Part 1 Part 2 Part3 Part4 Meera Ka Mohan PT 5
duniyaa mein hum aaye hain to jeenaa hee padegaa
jeewan hain agar jahar to peenaa hee padegaa
gir gir ke musibat mein sanbhalate hee rahenge
jal jaaye magar aag pe chalate hee rahenge
gam jis ne diye hain wahee gam door karegaa
aaurat hain wo aaurat jise duniyaan kee sharam hai
sansaar mein bas laaj hee naaree kaa dharam hai
jindaa hain jo ijjat se wo, ijjat se maregaa
maalik hain tere saath naa dar, gam se too aye dil
mehanat kare insaan to kyaa kaam hain mushkil
jaisaa jo karegaa, yahaa waisaa hee bharegaa
(Mother India)
The overnight train from Meerut pulled into Victoria terminus at noon. Looking tired and dishevelled from the uncomfortable journey, Bani and Ganga alighted with their meagre belonging. Stopping the rickshaw Bani and Gange sat down and Bani told the driver Daksh's address. After paying the driver, Bani and Ganga walked up to house and knocked on the door. A look of shock passed on Bani's face as she looked at masi. Over the years masi seemed to have aged a lot, with her poor health and rift between her and Jai taking its toll.
Masi had got into the habit of visiting Daksh now and then. She found some solace in talking with Daksh about Bani and Jai. Not able to forgive Jai for throwing Bani out, masi mostly lived in Chandigarh with infrequent visit to Mumbai. Daksh who himself was estranged from his parents, masi had become an adopted grandmother. The short visits by masi were a godsend for Daksh as it made him look forward to come home to loving face, instead of an empty home. His faithful butler Ramdas, maid, gardener and cook were very loving and protective of him but still he missed the motherly affection of an elder.
Masi over the initial shock stepped out and gripped Bani in a tight hug, "Beti...Bani kahan chali gayi thi..." She placed kisses over Bani's face whilst Ganga looked in astonishment at the affection being showered on her mom. Masi became aware of Gang and asked Bani, "yeh bachi kaun hai?"
Bani held out her hand to Ganga, who immediately gripped it, "meri beti, Ganga."
"Teri beti...Ganga. Matlab Daksh aur teri beti?" Masi questioned sharply.
"Nahi masi! Daksh and I do not have any relation except that of a brother and sister. Jai aur meri beti hai."
"Hai Ram!" Masi snapped. "Yeh kya anarth ho gaya!"
Masi pulled Ganga in a hug and pressed a kiss on her forehead, "Meri Jai ki beitya..." She gave Bani a questioning look, "Pata hai?" Bani shook her head negatively. "Nehi! When Daksh found me on the street all those years ago, he took me away to Meerut to Ramdas' parents home. When I found out I was pregnant, I wasn't in stable frame of mind and Daksh didn't know what to do. When Ganga was born and I became a little bit for responsible, Jai had already divorced and remarried. I decided then to make a life for myself and Ganga in Meerut. We were doing alright until karma brought Jai to Meerut last week to buy the land where I lived, where I worked. I had to evacuate the place within one night and had nowhere else to go except come here to Daksh."
Masi's face turned sad at the story, "why didn't you phone?"
Bani, "I just had enough money for train tickets masi." Masi suddenly realizing they were still standing outside ushered them inside. Ramdas came rushing recognizing Bani and quickly took their bags upstairs to the guest rooms. Masi told Bani to go upstairs to bath and change clothes and then she called Daksh to let him know Bani had come to Mumbai. She went to the kitchen and gave cook orders to make something to eat quickly. Masi then went to the puja room and lighted a diya and offered prayers to God for keeping Bani and her child safe.
Over light meal Bani filled masi on her life in Meerut. Ganga not to be left out interrupted in between to tell masi about her school and friends. The lack of sleep soon had Bani yawning and masi sent both of them upstairs to rest. As soon as her head laid on the soft pillow, Bani was fast asleep whilst Ganga looked around the room before lying down next to Bani awake. Soon Ganga too was fast asleep.
When Daksh arrived and popped into the room, the two were still fast asleep and he left them to sleep. It was almost dark when Bani finally woke up. Ganga had woken up more than hour ago and had got up and gone downstairs looking for food. Seeing her fav mama, Ganga ran to him screeching at top of her voice. After freshening up Bani came downstairs to find Daksh, Ganga and masi huddled on a sofa, watching TV. Tears welled up in Bani's eyes at the sight...only if Jai was sitting where Daksh was.
Masi watched her teary eyes and called her over warmly, "Come here and sit down Bani." Daksh gave her a friendly hug and let her sit down next to Ganga. With Ganga around the talk between them remained casual. After dinner Daksh and Bani went to his study to talk, leaving Ganga with masi. After listening to Bani and her thoughts on what she wanted to do next, Daksh spoke up, "Bani I don't think you should move anywhere else. I am sure you can find work or I can help you start up a business here. Plus Ganga needs to go to school and she needs to know about Jai. You cannot let her carry on not knowing who her father is."
Bani shook her head and almost crying, "i can't lose her Daksh. She is all I have now. Last time I gave in to Jai, I lost Krishna and Atharva. I can't let him have her."
"But Bani I am not saying Ganga should go and leave with Jai. Just tell her who her father is. Let Jai know about her and then see what develops. I don't think Ganga would leave you for Jai." Daksh gave a reassuring hug to her. "Anyway for the next few days I don't want to think about going anywhere for here. Masi will be here too, it will be good for her, you don't realize how much she has missed you and even more how much she misses Jai even though she won't say it."
Later at night when Ganga was fast asleep, Bani stood near the window and looked out at distant lights of the city. Daksh's house was in the opposite direction to Walia mansion, away from the sea. At Walia mansion, one could feel and smell the sea breeze through the open window. How often she had stood at one those windows waiting for Jai to come home. She had been standing at the open window looking out the night they had first made love...the soft breeze through the open window had mingled with the his caresses over her skin. A single tear rolled her cheek as always as Jai's face swam across her eyes.
Next morning Ganga went with the piece of paper with the address Veer wrote down. Daksh looked stunned at the name Walia on the paper. He asked, "Who do you know there Ganga?"
"It's Veer bhaiya's house. I met him and Varun bhaiya in Meerut. They live here in Mumbai," Ganga said excitedly. "Is it far? I want to go and visit them. Meera aunty said I could come and see them whenever I came to Mumbai." Not knowing what to say to her, Daksh put the paper in his pocket, "They live far away from here Ganga. Plus you can't just go there without calling them up first. They must go to school and might not be home. Why don't I try and find out if it would be ok for you to visit them." The look of dejection on Ganga's face made Daksh feel guilty but he had no choice at the moment but deter the visit.
A little later when he could take Bani aside, Daksh showed her the piece of paper and told her about Ganga's wish to visit the boys. Bani shook her head vehemently, "No, you cannot take her there. Make up anything to stop her going there." An agitated Bani paced around his office, twisting her hands. Daksh stopped her and said to her firmly, "Don't upset yourself. I am not going to do anything without your consent, but you need to think about what I said last night…how long will you keep her away from Jai."
To be continued…..
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