PROLOGUE
Oberoi Mansion was decorated like a bride since it was the occasion of Oberois' eldest daughter, Navita's engagement. Everyone was happily busy.
"Shakti, tu saare guests ko time bata diya tha na thik se?", asked Tej Singh Oberoi.
"Ji bhaisaab. Guests ki fikra matt kijiye. Wo sab maine dekh liya hai.", replied Shakti.
"Jethaniji, aap mere saath chalo. Hum dono kaunse jwelleries pehenge wo finalise kar lete hain.", Pinky's loud voice was heard near the main doors signifying that she & Jahnvi have come back from the spa.
"Jaan, tum laut aayi...yahan aao aur thoda intezaam dekh lo.", called out Tej.
"Aap v na...! Main abhi toh spa se lauti. Guests aane mein abhi bahut time hai. Its only 11:45 am right now, aur sagaai evening mein hai.", Jahnvi answered with a sweet smile on her glowing face.
"O My Mata Jethji, aap kitna tensions lete ho. Sab thik time pe ho jana hai. Hum itne dino se taiyariyan jo kar rahe hain.", added Pinky Singh Oberoi. With this she tugged Jahnvi along with her to upstairs.
Shakti wrapped his arm around his elder brother & said, "Bhaisaab, thank you so much. Aap peechhle 2 din se office nahi jaakar hum sabke saath yahan haath bantaa rahe hain. Aapke hone se kaam aur v aasaan aur jaldi hone laga."
Tej turned his face towards Shakti & smilingly put his right palm on his cheek saying, " Mere bhai, tu kya bol raha hai!! Tujhe acchi tarah pata hai ki Navi humari v beti hai...hum sabki badi beti hai wo. Iss khaandaan ki waaris hai. Aur mujhe office jaane ki zarurat hi nahi padhi, wahan Navi jo hai. Mujhe pura bharosa hai ki wo sab kuch ekdum sahi tareeke se sambhal rahi hogi."
"Ekdum sahi kaha puttarr. Wo tum chaaron ki badi beti hai. Waise sacchi, meri poti hai toh hum sab hain, wo jo nahi toh kuch v nahi.", came in Dadi's happy voice.
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"Bhaiya, chalo hum chaar milkar ek gift dete hain Di ko.", suggested Rudra for the 7th time.
"Tu tabse ye hi bol raha hai. Itna aalsi ho gaya hai ki khud ka gift v nhi soch sakta!", said Om striking Rudra on his shoulder.
Rudra: "O, main aapse nahi, bhaiya se baat kar raha hun."
Om: "Par Shivaay tera sunne nahi wala."
Shivaay: "Tum dono thoda chup raho aur mujhe sochne do..."
Prinku: "Saath mein ek gift denge toh time zarur bachega par phir, O bhaiya toh wo wali painting gift karenge jise hum chaaron saath mein denge toh accha nhi lagega."
Rudra: "Prinku, Di gifts nahi feelings dekhti hain. Aur hum milkar ek gift de, 4 alag alag gifts de ya kuch na de...teeno hi case mein Di kuch nhi sochengi aur na hi unka pyaar hunare liye kum hoga."
Om: "Wah Mr.Dumbell Oberoi, aap toh bade hoshiyaar hain. Jaise hume toh ye baat pata hi nhi thi."
Shivaay: "Ok..I have decided. Hum kya kya gifts de sakte hain. Listen, main ek Titan Raga ka wrist-watch dunga. Di ko ek chahiye tha kabse. Om tu wo painting dena jo tu dega sochkar rakha hai, Rudra you will gift a bracelet. And Prinku, tu wo purple designer churidar dena jo Di pasand hone k bawajut nahi li thi."
Prinku & Rudra: "Done bhaiya."
Om:"That's a good idea Shivaay. Sahi hai phir..its decided then."
All the siblings got dressed to go out for shopping. As they were leaving they saw their parents & Dadi merrily chatting together while having lunch.
"Where are you 4 going?", questioned Tej.
"Bade papa, hum Di k liye gifts lene jaa rehe hain.", answered Shivaay.
"Tum logon ne lunch kiya?", asked Shakti.
"Aap chinta matt kijiye Chhote papa, hum aaj thoda jaldi lunch kar liye taki time shopping k liye nikal sake.", replied Om.
"Infinity Mall jaaoge?", asked Jahnvi.
"Haan jaayenge...par pehele Titan wrist-watch showroom jaayenge.", put in Prinku.
"O My Mata...!!! Titan Wrist-watch..! Ye toh zarur mere Shivaay ki choice hogi.", said Pinky in her usual loud voice.
