FF:Imperfect Perfections Ch32-Pg142(14.4)Last UD - Page 8

Originally posted by: niki11

Hey elysia just finished wid reading it ,very interesting👏 was a lil confused by kala's behaviour but u justified it in the end .Could actualy imagine kala sayin all that ,surprising!!!!![it does say sumthin bout ur writng skills cud actually imagine kala in a positive light] Waiting for ur nxt update😊 1NCE AGAIN SORRY SHILPITA AN HONEST MISTAKE😳😳

Originally posted by: shilpita87

I understand its an honest mistake girl but whats it with the confusing the name...😆 i think u forgot to edit the whole comment..😆

Originally posted by: niki11

Ok wats wrong wid me ,cud this b more embarrassinggo ahead kill me shilpitaalready dying of embarassment🤢.Noorie ne mazak me DSP mental hospital banaya but i think i need a real 1

Ch4: Exhausted

"Yeh kyun leke jaa raha hai? Kya ye chottiyon mein jaroori hai?" Leelawati picked out the 5packs of Marlboro that were pushed inside the back-pack that was his sole luggage apart from his medical bag and Laptop. Dutta kept browsing the medical magazine that he had picked up from the pharmacy representative today at the hospital. He was considering a few medicines of this company. They were trying out a new percentage mix of the same old combination. Interesting! "Dutta! Ikadey lakshya deya!(Pay attention here)" leelatai rebuked him like a kid to get his attention.

Dutta looked up with an irritated frown-Kai Tai, aata kaa(what Tai, what happened?)…His voice trailed off as he saw what Tai was waving at him. "Tai, tum mere cheezo ko kyu haath laga rahi ho? I told you I am packed."

Leelawati-I can see how you packed? There's hardly more than two sets of dresses..no proper formals or even a towel or sock..Dutta this is not one of your rowdy hiking trips. And what is this doing with luggage? You are on leave. Yeh kyun liye jaa raha hai? She pointed at his medical bag.

Dutta growled- Tai, don't pester me. I am going on leave…formals ka achaar daalunga? Aur yes, this is enough; if I need more I'll buy it there. Teek hai? He took the packs of cigarettes and pushed them willy-nilly in the backpack, "And I can take a leave but the doc inside me can't… I have used my suffix Dr on the ticket and by rule I need to carry this as precaution for emergency services….Obligation of duty, OK?"

Leelawati mumbled- Jo mann aye kar..bahut bada ho gaya hai..pahele apna school bag bhi pack karwane mere piche-piche bhaagta tha..ab meri jarurat nahi hai. Acha hai shaadi kar lega to tai to puri redundant ho jayegi..mere samne khada hoke smoke karta hai..main kuch bolti hoon to ghurata hai…ab kuch nahi bolungi..chali jaungi mere chotey se Thane ke ghar mein.. Leelawati started walking slowly to the door all the time sniffing loudly…loudly enough for Dutta to know what was up.

"Enough of Emotional Attayachar! Ok…you pack what you want to pack in one, mind you one suitcase…no more but my train is in three hours and station is far and this is Mumbai,Ok?" Dutta glared at her before turning back to his magazine.

Leelatai bit back a smile," wo maine packing pichle haftey hi kar lee thi. Ab tu itna busy rahta hai…hai na?"

Dutta narrowed his eyes at her feeling like a fool. All his sisters can be very wily and scheming when it suited them. He had huge misgivings about letting these women make the most vital decision of his life. If they get a clone of them, he'll be royally screwed and it would all be his fault. Ah..well, jab baaja baajega tab khaaja batega!

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He looked at his ticket to confirm the seat number." AC 2^nd class A1 31L. Good enough!" He thought. And immediately revised his conclusion when his eyes turned on his companions. The girl on the upper berth diagonally opposite to him was already eyeing him like appetizing hor d' oeuvres. He looked at the berth below her to save his honor but it was occupied by a very frail looking man who was comfortably settled. It felt like a sin to even ask him to move to this seat. Damnation! Why did he pick out that hellish town of all places for his first vacation in three years? He pushed his suitcase under the seat with his feet and gave his most scary smolder at the girl. She seemed to get even more peaked up by that. Amazing, absolutely beautiful!

"Beta, yeh tumhara berth hai." Dutta looked up to see the woman in her sixtys look at him with soulful eyes. "Jee!" he replied. "Mujhe gout hai upper berth mein chardh nahi paungi…tum mera berth le logey..please."

