[NOTE: Not Proof-read, oblige errors if any...]
Part 6
As they settled in the dingy taxi, the driver looked at them with a blank face, while turning towards them behind him, as they hurriedly settled in.
"Chalo..." he said hurriedly, in a tensed voice.
"Petrol khallas!" the driver said, simply.
While Raman looked at him in shock and astonishment and said, "Par abhi toh theek se chal rahi thi?"
"Abhi abhi Khallas!" driver said giving the hint.
"Par..." Raman protested, when she cutting him said disdainfully, "Ye aapse zada paise maang raha hai..."
"Kitne?" Raman looked at him in disbelief and asked, anguished.
"500", the driver said and then looked at him and then her and added, "aur 500 ecsectra."
While Raman looked at him incredulously and nodded and said, "Ab toh chalo... jaldi."
But, shocking him and her, the driver exited the car in the middle of the road, saying, "Aap bhi... Chaliye jo karna hai yehi kar lo... bass 500 rupay ecsectra de dijiyega."
"Yeh kya bakwas kar rahe ho? Chalo jaldi..."Raman said angrily.
"Aap tension mat lijiye... Isko aadat hai... Samajh lijiyega ke lucky draw mein one night stay in my taxi... aur iss mausam mein kahan jayenge? Hotel mein bohot mehenga padega..." the driver said with a sly smile, winking at him, and stood outside with the umbrella.
While Raman looked at her embarrassed making her smile, and she opened the window and said, "Arre, kya bhaiya... aisa kuch nahi karna hai hume... bass yaha se jaldi chalo..."
The driver looked at them in disbelief and settled back in and said surprised, "Aapko kuch nahi karna? Baarish ko waste kar rahe hain..." and the started the car and asked, "jana kahan hai ye toh bataiye...?"
"Mujhe Chandani bar jana hai... aur saab ko koi aur taxi dilwa dena..." she said.
While he looked at her in surprise and said, before thinking, "Nahi... pehle tumhe iss bar mein chodenge, phir mein chala jaunga..."
"Arre par kyu? Aap apne raaste jaiye... kyu faltu mein jaan bhoojh kar phass rahe hain... dekh rahe hain na... iss duniya mein kitni gandagi hai..." she said looking at him.
He looked at her deep in thought and said after a while,"...Par itni baarish mein kaun si taxi milegi?"
While the driver piped in and said, "Mill jayegi... jaise meri taxi mili..."
While Raman glared at him, and he turned away, towards the road and said, " Par itni Raat mein tum wahan jaogi... toh milega kaun? I mean itni baarish aur der bhi bohot ho gayi hai..."
While this time again driver answered, "Raat ke jaanwar... jo sirf Raat ko hi bahar nikalte hain... Saab, ye duniya bohot ajeeb aur darawani hai... itne khatarnaak logo se pala padta hai ke kya bataye..."
All this while she was sitting in silence, and the suddenly she spoke up, as if talking to herself, "Ye sab meri hi galti hai... mujhe Zafar se paise lene hi nahi chahiye the... aaj uski wajah se sab problem hai..."
He looked at her, and asked, "Kitne paise liye the?"
"Ek peti" she said, as if lost. And then looked at his confused face and said, "Matlab 1 Lakh. Apni kholi ke liye... 75 wapas bhi kar diye hain... 25 baki hain... mai time pe nahi de payi toh uss kameene ne Naik se le liye..." she said in tensed tone.
"hmm... toh ab?" he asked.
"Ab sirf Zafar sab theek kar sakta... who hi baat kar sakta hai Naik se..." she said, looking at her hands.
The driver than announced, "Taxi stand aa gaya..."
She looked at Raman expectantly, while Raman cursed driver under his breath and looked at her and then said confidently out loud, "Kaha na pehle tumhe drop karunga, uske baad hi jaunga..." and then looked at her surprised face and drivers wide grin.
While she protested, "Arre kyun saab...?"
While he continued, "Kaha na... jitna bola utna sunne ka" animatedly. Making her giggle and turning towards driver asked him to move on.
