Farishtey (last part: Pg 114) 2/10 - Page 57

Part 20:

Outside that bedroom, it was complete silence. None knew what was going inside. Avni's eyes where glued onto that door. Its been years since she had seen him. He looked much different now. He was more physicaly fit. The light stubble that used to tease her before was still there. His eyes... that once carried love and compassion were now looking lost and emotionless. She had a brief glance at those eyes before he walked into that room. Those eyes brought back those memories that were buried inside her. It was he who held her hands when she walked out of her home. It was he who stood by her in all their time together. It was he who took her baby for the first time. It was he who had assured her that everything would be fine one day.

And it was he who said that he hated her...

His voice was still booming in her ears. She felt a slight pressure on her hand and looked down. Anjali was looking at her Mumma, and tugging her. The girl was lost again in this world of doubts, questions, pain and betrayals... for no faut of hers. She kissed her hair and brushed it. "don't worry... sab teekh hoga..." her voice cracked revealing her own doubt for future. "yaha baito... ok.. Mumma abhi aya... fresh hoke..."

Anjali slightly nodded her head. Simi took a seat by Anjali and held her. All knew Avni would need some time alone. After all she was falling back to a past, where the present don't even have a slight resemblance compared to it.

Avni moved to the other room where Simi had placed her bags. She sat on the bed with her face held in her palms. She had taken all her strength not break down in front of others. The suffocation was killing her. She let down all her threads and then let those unshed tears to fall out. None, not even the Lord above could stop it now.

***

Arjun still sat in the bed, defeated. Kiren stood leaning onto the wall. He had seen this man active as if he possessed a fire in him. But now he was looking the same as he had seen before. Almost dead and without a soul. Arjun had leaned forward to rub his throbbing temple with his one hand, while the other was held as tight as possible. Kiren knew it was how he was keeping himself from unleashing his anger a Kiren.

When the breathing was normal, Kiren dared to take a step forward. Arjun could feel the bed bearing another weight. He had felt Kiren sitting at another end of the bed. Even the thought of him breathing the same air as of the man who was also responsible for Roshni's death was enough to keep the fire inside him. He had taken all his mental strength to keep him calm.

He saw a defeated man as himself in Kiren. And he didn't like it. He wanted Kiren to strong and ferocious. He wanted him, and all others who were with him to be strong enough to take his wrath. He wanted everyone to feel the same pain like him. And not like this... defeated and lost.

Kiren's voice seemed to be coming from a distance. It took another bit of strength of him to make him listen to Kiren. Because if what he said was true, then Kiren had the key too reach Sikander.

"wo log mere peecha nahi chodega. Patha hai. nahi chahtha tha ke Avni aur Anjali ke samne aau. I hated her. Uski wajah se hi uss din police mujh thak pohoncha tha. Socha zindagi me kabhi bhi usse maaf nahi kar paunga. Par kya karu Arjun? I just can't hate her. Aur mere bachi..."

There was a silence.

"Fate... I never believed in that." Kiren didn't think that this would be Arjun's reply. He turned to face him, but Arjun was still facing the unknown distance. "par ab viswas hone laga hai..." Arjun now faced him, face stil emotionless. "Tum jab mere zindagi ke Roshni ko bhuja diya tha, thab shayad tum mere majboori dekha tha. Jeethe ji maar diya tum logone mujhe. Agar tum kahoge ke tumne nahi maara... firbhi tum uthna hi gunehgar ho. Agar Sikander rakshas tha, tho tum bhi kisise kam nahi tha. Aur na abhi bhi ho." Arjun waited to see any reaction from Kiren. But none came. He was almost turned to stone. "yahi tumhari saza hai Kiren. Mere zindagi me andhere lane keliye yahi tumhari saza hai. agar chahu, tho tumse Sikander ke bare me sab kuch pooch kar mere badla le saktha hu. Tumhe apne pariwar se milwa saktha hu. Tumhe maaf kar saktha hu. Par nahi..."

Kiren's worse dreams where almost coming true. "Please Arjun... mere pariwar ko bachao... please... tum..."

Arjun stood up and faced Kiren who was still sitting on the bed. He still had that pleading face. "Tumhe kya laga Kiren, ke mein Anjali ke jaan nahi bachaunga? Mein tumhare tharah shaitan nahi hu Kiren, jo kisi se badla lene ko unke pariwar ko chot pohonchaunga. I will save her and Avni at any cost. Par wo na tumhare liye hoga, aur na tumhare sath. Aur rahi Sikender ke bath... thank you for telling me he is not a myth. Ab usse kisi bhi tharah mein dhoond lunga. Mujhe kisiki bhi madad ke zaroorath nahi hai. tumhare bilkul bhi nahi."

"Arjun tum samaj nahi rahe ho. Uss thak pohonchna... its very tough. Trust me...I can help you."

"trust?? Are you serious?" Kiren sighed tired. "Kiren, tum chale jao... warna shayad mein apne apko rok nahi paunga... aur mein ye nahi chahtha ke mein tumhe tumhare beti ke samne kuch karu. So just get out."

"Arjun... par..."

"OUT I said!!!" he roared.

Kiren stood there defeated again. "ok... par koi zaroorath pade tho..." Arjun turned away and was holding onto the chair for support. "and thanks Arjun. Mere beti ki khayal rakhne keliye..."

He stood another moment and then walked out and closed the door. He heard Arjun locking it from inside.

***

All were looking at him. He looked tired. Slowly he tried to raise his eyes to look at everyone before walking away. Avni was not there. But he could hear a mild sob from the other closed room. It broke his heart to hear it. He took another look at Anjali who was now holding onto Simmi's hand and then turned away to go. But soon he heard a whisper that made him stop his tracks. "papa..."

