Hello people!
I know I made you all wait a lot this time. Here's part 48.
PART 48
TENSION BUILDS
2 days to go..
Manav and Archana walked back together from night school. Every few minutes, they looked up at each other and smiled. Finally Manav could hold it no longer. "You're very happy today."
Archana laughed to herself. "Yeah," she said. "I'm happy that Vaishali's marriage has been fixed. After so many days something good happened at home. Everyone is so happy. And now Varsha will also go.."
"I thought you told you will try to dissuade Varsha.."
"I tried," said Archana thoughtfully. "But Varsha is in no mood to listen. Finally I had to go with what she said. Jaa hi rahi hai to khushi khushi jaye. There's no point in crying and making her feel guilty. Now I hope she does well there. She is the first person in our family to go abroad."
"It must be a proud feeling, right?" Manav said, smiling. Archana nodded happily. "Bappa has been kind. Everything is going well." She hesitated a little, then said, "Only 2 days more."
"Don't make me nervous." Manav said quietly.
Archana seemed to be in a trance. "Everything will be clear in 2 days- this side or that."
"It will be THIS side only." Manav said coolly. "OUR side." Archana looked at him for a while, admiring his confident face. His confidence gave her the strength to dream. He smiled. "What?"
She returned to earth. "Nothing."
"You were thinking of something." He said.
"Arey- no!" said Archana hurriedly. She didn't want to admit that she had been thinking of how she would make up for staying apart from him for so many days (after he proved himself innocent), she didn't want to admit to her plans of surprising him with a holiday with the money she had saved from her salary, she didn't want to admit that she had thought of all the good dishes she would make for him, she didn't want to admit to her plans of pampering him and making up for all the lost affection. She didn't want to admit anything- it was too embarrassing- she felt.
Manav however was in no mood to lose the opportunity. " If you weren't thinking, why were you looking at me in that manner?"
Archana pouted. Uff!!! "Umm.. actually I wasn't looking at you." She said. "I was looking at this."
She pointed to his amulet- a tiny shiny diamond shaped piece of metal, hanging by a black thread in the nook of his neck. She had always felt that it looked very sexy. "It looks very umm.. uh.."
Manav raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"It looks very uh.. umm.. yeah.. It looks very stylish." She said, bobbing her head up and down. "From where did you get this?"
Manav touched it with reverence. "I bought it from Haji Ali dargah when I was little. It is said that it helps you make difficult decisions in life. I will get one for you as well."
Archana shook up. "Arey no no.. I toh.."
"You liked it na?" he said. "Then I will get it for you. I will anyways be going this week. Haji Ali Dargah fulfills any special mannat that you keep."
Archana smiled a little. "Have you kept a mannat?" she asked.
"A special one- yes. Let's hope it gets fulfilled soon and you get your amulet." He said, looking at her in the eye. Archana blushed and looked away.
*********--------------*********
"You didn't do the right thing."
Vaishali adjusted her pillow under her plastered leg as she talked to Tarun on the phone. "My parents got worried when you favoured Manav Jiju."
Tarun shrugged. "See Vaishali, Manav holds a special place in my life. He is the only one I can call a friend- a true friend. And what has happened to you suddenly? Earlier you used to be so vocal about supporting Manav.. now????
"Tarun, even today I have faith on him, but right now we need to behave tactfully. You have just joined the family. Don't take sides. I don't want these issues to influence our marriage now. Be impartial."
Tarun flared up. "In that case, why don't you ask YOUR parents to stop bringing this thing up again and again? They should stop trying to control me. I will do whatever I think is right. I give a damn to what they think."
Vaishali was stunned. "Thanks a lot." She said in a tearful voice.
"Hey!" Tarun said. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you. See Vaishali, the matter is such that everyone has to take sides now. Everyone- including you, me and Archana Vahini. And I can never leave Manav. He has been with me since we were toddlers. My parents never gelled with me, they were always too busy and they never tried to understand me as well. So I've always gone to Manav for support and help. Its not that I don't like my Mom and Dad, and I understand that I was at fault too, but if it had not been for him, I would have been very lonely. Please try and understand. He needs me."
"I understand." Vaishali said silently. "But please never forget that I need you too.."
Tarun gave a sigh. "Promise dear."
********----------------*********
Just one more day to go..
Varsha went through her list again. Passport, visa and papers- checked. Luggage- sealed and checked. Handbag- checked. Yes- she was ready to leave.
