DevAkshi OS~ Tere mere pyar ki, umar salamat rahe.
Dedicated to Anu_LoveRain - my bestest and only li'l sister - forever Anu!!
Dedicated to saumiee, WeRockTheWorld - for being awesome!!!
Dedicated to AnatomyAddict and gowripriya - for being my true guide.
And special dedication to sajinifaby - you are more than deserving and special dear!! It is my honor to dedicate this story to you.
*******
"Shhh!! Sona di...Bhaiyya uthenge!"
"Arey...kuch nahin hoga - main hoon na"
"Haan Sona di, Nikki theekh keh rahi hai - aapko tho woh Sona kehkar chod denge - daant hame milegi."
"Nikki, Riya" Sonakshi momentarily turned to face them " mere hothe hue tum dono ko Mr.Dixit choo bhi nahin sakte. Shotthi."
Nikki and Riya looked at each other.
Sonakshi turned back.
Nikki nudged Riya.
"Waise bhaiyya di ki baat, isse pehle.. I mean, lattoo hone se pehle bhi kiya karte the - tho ab tho zaroor karenge na !"
Their faces brightened up at that thought.
"Yes. Mission successful." "Lo ab jo chaahe kar lo."
"What?! Sona di, nahin! Hum.. I mean hamare haath kaanp rahe hain, aap,,aap hi karo na..Nikki..bol.."
"Haan..haan Sona di - aap karo na please..aur waise bhi ..aap tho doctor hai na? Tho aap hi drawings mein behther honge."
Sonakshi nodded her head sarcastically.
"Haan, maine tho apni nutrition ki degree Leonardo Da Vinci se li thi! Saaf saaf kao - ki tum donon dar pok ho."
Riya smiled sheepishly. Nikki's face scrunched up in an innocent manner.
"Darpok? Hum..arey nahin ..aisi koi baat nahin hai di..woh bas.."
"Haan...haan pata hai - jab bhi koi daant milti hai tho...eee Sona di ...mujhe bacha lo ..keh kar daudke aate ho."
Nikki pouted sadly.
"Haan tho phir, woh sirf aapka chehra dekkhe gussa bhool jaate hain, tho isme meri kya galti hai..."
Sonakshi smiled at the comment.
"Accha baba, lao , do marker mujhe."
Riya eagerly handed over the marker to her.
Sonakshi opened the cap.
"Mmm...uh..ee.mm.." Sonakshi's face scrunching up in concentration, her tongue slightly sticking out "Aaand done! Ho gaya!"
The three girls admired their handiwork.
"Wow...Sona di ..kya baat hai ..maine kaha than na ..aapko hi acchi drawing aati hai. Meri thi iske comparison mein negative ranking hogi."
"Thank you. Thank you."
Riya giggled.
"Accha - hum sab chalte hain. Hamara kaam tho ho gaya."
"Theeke. Chalo..let's go."
********
"Keechu bhaiyya! Mere liye coffee laana please"
"Ji bhaiy...ya?"
Dev stared at Keechu bhaiyya.
Yeh mujhe aise kyun dekh rahe hain. Kahin maine..shit.
He quickly glanced down.
"Thank god..."
Trousers tho pehne hain ..phir?
"Keechu bhaiyya, aap mujhe aise thaad kyun rahe hain?"
"Woh..bhaiyya ji ..woh ..aapke chehre pe.."
"Mere chehre pe?!"
Dev felt his face with his hands.
"Mere chehre pe kya?"
"Woh..aapke chehre pe..mun..mu.."
"Keechu bhaiyya, mere chehre pe munh ...kya bol raha hain? Chehra aur munh..ek hi tho hote hain"
Sonakshi spit out the water she had in her mouth.
Dev suddenly glanced at her.
"Ms Bose?"
"Mr Dixit."
Sonakshi glanced up innocently.
Defintely kuch gadbad hai. Itni bholi tho.
********
"Nikki!"
Dev's yell resonated throughout the house.
"Sona di !!!..EEE...bhaiyaaa !!! Arey yaar- maine kya kiya?" Nikki asked, hiding behind Sonakshi - whose shoulders were trembling with silent laughter.
"Tune kya kiya, yeh " Dev said, pointing at the space above his lip" yeh - kya hai Nikki? Teri neend mein tujhe yeh laga ki mein tumhare drawing ki notebook hoon?!"
