Sameer-Naina FF: Kati Patang Thread#2 NOTE ON FURTHER UPDATES 05/03/20 - Page 31

Waiting eagerly dear....

Just a gentle reminder today is Wednesday afternoon so can we be hopeful???? 

Originally posted by: Sriyan

Just a gentle reminder today is Wednesday afternoon so can we be hopeful???? 

Hi Dear ..Just was bit caught up due to an unforeseen accident of a student in school.Extremely Sorry for the delay.

I am trying to give something by night ..

Hey minu 

Waiting for ur update....

Hey !! Minu

Can we have a update ...dying for it...please 

Can't wait now.  It's been long since last update

Hi minu we all very well understand that there must be a super crisis that u couldn't update but I sincerely request you that plz update d same to ur loyal readers that can we xpect an update... If yes then around wen... Which u can really give... Hope u understand my point also

Are you planning to update any time soon???😔

Pls update fea its been a long time

Hi Friends

              Sorry for keeping you all awaited for months long. I had my internship programme going on and though its over (thankfully) I am yet to find time for updates. 

Without much ado,here is the next update.Hope that this restores the believe in you that the story is not abandoned and that I was awfully busy.🤪

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Part-39

Nisha looked beyond the misty window of terrace,her Nanu watering the plants,occasionally straightening his back.Her Mumma did the same in afternoons and sometimes in morning.It has been days since she bid them bye and they flew off to Delhi.Priya’s statement still sits heavy on her heart.The dry yet chill air of autumn hurt her nose as she breathed. But it didn’t hurt as much as it was hurting to not see her parents,not get confirmation that Priya was uttering a lie.

The heated breeze accompanied with cold from the open balcony blew gently and  skimmed over Naina. The amber rays of morning sun beginning to sprinkle from eastern sky.Her eyes however were  fixated on a sapling slowly growing in the ceramic pot.She remembered planting the seed the first time she had come to Delhi.The seed has turned into sapling just like her Nisha.She could not think after watering the seed for so many years her guardianship will be questioned.She anticipated the worst when she would break the truth but the truth came out unforeseen. Startling  everyone.

“Abhi tak ussi soch mein?” Sameer asked as he moved closer until Naina felt the warm brush of his chest against her back.She closed her eyes supposing it would close her thoughts from coming in. “Wo thik hai.Chachaji se baat hui abhi.School ke liye nikal rahi thi.” Naina turned and rubbed her eyes. Assurance filled her heart partially compared to the anxiety filled previous night.She had tossed and turned all night because of the phone call from Chachiji.She had failed to gather enough courage to call Nisha and make her understand.For the time being she had let Chachaji and Sameer handle the mess.

“Kal raat bhar soyi nahin ho.Thoda rest karlo.” He said and moved away to get ready for institute.The day was already filled with meetings and classes.Sameer sighed as he helped himself with the cup of strong black coffee.He realized  that Naina needed time.

“Naniii! Yeh sar mein khujli ho rahi.” Nisha groaned, irritatedly itching her hair. Chachiji left the gas and rushed to Nisha. Nisha sat on a chair, hair dishevelled. Chachiji carefully scanned through the hair line and found the expected villain. “Bhagwan jhooth na bulaye! Yeh juyein kahan se aa gaye. Aaj school mat jaa,main  Neem kitel banake laga dungi toh thik ho jaayegi.Kapde badal le.”

“Main school nahin gayi to Miss aur Mumma dono gussa karenge.” Nisha whimpered in despair,as the itching intensified. “Mumma gussa nahin karegi.Khud uski juyein aa gaye the school ke tame mein. Phir Neem ki tel se thik ho gayi ek dum.” Chachiji said as she ran the comb through Nisha’s hair. Nisha tried imagining her mother in school uniform and itching hair like her; all because of the common villain in their lives,the lice. Despite the troubling villain ,a giggle emerged on her lips.

The land phone in Sameer’s cabin went in shrills.Namrata hurriedly picked up the phone,fearing utmost emergency. “Hello!Namrata Bhargav.Any intimation?” Namrata spoke in an extremely professional routine manner. “Didi! Papa ko phone do.” Came the voice taking Namrata by utter surprise. It took her few seconds to realise.” Nisha?”

