ha. Aap thak gaye honge.Aaram kar lijiye.
After they went some steps ahead Arnav whispered..
Arnav: Yeh dono kaun hain?Aur mere baare me yeh sab kaise jaante hain?
Khushi: Padosi hain.. Uncle babuji k dost hain.
Arnav: Yeh woh hi hai kya jo train me the,humare coach me.. Lucknow k tumhare old neighbour?
Khushi: Nahi. Padosi se humara matlab tha.. yahaan padosi hain.Waise toh yeh Bhopal se aaye hain.Yahaan mulaaqat hui aur babuji ki uncle se dosti hui.
Arnav nods.
Khushi: Kamra.. aa.. gaya..
Murli was standing outside the room.
Khushi: Shukriya bhaiyya!
She opened her bag to give him money when Arnav stopped her.
Arnav: Wait! Main deta hoon..
He opened his wallet & handed a 50rs note to Murli.
Khushi's eyes became as big as saucers.
Khushi(thinks): Arnavji kya kar rahe hain?Itni badi tip koi deta hain bhala?
To her surprise,Murli returned the note.
Murli: Yeh humein nahi,aapko manager sahab ko dena hain.Woh is waqt yahaan nahi hain.Subha office me milenge.
Arnav: Yeh tumhare liye hain,tip..
Murli: Hum itna nahi le sakte sahab..
Arnav: Rakh lo.
He thrust the note into his hand.
Murli: Sukriya!
Arnav: Yahaan ka tariff kya hai?
Murli(confused): Tareef?
Arnav: Tariff.. kiraya?Ek din ka kiraya kitna hai?
Murli: 50 rs.
Arnav: What the..!?
Murli: Ji?
Arnav(shook his head): Kaafi sasta hain.(turns to Khushi)Right Khushi?
Khushi: Jj.. ji...
Murli: Areh sahab,sirf kiraya hi nahi,50rs me aapko gadda bhi mil raha hai!Usk ilava aap toilet aur bathroom bhi istemaal kar sakte.Woh wahaan.. peechhe ki or hai.
Arnav: Fantastic!
Murli: Itna hi nahi,aap jab chahe,jitna chahe,filter se paani bhar kar pee sakte hain! Filter.. (points to the opposite direction) wahaan hai. Wahaan ki batti saari raat jalti hain.Aur..
Khushi(interrupts): Baaki sab.. hum inhe samjha denge,bhaiyya.. Aapne camp khat lagvaa diya hai naa?
Murli: Ji aur kambal aur taqiya bhi rakh diye hain uspar.
Khushi: Shukriya!
Arnav: Woh bhi 50 rs me included hai?
Murli: Nahi,uske 10 rs alag se dene honge..
Arnav: No problem! Main kal subha aapk manager se milkar unhe de dunga. Thanks & goodnight!
Murli(smiles): Jai Mata di sahab! Koi bhi kaam ho toh jor se awaaj laga dijiyega.Main baahar aangan me hi sota hoon.
Arnav: Okay.
After Murli left,Arnav looked at Khushi & found her staring at him.
Arnav: What?Room ne nahi jana hai?
He knocked on the door.
Babuji opened it.He looked tired,tensed & anxious.
Arnav saw buaji & amma standing behind him,equally anxious & tired.
Arnav: Namaste!
Babuji: Namaste!Aaiyye Arnav babu..
Arnav: I'm sorry babuji! Meri wajah aaplogon itni der tak wait karna pada.
Babuji: Kauno baat naahi! Maafi toh humka maangi ki chaahi.Oo... Khushi ne humse.. manaa ki..
Arnav(interrupts): Rehne dijiye babuji! Lets not talk about it..
Babuji: Bheetar aaiyye...
Arnav looked around the room.
It was a small,clean room with a cement floor & brick,unplastered, walls.
The room was sparsely furnished.The only furniture being a medium-sized wooden wall cupboard,a small wooden coffee table and two small wooden stools.
There was a mirror on one of the walls and a picture of Goddess Vaishnodevi & a calender on the other.
There was a window on the wall facing the door.It had vertical iron railing which resembled the prison gates,thought Arnav.
Apart from all these,there were 3 mattresses on the floor and 2 campcots.
Arnav observed that the bedsheets covering the matresses belonged to the Guptas. They had used the same bedsheets in the train,he remembered.
The flat pillows & the black blankets were from the saraay.
Arnav recalled Khushi telling him about the pillows during one of their phone conversations.
"Kaisan ho babua?" asked buaji,bringing him back to the present.
Arnav: I'm fine.Aap kaisi hain?
Buaji: Theek hai,Nandkisore.
Arnav: Aur aap kaisi hai ammaji?
Amma: Humau theek hai.Bitwa.. aapko hum sab ne.. andhere maa rakha.. ae hi liye hum.. maafi chahat hai..
Arnav: Plz.. aaplog mujhse maafi mat mangiye! Maine Khushi se bhi yeh hi kaha! In fact I'm sorry,aapko itni der tak wait karna pada!
Amma: Naahi bitwa..Aap..
Arnav(interrupts): Aaplog.. khana serve kariye main.. tab tak handswash kar k aata hoon..
Babuji: Aaiyye,hum aapko le chalat hain.
Arnav: Nahi babuji,thank u! Main khud chala jaunga.Mujhe Murli ne bataaya ki washroom peechhe ki taraf hai. I'll manage. Excuse me..
_________________________________________________________________________
Arnav walked out of the room,trying his best to control the anger bubbling inside him,which was threatening to burst out.
He tightly balled his fists and took deep breaths to calm himself down.
A couple,who were standing outside the common toilet block,stared at him like he was an alien.
Arnav moved past them towards the wash basin.
Husband(whispered audibly): Yeh hero kaun hai?
Wife(whispered back,audibly): 12 no. me Garimaji hai naa?.. Yeh unka damad hai.Abhi thodi der pehle hi aaya hai..
husband: Dikhne me toh ameerzada lagta hai.Phir apni biwi ko yahaan kyun chhod rakha hai?
Arnav clutched the basin with both hands & closed his eyes.
Wife: Kaun jaane?
Husband: Ho sakta hai lene k liye aaya ho?
Wife: Lene aaya hota toh lekar chala gaya hota naa. Yeh toh yahaan raat ko rukne ki baat kar raha tha.
Husband(shocked): Yeh.. Yahaan rukega?! Paagal ho gaya hai kya? Machchharon k beechh iska saans lena mushqil ho jayega!Yeh bade ghar k rais log waise hi bade kamzor hote hain! Yahaan rehna iss k bas ki baat nahi hai!
That was the limit.
Arnav strode angrily towards them,scaring the wife.
Arnav: Who the hell r u?
Husband: Tameez se baat karo,bhai..
Arnav: Aap mujhe tameez naa hi sikhaye toh behtar hoga! Bloody gossipmongers! Aapko kya farq padta hai ki main kaun hoon,kahaan se aaya hoon aur kis liye aaya hoon?
Husband: Dekho.. gaali mat nikaalo! Varna..
Arnav(cocks his eyebow): Varna?! Varna kya karoge tum?
Husband: Main..
Wife(to her husband): Chhodo naa! Chalo yahaan se! Faltu me jhagda kya karna?
She pulls her husband away.
Husband: Jhagda main nahi,woh kar raha tha! Ameer hai toh kuch bhi bolega? aur hum baithkar sunenge?Waah!
Arnav wanted to blast him but he let them go after his wife gave him pleading looks.
He ran a hand through his hair to calm himself down.
Arnav(thinks): Kahan phas gaya main? Yeh.. kaisi jagah hai aur yeh kaise wierd log hain?Khushi ko poori duniya me yeh hi jagah mili rehne k liye?
He went back to the room.
__________________________________________________________________________
Buaji: Aao babua.. khana khaane baith jao.
Arnav: 1 minute,buaji.(calls loudly)Murli..!
Buaji: Kaa hua babua?
Khushi: Kya aap.. jaa rahe hain?Humara matlab.. kisi hotel me?..
Arnav shook his head.
Murli came running towards the room.
Murli: Ji sahab?
Arnav: Yeh campcot le jao aur mere liye gadda lekar aao.Aur ek aur taqiya bhi lekar aana.
Murli: Ji,abhi laaya!
Murli immediately folded the campcot & took it out of the room.
Amma: Par bitwa.. aap.. gadde par kaisan so paayenge?
Arnav: Jaise aaplog sote hain,waise!
Buaji: Humko tau aadat rahi,Nandkisore. Tum pahile kabhi jameen par gadda daalkar soye rahe?
Arnav: Nahi! Yeh mera first time hai!
Babuji: Par ee sab karne ki kaa jarurat rahi,Arnav babu?Aap humre jaisan khat par sui jaate..
Arnav: Aap ko toh pairon me taqleef hai,babuji.Isiliye aap uspar sote hain.Mere pairon me koi taqleef nahi hai! Aur jab Khushi,apni moch k bawajood,doosre pair k baaite k bawajood,us par so sakti hai toh main kyun nahi?
Nobody said anything after that.
Murli came back with a mattress & a pillow.
Murli: Isse kahaan rakhe,sahab?
Arnav: Sabse last wale mattress k baaju me bichha do.Aur taqiye ko us par rakh do.
Murli: Ji.
After Murli left..
Arnav: Chaliye,hum khana kha lete hain!
Khushi: 1 minute Arnavji..
Arnav: Kya hua?
Khushi: Aap.. yeh sab kyun kar rahe hain?
Arnav(shrugs): Maine kya kiya hai, Khushi?
Khushi: Aapko yeh sab karne ki zaroorat nahi hai!Suna aapne?
Amma: Khusi..
Khushi(interrupts): Amma humein bolne dijiye.
Babuji gestured amma to keep quiet.
Khushi: Ek toh aap humein bina bataaye aa gaye. Chalo,theek hai.Aa gaye so aa gaye. Phir aapne kaha ki aap 6 din yaheen rahenge. Chaliye,woh bhi maan liya.Phir aapne zidd ki aap saraay me rehna chahte hain.Ab aap zidd kar rahe hain ki aap zameen par sona chahte hain.Yeh.. ho kya raha hai? Aap yeh sab kyun kar rahe hain?
Arnav doesnt say anything.
Khushi: Bolte kyun nahi hain?Hum jaante hain ki aapko iss waqt bahut gussa aa raha hai. Aap andar hi andar gussa dabaa rahe hain. Jab humne aapko apne pair k baare me bataaya tab aapne gussa kar diya,phir shant ho gaye.Woh theek hai.Lekin aap aise gusse ko nigalte rahenge aur chup rahenge toh naa aap shanti se reh payenge naa hum!
Arnav: I know..
Khushi(frustrated): Areh!Aapko sab pata hai phir bhi aap chup hain.Kyun?
Arnav looks directly into her eyes as he speaks.
Arnav: Yeh tumhari punishment hai,mujhse baatein chhupane k liye!
Khushi(shocked): Kya?
Arnav: Yup! Tumne mujhe yeh nahi bataaya ki tum saraay me reh rahi ho kyunki tum nahi chahti thi ki main tumhari aur tumhari family k expenses bear karoon.Fine! Tumne mujhe apni chot k baare me nahi bataaya kyunki tum nahi chahti thi ki main London trip cancel kar doon aur tumhare paas aa jaun. Ok! Understood! Aur.. shaayad tumne mujhe isliye bhi nahi bataaya kyunki.. tumne mere mazaak ko aur warning ko kuch zyada hi seriously le liya..Tumne jo kiya us k liye tumhare paas apne reasons the.Main jo kar raha hoon us k liye mere paas apne reasons hain! Tum apni jagah sahi thi toh main apni jagah sahi hoon! Baat khatm! Baitho aur khana khao..Tumhare question answer session ki wajah se yehlog bhi nahi kha paa rahe hain.
Khushi: Par Arnavji aap iss tarah se gussa dabaakar rakhenge toh aapki sehat par bura asar padega. Aapka blood pressure badh jayega. Aapk stress levels bhi badh jayenge. Kyun nahi samajh rahe hain aap? Humein samajh nahi aata ki hum.. aapko.. kaise samjhaaye?
Arnav(loudly): Exactly! Mujhe bhi samajh nahi aata ki main tumhe kaise samjhaun ki tum aur main alag nahi hain! Tumhara dard mera dard hai Khushi aur mera paisa tumhara paisa hai!
Arnav let out a huge sigh & then controlled his volume & tone.
Arnav: Jab tumhe di se pata chala tha ki maine tumse mere Dubai me admit honewali baat chhupayi hai tab tumne mujhse kaha tha..
*Flashback*
Khushi: Amanji aapka us tarah se khaayal rakh sakte hain kya,jis tarah se di rakh sakti hain? Kya woh aapka us pyaar se,us tarah se dhyaan rakh sakte hain jis tarah se hum rakh sakte hain?Patni ki tarah aapse pyaar kar sakte hain kya? Bataiyye...
Arnav shakes his head.
Khushi: Phir?! Aur.. aapke liye yeh 6-8 mahino me ek baar behosh ho jana aam baat hogi,humare liye nahi hain! Humari saas halaq me atak jaati hai, jitni baar aap behosh hote hain.Hum aapko behosh dekhkar kitna ghabra jaate hain,kuch pata hai aapko? Nahi! Aapko kuch nahi pata! Bas tay kar liya! Parivaar me kisi ko tension nahi dena chahte! Agar aapne humse baat chhupayi na hoti,toh kya hota? Hum aur di chintit ho jaate aur aapke paas wahaan aa jaate,yeh hi naa? Toh isse humari chinta door ho jaati! Jab hum aapko mil lete,dekh lete,toh humari chinta door ho jaati na? Aur aapko bhi wahaan beemaari me akele nahi rehna padta!
