hey guys...after a while im finally updating...you know what issues i had with the laptop...but now its back so im here with the update...Enjoy,...and comment pls...and dont be chindy with them either...and babe-ji...DONt FORGET! 😉
Chapter 5
The next day seemed to pass in a buzz for Naku. From the time she woke up she was being ordered around by Leela, Supriya and Babi. They were all on edge because tonight was the night of the dinner at Leela's sasural. She was getting facial masks ready, giving manicures and pedicures, blow drying hair, ironing clothes, tweezing eyebrows – God knows what else. She didn't understand what the big deal was. Yeah, sure it was dinner at the soon to be in-law's house, but it wasn't the actual wedding. If this is how dolled up they got for a simple family dinner, God help Naku on the actual wedding day.
Whenever Naku got the chance to stop being a slave to her step-sisters and step-mother, she would go and check on AS to make sure that everything ok and that she had everything she needed. At the beginning AS was with the other women in the spa room, but she too got tired of it all.
Naku had been so busy that she didn't even have time to think about Dutta, who was off on his own dealing with business issues. Finally, the time came for them to all leave. Naku stood by the door and watched as everyone left. All the primping had helped because all of the women looked fabulous.
"Yeh Dutta-ji kahaan reh gaya?" Supriya asked.
"Yeh loh, aagaya," Babi said.
Naku followed everyone's gaze to the top of the stairs. There he stood, looking absolutely lethal. He was dressed in a pair of dark blue jeans, black shoes, gray collared shirt and charcoal blazer. His hair brushed back, but still natural. Suddenly Naku had the urge to run her fingers through it. Immediately she mentally smacked herself for such ludicrous thoughts.
Dutta made his way down. As soon as he reached the group of women, Supriya managed to wiggle her arm thought his, latching herself onto him. He rolled his eyes ever so slightly – no one noticed but Naku. She fought a smile as everyone flied out to the cars that Baji had already pulled out. As soon as they all drove away, Naku closed the door. She didn't bother locking it because she was going to be up until they all returned anyway.
Naku waited for a good twenty minutes before she headed to the entertainment room. Closing the door behind her, she turned on the television and flipped to her favorite channel – the Health Channel. To this day, medicine still fascinated her. Every chance she got, she either read her fathers medical journals or books, or she watched the Health Channel. Usually on Friday nights, they showed something new. However, this particular night she didn't have the luck she'd hoped for – it was a rerun on Aspergers Syndrome in adults, which she'd already seen (twice). Naku decided to go to her father's study and read up on genetic mutations, her favorite topic.
She entered the study, turned on the light and pulled out the thick book that was in the middle of the second shelf, on the right wall. Taking the book back to the desk, she sat down and opened up to the last page she'd read. She had only been reading for about a half hour when she glanced up. There was a large window behind her, and the beauty of the moon caught her attention.
"Kya kaar rahi hai Naku," she said scolding herself as if she were her father. "Kitni khubsurat raath hai, aur tu andar baitkar gitab pad rahi hai."
Naku couldn't help but smile – a bitter sweet smile. If her father had been here, that's exactly what he'd have said. Naku got up from the chair and walked over to the window. Looking down, she was amazed at how the moon light illuminated the garden just below her. She looked at the clock that hung just above the door way – it ready 9:00pm. Naku figured that no one would be home for at least another two, maybe even three hours.
Naku knew what she wanted to do, it was something she hadn't done in quite a while. She thought and re-thought the possibility until she finally convinces herself. No one would be home for a few hours, she'd have more than enough time to do what she wanted to do and then get back to 'normal'.
She quickly put the book back and raced out of the study towards her room at the end of the second floor hallway. She went straight to her bathroom and washed off all the makeup she had caked on in the morning. After coming out, she went to her cupboard. All the way in the back, behind all of her clothes was one outfit that she held dear. It was a white and silver ghagra-choli.
Her father had bought it for her years ago. At the time, she'd only been fifteen. Naku remembered the conversation she'd had with her father when he had given it to her.
- Flashback -
"Baba, yeh kya hai?" she asked, confused. "Yeh toh mere liyeh bohot bada hai."