Dutta could feel the girl's interest raising another notch. He suppressed a sigh, "Sure!" and looked out the window. The train would leave the Terminus in few minutes. Five hours delay, he'll reach tomorrow by night surely. Twenty-six hours. Oh well! He can see the landscape pass-by for sometime. Entertaining enough, quaint though!

"Waise abhi chale Jaate to thoda lait leti…thoda kamar ko aaram ho jaata!" Dutta closed his eyes and nodded.

Two hours later, Dutta was having a raging headache coming on. He had sidestepped the girl's every attempt at conversation to the point of rudeness. He was good at being charming and rude at his convenience. So it was easy to be a beast. But his other companions definitely had a very low opinion of him now. A man who literally screamed at a friendly young girl, manner less! He lay on his back with his hands under his head. He tried to think why she irritated him so much. She was attractive enough, interested enough and available enough. The murmur of that nurse's voice before the operation two weeks back sounded in his ears."I want to scrub more than your hands Dr.Patil…..Would you like that Doc?" He opened his eyes with a snap. The voice was husky, seductive, inviting and warm, with promise of hot sated night spent languishing under covers but it left him cold. Why? He asked himself again. Why? Why was it happening to him? This kind of invitations always used to excite him. The recklessness, the speed, the thump of blood always used to egg him on. He thought back to his college days.

He had gone to Goa trip with his friends and had met a group of girls from Mumbai College. Dutta had liked a girl in that group Most of the train journey was spent making out with her in the dirty washroom of the train. They had gone out couple of times and then the relationship had phased out. He couldn't even remember her face now. Not only her, he couldn't remember faces of most of the girls he had met in last few years. He lived on excitement and thrill. A few days ago, he would have said that his life was perfect. He had achieved what he wanted to. Becoming a doctor had always been his one dream. With time it had become an obsession. He pushed himself to excel in his endeavors always. Success gave him a rush like nothing did. He loved being high on it. He had never spared a thought about marriage, about family, about settling down. His sisters were always after him to get married but he had successfully dodged the issue. Till now! That one incident at the operation table had freaked him out too much and he had given in, just like that. The next day the enormity of the situation had scared the daylights out of him. He had wanted to trace back his steps but then he had heard the happiness in his sisters' voices during their phone conversations. There was a strange quality in it, a peacefulness that had given him pause. It had stopped him from saying anything.

He remembered his conversation with his friend and senior Dr. Pulok Ghosh. "I think that you are too stressed out,Patil. Yeah, I know that you love your job and that every surgery gives immense satisfaction. I admire your skill with the knife. I mean, what you have.is something mnay people don't have in years. To be a surgeon requires a lot, skill, knowledge, dedication. And you have it all. At your age people are still assist under seniors but you are already heading your group. I always admired your focus and single mindedness. But I think there is something called too much of something. In your case, it's too much of everything. Your job, your drinking, your fagging, your parties and of course your companions to these parties. You need to take a break. Fatigue is the cause of that tremor. You are a doctor, I don't need to tell you where your lifestyle is heading. Just go away somewhere for a few days.try living without excitement for a few days…live a boring life for once…you'll appreciate this excitement again."

Dutta had thought of ignoring him, about cancelling at the last moment all the while he had booked his ticket. He had even thought of getting out of this marriage thing. He would say 'no' to every one of the girls. But he was here, travelling to that town where he had had most miserable 4months last time. He had hated the idiotic boys kalatai had wanted him to make friends with, he had hated the fact that some neighbor's kid had ruined his collection of comics and there was some other incidents that he couldn't recall about some other kid of that neighbor. He felt restless thinking about being there for next two months, 1440 hours. Man! That was hell of a long time. He got up in a sudden movement and banged his head to the roof. Holding the hurt spot, he swore loudly while he got down and went to the washroom to have a pull. He looked at the mirror in the washroom. He came out and saw the ticket checker.

"Ticket downgrade ho sakta hai? sleeper class?"Dutta asked. The man threw an incredulous glance at him.

Fifteen minutes later Dutta was laying on the lower berth of dirty Sleeper class compartment without a blanket to protect himself from the chilling bite of wind hitting him from the window. On the floor people without confirmed tickets were sleeping on laid out newspapers. He looked at the dark sky visible from the open window of the train. The trees flew past him in dark shadows and a few stars were visible. He remembered all those times they used to go out for trip, all of them. His parents, sisters and him. He had hated travelling in AC and dad used to get Sleeper tickets. At each station he would want to buy something, books, toys, eatables, ice-creams. He used to watch with rapt attention the antics of the street gymnasts, who used to perform on speeding trains. Dad would play cards with other men and mom would gossip with companion ladies as his sisters played various board games. Not a dull moment! Last thought as he drifted off to sleep was that even the thought of so much activity was exhausting.

