FF: Hum Tumhare Hain Sanam *Completed* EPILOGUE pg:103 13/02/2017 - Page 14

Originally posted by: raji91

interesting ...
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Chapter-3

Zindagi iss tarah se lagne lagi,

Rang udd jaayein jo, deewaaron se...

Ab chupaane ko apna Kuch na raha...

Zakhm dikhne lage, daraaron se...

A year later:

Sonakshi walked into the general ward of the hospital, looking after the diet charts made and followed of the various patients admitted. She had just completed her rounds into the Private ward, and now she looked after the patients who either were not monetarily able to pay for the private ward, or were being treated under the Trust. Patient after patient she went, picked up the diet chart, patient's condition from the foot rest of the bed, read that and interacted accordingly.

Sonakshi stood at the 10^th bed bent to pick the chart from the foot rest when the patient got down the bed and bent down to Sonakshi's feet... This was a new admission in the ward with cardiac conditions. The old lady recently survived a heart attack... Sonakshi left the chart and picked the lady up slowly, and made her sit, ready to admonish her for not being careful... But before she could even utter a word, Sonakshi's eyes widen up with the eerie familiarity she saw on the face... She knew her, quite well! Only that in a span of just a year she looked suddenly old, her hair was more grayish, the eyes were tired, and the face gloomy and wrinkled... By no chance did she look like the woman she knew... Not like Dev's mother at all!

"Aunty ji? aap?" Sonakshi couldn't believe her eyes...

Ishwari, Dev's mother; Sonakshi's patient once upon a time, and her patient yet again had tears flooding her eyes... She bent down again, folding her hands in front of Sonakshi- "Mujhe maaf kar do Sonakshi... Bas ab aur mujhe Shraap mat dena!"

Sonakshi stood dumb founded... What is happening here?

Main tere jism ki hoon parchaayi,

Mujhko kaise rakhoge khud se juda...

Bhool karna toh meri fitrat hai,

Kyuki insaan hoon main, nahi hoon khuda...

Mujhko hai, apni har khataa Manzoor,

Bhool ho jaati hai, insaano se...

Ab chupaane ko apna kuch na raha...

Zakhm dikhne lage, daraaron se...

The ward boy wheeled Ishwari's wheelchair to Sonakshi's cabin as per the doctor's instruction... Leaving the two women in the huge room, the man left. Sonakshi closed the door behind and drew the curtains for not being visible from the glass doors to the outsiders...

Sonakshi pulled a chair in front of Ishwari, sat down on it and wiped the older woman's tears- "Ye kya haalat bana ke rakhi hai aapne aunty ji?" As much as Sonakshi felt saddened by what Ishwari did to her a year ago, separating her and Dev; she felt pained to see Ishwari in such a pathetic state. "Aap General Ward mein kyu admitted thi? Private ward mein I think there were rooms... And koi aapke saath kyu nahi tha hospital mein? Mr. Dixit? Neha? Maami ji?"

Tears spilled out of Ishwari's eyes... She was again pleading forgiveness... "Mujhe maaf kar do Sonakshi... Shayad tumhari hi baddua lag gayi mujhe, aur mere ghar ko, jo aaj hum sabki aisi haalat hai..." Ishwari joined her hands in pleading...

"Ye aap kya kar rahi hain aunty ji? Main aapko kyu badduaa dungi... Jo bhi aapne kiya, apne bete ki khushi ke liye hi toh kiya... Main bhala aapka bura kaise chaahungi..." Sonakshi tried to softly explain this to her...

"Jab se tum gayi ho Sonakshi, meri duniya mein sab badal gaya... Dev ne kaam pe dhyaan dena chodh diya... Jab sharaab ke nashe se utar jaata hai toh daftar chala jaata hai...Mera beta, jisne kabhi koi galat aadat nahi paali, jo humaare ghar ko mandir maanta tha; Sharaab ki puri dukaan laga rakhi hai... Subah dupahar shaam bas peeta hai... Kaam karta nahi hai toh uske business mein kaafi nuksaan hota rehta hai... Bas rehne ke liye wo ghar bacha hai...Sab khatam ho gaya..." Ishwari sobbed... Sonakshi could understand, these tears are not of the monetary losses they were facing; those were for the loss of the great child she had...

Sonakshi put a hand of consolation on Ishwari's shoulder... She wished she could help... "Aunty ji, sab Theek ho jaayega... Mr. Dixit bhi Theek ho jaayenge... Aur aapki betiyaan bhi toh hain... Sab milke Theek kar loge aap log..." Sonakshi tried giving hopes to Ishwari, though she understood practically things mustn't be easy.

"Nahi beta, kuch Theek nahi hoga... Main ek achhi maa nahi hoon... Mere har bachhe ki zindagi kharaab kar di maine... Mera Dev kis haalat mein hai... Meri Neha apne pati ko chodhke aake baithi hai... Riya ki shaadi pakki ki toh uska hone wala pati usko mandap pe hi chodhke chala gaya... Nikki sab dekhke sehmi si rehti hai... Aur ye sab dekhke mujhe dil ka daura padd gaya (Heart attack) ... Kaise Theek hoga sab Sonakshi... Tum hi bataao..." Ishwari kept on crying... Sonakshi felt utter sadness... What life wanted from them? How everything seems so disturbed...

