~A New Threat~
Arjun was driving the car & Arohi was sitting beside him - calm & lifeless. There was only silence between them. From the corner of his eyes Arjun looked at her & found that she was staring at the road - her eyes were so flat as if they were made by cardboard. The car was moving in a high speed tearing the darkness of the night. Arjun was angry plus disheartened plus dejected - all of by himself. Arjun noticed that Arohi was crying - tears were rolling down from her cheeks. But he was silent as he was trying to find the word which could soothed her right now.
"Koi agar kuch ulta sidha bole toh us mei mera kya qasoor hai?" Arjun spoke after a long, breaking the silence. Arohi didn't move a bit, she wiped her tears & remained in the same pose. "Aise achanak chali ayi...mujhe kuch kehne ka mouka bhi nahi diya..." Arjun said again & looked at the empty road.
"Abhi bhi tumhe kuch kehna hai?" Arohi's voice came from beside him, her voice was pale & tired. She has lost everything, hope - love - self-respect. "Apni personal life mei aur kya kya karte ho tum? Meri jaisi aur kitni ladkiyan hai? jiske saath Vicky aur tum...?"
"Arohiii!!" Arjun yelled to stop her, as he couldn't bear Arohi to repeat those things again. He took a deep breath & nodded, "Haan, Mumbai mei bahot sare ladkiyan mere peche ghumte hai...but that doesn't mean I..." & he stopped & then staring at her he spoke again, "Arohi Mumbai mei jo kuch bhi hai woh mera past hai, past sabka hota hai...lekin ab mei tumse pyaar karta hun...tumhare liye kaha kaha nahi gaya mai...uss gande slum, uss hospital...tumhe woh sab achha lagta hai I know...but mujhe nahi lagta...phir bhi mai gaya because I love you"
Disbelieve overcasted Arohi's eyes. She looked at Arjun with a stunned expression,
"Woh ganda slum, hospital woi meri zindagi hai Arjun..."
"Toh ye bhi meri zindagi hai" his voice rose a bit higher, "Tumhe toh meri har cheez se problem hai...agar itni problem hai toh ayi hi kyun thi?"
Arohi nodded & tears welled up in her eyes,
"Kyun ki mai tumse pyaar karti hun Arjun, aur mujhe laga tha tum bhi mujhse pyaar karte ho aur isliye hamare pyaar ko thoda sa izzat doge..."
Arjun closed his eyes as he tried to compose himself,
"Mai bhi tumse pyaar karta hun Arohi, isliye tumhari duniya ko accept karne ka try hi toh kar raha tha main..."
Arohi looked outside from the window & said,
"You failed Arjun, Shayed main tumhe achhi lagi thi, lekin pyaar kabhi nahi kar paye, tumhare dil mein hamesha raha hai ye woh ladki hai jise tumne humiliate kiya tha aur isliye tum apni guilt ko pyaar ka naam de diya..." She closed her eyes, "Akhirkar, mai tumhare liye ek guilt hi reh gayi...pyaar nahi ban payi" Her voice chocked as fresh tears oozed out from her eyes.
"Iss mei pity guilt kahan se aa gaya...main jaan bujhke hi tumse pyaar kiya hai" Arjun was agitated & he took a rash turn.
"Sab kuch nahi jan paye Arjun...aur jan na possible bhi nahi hai..." Arohi's eyes were piercing him, "kyun ki tumhare aur mere beech bahot differences hai...tumhari duniya aur meri duniya puri tarah se alag hai..."
"Kya alag hai?" Arjun's voice was raising, "Kya alag hai batao...kya alag hai...?" Arohi kept silent & turned her face towards the window.
"Woh sab jhooth hai Arohi...tum Vicky ko trust kar rahi ho? Vicky ko? Woh jalta hai mujhse...badla le raha hai...kyun nahi samaj rahi ho tum?" Arjun yelled again.