“Haan.Papa ka phone switch off! Switch off! bata raha hai.Aap meri baat karao unse please.” Nisha requested with stress on please.“Nisha! Bhaiya ab meeting mein hein.Aate hi baat karenge tumse. Thoda wait karo.” Namrata said and was about to hang up. “Didi! Please.Bahut important hai.Aap kuch karo na.Pleassee.” Nisha’s cute antics threw Namrata into a professional dilemma.Sameer had strictly instructed absolutely no disturbance during the meeting,no Interpol connections even. The meeting was so confidential that even Namrata was not allowed to be in it.How could now she contact Sameer and also make understand Nisha that talking to her Papa was clearly impossible at that point of time. But her love for Nisha and the fact that Nisha had called so urgently worried her a bit.She decided to bear the scolding of Sameer but would give  tryonly for Nisha.

“Acha Nisha hold karo.Main Bhaiya ko bulati hun.” Namrata informed and with trembling hands opened the closed door of the conference room. Sameer looked away from the presentation with sound of click of door.He was absolutely surprised with Namrata’s presence.Before he could speak anything,Namrata walked hastily upto him and whispered in his ears.

 

Namrata squeezed her eyes hard so as not to look at Sameer’s raged face.She has clearly breached professional etiquettes.“Honorary Delegates! I would like you to excuse me for 2 minutes.There is an extremely emergency call.” Sameer said and left with Munna taking the charge.Namrata followed behind him with crossed fingers.

As they stepped inside the cabin, Sameer saw the phone kept away supposedly on hold. “Nisha!” Sameer softly spoke into the receiver.“Papaaa!” Nisha’s gloomy yet clear voice boomed through the speaker. There was bit of sobbing too. “Kya hua beta? Kisine kuch kaha? Kahin chot lagi hai kya?”Sameer urgently asked looking at the wall clock. Nisha had called in school hour,it meant she was absent from school. “Nahin.Sar mein juyein hein.Papa!Bahut tang kar rahe mujhe.” Nisha frowned and complained. Sameer relaxed and looked at Namrata,asking her to give him more 5 minutes. “Arre yeh juyein tobahut badmash hein.Inki itni himmat ki meri Nisha ko tang kare. Nani se mera baat karao.” Sameer said in a tone which instantly cheered up Nisha. Soon the phone went to Chachiji. “Bhagwan jhooth na bulaye Damadji.Main neem ka tel lagayi hun.Par iski nakhre toh iski maa se kam nahin.Bekar mein pareshan kar rahi aapko.” Chachiji spoke in a tone well experienced with antics of children and their tantrums.

“Aap yeh tel ka nushke chodiye aur Mediker laake laga lijiye.Usse jaldi rahat milegi.Meeting hai main rakhta hun.Baaki Naina se baat kar lijiyega.” Sameer spoke in a bit harsh voice,feeling a little guilty for it.He was missing his Nisha a little more now.

The frown on Sameer’s forehead alarmed Namrata.Was it that Nisha had fallen ill? She could not keep calm.

“Bhaiya! Koi emergency thi?”

“Nisha ki sar mein juyein hein.” Sameer informed ,running his fingers into silky strands of his. Namrata looked surprised less and amused much.“Aapne itni si baat ke liye Meeting mein nahin gaye? Mujhe to darr lagraha tha ki aap gussa honge.” Is he the same Sameer she had been in association since recent years? A slightest interruption during meetings would enrage himlike the enraged bulls involved in bull fighting.The same person is now cool ascucumber.Family indeed fills all voids of past with drench of love and care.

“Nisha se pehle kuch nahin.Lunch kha le.” Sameer said before vanishing behind the conference hall door. Namrata needed no lunch now to quench her appetite.She had so much to inform her mother.

The night descended with silence. The moon seemed overhead now.There were soft reflections of trees in moonlight falling on floor. A vehicle screeched inside the gate and Naina knew Sameer was back in time.Sameer was quite exhausted with all paperwork, meetings and personal work that had lined up all in one day. He entered into room to find Naina all decked up,clearly ready for some dinner.She was clad in a lovely blue saree with atiny pendant dangling from her svelte neck. He was almost lost when he heard her words.“Sameer! Aaj raat Writers’ Club ki Dinner Invitation hai.Tum kapde badal ke taiyar ho jao.” He nodded forgetting all tiredness and quickly rushed for change of clothes.

“Chachiji se baat hui?” Sameer asked as they quickly exited their room and reached the parking.“Chachaji Mediker laaye hein.Chachijisambhal rahi usse.” Sameer glanced at her, fleeting image of Naina in uniform running away from him,not responding to their code in classroom,him getting angry at her weird behaviour.He got extremely nostalgic about the times that were now only memories.

