Jassi is packing her suitcase in preparation for her trip. Vedika bursts in, almost banging into her. Jassi steadies her and asks, "Kya baat hai beta…..itni jaldi kis baat ki hai?"
Vedika: Mamma, main aapko ek cheez dena chahti hun….issliye main aise bhaagte hue aayi….
She brings her hand from behind her back and shows her a drawing—it has Jassi, Armaan, Vedika and Ashish in it. "Mamma…..jab aap hume Kangaroo…"
Jassi: (smiling slightly) Kangra….😃
Vedika: …mein miss karogi, toh ye drawing dekh ke hume yaad ka lena…..
Jassi hugs her tightly. "I'm sorry beta", she says in a choked voice. "Agar itna zaroori kaam na hota toh main tumhe aur Ashish ko kabhi itne dino ke liye chod ke nahin jaati!"
Vedika looks earnestly at her. "Mamma, I'll be fine. Main Ashish aur Papa, dono ka khyaal rakhungi…you don't worry!"😊
Jassi closes her eyes and pulls her daughter again into her arms. Then she feels someone else's arms around both of them. She opens her eyes, to see Armaan before her, looking wistful.
She is at a loss for a few moments. Armaan tells Vedika to go check if Ashish is sleeping. Jassi is now teary-eyed. "Armaan….." she tries to say something, but he puts his finger to her lips.
"Kuch mat kaho…..ab hamare paas kuch hi ghante hai…unhe hum baaton mein zaaya nahin karenge."
He pulls her to him and buries his face in her hair. She strokes his shoulder, murmuring, "Armaan, mere dil pe ek bahut bada bojh hai….mujhe lag raha hai ki tum mere jaane se khush nahin ho….aur main aise nahin ja sakti….(pulling her face back to look at him) …please batao Armaan…tum kya chahte ho?"
He kisses her forehead. "Jo tum chahti ho…..Jassi, pyaar mein kabhi kabhi hamari ego beech mein aa jaati hai….pichle kuch din se yahi ho raha hai…..aur issliye shayad, ye faisla humne saath nahin liya…..lekin Jassi (tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear) …..yaad rakhna ki tumhare har faisle mein main, tumhare saath hun…..bas iss baar, mujhe ajeeb sa darr lag raha hai….issliye main tumhe ek shart par jaane dunga…."
She looks breathlessly at him.
Armu: …ki tumhe, kisi bhi tarah ki pareshaani ho, toh mujhe ekdum phone karogi…..mujhse kuch nahin chhupaogi!
She takes his hand tightly in hers. "I promise Armaan!"
He looks meaningfully at her. "Toh….tumhare jaane se pehle ke inn ghanto ka….kuch achcha istemaal kare?"
She gives him a sudden smile and drawls seductively—"Kaise?"😉
He winks and leans over her. The lights go out.😳
Writers Corner: Books, Stories & Poems
Anupamaa
