Rikara FF: Heal my Soul (Updated conclusion part in Pg 60) - Page 12

<Part 16>

Omkaara entered the room and Gauri was arranging her clothes in cupboard.

"Gauri"..

She turned with a plain face. Usual brightness in the eye was missing.

"Picture kyon chod kar aayi.. poora dekh lethi..?"

"Aap ne khaana khaya??"

"Nahi.. khaana hai.. yeh bolo ki beech maein kyoon ayi thi..?

"wo der hue naa.. issliye.. baad mein dekhlenge.. Main aapkeliye khaana yahan lekar aati hoon?"

"tumne khaaana khhaya?
"Nahi"

"to hum dono ke liye main lekar aata hoon. Tum ruko"

"Nahin main lekar aati hoon, aap rukhiye". She brought him Kadi chawal and some fruit salad. He was surprised to know that she knows his routine very well within few days. She brought herself some kadi chawal and they both were having it, sitting on couch. Gauri was serving him like a typical wife and eating in between. "Main serve karoonga apne aap ko. Tum khao".

"Mein to khaa rahi hoon naa.. Koi baat nahi, aap khaayiye.." Still her face didn't brighten up. May be she is not saying it out.

O: "Gauri, tum wo film dekh rahi thee naa.. tum chaho uss film ko iPad mein dekh sakthi ho? Dekhna chahogi?"

G: "aap bhi dekhenge humhaari saath?"

O "Nahi tum dekho, main waise bhi dek chukka hoon ek baar"

G: "to teek hain, aapki jo picture pasand hain, wohi daal dijiye hum bhi wahi dekhenge"

Omkaara understood the message. It is not about the film. It's about watching it with him. She expressed it as usual in her subtle own way. Somehow that thought gave him a warm feeling. He was in no mood to watch a movie, but thought he would do it for her. May be she will get out of the straight face zone.

"Teek hain, aajao. Yahan baito.. Main kuch dal deta hoon.."

They were sitting in the bed inches apart. Omkaara had played some old favourite movie of his, and both were watching. "Omkaaraji", "haan'

"Aapko sach mein tall ladkiyan pasand hain?" she asked the nagging question in her mind in a very low voice.

Omkaara turned at her looking curious, she had it in mind all this time. Her expression was really cute like that of a inquisitive child wanting to know the answer then and there. He couldn't help laughing a bit. "Mujhe insaan se matlab hota hain. Uski dil saaf aur sacha hai.. uski matlab hota hain. Physical appearance mere liye kuch maine nahi rakthi.. To... ab tum khush ho?" he gave teasing smile.. She smiled too. They started to watch the movie again, when he accidentally placed his hand on her hand. Gauri did notice this, but didn't turn towards his side, since she knew he accidentally did it and will withdraw his hand anyway. She didn't move hers. He turned towards her and saw she was watching the movie as if nothing happened. May be she didn't realize, he thought. He didn't move his hand.. He was no longer interested in the movie, wanted to talk to her. "Gauri.. If you are fine, kya main tumhaari family ki baare mein jaan saktha hoon?" he thought of starting the conversation in this way. Gauri explained about how her father expired at a very early age and she & her mother had to run the small shop near temple for their living. And after Omkaara destroyed the shop for acquiring the land, how Kaali taakur had threatened to kill her mom and held her captive with iron cuff around her legs. She told him she was dancing that day only on compulsion from KT. Else he would harm her mother. Omkaara felt really bad for thinking so low about her without knowing the suffering she underwent. He got reminded of her Bareilly, when she said, he should not judge her without knowing her situation. Omkaara held her hands, "Am so sorry Gauri. Very sorry. Tumhe aise harshly judge kiya upper se tumhaari shop bhi destroy kar diya.". "Toh.. jab main tumhe aise chod aaye, kya kar rahi thi tum apni living ke liye?" he asked with a guilt-ridden face. "Hum Mumbai mein hi the, omkaara ji. Apni maa ji ilaj ke liye yahaan pe naukri kar rahe the. Bas maa ko dekhne ke liye chutti leke, Bareilly wapas gayi, phir kaali taakur ne humhe dekh liya aur bandhi bana liya.."

"Mumbai mein kahan kaam kar rahi thi tum?"

Gauri was perplexed to say the truth or lies fully. Bas, yahan aas paas hi kaam kar rahe the"

She wanted to clutch his hands back and say all the truth to him. But that would be the last day that she sees him. Definitely he cannot accept. Gauri's face fell sad due to undercurrent of emotions that were running inside her. Omkaara saw her sad face and thought she was remembering the past so she was sad. He was caressing her hand. Gauri felt all the more painful from his caring gesture. She tried to look away from him to control her tears. Her face turned pink. He put his hands around her shoulder and pressed hers. "Its ok Gauri.. Ro mat"

Gauri was trying her best to remain calm. But her conflicting emotions again cropped up and with him being this close, she wasn't able to control. She hugged him, buried her head in his chest and kept on weeping. Omkaara was not knowing what was going in within her, but all he could do is hug her back and console her.

G: "Omkaara ji hum nahi chahthe, ki iss zabardasthi ki rishta aap ki aane waale kal mein musibat kada karein. Hum aapki zabardasthi ki zimmadhari nahi banna chahthe hain. Aap humhaari jaan bachane ke liye yeh shaadi kiya, yeh ehsaan ke liye hum abhaari hain. Bas yahi kaafi hain humhaare liye. Agar aap is rishte nahi nibhaya, tab bhi hum aapse naaraz nahi honge. Aap zor zabardasthi mat mehsoos kijiye.." She pulled herself back. "Bas yehi kehna tha aapse" She got up from the bed and started walking to couch.

Omkaara was confused about the mixed signals she was sending. One side, she hugs his jacket and sleeps, behaves like she wants his presence near her, keeps on checking him by half glances on other side she says she is ready to leave, should he feel forced in this marriage. He decided to clear this guilt off her.

<To be cont>

Please read and provide your comments as usual.

Love,

Yayini