Part 8
"Anuuu.. Tumne mujhe headphones dete waqt kaha tha ki jo baatein main kisi aur se nahi keh sakta woh tumse keh sakta hoon. Main bhi tumse woh hi kehta hoon.."
He got up from the revolving chair and sat next to her on the bed.
"Bolo.. Jo kuch bhi aa raha hai tumhare man me, bol do! Main sunne ke liye taiyyar hoon!"
Anupama held his hand and intertwined her fingers with his.
"Mere pass kehne ke liye bahot kuch hai, Anuj. Woh.. train me saphar karte hain tab saamaan chori na ho jaye uske liye janjeer/chain se bandhkar phir tala lagate hain ne? Waise hi.. mere man me ek.. sandook hai jisme bahot sari.. kadvi yaadein hain, baatein hain jinko maine janjeer aur tale se bandhkar rakha hai!"
She paused to draw a breath while he wiped her tears.
"Main woh sandook kholungi.. aapko sab bataungi lekin.. aaj nahi!"
She cupped his cheek with the other hand.
"Aaj ka din mere liye bahot khaas hai! Jitna khaas 23 July 1995 tha ne aapke liye, utna hi khaas yeh 23 December 2021 mere liye hai! Prem toh mujhe pehle hi ho gaya tha lekin aaj maine pehli baar apne prem ko aise.. jaahir kiya hai!"
Anuj nodded and placed his hand on top of hers.
"Isiliye main chahti hoon ki aaj sirph MaAn ki baatein ho, aur kisi ki nahi!"
His brows came together in a frown.
"You mean.. man ki baatein?"
"Nahi, MaAn ki baatein! Humari baatein!"
She elaborated further.
"Jab Tosu aur Kinjal ka rista pakka hua tha tab bachchon ne un dono ke naam jodkar Kintos naam banaya tha. Waise hi Samar aur Nandini ke naam ka bana SaNan. Aur.. Anupama ka Ma jab Anuj ke An se juda tab bana MaAn!"
"MaAn?! Humari.. jodi.. ka naam? MaAn!" Anuj repeated, smiling from ear to ear.
She told him how Samar had coined that name on the night of Chhoti Diwali.
"MaAn.. sounds so good!", he sighed.
He looked into her eyes and she saw a sparkle in them which she hadn't seen before.
"Anuu.."
"Hmm?"
"Tum bhool gayi?"
"Kya?"
"Tumhara haath ab bhi mere gaal par hai!"
She bit her lip and instantly withdrew her hand.
"Sor..sori! Woh.. dhyan nahi raha!"
"Thank God for that!" he said to himself.
...............................................
Anupama's phone rang loudly, serving as the perfect diversion.
He fetched her phone. "Samar ka hai.."
"Hello! Ha bakuda, tu sau saal jiyega! Thodi der pehle teri hi baat ho rahi thi."
Meanwhile Anuj poured water in a glass.
"Theek chhe beta. Aavto reh/aa ja."
Anuj panicked upon hearing that.
"Ha, Bye. Jai Shri Krishna!"
"Samar aa gaya?"
"Nahi. Woh bajaar se nikal raha hai. 15-20 minute me pahuch jayega."
"Okay, great! Use.. bata dena humare bare me par.. keh dena ki woh aur kisi ko na bataye!"
"Bhaley. Woh nahi batayega. Aap bharosa rakhiye."
He offered her the glass of water and waited till she finished it.
Then he sat down next to her.
"Anu, I realize aaj ka din tumhare liye, humare liye bahot special hai and I don't want to ruin it. Lekin main.. aaj tumse kuch kehna zuroor chahunga."
"Ha, boliye ne.."
"Main hamesha tumhare saath hoon! Pass hoon, door hoon, din ho, raat ho koi farq nahi padhta! Chahe kitne bhi baj rahe ho, doesnt matter! I'm only a call away!"
Anupama felt empowered by his assurance.
"Jab bhi tumhare man me kuch ho, kuch bhi ho, kisike bhi bare me ho toh tum mujhse keh sakti ho. Khas kar jab koi baat tumhe chubh rahi ho toh mujhe batana. Baat chahe jo ho, situation kaisi bhi ho, main tumhe bilkul bhi judge nahi karunga! Sirf sununga! Main samajhta hoon, life me kain bar bolne wale aur advice dene wale bahot hote hain lekin.. sunne wala koi nahi hota hai! Par main hoon!"
