FF by Sanam?! Hidden talent? No! š Actually, this is my first attempt. Never written a story before..just an OS almost 8 years back. I don't know if it's an FF, SS or even OS. Let's see mein kitna likhti hun š
Since it is my first attempt so it is going to be an amateurish one. And it's not even close to all the talented writers here. Most of you would find it boring as this is just my take on the story. So, please if you read it do leave a comment. Even if you don't like it do comment the reason and flaws. Feedback, criticism is more than welcome.
If after reading you want to have a La Tomatina Festival then I'm in š But please no eggs and chappals š
I'm posting the 1a part now, will update 1b by tomorrow or day after.
P.S. I couldn't think of a good name. Will change it later
Index:
Chapter 1a (below)
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Chapter 1a
Mumbai, India
She suddenly wakes up from a deep sleep; breathing hard. Thank god, it was just a dream, she thinks to herself. It has been 16 years and still a mere thought of him makes Ragini uneasy.
It was five past 6 and there was still some time till the alarm goes off. But, she got up and went straight to the kitchen. She poured water in the kettle and put it on the stove. Then she headed to Nishi and Arav's room.
Ragini pulled a chair beside her children's bed and sat there. She was staring at both of them. Her children have grown up. After all it's been 16 years.. Nishi is in her second year of medical and Arav has just got admission to his bachelor studies. But, she could still watch them sleep for hours. Sometimes.. she feels guilty and responsible for all that her children had to go through because of her. She knew her sometimes strict behavior didn't go down well with her children and it hurt her just thinking that they would never understand the reason behind it. But she had to do all that since she was a single parent; she did realize the importance of father in children's life but she...
She is lost in her thoughts just when the alarm rings. And suddenly Ragini remembers she'd put kettle on the stove. She runs towards the kitchen and puts it off the stove. Just then Ashaben enters the lounge.
"Arey Ragini aj jaldi uth gai hai tu?" she asks Ragini while entering the kitchen.
"Good morning Ma." Ragini replies while picking up the newspaper from outside. ''Han Ma bas, jaldi jaag hogai aj. Thodi der pehle hi uthi hun mein.''
"Arey ye kya pani sara sookh gaya, rakh kar bhul gai thi?"
"Bas ankh lag gai thi thodi der," Ragini replied without looking up from the paper.
Ashaben didn't say anything further. But she didn't need to be told what Ragini was up to. She could feel her pain as a mother. She has seen her in her weakest moments. When she would wake up in the middle of the night and find Ragini restless in her bed, struggling hard to sleep. Sometimes, Ragini would just excuse herself for a headache and try faking sleep with her wet pillow. And sometimes, when she would wake up a little earlier, Ragini would be missing from her room and she will find her lost in her thoughts in Nishi and Arav's room. She is always worried about her but now she has stopped suggesting to her that she should get married.
Flashback
Ragini and Ashaben are sitting in the lounge, watching TV. Badi Nani is asleep and Sunny tai has gone to attend some Tai Association Meeting. Nishi and Arav are out with their friends.
"Ragini, bache bade hogae hain...ab tujhe nai lagta tujhe shadi kar leni chaie" Ashaben suddenly says.
"Ma aap phir se mat shuru hojayie." Ragini gives her a 'not again' look, "Meine kaha hai naa ap se mujhe shadi nahin karni"
"Bache bade hogae hain Ragini, apni life mein busy hogae hain. Nishi shadi karlegi kuch salon mein. Arav bhi busy hojaega or tu akeli reh jaegii. Mujhe teri fikar rehti hai boht."
"Maa, ap meri fikar karna chorde... 16 saal guzaare hain akele aage bhi guzaar loongi."
"Beta, pichli baton ko bhula kar age barhna chaie... Kab tak pichle zakhmon ko lekar bethegi.."
"Kuch zakhm aise hote hain Ma, jo kabhi nai mitte. Aap please meri fikar chod den. Kya hua hai mujhe?? Khush to hoon mein." Ragini cuts her in between.
"Ma hoon mein teri fikar to karungi..." Ashaben stops when she sees Ragini's moist eyes.
She puts her hand on Ragini's and tears roll down her face. Ragini then gets up suddenly and goes off to her room.
How much she wants her child to move on in her life, only she knows that. But, every time she brings the topic of her marriage with her, she has to witness her daughter's wounds; fresh and unhealed.
"Maa, Nishi aur Arav uthe gaye na?"