Second time he was hearing it. And he wished to hear it more. He didn't have the heart to turn to look at her. The sobbing from the other room was enough to make him feel guilty. He could hear a mild sound of walking shoes coming closer. He wished to run away before anything. But his legs seemed to have itsown mind. It never moved. Soon a hand was wound around his palm. He closed his eyes relieved to feel the warmth. A still tug made him look at her. "aap ja rahe ho?"

Now she came forward to face him. She waited for him to say something. "mujhse bath bhi nahi karoge?" still no reply.

"ithna naraaz ho mujhse? Aur Mumma se? Please... I am sorry..."

He felt himself falling to his knees and facing directly to her little face. His eyes grazed around that face. Her eyes were same as of her mom. Long hair, braided on either side. Strong jaw line just like him. And color like her mom. He felt her touching his stubble, and eyes blinking the tears away. "please..." she whispered again.

That was all that she could hold on. She hugged around his neck buried her face to the shoulder. His hands were no longer hesitant now. He too hugged his girl tight, after all these years. Last time when he hugged her, she was well fit in his arms. Now she was getting taller. He felt her shivering as she wept. He gently rubbed her back. "Shh... my Angel... mein yahi hu... papa yahi hu..." he kissed her hair and cheeks. They still hugged each other tight. He stood up taking her up along with him, without breaking the hug. He turned to Rathod and all others who were watching them.

Rathod's expression was hard to read. Simi was sobbing and leaning to Karan who held her. Sree just had a sad smile.

"kya.. kya mein thodi der... yaha...?" Sam nodded yes and showed him a couch. Kiren moved to the couch and placed Anjali in his lap. She leaned over to his chest. He patted her back as she had a hiccup. Sam forwarded a glass of water to him, and Kiren helped Anjali to drink it.

"aap humse naraz ho?" she asked after a while. "nai beta... hum apse naraz kyu hoge?"

"tho fir aap aya kyu nahi?"

"majboori tha..." he said and briefly glanced at Sameer, who didn't even take his eyes off them.

"mumma se nahi miloge?"

Kiren didn't even have the strength to meet her. He remained silent. Soon a door opened with a bang and an agitated Arjun walked out to the hall. He froze as he saw Anjali in Kiren's hands. His eyes were blood red and face was complete with a rage. He took a deep breath. "tum yahi ho?"

Kiren sat silent. He briefly glanced at Anjali and back to Arjun and silently requested not to unleash anything now. And Arjun knew better not to do.

He took another deep breath and turned to the doorway. "Rawte kaha ja rahe ho...?" he didn't stop. "Rawte??"

"marne nahi jaraha hu Rathod. Uskeliye abhi bhi waqt hai..."

He walked out slamming the door. "Dammit!!" Sam was furious.

"don't let him go." Kiren said it out making all to face him. "Kyu?" Sam wanted to know what happened behind that closed door.

"wo abhi bhi uss naam ke peeche ja raha hai. aur usse ye abhi thak samajh me nahi aya hai ke wo kithna khatharnak hai"

"kya keh rahe ho tum?" Sam didn't like all these riddles.

"Dont tell me that you don't believe him... maana duniya ye maanne ko thaiyar nahi hai ke wo' hai. par hai. aur iss waqt Arjun usse dhoondke fir nikla hai. usse roko ACP Rathod. Let me help you. I still don't like you. Par shayad iss waqt apko mere help ki zaroorath hai"

"Tum ye sab kya keh rahe ho?? Kaun wo? Aur ye Rawte kisse dhundne gaye hai?"

Kiren sat silent trying to understand the situation. "Mujhe laga tha ki aap Arjun ke best friend ho" Sam almost flinchednow. "aur aapko kuch patha nahi hai? ya fir... don't tell me, you didn't trust him all these years... please don't tell me ke aap bhi unme se ek ho, jisse Sikander ke existence pe viswas nahi tha..."

"Sikander???" it was as if Sameer was struck with lightning.

"Stop him ACP Rathod. Before its too late. And let me help you. Please..."

Sameer had to take another moment. "Karan... chalo mere sath. Sree, try to locate Rawte. Aur tum... (to Kiren) yahi ruko... we need to talk... a lot"

He ran out with Karan, and Sree was busy again. Anjali was always looking at Kiren. She was looking how he spoke, how he behaved. All these were new to her.

At last when Sam and Karan went away he turned back to Anjali. He patted her cheeks and smiled. Sometime soon the other door opened and Avni walked to the table and filled a glass of water. As she turned gulping water, her eyes met Kiren who had Anjali in his lap. It took another moment to register it in her mind and then she walked in to the room keeping back the glass with water on table.

As the door closed, Kiren turned back to Anjali. "aap Mumma se bath kijiye na... wo apko bohot miss kar rahi thi"

He nodded ok, and placed her back to couch. He stood up and looked at Simi who had moved closer to Kiren. "umm.. uss din keliye... thanks..." she mumbled.

He nodded slightly with a sad smile and then sighed looking at the door. He gathered everything and walked in after knocking.

He knew she won't open the door for him. He had to do it himself. She was facing away from him holding onto the bed's headrest. He could see she was breathing heavily. The mirror facing her showed her face, eys closed and lips shivering. He knew she had felt his presence but still didn't mind to turn to him.

All those years he hated her, with all the love to her... he never thought of such a reunion... if it could be said to be one. He took another breath before anything. "Avni..."

Next very second she turned around and slapped him across his face.