old FF till chapter 19 - Page 56

Chapter 10

kesar and rewa stood there for a while and then went inside

it was late in afternoon panba was taking a afternoon nap rewa was talking to her frn raman was busy in his write up and kesar vicky and sonu were playing video game in kesar room?..suddenly phone rang

Phone rang and raman picked up phone...the other person said " ji aap kanha se bol rahe hain"

Raman said " modi house "

Person said "ji mein inspector shinde bol raha haun...abhi thodhi der pehle highway mein ek car ka accident ho gaya hai number hai MH-19P47837?. 2 log car mein the...unme ek ka cell phone mila jisme... yeh number...ghar ka number k naam se save tha...

Raman was shocked and frightened , he said kya

Inspector "ji aap log jald se jald National highway 17 k pass shivaji hospital aa jaiye and then he gave him the address

Raman paniced "panba... Rewa... kesar"

Kesar vicky sonu panba came out they looked at raman who was panic-strucked rest of the family member saw him and they were frightened too

Raman was not in the state to speak to think to mourn he was numbed he looked scared but still he gathered strength and spoke" jaldi chaliye vasant aur gulaal ki car ka accident ho gaya hai"

Kesar raman panba sonu and vicky quickly reached to the hospital leaving rewa and sudhabhabhi

They reached the hospital...raman inquired at the reception counter about vasant and gulaal a doctor and inspector came and said "aap NH-17 mein hue car accident k baare mein puch rahe hain "

Raman was restless he said almost crying "jinka accident hua hai mein unka bhai hun vasant aur gulaal kaise hai wo thek hai na"

Doctor replied " us accident mein jo ladki thi wo bach gayi hain unhe head injuries aur abhi behos hai thodhi der mein hosh aa jayega"

Raman said scardly " a...aur v...vasant"

Doctor remained silent for a moment and said "I m sorry but he is no more"

This news came as a jolt to the family they were paralyzed and numbed they were too shocked and scared to move they couldnt believe their ears

Inspector said "aap sab morgue chahilye aur chal kar body identitfy kar lijeye"

Everyone headed towards the morgue sonu panba vicky raman went inside the morgue but kesar could not?.. he was standing outside the morgue standing in disbelief he thought inspector said about a "body" vasantbha is not body he cant be body...he was like the frightened child cowered in the corner...he rembered as many god he could in fraction of sec "plz don't let this happen. don't let this happen oh lord plz show some mercy" he cried continously but seems like god has turned his back on him

Suddenly he heard panba screaming "vasant " and he ran inside

He saw panba inconsoable in sorrow she was in the deep grief she could hardly stand on her feet...kesar wanted to support her but he was not in the state to understand react

Sonu consoled panba and took her outside

Kesar who was standing there blankly turn around and saw his vasantbha lying silently, a holier grace shone on his meek face?..kesar looked at him for few second and then he saw the blood clot on his forehead kesar got scared kesar remebered the day wen he got injuried and his vasantbha came to him embraced him and gently wiped his blood... he came near to his soulmate his companion his father his best buddy he took the bed sheet in which vasant was lying and started wiping his clot

kesar was like frightened and scared child who was walking in the crowd holding his father's finger...scared with the outside world scared with the crowd...all the child wanted to return home safely so asking his father "father lets go home"...in the similar way he wiped the blood that already dried he cried "vasantbha ghar chalo na" , ghar chalo na vasantbha"

Raman and vicky were standing next to him they tried to console him "kesar yeh tu kya kar raha hai"

But kesar was not in the state of hearing he continusly lamented "ghar chalo naa vasantbha dar lag raha hai, chalo na vasantbha"

Even the dead was at grief and sorrow at the loss...but the fate was decided

Nurse walked inside the morgue and said "inke sath mein jo madam thi unhe hosh aa gaya hai..."

