T2: Ek Aur Zindagi..(Epilogue:page 130) - Page 41

Part 42:

In the morning Adi was informed of visiting his Dadaji. He was so happy and Arjun knew it well.Adi couldn't stop talking about the importance of these days. Its already Saturday and he is visiting Dadaji and on Monday he is starting his new school. He was almost restless.

After the morning jog and cycling, Arjun went to office early just to finish off the works before taking a half day leave. Adi was waiting for his dad. At the same time Dadi was very much worried.It's been ages since Arjun have left that home and almost one month since she too was away. It was hard to imagine whats was in store. She looked at Adi, who had no worries and was waiting for his Dad. This was just another trip for the kid. A trip to a place where he had never been before. She wished everything was as easy asAdi thought. There was no worried about the past, present or future. He was just living the moment.Adi turned to her and saw her looking at him. He gave a smile and leaned to her body waiting for Dad, while she just brushed his hair and placed a kissed over there.

Dad came and they went to the home. Dadaji's home.

***

The huge mansion was once his home.The place where once he used to run about with his mom behind him. The portico had the same long swing where his mom used to feed him while saying innumerable stories. The main door was the same where she waited for him when he reached back from the school.

He was going back in the memory lane with every passing second. He saw Adi leaning forward to the window to have a good look at the home. He was smiling continuously.

As he parked the car in front of the home, he saw the door opening. His baba was at the door and Chacha behind him.

Baba didn't have much change in expression until he saw Adi. A natural smile came up on his face, the one that Arjun hardly got to see before.

Adi opened the door and didn't wait for anyone and reached his Dadaji. He placed his hand on the kid's head and welcomed him in.

Before walking in, he nodded in Arjun and Aayi's direction too. It was a welcome note from him. Even when Adi had walked in, they were unsure. Then deciding to take it all as and when it comes, they walked in too.

Adi was being introduced to Chacha by Dadaji. Aayi could only wonder seeing all these. Chacha had instant liking to the kid and ruffled his hair which a cheecky grin. Rawte settled in the couch with Adi.

Chachi went to Arjun and Aayi. Its been ages again that Chacha had met Arjun. He too had his hand in bringing up Arjun in the earlier stages.

"Arjun baba... kaise ho aap?"

Before saying anything, Arjun bent down to take the blessing, touching the elder's legs. He abruptly moved back, partly because he was none to be given such care, and that too infront of Rawte saab. He was a mere worker of the mansion. And Arjun's sudden action had startled him. "ye kya kar rahe ho baba?aise nahi karthe..." he pulled up Arjun by his shoulders.but Arjun had already done what he wished to do. "kyu nahi Chacha? Aap bhi iss gharke buzurk ho..."

Chacha looked at Rawte uncertain how he would react, but he posed as if he saw nothing. Chacha welcomed Aayi to the home. "lunch me sabkuch banaya hai. sabke pasand ke hai. Adi keliye kuch aur banau?"

"nai Chacha... ithna kafi hai..."

Chacha went inside to bring in cool drinks. Arjun was looking around. Nothing different was seen. It was almost same as he had seen long back. He and Aayi felt like guests in their own home. They took the seat in the couch while Adi was already asking his questions.

"ithne bade ghar me akele dar nai lagthe?"

"nai beta... ab aadat si hogayi hai..."

"hm... aap kahi jarahe ho?"

"haan, kal US jaana hai. kuch kaam hai waha"

"ok.. fir kab aaoge?"

"patha nahi... kaam khatam karne ke baad..."

"Monday ko mera school khul raha hai"

"great... sab ready hai na?"

"haan. Sab ready hai"

"khoob padhna... and be a good and strong boy. Ok..?"

"ok"

Chacha came with the cool drinks and gave to everyone. "ghar dekhna chahoge Adi?" Chacha invited him. Adi looked at Arjun, who nodded back and so he got up and grabbed chacha's fingers and walked in. That left the usual silence in the hall. All 3 sat silent for a while.

"kal flight kab hai?" Arjun was bored to be silent, so asked up.

"dopahar ko..."

"hm... thanks... Adi se milne keliye"

Rawte gave a look that said a lot of words. "what do you mean Arjun?"

Arjun didn't reply and looked away. Rawte looked at Gayathri who was still sitting silent. "Apne hi ghar me mehman banne ke zaroorath nahi hai. Andar ja sakthe ho" He said it looking at both of them and walked in to his study room.

Arjun was still sitting there silently. Aayi looked at him. She knew he was suffocating. To relieve him, they should get out of there ASAP. She went to the kitchen to make sure that the lunch was ready. Chacha was taking Adi all around and then he followed his Dadaji to the study, while Chacha went to the kitchen.

Adi walked in. it was a huge well polished room, with racks full of books. A chandelier was at the centre of the room, hanging from the roof. The walls had photos of the family, mostly of his Dadi with various stages of younger version of Arjun. Adi was looking all these intendly. He felt Dadaji's hands on his head.

