The glass of milk fell from Naku's hand and shattered…
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Ayi Sahib was getting ready for bed, except for the police part of it everything was taken care, Datta wanted a low key affair, except for those who really matter nobody else was invited…Ayi Sahib gave a satisfied sigh…sitting on the bed and taking out her slippers…
Ayi Sahib a voice cried….
Ayi Sahib looked up to see Babi standing….
Kya huwa Babi, she asked…..
Babi came and threw herself on Ayi Sahib's feet…Ayi Sahib mujhe bahut dar lag raha hai…she cried….
Kiss baat ki dar Babi…Ayi Sahib patted her head, understanding apprehensions though for she too is a mother of daughters….My son may be a 'bhau' but he is a kind man….
There is something I ought to tell you…Babi cried….
Ayi Sahib smiled then in a serious tone she replied…Babi there are many things which I should also be telling you but there is enough time to talk now that we are relatives..utho Babi, you should not be falling on my feet, you are the mother of my bahu…
Lekin Bhau ko jab pata chalega...
He has entered into a new phase of his life...abh bahut kuch unhe pata chalega...he has to accept and adjust many things and this is also true for Nakusha...so why is the great worry?
Lekin yeh baath….Babi cried….
Babi if there was something so desperate you should have informed me before the wedding now it is too late..abh mai jankar kya karungi…let Datta find out and let him take a call….after all it is his life and it is his fate…
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Babi sat in her room with a hand on her head…she jumped at the slightest noise…oh what will happen to my daughter…what if Bhau finds out and his reaction…
Ayi Sahib went to bed with a smile on her lips…last two times Dutta had fallen in love with beautiful girls, their hearts turned out to be black, ugly. Now she has chosen an ugly girl for him, a girl to please her mother, applies soot and hides her beauty under it, a girl who understands the plight of her mother…she has to have a beautiful heart and let Dutta find out her beautiful body…..
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The noise of shattering of the glass got Dutta's attention, he walked into the room, coming in to find Naku looking frightened with the milk spilled at her feet…
Baajirao tera nayi bhabi lagta hai hamare baath sunkar dar gayi..mere liye dudh layi thi, gira di…chal me rakhta hu aaj suhag raat hai mera..
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Naku shivered trying to meet his eye, on being eye to eye she asked so the police was right? She managed to squeak her question….
He looked amused kya din chuna maine…they dared to attack me on the day of Ganapati Puja but then they did not expect me to attack them on my wedding day….after the Pandit decided I should get married today and spread the word around…I ensured the word reached wide and far….
Lekin police…..
You are married to Dutta Bhau and don't expect that I am a sadhu, though I know I am better than many sadhus….he went to the toilet…..
Naku flopped down to pickup the pieces of glass, hey bappa where have you put me, he kills people and then comes home to get married…when he was accepting my hand in marriage it was already coloured with somebody else's blood….how can he be so cold blooded, how can he look so calm after the aftermath….hey ayi tu kaha dhakel diya mujhe….crying silently she somehow cleaned up the mess…
Datta came out of the bathroom to see his bride missing from the bed…he looked around and on the window seat he found a figure huddled …it has been a long day and if she is expecting me to justify myself and do coochicoo with her, too bad….he flopped on the bed with a sigh of pleasure….
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It was sometime in the night she heard a ring of mobile and him grunting …ha bol….achha sala ko itna mar…ki dar jaye that he will not stand witness in front of the police…aur ha third degree use karna..upar se kuch pata nehi chalna chahiye….
In no time Naku heard him snoring softly…..
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Babi was making tea in the kitchen next morning, without a strong cup of tea she could not start her day…Ayi a voice cried from behind…Babi froze for her second before turning…Naku came and flung herself in her arms…
Areh kya huwa…Babi tried to keep her voice low, it was early but…
The police was right, he came to marry me after after….Naku swallowed…..
Babi felt the earth moving away from her feet…but then he is a Bhau……who told you this….
He himself confessed…Naku narrated the incidents of the night before….
Babi did not know what to feel..relief or frightened …relief as Bhau was not upset with Naku and frightened as Naku secret is still a secret and Bhau seems to be a very dangerous man…..