"Hai toh kya hua? Mujhe pasand aaya toh maine tere liyeh leh liya," Ganpat said. "Jaanta hoon ke tu isse abhi nahin pehen sakti, lekin kuch saloon baad toh pehen payegi."
"Lekin Baba…" Naku began, only to be cut off.
"Jaab maine yeh joda dekha toh mujhe teri Maa ki yaad aagayi. Tujhe paata hai, tere Maa ke paas bhi aaisa joda tha, joh bilkul aaisi thi. Isse toh main teri Maa ko nahin deh sakta, lekin tujhe toh desakta hoon."
Tears formed in Naku's eyes as she enveloped her father in a tight hug. "Thank you Baba! I love it!"
"Main jaanta hoon ke shayad jaab tak tu isse pehnegi, yeh old style hojayega…" Ganpat began.
"Toh kya hua? Mere Baba ne mere liyeh laya hai. Yeh old style ho hi nahin sakta," Naku said as she examined the outfit closely.
Ganpat took the dupatta from the bag and placed it on top of Naku's head.
"Hmm," he said as he stood back and admired it. "Mujhe pata tha ke meri Naku iss mein bohot pyaari lagegi. Jaab tu isse pehnegi, toh ek dum pari lagegi." He put his hand on the sides of her face and kissed her forehead. "Meri pari."
- Back to Present –
Naku felt tears on her cheek as she ran her hand over the intricate work of the outfit. She took it out of the packaging carefully and laid it out on her bed. Then she proceeded to get changed. Her father had made an exquisite choice. The skirt was long and flowing with silver jewels and thread work at the bottom border, while the top was nearly backless and fit like a glove. The only complaint that she had was that it showed her midriff. Taking the light dupatta, she tucked one end into the left side of her ghagra. Then, leaving some hanging, she pulled the other end over her right shoulder then covered her exposed abdomen. Walking over to her dresser she pulled out a small jewelry box from one on the drawers. From there she took out a pair of silver payal's and fastened them around her ankles. Naku sat for just a minute longer to let her hair loose from her braid. Once that was done, her long hair fell over she shoulder in waves.
Giving herself one last look in the mirror, she headed down the stairs, through the main hall towards the back of the house. In the kitchen she saw one of her fathers oldest employees, he saw her too.
"Nakusha bitiya, kahaan jaa rahe ho?" he asked.
"Baas, garden tak jaa rahi hoon Ramu Kaka," she replied.
"Magar…" he began.
"Fikar maat kijiyeh. Saab ke aane se pehle main Naku banjaungi."
Ramu Kaka had worked for their family since she was a small girl. After her fathers death, he had watched what had happened. He knew how mad Babi got if she saw Naku looking like she really did. Even since her father died, Ramu Kaka had watched out for Naku, just like he was doing on this night.
Opening two large glass doors, she stepped out into the garden. She took a deep breath and enjoyed the silence under the moonlight for a minute. Then, just as she had expected music began to play. Ramu Kaka had set up the CD player so that her last dance recital piece played. Naku had been a avid and trained dancer from childhood. Her last dance piece was her favorite because of the variety of songs she got to dance to. It had been years ago but to this day, she hadn't forgotten one step.
As the music played, Naku found her rhythm – just like she always did. The songs ranged from slow to fast. Various composers, various singers – each flawless.
The song 'Kehna Hi Kya' began to play. As she absorbed the lyrics and dances, the weight it all.
kehan hi kya…yeh nain ek anjaan se joh mile…
chalne lagi mohabbat ke jaise yeh silsile…
At that moment, Naku's mind went straight to Dutta. She tried to shake her mind of all those thoughts but the found their way back. She couldn't figure out why she thought about him. Ever since her father's death, Naku had never dared to dream or even think about something that would never happen. Usually she was able to escape, bit now she couldn't.
armaan naye aase dil mein khilein…
jinko khabi main naa janoon…
woh hum se…hum unse khabi naa mile…
kaise mile dil naa janoon…
It was like this song was written specifically for her. Although she'd met Dutta, he'd never met her – not the real her. She didn't even know him that well. Yet she couldn't explain why his presence made her smile, why it made her feel safe to be herself to some extent. Why…why…why?
