Guys here's the new one.OK I am very nervous posting it.Please be kind.hope you like it.love all your precious comments and likesđ
Chapter-16
Meanwhile Kesar went to his room and just collapsed on his bed without even switching on the light. He was still in a daze.what had just happened? He had seen her asleep on the sofa when he came back from office. His heart went out to her.she had looked so fragile and innocent. He wanted to wake her up but did not want to disturb her sleep.so he decided to carry her to her room. And when he held her in his arms, it had felt so right. He had never felt this emotion before. He wanted to hold her like this always, protect her from all harm and keep her safe. Her room was dark but there was moonlight coming through the open window. As he put her in bed he could see her face which looked slightly flushed and her closed eyelids which were moving rapidly as if she was dreaming about something. For a moment he got scared, "Is she awake?" Then he thought to himself with a small smile "nah". She was fast asleep and just dreaming. He kept looking at her and suddenly a small lock of hair fell on her cheek. He moved it away with his finger tracing her soft skin. He was in a trance now and just couldn't resist her. She looked so beautiful, just like an angel and he quietly bent down and kissed her forehead. His lips lingered and then suddenly he moved back. "yeh main kya kar raha hoon?agar Gulaal ko patha chal gaya tho woh kya sochegi mere baare mein.aur main usse apne dil ki baat kiye bina aise stalker jaise bartaav karunga tho woh zaroor darr jaayegi" kesar thinks to himself. He looks intently at her for a second and controlling himself says slowly "mujhe maaf kardena Gulaal" and quickly leaves the room. Kesar realized that he could no longer go on like this. He needed to tell her soon. If he didn't he would go crazy. "aisa kab tak chalega?kabhi tho batana padega na use.yeh bhi tho jaanana zaroori hai na ki woh mere baare mein kya sochti hai. haan main kal hi usse baat karunga.usse apne pyaar ka izhaar kar doonga.uske baad jo ho woh dekha jaayega.",Kesar thinks with a smile on his face.
The next morning he gets up early in the morning, gets dressed and quickly goes to meet Gulaal but she is nowhere to be found. He goes around the house calling her name and finally Talli tells him "woh tho ghar pe nahi hai". Kesar's face falls and he asks, "kahan gayi? woh bhi itni subah?"
Talli: "woh aur Rewa saath mandir gaye hain.kyun kuch kaam tha kya?mujhse bol do,main kar doongi".
Kesar in a disappointed voice: "nahi koi baat nahi.acha Baa se kehdena ki main office jaa raha hoon.kuch zaroori kaam hai isliye naashta wahin se kar loonga".
By the end of the week Kesar was completely frustrated. He was fast losing his cool demeanour and many employees in the office had to bear the brunt of his anger for the slightest mistake. Kesar knew that he was acting in an unreasonable way but he just couldn't help himself. The whole week he had been trying to get Gulaal alone and speak to her about his feelings. But each time some one would interrupt wanting Gulaal's help and she would just go off leaving him all alone. Then finally when one day he got the chance to speak out his heart, he could not speak a single sentence to his utter disbelief. He never had this problem with any other girl but that was the problem wasn't it? He thought to himself, "Gulaal koi maamuli ladki nahi hai.woh sab se alag hai,sab se judha aur jiske saath main apni poori zindagi bithana chahta hoon.lekin patha nahi kya jo jaata hai mujhe,jab bhi uski ankhon mein dekhta hoon tho sab kuch bhool jata hoon ". The same thing happened to him that day too. The minute he looked in her beautiful eyes he got lost in them and completely lost track of whatever it was that he was about to say. By the time he got back to his senses, it was too late. Talli came in to the room wanting Gulaal's help in finding something in the kitchen. Before leaving the room Kesar saw a shy but teasing smile on Gulaal's face and he wondered. That smile was not at all innocent. It was as if she knew what he wanted to say to her and it looked as if she was enjoying his awkwardness. Then he nods his head from side and side with a little smile on his face, "nahi yeh sirf mera waham hai. Gulaal, bechari woh aisa kyun karegi?use kaise patha hoga ki main kya soch raha hoon ya phir kya kehna chaah raha hoon". But then he thinks back to his previous failed attempts to talk to her and the small smile on her face that he saw each time she walked away and he comes to a suprising realization, "acha tho yeh baat hai.Gulaal,tum jaan ke bhi anjaan banane ki koshish kar rahi ho.main yahan tumhare liye paagal ho raha hoon aur tumhe meri aisi haalat dekhke mazaa aa raha hai.yeh tumne theek nahi kiya Gulaal,ab dekhta hoon.main bhi nahi chodunga". He quickly forms a plan in his mind and an evil smile appears on his face "Gulaal,ab dekhta hoon tumhe ab bhi uthna hi mazaa aayega yaa phir tumhari haalat bhi meri tarah ho jaayegi".
