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~A Bond Like This~
"Arohi...mujhe tumse..." Rajesh Kalra entered the room & at once stopped - as his eyes stuck with the couple, sitting on the bed. The couple was looking terrified - fear has again covered their faces. They looked at Arohi & then at Rajesh Kalra. Arohi gave them a subtle nod to assure them that he is not here to hurt them.
"Ye dono..." Rajesh Kalra stated, quite in a confused tone.
Arohi got up from the chair,
"Sir..."
Rajesh Kalra's facial expression changed in a bit,
"Mujhe tumse baat karni hai Arohi...bahar aao" He said in a firm tone. Arohi was perplexed. She nodded & looked at them. They were talking to each other. Arohi gradually came outside, Rajesh Kalra was standing facing the window. His face was tensed & serious.
"Kya baat hai sir?" Rajesh Kalra turned as Arohi's voice came from behind.
"Tumne in dono ko yahaan iss camp mei rakha hai...?" Rajesh Kalra asked. His face was giving Arohi the feel that, he was not at all happy.
"Sir...Lekin apko nahi pata kin halaat mei ye dono yahaan aye the...chala bhi nahi ja raha tha thik se...kitne sare chot lage huye the...aur..." Arohi was trying to convince him, but stopped abruptly as Rajesh Kalra spoke,
"Arohi, tumhe pata hai ye dono kaun hai?"
She shook her head.
"Ye ladka Bhagwant Ishwarsena ka beta hai aur ye ladki Devendra Kasaniya ki..." Arohi frowned - as she never heard their names before. "Aaj thodi der pehle chowk pe Bhagwantji bawal khada karke gaya hai...Pagal kutte ki tarah dhund rahe hai in dono ko...aur tumne..."
Arohi has never faced this type of situation before, but she knew that everything happens for a reason & if they are here - then there has to be a reason for that - a plan by universe. She remained silent for a second.
"Kisika beta ya beti hone se pehle ye dono victims hai sir...insaan hai...aur agar ye dono mere pass aye hai toh dono ki zimmedari bhi meri hai..." She said.
Rajesh Kalra was not convinced,
"Aur tum emir zimmedari ho Dr. Arohi Sharma!! tum janti nahi ho unhe...woh kya kar sakta hai..."
"Sir, main sambhal lungi...jo bhi hoga...I will handle..." Arohi replied.
"Pata hi tha tum nahi manogi..." He heaved a sigh & then said, "Khair, hamare yahaan medicine ka stock khatam ho chuka hai...toh isliye mai kal Delhi janewala hun...aane mei 2 din lag jayenge..."
"Okay sir...no problem" Arohi said.
"Okay" Saying this Rajesh Kalra left.
After he left, Arohi entered the room & saw that, the couple was ready to leave.
"Kahan ja rahe ho tum dono?" Arohi asked as she was confused.
"Didi...ab hume jana hoga...hum yahaan kitni der ruk sakte hai..." The girl said in a tired voice.
"Dekho..." Arohi put her hand on her shoulder, "agar tum dono ko kuch baton ka bura laga hai toh..."
"Nahi didi...bilkul nahi..." The boy replied from beside the girl, "Unhone kya kaha hai apko hume pata hai...hum dono jis parivaar ke hissa hai...uske baad hamara yahaan rehna apke liye khatra ban sakta hai..."
"Haan didi..." The girl said, "hum dono ekbar Jaisalmer pahoch jaye...wahan se hum kuch kar lenge...hum Delhi chale jayenge...phir ye log hume nahi pakad payenge..." The girl said looking at the boy & he smiled softly looking at her.
Arohi's heart clenched suddenly looking at them. A weird feeling consumed her - she has been thinking that what she has done was right - every decision of her was right - she blamed Arjun for their failed relationship - but actually, she herself was wrong the whole time. If Arjun had 90% mistakes - she has 10% - & the most terrible mistake was to leaving Arjun after that accident. Love is a battle - and this two are fighting it together - where, the don't even know whether they will live together or not, & she - she had become so tired of Arjun's constant behaviour problems, mentality, perspective - that she just left him, where she could given their relationship a bit more time - she should have. How could she leave him all alone? Her situation was far better than them - What she has done.
"Didi...hum chalte hai" The girl said making Arohi startled.
"Haan...tum dono ke pass paisa ya khane keliye kuch hai?" She asked, her voice trembled once without any reason.
"Ji...hai" The boy said holding the girl's hand. Arohi nodded with a smile & they left.