aab kya karein…kya naam le…
kaise unhe main pukaroon…
The tempo picked up and Naku began to dance to her hearts content. She swayed her body to the beat of the music all over the open garden.
pehli hi nazaar mein kuch hum kuch tum hojate hai yun goom…
naino se barse rimjim rimjim pyaar ka sawaan…
sharm thodi thodi humko aaye toh nazrein jhuk jayeh…
sitam thodi thodi humpe shok hawa bhi karjaiyeh…
aaise chalein…aanchal ude…dil mein ek tufaan uthe…
hum toh loot gaye khade hi khadi…
The last line hit Naku like a ton of bricks nearly throwing her off the routine. She thought back to the time when Dutta had caught her in her fathers study. He'd asked her about the girl in the picture and Naku had just started blabbering on and on. It wasn't until a while later that she had realized she'd been talking for so long. But by then it was too late – there wasn't much about herself left to tell. Not only about herself, but she'd told him about her relationship with her father. She'd gone on and on about her life. It was something that she's never done. She never shared her feelings because saying them out loud made her feel pain. Pain she never wanted to experience. However, with Dutta, sharing hadn't hurt her. Maybe it was because she knew that he wasn't judging her – or in this case her father, and Nakusha.
The chorus started over again.
kehna hi kya yeh nahin ek anjaan se joh mile…
Naku was so deep in her thoughts that he hadn't heard the glass doors open. It wasn't until someone said, "Kaun hai?" that she realized she wasn't alone.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Dutta couldn't take the sheer torture at dinner so he left. Making an excuse of not feeling well he left as soon as he could. He didn't want to leave AS there, but he knew that they'd be fine with Baji there. Between Leela constantly flirting with her fianc, Sundar (what a hilarious name), and Supriya taking any opportunity to touch him, Dutta was at his wits end. It wasn't until he could no longer see the house in his rear view mirror that he was able to breathe easy.
He was surprised to see the main door unlocked, but he figured the maid's and servants were still up and about in the house. As he headed up towards his room the faint sound of music caught his attention. Intrigued, he followed the music through the dark house in to the garden. Once there, he didn't expect to see what he saw.
There, under the moonlight was someone dressed in white dancing to the tunes of the music that played. Dutta watched her from behind and was amazed by her grace. She was a petite figure, with long wavy black hair. After watching for about a minute or two, Dutta just had to see who it was.
"Kaun hai?" he called out as he stepped closer.
At the sound of his voice, he saw her freeze with her hands up in the air – mid dance move. Dutta too froze. He watched as she turned her face to the right giving him a view of her profile. Her face glowed under the light, as her eye darted uncertainly to him.
"Ji aap hai kaun?" he asked again. "Aapko pehle khabi nahin dekha."
As he walked, he ended up stepping on a tree branch and at that moment he heard her gasp. She must not have realized just how close he was to her. Then, in the blink of an eye, she lowered her arm, lifted her skirt and ran. Dutta stood stunned for a few seconds, but then he too took off after her.
As she ran her heard the distinct cham-cham of her payals. Then, suddenly she stopped and so did he. She turned around and reached for something on the ground, but her face was covered by the shadow of over handing tree branches – only her eyes were visible.
"Ruko," Dutta said as he took a step forward.
Instantly she pulled back and ran into the darkness – Dutta had lost her. As he stared off into the space in front of him, a glint from something caught his eye. Looking down he saw something silver glisten in the light from the moon. Kneeling down he picked it up and discovered that it was a payal.
That night, Dutta lay on his bed with the payal in his hand as he examined it. He couldn't figure out what happened in the garden, just like he couldn't seem to get the image of the girl's eyes out of his head. It was another restless night for Dutta Patil.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Naku thanked God a thousand times as she sat on the floor of her room, her heart still pounding. She hadn't heard Dutta come into the garden but the instant he spoke, she had felt him. She'd been stupid to think she wouldn't get caught. Even though it had been logical, she shouldn't have taken the risk. What would have happened if she'd gotten caught? Babi would have had her head, that's for sure. However, Naku realized, she'd already paid a price for her childishness. In the process of getting away from the garden, she'd lost one of the payal's she'd been wearing. They were simple payal's but for her they were priceless because they had been her mothers.