*Flashback ends*
Arnav: Aaj main tumse pooch raha hoon,Khushi. Tell me honestly..Kya ammaji,babuji aur buaji tumhara us tarah se khayaal rakh sakte hain jis tarah se main rakhta hoon? Kya woh tumhe mere jitna pyaar kar sakte hain?
Khushi(shakes her head): Nahi. Aur.. aap humse jitna pyaar karte hain utna pyaar humse koi nahi kar sakta!
Arnav: Agar tumne mujhe bata diya hota toh kya ho jata?Conference postpone karvaakar main yahaan aa jaata! Yahaan tumhare paas rehta toh tumhe bhi achchha lagta aur mujhe bhi. Aur raha conference ka sawaal toh Conference toh baad me ho hi jata.. Its not like mera bahut bada nuksaan ho jata. Aur agar nuksaan ho bhi jata,toh .. kya..? Mere liye tumse zyada important aur koi nahi hai! Aur mera kaam mere liye important hai,I agree,lekin tumse zyada nahi!
He cups her face.
Arnav: Main pehle bhi bata chuka hoon ki tum meri life me sabse zyada important ho!
Khushi nods.
Arnav: Yeh toh achchha hua ki ammaji ne tumhe pakad liya aur tumhe koi major injury nahi hui! Agar.. tumhe kuch ho jata naa toh.. main..
He looks away.
Khushi(cups his cheek): Arnavji..
Arnav(looks at her): U hav no idea,khushi,ki us din mujhe kaisa lag raha tha! Ek toh tum sab k phones unreachable aa rahe the.Upar se meri gut feeling,ki tumhare saath kuch bura hua hai,mujhe restless kar rahi thi. To top it all,tumne mujhe yahaan ka address bhi nahi diya tha! Paagal ho raha tha main yeh soch-sochkar ki pure mandir me,hazaaron devotees k beechh,tumhe kaise dhoond paunga main? Aur agar tum mandir me nahi mili toh main kahaan jaunga? (holds her hand)I cant tell u ki mere dimaag me.. kya-kya chal raha tha..!
Khushi: Hum samajh sakte hain..
Arnav(yells): Nahi! Tum nahi samajhti ho! Samajhti toh aisa kabhi nahi karti!
He leaves her hand and turns away.
Arnav: Tumhe jis din mere jhoot k baare me di ne bataaya tha,us din mujhse tumne kuch promise karvaya tha..Remember?..
*Flashback*
Arnav: I'm sorry Khushi.. I'm really sorry! Mera koi irada nahi tha tumhe hurt karne ka!Maaf kar do..
Khushi: Kar denge,lekin pehle aap wada kariye.. Aaj k baad humse koi baat nahi chhupayenge,chahe chhoti ho chahe badi!
Aap kisi se kuch kahe ya na kahe,lekin humse aap sab kuch keh sakte hain Arnavji. Hum aapki patni hai,humse kuch chhupaane ki zaroorat nahi hai aapko.
*Flashback ends*
Arnav: Aaj tum mujhe woh hi promise karo-tum mujhse koi baat nahi chhupaogi,woh chhoti ho chahe badi ho!
Khushi: Hum wada karte hain!
Arnav: Aur agar tumne promise toda naa, toh I swear, main tumse kabhi baat nahi karunga!
Khushi: Aisa mat kahiye! Hum.. abse aapse kuch bhi nahi chhupayenge!Pakka wada!
Arnav: Better.
Khushi(holds his shoulder): Humari taraf dekhiye naa.. plz..
Arnav (turns around): Bolo..
Khushi: Sorry! Humein.. maaf kar dijiye!
Arnav: No! Iss baar main tumhe maaf nahi karunga!
Khushi: Haww! kyun? Jab hum aapko maaf kar sakte hain tab aap humein kyun nahi maaf kar sakte?
Arnav: Kyunki main nahi karna chahta! Jab tum woh kar sakti ho jo tumhe sahi lagta hai toh main kyun nahi?
Khushi: Par..
Arnav(imitates her): Ek toh tumne mujhe bina bataaye,mujhse bina discuss kiye,pratigya le li. Chalo,tumhe babuji ko yatra karvaani thi toh tumne pratigya le li.Accepted. Lekin mujhe tumne us me include nahi kiya! Kyun?Coz I'm an atheist!Also accepted.Phir tumne zidd ki, ki tum apne bachaaye huye paison se yeh yatra karvana chahti ho. Chalo,theek hai.Main maan gaya. Phir tumne mujhse jhoot kaha ki tum Sarita k cousin k yahaan rukogi. Phir tumne jhoot kaha ki tum theek ho.Agar aaj main tumse kehta ki main Delhi wapis jaa raha hoon lekin tum 5 star me shift ho jao,toh tum Phir zidd karti! Jab maine tumhe bataaya ki main yaheen rukunga,tab tumne zidd ki ki main waapis chala jaun.Jab maine kaha main nahi jaunga toh tumne zidd ki ki main 5 star me ruk jaun. Main phir bhi nahi maana toh tumne kaha ki tum aur ammaji,babuji or buaji mere saath shift kar jaoge.Phir tumne zidd ki ki main gussa karoon.. Ab tum zidd kar rahi ho ki main tumhe maaf kar doon. (folds his arms across his chest)Tumhe kya lagta hai,tum zidd karti rahogi aur main tumhari zidd puri karta rahunga? Is that what u think?
Khushi: Humne.. aisa toh.. nahi kaha..
Arnav: Toh kya matlab tha tumhari baat ka?
Khushi: Hum bas.. yeh hi chahte hain ki..
Arnav(yells): Enough! I've had enough of tum kya chahti ho,tum kya maanti ho,tum kya sochti ho n all that! Ab tum suno ki main kya chahta hoon aur main kya karnewala hoon!
Khushi gulps.
Arnav: Maine decide kiya hai ki main tumhe 5 star me rehne k liye force nahi karunga! Tumhe jana rehna hai tum raho! Main bhi waheen rahunga!
Khushi: Areh! Yeh kaisi zidd hai?Hum toh keh rahe hain naa ki hum star hotel me chalenge aap k saath..
Arnav: Yeh meri zidd hai! Jab tumne zidd ki tumne meri baat nahi maani toh ab main tumhari baat nahi maanunga!
Khushi: Par..
Arnav: Tumhe 5 star me rehne ki koi zaroorat nahi hai! Tum yeh bhool jao ki main bhi yahaan par hoon! Tum apne plan k hisaab se jao. Tumne jo bhi socha ki tum karnewali ho,woh sab tum apni family k saath karo.Main tumhare saath-saath woh sab karunga!
Lekin.. main apne expenses khud bear karunga. Aur..kal se lekar jab tak hum Shantivan nahi pahuch jaate, naa main tumse baat karunga (to the Guptas) aur naa hi aaplogon se baat karunga! Agar main Khushi se naraaz hoon toh aaplogon se bhi utna hi naraaz hoon! Khushi ne mujhe nahi bataaya lekin aaplogon ki duty thi mujhe inform karna ki Khushi gir gayi hai,use chot lag gayi hai. Main uska pati hoon,dammit! Mera haq banta hai yeh jaanne ka!
Khushi(interrupts): Arnavji,aap aise kaise baat kar sakte hain humare babuji se?
Before Arnav could say anything babuji stopped Khushi.
Babuji: Ee ko bolne de bitiya.. ee jaun bhi kahe rahe hain oo sahi kahe rahe hain! (to Arnav)Arnav babu, hum..
Arnav(interrupts): Aapne toh mujhe sabse zyada disappoint kiya hai,babuji! Maine kabhi yeh expect nahi kiya tha ki aap.. aap bhi Khushi ka saath denge! Tell me,agar Khushi k saath kuch major ho gaya hota.. aur Khushi zidd karti ki mujhe na bataaya jaay kya aaplog tab bhi mujhe nahi bataate uske baare me?
Babuji: Aisan baat naahi hai,Arnav babu. Hum jaanat hai,aapki gairhajri maa,Khushi humri jimmedari thi.Hum ee chahte the ki aapko ee baat ka pata chale.. lekin..
Arnav(interrupts): Lekin Khushi ne aapse mana kiya toh aap maan gaye! Waise hi jaise aap sab saraay wali baat chhupane k liye maan gaye!
The Guptas hung their heads in shame.
Arnav: Unbelievable!
Babuji(folds his hands): Humein maaf kar dijiye,Arnav babu!
__________________________________________________________________________
Arnav felt guilty.He went to babuji and closed his hands over babuji's hands.
Arnav: Aap yeh mat kariye,plz!.. Main aapko sharminda nahi karna chahta hoon,babuji.. lekin.. Frankly,maine aapse yeh ummeed nahi ki thi.. (sighs)I'm sorry! Aap sab mujhse bade hain.Mujhe aapse aise baat nahi karni chahiye thi but..
Buaji: Naahi babua.. Tum humri maafi kaahe maang rahe hau?
Babuji: Ee maa aapki kauno galti naahi hai.Hum ee jaanat hai ki jaun bhi aap kahe rahe hain oo sahi kahe rahe hain. Bitiya k moh me aakar humau chup rah gaye aur.. humein bhi laga ki shaayad aapko pareshaan karna sahi naahi hoga.. Aapki videsh yatra me badha padh jayegi aur..
Babuji's voice trailed off.
Buaji: Jahaan tak saraay maa rahnewali baat hai tau Nandkisore,hum tau tumka bataaye wale the par Sanka devi ne rok liya.Aur hum ruk gaye naahi tau oo ki partigya toot jaati.Partigya ka tootna achchha naahi hovat hai,babua!Ee ki partigya ki khaatir hi hum raaji huye,ee k paisan se yatra kare wali baat par.Naahi tau humre huaan bitiya k byah k baad,oo se oo k parivaar wale paisa naahi lete hain aur oo ko dene bhi naahi dete hain!
Arnav: I'm sorry buaji,par main yeh nahi maanta hoon. Khushi aaplogon ki beti hain. Usne jo bhi kamaaya hai us par aaplogon ka ab bhi utna hi haq hai jitna ki humari shaadi se pehle tha.
Buaji: Naahi babua.Byaah k baad ladki ki kamaai par oo k pati ka haq hovat raha! Par.. ee ki partigya thi.. aur Sasi babua achaanak theek hui gaye,jaun Devi Maiyya ka maano chamatkaar hui gaya hau!.. ae hi liye hum maan gaye.
Arnav: Toh buaji aap yeh kehna chahti hain ki shaadi k baad patni k paison par pati ka haq hota hai?
Buaji: Ha babua..
Arnav: Toh kya pati k paison par patni ka haq nahi hota?
Buaji: Hovat raha!
Arnav looked at Khushi.
Arnav: Iska matlab mere paise Khushi k paise huye aur Khushi k paise mere paise huye!
Buaji: Ha babua..
Arnav: I see.. (turns to babuji) Babuji,ammaji,buaji.. ab mujhe aaplogon se koi shiqayat nahi hai.I understand ki aaplogon ne kyun mujhse yeh dono baatein chhupayi aur.. kis k kehne par chhupayi.Lekin plz.. aage se aisa kabhi mat kariyega! Baat Khushi se related ho ya naa ho,aap mujhse kuch bhi mat chhupaiyyega.
Babuji: Pakki baat!
Arnav: Ab.. maine decide kiya hai ki main aapse baat karna band nahi karunga! Lekin mujhe jisse shiqayat hai,main kal se usse baat nahi karunga!
Amma: Par bitwa..
Arnav(interrupts): Nahi ammaji.. Main apna decision change nahi karunga! Khushi se aur bhi kayeen shiqayatein hain..
At that moment Khushi's phone buzzed.Since it was with Arnav he answered the call.
Arnav: Hello..(pause)Ha Shubham..(pause)Tum baahar hi ruko,main aa raha hoon.
After ending the call he spoke to babuji.
Arnav: Aaplog khana kha lijiye. Main.. driver ko usk ghar tak chhodkar aata hoon.Itni raat ko use koi conveyance nahi milega..
Amma: Bitwa,aap khana khaakar jaiyye naa..Aapko bhi toh bhook lagi hogi..
Arnav: Nahi ammaji.Mera man nahi hai.Main aakar kha lunga.
Buaji: Par babua,tumko hiyaan k raston k baare me kauno jaankaari naahi hai.Tum kho gaye tau?
Arnav: Shubham ko toh hai naa!Main usse samajh lunga. Mujhe aane me.. thoda time lagega,toh.. plz aaplog mere liye wait mar kariye aur khana kha lijiye.
Babuji: Theek hai.
Buaji: Akele hi jaoge babua k..
Arnav: Ji buaji.Main akele jaunga.Main chalta hoon..
He left without even glancing in Khushi's direction.
__________________________________________________________________________
Khushi(thinks): Yeh jaa toh aise rahe hain jaise inhone koi jung jeet li ho aur yeh baahaaduri ka puraskaar lene jaa rahe ho! Huh! Lard governer! Humse baat nahi karni hai naa unhe?Naa karein! Hum toh unse baat karenge!
Amma: Khusi,bitiya tu bhi jaa unk saath..
Khushi: Ha amma,hum jayenge. Lekin pehle humein aaplogon se maafi maangni hai. Humari wajah se aapko Arnavji se itna kuch sunna pada!
Buaji: Areh maafi baad maa maang liyo,Sanka devi! Abhai chalo,hum tumko baahar laik jaate hain. Aisa naa ho ki Arnav babua tumhre pahuchne se pahile nikal jaaye.Chalo,chalo!