"Mom...please chill. And don't tell Di.", Shivaay voiced his thoughts.
"Jaldi laut aana bacchon...", Dadi adviced.
"Dopeher k 3 baje tak sab kuch pack karwa k laut aayenge Dadi.", Rudra chirped in his sing-song tone.
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It was already 4 when the Oberoi siblings returned. They all knew they were late by 1 hr & if they get caught they will be scolded. So, they sped up the stairs towards their room.
While running towards his room, Om spotted the door of Navita's room slight open. He heard a sound and thought to check.
Om (knocking once before entering): "Di...tum kamre mein ho?"
Navita (trying to sound normal): "Haan"
Om (switching on the lights): "Tum ro rahi ho Di...!!"
Navita (rubbing away the tears): "Wo bas...kuch nahi."
Om (gently tapping the shoulders of his Di): "Tum rona matt please. Aaj bas Sagaai hi toh hai. Abhi shaadi mein kaafi waqt hai."
Navita (looking at Om): "Main uss wajah se nahi ro rahi...par tu abhi wo sab chhod...yahan baith."
Om sat beside her with his usual genuine smile. And Navita continued, "Om...mere bhai, ek baat hamesha yaad rakhna, tu jo sach se itna lagao rakhta hai uss aadat ko dheere dheere badal. Jhutt v zindagi ka ek aham hissa hota hai. Kabhi kabar sacchai aisi hoti hai ki hum chahkar v sach nahi bol paate kyunki sach hamesha sab kuch sahi kare, ye zaruri nhi...mujhe pura yakeen hai ki tu ek din ye baat samjhega."
Om (confused yet concerned): "Di...sab kuch thik hai na? Tum abhi mujhe ye sab...aur tum ho na mujhe ye baad mein samjhane k liye.. toh main abhi se itna sab kyun sochun!"
Navita (caressing his cheek): "Abhi toh sab thik hai mere bhole bhai...par waqt kab kaise mod le ye kya pata...isiliye sochi ki tujhe ye abhi se bata dun.
Accha dekh main tere liye kya laayi hun."
With this Navita extended a wrapped gift towards Om.
Navita (smiling): "Kholkar dekh."
Om: "Ok..."
As he unwrapped his gift Rudra entered the room.
Om (happily): "Rudra, dekh Di ne kya diya hai. Mere fav oil painting colours aur saath mein mere murtiyon k liye ek floding stand. Thnkxxx a ton Di."
Rudra (turning up his face like a depressed & annoyed kid): "Ye kya baat hui Di!! Mera gift kahan hai?"
Navita (pulling Rudra's cheek): Mere chhote se natkhat bhai...yahan aa...tere liye v kuch hai..."
Rudra almost snatched the gift from his Di & attacked its wrappers to look inside.
Rudra (in a surprised tone): "Thankxxx so much Di...this is my favourite jacket. And what more, these glares are the ones I was looking for since long."
Navita smiled at her two cute brothers.
Navita (concern filled eye): "Ru..tu meri ek baat manega?"
Rudra (turning towarda Navita): "Main aapki baat taalun aisa v kabhi hua hai aaj tak!? Batao na Di...kaunsi baat?"
Navita: Kabhi apne bhaiyon ka saath matt chhodna...aur ladkiyon ki bezzati kabhi matt karna. Aisi koi baat nhi karna jisse kisi ladki ka dil dukhe..."
Om looked with suspicious eyes at his elder sister while Rudra replied jokingly, "Are these advices free with the gifts?"
Navita (raising an eyebrow): "Rudra!!!"
Rudra (smiling sheepishly): "I was joking...Aapki baat hamesha yaad rakhunga."
Soon Shivaay poked his head in through the open door.
Shivaay: Di...its already 5:15. Guests will arrive by 8:30. Tu ready nahi hogi?"
Navita (looking up at Shivaay): "Shiv..mera zinmedaar aur pyaara bhai...aa...yahan baith...mere pass..."
Shivaay sensed a strange saddness in his Di's voice & asked abruptly coming towards her, "Kya baat hai Di? Is everything ok? You sound strangely sad..!!"
Navita (rubbing her eyes from which tears were about to rise): "Tujhe itna pareshaan hone ki zarurat nahi hai re. Until I am alive, everything will be alright. Tu mere pass baith Shivaay..."
As Shivaay sat down, Navita gifted him a wrapped parcel too. Shivaay tore it open & a big smile appeared on his face.
Shivaay: My new boots, and that awesome T-shirt which I wanted to buy last month. You are a darling Di...seriously...thnkxxx a lot."