Ashaben is brought back to the present. "Arey unko to meine uthaya hi nai"
"Kya Ma, roz late kardete hain ye dono." Ragini then goes to her children's room and wakes them up.
Then she starts getting ready for work. Meanwhile Sunny tai sets the breakfast table.
***
"Good morning, Ma." Nishi and Arav greet Ragini while seating themselves on the dining table, "Good Morning Naani, Sunny Tai."
Sunny Tai gives a high five to them.
Sunny Tai, their maid, has been working for them for the last 15 years. She has been like a friend to Nishi and Arav. When Ragini was at work, it was Ashaben and Sunny Tai who would play with them and give them a company.
"Good morning." Ragini greets them back. "Nishi, tu ne aj phir se late kardia na. Jaldi breakfast kar and leave, you're getting late for the class." Ragini scolds Nishi a bit.
"Ma, thoda sa to late hua hai..bas 10 minute late hungi na... Aur wese bhi meine apni friend ko boldia hai k proxy laga de meri." Nishi casually says it.
"Phir se proxy? Meine tujhe kitni baar bola hai Nishi yeh cheating hai. Koi proxy nai lagegi, just quickly finish your breakfast and leave."
"Ragini khaane de na usko araam se. Sahi to kehrahi hai 10 minute late hone mein kya jaata hai. 1 din ki to baat hai." Ashaben interrupts.
"Nai Ma, ap samajhti nai. Yeh 1 din ki baat nai, isko aadat hojaegi." Ragini says while eating. "Hurry up Nishi, I don't want you to get late, beta."
"Lekin Ma..."
"Lekin wekin kuch nai. Now don't waste time."
"OK Ma, aap k rules k aage kis ki chali hai aaj tak" Nishi says while folding her hands.
Ragini gives her a serious look and then they all start laughing.
"Arav, tera college ka sub kuch hogaya na, beta? Aur tune fee pay kardi thi na kal?' Ragini asks Arav while finishing her breakfast.
"Nai, Ma..wo," Arav says in a weak voice, "mein bhool gaya. Aj pay kardunga na."
"Kal last date hai!" Ragini stares at him, "Dekha Ma, islie mein kehti hun. Yeh bache to meri bat sunte hi nahin. Aap ne hi bigaad rakha hai inko."
"Meri fees kaun bharega? Kal bhi meri teacher ne mujhe punish kara tha." Badi Nani didn't want to be left alone, so she also spoke up.
They all laughed together.
Badi Naani is Ragini's grandmother and for the past few years she has been suffering from Alzhimer's, an advanced stage. She only sometimes remembers everything while at other times she's either a teen studying in a college or a young girl who is dating a handsome guy and is soon going to get married.
"Nani, aap fikar na karen, aap ki fees aap ka grandson bharega na. Aur agar ap ko dubara teacher punish kare na to mera naam lena." Arav said in a cheerful tone.
"Haan, pehle apni fees to bharle tu." Ragini said in a sarcastic tone.
Nishi and Sunny tai laugh at Arav.
Ragini then gets up from her seat and gets ready to leave. "Arav, time par college jaana beta. Late mat karna han. Aur haan yaad se aj fees bhar k aana, warna kal se no dhokla's for you."
"Dhokla kyun nai?? Mein pay kar k aunga na aj."
"Fees nai bharega aj to yehi hoga." Ragini says to Arav and then starts walking towards the main door. "Acha Ma, chalti hun mein ab." Ragini is about to leave but then stops,
"Nishi, chal tujhe mein chhod deti hun apne sath auto par. Tera college raaste mein hi padta hai na."
"Ma, ap chale jaiye. Jignesh mera niche wait kar raha hai. Mein usk saath jarahi hun." Nishi tells her mom and then she goes inside to get her bag and stuff.
Yeh ladki bhi na, Ragini thinks to herself.
"Ma, nikalti hun mein phir. Bye Arav, Nishi beta jaldi niklo. Bye Ma."
"Acha Ragini, dhiyan se jana aur pohnch kar phone karna."
Ragini nods and leaves for her work.
For the last 12 years, Ragini has been working in the administration department of Nirmala Devi hospital. She has always been smart and hardworking, so she was made the head of the admin department after a few years of her joining and since then she is the one who manages almost all the administration duties of the hospital. She has often worked overtime to support her family and made sure her children study at one of the best schools of the city.
***
To be continued..
Kabhi Neem Neem Kabhi Shahad Shahad
