a/n: Will begin by wishing all my Pakistani readers A Very Happy Independence Day! Hope you enjoy the long weekend!
I was way too tired by the time I finished typing the update. So I couldnt complete translating it. I'm going out for the weekend so the translation will be up on Monday evening. Sorry for the delay!
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Thanks for the likes,comments & wishes! Over to..
Part 119
Khushi: Kya aap humari madad kar sakti hain?
Nirvaan's mother: Ji,zaroor! Bataiyye,hum kya kar sakte hain aapk liye?
Khushi: Aap humein bas itna bataa dijiye ki.. kya aap humare pati,Arnav Singh Raizada ko.. jaanti hain?
There were myriad expressions on the woman's face as she thought for a long moment before saying: Ji nahi!
Khushi was about to heave a sigh of relief when she continued.
Nirvaan's mother: Jisse hum jaante the woh Arnav Singh Raizada nahi, Arnav Malik the!
Khushi didnt know what to say upon hearing that.
Nirvaan's mother continued after a short pause.
Nirvaan's mother: Iss sawaal k alaava agar aapk man me,humse juda hua,koi aur sawaal ho toh aap beshaq poochh sakti hain.
Khushi: Ji nahi. Humein aapse kuch aur poochhne ki ya jaanne ki zaroorat nahi hai! Humare sawaalon k jawaab humare pati pehle hi de chuke hain.
Rachnaa: Humein yaqeen tha ki.. aapk pati aapko humare baare me zaroor bataayenge! Waise hi,jaise humein iss baat ka yaqeen hai ki.. aap k pati
ne aapko sab kuch nahi bataaya hoga.. Apne baare me,humare baare me aur apne beete huye kal k baare me.
Khushi: Agar aap humare man me unki koi galat chhavi(image) banaane ki koshish kar rahi hain ya apne aur unke prem sambandh k baare me koi
galat khayaalaat paidaa karne ki koshish kar rahi hain toh hum aapko pehle hi bataa dete hain ki aisaa karne ka koi faayda nahi hoga! (confidently)
Humein apne pati par aur unki baaton par poora bharosa hai!
Rachnaa: Aap humein galat samajh rahi hain,Khushiji. Hum apni shaadishuda zindagi me behad khush hain! Aapk pati ko hadapne(snatch) ka humara
koi iraada nahi hai! Aapk pati ko aapse chheen kar humein kuch nahi milega kyunki.. (sighs)aapk pati woh hain hi nahi jisse humne pyaar kiya tha!
She continued with a faraway look in her eyes.
Rachnaa: Uss.. Arnav ko waqt aur haalaat(circumstances) humse bahut door kheench kar le gaye! Ab woh kabhi waapis nahi aa saktaa! Naa aapk pati
woh.. Arnav hain aur na hum woh.. pehle wali Rachnaa hain. Jab pehle jaisaa kuch hai hi nahi toh.. aapko chinta karne ki koi zaroorat nahi hai!
Khushi: Chaliye,maan liya! Par humein samajh nahi aa raha hai ki aap humse kya chahti hain? Aap yeh kyun chahti hain ki hum apne pati ko lekar
aapse sawaal-jawaab karein? Aur woh bhi ab,jab aap dono apni-apni zindagiyon me aage badh chuke hain.
Rachnaa: Insaan apni zindagi me kitna bhi aage kyun na badh jaaye,uska ateet(past) hamesha uss ki zindagi ka hissa rehta hai. Hum Arnav k ateet
ka hissa hai. Uski.. girlfriend banne se bahut pehle hum usk sehpaathi(classmate) bane aur phir dost. Kareebi(close) dost.. the hum dono.
Khushi: Haan,toh?
Rachnaa: Isiliye humein uss k ateet se sambandhit(related) bahut si baatein pataa hai,jo ussne aapko nahi bataayi hongi.
Khushi: Aap yeh kaise keh sakti hain ki unhone humein kya bataaya hoga ya kya nahi bataaya hoga?
Rachnaa: Kyunki hum jaante hain ki woh apne ateet se door bhaag raha hai! Har uss jagah,cheez aur.. shaqs(person) se door bhaag raha hai jo usse
usk ateet ki yaad dilatein hain! Jaise ki Lucknow, jahaan woh palaa-badhaa(brought up) hai! Ya Sheesh Mahal,uss ka pyaara ghar! Jis k har ek kamre
se usski dheron yaadein judi huyi hain! Uss hi Sheesh mahal par apnaa haq waapis paa lene k baad woh dobara, mud kar kabhi Lucknow nahi aata
agar (pause)aap usse yahaan na laati!
Khushi(shocked): Aapko yeh..
Rachnaa(interrupts): Hum jaante hain ki woh aapki wajah se Lucknow aaya hai! Galat mat samajhiyega,par hum Arnav ko achchhi tarah se jaante
hain!
Khushi: Humein kuch samajh nahi aa raha hai! Kabhi aap kehti hain ki humare Arnavji woh pehle wale Arnavji nahi hain! Toh kabhi aap kehti hain ki
aap humare Arnavji ko bahut achchhe se jaanti hain! Aapko yeh bhi pataa hai ki woh kab Lucknow aaye the aur kab nahi.. Yeh sab kya chal raha hai?
Kya aap aaj bhi Arnavji se pyaar karti hain?
Rachnaa(immediately): Bilkul nahi!
Khushi: Phir aapko unki zindagi me itni dilchaspi(interest) kyun hain?
Rachnaa: Kyunki hum aaj bhi usski parvaah(care) karte hain! Pyaar bhale hi.. na karte ho lekin dost hone k naate hum usski fiqar karte hain! Arnav k
Lucknow aane ka samaachaar(news) toh poore Uttar Pradesh ko mil jaata hai! Sheesh mahal ko haasil karne k baad uss se judi huyi tamaam
kaanooni(judicial) gatividhiyan(procedures) ussne Dilli me baithe-baithe hi poori karvaayi hain. Court me maujudgi dene tak nahi aaya woh! Usk
manager ne Arnav k nirdesh(instruction) par Sheesh Mahal ka zyaadaatar kaam sambhaala hai! Yeh sab humein T.V. aur newspapers se pataa chalaa.
Aur hum samajh gaye ki woh dobara kabhi Lucknow nahi aayega! Par aapko yahaan dekhkar hum samajh gaye hain ki Arnav bhi yaheen hain!
Khushi: Woh kaise?
Rachnaa: Jahaan tak humne suna hai aap.. bura mat maaniyega! Par.. humne suna hai ki aap.. chhote ghar se hain. Iss k baawaajood,jab aapki itne
ameer aadmi se shaadi huyi,tab aapne apne adhikaar ka zaraa bhi galat faayda nahi uthaaya!
Khushi(shocked): aapko yeh bhi pataa hai!?
Rachnaa(nods): Paison ki ehmiyat(importance) bahut achchhe se jaanti hain aap. Toh,itne bade hotel me aap apni marzi se kabhi nahi aayengi! Arnav
hi aapko yahaan laaya hoga..
Khushi: Aisaa bhi toh ho saktaa hai na ki unhone keval hotel ki booking karvaai ho aur woh.. khud yahaan nahi aaye ho?
Rachnaa(shakes her head): Aisaa nahi ho saktaa! (confidently)Arnav aapko Lucknow me kabhi akela nahi chhodega!
Khushi(deep frown): Aisaa kyun?
Rachnaa: Iss sawaal ka jawaab agar aapko Arnav se mile toh behtar hoga! Filhaal,hum aapko kuch aisi baatein bataa sakte hain jo Arnav ne aapko
nahi bataayi hongi ya.. kuch aise sawaalon k jawaab de sakte hain jo aapk man me honge par aapne kabhi uss se unk jawaab nahi maange honge.
Khushi(shocked): Aapko yeh sab kaise pataa?
Rachnaa: Koi bhi patni apne pati ko dukhi kar k apne sawaalon k jawaab jaanna nahi chaahegi!
Though Khushi knew that she(Rachnaa) was right,she did not say so.
The knowledge that some other woman knew more about her husband than she did,did not sit well with her.
Rachnaa: Agar aap Arnav k ateet k baare me kuch jaanna chahti hain toh humare saath humare kamre me chaliye. Aur agar nahi toh.. aap apne kamre
me laut jaiyye. Hum aapke faisle ki qadar(respect) karenge.
Khushi pondered over her words for a few moments.
Khushi: Aap jo kehna chah rahi hai woh sab.. jaankar humara kya faayda hoga?
Rachnaa: Aap Arnav k baare me.. woh sab jaankar usse behtar tareeqe se samajh paayengi. Aapk pati me kaheen... uss Arnav k kuch ansh hain,jinhe
aap baahar nikaal sakti hain! Uss ki zindagi ko behtar banaa sakti hain! Aur.. sabse zaroori baat-usk ateet se uski sulah(patch up) karvaa sakti hain!
Yaqeen maaniye-iss me aapka aur Arnav ka,dono ka faayda hoga!
Khushi did not reply immediately.
Khushi(thinks): Hey Devi Maiyya! Humein Rachnaaji ki baatein sunni chahiye ya nahi?
Khushi's heart: Kya pataa.. shaayad woh ateet ki baaton k naam par tujhe koi jhooti kahaani sunaa de?
Khushi's mind: Agar aisaa kuch hua toh tu Arnavji se poochh lena. Uss se pataa chal jaayega ki unhone jo bhi kaha woh sach tha ya jhoot!
Khushi's heart: Arnavji..! Jab unhe pataa chalega ki hum Rachnaaji se milein aur.. unse yeh saari baatein sunne chale gaye toh woh kya kahenge?
Khushi's mind: Woh baad ki baat hai! Filhaal tujhe yeh tay karnaa hai ki tujhe Rachnaaji ki baat sunni hai ya nahi..
Khushi's heart: Agar woh.. apne aur.. Arnavji k.. prem sambandh ki baatein karne lagi toh.. hum woh sab kaise sun paayenge?
Khushi's mind: Woh wali baatein sunne se saaf inkaar kar dena! Par baaki ki baatein toh sun le! Kya pataa,shaayad woh sach keh rahi ho? Aur unki
baatein sunkar waaqai me tujhe faayda ho?
Khushi's heart: Par.. kya yeh sahi hoga?
Khushi's mind: Yahaan baat sahi ya galat ki nahi,baat ichchha ki hai! Tujhe teri khwaahish k baare me achchhi tarah pataa hai! Teri yeh hi khwaahish
thi na,ki jaise tu Arnavji ko apne amma babuji k baare me bataati hai,waise hi,Arnavji bhi tujhe apne amma babuji k baare me kuch bataayein?.. Par..
na woh khud tujhe bataayenge aur na tu unse kuch poochh paayegi! Haan,thoda bahut bataaya hai unhone par.. woh tere liye kaafi hai kya?
Khushi's heart: Nahi..