"Chillao maat Arjun" Arohi said, "Insaan do bar sach bolta hai, jab woh mar raha hota hai aur jab woh drunk hota hai..."
Arjun banged his fist on the steering wheel & then faced Arohi,
"Okay...Fine I accept main woh sab Salil ko kaha tha...lekin aisa matlab mera kabhi nahi tha..."
Arohi said nothing, she sobbed.
"Arohi...please rona bandh karo...kyun ro rahi ho?"
"Arjun mujhe ye sab achha nahi lagta..." She said while sobbing. Arjun grabbed her hand,
"Kya achha nahi lagta? batao..." His voice was on peak.
"Jis nazariya se tum zindagi ko dekhte ho mai nahi dekh apyungi Arjun...aur..." But before she could complete Arjun's rageful voice exclaimed,
"Aur kya? Aur isliye tum mujhe chodke chali jaogi?" Anger was prominent in his face. "Aur kitni bar mujhe prove karna padega that I love you...love you...love you..." But just that moment Arohi's eyes stuck on the road & she saw a small tea stall there in which direction the car was moving in a high speed. Arohi couldn't fathom what happened after that as a light blinded her & she screamed,
"Arjunnn"
"Damn" Arjun tried to press the break but it was late, the car collided with the shop at once "Maaa" as all the utensils & everything fell on the ground a sharp cry of a boy pierced the tranquility of the night.
And with a rash break Arjun stopped his bike at once. The force of the break made Chotu bumped with Arjun as he was sitting on the back. The way the past has entangled him with all the mistakes he has made, with Arohi's pain, with all the deeds - that he has forgotten the present. That accident still haunts him, still makes him guilty of Raju's loss. He was panting - as he stopped the bike. His hands were trembling. Chotu got down from the bike as he understood that something was wrong with him.
"Kya huya Sahib...kya..." He stopped in the middle of the sentence as he realized that Arjun's bike was standing an inch far from a truck. A fear enveloped his face. "Sahib..." Looking at Arjun Chotu put a hand on his arm, "Tum thik ho nah?"
Arjun nodded & took out his sunglasses, craning his neck he saw that the road was completely blocked by the cars & trucks.
"Samne kya huya hai?" Arjun asked Chotu, Chotu tried to see what was happening in the front but he couldn't understand anything. He banged his hand on the truck,
"Arey kaun aise raste ke beech gadi khada karke gaya hai..." He yelled & then looked at Arjun he said,
"Tum yahi ruko Sahib...mai dekh ke ata hun" & he left.
The road was stuck with two cars which has blocked the two sides of the road. A man was sitting on the bonnet of one of the cars. He was wearing a white dhoti & a white kurta with a turban in his head. A red tilak on his forehead showing his pride & ego. He was chewing a pan, beside him 10-12 men were standing with guns in their hands. The crowd which has gathered there - fright & panic was prominent in their faces.
"Maneh thare ko kaha tha apni beti ko sambhal ke rakhna...lekin lagat hai mahri baat thare kano tak pahocha hi nahi..." He said looking straight at the man standing the other side. He was a bit young in comparison to him, he was wearing a white kurta & pajama with a blue waistcoat. He didn't have any turban in his head & he too was accompanying by several mans with guns.
"Bhagwantji" He spoke in a sonorous tone, "Manta hun meri beti galati kiya hai, lekin uss galati mein apka beta ka bhi pura saath hai..."
For a second, Bhagwant's eyes burned in anger but he covered it up with a crook smile,
"Bhulo maat Devendra, woh beta hai mera...aur kya pata teri beti ne hi use behlaya hoga...fuslaya hoga..." He laughed as he spat on the ground.
