Mishal Raheja
As
Dutta
Blue Blood
Part 24
The dark night of oblivion and nonentity was over. Dutta stirred as a mother's son. Unaware he was of the fact , but this he knew that he lived still. His arm that lay on the side of the bed moved a finger and then with some effort he raised it just a little, sided it towards his beloved's head that lay on the side of his bed. A tear welled up in his eye and escaped despite efforts, as it rolled down the side of his stubble cheek. The amount of grief he has given her, seemed unbelievable . He had set out to give her all the happiness in the world. But seemed he certainly gave her an uncomfortable sleepless night. Dutta gulped and feebly his lips parted as he called out to her
"Naku.. rightaway she raised her sided head and tears of joy flooded her eyes as she sprang up and darted out of the room. Dutta disappointed raised up his arm in midair and feebly called out her name
"Naku.. wait! But Naku gathered the doctor and nurse as she exclaimed to her tired and weary family
"Sahib has regained consciousness! the family hugged each other Kanta bai and aye hugged each other tearfully and joyfully . The medical staff ,went in immediately and pottered about him and carried out further monitoring of his heart and pulse rate. The nurse, drew the partition curtains and changed his blood stained bandages ,around the torso and his upper left arm. Baji accosted the surgeon as he came out of the recovery room. The family were desperate to know about progress and developments
"well I am pleased to say that his body has responded well to the transfusion , but he still needs rest. He has come around and I can see you are impatient to see him. But I would like to add that his wounds are still very raw and as such, the risk of infection cannot be ruled out . So if you see him ,then I would clearly like to say that it has to be two persons at a time , for a short period . He lost a lot of blood and his body is still not hundred percent", explained the doctor and then turned to the nurse
"if he asks for food nurse ,it's a healthy sign, arrange for it to be sent for him" ordered the doctor and aye Sahib and Kanta bai both patted his arm in extreme gratitude. Seema held Naku by the arms and smiled much relieved.
" I am very happy for you , that a man like Dutta belongs to you. For me yet again he has proved, that he till date looks out for me. After all those years, he never forget how I huddled behind his back and expected him to sort out all my incoming battles.. this one nearly cost him his life Naku.." she sobbed suddenly . Naku hugged Seema and consoled her, but felt there was more to Seema 's emotions. Perhaps this was not a good moment to talk about what really bothered Seema , concluded Naku.
Outside the recovery room there was discussion as to which pair would go in first. Baji looked at Naku , while Krishna squeezed Baji's arm to let him go too. Naku s heart palpitated she would love to go but restrained herself as it was his immediate family s right to meet with him first. Besides she sat on the floor beside his bedside and even caught a hundred winks.. till his voice had woken her up. So she can wait for the right time..
Aye Sahib and Kanta bai went in first and very nearly wept at the sight of a bandaged Dutta with a saline drip still attached to him. With his head propped up against two pillows ,his eyes noticed aye Sahib and mai. Gingerly he raised his arm and beckoned them to come closer. At the foot of his bed they parted and slowly sauntered up and stood one on his left side and one on the other. He rolled his head to aye Sahib on his right and then he rolled his head and faced mai.. Dutta stared at their faces and felt very humbled . Kanta mai he vaguely recalled.. but may be he was seeing things he mused. He firmed his face and decided may be this was not an appropriate time to ask a vital question. He tried to prop himself up ,and both his mothers leaned him forward gently and fluffed his pillows behind his back. Suddenly he sprang it upon them..
"aye Sahib.. do you know about the person who granted me my life? Aye , I want to meet that person.. Dutta insisted as he fervently reached out for his adopted mother's hand. Aye Sahib . looked across Dutta to Kanta and pleaded with her eyes that this was the right time for both of them to disclose the truth. Kanta was very nervous but she was reminded of the flower that Naku pointed out to her by her elbow at Durga maa's temple ,and she gathered courage and bowed her head to her Dutta's adopted mother. The woman who made Dutta what he is today. Aye Sahib leaned forward tenderly and kissed Dutta's forehead and pointed her palm to Kanta bai.