Dekh Naku you yourself told me the other day that he has not become a Bhau by only doing charity….I understand your feeling lekin Naku think of it….this is the best I could do for you….agar tu apna asli roop me bhi rehti na I could not have got you married to such a household…tujhe koi driver, darwan jaida se jaida chhota mota dukandar hi milta….
Mera raath ki needh toh nehi haram hota Ayi…Naku cried…..
Shhhhhhhh Babi whispered…Naku kuch pane ke liye kuch khona parta hai and yes it was not unknown to us…but Naku my girl I know you are a brave girl, remember the days when you went out first applying the soot, how people made fun of your looks lekin mere liye tu ne sab saha, you bore all the comments and mockery with a smile, a beautiful girl for all these years have hidden your beauty under an ugly makeup…I know you are brave…you are now Datta Bhau's wife…you have to be brave …..you must not give him away…you are his wife you have to stand next to him…
Lekin Ayi…
I know but then you have to get used to it…..
Ayi Sahib who was about to enter the kitchen smiled, yes the choice is right…a girl who can face the world by donning an ugly makeup has to be brave and she had chosen well, now the only thing was to bring Naku and Dutta together….Ayi Sahib entered the kitchen, the mother and the daughter were startled to see her…
Oh Bahu you are here…good change your clothes and take a tray up for Dutta when he is not up for his exercises he loves to have breakfast in his bed, at times I do indulge in his wishes…ja bahu jaldi kar…help me to make breakfast for Dutta aur ha kal toh pura nehi huwa, you need some new clothes too…ask Dutta to get ready so that he can take us shopping…apne biwi ke liye kuch kapre toh pasand kare…..come babi help me with Datta's breakfast
Ji Ayi Sahib….
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Dutta woke up and sat on the bed, as usual he had bad dreams, it was very rare he had dreamless sleep and when he had dreams they were bad to terrible…infact at one point of time he had consulted a psychologist about them on the coaxing of Bajirao....you have too many ghost which haunt you Bhau unless you are at peace with yourself I doubt if these dreams will leave you ever….Dutta had dreamt he was back to the jail…the one month he stayed there and the horrible experience he had, sala Sampath after all these years idhar kaha se a gaya….after marrying Sulekha, expecting some reiteration from Datta, Sulekha's father had pulled some strings and had got a transfer for his son in law outside Mumbai…..of course Datta did not spare him but the old man was cunning and he had taught some valuable lessons and tricks of the trade…..Datta was too busy consoloditating his position to think about Sampath…but now that he has shown up after all these years…Datta put his legs down from the bed and frowned….the pristine white marble on the floor had some black marks on it…he tried to remember the events of last night…..the glass of milk shattering…she had cleaned the place but from where did the black marks come for milk is white unless somebody stepped on them with dirty feet…he looked at his they were clean…then he looked towards window seat where Naku was seating it was empty…..
The door opened….the girl entered…Datta startled Oh god how dark she is he thought as she kept down the tray ……
Ayi Sahib ne bheja she sequeaked …Oh god now does Ayi Sahib expect me to have a romantic dinner with my wife….
Hmmm he got up and went towards the sofa set…she jumped away as if he was about to pounce on her ….god woman spare me he thought as he immersed himself in the breakfast to watch the girl going around the room, taking out the flowers, making the bed at time darting frightening glances at her….
Aap ke liye kapre nikalu….she asked….
Kyu ? He frowned…..
Will you not take your bath? Ayi sahib said that you should take us for shopping….
Me & Shopping exclaimed Datta….what rubbish are you speaking….
Mai nehi, Ayi Sahib asked me to inform you, she was virtually in tears….
Ok Ok now don't start crying…I will speak to Ayi and you leave my clothes as it is I will get dressed myself….Ayi Sahib kaha phasa diya aapne…he thought….as he got up to open his cupboard to take out his clothes, through the corner of his eyes he noticed the Nakusha was observing him keenly, on being eye to eye, she quickly looked away, inspite of himself Datta smiled…she was curious and awed of him….
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Kumkum Bhagya
