mjht revisited 3. last part /page 69 - Page 34

PART 25

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"nupur...phir se? "

"sorry mayank. Main kuch dher ke liye darr gayi thi ki tum mujhe wo trauma centre leke jaa rahe ho."

"trauma centre?"

"wo isi road pe kuch door mein hi aatha haina."

"ohhh mujhe yaad nahin rahaaan." mayank took both her hands in his and kissed them," main tumhe kyun ...kya tumhe mujhpe ab bhi bharosa nahin hain nupur?Abhi mujhe laga ki tum teek hogayi ho, ab tumhaare mann mein koi pareshaani nahin hain aur..."

"tum par tho mujhe apne aap se bhi zyaada bharosa hian mayank par apni kismet pe nahin."

"nupur, wohi kismet hum dono ko phir se milaaya bhi hain. Aur agar hum trauma centre jaayenge bhi, tho bhi kya hoga? "

"nahin nahin mayank. Main wahaan ..."

"wo bas ek hospital hain. Jahaan tumhaara ilaaj hua tha na? Tho chalo. Hum abhi wahaan jayenge"

nupur looked like she would faint .

"tum kya zindagi bar aise hi bhaagthi rahogi? Aaj is road se, kal ek shopping mall se aur parsau pata nahin...tum khudh se bhaag nahin sakthi nupur. Aaj main hoon na tumhaare saath. Chalo. Bas us centre ke gate tak jaake aajaathe hain."

and without waiting for a reply started the car and drove a little further stopping when the gate of trauma centre was seen. Nupur was fidgeting with her dupatta throughout and alternating between fear of the centre and anger at mayank for forcing her to go to the centre.

In front of the gate- Trauma Centre

mayank stopped the car and got out , came to the other side and opening the door held nupur s arm and pulled her out as she sat stiff inside and refused to come out. Once she did come out, she held his arm tight and let him lead her near the gate.

"nupur???" someone called out

both turned and saw a middle aged lady walking towards the gate.

"sister !"

and as she came forwards , nupur freed her hand from mayanks and did a namaskar to her while a small smile came on her face.

The lady stood in front of her and said with a huge smile," nupur!! yakeen nahin hota. Kitni achhi lagrahi ho . Kaise ho?"

"teek hoon sister. Aap?"

"hamara kya hain! Same same. Tho yahaan kaise? Aur..." and looked questioningly at mayank.

" yeh mayank hain, mere husband."

"ooohhh, tho yeh mayank hain!" and turned to him," hum sab ne aapke naam bohot suna tha nupur se. Long term jo rehthe hain unke baare mein thoda sa pyaar bad jaatha hain aur nupur tho do baar admitted thi" she turned to nupur again,"...tho wo kaise hain nupur? Wo Dhr..."

"teek hi honge. " nupur answered in a low voice and before she could ask further questions," sister yahaan sab kaise hain?"

"fine. Chalo sabse miloge?"

"nahin" she said almost too quickly," nahin sister. Hum aaj kahin jaa rahe the bas ek minute ke liye ruk gaye."

sister smiled and placed a hand on nupur s head," i know. Yahaan se jab koi bahar jaatha hain tho waapas nahin aana chahega. Tum abh khush dikh rahin ho , tho khush raho. " and gave mayank a sweet smile before turning into the gate and walking away.

Nupur relaxed a little but looked at the gates and the door in front of her openly glad that she was on this side of the gate rather than on the other side.Mayank held nupurs hand and led her back into the car.

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Roadside, late evening

mayank and nupur sitting side by side on a small wooden bench near to a roadside tea shop. The road relatively empty.

"thanks mayank."

"kis liye?"

she linked her hand in his, placed her head on his shoulder and moved closer to him.

"poora list sunane keliye saare zindagi lagjaayegi ." her voice overflowing with gratitude and affection," lekin aaj mujhe trauma centre zabardasti lejaane ke liye. Tum teek hi kehthe ho, main bhaag ke kahaaan jaasakthi hoon apne aap se ?"

he smiled,"main chai lao?"and freeing himself from her, went to the chaiwaala to get their tea cups.both held the tea cups in their hands and drank quietly for sometime.

"nupur" " mayank"

smile.

" Wo nurse thi na? Unhone kya kahaan mujhe kuch samaj mein nahin aaya."