" you needn't go far Dutta, the woman who gave you her blood stands beside you" Dutta turned his head and asked gently
"are you the devi maa who granted me my life.. was it you? I saw last night ? Kanta's eyes welled up and she reached out for his hand and kissed it and bravely replied
" not devi Dutta ,just maa.. and he looked searchingly into her eyes and asked innocently
" maa??,then turned his head towards aye Sahib..
"aye Sahib, what is Kanta mai saying? Is it true? he asked with tears in his eyes. Aye Sahib bit her lip and pleaded with clasped hands
"forgive me Dutta , I kept this from you my son because".. Dutta raised his palm and said firmly
"enough aye ! you needn't give any explanations. You took in an orphaned baby , nurtured him as your own. The least that boy can do is thanks and be grateful. Isn't that right aye Sahib? Dutta commented bitterly, and refused to look at his own mother. Both his mothers cried as they stood on either side of his bed. Dutta eyes welled up and he moved back his head on the propped up pillows as he swallowed his tears. He looked up the ceiling as he his crossed elbow on his bare chest. His heart palpitated. He sighed and his bruised , hard done by heart softened as he mused. If this heart of his ticked away it was due to the effort of both of his mothers. His eyes closed as his spirit was burdened he needed sleep. Aye Sahib looked across to Kanta bai and raised her palm towards the door and both women left the room. Aye Sahib turned to Kanta and suggested
"Kanta take it from me it's a big thing for Dutta , this discovery . He will take time to come to terms with this revelation. As such Kanta I think we should share the tricky situation with Baji and Kala too and see what support they can give in this respect!
Kanta suggested that Roops and Naku should be included too , as the girls are part of their family as well. Kala also recalled how she was the one who actually revealed that Kanta mai in the past was a prostitute . But then her and Baji located her and found her residing in Naku and Roops hiwali.
Krishna sat in the waiting room and wondered when he could go in and see his Dutta bhau. Anxiously he waited for aye Sahib and Kanta bai to return. He jumped up from where he sat and noted that both of them looked preoccupied. He watched as they headed to the lounging area of the waiting room and gathered their family. Krishna took a step forward to join them but decided against it as he probably was going to sent away as being a minor. Not mature enough to apprehend family matters. So instead, he pressed against the wall and roughly gathered it was to do with Dutta bhau s real mother. Krishna wiped a tear that escaped from his eyes. Yes bhau, I know the feeling of being abandoned. Naku suddenly turned up and pulled him out from the pillar and tousled his hair and Krishna sheepishly put his arms around her waist and looked up at her and asked with a smile
"tai are we two meant to go in next to meet bhau? come tai I want to see the fruits of my worship and flute playing" he pleaded. Naku cupped his face in her palms and explained to him
"look Krishna ,we'll go both of us in fact the three of us you ,me and Roops too, in the meanwhile I think Kala tai and Baji his family will be going to see him next.." and lightly she giggled with her bottom lip pulled to one side
"till that happens Krishna you will have to make do with your Naku tai" and Krishna shook his thrown back head
" not tai .. Naku mai... he insisted, have you forgotten that Krishna is your adopted son.. Bhau has written that in my school records too! asserted Krishna . Naku looked down at his childish face and agreed with a smile
"yes Krishna as you say so" and both trailed over to the snacks and soft drinkers kiosk.
~~~~~~~~~~
After an interval , when Dutta had rested for a bit.Kala and Baji kept peeping through the porthole window through the door to check when it was feasible to go into his Dutta's private room. He actually smiled and raised his arm and opened his palm and Baji clutched at it as dear life. Kala went around put her arm around his shoulders and planted a kiss at the top of his head. Dutta fought back his tears and sniffed then turned his head to Kala and then to Baji who sat perched at the foot of his bed.
" I suppose you too knew about what was on going behind my back Baji.. feel such an idiot that being a security services man , never clocked on to what happened in my own home. All knew except me.." Dutta said bitterly
" bhau it was aye Sahib's mistake she should have told you ages ago but didn't . She brushed it underneath the carpet, thought it would disappear but it didn't. Told her so one day the truth would come out. See it came out" admitted Kala which some what pacified Dutta . Some how it didn't seem justified that after all these years he should blame aye sahib. Baji picked up some courage from dutta's calm
" bhau, kala tai told me about Kanta mai . We had to locate her .Investigate into her past and deva shapat! we found her! right near our door step.. at Naku and Roops Ram Sita hivali!
