'Bas Ek Ghuzarish'chapter 21/p60 Conclude - Page 24

Chapter 12

3 hours into the journey a rather silent tone to the drive throughout Nakusha throws some cautious glances duttas way thinking maybe he was angry at the way she had taken that decision of giving that women her job back at patil niwas. Feeling somewhat guilty for going against his wishes she tries to pick a perfect moment to break the awkward silence but never really gets a chance. Dutta heavily concentrating on his driving..nakusha didn't really have the courage to break the silence. And what if he were to snap at her? The same attempt for now some time a sudden jolt to the car..madhu is shaken from her sleep over baajis shoulder…the sound of the engine fading to a stop. Dutta and baaji look at one another from the mirror of the car. Stepping out of the car dutta walks around the right and baaji around the left of the veichel.. opening the hood of the car both dutta and baaji feel a warm smoke hit there faces. Dutta waving his arm as not avoid the spoke baaji begins to cough..."lagta hai gadi garam ho gayli" bhau..looking at the water gage of the body which is empty as dutta hooks the car bonnet up.. baaji looks around the surroundings and appropriately the car had haulted infront of an small dhaba.. – "is gadi ka timing bhi barobar hai!".

Whilst baaji and madhu sit down at a table and a waiter runs off fetch mahus cold drink, Baaji notices the way madhus phones repeatedly rings yet she rejects the call. Looking at madhu a little suspiciously with a significant pause madhu catches baaji looking at her this way and promps him. "Kya hua..baaji..aise kya dekh rahe ho??"Baaji breaking into a smiles nods as if to say nothing was the matter. As baaji watched madhu go about drinking .. he he thought about aayi sahibs words. he needed to convey his feelings for madhu…soon but how was the issue.

A short distance away..nakusha walks out into the sunlight where the jeep is parked. Dutta arched under the open hood of the car seems to be working with the mechanics of the car finished with what ever it was he was doing, closes the bonnet of the car shut. Looking at the palms of his hands that are covered in a dark oil stains he looks around for a second without noticing nakusha watching from a distance dutta walks towards an traditional hand-pump a few steps away. Pushing the handle down with some force..water begins to run…dutta puts his hands under the water and rubs away the stains. Arched under the water pump dutta..looks at his wet hands thinking of the most appropriate way to dry them, dot around for a second before he begins to shake his hands in an attempt to dry them. In due cause duttas eyes catch .. an familiar orange material. Dutta straightens his physic from under the water pump and looks over nakusha who stands before him offering the pallu off her saari.

Dutta looks down at nakusha...looking back at his wet hands he sees the remainder of stains on his hands that had not been fully washed away. His tone rather firm..speaking with practicality duttas eyes see the affection in nakushas yet this does not effect his response." Daag lagjayeyga.." Nakusha glancing up the once…those eyes of hers spoken louder than words leaving him speechless as well as knowing that the easiest way was to just accept. Dutta silently wipes his hands with nakushas pallu..and as he does so nakusha watches him. It seemed the perfect moment to ask him that question that had been floating her mind for some time now."Saab…" Dutta nods lightly, without eye contact yet listening attentively all the same. "

Hearing a very concerned tone from her, dutta lifts his expression to nakusha..his eyes stern and expression composed there moment is interrupted when Baaji and madhu approach. Dutta lets go of nakushas saari piece. Straightening his posture nakusha too becomes aware of baaji and madhu.

Both madhu and baji clocked onto the fact that they had interrupted something but pretended not to notice.. baaji rubs the back of his hair awkwardly for a second and then adds with a smile. "chale kya bhau?" Dutta nods a yes ..and walks around the car to the driver seat.

An hour or so Into the drive..the sun slowly setting now and the journey running longer than expected due to the earlier break in travel. Yet again the car stalls and this time..causing a more frustrated reaction from dutta who sighs angrily slamming his fist on the steering wheel as the car halts. All wary of this irritation on duttas face..baaji is quick to help solve the issue. Before dutta gets a chance to leave the car baaji insists.."tu rukh bhau..mein dekhta hai." Looking under the bonnet of the car.. defines the water tank empty.Dutta eyes baaji questioningly from behind the windscreen expecting a reply.Baaji looking a little wary of duttas anger his words that little less upbeat than usual. "Pani chahyiyey bhau.."