Navita (her face held on a smile which seemed to be hidding some bitter saddness): Shiv...promise me...tu hamesha OmRu, Dadi aur baki sabka khayal rakhega. You will always be their protector..."
Shivaay (took hold of Navita's hands): "Haan Di...pakka rakhunga..."
And with this the 3 brothers hugged their loving Di.
Navita ( almost in the verge of tears): Promise me my dear brothers...chahe main kal rahun ya na rahun..you all will always stay together. Always remember, 'One for All & All for One'. Kabhi v kisi v keemat par ek dusre ko matt chhodna..."
ShivOmRu: "We promise Di..Pakki wali promise..."
As they broke the hug all of them smiled & suddenly Navita's cell phone rang. She saw the caller & cut the call, then turning towards her brothers she said, "Mere pyaare bhaiyon ab tum sab jaao aur ready ho jaao."
The three brothers nodded & as they were walking out they discussed that may be the Sagaai environment has affected their Di's mood & so she was getting a bit more sentimental. But soon they stopped in their steps near the door as they heard the cell phone ringing again. Navita picked it & replied "I am coming" in a tensed voice.
Rudra: "Aap iss waqt kahan jaa rahi ho Di?"
Shivaay: "Tu iss waqt kahin nhi jaayegi Di, agar koi zaruri kaam hai toh hume bol. Hum chale jaayenge."
Om: " Shivaay bilkul sahi kehe raha hai. Tum kahin nahi jaaogi Di."
Navita ignored them & took out a packed bag from the wardrobe. She put in her mobile charger. She pocketed her cell phone. But as soon as she was about to push her way out of her room Shivaay caught her hand to stop her.
Rudra: "Di...kya hua..aap iss waqt kahan jaa rahi hain...wo v ek packed bag k saath!?"
Om (concerned): "Sacchi sacchi batao Di, tum humse kya chhupa rahi ho? Wo sab baatein aur ab aise phone call aate hi kisi packed bag lekar bahar jana...hume kuch sahi nahi lag raha.."
Shivaay (pissed & puzzled): Haan Di...ekdum sach bolna...ye ho kya raha hai? Tu bhul gayi hai kya ki teri sagaai hai kuch 3-3.5 hrs mein!? Tujhe jahan v jaana hai hum saath chalenge lekin sagaai k baad. Abhi tu kamre mein wapas jaa aur ready ho jaa.."
Navita (restless & annoyed): Tum log mujhe jaane do...aur kahan saath chaloge tum sab, spa mein ya beauty parlour mein? Bolo? Arey gazab karte ho..! Main spa aur beauty parlour jaa rahi hun ready hone air iss bag mein mere ready hone k saare saamaan hain...Ab main jaaun???"
ShivOmRu: "Are you sure Di? Wakai ye hi wajah hai?"
Navita (a bit stammering): "Haan...haan...ye hi wajah hai...ab aur late matt karwao.."
Saying so she rushed out of her room, & running down the empty stairs & hall she made her way out of the Oberoi Mansion. ShivOmRu looked puzzled & their 6th sense started telling then that something terrble might happen. Yet they tried to relax bcoz they remembered that Pinky has taken appointments for Navita at the same time just hours brfore the 'muhurat' of Sagaai. They decided to pick their Di from the parlour by themselves so that tgey can ensure her safety.
------*------*------
Shivaay was almost ready when his phone suddenly started ringing.
"Shivaay Singh oberoi speaking", was Shivaay's open dialogue.
"Shivaayji, main Inspector Shinde. Aap jaldi se Pune-Goa highway k pass jo khaali garage hai wahan aa jaaiye...Dekhiye jaldi kijiye...matter bahut serious hai.", with this the call ended.
Shivaay's heart skipped a few beats & he was about to fall on the floor when two supportive hands frok two sides held him tight.
"Who was it Shivaay?", asked Om.
"Bhaiya, kaun tha phone par aur kya kaha usne?", Rudra added.
Shivaay was lost yet he tried to stand up. "Lets go OmRu. We must hurry."
The trio ran down the stairs & were abruptly stopped by Dadi & Jahnvi.
"Billu, tu bahar jaa raha hai? Beta zaraa Sanyukta ko beauty parlour se lete hue aana...pata nh kyun uska phone out of reach bol raha hai. Jo v ho uska ab tak ho gaya hoga.", said Dadi.
Shivaay was not in a position to reply anything. He didn't even uttered a single word.
"Hum wahin jaa rahe hain Dadi.", Rudra answered for his bhaiya.
