CHAPTER - 17
CHAPTER - 18
At night,in the dinner table,Indira gave the good news of her getting the job.Actually she waited for Sameer to return and then to break the news in front of her.As soon as she announced the news,Sameer's expressions changed.Rajshekhar and Simi congratulated her for her new job.Rajshekhar asked,"Kaunsi company mein job mila hai tumhe?"Indira replied,"Vo Chaudhry Enterprises mein Asst Manager ki job.Bohot achche boss hai,meri ek simple si interview li aur mujhe job de di aur us company mein staffs ke liye alag quarters bhi hai.Jald hi mujhe mere quarter ki chaabiya bhi mil jaayengi."Simi asked,"Iska matlab hai ke tum yaha se ja rahi ho?"Indira gave a look to Sameer and then said,"Ji auntyji ab jab mere rehne ka intezaam ho hi gaya hai to mera yaha se jaana hi behtar hoga."Sameer just stared at her for sometime and then resumed eating.
In his room,Sameer was restlessly walking and thinking about Indira and her job.He said,"Usey job mila I don't care but vo yaha se chali jaayegi aur iska matlab hai ke vo Maahi ko bhi apne saath le jaayegi.No way!Main aisa hargiz nehi hone dunga."Suddenly he sopped walking and put on his laptop.He checked the profile for the Asst Manager.The qualifications matched with that of Indira but the work experience was required 6 months.Sameer's brows conjested.He said to himself,"6 mahine ke work experience ke jagah par 1 mahine ke intern ko kaam par rakh liya??Strange???Aur vo bhi aise post par."He put off the laptop and said,"Logo ki chappale ghees jaati hai aisi bari companies mein achchi post par karne ke liye aur Indira,bina kisi experience ke aisi post hathiyaali aur jahatak maine suna hai,is company ka maalik Kabir Chaudhry to in sab maamlo mein kaafi sakt insaan hai.Phir isey???"He stood up and said,"Ho sakta hai Indira ne impressive replies diye honge par phir bhi...Pata nehi kyu mujhe bohot ajeeb sa feel ho raha hai.I think mujhe Indira ko thora cautious rehne ko bolna hoga."He went out of his room and knocked on Maahi's bedroom door.Indira opened the door and asked,"Kya hua?"Sameer said,"Mujhe tumse kuch baat karni hai."Indira looked inside to see whether Maahi was sleeping properly or not and then came out locking the door.She asked,"Kya baat karni hai?"Sameer said,"Dekho Indira,I know you have got a job,par..."Indira gave a sarcastic smile and asked,"Tumhe kahi is baat se to tension nehi ho rahi hai ke main Maahi ko lekar yaha se chali jaaungi?"Sameer said,"Pehle meri baat..."She continued,"Ya phir tumhe is baat ko lekar jealous feel ho raha hai ke mujhe itni jaldi job mil gayi?"Sameer grinned,"Will you let me finish???Meri baat khatam hone do uske baat jitna chahe bakwaas kar lena."Indira remained mum.He said,"Tumhaare paas kisi bhi company ki Asst Manager hone ke liye jitni experience chahiye,utni nehi hai baavajut iske tumhe ye job mili.Don't you feel something strange?"Indira gave a what-strange' type of look to him.He said,"Aise companies mein kaam karne ke liye experience ki zarurat hoti hai.Maine vo profile check kiya hai,usme 6 mahine ka experience chahiye aur tumne bas 1 mahine ka internship kiya hai."She asked,"To??"He said,"Vo company Delhi ki one of the best companies mein se ek hai,vaha aise 1 mahine ke internship mein kabhi job nehi milti hai.Samajhne ki koshish karo meri baat ko."Indira said,"Main jaanti hu mere paas experience nehi hai aur agar main kaam nehi karungi to mujhe experience hoga kaha se?Agar unhone mujhe job di hai to zarur meri interview bohot achchi rahi hogi."Sameer asked,"Abhi tumhine to kaha ke bohot maamuli sawaal puche gaye the tumse?"Indira replied,"Dekho Sameer mujhe business world ke baare mein zyaada nehi pata,a bunko mere jawaab se jo samajhna tha unhone samjha.Bewakuf to nehi hai vo log jo aise hi mujhe job offer kar denge bina kisi quality