Raman looked back blankly he said "ji mein aata hun and asked vicky to look after kesar

He left kesar who was still crying and pleading "ghar chalo na vasantbha"

Gulaal who was comatose revived slowly. Gulaal saw raman standing before her she closed her eyes and then she remembered that her car was hit by the truck she got up all of sudden and shouted "vasant"

Raman hold her and said "gulaal shaant ho jau "

Gulaal asked "vasant kanha hai"

Raman stood silent

Gulaal hearts was sinking in fear

She said in cracked voice" ramanbha aap chup kyu hai"

Raman didn't have the strength to tell her the verdict of the destiny

Raman silence made gulaal more supicious she was frghtened

She said "ramanbha aap bol kyu nahi rahe vasant thek hai na wo kanha hai bataayi na ramanbha kanha hai vasant"

Raman broke down completely and cried vasant...vasant hume chod kar chala gaya wo morgue...and he cried his heart out

Gulaal couldn't stand there and she rushed to mougue

Kesar was still standing there he was still crying "ghar chalo na vasantbha"

Gulaal went inside she threw her straining vision below and she shrinked back her spirit refused to comprehend the meaning what she saw...at length it forced...it wrestled its way into her soul it burned itself in upon the shuddering reason

Kesar saw gulaal and said "aap kuch kariye naa...dekhiye naa vasantbha ko kuch ho gaya hai aap theek kariye" he looked upon her with hope she is a doctor she had the spell to bring vasant back to life...kesar was looking at her...she was his last hope

And gulaal she didn't wanted to be logical...she began her vain attempt to ressurect vasant... she cried "vasant...vasant kuch nahi hoga tumhe and she started CPR on him"... But the body was cold, the loss was irrepearable no sorrow now could touch his heart and after several attempts she was no longer left in doubts she struggled no more and the agony of her soul found a vent in one loud long and final scream of despair..she shouted "vasant"

She began to cry she began to wail her screams rose to the heaven...sheshattered completely

Kesar who was looking upon her... shuddered as if with the fit of ague...he buried his face in his hands and weeped bitterly

Vasant was no more..his suden desmise was the severe blow to the family member.

Next day raman kesar and other family member brought vasant's body for the funeral rituals. With heavy heart kesar was performing the rituals he looked up gulaal was standing in white saree lifeless motionless...he was in tears and amidst tears he looked into her eyes gulaal looked back tears also fell from her eyes?? With heavy heart family bid farewell to vasant .everyone was mourning feeling pain and grief at the loss

Gulaal was present as the body, pale, vacant and lifeless, an apparaent caricature of all that she was...the one who only a few days back was so alive with her beautiful eyes flashing was now locked tightly in the mask of sorrow greif and pain

Void, empty, hollow inside
My dreams have fled, my hopes have died
Existence has no reason
Life's just passing with each season
he was my life, my hope, my love
All is gone, passed by thereof
The hurt is such no one should bear
What's to life, why should I care?
I weep all night for my love gone
My heart is sick, for death I long
Mine eyes well tears for love that's lost
I'll mourn always for the great cost

After all the funeral rituals poonam and revji took the permission to take gulaal with them...panba also gave her consent as this was best at times

month passed but the pain and grief was still the same...the family was in deep pain one morning panba heard the doorbell she opened and saw bank manager and yogesh standing oustide

She ask them to come in

Bank manager yogesh and panba sitted on the sofa

Bank manager " hume mr vasant modi k deadth ka behaad afsoos hai"

Panba with wet eyes said "shayad bhagwaan ko yehi manjoor tha?..she paused and said ji manager sahab kaise ana hua yanha"

Bank manager reluctantly said " Mr. Vasant ne humare bank se business loans and overdraft limit li thi uski reapyment date nikal gayi abhi tak loan ka repayment nahi hua hai agar 7 days mein repayment nahi hoga to hume vasantji k saare bank accounts aur lockers seal karne honge"

Panba was shocked tp hear this news she knew vasant's deadth will create a financial turbulence but this was least expected panba in panicstate said "par manager sahab aap tp jante vasant ko gaye abhi ek mahina bhi puara nahi hua hai agar aap hume kuch time de de de to"

Bank manager " mrs modi I wished aisa kuch ho par hume rules and regulations follow karne hi padege"

Panba said to "kya humara ghar aur business bhi seize ho jayega"

Manager "ji nahi vasantji ne loans banks accounts aur apke locker k against liya tha..hume sirf un accounts and locker se hi matlab hai..aap jald se jald business loan repay karne ka intzaam kar lijeye"

And manager left

Panaba was worried she inquired yogesh who was the research scientist and confidante of vasant about the business condition

Yogesh said in despair " auntyji apse jhoot nahi bolna chahta business k condition thek nahi hai...vasant sir k jaane baad humare competitors ne humare bahut saare business clients chin liye aur jin clients ne hume orders diya hai unka order pura karne k liye humare pass funds nahi hai...we are going through a rough phase"

Panba asked "aur financers aur investors"

Yogesh replied "ji wo bhi ek ek karke apna paisa nikal rahe hain sab kuch vasant sir se connected tha ab humare business mein paisa lagna waale log bhi nahi hai..."

