Drabble & OS Page 26 4th May - Page 3

Happy New year folks!!!

OS - Hand-in-Hand

"Yeh ho kya raha hai? Yeh ho kya raha hai...?" Shivaay was repeating the same as he tried to control his temper arising out of helplessness. He was disappointed with all the incidents happening over the past few days, rightly said - since his marriage -Tia's running away, his marriage with Annika, then threat of Tia's kidnap, Reception, Marriage rituals, Sahil's meeting, his deed to get married to Annika, his brothers' anger, Daksh's truth, Annika's kidnap, Tia's pregnancy, positive result of DNA tests done twice, Om's truth, Divorce with Annika, Annika's accident, Tia's miscarriage... Stream of unfortunate incidents were not seeming to stop at all.

Now with Tia's miscarriage, he could never get to prove that the baby was not his indeed. How was he going to live with this unsure truth throughout his life? What responsibility was he supposed to take? He could not decide at all. "What's happening?" Shivaay sighed in despair. He felt his morale low. His conversation with Annika four days back played in his mind. That reminded him - Where is Annika?'

He did not see her since the morning. Besides, she was abnormally silent for the past two days since Tia's miscarriage. Despite the happenings, she never failed to show her hopeful smile at him. Now Tia is back at Oberoi mansion, but Annika was missing. The thought stopped all the other thoughts running in his mind. Did she leave his house?' A question came as a whisper at the back of his mind and it scared him. He left his room and went in search of her.

He reached the living room. He asked hurriedly, "Annika kahaan hai?" without looking who all were assembled there. To his reply, he came across the stunned faces of his family members. He did not know what they were discussing about before.

"Oh my mataa Shivaay!" his mother cried. "Tia ka miscarriage ho gaya, tumhara bachcha ab nahin raha, uski fikar nahin, par us Annika ki badi fikar ho rahi hai tumhein."

Shivaay flinched at the reference to his baby'. That's not my baby, for God's sake!' his mind yelled. He sighed to calm down his rising bile. He looked at his dadi and addressed her, "Dadi, aapne Annika ko dekha?"

Stress was clearly written on the old lady's face. "Nahin Billu, maine toh use nahin dekha... Jhanvi. Tumne dekha use?"

Jhanvi shook her head as No'.

Worries started to fill him. Whenever he found her unreachable, something or other unfortunate happening. Internally, fear started filling him. He pulled out his phone and dialed her number.

Om looked at various emotions playing on Shivaay's mind. He was already stressed, yet he was burdening himself with more stress. He got up and went to him. "Shivaay, tum tension mat lo, main pata karta hoon." He held his shoulder.

"Om, tum nahin jaante..." Shivaay's emotions rose.

"Shivaay" Om calmed him. "Maine kaha na, main pata karta hoon." Om gave him assurance. "Tum jao, main pata karta hoon."

Shivaay nodded his head and turned to walk to his room. And he stopped abruptly.

"Shivaay...?" Om called him to pacify, but found Shivaay staring at the door. He looked back at the door and then at Shivaay, "Shivaay, kya hua?" At the same time, he heard bustling at the door. He turned back to look at the door again. There they were - Annika, Rudra and Saumya. He frowned in confusion. What were they doing together?' They look like they had run a long distance as if there was no tomorrow. He immediately looked back at Shivaay. There was a relief on his face as he looked at Shivaay.

Shivaay was relieved as he found the object of his worry standing in front of him - he ran his eyes from her head to toe - safely. Immediately, he was curious where had she gone, and what were Rudra and Saumya doing with her. Looking at her he forgot all his questions - her face was beaming with relief as her eyes was looking only at him. He gave his full attention at her.

She walked towards him with her eyes unwavered, followed by Rudra and Saumya. The expression of his family members was like they were preparing themselves for the next blast. She stopped in front of him and smiled as tears filled in her eyes.

Shivaay searched her face for answer. "Annika..." he breathed.

"Shivaay..." she inhaled. "Shivaay... woh bachcha aapka nahin hai..."

Shivaay was confused, as were his family. They looked at each other, then settled their eyes at Annika and Shivaay.

"Aap sahi the. Woh aapka bachcha nahin hai. Jiska bhi hai, lekin aapka nahin hai." She spoke without pause.

"Annika, tum yeh kya keh rahi ho?" Shivaay asked in disbelief. "Kahaan gayi thi---"

Annika cut him in between. "Pehle do report jhoot hai. Yeh dekhiye..." She searched for something in her bag and gave him few sheets of paper. "Yeh dekhiye, is mein saaf saaf likha hai ki woh bachcha aapka nahin hai."

Shivaay was too stunned to react.

"Yeh tum kya bol rahi ho, Annika?" Om spoke on his behalf.

Annika looked at Om. "Haan, Om. Yehi sach hai, Tia jhoot bol rahi hai."

