-GULAAL- (chap 9@pg14) - Page 5

Ch-4

"ABB CHOO KE DIKHA MHARI BIWI KOO!!..." his cold voice was rather warning as he spoke up looking towards the goon still holding my hand tightly. And I was standing there in utter shock witnessing everything.

Not just me but there was an utter silence around as he spoke those words. The air seemed frozen at the moment. Honestly nothing was getting inside my mind rather than the word he spoke a moment ago. HIS WIFE?!!!...BUT HOW?!!!...

"Arey ohh Rangeela bhaiya... Ka anab shanab bake jaa rahe ho.. Yo hori thari biwi kab se ban gayi?!.. Yee too chote sarkar ki nayi naveli gharali se.." the goon leader asked in daze.

As if like someone had poured diesel in an already devastated fire. In a jerk he left my hand and I was almost about to fall by that push. Somehow saving myself from fall I looked towards Rangeela who was ferociously grabbing the goon by his neck with his own single left hand.

"Arey bhaiya... Bhaiya... Kaa kar rahe ho?!!" the Goon leader was totally shocked and as well as scared seeing his sudden anger. As I looked towards Rangeela's face the mad rage in his eyes made my heart thump. I had never seen him that mad before, not even for his godly master.

"Lakhan!!!... Kaan kholke ek baat sun le aur apne khopariya mein ghuser le... Aaaj ke baad chote sarkar kaa naam Meera ke sath liya naa to thara zuban aisey khichke nikalega ki iss janam mein too kya... agle janam mein bhi baat karne layak naa rahega..." His voice was cold and mixed with the danger alert. His words were subjected to the goon leader but it even shook me to the core.

The goon leader named Lakhan couldn't say a single word after that warning. Not just him but his all companion seemed frozen to the spot. There was a dead silent around in the grave situation and within the moment something ticked in my mind that no one of them was watching over me anymore. There all concentration had pointed towards Rangeela by the time and even he left my hand earlier while messing with Lakhan. I looked around cautiously to check if I could use the opportunity. The downhill steps were just at my back and if somehow I am able to reach at the foothills I knew the road towards bus-stand. My heart was beating like hell in instinct as I knew that I was going to take a drastic step which might dragged me back into danger pit but I had seen enough in the past months and I understood one thing that survival depends on that merciless world on the risk factor. So I slowly took a step backward still keeping cautious eyes towards them. Lakhan and Rangeela were still busy with each other.

"Arey ohhh Rangeela Bhaiya!!. Ka kar rahe ho?!...Aaap too pura palti maar gaye hain!!... Arey yo chori dushman hain humari... Sarkar ko pata chalega ki aap iske taraf ho to..." Lakhan couldn't finish his word as Rangeela suddenly took out his gun with his free hand and invoked inside his open mouth directly, causing him to pop out his already wide eyes.

"Sarkar koo pata chalne se pahele thare ki ticket kat jayegi...Mooh bandh rakh... Samjha?!" his dangerous voice turned even harsher.

I understood that was my opportunity and I quickly turned back and was about to rush down the stony steep stairs again.

"Meera!!..." I was just about to rush when Rangeela's cold voice automatically stopped my feet. I wouldn't have stopped but his voice always hold a commanding tone of authority which no one could disobey and more over I was shaken by worry as he caught me again. His voice had already given me alarm signal. With anticipation I looked back taking a deep breath. I found Rangeela looking towards me still holding Lakhan in his captivity. His eyes were so cold hiding the hidden fire within it.

"Bhagne se pahele ek baat kaan khol ke sun lo aur samajh bhi lo..." he said with utter, "Inn see too main tumhe bacha loonga... Sirf yee nahin... Sarkar ke pure fauj bhi tumhara kuch na kar payega... Par tumhe mujhse koi nahin bacha sakta... Koi Nahin!!..."

And I was stunned, frozen on the spot looking towards his dangerously warning eyes like a dumb. A chill ran down my spine as I understood that he meant what he said. Giving a me a cold look he looked back to Lakhan and said, "Lakhan... apne admion ko bol ki apne apne hathiyar daal de... warna bandook ki sari goli pahele tanne khopriya mein ghussega aur phir thare iss pure paltan ke bhi... Hath mein hathiyar liye bhi yee mhara kuch naa bigar payega aur yee baat tanne achi tarah se maloom hain!!..." as he said those words within his greeted teeth another cold vibe of terror rushed among those goons. I knew very well about the terror Rangeela spread among the whole region as Choudhury's right hand man and truly he deserved the title. He was the perfect mercenary of their gang and also the unbeatable protector of their criminal world, a wall which no one could broke.

But the heartless mercenary totally puzzled me at every instant as he stood behind me as a support, protecting me from Lakhan and his man, going against his masters to whom he was dead loyal.