Khushi's mind: Aur tu kabhi unse ya parivaar k kisi aur sadasya se amma babuji k baare me kuch poochh bhi nahi paayi,kyunki tu unhe dukh nahi
pahuchaana chahti thi! Aur na hi kabhi poochh paayegi! Ab agar koi saamne se tujhe kuch bataana chahta hai toh sun le na! Diqqat kya hai?
Khushi's heart: Theek hai.. Sun lete hain.
Rachnaa,who was waiting patiently,smiled when Khushi agreed to listen to what she had to say.
Rachnaa: Humein aapse yeh hi ummeed thi! Chaliye..
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Once they were seated comfortably in the suite,Rachnaa called up her husband.
Rachnaa: Aap Neev ko kisi mall me ya.. fun park me lekar jaiyye. (pauses)Ji haan,hum Khushiji se batiyaana chahte hain. Aur,aapko toh pataa
hai,usski maujudgi(presence) me hum unse kuch nahi bol paayenge. (smiles)Shukriya!
Khushi(thinks): Inhone kaha aur inke pati jhatt se maan bhi gaye!?
Rachnaa: Ji,theek hai.(pause)Yeh sahi rahega! Aur phir lunch k liye aap usse McDonalds' lekar jaiyyega. (smiles)Happy meal khaakar khush ho
jaayega!
Khushi(thinks): Itni lambi baatein karni hai Rachnaaji ko?! Dopeher k khaane ka waqt hone se pehle hi Arnavji ki meeting khatm ho jaayegi. Aur hum..
Rachnaa(after ending the call): Khushiji..
Khushi(startled): huh?
Rachnaa: Kya hua?
Khushi: Woh.. Arnavji iss samay 1 meeting me hain. Jaise hi woh khatm hogi waise hi woh humein phone karenge. Aur.. unka phone aate hi humein..
jaana hoga.
Rachnaa: Koi baat nahi! Jab tak Arnav ka phone na aaye tab tak aap humari baatein sun lijiye.
Khushi: Ji,boliye..
Rachnaa: Hum samajh sakte hain ki.. aapko yeh sab bahut ajeeb lag raha hoga par..
Khushi(interrupts): Aap humari chinta mat kijiye! Hum theek hain. Aapko jo kehna hai aap kahiye..
Rachnaa took a deep breath and Khushi could see the change in her expressions.
Her eyes held that faraway look while a smile appeared on her lips.
Rachnaa: Bachpan me Arnav bahut hi sharaarti(naughty) tha! Logon ko sataane me na jaane kyun mazaa aata tha usse!? Teachers se daant khaata
tha, maa se maar khaata tha par phir bhi,uss ki sharaaratein kam nahi hoti thi! Aur aisi kartoot karne k baad usski aankhon me ek alag hi chamak aa
jaati thi! Aur ussk hothon pe woh hi,natkhat hasi!
Khushi couldnt help but think of all those times when Arnav teased her.
Of the unmistakable glint in his eyes & the lopsided grin on his lips!
She came back to the present when Rachnaa continued.
Rachnaa: Humein bhi bahut sataata tha woh! Humari pehli mulaaqat se hi usski sharaaratein shuru ho gayi thi! Woh naye school me aur chauthi(4th)
kakshaa(grade) me humara pehla din tha. Teacher ne humein Arnav k bagal me bithaaya. Jab tak woh class me thi tab tak toh uss ne kuch nahi kiya!
Jaise hi woh class se baahar gayi,waise hi ussne humari choti kheenchi!
Khushi: Kya?!
Rachnaa(nods): Aur woh bhi itni zor se ki humara sir dukhne lagaa! Jab hum teacher se uski shiqaayat karne k liye uthe tab ussne humse kaha..
*Flashback*
Arnav: Tumhare baal lambe ho jaayenge!
Rachnaa: Kya?!
Arnav: Hum roz apni di k baal kheenchte hain! Aur unk baal bahut lambe ho gaye hain!
Rachnaa: Aise thode hi na hota hai!
Arnav(nods earnestly): Hota hai! Hum recess me tumhe apni di se milvaa denge! Tum khud unse poochh lena! Jab tum unk baal dekhogi na,tab tumhe
pataa chalega!
*Flashback ends*
Rachnaa: Jab humne Anjali di ko dekha toh bas unk baalon ko dekhte hi reh gaye! Unk kaale,ghane,lambe baal the! Hum unse poochhne jaa rahe the
tab Arnav ne humse kaha..
*Flashback*
Arnav: Tum di se kuch mat puchho! Please..
Rachnaa: Kyun nahi?
Arnav: Kyunki yeh di ka secret hai! Jab unhe pataa chalega ki humne tumhe yeh secret bataa diya toh woh humari pitaai kar dengi! Aur saath me
tumhari bhi! Woh bahut gussewali hain!
Rachnaa: Achchha? Toh.. theek hai. Hum unse nahi poochhenge.
Arnav: Toh ab.. tum humein apni choti kheenchne dogi?
Rachnaa: Haan! Humein lambe baal bahut pasand hain!
Arnav: Hum roz tumhari choti kheenchenge na toh tumhare baal di k baalon jitne lambe ho jaayenge!
Rachnaa: Kitne dinon me?
Arnav: umm.. Diwali vacation tak!
Rachnaa: Theek hai. Par.. aaraam se kheenchna,haan?
Arnav(smiles): Okay!
*Flashback ends*
Rachnaa: Uss din humne pehli baar uss ki aankhon me woh chamak dekhi thi..
Khushi(shocked): Arnavji.. apne liye 'hum' shabd ka istemaal karte the,main ka nahi?!
Rachnaa: Nahi. Aapk sasuraal me sirf do shaqs hain jo apne liye main ka istemaal karte hain- 1 aapk pati toh doosre aapke devar,Aakash.
Khushi nods.
Rachnaa: 15 saal pehle jo.. bhi.. hua uss k baad Arnav k man me dad k liye itni kadvaahat(bitterness) ho gayi ki ussne unse judi huyi har cheez se
nata todna chaha. Uss ne apne naam k aage unka naam lagaana chhod diya, apna upnaam(surname) badal diya,unka sheher chhod diya, unki tarah
Lucknowi lehze(accent) me batiyaana chhod diya. Woh shhudh,shaakaahaari Brahman the, toh Arnav ne ghar k baahar maansaahar khaana shuru kar
diya. Aur,kyunki Aakash bachpan se Arnav ko apnaa idol maanta aaya hai,isiliye jab Arnav ne hum ki jagah main bolna shuru kiya toh Aakash ne bhi
woh hi kiya! Aur maansaahaari toh Aakash bhi hai..
Khushi: Aapko yeh kaise pataa chalaa ki jijaji aur Arnavji maansaahaari hain?
Arnav: Dilli me.. ya yoon kahiye ki South Delhi me 'Zaayika.. Awadh ka' naam ka ek restaurant hai..**
Khushi(nods): Hum jaante hain.
Arnav: Uss restaurant ki maalkin,Tasneem**, humari aur Arnav ki common friend hai. Ussne restaurant k launch par Arnav aur Aakash ko bataur chief
guests invite kiya tha. Uss hi ne humein bataaya ki Arnav galauti kabaab kha raha tha. Itne saal Lucknow me rehne k baawajood ussne ,kabhi
maansaahari kabaab chakhe tak nahi the! Khair,hum apni baat par waapis aate hain. Baanke Bihari ki kripa se 1 mahine baad hi Arnav ka raaz khul
gaya! 1 din,jab di humari class me usse tiffin dene k liye aayi,tab unhone usse humare baal kheenchte huye dekh liya. Aur usski chori pakdi gayi! Phir
humari uss se ladaayi huyi aur ghar pe usski pitaayi huyi! Do dinon tak bol-chaal bilkul band ho gayi. Humne ussk pass baithna bhi chhod diya. Phir
teesre din,di recess me humse milne aayi.. Saath me Arnav bhi tha. Uss ne humein sorry card diya aur.. di ne humari sulah karvaayi. (smiles)Waheen
se humari dosti ki shuruaat huyi thi. Aur di humein uss hi din se pasand aa gayi! Khaas kar unka swabhaav(nature)! Unhone humse kaha tha ki hum
bejhijak unnse Arnav ki shiqaayat kar sakte hain! (sighs)Lekin humne kabhi aisaa nahi kiya,kyunki humein usse di se daant nahi khilvaana chahte the.
Aur..
An incident from the past flashes in Rachnaa's mind..
*Flashback*
Rachnaa: Arnav,chalo yahaan se!
Arnav: Kyun?
Rachnaa: Hindi ka period chal raha hai,stupid!
Arnav: You stupid! Sabse bakwaas period attend karna chahti ho! Kis kavi ne kaunsi kavita likhi,kyun likhi,kavita ka saar(summary) kya hai yeh sab
jaan k tumhe kya karnaa hai?!
Rachnaa: Exam pass karnaa hai! Aur sirf humein hi nahi,tumhe bhi karnaa hai! Agle saal baaki subjects k saath Hindi ka board exam bhi dena hoga
tumhe! I hope you know that..
Arnav: Aglaa saal abhi bahut door hai! Aur 1 class bunk karne se tum 9th me Hindi k final exam me fail nahi ho jaaogi. I hope you know that!
Rachnaa makes a face.
Arnav: So,chill!
Rachnaa: Humari chhodo aur apni fiqar karo!
Arnav: Woh hi toh kar raha hoon! (cups her cheek) Mujhe dar hai ki agar abhi maine tumhe kiss nahi kiya na toh tum yahaan se bhaag jaaogi!
Rachnaa(shrugs off his hand): Sirf bhaagenge hi nahi,hum toh di se tumhari shiqaayat bhi karenge!
Arnav: Achchha?! Kaise karogi? (smiles)Di toh ab college jaati hain,yahaan nahi aati!
Rachnaa: Toh kya hua? Humare paas tumhara phone number bhi hai aur ghar ka address bhi!
Arnav: Oh,it completely escaped my mind! Waise,tum unse kya kahogi? Ki humne tumhe class
bunk karne k liye force kiya?!
Rachnaa: Sirf yeh hi nahi,hum unhe yeh bhi bataayenge ki tumne.. aur kya-kya kiya!
Arnav: Choti kheenchne me aur kiss karne me farq hota hai! Tum kya kahogi unse,ki hum tumhe kiss kar rahe the?
Rachnaa does not answer.
Arnav(smirk): Bolo,bolo! Bol k dikhaao ki tum unse kaise shiqaayat karogi!
Rachnaa: Hum kahenge ki..
Arnav(smug look): Keh hi nahi paaogi! So dont even try it!
Rachnaa: huh! Bade aaye! Di se..
Arnav(cups her face): Agle 15 minute tak di aur Hindi ki koi baat mat karna,please!
Rachnaa(relents): Theek hai.
*Flashback ends*
Khushi: Kya?
Rachnaa: Ji?
Khushi: Aap Arnavji ko di ki daant se bachaana chaahti thi aur.. kya?
