Chapter 10 – New beginning or end
Kukki was sitting on Prerna lap while they where going towards the fair. Rishab was surprised to see prerna in a suit instead of the usual saree. She was pleasantly happy and seemed at peace. Mr bajaj showed them some brouchure and asked to choose. Kukki signalled and asked what kind of house do you want -
“mujhe mujhe to apna ghar pasand tha. Tedha Medha sa. Har kisiko ko pata hota ki kaun kaha hain. Aate jaate aap logo se takra jaate. Haan par mujhe ek cheez missing lagti hai ek bada sa hall hota open. Summer main hum sab wahi so jaate. Baaaris main bheegne lago aur sardi ke dino main maa baba akele wahan beth kar shaam ki chai enjoy karte.Enter karte hi Ganeshji ki Murti hoon bas aur kuch nahin.”
Rishab who was listening made a mental note of everything and was determined to find a house exactly the same.
They reached the fair and Kukki was on livewire she wanted to try each ride and play each game and kept running here and there.
She insisted on the ferris wheel first and Prerna was scared.
“Are you scared?”
“No, its just that ki I feel like vomiting all the time and I am not sure if I should be trying this”
Kukki was already pleading so she said ok.
As soon as it started both the girls closed the eyes and held tightly to one of Mr Bajaj hands.
“Kya point hain bethne ka if youare going to keep your eyes shut.”
They both braved to open the eyes and as soon as they opened, they shouted and closed it again. After they were finished, they went to games and Rishab won a teddy for Kukki on loops. Prerna saw the balloon shooting game and went over there. Rishab and Kukki followed.
“You want to try this” – mr bajaj asked Prerna
Prerna made a face and continued with the game and fared really well.
Kukki signalled to Rishab – “Bachke rehna padega pata chala kisi din gusse main aake “ and they both started laughing.
They went to the food stall and was surprised to see Mr Bajaj comfortable with them.
“Dhul miti ki aadat hain”
Just then Rishab received a call.
“What?” It was mr Mehra informing him that Anurag had met Miss Bose. It was also good that Maneka has refused any help but it was also matter of concern for Mr Bajaj. She knew things and MrBasu can use them against him.
Just then there was a commotion of some sort and they realised one of the ferris wheel was having issues and there might be a short circuit.
“where is Kukki?”
Rishab looked confused.
Thinking of the worst he ran trying to find Kukki in that crowd. Finally he saw Prerna who was also running towards Kukki from other direction to save her. She was standing near the ferris wheel and looking at the lights just when a pole was about to fall on her. Before Prerna could go Mr Bajaj was there and he dragged her out.
“Kyun gayi aap papa ko chod kar.Papa was so scared. Dikhai nahin deta aapko. Kuch ho jata aapko.”
Then Rishab realised how scared the child was and hugged her and relaxed her. Just then he turned to let Prerna know she was ok when he saw her on the ground and unconscious. Kukki and he ran towards her picked her up and ran to the nearest hospital.
“Prerna Prerna hosh main aaye.Are you ok? Prerna. Kukki mumma is ok. Can you give me the bottle of water from the back?”
Kukki did the same. He threw water on her face but she didn’t wake up and he was getting scared minute by minute. He took Prerna and rushed into the hospital shouting orders and asking for doctors. He called Mr. Mehra but refrained himself from calling masi as it will lead to unnecessary questions about her pregnancy.
It was about one hour later that she woke up and found herself in the hospital bed. Mr Bajaj was sitting on the sofa near her with Kukki fast asleep on his lap. She knew how scared she must have been. As soon as Mr bajaj saw that she is awake.
“Pagal hai aap. Pagal hain. Nahin kya samajh ke rakha hain apne apne aap ko. Superhero hain aap. Kaun daudta hain aise crowd main. Haan? Call nahin kar sakti thi mujhe jaa raha thana main dekhatha na apne mujhe. Ek jagah pe kadhi nahin ho sakti thi. Kuch ho jata aapko ya bache ko. Ek ghaante main kya halat ho gayi m.... Kukki ki. Kitni muskil se shulaya maine use. Yeh acha hain kuch bhi bolo to aap runa kyun suru kar deti hain.”
Just then Mr.Mehra came and knew that the situation was not good and he left. Doctors came after him and they wanted to do check up so Rishab left with mr mehra.
Mr mehra and Rishab were both sitting on chair outside.
“hamare company ke vp ka Waqt kaise badal gaya hain. jis ko aaj tak kisie dar nahin lagta tha aaj who dar gaya. “
“dar to acha nahin hota maybe weshould fire him”
“Yeh dar hame logo ki kadar karna sikhata hain, hume apni kadar karna sikhata hain. Who to hamare upar hain ki hum us dar ko apni taqat banaye ya kamjori.”
