Part-8
"she won't."
nethra looked at him....these were his first 2 words he spoke in so many years...the sad voice hammered her
ears.she had a sudden urge to comfort him ,she listened to her heart and walked towards rahil...put a hand on
his shoulder but he didnt turned...
"i dont know wat the story is but its fine rahil....u have to move on..."
again he had been silent no more words to say...no more discussions n details to know about....she really
wanted to know wat must have had happened...she was genuinely concerned for her patient , her rahil...some
other time maybe...she decided to leave...
but turned again to see him....he was same as in photo frame....clean shaven,properly cut hair , the initial
paleness she noticed ws gone the original fair colour had returned to his face except the naughty smile he had
in the foto...everything else ws same....
last 2 months went in it only...he ws shaved regularly , hair cut ws given....a newly furnished room ws alotted
to him instead of small packed cubicle....proper mediscenes were being given n always a wardboy ws with
him....he had been better...the fits he used to get had decreased....no more that deadly tranquiliser were
being injected to calm him....nethra used to come daily to have a chat with him....he never responded but she
never gave up hope , how cud she...so many were dependent on her....she ws in regular touch with rishi n
everybody else....but she lost touch wid her frnd...best frnd...avi....!!
work comes first she said to satisfy herself of the small guilt she had...
"hi rishi!"
"hi nethra.how r u??"
"i m fine rishi."
"hows rahil??"
"i called up to tell abt him only....well..he spoke today...."
"hey thats a great news....thnx nethra..."
"he is also my frnd rishi...so dont thank me...."
"but we owe u....wat he said??"
"something abt asmi..."
"i knew...she is the only driving force he have....god...i wish i cud find her n bring her here...i wish she
come n see..."
"she wont rishi....asmi wont come..."
"how u know??"
"rahil told me....!!"
"Wat else he told??"the curiosity ws in his voice....
"nothing more...he again become silent..."
"never mind...we will soon know abt asmi....rahil is gonna be fine nethra...i know , i trust u."
"thn rishi fr trusting me.i will make him alright!"
"tkcr.bye."
they disconnected the call.
while nethra once again walked towards his cabin...just to watch him....
she reached there n saw rahil standing in the small balcony....only thing that connected him to nature.the view
ws very soothing.his balcony faced a b'ful green lawn.he used to stand there hrs n hrs together watching the
flowers n green color that grass n small plants had.nethra used to see him every eve standing like that.then
she had to leave fr her home.
--------
"good morning rahil."
aftr a moment...maybe she ws expecting some response like everyday....she continued..
"dekho main fir aa gayi aapke kaan khaane.kabhi kabhi main sochti hoon ki aap mujhse pareshaan nahi hotey,lekin
fir mujhe aapke doston se kiya hua wada yaad aata hai...sachmuch bohot lucky hain aap , bohot pyaare dost hain
aapke.bohot fikar hain unhein apki aur wo rishi to bas sara din puchhta rehta hai ki rahil kab aayega wapas."
she sat on stool kept near his bed n started speaking agn..
"ali kuchh kehta nahi hai lekin uski aankhen hamesha mujhse wahi sawal puchhti hain.uski aankhon mein aapko
sahi salamat dekhne ki umeed maine dekhi hai."
after a pause she contunued.
"jo bhi kahein aapke dost hain sache...jante hain aap jab bhi unki koi meeting hoti hai na to wo head chair
khali chhodte hain....unka yakeen hai ki aap bohot jald aayenge aur fir unko daantenge ki wo sahi se kaam
karein."
she said with a smile.all the time rahil ws listening intently he used to do that everyday par apni aankhen
jhukaye rakhta tha....he never had an eye contact with her.
"hamara to bas 1 hi dost hai..avi..aviral naam hai uska.bohot pyaara hai.4 saal se dosti hai hamari."
then she gave a laugh.
"jaante hain main mili kaise us bandar se??aap bore to nahi ho rahe na??"
rahil saw her fr the 1st time indicating to continue.
"maine na nayi nayi car chalani seekhi thi.1 din daddy ki car uthayi aur nikal gayi chalane ke liye.bas kya tha
thodi der chalayi fir lagne laga ki mujhe to aati hai aur speed mein bhagayi....aisi bhagayi ki fir wo chalne
ke layak hi nahi rahi.matlab use 1 electric pole mein thok diya.mein to bohot darr gayi thi ki ky hoga kyunki
mere paas to license bhi nahi tha tab aur car bhi papa ki jinhein bataya hi nahi tha."
she noticed rahil ws listening to her with all concentration....
"fir avi aaya aur police bhi...halanki kisiko chot nahi aayi thi lekin pole to gir gaya tha.fir unhone licence
maanga aur car ke papers bhi.ab car ke papers to the lekin licence nahi.bas kya tha maine phut phut kar rona
shuru kar diya.ye lambe lambe aansoo nikal aaye."
he smiled at the way she showed 'lambe-lambe aansoo' with hands.