“Sameer!Mediker Shampoo yaad hai ? Pehla gift mere piya ki.”Naina giggled remembering the tensed times which were now nostalgic fun moments.She clearly remembered how she had fretted the way Sameer had drove into her lane ,infront of the gate of her society. She had felt her heart leap out of anxiety,nervous and several other emotions. Yet the moment she had opened the gift she had known that that was the most intelligible gift and the note was cherry on top. A slight frown descended thinking of the aftermath scenes that such went in a time lapse.

“Jo bhi ho dil se sochke diya tha.Tum aisi bhaag rahi thi mujhe laga kahin  chot lag jaayegi.”Sameer checked the fuel tank of car and opened the door for Naina.

 “Acha!Bet hoke bhi itni fikr thi?” Naina asked teasingly, with a child like curiosity gushing inside her. Sameer got inside the car and leaned towards Naina. Naina stilled for a bit with the extreme proximity suddenly.“Haan thi.Sirf fikr nahin bahut fikr thi.Ab chalein?” Naina felt her lips were shut or perhaps words have abandoned her.She only nodded while Sameer drove out of the gate gleefully.

The music, crowd and atmosphere at the dinner party was increasing as the dark night deepened in its shade. Many seemingly intoxicated and some high on discussions about how emotion less the new generation is.Sameer was done with the party while Naina was busy with some fellow writers she considered as critic-friends. Sameer leaned against a decorative pillar,silently appreciating the arrangements, light decorations,DJ, bar techniques of bartender.

 “Ohh! Hello Mr.Sameer Maheswari.Pehchana?” A familiar voice greeted him.Sameer turned his face away from the arrangements and startled for a moment. Draped in a scarlet sari,looking like a living flame with a feline grace to her advance stood the one he never wanted to meet again.

“Varsha Mehrotra!Yaad rakhne ki kaafi wajah deti ho.Ab kuch baaki reh gaya kehne ya karne?” Sameer spoke straight wanting the luminuous twinkle in her eyes to vanish. Her advances didn’t seem friendly ,and her proximity no in least comfortable.

“Uff!Itna gussa.Does not suit Sameer.Thoda cool raha karo.Meritarah.Kaisi ho yeh puchoge nahin?” Varsha murmured in a soft throaty manner;advancing extremely close.Her perfume creating a vague unrest in Sameer. He pushed himself away, his voice losing temper.“Pucha unse jaata hai jinse koi dil ka rishta ho.Tumhari saath mujhe dushmani ki bhi rishta manzoor nahin.”

“Lagta hai wo Naina Agarwal ne bhadka di hai. Tum yeh mat bhulna ki humari bich duriyan usiki wajah se toh aayi thi.” Varsha tried reasoning,quickly grabbing Sameer’s wrist. Sameer clenched his teeth and controlled his anger.If she would have been a boy,he would have landed a punch right away.

“Bhadkana haq hai meri.Aur mujhe bilkul bardaasht nahin kitum jaise chipkali meri pati ki ird gird mandrao. Dur raho hum se Ms.Varsha Mehrotra.” Sameer saw Naina with loathing eyes ready to pounce on Varsha anytime.Varsha perhaps realised the same and left Sameer’s wrist.

“Tumhari yeh ghamand jyada din tikne wali nahin Naina.You will see hell.I bet you.”

Naina was ready for a slain right away.No longer she was insecure nor anything other than her own people concerned her.“Acha! Tum mein ghamad kuch kam hai? Chori upar se sinajori.Ms.Varsha! Ek free advice hai. Dusron ko ungli dikha ne se pehle khud dekh lo tumhare andar kitni gandagi hai.Auron ko hell dikhake tum koi heaven mein nahin jaane wali.” Sameer stood smiling and unafraid. His love has finally given Naina a security, his guilt dissipating into night sky. The verbal attacks would have gone much higher or for longer when Sameer  urgently voiced “Naina!Tumhein heels mein bhagna aata hai?”

“Haan.Par kyun..” Naina looked at him in surprise and before she or Varsha realised anything,Sameer had gripped her hand and both were rushing out of the building’s archway.

“Yeh kya tha?”

Naina asked as she huffed for breath. They had indeed ran away at length to parking. “Adventure…Kyun uss ladki ki muh lag rahi thi tum?”Sameer said as he rested himself on bonnet of his car. He was feeling liberated from the awful presence of Varsha.

“Karara jawab dena tha mujhe. Itna sab kuch baad bhi chainna aayi usse.Chudail kahin ki.” Naina was not done yet.How she hated the exalting toxicity in that witch. Such false pride and attitude of temptress.

