Journey of Abhilasha---A LRL FF - Page 16

Asha was sleeping peacefully. A smile covered her face as sweet dreams filled her sleep. The excitement she felt after meeting her Alekh chachu was just sky high. For her the last time she was this happy, was on that birthday of her which changed her life. From whatever little she could remember her mother's words, the most vivid was the word Alekh.' She could still visualize herself as the little Asha sitting on her mom's lab, listening to her stories about this special place that gave people many friends and happiness. A place so special that it would forever change one's life. If only the little Asha knew how true this place was as it was nothing other than KMA. She vaguely remembered her mom's voice taking about characters called, Pooja, Ali, Huda, Neelu, Yudi, Rajveer and Alekh in her stories. As a mother, Naina had done everything she could do for her daughter to have a happy life, and today at KMA, Asha was happier then ever. She was getting to meet her mother's stories characters. She was getting closer each day to reaching her mission of finding her father and returning her mother her well-deserved happiness.

However, in the staff quarter the story was different. For Alekh, that night sleep seemed like a stranger millions of miles away. He was stuck. He did not know what to do. On one side there was Naina, whom he loved like a sister and whom he swore to protect. There was also Asha, who till today never had a real conversation with him, yet she was like a daughter to him. On the other hand there was Rajveer. The Rajveer who picked him up from his tapoori life and gave a meening to it. His Rajveer sir, who fought for him at every moment ever second. The Rajveer to whom he owned his life. He wanted to give Asha her happiness and knew her happiness was in finding Rajveer. But what about the promise he had given Rajveer? Could he so easily break that...? His Naina was lying in hospital bed, but there really nothing he could do...could he. Confused in his thoughts he did what he always does when his mind is unclear. No, surprisingly he did not drink, but he rather called the one people who could understand him. His love, wife and life Neelu.

****Phone Convo****

Neelu: "Aaray wha Alekh, mujhe pata nahi tha ki tu itna romantic hai. Theek 12 bajay phone kiya wo bhi valentine day ki din" (Oh, wow Alekh, I did not know you so romantic. You called me exactly at 12, that two at Valentine's Day.)

Alek look at the clock and saw it was exactly 12.

Alekh: "Neelu baat yeah..."

Neelu immediately noticed the tension on his voice and stopped teasing him.

Neelu: "Alekh baat kya hai?" (Alekh, what is it?)

Alekh: "Neelu, aagar teray ko kissi ki khushi yeah kisi ko diya hua vada mein ek ko chuna parta toh kya karti...? (Neelu, if you ever had to choose between someone's happiness or a promise you gave to someone what would you do...?)

Neelu: "Alekh tu kya kehna chata hai, saaf bol" (Alekh, what do you want to say, talk clearly?)

Alekh: "Saaf saaf hi toh nahi bol Shakti" (I cannot tell clearly)

Neelu: "Deakh Alekh, kissi ki Khushi se bada kuch nahi hota, magar kissi ko diya hua vachan bhi bada hota hai" (Look Alekh, there is nothing more important than someone's happiness, but a promise given to someone is just as important.)

Alekh: "Yeah toh aapun janta hai Neelu, issi waja se toh itna confuse hoo" (I know that Neelu, that is why I am so Confused.)

Neelu: "Mujhay pata nahi ki mein tujhay kya bolou" (I don't know what to tell you)

Both were silent for some time.

Neelu: "Kya aaisa koi raasta nahi hai, jis se tu dono kar sakay" (Is there no way you can fulfill both)

Alekh: "Aapun ne soch liya hai, ki kya karna hai. Thank you, tu aapun ki confusion hamesha clear kar deti hai" (I know what I need to do, Thank you for always helping me)

Neelu: "You are most welcome Alekh. Aab bina kuch sochay so jaa, warna kal subha sar mein dard hoga. Good nigh aur ha happy valentine's day" (You are most welcome Alekh. Now go to sleep without thinking anything, otherwise you will get a headache. Good night and happy Valentine's Day)

Alekh: "Haan teray ko bhi" (Yes, same to you)

He hung up and tossed the phone on the side table, and want to bed.

Right across the halls two devils were planning. Yes it was none other than Nair and Bhargav.

