Mishal Raheja
as Dutta
Out of my hands
part 19
Out comes Dutta from the bathroom, clad in white pyjamas and a white vest that hugs his lean and athletic physique. He looks at his slender artistic hand , before he opens the wardrobe to select his clothes. A defined sense of accomplishment swells his mind body and soul with triumph .. one, he makes his foster mother happy by producing a painting.. and two he celebrates the bliss of the duo power of this hands and imagination. Goes without saying that right from his tender years to manhood, faith continues to play a primary source that ignites and generates his imagination.. religious thematic works in art never fail to strike a good note amongst the general viewers who cherish faiths.. however diverse they might be.. Dutta , takes a deep breath of acceptance , for there always remains an ongoing tussle between good or bad , right or wrong, however private or public people may be in expression.. the choice is always there for all humans, to attempt what is virtuous or what is not.. besides his faith binds and connects him instantaneously with his dead mother.. yes faith acts as his medium to strike contact with her! with a gentle sober smile, he pulls his black pathiani out of his wardrobe and pulls it over his head and wonders what Aye Sahib would say about his latest works..
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Aye Sahib, Baji , and Babi stand speechless, as they behold the painting of the tournament between the Kauravs and the Pandavs.. they draw near and both the women raise their hands to the heavens at the sight of Shri Krishna as Arjun's charioteer..in the tournament where the rivals prove their mettle!
"Jagdammba ! mere Dutta ke hatoon se saach mein baghwan kam leta hai! dekh Babi.. ye tasveer he humien yaad dilte hai ke saachai ke lariye mein.. humien sirf saachai ka saath dena chaiye.. aur is ke liye humien ek surma ke theran larna hoga.. aur rishta insaan ko kamzoor bhi bana dete hain.. reflects Aye Sahib. Babi wipes a tear from the corner of her eye. how can she doubt Dutta Bhau.. here lies the man's real appeal, in the sincerity of his work which reveals his inner most being.. sincere, staid and dependable.. Naku has rightfully spotted his attributes and now Babi too as her mother begins to see it.. dokha nehin de ga ye aadmi meri baachi ko.. she assures herself.
~~~~~~
With a dreamy smile Dutta pulls over the neck of the pathiani and then one by ones pushes each arm in the corresponding sleeves. Methodically, at leisurely pace as one who has done a days worth, he folds one sleeve at a time just a little above his elbow.. he glances at the right sleeve and the sound of his name!
DPeee! cuts through the silence of his den and his mouth sounds Naku! in silence ..but the visible half a second disperses! as he dashes off to his cupboard , fumbles around noisily in the cupboard till his slender artistic fingers grab the old tarnished wooden casket that no sooner feels his palm begins to wobbles in his clumsy grip ,and crashes on the floor ! spilling out the old metal revolver! He looks at the harmless old gun strewn on his wooden floor.. Aye Sahib had given it to him when he came of age, but never made a lasting impression on him. Now he stares at it and then at the insides of his soft pink palms.. he is a man accustomed to handling tools related to his work.. that which he is born to do.. creativity in the main.. this piece of lethal metal fails to strike bravado or machoism in him even now as a grown man. Stunned he just stares at the mute object.. till
DPeee! BACHAO! jerks him into combat mode! Dutta literally lurches at the gun, picks it up , holds it with an exerted strength that which he never imagined he possessed! and dashes down the wooden steps in leaps and bounds! races down in the direction of the kitchen garden from whence her cry comes! Dutta races, slips, stumbles, many a times on the slippery magnolia marble floor of the hall.. but soon enough he gains control and runs till he arrives at the slightly ajar French doors that open up to the herb garden patch. Before the door one robust kick on it, flings it open onto the outside!
