~The Last Rites~
A moment passed between them. They just kept on looking at each other. Arjun got down from his bike & took a step forward to her. Arohi was completely surprised, shocked. She never ever thought that, she will get to see Arjun in here - a brief silence brewed between them. For Arohi, this silence was her expression as she still now trying to believe that she is actually not dreaming - Arjun is real, standing in front of her.
"Chotu...Chotu chala gaya..."
Arjun said in a cracked voice. Arohi frowned & suddenly remembered the little boy who has come to her medical camp some days earlier with Rani & Suraj. "Bas kuch hi dino ka mulaqaat tha hamara...hum dono ka koi rishta bhi nahi tha...uske jane ke baad samaj aya uske saath mera kya rishta tha...mere dil mein uska jagah kya tha..." Saying this Arjun wiped his tears. Arohi looked into his eyes, she doesn't know this Arjun. Arjun Singhania who used to be so self-centered, who doesn't even bother about his own sister & family - was crying for Chotu...an unknown boy. Arohi stood still.
"Mujhe laga tha Vicky ki baat ko sach manke tum mujhe chodke chali gayi ho...ab mein janta hun bas woi ek reason nahi tha...tumhare aur mere beech bahot farak hai..." As Arjun said this Arohi turned her face aside as she wiped her tears. "Tumhe pata hai..." Arjun spoke again in his same tired & crack voice. "Tumhe dhundte huye kitna kuch dekha hai meine...in hathon se meine Raju ko khana khilaya...woh Raju jo orphan house mei hai...Rani aur Suraj ko...Chotu ko...Bachane ki kaushis kiya...aur in hi hathon mein Chotu apna dam tod diya..." Tears spilled down from his eyes as his voice chocked. He looked and his hands & shook his head. Arohi bit her lips in a vain try to stop herself from crying. Arohi didn't know what she should say. "I am thankful to you Arohi...tumhari mere zindagi se chale jana mujhe bahot kuch shikhaya hai...zindagi ke matlab samjhaya hai...zindagi matlab trust, humanity, sacrifice, apni dard ko chupake apni khushi sabke saath baantna...thoda sa khushi, thodi si aansu...zindagi tab badi hoti hai jab mein hum mei badal jata hai...aur in me se ek bhi mei tumhe nahi de paya...mujhe maaf kar dena Arohi...tumhare liye mein khudko dhund paya hun... tum meri zindagi mei wapas aao ya na aao mujhe uss baat se koi gham nahi hoga...kyun ki zid aur pyaar ke beech ke farak samaj gaya hun mein...jab mein ghar se nikla tha tum meri zid thi...bas tumhe akhiri bar kuch kehna hai..." Arjun stopped to take a breath, Arohi was barely holding her tears.
"Bas ek nazar pyaar ki kaafi thi hume
Zyada toh mere dil ki kiraya na tha
Ajeeb khasare mein hai iss bar dil-e-mufalis
Usko khoya hai jisko kabhi paya na tha"
They both kept on looking at each other for a moment. The past memories, their journey came like a wild wind in front of her eyes - their first meeting, fights, misunderstandings, love confessions & then separation. Arohi turned her face. Arjun kept his head down while walking back. Tears spilling up from Arohi's eyes, she could feel that once again Arjun was going far from her - this time she knew she wouldn't be able to hold herself. Arohi turned & saw that he was walking towards his bike,
"Arjun..." Arohi called him.
He stopped & turned back. With tears oozing out from her eyes Arohi in an instant, ran towards him & hugged him tight & buried her face in his chest. Arjun pressed her against him. Her whole body was trembling; Arohi continued to cry without a sound. Arjun caressed her hair & she held him even more tightly.
"Tum chalogi mere saath?" After a moment Arjun speak breaking the hug.
"Ghar?" She asked.
"Nahi...kahi aur"
Arohi nodded.
"Puchogi nahi kahan?" Arjun asked with a frown.
"Nahi..." Arohi said.
Arjun smiled & kissed her forehead.
After a 30 minutes drive, they reached on a small crematorium ground. There were Devendra & Bhavani standing in front of Chotu's dead body. A man was arranging the pyre for him. Arohi hold Arjun's hand because she knew how terrible it is for him. Arjun's face was numb. Seeing them both Devendra came forward,
"Hum tumhare liye hi intezaar kar rahe the...Chotu ko agni tumhe hi dena hoga..."