Anupama nodded as she cupped his face.
"Jaanti hoon ki aap hain! Par ab main bhi hoon, Annuujj! College me hokar bhi nahi thi, phir nahi hokar bhi aapke jeevan ka hissa bani rahi. Par ab main hoon aur aapke saath hi rahungi, hamesa! 26 saalon me aapke saath bhi achcha, bura bahot kuch hua hoga. Jab aapka man karega, jab aapko theek lagega tab aap bhi mujhe batana. Main sunungi aur samjhungi bhi!"
Anuj nodded as tears welled up in his eyes.
She wiped his tears while holding his gaze.
"Bas.. Bahot ro liya, aapne bhi aur maine bhi! Ab college ki koi aisi baat bataiyye jisse hasi aa jaye!"
"hmm.. Okay!"
She offered water to him and he drank it swiftly in one go.
"Santi se.. Thaska lag jayega!"
"Thanks! Tumhe.. Pankhil Oza yaad hai?"
"Ha! Woh hi paagal jo Devika ke peechhe pada tha! Use main kaise bhool sakti hoon!?"
"Woh bhi tumhe nahi bhool paya hoga! Jo zordaar thappad mara tha tumne use!"
"Marna hi pada ne! Humne prophessor Trivedi se uski phariyaad/complain ki tab bhi usne Devika ko paresan karna nahi chhoda! Ek din humlog college ke gate ke bahar theley par khade.."
"Aam papad kha rahe the!", he finished for her.
"Ha! Tab woh peechhe se aaya aur chup ke se uski choti kheenchne wala tha. Par maine dekh liya! Aur aisa thappad mara ki uske kaan sunn ho gaye honge!"
"Dekha tha maine! Thappad se nahi bhi huye honge toh uske bad tumne jo use bhaashan diya us se toh pakka ho hi gaye honge!"
"Bhapp!", she hit his arm playfully.
"Uski chhodo! Main aur Bunty waheen pass me khade the. Tumhara reaction dekh kar Bunty tension me aa gaya!"
"Kya? Unko.. kyun tensan hua?"
"Woh main.. kain bar, uske saamne, tumhare baalon ki taareef kiya karta tha!", he admitted.
Anupama looked longingly at her plait.
"Tab mere baal bahot ghane aur lambe the, sach me taareeph ke laayak! Kamar se neeche tak aate the!"
"Yaad hai mujhe! Tum class me apni choti ke saath khelti rehti thi. Ek din maine yoon hi.. Bunty se kaha tha ki mujhe Anu ki choti se khelne ka man karta hai! Jab woh pony banakar aati hai to uske baal sehlane ka, unki.. khushboo soonghne ka.. man karta hai! Kabhi lagta hai ki woh baal khule rakhegi toh kaisi lagegi? Par woh kabhi khule baalon me college aati hi nahi hai!"
He paused and laughed, taking her by surprise.
"Taareeph karte karte aise kaun hasta hai?"
"Tumhari baat pe nahi has raha hoon, Bunty ki khauf se bhari shaqal yaad kar ke hasi aa gayi! Jab Pankhil ko thappad pada toh woh mujhse kehne laga ki tu sambhalna bhai! Teri wali toh bahot tez hai! Jis din baal kholkar aayegi us din Chandi ka roop lagegi!"
Anupama opened her mouth in shock.
"Galti se bhi us din us ke aas pass mat jana! Uski choti se khelna toh door ki baat hai, tu uske baalon ko chhoone ki sochna bhi mat! Pankhil ne Devika ki choti khinchi usme Anupama ne aisa kheench ke thappad mar diya! Tune agar uski choti khinchi toh mar mar ke jaan nikal degi!"
"Toh aapne kya kaha?"
"Main kya kehta? Main khud bhi dara hua tha!"
"Bhaasan se ya mar se?"
"Dono se!"
They laughed till their jaws hurt.
"Maine dekha tha na Pankhil ko! Jis speed se woh wahaan se bhaga tha! Uska bag gir gaya phir bhi woh uthane nahi aaya!"
"Achcha hua nahi aaya! Phir se saamne aata toh ek aur padh jati use!"
"Aur ab..?"