ke."Sameer,though was very doubtful but still he could not argue with Indira on the basis of just one doubt.He said,"Tumne bilkul sahi kaha,itni bari company ka maalik bewakuf to nehi hai jo aise hi tumhe kaam par rakh lega,par ek sach ye bhi hai ke corporate world hai,yaha koi bhi ehsaan muft mein nehi hota hai.Main tumhe kaam se rokne waala koi nehi hota bas ek baat zarur kahunga,hamesha chaukanna rehna."Saying he was about to return to his bedroom when Indira called him from the back.He turned and Indira asked,"Tumne us company ka profile mere liye check kiya?"Indira could not even realize that her face already glowed due the concern showed by Sameer.He was about to give the answer,but stopped.He himself was confused thinking why he did that,whether he was really and genuinely concerned about Indira,or it was something else.He replied,"Vo...Tum...In sab sectors ke liye...nayi ho,so...After all tum Maahi ki ma ho,tum problem mein rahogi to Maahi ko...taklif hogi aur main usey taklif mein nehi dekh sakta...Bas...isiliye..."Saying,without waiting for any reaction from Indira,or rather fled away from himself and entered inside his bedroom.Indira felt something breaking inside her.With his reply,the glow of her face faded away.She too,feeling very sad entered inside her bedroom.
Next day,Sameer,while leaving Maahi to school,said to Indira,"Chalo Maahi ka school to tumhaare office ke raaste par hi hai,tumhe bhi chor dunga,aaj tumhaara pehla din hai na office mein."Indira nodded her head.She opened the door of the back seat,but Maahi stopped her and said,"Mummy aap saamne betho.Aap aur papa saath saath."Saying,she sat on the back seat and Indira sat beside Sameer.On the way,Maahi said,"Mummy aaj raat ho main methi ke paraathe khaaungi ur uske baad hum teeno ice cream khaayenge,meri waali butterscotch."Indira said,"Raat ko ice-cream nehi beta,thand lag jaayegi aur phir yaha aate hi tumhe bohot allergy bhi ho gayi thi yaad hai na aur abhi bohot garmi hai,raat ko khaakar AC ke neeche soogi to sardi ho jaayegi."Sameer said,"No problem beta,kha lena main lekar aaunga aur fridge mein rakh dunga.Vaise bhi tumhaari mummy nehi khaayegi kyuki butterscotch ka taste inhe pasand nehi hai."Maahi said,"Ha vo to hai.Vaise mummy ko to koi bhi ice-cream chal jaati hai,job hi do vo kha leti isiliye mujhe aajtak unka favourate flavor hi nehi samajhme aaya.Achcha mummy papa aapko kaunsa flavor pasand hai."Sameer replied,"Strawberry!"and alongwith him together,Indira replied,"Kesar pista!"After saying,they both looked at each other with a jerk and then immediately looked away from each other.Sameer concentrated on his driving and Indira hesitantly replied,"Uh...beta vo papa ko kesar pista pasand hai aur mujhe strawberry."Maahi said,"Achcha!To papa ye teeno lekar aana.Vaise aap dono ki memory bohot achchi hai,kyuki aap dono ko abhi bhi yaad hai ek dusre ke flavours."Indira and Sameer again looked at each other.Indira turned her face and a tint of smile appeared on her lips thinking Sameer still didn't forget her in all those years.It was a very small but for Indira,it was no less than a big happiness.On the other hand,Sameer was confused thinking that both Indira and he still remember each other's choice and that too after so many years.He dropped Maahi to her school and after that,when he reached a turning,Indira said,"Main yehi utar jaati hu,nazdik hi hai office."Sameer asked,"Are you sure?"She nodded her head.Sameer stopped the car in a corner and Indira came out of the car.She was about to go and Sameer called her.She asked,"Kya?"He,in a very hesitant tone,said,"Uh...Aaj office mein pehla din hai to agar tumhe koi bhi zarurat pare ya phir agar koi problem ho to mujhe call kar dena."Indira,with a low voice said,"Ok."Both bid bye to each other and then left for their destination.