Panba replied sadly "mein samajh sakti hun...mere pass itna cash nahi k bank loan aur business funds arrange kar saku haan vasant k insurance policies..meine humare insurance agents se baat k..unhone kaha k insurance amount bahut bada hai pehle pure tarah se accident k investigation hogi uske baad hi fund release kar paayenge..in sab mein kareb 5 -6 month lag jaayenge"

Yogesh replied "itna waqt hum business ko nahi de sakte...agar halat aise rahe to...
and then he didn't speak

Panba was shocked yogesh stood and walked he saw kesar and rewa they were listening the whole conversation?..

Vasant was not only the dearest member...but the only breadwinner of the family...his sudden demise was the emotional and financial blow to the family

Panaba raman and kesar tried to arrange the fund...they asked every known person for help but the attempts were in vain...and bank sealed all the bank accounts and lockers of vasant panba kesar and rewa

After a week yogesh returned in modi house he looked worried and tensed he talked to panba and kesar he said "aunty company bahot loss mein jaa rahi hai, ek mahine se saare emloyers k salary due hai, creditors bhi bahot ho gaye hai samajh nahi aa raha mei kya karu"

Panba didn't said anything she went inside and brought all the cash, jewellery she had kept for herself and rewa she handed it to yogesh and said " vasant k rehte hue is company mein koi daag nahi tha uske jaane k baad bhi koi daag nahi rehna chahiye yeh jewellery aur cash le lo aur jitne bhi employees and aur creditors unka paisa unhe de do."

Kesr looked at her helpless

He asked yogesh "yogesh bha ab company aur factory ka kya hoga

Yogesh said in distress "ab factory ko band karne k siwa humare pass aur koi raasta nahi hai"

Kesar couldn't bear this news he went outside and cried bitterly

yogesh settled all the debt and salary of the employees and the factor was locked so was the vasant dreams

panba was tensed and worried panba had spent past one month coping with the crisis her family had undegone.this moment was the first time she had for the momentus impact of the event to hit her. What would she do now...she was lonely she was acutely grief sticken she was worried about her two children ,both of whom were seriously affected by vasant's death..she paicked

one day panba ws counting the money she had left with rewa came to her and said "panba humare pass ab jyada paise nahi hai?na"

panba replied sadly" tum chinta mat karo mein hu na mein kuch intzaam kar lungi"

rewa "panba mein janti hun ab humare pass ghar k kharch ko chalane k liye bhi jyada paise nahi hai. Mein job dhoondh rahi hun baa shayad achi job mil jaaye"

panba put her hands on her head , rewa continued " panba hum yeh ghar kyu nahi sale"

panba interrupted in between" nahi rewa yeh hargiz nahi ho sakta yeh ghar vasant ka hi nahi motabha k bhi sapna hai meine dekha tha motabha kaise din raat ek karke is ghar ko banaya hai mein ise nahi bech sakti is ghar k ek ek saman mein vasant aur motabha k yaadein hain hum koi raasta dhondh lenge...though she said to console her daughter but she knew now she didn't have the sufficient money to run the houshold expenses

next morning panba came to raman's room, raman offered her chair

panba said raman..."tum to jante ho vasant k jane k baad humari financial position kuch thek nahi hain bank ne humare saare banks accounts aur locker seal kar diye aur cash aur jewellery thi wo business k karz chukane mein kharch ho gaye hain...rewa job dhundh rahi hai mein bhi kuch kaam karne k soch rahi hun...tab tak agar tumhare pass kuch paise ho to".she speak hesistaley.".mein waapas kar dungi"

raman was in tears to hear it he said "panba mein apka beta hun aap mujhse kaise baat kar rahi hai vasant k jaane k baad saari responsibilty meri hai...mere hote aapko paiso k baare mein fikr karne k jarurat nahi hai"

and he took some money from the almirah and was about to give it to panba but sudha came in between she stopped raman

she said "raman yeh kya kar rahe ho tum"

raman said "sudha tum beech mein mat pado"

