*The first couple of parts will be in flashback mode.*
Part 1:
Mahi+Shabd: 7 years old Bani+Daksh: 6 years old
"Mahi! Mahi, bahar aao na. Kitna mazaa aa raha hai" yelled a seven year old Shabd outside of Mahi's and Bani's house. It was a typical summer day, nice and sunny; but today was raining and Shabd and six year old Daksh wanted to play.
"Nahin Shabd, agar mummyji ko pata chal gaya to bahut dant padegi. Main aur Bani nahin ayenge" Mahi yelled back from her window. It had not rained for days and it looked like fun but Moni would not allow it.
"Tum dono itne darte kyon ho? Moni aunty to Jigyasa aunty ke ghar gayi haina? Tab tak tum dono khel sakte to, phir jaldi jakar kapde badal dena" explained six year old Daksh. He thought the girls were worrying unecessarily. He found his plan flawless.
"Arre Daksh, mamiji ko phir bhi pata chal jayega. Phir to hume dant zaroor milegi."
"C'mon Bani. Tum itni darpok kyon ho. Theek hai, andar behto aur hum dono bahar mazaa karte hain. Kyon Shabd?"
"Daksh!"
"Dekha Mahi, Daksh kya keh raha hai" complained Bani.
"Par Bani, mummyji aur daddyji ko yeh pasand nahin ayega."
"Please Mahi. Tumhare bina mazaa nahin ayega" Shabd pleaded.
"Shabd..."
"Please Mahi. Moni aunty tumhe aur Bani ko nahin dante gi."
"Agar mummyji hume danta to?"
"To main sara ilzaam le loon ga. Tumhe aur Bani ko kuch nahin ho ga."
"Sach Shabd? Aap mere liye aisa karein ge?"
"Haan."
"Vaada?"
"Vaada. Ab tum bahar ao gi?" Shabd knew that Mahi loved to play in the rain; but whenever she did, she would end up falling ill and then get lecture from Moni. But Shabd was always there, by her side 24/7, always taking the blame and taking care of her.
"Theek hai. Aap dono ruko, main aur Bani abhi bahar ate hain" said Mahi excitedly. They quickly came down the stairs and out the front door to play in the rain with Shabd and Daksh.
"Daksh! Yeh tum kya kar rahe ho? Ruk jao. Aap mere kapde kharab kar rahe ho" yelled Bani. Daksh was splashing water and mud on Bani's salwar kameez.
"Agar main ruk jaonga to khelne mein mazaa nahin ayega" said Daksh while continuing to splash Bani.
"Theek hai. Main bhi aapko batati hoon aisa khelne mein kitna mazaa hai, kyon Mahi?"
"Haan, chalo baarish mein khelte hain."
Together, the four played around in the rain; splashing mud on each other and running through puddles. It was mostly Bani and Daksh that splashed the mud on each other, Mahi and Shabd just watched and jumped in the puddles. Just then, thunder rumbled and the four decided to go inside, Moni was also coming soon.
"Bani, tu jaa, kapde badal tab tak main Shabd aur Daksh ko tauliya deti hoon" said Mahi as they got inside. No one was at Shabd's and Daksh's house. Sareen was at the office discussing an important deal with a client and their Dai ma was gone to the market. Dai ma was the only one that took care of Shabd and Daksh. Sareen was to busy in his office work ever since their mother died a year after Daksh was born.
"Yeh lo, tauliya le lo aur aap dono apne aap ko saaf kar lo. Warna sardi ho jaye gi."
"Hum yeh sab kar lenge Mahi par tum jao aur kapde badal do. Warna Moni aunty ko pata chal jaya ga hum baarish mein khel rahe the."
"Theek hai, main abhi ati hoon" said Mahi leaving to go get changed. Mahi came back, dry and changed just in time because right when she came downstairs, Moni entered through the front door.
"Mummyji, aap a gaye? Daddyji kahan hai?"
"Woh abhi Walia house mein hai. Woh dadi se abhi baat kar rahein the. Maine socha bahut der ho gayi aur mere bache bhooke honge. Arre, Shabd, Daksh" said Moni while entering the kitchen.
"Haan, actually aunty, DM bahar gay hai aur ghar main koi nahin hai to humne socha hum yahan a jayein" said Shabd while sitting on a dining table chair.
"Acha kiya. Main tumhara mann pasand ka khana bana rahi thi. Gobi ke parathe."
"Sach, to jaldi banaye. Mujhe bahut bhook lagi hai."
"Abhi banati hoon."
"Auntyji, it is not fair. Aap ko mere favourite khana bhi banana chahiye" said Daksh.
"Theek hai, kal main tumhara mann pasand ka khana banaon gi. Khush?"
"Nahin mamiji. Kal aap mera mann pasand khana banayi gi."
"Nahin, mera" yelled Daksh.
"Mera" yelled Bani back at Daksh.
"Batao to sahi tum dono ko kya acha lagta hai" asked a bewilered Moni.
"Kheer" yelled Bani and Daksh at the same time, and everyone started to laugh.
"Theek hai, kal main tum dono ki liye kheer banaon gi. Tum log khelo, tab tak main khana banati hoon" said Moni while she started to make 'Gobi ke Parathe'. Just then, Mahi sneezed and started to sniffle. Moni knew that she was playing in the rain.
"Ab Mahi to gayi" whispered Daksh to Bani.
"Mahi, yahan ana" Moni motioned Mahi to come to the kitchen. Mahi entered and knew what was coming. The big lecture.
"Ji mummyji" asked Mahi nervously. Whenever Mahi was nervous, Mahi played with the chunni of her salwar kameez.
"Kya tum baarish mein khel rahi thi? Tum janti ho tum kitna jaldi bemaar par jati ho" lectured Moni while Mahi just looked down.
"Woh mum...mummyji m...main" stammered Mahi.
"Auntyji, maine Mahi ko kaha bahar baarish mein khlene ki liye. Mujhe maaf kar di jiye. Age se aisa nahin hoga. Kyon Mahi?" Shabd nudged Mahi to answer and all she could do was nod her head.
"Shabd, tu hamesha Mahi ki galtion ki zimadari le leta hai. Theek hai, maine tumhe maaf kar diya par agli baar..."
"Agli baar aisa nahin hoga mummyji."
"Main tumhare liye kesar wala dood banati hoon. Warna tu bemaar par jayi gi."
"Nahin mum..."
"Moni aunty, ek glass mere liye bhi banaye. Main aur Mahi ek saath piyenge" said Shabd while holding Mahi's hand.
"Jaisi tumhari marzi puttar" said Moni and she started to prepare the milk for two.
"Par Shabd, aap ko kesar wala dood pasand nahin hai."
"Tumhe to bhi pasand nahin hai. To maine socha kyon nahin ek saath pe lein" said Shabd while giving Mahi the glass of milk."Aur humne vaada kiya hai, hum kuch bhi karein ge, ek saath karein ge. Chalo dood pete hain."
Hope you guys liked it. Please do comment. I would love to read what you think of it. Thanks.
Geet - Hui Sabse Parayee
Advocate Anjali Awasthi