As Arohi looked at their pathway her heart did overcast with a fear of uncertainty & a pain for them. She don't have any idea what will happen to them? if they will make it to Jaisalmer or Delhi - will she ever meet them again. Arohi don't even know their names - don't know anything about them, yet their watery smiles & eyes full of love for each other broke her heart in thousand pieces. She silently prayed to the god for their safety as she heaved an inward sigh.
Here, Arjun & Chotu were moving towards Dadsar. It was already dark. Arjun was thinking about the couple. In a hurry, he had forgotten to ask them their names. Their safety was bothering him - but deep down he has a feel that they will be secured in the medical camp.
"Ruk ruk..." A harsh voice made them stop at once & Arjun's thought tore up. Looking at front, he saw a checkpoint there. There was a police patrolling happening. They were checking each & every passing cars.
"Kahan ja raha hai?" A police asked looking at Arjun.
"Dadsar" Arjun gave him a small reply.
"Piche ye kaun hai?" The police asked again.
"Dost." Arjun said.
As the police interrogating them, they heard someone from the back was ordering the man to bring them to him. Chotu tried to see the man's face who was speaking, but in the dark, he couldn't see.
"Chal...sir bula raha hai..." The police said. Arjun said nothing. Chotu got down from the bike & he parked it beside the road & got down. The police lead them towards the police van. A middle aged man was standing there, talking to someone. He was a senior officer.
"Namastey sir..."Chotu smiled beguilingly & the police growled at him at once,
"Ek thappad marunga nah...has kyun raha hai?!"
Chotu made a face looking at Arjun, Arjun put his hand on his shoulder.
"Naam kya hai tera?" The officer asked him in a harsh voice.
"Chotu" Chotu replied.
"Chotu kya?" He asked again.
"Singh" Chotu said.
The officer nodded & then looked at Arjun,
"Apka naam?"
"Arjun Singhania"
"Kahan se aa rahe hai?"
"Dehradun"
"Aur tu?" Looking at Chotu he asked.
"Mai dada ke saath kaam karta hun...yahan hi" Chotu said.
"Dadsar mei kahan ja rahe hai?" He asked again to Arjun.
"Dr. Rajesh Kalra se milne..." Arjun replied.
The officer nodded & then said,
"Iss area mei kuch problem chal raha hai...ek ladka aur ek ladki lapata hai...police patrolling chal raha hai...jyada der aise ghumiyega maat...jaiye ap log"
Nodding, Arjun & Chotu left the place & went towards the bike. Arjun has no idea when he will reach Dadsar - but he has understood what kind problem was lying there. He can't wait to meet Rajesh Kalra as he was their last hope.
After, 30 minutes or so, Arjun reached a small area, it was a village - where at the side of the road was crowded with people, lights, music - it was a fair, a village fair.
"Sahib...sahib...sahib...yahan ruko" Chotu said & jumped down from the bike as soon as Arjun stopped it. "Lagta hai, yahan mele mei karikram chal raha hai...ek kaam karte hai...aaj raat yehi ruk jate hai...waise bhi raat ko udhar jana achha nahi rahega..." Chotu said looking at Arjun.
"Tumhe ye karikram achha lagta hai?" Arjun asked.
Chotu scratched his head with a shy smile, "Haan sahib...bahot"
"Chalo phir..." Arjun said while getting down from the bike.
They entered the fair together. Arjun has never witnessed a fair before & a village fair was out of the question. For the first time, he was experiencing the raw, rustic energy a village fair brings. The people there, their happiness filled faces, their laughter - it was all different - pure. He was thinking all this when he heard Chotu's voice from far, he was calling him from a shop.
"Kya...?" Arjun asked as he reached to the small stall.
"Ye lo Sahib..." Chotu gave him a shirt - which was hanging at the stall, "Ye tumhare liye..." Arjun couldn't help but smile while taking the shirt from his hand. "Sahib...iss mei ap mast lagoge...ye pehenke didi ke samne jaoge nah...didi phat se haan kar degi...manane ka jaruraat hi nahi hoga..." Arjun smiled ruffling Chotu's hair.
"Thik hai...ab tumhare liye mai kuch dhundta hun..." Arjun said, looking at the scattering tee shirt. After some moment, he choose one & gave it too him. Chotu's eyes sparkled with happiness. "Aree waah Sahib...mai bhi yehi lenewala tha...bahot achha hai...mai pehenke ata hun..." Saying this Chotu left.
Paying the shopkeeper, when Arjun turned, he saw that the stage has lit up & a man was announcing about a musical performance. Gradually people have started gathering near the stage.
"Chalo nah Sahib...dekhte hai" Arjun looked at his side & find Chotu there.
"Tum chalo mei ata hun" Arjun said.