sudha said "kyu na bolo"

she continued "vasant k antim sanskar mein humara kitna kharcha ho gaya aur phir tumne apni saari saving bhi bank k karz mein chuka di..aur ab jo thodhe bahuit paise bache hai use bhi tum in logo ko de doge"

panba was hurt to hear it

raman shouted "yeh log mera parivaar hai meine apni parivaar k liye kiya hai "

sudha "aur mein aur sunny...kya yeh tumhara parivaar nahi hai...agar tum sab in logo par luta doge to humare liye kya bachega aur phir sunny k school uski fees kaise hoga yeh sab...raman tum ek freelance writer ho koi bahut bade businessman nahi tumahare salary mein kaise guzara karti hun yeh sirf mein jaanti hun...mein tumhe aisa nahi karne dungi"

raman was boiling in anger he shouted at the top the voice he said "mein abhi zinda hun san intzaam kar lunga"

sudha cried "to phir sab de do aur laa do hume raste par and she took out her gold bangles panba aap yeh bhi le leijye ab to khush haina na aap"

panba was shocked and she had tears in her eyes with wet eyes she said " nahi sudha raman k paise par sirf tumhara aur sunny ka haq hai mujhe maaf kardo mujhe nahi pata tha tum logo ko bhi financial problem hai nahi to mein yanha kabhi nahi aati"

then she turned to raman and said "raman sudha sahi kah rahi hai yeh paise sunny k kaam aayenge fikr mat karo mein koi intzaam kar lungi"

raman was ashamed with th sudha's behaviour and sudha didn't moved..panba left the room...unknowingly that kesar had heard all the conversation from outside the room he didn't felt so helpless and frustrated in his life he was ashamed of himself he left the house immediately...

meanwhile in pune gulaal was vulnerable she was like a living dead...the girl who was livid cheerful few months back was now colourless...for her day night food happiness counted no more she was living but her soul was dead...

one day she was standing outside her window

poonam came and said tumahare liye phone hai modi hospital se

gulaal received the call...dushyant was on the other side

dushyant asked "gulaal kaise ho"

gulaal said "thek"

dushaynt said "mein janta hun tum par kya gujar rahi hogi par honi ko kaun taal sakta hai

She paused and said "aapne phone kaise kiya"

dushyant gulaal" tumhare saare pateint ko mein attend kar raha haun ward no 11 ka pateint case discuss karna tha who humari treatment ko respond nai kar raha"

gulaal said "ji aap chinta mat kariye mein kal hospital aa jaungi wanhi discuss kar lenge"

and gulaal ended the call

poonam who was listening the whole converstion asked " kal tum mumbai jaa rahi ho"

gulaal said "ji maa hospital ka kuch kuch hai socha jaakar khatam kar lu"

poonam "to kya apne ghar bhi jaugi"

gulaal "pata ahi maa" she paused "maa wanha vasant k bahut saari yaadein hain pata nahi wanha jaakar un yaadeino ka samna kaise kar paungi".and she broke down...poonam wanted to console her but she couldn't she queitly took her into her arms

next morning gulaal went to modi hospital she was heading towards her cabin and she heard her colleague voice and she stopped outside his cabin it was doctor seithi who was shouting at a person" aap log humara time waste kyu karte hain jab aapko aapke products k baare mein thek se jankaari nahi hai to kyu aate hain yanha

the other person requested " plz doctor aap meri puri baat to sun lejiye aaj meri job ka pehla din hai isliye...plz aap pure baat"

doctor said "mein kya karu agar pehla din hai abhi yanha se jau aur jab job karne k liye ready ho to aana"

and he asked to the man to leave his cabin

gulaal was listening the whole conversation she saw the man coming out of the cabin in distress

he was kesar...gulaal and kesar looked at each other kesar she was shocked to see kesar...

Chapter 11

gulaal asked kesar "tum yanha?..aur yeh sab kya hai"

kesar replied " maine ek parmaceutical company mein medical representative k job kar li hai?doctor ko presentation dene aaya tha.