“Us vp ne shuruwat main hi use apni kamjori bana liya ab taqat kaise banaye.”
“Shayad phir se shuruwat karke apni mistakes ko samajh ke phir se ek aur koshish karke.”
Just the doctor came out
“Mr Bajaj Aapki wife theek hain.Please take care of her. Sirf ek panic attack jaisa tha 1-2 din rest karengi theek ho jayega.”
Prerna was ready to go. She was about to fall and Rishab tried to help her but she was in no mood. “No Thank you. Superhero nahin hoon but aapki help bhi nahin chahiye“
Kukki came near Prerna and hugged her showing her anger on Rishab for shouting at her and her mumma both.
“Sorry Papa bas bahut dar gaye the aap logo ko aise dekh kar”
Kukki signalled that you are there no we will be fine. Rishab said yes and then they left the hospital.
They reached Basu bari and as soon as they got in they found that the whole Sharma family and basu family was there. Rishab took kukki upstairs.
“Saman bandho priyu abhi isi waqt.”
“Kya?”
“Hum sab jaante hain”
“Kya jaante hain”
“Ki tumne isse shaadi kyun ki and hum ek minute nahin rehne denge tumhe.”
“Mujhe bachane ke liye kiya thana tumne.”
Prerna was surprised. “Are you mad? Anurag bas mujhe sach main laga tha ki you have moved on but nahin phir tum ek nayi kahani lekar aaye”
“Main advocate se mil kar aa raha hoon. Usne mujhe sab bata diya hain.”
“Mujhe nahin malum tum kya bol rahin hoon”
“Hamari aankhon main Aankhen daalkar bolo priyu. Hamari kasam kha kar bolo ki tumne yeh sab isliye nahin kiya.”
Prerna tried to go but was stopped by Moloy basu. Prerna stood to his level and with very difficulty he put his hand on her head and tried to bless her.
Just then mr bajaj came downstairs.
“Kis kisam ke insaan hain aap.Khush the hum ki chahe priyu ne kisi wajah se bhi shaadi ki hoon but aap bure nahin hain aapme kahi na kahi thodi se insaniyat hain par nahi. Are agar basu se aapko badla lena tha ya phir inke business ko barbad karna tha to hamari bachi ki zindagi kyun barbad ki. “
“Main sirf apni bachi ko ek maa ka pyaar dena chahta tha”
“Aur meri bachi ka kya. Meri bachi ka kya. Uski zindagi to barbad ho gayi na. Tum chalo hamare saath priyu abhi isi waqt.”
“Maa main nahin ja sakti. Shaadi ki hain maine inse. Maa hoon main kukki ki who bachi uthegi mujhe nahin dekhegi to nahin sah payegi. “
“Tumhe kasam hain hamari priyu.”
“Maa please.”
But her condition got worse and Mr Bajaj and everybody else tried to help her. They took her to guest room and Prerna ran to her room.
Mr Bajaj came – “aap chali jaaye is waqt. Unki tabiyat jyada kharab ho jayegi. Aapki tabiyat bhi theek nahin hain. Aapko stress nahin lena chahiye. Phir hum samjha lenge unhe.”
“Nahin”
“Who maa hain aapki. Dard janta hoon main. Agar unhe kuch ho gaya? Hum baad main dekhenge kya karna hain”
Prerna disagreed with teary eyes.
“Kukki.”
“Kuch dino ki baat hain main samjha lunga use“
“Nahin nahin no no I said no”
"Har bar har cheez aapke hisaab se nahin hogi. Tab aap chahte the main kukki ke saath raho aaj aap keh rahin hain main chali jao. Samajh ke kya rakha hain aapne mujhe "
Rishab stopped her and tried to touch her but maintaining his distance just took her hands and wanted to say How the hell I am supposed to tell you ki if it were in my hands I would have demanded that we had a deal and you cannot go breaking that deal. But mujhse ho hi nahin raha and all that came out of his mouth was “Aap kukki ki maa hain yeh sach nahin badlega”
Prerna thoughts - "Kyun ab kyun kar rahin hain aisa. Aap jante hain ek baar aap mere samne us deal ka naam lenge aur main ruk jaongi to kyun nahin ruk rahin hain. Aaj jab shayad main jana nahin..." but all she said was
“Promise”
“Promise” and he gave her his hand.
She was about to leave when the Raksha sutra tied for Prerna child got stuck in Rishab’s watch and they both remembered whatever small memories they had of each other. Rishab with a very heavy heart untied it and she left.
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