Arjun entered the mansion and stopped at once, it was looking like a dream with flowers, fimbrias & the grand stage on the front. The Mittal Mansion was all decked up for Rashi's marriage, which was tomorrow. Arjun's expression turned cold at once. With hasty steps he came into the hall. People were rushing here and there, the decoration was taking place there. He saw Paddy there, checking the welcome gifts for the guests,
"Aunty Rashi kahan hai...?" He asked in a hurry. Paddy tilted her head,
"ghar mein itni badi shaadi hai...bhaisaab bhi tumhe dhund rahe the...kahan the tum..." she said.
"Aunty please bataiye nah kahan hai Rashi...bahot...important kaam hai..." Arjun said ignoring her question.
Paddy got up from the sofa & looked at him,
"kya baat hai...?"
"nothing serious Aunty...just...ahhh...mein...ek...gift lene gaya tha for her...toh...socha ki..." Arjun made up the story.
"Apne kamre mein hai...woh dress..." but Arjun was already left the place without even saying a thank you to her. Paddy shook her head,
"Hamesha jaldi mein hota hai ye ladka..." she muttered.
Standing in front of Rashi's room, he took a deep breath. Which he was doing right now Rashi might feel that as wrong, but it will save her from upcoming problems & sorrows. Arjun thought & entered her room.
"Rashi..."
Rashi was having a phone call, she turned and gave him a broad smile,
"I will call you later..." she spoke in a hurried way & cut the call, then came towards Arjun she spoke,
"Bhaiii...ye sab kya hai...meri shadi ho rahi hai aur apka koi aata pata nahi hai..." Arjun smiled,
"Rashi...I have something important to talk to you..." he said, Rashi's expression changed.
"kya baat hai bhai...you look so worried..."
"Rashi...please ye shadi maat kar..." Arjun said in one breath. Looking at him for a moment Rashi burst out in laughing.
"Apka pjs...seriously bhai..."
"Rashi I am not joking...Vicky aisa nahi hai...jaisa tu soch rahi hai...he is marrying you because of some stupid deal...its just a business Rashi...I can't let you marry him...he is a jerk..."
Rashi's smile was gone by now. Arjun's voice was cold. She couldn't believe her own ears.
"Stop it bhaiii...just stop it..." She cried. "kal meri shadi hai aur aap aaj ye sab bol rahe hai?"
Arjun hold her shoulders,
"Rashi...mujhe thode din pehle hi pata chala...aur isliye...dekh...I am your brother...mein tere saath aisa hone nahi de sakta..." Arjun said.
"Brother!!!!" Rashi smiled, "Pata hai bhai you were my best friend...lekin phir mere liye apka waqt hi kahan tha...aur phir Vicky aya...usne mujhe woh sara pyaar diya jo shayed mujhe kisine kabhi nahi diya tha...aur I fell in love with him..." Her eyes were filled with tears.
"Mujhe nahi janna bhai woh mujhse pyaar karte hai ki nahi hai, koi deal hai ya nahi hai...kyun ki mujhe kuch farak hi nahi padhta...I love Vicky & that's enough for me..." Rashi said.
Arjun tried to say something, one last try to convince her,
"Thik hai...meri baat maat sun tum, Arohi ko toh trust karti hai nah...ja jake usse puch lo..." Then he heaved a sigh & stepped a bit closer to her,
"Rashi tu hamare liye...mere liye...bahot important hai...mana meine tujhe pyaar nahi diya...dad ne tujhe attention nahi diya...iss family se tujhe woh pyaar nahi mila jo tu deserve karti hai...lekin hum sabko saza dene keliye Vicky se shadi karna bahot foolish decision hai Rashi..."
"Saza...mein kisiko kya saza dun bhai...ap hi bataiye...kal meri shadi hai...aur aaj agar mein mana karu...apko andaza bhi hai dad ko kitna insult sehna padega...mere liye meri family bahot important hai...aur mein apne liye unlogon ko hurt nahi kar sakti..."
"Rashi..." Arjun tried again,
"ye bhai hone ki zimmedari ap thode pehle pura karte toh nahi aaj ye din mujhe dekhna padhta aur na hi apko..." she turned back,
"apko aur kuch kehna hai..." her cold voice approached him. Arjun shook his head, "nahi"
"Toh ap ab jaiye bhai...mujhe shadi ki taiyari bhi karni hai..."