Gulaal looked at him and said chalo mere cabin mein

She took him to her cabin

In cabin

Kesar asked " aap theek hai"

Gulaal said in haste " meri chodo tum mujhe batao yeh sab tum kay kar rahe ho

Kesar remained silent

Gulaal continued" tumhe apni padhai par dhyaan dena chihiye tumhe job karne k kya jarurat hai "

Kesar said "meine faisla liya hai ab mein apni padhai puri nahi karunga mein job karunga"

Gulaal was shocked she remembered vasant had said to her that kesar is his biggest dream he wants him to be a sucessful educated and respected person like him

Gulaal said in a sock "what? Tum pagal ho gaye ho...tum jante ho tum kya kah rahe ho...tum abhi undergraduate ho tum is tarah apni padhai kaise chod sakte ho...tum jante ho na vasant ka sapna tha tumhe bahot educated aur successful person bante hue dekhne kya tum aisa kaise kar sakte ho"

Kesar interrupted "is samay meri padhai se jyada jaruri mera parivaar hai...mere parivaar ko meri jarurat hai.mujhe unhe support karna hai...is samay mein apne aur vasantbha k sapne k baare mein nahi soch sakta"

Gulaal asked "matlab mein kuch samjhi nahi. kya hua"

Kesar then expalined whole situaition to gulaal

Gulaal was shocked to hear this

To some extent gulaal knew about the happening she had received the bank letter informing that her joint account was sealed but she didnt realize the gravity of the situation... now she was feeling guilty that she wasn't there with her family wen her family was going through the rough times she remebered she had promised vasant that she will always take care of his family...how was she so indifferent these days?

She was in tears to hear it

She said "itna kuch ho gaya tumne mujhe kuch nahi bataya...mujhe itna paraya kar diya"

She continued "kesar mere hote tumhe yeh sab karne k koi jarurat nahi hai mein ho mein sab sambhal lungi"

Kesar said "plz bura nahi maniyega par mein apse help nahi le sakta...ab mere parivaar k jimmedaari mujh par hain mein kar lunga"

Gulaal said in between "nahi kesar mein apni baat nahi kar rahi hun ?.mein vasant k baat kar rahi rahi hun..tumhe kyu lagta hai k vasant tum logo k liye kuch bhi nahi sochenge aur tum logo ko secure nahi karenge?.unhone mere pass kuch investment aur kuch paise rekhe ?.unhone yeh paise apne parivaar k liye bachaye the?..wo paise aur usese mila interest itna hai ki humari saari financial problems solve ho sakti hain"

Kesar looked at gulaal with hope

Gulaal said in the soft voice trust me" tum sirf apni padhai par dhyaan do?vasant ka sapna tumhe pura karna hai kesar apne vasantbha k liye tum apni padhai par dhyaan do"

Gulaal continued " kesar, panba se kehna unki bahu kal ghar aa rahi hun mujhe kal lene aa jana."

Kesar noded his head

Kesar was about to leave gulaal said "kesar agar mujhe jara sa bhi apna mante ho to tum yeh job chod doge"

Gulaal and kesar looked at each other and then he left

In evening gulaal reachd her home she told her mother about the whole situation?..poonam was sad to hear the financial crisis of the modi's family..gulaal started packing her bags

Poonam asked " kya tumhe sach mein vasant ne paise diye the

Gulaal replie "nahi maa mere pass koi paise nahi hai infact mere jo bhi paise aur jewellery thi wo vasant k saath joint account me tha wo sab bhi bank ne seal kar diya hai"

Poonam said "tum kaho to mein kuch paise de du"

Gulaal "nahi maa iski jarurat nahi hai apki beti doctor hai mere salary itni hai k usese mera ghar kharch aur kesar k padhai puri ho sakti hai"

Poonam asked "par tumne jhooth kyu bola"

Gulaal said " maa agar mein jhooth nahi bolti to kesar kabhi mujhse help nahi leta mein janti hun panba aur kesar bahut khuddar hain unhe pata chal gaya to mujhse kabhi bhi paise nahi lenge"

Poonam said "to tum wanha jaana chahiti ho"

Gulaal "haan maa wo mera parivaar hai wanha k log mere apne vasant k jaane k baad unse mera rishta khatam nahi hua hai mein apne parivaar k saath nibhane jaa rahi hun?maa unko meri jarurat hai aur mujhe bhi.."

