Part one Thank you to Sangita, puttrani, Taz, cherry, Shoba, Nema, kiranc, Preet, aimee, jannu, ridhijai, Bina, Bhavna, Shireesha, Nikita for leaving comments. Glad you like the first part and I hope the second will be met with the same response. So this part is for all of you. Give feedback, both good and the bad.
Humera Chhaya – Part 2
koi chupke se aake
sapne sulaake mujhko jagaake
bole, ki main aa rahaa hoon
kaun aaye yeh main kaise jaanoo- 2
koi chupke se aake
door kahin bole papeeha
piya aa, mausam suhana
tarse hai koi yahan
aa bhi jaa, karke bahana
kaun sa bahana, kaisa bahana
kitna mushkil hai yeh batana
dekho phir bhi koi bhaa rahaa hai
kaun bhaaye yeh main kaise jaanoo
koi chupke se ... jaanoo
koi chupke se aake..(anubhav)
Chhaya fingered the scar, it ran from halfway down the chest diagonally to the side. She bent and pressed her lips to it and looked into Vij's eyes. She could read desire in his eyes and whispered, "Bahut dard hua tha?" Vij shook his head and reached up and grabbing her shoulder gently pulled her close to his face, "Nahi! Jitna dard tere anhkoo mere dil ko detti itna nahi." A slow smile formed on her lips as she rose and removed her choli and sari before laying herself on top of him. Immediately Vij's hand ran up her back and tangled in her long black hair. The feel of her soft skin sent any remnant of control awry as his lips and hands raked over her.
Anshulabai watched her son sitting idly eyeing his wife. She had noticed the change for the last few days of him loitering around the house. She picked up a stick lying around and swiped him gently, "Yahaan baitha baitha kya dora kar raha. Kuch kaam nahi. Dekh rahi hoon mein kitne dino se teri nazaar bigdi hui. Jaa yahaan se nahin toh bura haal kardugi." As she raised the stick, Vij jumped off the cot and rushed out of the doors. Chhaya who had seen all this giggled under her odhni only to have Anshulabai turn around on her, "Tu kys haas rahi, yeh tere nakre ka natija. Jaa ander, bahaar dekhi toh…"
Chhaya ran inside the house. She knew well enough not to get on her wrong side, but she was not at fault if Vij sat around gawking at her. She went around doing her work…she never even looked at him when the mother was around.
Late noon she slipped out of the house and went to her sanctuary. She never ventured out much to the small oasis any more. Anushlabai disapproved of her venturing far from the house. Told her she wasn't a child any more and had to curb her wanderings now. When she reached the pool she looked around but could not see Vij. She was sure he would be here. After a few moments, she carefully removed her clothes and put them aside before stepping into the pool. She let the water cover her completely and closed her eyes as the cool water lapped her body. Chhaya sensed him even before he came near her. Her eyes grazed his face and rested on his dark iris. "Dere kardi?" Vij circled his arms around her, "Soocha tum nahi ayogi. Maa ki daar nahi lagti tujhe?" Chhaya shook her head and laughed softly, "Nahi, thoda dantati hai. Tumko kyun daar lagti hai?" Vij crushed her and whispered, "Maa hai meri issliye. Aur woh nahi chahti ke mei tere piccha karu. Kehti hai auraat marad ko nirbaal kardeti hai. Kya yeh saach hai?" Chhaya wrapping her legs around him said, "Aap hi baitaiye, meh aapko kamajora kardeti hoon?" In answer Vij propelled her to the edge and pinning her and with a wicked glint in his eyes hushed, "Yeh kamjori tujhe bhogni padegi."
The news of Chhaya's pregnancy meant, Anshulabai had her confined to the inside of the home. She wasn't allowed to go outside and even inside her activity was restricted. Vij was even more frustrated as his mother's eyes were forever on him. To relieve his frustration he gathered some of the young men that lived around the vicinity and started training them the way his father did. He came home tired having worked his ire off. At night he would hold Chhaya and make plans for the coming child. As her belly became more round, Vij would talk to the child as if he was conversing with it and slept the night with his hand spread out on her stomach. Chhaya looked more beautiful now with the happiness of the growing child inside her and the love Vij bestowed on her.
It wasn't an easy birth for Chhaya, she was in labour for more than twelve hours. Vij left the house, as he wasn't allowed anywhere near Chhaya and he could not stand her screams. A healthy baby was born around midnight and an exhausted Chhaya barely glimpsed at the baby it was whisked away by Anshulabai. A proud grandmother danced as she held the baby up to Vij, "Beta hua...mera pota." The following day Anshulabai held a feast for everyone in her village. There was music, laughter and a lot of drinking the local brew. Vij distributed sweets and clothes to his guests in honour of his first child.
For ten days Chhaya and the child were confined to their room, even Vij was not allowed to go near them.