That night Naku no longer went down stairs, she didn't want to face anyone, let alone Dutta. Instead, she changed back into her usual salwar kameez, laid on her bed and cried.
The next morning, Naku thanked God once again. Dutta hadn't come down at his usual time; he came much later when everyone was awake. He entered the dining area just as everyone else left.
"Priya beta, Dutta ko nashta deh," Babi said with high hopes.
Supriya glanced at her watch before replying. "Aayi, aaj Saturday hai aur tu toh jaanti hai meri aaj tennis lesson hai. Main toh chali varna main late hojaungi." With that, she bounced out of the house.
Babi looked frustrated but tried not to let it get the best of her. "Naku, tu laga de," she ordered.
"Ji Memsaab," Naku said.
Naku went into the kitchen carrying empty plates, and came out carrying a try full of breakfast items for Dutta. As she placed the plates in front of him and served him, she made sure not to make any eye contact. She poured him a glass of juice and was about to leave.
"Aur kuch Saab?" she asked. This time she made eye contact.
"Nahin," he answered as he looked at her.
Naku gave a quick smile and began to leave but he called her back.
"Naku ruk," he said.
"Ji Saab."
"Kya tu payal pehenti hai?" he asked.
"Ji nahin Saab," Naku lied.
"Lekin tune toh kaha ke tujhe payal pasand hai," he said as he looked at her questioningly.
"Pasand hai Saab, lekin mere paas payal nahin hai." She thought that was a good cover-up.
"Ghaar mein koi pehenta hai?"
"Ji, Leela Taayi aur Priya Taayi pehente hai." Once again, she lied. "Kyun Saab?"
"Nahin, kuch nahin," he answered as he began to eat.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Dutta ate his breakfast but was fully distracted. When Naku had looked at him, something inside clicked – it was something about the eyes. Could she have been the mysterious woman from last night? He'd asked her, but she said she didn't wear payal's. Leela and Supriya as the woman from the night before, no way. Neither could be half as graceful as that woman had been. Still, something ate at Dutta. Naku had said she didn't even own a pair, but why didn't he believe that entirely? Why were her lips saying one thing but her eyes saying something completely different? More important question, why did he care? What was going on with him?
Dutta couldn't eat any more, he had to get away. After only a handful of bites, Dutta got up and went to the main hall where Baji sat flirting with Leela just for the hell of it.
"Baji, chal," he said.
Without asking, Baji got up and the two of them left.
Dutta spent the rest of the day with Baji taking care of business. He made sure all his shipments came in without hassle and that they got to their destination without any hassle. He made phone calls, set up meetings – the whole nine yards. Usually it was Baji that handled a majority of this kind of work but today Dutta needed to keep his mind occupied.
The two of then didn't return until much later in the evening. It was Naku that had opened the door for them.
"Baji yaar, bohot bhook lagi hai," Dutta complained. "Subha se tik se kuch khaya nahin."
"Haan Bhao. Mere pet mein toh chuhe daur rahe hai," Baji said in agreement.
As they walked into the main hall they were greeted by Babi, her daughters and AS.
"Kahaan rahe gaye the aap Dutta-ji?" Supriya asked.
"Dutta-ji?" Baji asked in a whisper and nearly fell into a fit of laughter.
"Chup kaar," Dutta admonished under his breath.
"Joh bhi ho, pehle haath muh dho ke aajao. Supriya, Dutta Bete aur Baji ke liyeh khaana laga doh," Babi instructed.
"Main?" Supriya asked as if she'd just been asked to behead a chicken.
Dutta noticed the quick and hard stare that Babi gave Supriya.
"Haan Beta, kuch khaalo," AS said. "Main jaanti hoon, subha se tune tik se khaya nahin hoga."
Immediately Dutta's mood changed. "Nahin, mujhe bhook nahin hai," he said.
"Magar Bhao…" Baji began.