Khushi: Nahi buaji.Aap rehne dijiye. Hum deewar ka sahara lekar chale jayenge. Aaplog humari fiqar mat kariye. Hum aate hain,amma.
Amma: Ha bitiya.Pair ka dhyan rakhna..
Khushi: Ji.Aap darwaza band kar lijiye.Hum wahaan se chalne se pehle aapko phone kar denge.
Amma: Hum baahar tak aate hain..
Khushi: Nahi amma! Rehne dijiye.
Amma: Theek hai.. par tu aapan dhyaan rakhna.
Khushi: Ji.
_________________________________________________________________________
The moment Khushi came out of the room,she started walking towards the left.
She held the parapet with one hand for support.
Her eyes were trained on her feet.
Khushi: Yeh lard governer bhi naa! Thodi der pehle keh rahe the ki khadi mat raho! Aur ab.. humein apne peechhe dauda rahhh
She stopped abruptly when she bumped into Arnav.
Arnav held her by her shoulders and supported her weight.
Khushi(gasped): Hey Devi Maiyya!
Arnav(scolds): Kitni baar kaha hai,dekh k chala karo! Pair me lagi hai phir bhi tumhe yeh baat yaad nahi rehti hai naa?
Khushi: Toh hum neeche dekhkar hi toh chal rahe the!
Arnav: Really? Toh tumne mera shadow kyun nahi dekha?
Khushi: Pata.. nahi.. Shaayad.. humara poora dhyan apne pairon par tha isiliye..
Arnav: U're unbelievable!
Khushi(pouts): Aap toh humse baat nahi karne wale the naa?Chillaanne bhi nahi wale the... Phir ab daant kyun rahe hain?
Arnav(looks away): Kal se baat nahi karnewala hoon. Aur main chilla nahi raha tha.
Khushi: Aap yahaan ruke kyun?Kya aap.. yeh chahte the ki.. hum aapk saath aaye?
Arnav: Nahi! Par main yeh jaanta tha ki tum aaogi.Aur doosri baat,mujhe tumhari pairon ki fiqar hai isiliye main yahaan wait kar raha tha aur isiliye..
Without a warning he bends & scoops her in his arms.
Khushi: Utaariye humein! Humne kaha tha naa,yahaan nahi.. yahaan bahut log hai.
Arnav(while walking): Right! Aur woh saare log so chuke hain! Aur agar jag bhi rahe hain aur humein dekh bhi rahe hain toh bhi mujhe isse koi farq nahi padta! I dont giv a damn!
Once they reach the car,Shubham opens the door to the backseat.
Arnav puts Khushi down on the seat,closes the door & walks to the other side of the car.
Then he opens the door & instead of sitting beside Khushi,he bends inside.
Khushi: Kya kar rahe hain?
Arnav holds her legs & Khushi hisses.
Arnav: Tumhari help kar raha hoon.. Pair lambe kar k baith jao.
Khushi: Phir aap kahaan baithenge?
Arnav: Rooftop pe!
Once he helps her sit horizontally,he closes the door.
Khushi(thinks): Yeh kar kya rahe hain?
Arnav sits on the passenger's seat and turns backwards.
Arnav: Common sense..(pause)is so uncommon!
Khushi makes a face.
They dont speak during the journey.
_________________________________________________________________________
Outside Shubham's house..
Shubham: Sa'ab andar aaiyye naa..
Arnav: No thanks! Main itni raat gaye tumhari family ko disturb nahi karna chahta hoon.. Tum kal subha 8 baje wahaan aa jana.
Shubham: Ji sa'ab. Aapko wapisi ka rasta samajh aa gaya naa?
Arnav nods.
Shubham: Ok.Main.. chalta hoon.
Arnav nods as he gets into the driver's seat.
The moment Arnav does that Khushi tries to get up when..
Arnav: No!Jahaan baithi ho waheen baithi raho!Aage aane ki koi zaroorat nahi hai!
Khushi: Humein aapse baat karni hai..
Arnav: Mujhe koi baat nahi karni hai tumse!
Khushi: Par humein karni hai! Aur aapko sunni hogi! Aapko.. humari kasam!
Arnav: Khushi!
Khushi: Yeh humari kasam hai! Aapne ise toda na toh..
Arnav(interrupts): Ok fine! tum baat karo,main sun raha hoon!
Khushi: Humein aapki peeth nahi,aapki shaqal dekhkar aapse baat karni hai.Yaa toh aap peechhe aaiyye ya phir hum aage aa rahe hain.
Arnav: wait!
Arnav takes the car out of the crowded lane into another lane and then another lane.
Arnav: What the..!? Yeh sari galiyaan itni jampacked hai. Main car kahaan park karoon?
Khushi: Hum aapko bataate hain. Pehle aap humein humara phone dijiye..
Arnav: Kyun?tumhare phone me map application hai?
Khushi: Nahi! Hum aapko rasta batayein ya..?
Arnav hands her in his phone.
Khushi: Shukriya! Aage se daaye mudiye.
Arnav does what he's told.
Khushi: ab seedhe-seedhe chaliye.(after half a minute)Ab daaye mudenge toh main road aa jayega.. Woh chaudi sadak hai.
Once they reach the main road...
Khushi: Bas.. ab seedhe-seedhe chalte rahiye.. Thodi doori par ek Shankar Bhagwan ka mandir hai jisk peechhe chhota sa maidan hai. Aap gaadi wahaan rakh sakte hain.
Arnav: Okay
Part 50
Arnav hands the phone to Khushi.
Arnav: Tum babuji se baat karo,main tab tak Aman aur David ko wapis bula leta hoon.
Khushi: Hello babuji..
Babuji: 1 minute bitiya.Garimaji tohse baat karna chahat hain..
Khushi: Ji,hum hold karte hain..
Amma: Khusi,ee sab ka hui raha hai? Arnav bitwa hiyaan aane ki baat kaahe karat hain?
Khushi: Woh 6 dino ki chhuti lekar aaye hain,amma. Keh rahe the ki hum sab k saath waqt bitaana chahte hain. Toh.. woh waheen rahenge jahaan hum sab rahenge.
Amma: Par bitiya,oo hiyaan kaisan rah payenge?Tune oo ko manaa kaahe naahi kiya?
Khushi: Humne koshish ki thi,lekin woh zidd par ad gaye hain. (sighs) Humein unki baat maanni hi hogi..
Amma: Arnav bitwa ne.. kuchhho kaha tujhse? Chillaaye kaa tohpar?
Khushi: Nahi amma. Hum toh hairaan ho gaye ki unhone humein daanta kyun nahi? Chillaye bhi nahi,gusiyaaye bhi nahi! Bas yeh zidd pakad k baith gaye hain ki unhe saraay dekhna hai aur saraay me rehna hai!
Amma: Tune oo ko bataaya ki saraay ka hovat hai,kaisan hovat hai? Kahin oo saraay ko hotel na samajh rahe ho..
Khushi: Humne sab bataaya us k baawajood woh humari baat maanne ko taiyyar nahi hai!
Amma: Ek aur baar kosis kar k dekh. Tu kahe tau.. hum Arnav bitwa se baat kar k dekhe?
Before Khushi could refuse she heard babuji telling amma not to interfere.
Khushi: Babuji sahi keh rahe hain,amma. Aap rehne dijiye. Aap bas.. ek extra khaat ka aur kambal ka intezaam karva dijiye.
Amma: Theek hai bitiya.
Khushi: Humein nikalne me abhi thoda samay lagega aur pahuchne me aadhe se ek ghanta lag jayega.Aaplog bhooke mat rahiyega. Naniji aur di ne jo mithaiyaan aur namkeen bheja hai,woh kha lijiye.
Amma: Anjali bitiya ne gobhi k samose bheje hain. Hum oo hai de rahe the tohre babuji ko itne me Arnav bitwa ka phone aai gawa.
Khushi: Achchha aaplogon k liye bhi bheje hain? Di sabka kitna khayaal rakhti hain!
Amma: Oo toh hai. Kitna kuch bhej diya hain unhone aur naniji ne.. Kal phone par oologan ko dhanyavaad keh denge.
Khushi: Ji.Chaliye amma,abhi hum rakhte hain.
Amma: Achchha bitiya. Sambhalkar aana.
_________________________________________________________________
Khushi: Aapki baat ho gayi Amanji se?
Arnav(nods): 10 minute me aa rahe hain woh dono..
Khushi: Cabinet me jo sara samaan hai hum use wahaan lekar kaise jayenge?
Arnav: Jaise woh sara samaan aaya tha,waise..
Khushi: Hum samjhe nahi..
Arnav shows her an empty duffel bag.
Arnav: Di aur nani ne sara samaan is me daalkar diya tha. Ise cabinet me arrange maine kiya tha.
Khushi: Oh.. Aaiyye,hum aapki madad..
Arnav(interrupts): No thanks! Tum baitho,main khud kar lunga.Waise bhi tumhe aisi condition me zyada time k liye khade nahi rehna chahiye.
Khushi: Humein aapki madad karni hogi,kyunki aapko pata nahi lagega ki kya bhejna hai aur kya rakhna hai. Sara khaane ka samaan hum.. wahaan nahi le jaa sakte hain.
Arnav: Kyun nahi le jaa sakte hain?
Khushi: Kyunki wahaan.. fridge nahi hai. Yeh sab kuch hum.. aaj khatm nahi kar payenge toh..
Arnav: Theek hai. Tum dekh lo..
He helped her till the cabinet.
Khushi: Hum aapko jo-jo de rahe hain woh-woh aap bag me bhar dijiye.
Arnav nods.
Khushi(thinks): Hey Devi Maiyya! Gussa karna toh door raha,Arnavji toh baatein bhi kam kar rahe hain.. Yeh kuch bol kyun nahi rahe hain?
Arnav(touches her shoulder): Kya hua?
Khushi: Aap.. humse naraaz hain?
Arnav doesnt say anything.
Khushi: Dekhiye,hum.. jaante hain humein aapse yeh sab.. nahi chhupana chahiye tha. Humein maaf..
Arnav(interrupts): Tumhe maafi maangne ki koi zaroorat nahi hai! Maine kaha naa,tumhe jo sahi laga tumne woh kiya,which is fine..
Before Khushi could say anything..
Arnav: aman aur David aate hi honge,we should hurry up.
Khushi(thinks): Khud toh kuch bol nahi rahe hain,hum koshish kar rahe hain toh humein bhi nahi bolne de rahe hain!
Arnav: Khushi,hurry up!
Khushi: Ji..
___________________________________________________________________________
Arnav was quiet during the car drive.
When Khushi held his hand,he let her hold it,but he didnt look at her.
He kept looking out the window whereas Khushi kept looking at him,wondering what was going on in his shaatir dimaag.
They were in the middle of an area which looked like a marketplace to Arnav when..
Khushi: Yaheen rok dijiye Shubham ji. (to Arnav) Pahuch gaye..
Arnav(nods): Aman,its time u leave.
Aman: Right sir.
Arnav: Shubham,tum ise helipad drop kar k waapis yaheen aa jana.
Shubham: Ji sa'ab.
Arnav: Car me petrol hai naa?
Shubham: Ji sa'ab. Bhabhiji ko lekar nikle tab bharvaaya tha.
Arnav: Theek hai. Dikkey se mera samaan nikalo..
Before Arnav could step out of the car,Khushi placed a hand on his shoulder.
Arnav: What?
Khushi: Ek baar phir soch lijiye.. Aap.. chahe toh.. ab bhi.. waapis jaa sakte hain..
Arnav: Main waapis nahi,andar jana chahta hoon!
He removed her hand from his shoulder & stepped out of the car.
Aman: Sir bahut gusse me hain,bhabhi..
Khushi: Hum jaante hain ,Amanji. Par yeh gussa nikaal kyun nahi rahe hain?Andar dabaakar kyun baithe hain?Aur aapne dekha,Shubhamji ne humein bhabhiji kaha tab bhi Arnavji ne kuch nahi kaha!
Aman: Woh hi toh! Pata nahi sir kyun chupchaap ho gaye hain?Daantte hain,cheekhte-chillaate hain toh sahi lagte hain! Aisa chupchaap ho jaay toh.. bahut ajeeb lagta hai!
Khushi: Aap bilkul sahi keh rahe hain!
Aman: Khair,aap apna dhyaan rakhiyega.
Khushi: Aap bhi.Devi Maiyya kare aapki aur Davidji ki yatra shubh rahe!
Aman: Shukriya!
Arnav(opens the door): Come..
Khushi: Ji. Yahaan.. log honge.. toh.. uthaiyyega mat. Bas.. aapka sahara de dijiye.
Arnav nods.
Khushi(thinks): Phir sar hilaaye! Arnavji ko ho kya gaya hai,Devi Maiyya?
___________________________________________________________________________
Arnav scanned the two-storeyed building in front of him.
It was white-washed & looked neat & clean from the outside,contrary to what he was expecting.
There was a rusted iron gate which lead to a courtyard that was surrounded by the buidling on three sides,in a c shape.
On the fourth side of the courtyard was the gate & the boundary wall.
The boundary wall was of fairly low height,thought Arnav.
Anyone could jump inside easily since there was no fencing.
His train of thoughts were interrupted when the iron gate opened with a creaking sound & a man of about 30 approached them.
Man: Jai Mata di sahab! Jai Mata di Khusiji!
Khushi: Jai Mata di, bhaiyya! Yeh sara saaman aap kamre tak pahucha dijiye.
Man: Ji.Aaiyye..
After he left..
Arnav: Yeh kaun hai?
Khushi: Murli bhaiyya. Yahaan k saare chhote-mote kaam yeh hi karte hain.
