Thank you all my dear friends for the lovely wishes on my birthday.It meant a lot.This update is a return gift from me.Hope you all like it.😳
Here is the update.Read On.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Hello.Tu kon aahes?(Who are you?)'' a girl asked impatiently
on the receiver.The pressure cooker on her stove was blowing urgent
whistles.''Raju kahan hai?Main uska maalik''. A gruff voice emerged from other
end.The girl bit her tongue,put down the receiver and rushed to kitchen.Sudip
held for few seconds before checking the connection with another 'hello'.
"Aho! Saab ji!Bhau to Dilli gaya hai.Mahatvache
kahi?(Anything important?)'' The girl asked sensing that his brother was again
to some real bad business.She prayed to her Ganpati to save her brother from
wrath of several people out there.
"Use phone karke jaldi bula wapas.Warna mere haath uski jaan
jaayegi.'' The phone went dead so as the expression on the girl's face.''Bhau!Tu
he ka kartos?'' (Bhai!Why you do this? )She wailed in despair before dialling
the phone.
Sudip rocked in his rocking chair, contemplating on his
decision.Few hours back,he put 2 and 2 together and realised what transpired
under his nose.The boy he had sent to Sameer's house,impersonating as Paresh
Dewan,the polio vaccine worker had tried kidnapping Nisha.No doubt Raju,the
real name of the boy got fascinated by the rich mansion of Sameer Maheshwari.
Kidnapping Nisha would have filled his pockets with enough ransom money to last
for years together.The plan was foiled much to relief of Sudip and frustration
of Raju.
Rohan rushed to Sameer,as Sameer looked in
bewilderment.Crushing Sameer in a brotherly hug,Rohan gleefully said "Sameer
Bhaiya!Aap yahan? Chalo ghar chalte hein.'' Sameer broke away from the hug and
looked at Rohan. An unwelcoming heat flashed through Sameer's eyes.He expected
encounters, old and new, when he left India.But this was unexpected and not a
pleasant surprise.Rohan sensed the hidden words behind Sameer's silence.Without
wasting a second,he began.''Rita aapko dekhegi to bahut khush ho jaayegi.''
"Bilkul khush nahin hogi.Aur shayad Mr.Somani aur humari
Mummy sunke bhi jyada khush nahin honge.Waise bhi tumhara timetable bigad
jaayega.Mera ghar aana tumhari planner mein to nahin hoga na.?Am I right
Mr.Rohan Somani?'' Sameer asked and turned away to check for the train name that
flashed.Rohan felt a pinch in his heart but camouflaged the hurt with a
smile.''Papa ka gussa mujh pe nikal rahe ho na Bhaiya?Mujhe nahin pata unke dil
mein kya hai aur aapke dil mein kya hai.Bas itna pata hai ki main dil se aapko
apna bade bhaiya samajhta hun.Aur Amrita bhi. Kya hum saare kadvahat bhulake ek
pal ke liye khusiyan nahin mana sakte?''
"Apna naya ghar dikhana chahata hai na? Sidhe bol de.Acha
businessman hai tu.Customer ko kaise convince karte hein ache se padhaye hein
tujhe tere Harvard wale professors.Yeh chalaki apne tak rakh.Mujhe kisi aur ke
ghar jaana hai.Mera bhi kuch timetable aur planner hai.'' Sameer finished.He saw
Rohan's face fall.But a moment of sympathy was overpowered by years of
bitterness.He could not bring to see happiness on the face of the person who
kept him away from his mother,for years together.He can't share a good evening with a person who was
fathered by the most shrewd and manipulative person of his life.
"Thik hai Bhaiya.Main apki timetable ko disturb nahin
karunga.Par ek request hai.London se jaane se pehle ek baar ghar aaiyega
zaroor.Yeh raha mera card.Aap ko time milega to bas call kardijiyega.Main khud
lene aaunga.Aap kahan pe thehre ho?'' Rohan asked handing over his visiting
card.Sameer didn't know why he accepted the card surprisingly not tearing it
into pieces.He was surprised how he mumbled 'The Mandeville,Marylebone'
immediately.He didn't know why he hugged back Rohan when Rohan quickly hugged
again before meddling in the crowd again. Sameer's trance broke as his train
arrived,and he knew its time to move on.
"Bela Ben!Aap Delhi se wapas aa gayi?'' ''Naina mili?Damad ji
kaise hein? "Arey Bela!Suna hai Maheshwari se byah kar li hai Naina.Kahin
usike saath to bhaag nahin gayi thi?'' "Arey Sushila ki Maa!Naina ko hoshiyar
samajh rahe the hum,wo to chant nikli.Kaafi acha nishana lagaya hai.Main to
kehti hun shayad wo doodh piti bachi jisse saath laayi thi..Usi Maheshwari ka
kiya dhara hai.Aaj kal ke jawan chokriyon ka ke kahein?'' Bela ascended the
stairs amidst the nonsense assumptions and gossips of the neighbouring
ladies.None of the talks affected her.The only thought revolved in her mind was
how soon she would get a train ticket for Almora and meet her daughter,after
what seemed an eternity for her.