The front of the stage has completely filled with the crowd when Arjun came there. In the middle an old man was sitting wearing a qawwali hat. Beside him, 4 men were sitting with the instruments. As they came closer, the music started playing, the old man started singing -
"Rab bande di jaat ikko
Jyon kapde di jaat hai roon
Kapade vich jyon rooh hai lukaya
Yoon bande vich too
Apne bolen aap bulave
Aap kare hoon hoon"
With the music, the crowd cheered - as the beat started playing. Chotu clapped in excitement with the crowd & Arjun smiled too, seeing Chotu happy. He has never thought that someday he will spend his night in a village fair listening to some folk song & enjoying it.
"Tu mane ya na mane dildara
Asaan ne tennu rab manya
Das hor keda rab da dawara
Asaan ne tennu rab manya"
And suddenly Arohi's face flashed in front of his eyes. How she used to be happy with all the small things in life. How she always smiled in ordinary stuff & how Arjun never ever try to understand her feelings, her emotions. And with that suddenly that unknown couple's face popped up in front of his eyes - their fight against all the odds, for love was making him question himself.
"Sahib tum theek ho nah?" Chotu's voice startled him & he nodded.
"Apne taan ki khaak udayi
Tab ye ishq ki manzil paayi
Meri sason ka bole iktara
Asaan ne tennu rab manya"
When everybody was enjoying the performance, the boy & the girl entered the fair. The girl stood near a stall holding the shop's bamboo pillar, she was panting. The boy once check if anyone's following them or not & then gently put a hand on her shoulder.
"Mujhse aur nahi chala jata..." The girl said, she was almost breathless.
"Dekho, wahan koi karikram chal raha hai...udhar chalte hai..." The boy said holding her hands, she looked at him & nodded.
"Tujh bin jeena bhi kya jeena
Teri chaukhat mera madeena"
He should've tried to understand Arohi - Arjun thought. She has told him many times that they have differences - their worlds are different, but Arjun never even tried to realize her pov. He had given her the assurance that he won't break her heart & then did exactly the same.
"Kahin aur na sajda gawara
Asaan ne tennu rab manya"
The girl sat near an empty shop & the boy hold her hands - reassuring her that nothing will happen to them. Just then a car stopped in front of the gate, 6-7 men got down from it & entered - they all have guns with them.
"Nahi bade sahab...abhi tak nahi mila...lekin hamare pass khabar hai woh dono yehi hai..." Cutting the call a man instructed the group to search for them.
"Tu mane ya na mane dildara
Asaan ne tennu rab manya"
Here, as the song were approaching the end, the crowd started dancing & making whistling noise. Even Chotu too has started dancing with them. Holding Arjun's hand he tried to pull him into the crowd & just then a gunshot fired. The crowd startled as the performance stopped abruptly. Arjun & Chotu too couldn't understand what has just happened. The crowd started running here & there to save their lives & the fair become a mess all at once. And in that mess, Arjun's eyes stuck with the man who was looking directly at him. Before Arjun could understand anything, he grabbed Arjun's collar at once & spoke in a hissed tone,
"Kaha hai woh dono? Kaha chupake rakha hai?"
"Tameez se baat karo..." Arjun said releasing his hand from his shirt, "Meine kisiko chupake nahi rakha..."
"Tameez sikha raha hai mahre ko...mahre ghar ka ladka bhaage hai...tere sheher mei woh sab chalta hoga yahan nahi chalta...aur tu toh woi hai nah jo subah chowk pe bade sahab ke saath badtameezi se baat kar raha tha..." The man gritted his teeth.
"Sahib ko iss bare mei kuch nahi pata...unhe kuch maat karo" Chotu stated from beside Arjun & the man slapped Chotu at once. He fell on the ground.
"Jyada chapad chapad mere samne maat kar..." he screamed & in an instant Arjun punched him on his face hard. Blood oozed out from his nose. The man got perplexed as it was unexpected for him. Arjun kneeled down beside Chotu & hold him,
"Chotu...tum thik ho nah? Laga toh nahi..."
Chotu shook his head.
"Aur ekbar Chotu pe haath lagake dikha..." Arjun yelled, "bachha hai woh..." He stood up. The man stepped backward. "Sharam ani chahiye tujhe aur tere woh Bhagwant ko..." Arjun said taking a step towards him, "Bachhe pe haath uthata hai...kaisa insaan ho tumlog? Aur undono ko chod kyun nahi dete? Pyaar karke aisa kya gunah kar diya?" As Arjun stopped, at once the man pointed his gun towards him.
"Bahot bolta hai tu...yahan ka kuch niyam hai...jo woh todega uska saza milega use" He said.