Few men were sitting on a charpoy in the courtyard,smoking & chatting.
They stopped chatting & started staring at ArShi when they passed by them.
Arnav: Tumhara room ground floor par hai naa?
Khushi: Ji.
Arnav: Aur ammaji aur babuji ka?
Khushi: Hum.. sab.. saath me.. ek hi kamre me rehte hain.
Khushi looked at Arnav.To her dismay there was no change in his facial expressions.
Arnav: I see. Come..
He helped Khushi climb the 2 short steps which led to the passage.
The passage was narrow & dimly lit.
On one side of the passage there were rooms & on the other side there was a parapet,demarcating the courtyard from the passage.
Most of the doors were closed since it was past 11 pm. One door was open & a middle aged woman was sitting outside the room on a stool.
She stood up when she saw Khushi.
Woman: Areh Khushi,itni raat gaye kahaan se aa rahi ho?Aur.. yeh kaun hai?
Khushi: Yeh humare pati hai. Hum inhe lene gaye the.
The woman appeared shocked.
Woman: Aap London se aa gaye?Aur phir Dilli se yahaan bhi aa gaye?Waah!
Arnav was a bit shocked to know that she knew about his London visit,still he didnt show it.
Woman: Achchha. 1 minute rukna..
She peeped inside the room.
Woman: A ji suniye..! Dekhiye toh,kaun aaya hai?
Man(from inside): Kaun hai Sheela?
Woman: Arnavji hain!
Arnav was even more shocked when the woman reffered to him as Arnavji.
A few seconds later the man came outside.
Khushi: Namaste uncle!
Uncle: Namaste beta! Arnavji,aap toh tarso hi London gaye the naa,meeting k liye?.. Itni jaldi aa gaye?
Arnav: Ji meeting nahi conference thi.
Before uncle could ask something else..
Arnav: Excuse us.. Hum subha milte hain!
Aunty: Ha,ha. Aap thak gaye honge.Aaram kar lijiye.
After they went some steps ahead Arnav whispered..
Arnav: Yeh dono kaun hain?Aur mere baare me yeh sab kaise jaante hain?
Khushi: Padosi hain.. Uncle babuji k dost hain.
Arnav: Yeh woh hi hai kya jo train me the,humare coach me.. Lucknow k tumhare old neighbour?
Khushi: Nahi. Padosi se humara matlab tha.. yahaan padosi hain.Waise toh yeh Bhopal se aaye hain.Yahaan mulaaqat hui aur babuji ki uncle se dosti hui.
Arnav nods.
Khushi: Kamra.. aa.. gaya..
Murli was standing outside the room.
Khushi: Shukriya bhaiyya!
She opened her bag to give him money when Arnav stopped her.
Arnav: Wait! Main deta hoon..
He opened his wallet & handed a 50rs note to Murli.
Khushi's eyes became as big as saucers.
Khushi(thinks): Arnavji kya kar rahe hain?Itni badi tip koi deta hain bhala?
To her surprise,Murli returned the note.
Murli: Yeh humein nahi,aapko manager sahab ko dena hain.Woh is waqt yahaan nahi hain.Subha office me milenge.
Arnav: Yeh tumhare liye hain,tip..
Murli: Hum itna nahi le sakte sahab..
Arnav: Rakh lo.
He thrust the note into his hand.
Murli: Sukriya!
Arnav: Yahaan ka tariff kya hai?
Murli(confused): Tareef?
Arnav: Tariff.. kiraya?Ek din ka kiraya kitna hai?
Murli: 50 rs.
Arnav: What the..!?
Murli: Ji?
Arnav(shook his head): Kaafi sasta hain.(turns to Khushi)Right Khushi?
Khushi: Jj.. ji...
Murli: Areh sahab,sirf kiraya hi nahi,50rs me aapko gadda bhi mil raha hai!Usk ilava aap toilet aur bathroom bhi istemaal kar sakte.Woh wahaan.. peechhe ki or hai.
Arnav: Fantastic!
Murli: Itna hi nahi,aap jab chahe,jitna chahe,filter se paani bhar kar pee sakte hain! Filter.. (points to the opposite direction) wahaan hai. Wahaan ki batti saari raat jalti hain.Aur..
Khushi(interrupts): Baaki sab.. hum inhe samjha denge,bhaiyya.. Aapne camp khat lagvaa diya hai naa?
Murli: Ji aur kambal aur taqiya bhi rakh diye hain uspar.
Khushi: Shukriya!
Arnav: Woh bhi 50 rs me included hai?
Murli: Nahi,uske 10 rs alag se dene honge..
Arnav: No problem! Main kal subha aapk manager se milkar unhe de dunga. Thanks & goodnight!
Murli(smiles): Jai Mata di sahab! Koi bhi kaam ho toh jor se awaaj laga dijiyega.Main baahar aangan me hi sota hoon.
Arnav: Okay.
After Murli left,Arnav looked at Khushi & found her staring at him.
Arnav: What?Room ne nahi jana hai?
He knocked on the door.
Babuji opened it.He looked tired,tensed & anxious.
Arnav saw buaji & amma standing behind him,equally anxious & tired.
Arnav: Namaste!
Babuji: Namaste!Aaiyye Arnav babu..
Arnav: I'm sorry babuji! Meri wajah aaplogon itni der tak wait karna pada.
Babuji: Kauno baat naahi! Maafi toh humka maangi ki chaahi.Oo... Khushi ne humse.. manaa ki..
Arnav(interrupts): Rehne dijiye babuji! Lets not talk about it..
Babuji: Bheetar aaiyye...
Arnav looked around the room.
It was a small,clean room with a cement floor & brick,unplastered, walls.
The room was sparsely furnished.The only furniture being a medium-sized wooden wall cupboard,a small wooden coffee table and two small wooden stools.
There was a mirror on one of the walls and a picture of Goddess Vaishnodevi & a calender on the other.
There was a window on the wall facing the door.It had vertical iron railing which resembled the prison gates,thought Arnav.
Apart from all these,there were 3 mattresses on the floor and 2 campcots.
Arnav observed that the bedsheets covering the matresses belonged to the Guptas. They had used the same bedsheets in the train,he remembered.
The flat pillows & the black blankets were from the saraay.
Arnav recalled Khushi telling him about the pillows during one of their phone conversations.
"Kaisan ho babua?" asked buaji,bringing him back to the present.
Arnav: I'm fine.Aap kaisi hain?
Buaji: Theek hai,Nandkisore.
Arnav: Aur aap kaisi hai ammaji?
Amma: Humau theek hai.Bitwa.. aapko hum sab ne.. andhere maa rakha.. ae hi liye hum.. maafi chahat hai..
Arnav: Plz.. aaplog mujhse maafi mat mangiye! Maine Khushi se bhi yeh hi kaha! In fact I'm sorry,aapko itni der tak wait karna pada!
Amma: Naahi bitwa..Aap..
Arnav(interrupts): Aaplog.. khana serve kariye main.. tab tak handswash kar k aata hoon..
Babuji: Aaiyye,hum aapko le chalat hain.
Arnav: Nahi babuji,thank u! Main khud chala jaunga.Mujhe Murli ne bataaya ki washroom peechhe ki taraf hai. I'll manage. Excuse me..
_________________________________________________________________________
Arnav walked out of the room,trying his best to control the anger bubbling inside him,which was threatening to burst out.
He tightly balled his fists and took deep breaths to calm himself down.
A couple,who were standing outside the common toilet block,stared at him like he was an alien.
Arnav moved past them towards the wash basin.
Husband(whispered audibly): Yeh hero kaun hai?
Wife(whispered back,audibly): 12 no. me Garimaji hai naa?.. Yeh unka damad hai.Abhi thodi der pehle hi aaya hai..
husband: Dikhne me toh ameerzada lagta hai.Phir apni biwi ko yahaan kyun chhod rakha hai?
Arnav clutched the basin with both hands & closed his eyes.
Wife: Kaun jaane?
Husband: Ho sakta hai lene k liye aaya ho?
Wife: Lene aaya hota toh lekar chala gaya hota naa. Yeh toh yahaan raat ko rukne ki baat kar raha tha.
Husband(shocked): Yeh.. Yahaan rukega?! Paagal ho gaya hai kya? Machchharon k beechh iska saans lena mushqil ho jayega!Yeh bade ghar k rais log waise hi bade kamzor hote hain! Yahaan rehna iss k bas ki baat nahi hai!
That was the limit.
Arnav strode angrily towards them,scaring the wife.
Arnav: Who the hell r u?
Husband: Tameez se baat karo,bhai..
Arnav: Aap mujhe tameez naa hi sikhaye toh behtar hoga! Bloody gossipmongers! Aapko kya farq padta hai ki main kaun hoon,kahaan se aaya hoon aur kis liye aaya hoon?
Husband: Dekho.. gaali mat nikaalo! Varna..
Arnav(cocks his eyebow): Varna?! Varna kya karoge tum?
Husband: Main..
Wife(to her husband): Chhodo naa! Chalo yahaan se! Faltu me jhagda kya karna?
She pulls her husband away.
Husband: Jhagda main nahi,woh kar raha tha! Ameer hai toh kuch bhi bolega? aur hum baithkar sunenge?Waah!
Arnav wanted to blast him but he let them go after his wife gave him pleading looks.
He ran a hand through his hair to calm himself down.
Arnav(thinks): Kahan phas gaya main? Yeh.. kaisi jagah hai aur yeh kaise wierd log hain?Khushi ko poori duniya me yeh hi jagah mili rehne k liye?
He went back to the room.
__________________________________________________________________________
Buaji: Aao babua.. khana khaane baith jao.
Arnav: 1 minute,buaji.(calls loudly)Murli..!
Buaji: Kaa hua babua?
Khushi: Kya aap.. jaa rahe hain?Humara matlab.. kisi hotel me?..
Arnav shook his head.
Murli came running towards the room.
Murli: Ji sahab?
Arnav: Yeh campcot le jao aur mere liye gadda lekar aao.Aur ek aur taqiya bhi lekar aana.
Murli: Ji,abhi laaya!
Murli immediately folded the campcot & took it out of the room.
Amma: Par bitwa.. aap.. gadde par kaisan so paayenge?
Arnav: Jaise aaplog sote hain,waise!
Buaji: Humko tau aadat rahi,Nandkisore. Tum pahile kabhi jameen par gadda daalkar soye rahe?
Arnav: Nahi! Yeh mera first time hai!
Babuji: Par ee sab karne ki kaa jarurat rahi,Arnav babu?Aap humre jaisan khat par sui jaate..
Arnav: Aap ko toh pairon me taqleef hai,babuji.Isiliye aap uspar sote hain.Mere pairon me koi taqleef nahi hai! Aur jab Khushi,apni moch k bawajood,doosre pair k baaite k bawajood,us par so sakti hai toh main kyun nahi?
Nobody said anything after that.
Murli came back with a mattress & a pillow.
Murli: Isse kahaan rakhe,sahab?
Arnav: Sabse last wale mattress k baaju me bichha do.Aur taqiye ko us par rakh do.
Murli: Ji.
After Murli left..
Arnav: Chaliye,hum khana kha lete hain!
Khushi: 1 minute Arnavji..
Arnav: Kya hua?
Khushi: Aap.. yeh sab kyun kar rahe hain?
Arnav(shrugs): Maine kya kiya hai, Khushi?
Khushi: Aapko yeh sab karne ki zaroorat nahi hai!Suna aapne?
Amma: Khusi..
Khushi(interrupts): Amma humein bolne dijiye.
Babuji gestured amma to keep quiet.
Khushi: Ek toh aap humein bina bataaye aa gaye. Chalo,theek hai.Aa gaye so aa gaye. Phir aapne kaha ki aap 6 din yaheen rahenge. Chaliye,woh bhi maan liya.Phir aapne zidd ki aap saraay me rehna chahte hain.Ab aap zidd kar rahe hain ki aap zameen par sona chahte hain.Yeh.. ho kya raha hai? Aap yeh sab kyun kar rahe hain?
Arnav doesnt say anything.
Khushi: Bolte kyun nahi hain?Hum jaante hain ki aapko iss waqt bahut gussa aa raha hai. Aap andar hi andar gussa dabaa rahe hain. Jab humne aapko apne pair k baare me bataaya tab aapne gussa kar diya,phir shant ho gaye.Woh theek hai.Lekin aap aise gusse ko nigalte rahenge aur chup rahenge toh naa aap shanti se reh payenge naa hum!
Arnav: I know..
Khushi(frustrated): Areh!Aapko sab pata hai phir bhi aap chup hain.Kyun?
Arnav looks directly into her eyes as he speaks.
Arnav: Yeh tumhari punishment hai,mujhse baatein chhupane k liye!
Khushi(shocked): Kya?
Arnav: Yup! Tumne mujhe yeh nahi bataaya ki tum saraay me reh rahi ho kyunki tum nahi chahti thi ki main tumhari aur tumhari family k expenses bear karoon.Fine! Tumne mujhe apni chot k baare me nahi bataaya kyunki tum nahi chahti thi ki main London trip cancel kar doon aur tumhare paas aa jaun. Ok! Understood! Aur.. shaayad tumne mujhe isliye bhi nahi bataaya kyunki.. tumne mere mazaak ko aur warning ko kuch zyada hi seriously le liya..Tumne jo kiya us k liye tumhare paas apne reasons the.Main jo kar raha hoon us k liye mere paas apne reasons hain! Tum apni jagah sahi thi toh main apni jagah sahi hoon! Baat khatm! Baitho aur khana khao..Tumhare question answer session ki wajah se yehlog bhi nahi kha paa rahe hain.