" so why didn't you tell me right away tai? Baji? why the secrecy ..? what did you wait for that I find out this way? protested Dutta ,fairly agitated.
" because you would react the way you are doing so now, Dutta! argued Kala
" I am enraged because you kept things away from me! surely I had the right to know!
"bhau you had biased views about Kanta mai . that she was a ... a.. you know and our whole family knows how you react and how stubborn you get in coming around" retorted Baji
"bhau for your sake ,so you can get to know your own aye ,we convinced and coaxed Kanta mai into leaving the hivali where she was happy being a teacher for all the deprived lot of the area. Bhau it was me and Baji who thought she would be pleased to be part of your saagi ceremony" recapped Kala
" yes ok ,but then two you lied tai! called her aye Sahib's sister not my mother! protested Dutta
" yes Dutta even aye was not told the whole truth at the ceremony.. but this we can tell you aye Sahib was only concerned about your welfare .. you are and will be the apple of her eye! cried Kala and Dutta raised his palm sitting up in his hospital bed
" I know tai you don't need to tell me what aye feels about me. But the truth is tai aye Sahib too kept the truth from me.. even after having mai under the same roof as me! disputed Dutta
"aye Sahib wanted you to develop a relationship with Kanta mai .. naturally without her telling you.. look Dutta as they say, let the heart recognise.. a loved one", Kala continued
"hummm , but it seemed it didn't happen like that did it Tai ? such things happen in stories ,Tai not in reality... you all made a sucker out of Dutta! Tai... accept that! and he lurched forward in pain and held his chest. In pain Kala buzzed for the nurse and Baji ran out of the room to get the nurse. The nurse shooed out visitors from his room and said for the next two hours he neeed to sleep ,as she gave him analgesics to keep his pain away.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Crest fallen Kala and Baji came out and feed back the out come of the meeting with him. Baji now was short with his mother for keeping Kanta mai's truth from bhau ,as he finds her reasoning hard to buy. Aye Sahib clearly was upset and cascaded Dutta's reaction to Kanta. Naku too could sense that her Sahib was being uncooperative. No surprise it was for her but she was not entirely hopeless . she didn't quite know how she would make him come around?? But try she certainly will for every one's sake. She walked over to the worship area and found Sahib's mothers before the idol of Durga maa. Naku consoled them with her eternal optimism.
"don't worry aye Sahib, mai.. the goddess will show a way. She knows a mothers anguish for her child.. so keep faith".. Naku said with a smile.
~~~~~~~~~
Ravi sat anxious across the table seemingly ready to crack. The interrogation team , a commando officer, a police detective and Bhaskar could tell by his trembling hands and sweaty brow that there was no other way than his confession. Bhaskar whose services this criminal was part of was subjectively charged up
" you jerk! my Dutta was my best man in the force ! just this once he was duped! you realize what your dirty deeds have done?Ravi you have maligned Dutta's spirit of trust. He took you on due the fact you desired to be in the force but how wrong you proved him ,in fact the complete forces! I think you should be given your dues. You watch Ravindra! neither me nor Dutta will give evidence to support you!! Bhaskar fumed and disgusted he left the room briefly to revive himself. By the time he returned he was reasonably sobered.
Ravi had been interrogated by the commando and the police. He admitted to everything. Kidnap , shooting Dutta ! and aiding and abetting Jhingar in organized acts of extortion. After getting statements signed by him. As required within criminal under investigation, Ravi according to rights afforded to him was invited to ask questions or share any information related to his charges. Ravi shook apparently and pleaded before his boss Bhaskar in the hope of invoking company's loyalty from him.
" sir as your employee I agree to your charges . But I would still beg you if you could arrange a meeting between me and Dutta".. pleaded Ravi . The team was shocked beyond belief at the idiocy of this suspect. The commando officer nearly thumped his palm on the desk and glared at Ravi
" are you out of your mind? you tried to kill the man! he's in hospital because of you and you want to see him? why? so this time you can truly kill him? the commando charged Ravi . Bhaskar nodded and raised his hand at the commando and requested for Ravi to say his bit. Ravi nodded and was close to breaking down point as he revealed...