"Yeh kaisa naya drama hai tumhara? Aur.. aur Tia kyun jhoot bolegi?" Pinky asked, her tone indicating pure disbelief.

"Yeh aap khud Tia se kyun nahin pooch leti?" Annika gave her back, not out of disrespect, but owing her lack of belief on Shivaay. That definitely shut her mouth.

"But, how is that possible?" Jhanvi spoke everyone's thoughts.

"Aap logon ko kaise pata chala?" Om asked.

Shivaay was just holding the papers given to him loosely. He wasn't looking at them, but was lost somewhere.

"Woh tarasal..." Annika started, but did not know where to start.

Saumya helped her. "Bhaiyaa tarasal... bahut kuch hua, jo aap logon ko pata nahin, aur chupaya gaya hai."

"Baat kya hai Saumya?"

"Bade bhaiya ko pehle se hi yakkeen tha ki woh bachcha unka nahin hai. Lekin donon DNA tests mein result positive hi aayi, toh unhein maanna pada. Us din hospital mein jab hum log bahar wait kar rahe the, tab Annika di aur main thoda door khade the. Actually, aayi wahaan pe head nurse hua karti thi, toh mujhe lag-bag saare staff ko jaanti hoon. Tab bahut dinon ke baad, meri aayi ki saheli mili thi..."

****

"Hi, Saumya, kaise ho tum?" Sister Shanti asked her.

"Hello Sister Shanti, main bahut teek hoon. Aap kaisi hai?" Saumya spoke politely. Annika stood beside her in respect.

"Dekho mujhe, ek dum first class. Tum batao, Tumhari maa kaisi hai?"

"Aayi teek hai. Is hospital ko bahut miss kar rahi hai." Saumya said.

"Is rotation shift ki wajah se tumhari maa se baat hi nahin ho pa rahi hai." Shanti said little upset. Then, all of a sudden, she asked, "Tum yahaan kya kar rahi ho? Tabiyat toh teek hai na?" her voice full of concern.

"Main teek hoon sister. Tarasal... " Saumya looked at Annika in discomfort. What shall I say about Tia?'

"Kya baat hai, Saumya?" Shanti asked softly.

"Mere jaan pehchan wale ke ghar mein kisiko miscarriage ho gaya toh... dekhne ke liye aayi." Saumya chose her words rather carefully.

"Naam kya hai, us ladki ka?"

Saumya looked at Annika again and said, "Tia..."

Shanti frowned, "Tia? You mean Tia Kapoor... woh jo OT-2 mein admit hai?"

"Ji..."Saumya smiled with discomfort.

"Kya lagti hai tumhari?" Shanti asked.

If Shivaay had married her, she could say she was her Bhabhi' now that was not the case. What would she say? But still, she was Shivaay's wife to the world. Yet, she could never address Tia as Shivaay's wife.

"Woh, main Oberoi Mansion mein unke saath rehti hoon..." Saumya replied.

"Bade logon ka bada bada tareeka?" Shanti sighed in frustration.

Saumya and Annika looked at each other and then Saumya asked, "Kya baat hai, Sister?"

Shanti asked, "Kya uske bachche se koi problem hai?"

"Matlab?"

"Woh bachcha abort karna kyun chahti hai?" Sister asked.

Shock was too small word to describe Annika's and Saumya's emotions.

"Yeh aap kya keh rahi hai?" Saumya managed to ask.

"Tum logon ko pata nahin kya? Isliye admit kiya hai na?" Shanti asked confused.

"Nahin toh.. Uska miscarriage hua hai na?" Saumya hesitantly asked you.

"Yeh kya confusion hai?" Shanti was puzzled.

Annika grasped the situation and slowed it cleared to her. Ab kya karein?' was the question in her mind.

"Aise log pata nahin, kahaan se aa jate hai?!" Shanti spoke with disgust. "Khair, mujhe ab chalna chahiye. Apna khayal rakhna Saumya." she said and left the place.

"Yeh ho kya raha hai, Annika di?" Saumya was terrified with the happenings. "Ab kya karein?"

"Agar hum batayenge bhi toh koi nahin maanega." Annika shook her head. "Ab baat maanne ya na maanne se koi faayda nahin hai. Ab hum sabith kaise karein ki Tia jhoot bol rahi hai?"

"Aapko kyun lag raha hai ki Tia jhoot bol rahi hai?" Saumya asked.

"Mujhe toh pakka yakeen hai ki woh jhoot bol rahi hai. Aur Shivaay ko lagta hai ki woh bachcha unka nahin hai."

"Sach mein bade bhaiyaa ko aisa lagta hai?" Saumya was surprised.

"Unhein yakeen hi nahin ho raha hai ki report aise nikli..." Annika shoot her head in despair. "Ab bachcha bhi nahin raha toh sabith kaise karenge ki woh unka bachcha nahin hai?" Annika sat on the chair nearby covering her face. "Koi toh upai hoga. Kuch toh raasta hoga..." She rubbed her temple in thoughts.

