CHAPTER 6 (B). MAAN ARRIVES IN INDIA!
Maan stepped down the plane and took in a deep breath. He was in India! He looked down and smiled softly. Hey India! You managed to bring me back here! I swore I would never step into this country unless my family needed me to! And you made sure that I came here by putting my Bui and Happy in trouble! Maan shook his head. Now what? You took my Ma, you took my dad! Who else would you take away from me India? He discreetly wiped his eyes and stalked off.
As Maan walked to the customs area, the phone call he got a week back flashed through his mind.
"Mr. Khurana! Main Dilli se Inspector. Deepak Singh baat kar raha hun! I am sorry to tell you that we have found your father's dead body on Dilli Highway."
The receiver had fallen down his hands and he had stumbled back in shock. If there had not been the sofa behind him, he might have fallen to the floor. He must have remained seated on the sofa for few minutes, before it clicked to him that the Inspector's voice was still coming from the phone. He seemed to be shouting Maan's name.
With shaking hand, Maan had lifted the receiver and spoke in it. The Cop had recounted the details of his father's death. His father was found dead on the highway and nearby in a valley an old car was found burnt. After some inspection, it was speculated that another car had crashed into the car in which his father was and that car had swerved off the road and into the valley. In between all this, his father must have fallen out. Then the petrol had leaked out of the car and the spark from the engine burnt the petrol and in turn turned the car into crisp.
Maan remained mute through all this and then finally asked when it happened. "Ek hafta hogaya hoga! (It must have been a week!)", the Cop had told him. The highway was known to be rarely used and it took the nearby Police Station two days to find the dead body and the accident site and that also only when a passing bus had reported it. By then his father's body had been decayed and could not be recognized by face. It took them five days just to find the hotel he was staying through the receipt they found in his pocket and then use his passport to call Australia.
Finally Maan asked the one question that he had wanted to ask since he heard about his father's death and yet did not ask due to the fear of getting devastating news there too.
"Did you find my Bui and Happy?", Maan had asked with tremor in his voice. When the Inspector sounded confused Maan realised that Bui and Happy were just titles and not the name. He told the Cop his Aunt and cousin's real name and the reply made his heart soar in hope and yet pain in uncertainty, "There were no lady or child's body found anywhere! We checked around for a while as we thought there might be other bodies but even after searching for half a day we found nothing. I don't think there was anybody else in the car except your father, Mr Khurana!"
Maan was hopeful because this meant Bui and Happy might be alive but uncertainty was there too as both of them were supposed to be with his father. If not with his father, then where were they?
Maan shook his head trying to dislodge that memory. As he stood in the line for customs, his mind went back to the phone call and the aftermath. After the Inspector confirmed that his Aunt and Cousin were not in the car, Maan reported them missing and asked the Inspector to search for them. Inspector was doubtful but agreed. After the phone call, came the tough time; to tell his Daadima the bad news. Maan closed his eyes as he remembered how broken up his Daadima had been after getting the news. At first she was denial but then she broke down and it took hours of consoling from Maan before she calmed down. And then came the order. Daadima had looked at him in eye and with calm and determined expression on her face, ordered him.
"Jaao! Maan bete! Humaare bete ka antim sanskar karo! Uske astiyon wahin Yamuna mein bahaao jahaan kai saal pehle humaari bahu ki astiyon ko bahaaya tha! Aur phir humaare beti aur naatin ko ghar laao! (Go! Maan bete! Do the last rites to my son! Spread his ashes in the Yamuna just like my daughter in law's ashes were spread there years ago! And then get my daughter and granddaughter home!)"