"wo wahaan ki senior sister hain. " and stopped to sip th tea. She met mayanks eyes continued ," jab mujhe hosh aaya accident ke baad, tab main trauma centre main thi. Aur ...kuch din tak mujhe kisiki yaad nahin thi. Phir shayad do ya teen mahine baad maine wahaan ke doctor se kahaan ki main tumhari patni hoon aur mujhe ghar jaana hain.

Unhne kahaan ki us address mein koi tha nahin aur nahin bhushan house main. Unko lagne laga ki shayad meri haalat teek nahin thi aur mujhe discharge karne keliye tayaar hi nhain the. Bas dhruv roz aake mujhse baat karke jaatha tha aur uski bharose par mujhe hospital se discharge kiya." she stopped for a breath. Her voice was even.

"tumhe pata nahin tha ki wo...?"

"nahin mayank," she looked at him in the eye," main nahin jaanthi thi ki wohi mera school ka ...classmate dhruv hi tha. Aur main usko kaise pehchaanthi? Usne mujhse kahaan ki usko main accident ki site pe mili thi aur wo meri madat karna chahtha hain. usine jhoot kahaan tha ki tum logon ke ghar khaali tha. Jab main trauma center discharge hoke ghar jaane ka sapna dekh rahi thi, tab usne mujse apna sach bola. Ki wo dhruv hain. " mayank pressed her arm as she held the tea cup tightly in her hand.

"tab mujhe itna gussa aaya na mayank uske upar. Almost 7-8 mahine tak maine usko itni izzat diya ta kyun ki wo ek ajnabi hokar bhi meri madat karne ki koshish karrahaan tha par... Kitna royi thi main uski saamne ." she stopped , mayank noticed that she wasnt really affected much as she spoke about it this time. It was like she was narrating a story. She wasnt living one anymore.

she shifted her position and put her head on mayanks shoulder he side hugged her, placed the tea glasses down and gave her a squeeze.

"lekin mayank, akele ladna bohot mushkil hota hain. Main toot gayi , aur chup chaap rehne lagi. Na khaathi thi, na peethi thi. Aur tumhaare baare mein sochke apne hi duniya mein chali jaathi thi. Dhruv ko darr laga , phir se mujhe wahin trauma centre mein admit kiya. "

"tumne wahaan ki staff ko bataya nahin dhruv ke baare mein."

"nahin kyunki tab mein darr ne lagi thi." she lifted her head up and saw him," wahaan na mayank bohot saare patients hote hain , isiliye main thoda pareshaan hogayi jab hum wahaan gaye tho...par mayank phir se thanks.wo bas ek hospital hi hain" and placed her head back on his shoulders with a small smile,"ghar chale? Tumhe delhi jaane ke liye tayaari karni haina?"

Mayank smiled in return and noted the vast difference in her behavior the last time they had spoken about her past and now. She had reacted almost normally. Almost.

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later in the night

nupur lying down on her back eyes wide open, mayank sleeping , his face in the crook of her neck, surrounded by mass of her hair, his arm draped heavily on her waist.

Mayanks rhythmic breathing was reaasuring but she still couldnt sleep. After a long time she was wide awake, she had kept herself so busy in studying ki she would sleep off as soon as she placed her head on the pillow but today the unexpected trip to trauma centre brought back unconnected memories.

Mayank moved slightly and held her closer.She smiled , she had slept with him in her arms or slept in his arms without a care without a worry.Memories from a long time away- She remembered the first kiss they had shared, the first time that they had tried to go beyond just a few kisses, the days and nights after their marriage!

But all that was before, before dhruv , before dhruv came in to her life! and then her thoughts revolving around dhruv and her time with him. The different patients in the centre! The various places that she was forced to stay under dhruvs eyes, the taunts, the scare, the relief each day and night that he didnt take advantage of her! Her eyes were filling up again and again.

She wondered how much longer she would cry. She bit her lip to prevent herself from making any noise . She didnt want to disturb mayank. And finally thoughts of mayank 'his care, his affection, the way he took care of her all needs without being asked or reminded, the glass of milk at night or the hot tea in the morning, his distressed voice and the tears in his eyes when he saw her scars!

No, she wouldnt let her life get wasted, she wouldnt go back..she would be happy for mayanks sake, her own sake , for both of their sakes. She hugged him tighter, closed her eyes. And she slept

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hi all of you. longgg update hope it made sense. thanks a lot for all the encouragement.