Bela unlocked her door and placed her duffle bag on the
sofa.''Bahu! Tum aur Anand Naina se milne
Delhi gaye the?'' Bela jerked from her seat ,hearing Tauji's voice. Immediately
she pulled her palloo over her head ,nodding a yes.''Newah!Bela!Tu bhul gayi?
Pichli baar wo kulakshani Naina ka naam ghar mein li thi aur badi josh mein
humse rishta tudwane ki baat ki thi to ghar se nikalne ki naubat aa gayi thi.Yaad
hai na?Arey usi kalmuhi ne humare sanskaar,humare khandan ke muh pe kalank laga
di hai.Haaye!Haaye!kisi ko muh dikhane ki layak na rahe hum.Upar se wo bachi .Pata
nahin kiske saath milke yeh kaalik likh di humari maathe pe.''Taiji blabbered
before settling on the swing to catch her breath.''Bahu!Anand ko bata dena aur
tum bhi samajh lo.Agar Naina,uski pati ya phir uski bachi se kisi bhi tarah ke
sambandh rakhne ki koshish ki to zaydad aur rishtein..dono se bedakhal hoge.Yeh
meri aakhri chetavni hai.Chalo Beena.''
" Bhaisahab! Bhagwan jhooth na bulaye ,main aur Preeti ki
Papa ne yeh faisla liya hai ki hum Naina se milne Almora jaa rahe hein. Baaki
ki baatein Preeti ki Papa jab office se aayenge to aapko bata denge.Bahut saal
iss ghar ki choti bahu ,Bhabhiji ki devrani bankar reh gayi. Ab mujhe ek maa
aur Nani ban ne ki baari aayi hai.Aur yeh khusiyan main phirse khona nahin
chahti. '' Bela concluded and turned away
to go to her kitchen.''O Bai!Dekha Parlay ke papa.Sabki jawan kaise kainchi ki
tarah chalne lagi hai.Jisne naak katwayi samaj biradri mein usi ki Maa ban na
hai ise. Aur wo paap se jo paida hui hai..usi jaraz ki Nani ban na hai ise..kya
din aa gaye. ''Taiji gave a howl before leaving,much to Bela's solace.
Naina washed Nisha's feet and led her to the puja room.
Procuring a mat from the shelves, she gestured Nisha to occupy it.Nisha watched
Naina soak a wick in ghee,which later produced a fierce,tall flame.The heat of
the flame spread across the room.Naina lit the camphor and another flame
lighted up the room.This heat was intense.Naina waved the camphor lit sambrani stand over the deities' framed
photographs, intoning a hymn in praise of the lords.Nisha heard the puja ghanti ringing,chiming along with her
mother's glass bangles.Nisha sat entranced by the magical scene spread before
her eyes.She only entered the puja room to call her mother or in mischief to
pull away the cotton ear plugs.But this spectacle left her enchanted.The dark
room lighting up slowly with several other lamps.
"Nisha!Haath jod aur apni aankhein band kar le.'' Nisha saw
Naina join the palms of her hands and close her kohl-lined eyes.Ab main jo
bolungi,use repeat karna. Naina said and loudly sang the praise hymn.Nisha
obliged her.
Aum Bhoor Bhuwa Swaha
Tatsavitar Varaniyam
Bhargo Devasya
Dheemahi
Dhiyo Yo Na
Prachodayat
"Nisha!Yeh Gayatri Mantra hai.Sabse powerful mantra.Jab bhi
kabhi akele mein dar lage yeh mantra yaad karna.Saare evil devil bhaag
jaayenge.Samjhi? ''Naina asked, stamping a thick line of sandalwood paste on
Nisha's forehead.Nisha nodded and went to rehearse the mantra for she misspelt
few words of mantra.All this looked to her a festive moment.The only difference
was that she was not in her new dress.She found Naina mumbling few more hymns
under breath. Nisha could only catch the words like Hanuman', 'Chalisa' and
'Trayambakam'.
The calling bell went up on shrills.Naina served a bowl of
Maggie to Nisha.She looked at the wall clock,it was 7.30 PM.She shivered a bit
and knew it was not because of the chilly weather.She was not expecting any
visitors.Nirupama was out of town, on an urgent meet to her mother.However the frantic shrills
made her rise and check on the
door.Naina opened the door and gasped.It was no dream,she pinched herself to
confirm.
"Chachaji!Chachiji!AAP?'' Naina reeled in shock and complete
surprise.In a frenzy of haywire emotions,she touched both their feet and let
her engulfed in a crushing hug.''Bhagwan jhooth na bulaye,Kitni badi ho gayi hai
meri Naina.''Chachiji cried and Naina was too choked with emotion to be able to
talk.Chachaji asked the cab driver to bring out the two suitcases.Naina crashed
into Chachaji's hug.''Naina! ''He could not say any more.Naina felt his warm
tears dropping on her hand.She didn't know what to say.Her words failed and tears
flowed.