Before Arjun could step forward, Chotu stood covering him,
"Galati mahra hai...marna hai mahre ko maro...lekin Sahib ko chod do...woh bahar se aye hai...use kuch nahi pata..."
"Samne se hat jao Chotu...isse mujhe marna hai nah...thik hai marne do" Arjun said & faced the gun. "Marna hai mujhe...mar do" He said again looking staright into his eyes. The man looked at his men & then at Arjun.
"Nahi nahi" Chotu whispered.
"Kya huya maro...come on shoot me..." He growled.
As he was about to pull the trigger someone from back grabbed his hand at once. The man startled.
"Bhagwantji ko kehna agar iss ganv ka mukhiya Devendra kasaniya hai toh raaz bhi unka hi chalega...apna gun do mujhe" The unknown man said.
Arjun & Chotu shared a curious glance as they have never seen this man before. He took the gun from the previous man's hand.
"Jao yahan se...warne pehle tum maroge phir tumhare ye admi" He said again looking at them.
"Aise jyada din nahi chalega Bhavani...abhi bhi keh raha hun iss gaanv ke soch ko badalne ki kaushish maat kar...hamara malik ye kabhi nahi hone denge..." The man said.
"Kya hone denge aur kya nahi iss baat ka faisla baad mei karenge" Bhavani said, the man looked at Arjun once & then boarded on his car - as the car moved on.
"Mera naam Bhavani hai, mai Devendra ji keliye kaam karta hun...aur hum sab bhi Rani aur Suraj ko dhund rahe hai...lekin unlogon ki tarah marne keliye nahi bachane keliye...khair...aap log jaiye" Bhavani said & about to leave when Arjun called him from behind,
"Thank you" Arjun said, Bhavani patted his shoulder & left.
It was midnight. Arjun & Chotu were sitting near a pond. A silence was brewing between them. There was nothing they could say to each other - so many thoughts were rambling in Arjun's head, that he didn't know how to process all that. He has been evaluating his past deeds & everytime it was he who has made all the mistakes.
"Meri ma mari nahi hai Sahib..." Chotu's voice came from beside him. arjun looked at him, but in the darkness he looked like nothing but an effigy. "woh bhagi thi ek admi ke saath...seher se aya tha...aur meri ma mujhe chodke chali gayi thi...tabse na Sahib sheher ke logon se mujhe bahot nafraat hai...gussa hai...lekin woh ladka aur ladki ko dekh ke na...bura lag raha hai...meri ma keliye..." Chotu looked at Arjun, "Pyaar mei log bahot kuch kar jate hai, hai nah?"
Arjun tried to smile, but it didn't come out, he put his hand on Chotu's head.
"Woh kya hai nah Sahib...hum sab kuch na kuch dhundh rahe hai...tum dhundh rahe ho didi ko...didi dhund rahi hai pyaar aur woh dono zindagi..." Chotu smiled. "apko ek baat bolun Sahib...mujhe na tum bahot achhe lagte ho...tumhara sab kuch mujhe achha lagta hai...aur sabse jyada achha kya lagta hai pata hai?"
Arjun was staring at him,
"Tumhara didi ko dhundna..." Chotu said, then taking a breath he said, "Aur sabse bura kya lagta hai pata hai? Khudko. Mujhe apne aap se bahot nafrat hai Sahib... mujhe mai achha hi nahi lagta..." Chotu said in a tired voice looking at Arjun. Arjun was listening to him, for the first time Chotu was talking about all this. His deepest emotions, secrets, paints - he was sharing with it with Arjun. Arjun never thought this kid has suppressed so many things inside his small heart.
"Chotu..." Arjun ruffled his hair, "Mujhe bhi tum bahot achhe lagte ho" He smiled.
"Lekin pata hai Sahib...jab tumhe dard hota hai nah, dukh pahochta hai...mujhe bahot bura lagta hai...hum toh ek dusre ko jante bhi nahi the Sahib...lekin aaj tumne mere liye un gundo ke samne khade ho gaye...mere liye Sahib?" Chotu's eyes were teary, he wiped it with a smile & said, "Yehi chahti thi na Didi tumse?!"
Arjun said nothing. He was staring at the pond, where the water was sparkling in the moonlight. He was experiencing a new pain - a pain he has never felt before. Who is this Chotu? Who are Rani & Suraj? technically they have no connection to Arjun, but today Arjun can fight, can do anything possible for them. Has Arohi wanted this from Arjun? being empathetic? To see the world's rawness? this? this struggle? human emotions & how it bleeds every moments? Looking at Chotu he saw that he was already sleeping lying on the cold grass. Arjun caressed his head and a soft smile placed on his lips.
TO BE CONTINUED...
Song link : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYB4tYLipPI
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