She went to the mirror and ran a comb through her silky hair, smiling cockily at herself in the mirror. 24 hours from now, she would be in her rented apartment in London with her two friends. It would be a new life for her- a life full of freedom. She had already started making plans- shopping, excursions and so on.
Life had been good to her, she thought. 5 years from now, she didn't know what would happen to her sisters- Archu Tai's marriage was in the doldrums, only Bappa knew what would happen of it, and Vaishali would most probably be handling a child, hopefully living happily with that stupid Tarun, but Varsha did know that 5 years from now, she would be independent, rich and successful. Of course she had had to struggle- her parents were still unhappy with her decision and the fact that she would be living with those very friends whom they had never liked- but she couldn't do anything about it. She couldn't keep everyone happy at one go.
Archana put an arm around her. "Nervous??"
Varsha smiled. "A little. I hope everything goes well. I hope I don't shout when the plane takes off, I've heard it makes a booming noise.."
"You'll be fine." Archana said. "Good things happen to good people Varshu, and I'm sure you'll do very well in your job. All the best!"
"Are you still angry with me Tai?"
Archana gave a sigh. "I was never angry with you Varshu, we just wanted you to rethink. We know your temperament, that is why we thought that you are not fit to live alone as of now. But if you are confident, then we can only wish you the best, and hope that this freedom will not spoil your life but instead make you more responsible. Hai na?"
A tear plopped in Varshu's eye. "Now don't you make me cry!" she said hurriedly, wiping it away. "I'll make you proud of myself Tai, I will, you'll see one day. All of you always think na that Varshu is too modern and bold and outspoken? One day this girl will make you proud."
Archana nodded. Varsha sobered down. "Tai, I'm so sorry that I couldn't stay till tomorrow morning for your court case. I wanted to, but Prasanna job agencies, the firm which arranged for everything, wanted us to go today. They said the new office is very particular."
"Its okay." Archana said. Varsha hugged her. "You be strong okay? Tai, tomorrow everyone will say a lot of things to convince you, I'll say only one thing- you live life on YOUR terms- even if it means making a few mistakes, falling down, getting up and moving ahead again. Don't let either Manav or Aai influence you.Take whatever decision you want to- but it should be your own.
Archana fondled her affectionately. "You have become very wise." She said. "Now come otherwise you'll miss your flight."
Together they went out into the living room, pulling the heavy suitcase with them. The family members came ahead one by one and hugged Varsha. Varsha and Sulochana had another disagreement when Sulochana forcibly gave her tiffin to eat on the flight, in case the airport authority were out of stock and did not serve food. She tried hard to control her tears, but failed as she fed her sweet curd and prayed to Bappa for a safe trip ahead, and a safe life in London. Close to 5pm, all of them left for the air port. A few security checks later, Varsha tearfully bade her family her last good byes as they separated at the airport, and she went ahead to board her flight.
*********-------------*********
"What are you doing here?"
Manav moved forward menacingly as Ajit lit a cigarette and threw the match on the floor of the empty garage. It was independence day and the garage was officially closed. Manav, owing to his financial problems, had volunteered to help out at the garage by working overtime.
He held up his hands. "Manav we need to talk. We REALLY REALLY NEED to talk."
Manav turned away. "From the past three days, we've been talking but not coming to any conclusion. It's useless to talk any more. The court will settle the matter." A call came on his cell and he picked it up. "I'll talk later." He said, and cut the phone thoughtfully.
"Listen Manav." Ajit stepped forward. "Here I'm trying to make things easy for both of us. I'll give you enough money for ten garages. Bas you take the case back."
"I won't do it." Manav said loudly. "You know what I want, right? I don't want any business associations with you- never!!! I just want.."
"You want me to tell the truth, right?" Ajit burst out angrily. "You want me to confess that I sent Archana to the brothel and later I trapped you to break Archana's marriage. And then burnt your garage cos you humiliated me publicly. There, I've said it all. Happy??????"
Manav looked at him as if Ajit was a madman. Ajit calmed himself down. "My sister was involved with me in every step." He said. "In each of my black deeds she was there with me. She has passed so much information to me, her part in the game shone when she told me about your love letter, told me when you and Archana went out together. All this helped me put the stopper on Archana's engagement with Varun. So now if I confess, Manjusha might fall into trouble. So there is no way I can confess. Be practical, try and understand my situation, take the money and drop this matter. I'll show you better girls than Archana."