After a long silence, Chachaji broke the hug.Chachiji wiped
her tears and rolled the suitcases inside the house.Nisha sat surprised with a
lost feeling on her face.Her Maggie was done. She expected her father to come
and lift her up in his arms.But these were new faces and surprisingly all were
crying. Guests are welcomed with genuine or fake smiles..she had known.But tears?
"Nisha! Nana aur Nani ko pranam kar.'' Nisha heard Naina
command.She leaped from her seat and touched the feet.Chachaji lifted her and
Chachiji peppered her with kisses.Nisha,however,could not kiss back.Her lips
still had traces of tomato ketchup.''Main muh dhoke aap ko kiss karungi.'' Nisha
said and all broke into giggles.Nisha got down from Chachaji's arms and patted
on Naina's bangles.''Kya hua?'' Nisha gestured Naina to bend down.Lifting herself
to her mother's height,Nisha whispered.'' Yeh koun hein? ''Naina smiled.''Yeh mere
Mumma Papa hein.''
Next few hours went like some entertaining
movie.Tears,laughter ,gloom,gifts filled the room.Nisha was thankful to God
that without writing wishes on kite ,she got so many chocolates,so many
dresses.She even got a pencil box and crayon set.What more could one ask for?
She could not wait to show these to Rishav.What a fun it would be to paint together.
Chachaji roamed around the house and seemed pretty pleased
with the way Naina had decorated it.Nothing was fancy but everything was
creative and artistic.But one thing troubled him.No matter how hard he tried to
convince himself otherwise,the feeling didn't wear off.The broken glass of the
window.It seemed repaired ; and that intensely troubled him.It took no mind of
detective to find how the floral design differed from rest of the designs of
the house.
Who had broken into
the house?How did Naina handle it?Did anything happen to Nisha?
There was still a faint splash of red on western horizon.
Sameer saw the watchman at the gates of the Academy stand and take a final
survey.All the people who had come for evening strolls were gradually returning
to their homes.At far,he could see Rohan involved in a slight talk with Dylan.
Much to discomfort of Sameer,it seemed Rohan had made it a mission to take
Sameer to his home,to his wife Amrita.No matter how much Sameer hated this
mission,hated the fact that he was going to spend time with Mr.Somani's son,he
could not refuse.Rohan had popped in the Academy,had waited three stretched
hours under the years old Oak tree before requesting Sameer and pursuing Dylan
to convince Sameer.Finally,much to Rohan's win and joy,Sameer had accepted the
invitation.
Sameer's thoughts drifted to Naina.She had n't picked up her
last call.And what seemed his night call,awoke her from the deepest
slumbers.Her voice still sounded shaky.Though she had asked him not to worry,he
could not forsake the troubling thoughts. Even the quiet and cool air or the
moss encrusted path of Academy didn't help calm him a bit.What on earth was delaying the end
of three weeks? Sameer paced up and down, startling few pigeons into flight.
Rohan appeared soon, apologizing for the late,and expectedly
earned an angry stare from Sameer.Bhaiya!Chalein? Rohan asked and led to the
car.Sameer found it impossible to sit still longer.Avoidable talks are so
difficult.Sameer looked at Rohan.He looked tired,he thought with a pang.How
much he had heard from Visakha's braggings ,it seemed to be true that Rohan had
taken on a lot recently. Sameer tried to sympathise with Rohan's growing
burdens ,the memory of hug melting him down by degrees. But a part of him could
not forgive immediately. The years long abandonment and hardships that had led
him to succeed when everyone else was waiting for him to fail, wiped all the
warmth.Sameer fixed his eyes on the roads,as they sat in an absolute silence.
"Rohan!Ek florist ke pass rukna.'' Sameer ,though spoke
belligerently,had love under laced.Rohan steered to roadside.Parking it right
,he followed Sameer.Things looked brighter for him in this relationship.He knew
Sameer has not forgiven him,but sounded lot calmer.That's more than expected.He
saw Sameer conversing with the old lady at store, punctuating the conversation
with smiles.As Rohan finally appeared before Sameer,Sameer looked at him.The
look was more of a questioning glance.''Stargazer Lillies'' Rohan said most
objectively.Sameer looked confused with the term,while the lady quickly fetched
few and decorated them in a bouquet.''Any special message,Gentlemen?'' The lady
asked at the counter.''Best wishes Amrita.From Sameer, Naina and Family.'' The lady obliged while Rohan
stood bemused.Only a name ringed around his mind Naina'?
"Kya puchna hai?''Sameer asked,still his demeanour rigid.
Sameer noticed that since the time they have left the florist ,Rohan wanted to
ask something.He was holding back with difficulty.For a boy who cleared his
doubts immediately it was near impossible to sit mum.''Wo..Naina..Koun?