After a silent journey of half hour, the taxi finally halted infront of the bar, and the driver announced the same, that's when she finally turned towards him and smiled and said with genuinity, "Achha... toh ab mai chalti hoon..."
While he looked at her, expectantly. Only one thought was going in his mind at that time, that may be this is the last time that they were seeing each other, after that, may be they would never come across each other, and even if they would the rapport would be different.
Her eyes, that were like an open book, while his lips, curved in slight smile, that seemed to restore this memory forever.
And then an unknown shiver ran down his spine at the mere thought of never being able to see her again, it was strange, very strange, and he looked at her again, in her eyes and asked, as he saw some trace of fear on her eye brows, "Mai chalu tumhare saath?"
She was about to exit the car, when she turned instantly at his statement and looked at him surprised, and a small smile escaped from her lips and her eyes filled with new found respect, and she shook her head in negative and almost instantly got out of the car and ran into the bar, not wanted to stay any more in his company.
While he sat still in the vacant taxi, the emptiness once again surrounded him, a filling feeling that was there in her presence was gone with her, and he looked at the bar one last time and asked driver to move on.
While the driver, said, "Saab ye ladki maregi..."
"Kyun?" he asked instantly.
"Arre saab Naik aur Zafar ke saath rahegi toh maregi hi na... Aapko pata hai... bohot khatarnaak aadmi hai Naik, darjan (12 in no.) bhar khoon kiye honge usne... aaj tak pakra nahi gaya..."
Raman looked back, at the bar and instantly asked the driver to stop , "Ruko... Wapas chalo..."
The driver looked at him from the rear mirror and smiled knowingly and said, teasingly, "Kya hua saab? Dill dhadak gaya?"
Raman looked at him, with serious expression and said, "Peeche lo..."
"Ji... lete hain... peeche lete hain..." and he stopped the car infront of the bar.
"Kya tum taxi yaha ruka ke rakho ge?" Raman asked.
"Kyun nahi... meter chalu hai..." Driver said and parked the car beside the road.
Raman went inside the bar, the loud music, smell of alcohol and cigarette and cheap talks, everything screamed against him, the strange ambience of the place was making him feel out of place, like this place rejected him, or must he say the vice-versa was the case.
Several girls, or rather woman were trying to touch him, smiling at him seductively, to attract him perhaps, while his eyes darted from one person to another just to counter her one glimpse, that was all he wanted at that moment. He came towards the bar region and spotted her standing there, with a mobile conversing with someone on it, she had lines of tension between her eye-brows, as she was, as it seemed to be busy in explaining something.
He slowly walked towards the bar and stood beside her, while she turned towards him feeling a presence behind her, he felt her surprise but acted nonchalant about it and smiled at her.
While she said, too shocked, "Aap! Aap yahan kyun aaye? Kaha than a maine... ye jagah aapke liye nahi hai..."
"Maine socha ke ek drink le loon wapas jaane se pehle... kyun? Tumhe koi problem hai mere yahan drink karne se?" he asked simply like it was not much of a big deal.
"Kya saab... kahan na... yeh mera lafda hain... main khud sambhal loongi..." she said.
"Toh karo jo karna hai... mai rok toh nahi raha... mai toh bass drink kar raha hoon." He said and then turned towards the bar tender and asked for a whiskey on tap!
While she looked at astonished, at the way he was acting and then finally got distracted as she saw zafar enter the bar, and looked at Raman and then turned and walked towards Zafar leaving him behind.
While Raman stood there, taking small sips, with his whole concentration on her and the man. They looked like they were arguing, he slowly made his way towards where they were seated, and when he was in earshot he heard her, "Tum jante ho Zafar, ko vo bimar hai... aur phir bhi tum chahte ho ke mai uske paas jaau?"
"Aisa kuch nahi hai, tum kuch nahi janti... mujhpe bharosa karo... tum toh janti ho kitna powerful aadmi hai who... aur doosri baat, mai uske diya paise kha gaya hoon... wapas bhi nahi kar sakta..." the man said.
