Chapter Two (d)
Rey is pacing back forth in front of ICU praying to god to keep kriya safe .He was feeling miserable somewhere he is responsible for her this condition . One more person too held him responsible for her state its none another than kriya's dadisa. She accused him for her granddaughter's suicide attempt. Yes.. Kriya tried to end her life herself.
They were on the way back to Mumbai, Mr.Shikhawat got a call from his mother saying Kriya tried to commit suicide. She had consumed poison and she immediately took her to nearest hospital.
All were rushed towards ICU when the door creaked open and doctor stepped out.
"Doctor how is Kriya...? She is out of danger na..?" Rey bombarded the doctor with questions in one breath.
"Yeah she is. You can see her after sometime. Now she is unconscious" They felt relief after listening doctor
"Beta kyon kiya Tumne aisa huh..? Ek baar bhi hamare bare me nahi socha tumne..?" A sob escaped from Neelima's lips, seeing her daughter in hospital bed her heart wrecked.
" I'm sorry Maa.. mujhe laga ab main aur Rey kabhi ek nahi ho sakti. Aap toh jaanti hain na main unke bina nahi rah sakti."
" Issiliye tum ne apni jaan lene ki koshish kiya.. Agar kuch ho jata toh..? Tum aisae kaise kar sakti ho ?" Rey questioned her, even in his wildest dream he never thought his girl friend do something like this. But she avoided his questions turned head towards her Mother and spoke
" Maa.. I'm not feeling well. My throat is dry."
"Beta.. Don't worry.. Its side effect of that sleeping pills .Everything will be fine. Take rest sometime " Mr. Shikhawat told his daughter lovingly caressing her forehead.
' Rishi... Mujhe lag raha hai sab ko yahan ruk ne ki zaroort nahi hai. Now she is fine .Waise bhi sab aise sawal jawab poochenge toh who rest kaise karegi?" Mr. Shinghnia suggested, he noticed his son who is desperate to talk to Kriya and Kria she is trying her best to avoid him ,even look at him.
"Rey.. you stay with her." He patted his son's shoulder and left the room, everyone followed him.
***
" Kriya.." He called out her, But he didn't get any response.
From past three hours he waited for her to open her eyes and talk to him. But she didn't, she pretended to sleep. He lost his patience and called out her , he was desperate talk to her.
"Kria.." He called out her, but he didn't get any responds. He tried once again.
"Kriya.. I know you are awake."
This time she opened her eyes and look at him, but didn't say a single word.
" Why are you avoiding me? What's wrong with you? You are not talking to me , do not even look at me." he asked her . Tears brimmed in his eyes, her silence was killing him.
"Please.. Now stop blaming me. It's you.. who is not ready to listen me." She said to him .
"What do you want me to listen? That..marry someone else"
" Haa.. Tum Taani se shaadi karo"
"Are you mad or what Kriya..?Tum aisae kaise kah sakti ho..?Today you are doing and speaking blunder after blunder. This suicide attempt now you are again forcing me to marry someone else. I think you lost your mind. Take some rest then only this nonsense thoughts leave your head."
He felt a soft a tug on his wrist.
" Rey... Do you really love me?"
" Kria.. ho kya gaya tumhe ? Kyon hurt kar rahi ho mujhe itna?"
" Main Tumhe hurt kar rahi hoon.. nahi Rey hurt toh aap log mujhe kar rahi hain. Ghas kar tum aur dadisa"
" Main...?"
" Haa.. Dadisa..dadisa ko mera azoom se koi fark nahi padti who kuch bhi ho jaye apni zjid nahi choragi.Aur Tum.. Tumhe sabki parwa hai. Siva mera..yahan tak Taani ki bhi jisse tum teek se jaanthi bhi nahi hai. Lekin Main jeeyum maroon tumhe koi fark nahi padti."
"Aisa nahi hai Kriya.." he tried to cup her face but she jerked his hand
"aisa hi hai Rey.. Itna kuch hone ki baad bhi tumhara decision change nahi kiya.. Abhi bhi tumhe meri fikar nahi hai.. Kissi ko bhi nahi hai. Kyon bachayi dadisa ne mujhe..? Marne ke liye chod deti wahan kamare mein. Mera marjana na hi tee.." Rey covered her mouth with his palm before she complete
" Aisa mat kaho.. Please tumhe kuch nahi hogaa... Main Taani se shaadi karoonga.."