" sir the truth is jhingar has got my family as hostages. That was the ploy he used partly to blackmail me into carrying out his underground extortionist activities. " but the police intervened
"oyee you! use this in your defence in court not here! get to the point tell us where your family might be done ,so they can be retrieved and he and his gang can be caputured!, the rest of the interrogation team nodded to that and Ravi revealed Jhingar's whereabouts .. i.e in a seedy basement under a derelict warehouse ,situated slightly at the out skirts of the city. But before that it was imperative that he meet with Dutta. Ravi cried ,his palms clasped before the team and Bhaskar looked compassionately at the police in charge and commando officer .
It was decision time , certainly a hard one. Dutta was in a public place . He was clearly not in the position to be taken out of the hospital .The hospital will not allow his discharge and on the other hand.. Was it safe to put the lives of the public in danger?
~~~~~~~~~~
Krishna stood outside Dutta's personal recovery room and nervously propped up and down on his toes, drawing attention to himself. Naku put her arm around his shoulder and pointed to the mobile silence sign hung from the ceiling. As if that was not enough Roops too pointed to the sign with a red cross that read, children not allowed! Krishna slowly turned his head to one side and pointed an accusing finger at Naku! Roops laughed quietly but then he pointed to the sign and struck his thumb sideways at Roops !and pulled his own collars up smartly! to convey he was the adult while they were the children!
The nurse came out of Dutta's room and Krishna in his keeness to go in ,nearly knocked her tray out of her hand and Naku pulled him back . The nurse smiled and said to Roops and Naku
"what a sweet child!.. Naku and Roops pulled faces and shook their heads as Krishna shook his head grabbed their hands and like big boss big bro! dragged both the girls into Dutta's room! Dutta's face lit up and with a sulky look pointed a finger at Naku as he mumbled in a cracking deep guttural voice
" you went like, you were never coming back.. Nakusha! Krishna ran and felt Dutta's toes under the hospital cellular bed cover. Before Naku could answer Krishna perched up on the end ofdutta's bed and began his prattle
"bhau thank me for being around , Naku tai went to pieces ! it was I who gathered her ! and held her together! I did right didn't I bhau?.. Krishna knew he had to be you and contain the whole family! So I did Dutta bhau! just like you! he cried excited and Dutta called him closer with his hand and held the boy in whom he always saw himself, and kissed him on the top of his head
"yes Krishna you did well.. very well.. I knew you are strong enough Krishna.. but your bhau is not that strong .." Krishna , Naku and Roops sensed what Dutta hinted at and dreaded which way the conversation would go!
Krishna got up from where he sat at the foot of Dutta's bed and perched himself at the head of Dutta's bed threw his arm around his bhau's wide bare shoulders. Dutta winced in pain a bit and Krishna held his wide slender palm in his young adolescent hands.. and said
"look bhau for starters , I am not a child.. I know the pain you feel in your heart is more than the pain felt in your outer wounds.. felt that way all my life , from the day I was born to the day when you came in my life and give me a home. Countless times I was hurt , my blood poured out of my body.. I would look at it and wonder , who I was? no one that one calls family came to tend to my wounds.. time went on bhau.. I got hurt, but got better at dealing with my external wounds.. Krishna suddenly paused and cried as he roughly wiped away his tears with a back hand .. gulped and then continued .." but bhau , in my heart the desire to have my own mother never abated.. so bhau you are the one who is strong... you have not one but two mother's like lord Krishna.. one that gave birth to him and the other who brought him up!.. and me loser then! and loser now! but bhau you... you need to count your blessings! god has given you a new life..with the same blood you were born with.Only now its purified.. by the wills of the gods.. they want you to life as a good man who has two mothers! Dutta felt krishna's fingers that hung from his shoulder and brought it over his head , made Krishna sit before him and confessed..
"who primed you to say these words, tiger?.. Krishna pointed to the idol Naku left on his bed side table..
"he did... Dutta.. looked at Naku and said.. " can you call my mother's Naku.".. to be continued hamlet53 15.2.16
Hope you had a lovely weekend with your loved ones.. much love hammie
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