She continued "maa vasant ne mujhse vada liye tha mein unke parivaar ka khayal rakhungi aur unke sapno ko pura karne mein saath dungi vasant to nahi hain bas ab unka sapna hai mujhe use pura karna hai"

Poonam said "aur tune apne baare mein kya socha "

Gulaal "sochna kya hai maa mere saare sapne saare ummede saare khushiyaan vasant k saath jaa chuki hai meri zindagi mein to kuch bhi nahi hai...bas ab yeh parivaar aur uski khushiyaan hi mere jeene ka maksad hai...shayyad bhagwaan ne us accident mein mujhe

Isliye bachaya taaki mein vasant ka sapna pura kar saku"

She said in cracked voice "maa mein vasant ka sapna pura jarur karungi kisi bhi kimat par"

and she remembered vasant dream..."rewa k shaadi ache ghar mein ho jaaaye aur kesar wo padh likh kar mujhse bhi jyada suceessful insaan ban jaaye bas yahi sapna hai mera mera yeh sapna oura ho jaaye mujhe shaanti mil jaayegi"

next morning panba was sitting in her room rewa came

panba called her in rewa sat beside her and said "panba paiso ka kuch intzaam hua"

panba said " ho jayega "

rewa " maa meine ek school mein job k liye apply kiya hai shayyad ek do din mein call aa jaaye.

panba "acha kiya par chinta mat kar..maine yogesh se kaha hai wo vasant k car k liye ek achi deal de dega...use bech kar kuch paise aa jayenge"

she said sadly" vasant ko yeh car kitni pasand thi?..socha tha uski har cheez sambhal kar rakhungi par"

sudha who was lisening the conversation had some scheme in her mind she knocked the door and said "panba mein andar aa sakti hun"

rewa overlooked her panba called her in

sudha gave her some money " panba yeh kuch paise le lijeye"

panba refused "nahi sudha yeh tumhare paise hai sunny k kaam aayenge tum chinta mat karo hum manage kar lenge"

sudha "panba aap mujhse naaraz haina"

panba said affectionately "nahi naarazgi ki koi baat nahi hai tumhe apne bhavisya k baare mein sochne ka pura haq hai mein bilkul naaraz nahi hun

sudha said "rakh lijeye naa mein bhi to apki beti hun apko meri kasam"

panab didnt said anything

sudha continued "waise yogesh mujhe raasta mein mila tha kah raha tha ap vasant k car bech rahi hain"

panba "haan halat k aage kisi ka zor nahi chalta"

sudha said "wo to theek hai panba par car bech kar bhi kitna paisa aa jayega jyada se jayada 2-3 lakh?".

She continued "panba apke aage bahut saari jimadaari hai kesar k padhai aur rewa k shaadi aur ghar kahrch yeh sab itne paise mein kaise ho ga"

panba looked tensed she knew sudha was right

panba said "haan sudha par aur kya kar sakti hun"

sudha said hestitately "a?.aap chahe to yeh ghar bech?"

panba interrupted "hargiz nahi yeh ghar motabha k amanat hai mein ise bech nahi sakti

sudha said "haan panba sahi kah rahi hai aap...ap yeh ghar kisi bahar waalo ko to mat becheiye par kisi apne ko to bech sakti hain"

panba asked "matlab"

sudha "panba raman aur mein aapke bete k tarah hain kyu na aap yeh ghar hume de deti hain...she said "dekhiye naa aisa karke yeh ghar parivaar mein hi rehega modi house motabha k amanat bhi bani rahegi aur apko paise bhi mil jaayenge"

sudha continued "mein to yuhi aapko saare paise de deti par yeh paise mere papa k hai unhone kaha k wo pasie tabhi denge jab aap raman k naam par property likh de?..aap to janti hain baa mujhe koi lalach nahi hai mein to sirf aapki bhalai k liye kah rahi hun?"

panba was in deep thought she knew sudha was taking advantage of her situation but at this moment she had no other option she was about to give her consent ?.suddenly she heard the voice

"iski koi jarurat nahi hai sudha bhabhi "..