On reaching the office,the staffs welcomed her alongwith her seniors.Kabir himself gave a bouquet of flowers.He asked,"Jaiye Miss Sharma,aapka cabin aapka intezaar kar raha hai."Kabir's PA took Indira to her cabin.The cabin was well decorated with flowers and a very sweet fragrance of the room freshner was filling up her heart with joy.Indira sat on her chair and Kabir's PA said that if she needed anything,let him know.Indira started working on the files and as soon as it was 2pm,Indira went to Kabir's cabin.She knocked on the door and seek permission to come in.Kabir,on seeing her said,"Arey Miss Sharma,please come in.Boliye,aapko kisi kisam ki koi taklif to nehi hai na yahapar?"Indira smiled and replied,"Nehi nehi sir,balki main to apne aap ko bohot khushnaseeb mehsus kar rahi hu kr mujhe itni bari company ke saath kaam karne ka mauka mila hai,par sir mujhe aapse ek request karni hai."Kabir asked,"Ya sure.Boliye."Indira said,"Vo sir actually mujhe meri beti ko school se waapas ghar laana parta hai so agar aapko koi dikkat na ho to sir mujhe har roz 2 baje aadhe ghante ki chutti chahiye.Iske liye zarurat pare to main ek ghanta over time karne ko bhi tayyar hu."Kabir said,"Oh no no no bilkul bhi nehi.I can understand,aap ma hai to obviously aapko apne bachche ki parvaah hogi hi.Vaise aapki beti kaunsi school mein parti hai?"Indira told him the name of the school.Kabir said,"Oh that's great!Mujhe abhi usi raaste se jaana hai ek meeting ke silsilay mein,chaliye main aapko drop kar deta hu."Indira was humbled and she said,"That was so kind of you sir,but I can manage.Aapko meri vajah se itni taklif uthaane ki koi zarurat nehi hai."Kabir said,"Taklif nehi,main usi raste se ja raha hu isiliye aapko lift offer kar raha hu.Chaliye."Indira found it to be very rude if she rejects again and so she accepted and left with him.
On reaching the school,Indira found Maahi waiting inside the school gate.She asked,"Mummy aapne itna late kyu kiya?Aap to hamesha jaldi aa jaati thi phir aaj kya hua?"Indira replied,"Arey beta aaj main office gayi thi na to waha se nikalne mein mujhe thora sa late ho gaya.Ab chale."She came out with Maahi.Indira went towards Kabir's car and said,"Thank you so much for the lift sir.Main chalti hu."Kabir said,"Aaiye main chor deta hu."Indira said,"Yaha se ghar thora dur hai sir,hum auto se chale jaayenge."Maahi said,"Kyu??Auto se kyu jaayenge.Hamaari car kaha hai?"Indira said,"Beta main seedha office se aa rahi hu isliye car nehi laayi aur jaldi chalo mujhe tumhe ghar pohchaakar office waapas jaana hai."Maahi said,"Papa ko phone karne bolo vo bhijwa denge na car."On hearing this,Kabir looked at Maahi with a jerk.He was confused that Indira wrote in the form single mother as her status so why Maahi was talking about her father.Indira grinned,"Papa office mein hai aur vo bohot busy hai.Now let go."Kabir said,"Miss Sharma aap bethiye andar.Aapke address jaha hai,main usike nazdik se jaaunga.Main aapko kuch dur tak to chor hi sakta hu."Maahi looked at Kabir and said,"Mere papa ne aise hi kisi ke bhi car mein uthne se manaa kiya hai.Main nehi jaaungi aapke saath."Indira said,"Maahi,thik se baat karo.Ye mere boss hai.Chalo sorry bolo."Maahi said,"Par main to inko jaanti nehi hu na maine to vohi bola hai jo papa ne mujhe bola hai."Indira apologized,"Iam so sorry sir.Please aap iski baato ka bura mat maaniye."She glared at Maahi and said,"Papa ke laad pyar se bigar gayi hai."Kabir giggled and said,"Bilkul nehi,bachchi ne jo kuch bhi kaha hai bilkul sahi hai.Aajkal bachcho ko in sab maamlo mein cautious rehna chahiye."Indira asked Maahi to sit inside the car.Though,she didn't like it,but still she agreed to her mother and sat inside.