Rachnaa: Aur.. hum jaante the ki Arnav.. nahi chahta tha ki hum uss ki shiqaayat kare. Toh.. humne kabhi nahi ki! (sighs)Khair.. usska yeh sharaarati
mizaaj..
Khushi(interrupts): Hum dekh chuke hain!
Rachnaa: Humari baat poori nahi huyi.. Usska yeh sharaarati mizaaj dad ki maujudgi me kabhi dekhne ko nahi milta tha. Unk saamne woh bilkul
chupchaap aur serious ho jaata. Woh jaanta tha ki dad padhaai aur sports ki baaton k alaava aur kisi bhi baat ko entertain nahi kartein.. Mazaak toh
bilkul bardaash nahi kartein!
Khushi: Kya woh bahut sakht(strict) aur.. gusse wale the?
Rachnaa: Ji haan.
Khushi: Unk saath.. Arnavji k sambandh.. kaise the?
Rachnaa: Achchhe nahi the.. Maa k saath Arnav ka sambandh jitna gehra tha,dad k saath uska sambandh utna gehra kabhi nahi ho paya. Dono k
beechh tanaav rehta hi tha. Arnav chaahe kitne bhi achchhe marks kyun na score kartaa,woh kabhi bhi santusht (satisfied) nahi hote the. Aur agar
kabhi galti se Arnav se bhool chook ho gayi toh usse khari-khoti sunaane me koi qasar nahi chhodte the. Arnav bhi unki gusse me kahi huyi baaton ko
seriously le leta tha. Hamesha unhe galat saabit(prove) karne me lagaa rehta tha!
Khushi: Kya aapne kabhi Arnavji ko samjhaane ki koshish nahi ki?
Rachnaa: Kayeen koshishein ki par.. kaamiyaab ek bhi nahi huyi! Arnav ko yeh hi lagtaa tha ki unk liye apne parivaar se zyaada apna business
maayine rakhtaa hai. Woh humse kayeen baar kehta tha ki dad ko apne bachchon se zyaada apni izzat pyaari hai! Aur.. humein lagtaa hai ki uss ki
yeh baat sahi thi.
Khushi: Aapko aisaa kyun lagtaa hai?
Rachnaa: Kyunki woh aksar Arnav se apni izzat aur aude ki baatein kiya karte the. Arnav ko yeh nahi karnaa chahiye,ya woh nahi karnaa chahiye.
Aisaa karne se humari izzat mitti me mil jaayegi,vagairah,vagairah!(etc,etc) Samaaj me jo unka rutba tha uss ka ghamand aa gaya tha unme. Izzat
se badhkar aur koi cheez nahi thi unk liye! Isiliye jab unhe pataa chalaa ki.. di apne college k kisi ladke se pyaar karti hain,tu unhone agle hi din unki
shaadi tay karvaa di!
Khushi(shocked): Kisi aur ladke se?
Rachnaa: Nahi,uss hi ladke se. Humein lagtaa hai ki ladkaa ameer khaandaan se tha isiliye unhone aisaa kiya. Agar gareeb hota toh shaayad woh kisi
aur se unka rishta tay kar dete. Di tab first year B.Com me thi aur kuch hi hafton pehle 18 saal ki huyi thi. Unhone socha bhi nahi ki itni chhoti umar
me woh sansaar kaise sambhaalengi? Bas,yeh hi socha ki unki beti ki wajah se unki izzat par koi daag lage uss se pehle beti ko vidaa kar dena hi
achchha hai!
Khushi: Kya Arnavji iss faisle se khush the?
Rachnaa: Bilkul nahi! Woh chahta tha ki di apne bachelors ki degree haasil karne k baad hi shaadi karein. Par unhone use yeh kehkar manaa liya ki
shaadi k baad di k sasuraalwaalon ko unk padhne se koi aitraaz nahi hoga. Di unk faisle se bahut khush thi,unhe apnaa manpasand jeevan saathi jo
mil raha tha! Isiliye Arnav ne bhi yeh faislaa sweekaar(accept) kar liya. (sighs)Na jaane Baanke Bihari ne di ki kismat me kya likha hai? Jab pehli baar
dil toot-ta hai toh doosri baar kisi aur se dil jodna kitna mushqil hota hai woh hum achchhi tarah jaante hain! Unhe toh doosri baar bhi.. dhokha hi
mila! Pehli baar se kayeen guna zyaada badaa dhokha! Ab issk aage unki zindagi me chaahe jo bhi ho,humari toh yeh hi praarthna hai k di ko uss se
joojhne ki himmat aur shakti mile!
Khushi: Aap aise kyun keh rahi hain? Aage sab kuch achchha hi hoga!
Rachnaa: Hum toh sirf soch sakte hain aur keh sakte hain,Khushiji. Baaki hoga toh woh hi jo Ooparwaale ko manzoor hoga! Aur Unki marzi k aage kisi
ki nahi chalti!
Khushi noticed a morose look on Rachnaa's face as she said that.
Khushi: Rachnaaji..?
Rachnaa: Ji,haan. Toh.. hum kahaan the?
Arnav: Arnavji aur dad k sambandhon par..
Rachnaa: Humein iss vishay par jo bhi pataa tha humne aapko bataa diya. Ab hum aapko Arnav aur maa k sambandh k baare me bataate hain.
Khushi: Itna toh humein pataa hai ki Arnavji ka sabse gehra sambandh maa k saath tha!
Rachnaa: Ji,bilkul sahi kaha aapne! Maa.. (sighs)Apneaap se bhi zyaada pyaar kartaa tha Arnav unse! Aisa koi kaam nahi tha jo maa k kehne par nahi
kartaa tha! Unk kehne par woh dad se tameez se pesh aata tha,apne ghar k saare paudhon ko paani pilaata tha aur.. yeh sunkar aapko taajjub hoga
lekin Arnav k gale me hamesha laal dhaage se bandhaa hua 1 shanmukhi rudraaksh ka locket hota tha.
Khushi: Rudr.. aaksh!? Aur woh bhi.. Arnavji k gale me!
Rachnaa: Ji haan! Sirf maa ki wajah se! Maa ko unk jyotish aacharya ne bataaya tha ki shanmukhi rudraaksh dhaaran karne se Arnav ka gussa shaant
ho jaayega,padhaai me zyaada man lagega aur shareer swastha rahega. Isiliye maa ne khud usk gale me rudraaksh pehnaaya tha.
Khushi: Arnavji unk laadle rahe honge na?
Rachnaa(nods): Bahut pyaar karti thi usse aur utni hi chinta bhi karti thi! Uski pasand ka khana aksar tiffin me bharkar deti thi. Aur jab uss ki pasand
ka khana nahi hota tha toh khaane k saath pyaaz ka raitaa deti thi. Arnav ko woh raitaa bahut pasand tha!
Khushi: Woh bahut achchha khana banaati hongi na?
Rachnaa: Haan,khana toh lazeez hota tha par Arnav ki sehat ka dhyaan rakhte huye,khaana kam tel me banaati thi. Aur mirch kam daalti thi.
Tyohaaron k aas-pass jab woh ghar me mithaaiyaan banaati thi tab uss k doston k liye 1 dibba bharkar laddoo,barfi ya pede bhejti thi. Humein unk
haath k aate k laddoo bahut pasand the! Arnav hamesha humein do laddoo deta tha aur baaki saare doston ko 1,1 deta tha. a.. sirf.. khaana banaane
me hi nahi, silaai-bunaai me bhi bahut achchhi thi woh! Har saal Arnav aur di k liye sweater bunti thi. Secondary me aane k baad se Arnav par
windheater aur jackets pehenne ka bhoot savaar hua tha! Woh maa k banaaye huye sweater kam hi pehenta tha. 1 roz humne usse kaha..
*Flashback*
Rachnaa: Kal apnaa sweater lekar aana..
Arnav: Ab humein usski zaroorat nahi hai! (grins)Humare paas humari brand new black jacket jo hai!
Rachnaa: Haan,woh toh hai par hum sweater apne liye mangvaa rahe hain!
Arnav(shocked): Tum humara sweater pehenogi?
Rachnaa: Haan. Hum sab k sweaters 1 hi rang k hain na,toh kisi ko pataa nahi chalega!
Arnav: Tumhara sweater kho gaya hai kya?
Rachnaa: Nahi! Humare paas hi hai. Par tumhara sweater reshmi oon se banaa hai aur itna mulaayam hai na ki usse pehenne ka man kartaa hai!
(makes a face)Pataa nahi tumhe iss leather jacket me aisaa kya pasand hai jo tum makhmali,mulaayam sweater ko chhodkar isse pehente ho!
Arnav: Jacket aur sweater ka koi muqaabla nahi hai! Its way better & classier!
Rachnaa: Tumhara jacket tumhe mubaarak ho! Kal humare liye sweater lekar aana.
Arnav: Nahi laayenge!
Rachnaa: Humne kaha na,kisi ko pataa..
Arnav(interrupts): Woh baat nahi hai,silly!
Rachnaa: Toh kya baat hai?
Arnav: Tumhe humara sweater fit nahi hoga,tum itni moti jo ho!
Rachnaa: Kya!? Humein mota kaha tumne! Arnav...
She runs after him while he runs farther away from her.
*Flashback ends*
Khushi: Maa ka swabhaav kaisaa tha?
Rachnaa: Milandsaar swabhaav ki thi. Woh hamesha sabse pyaar se,aadar se pesh aati thi. Arnav ne humein bataaya tha ki jab sabne mamaji aur
mami k rishte ka virodh(oppose) kiya thatab sirf maa hi thi jo un k haq me khadi huyi thi. Unhone mami ko apni bhabhi k roop me sweekaar toh kar hi
liya,saath me nanaji aur nani ko bhi unki shaadi k liye raazi karvaa liya. Iss baat k liye mami hamesha maa ki ehsaanmand rahi. Aur aaj bhi hongi!
Nanaji aur nani k saath mami k sambandhon me chaahe jitni kadvaahat rahi ho,maa k saath unka behen jaisa sambandh tha! Aur Arnav ne yeh bhi
bataaya tha humein ki mami hamesha usse aur di ko apne bachchhon ki tarah pyaar karti thi! Aakash k janam se pehle bhi aur Aakash k janam k baad
bhi! Aur maa bhi Advayit aur Aakash ko apne beton ki tarah samajhti thi.
Khushi: Ad.. vayit.. kaun?
Rachnaa: Arnav ka chachera bhai..
Khushi: Oh.. Unk chachaji bhi Sheesh mahal me hi rehte the?
Rachnaa: Ji haan! Unlogon ka sanyukt parivaar(joint family) tha,jisme chachaji,chachi aur Advayit bhi shaamil the. Parivaar me sabse badi thi dadi aur
unk dehaant(death) k baad, dad sabse bade the. Dadadji ne jeetejee(while he was alive) apne ghar ko dad k naam par kar diya tha,kyunki dono
bhaiyyon me woh bade,zimmedaar aur samajhdar the. Chachaji paise kamaane se zyaada paise udaaya karte the aur iss hi baat ko lekar dono
bhaiyyon me aksar ladaai-jhagda hua karta tha..