"Arey khare khare mooh ka taak rahe ho... Bachao mhare ko... Arey gadhon.. Yee sirf akela hain.. Aur tum itne sare... Tumre hath mein hathiyar bhi hain!!" Lakhan tried a desperate last chance to instigate his companions but there was not a single movement from their side.

"Bawle ho ka Lakhan bhaiya..." One of the goons said, "Humre mati nahin mari gayi jo Rangeela bhaiya se bhirne jayein... yee akele 100 ke barabar hain... hum hathiyar ke sath bhi kuch naa kar payengey..."

The helpless fear increased in Lakhan's eyes with victory smirk in Rangeela's face. Suddenly he pointed his gun down and fired. The sound of gunfire broke through the silent night shaking my innermost. Lakhan jumped like mad as he thought he lost his leg but as the moment went away he understood that the bullet had hit the ground dangerously close to his foot.

"Lakhan... agar apni tang sahi salamat rakhna chahta hain too inko bol hathiyar daalne ke liye..." rangeela's order came like the thunder strike and at the moment the goons himself put down their ammunitions even before Lakhan asked them to do so. As they did so Rangeela pushed Lakhan heavily and he was bounced back within his companion goon. He was about to fall on the ground but others caught him.

"Chalo..." Rangeela blew on his gun's barrel which was still bearing out the slight smoke of earlier firing, "Abb ek dusre ke sar patko..."

The goons looked towards each other with stunned eyes by his order. I was witnessing the wole scene with frozen state. My brain was not at all working since I heard that Biwi' word from his mouth.

I came to the village only with one intention. Revenge!!... To expose one of the dangerous criminal racket of this country, to show mr Veer Pratap Choudhury his place who had ruined my happy world, ruined the life of my dear elder sister and mother. That's the very reason I agreed to married Veer literally killing my soul because I knew that I had to go inside snake's den to fulfill my wish and he was the easiest key. Otherwise I would never ever been ready to even touch the shadow of that loathsome man. Each and every night the smiling face of my loved once used to remind me about my oath, the oath I have taken on the ashes of my mother and elder sister.

For these past months I was living the life in hell with the identity of Choudhury Veer Pratap's wedded wife, bearing the invisible scar within my heart, saving myself from his all disgraceful attempt to get close to me and collecting all the clues against them. But all of a sudden it was like getting hit by a devastating storm when suddenly Rangeela pronounced me as his wife!!!

"Aur haan!!..." Rangeela's voice snatched me out from the past memory, "Itne zor se sar patakna ki paheli baar mein hi behosh hoo jayein... Agar naa huya too goli sidhe thare khopariya mein." And with that ass smirk he pointed his guns to those goons increasing the fear in their eyes.

"Rangeela bhaiya... Kis janam kaa badla le rahe ho humse...Abhi jane do..." Lakhan pleaded in almost teary voice.

Rangeela didn't show a single sign of mercy. His gun was still pointed towards those goons and his face was still hard and serious. The goons were again looking to each other's face with confusion.

"Dekho bhai..." He started to load his guns, "jaldi jaldi faisla kar lo ki apne dost ke hatho maar khake behosh hona hain yaa phir mare hatho goli kha kee apna ticket katwana hain?!"

Even from a quite distance I could feel the sound of horrified breath of those goons. Suddenly Lakhan caught the man at his side and punched him hard on face causing him to collapse on the ground instantly.

"Arey Ohh Lakhan bhiya?!... Ka kar rahe ho?!!" the other goon asked in utter shock.

"Maaf karna bhai... Manne apni jaan pyari hain..." at the next moment Lakhan caught him and punched him too. Soon the chaos spread among them as they kept on hitting each other and Rangeela was just enjoying the sight standing by the rock and looking towards their battle against each other with the a** smirk in his face and his hands were casually playing with the bids hanging around his neck.

Soon there was silence around as all the goons were lying on the dust unconsciously getting hit by their own companion. I didn't know if I was cherish the sight cause those were the very man who were having wrong intention towards me just a moment ago.

"Gaye s**e ghora bech ke sone!!" Rangeela's chuckle broke my trance. As I looked back to him, he was still standing at the side of rock, looking towards those fallen goon with his satisfactory smirk. Throwing his bids over his neck he looked towards my side and found me gazing towards him dumbly.

His gaze changed all of a sudden as it subjected towards me loosing it harsh cold edge and somehow becoming warmer and that look in his eyes again made my breath stop for a moment injecting some unknown chilling vibe within me.

He slowly moved towards my side without shifting his gaze even for a moment from my face and I stood there like a statue looking towards his side like possessed. He came and stood at my front still carrying the suffocating silent between us. His eyes were observing me as of trying to read my mind's state.

