All thanks to Vanshu Rani for idea for this chapter. Love you my Jaan 💖💖💖💖💖💖
Chapter 13
Moksh got down the bus and looked around nervously. It was a new locality for him but when he saw Anupriya waving at him, he ran towards Anupriya.
"Are Pillu sambhalke," Agni felt a fear when she saw a speeding car in front of Moksh but Moksh, being the smart boy he was, crossed the road safely.
"Anupriya aaji!" Moksh came and hugged Anupriya. Agni felt a bittersweet emotion on seeing Anupriya and Moksh bonding so well, but she couldn't be part of it. Agni wiped a tear from her eye with the back of her hand.
"Agni aunty, aap ro kyon rahi ho?" Moksh asked innocently.
"Nahi, vo bas..." Agni's voice was hoarse, "Vo bas aankh me kucch chala gaya tha."
"Liar! Liar! Your tongue is on fire," Moksh sang, "Pata hai Agni aunty main bahut accha detective hoon. Jhat se pata laga leta hoon kaun sach bol raha hai aur kaun jhooth."
"Accha?" Agni said.
"Baba bhi har roz kehte hain ki unki aankhon me kucch chala gaya," Moksh said wistfully, "Magar jab aas paas aaji, aajoba ya Ahir kaka nahi hote na, to vo bhi almirah se ek neeli saari nikaalkar rote hain."
Neeli saari? Kalyani didn't wear saari so often and Agni couldn't remember a blue saari. Was that saari Sampada's? Agni remembered the last words Atharv had told her before he stabbed her. That Malhar knew everything and he was silent on their plan because he wanted to get back with Sampada. Even after hating Malhar intensely for these five years, Agni never believed it. Even in the fiery sea of hate, Agni never doubted Malhar's fidelity the way he had doubted Kalyani despite being her husband.
"Neeli sari? Kiski?" Agni never meant to ask this but it escaped from her lips.
"Vahi sari jo Baba Aai ke liye laaye the," Moksh whispered, "Jis din vo hame chhorr ke gande uncle ke saath bhaag gayi thi."
"Moksh!" Anupriya said sharply.
Moksh had started crying now, "Asawari Aaji kehti hain ki main bad boy hoon isliye meri maa mujhe paida karte hi chhorr gayi aur meri Aai bhi mujhe chhor gayi. Aur Anupriya aaji, aapke saath vo jo bad Aau Saheb rehti hai na, vo kehti hai ki Baba to mujhe paida hote hi orphanage chhorrna chahte the. Magar logon ke dar ke kaaran aisa nahi kar paye. Aau Saheb kehti hain ki Baba bas ek mauke ki talash me hain ki jab main gehri neend me hounga to mujhe apni jeep me jungle chhorr ayenge. Pata hai Agni aunty. Isi vajah se main theek se sota tak nahi hoon ki Baba kahin mujhe jungle me naa chhorr ayen."
"Nahin Moksh," Agni hugged Moksh, "Tere Baba tujhe sapne me bhi khud se door karne ki nahi soch sakte. Duniya me sabse zyada pyaar vo tujhse karte hain Pillu. Vo khud kitni bhi museebat seh lenge magar tujh par ek aanch bhi nahi aane denge."
"Promise?" Moksh said his eyes full of tears.
"Pakka promise," Agni said wiping Moksh's tears from his face, "Ab bilkul rona nahi...samjhe. Is duniya me rehne ka hai to rone ka nahi rulane ka..." Saying that Agni tickled Moksh and Moksh doubled down laughing.
"Agni aunty!"
"Hmm..."
"Ek baat poonchoon?"
"Poocho? Jitni Marzi aaye utni baatein poocho..."
"Ye Pillu kaun hai? Aur aap mujhe Pillu kyon bulati ho?"
"Pillu...mera matlab Moksh, tumne vo spies movie dekhi hain jinme Hero ko sab secret code se bulaate hain like Alpha one."
"Haan...haan...jinme Hero villains ki khoob pitaai karta hai..."
"To tum bhi kisi hero se kam ho kya? Isliye Main tumhe secret code se bulaati hoon- Pillu," Kalyani said, whispering, "Jisse koi mere undercover supercop ki identity na Jaan paaye. Aur ek baat ye secret code kisi se kehna mat."
"Baba se bhi nahi?"
"Nahi Baba se bhi nahi. Ye Pillu aur uski a...mera matlab hamare beech ka secret hai...Apna promise mujhe do?"
"Promise..."
That day after returning from Picnic with Agni and Anupriya, Moksh decided that he wanted Agni as his mother. His Baba never laughed or smiled. Agni was so strong. She orders once and everyone starts doing what she said. Moksh will ask her to order his Baba to always smile and laugh and never cry again. His Baba was stubborn but Agni was even more stubborn. At the same time Moksh stopped himself. Wasn't he betraying his Aai when he dreamed of Agni being his mother? Moksh knew whatever everyone said, his Aai would've never left him. Wouldn't she be feeling sad in heaven seeing that Moksh replaced her with someone.
Inside A Enterprises
Agni was walking towards her cabin when she saw a cubicle lit.
"Mr. Rane!"