Manav still looked away. "Go away Ajit." He said. "We'll meet in court tomorrow. You have time till then. Reconsider."
Ajit walked upto Manav, and clutched his collar. "I haven't come till here to lose." He said angrily. "You listen to me now."
"AJIT!!!!!" Tarun shouted suddenly. He freed Manav from Ajit's hold. Ajit gritted his teeth. "I'll see you!" he said. He walked out of the garage.
********-------------*******
Tarun stared open-mouthedly. Good god!
Manav laughed at the success of his plan as he played the piece of conversation again on his mobile. When Ajit had come that evening, he had switched on the voice recorder in his cell when he had got a call from outside. And then, all of Ajit's confessions about himself and Manjusha had been recorded! Ha ha!
"Now we can play this in court as well as before the Karanjkars." Said Manav enthusiastically. "It even has Ajit accepting that he burnt the garage. His game is over now. He will lose and I will win the case as well as Archana tomorrow. Now he doesn't need to confess and all. Archana just needs to listen to this tape and all will be fine."
"Awesome man!" Tarun hugged Manav happily. "I wish I could see Ajit's face when he comes to know we have proof against him."
He looked over his shoulder and was shocked to see Ajit standing, his face black with anger. He looked at their faces, and then at the cell phone in Manav's hands. "I thought I would try once more if your friend had gone, but I didn't know all this would be going on." He said angrily. "You tricked me! You cheat, you.. you.."
"You move out!" They said. "We don't need to tolerate you now for anything in the world! Move out before we make mincemeat of you." Ajit moved forward angrily with an urgent desire to take the cell phone and smash it over the rocks. But Manav picked up a steel rod and Ajit controlled himself. They were 2, and he was alone. It would be useless to fight.
"I'm leaving for now Manav!" Ajit said. "But the game is NOT over." He moved away angrily and was gone.
"The game is not over.." Manav mimicked. Both of them laughed. "Well, I couldn't care less."
"You bet!" agreed Tarun. "Let's have a party today. I want a treat!"
"No no not today!" said Manav looking at his watch. "I need to go to Haji Ali today. I'd made a wish long back that I would go there if I succeeded in settling scores with Ajit. Today I've won, and I need to go there even before I tell anyone, even Archana"
Tarun was in the mood to party. "Go tomorrow." He suggested. But Manav had picked up the big heavy lock, and proceeded to lock the door of the garage safely before he set out for Haji Ali Dargah, to thank God for his blessings, unaware of what would happen there.
*********--------------*********
The dome of Haji Ali Dargah shone brightly that evening as Manav got down from the auto. He rolled the sleeves of his shirt back and walked along the long row of shops. He could see many other tourists along with him, some buying the 'chadar' to be offered, some buying rose petals. Some of them were clicking pictures of the beautiful sea.
The Dargah Sharief of Mumbai is situated on a tiny islet located 500 meters from the coast, in the middle of Worli Bay, in the vicinity of Worli. The edifice is a brilliant specimen of the Indo-Islamic style of architecture. The islet is linked to the city precinct of Mahalakshmi by a narrow causeway, which is nearly a kilometre long.
The accessibility to the dargah is very much dependent on the tides. As, the causeway is not bound by railings, when the causeway gets submerged during the tides high tides it becomes inaccessible. Therefore, the dargah is accessible only during low tide. This walk on the causeway, with the sea on both sides, is one of the highlights of a trip to the shrine. An exquisite example of Indian Islamic architecture, associated with legends about doomed lovers, the dargah contains the tomb of Sayed Peer Haji Ali Shah Bukhari.
Remembering all he could about the story of Haji Ali, Manav strode towards the main tomb, a shiny chadar and rose petals in hand, tying a headscarf on his head. The whitewashed structure had a high tower which was the architectural highlight of the edifice. Behind the sculpted entrance, a marble courtyard contained the central shrine. The tomb within the mosque was covered by a brocaded red and green chaddar (tomb cover sheet). It was supported by an exquisite silver frame, supported by marble pillars. The main hall had marble pillars embellished with artful mirror work: blue, green, yellow chips of glass arranged in kaleidoscopic patterns interspersed with Arabic patterns which spell the ninety-nine names of Allah. As per the Muslim traditions separate praying rooms for ladies and gents had been provided to pay their respects. During the high tide, the dargah seemed completely isolated with no access, looking more like a little island.