"Tum Thik Ho?!..." his question broke the silence finally and I was a little baffled by his question. The situation was somehow so awkward. True to say I never felt that awkward whenever I was with him before. I hated him all that time with his masters but there was something else which was undetectable. I couldn't answer him back and just looked away taking a deep breath to get over the awkwardness.

"Suno!!..." he spoke from my side and even his voice seemed a little changed also, "Yahan se bhagna parega... Pata nahin iss Lakhan ke tarah aur bhi namuna aa jayein..."

I still couldn't talk to him anymore as if I have lost my voice.

"Chalo!!..." he suddenly caught my hand and dragged me but I stood on the place motionless.

"Ka huya chalo?!" he asked bit impatiently.

"Mujhe tumhare sath kahin nahin jana!!" I said calmly.

"Arey yaar... Abhi tumhe nautnaki sujh rahi hain?! Mhare sath nahin jana?!.. Too ka malik ko bulaoon?! Wapas jana hain haveli?!" he asked making a face.

I gave him a harsh look and he just chuckled. "Acha.. Bolo kyun nahin jana mhare sath?!"

"Kyun ki mujhe abhi bhi samajh mein nahin aa raha hain ki tum meri madad kyun kar rahe ho... Main jitna tumhe jaante hoon... itna too pata hain ki bina bajay aur bina kissi kimat ke tum kuch bhi nahin karte ho... Kal tak tum apne malik ke liye apne jaan dene pe tule the... Aur aaj ussi ke admion se mujhe bacha rahe ho!! Akhir tumhare iradhe kya hain?!" I asked with serious tone looking straight to his eyes.

"Bahut sawal karti hoo tum!!" that sarcastic smile was back in his face, "Thik hain madam tumhare sare sawal ka jawab mil jayega... Par abhi yahan se chalo..." He again dragged my hand but I was adamant not to move a single step.

"Par ek sawal ka jawab too mujhe abhi chahiye..." I said neglecting all his effort to make me go with him, "Tumne unn gundo se kyun kahan ki main tumhari biwi hoon?!!"

His eyes froze at the moment on my face. He must not be expecting me to catch that bit. The dead silence came back between us and he just kept gazing towards me with parted lips unable to answer anything.

"Kya huya...batao!!!" I insisted.

"Manne iss sawal ka jawab nahin dena!!" he said with a serious face.

"Thik hain to mujhe bhi nahin jana tumhare sath... Aur na hi tumhar help ki zarurat hain.." I said quite harshly.

"Meera!!!..." his voice rose as he hold my wrist harshly, "Sidhe sidhe bol raha hoon.. chalo idhar se...Mhare ko apne aap pe utar ane pe maboor na karo.."

"Aur tum bhi mujhe apne aap pe utar ane pe maboor mat karo mr... I am warning you.. agar tumne mere sath zabardasti karne ki zara sa bhi koushis ki to anjaam bahut bura hoga... I know main tumhe kuch nahin kar sakti... par apne aap ko to kar sakti hoon naa..." as I said the last word it again instigated him again.

"Meera!!..." the mad anger was back in his eyes. And that was my time to smirk.

"Chillao mat!!" I said sharply with a victory smile as I spoke looking straight to his eyes, "Farak parta hain naa?!... Agar mujhe kuch hoo jayein too tumhe farak parta hain!!... Itna too mujhe ab tak samajh aa gaya.. Par kyun... yee nahin jaan ti main... aur naa hi jaan na chahti hoon... Bas itna bata do ki tumne unn gundon ko aisa kyun kahan... Phir main bina koi sawal puche tumhare sath chali jaungi... I promise!!"

There was a huge amusement in his eyes as I spoke those words to him. I waited patiently for his answer. He sighed and finally left my wrist. He looked uncertain for a moment as he observed my face deeply with such vulnerable eyes never seen before.

"Galat nahin kahan tha..." He took a deep sigh and finally spoke, "Tumhari shadi mhare se huyi thi... Chote sarkar se nahin!!" as he spoke those words cautiously I felt like getting hit by some huge storm as I looked to his face dumbly for a moment to understand what he was trying to say actually.

"Uss din mandap pe main tha... Mhara chehera sahere se Dhaka huya tha issi liye tujhe pata naa chala... Chote sarkar andar pee ke behosh pare the... Badi maalkin ne mhare ko adesh diya... ki main chote sarkar ke kapre pahen ke mandap pe unke jagah baith jaoon... aur yee baat kissi koo pata naa chale..." As he revealed the very truth of my life my head started to spine. Suddenly it felt like my world had gone upside down... unable to face the moment of shock I crushed on the dusty stony ground with numb mind.