Malhar raised his head from his work at laptop and said, "Yes ma'am."
"Aap itne late kyon ruke huye hain? Aapka ek beta tha na, vo Ghar par akela nahi hoga?"
"Madam akela kahaan. Vahaan mere Baba, aai hain to."
"Hmm," Kalyani said non-chalantly, "Haan aapke loving parents to uska acche se khayal rakhte hi honge? Dada dadi ke pyaar ke beech kahaan use aapki yaad aati hogi?"
Malhar remembered Asawari who always looked at Moksh with disgust. Madhav though had a soft spot for Moksh being of his bloodline, but to expect him at this age to handle a curious child like Moksh between his music practice would be too much.
"Ji Madam," Malhar said and picked up his bag and went down the escalator. Suddenly a loud thunder of clouds peeled the evening. Out of nowhere, it started raining heavily.
Malhar went out with his office bag over his head but even after waiting for an hour he got no auto rickshaw to get home and due to drainage overflow, he could not use his motorcycle.
Disappointed he returned to office.
"Agar ghar jaa hi nahi paa raha hoon, to isse better kaam hi nibta loon," thinking that he went back to his cubicle and started working. He could see Agni inside her cabin from where he was sitting. She was too absorbed in work. Malhar admired her work ethic. She was so driven and career-oriented. There was a gravitas when she moved, spoke or even when she was silent. And she was so beautiful...just like his Kalyani. Though she hadn't a bit of Kalyani's innocence and bubbly nature, still Malhar...stop it Malhar. Don't go towards that path.
Agni was deep in her work when she smiled to herself as if she remembered something. That smile! It was Kalyani's smile that Agni was wearing. No one could smile like that except Kalyani...No she was not Kalyani. She was not. She couldn't be...
Suddenly Agni stood up to fetch a file but fainted on the floor.
Malhar ran towards her. After lifting her up in his arms, he made her lie on the sofa at lounge. Agni was half-conscious...
Malhar opened the Video conference with a doctor who he looked up on Internet.
"Mr. Rane, relax," The doctor said, "It's just due to burnout. Overworking and health par dhyaan na dene se ye issues hote hain. Agni ji din raat kaam karti hain. No human can survive with only three hours sleep. Just relax and jaisa main kehti hoon vaisa karte jaiye."
The doctor instructed Malhar to prepare tea for Agni as the sugar levels have dropped too low in her body. Malhar looked at the green tea packets and remembered that tea incident when Agni threw hot tea over him but seeing Agni so vulnerable, he told himself, "Bhaad me jaaye meri punishment." And prepared masala chai for Agni. Malhar was surprised at his own language. He never spoke like that.
When Malhar brought a cup of tea for Agni, he saw Agni's arms closely peeking from her sleeves. There were scars on them. Malhar wondered how were there so many scars on her arms, near her neck? What had happened with her? As a cop, Malhar knew these were not accidental injuries. Someone had brutalized Agni. And after realising it, he couldn't help feeling an unexplained rage. It felt like someone had hurt a person very dear to him. As if someone had hurt the person he loved. Malhar told himself to get a grip. But even Agni was no one to him, still it made her angry how can one brutalize a woman like that? What kind of beast would do that? Was that why Agni was the way she was?
Malhar didn't realize when his hand had begun caressing Agni's scars.
"Mr. Rane!" Malhar got out of his thoughts at Agni's voice, "Don't you dare touch me."
"S...sorry ma'am," Malhar said, "Ma'am ye chot aapko kaise????"
"Ye aap pooch rahe hain Mr. Rane?" Malhar couldn't understand the accusation in Agni's voice, "Aap jaise mardon ka to kaam hi hota hai aurton ko chot dena...kabhi sharir par to kabhi dil par."
"Ma'am?" Malhar said.
"Anyways, thanks for your help," Agni said, getting up with difficulty, and signing a cheque, "Ye lijiye."
Malhar felt insulted. "I can't take this ma'am."
"What you can and can't do, leave that for me to decide," Agni smirked, "Mujhe apne oopar koi karz rakhna pasand nahi h chahe accha ho ya bura."
Malhar scolded himself in mind, "Tune soch bhi kaise liya ye teri Kalyani hai Malhar? Insaaniyat ko paise se tolne vaali Agni hogi duniya ki fourth richest businesswoman, magar iske Dil ki daulat Kalyaani ke saamne ek percent bhi nahi h. Sirf chehra ek hone se kucch nahi hota."
Tabhi Malhar's phone rang.
"Baba Agni aunty thik h na?" Malhar couldn't understand why Moksh was so worried when he told him his boss was having health issues.
"Haan, ab theek hain vo. Sorry beta Aaj main tumhare saath dinner nahi kar saka."
"Baba don't worry. Is duniya me rone ka nahi, rulaane ka," Moksh said.
Malhar was shocked beyond words. It was the same takiya kalaam Kalyani used to say. His voice was trembling when he asked, "M...Moksh k...ki...kisne sikhaya tujhe ye bolna?"
"Agni aunty," Moksh said, leaving Malhar stunned.
https://youtu.be/v5rlq7anee8
Edited by Autumn09 - 3 years ago