Khushi: Arnavji aur Advayitji k beechh k sambandh kaise the?
Rachnaa: Un dono k sambandh bhi utne achchhe nahi thi. Par iss me galti Arnav ki nahi thi. Advayit hamesha uss se jaltaa tha! Usse hamesha yeh hi
lagtaa tha ki Arnav badaa bhai hone ka najaayaz faayda uthata hai,uss ka haq chheenta hai. Ussk maa-baap ne uss k man me jo zeher bhaara tha
yeh sab uss hi ka nateeja tha! Arnav ne uss ki galatfehmi ko door karne ki bahut koshishein ki par usse Arnav ki kahi huyi har baat jhooti lagti thi!
Arnav aur Akash saal me 3 ya 4 baar ek doosre se milte the,woh bhi kuch hi dinon k liye. Phir bhi un dono ka sambandh atoot tha! Uss me koi eersha
(jealousy) ya naraazgi nahi thi. Sirf pyaar tha ek doosre k liye aur Aakash ki or se sammaan tha apne bade bhai k liye! Aakash.. (smiles)Itna achchha
ladka hai! Arnav ne na jaane kitni sharaartein ki uss k saath! Bichara bhola bhala tha isiliye har baar Arnav k jaal me phas jaata tha! Kayeen bar aisaa
hua ki galti Arnav ki thi par pitaai Akash ki huyi! Phir bhi,uss ne apne bhai ka saath nahi chhoda,kyunki woh jaanta tha ki Arnav chaahe jitna bhi
natkhat ho,uss ka dil saaf hai! Isiliye un dono bhaiyyon ka sambandh aaj bhi barqaraar hai!..
Khushi: Arnavji ki dadiji k baare me kya jaanti hain aap?
Rachnaa: Woh bhi Arnav ko khoob laad kiya karti thi! Khud bhi chhip-chhip kar mithaaiyaan khaati thi aur Arnav ko bhi khilaati thi! Kayeen baar
unhone Arnav ko dad ki daant se aur maa k haathon pitne se bachaaya tha. Arnav aur di ko unse kahaaniyaan sunna bahut pasand tha! Humlog kuch..
10 saal k rahe honge jab, Makar sankraant k agle din unka dehaant ho gayaa.
Khushi: Oh ho! Devi Maiyya unki aatmaa ko shaanti de! Waise.. hua kya tha unhe?
Rachnaa: Woh severely diabetic thi aur unhe hriday rog(heart disease) bhi tha.
Khushi: Oh..
Rachnaa: Har saal,unki punyatithi par,Arnav aur di school se chhuti liya karte the. Unk ghar subha me pooja aur havan hota tha aur phir woh sab log
alag-alag vruddhashram(old age homes) jaakar buzurgon ko khana khilaate the,kambal ya shaal dete the aur phir ghar waapis aakar khud khana
khaaya karte the.
Khushi(appreciative smile): Bahut hi punya ka kaam kiya karte the wohlog!
Rachnaa*nods*: Ji haan. Arnav ne bataya tha humein ki unk dehant se kuch dinon pehle,dadi ne hi maa ko yeh sab karne k liye kaha tha. (sighs)Yeh
humari badnaseebi hai ki humein unse ya.. maa se milne ka mauka kabhi nahi mila! Par humne maa ko dekha zaroor tha,woh bhi kayeen baar..
Khushi: Kab?
Rachnaa: Jab PTM yaani parent teacher meetings hoti thi,tab.. Unka pehnaava bilkul humari mummy k pehnaave jaisaa tha! Seedhe pallu wali saree,
sir pe ghoonghat,maang me sindoor,kapaal pe laal bindiya, kaanon me sone k jhumkein,gale me mangalsutra,haathon me dher saari choodiyaan aur
pairon me bichhiyaan(toe rings). 1 roz ptm k dauraan unhe pahuchne me der ho gayi. Woh jis tarah se haanf rahi thi woh dekhkar humein lagaa jaise
woh bahut tez seedhiyaan chadhkar aayi hongi. Woh bahut chintit lag rahi thi. Aur hum soch rahe the ki unhe itni chinta karne ki kya zaroorat hai?
Arnav k saare imtihaan(exams) bahut achchhe gaye the. Aur parinaam(result) bhi bahut achchha aaya tha! Unki chinta ka kaaran humein tab pataa
chalaa jab humne unhe humari class teacher se batiyaate huye suna..
*Flashback*
Maa: How is Arnav doing?
Teacher: He's doing very well. He has scored better than the previous terminal exam. (hands the report card) And he's stood second in class with
88.3%!
Rachnaa,who was sitting next to the class teacher and pretending to arrange the answer sheets,observed that the smile disappeared from maa's face
when the teacher announced Arnav's percentage.
Maa: His father was expecting 90%..
Teacher: Dont worry,Mrs. Malik! I'm sure he'll score above 90% in the final exams!
Maa: I hope he stands first in class as well! (sighs)His father has a lot of expectations from him..
Teacher(nods): I know. And I can assure you that Arnav's trying his level best to correct his mistakes and score better!
Maa: Is there anything which needs special attention or.. something that he needs to work hard for?
Teacher: Yes,he needs to work on his handwriting! I've told him repeatedly not to scribble in my paper but he ends up doing just that! And I have a
hard time while checking his paper! Even the science teacher, Mrs. Mendosa, was telling me the other day that Arnav's diagrams are very neat and
clean but his labels are hardly legible.
Maa: I'm so sorry about his shabby handwriting! But I'm working on it..
Teacher(smiles): That's wonderful! See,you're working on his writing,he's working on the studying,so I'm sure he'll do better next time! He wont let his
father down!
Maa(nods): I hope so! umm.. Can I see the answer booklets?
Teacher: Yes,sure!
Rachnaa quietly hands over the answer sheets to maa who goes through each one patiently,paying extra attention to the mistakes made by her son.
She thanks her(Rachnaa) while returning the sheets.
*Flashback ends*
Rachnaa: Unki woh muskuraahat aur thank you hi kaafi the humare liye!
Khushi: Yeh aap kaunse saal ki pariksha ki baat kar rahi hain?
Rachnaa: Yeh tab ki baat hain jab humlog aathvi kakshaa(8th grade) me the. Maa humein har saal 4 baar nazar aati thi-3 baar PTM k dauran aur
chauthi baar annual concert k dauraan.
Khushi: Kya dad kabhi school nahi aate the?
Rachnaa: Unhe humne sirf 1 hi baar school me dekha tha. Jab Arnav ko junior chessmaster of the year ka award mila tha,tab woh aur maa saath aaye
the. Yeh tab ki baat hai jab humlog chhati(6th) me the.
Khushi: Achchha..
Rachnaa: 1 aur baar dekha tha humne unhe.. jab humlog aathvi me the.. Arnav ko football khelne ka bahut shauq tha! Aur usski wajah se humare
school ki football team zyaadatar inter-school matches me jeet jaaya karti thi. Jis saal hum aathvi me aaye uss saal 1 inter-state football match hua
tha,jisme U.P. ki or se Arnav aur kuch aur schools k bachhon ki 1 team banaayi gayi. Jab hum match dekhne pahuche tab humne maa,dad,di,nani aur
nanaji ko stadium me dekha tha. Match k dauraan nanaji ki tabiyat bigad gayi aur nani aur di unko ghar lekar chale gaye. Maa aur dad match khatm
hone tak waheen the aur Arnav ki team k liye cheer bhi kar rahe the! (proud smile) Arnav aur uss ki team ki wajah se humare state ko pehla inaam
mila tha! Hum bahut khush the! Arnav ko badhaai dena chahte the lekin.. nahi de paaye,kyunki maa aur dad uss k saath the aur mummy humare
saath thi. Jab humari gaadi parking lot se baahar nikal rahe the tab humne dekha ki dad Arnav k kandhe par haath rakhkar usk saath chal rahe the.
Unko dekhkar lag raha tha ki woh bahut khush the! Woh Arnav ko kuch samjhaa rahe the aur Arnav sir hilaakar haami bhar raha tha! Unk peechhe,kuch
kadmon ki doori par,maa akeli chal rahi thi. Par unko iss baat ka dukh nahi tha ki baap-bete ne unhe peechhe akela chhodh diya! Woh toh muskuraa
rahi thi! Hum samajh sakte hain ki dad aur Arnav ko uss tarah se ek saath aur khush dekhkar unhe kitni khushi huyi hogi! Jahaan humein unki khushi
nazar aayi waheen unka akelapan bhi nazar aaya. Aur humne socha ki..
She stops abruptly at this point of time.
Rachnaa(shakes her head): Jaane dijiye! Hum sirf Arnav ki hi baatein karte hain. Arnav aur di k rishte ki gehraai aap dekh chuki hongi..
Khushi nods.
Rachnaa: Hum aapko woh bataate hain jo aapko nahi pataa hoga.
Rachnaa: Di apne haathon se uss k liye rakhi banaaya karti thi..
Khushi(smiles): Aaj tak banaati hain.
Rachnaa: Jab tak woh rakhi apneaap nahi nikal jaati tab tak Arnav usse apni kalhaai par hi rehne deta tha. Usse itni pyaari thi di ki rakhi!
Khushi(nods): Ab tak woh aise hi karte hain. Aap humein kuch aisaa bataaiyye jo humein pataa na ho..
Rachnaa: Di toh.. bhaag nahi paati thi aur naa hi woh koi aur khel(sport) khel paati thi. Arnav ko iss baat ka behad afsos tha! Woh Advayit k saath
khelta tha,Dilli jaane par Aakash k saath khelta tha par di.. jo inn teenon me se usse sabse zyaadi pyaari thi,unk saath woh bhaag-daud karne wale
koi khel nahi khel pata tha. Isiliye uss ne board games ka sahara liya,jisse di aaraam se baithe-baithe hi uss k saath khel paati thi.
Khushi: Board games matlab carrom?