"Apka beta koi dudh pita bachha nahi hai aur waise bhi pyaar karna kabse gunah ho gaya Bhagwantji...agar aap ko ye gunah lagta hai toh apka soch galad hai..." Devendra said in a calm yet firm tone & at once Bhagwant yelled in his coarse voice,
"Eee Kasaniya ki aulaad!!" He got down from the car bonnet & grabbed his collar, "Mukhiya banke bahot tevar dikha raha hai...mahre ko sahi galad shikhayega tu...mahre ko?!!" And all the men standing there guarding Devendra pointed their guns at Bhagwant & as an answer to that Bhagwant's men pointed their guns to them. The people standing there stepped backward in fear.
"Ye sab kya hai? Kaun hai ye log?" Chotu startled & looked at his side, where Arjun was standing with a confused look.
"woh jo aadmi chilla raha hai woh Bhagwant Ishwarsena hai...aur dusra Devendra Kasaniya...Luna ka mukhiya..." Chotu replied.
"Lekin ye ho kya raha hai...hume chalna bhi hai...hum kab tak aise khade hoke tamasha dekhenge?" Arjun said in an irritated tone & tried to go forward when two men from the crowd stopped him,
"Kya kar rahe hai ap Sahib? maat padiye unlogon ke beech..."
"Lagta hai in dono ke bachhe ek dusre ke saath bhage hai...ab ye dono kisiko nahi chodenge..." Someone commented.
"Aree phir bhi Mukhiya ji toh bahot achhe hai...lekin uss Bhagwant...woh toh rakshash hai...kitno ka jaan lega raam hi jane..." Someone remarked. Arjun shook his head & folded his hands & just then his eyes stuck with a small shop, from behind it, someone was looking at the crowd, she was wearing a burqa, and as soon as her eyes met with Arjun she hide herself in an instant. Arjun frowned.
Devendra raised his hands to stop his men, they put the guns down. He released himself from Bhagwant's grip & spoke,
"Mai apko dobara bol raha hun Bhagwantji...ye hinsa chod dijiye aur sulah kar lijiye...hinsa se kabhi kisika bhala nahi huya hai..."
Bhagwant narrowed his eyes for a second & then came a bit closer to him,
"Kahi aisa toh nahi tune hi undono ko chupake rakah ho...tujhe toh bada shauk hai nah naya taur tarike apnane ka..." He hissed.
"Ji nahi..." Devendra replied.
"Aur karne ka sochna bhi maat...nahi toh tujhe aur tere kasaniya jaat ko yehi gaad denge..." He screamed & his men cheered in wrath from behind.
"Please ap apne gadi hata lijiye...hume jana hai..." A voice came as soon as the cheer subsided. Bhagwant & Devendra both turned back & a young boy there. As Chotu realised what Arjun had done he ran sweeping the crowd & stand beside him.
"Tu kaun hai?" Bhagwant looked at him.
"Ye...ye Sahib hai...seher se aye hai...hume woh...Dadsar jana hai..." Before Arjun Chotu replied on behalf of him. Bhagwant came forward Arjun & smiled,
"Seher se aya hai...isliye nahi janta...bhale hi mukhiya Devendra ho...iss ganv ke log darte mujhse hi hai...iss tarah se aaj tak kisine mujhse baat nahi ki..."
Arjun smiled too, "Kyun ki mai apse darta nahi hun...ap please apka gadi hata lenge...?"
Bhagwant's face redden with anger, and as he took a step forward Devendra came & put his hand on Arjun's shoulder,
"Bhagwantji...jaise aap apke bete ko dhund rahe hai...hum bhi apni beti ko hi dhund rahe hai...aur mujhe pura yakeen hai ki dono hi mil jaynege...aur jab woh milenge hum unhe..."
"Kaat ke fek denge..." Bhagwant said in a loud tone. Arjun's widened. He couldn't believe what he just heard. How can a father kill his own child? Bhagwant went towards his car, he opened the door but before boarding, turning at the crowd he exclaimed,
"Iss jameen mei apne jaat ke bahar ki logon se pyaar karna hamesha se gunah tha aur gunah rahega...agar kisine usko badal ne ki kaushis bhi kiya toh natiza achha nahi hoga...Bhagwant Ishwarsena hai hum...yaad rakhna..." Saying this he sat inside, the door closed & the car moved in a rush following by 2 more cars. After they left Devendra looked at Arjun,
"Dadsar kyun ja rahe hai aap?"