He nearly freezes in the door way at the sight of his beautiful, fragile. vulnerable Naku in a brutal and malicious arm lock of an elderly man with his head secured by a black turban, that is further concealed by a coarse grey blanket type shawl.. Dutta twitches his jaw when in a degree of panic, he gawks at the metal pistol press hard into Naku's soft fleshy temple ! his beloved is going to be killed ! he has to activate the weapon in his hand.. that digs tighter into the cold metal stock handle! He sees and hears this man threaten Naku ! as alongside he digs the muzzle of the pistol painfully into Naku's temple. Dutta whips up the revolver in his right hand, spins the cylinder as he points it straight at this man.. and dangerously shoves his finger in the loop of the trigger guard and then slowly rests it on the trigger.. the man has to be Dilawar .. yes he is the man whose visitations haunt Naku!
" tune kya soocha tha , main thujhe dhoont nehin paye ga?? tera waqat ah gaye hai Nakusha ! aaj thujhe meri girift se bhagwan bhi nehin bacha sakta!.. Dutta hears Dilawar terrorize Naku.. and bellows his response
" aisa tu manta hai Dilawarrr! main nehi! roars Dutta his blood shot eyes cold , "choor de ise Dilawar kaisa maard hai tu? aurat pe hamla kerta hai aur who bhi ju teri bahu... manoo tu beti jaise. hai.!
"Bahu thi.. ab mera beta Mastana ke qataal! ise marna pare ga!
"tera beta polis se bagh rehe tha buzdil ke theran!! choor Nakusha ko! tu janta nehin mujhe ! warns Dutta precariously his gaze stone cold.. only fixed on Dilawar's slightest motion..
"janta hain thujhe Dutta Bhau! scoffs Dilawar, but continues to press hard, and purposefully the muzzle of his pistol into Naku's shaky head. Dutta narrowed eyes, only just move to Naku face.. who in distress muses, behind her tightly shut eyes, pressed her lips. She has to quell off her further ensuing screams! as they will only panic Dutta, into doing that which is against his nature .. she knows her DP is far from what he appears to be now.. an armed man! However Dilawar in this short interchange with Dutta can see vividly, that Dutta's hand that clutches the handle of the gun suffers a tremor .. here's stands a soft touch artist.. he can't even point the gun with a tiny bit of precision! pulling the trigger is even more of far- fetched.. action from him!
Bang!!! the explosion of a shot tears the environment and the bullet whizzes past Dilawar 's head and hits the boundary wall behind him , blowing mortar in a puff of smoke!
Dilawar startles! why the son of a gun has some gaul! and in turn terror struck Dilawar, loosens his grip over Naku's neck and Dutta yells!
" bhag Naku !bhag ja! but his command is to no avail.. Naku still stands only inches away from Dilawar defiantly! Doing away with any form of escape or run for cover..
Baji hears the shot! sprints to the French doors ,skates to a halt behind Dutta and yells, Bhau! and pulls his gun at Dilawar! Dutta raises up his palm and says to Baji .. with only just a sided glance.. as his eyes predominantly remain glued on Dilawar..
"Baji tu ja undar pariwaar ke hafaazet kar! ise tu main he dekh loon ga! and Dutta aims his gun at Dilawar again and touches the trigger, presses it and suddenly fires !but misses again! Dilawar, seizes the moment of Dutta's incompetence, and fires straight at Dutta's hand that holds the gun ! Dutta yelps in pain as his gun flies off to the side and falls to the ground. In excruciating pain Dutta holds his arm tightly by the wrist! his hand bleeds clearly with torn flesh! Naku sees blood! her DP's blood ! like a banshee she flies fearlessly at Dilawar's neck , her nails scratch and perforate at his skin, mercilessly! as a woman possessed! Dilawar grabs her wrists and she fights his steel grip with all her strength and with clenched fists she thumps him where ever she can locate his unworthy being. She was on a vendetta spree! not for his attempts to kill her but for daring to shot at her beloved DP!.. Dutta watches a lioness in action! one who leaves her abrading marks upon her prey! even her voice rises from the pit of her diaphragm !
" tune DP ke haat pe war kiya ! main thujhe zinda nehin chore ge! she spikes at him with her nails, again on his neck, his face! but a bloody faced Dilawar , hurls her to one side and she falls to the side on the ground! with a thud!