Dutta nodds quite carlmly yet that irritation building was apperent dutta..watches baaji

Walk around the back of the car. baaji opens the trunk of the jeep and takes out what was an empty drum..which was ment to be filled with water walking back around of the to the front of the car..baaji feels duttas stare as he bring with him that empty container. Knowing full well that his words were going to be an invitation of some fiery response from baaji he has to say his part all the same. Awkwardly and quickly saying his bit ..both madu and nakusha also braise themselves. "Paani khatam hogayay bhau…"

"Ab ''mein''paani bhar ne jaaon? baaji!?!!" Duttas words thrown a little louder than norm his expression unimpressed by the inclination of baajis words watches baaji in dismay as he tries to save the situation from becoming an matter of conflict.

Nahin bhau..mein jaata hain naa.. Woh..abhi abhi ham us taalab se guzre naa bhau..Mein abhi leke aata hai .as baaji begins to walk ..dutta stops him.

Rukh!..turning around baaji..sees duttas firm expression as ever hiding that true soft sentiment of his under this harsh exterior. Nodding his head in instruction.

"Mein jaata hoon, tu yaha rukh in-logo ke saath." Something that irritated him more was knowing that baaji would refuse and that's just what he had done. Dutta sighing deeply listens to exactly what he had expected from baaji.

"Nahin bhau..mein jaata hai naa.."Dutta not impressed by the way baaji was not listening..clenches his jaw and is just about to make himself heard but is interrupted by madhu.. "Bhaiya mein chali jaati hoon baaji ke saath.." getting impatient to the way his words were not being taken seriously duttas words lash out a madu..who sits at the passenger seat at the back of the car "Woah koi garden mein ghum ne nahin jaa raha hein madhu joe tu saath jayeygi!" Nakusha and baaji overhearing duttas comment feel bad for madu yet she wasn't going to give up. She was after all his sister

"Lekin..ek akela jaay use bhetar hai ke doe log jaayey..na bhaiya." Dutta shuts his eyes in frustration as he hears the conversation go on and baaji add "Hah bhau..tu naa naku..ko raigad vale ghar pein le chal mein aur madhu ..gaadi lekar aate hai.. Kal subhe nikal jaayeyge ho!!" Not wanting to hear anymore dutta stops the conversation with a firm below silencing both baaji and madu. "Bas!!!!" Opening his eyes with an almost silent sigh Dutta sees Madu pulling an innocent face in the wing mirror of the car and gives in. "Jaa.." Madus' eyes taking to an instant smile she leaves the car. Dutta's expression not fully approving yet giving into the stubbornness his eyes adamantly serious as he looks over them both. "Der maat lagana baaji! aur iska khyal rakhna.. aur apna bhi." Baaji smiling at the way Dutta finally gives in, the way his eyes carry a concern for both of them baaji agrees "Ho bhau.!"

……..

Walking under the night sky Nakusha strolling alongside dutta who slows down his pace for her. A silence being evident for sometime now dutta takes a glance towards naku who had "Kuch bolegi nahin?, Shayad meri koi baat tuje buri lag gayi??"

"aapki baat merko buri kyun lagegi saab.." it was nothing of the sort yes she was a little apprehensive after this morning but nothing more. As nakusha notices that they are walking past the mandir that could be seen at some he hight amongst greenry she asks.

ham mandir nahin jaa rehe..? dutta turns to nakusha and sees a genuine sadness cupped in her eyes at the thought of not going but duttas reasoning answers her question.

"mandir ka raasta jungle se hoke jaata hai aur itni raat ko jana theekh nahin hai."

just as nakusha is about to ask dutta where they were heading for the sound of an argumentative and distressed tone gets their attention. a lady who seemed to walking w her drunk husband was struggling to free herself from him his indecent intentions.

Dutta witnessing the scene.. intervenes pulling the man by his collar dutta applies a strong blow to his face which leaves the man lying on the floor. dutta picks him up and is about to hit him again when the woman intervenes pleading ..