Sonakshi burst out laughing.
"Haan..tho ..maine kaha na - moonche aapko suit karti hain, bhaiyya."
"Accha - tho ab tu batayegi agar aapko moochein suit karti hain ya nahin?!"
"Nah..ee..EE!.NAhin..A..Ap Sona di se pooch lo...Unhone hi banaya tha!"
Dev looked at Sonakshi, appalled.
Her eyes widened considerably.
"W..Woh..main..bas ..in ladkiy...Aaah nahin..nahin..hey bhagoban!" she exclaimed, taking off - seeing a furious yet mischevious Dev chasing her.
"Arey baba, maine kuch nahin kiya..Shoththi !! Dev!" she abruptly stopped, when he stepped into the bathroom.
"Oh..k.."
Nikki and Riya looked at each other in shock.
"Dekha? ..Maine kaha na jab mein hoon tho tum donon ko koi...Mr Dixit?"
Dev had just stepped out of the room with shaving cream on.
Inhone shaving crea..Oh no.
"Bhaiyya, yeh aapne..?"
"Arey Nikki, woh kya hai na - Sonakshi ko meri moochein pasand nahin hai, tho maine socha.."
"No. Mr Dixit..no ..Absolutely...NOT !!"
Kis shaitan se pyaar kar baithi main?!
Sonakshi jumped on to the couch. She was trapped from all sides.
"Nikki! Riya! Tum log tho mere side ho na - aise kaise " she whined petulantly.
"Sona di, hum Bhaiyya ko aapke saathh romance karte hue dekhna ka ek mauka bhi nahin chode sakte na.."
"Isme romance wali kaunsi ba.."
Sonakshi's foot slipped as she lost her balance, stepping on the cushion on the couch and she screamed in fear. She fell forward, right into Dev's waiting arms - as he caught hold of her.
Her hands tightly clutched onto his shirt, her eyes shutting in the process.
"Aise. Chalo di ...in love birds ko door se dekhthe hain..."
Riya and Nikki quietly scooted to behind the wall of the kitchen, observing them eager eyes - curious to see their romantic bhaiyya.
His hold around her waist tightened, as he held her closer to him. His hazel eyes boring into hers - the golden flecks adorning his irises - darkening with desire and mischief - the feel of her waist creating havoc to his senses. They moved on their own accord, his left hand bordering the edge of her chest. Sonakshi's lips parted, her breath and pulse quickening. He softly put her down, his hands settling on her petite waist.
His knuckles brushes her cheekbone, trailing down and lingering on her chest bone.
"Yaar - bhaiyya kitne romantic hote hain! Lek."
"Shh..distrub mat kar donon ko yaar..yeh na ..chal yahan se..thoda akela time dete hain in donon ko.."
*********
Dev's face inched closer to Sonakshi's. Her eyes shut, knowing what was coming next. Her heart pounding in her chest, her fingers, unconsciously tightening on his shirt.
His cheek brushed against hers - the stubble grazing against her smooth skin, setting her on fire. His action covering her cheek with the same cream, the feel of her skin setting him alight with a different emotion - something he would not mind experiencing now and then. Their foreheads rested on each other's, eyes tightly shut - savoring the moment.
Sonakshi suddenly swiped a finger against his nose, flicking some cream onto them.
"Ab aap bilkul Santa Claus ki tarah lag rahe ho!" she said, grinning mischeviously, freeing herself from his hold.
"Sonakshi!" - Dev shook his head, before running behind her.
He caught her by the waist, swinging her around in the process, their laughter luring the two sisters from their bedroom.
They embraced, making her body flutter at the feeling of her body pressed against his. She sunk into the warmth of his side, feeling loved, cherished. His touch made the room warmer somehow, her future within its walls seeming a little less bleak.
Dev peeked , opening his eyes suspiciously at the quietness of the room. He noticed two girls, staring at them happy, adoring the emotion, yet somewhat wistful.
He broke the hug, his arms widening to fit two more - as he looked over at them, invitingly. Sonakshi smiled, removing her arm from around his torso, waiting for the two girls.
Riya and Nikki looked at each other and then towards them. Their eyes brightened up, faces aglow - love sparkling through their actions as they ran and hugged Sonakshi and Dev.