Khushi: Par Arnavji aap iss tarah se gussa dabaakar rakhenge toh aapki sehat par bura asar padega. Aapka blood pressure badh jayega. Aapk stress levels bhi badh jayenge. Kyun nahi samajh rahe hain aap? Humein samajh nahi aata ki hum.. aapko.. kaise samjhaaye?
Arnav(loudly): Exactly! Mujhe bhi samajh nahi aata ki main tumhe kaise samjhaun ki tum aur main alag nahi hain! Tumhara dard mera dard hai Khushi aur mera paisa tumhara paisa hai!
Arnav let out a huge sigh & then controlled his volume & tone.
Arnav: Jab tumhe di se pata chala tha ki maine tumse mere Dubai me admit honewali baat chhupayi hai tab tumne mujhse kaha tha..
*Flashback*
Khushi: Amanji aapka us tarah se khaayal rakh sakte hain kya,jis tarah se di rakh sakti hain? Kya woh aapka us pyaar se,us tarah se dhyaan rakh sakte hain jis tarah se hum rakh sakte hain?Patni ki tarah aapse pyaar kar sakte hain kya? Bataiyye...
Arnav shakes his head.
Khushi: Phir?! Aur.. aapke liye yeh 6-8 mahino me ek baar behosh ho jana aam baat hogi,humare liye nahi hain! Humari saas halaq me atak jaati hai, jitni baar aap behosh hote hain.Hum aapko behosh dekhkar kitna ghabra jaate hain,kuch pata hai aapko? Nahi! Aapko kuch nahi pata! Bas tay kar liya! Parivaar me kisi ko tension nahi dena chahte! Agar aapne humse baat chhupayi na hoti,toh kya hota? Hum aur di chintit ho jaate aur aapke paas wahaan aa jaate,yeh hi naa? Toh isse humari chinta door ho jaati! Jab hum aapko mil lete,dekh lete,toh humari chinta door ho jaati na? Aur aapko bhi wahaan beemaari me akele nahi rehna padta!
*Flashback ends*
Arnav: Aaj main tumse pooch raha hoon,Khushi. Tell me honestly..Kya ammaji,babuji aur buaji tumhara us tarah se khayaal rakh sakte hain jis tarah se main rakhta hoon? Kya woh tumhe mere jitna pyaar kar sakte hain?
Khushi(shakes her head): Nahi. Aur.. aap humse jitna pyaar karte hain utna pyaar humse koi nahi kar sakta!
Arnav: Agar tumne mujhe bata diya hota toh kya ho jata?Conference postpone karvaakar main yahaan aa jaata! Yahaan tumhare paas rehta toh tumhe bhi achchha lagta aur mujhe bhi. Aur raha conference ka sawaal toh Conference toh baad me ho hi jata.. Its not like mera bahut bada nuksaan ho jata. Aur agar nuksaan ho bhi jata,toh .. kya..? Mere liye tumse zyada important aur koi nahi hai! Aur mera kaam mere liye important hai,I agree,lekin tumse zyada nahi!
He cups her face.
Arnav: Main pehle bhi bata chuka hoon ki tum meri life me sabse zyada important ho!
Khushi nods.
Arnav: Yeh toh achchha hua ki ammaji ne tumhe pakad liya aur tumhe koi major injury nahi hui! Agar.. tumhe kuch ho jata naa toh.. main..
He looks away.
Khushi(cups his cheek): Arnavji..
Arnav(looks at her): U hav no idea,khushi,ki us din mujhe kaisa lag raha tha! Ek toh tum sab k phones unreachable aa rahe the.Upar se meri gut feeling,ki tumhare saath kuch bura hua hai,mujhe restless kar rahi thi. To top it all,tumne mujhe yahaan ka address bhi nahi diya tha! Paagal ho raha tha main yeh soch-sochkar ki pure mandir me,hazaaron devotees k beechh,tumhe kaise dhoond paunga main? Aur agar tum mandir me nahi mili toh main kahaan jaunga? (holds her hand)I cant tell u ki mere dimaag me.. kya-kya chal raha tha..!
Khushi: Hum samajh sakte hain..
Arnav(yells): Nahi! Tum nahi samajhti ho! Samajhti toh aisa kabhi nahi karti!
He leaves her hand and turns away.
Arnav: Tumhe jis din mere jhoot k baare me di ne bataaya tha,us din mujhse tumne kuch promise karvaya tha..Remember?..
*Flashback*
Arnav: I'm sorry Khushi.. I'm really sorry! Mera koi irada nahi tha tumhe hurt karne ka!Maaf kar do..
Khushi: Kar denge,lekin pehle aap wada kariye.. Aaj k baad humse koi baat nahi chhupayenge,chahe chhoti ho chahe badi!
Aap kisi se kuch kahe ya na kahe,lekin humse aap sab kuch keh sakte hain Arnavji. Hum aapki patni hai,humse kuch chhupaane ki zaroorat nahi hai aapko.
*Flashback ends*
Arnav: Aaj tum mujhe woh hi promise karo-tum mujhse koi baat nahi chhupaogi,woh chhoti ho chahe badi ho!
Khushi: Hum wada karte hain!
Arnav: Aur agar tumne promise toda naa, toh I swear, main tumse kabhi baat nahi karunga!
Khushi: Aisa mat kahiye! Hum.. abse aapse kuch bhi nahi chhupayenge!Pakka wada!
Arnav: Better.
Khushi(holds his shoulder): Humari taraf dekhiye naa.. plz..
Arnav (turns around): Bolo..
Khushi: Sorry! Humein.. maaf kar dijiye!
Arnav: No! Iss baar main tumhe maaf nahi karunga!
Khushi: Haww! kyun? Jab hum aapko maaf kar sakte hain tab aap humein kyun nahi maaf kar sakte?
Arnav: Kyunki main nahi karna chahta! Jab tum woh kar sakti ho jo tumhe sahi lagta hai toh main kyun nahi?
Khushi: Par..
Arnav(imitates her): Ek toh tumne mujhe bina bataaye,mujhse bina discuss kiye,pratigya le li. Chalo,tumhe babuji ko yatra karvaani thi toh tumne pratigya le li.Accepted. Lekin mujhe tumne us me include nahi kiya! Kyun?Coz I'm an atheist!Also accepted.Phir tumne zidd ki, ki tum apne bachaaye huye paison se yeh yatra karvana chahti ho. Chalo,theek hai.Main maan gaya. Phir tumne mujhse jhoot kaha ki tum Sarita k cousin k yahaan rukogi. Phir tumne jhoot kaha ki tum theek ho.Agar aaj main tumse kehta ki main Delhi wapis jaa raha hoon lekin tum 5 star me shift ho jao,toh tum Phir zidd karti! Jab maine tumhe bataaya ki main yaheen rukunga,tab tumne zidd ki ki main waapis chala jaun.Jab maine kaha main nahi jaunga toh tumne zidd ki ki main 5 star me ruk jaun. Main phir bhi nahi maana toh tumne kaha ki tum aur ammaji,babuji or buaji mere saath shift kar jaoge.Phir tumne zidd ki ki main gussa karoon.. Ab tum zidd kar rahi ho ki main tumhe maaf kar doon. (folds his arms across his chest)Tumhe kya lagta hai,tum zidd karti rahogi aur main tumhari zidd puri karta rahunga? Is that what u think?
Khushi: Humne.. aisa toh.. nahi kaha..
Arnav: Toh kya matlab tha tumhari baat ka?
Khushi: Hum bas.. yeh hi chahte hain ki..
Arnav(yells): Enough! I've had enough of tum kya chahti ho,tum kya maanti ho,tum kya sochti ho n all that! Ab tum suno ki main kya chahta hoon aur main kya karnewala hoon!
Khushi gulps.
Arnav: Maine decide kiya hai ki main tumhe 5 star me rehne k liye force nahi karunga! Tumhe jana rehna hai tum raho! Main bhi waheen rahunga!
Khushi: Areh! Yeh kaisi zidd hai?Hum toh keh rahe hain naa ki hum star hotel me chalenge aap k saath..
Arnav: Yeh meri zidd hai! Jab tumne zidd ki tumne meri baat nahi maani toh ab main tumhari baat nahi maanunga!
Khushi: Par..
Arnav: Tumhe 5 star me rehne ki koi zaroorat nahi hai! Tum yeh bhool jao ki main bhi yahaan par hoon! Tum apne plan k hisaab se jao. Tumne jo bhi socha ki tum karnewali ho,woh sab tum apni family k saath karo.Main tumhare saath-saath woh sab karunga!
Lekin.. main apne expenses khud bear karunga. Aur..kal se lekar jab tak hum Shantivan nahi pahuch jaate, naa main tumse baat karunga (to the Guptas) aur naa hi aaplogon se baat karunga! Agar main Khushi se naraaz hoon toh aaplogon se bhi utna hi naraaz hoon! Khushi ne mujhe nahi bataaya lekin aaplogon ki duty thi mujhe inform karna ki Khushi gir gayi hai,use chot lag gayi hai. Main uska pati hoon,dammit! Mera haq banta hai yeh jaanne ka!
Khushi(interrupts): Arnavji,aap aise kaise baat kar sakte hain humare babuji se?
Before Arnav could say anything babuji stopped Khushi.
Babuji: Ee ko bolne de bitiya.. ee jaun bhi kahe rahe hain oo sahi kahe rahe hain! (to Arnav)Arnav babu, hum..
Arnav(interrupts): Aapne toh mujhe sabse zyada disappoint kiya hai,babuji! Maine kabhi yeh expect nahi kiya tha ki aap.. aap bhi Khushi ka saath denge! Tell me,agar Khushi k saath kuch major ho gaya hota.. aur Khushi zidd karti ki mujhe na bataaya jaay kya aaplog tab bhi mujhe nahi bataate uske baare me?
Babuji: Aisan baat naahi hai,Arnav babu. Hum jaanat hai,aapki gairhajri maa,Khushi humri jimmedari thi.Hum ee chahte the ki aapko ee baat ka pata chale.. lekin..
Arnav(interrupts): Lekin Khushi ne aapse mana kiya toh aap maan gaye! Waise hi jaise aap sab saraay wali baat chhupane k liye maan gaye!
The Guptas hung their heads in shame.
Arnav: Unbelievable!
Babuji(folds his hands): Humein maaf kar dijiye,Arnav babu!
__________________________________________________________________________
Arnav felt guilty.He went to babuji and closed his hands over babuji's hands.
Arnav: Aap yeh mat kariye,plz!.. Main aapko sharminda nahi karna chahta hoon,babuji.. lekin.. Frankly,maine aapse yeh ummeed nahi ki thi.. (sighs)I'm sorry! Aap sab mujhse bade hain.Mujhe aapse aise baat nahi karni chahiye thi but..
Buaji: Naahi babua.. Tum humri maafi kaahe maang rahe hau?
Babuji: Ee maa aapki kauno galti naahi hai.Hum ee jaanat hai ki jaun bhi aap kahe rahe hain oo sahi kahe rahe hain. Bitiya k moh me aakar humau chup rah gaye aur.. humein bhi laga ki shaayad aapko pareshaan karna sahi naahi hoga.. Aapki videsh yatra me badha padh jayegi aur..
Babuji's voice trailed off.
Buaji: Jahaan tak saraay maa rahnewali baat hai tau Nandkisore,hum tau tumka bataaye wale the par Sanka devi ne rok liya.Aur hum ruk gaye naahi tau oo ki partigya toot jaati.Partigya ka tootna achchha naahi hovat hai,babua!Ee ki partigya ki khaatir hi hum raaji huye,ee k paisan se yatra kare wali baat par.Naahi tau humre huaan bitiya k byah k baad,oo se oo k parivaar wale paisa naahi lete hain aur oo ko dene bhi naahi dete hain!
Arnav: I'm sorry buaji,par main yeh nahi maanta hoon. Khushi aaplogon ki beti hain. Usne jo bhi kamaaya hai us par aaplogon ka ab bhi utna hi haq hai jitna ki humari shaadi se pehle tha.
Buaji: Naahi babua.Byaah k baad ladki ki kamaai par oo k pati ka haq hovat raha! Par.. ee ki partigya thi.. aur Sasi babua achaanak theek hui gaye,jaun Devi Maiyya ka maano chamatkaar hui gaya hau!.. ae hi liye hum maan gaye.
Arnav: Toh buaji aap yeh kehna chahti hain ki shaadi k baad patni k paison par pati ka haq hota hai?
Buaji: Ha babua..
Arnav: Toh kya pati k paison par patni ka haq nahi hota?
Buaji: Hovat raha!
Arnav looked at Khushi.
Arnav: Iska matlab mere paise Khushi k paise huye aur Khushi k paise mere paise huye!
Buaji: Ha babua..
Arnav: I see.. (turns to babuji) Babuji,ammaji,buaji.. ab mujhe aaplogon se koi shiqayat nahi hai.I understand ki aaplogon ne kyun mujhse yeh dono baatein chhupayi aur.. kis k kehne par chhupayi.Lekin plz.. aage se aisa kabhi mat kariyega! Baat Khushi se related ho ya naa ho,aap mujhse kuch bhi mat chhupaiyyega.
Babuji: Pakki baat!
Arnav: Ab.. maine decide kiya hai ki main aapse baat karna band nahi karunga! Lekin mujhe jisse shiqayat hai,main kal se usse baat nahi karunga!
Amma: Par bitwa..
Arnav(interrupts): Nahi ammaji.. Main apna decision change nahi karunga! Khushi se aur bhi kayeen shiqayatein hain..
