KALMA OS - Halfway There

KALYANI could not believe what she was hearing. Her Aatya and Sampada, talking about how they had plans to destroy Kalyani's fast . Oh wow! So Sampada had planned to stop her from keeping the fast, so that Malharji would go to jail and Pillu will be taken away from Kalyani and would solely belong to Sampada. She had to give Sampada some credit. It was a pretty good plan. She had even considered that Kalyani would do something to help Malharji and for that too she had planned. Amazing, just amazing.

She could understand Sampada trying to take away Pillu from them and sabotage her fast to get Malharji to go to jail. What she could not understand was, why Malharji was so, so calm, so collected, so defeated. He wasn't doing anything for himself, like he had just accepted his fate and was preparing for a battle, in which he was an unwilling participant. Like going for an execution, despite the fact that he was innocent.

But when truth had came out, it had hit her hard. She had not expected the truth. When Aai had recounted the events that led to him maintaining his silence, she could understand, finally, she could grasp why he would go on a path that was a sure to destroy his career, that was surely going to separate him from his precious Moksh. But she could see now, why he had done what he had done. She had always known this one thing about him. His respect for women and the lengths he would go to protect a woman. She loved that part of him.

But what she had heard just now had rocked her to her core. She knew Sampada was out for blood, she wanted Pillu, and she would not stop, but Aatya, she thought Aatya was on Malharji's side. Don't get her wrong, she knew Aatya hated her, but she seemed to care for Malharji. Yet, she had tried to break her fast. She knew the importance of the fast she was keeping, but wow, guess blood will always come first.

She thought of the instances that they had worked up to hurt her, in order to keep her from keeping the fast. She remembered the things they did to disrupt her fast. But at every instance, Lord Ganesha had saved her. Or sent his forms to save her.

She remembered the Til Uptan that had actually been cement. And how she would have been majorly sick, if she had applied it. She remembered how Pillu, sweet little Pillu, had saved her and dropped the container and indirectly hurt Sampada.

She remembered the leech that were in the water, that she had to use for bathing. How that leech would have sucked her blood and stopped her from finishing her fast. She remembered how Malharji had saved her. She remembered how they had fallen on that Khatiya. She remembered how he had looked at her. She remembered how she had felt when he had looked at her like that. Like a man lost in desert, looking for water and coming across a wonderful mirage.

She remembered the idol of Lord Ganesha. That he had helped her make. She remembered how he had guided her hands, moulded the idol with her, their closeness, the little blow he had given to push her hair back, how he had hugged her from behind. All these feelings, these reactions she was having to him were unbearable.

She remembered how Sampada had destroyed her idol, how Atharva had not let her male the idol again. And she didn't even have internet to make the idol again. But she relied on Malharji even when he wasn't there to help her. She remembered how each and every one of his step, and made the idol by herself. These feelings that she was just realising, discovering, were so new to her. She had never experienced such tumultuous feelings. It was a miracle that she was not blown away. She had feelings of admiration and respect for Malharji. But it had crossed the line, somewhere, along the line, she had stepped out of the line, over it, and she didn't know if it was possible to go back.

However, she could not ponder over these feelings for Malharji. She was too busy contemplating her feelings towards Sampada and Aatya. She was livid, how dare they, how can they even think that they would win against her, stop her from keeping her fast. They were like a constant pain in her ass. She wanted to get them out of the house. But she could not.

What she could do, was confront them. She went to them and was about to say something to them, but Aatya gazed behind her and said immediately, as if to distract her, "Kalyani tumhara fast pura hua. Arey waah mujhe toh pata hi tha, ke tum kar hi logi." Confused as to why Aatya was suddenly on her side, she turned and saw Malharji behind her. She raised her eyebrows, oh, so Malharji is the one responsible for this change of attitude. She looked to Aatya with raised eyebrows. "Woh toh hona hi tha na Aatya, ab chaahe koi kitni bhi koshish karle, mujhe joh karna hota hai mein woh kar hi leti hun, aur yeh toh Malharji ki izzat ka sawaal tha. Ab bale hi aapko inke, I mean, logon ko inki care nahi ho, but mujhe toh hogi na. Wife hun mein unki." Kalyani said smugly. She could see the rage on Aatya and Sampada's face. Aatya said, "Kya matlab hai tumhara, kya mein Malhar ki chinta nahi karti? Huh!" But before Kalyani could say anything, Malharji was beside her, he said, "Bas kijiye Aai, agar aapko sach mein meri chinta hoti na, toh aap Kalyani ka vrath kharaab karne ki koshish nahi karti." Kalyani watched him with her mouth open, eyes wide. How did he know this? But before she could ask Aatya had began speaking, again, "Kehna kya chahte ho Malhar, ki mein jaan buch ke Kalyani ko pareshaan kar rahi thi, taaki uska vrath pura na ho, aur tum jail chale jao." Malharji, like stating the obvious, said, "Jee haan, mein yahi kehna chahta hun, mein ek police wala hun. In sab cheezo ke baare mein mujhe pata chal hi jaata hai. Toh aap toh rehne hi dijiye Aai. Hum dono ko pata hai ki aapne Sampada ki madad ki hai." He then grabbed Kalyani's hand and proceeded to move towards their bedroom. And he yelled as they entered the bedroom, "Aur haan mein Kalyani aur Moksh ko bahaar leke jaa raha hun. DCP sir ke yaha dinner hai. Toh aap apna dekh lijiye."

Kalyani was stunned, Malharji had not only taken her side, but also stood up for her. First he had given her a burger, then he had thanked her, then he had stood by her. It looked like Malharji was on a roll. She liked this side of Malharji. But she was also surprised that he had blamed Aatya and Sampada, for the misgivings they had occured, she didn't think he would do this. He was a policeman. He was sure to know how and why was sometjing happening. What she hadn't expected was his taking her side.

"Raat ko 8 baje tak tayaar ho jana. DCP ke yaha dinner hai." But she was staring at him wide eyed. He looked to her and said, "Haan mujhe pata chal gaya tha ki yeh sab unki hi chalaki thi. Toh bas meine unse keh diya. Aur aisa kuch mahaan kaam nahi kiya, toh apne bandhkam mein wapas mat pad jaana. Meine tabhi bhi Aai ko ache se sunaya tha jab unhone Moksh ke bag mein chits rakhi thi. Woh tum hi thi jisne kaha tha ki mujhe tumpe vishwaas nahi hai. Aur aage koi baat nahi karni. 8 baje tak tayaar rehna. Moksh bhi chalega."

Kalyani was so done. She admired him. She respected him. She loved his thoughts and views regarding women. She loved how he loved his son to Sun and back. She loved how he stood up for her today. Which he had done in the past, even if she had been unaware. She loved the moments between them. She loved feeling these tumultuous feelings she got when he got close to her. To be honest she was halfway in love with Malharji.

Oh!

She was halfway in love with Malharji!

What had she done?