"By the way - yeh creative idea, kiska tha?"
The three girls looked at each other. Sonakshi smiled.
"Main kuch nahin bolungi, tum khud samjh lena" she giggled, giving a low hi five to the other two
Dev shook his head, giving up - blissful to have three tokens of his life in his arms.
*********
Woh kuch bolti nahin hai, par mein samajh jaata hoon.
Tho main bhi kuch nahin bolti, tum samjh lena.
Mein galat tha Sonakshi. Mein nahin samjhta. Mein kuch bhi nahin samajhtha. Itne saalon baad, itne s..mujhe yeh ehasaas ho raha hai ki main kuch nahin jaanta. Kuch bhi nahin. Main..
"Bhai?"
Dev looked away, wiping his tears away and turning around to glance at Neha.
"Arey Neha?" he got up smiling " Kaisi hai tu?"
Neha noticed her brother's moist eyes, red and tired. So lonely. Aloof.
"Bhai, mana ki main aapki behen hoon - thodi gussa thi, nacchadi thi - lekin mein nasamjh thin a? Aur phir mujhe ehsaas hua na- Ranveer ne mujhe sikhaya. Aap hamesha mere liye the. Sirf mein hi... aap mujhse share kar sakte ho."
"Neha" Dev said, holding her face "Yeh tu kya keh rahi - tu bas, naaraz thi - sahi wajah se; aur tumne hum sab ko maaf kar diya - yeh sirf ek saaf man kar sakta hai. Aur mein..mei..mujhe kuch bhi nahin hua- mein kya baat karun ?" he muttered, glancing down.
Neha looked at his face, in despair and empathy.
"Maa! Maa!"
"Neha.."
"Nahin aap chup raho, bhai ..yeh sab .."
"Neha?" - Ishwari looked at her, surprised at her tone.
"A..Ap dekh rahe ho ? Apne bete ka haalat? Ab tho aap bohot khush honge na, bhai ab aapse door nahin jaayenge. Warna agar Dr Bose iss ghar mein aa jaati tho pata nahin kya kar deti, woh tho inhe aapke bare mein bhala bura kehkar, unhe aapse door karti, hain na?"
Dev looked at Ishwari, stumped. Speechless.
"Nah.."
"Kya nahin maa? Tho phir aapko kisse problem hai? Ki unke wajah se pehli baar aapka beta hasa aur aapki wajah se nahin? Ki woh pehli baar pooja mein baitha? Ki woh pehli baar aapki choti khushiyan ko parwah karne laga - jo woh pehle karte nahin the. Ki woh pehli baar hamare bhai bane? Isse problem hai?!"
"Maa - agar bhai ne aapko meri tarah samjha hota - tho shayad yeh kuch nahin hota. Woh tho aapko samjh hi nahin paaye! Aapko bhagwaan maante hain woh, AB BHI !! Dekh rahe hain - inhe - aise tho pehle bhi bhai hua nahin karte the. Isse behter unhe maar hi deti aap."
"NEHA!" Ishwari yelled, weakly.
"Kya hua maa? Aap wahi tho kar rahi hain..dheere dheere aap unko maar rahe hain. Agar aapki jaisi maa Ranveer ko milta - tho mera tho kya haalat ho jaata, maa? Agar papa ko mila hota tho? Kabhi soch hai aapne?"
For the first time in years, Ishwari felt something break inside her.
"Aapne aapki insecurity se kai saari zindigiyan barbaad kar di hain maa! Apne bete ki, Dr Bose ki. Mere jaane ke baad - Nikki aur Riya ko ek dost mili thi. Woh bhi cheen liya aapne." Her voice broke, towards the end.
"Lekin aapka tho yeh aadat hain na - cheen na? Selfish ho na?"
"Neh..."
"Pata hai maa. Pata hai. Aap nahin hona chathi. Par aap yehi ho rahi hain. Bachpan mein bhi nahin chaahthi thi, ab bhi nahin - lekin hamesha se yahi karte aa rahe hain." She started crying.
"Aap dekhthi hai - lekin andekha kar rahi hain. Kyun? Kyun?!" she said, shaking Ishwari's shoulders.
"Dekho." She turned Ishwari, making her look at every single one in the house.
