PART - SEVEN
The heart is a moron. It never realizes what it really wants. It craves the impossible and loses the available.
Throughout the journey Nakusha did not dare raise her eyes in the fear of being caught staring. Dutta was quiet too. An uncontrollable fire seemed to rage within his breast. His heart throbbed painfully. She looked so lost, so scared, it was killing him from within. He glanced at her again. She refused to face him. He cleared his throat and she nearly jumped in fright. He looked at her with mounting frustration. She was his nakku and yet she was not.
"Bhau pahuch gye Patil Niwas." Baaji's matter of fact statement broke through the silence. He nodded and leapt out. Opening the door, he held out his hand for her. She looked at his outstreched hand and immediately averted her gaze. But he had enough by now. He grabbed hold of her slender wrist and almost yanked her out. Caught unawares, she crashed into him. For a second, he held her trembling frame close to his bosom. He savored the warmth of her, breathed in that mild fragrance emanating from her. Then she protested slightly, twisting away from him. All at once the spell was broken. Dutta released her and they followed Baaji into the Patil Niwas.
"Aai Jagdambe, tera lakh lakh shuka hai. Tune humare ujdre parivaar ko firse pura kar diya."Aai Saheb said closing her eyes with relief. Nakusha was in a fix, there was this woman, Babi whon professed to be her mother. The lady went on crying while hugging her. A little boy by the name of Sethji had grabbed hold of her hand and did not seem to have any intentions to let go. Aai Saheb, an elegant looking lady was advancing towards her with a tearful smile on her face. Nakusha realized that all these strangers loved her but that did not change the fact that they were strangers to her.She had no idea how to react. Aai Saheb approached her and raised her hand to caress her cheek, "Nakusha, welcome back to Patil Niwas, your true home." Out of habit, Nakusha bent down to touch her feet. Precisely at that moment Dutta too bent down to recieve his Aai Saheb's blessings. Their shoulder's brushed and Nakusha glanced at him fearfully. Dutta clenched his hand to form a fist. Roops, Sudarshan and Leela had just arrived. Sudarshan stood back with a confused expression while Roops and Leela rushed to embrace Nakusha. Dutta went on staring at his wife with a frown on his face. Slowly the rest of the family members too realized that something was wrong. Babi's smile slowly faded and Aai Saheb looked at her son with concerned eyes. "Baaji take Nakku upstairs."Dutta ordered grimly. "Hau."Baaji responded and gently guided Nakusha to Dutta's room. He felt the rest of the family staring but he did not know how to begin. It was too painful for him to accept and recollect. "Dutta?"Aai Saheb asked him in a worried tone. Babi's started to nervously chew the end of her pallu. "She has lost her memory. She does not remember or recognize any of us."He stated flatly. "Not even me."he thought bitterly. Everybody gasped collectively. Babi burst out crying. Ganpat rushed inside at that very moment. He could barely stand and his entire body reeked of cheap liquor. "Kidhar hai, ae babi kidhar hai apni Nakku? Bahar vo guards mere ko bole ki Nakku aa gayeli hai?" he exclaimed excitedly albeit in slurred tones. Dutta looked away in disgust. Babi went on weeping. "Ae, ae koi mereko batata kaiko nai, kidhar hai apni Nakku, ae Babi btana!"Ganpat persisted."Nai pehchanti vo apun ko, tereko mereko kisi ko nai pehchanti, tu kya milega re usse?" Babi lashed out furiously. Ganpat looked shocked. He almost became sober for a moment and glanced at Dutta. "Ae, ae Dutta bhau, ye sach bol reli hai kya?"he asked him. Dutta closed his eyes and prayed for patience. "Aai Saheb mai Nakusha ke pas ja raha hun."he said and turned to leave. "Rukko Dutta. Nakusha tumhare sath nhi reh sakti."Aai Saheb's clear voice rang out. Dutta was shocked into immobility. What was Aai Saheb saying? Why could'nt he be with his own wife?
CID
Udne Ki Aasha
Kumkum Bhagya