"sach.. Rey aap Taani se shaadi karogi.. promise... ?" Her face lit up when she heard him.
" I promise you Kriya.." He wishpered to her placing his palm on her.
*****
" Rey.. Tum pagal ho gaya kya...?Main tumhe ek ladki ki zindagi barbad karne nahi doonga..''
" Maa main Kriya ko promise kiya.. aur aap ne suna na dadisa ne kiya kaha.. Dadisa ne kaha na woh Taani ki future secure karegi. Ye shaadi ki wajah se uski future spoil nahi ho jayegi."
"Beta..ye log uss bachi ki majboori ki fayada uda rahi hai.. please tum in sab ki saath mat do.. Humne tumhe ye parvarish nahi diye. ye khalti mat karo beta.. ek ladki saap apna sar par mat le lo. Tumhare ye ghalti kabhi tumhe sukun ki zindagi nahi jeene dega.." pleaded to her son , she didn't wanted her son to be reason for a innocent girls tears.
Rey hold his mother's palm in his gentle grip , he want his parents with him in this difficult situation like every other time.
"Mom.. Main jaanti hoon main ghalti kar rahi hoon .Mere pass aur koi rasta nahi hai. Main Kriya ka bina nahi rah sakta Mom.. I'm really sorry Mom.. Main aap ki Decision ki khilaf ja raha hoon.Please Mom mere saath do..iss me nahi toh hum Kriya ko Khodoonga"
" No.. Rey Main kabhi tumhara saath nahi doonga.Shyad apni Mom ki parvarish aur values ki againt jaa sakta ho lekin main nahi jaa sakthi. kissi ke liye bhi nahi" Ragini said to him in her stern voice. She is the lady who always held her moral values and ethics up high.
He knew his Mom is right, If anyother time he listened to her without second thought. But its about Kriya's lfe.her sucide attempt shook him to the death. Only one thing he knew was he can't loss her.
" Ranvijay.. Rey ko samjawo..please..Aap aisa kyon khade ho..?'' She shook her husband , who staring at their son's retrieving figure.
"Ragini..ab hum use kuch nahi samjha sakte.. Kyon ki woh kissi ki baat nahi samjhega aur nahi sunega..kabhi kabhi pyar insaan ko itna andha bana deta hai ki use sahi aur khalat ki pehchan hi nahi hota."Ranvijay tried to make her understand.He very well knew this time he didn't listen anyone.
***
" Rey.. tum jaanti ho na tum kya kar rahi ho..? Ek baar phir se socho beta..kya tum ye karna chahtha ho.. nahi toh bol do hum wapas jayege.." Ranvijay asked his son for the last time before his marriage.
They were on ancestral temple of shikhawat with Mr. Shikhawat and his mother for wedding rituals. Mrs. Singhania left to Mumbai because she didn't want to part of this marriage .Neelima was in hospital with her daughter Kriya.
"Rajeswariji.. Dhula -Dhulhan ko le aawo.."
"Ji panditji.. "
"Rey.. baitho.." Rajeswari made him sit on mandap.
"Meena.. Taani ko le aao.." Rajeswari ordered her servant.
"ji.."
He saw Meena brought her to mandap and made her sat beside him . A lump formed on his throat because of guilt. Though Kriya and her dadisa told him that Taani agreed to this one year contract marriage and promised him it didn't affect her future but it didn't help him to erase his guilt. He was in a battle between his heart and mind , whether he doing right or wrong. Then he remembered Kriya's words
" I'm sorry Maa.. mujhe laga ab main aur Rey kabhi ek nahi ho sakti. Aap toh jaanti hain na main unke bina nahi rah sakti."
"aisa hi hai Rey.. Itna kuch hone ki baad bhi tumhara decision change nahi kiya.. Abhi bhi tumhe meri fikar nahi hai.. Kissi ko bhi nahi hai. Kyon bachayi dadisa ne mujhe..? Marne ke liye chod deti wahan kamare mein. Mera marjana na hi tee.."
'I can't lose Kriya.. I have to do it for her. I won't break my promise which I made to her." He mumbled himself
Then he did all the rituals with blank face and make Taani his wife as he promised to Kriya . Took blessing from elders they were headed towards airport . Whole the journey he didn't spare a single glance at her, engrossed in his own world.
*****
Arjun
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