“Acha chalo mood thik karo.Ghar chalte hein.” Sameer saw the unsatisfactory frown still prominent on Naina’s face.She wanted to give Varsha a piece of her mind but he didn’t want to be a mere spectator of two females fighting  and baselessly. He knew Varsha.She had the skill of driving any sane person into frenzy with her words.The last thing he wanted that night was Naina to be upset.

Naina looked outside on the roads. It was almost midnight hour.After few minutes she realised the roads ,its turns  and landmarks were not familiar.She worried if he was unmindfully driving and shrieked “Sameer! Yeh kahan jaa rahein hum?Yeh to alag raashte hein.Quarters ki bhi rashte nehin.”

“Hum Greater Kailash jaa rahein.Kisise milne.” Sameer calmly responded, checking through the mirror to see any traffic behind him. Naina however looked surprised at the sudden revelation.This was not on plan. Also this was not an hour to meet and greet someone.

“Itni raat ko? Sameer! Kal aate hein.Wo so rahe honge.”

“Uffo.Tum thoda chup baithogi.Ab bas yeh gaana suno aur chill karo.” Sameer reached for the switches and peered outside to look for the particular lane. It was difficult for him to remember exact lane alone and at such hour.

“Thik hai.Chill karti hun.Agar unse kute toh main bol dungi main iss admi ko nahin jaanti.” Naina uttered like an ultimatum and changed the channel to listen some retro songs.

“Acha! Dekhte hein.” Sameer giggled at her ‘dhamki’. Somethings never change even after years.She still was that strict Principal ki Chamchi, who loved rules and principles. Sameer stopped the car after a while and was soon guided by a night watchman into parking space.

“Sameer!Yeh ghar toh locked hai.” Naina gasped looking at Sameer who seemed to be looking a bit whimsical in his decisions and as if consumed by madness few hours ago. Quite unexpectedly Sameer pulled out a key and unlocked the door. Naina was about to follow him when he held out his hand and stopped her.“Tum andar mat aana.Idhar khadi raho thoda.” Naina wondered what madness consumed him to make her stand at threshold in some unknown building. She glanced around casually.She even heard another sound of car arriving, followed by bark of a dog.The quietness resumed after the dog stopped barking except for sounds of crickets.

Sameer emerged from the hallway with a glass filled with rice grains. Carefully placing it at threshold and decorating it with some petals of rose, he smilingly said;“Ab isspe pair marke andar aa jao.” Naina held his hand and gestured to do the entry together.

“Sameer! Yeh kya hai sab?” Naina looked around the beautifully furnished flat.She however still could not understand if the flat was like his Quarters, a part of his profession or it is..“Yeh humari flathai.Apne savings se li hai.Jab hum Almora se aa jayenge tab yehi humara ghar hoga.” Sameer declared as he opened the windows that looked over the main roads.

“Flat bhi kharid liya aur mujhe bataya bhi nahin. Chupane ki kala koi tumse seekhe.” Naina wondered when he managed to do all dealings andyet successfully kept it a secret. She moved around the house checking for all fittings.

“Socha surprise hoga.Acha laga na?” Sameer asked as he brought two cups of coffee and handed to her.Naina nodded with slight streak of tears forming in her eyes.She hugged him in reflex, her silence meaning a thousand words.In the silence that followed,they could only hear the distant honks of passing vehicles.The small den of theirs felt so comforting to her.She just wanted to shut down the lights,climb onto a bed and cuddle to him under blanket. As if after years she was finally home.

After a brief time,she rose and fetched the coffee mugs to wash.Her eyes caught a small locked door which looked like a small passage way.“Uss taraf kya hai?” Naina advanced slowly and pushed open the door. Sameer heard a clatter and rushed to Naina. Naina stood motionless and utterly in shock.

Red balloons stringed on walls and a beautiful graffiti work declaring the celebration. “Happy Birthday Naina” written beautifully with a photo of Sameer ,Nisha and Naina hanging near to it.A delicious looking beautiful cake  was placed in middle on a small study table.There was no sound,no music,no gathering yet the most beautiful surprise of the night.She had completely forgotten to celebrate her birthdays after Nisha came to her life.The last birthday she remembered celebrating was with Nikita and Preeti ,who had surprised her in middle of night.

 Naina cut the cake,blowing the candles,wishing this happiness to be permanent in her life. Sameer drew out two bottles of coke from a carton to celebrate the occasion. “Mujhe to yaad bhi nahin tha.Thank you so much.” Naina said in a thankful voice,sipping the coke,her insides already full with gratitude and joy.“Dosti ka usool hai madam.No sorry no thank you.Chalo ab mujhe apna return gift do.” Sameer kept away the bottle and looked straight into her eyes. Slowly their fingers wriggled and soon interlocked. He leaned forward while she closed the distance between them,whispering into his ears “Return gift? Yeh lo..”