sudha and panba looked behind they saw gulaal and kesar standing

gulaal came near to her "sudha bhabhi acha laga aapne humare baare mein socha par ab apko jyada sochne k jarurat nahi hai ishwar sab thek kar denge" and she handed her the money that she gave it to panba and said "yeh sunny k liye rakh lijeye uske kaam aayenge"

sudha left in anger

panba and rewa were happy to see gulaal , gulaal touched her feet rewa and panba hugged gulaal they were crying?gulaal wiped their tears and said "panba ab pareshaan hone k jarurat nahi hai apko ?mein aa gayi hun naa sab thek ho jayega"

panba said "gulaal kanha chali gayi thi hume chod kar kitne akele ho aye the hum sab

gulaal said" ab aa gayi huna ab kabhi nahi jaungi" they hugged and were trying to console each other?kesar was standing outside the room he was crying outside quietly

late afternoon kesar told panba about vasant's money and invsetment that was with gulaal

gulaal was in her room she was arranging her clothes?panba came inside the room and said "gulaal"

gulaal turned behind and said "panba aayie naa"

panba said gulaal "sach sach bata kya vasant ne sach mein tujhe koi paise diye the"

gulaal was nervous she tried to tell lie "haan panba vasant ne?mujhe"

panba said "gulaal jhoot bolne k jarurat nahi hai mujhe pata hai aisa kuch nahi hai tu jhooth bol rahi hai"

gulaal didnt speak a word

panba said " gulaal galat mat samjhna par mein tujhse pasie nahi le sakti"

gulaal said "kyu panba kyu nahi kya mein is apki k beti nahi kya mera aapse, is ghar se koi rishta nahi"

panba said "aisi baat nahi hai ?beta wo tere paise hai tere kaam aayenge mein nahi le sakti"

gulaal said wih tears in her eyes "panba yeh paise mere kuch kaam k nahi hai mein apni khushi se apni paise apne ghar ko dena chahiti hun?.mein apke aage haath jodti hun mujhe yeh karne dijeye mein vasant ko to nahi laa sakti par unka sapna to zinda rakh sati huna vasant ka sapna hai kesar aur rewa ko ek achi life dene ka, panba mujhe yeh sapna pura karne dijyeye?bahut dino baad mujhe meri zindagi jeena ka maksad mila hain mujhse mera maksad pura karne dijeye panba"

panba looked the determination in her eyes and couldn't say anything

gulaal said "panba aap kesar ko yeh baat mat batana use yeh baat kabhi nahi pata chalna chahiye"

panab noded her head and left

days passed and gulaal took all the responsibilites on her shoulder

one day phone rang gulaal picked up

the girl at other end said kesar modi hain

gulaal said "nahi wo kahi bahar gaya hai koi message ho to bata dijeye"

girl said " mujhe unski dance class mein enroll karna tha college se uska number mila aap kah dijiyega madhu ka phone tha"

gulaal put the phone back and called vicky about kesar dance classes?.vicky told her that kesr has joined a dance school as dance instructor and then he.gave her address

gulaal reached in the given address she went in the dance class and saw kesar was teaching dance to some student...she stood there and waited for the class to get over?..

afert class get over she came near to kesar , kesar was suprsied to see gulaal

gulaal said "kesar meine tumhe job karne se mana kiya tha na phiir tum yeh sab kyu kar rahe ho"

keasr said "yeh part time job hai?2-4 hrs k hi classes hai .college k baad aaramse manage kar leta hun aur phir dance mera passion bhi hai is bahane mera shaukh bhi pura ho raha hai aur kuch paise bhi mil jaayenge"

gulaal said "paise k fikr tum kyu kar rahe ho meine tumhe vasant k paiso k baare mein bataya tha"

kesar said "haan par wo paise rewa k shaadi k kaam aayenge?jo bhi thodha bahut milega wo ghar k chote mote kharch mein kaam aa jayenge"

kesar said "plz mujhe karne dijye"

gulaal looked into his eyes...kesar was suddenly grownup and matured...vasant deadth has made him a responsible man

kesar and gulaal were supporting their family in their own way

2 moth passed

to some extent gulaal had cover up the financial loss of the family but what about the emotional loss.the place that was home once..was now a house as slient as barren land as griefstricken as graveyard house has lost its soul, a stricken silence falls over the sudden emptiness that no one fill again. And all the noises that were made later in that house was like a scandalous din, ugly echoes from one room to another, from one corridor to another, sharp and discordant as if the walls are no longer able to absorb any music once the source of harmony has been taken away

how many times kesar stared blankly at vasant bha dining chair and his plate with the hope that a vasantbha will come to feed him but noone came and kesar had left his food uneaten.how may times rewa cried looking all those gifts vasant had given her in rakhi..how many times panba had called vasant name unknowingly and kesar and rewa came running in the hope that some miracle had taken place and their vasantbha have come from the deathland?but noone came their hopes were dashed and the silence of barren land prevalied

and then was gulaal who always had tears in her eyes but she never cried infront of her family member There was a sacredness in tears. They were not the mark of weakness, but of power.. They were the messengers of overwhelming grief... and unspeakable love...she never cried infront of everyone but cried all alone...only one person to witness it... kesar, who noticed her from distance who saw her breaking down who saw her in bereavement in grief in pain...