"Tujhe khaana hai toh khale," Dutta said.
He turned to give Baji a glance but instead his eyes focused on Naku who stood behind Baji looking confused. Dutta knew what she was thinking. She had just heard him say he was hungry and now he was refusing. Without saying anything else, Dutta climbed the stairs to his room followed by Baji.
About an hour later, nearly everyone was in their rooms asleep or otherwise preoccupied. Dutta had changed into his usual white kurta and was now sitting in the study with a complaining Baji.
"Tumhe nahin khaana hai toh maat khaao, lekin mujhe bhuka kyun maar rahe ho?" he asked.
"Ek hi baath tu bar bar dohra raha hai, baas kar," Dutta said. "Maine kaab kahaa mere peeche aane ke liyeh?"
"Kehna zaruri hai? Aagar main khaane ke liyeh bait jata toh Aayi Sahib ko bura lagta ke tune kuch nahin khaya. Issi liyeh behter yeh hai ke hum dono naa khaye," Baji replied. "Tumne toh aapni maan mani karli, aab mere kya hoga?" Baji began to pace around the room rubbing his stomach.
As if sent like an angel from God, Naku walked in at that moment with a tray stacked high with food.
"Saab," she called out. "Aap dono ke liyeh khaana layi hoon."
Baji turned around and looked at Naku as if he'd never seen food before. "Khaana?" he asked as he raced over.
Silently Naku laid the food out and Baji dug in immediately.
"Naku, tu toh meri heroine hai!" Baji said with a mouth full of food.
"Aap nahin khayenge Saab," Naku asked after a few seconds passed. "Yeh khaana main laayi hoon, Aayi Sabhi ne nahin beja." She felt like she needed to add that bit to get him to eat.
"Maine tujhse kuch poocha?" Dutta asked as he turned to face her.
Naku couldn't respond she just shook her head. Dutta watched her as he made his way to the couch to sit and eat, because as mad as he was with AS, he couldn't hurt Naku's feelings. After all, she'd been the only one to think about him and Baji.
"Saab aapse ek baath pochoon?" Naku asked.
"Pooch," Dutta said, knowing he'd regret it.
"Neeche pehle aapne kaha ke aapko bohot bhuk lagi hai. Lekin jaise Aayi Sahib ne kaha khaane ke liyeh aap upar chale aaye? Aaisa kyun Saab? Aap Aayi Sahib se aaise kyun pesh aate hai?" she asked.
Almost instantaneously Dutta looked up at her and so did Baji, holding a spoon half way into his mouth.
"Tujhe kya?" Dutta asked, his voice louder than he hand intended.
"N…nahin kuch nahin…woh toh…Aayi Sahib…" Naku began to say.
"Kya Aayi Sahib…Aayi Sahib laga rakha hai!" Dutta yelled as he pushed himself back to his feet.
Naku, startled by his outburst, gasped and took a step back. "M…maaf kijiyehga Saab," she said. "Main aapko gussa nahin dilana chati…maaf…maaf kijiyehga."
Dutta cursed himself for losing his temper like that. Turning around he saw Naku retreat in an attempt to leave the room.
"Ruk," Dutta said, causing Naku to stop in her tracks. "Tu humesha maafi kyun mangti hai?"
"Jaab ghalti ki hai toh maafi toh mangi chahiyeh," Naku said. "Mujhe koi haq nahin banta aapse aaise sawal karne ke liyeh."
"Tu kya janna chati hai? Yeh hi naa ke main Aayi Sabhi se aaise kyun pesh aata hoon?" Dutta asked.
"N…nahin," Naku replied.
Dutta didn't pay attention to anything Naku was saying. "Main Aayi Sahib se aaise pesh issi liyeh aata hoon kyun ke main unse nafrat karta hoon…nafrat!"
After a short pause, Naku said, "Par…woh aapki Aayi hai."
"Nahin, nahin hai woh meri Aayi. Meri sirf ek Aayi thi, meri Maa," Dutta said. While everyone else called their mothers Aayi, Dutta had always called his mother 'Maa'. He had loved his mother with all his heart and he wanted her to stand out. "Meri Maa iss duniya mein nahin hai. Aayi Sahib sirf meri sauteli Maa hai…sauteli."