Maan had been aghast by the command. He had refused. He was not leaving his Daadima, especially when she was not well. But Daadima remained firm. Maan had begged and pleaded but Daadima did not budge. Finally Maan had agreed in defeat and here he was; to do the last rites of his father and bring his Bui and Happy home! Lost in thoughts, he went through the customs and soon he was out of the airport. As he looked around for the taxi, he wondered what to do next. He would have to find himself a hotel obviously! Then what? Maan thought for a while as he sat in the taxi and then looked at his clothes. Shower is needed, he decided as he remembered that he travelled in airplane with no air circulation for several hours. Yes! Shower is perfect! Phir? He frowned as he thought and then his frown cleared as he made his decision. He will go to the cops! Yes! He talked to Inspector Deepak almost a week ago. He needed to know the progress they had in the search for his remaining family. Maan decided and sat back impatiently as the cab navigated through the busy lanes of Dilli.
"What do you mean you have got no news?", Maan roared as he stood there looking at the Inspector with shock. He was in the Police Station after freshening up for new news on his family.
"I am sorry Mr. Khurana!", the man shrugged and spoke patiently, "But the only thing we are sure of is that the car was pushed into the valley by another car. It was definitely a car accident. But other than that, we don't know anything else!"
Maan slammed his hands on the Inspector's desk as he glared at the man, "What do you mean by that? Who did the accident? Where is my remaining family? You know nothing?"
The Inspector let out a defeated sigh, "I am sorry Mr. Khurana! There is nothing else we could find! Infact, I have a doubt where they were in the vehicle or not!"
When Maan looked at him curiously, the Inspector elaborated, "There was no evidence in the car or nearby that there was anyone in the vehicle except your father. I think they did not come with your father."
Maan sat down on the chair behind him in shock. Where was his Bui and Happy if not with his dad?
"Mr. Khurana! Your father's body won't be released now. But you can see him. If you want to see your dad...", the Inspector looked at Maan expectantly.
Maan looked at the Inspector in shock as he remembered his dad was dead and his dead body was lying somewhere nearby. Suddenly, Maan was unable to breathe. He started to hyperventilate at the thought of seeing his dad. No! No! He cannot do it.
Maan stood up suddenly toppling the chair down, "I have to go! I have to go find my family! Ddd...dad can wait! Bui cannot!" Saying his piece, Maan ran out. As he stumbled out of the station, he fell on his knees and tried to breathe normally. It took him 15 minutes to get his breath under control and he stood up. Wiping the sweat gathered on his forehead, Maan wondered what to do next. Logically the right thing to do was see his Dad but Maan could not. Not now! Maan shook his head, his face showing the vulnerability. For crying out loud, he was only 21! He was supposed to be enjoying his life, not facing his dad's death and the responsibility of a company and his family. Till now he was so focused on his Aunt and cousin that only now it struck him that his dad was no more.
Tears formed in his eyes but Maan refused to let them fall. There will be time to grieve! But his Aunt and cousin did not have that leisure either! They needed him! His dad could wait, his Bui and Happy cannot. Maan took in sharp breath and pushed his pain back. He had to focus on finding his remaining family. With determined nod, he caught the cab. He had to pack a bag and rent a jeep for a trip to Hoshiarpur. According to the Inspector, there was no evidence of his Aunt and Cousin in the car which meant there is a good chance they might be in Hoshiarpur. Maan had made his decision. He was going to Hoshiarpur!
"So this is their house?", Maan asked. It was next day morning and he had just arrived in Hoshiarpur. After talking to his Daadima, he entered the village asking people for his Aunt's house. Finally a lady agreed to show him the way.
"Ji? Tussi kya bole? (What did you say?)", the lady asked and Maan rolled his eyes. Of course! I am in rural India! How can I expect these people to understand me?
"Yeh... unka ghar hai?", Maan spoke in halting hindi and watched as the lady nodded and walked off.
Maan raised his hand to knock on the door but the door opened by itself and his eyes widened. He stepped inside with alarm. If they are in, then why is the door not locked from inside? And if they are out, then why is it not locked from outside? All these questions only increased his panic.