At that moment Khushi's phone buzzed.Since it was with Arnav he answered the call.
Arnav: Hello..(pause)Ha Shubham..(pause)Tum baahar hi ruko,main aa raha hoon.
After ending the call he spoke to babuji.
Arnav: Aaplog khana kha lijiye. Main.. driver ko usk ghar tak chhodkar aata hoon.Itni raat ko use koi conveyance nahi milega..
Amma: Bitwa,aap khana khaakar jaiyye naa..Aapko bhi toh bhook lagi hogi..
Arnav: Nahi ammaji.Mera man nahi hai.Main aakar kha lunga.
Buaji: Par babua,tumko hiyaan k raston k baare me kauno jaankaari naahi hai.Tum kho gaye tau?
Arnav: Shubham ko toh hai naa!Main usse samajh lunga. Mujhe aane me.. thoda time lagega,toh.. plz aaplog mere liye wait mar kariye aur khana kha lijiye.
Babuji: Theek hai.
Buaji: Akele hi jaoge babua k..
Arnav: Ji buaji.Main akele jaunga.Main chalta hoon..
He left without even glancing in Khushi's direction.
__________________________________________________________________________
Khushi(thinks): Yeh jaa toh aise rahe hain jaise inhone koi jung jeet li ho aur yeh baahaaduri ka puraskaar lene jaa rahe ho! Huh! Lard governer! Humse baat nahi karni hai naa unhe?Naa karein! Hum toh unse baat karenge!
Amma: Khusi,bitiya tu bhi jaa unk saath..
Khushi: Ha amma,hum jayenge. Lekin pehle humein aaplogon se maafi maangni hai. Humari wajah se aapko Arnavji se itna kuch sunna pada!
Buaji: Areh maafi baad maa maang liyo,Sanka devi! Abhai chalo,hum tumko baahar laik jaate hain. Aisa naa ho ki Arnav babua tumhre pahuchne se pahile nikal jaaye.Chalo,chalo!
Khushi: Nahi buaji.Aap rehne dijiye. Hum deewar ka sahara lekar chale jayenge. Aaplog humari fiqar mat kariye. Hum aate hain,amma.
Amma: Ha bitiya.Pair ka dhyan rakhna..
Khushi: Ji.Aap darwaza band kar lijiye.Hum wahaan se chalne se pehle aapko phone kar denge.
Amma: Hum baahar tak aate hain..
Khushi: Nahi amma! Rehne dijiye.
Amma: Theek hai.. par tu aapan dhyaan rakhna.
Khushi: Ji.
_________________________________________________________________________
The moment Khushi came out of the room,she started walking towards the left.
She held the parapet with one hand for support.
Her eyes were trained on her feet.
Khushi: Yeh lard governer bhi naa! Thodi der pehle keh rahe the ki khadi mat raho! Aur ab.. humein apne peechhe dauda rahhh
She stopped abruptly when she bumped into Arnav.
Arnav held her by her shoulders and supported her weight.
Khushi(gasped): Hey Devi Maiyya!
Arnav(scolds): Kitni baar kaha hai,dekh k chala karo! Pair me lagi hai phir bhi tumhe yeh baat yaad nahi rehti hai naa?
Khushi: Toh hum neeche dekhkar hi toh chal rahe the!
Arnav: Really? Toh tumne mera shadow kyun nahi dekha?
Khushi: Pata.. nahi.. Shaayad.. humara poora dhyan apne pairon par tha isiliye..
Arnav: U're unbelievable!
Khushi(pouts): Aap toh humse baat nahi karne wale the naa?Chillaanne bhi nahi wale the... Phir ab daant kyun rahe hain?
Arnav(looks away): Kal se baat nahi karnewala hoon. Aur main chilla nahi raha tha.
Khushi: Aap yahaan ruke kyun?Kya aap.. yeh chahte the ki.. hum aapk saath aaye?
Arnav: Nahi! Par main yeh jaanta tha ki tum aaogi.Aur doosri baat,mujhe tumhari pairon ki fiqar hai isiliye main yahaan wait kar raha tha aur isiliye..
Without a warning he bends & scoops her in his arms.
Khushi: Utaariye humein! Humne kaha tha naa,yahaan nahi.. yahaan bahut log hai.
Arnav(while walking): Right! Aur woh saare log so chuke hain! Aur agar jag bhi rahe hain aur humein dekh bhi rahe hain toh bhi mujhe isse koi farq nahi padta! I dont giv a damn!
Once they reach the car,Shubham opens the door to the backseat.
Arnav puts Khushi down on the seat,closes the door & walks to the other side of the car.
Then he opens the door & instead of sitting beside Khushi,he bends inside.
Khushi: Kya kar rahe hain?
Arnav holds her legs & Khushi hisses.
Arnav: Tumhari help kar raha hoon.. Pair lambe kar k baith jao.
Khushi: Phir aap kahaan baithenge?
Arnav: Rooftop pe!
Once he helps her sit horizontally,he closes the door.
Khushi(thinks): Yeh kar kya rahe hain?
Arnav sits on the passenger's seat and turns backwards.
Arnav: Common sense..(pause)is so uncommon!
Khushi makes a face.
They dont speak during the journey.
_________________________________________________________________________
Outside Shubham's house..
Shubham: Sa'ab andar aaiyye naa..
Arnav: No thanks! Main itni raat gaye tumhari family ko disturb nahi karna chahta hoon.. Tum kal subha 8 baje wahaan aa jana.
Shubham: Ji sa'ab. Aapko wapisi ka rasta samajh aa gaya naa?
Arnav nods.
Shubham: Ok.Main.. chalta hoon.
Arnav nods as he gets into the driver's seat.
The moment Arnav does that Khushi tries to get up when..
Arnav: No!Jahaan baithi ho waheen baithi raho!Aage aane ki koi zaroorat nahi hai!
Khushi: Humein aapse baat karni hai..
Arnav: Mujhe koi baat nahi karni hai tumse!
Khushi: Par humein karni hai! Aur aapko sunni hogi! Aapko.. humari kasam!
Arnav: Khushi!
Khushi: Yeh humari kasam hai! Aapne ise toda na toh..
Arnav(interrupts): Ok fine! tum baat karo,main sun raha hoon!
Khushi: Humein aapki peeth nahi,aapki shaqal dekhkar aapse baat karni hai.Yaa toh aap peechhe aaiyye ya phir hum aage aa rahe hain.
Arnav: wait!
Arnav takes the car out of the crowded lane into another lane and then another lane.
Arnav: What the..!? Yeh sari galiyaan itni jampacked hai. Main car kahaan park karoon?
Khushi: Hum aapko bataate hain. Pehle aap humein humara phone dijiye..
Arnav: Kyun?tumhare phone me map application hai?
Khushi: Nahi! Hum aapko rasta batayein ya..?
Arnav hands her in his phone.
Khushi: Shukriya! Aage se daaye mudiye.
Arnav does what he's told.
Khushi: ab seedhe-seedhe chaliye.(after half a minute)Ab daaye mudenge toh main road aa jayega.. Woh chaudi sadak hai.
Once they reach the main road...
Khushi: Bas.. ab seedhe-seedhe chalte rahiye.. Thodi doori par ek Shankar Bhagwan ka mandir hai jisk peechhe chhota sa maidan hai. Aap gaadi wahaan rakh sakte hain.
Arnav: Okay
________________________________________________________________________
After parking the car in the maidaan,Arnav gets out of the driver's seat.
Khushi puts her feet down and stretches her arms.
Khushi: Hey Devi Maiyya! Humara sharir akad gaya hai..
Arnav sits on the backseat beside Khushi and then again bends towards her legs.
Khushi: Areh! Ab kya kar rahe hain aap?
Arnav: Relax!Its not as if main tumhare pair kaatne jaa raha hoon! Y r u freaking out?
He holds her legs firmly and then slowly puts them on his lap.
Arnav: Thoda sa shift ho jao taaki tumhari back ko door ka support mile..
Khushi: Yeh saari mehnat-mashaqqat karne ki kya zaroorat hai?Hum baithe jaate naa pair latkaakar..
Arnav: Usse tumhari heel par pressure padhega aur tumhare pair zyada dard karenge. Aur tumhare doosre pair me baitaa bhi chadh sakta hai.Yeh wali position thodi si cramped up hai.But atleast isse tumhare pairon par koi pressure nahi padega.Aur pair lambe kar k rakhne se baaita bhi nahi chadega.
Khushi: Humne aapko apne pairon k baare me baat karne k liye peechhe nahi bulaya hai..
Arnav: I know..
Khushi: Humne aapko yahaan gana sunne k liye bulaya hai.
Arnav: What the!?
Khushi: Ji ha! Na toh aap humein maafi maangne de rahe hain! Naa aap humein dhang se baat karne denge! Isiliye humne socha ki hum aapko ek aisa gana sunvaaye jis k dwara hum aapse apni baat keh payenge.
Arnav: Tumhe jo kehna hai kaho. Gana sunane ki koi zaroorat nahi hai!
Khushi: Nahi! Ab toh hum sunaayenge! Pehle humne zidd ki.Phir aapne zidd ki.toh ab phir se humari baari aayi hai zidd karne ki!
Arnav: Excuse me?Hum koi game khel rahe hain kya,ki pehle tumhari baari phir meri baari..!?
Khushi ignores him & starts fiddling with her mobile.
Arnav snatches her phone from her.
Arnav(yells): Stop it Khushi! Can u stop being so stubborn!?Har baat ki ek limit hoti hai! Zidd pe zidd!Har baat me zidd! (yells louder)Tang aa gaya hoon main tumhari countless ziddon se!Pehle Vaishnodevi aane ki zidd! Pratigya poori karne ki zidd! Mujhe saath na aane dene ki zidd! Train me jaane ki zidd! Sarita k cousin k ghar par rehne ki zidd!5 star me naa rehne ki zidd! Phir mere wapis jaane ki zidd! Mere 5 star me rukne ki zidd! Phir gaadi me aage baithne ki zidd! Aur ab.. yeh, gana sunne ki zidd! Aur kitni zidd karogi tum?
Khushi: Hum..
Arnav: Pratigya aur Vaishnodevi wali zidd phir bhi samajh sakta hoon main lekin yeh saraay me rehne wali zidd meri kabhi samajh me nahi aayegi! (yells)Aisa kya hai us godforsaken saraay me jo tum wahaan rehna chahti ho? Itna chhota sa kamra hai,deewaro par plaster nahi hai,floor pe tiles nahi hai,bed tak nahi hai! Common basin toota hua hai,paani ka flow itna slow hai,common toilet stink marta hai aur na jaane kitne machhar hai! Phir bhi tum waheen rehna chahti ho!wow!
He stops to take a deep breath.
Arnav: I cant understand for the life of me ki Tum pichhle 5 dinon se aisi jagah me kaise rahi?Aur woh bhi tab,jab tumhare pairon ki haalat theek nahi thi! Aur kyun reh rahi thi?Just bcoz wahaan ek din ka kiraya 50 rs hai?Paise bachaane k liye agar tum aisi jagah me rahogi naa toh tumhare zyada paise kharch ho jayenge! Ya toh tumhe dengue ya malaria ho jayega ya phir koi aur beemari ho jayegi! Tum yahaan par apni family ko yatra karvaane k liye lekar aayi ho ya suffer karvaane k liye? Bechari ammaji aur buaji! 4 dino se neeche gadde par so rahe hain!Par tumhe isse kya farq padta hai?Tumhe toh paise bachaane hain! Apne kamaaye huye paison se unki yatra karvaani hai naa! Arnavji k kamaay huye paison se yatra karvaogi toh tumhari Devi Maiyya naraaz ho jayengi,kyunki Arnavji unme believe nahi karte hain! Huh! Isse toh achchha yeh hota ki tum unhe 10 dinon k bajaay 2 dinon k liye unhe lekar aati! Paison ko aise saraay me rehne k bajaay kisi dhang k hotel me rehne k liye kharch karti. Ek taxi book karvaati aur unhe saare mandir ek din me hi dikha deti. Atleast woh log un 2 dino k liye kisi achchhi jagah me reh paate aur achchhe se ghoom-fir lete! Har jagah unko chalkar toh nahi jana padta! Par nahi!Apni zidd puri kiye bina thode hi naa maanogi tum?
He stops when Khushi sniffs.
He lets out a huge,shaky breath.
Khushi tries to keep her tone as close to normal as possible.
Khushi: Ruk kyun gaye?Boliye.. Jo bolna hai bol dijiye! Humne.. gaane wali zidd ki taaki aap apne andar ki poori bhadaas nikaal paayein!Apne andar dabaaya hua gussa nikaal paayein!
Arnav is shocked to hear that.
Khushi: Hum jaante the ki aapse aapka gussa dabaaya nahi jaa raha hai.Aapko taqleef ho rahi hai.Humein saza dene k chakkar me aap khud ko bhi saza de rahe the. Hum aapko taqleef me nahi dekh sakte hain! Aap chillakar apne andar ka sara gussa nikaal dijiye! Aap ki sehat k liye.. aap jo sunaayenge hum.. sunne ko taiyyar hai!
Arnav: Khushi.. I'm sorry!
Khushi: Nahi,sorry mat kahiye! Aap jo keh rahe hain sahi keh rahe hain. (sniffs) Arnavji,humein koi shauq nahi hai saraay me rehne ka. Humne socha nahi tha ki babuji itni jaldi chalne lagenge. Hum iske liye taiyyar nahi the. Humare paas jitne paise the usse.. hum saraay ka kiraaya hi de paate, hotel ka nahi! Aur.. humse jo ban pade woh kar rahe hain apne parivaar k liye.. (sniffs)Yeh unki zidd hai ki jahaan tak ho saken woh chalkar jayen,kyunki woh bhi chahte hain ki humare paise bache..
