Part 4 (B)
As he ascended the massive staircase Arshad was once again assailed by those images.He dreaded going up.Was he being put up in that room?
With immense relief he saw Dinya turning straight opposite, towards his old room.Bless his astute mother.
As long he was here, he'd never go to that part of the house, thought he.
With a sigh of happiness Arshad jumped in to his school boy years bed & breathed in its smell.He pulled up the covers & closed his eyes.
Dinya smiled & bantered with his brother.Arshad answered him with his eyes still closed.He was reliving every happy moment he had spent here in this room without a care in the world.Those cold days when he's feigned sickness & settle with his video games inside the warm blankets.Those summer nights reading naughty comics with a torchlight under the same blanket.The hours of sulk bouts spent locked in here when his demands, most unreasonable, were not met. Dinya left him to allow him to savour this moment alone some more.
Najma looked at her husband & asked sadly,"He's here after such a long time.Would it have been too much to expect to atleast embrace him just once this time?"
Suleiman looked into a distance deep in sadness. The cook made an appearance at that time."Bhabhi, machci aur jhinga saaf kar diya hai.Main pakaoun ya aap bana dengi?" Najma was surprised because she hadn't ordered any seafood today.She was about to say this to the woman when she turned to look at her husband."You cook it,Najma, just the way the boy loves it.Hurry.He looks tired.He'll miss dinner & sleep off."Loudly he added, "Meena Tai, aap mere liye koi saag bana do." Tears sprung to Najma's eyes.She had forgotten just how much her son was crazy for fried sea food platter.His father had not.
Arshad had a power nap & looked refreshed.Dressed in black collared T shirt & jeans he looked much younger than his 33 years.The family sat down to a quiet meal & Arshad pounced on his fishes & prawns.His mother poured him his favourite drink from his baby days:Cherry Coke.
Najma enquired some more about her son's work & life in Mumbai.She & Arshad small talked while Suleiman heard them but kept silent.Suddenly he quipped,"Have you settled into your new office well?The new building looks so imposing.So glad they increased the man power" Both mother & son looked up surprised."Where did you see that?" demanded Najma.Flustered he replied,"Err...I had to go to Mumbai to see Chand Bhai about that piece of land I want to buy from him" He didnt meet their questioning eyes.
"How's Sameer?" asked Najma. Arshad told her he is fine.Again Suleiman offered,"He is getting married to the sister of that girl who works in ETF.I heard she is a doctor.Wedding is two months away." Arshad put down his spoon & looked at his father."What?" asked Suleiman." I know.You found that out when you were went to Mumbai to sell your ganna to Moosa Bhai." saying Najma burst out laughing.
Exasperated & amused Arshad watched his father's reddening face. He had kicked up a storm when Arshad had announced his decision to join the Police Academy.Not knowing his son had inherited his snooping nature from him.
Even though angry as hell Suleiman Rawte had kept a close watchful eye on his beloved only son.
Deeply embarrased at having given himself away Suleiman fled to his room & barricaded himself in.Arshad gave the pink dhaka cotton salwaar suit which he had bought as a gift to his mom.As Najma was fawning over the gift he gave her another bag.It had a muslin kurta & prayer cap from Mecca.For the old man, mouthed Arshad.
"Do you want to watch some TV, sweetie?" asked Najma scurrying to put on her son's favorite sports channel."No.Sit here Ammi" Najma looked at her son questioning look in her eyes as she sat as he asked her.
He stretched out on the sofa & lay his head on her lap pulling her hand over his head.He closed his eyes.She smiled & began to caress his hair.This was the only way he would sleep.And he'd take his time with it.Even when she'd beg him to sleep as she had to run to serve dinner to her angry & hungry mother in law & husband.The memory took her down more lanes.
Arshad was born when she was all of nineteen.But she never had to bother with the care of the newborn.That was all taken care of by her mother in law.The matriach of Rawte family was a formidable woman who had single handedly amassed immense wealth despite being a woman & a widow at that.Shrewd & extremely dangerous when provoked she had also raised her son alone. But when it came to Arshad she was just an ordinary old woman hunkering after her only grand child.
For all his iron man image outside, inside Shaukat Manzil it was the same story with Suleiman too.He was a weak parent.And the little boy knew that. Arshad could twist him & his grand mother round on his little finger.Every whim & fancy was met with indulgence.There was a running competition between mother & son as to who would spoil him better.It was left to Najma to instil some discipline into her little boy.But when she tried her mother in law always shielded Arshad saying," He is your only one.You aren't having any more.Dont scold him."
True to prophecy Arshad became the fourth generation only child in the Rawte family.
And for all her love & indulgence the grand old lady Rawte had extracted a terrible price from her beloved son...
She didnt want to go there.She noticed her son breathing deeply.He had conked out.Slowly extricating herself she brought over a light blanket & covered him.She pulled the curtains, dimmed the lights & with one last look at her sleeping son left.
It was still dark when he woke up.But both his parents were up for the morning prayers.His father had just returned from the mosque & his mother was reading the Holy Book.He stretched & went up to his room to freshen up.He hadn't slept this peacefully in years.
Refreshed he skipped back down & his mother called him for tea."Namaaz padh li,Arshu?" "Yes Ammi.In the room.Late for the mosque."
Najma smiled at him as she handed him a big hot cup of adrak chai."Slept well?" "Hmmm..." he answered as he carried the cup out into the portico.
"If there is any left over I'd like a cup too" sulked her husband.Sticking out her tongue she handed him one.
Arshad sipped the hot chai as he sauntered out.Dinya was wiping down his old Hero karizma bike.Like a boy let loose in a candy store Arshad rushed over to his beloved bike with huge smile on his face.
"Dinya tune...?" "Nahi O Bhau.Saahebaani!" He pointed towards Suleiman who had followed his son out to watch his reaction at the sight of his bike.
"It came in from the garage yesyerday.Got it serviced well." said his father stonily.Najma could only stare at her husband in wonder.
Arshad revved his bike.It was in perfect order.He turned it towards the gates preparing to take it out for a jaunt.
"Arshad", called his father."Keep within the speed limits.I hear of you speeding madly on the highway I swear that's the last you'll see of that bike", saying his father turned on his heel & went inside.
ACP Arshad Rawte, Second In command, Emergency Task Force,Mumbai turned, rode out bursting out laughing at this warning.
Precap: "Get your teams in place,Virkar", said ACP Rawte."We'll raid all three places simultaneously. The only way out for the rats would be to drown" he hissed through clenched teeth.
Please comment.This is how I envisioned our hottie cop ka bachpann.More on the way😉
Edited by -Carrie- - 12 years ago
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