Chapter 14
Kesar was lying on his bed and reliving each moment of his meet with Gulaal. He smiled as he remembered how beautiful she looked. Sudha knocked his door. Kesar got up from his bed and stood up. Sudha feigned a smile. Kesar asked, "Kucch kaam tha, Sudha Bhabhi?". She looked down upset. Kesar gauged something was wrong and asked, "Kya hua, Sudha Bhabhi?". Sudha looked at him and said, "Kya kahun, Kesar? Maine socha tha ki Mawdi ki mandir mein pariwaar ke liye aaj pooja kar aaun par yahan ki bhaag daud se mujhe mauka hi nahi mila. Ab toh shyaam ho aayi hai, yahan karwachauth ki pooja shuru hone waali hai, main kaise jaun?". Kesar looked perplexed. Sudha looked at him and made a more worried face, "Kahin yeh pooja chhut ne se kucch ashubh na ho jaaye". "Aise mat boliye, Bhabhi. Koi na koi raasta zaroor nikal aayega", replied Kesar trying to pacify Sudha. "Ek raasta hai! Agar meri jagah ghar ka koi sadasya jaa kar pooja kar le toh. Talli chali jaayegi, par usse akele bhejna, mujhe kucch theek nahi lagta", said Sudha. Some idea struck Kesar and he said, "Haan toh main chala jaata hun. Main pooja kar ke aa jaunga, aur Talli ko bhi raat ko kahin bahar jaane ki zaroorat nahi padegi". Sudha fretted and said, "Nahi Nahi! Talli ke bina tu kaise jaa sakta hai". Kesar looked at her surprised. "Mera matlab tujhe thodi naa pooja ke baare mein pata hai, Talli ka tere saath jana zaroori hai", added Sudha quickly.Kesar looked mockingly at her and said in a mocking tone, "Woh Talli, mujhse behtar kya jaanti hai? Aur duniya main aisa kaunsa kaam hai jo main nahi kar sakta? Aap rukiye, main pooja karke aata hun". "Par", Sudha tried to reason but Kesar had already gone downstairs to inform Paan Baa that he was going out for the pooja. Sudha gave a sinister smile and remarked, "Talli saath nahi gayi toh kya hua, mera maksad toh kamiyaab hua. Agar Talli yeh vrat nahi rakh sakti toh Gulaal bhi apna vrat poora nahi kar paayegi".
Paan Baa was sitting with Jamuna Kaki and Sudha for the Karwachauth pooja. Just then, Gulaal entered with Pooja thaal in her hands. Paan Baa beckoned her to come and join them. Gulaal smiled shyly and joined them. They started doing the pooja, praying for their husband's long life and their prosperity. Paan Baa stood up and said, "Ab chhat pe chal kar chaand dekh ke, pooja khatam karenge". All of them moved towards the roof. Gulaal caught hold of Rewa's arm and asked her, "Kesar kahan hai?". "Bhabhi woh usse achanak jaana pada. Sudha bhabhi ne pariwaar k liye koi mannat maangi thi, usse hi poora karne gaya hai. Woh jagah thodi dur hai", replied Rewa. "Oh! theek hai", said Gulaal trying to squeeze out a smile."Waise yeh payal toh bade khubsurat hain. Aaj tak toh maine kabhi nahi dekha? Naya kharida kya?", asked Rewa excited. "Woh, Kesar ne diye the", Gulaal replied looking down. "Waah! Kabhi mere liye toh nahi laya, ya sirf aapko special treatment hai?", teased Rewa. Gulaal looked at her surprised. Rewa immediately said, "Main majaak kar rahi thi". Gulaal was still a bit miffed by Rewa's remarks. Sudha and Jamuna used the sifter(chhani) to see the moon and then their husbands. They then touched the feet of their husbands, ate from their hands and broke their fast. Gulaal and Rewa were watching this. Paan Baa walked up to Gulaal and said, "Woh Kesar bohot buri tarah se traffic mein phass gaya hai usse bohot waqt lag jayega. Chal uski tasveer dekh kar hi todh le apna vrat, kitni derr bhukhi rahegi? Main bhi tere Mota Bha ki tasveer dekh kar hi apna vrat tod rahi hun". Gulaal looked at Paan Baa and said, "Nahi Paan Baa. Main intezaar kar leti hun". Paan Baa said in a concerned voice, "Usse bohot derr ho jaayegi, Gulaal, shayyad 12 baj jaye. Tu kitni der bhookhi rahegi? 12 baje se pehle vrat todna padega na Gulaal". "Main kar lungi par main thoda sa intezar kar leti hun", assured Gulaal. "Jaisi teri merzi", said Paan Baa pursuing her lips.