"fir avi aaya aur usne kaha ki car main drive kar raha tha aur apna license diya.fir wo car garage mein leke
gaya , theek karwayi aur paise bhi nahi liye.mujhe wapas ghar chhoda aur maine uska naam tak nahi puchha
tha.kyunki tab bhi main dari huyi thi ki papa kya kahenge.lekin meri halat dekh kar papa ne bhi kuchh nahi
kaha.par ab mujhe apni stupidity par afsos hua ki maine us ladke ka naam tak nahi puchha tha.fir main usi
garage mein gayi to maine dekha ki wo wahin kaam kar raha tha.uske haaton aur forehead par grease laga hua
tha.wo dekh kar mein hans padi.mujhe dekh kar wo hans pada bas tabse hi main aur wo dost hain,jab maine use
paison ki baat kahi to janta hai kya kehta ki 'money is no problem main dusre customer se zyada le loonga apna
hi to garage hai'.tab mujhe pata laga ki wo usi ka garage tha.bas main aur wo dost ho gaye.lekin us jaisa dost
fir na mila na milega.aap kaise miley apne best frnd se??"
she asked in flow.
he looked blankly towards her....his best frnd , his love....asmi.how he met her??nd remembered his coll
days...but spoke nothing.
"khair jaane dijiye fir kabhi bataiyega.main wait karoongi lekin aaj aapse is tarah baat karke bohot achha
laga.halanki aapse rroz baat karti hoon lekin aaj sachmuch bohot achha laga.thnx rahil."
n she pressed his hands a lil in gratitude.she ws happy that she spoke to him.while rahil kept staring her.he
ws confused as shud he tell everything that happnd to nethra or not.he wanted...it has been long , more than 5
yrs....
-------
"well sir he is getting better day by day physically."
informed nethra to the defence minister , mr rajput.
"wat.....wat u mean by that nethra??"
"i mean he is getting alright by health.he gets fits very less.the mediscenes are working the nervous disorder
he had is getting cured...thnx to his love fr nature n the daily massages he gets.but mentally , i m not
sure.he hasn startd speaking yet he remain silent all day long.i hv tried a lot sir , but no use."
"hmmm."
"sir he has hold back a lot in his heart.he needs to speak out all.he has to share his grief , whatever is it ,
with anyone.he shud sir."
"i understand nethra.but only u can make him tell abt his past."
"me??" asked a confused nethra.
"yes u nethra."he replied calmly.
"i m not his frnd sir.y not rishi or any1 else?"
"it has been long nethra.hardly matters if u r his frnd or not!"
"i will try sir but i still want some of his old frnd to come n handle the issue."
"i will tell them all to come n see rahil...ok.."
"thnx sir."
"no problem beta...tk cr."
he desconnected the call with a strange smile.something ws cropping up in his mind.something.....
"arrey rajput uncle aap.mujhe fone kiya hota....."
"to main aa jata apne zehmat kyu uthayi....yahi na!!in budhi hadiyon mein bohot jaan baki hai.kuchh baat karni
hai chalo."
"ji uncle kahiye sab theek to hai na?"
"main kuchh soch raha tha , rahil ke baare mein."
"kya?"
"time kaise beet-ta hai pata hi nahi chalta aur nethra ke aa jane ke baad se to time jaise udd hi gaya.rahil
bhi ab tak kafi theek hai , aur kuchh dinon mein hum use yahin le aayenge."
"ji uncle."
"tumhe kya lagta hai nethra kaisi hai??"
"bohot achhi hai uncle , usi ki wajah se to humein hamara rahil mila hai."
"haan to main soch raha tha ki kyu na nethra aur uski shaadi...."
"uncle rahil kabhi nahi manega..."said rishi.
"rishi , humein rahil ko nahi nethra ko manana hai."
"matlab??"
"rahil to waise hi kuchh nahi kehta.aur main jo bhi kar raha hoon usi ke achhe ke liye , rishi wo mere liye
bete se badh kar hai.aur main ye janta hoon ki nethra se achhi ladki nahi milegi."
his eyes shone with naughtiness and satisfaction.yes...nethra is perfect choice fr him.rishi also had a happy
expression.
"sachmuch changi kudi hai nethra uncle , tussi to gr8 ho."he hugged him saying this.
"lekin nethra kaise manegi??"askd a confused rishi.
"bas yahi dekhna hai."
"aur agar kahin uski zindage mein koi aur hua to??"
"6 mahine ho gaye nethra ko rahil ka ilaaj karte , wo sab janti hai hamare baare mein lekin hum mein se kisi ne
kabhi nahi puchha ki uske ghar ghar par kaun kaun hai..."
"haan uncle , ab bhi dair nahi huyi ab puchh lenge."
"theek hai main hi us se baat karta hoon,lekin abhi kisi se kehna nahi ki main aisa soch raha hoon."