Bappa.. ensures as it were so, that Naku falls where Dutta's hurtled gun lay.. Naku slowly covers the gun with her folded arm.. Dilawar looks at her fallen by the side and derides her with a new taunt..
"Ab tu dekh Nakusha ye tera painter babu bhi mare ga.. marne ke baad milna ek dosre se.." booms Dilawar's voice. Baji from inside ensures the two mothers are spared the scene ,but himself he sizzles with fire as Dutta's command of cover refusal renders him useless as a friend.
While Dilawar remains in his delusionary world of killing both the turtle doves.. Naku acts within a flash grabs Dutta's revolver from under her elbow, springs up to her feet. Her raven black hair loosely frames her delicate face.. her brilliant white georgette sari now drapes around her with blemishes of muddy ,greenish grassy blotches.. she boldly stands between a wounded Dutta and a scarred Dilawar! her gun pointed unequivocally at Dilawar. Dilawar has no doubt, that this girl means business! it's the sheer determination she exhibits in both her grip and aim of Dutta Bhau's gun.. that head to toe she looks a killing machine!
Dilawar thinks, he needs to play the emotional cards and try to waver his imminent death at the hands of this chit of a girl! he should be killing her as she is his Mastana's murderess.. so in full wily manner he spreads his arms and pleads ,as he notes her finger lodges inside the loop of the trigger guard..
"Nakusha! bahu ! beti! tera babba hoon main! mujhe kaise mar sakte hai tu? thujhe bahu buna ke laya tha main, apne beta mastana ke lye.. dekh Nakusha , thujhe hamesha maine Mastane ke gussa se bacha ke rekha tha! pata kyun? is liye ke thujhe apne beti mana tha maine.. ab apne is baap ko apna ghunagar samjhe ke maaf kar de! jaane de mujhe he weeps profusely as he folds his hands and pleads before her.
Dutta watches Dilawar from behind Nakusha.. unimpressed by his words of familial jargon.. Dutta in fact flares his nostrils in anger , how dare he attempt to influence Naku's action.. Dutta has to intervene and he does..
"is ke bikwas maat sun Naku. what he says is to beguile you and set you off track to suit himself to save his own neck! yudh kar Naku! remember evil has many faces ,the most dangerous is the deceptive face, the manipulative face.. the appealing face! you know this dreadful man's deeds were hair raising beyond words! Naku remember he is merciless! for money young lives didn't matter to him! shoot him! remember how he continues to hunt and terrorize you like an animal! all for a crime that you haven't done! goli chala Naku! maar goli Nakusha!! chala goli! roars and orders Dutta..
Dilawar continues to plead ,to dissuade Naku..
" Naku main badal gaya hai ! ye Dutta khud tu goli chalne se reha! thujhse gunah karwa reha hai!!
Naku presses the trigger and fires a shot at Dilawar! and the bullet catches him in the gut! his body jerks! and he doubles up and begins to fall on the ground..! Naku stands and looks on in horror and runs to catch the old man.. his turban falls on the ground and Naku sinks to the ground, holds his head up in her arms .. tears stream down her face ,as she watches the old man struggle and rasp to utter his dying words
Dutta walks over and bends his knees,crouches of his legs and glares at this criminal man who made Naku's life hell! Naku looks weepily at Dutta and requests,
"DP, ask Baji to send for an ambulance.." she looks down at the bleeding from the gut Dilawar, and consoles him," aap ko kuch nehin hoga bas hospital mein sab thek ho jaye ga" Dutta twitches his jaw and growls at the dying old man
"dekha tune Dilawar tune itna bura kiya is beechari lardki ke saath.. jaan ka dushman buna reha tu iska! aur ise teri jaan bacchne ke pare hai..." Dilawar sheds a tear and in anguish again struggles to speak as he takes Naku's hand and tries to reach for Dutta's hand..
"mera jane ka time aah gaye hai ,maaf ker de mujhe Nakusha, tera gunagar hoon main, aur mera beta tera pati mastana bhi.. tu maaf kare ge tu main chein se mar sakta hoon.. " he turns to Dutta and places Nakusha's hand in his palm..