one day kesar was feeling very low he was missing his vasntbha he searched for vcd that contained the memory of his vasantbha..strange there were so many vcd but no one never looked at it..but today he wanted to refresh his memories ..he played vcd and sat in the sofa he saw his vasantbha...he saw his vasantbha teaching him to walk .he saw vasant holding his hand and make him walk slowly slowly he saw his vasantbha leaving his hand in middle and with open arms called him "aaja kesu jaldi aa jaa vasantbha k pass" and he came running in his arm..he saw vasntbha palying hide and seek with him he saw vasantbha playing toy gun with kesar he saw his vasantbha acting like a deadman as kesar aimed toygun at him and wen he kesar got frightened vasantbha started laughing, saying don't worry I m here...he saw his vasantbha hugging him wen kesar was afraid with crackers noise vasant put his hand on his head and said don't worry I m here...he saw his vasantbha bringing lots of gifts for him even wen he didn't asked just to see kesar happy...kesar was looking at it and sobbing bitterly...

I would have loved you then. Had I known,
I would have asked less questions...
Followed my heart a little more.
Had I known one day you'd be gone,
and I couldn't show you anymore.
I'd have lived each moment as if it were the last.
Remember every word... not let time go by so fast.
But I was wrapped in my own image,
afraid to let it show,
But now I wish I loved you.
Why couldn't I know that you would leave me,
and I'd be caught in the past.
In the moments I could have changed,
the times that were your last.
I would have lived a lifetime in a few short days.
Instead I have a few brief moments,
that I let my heart show.
Memories of a love that I refused to know,
until it was almost too late.
Then it was over, and I was all alone.
In a daze, I wonder...
Did you know I loved you all along?

He was crying...suddenly he saw gulaal standing there and looking at the vcd kesar quickly searched for remote to put it off?..but guaal asked him to continue?.and now gulaal was looking vcd with affection fondness and pain and kesar was looking gulaal..

at the point in the vcd vasant said "kesu kya tum meri recording karte rehto ho mein kanha jaa raha hun,??..mein kahin nahi jaunga mein hamesha tum logo k pass rahunga??"

gulaal heard this and she couldn't control herself she ran in her room and she broke down completely

kesar came behind her he wanted to console her but didn't have the strength he stand outside her room watching her crying and he shattered... the earth and the moon were miserable as their sunlight was no more with them he sat outside her room crying bitterly staring at vasant photo...who was talking to them

When tomorrow starts without me, and I'm not there to see;
If the sun should rise and find your eyes all filled with tears for me;
I wish so much you wouldn't cry the way you did today,
While thinking of the many things we didn't get to say.
I know how much you love me, as much as I love you,
And each time you think of me I know you'll miss me, too.
For all my life I'd always thought I didn't want to die.
I had so much to live for and so much yet to do,
It seemed almost impossible that I am leaving you.
I thought of all the yesterdays, the good ones and the bad,
I thougth of all the love we share and all the fun we had.
If I could relive yesterday, I thought, just for a while,
I'd say good-bye and kiss you and maybe see your smile.
But then I fully realized that this could never be.
For emptiness and memories would take the place of me.

So when tomorrow starts without me, don't think we're far apart,
For everytime you think of me, I'm right here in your heart

Next morning panba called kesar.she said they have to do some pooja in the pitra paksh.every one got ready and headed for the pooja in banganga..they reached the destiantion kesar performed the rituals and pray for vasantbha...after pooja panba rewa and raman sat inside the car gulaal and kesar were also walking towards the car

They were walking together in the same direction in the same raod but in the two different ends they were walking lost in their thoughts and pain ??kesar looked at gulaal ..gulaal was walking quitely?..her duppata was half on her shoulder and half brushing on the road kesar bent down and lifted the duppata...he looked at gulaal an gave her duppatta an she took her white duppatta unknowingly the kumkum that was in kesar 's fingers had stained her duppatta red...