Chapter 3
Nakusha following baaji silently through the corridors of Patil Niwas a little unsure as to what was to happen next stopping at the entrance of duttas bedroom baaji's eyes..point towards the inside of the room. Instructing nakusha to enter.
Taking a step into the room ..a little wary of why she had been brought here..nakusha glances around duttas room for a second. A room which she had only entered a few times before. Taking duttas dinner up to him was usually the reason but as nakusha looked around nothing seemed unfarmiliar.
Baaji leads nakusha to the rest room opening the door of the white furnished bathroom.. baaji passes nakusha a white towel whilst standing at some distance.
She was expected to remove that colour from her face…is what she had gathered..stepping into the bathroom in silence nakusha was thinking through a mix of feelings. Duttas words, the way he seemed so stern yet there was a sensitivity in behind those words, there seemed to be care for her in his words in his actions otherwise why would he bother to do this for her. Nakusha feeling a strange warmth yet fear within approaching the wash basin she turns the tap on…seeing the gush of water that was to wash away that darkness from her life for ever nakusha pauses for a second to look up into the mirror and that dark avatar of hers for the last time.
As Nakusha stepped out of the bathroom, baaji who was waiting a little impatiently with his back turned to the washroom door, turns his expression as he hears the door open. His eyes fall on nakushas expression having never seen her in this form, only heard of this truth of hers from dutta baajis eyes take to a certain surprised yet silent yet overwhelm.
As dutta walks the corridors in a thoughtful silence thinking over nakusha and her past the way in which this girl seemed to dominating his thoughts ever since her truth had been revealed to him..dutta continues walking in a very pensive state. Yet in doing so as baaji approaches from the opposite direction dutta fails to see nakusha who is walking behind baaji but as both stop in there steps. Nakusha steps out form behind baaji to his side, her eyes lowered with dutta's presence and colourless and natural skin tone to her face..duttas eyes take notice of nakusha. His eyes..deeply looking upon that expression of hers make out a more content expression from her now. Loosing himself a little in thought dutta reassembles himself after a few seconds and looks over towards baaji.
"Baaji ghar ke sabhi sadayso ko bol ke mein apni kuch baat unke samne rakhna chahta hoon."
Baaji nodds with a
"ho bhau" and walks off to leave yet as dutta..walks past nakusha..who is paused in front of him his eyes again..trail off to her expression as there eyes lock for a second dutta reads an unsure yet content glow in those eyes of hers before she drops them to the floor.
As all the members of Patil Niwas gather in the lounge dutta from balcony of the staircase…watches over them before speaking. Baaji to right of dutta and nakusha who was made to stand at the left of him..
Duttas posture as ever firm…he sounds his words..in way which all family members here. Aayi sahab, kishore, sudharshan, leela, roops, baabi, ganpat. sethji..all surprised expect nakushas family who seem a little scared to see nakusha in this from look up to the staircase in a shock. Unknown to what was going on they remain silent as dutta speaks
"Is ghar mein …koi bhi..is ladki se..apne atit ke baare mein koi saval nahin karega.Aur kise ne yeh ghustaaki ki..toe javab use mein dunga.."Nakusha surprised to hear duttas words takes a glance up to her side for a second. As the rest of the family expect duttas instructions they all take leave resuming there own task at hand but as dutta turns away…nakusha stops him.
"Sahab…"
Hearing that soft almost silent voice from behind him..
Dutta turns..looking down on nakuha..his eyes giving off nothing as he watches nakusha hesitate..before speaking.. but after a certain pause she manages to use one word that sums up her feelings. "Sukriya..'
Dutta nods in acknowledgment of her thank you and she lifts up her expression to him…he sees formation tears in those eyes hers…thanking him sincerely. A certain comfort in those eyes of his passes a warm look of understanding before turning away. Nakusha watches dutta turn in his steps and walk away.
…..
Mid morning the next day as Dutta sits within the comfort of his room, sitting in that particular open balcony area behind his desk. Dutta dressed in a more imformal white kurta looks busy with official work, sitting behind his laptop looking rather intense per expression. But just as dutta finishes his work baaji walks into the room and behind him at some distance Nakusha who brings Dutta's chai.
As baaji walks in first with that evergreen touch of youthfulness to his expression, skip in his step the colour of the day pale yellow over his denim jeans. Stopping close to duttas desk as dutta shuts the cover of his laptop..his eyes look up at baaji who looks like he's up to something.
"bhau mein tere leighyey bohot saruri kaam laaya hai…"
Dutta glares at baaji a little for his friend had an habit of perceiving things a little bigger than they actually are.
Dutta watches as baaji moves away duttas laptop from the centre of the desk to the side..taking out a number of photographs from the right pocket of his kurta..he lays these square shaped pictures of marriage proposals down on the table for dutta. dutta knowing full well this was one of aayi sahab ploys his eyes take to a disagreeing sigh yet he simply watches baaji lay each picture down on the table in an neat fashion each image sat next to the other.
As baaji went about his little task..nakusha stopping at some distance..before approaching them..almost the are of his room that led from within his room to the balcony..in her hands a white cup and saucer of tea on a tray..nakusha waits for duttas permission before approaching. Silently standing at a distance and without intention hearing the on going conversation nakusha finds and appropriate moment to interrupt..
"Sahab…chai.."
