Chapter 17
Paan Baa and Mota Bha were in their room after finishing their dinner. Paan Ba said, "Mujhe aapki pasand kiya hua haar mila. Bohot khubsurat hai". "Tum toh khush thi na?", asked Mota Bha smiling. Paan Baa smiled looking down. Mota Bha sated happily, "Bas, aur kya chahiye?". "Aap toh sab ke baarein mein sochte hain. Aapne Kesar ke baare mein kya socha hai?", asked Paan Baa. Mota Bha replied happily, "Sochne ki kya baat hai, Paan Baa. Karobaar ki zimmedaariyaan acchi tarah se nibha raha hai. Jab mein yahan nahi tha toh parivaar mein kisiko sikayat ka mauka nahi diya. Ab baccha nahi raha woh, apni zimmedaariyon ko samajhta hai". Paan Baa said, "Wahi baat mein kehna chahti hun. Kesar ab zimmedaariyan sambhal ne laga hai. Kya yeh sahi waqt nahi hai, uske zindagi mein ek saathi ka aana?". Mota Bha looked at her trying to absorb what she was saying. Paan Baa continued, "Hume uski shaadi ke baare mein sochna chahiye". Mota Bha contemplated and said, "Main tumhari chinta samajhta hun, Paan Baa. Lekin, Kesar ki pehli shaadi ke baare mein ladki ke pariwaar ko batana zaroori hai aur meri nazar main aisa...". "Hain na! Ladki humare saamne hi hai", said Paan Baa. Mota Bha looked at her puzzled. "Talli. Woh toh Kesar aur Gulaal ke rishtey ke baare mein sab jaanti hai, humare pariwaar ke reeti riwazon ko bhi jaanti hai. Dono ek dusre ko pasand bhi karte hain", said Paan Baa. Mota Bha was surprised and asked, "Tumne Kesar aur Talli se baat karki unke mann ki baat jan ne ki koshish ki hai?". Paan Baa replied, "Talli se maine baat ki hai, woh toh bohot khush hai. Par Kesar ko aap jaante hain, mere saamne thodi naa shaadi ke baare mein kucch keh paayega, aap hi ko baat karni padegi". Mota Bha nodded and took a deep breath and said, "Par uss se pehle Poonam Baa se baat karni hogi". Paan Baa was puzzled and asked, "Poonam Baa se?". "Yeh toh sacch hai ki gaon se laut ne ke baad, humne Kesar aur Gulaal ko shaadi ke bandhan se azaad kar diya tha lekin iss baat ko bhi nazar andaaz nahi kiya ja sakta Gulaal aur Kesar ne pati-patni hone ke rasm nibhaye hain. Iska matlab kahin na kahin unke dil mein iss shaadi ki koi maayne hain toh Kesar ki shaadi ke faisley main unka shaamil hona zaroori hai", replied Mota Bha. Sudha knocked on the door, both of them turned their attention at Sudha. "Woh mein paani rakhne aayi thi", said Sudha, kept the jar and glass on the sidetable and left. Sudha seemed tensed, she told to herself, "Agar Mota Bha ne Kesar se baat kar li toh mere saare kiye karaye par paani phel jaayega. Mujhe kucch karna hoga".
As Gulaal was drawing the curtains of the balcony, Kesar pushed the curtains and stepped in. Kesar looked at Gulaal. Gulaal was shocked and she stepped back. Gulaal immediately said,"Tu yahan kya kar raha hai? Kisiko pata chal gaya toh...". "Tu mujhe nazar andaaz kyun kar rahi hai?", questioned Kesar. Gulaal replied coldly, "Yeh baatein karne ka waqt nahi hai, tujhe iss waqt yahan nahi hona chahiye. Tu wapaas jaa bohot raat ho chuki hai". She turned to go but Kesar caught hold of her arm and pulled her close. Gulaal looked at her shocked. "Maine itni badi kya galti kar di ki tu mujhe aise sajaa de rahi hai?", asked Kesar looking into her eyes. Gulaal closed her eyes for a moment trying to control her anger and said, "Kesar, raat..". "Mere sawaalon ka jawab liye bagair main kahin nahi jaunga", said Kesar determined.Gulaal looked at him in anger and said, "Theek hai". Kesar loosened his grip. Gulaal looked down. Kesar looked at her and said, "Gulaal, main jaanta hun maine uss din jis tarah se baat ki woh galat thi. Main tujhse apne wyavahaar k liye maafi maagnta hun. Tu mujhe jo chahe sajaa de de par mujhe aise apne aap se durr mat kar". The last sentence shook Gulaal. She looked at Kesar shocked. Kesar looked at her tears filling up his eyes. Gulaal turned her back towards Kesar and said, "Jab tujhe apni galati ka ehsaas ho gaya hai toh sajaa ka koi matlab nahi hai". Kesar was puzzled. Gulaal continued, "Aur rahi baat tujhe nazar andaaz karne ki, main bas yehi keh sakti hun ki hum dono ki zindagi ek dusre ke irdh girdh humesha nahi ghoom sakti naa". Kesar was stunned by her words. "Tu kya keh rahi hai?", Kesar said coming face to face with Gulaal. Gulaal looked at Kesar and said, "Tu samajh ne ki koshish kar, Kesar. Main maanti hun ki humara rishta bohot gehra hai par hum dono ko hi zindagi main aage badhna hai. Agar hum dono ek dusre se thoda faasla na rakhe toh kisi aur ke aane ki jagah kaise rahegi? Tu sacch bata kabhi tune apne aage ki zindagi ke baare mein socha hai?". Kesar tried to fathom what Gulaal was trying to say. "Yeh sab sirf isiliye kyunki teri zindagi sirf mere irdh girdh ghumti aayi hai. Teri zindagi main bhi koi khaas aayegi jo tere saath teri zindagi baante gi, tab kya humara rishta aisa hi rehpaayega? Tu iss baat ko jitni jaldi samjh le utna hi accha hai tere liye", said Gulaal. Kesar was stunned silent. Gulaal gathered herself and said, "Tu jaa yahan se. Agar kisiko pata chal gaya toh bohot bada bawaal khada ho jayega". Kesar snapped out and walked slowly and thoughtfully towards the balcony. After a while, Gulaal went to the balcony to check on Kesar. She saw Kesar standing in his balcony and looking at her. Their eyes met, Gulaal broke off and drew the curtains.