"Ab kya?"
"Ab agar main.. tumhari choti se.. khelna chahoon toh..?"
She sighed abjectly.
"Ab meri choti me woh baat kahan rahi? Sweety hone wali thi tab se mere baal jhadna suru huye aur jhadte jhadte itne saalon me meri choti aadhi ho gayi hai! Teen teen bachchon ke saath lambe baal sambhalte nahi the isiliye.. baal kaat diye, nahi toh ab tak ghutne tak aa gaye hote!"
He loved it when she fiddled with her plait.
"Come on Anu! Ab bhi tumhare baal bahot achchhe hain! Jis din tum partnership accept karne office aayi thi us din main.. cabin se chhupkar tumhe dekh raha tha! Tumhara choti se khelna, tumhara bag latkana, botal uthakar pani peena.. Sab kuch same hai, jaise college me karti thi waise hi!"
Anupama absorbed his words while admiring his memory and power of observation.
"Chaahe khule ho chaahe bandhe ho, tumhare baal ab bhi bahut sundar lagte hain!"
"Aapne mujhe khule baalon me kab dekha?"
"Jab us raat toofaan aaya tha aur hum bachchon ke saath farmhouse me ruke huye the."
"Ha.. Yaad aaya! Baal geele the isiliye maine khule chhod diye the.."
"Annuuu.." he called out to gain her attention.
"Us raat mujhe woh din yaad aa gaya jab maine pehli baar tumhe dekha tha!"
"Tab college me kahan baal khule rakhe the?"
"Baal nahi, tumhari dress ki wajah se. Light pink colour ki dress me tumhe dekha, kitne saalon ke baad! Woh rang aaj bhi tum pe utna hi khilta hai! Main toh tumhe dekhte hi 26 saal peechhe chala gaya!"
"Tab hi.. tabiyat kharab thi, sar chakra raha tha lekin aapko toh mere saath dance karna tha!"
"Obviously! My priorities are set! I mean.. Tumhare saath dance karne ka chance main kaise jane deta!"
"Kaisi deewano jaisi baatein kar rahe hain aap!" she said while turning red like a tomato.
"Sahi toh keh raha hoon! Ba bapuji ki shaadi me mehndi ka function hua lekin sangeet nahi hua! Main toh wait karta raha ki sangeet hoga aur mujhe phir se tumhare saath dance karne ka mauka milega!"
"Saadi wale din dance toh kiya tha ne.."
"Ha magar sirf hum dono ne nahi kiya na.."
"Amdavad wapis jakar kar lenge, sirph hum dono!"
Before he could process what she said she
walked off to the bathroom.
"Samar aata hoga. Main phres hokar aayi."
Anuj placed his hand to calm down his erratically beating heart.
"Sirf hum dono.. dance karenge?! Akele me? Pehli baar! Yes, yes, yes!"
.....................................
Samar called Anupama after reaching the hotel.
"Samar neeche aa gaya hai."
"Use upar bula lo na. Main bhi mil lunga."
"Uske pass saamaan bahot hai. Sare sopping bag ricksaw me chhodkar kaise aayega?"
"Theek hai toh main neeche chalta hoon.."
"Nahi, aap rehne dijiye. Main chali jaungi. Aap aaram kariye."
"Achchha toh lift tak chalta hoon."
She nodded in silence.
"Kya hua? Jane ka man nahi kar raha hai?"
She shook her head.
"Toh mat jao!"
"Kuch bhi! Samar neeche raah dekh raha hai."
"Hmm.. Toh jao!"
"Kya jao, mat jao kar rahe hain!"
"Jo tumhe theek lage woh hi karna! Main theek hoon. Meri tension mat lo! "
"woh.. jaane se pehle kuch kehna tha.."
"Meri aankhein band hai!"
Anupama laughed at his eagerness.
"Hun tamne prem karu chhu! Yeh kehna hi tha par.. yeh bhi kehna tha ki.. aaj ka din mujhe hamesa yaad rahega! Mujhe college wali Anu se milane ke liye thank you!"
"Mujhe bhi hamesha yaad rahega!"
"Aapko toh waise bhi sab kuch yaad hai!"
"Ha, magar tumhare saath yaad karne ka maza hi kuch aur hai! Aaj aisa laga jaise hum 26 saal pehle wali duniya me pahuch gaye jahaan.. pyaar me ummeed thi, khwahishein thi, sapne the.. Ma, papa, Bunty the.."