"Bhai-behen milte hi time bhulakar late matt karna..Navi ko lekar seedha ghar lautna...samjhe?", Jahnvi told them in a slight strict voice with a twnkle in her eyes which didn't went unnoticed by the trio.
The brothers took the car, Rudra in the driving seat..while Shivaay was quite all the way and Om was unable to think anything straight.
As they pulled in near the said place, they saw the then exsting garage now in ashes & human body parts here & there. They stood there motionless. 6th sense generally never gets wrong is what they were understanding. Their minds were saying that the worse had happened yet their hearts wanted to believe that its just a coincidence & they have nothing to do with this blast. Suddenly the 3 brothers were brought out of trance by the same voice who called Shivaay, "Hello Sirs, Inspector Shinde here. Mujhe ye kehete hue bahut hi afsos ho raha hai ki hume kuch aisa mila hai jisse aap sabko bahut takleef ho sakti hai, par kya karein bataiye...tehekikat toh karni hi padegi aur aapko inform karna v toh humara hi responsibility hai..we found this mobile from these ashes and when we checked details it turned out to be Miss Navita Oberoi's mobile. We have found some other female accessories. Please unn saamano ki janch karke dekhiye ki kahin wo aapki didi k toh nahi..."
Shivaay surprisingly reacted & took hold of the collar of the inspector & roared, "What are you tryng to imply Inspector...?? That my elder sister is dead???"
"Bhaiya chhodo...uska collar pakadne se kuch nhi hoga...lets split & find Di. O, aap uss taraf dhundo..main iss taraf dhundta hun..aur bhaiya, aap wahan dhundiye."
The brothers ran like mad in different directions. They shouted at the top of their trembling & scared voices.
"Di kahan hai tu...please mill jaa...DI", a totally broken Shivaay dropped down on the road weeping bitterly.
"Hum sabko aise chhodkar tu nahi jaa sakti...Tu hi toh humari bandhan thi Di...Dadi ki Sanyukta...Parivaar ko sanyukt rakhne wali...Hum tere bina kaise jeeyenge Di..!!? Main ghar mein kisiko kya muh dikhaunga..!! Kya kahunga Dadi se? Kyun Di kyun? Itna mana kiya tujhe ki matt jaa akele..phir v tu nahi maani..teri unn baaton se hume lag hi raha tha ki kuch toh bura hone wala hai...musibat hum sabke sar par mandra rahi thi par tu use akele khud k sar par kyun le li...kyun??!! Kahan chali gayi tu??", lamented the crying Shivaay Singh Oberoi.
"Bhaiya", Rudra's voice was audible as his running steps slowed down near Shivaay's figure.
"Bhaiya...Di kahin nahi mili...aur ab toh O v gayab hain..!!", informed a terribly scared Rudra.
Shivaay stood up to find Om & they went in the direction where Om had gone in search of Navita.
Rudra (shrieking): "O...O...ab aap kahan gaye?"
Shivaay (frightened): "Om...OM...Rudra..look, wo raha Om..."
They ran towards a lone figure who was lying on the road, sobbing deeply.
"O...aapko Di mili?", asked Rudra. Om didn't move, neither did he answered. Shivaay jerked Om and he sat up hugged his brothers & broke down in their arms. "Hum apne Di ko nahi bacha sake...shayad wo phone call kisi aise insaan ka tha jo humare parivaar ko nuksaan pahunchana chahta tha...aur Di ne hum sabko bachane k liye saari musibat akele apn upar le liya...Hum...Hum sab...hamesha k liye Di ko kho diye...Shivaay...Rudra...Di ko pata tha ye sab hoga..tabhi unhone humse aaj wo baatein kahi..."
"Aur...aur wo gifts...wo...wo gifts Di k taraf se aakhri gifts the humare liye...", Rudra completed, now crying loudly.
"There you are...main aap logon ko kabse dhund raha hun..aise daudkar gayab hue aaplog..Dekhiye, please zara ye saaman dekhkar bataiye ki ye aapki didi k hain ya nahi..", interrupted Inspector Shinde.
As soon as the vision of the Ob bros fell on the accessories, jacket, wrist-watch and the gold ring, they knew it was Navita's, thus confirming their 6th sense that a heart-wrecking terrible disaster has happened & today is actually the blackest day for the Oberoi family. As the 3 brothers sat on the road weeping out their wounded heart, the heavens also joined in the mourns & rain splashed down their motionless figures.
Thankxxx to all for the encouragement & support. I hope my story will entertain you all. Please leave your comments.
Edited by Roselind - 9 years ago
Ye Hai Mohabbatein
Anupamaa
Dr Aarambhi