"wo dad hai na?" he asked pointing at the pics.

"haan... aapke Papa bachpan me almost apke hi tharah the..."

"mere bhi bohot sare pics hai Dad ke sath."He said happily. "par in photos me aap kaha hai?"

Rawte was hurt with that question. It was true. There were only very few pics with all three of them. "mein in pics me nahi hu Adi. Yahi meri galthi hai"

Adi turned to face Dadaji who had a very sad expression. He smiled sadly and went to the chair. Adi stood infront of him, leaning onto his legs, while Rawte hugged Adi's shoulder gently.

"Aap bahar the?"

"hm... kaam tha... isliye.."

"aapne thab dad ko miss nahi kiya tha? Mere dad hamesha kehthe hai ke jab mein hostel me thi, thab wo mujhe bohot miss kiya"

"miss tho bohot kiya tha Adi. Par keh nahi paya."

"hm... ek bath puchu?"

"pucho"

"aap abhi bhi dad ko miss karthe ho na?"

Rawte doesn't say anything. "bolo na... agar karthe hai tho dad se kehdo... aur ye bhi kehdo ke hum sab ek sath rahe. Sab problem solve hojayege na?"

When dadaji didn't give any reply, Adi was indeed confused. "aap kuch bolthe kyu nai? Kya aap kabhi bhi unhe miss nahi kiya?"

The moment was saved by chacha as he knocked at the door informing lunch was ready. Dadaji got up and walked out holding Adi's hand. He didn't fail to notice Adi's upset face.

Arjun who was feeling bad sitting in the hall, had walked out to the portico and sat on the long swing for a while. He was not sure if coming back was a good idea. But if Adi is happy by it, let it be so.

This house would have been his home if his Baba had not shown such aggression in the past. He would have been here with his Aayi and Baba, and most probably with Roshni and Adi too. The life would have been much different as of now.

He felt warmth on his shoulder and looked up to see Aayi by his side. "chalo Arjun, khana ready hai"

"bhoook nahi hai aayi."

"patha hai. Firbhi kuch khalo. Adi bhi table pe ane wale hoge."

"hm.. bohot ajeeb lag rahe hai na? Aapko kya lagtha hai?"

"mujhe bhi. Aise lag raha hai ke iss ghar ko pehechanthi hu, firbhi anjaan hu."

"kya yaha aana teekh tha aayi?"

"Adi keliye uske pariwar ko jaana zaroori tha Arjun. Use jaana hai ke uske pariwar me kaun kaun hai. Mana ke sab ek sath tho nai, par firbhi, jaana zaroori hai. Ek aur bath, tum Roshni ke pariwar se akhir kab mile the?"

"Roshni ke bhai, Rohan se tho kuch mahine pehle bath hua tha. Hamari shadi me sirf unhe hi manzoor tha. Unke Maa-Papa ko manzoori nahi thi. Aur Rohan bhi Adi se mil chukke hai. Ab wo filhal videsh hai, par ek mahine pehle mujhse mila tha."

"hm... ab chalo."

They walked in at the same time Adi and Dadaji also reached the table. Something told that Adi was upset, which actually angered Arjun. He was looking enquiringly to his Baba, who didn't say anything.

Dadaji settled at the corner, Dadi at the right hand side, while Adi and Arjun on the left. "kya hua Adi?" Arjun was worried what had made his kid upset.

"kuch nai dad. Bhook lagi hai"

Arjun knew it was a lie. Chacha came to Adi. "apke dadi ne bathaya tha ke apke pasand ka khana kaunsa hai. Hum wo sab banaya hai. Khake bathayiye, kaise bani hai"

Chacha was eager to be with the kid. After a long time, there is happiness in the ever so silent home. He didn't want to miss it. Long back, the home was filled with Arjun's mischief. And now at times the mansion looked haunted.

Adi smiled at Chacha and tasted his favourite paneer curry. "aap bhi baitiye. Khana khayiye"

"nai beta, hum baadme khalenge.Khana pasand aya?"

Adi nodded yes happily. But still there was gloominess in that face. Arjun noticed Adi was not looking at Baba while he was still looking at Adi. He wanted to know what had happened and thought to wait till the lunch was over. After lunch, Chacha took Adi to the pigeon house that was in one corner of the home, while baba went to washroom.

"aisa kya hua Arjun, jo Adi ke chehra uthar gaya tha?"

"patha nai. Aur waise bhi unse aur kya umeed kar sakthe hai?"

"Aise math bolo Arjun..."

"come on Aayi, aap abhi bhi unke side..."

"mein kisike side me nahi hu Arjun. Patha nahi kyu, sab log mujhe ek side me kyu rakhna chahthe hai? Akhir mere galthi kya hai?"

She turned and stopped facing Rawte. He could see her eyes brimming up. She walked aside him and went to kitchen. Baba looked at Arjun and then started walking to the study.

"kya hua tha?"

Baba stood for a while and then without responding walked to study. Arjun sighed frustrated and walked into the study, which was his prohibited zone in his younger days.

