First of all please please please forgive me for keeping you waiting. I'm glad to be back too after being stuck in life.
Will appreciate reviews of all sorts.
Shayara dropped her body heavily on the grasses of the Maidan. She remembered how in her school days she'd love to be here. This was Parth's favourite place too, and in the initial days of their togetherness they used to often visit this place.
Time changes. So do we. I hate Parth now.
Shayara slowly lay down on the grass.
Ten days now in the middle of the month. And I don't have a job. How will I handover a bundle of 30,000 to Her Highness in the beginning of June if I don't search for another now?
Parth's vacations seemed never ending. Sometimes Shayara felt he too must have definitely left his job. Or was he escaping her?
Shayara shot up again, a fatigue almost enveloped her completely.
We last talked almost five days back. And I had lied that I had the job.
Dhruv was supposed to appear for his exams the next day. If he did, at least his filming studies would reach a point.
I know he won't. And if he doesn't, I'll murder my own sibling this time. Jail is a better place than this world.
Shayara had been spending time in libraries, on roads, in auditoriums, in museums, at restaurants for the last ten days. She had submitted her bio to very limited places this time of which she received call letters from three already. But...nothing interested her anymore.
Eighteen more days to May...and I need to decide if I shall continue with journalism.
But that was the only thing she knew. Or was it?
Two days back when Shayara returned home doing nothing throughout the day, she found the store room all messed up.
" What did just happen? "
She asked ma.
" Scrap and oldies giveaway. " Dhruv had said with his eyes fixed on the phone screen.
Much later though Shayara realised, her second hand Fender was gone.
" Mom are you mad? What are you mom?"
She had yelled. Only to find her mom utterly indifferent.
" I don't understand why people are so self engrossed. I never saw you sitting with your guitar for once! And now that I've sold and earned some money, your stomach's churning? "
Sometimes Shayara felt she was definitely picked up from some dustbin on the roadside by her father. And she didn't belong to these people.
I didn't call Parth after that. I am improving.
Self engrossed? Look who's talking! Do I have time mama, apart from fulfilling your needs?
Shayara had to get up. Because it began raining. And though the rain soothed her once upon a time, now it only hurt her deep scars more.
*****
Shayara returned home to find Dhruv and maa having tea together. Just as she stepped in through the half closed door, she sensed something heavy, something strange.
" the queen's home."
Did Dhruv just say what i heard?
Shayara slowly walked along the length of the room crossing the weird stares to enter into her room. But was stopped midway. By ma.
" What were you doing in Maidaan at 11:30 in the morning Shayu? I thought that was purely an office hour. "
Oh my god! What is coming now?
Shayara stood, freezed. She had thought she still had a few days in hand to make things right. But the things were really going haywire.
Should I make up stories? But I'm so bad at lying.
Maa came and stood just beside her. And Dhruv was mostly searching for popcorn.
" I'm talking to you Shayu! Dhruv saw you in the maidan today. Alone. He would have walked up to you if he wasn't with friends. Do you have some explanation? "
Shayara badly needed a knife now. To stab her sibling.
Her features stiffened. This was new but she was getting used to it now.
She turned to her mom and maintaining an eye contact she uttered distinctly.
" What should I explain? "
She tried to judge her daughter for a moment.
" Your current whereabouts. "
" in simple words...have you been fired again? " , Dhruv chuckled from the couch.
Shayara tilted her head past mother to her sibling. She knew a pressure was building up behind her neck.
" before that you answer me my dear brother, how's your preparations for your course finals tomorrow? "
Dhruv stopped chuckling. He definitely didn't expect her to enquire on this, because no one ever did. Couldn't even if wished.
And like everytime her mom fielded well.
" don't change the focus Shayu! I need an answer from you first. "
" Why me first always mom? His life, his life. My life isn't mine? Yes I don't have a job. But I have millions of offers. It's my choice. " , Shayara could feel the turmoil in her veins.
" I could have easily not questioned you, if he was elder to you, if your father had transferred his responsibilities to him and not to you... We... "
" Ohh come on mom! Not those emotional speeches again. Let her live her life. This world doesn't offer her jobs according to her capability. Sis, listen to me. Leave all those, and take up the only job for women where...clients come according to their physical capability... "
Shayara knew her brother very well. And these didn't hurt too anymore. His male ego was hurt... And he left no stone unturned to drop to a gutter to return that even if to his own sister.
But today something really different happened.
In a split second, an immense slap almost threw Dhruv three feet away.
" If not your sister...respect a woman... "
Shayara had never seen her mother this way. But definitely, after a very long time she felt like a mother.
Tears streamed down her eyes.
Dhruv was so startled that he took sometime to gather, and then left the room thumping but without answering back.
After she didn't know how many years, Shayara ran into her mother's chest, and she reciprocated.
" I don't doubt your abilities Shayu. But you should be more responsible. You are bright unlike Dhruv. Plus he's young and immature. So whom do you think I expect more from? You or Dhruv? Get a job darling. As soon as you can. "
Shayara knew every word of hers hid intentions, but the sweetness in them alone were enough to melt Shayara Dasgupta. And unfortunately, no one talked to her so beautifully, not even the lady in question now.
****
Shayara typed letters with apology for not responding to calls, and request of joining, to offers she had earlier dismissed.
Back to square one.
Her eyes felt heavy, and so she decided to switch on to facebook for sometime, though that too didn't interest her at all.
Devrath Dixit's official account shared an audio.
" a voice that haunts me down five years, finally could extract the audio out of an amateurish video clip. Do listen, and if you love the voice, comment ' come back music! '
And... And... If you recognise the voice, PICK UP YOUR GUITAR. "
That night, clicking on the clip, Shayara's world turned upside down.
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