Heaving a sigh, he came outside the door & Rashi closed it behind him. When he turned he saw Rudrapratap there. His excessively cold eyes were set on him,
"Ho gaya...Rashi ko convince karna..."
Arjun said nothing, Rudrapratap said again,
"Ab please shanti se ye shadi hone doge tum?"
Arjun smirked,
"Pata hai Dad, aap mein aur mujh mein nah bahot dissimilarities hai...par bas ek similarity hai...agar ap Rudrapratap Singhania hai...toh mein bhi Arjun Singhania hu dad...ap ziddi hai toh mein double ziddi hun...meine agar kaha hai ye shadi nahi hogi toh ye shadi nahi hogi dad...chahe kuch bhi ho jaye..." Saying this Arjun left. Rudrapratap looked at his pathway.
Arohi was lying on the bed when she heard a subtle knock on the door. She didn't respond. After a moment the door knob rolled & the door got opened. Savita entered. Arohi didn't know what to say to her, still she got up & sat on the bed, cross-legged.
"Arohi...I am really sorry..." Savita said sitting beside her. "I didn't mean to slap you...but tum hamari ek lauti beti ho...hum tumhe koi bhi cheez keliye force nahi kar sakte we know that...but tumhe dukh nein bhi hum nahi dekh sakte beta..."
Arohi looked at her, her eyes were teary as well as Arohi's.
"I know Ma...mein uss baat keliye naraz nahi hun...its just...I am...I just want to live this phase of my life by myself...mujhe pata hai...ab dono mere liye jo bhi sochenge...karenge...woh best decision hoga...lekin...pyaar aur shadi decision leke thodi kiya jata hai Ma..." Arohi hold Savita's hand. She nodded,
"I can understand. Toh ab...tumne Rohan se baat ki?"
"Nahi...aaj karnewali hun..." Arohi said.
"Aur Arjun se...?" Savita asked. This question was unexpected, but what Arohi had said, sometimes earlier about Arjun & how much she loved him, it was quite normal for her mother to ask her this question.
"Nahi...uske liye I need time...I love him...but jitni baar bhi mein use maaf karne jati hun woi raat yaad aa jata hai Ma...aur khud pe bahot gussa aata hai..." Arohi kept her head low. Savita heaved a sigh.
"Beta tumne kaha ki ye phase ko kaise sambhalna hai tum khud decide karna chahti ho...par agar tum iss sab ke baad bhi Arjun ko hi choose karte ho then I think tumhe ab apne aap ko maaf kar dena hoga Arohi...yehi waqt hai..." Savita said.
Arohi nodded silently.
Savita patted her cheeks & got up.
"Bas hum tumhe khush dekhna chahte hai beta..."
"Yes Ma..." She smiled. Savita left the room.
Arohi took her phone & send a message to Shefali & went to dress-up.
Arjun parked the car beside the road & leaning on the seat. Rashi wasn't believing him, Dad was not listening to him & Arohi was sad. Everything was complicated & Arjun didn't know how to fix all this. If it was any normal situation Salil would be with him & Arjun could have gotten some ideas from Salil, but Salil...well Salil was not quite himself at this moment, Arjun was confused.
Arohi entered the same coffee shop & find that like that day Rohan was sitting there on a corner table. "Hi...sorry...meine aise urgently bulaya...and I don't have your number so...Shefali...ke through karna pada..." Arohi said while sitting in front of him.
"I guess...uss din jo huya uske liye already tumne mujhe maaf kar diya..." Rohan smiled in a worried way. Arohi smiled & nodded,
"Actually Rohan I am sorry...we were not even friends...bachpan mein bas 2-3 baar hum mile the...aur uss din jab suddenly you told me about shaadi and all...mujhe bahot ajeeb laga & I did overreact..."
"Arohi...you don't need to give me any explanation..."Rohan smiled, "I know I made that mistake...and...and..." he stopped & looked at her,
"And...?" Arohi frowned.