"meine kuch pucha apse? Kya hua tha? Adi upset kyu the?"still no reply.

"bas kuch samay maanga tha aapse... thaki Adi wo na miss kare jo mein kayi bar miss kiya tha...(Rawte turned to him) wo tha aap... bachpan me apke saya tho mere upar tha, lekin wo bas saya hi tha. Kabhi bhi mere pas nahi the. Kabhi bhi mere liye nahi the. Mere kamyabi me, haar me, khushi me, dukh me, aap nahi the. Ek surname ke alawa aap diya hi kya hai mujhe?"

"ARJUN!!!"

"ji haan mein. Uss din aap mere ghar pe bohot bath kar rahe the, ke aap kya chahthe the.. aapne kya miss kiya. Sabkuch aap.. aap.. aur sirf aap. Humare kuch nai. Ek tharaf aayi ko bhi mujse dur kar diya. Jo mere kareeb aya, Roshni... use bhi aap apnaye nai. Tho aaj Adi ko apnane ka kya umeed rakh saktha hu mein? No never.. wo apse milna chahtha tha... mila diya. Ab aur nai... aapke saya bhi ab uspe ane nahi dunga mein. Mein uss se wo sab cheene nahi dunga, jo aap mujhse cheena tha. Kyunki aap..."

The words stopped then and there as he felt a stinging feel on his cheeks. He faced up to see Rawte shivering in anger and his hands slowly going down.

In an instant Rawte never knew how he reached near Arjun and slapped him. He could see Arjun had felt the pain not only on the cheeks but also on the heart.

A sudden sob came from behind. Aayi was standing near to the door, witnessing what had happened just now.

Arjun gave a sad sympathetic smile. "thappad dene hi tho sahi... mere paas tho aya... thanks Mr. Rawte."

He looked at those eyes straight for a while and then turned about and stood in front of Aayi. "Adi ko bulayiye. Hume jaana hoga. Mujhe office jaana hai..."

He walked past her and went to the parking lot and sat in the SUV, breathing heavily. He closed his eyes to drain off the tear that had stuck in the corner of his eyes. He leaned forward and placed his forehead on the steering and was trying to relax, but in vain.

***

Aayi stood another moment near the door. Rawte was awake from the trance and looked at her. "Gayathri..."

"ye aapne kya kiya? Sabkuch teekh hone ka ek choti si kiran dekh rahi thi... wo bhi ab..."

He knew he shouldn't have done that. But it was irreversible now. She walked away wiping her tears. She walked to the pigeon house. Adi and Chacha were feeding the birds.

"Adi... chale beta?"

He looked up and saw his Dadi. He slowly nodded yes. "mein Dadaji se kehke aya..."

He walked in. Chacha was confused. "ithne jaldi jarahe ho?"

"haan Chacha, rehne ka ab matlab nahi hai. Sab kuch waise ke waise hi hai"

He noticed tears rolling down from the eyes. "himmath math hariye. Mere mann keh raha hai, sab teekh hoga. Adi sab teekh kar dega."

"mujhe bhi aise lag raha tha... par ab... patha nai... jo bhi hai... uss waqt dekha jayega..."

They stood there for a while and turned back.

***

Adi knocked at the room and walked in. He saw Dadaji was sitting in the couch with his face in the palms. Adi placed his hand on Dadaji's shoulder to get attention. "hum ja rahe hai..."

He looked up and slowly took Adi and hugged him tight and then placed him down. Then kissed his forehead. When he didn't say anything Adi turned to go back. At the door, he heard Dadaji's voice. "bohot miss kiya tha Adi... (he turned back) aapke dad ko bohot miss kiya tha. Bas keh nahi paya.. na uss din.. aur na aaj..."

Adi listened to it and when he didn't say anything more, he spoke up. "jaldi wapas aana... I will wait for you. Fir sab teekh hoga..."

Rawte didn't know why the kid was so confident. Adi just smiled at him and walked out. He held Aayi's hands and left home. At the door, he said bye to chacha, who gave him his favourite kaju katri sweet boxes and blessed him.

They reached the SUV, and Arjun was waiting for them in the driving seat. Adi entered behind and aayi took the front seat. Aayi could see the red mark on the cheek and even Arjun's bit blurry eyes. Arjun was trying to not to look at her. But soon he felt a hug from behind.

Adi stood up and hugged from behind and leaned forward keeping his chin on Arjun's shoulder. Arjun relaxed at that touch. Adi turned and kissed Arjun's cheeks.

"Sorry dad..."

"kyu Adi?"

"aap aana nahi chahthe the. Firbhi mere liye aya. Thank you dad. Par I am sorry, mere wajah se..."

The blurry eyes were not invisible for Adi. He had seen it.

"Its ok Adi... aap khush ho, yahi mere liye kafi hai... ab chalo... ghar chalthe hai..."

"hm... don't worry.. sab teekh hoga..."

Arjun was not sure for it. Still he nodded for the kid. "hm..."