"Aunty ji, pehle aapko apni haalat Theek karni hogi... Apni sehat ka khayal rakhna hoga... Jab aap hi himmat haar jaayengi toh kaise kuch sahi hoga... Aap mera kehna maaniye... Main jaisa kehte hoon waisa khaana khaaiye... Strong ho jaaiye... Then you will see you will have the strength to recover the lost..." Sonakshi explained, and Ishwari nodded timidly...

Ab talak sirf tujhko dekha tha,

Aaj tu kya hai ye bhi jaan liya...

Aaj jab ghaur se tujhe dekha,

Hum ghalat they kahin ye maan liya...

Teri har bhool mein kahin shayad,

Hum bhi shaamil hain gunahgaaron se...

Ab chupaane ko apna kuch na raha,

Zakhm dikhne lage, daraaron se...

"Dr. Sonakshi, ye Ishwari ji ke reports hain... Please unka diet chart banaake, give it at her house... I know the Dixits cannot afford to have you as their personal nutritionist now, but Mr. Dixit had been one of the biggest trustees of this hospital, his mother needs our help, and I can't deny it in their time of need... If you say, take your fee cut out of my salary. But just can you do it for your senior?" Dr. Sinha had called Sonakshi in his cabin with such a request... Sonakshi by no means could deny his request. Ishwari was discharged from the hospital, Neha had come to take her... And now was resting at her home... All she needed was proper care and a strict diet... And now she was being given an additional responsibility to become her nutritionist once again... She didn't know how things are going to be this time... With a heavy breath exhaled, Sonakshi turned around to make a new diet chart for her patient- Mrs. Ishwari Dixit.

With heavy steps Sonakshi entered Ishwari Mansion... There was no guard on the gate... They couldn't afford a watchman also... The old driver was there doing the job of the gatekeeper cum driver... Entering the house, she looked around the hall... Things were as it is, nothing lavish attached to the decor of the house though. But still Ishwari Mansion was it, just that the aura of the house seemed lost to Sonakshi...

She looked around to find someone to address the reason of her arrival, and she luckily found Nikki... Sonakshi had never seen the girl so dim, but that is how she looked to her... Nikki came and hugged her with some genuine smile...

"Nikki, Aunty ji kahan hain? Unka diet chart dena tha mujhe..." Sonakshi asked awkwardly...

Nikki shrugged her shoulder sadly... "Maa har roz ki tarah Bhaiyya ke room mein gayi hain... Wahin mil jaayengi aapko... Hum log toh thak chuke hain roz roz ke inn sab se..." Nikki hung back her bag sadly, to go to her college... Her studies were continuing, Sonakshi was thankful to the fact... Somewhere down the line, seeing such a pathetic state of this family, Sonakshi felt guilty of losing her battle so quickly, and letting the backbone of this house broken and shattered... Dev's inability to work has almost put the members of this house on road... What has gone wrong with Dev, Sonakshi wondered...

Sighing Sonakshi climbed up the steps to Dev's room... Reaching on the room door she could hear Ishwari sobbing yet again, rather pleading her son...

"Dev, beta ye sab kab tak karega... Chodh kyu nahi deta ye sharaab peena..."

"Maa, tu kyu aayi hai yahan phir se... Har roz kyu bataana padta hai tujhko ki mujhe tujhse koi baat nahi karni...", Dev's little slur of tongue told that he was a drunk...

"Tu kab tak apni maa se baat nahi karega? Koi apni maa se itne samay tak naraaz reh sakta hai?"

"Pata nahi... Mera ab kuch bhi karne ka mann nahi karta maa... Na tujhse baat karne ka, na teri baat sunne ka, na office jaane ka, naa sabke liye aur paise kamaane ka..."

"Toh kya tu aise hi roz bas sharaab pee-peeke paise udaata rahega? Kuch nahi karne ka mann karta tera...?" Ishwari had tears spilled out of her eyes...

"Karta hai na maa... Sona... Sonakshi ko yaad karne ka mann karta hai... Mujhe iss ghar ke har kone mein dikhti hai wo... Phir yaad aa jaata hai ki meri hi aankhon ke saamne toh vida hoke wo apne pati ke saath shaadi karke chali gayi... Dil toot jaata hai mera... Main phir sharaab pee leta hoon, aur kuch waqt ke liye bhool jaata hoon ki uski shaadi kabhi hui..."

More tears spilled out of her eyes- "Dev, maine teri shaadi Sonakshi ke saath nahi hone di... Tu apni maa se iss baat ka badla le raha hai na?"

