FF:Pyaar Ka Rishta Final Chapter updtd Pg 67 - Page 42

Chapter 24-A

Kesar was very happy as he stepped into the office. He had completed his work sooner than expected. It had taken him only three days to finish the meetings successfully and come to a final decision on the deal. Everything turned out perfectly. Only one thing nagged him-Gulaal had not yet talked to him over the phone and he did not know why. He had asked Rewa to go and find out the reason but Rewa was very vague when she talked to him and just said that everything was fine and that Gulaal was feeling tensed about her first day at the office. He somehow felt that Rewa was hiding something from him but he decided it was best for him to talk to Gulaal directly. He had come to the office directly from the airport just so he could meet Gulaal. The smile on his face widened as soon as he saw Gulaal working at her desk. Then a small frown appeared on his face as he took in her appearance. She looked unhappy and the usual,bright glow on her face was missing. Kesar did not like it at all but then tried to tell himself "shaayad mujhe miss kar rahi hogi isliye aisi udaas si lag rahi hai". Still an unknown fear gripped him and he needed to talk to her immediately. He looked around and found it almost empty. Most of the people had gone for lunch "acha mauka hai usse akele baat karneka". He decided to call up his peon and ask him to send Gulaal to his cabin on some pretext. He quickly entered his cabin without her noticing and hid behind the door. Soon Gulaal entered the room and stood there silently. Kesar stepped behind her without making a noise and hugged her tightly from behind whispering in her ear "surprise".

Gulaal who had been standing with her eyes closed shivered slightly and opens her eyes immediately. She turns around a little and she is so happy to see Kesar's smiling face that she forgets everything for a moment and smiles back. Kesar looks at her smile and his fears take a backseat. He looks at her for a moment and pulls her close into a tight hug. He never knew until now as to how much he had missed her. Gulaal too gets lost in the moment and hugs him back with the same urgency and desperation. But then suddenly she remembers what she had promised herself. She moves back and pushes Kesar away. Kesar is confused.

He comes near her and asks "Kya hua Gulaal?naaraaz ho mujhse.maine kuch galath kiya hai kya jiski wajah se tum paas ho kar bhi ithni door door lag rahi ho?" Gulaal looks at him for a second helplessly and then turns away from him answering in an even tone "nahi.koi baat nahi hai.main bas……". She stops for a second trying to come up with some excuse "Kesar,yeh office hai aur agar kisine tumhe aise dekh liya mere saath tho tumhare liye bilkul acha nahi hoga." Kesar's frown disappears and he smiles a little "Gulaal,main tho darr hi gaya tha.mujhe laga ki koi aur hi baat hai jis wajah se tum mujhse khafa ho.waise naaraz tho mujhe hona chahiye.tumne mera call liya hi nahi ithne dinon se aur tumne mujhe bulaana bhi zaroori nahi samjha.lagta hai tumhein meri yaad bilkul nahi aayi".

Gulaal takes a deep breath thinking to herself "main tumhe kaise bataaon Kesar ki har pal main tumhari yaad mein hi khoyi hui thi.lekin mujhe apne aap ko rokna hoga.mujhe patha hai ki main jo bhi kar rahi hoon tumhe isse takleef hogi par tumhare liye yehi acha hai Kesar.future mein tumhe mera yeh faisla sahi lagega".

She turns around taking care to avoid looking into Kesar's eyes "mujhe jaana chahiye.sab log waapis aa rahe honge.isse pehle koi mujhe yahaan dekh le main chalti hoon". She tries to pass Kesar but he holds her wrist. He has a confused expression on his face and suddenly as if realizing something he smiles and says "aha,ab mujhe samajh mein aaya.tum isliye gussa ho na ki maine tumhe apne aane ke baare mein nahi bathaya.arre baba main tho surprise dena chahtha tha.mujhe yoon achanak apne saamne paakar tumhare chehre par woh khushi dekhni chahi, lekin tum tho ab bhi gussa ho.chalo main kaan pakad letha hoon.ab tho maan jaao." He pulls her closer and says "chalo yahan baitho,mere paas.tumne lunch nahi kiya na.maine bhi nahi khaya.aaj saath mein lunch karte hain.main abhi order kar deta hoon".

