PART 19:
Tehzeeb made herself comfortable in Angad's room. She checked out every little detail; she felt that those 12 days with him on the cruise somehow gave her the right to Angad's life.(Imagine Kripa in today's rerun episode checking Angad's room)
She caressed his clothes in the closet, his towel in his bathroom, his shaving razor so masculine and sharp-just like him; she sat on his bed and then laid down on it for a few minutes…..her hands caressing the sheets where Angad's body must have touched just a few days ago……she felt like she was in his arms, and dozed off dreaming about her prince.
She got up after a short nap, "Uffo…kahin bahut der tho nahin ho gayi?….3 baj gaye!….auntie soch rahi hongi main kahan kho gayi?…."
She put on her dupatta and went downstairs.
Naina was watching a music program on the TV, "aao beti…..aaram kar liya? Kuch khaaogi?"
"Nahin auntie, mujhey bhookh nahin hai," she suddenly changed her mind, 'par aapke haath ka banaa khaana hai tho zaroor kha loongi…."
"Main aaj kal khaana nahin bana paati….Mishti hi roz morning mein banaa kar rakh jaati hai…." Naina got up to go to the kitchen
Tehzeeb wanted to impress her future mother-in-law, "Auntie jab main yahan aa jaaoongi na tho main hi khaana banaa diya karoongi…"
"Accha? Yeh tho bahut badhiya baat hogi…America mein rehkar bhi tumney khana banana seekh liya….that is very impressive!" Naina said admiringly.
Tehzeeb bit her tongue, for blurting out more than she should have, 'ab main kya karoongi? Mujhey tho cooking ki ABC bhi nahin aati…."
After a delicious home made lunch, Naina settled down to watch her daily soaps, "Kripa…ek cup chai banaakar pilaado….bahut mann kar raha hai…"
Tehzeeb got up with a smile, "sure auntie…abhi laayi.."
Tehzeeb went to the kitchen and scratched her head, "chai? Maine tho aaj tak chai nahin banaayi….ab kya karoon? Maine tho unhey yeh bhi keh diya ki main khaana banaati hoon…ya Allah mujhpar meharbaani karo…..," she paced up and down, "Hmm…dai jaan! Dai jaan ko phone karne padhega!"
"Hello! Daijaan?" Tehzeeb spoke softly on her mobile, "sorry aapko itni raat ko jagaa diya….nahin sab theek hai……yeh bataaiye chai kaise banaate hain?….I know ….I know itni raat ko aapko disturb nahin karna chahiye tha……but it is an emergency Daijaan…please….Ok bataiye……" Tehzeeb got a short version from Begum, "Shukriya Daijaan….salaam waalequm…."
Tehzeeb followed Daijaan's instructions and finally looked for some sugar.
"Hmm….yahi hogi sugar….," she took 2 tsp of the white powder from a small jar. (If you guys are aware, the consistency of sugar in the US and in India is very different-it is very coarse in India, but fine-almost salt like in the US)
She served tea to Naina, just like an ideal daughter-in-law would.
Naina was very impressed with Kripa's manners and etiquette, "beti…lagta hai kisi acche khandaan se ho? Kaun kaun hai tumhare ghar par?"
"Bas main, mere Ab….mera matlab mere papa, meri dadi, aur meri dai jaan…" Tehzeeb said as she handed the cup to Naina.
"Daijaan?"
"Haan…meri aaya…bachpan se hi paala hai mujhey….meri mom bachpan mein hi…," Tehzeeb made a sad face.
"I am sorry……main samajh sakti hoon ki maa ki bahut yaad aati hogi…." Naina said sympathetically.
Tehzeeb sat down at Naina's feet and smiled at her, 'Auntie ….aap bhi tho meri maa jaisi hain…."
"Kyon nahin?" Naina stroked Tehzeeb's hair affectionately.
As soon as Naina sipped her tea, she spit it out, "YEH KYA HAI? Kya daal diya tumney…kahin namak tho nahin? Hey bhagwan…Kripa tumney galti se shayad shakkar ki jagah namak daal diya…."
Tehzeeb got up, 'I am so sorry auntie…..main…main…," she started sobbing, "maine aapsey jhooth bola tha….main aaj tak kabhie kitchen mein nahin gayi….hamare yahan hamesha daijaan ya koyi cook hi khaana banata tha…."
Naina felt sorry for Tehzeeb, 'koyi baat nahin beti….yeh tho bahut acchi baat hai ki tumney mujhey sach bataa diya…sach bolna sabke bas ki baat nahin hoti…..only the brave can speak the truth!"
Tehzeeb hugged Naina, "auntie…main jitney din yahan hoon…aap please mujhey cooking bhi sikha dee jiye…aur aap sab logon ke favorite cheezein kya hai, yeh bhi bataa dee jiye……main chahti hoon aap sab ki pasand ka dhyaan rakhoon….."
"My pleasure Kripa…main aur Mishti dono tumhey sikhaa dengey…that is so nice of you to think about us…..waise hamare ghar mein khaane ka shaukeen tho sirf Angad hai…." Naina was starting to get fond of this young NRI girl- she seemed so innocent, honest and pure at heart.
"Tho unki pasand ki hi cheezein sikhaa deejiye…," Tehzeeb said shyly.
A little later, Tehzeeb took leave from Naina to pick her bags from the Ali's residence, "nahin auntie….Mishti ko taqleef kyon deti hain…I am feeling better….taxi se chali jaaoongi…." Tehzeeb did not want Mishti to take her to the Ali's- "sab bhaanda phoot jaayega," she thought.