"Mai kuch nahi janti... par mai nahi jaungi... mai apni jaan khatre mein nahi daalungi..." she protested, "Aur paiso ka intezaam tum karo... ye tumhari zimmedaari hai..."
"Sawal paiso ka nahi hai... Woh chahta hai tumhe... tumhe jana hi hoga uske paas..." the man said, while grabbing her arm and pulling her towards the exit.
Just at this time, Raman intervened and kept his palm on the man's shoulder as if to ask him strictly to calm down, and took a seat just beside their table, and continued to sip leisurely, while keeping his full concentration on them.
"Yeh kaun hai?" asked the man. She kept quiet, quiet lost at the moment.
So Raman answered instead, "Ek dost!"
The man looked at Raman for a while, and then looked at her, and said, "dekho, agar tum nahi gayi toh who mujhe marr dalega!"
"Aur jo mai marrungi uska kya?" she said.
Raman, this time came forward and asked, "Sawal paiso ka hai? Theek hai mai pay kar doonga... kitne dene hai?"
"Aap! Aap kyu denge saab?" she protested.
But Raman looked at him instead, ignoring her. The man looked at him surprised and said, "25000".
"Theek hai..." Raman nodded.
And the man said, " nahi... 30000."
Raman looked at him incredulously, and said, "Theek hai... par fir jaane doge isse... theek hai?"
The man nodded, and they all went out and took the taxi, that was standing just outside the bar, and zoomed off towards the first ATM!
At the ATM, the driver stopped the car and Raman came out of the car, while the man followed him, claiming that he also wants to see how the ATM works.
While she and the driver sat in the car, when the driver said, "Dill ke raaste phass gaya hai ye... ab jaane mat dena..." and smiled knowingly.
"Kuch bhi... chal aage dekh..." she said.
"Arre sach keh raha hoon, varna kaun aise hi paise de deta hai kisi ke liye? Tumhare liye Naik se panga lene ke liye taiyyar hai ye..." he said.
She looked at him frustrated, and looked away, that's when she noticed some tiff going on in the ATM cabin, she rushed towards it, only to find Zafar unconscious on floor while Raman standing there flabbergasted.
She looked at him horrified, and then at unconscious Zafar, and blurted, "Yeh kya ho gaya... kya... kya hua isse?"
"Maine kuch nahi kiya... he attacked me first... I just pushed him, I think he's just unconscious, thodi der mein hosh aa jayega."
"Aur agar kal, isne mujh par acid phenk diya toh?" now she was blabbing to herself.
Raman looked at her, and said, "Hum police ki help lenge... mera ek dost ka pehchaan vala inspector hai, woh humari help zaroor karega." Saying that he came out of the ATM, while seeing all this Taxi driver drove off scared. They walked towards the telephone booth and he dialed his friend's number, "Mihir... yeah hello, It's me Raman... Yeah I am fine... Mihir... Mihir... listen to me... yes I couldn't make to the party... Well I am with... Actually I need your help... I am at GB road... yes... NO... I mean no... Its different story all together... can you help me? Please send a car here... yeah..." with that he kept the receiver and turned towards her, but was surprised to find no one outside the booth cabin, and came out instantly and looked around, only to spot her in the jeep of police, being taken by them.
He without wasting anytime came forward and almost ran towards it, and asked the inspector, about where he was taking her... while the inspector told him that here they were spotting some drug seller, who is on run, and it would be dangerous for him as well to stay there, and they asked him to sit in the jeep as well. He took the seat beside her, and looked at her, who was looking at the road, hearing the guns and screams, and said, "Inhi sab cheezo se Abrahim ko bachana chahti hoon... varna who bhi ek din mara jayega aise hi... benaam maut!"
Raman looked at her and nodded, and then to change the topic he asked, "Tumhari koi hobbies nahi hai?" and then he looked at her surprised face and explained, "Jaise kisi ki music hoti hai, kisi ki painting and all..."