Gulaal finds it very difficult to resist Kesar who was being so earnest and sweet but she hardened her heart against his charm,frees her hand from his hold and replies in a harsh tone "nahi Kesar,maine kaha na main gussa nahi hoon.bas main kaam karna chahthi hoon.office mein yeh sab acha nahi lagta Kesar.tumhe tho koi problem nahi hogi lekin pehle hi din log mere baare mein ulti seedhi baatein karne lagenge.isliye jaane do mujhe",Gulaal feels bad speaking like this to Kesar.She knew he would be hurt and that hurt her more but this was necessary, she decided in her heart.

Kesar immediately leaves her hand as if he is burnt and says in a quiet, angry tone "theek hai jaao.meri wajah se tum par koi ungli nahi uthaayega Gulaal". Gulaal leaves the room in a hurry and goes to her desk all the while trembling. On the other hand Kesar is completely frustrated and hurt. He is not able to understand Gulaal's odd behaviour and this makes him crazy. "aisa kya hua mere jaane ke baad ki Gulaal mere saath aise behave kar rahi hai.woh itni badli badli si kyun lag rahi hai.mere paas ho kar bhi aisa lag raha tha ki jaise woh mujhse bahut door hai.aisa kyun lag raha hai ki hamaare beech ek anjaana sa faasla aa gaya hai." he looks through the shutters of his cabin at Gulaal who had her back to him "theek hai.agar tum mujhse baat nahi karna chahthi tho mat karo.main bhi dekhta hoon ki aakhir kab tak tum mujhse aise roothi rahogi. Is baar main nahi aaunga tumhe manaane.tumhe kya lagta hai ki main tumhe dekhe bina,tumse baat kiye bina nahi reh sakta.of course main reh sakta hoon.dekhna is baar tumhe hi aana hoga mujhe manaane". His eyes fill up with tears of pent up anger and frustration and he looks away blinking through his tears. He walks out of the cabin and leaves the office without looking back at Gulaal.

Gulaal had known the minute he left the cabin. She wanted to run behind him,stop him and say sorry to him and make up to him for all the hurt she caused him but that would be selfish of her. "par main kya karoon jab main Kesar ko dekhti hoon tho sab kuch bhool jaati hoon.mann karta hai bas uski baahon mein khud ko kho doon.saari duniya se chup jaaun.main use takleef nahi pahuncha sakti bahut dard hota hai".She sighs and a tear falls from her eyes. She wipes it away and thinks determinedly "nahi Gulaal,tujhe pathar dil hona padega.itni aasani se pighal jaaogi tho kaise chalega kyunki Kesar chup baithne waalon mein se nahi hai.woh har mumkin koshish karega tujhe manaane ke liye.tujhe abhi bahut strong hona padega,Gulaal.aur hamesha yaad rakhna hoga ki isi mein Kesar ki bhalaayi hai."

Kesar drives the car himself leaving the driver behind at the office. He is very disturbed and is driving the car rashly. He keeps increasing the speed all the while muttering to himself "kya samajhthi hai Gulaal apne aap ko?use lagta hai ki main itna kamzor hoon uske bina ki uske har nakhre ko sehta rahoonga.nahi Gulaal,yeh tumhari galatfehmi hai,dekhlena is baar tumhe hi manaana padega mujhe aur main bhi tumhe aise hi tadpaaunga". Then a small hesitant thought creeps into his mind "aur agar woh nahi aayi tujhe manaane tho…….". The thought scares him and he applies a sudden break.Thankfully he was driving to the side of the road and there were no vehicles behind him. But Kesar is totally lost in his own world. He hits the steering wheel in frustration and shouts "Gulaal,tumhe patha hai ki main apne aap ko tumhare paas aane se nahi rok sakta isliye mujhe tadpaane mein tumhe bahut mazaa aata haina.lekin tum yeh kyun nahi samajhthi ki mujhe kitni chot pahunchthi hai jab tum is tarah mujhse pesh aati ho". He just holds onto the steering wheel tightly and tries to calm himself down but he just can't stop the tears.

After some time Kesar gets control over his emotions and as soon as he is calm enough, he starts the car and soon reaches home. Panba and Rewa were sitting in the living room and they are very surprised to see him back so soon.

Panba: "arre beta,tum itni jaldi waapis aa gaye.bol dete tho gaadi bhijwa dete na".