Girlfriend?'' Rohan asked and saw Sameer's face relax.Biwi hai meri. Rohan
felt like he would lose grip over the steering wheel.
His Sameer Bhaiya was
married already? Why didn't anyone let him know?
"Mumma ne kuch bataya nahin mujhe.Kab ki shaadi?'' Rohan
asked,not knowing how he has unknowingly triggered the forgotten memories
again.''Jab Mummy tumhare saath thi aur tum Tuscany mein party de rahe the.'' Sameer ended curtly.Rohan sensed the air inside the car turning too hot.He
didn't prod any more questions.It has been a private affair and that his
parents didn't attend.Rohan reached at conclusion.
"Par Chachiji..Aap
yahan aaye hein Taiji aur Tauji ko pata hai?'' Naina asked as Anand,Bela and
Nisha,all congregated around the bonfire.Not attuned to chills of hill station,
Anand and Bela found it difficult to feel warm.Naina quickly arranged for some
dry woods, twigs and some old newspapers. Stacking all in a pyramid shape,she
lit the fire,and the fire slowly began to rise.As Chachiji drew some heat from
the burning flame,she said "Bhagwan jhooth na bulaye beta,Unse saare naate
rishte khatam kar li hai.Bahut ho gaya unki manmarzi.'' Naina looked upset more
than surprised.No doubt,Chachaji and Chachiji sacrificed one relation to save
other. Chachiji went on how Taiji and Tauji were adamant,how they visited Delhi
to find her address,how they decided to sacrifice their relationship with Taiji
and Tauji for good.Naina ,however, didn't feel much pleased at the turn of
events.
Was she responsible
for this falling apart in family?
"Naina!Main jaanta hun tum kya soch rahi ho.Ismein tumhari
galti nahin hai.Tumne apni khusiyan aur zimmedari ka socha.Aur hum apne.Isliye
dukhi mat ho.'' Chachaji cajoled Naina,seeing her crestfallen
face.''Chachaji!Maine aapko bahut miss kiya.'' Naina hugged Chachaji while
Chachaji consoled.''Thand badh rahi hai.Andar chalte hein'' Chachaji asked as he
rolled up the carpets.Nisha had fallen asleep long ago on Naina's lap. Chachiji
had taken her insides.
"Aap chaliye.Main thodi der baithke jaati hun.'' Chachaji cast
a glance at Naina.He waited ,but she said no more.He went insides,offering
Naina ;her much required solitude.
The horrifying thoughts from past few days,the constant
fears,the nightmares,the unhappy tales of Ahmedabad.Naina poked the fire with a
stick,feeling drained of tears,worries and worn down as a rugged yet wearing
off old tire.She looked up at the distant sky.The starlit sky. All looking like
dots and points of light.These very seemingly distant points come together to
make a picture,a pattern in the sky.These pictures in the sky, the burning
flame on earth,and each would turn a storyteller.People would sit around till
dead hours and make up stories: bears,dogs,ploughs and hunters.Many other
things,many other zodiac things.Could these distant, non related fairy lights
of sky decide human being's destiny? Are these stars responsible for making
wishes come true? Are these responsible for brings storms in sky and lives?
Naina sighed.The sky doesn't change.Neither the stars or
pictures in the sky.The moon grows from fuller to thinner and thin silver to a
round ball of glow.And in between plunges into nothingness.When everything goes
in a pattern and absolutely nothing changes,why do feelings change?
Relationships undergo sea change? A thought wandered in Naina's mind. Are the
stars some bonfire in distant sky? Would the bears.dogs and hunters be seating
around the bonfire of stars and discussing human fate?How transient human life
is and so also its relationships?
The chill grew.The fickle flames of bonfire began to recede
to slow burns.Naina clutched the shawl tighter around her.The shawl did little
help to terminate the growing nips in air.She thought of Sameer.The icy
exhilaration she felt with the thought of him,left her feel empty within.A
sudden sense of grief and longing doubled over her.It had been two weeks since
she had touched him,had been loved by him,but the memory of their moments was still
vivid and tactile.She remembered his smell,the dry- softness of his lips,the
taut muscles of his back, the athletic built of his pectorals,the utter love
and trust in his eyes.She felt again the aching void of his absence.
Naina rolled up her mat,doused the living flame.She smirked
how the flame had transferred itself from the logs to insides of her body.She
grinned at the thought;how the flame of bonfire would douse away.Not the
blazing flame of her insides.The spark somewhere has now turned into a blaze.
Naina locked the door behind her.A gush of air left her
lungs.A feverish feeling tingled in her bones.She knew it was not the
weather,it was just her hormones. "Really
Naina? You are a mother.Chachaji and Chachiji are just a wall apart.It might
rip you accidentally off your only thing that you preserved. Naina's mind
tried reasoning.But the mind's voice did little to calm down the tensing of her
insides,the tingles in her spines,the burning .Was this flame so potent,so
formidable? The night was going to be long and sleepless.Like the pebbles dance
away when waves hit them,the night alone would make her sleep dance and not
reach her soon.