He remembered what his Mom had always told him. "Below every shrine in a dargah, there is a shivling (lord shiva). Somehow, he could never understand why people fought like fools over religious differences. And so he liked this place, where children of God from all faiths came to pay their respects to a child of the Lord who had succumbed to his faith. As per the legends surrounding the life of Haji Ali, once the Saint saw a poor woman crying on the road, holding an empty vessel. He asked her what the problem was. She sobbed that that her husband would thrash her since she had stumbled and accidentally spilled the oil she was carrying. He asked her to take him to the spot where she lost the oil. There, he jabbed a finger into the soil and the oil gushed out. The overjoyed woman filled up the vessel and went home.
Later, Pir Haji Ali Shah Bukhari (R.A.) had a recurring - and disturbing - dream that he had injured Mother Earth by his act. Full of remorse, he soon fell ill and directed his followers to cast the coffin carrying his body into the Arabian Sea, once he died. Haji Ali left this world during his journey to Mecca and miraculously the casket carrying his body, floated back to these shores, getting stuck in the string of rocky islets just off the shore of Worli. Thus, the Dargah was constructed there. It looks like a floating tomb when the high tides cut off the route to the mainland.
With great reverence now, Manav bent before the shrine and offered his prayers.He moved away as the crowd pushed and pulled to offer flowers at the shrine. He went to a pillar in a corner of the room. As was belief, one was supposed to tie a sacred red and yellow thread in the dargah and make a wish, and untie it once the wish came true. He had done it, a long time ago, when he had gone to every mosque, temple and church to pray to God to bring Archana back in his life and give him proof related to Ajit. Today one wish had come true, and tomorrow the other wish would also be fulfilled. He found his pillar finally, but there were so many threads on it that he couldn't understand which of them was his. He chuckled and thanked the Lord for being kind to him. He promised that he would come back very soon with Archana, and both of them would together offer their heartfelt thanks.
He turned back and started walking along the narrow routes, amidst the crowded shops and the screaming hawkers. He stopped for a moment at the amulet shop, remembering how Archana had liked his amulet. She would definitely like one of her own, he thought, and proceeded to buy a small, shiny piece for her. Carefully he tied it in his handkerchief and started looking for a taxi on the road when he suddenly saw a poor child in a desolate alley. The child was crying alone.
He was touched. "Tujhi Aai kuthe aahe?" he called out (where is your mom). But the child disappeared into the alley. He looked around for a while and followed him in.
********------------********
All alone in a lonely area of Mahalakshmi, Manav looked about for the little boy. But he had vanished. Now he could see only two three men in the area smoking beedis. Another small group was coming from behind.
"Dada, did you see a little wailing boy here?" he asked, bending over the men. The man did not reply at first, and Manav came closer to them and repeated his question.
THUD!
One punch, and Manav was on the ground, more shocked than injured. The 3 men now got up, with the other group joining from the back.
"Kyun be, zyada hero banta hai?"
Nervous, but trying his best to mask his fear, Manav got up cautiously as the men surrounded him. "Who are you people?" he said, eyeing them carefully.
The men laughed. "Your death." One of them said. A chill ran down Manav's spine.
The other one said, "So you're the mongrel who is blackmailing Ajit eh? See guys, he is the one." They laughed and moved in a circle as he eyed them all nervously, trying to keep his cool, and thinking of a route to escape.
Manav tried to buy time. "My friends know where I am. And the police knows everything in detail," he said, analysing the surroundings. "You, or Ajit for that sake, won't be able to go scot-free even if you hurt me."
The guys mouthed four-lettered words. "Dhamki deta hai!!!!??????!!!!" one guy came forward and hit him with his hockey stick. He tried to avoid the blow on his shoulder but ended up hurting his arm. A deep pain ran through him. One more blow came up on his back, and he winced. A second guy joined te first one, this time hitting Manav on the head. Manav tried to ward off blows from both of them, but failed. He fell on his knees. Everything seemed to be going in circles, and his head hurt like hell.
"So will you go to court tomorrow?" one of them asked. Everyone laughed.
Manav looked down, blood flowing in from the back of his head, slowly collecting his strength, taking Bappa's name. Help God help! Please!!!!
"You won't be able to reach court tomorrow." One of them said in a steely voice. "come what may. Ajit Dada has tolerated enough. Bahut pyaar se samjhaya, nahi mane, ab bhugato. Come on friends, we have to make sure he doesn't go to court tomorrow."