Dutta looks toward ..the distance..and sees nakusha..dressed in a royal blue shad of loose fittied dress..her hair plaited back..a very soft expression on her face..without that dark shade to her face her eyes lowered to the loor as he looked towards her. dutta ..nodds permitting nakusha to walk in..he watches her closely as she approaches the desk..takes the cup of tea off the tray and puts it in an appropriate place on the desk. as dutta takes a look at nakusha for a second wanting to note nakushas expression this morning after that confrontation last yesterday, dutta couldn't make much of her expression. She didn't seem to be upset nor expressive in anyway just calm, composed which was enough for him to know that he had made the right decision. Looking back at baaji and the way finishing lining up those pictures and pulls back..
Pictures of girls none of which dutta cared for because he simply didn't belive in the institution of marriage or love for that matter. Baaji looking at his wrist watch in a very significant way tells dutta that he had a time limit for this task.
"Ab bhau…tere pas das minuet hai..is mein se…ek chun le….varna..mere ko aayi sahab bata kar gayi hai ke..das minuet ke baad aapka time khalas bhau…woh kudh akar bahu chun legi phir muje mat bola ke …aisi mili..vaisi…mili baaji!" dutta takes one of his glares at baaji's comments up from his seat slowly..standing behind his chair..he folds his arms in a disinterested manner and his eyes trail across the various images.
Nakusha feeling a little out of place more so a little hurt by the way talks of duttas marriage seemed to taking place. .she never expected herself to feel so strongly about something that was never going to be hers.
Wanting to leave the room..feeling a little out of place nakusha asks for permission but is denied.
Sahab…mein jaaon,..?
Per moment which was a little on the intense side ..baaji shushes nakusha..
"Rukh naa.naku…sochne de naa bhau ko ..khali panch minit bache hai uske pas."
Nakushas eyes trail across the top of the desk at the pictures of those girls each one of them fair, slim, pretty. But nakusha looking at duttas expression for a second is quick to judge that didn't didn't care for any of them.
As duttas time is over…aayi sahab happens to walk into the room..
Stopping next to baaji and naku aayi sahabs tone of voice is hopeful "Toe dutta..kya socha tune…?? Is mein se meri bahu..kaun banegi.."
Dutta looks at aayi sahabs expression which as ever was always hopeful that one day her son will come around the idea of marriage.
Dutta looks at aayi shahab with a sigh…and again like many a time he re-explains his feelings ..
Aap jaanti hai aayi sahab…ke muje is…shaadi mein…pyaar mein koi dejasbi nahin ..yeh sab mere leighyey nahin hai aayi sahib..
Dutta looks at aayi sahab..who again..looks hurt by the way dutta time and time again refuses the idea of marriage.
All she wanted is for dutta to be happy..for there to a reason more than Patilwadi that he would live for.
Aayi sahab..upset and hurt ..turns away from dutta..to her side in aim to demonstrate how unhappy she was. Dutta knowing full well this was aayi sahabs way of trying to get him to change his mind. Walking around the table to where aayi sahab was standing…standing behind her dutta rests the palm of his right hand on aayi sahabs shoulder as she goes on to speak..her words heartfelt seem to melt dutta.
As aayi sahab puts her feelings in the form of words duttas, nakushas and baaji expression all creases in there particular manner in concern for aayi sahab was genuinely hurt.
"Mein sirf apne bete ko kush dekhna chahti hai..
Maana ke zindagi teri hai, lekin ismein kushiya ho woah tera haaq hai dutta..
Jab mere vakt aayeyga tab tere baba ko kya muhn dekhaugi mein..
Kya kahungi mein.. jo sab ki kushiyon ke leighyey jeeta aayay hai..uksi zindagi mein kushiya nahin laa saki mein. Maa hokar apna fars nahin nibhazaki mein.."
Dutta realising that aayi sahab had felt very deeply about this, .turning her around gently..duttas sees those eyes of hers filmed with tears and it is apparent to him that for years now he had neglected this responsibility of his. Always thinking of himself In this matter not once did it occur to him that his marriage would be something that would make his family happy his aayi sahab happy. Wiping away those tears that trial down his mothers expression dutta pauses sighing a little before he nods reassuringly. Walking back around his desk..behind that chair..dutta takes another glance over those photographs.. folding his arms in front of his chest he pauses for a second.
Taking a glance over to nakusha..who stands at a distance next to baaji with her eyes lowered dutta looks back that those photographs. Lifting his eyes with a certain adamant nature duttas eyes upon nakusha as he speak a decision that surprises all.
" meine faisla kar leya hai"
Duttas eyes trailing from Nakusha to aayi sahab who looks confused at dutta waiting for dutta to clarify himself. "Bata dutta is mein se kise pasand kiya hai tunne? Aayi sahab asks excited to know who it was. But as dutta looks over those photographs his words stun all three of them …
"Nakusha "duttas eyes locked on Nakusha in a very deep and significant manner carry a certain adamant yet unreadable sentiment. He had made his decision and as nakusha lifted her eyes with instance to meet his shocked at his words nakusha fails to make out what those eyes carried for her. Was it really the desire to have her as a life partner or was it just another selfless decision from Dutta Shri Ram Patil to keep his loved ones happy?
...
ok there we are guys not a very long chapter but hope you liked it all the same, please do leave your comments
and thank you for all your lovely feedback so far. 😳
Edited by jagrutid - 14 years ago
Anupamaa
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