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"Rangeele bacha le mhare veer ko... ab bas tu hi issey bacha sakta hain!!... Maan jaa mhari baat.." as badi maalkin plead me ardently I was totally shocked after listening to her demand. I couldn't even react or say anything. True to say whenever malik asked me to kill someone or perform some difficult work I never thought for a moment but what Badi Maalkin asked from me was totally out of the blue and seemed impossible at moment.

"Manne Veera ko karwi nind ki dawai de di hain!!" Badi malkin looked towards malik who was lying unconsciously on the bed wearing the outfit of groom, "Kaal subha se pahele iss kaa hosh naa awyein gaa... Iss koo yaad bhi naa rahega ki pichle raat ko ke huya tha... Rangeele... jaldi kar... veer ka posjak pahen kee aur mandap mein jaa ke baith jaa... there chehere oe sahera rahega... to koi dekh bhi naa payega..." She looked towards me with fearful eyes pleading with her life. I gulped and took a step back. The chaos and joy full sound of a wedding house seemed distant thing now. Some few moment ago I knew that chote sarkar was about to get married. Though I was pretending to be normal and happy... deep within my heart I never wanted malik to get married with that particular girl who identified herself as an orphan village girl Bindiya!!... Only I knew that she was hiding her true identity. Her name was not bindiya... She was Meera!!... the feisty girl who made a deep impression in my heart from the very moment I met him some months ago.

"Rangeele.. ki soch raha hain!!.. dekh... bahar mandap pe veer ke bapu khare hain bandook leke... agar kuchi der mein veer wahan na paucha naa too yahan aa jayengey...aur koi bhi garbar dikha too pata nahin kaun sa matam machayengey... Baap-beta koi bhi jyotish maharaj ke baat maan ne ke liye taiyar naa hain... unhone saaf kahan hain ki veera ki shadi iss chori se huyi too anarth hoo jave ga...rangeele... main thare see apni veera ki zindagi ki bhik maang rahi hoon... Mhare bte ko bacha le... Badle mein tujhe jitna paisa chahiye naa utna milega...Manne pata hain... Bina paisa liye tu kuch bhi naa karega... Aur mhare veer ko bacha ne ke liye tu mhari jaan mange gaa too woo bhi tujhe mil javega... bas tu mhare veer ko bacha le..."

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I could never forget the very night when badi maalkin came to me begging for chote malik's life. She wanted me take Veer's place during nuptial vows so that she could stop the upcoming danger. The astrologer whom badi malkin used to obey a lot, made a future prediction to her that the upcoming marriage with ruin Veer's life and anyhow she had to stop Veer from taking neptual vows with his bride. But the thing was that neither sarkar nor chote sarkar was ready to listen to that so called jyotish maharaj of badi maalkin cause we people believed on making our own destiny not believing some prediction or astrology and more over chote sarkar was so much adamant to marry her as soon as possible.

As I recalled the night clearly looking towards dark sky, I still couldn't get why obeyed badi maalkin's words. May be because I couldn't disobey a mother's urge, may be I wanted to save malik's life at any coast... May be... Some other reason... but every reason seemed invalid cause my mind was full with only one thought at the moment that Meera was getting married to malik and the thought was strangely burning something within me.

I wouldn't deny that my heart was beating in such a fast pace while I was seating on the wedding place at the front of holy fire beside meera, when I looked towards his lifeless cold emotionless face hiding a eternal fire of sadness within her bridal jewelry and calmness of face which was only visible to me...when I pressed his cold rigid hand and she shook bit... She must have felt something at the moment. She was such a sensible and clever one too.

Even I felt something new from the very moment she crossed path with me. The strange heavy feeling of an empty hole within my chest, the strange burn whenever I saw her with malik... The feelings which I never felt for anyone!!

I looked towards Meera again. She was silently seating on the steps for more than 15 mins almost like a frozen statue holding her knees. Her eyes were motionless, expressionless and fixed towards nowhere. I knew that the shock was much for him but I never expected her to react like that. I thought she would be normal after some moment but it seemed like she would be on the same frozen state for eternally until someone jerks her out.

So with cautious steps I moved near her, bending on my knees at her front I touched her arm slightly. It seemed like she got an electric shock with my touch and looked towards me with wide vulnerable eyes which made me dumb for a moment.

There was nothing in her blank eyes rather than the shadow of broken trust, a broken heart and a defeated soul. I really couldn't bear that gaze as if it hurt me in some new way which a bullet or sharp knife couldn't do.

"Chalo yahan se!!" I somehow managed to speak. I had to take her to safe place at first.

My words made strange reaction in her as I saw her facial expression turning rigid and suddenly her eyes emerged a great anger full of disgust.

and I just could look dumbly to those disgusted eyes all frozen, unable to answer back.

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