Raj's Fall Now Kranti's turn-Uptd Part XVI Pg 30 - Page 11

Originally posted by: Bugger

ok.....so juss finished reading all the parts ......😊.........and i muss say ranju great writing👏!! gud u messaged me ...otherwise i wud hav missed reading such an awesum fic ..😊......

i actually liked the idea of shubhankar and kranti being childhood frends ......and now raj's jealousy cool!!😉....now i will make sure to follow ur fic ...regularly.....great work👏👏

Kranti came into the room where Raj was sitting and trying to fix a frame which badi bi had asked him to.

K: What are you doing.

R: I am trying to fix the frame which badi bi gave me.

K: Of yes this one this is a very old pic of shubhankar and me.

R: Oh that friend of yours.

K: Yeah we use to be bum chums, inseparable.

R: And now?

K: Now what? We are friends that's it and I have some limitations I am a married woman after all . kranti said it and bit her tongue.

Raj smiled at this statement.

R: You came to say something.

K: Yeah, in this village they have this small festival celebrating the flowering of mustard plants and it is fun. I was thinking of going for it.

R: Go then why are you asking me.

K: Yes I will but I thought why don't you also come along for it.

R: Me ?

K: I think there is no one else in the room so I am talking to you.

R: Listen Kranti I wanted to apologize to you for that night. I don't know what went into my head that time and I said such nasty things to you.

K: It is alright I'.

R: I am not over yet. Please forget that incident if you can. I don't want any bad feelings between us.

K: Hmm' I will try Raj but the blame you had put on me do you even understand how bad it feels if someone says anything like that to you.

R: I didn't know that you will be so hurt I have stayed in London for a long time and these things were common there.

K: Yes but this is India.

R: I will keep that in mind for ever.

K: Now are you if your sorry speech is over will you tell me weather you are coming or not.

R: Friends.

K: Yes now tell me.

R: yes ofcourse.

They reached the place where they were celebrating the festival. It was something which Raj had never seen or experienced. There were tents and colorful ones in a circle and it created a kind of boundary for the place where they were having a real celebration. There was huge born fire which was providing respite form spine chilling cold of Rattowal.

On one side of the fire there were cots and a lot of then people were sitting on them there was hardly any place to sit. There were local women sitting and singing regional folk songs and their coarse voice with the rustic Punjabi touch was very appealing. On the other side some men were sitting and discretely having some local liquor. Raj had nevr seen such an amalgamation of colors it seemed that he was in a different world altogether. Suddenly there was a loud sound everyone turned to look at that direction a bunch of young guys had started doing bhangra and were having a real good time. Shubhankar also joined them Raj and Kranti were standing at one side and looking at after some time a few women also joined the men and the dance had become more lively, Suddenly shubhankar from one side and pulled Kranti in. Who held onto Raj's hand and pulled him as well. For a moment he could not understand that was it just a sudden reaction of she did it on purpose. He could not understand but he also joined them in celebration. Krani and Shubhankar were very good at the dance and Raj was facing some difficulties in following them. Kranti sensed it and pulled him in telling him what to do and matching steps with him. They were dancing and shubhankar who had stopped by that time was staring at them.

Anyways after having a very good time they came back. They entered the house badi bi was still awake. She could see the expressions of the faces of all three of them. She bade them good night and everyone retired into their respective rooms.

Raj had a peaceful sleep after a long time and the reason for it was the last thing on his mind. By the time he woke up it is a bit late he had overslept. Kranti was no where to be seen in the room her cot was empty. He quickly got up and got fresh today the cold water also did not hurt him. He came to the portico where everyone was sitting on the floor beside badi bi who was sitting on her chauki and serving hot paranthas to every one.

R: Good morning everyone

Bbi: Satsriakal puttar.

R: Satsriakal.

K: You want to have some tea.

R: No I will have these paranthas. These are amazing.

Bbi: Kranti have you packed beta. Don't forget anything.

K: Yes, I have.

Bbi: I wish you could stay for some more time.

K: Even I don't want to go but'

R: So we will stay.