"Khush hain aap?"
"Aap yeh baat kab samjhengi maa - ki aap hamari MAA hain. Ek dost nahin, ek khilauna nahin, PARAYI nahin - ki jab man chaaha, koi aura a jaaye, aur hum aapko door pheke. Maa tho sirf ek hoti hain na? "
Ishwari nodded her head furiously, tears spilling out of her eyes.
"Tho phir? Dr Bose tho aapko apna maa maanti thi. Hum sab ko behnein maanti thi. Aapne apni beti ko door kar diya maa."
"Ek aise ladki jisne aapke bete ko pyar karna sikhaya - aapke gadhe bete ko. Jise business deals ke alaava kuch nahin diktha tha. Unhe aapki vishwaason ko samjhna sikhaya - uski kadar rakhna sikhaya. Mujhe aapke bare mein sikhaya. Aage badna sikhaya. Aapko - Mrs Ishwari Dixit ko sambhala!"
Both of them laughed shakingly.
"Maa -hum tho aapke hain. Humne aapki dhadkan andar se suni hai. Humne aapka nahin, aapne hamara haath thama hai. Aap kabhi bhi nahin chodenge. Chodenge?"
Iswahri shook her head vehemently denying.
"Phir?"
"Bhai hum sab se pyar karte hain - humare baat maante hain- tho iska matlab yeh hua ki woh aapse door ho gaye?""Humne unhe aapse door kiya?"
"Maa - pyar ek aisi cheez hoti hai jiske kayi rang ho sakte hain. Aur un sab tarah ke pyar ka jagh hota hai hamare man mein. Hamre dil mein kayiyon ke liye pyaar bastha hai. Jagah kabhi bhi kam nahin hoti. Hum sab ek parivar hai - ek hi sharer ke kai ang hain. Aur iska matlab koi bhi bhulaya ya choda nahin jaata."
"Tu kabse itna samjhdar huyi?"
"Aap hi ki beti hoon na - kabhi kabhi aapko hi aayna dikhana padta hai."
Ishwari smiled.
"Iss ghar ko Dr Bose ki zaroorat hai maa. Aapko, mujhko, Dev bhai- hum sabko unki zaroorat hai."
Ishwari nodded her head. She looked up at Dev, opening her arms - apologizing, beseeching him, with her eyes, to come to her.
Dev, ran towards her, falling on his knees- hugging her.
"Haan, maa - warna mujhe quiz kaun karegi?"
Dev flicked Nikki's forehead. Ishwari laughed and let Nikki and Riya join them, as they embraced a new life, a new start.
*******
A lone drop of tear splashed onto the table.
"Shona?!"
She wiped it away.
"Ki holo ?"
"Beta tune, yeh saare.."
"Kya hua maa..." Sonakshi abruptly stopped.
"Tune yeh saare black coffee kyun banaye hain? Har shyam ko tho hum chaai peete hain.."
"Ha.a.woh.." her voice choked "sorry..woh main ..mujhe bas man lag..koi baat nahin mein abhi chai."
"Arey nahin, ab tune bana diya hai tho hum pee lenge - waise bhi tumhari haath se bani hai, accha tho hoga hi!" Asha smiled at her daughter, who gave her a smile in return.
Pata nahin maa.Aisa lagta hai ki meere haath se hi do-do zindagiyan barbaad huyi hai, maa.
Kya paathe hain, kya khothe hain, jab dilon ke faisle bhi dimaag se hothe hain?
*******
Have you ever seen your mother cooking? Or yourself cooked at some point of time? Do you observe the beauty of that art? When is a food truly appetizing? It is when every ingredient is to the proper measure - compliment each other, and then of course with a dash of love! And that - is exactly what a family or a relationship should be like. It is the perfect blend of individuals meant to be with each other, some spicy, some bitter, some sweet and some salty - but perfect for each other. But not more, not less. A slight bit of empowerment of a flavor destroys the meal - destroys the essence. The love and passion with which it cooked, keeps them together - like the bond. It has to be there - that is the cherry on top. There is always space for improvement, for more- for experimenting. That doesn't mean it loses the previous flavor- it loses the originality. It only enhances it, making it unique yet strangely balanced - always better.
Indian Mythology
Sampoorna
CID
Current Affairs
