Back to square one - ShraMan OS

A pang of hurt rose in Suman's chest as soon as she saw nanu walk weakly towards the hall. She sighed, elbows reclined on her knees and forehead rested on her fist while everyone from the Tiwari clan gathered near her.

"Suman beta tu itni pareshan kyun hai aur tune ye kyun kaha ki ghar ke sare sadsyon ko yahan hona chahiye...Aakhir baat kya hai" Mamaji asked Suman, an obvious concern laced in his tone.

Suman waited for nanu to settle with ease as she handed him a cup of tea.

"Arey batayegi bhi hua kya hai...Kahin phir se to Shravan se jhagda nahin kiya tune" Mamiji sneered angrily. "Suman dekh hum bata dete hain tujhe iss baar hum kisi aur ka bojh khud par nahin dhone wale...itni mushkil se hum apne bete ke saath uske ghar ja paa rahe hain..ab koi aur musibat mat khadi kar diyo tu" as Mamiji taunted and Mamaji looked on like a spineless spectator, nanu closed his eyes in pain.

Insulting and degrading Sumo was not something that needed any introduction to the inhabitants of Tiwari Killa but off late the only voice that always stood up in support of Sumo had also begun to give in owing to the turmoil of age and poor health. Nanu sucked a thick lump in his throat as he noticed Sumo's eyes twitch with hurt.

"Aisa kuch bhi nahin hai Mamiji..." Sumo exhaled, her voice strained with distress.

Standing up from the sofa, she handed an affidavit and some papers to Mamaji.

"Ye sab kya hai Suman..." Nanu broke his silence this time, lines of concern creasing his forehead.

Slightly surprised,M amaji took the affidavit from Suman and started reading it. As he read through the papers, his eyes bulged in shock.

"Suman ye sab...ye kahan se mila tumhein" Mamji asked baffled.

"Koi mujhe batayega ki ye ho kya raha hai" nanu was perplexed now.

"Babuji mujhe vishwas nahin ho raha ki ye ladka aise kaise...ye sab..." mamaji fumbled and sat on the sofa exhausted.

"Kehna kya chahte ho tum saaf saaf batayo aur Suman kya likha hai in papers mein" nanu's firm tone was enough to make Sumo's heart sink with concern.

She blinked her eyes in pain for one last time before settling on her knees near nanu's chair. Taking his hands into hers she looked through his gloomy eyes. All this while Sumo had wished if she could somehow escape this very moment...nanu's bewildered eyes and his trembling worried face, it would send shivers of an unknown fear down her spine but the fact that how inevitable this whole situation had become, it forced her to divulge the truth.

"Nanu aaj subah Shravan ka court se phone aaya tha...Usne kaha ki woh wahan ek lawyer se mila jo judge ko ye affidavit or Tiwari Killa ke papers de raha tha...Anuj bhaiya ne ye papers Tiwari Killa ko bechne ke liye diye the aur uss affidavit mein ye likha hai ki agar Anuj Tiwari iss ghar ko bechna chahein to usmein apko koi problem nahin hai"...a layer of tears welled up in Suman's eyes as she confessed the truth. "Mujhe nahin pata nanu un papers pe apke signature kahan se aaye par itna to main aur Shravan dono hi samajh gaye the ki kisine apke fake signatures karke apko dhoka diya hai...Isiliye main itni subah yahan aayi thi nanu..Isiliye aap sabka yahan hona itna zaroori tha" as Sumo admitted the whole truth, the cup which nanu was holding dropped from his hands in shock leaving everyone totally worried.

"Babuji sambhaliye apne aapko..." mamaji kept a hand on nanu's shoulder trying to pacify him.

"Nanu aap please chinta mat keejiye warna apki tabiyat kharaab ho jayegi...Aur waise bhi Shravan ne sab sambhal liya hai...Shravan ne us lawyer ko ye papers court mein submit karne se rok diya tha...Ab sab kuch theek hai nanu...Bas humein iss baat ka pata lagana hai ki iske peeche kaun hai" Sumo told and for once looked towards Mamiji "Aur usse bhi zyaada ki usne ye kyun kiya"

Realizing that how Suman's revelation had brought Anuj's real face in front of the whole family, Mamiji stood up infuriated.

Turning Suman from the shoulder she groaned. "Tum saabit kya karna chahti ho Suman...hamara Anuj aisa kabhi nahin kar sakta"

"Mamiji main kuch bhi saabit nahin karna chahti...Jo bhi saabit kar rahe hain ye papers kar rahe hain. Aur bad kismati se ye sab Anuj bhaiya ke khilaf hain.Aur sirf ye hi nahin ek aur bahut bada sach chupaya hai unhone apse" Sumo said leaving Mamiji furious.

"Aakhir tumhein pareshani kya hai hamare bete se Suman...kyun uske peeche padi ho" Mamiji blamed in a resentful tone but before Suman could explain anything further a bitter shriek from behind pulled her out of her reverie.