A quick push and Naina stood at  a distance from him. Naina showed her tongue and broke into sprint seeing Sameer rising to chase her around. “Naina!Dekho tum yahan se bhaag bhi nahin sakti.” Soon laughter and giggles filled the flat,catching the attention of awaking adjoining flat residents.

Chachaji,Chachiji and Nisha were having dinner by the light of a petromax lamp.Chachaji had helped himself to some curried cauliflower whenPiku, the earlier cook and  caretaker of Nanu and presently of Chachiji, said “Chachiji! Aap wo Pahadi Baba ke pass kab chalenge?”

Chachiji didn’t want to discuss the topic infront of Chachaji.She knew how he hated the idea of visiting Babas,as per him they were fake holy men who are ruining the country. Piku however did not understand the silence and continued, “Aap kaho toh forest walon ki jeep jo ghumane le jaati hai,usse chal sakte hein.Apni yahan jaan pehchan hai.” Chachaji shot a glare at Chachiji. “Bhagwan jhooth na bulaye ji! Aap jaisa soch rahe waisa yeh babaji nahin hein. Ajgar jaise saanp ko bhi paal rakha hai inhone.Ab aise shakti walekoi sidh baba hi ho sakte na.” Chachiji finished hoping that Chachaji would be atlest curious enough to meet some one who had a snake as pet.

“Bela! Maine kitni baar kaha hai ki inn baba logon ke chakkar mein mat pado.Yeh aise hi kuch khabar phailate hein taaki logon ko akarshit kar sakein. Aur tum! Ainda aise bakwas baatein iss ghar mein mat karna.Padhai likhai mein dhyan do, baba ki prachar mein nahin.” As he finished his dinner,Chachaji settled with a fly swatter,ruminating how people in West are advancing in science and we are advancing towards more superstition. The door bell rang breaking the mist of silence in entire house.

“Arey Naina! Damaad ji!” Chachiji hollered ,utterly surprised with the untimely home coming. “Bas kaam khatam ho gaya toh wapas aagaye.Nisha so gayi hai? ‘’ Naina asked dropping her suitcase and hugging Chachiji. “Bhagwan jhooth na bulaye abhi so gayi hai.Din bhar wo Rishav ke saath kud ke thak gayi thi. Aur yeh bijli bhi chali gayi hai.” Sameer touched Chachiji’s feet followed by hug from Chachaji. After a brief conversation, he peered into the bedroom. Nisha slept clutching her teddy, her hair tied in a pony. The light blue coloured frock looked extremely cute on her. The occasional strong winds of cold breeze was making her shiver even in sleep.Sameer pulled the blanket on her and planted a soft kiss on her cheeks.

He turned around to leave so as not to disturb her sleep and found Naina standing at the door. She smiled and asked him to come following her. The night was alight with a crescent moon in sky yet Sameer knew in the slight flame of candle, how his bride blushed after a soul stirring kiss.

The next morning brought a nice,chilly mixed with a feeling of laziness.Added to it was a holiday. Naina was behind Nisha prodding her to drink a bitter mixture while Sameer was busy searching some documents in Naina’s cupboard for the Paris Vacation. It was then a hard bound family album dropped from edge of shelf and hit him hard on head. Sameer wailed and found the culprit lying open infront of him filled with photographs.He abandoned the search for the moment and picked up the album to see the treasures it had to offer.

 Sameer saw Nisha wearing a Watermelon printed frock and a big hair band sitting on her tiny head.She looked so tiny in that oversized frock.He guessed it would surely have been Preeti’s choice.He remembered seeing once Preeti wearing something like Pineapple Frock when he had gone under the balcony of Agarwal household. His smile turned into grin as he now remembered those carefree days and crazy dress choices of both sisters. He was now excited to leaf through the album and look if Nisha was dressed in the infamous ‘bhaluwali dress’. He was not much disappointed when he found Nisha over dressed with a furry jacket and Naina squeezing Nisha was what caught his attention.Naina’s beaming face with Nisha looking a cute fur ball made him feel like undoing those times;so that he could fit in the frame. In next pages he could not missNisha’s antics. Somewhere she posed with Naina’s reading spectacles and somewhere she was all covered with flour. In one photo ,Rishav andNisha,relatively smaller were smeared with melted chocolate.The bunny teeth smiles were too cute to be missed.Sameer could not help but kissing on the photo. Another photo where Nisha is making faces  from back of Naina had him laughing.He had never thought how his child would be like or how he wanted his child to be;but looking at Nisha he knew his wish would have never been more beautiful as having Nisha as his child. The hazy memory of him making faces at Naina whenever she became ‘Principal ki Chamchi’ struck him. Nisha was his soul child;there was not an ounce of doubt in that.