Kesar takes her blessings and replies "woh main cab lekar office gaya tha.kuch kaam tha aur wahin se gaadi lekar aa gaya".

Panba: "aate hi office chala gaya.yeh kya beta.itna bhi kaam karna theek nahi.apni sehat ka khayaal rakhna chahiye na".

Rewa who understood the real reason for her brother's quick detour to office did not want to leave this golden opportunity to tease him. She loved to get him all worked up and so she said "ba,kya aap bhi office mein Kesar ke siva aur koi us kaam ko handle nahi kar sakta.kaam bahut special jo hai.haina Kesar".

Kesar does not react at all to her teasing instead he says to Panba "ba main bahut thak gaya hoon.sar mein dard bhi ho raha hai.isliye aaraam karne jaa raha hoon".

Panba touches his forehead lovingly and says worriedly "isliye tho keh rahi thi na beta ki itna kaam sehat ke liye acha nahi hota.chal tu jaake dawaai khaa le aur sojaa".

Kesar goes upstairs to his room and sits on the bed clutching his head in his hands. Just then the door opens and Rewa enters but Kesar doesn't look up. She gets worried. She comes near him and places her hand on his shoulder.

Rewa: "Kesar,kya hua tu theek tho haina. Gulaal se baat nahi ho paayi kya?tu itna udaas kyun hai?bathana"

Kesar raises his head a little and Rewa is shocked to see the tears in his eyes.

Rewa: "Kesar,tu ro kyun raha hai?kya hua?"

Kesar doesn't say a word instead he just hugs Rewa and keeps his head on her shoulder.

Rewa pats his back to calm him down and asks him "Kesar,batha kya hua?dekh ab mujhe chintha ho rahi hai.tu bathatha hai ki main Gulaal se poochoon"

Kesar moves away from Rewa and says with a sarcastic smile "haan poochle shaayad tujhse baat kar le woh, kyunki mujhse tho kuch kaha hi nahi usne".

Rewa cracks a smile: "acha tho yeh baat hai.main tho darr hi gayi.yeh tho tum donon ka roz ka drama hai.kabhi woh rooth jaati hai tho kabhi tu aur phir donon ek doosre ko manaa bhi lete ho.lekin tu aise ladkiyon ki tarah ro kyun raha hai is baar"

Kesar: "nahi Rewa is baar kuch alag hai. patha nahi, mujhe aisa kyun lag raha hai ki Gulaal mujhse bahut door jaa rahi hai.mann mein ajeeb sa darr baith gaya hai ki kahin main use kho na doon.Rewa, sach kehta hoon, main uske bina nahi jee paaunga.main kya karoon Rewa,kya karoon".

Rewa: "yeh kya Kesar,tu itna kamzor kab se ho gaya?tu aisi baatein apne mann se nikaal de.dekh tune hi kuch kiya hoga jisse woh tujhse thodi naaraaz hai.bas kal jaake maafi maang le aur phir sab theek ho jaayega.aur main jaanti hoon ki mera bhai apni charming si, cute si smile se Gulaal ko jaldi manaa lega.woh tujhse kabhi zyada der tak naaraz reh nahi sakti.main jaanti hoon use.tu bekaar mein tension le raha hai".

Kesar: "kaash aisa ho jaaye. Thanks Rewa.tujhse baat karke acha lag raha hai warna aisa lag raha tha ki main bahut akela pad gaya hoon.bahut mayoos ho gaya tha lekin ab main theek hoon.dekhna main kal hi Gulaal ko manaa loonga.ab kya mujhe ek cup chai mil sakti hai.please".

Rewa smiles at her brother and says "haan main abhi leke aati hoon". She gets up and reaches the door.she looks back at Kesar who now had a small smile on his face and thinks to herself "maine keh tho diya Kesar se ki woh Gulaal ko manaa lega lekin kya wakaai aisa hoga.mujhe bhi aisa kyun lag raha hai ki Gulaal Kesar se door rehne ki koshish kar rahi hai?please Gulaal,Kesar ke dil ko math todna.woh dikhne mein kaafi strong hai lekin main jaanti hoon ki woh andar se kitna jazbaati aur sensitive hai,bilkul tumhari tarah". She takes a deep sigh and goes to the kitchen to make her brother a cup of tea.