Rachnaa: Haan,carrom aur saap-seedhi(snakes n ladders),ludo,cross n zero.. iss tareeqe k khel khela karte the dono. Arnav ne di k saath ladkiyon
wale khel jaise aam chori,chappa chori; akkad-bakkad yeh sab bhi khelein hain. Di ko khush rakhne k liye uss se jab,jo ban padaa tab uss ne woh
kiya! Waise di ne uss k liye kam nahi kiya hai. Maa k rehte huye bhi woh bahut hi protective thi. Arnav ne bataaya tha ki jab woh pehli kakshaa me
tha tab 1 ladke ne usse dhakkaa maar diya jis ki wajah se woh gir padaa. Baad me Arnav rote huye di k pass gaya toh unhone turrant jaakar principal
se uss ladke ki shiqaayat ki! Aur uss ladke se sabk saamne maafi mangvaayi. Waise hi,jab Arnav se koi galti ho jaati thi tab woh uss se bhi maafi
mangvaati thi,jaise unhone humare saamnemangvaayi thi. Arnav aksar unse salah lene jata tha,phir chaahe woh padhaai k maamle me ho ya kisi aur
maamle me. Jab di pass out hokar college chali gayi tab,shuru-shuru me,Arnav unhe bahut miss kiya kartaa tha! Di ko Arnav aur dad k beechh ki
taqraar bahut pareshaan kiya karti thi. Woh hamesha unk beechh ki dooriyon ko kam karne me maa ki madad kiya karti thi. Dad ka vyavahaar unk
saath bhi waisaa hi tha,jaisaa ki Arnav k saath tha. Par unhone kabhi bhi dad ki koi baat apne dil se nahi lagaayi! Unka yeh hi gun Arnav ko sabse
zyaada pasand tha! Dad chaahe jo keh le,kitna bhi beizzat kar lete unhe par di k man me dad k liye jo izzat aur jo pyaar tha woh kabhi kam nahi hua!
Khushi: Di ka dil bahut badaa hai!
Rachnaa(agrees): So toh hai hi! Di k jitni bholi,nek,samajhdaar,suljhi huyi, aur saaf dil ki behen agar humein mili hoti na toh hum unhe kabhi khud se
alag nahi hone detein! Arnav ka bhi kuch aisaa hi haal tha jab di ki shaadi tay huyi thi. Usse apne hone wale jijaji se eersha ho rahi thi! Aur di k bida
hokar jaane ka dukh bhi bahut tha. Agar di itni jaldi shaadi karne k liye raazi na huyi hoti toh woh kabhi bhi dad ko unki shaadi nahi karvaane deta!
Par.. di na keval raazi huyi,woh toh bahut khush bhi thi,isiliye.. Arnav kuch keh nahi paaya. Shaadi ki taiyyaariyon me beman se jut gayaa. Aur..
Khushi: Aur?
Rachnaa: a.. aur kuch poochhna hai aapko?
Khushi: Aap humein unk ghar,Sheesh mahal, k baare me kuch bataiyye na..
Rachnaa(sad face): Hum aapko Sheesh mahal k baare me kya bataayein? Humein toh uss ghar me qadam rakhne ka saubhaagya(good fortune) mila hi
nahi..
Khushi: Phir bhi.. Arnavji ne aapko apne ghar k baare me kuch toh bataaya hoga na?
Rachnaa: Ji haan,bataaya toh bahut kuch tha par.. agar uss ghar k baare me aapko Arnav bataaye toh woh hi behtar hoga!
Khushi: Haan,woh toh hoga par.. aisaa nahi ho saktaa. Hum Arnavji ko.. uss ghar k baare me kuch nahi poochhte kyunki..
Rachnaa(interrupts): Hum samajhte hain. Par aap chinta mat kijiye! Arnav khud aapko sheesh mahal lekar jaayega!
Khushi: Nahi! Aisaa nahi hoga.. Hum yahaan Sheesh mahal me jaane k liye nahi aaye hain.
Rachnaa(confidently): Aisaa hoga! Yeh humara drud vishwaas hai ki.. 1 din Arnav khud aapko aapk sasuraal lekar jaayega aur wahaan ka 1,1 kamra
dikhaayega! Woh aapko uss ghar k baare me woh sab kuch bataayega jo aap jaanna chaahti hain! Bas.. thoda samay de dijiye..
Khushi nods understandingly.
Rachnaa: Jab aap uss ghar me jaayengi tab,yaad se,humara 1 kaam kar dijiyega..
Khushi: Kaunsa kaam?
Rachnaa: Ghar k har kone me Gangaajal chhidak dijiyega. Uss ghar se jude huye har shaqs ki zindagi me jitni ashaanti huyi hai uss k baad qaaide se
toh uss ghar me grah shaanti ki pooja honi chaahiye. Par,agar woh sambhav na ho,toh kamaskam Gangaajal chhidak-kar ghar ko paavan kar dijiyega.
Khushi: Ji,zaroor!
Rachnaa: Kya aap kabhi Brajbhoomi gayi hain?
Khushi: Ji nahi. Kya aap Braj se hain?
Rachnaa: Ji haan. Maayike wale sambandhi waise Mathura me hain par kyunki humara janm aur paalan yaheen,Lucknow,me hua hai isiliye hum
apneaap ko Lucknowi hi samajhte hain!
Khushi: Aur sasuraal?
Rachnaa: Sasuraal Kannauj me hai. Unka pushtaini makaan,zameen sab kuch waheen hai. Par hum,Neev aur uss k papa Kanpur me rehte hain. Unka
wahaan furnishing ka business hai.
Khushi: Achchha..
Rachnaa: Maa aur papa 4 mahine humare saath rehte hain,4 mahine jiji aur unk bachhhon k saath Bangalore me rehte hain aur baaki k 4 mahine
Kannauj wale ghar me hi rehte hain.
Khushi: Aapki amma yaheen rehti hain?
Rachnaa: Ji haan. Woh aaj bhi uss hi ghar me rehti hain jahaan hum pale-badhe hain.
Khushi: Toh.. maaf kijiye par! Aapka maayika yaheen hain phir bhi.. aaplog iss hotel me kyun reh rahe hain?
Rachnaa: Kyunki mummy bhi yaheen reh rahi hain!
Khushi(confused): Kya? Par.. kyun?
Rachnaa: Darasal,uss ghar ka renovation chal raha hai. Isiliye pehle sirf mummy yahaan ruki huyi thi. Ab,kyunki humlog Lucknow aaye hain,isiliye
unhone humare liye bhi yaheen par kamraa book karvaa liya.
Khushi: Oh,achchha..
Rachnaa: Filhaal woh uss ghar me kaam dhang se ho raha hai ya nahi yeh dekhne k liye gayi hain. Shaam ko yaheen laut aayengi.
Khushi: Aapk babuji?
Rachnaa: Woh ab nahi rahein..
Khushi: Humein maaf kijiyega!
Rachnaa: Aap humse maafi kyun maang rahi hain? Aapko kahaan pataa tha ki woh chal base?
Khushi: Devi Maiyya unki aatma ko shaanti dein aisi humari praarthna hai!
Rachnaa: Dhanyavaad! Haan toh.. hum yeh keh rahe the ki Agar kabhi Brajbhoomi jaane ka maukaa mile toh Baanke Bihari k mandir me zaroor
jaiyyega. Aur jab wahaan jaayein toh Arnav aur aapk sukhmay vivahit jeevan (happy married life) k liye mannat bhi maangkar aaiyyega!
Khushi: Ji,bilkul maang lenge! Waise.. Kya aapne uss mandir me kabhi.. koi.. mannat maangi thi.. Arnavji k liye?
Rachnaa(sad face): Humne toh kayeen mandiron me kayeen saari mannatein maangi thi jin me se 1 bhi poori nahi hui! (sighs)Humari baat
chhodiye,aap apne aur apne pati k liye wahaan mannat zaroor maangiyega!
Khushi(nods): Ji,theek hai!
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Rachnaa paused briefly to quench her thirst.
Rachnaa: Ab aap bataaiyye,aur kya jaanna chaahti hain aap Arnav k baare me?
Khushi: Humein unk bachpan k doston k baare kuch bataaiyye? Aur..
Rachnaa: Boliye..
Khushi: Pehle aap iss sawaal ka jawaab de dijiye phir hum aage bolenge.
Rachnaa: Ji,theek hai. Waise toh humare saare sehpaathi uss k dost the. Kuch qareebi dost the, jaise agar sabse qareebi(close) doston ki baat karein
toh zehen me teen naam aate hain- Armaan,Rajesh aur Virendra. Yeh chaaron jigri dost the!
Khushi(frowns): Chaaron?
Rachnaa: Chaaron me Arnav bhi shaamil tha.
Khushi: Oh.. Humne toh.. aaj se pehle kabhi ink naam bhi nahi sune Arnavji se..
Rachnaa: Par yeh teeno aaj bhi Arnav ko yaad karte hain,use miss karte hain! Aur.. aisaa nahi hai ki Arnav ko inn ki yaad nahi aati hogi. Zaroor aati
hogi magar woh apni yaadon ko aur jazbaaton ko dabaakar aage badh jaata hoga..
Khushi: Unhe aisaa karne ki kya zaroorat hai? Puraane doston ko yaad karne me kya buraai hai?
Rachnaa: Koi buraai nahi hai! Par yeh sabhi dost Lucknow me the uss k saath aur Lucknow sheher uss k liye maa se judaa hua hai! Maa aur dad ki..
maut se juda hua hai! Iss sheher se jude huye.. kisi bhi insaan ko yaad karne par usse apneaap maa ki yaad aa jaati hai! Aur.. uss k baad unki
aatmahatya ki.. Aur woh bechain aur jazbaati(emotional) ho jaata hai. Woh apne jazbaaton ko apne oopar haavi hone se rokna chahta hai isiliye.. jab
bhi ussk man me.. kisi Lucknowi dost ya.. kisi aur ka khayaal aaya hoga tab ussne woh khayaal apne dimaag se nikaal diya hoga! Shaayad kisi aur
kaam me khud ko vyast kar k ya.. kisi se alag vishay(topic) par baat kar k apnaa dhyaan bataaya hoga.. Hum yeh nahi maan sakte ki.. Arnav ne inn
teenon ko bhulaa diya! Haan,yeh kaha jaa saktaa hai ki ussne inn ki yaadon ko nazarandaaz kar diya..
Khushi: Humein unn teenon k baare me aur Arnavji k saath unn ki dosti k baare me kuch bataaiyye na..
Rachnaa: Ji,zaroor! Armaan Arnav ko apne bhai ki tarah maanta tha! Woh bhi Arnav ki tarah natkhat tha. Dono milkar sabko pareshaan kiya karte the!
Aur humein bahut chidhaaya karte the! Jaise hi hum uss k saamne aate waise hi Armaan Arnav ka naam lena shuru kar deta! Arnav k zyaadatar dost
use Malik bulaaya karte the..
Khushi: Achchha?
Rachnaa(nods): Woh kabhi humein.. mrs. Malik toh kabhi.. bhabhi kehkar chhedta rehta! (changes the topic)Armaan waise.. bilkul beparwaah tha!
Padhaai k maamle me utna serious nahi tha jitna ki usse hona chahiye tha. Arnav hamesha uss k grades improve karne ki koshishon me lagaa rehta
tha. Usse 1 buri lat bhi thi,jo ki aaj bhi barqaraar hai..
Khushi: Kaunsi lat?
Rachnaa: Paan khaane ki! Kayeen baar toh usse pan khaakar chakkar aa jaata tha,phir bhi paan ki lat nahi chhodi ussne! Arnav ne usse bahut
samjhaane ki koshish ki par woh kabhi nahi maana! Dono me aksar chhote-mote jhagde hua karte the,jo bahut jald sulajh bhi jaate the. Par jab hum
aathvi me the,tab unn dono k beechh 1 bahut badaa jhagda ho gaya,woh bhi Armaan k janmdin se do din pehle!