He finally feels calm after a whole week of restlessness and as he was passing through the kitchen he finds Gulaal in the kitchen all alone standing on a stool trying to get something from the top shelf. Kesar notices the stool sway dangerously and Gulaal who had been standing on her toes suddenly loses her balance. Kesar runs forward and catches her in his arms before she could fall. Gulaal had let out a small scream and closed her eyes shut fearing the fall but when she slowly opens her eyes she is surprised to find herslf in Kesar's arms. She hesistantly looks at him and is dazzled by his charming smile and the mischevious glint in his eyes. Gulaal immediately senses that something is different about Kesar. She is even more surprised when instead of putting her down he holds her closer to his chest and she definitely shivers when she hears his husky voice very near to her face"Gulaal,sambhal ke kaam karna chahiye na.agar main nahi aata tho?aur yeh sab tum kyun kar rahi ho?aur koi nahi hai kya?". Gulaal could not say anything. Kesar was still looking at her with his intense eyes and that mysterious smile which made her heart race and her ears buzz. His close proximity was creating havoc with her senses and she had completely forgotten the fact that she was still in his arms and not standing on her feet. She immediately realizes this and says "Kesar mujhe neeche utaaro.koi dekh lega tho theek nahi hoga", and she tries to free herself but Kesar is in no mood to relent instead he tightens his hold on her and stares at her intensely, "kyun? Koi dekh lega tho theek kyun nahi hoga Gulaal? Main tho sirf tumhein neeche girne se bacha raha tha haina", Kesar's teasing tone so close to her face startles her and when she turns her face around to face him, she is surprised to find that the smile on Kesar's face had disappeared and she stops breathing the second she looks in his eyes. She could not mistake the look in his eyes at all. The look conveyed love, desire, passion, affection and the intensity of it brought tears to her eyes. She slowly brings one of her hand forward and is just about to touch his cheek when she hears a car's horn in the driveway. Sudha,Talli and Rewa had gone to do some shopping and the horn indicated that now they were back. Suddenly the spell is broken. They both realize that they are in the kitchen where anybody could walk in. Kesar immediately puts her down. The mischevious smile returns as he says "aainda dhyaan rakhna.har baar main bachane nahi aa sakta na.", he leaves the kitchen with a confident stride and Gulaal is left holding on to the kitchen table with a slightly glazed look.
Kesar smiled to himself as he goes to his room. He loved to see Gulaal so confused and nervous. But he had to admit that the moment in the kitchen had gone beyond teasing. He got caught up in the moment just like Gulaal and he did not mind it at all. Not now when he knew that Gulaal also felt the same. Somewhere in his mind he had always known. But today looking into her eyes he knew. He saw her love and passion and it was all for him. That had overwhelmed him and this time he did not mind the interruption at all because he knew that otherwise he would have lost his control and done something stupid in the kitchen where anyone could have walked in on them. No, Gulaal deserved something better, something special and then Kesar smiles as he thinks "lekin Gulaal,tumhe thoda intezaar karna hoga.tumne mujhe itna tadpaaya hai tho ab tumhaari baari".
Gulaal was still in the kitchen with a dazed look in her eyes when Rewa came upto her "Gulaal,kya kar rahi ho?"
Gulaal: "kuch nahi Rewa.bas raat ke liye kya banaaya jaaye,yeh soch rahi thi."
Rewa: "Acha tumne Kesar ko kahin dekha hai kya".
Gulaal blushes and replies "Kesar ko,mujhe kaise patha hoga?jaake khud doondho na.maine tho nahi dekha".
Rewa "Gulaal! Kitna jhoot bolne lagi ho.maine ghar aate dekha tha na Kesar ko kitchen se baahar nikalte hue aur main tho isliye pooch rahi thi kyunki Motaba usse baat karna chahte hain.", she teases and Gulaal fumbles "woh'..woh tho paani lene aaya tha".
Rewa: "acha'sirf paani aur kuch nahi'.". Gulaal smiles shyly and just runs off with Rewa laughing and screaming behind her "Gulaal,chai tho banaa do please Gulaal".
Gulaal runs to her room and stands in front of the mirror. She is not able to recognise herself. The happiness and joy that she felt in her heart reflected on her face. She had known instinctively after that night when Kesar had carried her, put her to bed and kissed her forehead gently that he loved her. She had known it the day he had come to her room to apologize, comforted her and became her friend that he was someone special. And she soon realized that Kesar was always the one she was meant to be with. Today she could see in his eyes what he really felt for her and he did not even have to say a single word. She knew she had tried his patience to the limit this past week, but she enjoyed it. Gulaal had always led an ordinary life. Nothing extra-ordinary had ever happened to her which made her feel special. For the first time in her life Kesar's love for her made her feel confident and carefree. She loved watching him get tongue-tied in front of her and it astonished her that she could do this to him. This never happened to girls like her.She knew that it was wrong to tease him so but she was enjoying herself too much. The incident in the kitchen shocked her out of her wits. Something about Kesar had changed but she could not put a finger on it though she knew that it spelled trouble for her and she smiled as she realized she did not mind in the least.