"Kisiko dhundne..." Arjun gave a small reply. Devendra smiled.
"Ajeeb hai!! Aaj jise dekho woi kisi na kisi ko dhund rahe hai...ummed karta hun jo aap dhund rahe woh apko mil jaye..."
"Thank you" Arjun said, Devendra smiled & moved on.
As the crowd cleared the area, Arjun looked here & there & instead of going towards the bike, he went towards the small shop. Chotu was confused.
"Kidhar ja rahe hai Sahib?"
But Arjun didn't give any answer & stopped in front of the shop. It was closed. Chotu wanted to ask him something more but Arjun signed him to stop. He gradually came to the backside of it & saw that burqa cladded girl sitting there & with her was a young boy. They were tired, fear stricken & injured. Their arms & forehead has multiple wounds.
"Kaun ho tum dono? Aise chup ke kyun baithe ho?"
Arjun's voice stirred up their equilibrium & a fear struck them at once,
"Hume please kuch maat kariye...hume please chod dijiye..." The girl begged.
"Aree it's ok..." Arjun was startled by their sudden gesture, "Relax...main kuch nahi karunga...mai samaj gaya...daro maat...dekho...main tum dono ka madad karne aya hun" Arjun said. They both looked at each other. They couldn't believe that a unknown person wants to help them.
"Ap - ap kyun karenge...hamari madad?" The boy asked.
"Kyun ki yehi sahi hai..." Arjun said. The boy tried to stand up but winced in pain at once. Arjun hold his hands & saw that his leg has a deep cut too.
"Tum dono ko abhi doctor ke pass chalna hoga...aise rahe toh bahot jald septic ho jayega...Lekin yahan doctor..." Arjun looked at the road. It was a barren land with no sign of any clinic. When Chotu said,
"Haan Sahib...yahan se thode dun ek dawaikhana hai..."
Arjun nodded & looked at them,
"Tum dono chal paoge nah?"
"Ji..." They said.
They came to a small medical clinic. The outer side was decrepit with damp walls & faded colours. While entering Chotu stopped Arjun,
"Kya huya?" He asked.
"Sahib...tum yahan baitho...mai dono ko leke jata hun...pata nahi dactar kaisa hoga...kuch ulta sidha sawal puch sakta hai...mai jata hun...sambhal lunga..."
"Thik hai..." Arjun nodded & sat on the bench on the lobby while Chotu went towards the doctor's chamber with them.
The chamber was a small room. A small table was situated on a side of the room & a bed was on the other side. The walls were full of the posters of various madical campaignes. On the table there was a name plate. Chotu came to the front & tried to utter the doctor's name,
"A...a..."
"Dr. Arohi Sharma...kya huya hai?" The voice came in such a sudden way that Chotu startled & stepped back,
"Mahre ko kuch huya ko nahi...in dono ko huya hai..." He pointed towards the couple. Arohi looked at them & hold their hands at once & with caremade them sit on the bed.
"Itne sare chot...kaise?" She asked, while checking the wounds.
"Woh hum - hum - bhag rahe the...toh..." The girl said & looked at the boy, he gave her a nod.
"Samaj gayi..." Arohi heaved a sigh exclaimed,
"Chachaa...jaldi idhar aao"
Here, while sitting on the bench Arjun's mind travelled to the old days when he was unaware of the real problems of human lives & how they fight each & every minute to survive. That day, Arjun had went to meet Arohi at her hospital.
Flashback :
"Arjun..." Arohi looked surprised.