"He is your boyfriend right?" Rohan's question gave her a sudden jerk. The mention of him brought a jitter through her spine at once.
"Ah...Rohan...it's...uhhh..." there was no answer to this question.
"Complicated?" Rohan asked.
"Thoda..." Arohi said, embarrassed.
"Thoda nahi Arohi...yehi reason hai nah tumhe shadi ki baat ajeeb lagi...well I think it's quite understandable." Rohan said. "Waise bhi I am not that kind of a guy jo ye saab cheezon mein force karega...so you don't worry..." he checked the time & stooped a bit,
"Mujhe ab jana chahiye...kal early morning flight hai mera..." Rohan got up. Arohi got up too.
"Tum..."
But Rohan stopped her,
"Its ok Arohi...you said we were not even friends...so we can be friends from now on..." he smiled & stretched his hand.
Arohi took his hand,
"Oh and one important thing, he really loves you...& you can totally trust me on this..." Rohan said & seeing Arohi's weird expression he laughed,
"I am a guy & I know that murderous look he had given to me the other day... achha I am really going to be late...hopefully you will invite me to your wedding...bye" saying this he left. Arohi heaving a sigh of relief.
After a moment, Arohi got out of the coffee shop, she didn't expect that Rohan will understand this that easily. She typed a short message to Shefali & came towards the road to cross it. The evening crowd was not much today, Arohi smiled to see Shefali's reply & was about to type something funny when a coarse sound deafen her & two bright lights blocked her sight, disbelief & fear filled her mind as she felt a rough hit in her abdomen & with the whole scenario became black in front of her eyes, she fell down at once in a jolt and her head thrashed on the rough cold road. In between the dizziness & darkness, she felt two warm hands pulling her closer, a voice which was shaking, "Arohiii...you will be alright...damnnn...Arohi...tumhe kuch nahi hoga..." she knew the voice, knew the touch, as she tried to open her eyes to see him for one last time...a sharp pain ran down her back to her feet. Everything got darker in front of her & she collapsed.
Arjun was still holding Arohi's lifeless hand,she was unconscious, lying on a stretcher, the ward boys were taking it towards the OT. The pillow was all bloody, fresh blood was still oozing out from her wounded temple. As the stretcher went inside the OT, their hands parted. The door got closed & the red sign flickered on. Arjun leaned on the side wall, resting his head on it. The one side of his shirt was all drenched with the blood, he was numb, shaking from within. After a moment he brought out his phone & messaged Salil & Shefali about the incident.
45 minutes later:
The last time Arjun met her, she was sad, was crying, she wanted some answer from Arjun. And Arjun was confused too, as of all the time he only witnessed Arohi's anger & rudeness, he didn't know if Arohi wanted to hear the same thing from him which he wanted to tell her. Arjun startled a bit as he felt a warm touch on his shoulder, turning his face he saw Salil.
"Arohi..." Arjun got up at once,
"OT mein leke gaye hai..." he barely could speak. "Salil she was in a severe state...Arohi theek ho jayegi nah...?" Arjun's shaky voice ventured. Salil nodded while placing a hand on his shoulder,
"Of course...Arohi bilkul theek ho jayegi...tu khud ko sambhal please..."
"Kaise sambhalu yaar...uski woh halaat..." Arjun shook his head, Salil said nothing, as he knew that Arjun was dying inside.
At the moment two doctors came outside from the OT, they were tensed & were discussing something. Salil signaled Arjun,
"Doctor...doctor...how is she...I mean Arohi..." Arjun asked, panting with anticipation.
"She is still not out of danger, there is too much internal bleeding happening, we are trying our level best...ah...but..." the doctor stopped,
"But what doctor...?" Arjun said.
"We need to do another operation, there is an internal haemorrhage and for that you need to sign a bond..." another doctor said.
"What kind of operation is this? She will be all right after this...please tell me yes...!!" Arjun was almost pleading,
"Please call her family members. We need to do the operation as soon as possible..." The doctor said in a gentle voice.
"I will do it..." Arjun replied.
"Ap...Rudrapratapji ke bete hai nah...?" The doctor asked. Arjun nodded,
"Arohi...apki...?"
"She is my...my...fiance" He uttered. Salil looked at him, shocked & surprised.