He entered the house and was shocked to see it so sparsely decorated. There was almost no furniture in the house and no pictures of anyone either. What did they use to sleep? Where is the pillow and the bed? Not even a cot was around. Except a stool, Maan could not see a single furniture! It is as if they had just moved in here. But didn't his Bui live in Hoshiarpur for almost the whole life of Khushi? No! Something else is the reason for the sparcity. Maybe they did not have enough money. Or maybe, a voice whispered in Maan's head, his Bui did not want to put in the effort to do it when they might be uprooted and on the run anytime with the arrival of her husband's goons or relatives. Maan sat on a stool nearby as the magnitude of the life his Bui lived impacted him. How must she have lived here! She must have been so scared. Anytime her husband's relatives could have found her and that fear must have made her look over her shoulder every time she stepped out of the house. How did his Bui raise her daughter single handedly all the while making sure she was hidden? Maan felt immense respect swell in his heart for Bui for facing her fears head on and managing to last long till now.
After few minutes, Maan got up and composed himself. Deciding to start inspecting the house, he looked around. But there was not much to inspect. It was one room with what could be called kitchen at one corner. It was practically a hut in which his Bui and Happy lived. As he spun around, he was disappointed to see any clue regarding his family. Infact, he could not even say his family lived there or father arrived here few weeks ago. Where are you Bui? Where are you Happy? They must be outside shopping! Yes! That's it! Maan tried to convince himself. But even his words felt hollow to himself.
Maan looked at the kitchen and was shocked to see one pot filled with something resembling daal once upon a time but now was all covered with fungi. It was as if... It was as if... "It was as if someone had cooked it to eat but went away before they could eat it!" That meant only one thing Maan realized. They had left suddenly. His Dad, Bui and Happy must have left suddenly and had not come back here. What had happened to his Bui and Happy? Where were they now?
Just as Maan decided that the house could provide no other clues, someone arrived at the door. With hope he turned to the door but disappointment set in when he saw it was not his Bui or Happy. He knew they had left this place and he had seen the proof and yet he hoped that he was wrong.
"Kaun? Kaun ho tum?", the lady who arrived at the door asked.
Maan hesitated and then spoke, "Main Nandini ke bhai ka beta hun! Aur aap? ( I am the son of Nandini's brother. And you are?)"
"Ji hun toh baaju waale ghar wich rendiyaan! Tussi Nandini ko milan waste aaye ho? (I live in the house next to this! You have come to meet Nandini?)"
Maan nodded, "Meri Buaji kahaan hai? Aur Khushi?" He prayed and hoped that the lady knew the answer but before she even spoke that he knew that his hope was futile.
"Oh ji! Woh dono toh chale gaye! Uska pati aaya tha shaayad! (O ji! Those two have left! Her husband must have come I think!)", the lady spoke and Maan's eyes widened. Oh no! Not her husband! That man was a monster as far as Maan was concerned.
"Pati?", Maan asked in shock and the lady explained, "Haan! Hor kaun ho sakta hai! Lekin ab jab maine tennu vekhya toh mennu lagta hai ki woh hor koi tha, pati nahi tha! Ki haina puttar woh dikhne mein bilkul teri tarah tha! (Yes! Who else it can be! But now that I have seen you, he must have been someone else and not husband! You see, that man looked just like you!)"
"Woh mere papa the! (That was my dad!)", Maan blurted out. Yes! Maan did not look like his Phoophaji, he looked like his dad.
"Ho sakte hain! (Must be!)", the lady mused, "Waise bhi mennu ki pata! Nandini ne aake koi pehchaan thodi na karaayi thi! Logon ne dekha ek bande ko aate hue aur kuch dino baad Nandini aur bachchi nu le jaate hue toh hum sab samjhe ki uska pati aake use le gaya! Achcha puttar! Main chaldiyaan! Ghar mein bahut kaam hai! (But then what do I know! Nandini did not come and introduce him! People saw a man come along and few days later took Nandini and the kid with him so we all thought he was her husband! Ok son! I am going! Got some work at home!)"