Arnav: Par Khushi yeh sab paise bachaane ki puri exercise kyun kar rahe ho tumlog?Why dammit? Again main is trip k liye pay kar deta toh kya ho jata?
Khushi: Par humne..
She coughs.
Arnav pats her head.
Arnav: Aman keh raha tha ki car me paani hai..
Khushi: Yeh raha..
Khushi takes out a small bottle of mineral water from the pouch behind the passenger's seat.
Arnav holds the bottle for her while she drinks it.
Arnav: Tum theek ho?
Khushi: Ji..
Arnav: Look Khushi,main yeh..
Khushi(interrupts): Arnavji.. kya hum.. matlab.. kya aap.. humein.. gale laga sakte hain?
Arnav(sighs): Of course!
He carefully puts her legs down & then moves closer to her.
Khushi leaps into his arms & hides her face in his chest.
She clutches his shirt tightly in her fists & cries.
Arnav wraps his warm arms around her cold body and kisses her head.
Then he runs a hand through her hair,soothing her.
Arnav: ssshhh! Khushi.. stop crying! Meri taraf dekho..
Khushi shakes her head,burying her head further into his chest.
Arnav: Khushi,I said look here!
Slowly Khushi lifts her head to look at him with tear filled eyes.
Arnav wipes her tears with his thumbs & cups her face.
Arnav: I'm sorry! Mujhe aise chillakar apna sara frustration tum par nahi nikalna chahiye tha.. I'm very sorry!
He plants a gentle kiss on her mouth.
Khushi closes her eyes,relishing the feeling of his lips on hers.
When Arnav tries to move away,Khushi pulls him closer,intending to kiss him fully.
But Arnav stops her.
Arnav: Nahi Khushi! Abhi nahi! Abhi meri baat khatam nahi hui hai!
Khushi opens her eyes & looks at him,attentively.
Arnav tucks a stray lock of her hair behind her ear.
Arnav: Look Khushi, tumhe yeh samajhna hoga ki shaadi k baad,woh har cheez jo pati ki hoti hai woh hi uski patni ki ho jaati hai. Agar meri family tumhari family hai,mera ghar tumhara hai,meri SUV tumhari hai,mera chopper tumhara hai toh mera paisa bhi tumhara hi hai! In fact,mera paisa utna hi tumhara hai jitna ki mera hai! Woh humara paisa hai! Us par tumhara haq hai! Tum mujhse jab chaho tab and especially jab zaroorat ho tab jitne chahon utne paise maang sakti ho! Main yeh nahi keh raha hoon ki tum paise mat kamaao ya tumne jo paise kamaaye hain unhe use mat karo. Har kisi ko self dependent hona chahiye! I appreciate ur sentiments ki tum apni family k liye apne salary k paison se kuch karna chahti ho.Tum unki beti ho,yeh tumhari duty hai.Tumhe karni hi chahiye! Lekin,jahaan zaroorat pade wahaan main hoon naa,Khushi! Mere rehte huye tumhe saraay jaisi jagah me rehne ki kya zaroorat hai? I cant tell u ki mujhe kaisa feel hua jab maine woh room dekha! Mere hote huye agar meri wife aur in-laws ko aisi jagah me rehna pade toh woh mere liye woh... chullu bhar paani me doob marne jaisi baat hai!
Khushi smiles a bit.
Arnav: Seriously!Just imagine,aaj tum mujhse keh rahi ho ki tum mujhse paise nahi le sakti,kal ko di mujhse kahengi! Phir nani,phir mami,Paayal.. Yeh hi baat in sab ne bhi keh di toh main toh mar gaya samjho!
Khushi: Aisa nahi kehte hain! Mare aapk dushman!
Arnav: Suppose nani aur di ne tumse kaha hota ki tum unhe kisi mandir me taxi me lekar jao,toh kya tum taxi ka fare nahi deti?
Khushi: dete..
Arnav: Aur agar wahan pahuchne k baad di tumse kehti ki woh tumse paise nahi le sakti hai toh tumhe kaisa lagta?
Khushi: Hum aapki baat samajh rahe hain..
She hugs him.
Arnav(hugs her back): Maine tumse kaha tha naa,husband aur wife k beechh koi barriers nahi hone chahiye?
Khushi: Ji.
Arnav: Paisa aur jhoot dono hi barriers hain. Infact bahut bade barriers hain!Yeh dono ek couple k beechh bahut si misunderstandings aur distance create kar sakte hain. Main nahi chahta ki paise aur jhoot ki wajah se humari relationship me koi bhi problem aaye..
He breaks the hug,pushing Khushi away.
Khushi: Ab kya hua..?
Arnav: Tum mujhse promise karo Khushi,aaj k baad tum hum dono k beechh koi barrier nahi rakhogi! Aisa kuch nahi karogi jiski wajah se hum dono me distance create ho jaay..
Khushi: Hum aisa kabhi nahi karenge!
Arnav: Aise nahi! Say that u promise me! Chalo,promise karo!
Khushi: I promise! Bas?
Arnav pulls her closer for a hug.
Arnav: I promise! Main bhi aisa kuch nahi karunga!
Khushi(ruffles his hair): Hum jaante hain!Ab aap shaant ho jaiyye!
Arnav buries his face in her hair,inhaling its floral scent,twirling strands of her hair in his fingers,loosing himself in that moment.
He instantly feels better.
Khushi: Ab theek lag raha hai?
Arnav: Yup!
He lifts his head to look at her angelic face & luscious lips.
Arnav: Tumhe kaisa lag raha hai?
Khushi: Pehle se kaafi achchha lag raha hai.
Arnav traces the border of her lips with his thumb.
Arnav: Lets do something to feel better!
Khushi smiles & as Arnav captures her lips in a long,hungry & passionate kiss.
When they part for air,Arnav notices the crimson tinge on Khush's cheeks.
He kisses her right cheek first,followed by her left cheek.
when he tries to kiss her red nose..
Arnav: Oww!
Khushi's nosering scratches his nose.
Khushi: Hey Devi Maiyya! Sorry!
Arnav(rubs his nose): Isse utaarkar rakh do,plz! Main agle 5 dino tak ise nahi dekhna chahta!
Khushi: Utaar denge pehle wapis toh chaliye. Yahaan kahaan rakhenge ise?Kho gayi toh?
Arnav: Achchha hoga!
Khushi: Bilkul nahi hoga! sona khona abshagun hota hai!
Arnav shakes his head.
Khushi: Kya?
Arnav(tweaks her nose): Kuch nahi!
Khushi: Wapis chalein?
Arnav: Itni jaldi nahi!
Yeh claims her lips again.
Then he showers numerous kisses on every part of her face.
When he moves to her neck,Khushi stops him.
Arnav: What?
Khushi: Yahaan nahi..
Arnav: Kyunnn?
Khushi: Amma,babuji aur buaji intezaar kar rahe hain,bhool gaye?Hum dono ne ab tak khana bhi nahi khaya hai.Humein bahut zoro se bhook lag rahi hai! Aur sabse zaroori baat..
Arnav: Kya?
Khushi: Humein apne pair ko zyada samay tak latkaakar nahi rakhna chahiye,kyunki aisa karne se humari aedi par pressure padega aur humare pair aur zyada dard karne lagenge!
Arnav (smiles): Welcome back,Copycat Singh Raizada!
He lightly kisses her lips.
Khushi(smiles): Aapko bhi welcome back,Majnoo Singh Raizada!
Arnav(confused): Welcome back kyun?Main toh forever romantic hoon!
Khushi: Achchha? Humein toh nahi lag raha tha aisa jab aap humse naraaz the! Baat karna aur chillana toh door raha,aap toh bas sir hilaaye jaa rahe the! Humne socha humare Arnavji ko ho kya gaya hai?Kashmir ki aabh-o-hawa toh bure se bure unromantic insaanon ko bhi romantic banaa deti hai! Par humare pati hai jo romantic se ulte huye jaa rahe hain!
Arnav: Aisa kuch bhi nahi hai,ok?
Khushi: Kal se humse baat karenge yaa...?
Arnav: Karunga!
Khushi: Devi Maiyya ka shukar hai!
Arnav: Lekin agar tumne ek bhi promise toda hai toh..
Khushi(interrupts): Ha,ha pata hai! Waise.. sach rahe hain aap.. (smiles)aap toh forever romantic hain! Humse milne k liye yahaan tak aa gaye! Humare liye kitne achchhe-achhhe tohfe lekar aaye! Humari pasand ka khana bhi lekar aaye! (sighs)Hum ab kya hoga?.. ab kya hoga?.. soch-soch kar itne pareshaan the ki humne toh dekha hi nahi ki aap humari pasand ki kaali shirt aur blue jeans pehenkar aaye hain!
She runs his fingers on his jawline.
Khushi: Humare liye shave kar k aaye hain aur.. (ruffles his hair)aaj toh baalon me gond bhi nahi dala aapne!
Arnav: Khushi,hairgel!
Khushi(nods): Ha,ek hi baat hai!
Arnav: Waise ek baat toh main bhi notice karna bhool gaya. Abhi dekha maine..
Khushi: Kya?
Arnav smudges her sindoor with his thumb.
Arnav: Yeh hi ki tumne ab tak mere lagaaye huye sindoor ko apni maang me intact rakha hai!
Khushi: So toh humein rakhna hi tha. Aapko pata hai,amma aur buaji humare peechhe pad gaye the,baal dhone k liye?
Arnav: Phir tumne kya kiya?
Khushi: Amma ne kaha ki woh sambhaalkar humare baal dhoyengi toh hum raazi ho gaye. Phir jab woh baal dho rahi thi tab humne aap haath apni maang par rakha tha. Phir bhi.. thoda bahut sindoor toh dhul gaya.. Lekin kaafi sara reh gaya!
Arnav(kisses her forehead): Kal tum 5 star me jaakar achchhe se shampoo kar lena. Main phir se tumhe sindoor laga dunga.
Khushi: Theek hai.Ab saraay chalein?
Arnav(sighs): Chalo.
He moves to the driver's seat after placing Khushi's legs on the seat & making her comfortable.
______________________________________________________________________
NOTE: I do not intend to potray dharamshalas or saraayghars in bad light. Whatever I have written was strictly as per the needs of the story. This is entirely a work of fiction.
After parking the car in the maidaan,Arnav gets out of the driver's seat.
Khushi puts her feet down and stretches her arms.
Khushi: Hey Devi Maiyya! Humara sharir akad gaya hai..
Arnav sits on the backseat beside Khushi and then again bends towards her legs.
Khushi: Areh! Ab kya kar rahe hain aap?
Arnav: Relax!Its not as if main tumhare pair kaatne jaa raha hoon! Y r u freaking out?
He holds her legs firmly and then slowly puts them on his lap.
Arnav: Thoda sa shift ho jao taaki tumhari back ko door ka support mile..
Khushi: Yeh saari mehnat-mashaqqat karne ki kya zaroorat hai?Hum baithe jaate naa pair latkaakar..
Arnav: Usse tumhari heel par pressure padhega aur tumhare pair zyada dard karenge. Aur tumhare doosre pair me baitaa bhi chadh sakta hai.Yeh wali position thodi si cramped up hai.But atleast isse tumhare pairon par koi pressure nahi padega.Aur pair lambe kar k rakhne se baaita bhi nahi chadega.
Khushi: Humne aapko apne pairon k baare me baat karne k liye peechhe nahi bulaya hai..
Arnav: I know..
Khushi: Humne aapko yahaan gana sunne k liye bulaya hai.
Arnav: What the!?
Khushi: Ji ha! Na toh aap humein maafi maangne de rahe hain! Naa aap humein dhang se baat karne denge! Isiliye humne socha ki hum aapko ek aisa gana sunvaaye jis k dwara hum aapse apni baat keh payenge.
Arnav: Tumhe jo kehna hai kaho. Gana sunane ki koi zaroorat nahi hai!
Khushi: Nahi! Ab toh hum sunaayenge! Pehle humne zidd ki.Phir aapne zidd ki.toh ab phir se humari baari aayi hai zidd karne ki!
Arnav: Excuse me?Hum koi game khel rahe hain kya,ki pehle tumhari baari phir meri baari..!?
Khushi ignores him & starts fiddling with her mobile.
Arnav snatches her phone from her.
Arnav(yells): Stop it Khushi! Can u stop being so stubborn!?Har baat ki ek limit hoti hai! Zidd pe zidd!Har baat me zidd! (yells louder)Tang aa gaya hoon main tumhari countless ziddon se!Pehle Vaishnodevi aane ki zidd! Pratigya poori karne ki zidd! Mujhe saath na aane dene ki zidd! Train me jaane ki zidd! Sarita k cousin k ghar par rehne ki zidd!5 star me naa rehne ki zidd! Phir mere wapis jaane ki zidd! Mere 5 star me rukne ki zidd! Phir gaadi me aage baithne ki zidd! Aur ab.. yeh, gana sunne ki zidd! Aur kitni zidd karogi tum?
Khushi: Hum..
Arnav: Pratigya aur Vaishnodevi wali zidd phir bhi samajh sakta hoon main lekin yeh saraay me rehne wali zidd meri kabhi samajh me nahi aayegi! (yells)Aisa kya hai us godforsaken saraay me jo tum wahaan rehna chahti ho? Itna chhota sa kamra hai,deewaro par plaster nahi hai,floor pe tiles nahi hai,bed tak nahi hai! Common basin toota hua hai,paani ka flow itna slow hai,common toilet stink marta hai aur na jaane kitne machhar hai! Phir bhi tum waheen rehna chahti ho!wow!