She looked at him and said, "Mujhe kahaniyo ka shauk tha... jab mai choti thi toh Appa aksar kitabein laya karte the... phir library se issue karwati thi mai..." and smiled.
"Tum kaha tak padhi ho?" he asked.
"6th tak regular... phir 8th ki kuch kitabein... aur phir sab choot gaya... fees bohot zada thi..." she replied and looked down.
He looked at her, for a moment and said, "Mujhe cricket ka shauk hai..." and smiled.
She looked at him, and smiled.
The jeep started, and after half an hour they found themselves in police station in front of the sleeping official.
"Inspector... I just need to make a call... please..." Raman requested, while the inspector looked uninterested and said, "Jab Aslam sir aaye tab baat karna..."
"Dekhiye... its really needed right now..." Raman protested.
While inspector looked at him bored, and that's when he got enraged and shouted, "Don't you understand, I NEED TO CALL RIGHT NOW!!!"
The inspector stumbled back at his outburst and then composing himself, ordered the hawaldaar to put him behind bars, and walked off.
While Raman protested but they didn't listen, and put him in jail.
She saw him standing in there from an hour, while she sat outside on one of the wooden benches, she went to a lady cop and said politely, "Woh... use aadat nahi hai... kuch ho sakta hai kya?"
The lady cop looked at her and then at him, and said, "mai bass yehi de sakti hoon..." and with that she showed her an old blanket.
She smiled and nodded and the lady cop went forth and passed him the blanket, saying, "Lo... ispe baith jao..."
Raman looked at the cop and nodded, and sat down on it, while his eyes were fixed on wall clock and her's on him.
After a while the lady cop came near her and whispered, "Aslam sir aa gaye hain... jo kehna hai keh do..."
She went inside the cabin, at being called and said on being asked, "...Mai bhi bohot chauk gayi thi ye dekh kar ke koi meri jaisi ki madat kar raha hai... par sir ji, vo madat kar rahe the toh mai kya karti... Vo zafar mujhe zabardasti naik ke paas bhej raha tha... phir mujhe inhone hi bachaya... please sir ek phone karne dijiye inhe... aaj ke zamane mein kaun kiski help karta hai... aur khaas taur par hum jaiso ki... Please sir ji... ek call karne dijiye..." she requested.
"Kisse bhaag rahi thi tum?" inspector asked.
"Zafar aur uske aadmiyo se... inn sahib ne toh mujhe bachane ke liye use paise bhi diye... poore 30000, saab!" she said.
"Kaha hai Zafar?" inspector asked.
"Saab... vo vaha... ATM ke paas... Fountain vala..." she answered.
"Theek hai... ek phone kar sakta hai..." inspector said finally, "Pandey... usse bahar nikalo... jo iske saath hai aur call karne do ek... mai abhi aata hoon..." the inspector said.
While she smiled and said, "Thankyou saab!"
The Hawaldaar brought him out and passed him the telephone.
"Mihir...yeah I know... mai yaha phas gaya hoon... police station... hey... no no... I am perfectly fine... just listen to me... just help me... do as I say...okay then call that inspector who is your friend... yes IPS Vikram and ask him to come to this place... yeah... I mean... I... actually a woman is with me... Stop fantasizing and listen to me... she needs protection... actually some people are forcing her into involving with goon and she doesn't want to... Yeah... actually yes... Mihir! Please... Do as I say, Will you...?"
"Okay... thanks!" he said and sighed and kept the receiver.
After the phone call, the other inspector asked him to sit while the inspector must come, and asked if he wanted some tea.
While Raman looked at her and asked, "Tum chai logi?"
To which she smiled and nodded, as she sat pulling up her legs and folding them and wrapping her arms tightly around them, and keeping her chin on her knees.
"Do chai..." Raman said.
After few minutes, a man entered in a shirt and pant, and was on phone, while the inspector infront of Raman and said yehi hai Vikram sir. Raman looked at him and walked upto the cabin and entered,
"Hello inspector... I am Raman Bhalla..."