Saumya asked hesitantly, "Annika di, main kuch boloon toh aap bura nahin maanenge na?" Annika looked at her. "Mere khayal se, jab hum problem mein phase hai, aur koi raasta dikh nahin raha hai toh, kisi third person se salah lena teek rahega."

"Matlab?"

"Mujhe toh in cheezon mein koi knowledge nahin hai. Agar apni aayi se baat karoon toh shayad koi raasta nikhal aayega." Saumya suggested.

"Pehle kyun nahin bataya tumne?" Annika held her shoulder. "Abhi ki abhi baat karo unse."

Saumya took out her phone and started to dial her mother's number. Annika stopped her. "Yahaan nahin." She looked around. They both walked to the far end of the corridor. Then Saumya spoke to her mother.

****

Saumya continued, "Aayi ne kaha ki phir DNA test kare, lekin fresh sample se. Unhone khud Sister Shanti se baat ki aur aborted baby ka sample liya."

"Shivaay ka sample?" Om asked.

"Woh..." Saumya lingered.

"Ek minute." Om looked at Annika. "Isliye us din hospital mein tum Shivaay ke baal ko kheechne ki zid kar rahi thi.."

Annika moved awkwardly. "Haan... woh... koi aur raasta nahin mila... us waqt... kya karti?..."

"Aur humne donon ko sample mere aayi ke jaan pehchanwale private lab mein de diya. Utna bada lab nahin tha, isliye do din lag gaye result nikhalne mein. Aur humne poori result le aaye. Hum donon ko itni tension thi toh Rudra ko saath mein le gaye." Saumya went on. "Result ke hisab se donon DNA bilkul bhi nahin milti." Saumya finished and looked at Annika with a smile.

The whole family was shattered by the revelation. But all Annika was concerned was about Shivaay. But he was standing like a statue ever since she had given the results to him. What was he thinking?' she wondered.

"Shivaay..." Om shook him. Shivaay came out of his thoughts. "Soch kya raha hai?" Om asked.

Shivaay cleared his throat. "Main... main thodi der akela rehna chahta hoon." he said slowly and left the place.

Annika looked at the leaving figure with heavy heart.

Om, Rudra and Saumya looked at Shivaay leaving and then at Annika. Rudra walked to join Om, "Humne socha ki bhaiya ke problems ka solution aa gaya. Lekin bhaiya kuch bhi nahin keh rahe hai. Aise hi chale gaye!"

"Kabhi kabhi sach itni bhaari ho jaati hai ki use sehen karna mushkil ho jaati hai." Om replied looking at the leaving figure.

Annika was least bothered at the discussions which was about to occur after this disclosure. All she is bothered about is him... and only him... She can never bear to see him fall apart...

****

What a fool he was! How could he not see through the facade? Just because he was blinded by the anger posed by the challenge of Annika's strength, how could he not look at the lie that was present before him. He hit the wall with his hand, once. Fool' he called himself. He punched the wall again. Fool, you are Shivaay...' he punched again. Fool' he called himself again. This time the punch did not land on the wall, but his hand was caught in between. He did nothing to fight back, but turned his face away.

"Kya kar rahe hai, aap?" questioned Annika.

"Tum yahaan kya kar rahi ho?" Shivaay said with disinterest. He was too tired to have a conversation right now.

Annika stroked his hand. "Waise?" her tone changed. "Bachpan mein luka chuppi nahin khele kya ki ab khel rahe hai?"

"Uh" This diverted Shivaay.

"Nahin khele kya?" she asked again, not having stopped stroking his hand to relieve the pain.

"Kya nahin khela?" he asked clueless.

"Luka chuppi?" she said.

"Khela hoon, kyun?" he asked curiously,

"Khele hai?" she asked surprised. "Toh is umr mein khelne ko kyun pade hai?" she asked innocently.

"Main kaha khel raha?" he asked confused.

"Ab jo khel rahe hai? Bhaagke chup jo rahe hai?" Annika said. After a pause, she said, "Sachhaai se..."

"Main kahaan..." Shivaay started to defend, but stopped in between, realising what she meant.

"Aap jaante hai ki bhaagne se kuch nahin hoga." she said softly.

He looked at her expectant face. "Yeh sab kyun kar rahi ho?" he asked gently.

"Aap ko nahin pata?" she asked back. "Aap ko toh sab pata hota hai..." she added teasingly.

He looked into her eyes and then her stroking his hand. He closed both their hands with his other hand. Annika looked at their hands and then at him at his gesture.

After a brief silence, "Kab tak?" he asked, indicating their joined hands.

Annika looked into his eyes as she replied, "Jab tak saath rahenge..." indicating their joined hands.