Khushi: Oh ho! Kis baat par jhagdaa hua tha?
Rachnaa: Armaan ne galati se Arnav ka project kharaab kar diya tha. Arnav padhaai-likhaai k maamle me zaraa bhi laaparvaahi bardaash nahi kar
saktaa tha. Uss ki handwriting chaahe kitni bhi buri kyun na ho,par usski har ek copy covered aur labelled hua karti thi. Pehle panne par index
maintain kartaa tha,date se lekar page number tak! Usski copy ya kitaab k kisi bhi panne(page) par halka sa nishaan ya daag bhi nahi hota tha. Aur
Armaan ne tel wali sabzi gira di usske chart paper par! Waise thodi si giri thi par.. aap toh jaanti hain,tel ka nishaan mitaana bahut mushqil hota hai.
Khushi(nods): So toh hai..
Rachnaa: Bas,iss hi baat ko lekar jhagdaa shuru hua! Armaan ne kaha ki woh teacher se kahega ki usski galti ki wajah se woh daag lagaa hai par
Arnav nahi maaanaa. Ussne sabk saamne chart paper phaad diya!
Khushi(shocked): Kyun?
Rachnaa: Kyunki Arnav perfectionist hua kartaa tha! Less than perfect cheezein usse bilkul pasand nahi thi! Tel k dhabbe wala chart woh kisi haalat
me teacher ko nahi dikhaata. Baat tu-tu,main-main se shuru hui aur kahaan se kahaan pahuch gayi! Jo dost din me dus baar batiyaate the, ek ya do
baar phone milaaya karte the,unhone poore 1 din tak baat nahi ki! Ek doosre ki taraf bhi nahi dekh rahe the! Aur humein dar tha ki pataa nahi..
Armaan k janmdin par kya hoga? Arnav usse wish karega ya nahi? Hum jab bhi Armaan ka vishay chhedte, Arnav humse bhi batiyaana band kar deta!
Toh hum toh bas.. Baanke Bihaari se praarthna kar rahe the ki Armaan ka janmdin achchhe se beete aur dono k beechh sulah ho jaaye! Aur agli subha
kya dekhte hain?
Khushi(inquisitive): Kya?
Rachnaa: Dono haste huye, ek saath gate se chalkar andar aa rahe hain,hamesha ki tarah!
Khushi(smiles): Sach?
Rachnaa: Much! Humein toh vishwaas hi nahi ho raha tha! Humne Armaan ko wish kiya aur phir waheen khade Arnav ko dekh rahe the. Tab Armaan ne
humse kaha ki.. kamaskam aaj k din toh humare yaar ko humare saath rehne do! (smiles)Humne muskuraakar haami bhar di aur khushi-khushi class ki
or chale gaye!
Khushi: Aapne Arnavji se class k baad poochha nahi ki unn dono ki sulah kaise hui?
Rachnaa(nods): Bilkul poochha tha! Arnav ne bataaya ki ussne sabhi galatfehmiyon ko,jhagdon ko bhulaa kar Armaan ka janmdin manaane ka faislaa
kiya tha!
Khushi(smiles): Yeh toh bahut hi achchha kiya Arnavji ne! Armaanji bahut khush huye honge na?
Rachnaa: Ji haan. Aur uss ne bhi waisaa hi faislaa kiya tha. Jhagda chaahe jitnaa bhi badaa kyun na ho,aapsi rishton se badaa kabhi nahi ho saktaa!
Khushi(agrees): Bilkul sahi kahaa aapne!
Rachnaa: Ab hum aapko Virendra k baare me bataate hain. Woh svabhaav se Arnav k bilkul vipreet tha- shaant,kam bolnewala aur apne kaam se
kaam rakhnewala. Ladkiyon se zaraa.. sharmaata tha woh isiliye humlogon k saath toh aur bhi kam bolta tha. Padhaai me bahut achchha tha,khaas
kar ganit(maths) me! Arnav aur usska ek-doosre k ghar aana-jaana lagaa rehta tha. Jab hum saatvi me the tab ussk papa ka dehaant ho gaya,woh bhi
humare mid term exams se kuch.. 10 din pehle.
Khushi: Oh ho! Devi Maiyya unki aatma ko shaanti dein! Bahut hi mushqil samay raha hoga woh Virendraji k liye.
Rachnaa: Zaahir si baat hai. Hum sabhi sehpaathi agle din school k baad ussk ghar gaye the. Par Arnav wahaan nahi aaya..
Khushi: Kyun?
Rachnaa: Woh aur humare 5 aur dost ussk papa ki antim yatra me Virendra k saath smshaan ghaat tak jaakar aaye the. Wahaan par.. antim
kriyaayein dekhne k baad Arnav ka man vichlit(disturbed) ho gaya tha. Ussne humein bataaya tha ki uss raat woh,kayeen saalon baad,maa se lipatkar
soya tha. Toh.. hum aapse keh rahe the ki jab hum saare log ussk ghar gaye the tab wahaan bahut saare mehmaan the isiliye Virendra humein chhat
par lekar gaya. Wahaan saare ladke uss k saath chhat k 1 taraf khade the toh hum saari ladkiyaan doosri taraf. Virendra hamesha ki tarah shaant tha.
Usse maun(silent) dekhkar kuch ladkiyaan kehne lagi ki usse apne papa k marne ka koi dukh hi nahi hai!
Khushi(shocked): Aisaa kyun kaha unhone?
Rachnaa: Kyunki,unk hisaab se, rone ko,cheekhna,chillaane ko shok manaana kehte hain! Agar koi insaan,apni maa k liye, apneaap ko sambhaalne ki
koshish kar raha ho,toh woh galat hai! Humein unki baaton par kitna gussa aaya woh hum kya bataayein! Woh log uss k ghar me khade hokar, ussk
saamne,dheeme swar me hi sahi,lekin yeh saari baatein karein toh woh theek hai par agar woh apne doston k saamne,sabhi ladkiyon k saamne khud
ko mazboot rakhnaa chaahe toh woh galat hai!
Khushi: Kitni galat baat kahi unn ladkiyon ne!
Rachnaa: Wohlog toh bas.. formality nibhaane k liye ussk ghar gaye the. Kuch der chhat par khade rahe aur phir wahaan se chal diye! Yeh bhi nahi ki
jaate-jaate usse thodi saantvanaa de dein. Ussne humare wahaan pahuchte hi sabko pina pilaaya aur jab hum wahaan se nikal rahe the tab woh
sabse shukriya keh raha tha. Aur yeh kambakht ladkiyaan bina kuch kahe wahaan se nikal gayi! Jab humari baari aayi tab..
*Flashback*
Virendra: Shukriya!
Rachnaa: Yeh toh humara farz tha. Apnaa aur aunty ka khayaal rakhnaa..
Virendra nods in response.
When she enters the living room,Rachnaa sees an old woman sitting in a corner with a blank face.
Virendra's mother was standing next to her.
She was as composed as her son.
Rachnaa greets the old woman but she does not respond.
Virendra's mother: Ammaji ko.. sadmaa(shock) lagaa hai.
Rachnaa: Oh.. Hum.. chalte hain,aunty..
Virendra's mother(folds her hand): Achchha bitiya. Jai Siya Ram!
Rachnaa(folds her hands): Jai Siya Ram!
She greets the other relatives in a similar manner before leaving the house with a heavy heart.
*Flashback ends*
Khushi: Virendraji ki pariksha achchhi nahi gayi hogi na?
Rachnaa: Pariksha bhi achchhi rahi aur ussne bahut jald apneaap ko sambhaal bhi liya! Iss baat se Arnav bahut khush tha! Arnav aur
baaki k saare ladkon me se koi na koi har waqt Virendra k saath rehta. Uss ne apne moonh se kabhi nahi kaha par usska chehra dekhkar hum samajh
gaye ki apne doston ka saath uss k liye kitna maayine rakhta tha! Par.. aunty toot gayi thi. PTM k dauraan humne jab bhi unhe dekha,woh humein dukhi
lagi. Unka wazan bhi kam hota ja raha tha aur.. unk chehre k haav-bhaav se lag raha tha ki.. unki zindagi par uncle k jaane ka kitna prabhaav padaa
hai!
Khushi: Kya woh naukri,peshe wali(working woman) thi ya..?
Rachnaa: Nahi,woh gruhini(housewife) thi. Uncle unk parivaar k liye kamaanewale 1 maatr insaan the.
Khushi: Oh ho..
Rachnaa: Par unk jaane k baad Virendra k tauji ne unlogon ki aarthik madad (financial help) ki. Woh toh baarvi(12th) k baad Virendra ko apne saath
Singapore le jaana chahte the,par woh nahi gayaa..
Khushi: Kyunki woh unki maa ko akela nahi chhodna chahte the?
Rachnaa: Bilkul sahi samjhaa aapne! Uss k jaise kam hi bete dekhne ko milte hain,jo pehle maa-baap k baare me sochte hain aur phir apne baare me! (sighs)Khair, ab hum aapko Rajesh k baare me bataate hain. Woh humari kakshaa ka sabse mota(fat), akdoo(arrogant) aur badtameez ladka tha!
Khushi(shocked): Arnavji k aise dost bhi the?
Rachnaa: Ji haan,humari badkismati se Rajesh Arnav ka kaafi achchha dost tha! Par woh humein bilkul bhi pasand nahi tha! Uss ne jabse humari gadi
ka tyre puncture kar diya tha tab hi se humara uss k saath chhatis ka aankda tha! Humein samajh nahi aata tha ki Arnav ko woh pasand kyun hai?
Uss me 1 bhi dhang ki baat ya gun nahi nazar aate the humein! Sirf Arnav hi nahi tha,humari achchhi saheli Priyankaa uss se pyaar karti thi! Dono k
chakkar k charche puri kakshaa me the! Par humein kabhi samajh nahi aaya ki Priyankaa ko uss se pyaar kaise hua ya kyun hua! Filhaal Arnav ki baat
karte hain,do vishayon par humare beechh matbhed (difference of opinion) hua kartaa tha - 1 tha Rajesh ka vishay aur doosri thi humari kakshaa ki kuch
ladkiyaan. Woh bhi padhaai me bahut achchhi thi par.. kyunki Arnav top 3 me aata tha aur woh log top 10 ya.. yoon kahiye ki 5 se 10 k beechh aate
the,isiliye woh sab ki sab uss se jalti thi! Uss ka mazaak udaati thi. Khaaskar tab jab woh 2 ya 3 marks se top karne se chook jaata..
Khushi: Matlab?
Rachnaa: 1 baar science ki pachaas (50) ank(marks) ki parikshaa me humare kisi sehpaathi ko saitaalis(47) ank mile aur teacher ne sabse uss k liye
taaliyaan bajvaayi,kyunki usse sabse zyaada ya highest ank mile the.
