T2: Ek Aur Zindagi..(Epilogue:page 130) - Page 8

Part 32:

The morning sun was up. Her day never starts without a bath and morning pooja. But today, staying unexpectedly in her son's home, she was not prepared for it. So after a fresh up and silent prayer, she went to the kitchen. She had a smile on her lips that stayed for the whole the time. Last night she had entered in the same kitchen with mixed feeling. But today she was feeling at home.

Home is always the heart is, and her heart was with her kid sleeping peacefully in the next room.

Adrak wali extra strong chai, with minimum sweetness. She always wondered why he didn't like sweet much. He would gulp sweet made by her, but tea... it should be as strong as him. With less sugar. She heated the milk and cooled it a bit, added sugar and took it in another glass. Balancing the cup and the glass she slowly opened the bedroom door.

There he was sleeping hugging Adi close to him. Adi had hid his face in his dad's chest while Arjun held him closer.

She sat by the bed and watched the 2 sleeping forms. She could never forget what transpired last night.

Arjun had wept a long time in his mother's shoulder, until she pulled him off and wiped the traces. She made him to lie on her lap and they spoke. They smiled, joked and cried together. It was very late when Aayi asked him to go to sleep.

But he was reluctant. He didn't want her hand to be away from his forehead. After a lot of pressure, he went to his room to catch up the sleep with Adi and she went to the guest room ready for her.

And now, she ruffled Arjun's hair back from his forehead. He was awake but didn't want to miss this magical moment that he was having after a very long time. He turned to her with a smile which she always missed every morning.

"Good morning aayi..."

"morning beta... aaj jogging pe nai jaana?"

He nodded no and looked at Adi who was cuddling closer to him as he moved away. She smiled and showed him the tea. He sat up and leaned back on the pillow, after covering Adi. She was watching him very close. His every movement made her proud to know that he was a good father.

He sipped the tea and closed his eyes registering the taste. "aayi... please don't do this"

"kya hua? Chai teekh nahi bani?"

"achi nahi?? Aayi... please mujhe iske aadat math daldo. Warna kal firse..."

She knew what he meant. She cupped his face. "jabhi chahiye, ek phone kar dena. Mein yahi hogi"

He smiled pathetically. "kithne din? Aapko wapas jaana hi hai na? States me?"

She took back her hand and lowered her eyes and he could see she was thinking. He held her hands.

"nahi Arjun... ab mein kahi nahi jaunga. Yahi hogi"

He smiled again. "aur ye bath kaun manega?"

"maane ya nahi, I don't care. Kaafi saal hochuke hai Arjun, mein chup rehke thak gayi hu. Ab aur nahi"

His doubts were getting clearer. He loved the idea of her remaining back with him. But he knew what would be its cost.

"nahi aayi aap aisa kuch math kijiye. He needs you"

"Aur tumhe? Aur Adi?"

"hame akele rahne ka aadat hai Aayi. Tho aage bhi..."

"Aur mujhe? Koi mere bare me kyu nahi sochthe? Hamesha aap aur apke baba mereliye faisla karthe hai. Kabhi pucha humse ke hame kya chahiye?"

She was venting out and then turned to look to confirm Adi was asleep.

She sighed and looked back at him. "aapko ghar se jaane ko kaha, mein kuch nahi keh payi. Agar hothe tho, shayad aisa din kabhi nahi athe. Aapko rokhne ka koshish thak nahi ki aur aap chale bhi gaye. Baadme mujhe Roshni mili. Maana hum sirf mandir me milthe the. Firbhi tum sab ke sath rehne ka feel tha. Fir wo bhi chali gayi. Sirf aap nahi Arjun, meine bhi unhe khoya hai. Aur thab jab mein aapke paas ana chaha tho mere hath ek flight ticket di gayi. Kaha ke yaha se jarahe hai. Firse kisine mujhse kuch nahi pucha. Har pal, har khadhi aap sab ko miss karke jiya hai. Ab aur nahi."