He stops to take a deep breath.
Arnav: I cant understand for the life of me ki Tum pichhle 5 dinon se aisi jagah me kaise rahi?Aur woh bhi tab,jab tumhare pairon ki haalat theek nahi thi! Aur kyun reh rahi thi?Just bcoz wahaan ek din ka kiraya 50 rs hai?Paise bachaane k liye agar tum aisi jagah me rahogi naa toh tumhare zyada paise kharch ho jayenge! Ya toh tumhe dengue ya malaria ho jayega ya phir koi aur beemari ho jayegi! Tum yahaan par apni family ko yatra karvaane k liye lekar aayi ho ya suffer karvaane k liye? Bechari ammaji aur buaji! 4 dino se neeche gadde par so rahe hain!Par tumhe isse kya farq padta hai?Tumhe toh paise bachaane hain! Apne kamaaye huye paison se unki yatra karvaani hai naa! Arnavji k kamaay huye paison se yatra karvaogi toh tumhari Devi Maiyya naraaz ho jayengi,kyunki Arnavji unme believe nahi karte hain! Huh! Isse toh achchha yeh hota ki tum unhe 10 dinon k bajaay 2 dinon k liye unhe lekar aati! Paison ko aise saraay me rehne k bajaay kisi dhang k hotel me rehne k liye kharch karti. Ek taxi book karvaati aur unhe saare mandir ek din me hi dikha deti. Atleast woh log un 2 dino k liye kisi achchhi jagah me reh paate aur achchhe se ghoom-fir lete! Har jagah unko chalkar toh nahi jana padta! Par nahi!Apni zidd puri kiye bina thode hi naa maanogi tum?
He stops when Khushi sniffs.
He lets out a huge,shaky breath.
Khushi tries to keep her tone as close to normal as possible.
Khushi: Ruk kyun gaye?Boliye.. Jo bolna hai bol dijiye! Humne.. gaane wali zidd ki taaki aap apne andar ki poori bhadaas nikaal paayein!Apne andar dabaaya hua gussa nikaal paayein!
Arnav is shocked to hear that.
Khushi: Hum jaante the ki aapse aapka gussa dabaaya nahi jaa raha hai.Aapko taqleef ho rahi hai.Humein saza dene k chakkar me aap khud ko bhi saza de rahe the. Hum aapko taqleef me nahi dekh sakte hain! Aap chillakar apne andar ka sara gussa nikaal dijiye! Aap ki sehat k liye.. aap jo sunaayenge hum.. sunne ko taiyyar hai!
Arnav: Khushi.. I'm sorry!
Khushi: Nahi,sorry mat kahiye! Aap jo keh rahe hain sahi keh rahe hain. (sniffs) Arnavji,humein koi shauq nahi hai saraay me rehne ka. Humne socha nahi tha ki babuji itni jaldi chalne lagenge. Hum iske liye taiyyar nahi the. Humare paas jitne paise the usse.. hum saraay ka kiraaya hi de paate, hotel ka nahi! Aur.. humse jo ban pade woh kar rahe hain apne parivaar k liye.. (sniffs)Yeh unki zidd hai ki jahaan tak ho saken woh chalkar jayen,kyunki woh bhi chahte hain ki humare paise bache..
Arnav: Par Khushi yeh sab paise bachaane ki puri exercise kyun kar rahe ho tumlog?Why dammit? Again main is trip k liye pay kar deta toh kya ho jata?
Khushi: Par humne..
She coughs.
Arnav pats her head.
Arnav: Aman keh raha tha ki car me paani hai..
Khushi: Yeh raha..
Khushi takes out a small bottle of mineral water from the pouch behind the passenger's seat.
Arnav holds the bottle for her while she drinks it.
Arnav: Tum theek ho?
Khushi: Ji..
Arnav: Look Khushi,main yeh..
Khushi(interrupts): Arnavji.. kya hum.. matlab.. kya aap.. humein.. gale laga sakte hain?
Arnav(sighs): Of course!
He carefully puts her legs down & then moves closer to her.
Khushi leaps into his arms & hides her face in his chest.
She clutches his shirt tightly in her fists & cries.
Arnav wraps his warm arms around her cold body and kisses her head.
Then he runs a hand through her hair,soothing her.
Arnav: ssshhh! Khushi.. stop crying! Meri taraf dekho..
Khushi shakes her head,burying her head further into his chest.
Arnav: Khushi,I said look here!
Slowly Khushi lifts her head to look at him with tear filled eyes.
Arnav wipes her tears with his thumbs & cups her face.
Arnav: I'm sorry! Mujhe aise chillakar apna sara frustration tum par nahi nikalna chahiye tha.. I'm very sorry!
He plants a gentle kiss on her mouth.
Khushi closes her eyes,relishing the feeling of his lips on hers.
When Arnav tries to move away,Khushi pulls him closer,intending to kiss him fully.
But Arnav stops her.
Arnav: Nahi Khushi! Abhi nahi! Abhi meri baat khatam nahi hui hai!
Khushi opens her eyes & looks at him,attentively.
Arnav tucks a stray lock of her hair behind her ear.
Arnav: Look Khushi, tumhe yeh samajhna hoga ki shaadi k baad,woh har cheez jo pati ki hoti hai woh hi uski patni ki ho jaati hai. Agar meri family tumhari family hai,mera ghar tumhara hai,meri SUV tumhari hai,mera chopper tumhara hai toh mera paisa bhi tumhara hi hai! In fact,mera paisa utna hi tumhara hai jitna ki mera hai! Woh humara paisa hai! Us par tumhara haq hai! Tum mujhse jab chaho tab and especially jab zaroorat ho tab jitne chahon utne paise maang sakti ho! Main yeh nahi keh raha hoon ki tum paise mat kamaao ya tumne jo paise kamaaye hain unhe use mat karo. Har kisi ko self dependent hona chahiye! I appreciate ur sentiments ki tum apni family k liye apne salary k paison se kuch karna chahti ho.Tum unki beti ho,yeh tumhari duty hai.Tumhe karni hi chahiye! Lekin,jahaan zaroorat pade wahaan main hoon naa,Khushi! Mere rehte huye tumhe saraay jaisi jagah me rehne ki kya zaroorat hai? I cant tell u ki mujhe kaisa feel hua jab maine woh room dekha! Mere hote huye agar meri wife aur in-laws ko aisi jagah me rehna pade toh woh mere liye woh... chullu bhar paani me doob marne jaisi baat hai!
Khushi smiles a bit.
Arnav: Seriously!Just imagine,aaj tum mujhse keh rahi ho ki tum mujhse paise nahi le sakti,kal ko di mujhse kahengi! Phir nani,phir mami,Paayal.. Yeh hi baat in sab ne bhi keh di toh main toh mar gaya samjho!
Khushi: Aisa nahi kehte hain! Mare aapk dushman!
Arnav: Suppose nani aur di ne tumse kaha hota ki tum unhe kisi mandir me taxi me lekar jao,toh kya tum taxi ka fare nahi deti?
Khushi: dete..
Arnav: Aur agar wahan pahuchne k baad di tumse kehti ki woh tumse paise nahi le sakti hai toh tumhe kaisa lagta?
Khushi: Hum aapki baat samajh rahe hain..
She hugs him.
Arnav(hugs her back): Maine tumse kaha tha naa,husband aur wife k beechh koi barriers nahi hone chahiye?
Khushi: Ji.
Arnav: Paisa aur jhoot dono hi barriers hain. Infact bahut bade barriers hain!Yeh dono ek couple k beechh bahut si misunderstandings aur distance create kar sakte hain. Main nahi chahta ki paise aur jhoot ki wajah se humari relationship me koi bhi problem aaye..
He breaks the hug,pushing Khushi away.
Khushi: Ab kya hua..?
Arnav: Tum mujhse promise karo Khushi,aaj k baad tum hum dono k beechh koi barrier nahi rakhogi! Aisa kuch nahi karogi jiski wajah se hum dono me distance create ho jaay..
Khushi: Hum aisa kabhi nahi karenge!
Arnav: Aise nahi! Say that u promise me! Chalo,promise karo!
Khushi: I promise! Bas?
Arnav pulls her closer for a hug.
Arnav: I promise! Main bhi aisa kuch nahi karunga!
Khushi(ruffles his hair): Hum jaante hain!Ab aap shaant ho jaiyye!
Arnav buries his face in her hair,inhaling its floral scent,twirling strands of her hair in his fingers,loosing himself in that moment.
He instantly feels better.
Khushi: Ab theek lag raha hai?
Arnav: Yup!
He lifts his head to look at her angelic face & luscious lips.
Arnav: Tumhe kaisa lag raha hai?
Khushi: Pehle se kaafi achchha lag raha hai.
Arnav traces the border of her lips with his thumb.
Arnav: Lets do something to feel better!
Khushi smiles & as Arnav captures her lips in a long,hungry & passionate kiss.
When they part for air,Arnav notices the crimson tinge on Khush's cheeks.
He kisses her right cheek first,followed by her left cheek.
when he tries to kiss her red nose..
Arnav: Oww!
Khushi's nosering scratches his nose.
Khushi: Hey Devi Maiyya! Sorry!
Arnav(rubs his nose): Isse utaarkar rakh do,plz! Main agle 5 dino tak ise nahi dekhna chahta!
Khushi: Utaar denge pehle wapis toh chaliye. Yahaan kahaan rakhenge ise?Kho gayi toh?
Arnav: Achchha hoga!
Khushi: Bilkul nahi hoga! sona khona abshagun hota hai!
Arnav shakes his head.
Khushi: Kya?
Arnav(tweaks her nose): Kuch nahi!
Khushi: Wapis chalein?
Arnav: Itni jaldi nahi!
Yeh claims her lips again.
Then he showers numerous kisses on every part of her face.
When he moves to her neck,Khushi stops him.
Arnav: What?
Khushi: Yahaan nahi..
Arnav: Kyunnn?
Khushi: Amma,babuji aur buaji intezaar kar rahe hain,bhool gaye?Hum dono ne ab tak khana bhi nahi khaya hai.Humein bahut zoro se bhook lag rahi hai! Aur sabse zaroori baat..
Arnav: Kya?
Khushi: Humein apne pair ko zyada samay tak latkaakar nahi rakhna chahiye,kyunki aisa karne se humari aedi par pressure padega aur humare pair aur zyada dard karne lagenge!
Arnav (smiles): Welcome back,Copycat Singh Raizada!
He lightly kisses her lips.
Khushi(smiles): Aapko bhi welcome back,Majnoo Singh Raizada!
Arnav(confused): Welcome back kyun?Main toh forever romantic hoon!
Khushi: Achchha? Humein toh nahi lag raha tha aisa jab aap humse naraaz the! Baat karna aur chillana toh door raha,aap toh bas sir hilaaye jaa rahe the! Humne socha humare Arnavji ko ho kya gaya hai?Kashmir ki aabh-o-hawa toh bure se bure unromantic insaanon ko bhi romantic banaa deti hai! Par humare pati hai jo romantic se ulte huye jaa rahe hain!
Arnav: Aisa kuch bhi nahi hai,ok?
Khushi: Kal se humse baat karenge yaa...?
Arnav: Karunga!
Khushi: Devi Maiyya ka shukar hai!
Arnav: Lekin agar tumne ek bhi promise toda hai toh..
Khushi(interrupts): Ha,ha pata hai! Waise.. sach rahe hain aap.. (smiles)aap toh forever romantic hain! Humse milne k liye yahaan tak aa gaye! Humare liye kitne achchhe-achhhe tohfe lekar aaye! Humari pasand ka khana bhi lekar aaye! (sighs)Hum ab kya hoga?.. ab kya hoga?.. soch-soch kar itne pareshaan the ki humne toh dekha hi nahi ki aap humari pasand ki kaali shirt aur blue jeans pehenkar aaye hain!
She runs his fingers on his jawline.
Khushi: Humare liye shave kar k aaye hain aur.. (ruffles his hair)aaj toh baalon me gond bhi nahi dala aapne!
Arnav: Khushi,hairgel!
Khushi(nods): Ha,ek hi baat hai!
Arnav: Waise ek baat toh main bhi notice karna bhool gaya. Abhi dekha maine..
Khushi: Kya?
Arnav smudges her sindoor with his thumb.
Arnav: Yeh hi ki tumne ab tak mere lagaaye huye sindoor ko apni maang me intact rakha hai!
Khushi: So toh humein rakhna hi tha. Aapko pata hai,amma aur buaji humare peechhe pad gaye the,baal dhone k liye?
Arnav: Phir tumne kya kiya?
Khushi: Amma ne kaha ki woh sambhaalkar humare baal dhoyengi toh hum raazi ho gaye. Phir jab woh baal dho rahi thi tab humne aap haath apni maang par rakha tha. Phir bhi.. thoda bahut sindoor toh dhul gaya.. Lekin kaafi sara reh gaya!
Arnav(kisses her forehead): Kal tum 5 star me jaakar achchhe se shampoo kar lena. Main phir se tumhe sindoor laga dunga.
Khushi: Theek hai.Ab saraay chalein?
Arnav(sighs): Chalo.
He moves to the driver's seat after placing Khushi's legs on the seat & making her comfortable.
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NOTE: I do not intend to potray dharamshalas or saraayghars in bad light. Whatever I have written was strictly as per the needs of the story. This is entirely a work of fiction.
No precap.
Kindly ignore typos & mistakes. Translation on page 123. Next update on Sunday.
Cricket
Anupamaa
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