Arjun remained silent. Devendra put a hand on his shoulder, as they both went towards the pyre. Arohi followed them - she hasn't met Chotu properly, except that small interaction at her medical camp. But she never expected that she has to face this one day. Arjun was standing still in front of the pyre, when Bhavani gave him the fire-wood to lit up the pyre. Arjun's hand was shaking - it was still unimaginable for him. He was still processing the fact that his Chotu is dead. He took the wood & stepped forward.
(Apna hi apna kyun kehlaya hai
Kaise koi tay karta hai kaun paraya hai)
He lit up the pyre & it blazed up with the flames touching the night sky. Arjun's eyes filled up - Chotu was unknown to Arjun, but when he became a soul part of him - he never truly realize. Today he was feeling that vacuum in his heart.
(Ek wahi rishta teri kamayi hai
Dard ke pal mei jisne tera saath nibhaya hai)
As the heat was burning the body down, Arjun remembered his first meeting with Chotu. His two big curious eyes, his slightly curly hairs & the mischievous smile. He used to be so irritated all the time - he used to say that he doesn't like 'Seher ke log' but gradually he had become a shelter for Arjun - a home for his tormented heart.
(Toota huya toh kya sitara tu
Kisika ban sahara tu)
He crossed his arms as he heaved a sigh. Chotu left but, he made Arjun learn the proper meaning of humanity. Chotu's heart, which had always cried for his mother. for love - he was always a seeker of love - Arjun never known that how he had suppressed all his pains until the day he opened up about his life. He was broken, but never complained about it & maybe that's the thing which has made Chotu a far better human being than he.
(Gaaye ja ... gaaye ja
raat ke dhagon se savera bun Gaaye ja...)
Arjun was sitting on the wide field in front of a small pond. The dawn was breaking. The sky was getting lighter & the birds were chirping. Arohi touched his shoulder gently. Arjun looked at her & smiled. Arohi sat beside him,
"Tum theek ho?" She asked.
Arjun nodded after a pause. Arohi looked at front - at the pond. The water was trembling slightly.
"Kal tumne bahot kuch kaha...aur mujhe kuch bhi kehne ka koi mouka nahi diya" Arohi said, Arjun looked at her.
"Kya kehna hai tumhe?" He asked.
"Sorry" She said. Arjun frowned.
"Yes Arjun...I am sorry...tumse kai jyada galatiyaan meine ki hai..." She took a deep breath. "Meine tumse hamesha ye kehti rahi ki tum aise ho...tum waise ho...hamare beech farak hai...lekin meine kabhi ye nahi socha ki kaise ya farak ko mitaya jaye...pyaar ka matlab hota hai trust ye meine hi tumse kaha tha...lekin tumse jyada meine tumhara trust toda hai Arjun...aur meri sabse badi galati tumhe uss halaat mei chodke ana tha..." She kept her head down. Arjun puts his hand over her. "Aur rahi hamari pehli mulakaat ki baat uss party mein toh..." Arohi said again, "Uss din agar tumhare jagah mein hoti shayed aisa hi kuch karti...shayed isse jyada...agar koi random ladka mujhse aise milne ata...aur ye kehta ki woh mujhse pyaar karta hai...mein shayed use jail bhejwa deti stalking aur harassment ke charge mein...wahan toh tum sirf..." Arohi stopped.
"Main shayed dar gayi thi Arjun..." After a moment she said again, "Pyaar ke complexities se...consequences se...zindagi se...qismaat se aur isliye mei bhag ayi..."
Arjun smiled.
"Arohi...har cheez ka koi reason hota hai...aur har cheez ka ek waqt bhi hota hai...jo waqt humne bitaya tha...jo pyaar humne jiye the...uss pyaar keliye hum taiyaar nahi the...uss pyaar ko nivane ka taqaat hum mei nahi tha...aur shayed isiliye hume yahan ana pada...iss journey mein...so that we can be ready to face it..." As Arjun spoke Arohi kept on looking at him. Arjun frowned.
"Kya dekh rahi ho?" He asked.
"Tumhe...this changed Arjun Singhania ko..." Arohi smiled. Arjun's smile broadens.
"Insaan nahi badalte Arohi...waqt badalta hai...aur waqt ke saath saath nazariya..."
"True..." Arohi spoke & rested her head on his shoulder.
"Ghar chale?" Arjun asked, putting a loose strand of hair behind her ears.
"Hmmm" She smiled.
P.S : And with this chapter this story has come to it's end. Officially this is the last chapter but I think I will add an epilogue with Arohi's POV. As I have become a bit busy let's see how soon I can do that.
Thank you so much for supporting me all along through comments & likes. Your comments means a lot to me. Thank you so much everyone.
Lots of love...❤️
Edited by M_Nira - 7 years ago
Cricket
Anupamaa
55