"Well...then...please go to the reception & sign the bond..." The doctor said & left.
"I am just coming..." Arjun said to Salil & left towards the reception desk.
Arjun & Salil both were sitting silent there. The operation was still going on, a bit earlier a nurse went inside the OT with two bags of blood. With the time passing by a fear was engulfing him. "Arjun Singhania...ab aur kya chahte ho tum...?" A sharp voice approached him tearing the silence. Arjun turned aside & got up at once, it was Arohi's dad Hariprasad, standing in front of him, beside him was her mother, whom Shefali was holding. He clutched Arjun's shirt,
"Dekha...tum meri beti ko kahan se kahan le aya...tumhare saath woh zindagi bitane ki khwab dekhi thi...aur tumne use maut ke samne khada kar diya...ab kya...?tamasha dekhna hai...?"
Arjun kept his head low,
"Woh mere ankho ke samne...mujhe bas Arohi ko ekbar..." his voice was drowning,
"Uska naam bhi maat lo tum...ek lauti beti hai woh meri...aur usse agar kuch huya..." Hariprasad didn't complete his sentence.
At the moment the light went off, and a doctor came outside & opened the mask,
"Arohi...meri beti...how is she? Operation kaisa raha?" Hariprasad asked,
"Operation is successful...par jaise ki meine kahan internal bleeding hone ki wajah se...she is not totally out of danger...jab tak uski sense wapas na aa jaye...hum kuch nahi bata sakte.. just pray that she gains her senses as soon as possible...or else woh coma mein chali jayegi..." The doctor said & left.
After a moment the stretcher came out, where Arohi was lying, still unconscious, half of her face was covered with the mask & one nurse was holding the oxygen bottle.
"Arohiii..." Savita cried out by her name. Tears were flowing down from her cheeks, Shefali holds her,
"She will be alright aunty..." shefali said controlling her tears.
After some time the nurse came & announced that they have shifted Arohi in the ICU & now they can meet her but one person at a time. Arjun was sitting dejectedly on a chair, he got up & was about to go towards the same when he heard Hariprasad's voice from the back,
"Ruko..." Arjun stopped, "Kahan ja rahe ho?"
"Arohi se..." Arjun mumbled. "Koi jaruraat nahi hai..." Hariprasad said, Arjun tried to protest but before that Hariprasad accused him again, "kiska permission leke tumne bond sign kiya tha? Haan? Aur kya kahan hai tumne...Arohi tumhari fiance hai? Itni badi decision lene se pehle hume pucha tak nahi..." Arjun said nothing,
"Arohi keliye na hamesha pyaar equals to tum the..." Shefali's voice came, Arjun looked at her, "Mein use samjhane ki bahot kaushish karti thi lekin kya karu...best friend hai woh meri..." Shefali smiled, "lekin kaash mein thoda aur jor dalti...dosti khatam karne ki threat deti...haan woh naraz hoti...lekin aisi halaat mein nahi hoti..." Before Arjun Salil spoke,
"Mujhe samaj mein nahi aa raha aap sab Arjun ko kyun accuse kar rahe hai...woh khud Arohi ko yahaan laya hai..." Shefali folded her hands,
"Bahot bada ehsaan kiya hai...aap please bata dijiyega kaise hun ye ehsaan chukaye..." She said looking at Salil, then turned to Arjun she went on, "Kya chahti thi Arohi...pyaar...hamesha kehti thi Arjun hi mera soulmate hai...soulmate huh..." Shefali shook her head, "tumne jo kiya nah Arjun koi bhi ladki pyaar toh dur...pyaar ka naam se hi darega..."
"Shefali..." Salil said,
"Ruk ja Salil...Shefali ko bolne de..." Arjun said.
"Shefali kya bolegi..." Hariprasad said, "Kuch bhi ho sakta tha Arjun...meri beti mar bhi sakti thi...aur uske liye tum zimmedar hote...waise bhi Arohi mare aur jiye tumhe kya farak padhta hai...hai nah?" Arjun's jaw stiffened, but he didn't say anything.