"Dutta ab apni beta ka haat deta hoon main tere haat mein .. hamesha kush rekhnaaa Nakushaaa... and Dilawar breathes his last in Naku's arms ... Dutta lowers his eyes ,rests his hands on his knees and hauls himself up. Naku looks sideways and is relieved to see Baji ,Aye Sahib and a wailing Babi.. enter to witness this horrific scene, in the herb garden patch..
Babi wails , one hand rests on her head and she mops her brow with her pallu
" Deva! ye zalim phir se meri baachi ko marne yahan bhi phooch gaye!! Baji moves her out of the way and helps Naku to rest the dead man's head on the floor! But snubs Babi..
" pun mara tu nehin is ne Naku ko! dekho iska ab kisa khatam! is bare mein koi kuch nehin bole ga, chor tha! choori karne ko aya tha, self defence mein ghar waloon ne mard diya! haat ja Naku! isko main thekne lagye ge.. shamshaan ghat par ! Baji declares. But Naku interrupts,
" DP ko goli marne wala tha! balke goli maar de thi, dekho DP ke haat par! she adds and runs to Dutta's side and grabs his hand and tries to wrap the edge of her sari pallu, around his hand.. but Dutta pulls away his bleeding hand , turns and makes his way back into the house.. Naku too stops to look at the bleeding dead man and her stomach doubles up , and she covers her mouth to stop her from exploding with a retch.. she runs inside to the nearest wash room ,slams the door and is violently sick!
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He barges into his room and then further bursts into his bathroom and slams the door shut! spreads his arms across the vanity unity and leans forward.. but with hooded eyes looks down at the shining white unit soon turn into streams of crimson of fresh blood.. he slowly raises his neck up wards and reckons with the reflection of his frigid eyes. A strange sense of wintery , withered dryness envelopes him.. Naku's arch foe is no more.. she is free from the fearful shackles that he had bound her in.. with a tilt to his neck to one side, and arms that carry the weight of his torso now, he sees his swollen pumped up veins.. his blood pressure rises though. In pain he straightens up eventually, as his taut arms ache. Limply, he turns the tap and shoves his right hand under the jet of cold water, the gash where Dilawar's bullet flew past his upper right hand to disarm him, now gapes open and he groans in agony as the pink flesh wobbles under the gush of water. The good thing is the sight of thick carmine blood changes to watery red fluid now.. but by the looks of the nature of the laceration, he concludes, the need for suturing arises! which means he would have to be taken to the local accident and emergencies, to stitch him up.. what a bother!
Baji sees to it that all is in hand. On his way out Dutta feels the house steeps in deathly gloom.. he moves his eyes and wonders where Naku was ? if she is ok? but his footsteps take him out to the waiting jeep.. he had already told Baji to keep it low profile, didn't really fancy the family accompanying him and kicking up a fuss.. zarre sa zakhm hai , tanke lag gaye to bhar jaye ga.. he muses with a scowl on his face...
Naku changes her sari, drapes a fresh white one and grooms her hair and stares at her face in the mirror. .. the yellow colour has washed off her face. Her eyes seem to turn to stone. She wonders why Dutta had refused her efforts to provide first aid to his hand. She bursts into tears and sinks down on her knees as she sobbingly protests," Bappa mere DP ka haath ko zayeeda damage na hoon.. Bappa , DP ke hafazat kerna.. Naku tenders her requests to her deity .. but her heart flutters , she knows not why? an unknown worry weighs her down with dread.. she should be rejoicing today.. yet some phobia freaks her out.. ooh Bappa... give me reason to be happy now, it is long awaited for.. prays Naku silently as she fixes her pallu and finally leaves her room .Her heart leaps for his return from the hospital... she moves to organise the puja thalli.. arti uttari ge woh DP ke,main ,jab woh laut ke ayen ke hospital se.. she musesas she sets up the arti platter..