"ji uncle bilkul.main bohot khush hoon."
"main bhi."
"waise uncle apne ye achha nahi kiya."said rishi in fake anger.
"kya??"askd worried rajput.
"meri bhi kisi se setting karwa dijiye na , main bhi apke bete samaan hoon."
"chal pagal."n he hit lightly on back of his head.
-----
"good morning mr rajput."
"good morning doc.hows rahil?"
"he is doing absolutely fine sir.u can take him next week."
"hey thats gr8.but i shud really really thank u fr this new rahil."
"aisi koi baat nahi sir , i hv done my job."
nethra suddenly felt something stir inside her.was this only job fr her??she took cr of rahil....it ws part of
his job only.she ws sad but she shud be happy.she has done an amazing job....
"nethra....u hv done more than job , u hv given ur heart n soul to make him alright.i m proud of u."
"thnk u sir."she suddenly ws not comfortable.
"i wud like to meet ur family nethra n tell how good u r!!by the way who all are in ur family??"
"huh...!!"she ws busy in her thoughts only.but continued aft a moment.
"its me n my papa only.mom died long time back."
"ohh i m sorry fr that..."
"its ok sir , waise bhi its more than 15 yrs now."
"so wen can i meet ur father??"
"anytime sir."
"waise can i ask u a lil personal ques??"
"personal..??ok"she ws confused a lil.
"u hv someone special in ur life??i mean some one u love or like??"
"y a question like that sir??"
"that ws not my answer...well just like that nothing special."
"well no sir...no1."
"ohk...so i m coming to meet u n ur father the day i come to take rahil back.ok"
"u all are welcome sir."
"thnx n thnx agn.2nd one ws fr iving my son back.god bless."
"so all packed fr leaving..??" nethra askd rahil...but as usual he didnt replied...just kept packing his few
things in bag.
"ye to galat hai...maine itne din aapse baat ki aur aap hain ki 1 bhi baar jawaab nahi diya.kam se kam ab to
kuchh kaho..."
"rahil,chalein?"it ws rishi who had gone to complete the hospital formalities , while mr rajput ws at nethra's
home talking....
rishi took his bag n left leaving behind nethra n rahil alone fr a moment,purposely!!
"apna khayal rakhna...dawaiyaan time par lena aur suno zyada kaam mat karna."she kept on saying numerous
thing..."kaam ka zyada tension mat lena , chhuti par ghumne zaroor jana..."
they were now at the entrance of hospital , rahil took the few steps down towards the car while nethra ws
standing watching him leave....but he stopped and turned to face her....
"bye.." he said and waved her.
"bye.."she ws glad that he atleast spoke but next moment the smile disappeared.
she cud feel something terrible inside her.what...ws that..??she suddenly felt like crying her heart
out.why..??she ran to her cabin n shut the door.rahil ws not her 1st patient then y the sudden feelings...??
she wasnt aware of wat destiny had planned fr her but she ws soon to know as soon as she reached her home....
**
"shukriya singhania saab.main aapka ehsaan kabhi nahi bhulunga."it ws rajput at nethra's home.
"ehsaan to mujhe maan-na chahiya rajput saab.rahil jaisa ladka meri beti ko fir nahi milega."
"aisa na kahiye nethra ka bohot ehsaan hai mujh par.."
"ye to uska farz hai."
"lekin usne ye apna farz bohot hi achhe se nibhaya hai.mujhe to nethra pehli nazar mein hi pasand aayi thi."
"sir...rahil.."it ws rishi who had taken rahil to nethra's home...
rahil saw her house he felt as if he had seen her house....rather heard her house....everyday wen nethra used
to talk to him....she had told him everything abt herself...even the color of fone that ws kept on the corner
wooden desk , the flowers that used to bloom in their garden , how her dad's specs resten on his nose , he
smiled at that......
"kya ho gaya rahil...??"askd rajput.
he looked at him but said nothing..
"ye nethra ke dad hain."
he came forward n touched his feet.
"khush raho."blessed nethra's dad.
rajput ws delighted to see how he bent to take aashirwaad.
"achha to singhaniya saab ab hum chalenge.pahunch ke fone karta hoon.chalo rahil..."
but he ws nt there...he had gone directly to nethra's room.he perfectly knew the direction.room ws neat n clean
on the table ws a foto frame of her n avi...her best frnd.sitting back to back.she wid a teddy.he went to open the window and saw a small white rose plant there.she had told him abt it.avi had gifted her wen he ws to leave fr delhi.he smiled n caressed it.rose ws really really b'ful.
"rahil kahan the tum??"
but he didnt answered and went out of the house to sit in car.frm there he could see nethra entring frm the gate.white churidaar n white kameez looking like the white rose he had just seen.the same purity n serenety ws reflected in her as that in rose.
"tum sahi time par aayi.hum bas nikalne hi wale the."rishi told nethra.
but her eyes were on rahil only.
Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki
Veer Hanuman
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