Nair: "Kya app ko pura Biswas hai ki yeah Naina ki beti hain" (Do you really believe this is Naina's daughter)

Bhargav: "Ji, hain, main ne aapney kudh kay kaan se suna hai." (Yes, I heard it with my own ears)

Nair: "Toh aab kya karna hai" (So what do we do now?)

Bhargav: "Main sach kay barya mein hamesha ek baat bolta hoon" (I always say one thing about truth)

Nair: "Woh kya hai?" (What is that/)

Bhargav: "Wo yeah ki, sach hamasha sab kay saam ne hona chaiea" (It is that truth should be known be everyone)

With that he gave an evil grin, pulled his hat and exited Nair's room.

****** Next morning at Mess********

Asha: "Ridhi, tum khush to bohot hogi?" (Ridhi, you must be very happy)

Ridhi: "Khush toh hoon, par kyu?" (I am happy, but why?)

Asha: "Aaray tujhe unho ney bataya nahi" (Oh, he has not told you yet)

Ridhi: "Kya nahi bataya" (What?)

Asha: "That Vijay and your..."

Before she could finish someone cleared their throat from behind. Asha turned around to see Alekh. Ridhi's face light up from happiness and she went to hug her father.

Ridhi: "Toh tum in kay baat kar rahi thi?" (So this is what you were talking about?)

Alekh motioned for Asha to say yes.

Asha: "Kya, matlab han...matlab, tujhay khush hona chaiea ku teray papa yaha hai..." (What, I mean yes...I mean you should be happy that your father is here)

Ridhi: "Margar is mein Vijay beech mein kaha se aa gaya" (But how did Vijay get between this?)

Alekh: "Tum aapna investigation baad mein karna. Ab mujhe Cadet Singh se kuch baat karna hai" (You can continue your investigation later. Right now I have to talk to Cadet Singh.)

Alekh left and Asha followed while everyone looked confused.

*****outside the mess*****

Alekh: "Pagal ho gayi ho kya. Kal mein ne kaha tha na ki Ridhi aur Vijay ko kuch nahi bataogi" (Are you crazy? I had told you yesterday not to tell Ridhi and Vijay anything)

Asha: "Sorry woh exciment mein bhool gayi"

Alekh: "Bulkul Naina ki tara ho, koi baat pet mein nahi reatha" (Just like Naina, you cannot keep secrets.)

Asha look up with teary eyes.

Asha: "Mein sach mein maa jaysi hoon?" (Am I really like my mom?)

Alekh very lovingly: "Bilkul waisi hi hoo, Carbon copy. Wohi aakhe, wohi naak, wohi temper... Ek aur baat hai" (You are just like her, carbon copy. Same eyes, same nose, same temper... there is also one more thing)

Asha: "woh kya?" (What is that?)

Alekh: "Mujhe uss kay aakh oo mein bhi aasu aacha nahi lagta tha, aur tumhari aakho mein bhi aacha nahi lagta" (I did not like tears in her eyes and I do not like them in yours.)

Asha smiled and wiped her tears, She was about to say something, when she saw Pri, and Shaad coming.

Pri: "Morning sir"

Alekh: "Morning Lt. Kya kar Shakta hoo mein app kay liya?" (Morning lt. What can I do for you?)

Pri: "Sir I wanted to borrow Cadet Singh for a few minutes, if you do not mind."

Asha looked up to see a confused Alekh. She inwardly smiled.

Asha: "Ma'am I will be there in"

Pri nodded and left with Shaad.

Asha one again looked at Alekh and gave a wide smile.

Alekh: "Aaisay hash kyu rahi ho? (Why are you smiling like this?)

Asha: "Kamal hai, aap ne tapoori vasa chord di, magar English nahi jantay aab tak. You are too cute" (Amazing, you no longer speak tapoori, but you still don't know English. You are too cute)

Alekh embarrassed: "Who aapun...matlab main..."

Asha continued laughing.

Alekh changing the subject: "Waisay woh hai kyon" (Who is she?)

Asha: "Kyon matlab. KMA ki staff hain" (What do you mean by who. She is a KMA staff)

Alekh: "Yeah toh mujay bhi pata hai" (I know that)

Asha: "Woh Priyanka di hai. Hum aanath aasram mein saath thay. Bilkul meri badi behen ki tara hain...aur in hai sab pata hai" (That is Priyanka di. We were together in the orphanage. She is like my big sister...and she knows everything)

Alekh: Hmmm, aur Shaad, kya uss ko bhi saab pata hai?" (Hmmm, and Shaad. Does he know everything?)