She looked tired and he felt pity on her. In the ego clashes of him and his dad, it was she who always suffered. He remembered well how she cried the time when he packed his bag. She had stayed back in his room all the way asking him to relax, but he was not in a state to hear. At the end when he bent down to take her blessing, she had just pulled her up to give out a wail that haunted him for ages.

Adi stirred up to break the silence that lingered. He rubbed open his eyes and looked about. "Morning dad..." he yawned out.

"morning champ..."

He looked up. "DADI?? Aap yahi thi?"

"haan... aap jaldi sogaye the na... isliye mil nahi paya"

"wow..."

Adi was going for brushing, when his dadi showed him a glass of milk. "ab jaldi brush karke aao. Aur dood piyo..."

He wrinkled his face. "dood nahi chahiye... please..."

"aise nahi kehthe. Nahi piyoge tho aap aapke dad ke tharah strong kaise hoge?"

"dad bhi peetha tha?"

"haan..."

"aapko kaise patha?"

That brought silence in between them. Aayi looked at Arjun not knowing what to say. Arjun pulled Adi closer to him. "kyunki ye sachmuch aapke dadi hai..."

Adi looked a bit surprised. "aapke mumma?"

"haan... meri mumma. Meri aayi"

Adi looked back at her who was teary now. "suchi?"

She nodded yes and pulled him to her. "hum aapke dadi hai..."

Adi was happy and hugged her back tight. It was a happy reunion.

Arjun broke it. "ab bas bas... bohot bhoog lagi hai. Jaldi fresh hothe hai aur khana khathe hai"

Dadi was already ready to make Arjun's and Adi favourite food. Arjun after fresh up went to the kitchen and sat on the counter. While his mom was making aalo paratha.

"Adi kaha gayi?"

"naha rahe hai. Uss waqt waha no entry board hai"

"kyu?"

"kyunki use mere samne aane se sharam athe hai. Chup jathe hai. Waise kaafi din hua use chidake. Abhi aya"

He walked off from the kitchen. She was amused to see his childishness still intact. Soon she heard the scream and giggle from Adi's room. She went in to see Arjun tickling mercilessly Adi who was wrapped in a towel, at his tummy. She smiled with joy to see a scene she had never seen before.

After getting ready they had their breakfast. She was quite now. He knew the reason. He had seen her talking over a phone some time back.

"mere liye car aathe hi hoge"

"hm..."

Adi was not happy. "aap jarahe ho?"

"haan... aapke dada wait kar rahe hai na"

"tho wo nahi ayega?"

She nodded no sadly. Adi remembered Arjun's old words. He went to his dad.

"dad... aapne dadi se sorry kaha, aur wo maan bhi gayi. Ab dada se bhi keh dena. Wo bhi maan jayenga"

Dadi felt so bad to hear it. She knew how hard it would be for Arjun.

She took Adi by her side. "nahi Adi, aapke dad ne koi galathi nahi ki hai. Wo kuch problem the jo aap samajh nahi paoge. Ab hum ghar jathe hai. Fir ek din zaroor ayege"

"par..." he was truly upset.

"I promise you beta. I will be back for you"

Adi reluctantly nodded yes. They heard a car horn. She was upset again. But then she walked to the door with Adi and Arjun.

Arjun looked ahead. It was just her driver. She went and hugged Adi and kissed his forehead. She couldn't meet Arjun's eyes again.

Arjun pulled her to a tight hug. "aap jabhi chaho tho yaha asakthe ho. Ye door hamesha aap keliye khula hai"

"meine bhi door khula rakha hai Arjun. Aur apka wait kar rahe hai"

"sorry Aayi, par mein nahi aapaunga."

He left her hug and kissed her forehead and took her to the car.

She drove off with silent tears.

***

He had arrived early morning to find her not at home. A wild guess was enough. But then he called his driver to confirm it. He was furious indeed. She had crossed the borders again.

He sat in his sofa even without going for fresh up. The maid brought his strong tea only to receive a hard glare. She walked off keeping the cup on the table. And he waited.

The driver called her and informed that he was coming to take her. He took her away from his son and grandson.