"Ab ye sab bhi karne lage ho tum pati patni" Anuj snapped from behind and snatched the papers from nanu's hand leaving Sumo stunned.

"Pehle to patni hi sirf mujhe gyaan deti thi aur ab pati bhi shuru ho gaya apne rang dikhane...Aakhir tum dono ki problem kya hai...kyun sabki life mein apni taang adate rehte ho. Aur woh Shravan hoga bahut bada lawyer London mein par yahan uski kya aukat hai ye sabko pata..."

"ENOUGH!" Sumo yelled even before Anuj could complete this time, leaving everyone in the room totally shocked. She strode towards him and looked him straight in the eye, "Anuj Bhaiya aap Shravan ke bare mein kuch na hi bolein to apke liye bahut acha hoga. Woh kya hai, kitna acha hai aur kitna kaabil hai ye mujhe apse jaan ne ki bilkul zaroorat nahin hai.."

"Aur han" Sumo pointed a finger at Anuj this time..."Agar apko lagta hai ki aap Shravan ke bare mein kuch bhi bolenge aur main ya phir yahan pe koi bhi aur chup chap sunta rahega to ye galat fehmi hai apki...Aap shayad Shravan ki aukaat jante hain lekin ye sab uski fitrat, uski sachai pehchante hain...Jab aap nahin the to woh tha yahaan...Woh tha jisne apki behen Preeti aur Pushkar ki shaadi ki saari responsibility li thi...Woh tha jisne aapki behen ko uss Aditya se bachaya tha...Aur woh hi tha jo nanu ke bimar hone par raat raat ko unse milne aata tha...Isliye pehle uske layak ban jaiye phir baat kariyega... " Sumo warned leaving Anuj totally riled up and filled with rage while a sweet smile beamed across Preeti's face as she saw Sumo speaking up for Shravan.

"Bahut par nikal aye hain na tere...uss Shravan Malhotra se shaadi karke khud ko kahin ki maharani samaajh rahi hai...main tujhe batata hoon teri jagah kya hai" Anuj snarled and raised his hand to slap Sumo only to be stopped midway by a muscular arm with grip so strong it lent his hand absolutely immobile. Standing in front of Anuj was Shravan, his eyes blazing in hues of crimson and his face creased with raw anger.

Sumo who had her eyes momentarily closed almost as an impulse by now stood rooted to her spot as soon as she sneaked a glance at her disdainful husband, sheer rage coursing through his features.

"Aaj kar diya hai...Aage se sochna bhi mat" Shravan hissed, Anuj's wrists pressed so tightly in his unforgiving grip it forced the latter pant between low growls that managed to escape from between his clenched teeth. Anuj had felt as if his knuckles would crack in Shravan's chastising hold.

For a moment, Sumo and everyone else who stood in that room could not believe what had got into Shravan. Sumo could feel the heat of the anger emanating from his very being and in that very second it seemed as if Anuj bhaiya won't survive it.

"Shravan jaane do...Shravan please" Sumo pleaded watching Anuj growl in pain.

Shravan looked ahead towards Mamiji, his eyes filled with such vindictiveness it sent a shiver down her spine. "Mamiji bahut bada bojh uthaya hai na apne Suman ko iss ghar mein rehne de kar, bahut ehsaan kiya hai uspe uski hi mehnat ki kamayi se is ghar ko chalakar...To aaj usi Suman ki wajah se ek ehsaan main aap par karta hoon...aapke bete ke haath pair salaamat chod raha hoon" Shravan howled, pushing away Anuj's hand with such might he fell on the sofa behind. "Par ab jab ehsaan baraabar ho gaya hai, to apne bete ko samjha dijiye ga, Suman kisi ka bojh nahin hai, biwi hai meri, aur meri biwi mera guroor hai...Aur uspar jo bhi ungli uthane ki koshish karega, uska yahi anjaam hoga" as Shravan lashed out and took Sumo's hand in his to turn away from mamiji and walk towards nanu, she had her gaze fixed at him in sheer awe. It wasn't that she ever needed any validation from anyone or she wasn't sure of her ground but to have someone stand up for her, to have someone claim her as his own, as his pride, for now and forever, it felt surreal. Shravan had said he would never let her on her own and he proved he wasn't saying it alone, he meant it, each word of it.

While Sumo was still lost in her trance, Shravan noticed someone leap towards her from the back. As he narrowed his eyes in surprise and turned to his side he saw Anuj stride towards them with a flower vase in his hand.

"SUMO!!" Shravan screamed in horror and came in way causing the vase to land straight on his forehead. For a moment no one could fathom what just happened.

"Shravannn!!!" Sumo yelled as the sudden commotion broke her train of thought. She noticed Shravan had his hand pressed against his forehead. There was blood dripping through his face and his eyes twitched slightly due to pain. Seeing Shravan being a little wobbly on his feet everyone caught hold of him and helped him on the chair. Nanu slapped Anuj across his face and pushed him out of Tiwari KIlla.

"Preeti jaldi se first aid box leke aa..." Sumo yelled, her voice absorbed with fear and pain.