He swallowed hard.
"Sori Annuuuujjj!"
"I'm sorry Annuu! Yeh sab toh chalta rahega. Jab woh din yaad aayenge tab woh log bhi.. yaad aayenge! Aur.. main bhavuk ho jaunga. Ignore kiya karo! Samar tumhare liye wait kar raha hai. Tum jao.."
"Pakka?", she asked in a small voice.
"Ha.. I'll be fine.."
He held her bag and walked her to the elevator.
"Jai Shri Krishna! Dhyan rakhjo!"
"Tame pan dhyan rakhjo! Jai Shri Krishna!"
.....................................
Samar was anxiously waiting in the cab.
"Pata nahi mummy ne Anuj se apne dil ki baat ki hogi ya nahi? Phone pe toh khush lag rahi thi. Par.. Woh khushi Anuj se milne ki thi ya?.."
He saw Anupama coming out of the hotel.
"Mummy..", he waved at her from the cab.
Anupama was shocked to see him sitting in a taxi instead of an auto rickshaw.
"Aa su chhe, Samar? Ricksaw leni thi ne. Do logon ko jana hai uske liye taxi?"
"Bags bahot sare the na mummy.."
Though she did not argue further he noticed that she was upset.
"Chaalo bhai.."
She did not meet his gaze when he held her shoulder.
"Kya hua mummy? Anuj.."
"Ghar jakar baat karenge!"
"Boliye toh sahi!"
"Kaha ne.. Jid mat kar!"
Samar turned to the driver.
"Oh bhai, tame amne odkho chho/Tum humein jante ho?"
The driver denied knowing them.
"Dekhiye, yeh toh humein pehchante bhi nahi hai! Phir aap kyun hesitate kar rahi hain? Agar aap Anuj se.. bol nahi payi toh"
He was baffled when she started crying.
"Mummy? Relax! Usme rone ki kya baat hai?"
He wrapped an arm around her.
"3 din bad toh Anuj Ahmedabad aa hi rahe hain na.. Wahan bol dena aap."
"Bol diya..", she sniffed.
"Bol diya!? Areh, toh aap ro kyun rahi hain? Main toh dar hi gaya tha!"
"Samar.. Main unko chhodkar nahi aana chahti thi!"
He was overjoyed to hear that.
"Abhi abhi toh aap aayi hain aur itni jaldi unko miss karne lagi!? Awww!"
"Chup kar! Evu kasu nathi/aisa kuch nahi hai!"
The simple act of wiping tears reminded her of Anuj.
"Woh jab mujhe lift tak chhodne aaye tab unki aankhon me aansu aa gaye the. Aaj purane dino ko aur khas logo ko yaad kar ke woh bahot roye.. Aur ab akele hain toh.. phir se.. royenge."
"Toh aap unhe akele nahi chhodna chahti hain.. Unke pass rehna chahti hain na?"
"Ha, par.."
"Areh, toh aap mujhe waheen bata deti! Hum wapis chalte hain!"
"Na Samar! Pinakin ki mummy ka phone aaya tha. Woh humari rah dekh rahi hain.."
"Woh zyada zaroori hai ya Anuj?"
She did not reply.
"Main kuch karoon?"
"Kai jarur nathi! Bahu dodhdahyo na banis/ Koi zaroorat nahi hai! Bahut oversmart mat ban!"
"Mummy.. karne dijiye na! Aap yahan royengi, woh wahan royenge toh mujhe bilkul achchha nahi lagega!"
"Pehle mujhe bata. Kya karega tu?"
"Aap bataiye, Anuj ke pass yahan car hai kya?"
"Ha, gadi hai unke pass."
"Awesome! Bhai, ahiya ubhi rakho/yahan rok do."
He looked around and found that they were in front of a commercial building.
"Kya kar raha hai?"
He called up Anuj while paying the cabbie.
.....................................
"Ha Samar. Pahuch gaye tumlog?"
"Nahi Anuj. Cab kharab ho gayi aur humein conveyance nahi mil raha hai. Mummy ne bataya aap ke pass car hai isiliye maine call kiya."
"Kahan ho tumlog?"