"Doctor didi, main thik toh ho jayungi nah...?" The patient said looking at her, she nodded, "Bilkul thik ho jaogi...bahar se medicine le lena..."
She left & Arjun sat on the chair in front of her.
"Kya huya hai?"
"Pareshaan hun" Arjun said.
"Haan woh toh lga hi raha hai...par kyun?"
"Mera ye phone do din se hang kar raha hai...isliye mai ek naya phone ka order diya tha...ab woh log bol rahe hai ki 1 week lag jayega Dehradun deliver hone mei...kya musibaat hai" Arjun made a face. Arohi shook her head & opened a file.
"Kya?" Arjun spoke, he didn't fathom why Arohi ignored his problem.
"Mujhe laga tha koi serious problem hai Arjun" Arohi said.
"Toh ye serious nahi hai?" Arjun asked.
"Nahi" She said & closed the file. "Arjun jab tum sach mei koi real problem dekhoge nah...realise karoge...tab tumhe ye sab bahot chota lagega"
"Really? aisa kaunsa problems?" Arjun frowned.
"Zinda rehna...survive karna..." Arohi said, Arjun looked in surprise at her, "aise bahot sare jagah hai Arjun jahan log har din apni sason ki ginti karte hai...bhagwan se duya karte hai ki aaj, bas aaj woh bach jaye...aur agle din ek naya fight shuru karte hai...zindagi unke liye ek tohfa hai...ek aisa tohfa jo koi unhe nahi de sakta..."
Flashback ends
After Arohi bandaged their wounds, she looked at Chotu,
"Tum in dono ke saath ho?"
Chotu shook his head,
"Nahi hum Sahib ke saath hai..."
"Sahib kaun..." Arohi asked while taking an injection syringe from chacha's hand.
"Sahib mara dost hai...bahot achha hai...uske jaisa insaan mahne aaj tak nahi dekhe...kisika parwa nahi karta...in dono ko bhi Sahib hi bachaya...lekin kismaat dekho ekdum kharab...apna pyaar dhundne nikla hai...ye bhagwan bhi nah...upar baithe apni ungliyon se logon ko nachata hai aur phir mazze lete hai..."
Arohi smiled,
"Apko kya lagta hai Sahib ko uska pyaar milega?"
"Dhundne se toh bhagwan bhi milta hai...agar achhe se dhundega toh jarur milega..."
Chotu nodded. After she completed Chotu nodded & said,
"Sahib bahar baithe hai...mai unse paisa leke ata hun..."
"Jaruraat nahi hai...ye medical camp hai...yahan muft mei ilaaz hota hai..." Arohi said.
"Achha toh hum chale?" Chotu asked.
"Haan lekin...in dono ko yehi chod jao...dono ko hi abhi aram ki jaruraat hai..."
"nahi nahi...hum thik hai..." The couple protested,
"Tum dono bilkul thik nahi ho...bahot khoon beh gaya hai...aise halaat mei bahar jaoge toh behosh bhi ho sakte ho..."
Arjun already had undersood who they are. Their fear-stricken faces were enough to make him realised that they are cause of Bhagwant & Devendra's fighting. He realised for the first time what did Arohi mean by real problems of human being & deep down Arjun decided that he has to help them no matter what.
"Chalo Sahib..." Chotu said standing in front of him, but Arjun remained drowned in his thoughts.
"Sahib..." Chotu touched his houlders. Arjun startled as his thoughts tore, "Kya huya?" Chotu asked.
"Kuch nahi..." Arjun stood up, "Woh dono kaha hai?"
"Woh dactar ji ne kaha unhe woi chodne keliye..unhe aram ki jaruraat hai..."
"Lekin..." Arjun was not convinced.
"Sahib dactarji bahot achhi lage hai...dono ko sambhal lenge..."
Thinking a bit Arjun nodded & left outside.
TO BE CONTINUED...
Geet - Hui Sabse Parayee
Advocate Anjali Awasthi
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