"Aur isiliye tumhara koi haq nahi hai ki tum Arohi ke pass jao...yahaan use dekhne keliye uski family hai...tumhara koi zaruraat nahi hai...Ek baar nahi bar bar mara hai tumne use...ab aur kya chahte ho?"Hariprasad said.
"Mein...bas ekbar Arohi se milna chahta hun..." Arjun's meek voice sounded more weak, "Haan meine bond sign kiya...lekin mein aur kya karta...Arohi ko marne deta? Sorry sir...ap mujhe jo chahe samjhiye...lekin sach toh ye hai mujhe farak padhta hai...har ek cheez jo meine Arohi ke saath kiya ussse farak padhta hai...kyun ki mein Arohi se pyaar karta hun...aur ap mujhe usse milne se nahi rok sakte..." Arjun said, Hariprasad was staring at him.
"Mein apko hurt nahi karna chahta kyun ki Arohi apse bahot pyaar karti hai...mein bas itna chahta hun ki Arohi theek ho jaye...mein use Coma mein jane nahi de sakta...aur apne hi kahan nah Arohi mere saath zindagi bitane ke sapne dekhe the...toh ap hi bataiye...mein woh sapna kaise na pura karu...Please mujhe ek bar jane dijiye...please..." Arjun folded his hands.
"Tum jao..."
Savitri's feeble voice came & made Hariprasad turned at her,
"Savita tum..."
"Apne jo kuch bhi kaha abhi woh sab sach hai...uske saath ye bhi sach hai ki Arohi Arjun se pyaar karti hai...iss waqt uska haq Arohi pe sabse jyada hai..."
Hariprasad said nothing, he just sat on the chair holding his temples.
"Jao..." Savita said looking at Arjun. Arjun nodded & left.
Arjun entered to the ICU room in a sluggish way. In that silence, only the sound of the monitor could be heard. Arohi was lying on the bed, still wearing the mask. Her limp hands were resting on her chest. Her breathing was slow. While looking at her an intense pain balled in a lump in his throat. He sat on the chair, beside her bed.
(Teri nighahon ke , teri hi rahon ke
Qareeb se gayi zindagi...)
Taking her hand in his, Arjun closed his eyes, one by one all the moments, which they had spent together, came like a gust of wind, with only one thought that it was love from the very beginning. He didn't understand, or maybe didn't even try to understand & that's why Arohi is here, lying in front of him...to give him the realization that it was only love...he had fallen for her on the day when Arohi's scarf had stuck in his cycle...and still falling for her...& the deepness of the love was increasing with the each passing day.
(Tujhe kyun dekha na , tujhe kyun jana nah
Shikayatein karu ya, nahi)
"Arohi...mein tumse bahot kuch kehna chahta tha...lekin aise haal mein kehna padega...meine kabhi nahi socha tha..."he stopped, & then looking at her he started saying again, "Tumhe woh Park ki meeting yaad hai...kaise tum girnewali thi aur meine tumhe pakad liya tha...aur tumhara woh scarf jo abhi tak mere pass hai..." he smiled a little, "Pata hai Arohi...usi din...pehli bar meine tumhe qareeb se dekha tha...tumhari ankho mein jo narazgi thi...gussa tha...dard tha...woh bhi dekha tha...aur uske baad se jab bhi qismaat ne hume milaya uss dard mein main bhi behta chala gaya...jo mujhe pata bhi nahi chala..."
(Thami hai ye sasein , bhari hai ankhein
Sahu kaise , ab ye faasla)
"Woh jungle ki raat...ye sari batein meine tumse usi din kehna chahta tha...lekin jab tumne kahan ki hume aur milna nahi chahiye...mere andar kuch maar gaya tha Arohi...pata nahi woh kya tha...lekin dar tha...aur jab tumhe aaj aise iss halat mein dekha meine...woh dar aise zinda ho gaya mere andar...meri saansein ruk gayi thi Arohi...ab tum hi batao ye pyaar nahi toh phir kya hai...?