Naina clutched the pillow ,as tightly she could.Few moments later,her
eyes flew open.Sleep was n't coming and she didn't want to see nightmares.The
possible solution was to get rid of this ache.For the second time in years,she
pulled out a small card board carton.The carton was stacked with lots of trash
papers and some small pieces of thermocole too.Naina dipped in her hand and
pulled out the solution of hour;a battery operated object,that promises pleasure.
She held the object in her hand,remembering
how Suzanne had gifted her.How Naina had dropped it once she had opened the
package,like a hot potato.Naina vividly remembered how Suzanne had said that it
was best mate for single mothers and those who wish for celibacy for this
lifetime.Naina had rejected the gift ,that questioned her upbringing,her sanskaars .Suzanne had explained how the
primal urges of human body never adhere to sanskaars and values. Human body has
its own needs and demands,which are not satiated by any rules or values.Naina's
fears, hesitations had even made Suzanne laugh.Suzanne had even gone to
say,Naina was behaving like forced into some prostitution, while she was asking
to use a simple object only.Naina had accepted it and had locked it away in the
farthest corner of closet.
However, it was weeks after the gift had been left
unused,Naina found it useful one night.But the aftermath had left a bitter
taste in her mouth. A thorough amateur in using it,she had ended up rubbing off
the object at wrong places.The tiny thing had driven her crazy.Not much of pleasurable sensation
that both Suzanne and the object promised. Though it had stimulated her
enough,had brought down the tingle between her thighs to a satiated end, Naina
had resolved that she would not use it ever. Without a question,Naina had
thought of going for morning walks,atop the hillocks.A wandering and empty mind
is devil's workshop.And she would dissipate all her thoughts into proper
channels.So was the promise to self,resolve for years.
The promise had to be broken tonight.The resolve has to
absolve.
Stripping herself of the night robe,she got inside the
sheets.She thought it all insane and felt her cheeks turning hot.Was she
feeling embarrassed? Why should she be at first place? Suzanne's voice still
ringed in her ears.Its all part of normal human life,unless otherwise one
decides to be saint in Himalayas. Naina made her erratically beating heart
calm, and reached for the object. Switching it on, Naina traced it along the
inner thighs.She felt pleasantly aroused,powerful some times later.The thing
didn't bother much like last time.Or was she high on libido? A thought flashed
by her mind.But the thought didn't last long,as the object did a fine job.In
less than few minutes ,Naina felt like the sensualist woman ever lived.The
object turned her on to core, and she let out some throaty moans.Was it easy to
not to fall into a habit with this object? This thought persisted longer until
the object vibrated against lips of her womanhood.Naina clutched the sheets in
one tight fist as she held the vibrating object in other.It was a pleasing
torture.Naina thought and felt her stomach lurch.The sensations rising,
mounting;creating pleasant havocs inside her.When the object finally found its
way through her insides,she felt herself rise with a gasp and moan "Sameer.A
sharp ecstatic release rushed through her and she fell from a high.
The object lay switched off of its vibration,insides her for
few more minutes.She would have fallen asleep in the same position,had she not
realised that she was bare;without a single thread. Her overactive imagination
didn't fail to imagine Nisha banging the door,while she awoke to find herself
rubbing herself against the object.Or more than that ;still in half
sleep,feeling wet and turned on,groaning for Sameer.
All the imaginations shook her,pulling her down from peak of
gratification.She rose,put on her discarded night robe and took the object for a wash.She didn't intend to switch on the lights,lest anyone would wake
up.Thankfully for her,Chachaji and Chachiji were in deep slumber,all because of
exhaustion from long train journey.She switched on the bathroom light and
quickly latched the door.A gush of water flowed from the tap,wiping away all
the traces of a pleasurable session. Putting away the object on basin
cabinet,Naina leaned against the bathroom wall.A sense of incompleteness
gripped her again,strangely.She knew it was not physical,it was more of
emotional.A need to just pour herself,empty herself of what she has been
holding insides. The object lying at far,had surely brought her to end of
physical satiation,but could not eliminate all other wants.Without a
thought,she turned the knob of shower. She had not realised how accidentally
she had turned on the geyser switch too. Lukewarm water flowed, giving way to
hot shower next.Closing her eyes,Naina forgot herself.Her desperation were
nailed back by sheer force and spirits lifted to her soul.Her control
regaining.Minute after Minute. The vapours swirled around the tiny room,rising
the temperature within.What seemed after an hour, she made her way out of the
bathroom. Like the vapours became volatile in the room,colours from Naina's
face evaporated likewise.