K: Really (looking at him astonished).

R: Yes I also like this place a lot If I could I would have stayed here for ever. Where is shubhankar.

K: Yes babi bi where is shubhankar I have not seen him since morning.

Bbi: This boy I don't know when will he learn he was upset last night I could see that and he is no where to be seen since morning.

K: I now where has he gone.

R: where?

K: It is our secret hiding place. Wait I will get him.

Bbi: No you wait I am your mother and I now all you hideouts so I will go and get him. I need to talk to him as well.

K: But'

Bbi: You take care of things here. And she left.

Badi bi reached their secret hideout which was a grove of mango trees. This grove has been there in the moddle of fields even before badi bi was born. Shubhankar was stitting between the trees there. He was constanly staring at the trunk where both he and kranti had carved their names. He was not able to feel anything. He was not sue what is happening Kranti told him something else and what he was seeing was different. Kranti had told him that her marriage was just a faade as she had scores to settle with Raj.

And he believed her but what he is seeing with his own eyes was different he didn't know what to believe. His heart was telling him that whatever Kranti told him was right and mind was not ready to ignore the telltale signs which he was seeing in Raj's and Kranti's eyes. He was in deep thought when badi bi suddenly came there.

Bbi: What are you thinking.

S: (suddenly waking up) Nothing just wanted to visit my old den.

Bbi: Shubhu I know since you did not even know how to speak so don't lie to me.

There is something troubling you and both of us know what is it.

S: what do I do? I don't know whats happening.

Bbi: Shubhu I know you have always loved Kranti but could never talk to her. And now seeing her married is troubling you. I understood this when you happily told me that her ,marriage was a farce. I could have told you all this at that time as well, but I wanted you to see things and understand and that's the reason I called both you and Kranti here at the same time. Son marriage is one relation which is decided by god. Otherwise Kranti had married that wretched old man. But she was destined to be with Raj. In our country women don't know what love before marriage is and they get to know it only after they find a husband. And you also know this and thus could not say anything to her. You have been mean in love and this is not a right thing. You were happy at the fact that she is not in love with her husband and tell me now what did you see?

S: That's why I am confused she told me'..

Bbi: That's because she herself does not know this. But she worries about Raj she gets upset if he gets slightest of pain, she takes care of everything for him. And it is not only because she is married to him. Work can be done by a servant as well but the feeling behind everything can be added by a life partner.

She loves him and cares for him and does not know it himself. And for you I have only one advice. You can never get her heart but don't lose her friendship. Now come along lets go home.

S: You carry on I will just come.

Bbi: Ok but come soon.

After badi bi left shubhankar got up picked up a piece of stone and scratched his name from the tree trunk. Badi bi who was looking from behind the tree smiled and left quietly.

Shubhankar came back and they all had lunch together. Raj was still getting uncomfirtable with his presence but then he was not bothering himself woo much with it. He and Kranti went around the whole village tried to plough the field without much success and Kranti had a hearty laugh at it. They plucked lady's fingers and Raj came out of the field jumping because of the plant bite.

He was too happy to be with his kranti and with no tensions and no KKs, no family just her and him. Shubhankar had stayed back at home with badi bi.

The next day they had to go back, they took the blessings from badi bi and left. Kranti said good bye to Shubhankar so did Raj. Though his moist troubled him a little but he had decided not to bother. He trusted Kranti and He was too happy about the beautiful time they had spent together to spoil it for anything.

Once they reached it was already late in the evening and they were too tired. They had dinner and went off to their room. Again a night of very sound sleep.

A few days went by and Raj was not yet out of his Rattowal hangover. His clerks were having a good time and he had let one of them take a leave to be with his wife. He was shocked.

Everyone was happy about this new development in Raj's and Kranti's mods except BBR. She was confused as ever.

One day kranti was sitting in her room BBR walked in with an album in her hands. She started showing the old family pics to kranti. Who was least interested but then who tells anything to BBR else she will start whining which would get too much to handle. She was looking at the pics and was getting bored with the constant commentary of BBR. Till one photo caught her eyes.