"Ohh yes! Mihir told me... toh bataiyye Mr. Bhalla what can I do for you?"
Raman told everything to him, how he met her, and how she didn't wanted to go with naik, he explained to him everything, and asked him to take Zafar in custody... as he would tried to force her...
Inspector listened him and then smiled and asked the inspector while coming out of the cabin, "Ye Zafar kaun hai? Kisi case mein kabhi fassa hai kya?"
Inspector replied, "Ji sir... drugs recket mein, under-age ladkiyon ki smuggling mein aur gunda-gardi mein bhi..."
"Theek hai... ab kaam tamam kardo... bohot bachh liya ye..." Vikram said and turned towards Raman and smiled and said, "Lijiye sir aapka kaam ho gaya..." while Raman thanked while vikram went inside.
Just then she came towards him and held his hand came outside the station and said tensed, "Ye kya hogaya...sab galat hai..."
"Ab kya hua? Saari problems end ho gayi... ye log usse jail mein daal denge... tum safe ho..." he said looking at her confused.
"Aap samajh nahi rahe...mai uski family ko janti hoon... aaj uski wajah se mai bhookhi nahi marr rahi... vo kaam tamam karne ko keh rahe hain... matlab encounter!" she looked at him horrified.
"Darn!" Escaped from his mouth.
He went in, leaving her outside and asked inspector to let Zafar go... making Vikram confused. He asked Raman to wait outside for a while, and called Mihir and asked, "Hey... this man is really confused... kabhi kehta hai Zafar se bachao... kabhi kehta hai Zafar ko bachao... Kya bohot khaas dost hai kya tumhara...? ...hmm... theek hai... tumhara bhai matlab mera bhai... don't worry mai sab theek se kar doonga... yeah bye..."
"Theek hai sir... chaliye... aapke Zafar ka pata chal gaya..." Vikram said to Raman.
Raman and her both went with Vikram in his jeep to the near by nursing home, and found one of the inspector's waiting for them, he came forward and said in vikram's ear, "Sir ye 30000 confiscate kiye hain Zafar se..."
To which Vikram said, "Bhalla saab ko lauta do..."
Inspector handed over him the money and went behind Vikram, where Zafar was lying.
Vikram stood beside the bed he was lying on and asked, "tere khilaaf case darj hua hai... zabardasti naik ke paas bhej raha tha isse? Upar se drug vale charges bhi hain... aur choti ladkiyo ki smuggling bhi karta hai?"
"Saab..." Zafar looked at Vikram wide eyes, horrified... and said... "Saab... ab se kuch nahi karunga... saab iss baar sachh mein maaf kar do... Saab... agar ye Naik ke paas nahi gayi toh vo mujhe maar daalega... saab..."
"Theek hai... meri baat karva naik se..." he asked.
"Ji saab... aap hi samjha sakte hain unhe... saab mujhe maar dalenge vo log..." Zafar said.
"Chal-chal jaldi phone laga..." Vikram said.
Zafar dialed his no. and said, "Hello... Naik saab... saab mai Zafar... nahi saab... meri baat suniye... Inspector ne mujhe pakad liya hai... Saab aapse baat karenge.. nahi saab aise mat kahiye... please... baat kar lijiye... line pe hi hain vo..." and with that he handed over the phone to vikram, who went away and conversed for four-five minutes, as Raman noticed, he looked angry and then suddenly he mellowed down and then laughed, and then came back towards Raman and said, "Lijiye sir... aapka kaam ho gaya..." and then turned to Zafar and said, "Aur isse jail mein band kar do... ek do hafte andar rahega toh dimag thikane aa jayega...aur third degree bhi dena... under-age ladkiyo ki smuggling karta hai..."
"Nahi saab sab kuch chod diya maine... ab kuch aisa nahi karunga... saab... Aye Chandni... kya kar rahi hai... mujhe phaswas rahi hai... meri wajah se aaj zinda hai... mai nahi hota toh tu bhi maari jaati uss blast mein... jaise tere maa-baap aur behen mare gaye the, jaise unke tukde mile the vaise hi tere bhi hote... aur tu mujhe marwa rahi hai?" he screamed in fear.