Motaba had called over Kesar to talk to him "beta, main Rewa aur Gulaal ke bare mein soch raha tha,dono ki padhayi poori ho chuki hai. maine Rewa se abhi-abhi baat ki aur usne mujhe bataya ki woh aage padhna chahti hai.main kal Gulaal se bhi baat karunga. Agar woh aage padhna chaahe tho theek hai lekin agar woh koi job karna chaahe tho main soch raha tha ki kyun na hamaari company'". Kesar cuts in excitedly "aap bilkul sahi soch rahe hain Motaba. Hamaari company mein use acha training bhi mil jaayega aur har waqt mere saath'.mera matlab hai ki hum uska khayaal bhi rakh sakte hain"and he looks at Motaba with a wide smile. Motaba is slightly surprised by his enthusiasm and replies "haan beta,main kal usse baat kar llonga.bas usse pehle tumse baat karna chahta tha yeh poochne ki tumhe koi problem tho nahi hogi". Kesar comes closer to his father and sits on the floor near him,"nahi Motaba,aapne faisla liya hai tho woh galat kaise ho sakta hai?". Motaba smiles at Kesar and softly ruffles his hair "patha hai beta,lekin mujhe apne faislon par yakeen nahi raha.par phir tumhe dekhkar meri saari chintaayein door ho jaati hain.pehle mujhe yehi darr sataya karta tha ki mere jaane ke baad kahin yeh ghar toot na jaaye lekin tumhaare aur Dushyant ke hote hue aisa kabhi nahi hoga.mujhe poora vishwaas hai aur isliye ab main maut se bhi nahi darta ". Kesar looks at him with tears in his eyes "Motaba,aap aisi baatein kyun karte hain.aap ko kuch nahi hoga.abhi tho aap ko kitna kuch karna hai.office mein aapka chair khali padaa hai,aapke saare employees aur workers aapke waapis lautne ka intezaar kar rahe hain. Main aap ke saath milkar kaam karna chahta hoon aur hamein apni company ko unchaayion tak le jaana hai". Motaba smiles fondly at his son through his tears "haan beta,maavdi ki kripa hogi tho yeh bhi dekh paaunga ek din".
The next morning Gulaal goes to meet Motaba. She takes his blessings and sits near him on the floor. Motaba keeps his hand on her head and says "beta,kya tumne apne bare mein kuch socha hai".
Gulaal looks surprised and Motaba continues " apni aage ki zindagi ke bare mein.tumhaari padhaayi ab khatam hochuki hai.kya tum aage aur padhna chahogi? Aur beta dil khol ke baat karna.kuch bhi chupana math.bas yeh samajh le ki tere baapji tujhse yeh sawaal kar rahe hain"
Gulaal thinks for a moment and replies " Motaba, yeh bhi koi kehne ki baat hai.maine hamesha aapko apne pitha ke samaan hi maana hai.Motaba main aage padhna tho chahthi hoon lekin saath hi saath kaam bhi karna chahthi hoon.main kisi par nirbhar rehna nahi chahthi ".
Motaba: "yeh tho bahut achi baat hai.bura na mane tho main kuch kahoon.kyun na tum hamaari company mein naukri kar leti.aur tum yeh mat sochna ki yeh sifaarish se mili hui job hai.nahi tumhe bhi baaki sab ki tarah interview dena hoga aur agar usme select ho gayi tho training diya jaayega aur agar usme bhi tumne acha kaam kiya tabhi tumhaari job pakki hogi. Kya kehti ho karogi hamaare yahaan kaam,bahut mushkil hoga lekin tum agar dil lagaakar kaam karogi tho mazaa bhi aayega." Gulaal smiles and agrees to his proposal. Motaba is happy to hear her decision "tho phir agle hafte tumhara interview hoga isliye tayyar rehna".