Dutta returns alright, but not short of drama around his persona. Dressed in his black pathiani like before.. seemingly after medical attention, his right hand is bandaged and held in a white sling to relieve pressure and pain. With a stern face he walks in accompanied by Baji holding a bag of dispensing medication for his Bhau. Naku stands in the hall, arti platter in hand ,tears in her eyes.. Dutta's tall figure in his black pathiani.. strides towards her, his shoes sound off a commanding stroll against the marble floor..Naku smiles with a pause to do his arti, but Dutta halts for a second beside her, gives her a sided look and passes by her coldly.. Naku's stands speechlessly in utter dismay and her neck turns slowly to catch him head alone, towards the wooden steps that give access to his den. Baji pauses by Naku and passes over the bag of pain killers to her with a quiet word
" I wouldn't worry too much Naku, just give him some time..it's like the second time he's suffered injury and that too on his hands " Naku just gives a silent nod and takes the bag from Baji, and walks slowly toward's Bappa's statute in the worship area. Dutta watches her from his balcony ,carry out the ritualistic motion.. places the arti thali on the foot of the altar; sinks to her knees ; joins her hands; closes her eyes in personal meditation. Dutta too looks down at Bappa from his balcony and muses, with a degree of bitterness.. why do you target my hands always? tell me? .. before he receives the answer he turns and goes to his den.. straight to the small idol of Bappa on his side board.. this was the indicator of godly presence in his room..
With his well left hand he picks it up holds it before his face and mumbles..
"you and I need to talk.. what is it that you want from my life? haven't had an easy ride.. mind you Bappa don't get me wrong I am no coward! at least I think I am resilient.. so test me and confide in me what do you want eventually from this mortal existence of mine?? he thinks aloud as he strokes the small idol with familiar affection.. then comes the answer in the sweet, distant notes of the flute..
"areee Dutta! why are you in such a hurry to live your life? it's a precious gift, value it not only, but Dutta enjoy it too.. why complicate it by asking questions about how the future fares? as the answers to those questions, are limitations that you face for being a mortal.. besides Dutta, should you for see your future? think, your life will be prescriptive! nothing to strive for! no excitement and sense of discovery of what lies ahead.. think about it Dutta.. the journey of your life will lack the pep of adventure.. also Dutta if you deny yourself the ups and downs of life as it comes.. how would you see growth, decline, progression development of your own character?.. that's why Dutta future is concealed from you.. your past is there to be learnt from ,your present to be lived and to set a yardstick for your future ahead! now my child, tell me do you know yourself what you desire from yourself? advices Krishna..
Dutta smiles and joins his hands and turns to the framed picture of shri Krishna on his wall..
Jai shri Krishna.. aap? pun maine tu Bappa se sawal kiya tha, aur jawab aap dena ah gaye.. exclaims Dutta with a certain joy!
"haan Dutta I had to come as you see the embodiment of Ganesha.. but still fail to grasp the gift of wisdom your Bappa dispenses.. use your mind Dutta! what do you want from your life ?he hears shri Krishna ask gently..
" I am an artist who creates life as I see and feel it around too. I borrow shades of ,sentiments, events ,personalities, notions, issues from the environment and then dilute them with a dash of my imagination and pour out my soul .." explains Dutta with fervour
"and who do you think gives you the grace Dutta to do all that you state?.. so trust in me, worry not about what lies ahead.. be steadfast and sincere in all that matters to you in your life.. abide by upholding your dharam by executing worthy karam.. and all will be well.. rehe baat tere haaton ka kamal ki.. play it by ear.. "counsels sri Krishna with a last dwindling note of his flute.. Dutta moves away from the deity's picture and stands with his left arm folded behind his back and looks out of the window.. his mother's training of falling back upon sound faith ,especially during tribulations in life.. once again makes life seem tolerable and he feels somewhat consoled.. but what of Dilawar's event?
~~~~~~~~
Naku enters his den.. with a tea tray. He knows it's her without having to turn around from the window. The aroma of tea, the soft clatter of crockery is sure enough sign , that he is no more alone in his room. he has , desired for company. Naku moves gingerly and places the tray on his centre table and pours his tea and takes it up to him where he stands.. before the French doors that overlook his terrace area.