In the next few pages Nisha looked gradually growing up. One photo made him hiss hard.Nisha’s crying with a bleeding knee and Naina applying Dettol. While Rishav stood by holding two school bags.It looked like Sports Day in school.He wondered who had clicked the photo. He cheered up a little seeing Nisha dressed as fairy in a spotless white gown; holding a hand made wand and wings. Sameer reflected upon the day he had first met Nisha in the park.She indeed had come into his life as fairy.Giving a new direction and definition to his otherwise lack lustre life.However as he turned the next page of album; his eyes caught hold of a paper tucked behind a photo of Nisha crawling on ground. He pulled out and realised there two letters ;one written on plain paper and another on an Inland letter.What baffled him was the passport size photo that slipped from the folds of the letter.

Sameer never expected to find his lost passport photo that had went mysteriously missing. He had thought he had misplaced it or lost it while busy chasing that brat Pankaj and his group. Years after he finally found it in folds of a letter ,safely kept in album belonging to Naina Agarwal now Maheshwari.His interest to read the letter escalated that he almost tore open it.

“Sameer!

         Aaj yeh photo apne puraane kitab semili.Kitni ajeeb itefaaq hai na.Jab bhi tumhein bhulane ki koshish karti hun,tum kisi na kisi tarah mere samne aa jaate ho.Aisa lagta hai tumko bhulana muskil nahin namumkin hai.Chah ke bhi yeh photo ko phad na paayi. Nisha ke haath lag jaati toh tumhari photo ki bhurji ban jaati.Ek bhi chiz nahin chodti. Tod fodke bina uski din na guzarti.Main bhi pagal hun.Tum to Nisha ko jaante bhi nahin aur main boli jaa rahi hun.Khair! Shayad tumhein usse jaan ne ka mauka kabhi namile. Nafrat honi chahiye mujhe tumse lekin mein wo bhi nahin kar paarahi.Mujhe pata bhi hai ki yeh letter tumhare pass nahin jaane wala. Aur koi nahin padhne wala isse.

You are my favourite mistake.

Tumhari kabhi nahonewali

Naina”

Sameer sighed. If only he could show Naina his diary, she would know how his plight was no different.How only love of Nanaji and constant support of Munna and Pandit kept him in an illusion that he was not alone. How several pages of his diaries were filled with asking forgiveness from her for wronging her and breaking her in worst ways possible. However he had never imagined that the storms that blew in Naina’s life would be so much worse.He opened the other letter to give it a read if it contained something she so badly wanted him to hear out.

“Sameer!

               Main Naina Agarwal, Pragati Vidya Mandir Ki khadoos Librarian ki Beti.Yaad hai na? Soch rahe honge ki itne saal ke baad yeh letter kyun likh rahi.Aaj tumhari interview padhi newspaper mein.Pata chala tum Music Institute ki Dean ho ab.Many Congratulations. Meri letter likhne ka reason though sirf badhaiyan dena nahin tha. Meri beti hai Nisha. Usko kaafi din se tez bukhar hai. Yahan ke doctors bol rahein ki Delhi shift karna hoga. Aur koi blood test bhi karwane experts ke pass bhejenge. Kamse kam 60,000 -70,000 lagenge.

Udhaar ke 15-20,000 hogaye hein,lekin baaki ka paisa ikatha karna muskil ho gayi hai.Tum kuch madad kar lete toh meherbani hoti. Tum ispe interest bhi laga sakte ho.Main pura paisa instalment mein lauta dungi.Mujhe pata hai tum shayad mujhe khudgarz aur matlabi samajhte honge. Samajhne ka haq bhi hai.Par baat meri bachi ki zindagi ka hai.Mujhpe yeh akhri ehsaan karlo.

Yeh raha meri phone number.

Naina Agarwal

Ex-Classmate”

She wanted a help and in such desperation for Nisha? A tight knot formed inside his heart,feeling like undoing those times when she needed help,more like his support.He could completely understand now why Naina was so hysterical when Nisha had landed at hospital after Sudip’s overdose. She had always the fear of losing Nisha ever since Nikita has passed away leaving all to her. It was definitely not easy to be a mother and definitely not a mother with absolutely no experience and support.He winced how she dealt all these mess…And he thought he was only having a hard life.