The next morning, he woke up due to absence of motion. The train had stopped at some station. The buzz around him was rife. The man in the middle berth asked if he was done sleeping. Dutta bought a cup of tea from the platform vendor and sipped it. It was disgusting, he grimaced and dropped it on tracks. Suddenly, a small trolley of toys passing by caught his attention. He bought a pack of cards and shifted through them a smile tugging at his lips. He looked at the people around him. They were all busy amongst themselves, talking on cell phones or listening to iPods. Some were sitting with their laptops. Dutta spread out the cards to play a game of solitaire. "Bluff aata hai?" the man beside him asked. Dutta looked at him perplexed ,"Jee?"

When Dutta got down on the Rajnandgaon station, that evening, with many people waving him goodbye from the window. his facebook friends count had increased by 14. And he was armored with the knowledge given by two aunties on the train that apparently any vegetable on earth can be pickled and they all tasted good, though he was clueless how this knowledge was supposed to help him in any walk of his life. He saw Kishore Jiju and Kalatai waiting for him near the AC coach. He called them and hugged them and suffered through tai's loving ministrations. As he got into the car he remembered something.

"Damn!"

Kishore-Kya hua Dutta? Dutta- main kuch train mein bhul gaya. Kalawati looked worried-Kya? Kya bhool gaya? Dekha, kishore? Kuch jaroori tha?

Dutta- hmm,my pack of cards. Those men were still playing with it when I got down. Kalatai laughed- Pagal, bas taash ke liye itna soch raha hai?

Dutta turned to give her a beatific smile- and my medical bag.

Dutta stepped into the room where he had stayed during his last stay. It looked nothing like he remembered. He looked at the walls and the curtains, the soft lamps making the shadows come alive. The fresh white flowers on the pot gave sweet scent.'Rajnigandha, how quaint and old fashioned', he thought. Not the pastel delicate orchid and lilies he was used too. His eyes swept the room minutely for each detail. Abdul was keeping his luggage at a corner. Kalatai came behind him- Bhau, passand aya karma..sab theek hai naa?

Dutta- perfect hai, tai. Bas..ek cheez out of place hai.

Kalawati looked around frowning, "Kya?"

Dutta walked towards a chest and lifted the Krishna idol from its place on top. He weighted it in his hand and playfully threw it up in air and caught it with other making Kalawati gasp in shock."Yeh. Iski yahan jarurat nahi. Aap le jao."

As Kalawati stepped out still a bit in shocked bewilderment, Dutta took out his pack and lighter and put it in the place where idol had been. Yeah! Now his room was perfect, he looked around again.

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Nakkusha cried with her head tucked in her naani's chest as naani stroked her unbound hair.

Naani- nakku, aise kyu ro rahi hai? kya hua? Bata na. tu chup to hamesha rahti hai par aaj itne mehmaano ke beech mein bhi teri khamoshi mujhse bahut kuch keh rahi thi..bol na..kya hua?

Nakkusha- naani, main baar baar ek hi galti kyu karti hoon? Kyun baar baar sapney dekhne lagti hoon? Jo mera nahi hai..kabhi mera nahi ho sakta uskey liye kyu dil bana leti hoon? Kitna dard hota hai..jab sapna tootta hai.

Naani stroked her softly. They were sitting out on the empty courtyard. Everyone was asleep and grandmother and grand daughter were having their special moment under the moon. Naani's lap felt like maa's. It was one place where Nakkusha always found solace, felt safe, like now.

Naani- beta, sapney dekhne mein koi burai nahi hai. kyunki sapney humare un ichchao ko jeeney ka tareeka hai jo shayad asliyat mein hume na milley. Sapney dekho..par har sapney ke sach hoone ki umeed mat karo. Waise bhi agar sapneo mein tumne kuch paa bhi liya to kya wo paana paana hua..aur ankh khulte hi agar wo kho gaya to kya wo khona hua?

Nakkusha kept silent and closed her eyes replaying didi's words in her mind, her father's words to shashi kaka.

Naani- Wo Raja aur sunehri maina ki kahani yaad hai, naaku.

Nakkusha smiled in the folds of her naani's sari,"Raja ke bagiche mein suneri maina ghayal giri thi. Raja ne us maina ko apne paas rakha. Uski dekhbhal ki. Kuch dinno mein maina theek hogai aur bagiche mein ghumne lagi.