On their way,Kabir asked Maahi,"To beta aapka naam kya hai?"She replied,"Maahi."He asked,"Wow!Bohot achcha naam hai.Aapke ghar mein kaun kaun rehta hai?"She replied,"Main hu,meri mummy hai,mere papa hai,dadu hai aur daadi hai."Kabir gave a confused look at Indira and she became embarrassed.He tried to stretch the conversation and so he asked,"To aapse ghar mein aapse sabse zyaada pyar kaun karta hai?"Maahi replied,"Sabhi karte hai par mummy kehti hai,papa mujhe spoil kar rahe hai kyuki main jo kuch bhi maangti hu,papa mujhe vo magician ki tarah jhat se laakar de dete hai na isliye."Kabir was very amused at her reply.Indira said,"Vo...asal mein bohot zyaada hi laadli hai apne papa ki."Kabir said,"Har beti apne papa ki laadli hoti hai."Kabir asked,"Achcha Maahi beta aapke papa kya karte hai?"Maahi replied,"Vo bohot bare businessman hai."Kabir was surprised and said,"Really???To tumhaare papa ka naam kya hai?"Maahi was about to reply but Indira suddenly asked the driver to stop the car and said,"Sir main yehi utar jaaungi,yehi nazdik mein hi hamaara ghar hai."She came out of the car and said to Maahi,"Uncle ko bye bolo beta."Kabir said,"Bye.Vaise Miss Sharma aapki beti bohot pyari hai.Lagta hai apne papa jaisi hai."Maahi looked at Indira and said,"Dekha sab yehi kehte hai ke main papa jaisi hu."Indira said,"Sir main thori der mein office aa jaaungi."Kabir nodded his head and left from there.
At night,when Indira,Sameer and Maahi were having ice-cream which were brought by Sameer,Maahi asked,"Papa aaj aapne car kyu nehi bhijwaayi?Aapko pata hai main aur mummy kisi aur ke car mein aaye hai?"Sameer said,"Iam so sorry.Kal se aisi galti nehi hogi.Mujhe bilkul bhi yaad hi nehi tha kyuki hamesha mummy car lekar jaati hai na to main bilkul bhul hi gaya tha ke mummy office se jaati hai.Vaise kisiki car mein aayi tum?Friend ki?"Maahi replied,"Nehi papa vo mummy ke boss hai na unke."Sameer stopped with a jerk and asked,"What???"He asked Indira,"Tum unke saath aayi thi?"Indira replied,"Ha unko usi raste se kahi jaana tha,to unhone mujhe drop kiya aur phir waaps kuch dur tak aur chora ghar aate waqt."At that moment,Indira's phone rang.She looked at the phone and said,"Kabir sir ka phone hai."Saying she went to her room to talk.Maahi said,"Vaise to vo uncle achche hai,par mujhe utne bhi achche nehi lage.Mujhe kitne saare questions puche ke mere ghar mein kaun hai,kaun mujhse sabse zyaada pyar karte hai.Aapne kaha tha ke strangers se baat nehi karte main to unke car mein bhi nehi uthne waali thi par mummy ne bola isiliye maan gayi."Sameer listened to Maahi and his conjested brows became more conjested and lines of worries appeared on his forehead.
CHAPTER - 19
Edited by -Paulomi- - 11 years ago
CID