Gulaal was sitting in her room, lights out. She looked at the clock, it struck 11PM.She walked up the balcony, and she was drawing the curtains, suddenly a hand came out pushing the curtains and closed her mouth. Gulaal's eyes widened as she struggled to open her mouth. "Main hun, Kesar. Chillana mat", said Kesar who was holding Gulaal's mouth. Kesar moved them towards balcony where in the moon's light she saw Kesar's face. Kesar was lost in her eyes which were enhanced in moon light. Gulaal slowly withdrew her hand which was held by Kesar's other hand. Kesar snapped out when Gulaal withdrew her hands and he immediately removed his hand from her mouth. Gulaal looked down and said, "Tu yahan itni raat ko?". "Mujhe laga tune apna vrat nahi toda hoga isiliye, main yahan aa gaya", replied Kesar looking down. Gulaal looked at him and said, "Tu issiliye balcony se yahan aaya". Kesar looked at her and replied, "Haan. Ab main raat 11 baje bell baja ke Poonam Baa se kehta ke main Gulaal ka vrat tudwane aaya hun, toh thoda ajeeb nahi lagta". Gulaal laughed at his answer and said, "Haan wo toh hai". "Ab hasti rahegi ya vrat bhi todegi? Mujhe bhookh lag rahi hai", said Kesar feigning anger. "Tujhe kyun bhookh lag rahi hai? Poore din toh main bhookhi thi na?", asked Gulaal teasing him. Kesar looked away and Gulaal's expression changed to seriousness and she said, "Kahin tune bhi toh". Kesar tried to make excuses said not looking at her, "Woh subah ghar se khaana khaye bagair chala gaya tha. Phir office main kisi par gussa aa gaya toh lunch bhi nahi kiya aur shaam ko toh tu jaanti hai kya hua". Gulaal could see through his lies, she just maintained her gaze on him and he stopped speaking. "Theek hai kiya tha. Jab maine socha ki tune kucch nahi khaya hoga toh meri bhukh hi mar gayi", confessed Kesar looking down. Gulaal smiled and shook her head. "Yahin ruk", she said and went to her room and came back with the pooja thal. As she took out the sieve, Kesar asked curiously, "Isse kya karte hain". Gulaal replied, "Chaand dekhte hain". As she was looking at the moon, Kesar moved towards her and looked in the same direction as her and turned the sieve around. "Yeh kya kar raha hai Kesar?", asked Gulaal feigning irritation. "Tune hi toh kaha tha ki chaand ko dekhte hain", replied Kesar. "Haan par chaand upar hai", she said and it dawned upon her what Kesar was trying to convey. She looked at Kesar who was totally immersed in her. She felt shy, looked down and brought the sieve between her and Kesar. She slowly lifted her eyes and saw Kesar through it. Kesar was filling this moment in his eyes, he wished that this moment would never end. Gulaal removed the sieve and bent down to touch his feet, Kesar immediately caught hold of her by her arms and asked surprised, "Yeh kya kar rahi hai". Gulaal looked down and said, "Woh rasm ke anusaar". "Koi zaroorat nahi hai", said Kesar. Gulaal looked at Kesar's hands still holding her arms. Kesar realised and let go of her. She brought a plate of food, she fed Kesar a bite with her hand and then Kesar did the same. Kesar's heart felt contented and his face showed it clearly with his full hearte smile. Gulaal smiled at him. Then, Poonam Baa knocked on the door and called, "Gulaal". Gulaal stood up and panicked. "Kesar, Baa aayi hain". "Mujhe pata hai, Gulaal", Kesar replied matter of factly."Gulaal",Poonam Baa called again. Gulaal looked at him displeased and said, Majaak waqt nahi hai. Tum...tum yahin chhup jao, aur bilkul chhup rehna". Kesar tried to suppress his laugh and placed his finger on his lips. Gulaal opened the door. Poonam Baa peeked in and said, "Tujhe kab se bula rahi hun, jawaab hi nahi de rahi". "Woh main...", an idea clicked her mind and she said, "Main bathroom mein thi". "Accha. Tune khaana toh kha liya na", asked Poonam Baa. "Haan Baa", replied Gulaal.
While the talk was going on, Kesar tried to control his laugh. His attention drew towards a bouquet of white flowers that were kept in near a chair in the balcony. He took the bouquet in his hands curiously and noticed a card. He immediately read the card- "Get Well Soon"- Dushyant! Then, he overheard Poonam Baa saying, "Kesar aa toh nahi paya lekin tere liye tere pasand ke kitne pyaare phool bhejethe. Usse bohot khayal hai tera". He moved the curtains a bit and saw Gulaal smiling sheepishly and looking down. Kesar's grip tightened, his blood was boiling, his nostrils flared, he just couldn't believe it. His eyes portrayed the intense anger that rose in him.
Gulaal said good night to Poonam Baa and breathed out a sigh of relief. She immediately came to the balcony to check on Kesar but he was nowhere to be found. She looked at the road. Then, she noticed the bouquet lying down. Gulaal was a bit surprised, she picked it up, perplexed that how Kesar went away all of a sudden.
Author's Note; The much awaited Karwachauth chappie! Read and Review!
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