At home, she walked in silently. She knew that he knew where she went. But then she was already building up a wall lately that had risen up. She went to her room without saying anything, but could feel his eyes following her track. After quick bath and changing she went inside and brought another cup of tea, which his regular to him. Already the first cup stood there cold.

She placed the cup by his table and tried to walk in but heard his voice.

"kuch puch saktha hu?" it was completely sarcastic. She sighed and turned to him. "apne bete se milne gayi thi. Kal rath wahi thi. Adi ka bday tha."

She waited for his response, but received only hard glares again. So she walked in.

Rawte was so angry at all. He felt all were trying to fail him. He walked off to the kitchen where she was with the maid to make breakfast. Seeing him the maid went away.

"kyu kar rahe ho tum aisa? Tum sab milke mujhe haraana chahthe ho?"

"Aisa kuch nahi hai. Waise ithne saal sirf meine hi haara hai. Uske dard kya hai, aap nahi samjhoge. Mujhe mere bete se milna tha, tho chali gayi"

"tho fir wapas kyu aya?"

She looked at him surprised. So he continued. "jisse mere parwah nahi, unhe yaha rehne ka koi zaroorath nahi hai"

He kept his gaze and then tried to turn away. But her pained voice struck him again. "nahi aathe, agar wo zidd na kiya hotha.."

He turned to her so she continued. "unhe lagtha hai ke aapko mere zaroorath hai. Mere fikar hai. Par aapko kisi ka bhi fikar hai. Na mein, ne mere beta, ne mere pariwar. Aapko agar kuch hai, wo sirf zidd hai. Aur in sabme sirf mein hi bhas jathi hu. Par ab aur nahi."

She held back the tear and stood supporting the kitchen counter. "jaha mere bete ka koi jagah nahi, waha mein bhi nahi..."

He held his jaw tight and eyes red with anger. "tho jao, apne bete ke paas"

He walked off. She sobbed very hard when he left her. But then she was feeling dizzy. Everything was going blur. A mild pain was rising up in the chest. She tried to hold on, but couldn't help. She blacked out and fell down.

The maid heard a thud and rushed in to see madam on the floor. She cried out. Rawte and his driver rushed in. Rawte was worried to see her state. He asked the driver to take out the vehicle. They supported her to the car and rushed to the nearby hospital.

In the hospital, she was taken for observation. Doc informed of a mild stroke. He felt drained of himself. But then he couldn't walk over to her. He knew he had hurt her. He knew he was guilty too. And he knew it was not him whom she wished to see.

He sat back at the corridor for a while not knowing what to do. After a long time, he was feeling lonely. She had always stood by his side when he needed her. She never questioned him and his decisions. Maybe he was used to it now. And the sudden change did upset him a lot that made him to say all these.

He stayed silent looking at her who was beyond the glass door. He had to decide again now. But how?

He called up a friend of him.

***

Sometime later, Sameer walked to the hall. Sometime back, Arjun had walked in with a smile that did refresh everyone. He had thanked everyone for the party they organised. And especially Sakshi and Aisha for bringing in his mother. And now a phone call from ahead, Sameer was worried of how to break the news to him. "Rawte..."

He looked up and caught that there was some tension.

"kya hua Rathod? Any new case?"

"no, koi case nahi hai. Par..."

"par kya?"

"Aayi hospital me hai. Mild stroke."

That was enough for the air to be sucked out off him. He couldn't think what had gone wrong. But a face reminded him what could have happened. Sameer could see him flaring up.

"Rawte relax. Ab gussa karne ka nahi. Hospital jaane ka time hai"

Arjun stood up and tucked his gun. He walked away only to be caught back by Sameer. "Arjun relax..."

He shrugged off his hand. "agar meri aayi ko kuch hua... tho mein unhe nahi chodunga..."

"aisa kuch nahi hoga. Wait I'll come with you"

"koi zaroorath nahi hai."

"she is my mother too. so I am coming"

He didn't argue and walked off. Sameer turned to his team. "team yaha sambhal lena" and rushed off behind Arjun.