"Toh kya hua?" Naku asked. "Aayi Sahib aapse itna pyaar karti hai. Kitna fikar hai unko aapke liyeh. Aaj aapke liyeh woh bhi khaana nahin khaya."
"Kya?" Dutta asked surprised. He'd heard at his own house a few times how AS wouldn't eat when he hadn't, or how she'd wait for him. He usually just brushed it off as one of her tactics – that's just what he planned on doing now. "Joh bhi ho. Woh khabi meri Maa ki jaga nahin leh sakte."
"Unhone lene ki kosish ki hai kya?" Naku asked.
"Ki hai naa. Mere Baba se shaadi karke yeh hi toh chati thi woh." The resentment was evident in Dutta's voice. "Lekin woh sirf sauteli hai…sauteli."
"Aapse ek aur baath pochoon?" Naku asked. When Dutta shook his head in the affirmative, Naku continued. "Jaab ek baacha bimar hote hai, toh Maa kya karti hai?'
"Kya?" Dutta asked confused. When Naku didn't say anything else, he answered the question. "Baache ka dekh bhal karte hai."
"Aayi Sabhi ne aaisa kiya?" Naku asked.
Dutta thought back to the times in his childhood, when he'd get so sick that he could barely move. AS had been there, day and night tending to him – feeding him, chancing the cold compresses etc. "Haan," he answered reluctantly.
"Maa ki sabse badi kushi kya hoti hai?" Naku asked.
"Aapne bachoon ki kushiyaan," Dutta replied. As soon as he did, he remembered the times as a child when his team would win the neighborhood cricket tournament. When he would be celebrating with his team mates, he always saw the beaming smile on AS's face. In his mind he classified it as fake, but in his heart he knew it wasn't.
"Maa humesha aapne bachoon ke saath deti hai. Kya Aayi Sahib aapka saath deta hai?" she asked.
Dutta thought back to how rude he had always been to AS – especially after his fathers death. However, not once did she leave his side. She always tried to be there for him, it was he who never allowed it. He knew the answer, but didn't want to give it.
"Kya Aayi Sahib ne khabi aapne Maa hone ka dava ki hai aapse?" When Dutta didn't answer, she continued. "Nahin naa."
"Naku, tu nahin jaanti ke aapne Maa ko khone ke baad, jaab koi dusri aurat Maa banke aati hai, toh ek baache ke dil pe kya beiti hai," Dutta said as he ran a frustrated hand through is hair.
"Aasal mein Maa kya hoti hai, yeh main nahin jaanti," Naku said.
"Kya matlab? Teri Maa nahin hai?" Dutta asked, only half joking.
"Nahin. Mere paida hone ke baad hi woh chalbase. Main nahin jaanti ke Maa kya hoti hai," Naku said.
"Naku…" Dutta began but stopped because he didn't know what to say.
"Aap kitne kush kismat hai saab," Naku began as she wiped a fallen tear from her cheek. "Aapko doh doh Maa mili hai. Doh doh Maaoon ka pyaar mila hai."
"Woh meri Maa khabi nahin baan sakti…khabi nahin!" Dutta said adamantly.
"Unho ne kaha kya woh woh aapki Maa banna chati hai? Woh toh aapki Aayi Sahib hokar hi kush hai," Naku said.
Dutta stood dumbfounded.
Naku turned to leave but stopped in the door way. "Maa kya hoti hai, yeh main nahin jaanti. Lekin itna zaroor jaanti hoon ke Maa aapni ya sauteli nahin hoti…Maa toh baas…Maa hoti hai."
That was the last thing she said before she stepped out, leaving Dutta staring at the empty door way. After years of hate and resentment, Dutta doubting his actions. He was questioning the way he'd chosen to live his life all those years. All because of what a simple maid had said.
'Maa toh baas…Maa hoti hai.' Was it really that simple?
JAZ
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Indian Mythology
Chakravarti Samrat Prithviraj Chauhan
Shiv Shakti
Anupamaa