"Badla? Kis baat ka badla maa? Main tujhse kyu badla loonga, jab tere iss kaam mein main baraabar ka partner hoon... Hum sab kuch saath karte hain, remember? Maine hi toh khud Sonakshi ko apni zindagi se jaane ko kaha tha... Tuney toh bas neend ki goliyaan khaayi thi... Sonakshi ko toh maine Good bye bola tha... Sazaa toh mujhe milegi na...? Main badla-wadla nahi khelta... Ye sab games maine khele nahi ke main kiska zyada hoon... Maine toh tujhse bohot pyaar kiya tha, aur Sonakshi ko bhi apni jaan se zyada pyaar kiya tha... Ab meri jaan kisi aur ki ho gayi, toh jo ye body reh gayi hai, sochta hoon usko kaise khatam karoon... Marna chaahta hoon maa... Par kya karoon, mujhse suicide nahi hoti... Kya karoon, coward... Kaayar hoon na... Abhi tak itni himmat nahi jutaa paaya... Isliye, sharaab pee leta hoon... Kam se kam Liver hi kharaab ho jaaye, toh shayad dheere dheere dusre organs kharaab hokar mujhe naturally maut aa jaaye... Shayad tab main Sonakshi ko bhool jaaun?" Dev spoke in as much consciousness he could...

Ishwari tried to put her hand on her son's mouth... Somehow to shush him from speaking bad omens... But her son was beyond her strength... He wouldn't shush then too...

Sonakshi turned about and went to the kitchen, brought in a tall glass of a strong lemonade, and came inside Dev's room... Dev looked at her, and then guffawed... "Dekh maa tu mujhse keh rahi thi na ke main iss nashe ki haalat se baahar aaun, Dekh!... Arre tu kaise dekhegi, Sona tujhe thodi na dikhti hai... Par mujhe toh har jagah dikhti hai... Dekh meri imagination mein Sonakshi Nimbu Paani laayi hai..." and Dev kept on laughing...

Sonakshi took Dev's hand and handed him the glass very sternly- "Chup-chaap ek saans mein ye nimbu paani peejiye, aur nahaake neeche aaiye... Mujhe aap iss haalat mein dikhne nahi chahiye when I see you next!"

She turned towards Ishwari, and ushered her holding from her elbow gently taking her off to her room... Making her lie down in her bed, and giving her a glass of juice before giving her, her medicines... Sonakshi made sure Ishwari is asleep by the time she goes down to have a conversation with THE MR. DEV DIXIT!

Jab kabhi sham ke andheron mein,

Raah panchi jo bhool jaate hain,

Wo subah hote hi,

Meelon chal kar,

Apne shaakhon pe laut aate hain...

Kuch humaare bhi saath aisa hua...

Hum yahi keh rahe ishaaron se...

Zindagi iss tarah se lagne lagi,

Rang udd jaayein jo, Deewaron se...

Ab chupaane ko apne kuch na raha,

Zakhm dikhne lage, Daraaron se...

Sonakshi sat down in the garden, waiting for Dev... She looked around the unkempt garden... She felt like cringing... This family is such broken that even plants are not themselves... The tree in the garden had the birds chirping, and she tried to relax... She sat on the garden bench in a yoga position and tried meditating to the nature's sounds until she needs to talk...

Many minutes, may be half an hour later she opened her eyes to the clearing of throat... In front stood a clean-shaven Dev, neat and tidy, his demeanor told he was over his hangover, and for a change he was not crying and lost. There was a little smile on his lips, and Sonakshi wanted him to smile some more bit, as she said- "Aap Mr. Dev Dixit ke judwa bhai ho? Kyuki main Mr. Dev Dixit se mil chuki hoon... Bohot hi lost, drunk, untidy, rotlu kism ke aadmi hain... Aap toh itne gentleman lag rahe ho..." and Dev gave away an unabashed toothy grin. Thank God, he smiled...

Pat came his reply- "Main bhi Dr. Bose se mil chuka hoon, bohot hi strict, gusse wali, and no-nonsense kism ki hain... Aap toh mere saath joke kar rahi hain..."

Both of them smiled... Just friendly enough... The smile died rather quickly... Sonakshi was back to her serious self as she said- "Main Dr. Sinha ke insist karne par Aunty ji ki nutritionist ke liye aayi hoon... Toh until Aunty ji recoups, main yahan aaungi..."

"But, Sonak... I mean Dr. Bose... I mean... Dr. Sen, mere paas itne paise nahi hain abhi aapko pay karne ke liye utna..." Dev spoke ashamed as well hesitant.

"Do baatein Mr. Dixit... You can rather call me Dr. Sonakshi. I won't mind being called by my first name... Secondly, I don't care how you manage... I want my salary by the first date of the next month... You better start working back in your office, because I don't work free of cost. I shouldn't be finding you at home from today onwards... Is that clear?" Sonakshi spoke sternly... At least she pretended being stern very well...

"Yes, Dr. Sonakshi..." he smiled. He himself was making himself believe that Sonakshi is really in front of his eyes...

"Then, off you go!" Sonakshi ordered him... And he bowed a bit in courtesy and rushed to his room to change for his office...

~~THANKS FOR READING~~