The next day Kesar wakes up with a renewed energy. His talk with Rewa the previous night helped him a lot. He just needed that one little word of hope that everything will be alright. Yesterday had been a nightmare but today it's a brand new day. He smiles and gets up from bed.He quickly gets showered and dressed and ready to go to office. As soon as he reaches the office and walks towards his cabin, he looks to Gulaal's workspace which is surprisingly empty. He looks around trying to find her but all his efforts are in vain and he feels disappointed. Just as he is about to step into his cabin he hears her twinkling laughter and his disappointment gives way to a heart felt smile. He turns around to look at her and his smile disappears. A cold, emotionless, blank look spreads across his face as he sees Gulaal in front of him talking and laughing with a handsome young guy-another trainee.

Gulaal had come to the office a little early as there was a training session. She had just finished it when she hears her name being called out. She looks around to find a familiar face walking towards her. It was Durgesh, her neighbour and her childhood friend.

Durgesh: "arre Gulaal,tumne yahaan join kiya hai.mujhe patha nahi tha".

Gulaal: "tum kaise ho Durgesh?kitne dinon ke baad mile hain.ghar mein sab theek thaak".

Durgesh: "ghar mein sab bahut ache hain.sab log kaafi khush hain ki mujhe itni badi company mein job mili hai.warna baba tho yahin samajhthe the ki unka beta nikamma hai.lekin ab unhe apni ray badalni padi aur is baat se unse zyaada khush aur koi nahi hai.ghar mein sab log tumhare baare mein pooch rahe the Gulaal. us din Roopa ki sagai par bhi main nahi aa saka. kabhi ghar aaona.aaram se baithke baatein karenge".

Gulaal: "tumhara matlab tum baatein karoge aur main sunti rahoongi na" and she smiles at him.

Durgesh: "nahi,is baar main apne bachpan ke dost ko bhi mauka doonga baat karneka.ok".

Suddenly Gulaal senses someone staring at her and looks ahead. She is stunned to see Kesar's face. She had never seen that expression on his face before-not even when they first met and Kesar had been so mean to her. She stops smiling and unknowingly takes a step towards him. Kesar just gives her and Durgesh a cursory glance and goes into his cabin.

Durgesh: "oops!lagta hai yahaan ke boss bahut strict hain.bilkul hanste hi nahin.bachke rehna padega.chalo Gulaal baad mein milte hain.theek hai".and he goes off.

Gulaal looks towards the closed cabin in a daze and slowly makes her way towards her desk. She is saddened for some unknown reason. "kya hua Gulaal,yehi chahthi thi na ki Kesar tujhse door rahe tho wohi tho kar raha hai". A small voice creeps up unknown "lekin mujhe tho laga tha ki woh mujhse wajah jaane bina nahi reh paayega.mere liye ladega,mera peecha tab tak nahi chodega jab tak main maan nahi jaathi.maine kabhi nahi socha tha ki woh itni jaldi haar maan lega". Gulaal clears her head and berates herself "Gulaal,acha haina isse tum donon ko kam takleef hogi.ab zyaada soch math aur kaam pe dhyaan de",but she is not able to shake off the hurt which she felt watching his impersonal glance and the accute feeling of disappointment.

Little did Gulaal know that inside the cabin Kesar is seething in anger. He is pacing up and down the cabin suddenly feeling constricted by the coat and the tie he was wearing. He takes off the coat and loosens the tie but he still feels suffocated. He runs his fingers through his already unruly hair all the while thinking "how dare she? How can she do that to me?kal tho mujhse baat karne mein problem ho rahi thi aur aaj sab ke saamne kisi anjaan ladke ke saath hanste bolte hue koi problem nahi ho rahi hai use.aaj use nahi lag raha ki log kya kahenge?samajhthi kya hai apne aap ko?woh jo chaahe kar sakti hai mere saath aur main chup chaap sab sehta rahunga.nahi Gulaal aaj tho tumhe jawaab dena hi hoga". He calls the peon and asks him to send Gulaal to his cabin. Kesar sits on his chair and thinks with a cold smirk "pichli baar ki tarah main tumhe jaane nahi doonga Gulaal.tumhe mere sawaalon ke jawaab dene hi honge".