Next Day,
Poonam Baa was sitting in her room and contemplating on Dushyant's proposal. She was worried and restless. She just didn't know what to say. Just then, the bell rang. Poonam Baa opened the door and saw Mota Bha standing there. "Mota Bha aap? Andar aaiye naa", said Poonam Baa, surprised. Mota Bha came in and took a seat. "Aap yahan achanak?", asked Poonam Baa. "Haan, mujhe aapse kucch zaroori baat karni thi", replied Mota Bha. Poonam Baa looked at him curiously. "Kesar ke baare mein", added Mota Bha. "Kya hua hai?", asked Poonam Baa worried. "Paan Baa aur maine Kesar ke shaadi ke baare mein socha hai". Poonam Baa was shocked. Mota Bha tried to study her expressions. "Gulaal aur Kesar ki jo shaadi hui thi, uss bandhan se maine dono ko azaad kar diya tha. Main chahta hoon ki dono apni zindegi main aage badhe. Lekin main yeh bhi samajhta hun kahin naa kahin iss shaadi ki koi maayne hain, issiliye main chahta hoon ki aap saaf saaf mujhe bata dein agar aapko thodi si bhi shikayat hai toh", said Mota Bha. Poonam Baa gathered herself and said, "Jab aapne Gulaal ko iss rishtey se azaad kiya tha tab main kucch nahi bol paayi thi kyunki maine apni beti ko khush dekha tha. Usne kabhi Kesar aur apne rishtey ko pati-patni ki maanyata nahi di. Woh aaj tak jo kucch bhi karti aayi hai sirf Kesar ki dost bankar karti aayi hai, kabhi apne aap ko patni nahi maana. Jab Gulaal iss shaadi ko hi nahi maanti toh mera faisla uss se alag kaise ho sakta hai? Kesar mera bhi bete jaisa hi hai, uski khushi main kyun nahi chahungi?". Mota Bha was overwhelmed by her answer. Poonam Baa again became perplexed and said, "Mujhe bhi aapse Gulaal ke baare mein baat karni thi". Mota Bha became curious. "Woh Gulaal ke liye bhi ek rishta aaya hai, aur woh ladka Gulaal ke ateet ke baare mein jaan kar bhi usse apni jeevan saathi banana chahta hai. Main bhi yehi soch kar pareshaan ho rahi thi ki aapse baat kiye bina main iss rishtey ke baare mein kaise sochun", said Poonam Baa. "Yeh toh acchi baat hai. Gulaal toh meri beti hai. Revji ke baade armaan the apni beti ka ghar baste hue dekhna. Gulaal ki zindagi toh jaise theher hi gayi thi Revji aur Vasant ke jaane ke baad. Main uss ladke ke baarein mein jaan na chahta hun", said Mota Bha. Poonam Baa smiled and said, "Woh aap usse acchi tarah se jaante hain. Dushyant". Mota Bha smiled contented, "Mawdi ne Gulaal ke liye bada accha rishta bheja hai. Dushyant se accha aur suljha hua insaan Gulaal ke liye ho hi nahi sakta tha. Main keh sakta hun Poonam Baa, woh bohot zimmedaar aur usulon waala hai. Gulaal bohot khush rahegi". Poonam Baa looked at the door and saw Gulaal standing at the door. She was shocked and hurt. "Aarey Gulaal", said Poonam Baa as she got up. Mota Bha looked at the door.
Author's Note: Sry for the late post. Today my absolute fav and idol Rahul Dravid's retiring from One day Cricket- so was busy sulking😭