Naani- Roj subha raja ki neend uske meethe gaane se khulti.. aur raja uske awaaz mein kho jata…raja ko laga ki maina uske liye gaa rahi hai..usse neend se jagane ke liye. Wo sochne laga ki ussne us maina ko paa liya hai…par..

Nakkusha- par..maina to apne saathi ko bulane ke liye gaati thi..wo ussey millne ki aas liye aapni awaaz mein dard bhar ke ussey bulati thi..par raja ko bas wo meethas sunai deta tha…dard nahi…ek din jab maina ka gaana nahi sunai diya to raja bechain ho gaya..sare bagiche mein dunda par wo nahi milli…wo apne koye saathi ke saath chali gait hi…par raja ko laga jaise uski maina ko kissi ne cheen liya hai…usne bag ke saare panchi maar diye..gussey mein…saara bag ujaar diya..

Naani- ek sunehri maina ki awaaz jo ki kabhi uskey liye thi hi nahi use pane ke liye raja ne un saare paanchiyo se unki awaaz cheen li jo sirf raja ke the..uske bag mein barso rah rahe the…kissi paraye ko pane ke liye usne apno ko dard diya…jabki wo kabhi uska tha hi nahi.

Nakkusha moved out of her arms and looked at her wrinkled age wizened face. Nakkusha wiped her tears and smiled faintly- saahi kaha aapne naani. Main bhi na..jo cheez kabhi paayi hi naa ho uskey khone ka kya gum?

Naani- beta, kabhi aapne aap ko bhi khush hone ka mauka de…apne par faila..akash ki aur chehra uttha…har chehra sundar nahi ho sakta..nahi hi har mann kuroop…inn sabka sangam hi insaan banata hai..sundar mann ho ya roop..ya dono ho ya kuch nahi…har tarah ke log hai..aur is duniya mein sabki jagah hai…bas hume humari wo jagah dundni hai. Samjhi?

Nakkusha smiled swiping her eyes- Naani, aap itni samajhdar kaise ho? Pata hai..sonu ko bhi main kabhi kabhi bolti hoon. Nakkusha made a stern face and mimicked- Sonu, apni padai kar meri naani bananey ki koshish mat kar.

She looked with mischievous twinkling eyes at the old woman who cracked a laugh with her.

Naani kissed her forehead. Nakkusha closed her eyes as the pain off past few days eased making her feel light.

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Shukla family returned Sunday night but Nakkusha had to stay back for another few days as chotti maami with the little baby couldn't cope with all the work left after the guests departed. Naani was too old to handle everything and badi maami had her school. Nishikant assured nakku that he can manage for two days without her. And everyone was relieved that nakkusha would stay back. Naani felt that it was good that she stayed back, she needed some distance. Though she was not sure from whom.

She came back on Wednesday night and cried looking at the condition of the house. By the time she had cleaned up the mess made by them all it was too late and she was too tired.

At around 3 in the night she got up to have some water. As she pass the open window a light caught her eye. She looked out at the source.

The window of the first floor of kalawati's house was closed and the light in the guestroom was on. A tall figure was walking to and fro by it casting a huge shadow on the glass. Nakkusha came closer to her window and looked at the shadow. The walks was like debbu when he tried to by heart his lessons..yet it was restless and fast..like a caged beast's.

Suddenly the shadow stopped and threw open the window. Nakkusha hide behind in the darkness of the room.

His face was not visible but she could make out dark cruel features of his face. She could almost see the anger he felt. He stood still for a second as if he could see her even in darkness. Nakkusha's body shivered at the thought.

He brought his hand close to his mouth and it took a second more for nakkusha to realize why.

"To kaladid ke tillu ko ye achchi adat bhi laagi hai?" nakkusha mumbled to herself before turning around and going to sleep. Her last thought before darkness enveloped her mind was he didn't appear that great a man to her. He definitely had feet of clay as far as she was concerned.

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Dutta was bored, he was restless and felt trapped. He had not expected kalatai to be so prepared. She had shoved at least a hundred bio-datas in his face in past few days. When he had told Ghosh he had laughed saying,"arey to dekh le.. bas yahi ek waqt hai jab ladkiyo ko dekhna lafangebaazi nahi sharafat kaha jaata hai.."

Dutta stood near the open window looking at the small house across the road. The window was open to one of the rooms. He had felt like he was being watched from there. He stood for another second and pulled on his smoke. Immediately, he felt being watched with distaste as if he had been found wanting on some grounds. The hair on his nape stood up for a second before the feeling went away. He stood looking at the dark window a long time, the cigarette burning away unnoticed between his fingers.

……..To be continued.

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Aagayi mein firse😛