"Chachiji!AAP?'' Naina asked,in a disbelief.Was her eyes
betraying her too,like her body did few hours back? ''Bhagwan jhooth na bulaye
beta!Itni raat ko naha rahi thi? Wo bhi itni thand mein?'' Chachiji asked, her
eyes wandering to the object of curiosity,clutched in Naina's
fists.''Wo..Chachiji..Mujhe neend nahin aa rahi thi.To sochi ki ..'' Naina's line
was interrupted with "Yeh haath mein kya hai?Sabun to nahin hai.'' Naina shook
with fear.How on earth she can reveal the secrecy of this object?The only way
was fooling Chachi a bit.She can do it like pro.
"Ohh! Yeh! Ise cleanser kehte hein. Sabun ki jaisa hai lekin
electric hai. ''Naina explained and Chachiji tried eyeing it properly.The shape
had already disgusted her. She wondered which soap company came with idea of
manufacturing soaps like parts of human genitals.How disgusting as well
shameful it is.Most importantly how Naina got hold of this outrageous piece?
"Bhagwan jhooth na bulaye beta! Iss sabun ka shakal surat
kuch thik nahin lag raha hai.Nisha bhi rehti hai ghar mein.Ab teri Chachaji bhi
hein.Phir damadji bhi aayenge.Isse chupake rakh.Tu samajh rahi hai na?Aise
shakal ke sabun se to acha hai na hi istemal karo.Aur jaldi jaa baal poch
le.Thand lag jaayegi.'' Chachiji said and saw Naina obliging,going away to her
room. Chachiji thought before calling;''Naina!Neend nahin aa rahi hai to main
sone aa jaun tere pass?'' Naina heard Chachiji call and a smile appeared on her
face.It would be after so many years,finally she can sleep in safe cocoon of
her mother.A mother's embrace is stronger than mountains and warmer than
sunlight.She wanted to feel loved and saved.She didn't want to miss the
warmth,miss the moment,miss the luck.
Pushing away the secret object to its farthest cornor,Naina
changed the bedsheet.Checking for any traces of her own private session,she
welcomed Chachiji inside her bedroom.Chachiji looked around the room. Several
sketches of Nisha were pasted on the walls,while a frame of baby Nisha sleeping
hung high. Two frames adorned the nightstand, one of Sameer and other of
Nisha,clicked on her first day at school.Chachiji noticed a stain of magenta
lipstick on Sameer's frame.Naina found Chachiji smiling and wondered what is
that made her Chachiji blush? "Kya hua Chachiji?'' Naina asked and was soon
replied "Kuch nahin.Bhagwan jhooth na bulaye bahut neend aa rahi hai.Chal sote
hein.''
Amrita put down the fashion magazine she was reading.The
bell at door confirmed her that Rohan was back.Quickly,she clipped her hair,and
opened the bolt of the door.Rohan flashed a smile and Amrita quickly hugged
him.''I missed you so much today.'' Rohan heard her say and was sure her boss had
acted as an absolute headache.'A living poison' as Amrita quotes him.Sameer
stood few steps away, unrecognizable under the fused portico lamp.He
deliberately had stepped few backs away,trying to give some privacy.He hated
Rohan now more,for bringing him home ,when his wife wanted to spend some
moments after a bitter day,so as it seemed.''Sameer Bhaiya is here.'' Rohan
whispered in Amrita's ears and Amrita jumped into a gleeful jig.''Sachi?Bataya
kyun nahin pehle?Special kuch bana leti.Andar bulao.Main kitchen main jaa rahi
hun.'' Amrita said,taking away the briefcase for Rohan.
"Sameer Bhaiya! Andar chaliye''. Rohan asked, volunteering to
carry the bouquet and Sameer's briefcase inside.Sameer entered the house and
found a cheerful looking girl,looking as much as of Naina's age,welcome him
touching his feet.Sameer jumped back and asked "Kya kar rahi ho?'' Amrita
smiled.''Mummy apni jeth ji ki pair aise hi chuti hai.Toh main bhi wohi kar rahi
hun.Bhaiya!Aapko pata nahin aapse milne ke liye kab se intezaar kar rahi thi.Barshon
baad Rohan ke chehre pe khushi dekhi aaj. ''Amrita gleefully said,serving two
cups of British tea.Sameer could not believe it all.It all seemed to be a
beautiful dream,from which he would rise soon.And rising from the sleep he would
find a really successful Rohan Somani taking over business,not recognizing him
as half brother and his wife flaunting in a snobbish tone her accessories and
contacts.But this..it all felt so pleasantly strange.
"Bhaiya!Chai pi jeeye na? Thandi ho gayi hai kya?'' Amrita
asked bringing in some more accompaniments to go along with.She was already on
her dinner preparations,opening the Indian recipe book by some Indian chef.She
frowned seeing few of main ingredients missing from her vegetable counter.Rohan
should have informed her.She can't just serve salads and sandwich in
dinner.''Rohan! Kitchen mein aao jara.''Rohan heard Amrita call,and felt
thankful.Since few minutes,Sameer and he were again sharing a painful silence.