"leave it on the table ,pee loon ga.. he mutters to some invisible Naku out on the terrace. With a gulp Naku determined and with full right over him ,walks over to his side and gently places her hand on his left bicep and turns him to face her.. he looks down at her.. his lips sealed in defiance, pulled to one corner of his mouth.. disinterested he continues to look out of the French doors..
" shall I help you drink your tea? seeing your right hand is indisposed.. she suggests ,with a sweet smile.. he moves her hand rudely and then glares down into her eyes.. and grumbles
" no thanks Nakusha! tune bahut ehsan kar diye hai mujhe pe.. please don't bury me further under the constant rain of your favour they seem unstoppable to me".. she tries to grab his upper arms, but he resists, shrugs her grip and moves her out of the way and saunters off to the middle of his room with his back to her. Naku decides not to face him, he is obviously agitated.. but she has a right to know what is it that devours him inside?
"aap mujhse naraz ho?.. batao na? look if you won't tell me ,then how can I share your problems.. she pleads. Dutta revolves slowly and walks up to her and stands before her and says coldly, his head tilts a little.. his face puffs with angst and his eyes appear moist...he looks gloomy, Naku dreads why?
" yes I am more troubled within , than angered at you.. nakusha.. today Naku , Dutta was unable to save you from Dilawar .. in case you forget, you pulled the trigger rather than me.. how do you think it makes me look before you ? kaise aadmi se tu shaadi ker rehe hai? aisa aadmi , ju tere rakhsa bhi nehin kar sakta! Dutta rattles, with dewy eyes and a furrow between his brow. Naku's eyes well up too and she leaps and hugs him but he raises his left palm and points to his sling... Naku smiles and wraps her arms tightly around his left arm and looks up him.. and cries out..
" ooohhh! DP .. aap mere rakhsa , pistool uthie bagher bhi kerta hain, hard dum, har waqat! The day you accepted me and my destitute family in your home, you offered protection not only to me but to my family too! besides you heard my cry for help and flew to rescue me...you look to my needs, my joys, you helped and supported me always in my low times, right from the art school days... and above all you love me DP , want to marry me.. now if that is not protection of my future ? then I don't know what else you mean by "rakhsa"?? she yells. .. Dutta grabs her shoulders and thumps her hard across his chest... moving his right arm in the sling to the side.. to accommodate her against his heart... he doubles his chin and looks down into her raised up green tearful eyes... and says regretfully
"maagar goli tu tune he chalie thi Naku... maine nehin.. what were you trying to point out? your strength and my weakness as a man?" he continues to moan.. Naku rests her cheek against his chest and replies..
" yes I pulled the trigger.. so that I can point out my love for you.. aap ke pyar mein Naku , kuch bhi kare ge.. and I was also trying to point out the strength of your principles as an artist.. that you create with your hands not destroy life! haan DP this Nakusha picked up the gun so you don't go against your inherent nature ..as the creator not destroyer! Besides Dilawar was my enemy.. no not that he was out to get me.. but his crime was he threatened to kill you! now that was enough ammunition for me to kill him!
Dutta tightens his grip over her lower back but still complains like a child to her..
" humm woh tu theek kethe hai Naku.. but in this whole event I can't help but feel, that I had nothing much to do.. I tell you truly ,felt really useless..
" dekho DP , you are not a man who uses arms freely.. you weren't brought up that way, your Aye and babba laid down the moral ground rules for you.. pursuing your work is your preoccupation, looking to familial needs is your duty.. and like Aye Sahib you too are involved in philanthropic ways.. thus, how can you call such a diverse person as useless?? besides DP.. listen to me...when my hands faltered , holding the gun, when I dithered over firing the shot at Dilawar... who reminded me of sri Krishna's message of let not relationships come in the way of fighting for the truth! you did DP! aap ne himmat de you gave Naku moral support! so how can you say you felt useless and inadequate?" Naku reasons with him.