Khushi(nods): hmm.. samjhein.
Rachnaa: Phir teacher ne kaha ki Arnav ko chavaalis(44) ank mile the aur woh second highest tha. Sabne uss k liye bhi taaliyaan bajaayi aur uss
sehpaathi k liye bhi jisse third highest ank mile the. Sab Arnav ko badhaai de rahe the par Arnav ko bura lag raha tha.
Khushi: Kyunki woh sabse zyaada ank nahi laa paaye the?
Rachnaa: Ji,sahi kahaa aapne. Dad waise toh school nahi aate the par unko school aur class ki saari khabrein mil jaya karti thi. Humare sehpaathi
Ankur k papa unk business associate aur bahut achchhe dost bhi the. Toh agar Arnav khud se nahi bataata tha ki class me first kaun aaya hai ya kisi
vishay me highest score kis ka aya hai toh woh Ankur k papa se poochh lete aur ussk papa k saamne Arnav ki beizzati kar dete the! Isiliye Arnav
khud hi unko sab kuch sach-sach bataa diya kartaa tha! Woh jaanta tha ki jaise hi unhe pataa chalega ki usne second highest score kiya hai woh usse
tokenge,kyunki unk liye avval aana hi sab kuch tha! Second highest,third highest ki koi ehmiyat nahi thi. Isiliye Arnav bahut ukhda hua tha uss din.
Jab hum uss se akele me mile tab uss ki aankhon me paani aa gaya tha. Humein bahut dukh ho raha tha uss k liye. Par kuch naamuraad sehpaathi
usska mazaak uda rahe the,kyunki woh chavaalis k ank se bhi santusht nahi tha. Aur usse dad se daant khaane ka dar tha. Unn me woh ladkiyaan bhi
shaamil thi jo hamesha Arnav k saamne meethi-meethi baatein kiya karti thi!
Khushi: Lagtaa hai Arnavji bachpan se Kanhaiyya rahe honge..
Rachnaa(frowns): Kanhaiyya kyun?
Khushi: Gopiyaan hamesha unk ird-gird mandaraati thi,isiliye..
Rachnaa: Nahi Khushiji. Woh toh makkhiyaan(flies) thi,jo hamesha shehed(honey) k aas paas bhinbhinaati rehti hain! Waise Arnav bhi kam nahi tha!
Usse bhi unse batiyaane ka badaa shauq tha! Humne kitni baar samjhaaya usse ki wohlog sirf tumhare moonh par tumhari taareef karti hain ya
tumhare dost hone ka naatak karti hain,peeth peechhe buraaiyaan karti hain par ussne kabhi humari baaton par dhyaan nahi diya!
Khushi: Jab hum unhe iss maamle me tokte hain toh humse kehte hain ki hum un ladkiyon se jal rahe hain jo baat-baat par unse chipakti hain! Ab unhe kaun samjhaaye ki hum unk bhale k liye hi keh rahe hain!
Rachnaa: Humein poora yaqeen hain ki yeh baat woh kisi k samjhaane se nahi samjhega. Di k samjhaane se bhi nahi!
Khushi(agrees): Di toh waise bhi inn maamlon me unse kuch nahi kehti hain.
Rachnaa(looks upwards): Ab toh Baanke Bihari hi maalik hain! Woh hi usse samjhaayenge!
Khushi: Hum.. aapse 1 baat poochhein Rachnaaji?
Rachnaa: Ji,zaroor poochhiye..
Khushi: Jabse aapne bolna shuru kiya hai tabse hum aapk moonh se 'maa','dad','dadi'.. yeh saare shabd sun rahe hain. 1 baar bhi aapne 'Arnav ki
maa' ya 'Arnav ki dadi' nahi kaha..
Rachnaa: Hum aadat se majboor hain. Jab.. hum Arnav se pyaar karne lage the,tab hi se humne usski maa ko apni maa samjhaa aur kaha bhi.. Ussk
saare sambandhiyon ko hum waise hi sambodhit karne lage jaise ki woh kartaa hai. Hum jaante ki humara rishta pati-patni ka rishta nahi tha,lekin..
jis din se humein pyaar ka ehsaas hua uss din se humare man me yeh khwaahish thi ki.. aage chalkar hum.. Arnav ki patni banenge! Humne hamesha
mummy ko dadiji ko maa ki tarah maan,izzat aur pyaar dete huye dekha. Unhi se humne seekha hai ki pati k parivaarwalon ko keval maa ya papa
kehte nahi hain,unhe apne maa-baap ki tarah maante bhi hain! Aur hum.. 13 saal ki umar se Arnav k swajanon ko apnaa maante aur kehte aaye hain.
Ab toh aadat ho gayi hai..
Khushi: Itne saalon me aapki aadat kaise nahi chhooti?
Rachnaa: Isiliye nahi chhooti kyunki prem sambandh.. bhale hi na raha ho,par humari or se dosti aaj bhi barqaraar hai. Humein aaj bhi di ka janmdin,
mamaji-mami ki shaadi ki saalgiraah,maa aur dad ki punyatithi aur aise bahut se din,jo Arnav k liye khaas the,woh saare din humein aaj bhi yaad
hain. Di ko dekhe huye 15 saal ho gaye hain! Phir bhi.. Har saal hum sattaais Agast(27th August) ko di k liye praarthna karte hain aur yeh kaamna
karte hain ki unka janmdin hasi-khushi se beetein!
Khushi: Subha aapne humse kaha tha aur ab hum aapse keh rahe hain-ki aapk jaise nek log kam hi dekhne ko milte hain iss duniya me!
Rachnaa: Shukriya!
Khushi: 1.. aur baat poochhein? *when she nods* Arnavji ne aapse.. yeh kab kaha tha ki woh aapse pyaar karte hain?
Rachnaa: Jab hum aathvi me the,tab uss ne kaha tha.(reminescent smile)Aur uss ne bahut hi anokhe andaaz me apne pyaar ka izhaar kiya tha!..
*Flashback*
Rachnaa(irritated): Maths ki book band karo,Arnav!
Arnav(while writing): Factorization k sums karne k baad karenge..
Rachnaa: Nahi,abhi karo! Yeh sums ghar jaakar kar lena. Filhaal humare saath Sanskrit padho.
When he does not respond,she runs a hand through his hair.
Rachnaa: Dad ko prove kar k dikhana hai na, ki tum Sanskrit me bhi 70 se zyaada score kar sakte ho?
Arnav stops what he was doing.
Arnav(turns to her): Haan! Iss hi wajah se hum.. iss irritating subject ko bardaash kar rahe hain!
Rachnaa: Tumhe sirf bardaash hi nahi karnaa hoga,tumhe mid term exams me achchhe marks bhi score karne honge! Aur uss k liye.. padhnaa toh
hoga hi!
Arnav(relents): Theek hai,padhte hain. Lekin sirf 10 minute.. uss k baad..
Rachnaa(interrupts): Uss k baad period khatm ho jaayega! Isiliye time waste mat karo. Apni Sanskrit ki copy nikalo..
Arnav: Tumhare paas tumhari copy hai na? *when she nods*Tum uss me se padho aur hum tumhare peechhe-peechhe padhenge.
Rachnaa: Theek hai. (opens her notebook) Toh bolo.. 'Aham vadaami.'
Arnav: Matlab?
Rachnaa: Matlab 'hum bol rahe hain.'
Arnav: Okay. Aham vadaami.
She teaches him a few sentences in Sanskrit before moving on to the one line answers.
Rachnaa: Ab sawaal-jawaab ki baari.
Arnav: Theek hai.
Rachnaa: Toh sawaal hai: 'Tvam kim kurvanti?' Matlab 'Tum kya kar rahe ho?' Aur jawaab hai 'Aham Sanskritam Paathyati' matlab 'Hum Sanskrit padh
rahe hain.' Theek hai?
Arnav nods.
Rachnaa: Toh bolo, tvam kim kurvanti?
Arnav: Humara jawaab dhyaan se sunna,bina kuch bole!
Rachnaa: Theek hai.
She is surprised when he holds her hand.
Arnav: Aham.. (nods at her) tvam..(pauses) se.. (stresses)premam.. (smiles)kurvanti!
Rachnaa(astonished): Kya?!
Arnav(lopsided grin): Isska matlab hota hai I love you!
Rachnaa's smiles shyly when she hears that.
Arnav: Ab tum kaho..
Rachnaa(blushes): Kya?
Arnav: aham bhi tvam se premam kurvanti! That you love me too..
Arnav was shocked when Rachnaa shook her head.
Arnav: Nahi kurvanti?!
Rachnaa laughed in response.
Rachnaa: Sir hilaakar hum yeh keh rahe the ki tum galat tareeqe se bol rahe ho.
Arnav(smirks): Toh tum bataa do ki isse bolne ka sahi tareeqa kya hai!
The bell rang before Rachnaa could open her mouth.
Rachnaa: Baad me bataayenge. Ab tum apne bench par jaakar baitho.
Arnav: Humein abhi sunna hai!
Rachnaa: Arnav,please! Behes mat karo!
Arnav angrily walks upto his bench and throws his bag on it.
Rachnaa speaks softly while keeping an eye on the door.
Rachnaa(blushes): Aham.. tvaam.. prem karishyaami!
Arnav turns around even before she could complete the sentence.
Rachnaa(shy smile): Yeh hai.. sahi tareeqa!
Arnav was about to get up when the door of the class opened and in walked the Sanskrit teacher.
Rachnaa & Arnav stood up to wish him.
Teacher(nods): Suprabhaatah! (Good morning!) Aap dono mass drill k liye kyun nahi gaye?
Arnav: Humein chakkar aa rahe the..
Teacher(concerned): Kya aapne kuch khaaya?
Arnav: Ji haan.. Ab hum theek hain.
Teacher(nods): Aur Rachnaa,aap kyun nahi gayi?
Rachnaa: Humari.. tabiyat theek.. nahi hai.
Teacher: Achhha,achhha! Aap dono baith jaiyye.
Arnav & Rachnaa exchanged smiles while the teacher browsed through the register.
Arnav asked her to meet him in the shed during recess in sign language.
Rachnaa nodded before asking him to pay attention to whatever was being taught.
Arnav nodded reassuringly before turning towards the teacher,who was lost in his own world.
*Flashback ends*
Khushi: Arnavji.. Sanskrit me batiyaa rahe ho aisi kalpanaa(imagination) karnaa bhi mushqil lag raha hai! Toh.. Sanskrit me pyaar ka izhaar karte huye
kalpanaa kar hi nahi saktein!
Rachnaa(smiles): Hum samajhte hain! Jab humne usse Sanskrit me pyaar ka izhaar karte huye suna toh 1 pal ko humein bhi vishwaas nahi hua tha!
Khushi: Kya aapk.. pyaar k baare me kisi ko pataa tha?