Naina entered the room bringing in heap of clothes to press them.She stopped in tracks, looking at the album lying wide open and Sameer lost in reading the letters she had written years ago.She didn’t want him to visit those dark alleys of memory and pain she still has been trying to forego with.

“Yeh letter kyun nahin bheji?” Sameer asked straight seeing the fading colour from her face.He knew what she has been thinking.But he also knew they must know each bit of the year they have spent apart.Their relationship should not be of lovers only but also of best friends.No secrets untold,nopain unshared.

“Nisha thik ho gayi isliye.”

Her not meeting his eyes told him how she was still bad at lying.He already knew how far she had gone to even believe in superstitions,being always the rational and practical girl he had known.“Naina! Jhooth toh abmat bolo. Baaki ke paise kahan se laayi?” He stressed and Naina knew she can’t fib.

“Vikram..”

“VIKRAM! Usne madad ki tumhari?” That was indeed a shocking revelation. How could that devil help her? Did she had to trade something for that man would not settle without a fair deal.Did he ask for her favours? He closed his eyes trying not to think of worst possibilities.

“Haan! Lekin tab mein samajh rahi thi ki dost ke naate usne madad ki hai. Phir baad mein jab usne girgit ki tarah apne rang badle toh …”Her throat choked and she felt feeling that aching  pain again.Many years have passed yet she hasn’t healed completely.Time has only taught her to live with the pain.

Sameer pulled her into a hug.He didn’t know what to say that would comfort her, or do that would erase away those scabbing wounds of past.He looked at the photo dangling in room. Nisha comfortably sitting on Naina’ s lap  and smiling with the bunny tooth.Then he looked at the Naina,the woman in his arms  who is not stronger as she shows and even he is not .“Naina! Ek mein apni Mummy ko dekhta hun aur ek tumhein. Shayad manhoos hi hun jo iss duniya mein lane wali Maa hi muh fer li.Aur ek Nisha hai. Apni Maa ko kho di lekin ek aisi Mummy mili jo uske liye kuch bhi kar sakti hai.Yaar Naina! I am jealous of her.” He confessed.

“Aisa nahin hai Sameer. Mummy ji bahut pyar karte hein tumse.Bas jata nahin paati.May be Papaji ki wajah se.Tum bhi to jatate nahin ki kitna miss karte ho unko.” Naina broke away from the hug and tried consoling the Sameer, who still pined for mother’s love. But he hated to admit how he missed his mother. Yet Naina knew the truth.“Main kisiko miss nahin karta.Aur Mrs.Visakha Somani ko toh bilkul bhi nahin.” Came the reply masked with anger and hate.

“Tum Mrs.Visakha Somani ko nahin Visakha Maheshwari ko zaroor miss karte ho.” She  was firm on decision that she would never give up on mending the severed relationship between mother and son. Happiness is not in moving around world alone but finding it with own people at home. “ Dard chupane se nahin chupti.Aur tumhari yeh aankhein saaf bata rahein ki kitna pyaar karte ho unse aur miss bhi.Ek phone call to kar sakte ho.Tumhari Mummy hein.Itni bhi kya berookhi?” She tried to persuade, feeling that communication can only bridge the distant paths.

“Papa! Aap aur Mumma sach mere Mummy –Papa nahin ho?” Nisha asked Sameer who sat with his concentration perched on laptop screen. Sameer picked Nisha up and made her sit on his lap. “ Umm.. Apna ankhein band karo aur socho  Rishav koun hai” Nisha followed the instructions and saw the chubby boy troubling her and who lived next door,all the day calling her Moti. “Wohi dikha na jo tumhare saath khelta hai,Moti bulata hai?” Nisha nodded affirmingly. “Ab phir se aankh band karke socho Mumma koun hai.” Nisha followed again,this time quickly closing her eyes tight. Images of Naina flooded and now before Sameer could instruct her further she closed her eyes to imagine who her Papa was. Her doubts were clear. She quickly hugged him, murmuring to give Priya an earful for making her cry without any reason. Now suddenly her focus shifted to the laptop screen ,where Sameer was searching for some nice hotel recommendations in Paris.

“Papa! Hum Paris jaa rahein? Ghumne?” Nisha asked,stretching to have a better look of fancy looking hotels appearing on screen.  “Haan meri angel.Ghumenge aur bahut maze karenge.Lekin Rishav ko nahin le sakte.Bahut durr hai.” He clarifies in advance, anticipating that the request to take Rishav along with would soon follow.