Tehzeeb told her guardians, "Chaachoo…..wo music school waale chahte hain ki main wahan ke girls hostel mein hi rahoon….rehearsals mein aasaani rehti hai…don't worry main aati-jaati rahoongi….Abbu ko mat bataaiye, warna wo fikr karengey….I promise I will call you everyday chaachoo…," Tehzeeb ran with her bags before the Ali's could ask any more questions or insist on her staying back.
ABOARD AN INDIAN NAVY SHIP NEAR ANDAMAN:
Angad had been at the ship for the last month or so. He had a hectic schedule, and barely got any time for himself or call home. Whenever he had a few moments, he would think about Tehzeeb and soothe himself. He would often stand on the deck late at night reminiscing his time with Tehzeeb. He could still feel her in his arms and her tender lips on his lips…… "pata nahin wo bhi mujhey itna yaad karti hogi ya nahin? Cruise par tho mujhey aisa lagta tha ki wo mujhey chahney lagi hai…..par kya pataa….ab tho wo America mein hai….uska status aur mera kitna different hai….aur phir wo muslim…uske ghar waale shayad hi hamara rishta kabool karein…..na main kabhie US move karoonga aur shayad hi wo India aayegi…..I should just remember her as a beautiful memory….I don't think I would ever feel the same way about another woman though…."
He had tried to call her several times, but each time Javed had answered the phone. Angad would hang up, as he did not want to get Tehzeeb in trouble, "meri awaaz sun ke Tehzeeb ke Abbu ko shaq ho jaayega….I don't want him to trouble my little Tehzeeb…"
Song in background, "yaadon mein wo" from "swami"
http://www.dishant.com/album/kishore_ke_da...me_-_vol_3.html
Yaadon mein woh, sapnon mein hai
Jaaye kahan, dhadkan ka bandhan to dhadkan se hai
Saanson se hoon main kaise judaa
Apnon ko doon main kaise bhoola
Yaadon mein woh, sapnon mein hai
Jaaye kahan, dhadkan ka bandhan to dhadkan se hai
Yeh phool, yeh kaliyaan sabhi
Rok rahi raahein meri
Yeh meet, yeh sakhiyaan sabhi
Boond rahi nigaahein meri
Har mod par ek sapna khada
Jaana hai mushkil mera
Yaadon mein woh, sapnon mein hai
Jaaye kahan, dhadkan ka bandhan to dhadkan se hai
Naina mere ansuvan bhare
Poochh rahe chale hai kahan
Behti nadi kehne lagi
Tera to hai yehi jahaan
Har mod par koi apna khada
Dekhoon main mudke jahan
Yaadon mein woh, sapnon mein hai
Jaaye kahan, dhadkan ka bandhan to dhadkan se hai
Saanson se hoon main kaise judaa
Apnon ko doon main kaise bhoola
Yaadon mein woh, sapnon mein hai
Jaaye kahan, dhadkan ka bandhan to dhadkan se hai
Tehzeeb finally moved in with the Khanna's. A month went by in a breeze. Tehzeeb was almost a member of the family now- she helped in cooking, cleaning, taking care of Naina after her chemo sessions. Tehzeeb and Mishti became good friends also. Mishti treated Tehzeeb like her younger sister, and was very protective about her.
Tehzeeb's chirpy and vivacious personality was welcome in the Khanna household. The last few months, the family had gone through a lot of grief with Naina's diagnosis. Tehzeeb was the perfect antidote to Naina's ailments. Naina felt less depressed after her chemo sessions, as Tehzeeb was always there to cheer her up.
The doctors were very happy with the progress Naina was making and even thought about postponing the bone marrow transplant for now.
Every so often, Tehzeeb and Naina would sit out on the patio and sing some songs. Naina was very impressed with Tehzeeb's talent, " Kripa tum tho bahut accha gaati ho…tumhare ghar mein aur kaun gaata hai?"
"Auntie…actually mere papa ko music bilkul pasand nahin hai…..main hi zidd karke yahan music seekhney aayi hoon…."
"Tumharey papa ne tumhara gaana kabhie nahin suna hoga, warna wo kabhie tumhey manaa nahin karte….you are a natural!" Naina complimented het again.
"Thanks auntie…" Tehzeeb was thrilled to get a compliment from an accomplished singer herself. She remembered how Angad had coaxed her into singing on the cruise….how everyone had loved her singing…..kaash Angad yahan hota……..she was lost in Angad's thoughts, when the phone rang.
"Beti zara phone tho uthaana…." Naina asked Tehzeeb
Tehzeeb picked the phone, and before she could say anything, she heard the familiar deep and husky voice, "Hello! Kaun Mama? Mishti? Hello…Hello!"
Tehzeeb's heart had almost stopped beating, she was speechless….it was Angad….her Angad was on the other line and she could barely speak.
"Kaun hai beti?" Naina came forward and took the phone from Tehzeeb, "Beta Angad? Oh wo…..hamari nayi mehmaan thi….haan wo kuch boli nahin…..shayad tumhari awaaz nahin pehchaani hogi…..accha?….Diwali ki chutti manzoor ho gayi? Chaar din ke liye? Bas? Koyi baat nahin….tere saath ek-ek din bahut suhaana lagta hai….." Naina hung up and was very excited about her son coming home for Diwali holidays.
Tehzeeb thought, "sahi kaha aapney auntie…Angad ke saath ek-ek din bahut haseen hota hai……," she blushed and ran up to her room.
On the other line, Angad hung up, but could not help wondering, "wo phone par kaun tha? Mujhey aisa kyon laga ki wo saansein bahut jaani pehchaani si thi…."
…to be continued…..
Anupamaa