While Raman sat there shocked, and looked at her face, and was surprised to find her face blank, devoid of any emotion, no tears, nothing, just a vacant look, like she was a souless body.
And then Zafar continued, "Mujhe marrwa rahi hai... Kyu marrwa rahi hai... meri wajah se zinda hai... maine bachaya... aur mujhe hi..."
"Bhachaya toh kya kiya haan? Ye sab karwaya mujhse... iss narak mein dhakel diya mujhe... mujhse hi paise kamata hai..." she said.
"Toh ab mujhe kyu marrwa rahi hai?" he asked in anguish.
"Marrwa tu raha hai mujhe... meri jaan pe aayi hui hai... tera kya... mai marr jau.. usse achha tu marr jaye..." she screamed and walked away...
Raman looked at her retreating back, and then stood up as Vikram came over to him and shook hands with him, while Vikram said, "Okay then Bhalla saab, I should really go now... Do you want me to drop you somewhere?"
Raman looked at him and then turned towards her and shook his head, while Vikram took his look as the sign and said, "nahi... theek hai phir... good night." And went away.
While Raman walked towards her, who was standing on one of the windows and stood beside her, while she turned towards him with a sweet smile playing upon her lips, a smile that didn't reach her eyes, and said, "Life Aisi hi hai..."
Raman looked at her, understanding, and then asked, "Tum kuch khaogi?"
While she looked at him surprised, and smiled and nodded.
***
After buying a packet of chips and some biscuits, they came on the shore of River Yamuna, soft breeze was blowing, and with it her soft tresses, teasing her eyes and cheeks. The place was absolutely empty with no trace of anyone, she kept looking at him, as they sat down on the sandy earth. His eyes were fixed on some distant point, like he was lost somewhere, his demeanor was relaxed, and the moonlight was having a different affect as it fell on his face. She was not able to take her eyes off him.
Everything about him was appealing, his looks, his personality, his nature and his character, and for a moment she dared to wish to turn into same girl she was four years ago, the same girl who had dreams and aspirations. And then looked away and said instead, "Chahe job hi ho... aapne raat toh ek GB vali ke saath hi bitayi... Aapki Biwi ko pata chalega toh bohot naraz hogi... haina?" and giggled at that.
While he just smiled and said, "Kaash woh naaraz hoti... Kaash usse jealousy hoti... Par usse kuch mehsoos nahi hota..." and looked down at his knotted fingers.
While she looked at him, surprised and asked, "Matlab?"
"Meri biwi, ab mere business Rival Ashok ki Girl-friend hai... 6 saal pehle mujhe chod kar chali gayi thi..." he said.
While she looked at him shocked, and he continued,
"Pata hai kyun? Kyun ki uss samay mere paas utne paise nahi the... Mai iss position pe nahi tha..." he said and chuckled at the sad memory.
She was beyond shocked to know that a wife would leave her husband, family just for money.
"... she was carrying my baby in her womb... my... my baby..." and a single tear rolled down his cheek... "and aborted it... She aborted our... My baby... just because she wanted to be with that man..." he completed, as another tear ran down his cheek, while his eyes were fixed on distant point somewhere, and a sigh escaped from his lips.
While she gasped at his truth, and she did what she thought was right, she kept her palm on his shoulder, as if assuring, as the silence prevailed all through!
After moments of silence the Sun rose with a different glint, a morning of burden free heart and a soul free from the clutches of boundaries fixed by society.
It was then, that without a second look at her, he got up, and walked away, away from his past into the new life that awaited him, leaving behind all tribulations and even her! He just walked off!
While she sat there watching his retreating back... and she knew somewhere, it was probably the end of something...
~***~***~***~
Okay that's it...
I am so darn excited about the next update... as its going to be my last update of this series...
I just dunno what to say... guys your response was overwhelming... thanks so much for everything... for accepting me...
I love you
Your reviews are awaited!😃
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