Gulaal straightaway rushes to Kesar's room to share her happiness with him but she doesn't find him there. After searching for him everywhere she comes to know that he had left for the office early in the morning as he had some meeting. Gulaal gets angry "bataake nahi jaa sakta tha kya.warna tho roz subah mujhse baat kiye bina office nahi jaata tho phir aaj kya ho gaya?" but all her anger melts by evening as she eagerly waits for him to come back from the office. As soon as she sees him she follows him to his room. "kesar" she calls out. Kesar is taken aback and looks surprised "arre tumne tho mujhe dara hi diya". Gulaal comes near him and speaks in a complaining voice looking at the floor "tum aaj mujhse mile bina chale gaye subah". Kesar tries to hide his smile and replies in a serious tone "haan woh subah ko meri meeting thi isliye jaldi jaana pada". Gulaal smiles widely and looks at him "acha theek hai,us baat ko chodo. Patha hai Motaba chaahthe hain ki main office join kar loon.tumhe kya lagta hai?" Kesar replies in a very dis-interested tone "acha hai.waise patha nahi kya tum yeh kaam kar paaogi?" Gulaal had expected him to be overjoyed but his lukewarm response hurt her badly ,"tumhe nahi lagta ki main yeh kaam kar paaungi.acha ab tum dekh lena ek din main tumhe galat saabit karke rahungi.waise bhi meri hi galti hai,mujhe laga ki tum mere liye khush hoge lekin tum tho''" and she tries to leave. Kesar holds her hand and laughs at her "arre Gulaal,gussa kyun ho rahi ho?main tho mazaak kar raha tha.main tho bahut khush hoon.Motaba ne tho mujhe kal hi bataa diya tha." Gulaal looks at him with anger and hurt in her eyes and tries hard to free herself from his hold "tho tumhe patha tha aur phir bhi ''mazaak kar rahe the mere saath.mujhe bahut bura laga Kesar". She finally frees herself and runs to the table near the door and cries softly. Kesar feels very bad. He was just trying to tease her. He goes behind her and says "sorry Gulaal,maine bas aise hi'.main tho hoon hi buddhu.hamesha tumhara dil dukhata hoon.ab maaf kardo na please'maaf kar'.". Suddenly he feels a splash of water on his face and it stuns him and then he hears Gulaal's laughter "hahaha'..tumhe laga ki main sach mein ro rahi hoon.waise ek baat tho sahi kahi tumne Kesar,tum bilkul buddhu ho" and once again laughs uncontrollably. Kesar looks at her and the water jug in her hand which still had water in it. He quickly takes it from her and before she realized it, poured the remaining water all over head "main buddhu hoon tho tum bhi kuch kam nahi ho". Gulaal screams "yeh kya kiya Kesar tumne, ab dekho bheeg gayi na.tum bhi na Kesar". Kesar was laughing out loud and is just about to reply that she started it when he takes a look at her. He stops laughing and just stands still. He had never seen anything more beautiful than Gulaal standing in front of him trying to wipe away the water droplets from her face and arms. Her hair was sticking to her face and she was frowning, yet Kesar could not take his eyes off her. He slowly steps forward as Gulaal is about to leave and he stops her from leaving by holding the table on either side of her essentially keeping her in place in his arms. Gulaal gulps audibly and whispers "Kesar,kya kar rahe ho?jaane do mujhe", and pushes him slightly backward. Kesar holds her wrists and comes very close to her face and asks in a very low tone, " kya sach mein jaana chaahthi ho?" Gulaal looks at him and closes her eyes shyly as she feels his warm breath. Kesar is fascinated by a water droplet on her forehead and he bends down and kisses it away. He hears Gulaal gasp but he continues on when she doesn't resist. He kisses away the water droplets from her closed eyes and he feels her goosebumps. He smiles a little and kisses her cheeks, her nose, her chin and finally he looks at her lips. He could hear her heartbeat loud and clear as if it was his own or was it his own heart that was beating so loudly against his rib cage. He moved back a little, held her face in his hands and called her name in a whisper "Gulaal,apni aankhen kholo Gulaal". Gulaal slowly opened her eyes and for a second she is dazed and confused and then realization sets in. she blinks her eyes rapidly and says "Kesar mujhe jaane do.kisi ne dekh liya tho.." Kesar whispers coming closer to her "tho dekh lene do,mujhe kisi ka darr nahi". Gulaal says hesitantly "agar Motaba ne dekh liya tho". Kesar gives her an intense look and says "tho main unse keh doonga ki''."and leaves off the rest and a mischevious smile forms on his face. Gulaal is now curious "ki..kya Kesar,kya kahoge Motaba se batao na". Kesar steps back and moves away "main unse kahoonga ki'.woh main tumhe abhi nahi bataaunga.tum poori bheeg gayi ho.jaake change karlo warna sardi lag jaayegi aur mujhe bhi tho change karna hai. aur uske baad neeche chalke jaldi se khaana khana hai kyunki bahut bhook lagi hai", Kesar's mischievous smile is intact as he turns away from her. He takes a towel and goes into the washroom leaving Gulaal puzzled and confused.
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Shiv Shakti