"Relax Sumo main theek hoon...It's nothing" Shravan tried to appease her but she snapped back at him in anger "This is nothing!! Itna khoon bah raha hai and its nothing!! Pagal ho tum Shravan...Kya zaroorat thi ye karne ki...Agar kuch ho jata to"

Shravan noticed there were tears in her eyes and it made a little smile crawl to the corner of his lips.

"Ab ismein hasne ki kya baat hai" Sumo chided.

"Kuch nahin...bas aise hi" he smiled, his eyes so warm and complacent it made Sumo feel butterflies dance in her stomach.

A while later, the two of them sat across Sumo's bed in her room at Tiwari Killa. Sumo had tended to Shravan's wound and applied antiseptic and mesh bandage to his forehead to cover the deep cut. Dr. Arora too had been called in to check on Shravan and administered him a tetanus shot. Shravan had shook his head looking at Sumo twitch her eyes at the sight of needle but to his surprise it wasn't just fear that left her perturbed. It was much more. Her hands had flown on his on their own accord when he had winced at the needle and for that one moment, he had felt his heart flutter in his chest. To know that his smallest of pain affected her so much was something unreal to him.

After finishing dinner Shravan noticed Sumo was still lost in her thoughts so he thought to cheer her up.

"Sumo ye tumhara room itna girly kyun hai yaar...I can't sleep here" Shravan whined dramatically trying to lighten the atmosphere. Sumo raised a brow at him, her hands on her waist.

"Shravan hum pichle 15 saal se isi room mein khele aur bade hue hain" she reminded.

"I know Sumo but suddenly this looks so flashy...tumhara taste waise thoda loud nahin hai" as Shravan said, Sumo couldn't hold her irritation this time, just as he wanted.

"Oh really? Pehle to kabhi ye room girly aur flashy nahin laga tumhein...Jab bachpan mein roz muh uthake mujhse milne chale ate the...aaj suddenly mera taste loud lag raha hai tumhein" she mocked, throwing a pillow in his direction. Shravan tried to stifle a giggle at his stupid innocent jhansi ki rani.

"Oh please hun! Main tumse milne nahin ata tha...Ye to tum hi mujhe bulati thi apna homework poora karne ke liye..Aur main itna acha tha ki bina koi complaint kare tumhara sara homework kar deta tha" he remarked causing Sumo's nostrils to flare up in anger.

"Haan haan Shravan Malhotra se bada sant aadmi to ho hi nahin sakta duniya mein!! Aur jo roz hamare ghar ka adha rashan kha jate the woh kya!!" Sumo snapped.

"How cheap you can be Sumo...Tum mera khana ginti thi!!" Shravan made a dramatic face. "Ya phir tumhein iss baat se jalan hoti thi ki itna khane ke baad bhi main itna slim aur handsome tha aur tum ekdum..." he said and giggled at his own joke."Tabhi bachpan se hi aisi ho tum...jal kukdi..."

Sumo's lips curled into a big 'O' at his words.

"How dare you qutub minar!! Ek to mujhe moti bulate ho aur upar se jal kukdi...Tum hoge Jal kukde...Apni shakal dekhi thi jab main prom pe kisi aur ke saath gayi thi..Kaise golgappe ki tarah fool gayi thi...Khud se to jalan bardash nahin hoti aur mujhe gyaan dene chale ho...Jal Kukde" Sumo rebuked throwing all the cushions she got in her hand towards Shravan. Both of them remembered how they have had the same argument in childhood as well and broke into a fit of laughter together.

"Ab so jao yahin par...Aur waise bhi nanu tumhein jane nahin denge aaj" Sumo whispered after a while as the two caught their breaths from incessant laughing, her cheeks flushed in hues of pink.

"Janta hoon par yahan couch ke bina hi guzara chalana padega" he chuckled and she shook her head at him. Moments of momentary silence took over the room as they settled themselves on the bed, their back facing each other.

"Shravan ek baat kahni thi tumse..." Sumo mumbled after a pause, breaking the silence of the room.

"Hmmm..."

"Woh main kehna chahti thi ki.. "

"Tum kehna chahti thi ki..."

"Main kehna chahti thi ki...I mean I wanted to say thankyou..." Sumo professed making Shravan smile.

"Kisliye? Tumhare bhai se apna sir phudwane ke liye" Shravan giggled and Sumo hit him on the leg with hers. "How mean are you" she huffed and he laughed.

"Waise you know what main bhi kisi ko thankyou kehna chahta hoon"

"Kisse...?"

"Mr. Anuj Tiwari ko...Agar woh na hote to Mrs Suman Malhotra ka ye naya andaaz dekhne ko kaise milta mujhe" he teased and Sumo couldn't help but blush a shade of beetroot red.

She knew he mocked and taunted her on purpose and she loved it to say the least, this banter was the soul of their friendship and only she knew how bitterly she had missed it all the while when he was away. And she was glad though slowly but surely, their life was getting back to square one.

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