A fat guy, who seemed to be the leader of the pack stopped his friend. "We need to do the important task first." He lifted Manav's head by clutching his hair, and held a knife to his neck. "Where is the proof?"
Manav was breathing more deeply now, as his arm pained. "I have nothing." He said.
"Search his pockets!!!" the fat guy commanded. A thin guy, quite clearly the loser in the pack, came forward.
Manav looked at him from the corner of his eye, sweat dripping from his brow and blood from the corner of his mouth. NO! If the proof was lost today, everything would get over. He wouldn't be able to prove that Ajit was guilty! Archana would lose faith! His family would land in a financial soup!
NO! NO! NO!
The guy came close and was just about to insert his hand in Manav's pocket when Manav picked up a handful of dirt and threw it around him. Both the guys- the fat and the thin one, who had been peering over him, now had dirt all over their eyes and backed away, screeching and rubbing their eyes. It happened very fast and the rest of the guys were simply not prepared. They rushed forward to help, but not before Manav had picked up the knife that the fatso had dropped.
"DON'T COME NEAR!!!" he yelled. "DON'T EVEN TRY!" he said, getting up cautiously, beads of perspiration heavily clouding his head, "Else this fellow here will suffer." He kept the knife to the neck of the thin guy, who was still rubbing his eyes, tears streaming out of them. The rest of the group immediately straightened up. One guy attempted to come forward, but Manav immediately dug the knife in the thin guys arm. He yelped with pain. "YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND OR WHAT!!!" he yelled, his fury on the ninth cloud now. "Crowd over to one side!" Slowly the guys crowded over to one side, the fatso and the skinny one still grumbling over their eyes.
Manav cautiously moved back. His head hurt and he had problem in moving his arm but overall he was okay. He started edging towards the only route to escape, and picked up a hockey stick that one of them had dropped as a secondary weapon. Armed with the stick and the knife, he started moving out. One of them made an attempt to run towards him with another knife but Manav lashed out hard with the hockey stick, hitting him on the head. He sat down with his head in his hands, and Manav edged away, the rest of the group fussing over their two injured members.
He quickly stopped a taxi as soon as he came to the main road. "J.J. Hospital" he said breathlessly to the driver as he got in. The taxi driver, scared out of his wits, immediately offered him a first aid box in the taxi as he drove him to J.J. Hospital in full speed.
Once in the taxi, Manav relaxed as he saw the ruffians staring helplessly at the taxi and even trying to stop a second one. He knew they would try to follow him, only Bappa knew since when those guys had been stalking him, waiting for an opportune moment to hit out when he would be away from the crowd. . They wanted him to NOT attend the court case the next day, since he was, as Mr. Farooq had said, the most important person and witness in the cross questioning. Plus, he had the BIG PROOF- one that would prove Ajit guilty in court on all grounds. He took out his cell and kissed it. As he cleaned the wound on his head with a bandaid, he thanked Bappa for saving him in the brawl. But matters did not rest here. He would have to call someone, preferably Tarun, and tell all that had happened. The police would have to be informed too. Archana and family would have to be informed.
But first he needed to get his strength back, compose himself. He needed to go to the hospital.
*******-----------*******
The bright lights of the Casualty department of J.J. Hospital could be seen shining from far. The old buildings with their rustic architecture welcomed the taxi as it made way into the dingy alleys of Byculla first and finally into the hospital compound. The taxi driver got off and ran to get a wheelchair for Manav. He helped him get into the wheelchair and drove him in. He filled the form for getting an X-ray done while an intern attended to Manav.
"This seems like a police case." She said, keeping an ice pack on his head. "Am I correct?"
Manav nodded. His mind felt less woozy now. "I will have to inform the police and my people as well."
"Won't be difficult." She said. "We have the police station nearby only. In fact we have a few officers right now itself, they come to take the statements of other people involved in accidents. I'll call someone to take your statement." She handed him the ice pack and said she would return soon with an arm-sling as well.
Manav pressed the ice-pack to his head. Suddenly he saw something that made his blood freeze.
A few beds away, in the same casualty ward, Varsha lay unconscious.
*******XXXXXXXXXXX********
Okay guys, so that was part 48 and now I'm waiting for your feedback and comments. I hope the 'Manav getting thrashed' didn't come over as repetitive, since we saw a similar thing in PR this week. Kya karun yaaron, my script is not written at the last minute like the serial's, so it is difficult for me to change my tracks later so as to make it different from the PR story.
Edited by nikitagmc - 15 years ago
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