“Idhar bhi nahin jaa sakta wo humaare saath? Aap toh mere liye  sister bhi nahin laaye Delhi se.Koi friend bhi  nahin hai meri Paris mein. ” Utter disappointment again. Her plans came to nothing.She has to again travel alone without any friend of her own age to play with.

Sameer noticed the frown on Nisha’s face.He quickly kissed her cheeks and drew out a chocolate from his laptop bag.Cajoling her, he started “ Arey meri Princess sad ho gayi.Mumma Papa hein na.Aur Paris mein bhi bahut friends milenge.Naye teddies bhi laayenge. Ab smile karlo.” He tried making her smile,only to be bombed by another question.

“ Aap sister kab laoge mere liye? Wo dukaan ab tak nahin khula? Aap bhul to nahin gaye?”

“Bhul kaise jaun? Bilkul yaad hai. Dukaandar ne bola hai ki jaise hi ek cute baby sister aayegi wo mujhe phone karlega.Phir main aur Mummy dono le aayenge sister apni Nisha ke liye.Thik hai na?” Sameer went in arehearsed manner,smiling shippishly inside what crap he was telling. However Nisha seemed convinced with the plan.“Haan.Yeh acha hai .But aap na Teddy jaisa cute baby laana. “

 Sameer doubly agreed and almost promised.“Haan ekdum cute wale laayenge bilkul Nisha ki teddy jaisi aur Nisha jaisi.”

“Aap best Papa ho.Main Mumma ko batake aati hun. Cute baby sister aayegi meri.Rishav ko batana padega.” Nisha jumped off Sameer’s lap and quickly plastered a kiss on his cheeks.She rushed out of the door squealing and shrieking in absolute joy.

 “Acha yeh kounsa dukaandar hai jo baby sisters retail mein deta hai?” Naina enquired while making Nisha sleep after a sumptuous lunch. Sameer winked and both had a nice laugh after. Nisha surely was a magic in their lives.Making them cry, worry all night, fall in love and also make them laugh over all silly things. How in between caring for one single kid,life happened for them in between.

Vikram walked into the Orphanage office looking around.The manager had informed him that Police had come for a raid suspecting illegal activities. It seemed from outset that somebody has tipped them off. As he waitd for the manager Lily to come around his eyes travelled to wall infront of him.Down the wall ran a long line of ants – some fifty-hundreds of small red ants , exactly like a mighty army on battle. On a battle to plunder the biggest morsel of grain or sugar cube perhaps. Just like the Police had come for him.

 As soon as his vision of sight ended with ants disappearing behind a small crack in the wall,He spotted Lily ,the manager entrusted with responsibilities of Orphanage.“Lily!Yeh sab kya hai? Aur yeh do take ki Police yahan kya kar raha?” He would have thrown many more questions to the poor lady who was already struggling with giving official statements to Police constables. He was interrupted timely by the young,enigmatic bounty looking police officer –in –charge; ready as hunter on prowl.“Mr.Vikram! ACP Anupam. I am sorry to inform you that aapke Orphanage ki records are not clean.Aap ko humare saath Police Station chalna hoga for further interrogation.”

“Aise kaise? ACP Anupam..” Vikram protested. The ACP smiled yet not so congenially. “Anupam Khandelwal.” He completed for Vikram. “You don’t know me. Vikram Chauhan ,M.Sc LLB.Ek call se tumhara transfer koi Maoist area mein hogi.Mujhse panga loge toh bahut pachtaoge.” Vikram  warned with his index finger lifted as challenge. With a record for being a ruthlessly honest person in the department, Anupam has lost out on promotion twice and transferred only seven times in only 4 years of joining the service. The warnings of transfer seemed to be daily business now.

With a coolest attitude,Anupam started ;“Dekhiye M.Sc Sahab!Hum dono law protectors hein.Isliye acha hoga aap cooperate karein warna mein pange pe utar aaya toh koi call mujhe nahin rok sakta.Aur rahi baat transfer ki..wo toh job hai mera.Aap abhi ke liye apni iss orphanage ki fikr kijiye.Kyunki ek bhi shaq mera sahi nikla toh iske gate pe taala lagane mein mujhe der na lagegi.Toh Chalein?”

Vikram threw a last glance at the army of ants still carrying on, perhaps he has to struggle a bit with the system until he is able to defend himself.He just needed an opportunity to make a few calls.But this time the winds seemed blowing in opposite direction. The cop was different and the raid so untimelyl.Who tipped off them? Naina? Sameer? Or… Sudip?

 (To be continued)

 

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P.S. : Thank you all for being patient with my irregularity.Again sorry for that. Hope you like this update. Waiting for your comments. 😊