"Do minute'' Rohan said to Sameer,not knowing why he informed.His presence or
absence hardly mattered to Sameer,for the silence they were keeping.
"Ullu ke pathe ho tum.Ab Bhaiya ko ghar le aaye, ghar mein
jyada kuch hai nahin.Yeh list banayi hai,jaldi jaake le aao. ''Amrita thrust the
list,concentrating on chopping red cabbage.''Rita!Bhaiya wahan..I mean'' Rohan
started and it didn't take Amrita to understand the meaning behind his short,
clipped words.''Fikr mat karo.Grocery laa do.I will handle him''. Rohan went
cheerful and left not before kissing Amrita.
"Amrita!Yeh tumhare liye.'' Amrita's eyes twinkled seeing the
stargazer lilies,her favourite.She accepted the lillies,and put them in the
glass cut vase.It was then she saw the note.She knew Sameer,but who was
Naina?Rohan had never mentioned about her.It seemed she was as important as
Sameer to family. The last time she had met Vishakha,Vishakha had fretted over
Sameer rejecting yet again one more potential proposal.But then who was this Menka who enchanted this Vishwamitra-in-penance.''Badi pyara naam
hai'' Amrita said as she cleared the tea cups.''Wo bhi pyaari hai. ''Sameer
responded.''Shaadi kab hai? Mujhe milna hai unse jisne finally aap pe jadoo
chala di.'' Amrita said,a happiness of satisfaction and anticipation ;clearly
etched on her face. In a faint tone,Sameer replied "Shaadi ho gayi hai.'' Amrita
felt her heart break again.
Growing up as a single child she had been a
pampered kid,and even Rohan tried keeping her like an absolute queen.But this
was not what she dreamt of,wished for in future as a dreamy teenager. Severed
relationships,broken house and smashed happiness is not what she had asked
for.In one year of marriage,she had only seen Rohan calming his mother, busy in
closed door discussions with his father and returning to her depressed, tired
and yet hopeful that may be tomorrow will be better.
"It was a very private affair.Kisiko bhi nahin bulaya tha.'' Sameer said and that did little to bring the cheer on Amrita's face.Few hears
passed in a haze,Amrita cooking and Sameer finding out that Rohan was trying
hard not to involve the business into a merger.There was no great losses yet
not big profits even.Several debts awaited to be cleared,several merchandise to
be assured for continuity of partnership.Whatever may be the reason,Sameer
could finally see the ice breaking.Rohan asked for few advices and Sameer was
happy to help with choices.No matter how much he hated Somanis,his heart melted
for the boy sitting infront of him. Sameer could see himself in that
position,few years back.The histories are different,but the struggle is
similar.The struggle for existence and prosperity.
A bird singing in bush or tree didn't catch Sameer's
attention.Not even the rosebush blooming at front of the house.His eyes were
focused on zig zag trails the taxi was taking him.The instructions to give,turn
left,take right kept him attentive though. A nearly anaesthetic smelling
fragrance hit him,as he opened the door.The door to his surprise was slightly
ajar.Naina sat on a tool,her back to the door. Sameer leaned against the
entrance door ,taking in the scene.Naina,busy in combing Nisha's hair and
pleating in French braid.Alongside,she was making Nisha rehearse some Kabir ke
Dohe,Sameer realised.''Mumma!Yeh wali Papa ko suna dungi.Wo khush ho jaayenge.'' Nisha quipped and Naina immediately chuckled.''Teri Papa ko yeh dohe samajh
nahin aate.Phir bolenge,Nisha!Hindi mein bolo na.'' Nisha listened and both
burst into laughter.''Papa budhu hein.''
"Acha!Meri burai ho rahi hai?'' Sameer asked rolling his
suitcase inside.Naina startled before the reality sunk in.Has he really
arrived?How? Was not he supposed to come after two more nights?It was not
expected,it's truly a surprise.However, Nisha didn't wait and jumped on
Sameer,Screaming in joy 'PAPA'.Sameer lifted her in air and brought
down,touching their foreheads.Nisha quickly kissed his cheeks,hugging him as
tightly she could.The half complete braid was in a mess now. Sameer held
Nisha,feeling her soft heartbeats against him.''Nisha!Papa thak gaye hein.Utar
jaa.'' Naina called and Nisha ignored.''Rehne do''Sameer said as he carried Nisha
to the sofa. Sameer took her fingers and kissed.''Kya hua mera bacha?'' Sameer
asked,kissing her forehead.''Aap ko bahut miss kiya.Dar lag raha tha.'' Sameer
heard and consoled Nisha,who was on verge of breaking into sobs.