"Bhau maaf kardiyey ine.. bhau..sharab ke nashein mein ise hosh nahin rehta.." duttas eyes furious with anger..he holds onto the man…with a deathly stare..from behind he hears nakushas voice calling out to him. "saab…" Something about the way nakusha calls out to him eases duttas anger. Letting go of the man dutta steps away. His eyes unforgiving..as ever he has the last words.

"Teri patni ne tuje aaj batcha leiyay varna.. tuje toe mein!" Realising that nakusha was also present Dutta shakes of his anger rather expressively and nods in nakus direction. – "Chal Nakusha!"

…

Meanwhile as baaji and madhu walk a distance baaji gets annoyed by madhu's attentiveness to her phone. Here he was trying his upmost to convey his feelings for her and she was more interested in her phone. Get the lakeside baaji fustrated by madhus repeated texting grabs her phone and throws it into the river.

"BAAJI!"

……….

As Dutta and Nakusha reach the gates of a grand house. Authentic in appearance but as grand as patil niwas the house stands out to be something special. An older man rushes out to the gates of the house and greets them both. An excited enthusiasm to his tone, the white haired elderly looking man dressed in a white kurta and dhoti half moon glasses, he had that very grandfatherly look to him. taking out a out bunch of keys from his pocket he picks out the relevant one hurridly unlocking the gate he explains.

"Meri baaji bhau se abhi hein baat hue woh bata rahe the ke aap aur vahini sahib arahe ho toe mein dora chala aayay."

The man pushes open the gates and bows before Dutta. Dutta quick to stop the man corrects the moment by addressing the elderly man with respect. "Nako kaka.."

The way Dutta addresses the man as 'kaka' adds a watery glow to the eyes of the old man. He had worked for the patil family for many years now and this was his first interaction with his malik . Touched by the respect dutta had given him within moments of meeting the man dutta broken the barrier between master and servant. Taking a glance towards nakusha the he folds his hands..passes a warm smile, "Namashkar vahini sahib.." Nakusha sees something very fatherly in the man that comforts her matching his hand gesture with a smile nakusha follows dutta into the house.

Entering the house Duttas mobile phone rings, he walks away to a distance to take the call leaving nakusha to explore. Looking around the lavish surroundings of the feel of the house was similar to that of patil niwas, dark wooden interior, an inviting lounge area., rich red upholstery, a smaller dinning area to the side of the room. The house very much carried periodic feel. In the corner of the house a ganpati idol which brings a smile Nakushas face.

As nakusha continues to explore the house having strayed off in search of dutta she walks the corridors of the upper floor of the house but all is silent. Nakusha asks kaka who walks past her to duttas where abouts and is directed to a room. "Bhau sahib ko meine abhi abhi apne kamre mein jaate hue dekha.." nakusha looks upon the entrance to a room which kaka points at.

….

Back in the out-doors an angry walk back to the car madhu expresses her anger at baaji as she gets into the passenger seat. "Mere phone! Fek diya tune baaji!..i will never forgive you!" baaji replies aptly as he reaches for the car keys "Jab dekho iske button daabati rehti thi..! aur kya karta re..mein, dimaag kharab ho raha tha mere teri yey tick tick sun ke!!" folding her arms across her chest in a angry fashion madhu throws a stubborn reply "Your just jealous"…which gets baajis attention and stops him from starting the engine.

"Kya mein.. aur tere se kyun jalega reh!" baaji adamant to hide the real reason for his anger does everything he can not to let on his emotions listening to madhu as she goes on but her words this time strike him.

"kyun ke tum jaante ho ke mera sabse atcha dost ek ladka hai..par woh mera dost hai aur kuch nahin baaji."

Something about her words this time around left baaji silent madhu could see more than just that usual happy go lucky nature of baajis. He seemed to be lost in thought..maybe her words had provked a thought. Trying to break the silence now more serious..madhu..looks at baaji who seemed to have gone all silent.

"Tum muje kuch kehna chahte ho na baaji?" baaji trying to avoid the matter replies with an uncertain edge to his tone. "nahin toe?!! mein kya bolega tere ko.." baaji is just about to turn the key to start the engine of the car when madus words come unexpectedly.