(Bin tere bin tere , bin tere
Koi khalish hai , hawaon mein bin tere)
Arohi was still not moved a bit, she was still unconscious, a strand of hair was covered her forehead, Arjun gently wiped it off, but her cold body again gave him the fear of Arohi to get into coma engulfed him again, Arjun shook his head,
"Arohi...Arohi please...tumhari sari narazgi...gussa...sab sehen ne keliye taiyaar hun mein...but please...kuch toh bolo Arohi...aise maat karo...I am sorry Arohi...I am so sorry...meine itna galat kaise kiya tumhare saath...kyun kiya Arohi..." Arjun closed his eyes, tear drops started rolling down from his cheeks & fell on Arohi's hand, "please mujhe maaf kar do...aise saza maat do mujhe...tumne mere saath zindagi bitana chahti thi nah...mein bhi woi chahta hun Arohi...maana meine late kar diya ye kehne mein...lekin agar mere zindagi mein koi ek sachhai hai toh woh bas tum ho...bas tum...I love you...I love you Arohi..." his words drowned in tears, he felt a soft touch on his shoulder, it was Salil...beside him Shefali was standing, but before he could say anything, Arjun rushed outside the ICU. But as soon as he left the place, Arohi opened her eyes sluggishly, she looked at his pathway, she wanted to go to him, Arjun's pain was bothering her too but she didn't stop him only a tear drop fell from her eyes.
"Ho gaya tumhara...mil liya usse...ab please jao yahan se..." The sharp voice made them both startled, Arjun knew it was Hariprasad, he got up but kept his head down,
"Chala jayunga...par usse pehle mein ap logon se maafi mangna chahta hun...I know...mujhe maaf karna ap logon keliye impossible hai...par trust me mujhe bhi utna hi takleef ho raha hai...mujhe nahi pata mein apne aap se nazar mila payunga ya nahi...lekin agar aap log mujhe maaf kar denge toh mein shayed khudko maaf kar pau..." Saying this he left the place before anyone could said anything & came outside of the hospital, Salil came running behind him,
(Kuch bacha hi nahi , darmiyan
Saans leti hai , ab ye dooriyan)
Arjun was standing leaning on the car, Salil stood beside him, he knew that Arjun is totally shattered but didn't know how to console him.
"Arjun...tu aise toot jayega toh Arohi..."
But Arjun had been already shaking his head,
"Mujhe nahi pata Salil...kya karu...kaise karu...kuch samaj nahi aa raha...woh agar coma mein chali gayi toh..."
(Dil nahi janta rahon mein
Haath se haath choote the kahan
Kyun nazar ke kinare
Tute hai khawab sare...tu bata)
"Tu dil se usse pyaar karta hai nah...?" Salil said.
Arjun nodded, "mere zindagi mein bas Arohi hi hai jo mujhe pyaar karna shikhaya hai...feelings kya hota hai woh shikhaya hai...aur mein use nahi kho sakta Salil..." He closed his eyes & Arohi's blood stained face came vividly in front of him, her pain-ridden eyes...everything was still haunting him. Tear drop trickled down from Arjun's eyes.
(Soona soona sama hai
Khali khali jahan hai ab mera
Bin tere bin tere bin tere
Koi khalish hai hawaon mein bin tere)
"I am so dumb...mein itna bura kyun hun Salil?" Arjun said.
"Kisne kahan ki tu bura hai? Bas tera timing thoda kharab hai...thode din pehle realize karta toh..." As soon as Salil said that Arjun hugged him,
"Mujhe bas Arohi chahiye Salil...mein use iss halaat mein nahi dekh sakta...usse thik kar de please...mujhe usse face to face ye sab batana hai...mujhe uski chehre ki hasi dekhna hai Salil..." he said.
"Sab theek ho jayega yaar...Sab theek ho jayega..." Salil hushed.
"Arjun...aaj Rashi ki shadi hai..." After a long pause Salil uttered, "Aaj...?" Arjun frowned.
"Subah honehiwala hai..." Salil said.
Arjun noticed that the sky has turning to get lighter, it was 3:30. Arjun took a long breath & looked at Salil,
"Salil...tune kahan tha ki mein jo bhi karu tu mera saath dega...now is the time...tu pakka saath dega nah?" Arjun asked.
Salil nodded, "Par...tu karega kya..."
"Arohi ko diya huya wada nivayunga..." Arjun said in a steady voice making Salil baffled & anxious.
Geet - Hui Sabse Parayee
Advocate Anjali Awasthi
55