On the day of Niskramanam samskara, Chhaya and the child were allowed to step outside while the pandit performed the rituals. The child was given name according to his birth chart and Anshulabai named her first grandson Naitik Ajitrai. Gifts and good wishes were bestowed on both the mother and the child. Chhaya having her first born child a male was given special adulation from the well wishers. The long day finally ended as the last of the well wishers left. Sitting and nursing her child in her own room at last, Chhaya was sitting with look of contentment as the baby suckled at her breast. Vij watched her from the doorway, unaware of his presence. A pang of jealousy ran through him to see her bestowing all her attention on their child.
He came and sat down beside her and laid his chin on her shoulder but did not say a word. They sat like that until the baby fell asleep. Removing the baby from her breast, Chhaya laid it down on the bed and then turned to Vij. Their eyes locked, his deep dark irises reflected her face. The question she had wanted to ask came to her lips, "Aap khush hona?"
Vij gathered her in his arms, "Kyun nahi khush, beta diya tune...Mera beta hamara vansh pranitha karega."
XXXXX
Vij fell into the way of his father, leaving the home where Chhaya would be busy with their child he would go to the sands where his father had trained him and other warriors in this part of the kingdom. The adhyetta became aacaaryaa…the student became the master of the arts. He now toiled in the heat and sand as his father had done. The young boys who entered his realm were subjected to the vigorous ranasikhsha…the art of war from handling the sword to firing the arrows.
Naitik grew into a handful toddler, who seemed to only behave in the presence of Vij. Chhaya who was now pregnant with the second child would often complain to Vij about Naitik… the aging Anshulabai could not handle Naitik at all and running around the toddler tired Chhaya out in no time. Vij did not fail in his duties as a son, a father and a lover...on his return home at dusk he spent time with his mother and son, but the nights were reserved for Chhaya. The passion he felt for her had not dimmed with birth of his son or impending birth of another child...he found himself more intoxicated with her matured looks, the attractive curves of her body and the volumes her eyes could speak without uttering a word. Receptive to the mere touch of his hand, she would ignite the desires in him that would culminate in abandoned moments of pleasure.
Being blasted by the sudden sand storms were the norm in this desert region especially if there was impending rain to follow. The short vengeance of the wind God would blow away and cover man and his habitat in burst of speed. It was after one of this storm that Suchir came with a warning to Vij about attacks by the dacoit in the area. The group of men usually attacked at night and were looting and killing the habitants. Vij sent him away saying he will be alert and will have sentries on watch at night. For the next few nights Vij had a rotation of men patrolling the area at night. The men moved about stealthily in the darkness of night keeping to the sparse shrubs and cover of the dwellings.
Vij shot up silently from the bed, his ears alert at the faint footsteps on the roof. He bundled up Naitik from the cot and placed him next to Chhaya and then drew out the small dagger from under his pillow and shook Chhaya awake. Placing his finger on her lips he slid the dagger into her hand and whispered, "Hold on to this. If anyone comes into the room use it...understand don't hesitate." He covered the hand with the dagger with the folds of her sari and slid out of the room.
Awakened now Chhaya lay terrified on the bed, her own breathing sounded loud and she trembled with fear. She thought she heard a faint scream and squeezed her eyes as if to block out the panic. A shuffling of feet caused her eyes to strain in the darkness at the open doorway. Suddenly a figure loomed, dressed in black with the face covered to show only the eyes, two eyes took in her prone figure on the bed. As he advanced slowly watching her, Chhaya's grip on the dagger tightened and when the man stooped to grab her, she plunged the dagger up into his bend body. Using her two hands she pushed the dagger hard and then shoved him to the floor. The body lay writhing, the blood spreading out on to the floor and his eyes transfixed on her. Chhaya rolled over quickly pulling Naitik in his arm and ran towards the door only to slam into Vij. With his sword raised he stopped her from falling and moved her aside quickly and plunged the blade into the squirming body. A loud moan filled the room as the man breathed his last.
Vij pulled the body out of the room and told Chhaya to lie down on the bed. In a few moments he was back with one of the men to find Chhaya clutching her stomach and moaning. Realizing Chhaya had gone into labour, he sent the men out again to get his mother. By the time Anshulabai came shuffling into the room, Vij was holding the tiny head of the baby as Chhaya pushed. Anshulabai took over by pushing Vij away and grabbing the baby. She screamed at him to get their maid as she set about cleaning up the baby. Chhaya had fainted with exhaustion and lay motionless until her mother-in-law set about cleaning her up. The premature girl was tiny but breathing normally. She was wrapped up tight when Anshulabai handed the baby to her. Anshulabai took in the mess on the floor and called out to Vij to carry Chhaya into the other room. And then set about ordering her maid to start cleaning up the room.
In the courtyard lay the body of four dacoits killed at the hand of Vij. He stood and removed the face covering to see their faces while he waited for Suchir and other men to come and remove the dead bodies. Anshulabai spat at the dead men. She herself had almost become their victim had it not been for Vij's quick entry.
To be continued.......
Ye Hai Mohabbatein