"Yey ke tum muje pasand karte ho??..baaji instantly turns his expression to madhu who explains. "Mama se baat hue thi meri baaji..aur mein yey bhi jaanti hoon ke tum kuch kahonge nahin aur kehte bhi nahin..kyun ke tum..bhaiya ko hurt nahin karna chahte.Lekin agar mein kahoon ke mein bhi tume pasand karti hoon baaji tab toe koshish karoge na?"

….Back at the house, Nakusha walks towards the room, pushing open the wooden door she steps into unfamiliar surroundings. A warm setting of a bedroom, a four poster wooden bed with red upholstery. Bedside table at each side the bed..a set of traditional indian wardrobes on the left. Nakusha looks further into the room and sees dutta sat in an armchair. His posture pushed back against the still rocking chair, his face thrown up to the ceiling and eyes shut closed. Nakusha silently walks closer stopping beside duttas chair she looks down at him for a second and notices a certain distress on his face. Something was troubling him. seeing him this way nakushas eyes fill with concern even more so when she sees a tear descend from the corner of right his eye.. That thought disturbing her, nakushas expression anxious silently she prompts dutta using the term "Saab." "Dutta opening his eyes turns his expression to nakusha, his eyes carrying a moist glow, "Kuch der ke leighyey mere paas bethengi?"

Nakusha a little overwhelmed by how Dutta had asked her for something so simple but personal nods silently and takes a seat on the floor beside Duttas chair.

As she looks up towards dutta she sees him nod sofly at her. ek pati ki heysiat se puch tha meine, she couldn't really make out quite what dutta ment by this but those eyes of his..spoke volumes. Nakusha is taken by surprise when dutta rises from his chair and walks towards the bed taking a seat at the edge of the bed he presses hia forearms against the the edge of the bed, his expression looking rather disturbed he searches the floor in front of him. Nakusha begins to understand that he wanted her to be their for him as an equal.

As Nakusha quietly approaches and takes a seat next to dutta on the bed she notices how lost he seemed. Almost out of of dutta shri ram patil shell. Without looking up..his words strained by uncertainly even guilt..

"Tune muje roka kyun nahin nakusha?" not quite understanding what he meant by that nakusha looks towards her side at him as he speaks looking into oblivion as he sounds his words. "Hamari shaadhi ki raat nakusha… jo nasdikiya badayi thi meine.." nakusha not expecting dutta to bring up this looks towards him instantly, her eyes anxious as he speaks "galat tha mein us vakt." "Phir bhi tu ne seh..liya?"

Nakusha denying his words with a silent nod trying get across that she had never felt this way about there relationship. As dutta turns towards nakusha his gaze full of sadness nakusha feels her emotions build within. Pausing for a second, very calm and rational per nature nakusha sounds her words with the upmost respect. "Aap bura na mano toe mein kuch bolu…?" Dutta shakes his head to approve. Watching nakusha think cautiously before she speaks dutta lets her gone on.. angling his head slightly his eyes moist he watches nakusha with an evident glow in those eye of his.

"Ek laadki jab shaadhi kar ke aati hai naa saab, toe use kayee sapne hote hai Mein jaanti hai aap mere se pyaar nahin karte, lekin aapne kabhi mere un sapno ko tutne bhi nahin diya. Ehsaas dilayay aapne muje ke mein aapki patni hai…aur yey galat kaise ho sakta hai . … bas.. uske baad..

Dutta continues to watch nakusha as she seems hesitant to go on. There was something she was about to say but was unsure. Dropping her eyes nervously..dutta prompts her

"Bol .." after a slight pause she lifts her eyes…dutta sees those eyes of hers filled with affection her voice a little unbalanced as she speaks..

"Us raat ke baad aapne duriya baraadi saab.."Dutta pauses for a second…watching her expression, those eyes of hers that were filled with virtue but before dutta could respond. A knock at the door…kaka's voice from behind the door is heard. He provides news of baaji and madhu having come home.

Nakusha reacting to the interruption gets instantly tries to shake off the intensity of that conversation …"..mein dekhke ati hai.." Just as nakusha is about to step away she feels a warm grasp at her wrist.

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yay! u updated...thnx 4 it...