Rachnaa: Humare sehpaathiyon ko aur doston ko pataa tha.
Khushi: Kisi.. parivaarwale ko?
Rachnaa: Ji nahi. Humne kayeen baar Arnav se kaha ki di ko humare baare me bataa do,bataa do par woh har baar inkaar kartaa raha.
Khushi: Kya aapko uss ki wajah pataa thi?
Rachnaa: Ji haan. Arnav ko dar tha ki di yeh baat apneaap tak seemit nahi rakh paayengi. Woh maa ko bataa dengi,maa papa ko aur phir papa uss ka
school badalvaa denge. Jahaan Anjali di baalik(adult) thi waheen hum dono naabaalik the(teens/non adults). Toh hum dono ki shaadi karvaane ka toh
sawaal hi nahi uthta tha! Aise me,apni izzat ko daag se bachaane k liye woh Arnav ko kisi aur,behtar school me daal dete. Aisa Arnav ka kehna tha..
Khushi: Iss maamle me aapk kya vichaar the?
Rachnaa: Humne Arnav se kaha tha ki di iss baat ko apne tak hi rakhengi. Hum unn se aisa karne ka aagrah(urge) bhi karenge. Aur humein nahi lagaa
tha ki iss raaz ko raaz rakhne me di asamarth(disagree) hongi. Par Arnav k man me iss baat ko lekar kaafi dar tha. Aur sirf apne parivaar ka hi nahi,
humein parivaarwaalon ka dar bhi tha. Humare school me 1 unused shed tha,jahaan pehle cycle stand hua karta tha. Par jabse naya cycle stand banaa
tabse uss shed ko koi istemaal nahi kartaa tha. Jitne bhi.. aashiq-maashooqa(boyfriend-girlfriend) hua karte the,woh saare uss hi shed me
jaakar,sabse chhipkar milte the! Isiliye sab uss shed ko secret shed bulaaya karte the! Kabhi-kabhi wahaan 2 se zyaada jode nazar aa jaate the! Aur
humein itni sharm aati thi par Arnav toh.. (shakes her head) Khair,chhodiye!
Khushi(thinks): Pataa nahi Arnavji wahaan.. Rachnaaji ko.. choomte honge,woh bhi baaki k jodon k saamne!
Rachnaa resumed speaking before Khushi could think further on those lines.
Rachnaa: 1 roz jab hum dono uss shed se class ki or aa rahe the,tab kisine humara naam pukaara. Bina mudey,bina dekhe hi samajh gaye ki woh
mummy ki aawaaz thi! Khair,yahaan hum mudey aur wahaan Arnav..
*Flashback*
Rachnaa(turning around): Ji.. mummy?
Arnav(shocked): Mummy!?
He stares at the lady standing in front of him who turns to him when he says that.
http://dnasyndication.com/pictures/large/221111/21L11PT104a.JPG
Arnav(checks himself): I mean.. (turns to Rachnaa)Yeh.. tumhari mummy hain?
Rachnaa nods quickly before turning back towards her mother.
Arnav(nods): Namaste aunty!
Mummy(folds her hands): Namaste bete! Kya naam hai aapka?
Arnav: Arnav. Aur aapka?
Rachnaa(wonders): Yeh Arnav kya poochh raha hai!?
Mummy(surprised): Humara.. Sumitra Mathur. Beta,humein aisa lag raha hai jaise humne aapko pehle bhi kaheen dekha hai..
Arnav(gulps): Ji nahi,aunty! Hum toh.. pehli baar aapse mil rahe hain.
Mummy: Par..
Rachnaa: Aapne Arnav ko uss din football match khelte huye dekha tha..
Mummy(realizes): Haan,ab yaad aaya humein! (places a hand on his head) Congratulations bete! Aise hi jeet-te rahiye aur Uttar Bhaarat ka gaurav bante rahiye! The entire state is proud of you & your team!
Arnav(smiles): Thank you so much!
Rachnaa: Mummy,aap.. achaanak yahaan.. kaise?
Mummy: Hum aapke computer class ki fees bharne k liye aaye hain.
Rachnaa: Oh.. toh.. aapne fees bhar di?
Mummy: Nahi,bas bharne hi jaa rahe the jab humne aapko lobby me dekha. Waise..(turns to Arnav & then back to Rachnaa)aap dono yahaan kya kar
rahe hain? Aapki class jaldi khatm ho gayi kya?
Rachnaa was about to nod in the affirmative when Arnav intervened.
Arnav: Ma'am ne humein bheja tha..
Mummy(frowns): Kahaan?
Arnav: Store room! Science k models laane k liye! Par.. store room locked hai so hum.. waapis classroom me hi jaa rahe the!
Rachnaa(nods): Haan!
Mummy: Theek hai. Toh aaplog jaiyye. Aapki teacher aapki raah dekh rahi hongi. Bye!
Arnav & Rachnaa bid her goodbye before rushing up the stairs.
Rachnaa stops once they had reached halfway through the stairs.
Rachnaa: Ruko! (peeks downstairs)Mummy office ki or jaa chuki hain..
Arnav(lets out a huge breath): What an escape!
Rachnaa: Tum itna ghabraa kyun rahe the! Humlog co-ed school me padhte hain. Agar unhone humein saath me dekh liya toh kya ho gaya?
Arnav: Tum khud bhi toh ghabraa gayi thi na?
Rachnaa: Ji nahi! Hum sirf chauke the aur woh bhi isiliye kyunki humne unhe yahaan expect nahi kiya tha!
Arnav: Yaheen khade rehkar jhagda karnaa hai ya class me bhi jaana hai?
Rachnaa: Jana hai aur woh bhi Jamaal sir k aane se pehle! Bhaago..
Though she climbs the stairs quickly,she's no match for Arnav who climbs two stairs at a time,reaching the classroom faster than she does.
Few of their friends hoot loudly when Rachnaa enters the class.
Boy: Oh ho,Laila Majnu! Free period mila nahi ki chal diye!
Girl: Waise,aaj secret shed me hi gaye the ya.. kaheen aur ghoomkar aa rahe ho?
Arnav: Iss ki mom se milne gaye the!
Rachnaa blushes unknowingly when her friends tease & knudge her.
Boy(pats Arnav's back): Congratulations mere bhai! Kab hai shaadi?
Arnav(shrugging off his hand): Teri maiyyat(funeral) k agle roz!
Boy 2: Cool down,yaar!
Arnav: Isse samjha na! Marte-marte bache hain aur yeh idiot shaadi ki baat kar raha hai!
Rachnaa: Relax Arnav!
Arnav(points at her): You relax! Aayinda dhyaan rakhna.. Tumhari mom kab school aayengi aur kab nahi yeh hum dono ko pehle se pataa ho toh
behtar rahega.
He turns around & slumps down on his bench.
Girl 1(knudges): Kya hua Rachhu? Aunty ne Arnav ko daanta kya?
Rachnaa: Nahi toh!
Girl 2(whispers): Toh.. tum dono ki ladaai huyi hai?
Rachnaa: Nahi yaar!
Girl 1: Phir yeh aise kyun react kar raha hai?
Rachnaa: Pataa nahi..
*Flashback ends*
Rachnaa: Humein aaj tak wajah pataa nahi chali..
Khushi: Shaayad Arnavji ko.. iss baat ka dar tha ki.. maa-baap ko pataa chalne se.. aap dono ka.. sambandh toot jaayega..
Rachnaa: Ho saktaa hai. (sighs)Kitni ajeeb baat hai na? Jis sambandh k tootne ka usse itna dar tha woh sambandh..(gulps) ussne khud hi ne tod
diya. Jis dor ko hum dono ne thaama tha Arnav ne uss ka ek chhor(end) chhod diya aur hum.. (gulps)doosra chhor thaame huye khade reh gaye.. Aise
majdhaar me.. aa phasein jahaan.. dor ko chhodna jitna mushqil tha utna hi mushqil usse thaame rakhnaa tha. Phir bhi.. hum waheen khade rahe, dor
ko akele thaame huye.. (swallows a lump)bahut waqt tak khade rahe.. koshishein karte rahe.. ummeed karte rahe ki.. 1 din Arnav lautkar uss dor ko
phir thaamega! Par.. aisaa nahi hua!
Two long tears roll down her cheeks when she closes her eyes.
Rachnaa: Woh nahi aaya aur.. humein.. majboor hokar uss dor ko chhodna padaa jise hum,ta umra(lifelong) kas k thaame rakhna chaahte the! Jo pyaar
do tarfaa hua kartaa tha,woh pehle ek tarfaa(one sided) hua aur phir.. (swallows hard) khatm ho gaya! Aur.. dosti.. (sniffs)Arnav ki or se toh.. dosti
bhi.. khatm ho gayi!
Khushi(thinks): Hey Devi Maiyya! Humein aisaa kyun lag raha hai ki.. Rachnaaji ka pyaar khatm.. nahi hua hai. Woh aaj bhi,unk dil k kisi kone me..
chhupa hua hai! Par Arnavji.. unka pyaar khatm kaise ho gaya? woh toh Rachnaaji se pyaar karte the,unse apne pyaar ka izhaar bhi kar chuke the..
Unn dono ka sambandh bhi.. bahut achchha tha,Arnavji unhe khone se darte bhi the phir.. aisaa kya ho gaya jo unhone khud hi Rachnaaji se saare
sambandh tod diye?
She decided to wait until Rachnaa composed herself before voicing her questions.
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Precap:
Rachnaa: Nau Agast..(9th August)
Khushi(smiles): Arnavji ka janmdin..
Rachnaa: Ji haan. Nau Agast Unnis sau Atthaanve (1998),woh aakhri janmdin jo Arnav ne Lucknow me manaaya tha- humare saath,maa aur dad k
saath aur apne bachpan k doston k saath! (sad smile)Kitna achchha guzra tha woh din! (sighs)Kaash.. humein pataa hota ki woh humare janmdin par
humare saath nahi hoga,toh hum apna janmdin do mahine pehle hi manaa lete! Kaash humein mahine bhar baad aanewale toofaan ka andeshaa hota
toh..
She swallows a lump as her eyes well up with tears.
Khushi(frowns): Mahine bhar baad?..
Rachnaa(gulps): Hum baais Sitambar(22nd September) ki baat kar rahe hain.
Khushi(realizes): Maa aur.. dad ki punyatithi..
Rachnaa: Woh din waise shubh tha! Aur prasang(occasion) bhi bahut achchha tha! Anjali di ki shaadi hone wali thi.. Par.. (gulps)jo hua uss ne
unki,Arnav ki aur humari zindagi ko hamesha,hamesha k liye badal diya!
Kindly ignore typos & mistakes. Translation will be up on Monday. Next update on Sunday,30th August. Hope all the Indian readers(those who stay in
India) enjoy the long weekend! Wishing you all A Very Happy Independence Day in Advance!
Credit for the pic goes to Google & respective uploaders.
**The restaurant & its owner are entirely fictitious.
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