Maan nodded and as the lady left, he let out a deep breath. According to the lady, his dad took his Bui and Happy away. Then why were they not found alongside his father? Where are they? Are they hiding? Or did the in laws already kill them? Or worse, were they locked up at the in laws house? Where are you two people?
Maan felt tears of frustration well up in his eyes. Where was his family? That's it! Maan decided. I am going to the accident site. I have to see the place myself and confirm that his Bui and Happy were not in the car. Maan nodded and stepped out of the house.
Maan drove through the village on his rental jeep. As he drove he looked around and smiled softly. Yes! He could understand why his Bui chose to settle here! The place had its own charm. Focused on the driving he did not see someone was crossing the road till the Jeep was too close to the person. Maan put his weight on the break and the Jeep stopped. There was only one inch distance between his jeep and the person. The Person looked at Maan with wide eyes and Maan was beyond shocked. It was a girl! The girl looked shocked at the sudden almost accident and Maan got down the jeep to make sure she was ok. That's when he noticed her attire. Dressed in red clothes and decked with jewellery it took a while for Maan to realise that she was dressed like a bride. As the girl took deep breaths after the accident scare, Maan noticed that unlike normal bride, this girl had tear tracks on her cheeks, her hair was all askew and her hand held a bag which she hugged to her chest.
"Are you alright?", Maan asked as he stepped ahead. Then he winced. Maan! You are in rural village! Do you seriously expect her to understand you?
The girl looked up as if noticing him for the first time.
"Tum theek ho?", Maan asked and then girl just stared at him, mouth open and fear reflecting in her eyes. And then she mumbled something. Maan did not hear it. "Kya?", he looked at her confused.
The girl gulped in the air, "Meri madat keejiye! (Help me!)" She pleaded and Maan took in a sharp breath.
Maan blinked in surprise and then shook his head, smiling, "I am sorry! I cannot help you! Thoda busy hun! ( I am bit busy!)" I have a Bui and Happy to find, Maan thought as he moved back to his Jeep.
The girl lunged ahead and grabbed his arm, "Dekhiye please! Meri madat keejiye! Woh log mujhe chodenge nahi! ( Look please! Help me! Those people won't leave me!)"
Maan pulled his hand out of her grip gently, "Dekhiye I understand! But I cannot. Mujhe jaana hai! I am needed somewhere else!"
The girl joined her hands in front of him and started crying, "Dekhiye! Please meri madat keejiye! Meri zindagi barbaad ho jaayegi! ( Look! Help me! My life would be ruined!)"
Maan shook his head, opening his mouth to refuse when his eyes fell on her hands. And he stopped short of speaking. He grabbed her hands suddenly and looked at the wrists. The girl looked at him confusedly but did not pull away.
"Yeh kya hai? Yeh nishaan kaise? (What are these? How did you get these marks?)", Maan asked in horror as she noticed the bruises around her wrists. Maan realised with mounting horror that such bruises happened only if the wrists were tied up. The girl's eyes widened and she tried to pull her hands away but Maan did not let her. As he stared at those bruises, he remembered what his father had told his Daadima regarding his Bui's family. Did they tie his Bui too? Did the girl go through the same thing his Bui went through? His Bui was a strong woman. She must have tried to escape too before her successful attempt. Did they suppress her too? Was she beaten and tortured for defending her daughter?
Maan looked at the girl with wide eyes as he realised that just like his Bui another girl was suffering today. He could not save his Bui, but he could save this girl, Maan thought with clarity. Maan had made his decision. He would save this girl.
Guess who is the girl, people! You know her!
BTW, if you think the update is short then I agree!
It is way too short compared to my usual updates!
But this was way too emotional for me.
Writing down one's father's death is not easy. And then you add the prospect of loosing two relatives, makes the update too emotional for my tastes. Any other time I would have plowed on, but when you have birthday in few days you don't want to feel depressed.
So cut it short!
Thank you, take care and have fun,
Kalpana
Ye Hai Mohabbatein
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