"Aapke hotel se zyada door nahi hai. Main aapko location bhejunga toh aap aa jayenge?"
"Of course! Main abhi aaya."
....................................
Anuj came out of the car as soon as he saw Anupama and Samar.
While taking the shopping bags from her hand he glanced at her face and noticed her downcast eyes.
Meanwhile, Samar nervously eyed the grey Mercedes.
"Samar, bags aage ki seat pe rakh de."
"Ha. Main.. chalaun?"
"Tu?" they spoke together, equally shocked.
"Ha. Pinakin ka ghar maine dekha hai. Aur.."
He turned silently towards Anupama.
Anuj tried to read her eyes but she did not look up at him.
"Maine aaj se pehle.. aisi car drive nahi ki lekin.. Main carefully drive karunga, promise!"
Anuj nodded. He held the door open for Anupama.
Once he sat down behind Samar, he turned towards her.
"Kya hua hai, Anu?"
"Sori! Is ne bahana banakar aapko yahan bulaya hai!"
"Bahana..? Areh, tum use mar kyun rahi ho?"
"Yeh ladka itni saphai se, minute, minute me jhoot bolta hai! Pata nahi school, college me mujhse jhoot bolkar kya, kya kiya hoga isne!"
"Jhoot bolna kyun pada woh nahi bataya aapne! Khair, aap dono bhool jaiye ki main yahan hoon! Jo bhi kehna hai keh dijiye!"
Finally Anupama gazed at Anuj with tears in her eyes.
"Annuuu?"
"Annuujj.. Main aapko akele nahi chhodna chahti thi woh bhi tab jab.. aapki aankhon me aansu ho!"
That statement from her was enough to melt his heart.
"Hotel me hi kehna chahti thi par.. keh nahi payi! Gadi me baithi toh.. aansu nahi ruk rahe the. Isiliye aapko.. aise bulaya. Bachchon jaisi.. harkat hai par.. main.. kya karoon? Aajse pehle kabhi.. aisa nahi laga! Aaj.. aapse door ja rahi thi.. tab pair hi nahi uth rahe the!"
There was pin drop silence which made Samar restless.
He glanced at Anuj from the rear view mirror.
"Samar.." Anuj's voice was heavy with emotion. "Tu koi sunsan jagah dekhkar gadi rok aur 5 minute ke liye bahar ja!"
"Sunsan jagah? Thodi der me toh Pinakin ki society aa jayegi!", Samar thought to himself.
He recalled Pinakin showing him his school on the way to the market.
"Theek hai", he said as he turned to the left.
..................................
The watchman sitting at the missionary school gate stood up as he saw a Mercedes Benz arriving.
Samar quickly moved the car away from the main gate and parked it near the second gate.
"Aaplog baatein kariye. Main use dekhta hoon."
Once he left Anupama nervously turned to Anuj.
"Anuuujj.."
She opened and closed her mouth.
When words failed her, she wrapped her arms tightly around him.
"Aaj tak mujhe lagta tha ki main idiot hoon! Tum toh mujhse bhi badi wali idiot ho!"
He tucked her head under his chin and pulled her even closer.
"Main toh achchi bhali thi! Aapke pyaar me idiot ban gayi, bolo!"
"Ha, ha! Main toh bachpan se hi idiot hoon na!"
They laughed through their tears.
"I can't believe this! Maine socha bhi nahi tha ki aaj yeh bhi hoga!"
"Maine kahan socha tha!"
"Main toh ma ki photo dekh raha tha. Unse keh raha tha ki aaj.. unki vahu ne mujhe bahot sare surprises diye! Sabse best surprise toh.. yeh hi hai!"
He broke the hug and stared at her lovingly.
He could make out the blush on her cheeks even under the dim yellow street light.
She buried her face in his chest, overcome with shyness.
"I love you, sweetheart!"
"I.. love you too!"
"Ek minute meri taraf dekho.."
She clicked her tongue, overcome with shyness.
"Achcha toh suno.. Jab tum gayi tab pehli bar woh mehsoos hua jo 26 saalon me nahi hua tha!"
"Kya?" she whispered.
"Besabri!" he said, inhaling the jasmine scent of her hair.
.........................................
Hope you liked this part. Please ignore mistakes.
Cheers,
Noorie
Part 8B on page 24
Edited by Noorie17 - 3 years ago
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