"Nisha!Dekh ke aa jara Nani chhat pe hai kya?'' Naina said
and immediately Nisha took to feet.She remembered her Nani saying about showing
her some gardening. As Nisha left, Sameer rose from seat,and Naina hugged
him.''Sameer'' Naina screamed a little,and started crying.''Main aa gaya hun na.'' Sameer said,leading Naina to bedroom.Naina didn't say anything and hugged him
tighter.Letting her know,everything is alright,Sameer realized at same time how
small she felt in his arms.He cupped her face and wiped the
tears.''Mrs.Maheshwari and Ms.Maheshwari itni emotional hein.Mujhe to yeh pata
hi nahin tha.'' Sameer started playfully and Naina smacked him a little.She
looked tender yet trite. Sameer noticed.
"Damadji! ''Sameer heard Chachiji call and gave a surprised
look.But his surprise wiped away as he spotted Chachaji behind her. He had seen
Chachaji back in school,accompanying as her guardian.Munna Pandit had shared
that Naina's father was really a frustrated soul and it was her Chachaji who
was her guide.Later Naina had confirmed about her upbringing and the bonds she
shared.But then the bet incident had followed ,severing all relations and
conversations.''Sameer!Chachiji aur Chachaji aaye hein Ahmedabad se.'' Naina said
and Sameer nodded.
He got up and touched their feet.Chachaji hugged him asking
about the trip and other details quickly.Chachiji asked Naina to prepare
something quick and healthy immediately.Naina had rushed to kitchen while Nisha
hunted in the suitcase to find her gifts.Chachiji briefly asked about his
family and revealed their visit to Delhi.Sameer patiently
replied,explained,divulged facts but his eyes were on Naina.He was sure,she had
lots to talk to him,a lot more to share.
The day rolled into night,soon the whole of terrace plants
danced under bright moon light. Dinner was done,and Nisha was tired of playing
with the Super Mario Galaxy' Video game Sameer had got from London.Chachaji
and Chachiji had gone to visit nearby temples and few famous points,and looked
terribly exhausted as well.All had retired to bed except for two souls.Naina
sat with her head resting on Sameer's shoulders.Sameer could see few Deodars in
the distant snow.the spot seemed to be lovely to spend a night there.Naina's
hot tears trail broke his trance.His thoughts converged back to her.
"Batayi nahin kaise Sharad Bhaiya aur Sudip dost se dushmani
mein badal gayi.Batana nahin chahti toh thik hai.But please mat ro.'' Sameer
said,wiping her tears with his thumb.Naina hiccupped and began.
"Sharad Bhaiya aur Sudip pakki dost the.Ekdum Munna ,Pandit
jaise.Phir ek manhoos zameen ne sab kuch khatam kar di.Bhaiya jis broker se
zameen kharida tha aur publication agency bani thi who zameen fraud tha.Bhaiya
ko jab asli owner ne call kiya to Bhaiya decide kiye ki wo Publication Agency
ko band karke sirf book selling karenge jab tak mamla sulajh na jaata.Sudip tab
New York mein tha.Jab wo wapas aaya aur Bhaiya ne yeh baat batayi,pata nahin
use aisa kyun laga ki Bhaiya ne use dhokha diya hai. Bhaiya ne samjhaya bahut
lekin usne Bhaiya ko saare paise lootne jaise gandi ilzaam lagayi.Bhaiya ne
bahut mehnat se wo zameen ko phir se kharida lekin publication agency chalane
ke liye paisa na tha.Tab in dono ke alawa yeh baat Vikram ko pata tha.Iss baat
ke kuch din baad, Nisha ko main sula rahi thi tabhi Nikita Didi ne bataya ki
Bhaiya ne Nisha ke naam pe 30% usi zameen ka will kar liye hein.Tab yeh baat
ajeeb lagi thi ki ek saal ki bachi ke naam will kyun karwaya jabki maa baap
zinda hein.Par shayad... ''Naina broke down and Sameer shushed her.Controlling her
tears,she added "shayad..Bhaiya ko pata tha kuch bura hone wala hai.Mujhe kabhi
kuch bataya nahin,dono ne aur phir ek din..Bhaiya ne aisi galti kyun ki
Sameer.Ab humari bachi pe kitne toofan mandra rahe hein.Main thak gayi hun
ladhte ladhte. ''Sameer hugged her with a fervour.He could not come up with one
coherent answer to her questions.He could not think of anything,he felt
rattled."Aur kuch bolna hai?'' He could feel the tension in her body.
"Kiss me.'' Naina uttered and untied her hair from the tight
bun.Sameer didn't ask,and traced the fullness of her lower lip with his thumb
pad.He wiped the traces of lip balm,ducked down,took her mouth in his.Naina's
fingers shivered in his hair.Sensations and emotions made her feel dizzy.Sameer
kept the kiss light,plunderings limited to lips than tongues.It was more
of comfort than lust.''Naina!Andar chalte
hein'' Sameer said,brushing his untameable hair.Naina looked at him and said "I
loved you and still do.'' Sameer kissed her forehead as he led her to
bedroom,all the while Naina thinking;she was turning cold and Sameer was her
campfire.
(To be Continued)
P.S.:Thank you for reading.😃 Would love to read all your feedback.😳
comment:
p_commentcount