Dutta releases her from his one arm embrace, whinges and walks towards his turquoise settee.. and sits down in the centre awkwardly.. and looks up at her, waits to be served tea.. Naku with a smile nods and folds her legs and sinks on the floor beside the table that stands between them. she serves him his tea..and he points to the saucer.. she giggles and then brings the tea in saucer close to his parted lips.. like before he attempts to slurp it off the saucer! Once finished he swipes his mouth with his left back hand. Dutta sits back and then stares at her with warm tender eyes and confesses to her..
" Naku, I knew the moment you had access to my gun on the ground ,that you were going to shoot him! simply because you wanted to spare me from committing a dastardly act.. I knew it so.. but now I worry about how you have taken to shooting Dilawar.. speak to me about it in all honesty ,like I do to you" provokes Dutta ..Naku lowers her eyes and then very soon raises her stoic face and replies
"haan DP.. saach tu ye hai ke maine jurm kiya hai.. pun maine koi baap nehin kiya, apne hone wali pati ke rakhsha ke hai.. Dilawar ek rakhshas tha jis ka annt qanoon ko kerna chaiye tha ,but he was a runaway criminal .. who was going to commit more crimes against both of us ..so use mera hatoon se he marna tha! but yes.. I am consoled by the fact that he confessed his sins and sought my pardon.. and then almost like a father us ne mera kunyidan bhi ker dala .. gaves us his blessings.. so yes, now all is forgiven.. and may his soul rest in peace" says Naku... and slowly unfolds her legs and stands up.. leans and picks up the tea tray and looks down at her tired, beloved DP.. and then quietly slips away from the room ..Dutta watches her leave and with a sigh folds his left arm and rests it against the sofa back. Slowly he sinks his head back on the cushion on his left arm and closes his eyes..
~~~~~~~
Naku feels, liberated and unrestricted.. her past is "past".. and DP's love has set her free! in the sense that she now begins to recognize the value of his being in her life.. it somewhat empowers her.. and what's more with each passing day they learn more about each other. There is the need to share thoughts ,most of all their inner most fears. Naku stops by Bappa's idol and in obeisance yet again, offers thanks for her deities grace.. without which both her and her beloved DP would not be together..
She climbs the wooden steps that lead up to his room. She feels ,she has to look up on him before she turns in for the night. She finds him asleep , still sitting in a cumbersome position.. gently she tries to wrap his left arm around her tilted shoulders. Dutta half opens his eyes ,and gets the general idea and accommodates her by resting his left arm around her small shoulders..
"uthu DP.. aram se let's get you to your bed ,then you can sleep.." she whispers caringly , he turns his face toward's her cheek and presses his nose on her soft temple , as they both struggle to get to his bed.. with a thump he sits on the edge of the bed and drags one of his long legs on the bed.. she helps him with the other one , and then props his head cushions under his head. Naku pulls off his beige toe post slippers and then covers him with his duvet.. she straightens up to leave and looks down at him tenderly..
"abhi main jate hai DP.. you go to sleep.." his eyes look up to her and he argues,
" nehin sona hai mujhe abhi.. besides, I am ill, how can you leave me unattended? Chal, udher settee pe sau ja ..naku.. my wound hurts don't you dare leave me on my own.. this is your hoone wali pati ka order.. "he threatens her with one finger raised off his left hand..
" DP aap hosh mein tu ho, lagan kiye bagher main is kamre mein nehin rehe sakte..soocho how it looks.. she pleads.. he folds his belly and grabs her hand and challenges her..
" ab tu ja ke dekha Naku.. tu I'll howl in pain sab log ah jayen ge".. he says, as he eyes her devilishly and then slowly watches her sink to the ground close to the edge of his bed holding on to his left hand..
Naku hears his breathing.. his talking ceases soon, and he is asleep.. she attempts to free her hand but he grunts, and his fingers tighten on her hand.. lagta hai raat aise he guzarni pare ge.. she rests her elbow on the edge of his bed.. and rests her head on it and dozes off.. Dutta wears a smile on his face while asleep.. for some unknown reason..
Babi wakes up with a startle, checks Naku's room.. her daughter is missing!!... to be continued Hamlet53 16.1.15
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Edited by Hamlet53 - 10 years ago
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