Asha nodded in positive

Alekh: "oh, KMA mein tum ne kissi ko nahi bataya, Shaad ko chord kar...kya kuch chakar hai" (Oh, You did not tell anyone is KMA, except Shaad, is there something going on?)

Asha blushing beet red: "N...nahi. Aai...aaisa ku...ch nahi...nahi hai" (No, nothing like that)

With that she ran towards Pri's cabin, and Alkeh walked back in the mess, but both failed to notice one again the Bhargav, who was hiding behind the door.

*******In the forest*******

Rajveer was sitting in something that looked like a hay stack. He had a picture in his hand, and it was the last picture of Asha and Naina that Alekh had given him. He traced the picture with his hands as tears rolled down his face.

Rajveer: "I am sorry, so sorry. Mein ne aap ne zindagi ki har kadam par haar chukka hoon. Na mein ek aacha soldier ban paya, na ek aacha mentor, na aacha dost, na aacha pata, aur na hi ek aacha pita. Kaisa aabhagi pita hoon mein, Aaj tak aapni beti ko aakh bhaar kar nahi dekh paya. Har pita ka haak hota hai ki ho aap ney baacho ko aap ne haat mein la, magar mein ne aap ne hi pair par khuladi maar di." (I am so sorry, so sorry. I have lost at each and every step of my life. I could not before a good soldier, nor a food mentor, nor a good friend, nor a good husband, nor a good father. I am such an unlucky father. Till today, I have not been able to look at my daughter until my heart filled. It is every father's right to play with their children, I have cursed myself. )

He got up and walked outside and looked at the sun.

Rajveer: "Tum mujhe se aacha pati deserve karti hoo Naina, aur Asha. Woh ek aissa saja kaat rahi hai, jo saja uss ko bina galti ki di gayi hai. Meri waja se, woh maa baad dono zinda hotay hui bhi aap ni zindagi aath aasram mein kaat thi thi. Mein tuhari maafi ki laayak toh nahi hoon, magar woh sakay toh aap ne iss aabhagi baab ko maaf kar dena beti." (You deserve a better husband Naina, and Asha. She is living a punishment that was given to her without her fault. Because of me, she spend her life in an orphanage, even though she had a father and mother. I am not worth your forgiveness, but if you can then please forgive this unlucky father of your.)

He fell down on his knees, and started pouring his eyes out as he held that picture close to his heart, and it started raining as if the gods were also for him and with him.

***************Naina's Diary*****************

Hootie and the blowfish. RV's first code that he had given us to solve. I still cannot believe that he thought that I was the one to break the code. I don't know whether to call that his believe in me, or his suspicion. However, if it had been later in the year, I am sure my name would not would not even be on his mind. Not because, he would have realized who I was, but because he would have had realized how bad I was at code breaking.

Really, Asha. I still do not get code. I was so bad in his class. He tries so hard, but codes never got through my hard head.

This might sound stupid, you know Asha, I sometime use to think that he would try to contact me through some code. This was right after you were born, I would look deeply in every single this, wanting to know if it was a message by Rajveer. I used to think that he tried to contact me, but I was too dumb for his codes and somehow missed his messages. I remember, looking through the packets of milk, or cleaning the house every 5 minutes to see if anything went unnoticed. I guess desperation drive a person crazy, but all this while Ii realized something, and I want you to know that.

Asha, even though your papa has never seen you he loves you so so so much. So what if he is not with you, he is within you. Sometimes the way you act makes me remember Rajveer. You crease your little eyebrows when you are thinking just like him. You inherited his patient, which I am really thankful for. You like the same food as him, you are caring just like him. Beta, do not ever let anyone drive you desperate, because you have everything and everyone in you. Whenever you feel like you need your dad, just close your eyes and remember him and you will find both of us. You are the luckiest child in the world to have a father like RV, and we are proud to have a daughter like you and so not ever let anyone tell you any different.

Love your

Form your mom and dad

Naina.

----------------------------------------------------

P.S--I saw your comments about old Rajveer. Even I do not like that, but I did say older then his age. Also I cannot make a guy living the forest, alone for year look young and fit can I, but I think we can all agree that Rajeev never ages and is as cute as he was in LRL days.

love

Misha