PART II
Daya was sobbing in pain in his room but before Shirin entered there gingerly
he wiped his tears off & concentrated on the diary his papa left for him.Every
details about the business., he didn't know that his father divided the whole
property among his three children,The huge resort in Malad,a well furnished
gym,& a lavish restaurant he left for him,but but the management...would they
obey him as their new boss??Daya was cogitating deeply how he would handle all
these & that's by alone.He was only twenty-five & since childhood he was
nearly mollycoddled by his father,he never made him feel how rough & rude this
world was,he was totally under the protection of his caring, loving dad but
now...
--Dayaaa.He startled to get Shirin's sonorous voice.
--ha,he came back into the reality & smiled a little ruefully at her
Shirin too wasn't speaking anyhting..only she was staring at Daya with deep
gaze,Daya's lugubrious,pale,morose face was giving tremendous gyp to her..it
seemed to her that she could bear everything except this man's woebegone
face,everytime she thinks of this man...her heart filled with pure reverence
for him..what hadn't he bear from childhood??& what hadn't he done for her?
eventually Shirin recalled that moment when Daya rescued her from falling
within a dangerous waterfall..they had gone to excurtion from college, &
.....why he had to bear all these?
--baithiye na...please..Shirin awakened by Daya's polite voice. She sat beside
him..& was clueless what to tell him, how to pacify him or what would reduce
his exquisite pain?
Daya was silent , he wasn't speaking anyhting, or might be possible that he
too had no word for Shirin.
Now Shirin tried to speak--aap.....aap itna tut maat jaiye Daya.....aap agar
aise....aise....tut jayenge to phir......hum kaise Dikshu ko......
Now Daya spluttered with a calm yet quiet voice--main abhi tak tut nehi gaya
hu Shirin....Dikshu ko thik karne ke liye ....mujhe strong rehna hi parega....
Shirin was still staring at Daya...she was listening his words like an
enchanted one,his tiny hairs after being bald to perform the last rite of his
father,his two-three days stubble on cheeks, everything she was watching with
rapt attention & was craving to embrace his agony with her drenched
affection...but....she controlled herself & muttered with a slow voice--mujhe
aapse ...yehi ummed tha Daya...aap kabhi bhi har nehi sakte...kabhi nehi....
Daya again smiled at her lightly & now Shirin asked him--aapko to office jana
hain na?
Daya was surprised,indeed he had to go to office, but..
Shirin: aap jaiye, main Dikshu ke pas hun,
Daya was hesitant--magar, aap....aap ko main aise......
Shirin interrupted--Daya..woh meri saheli hain..kya uske prati mera koyi farz
nehi hain?kya main uske liye..kuchh nehi kar sakti hun??
Daya was disconcerted very much, but Shirin was able to scour it off--aap
please jaiye Daya,main zarurat parte hi aapko phone kar dungi,
Daya was about to go hesitantly & said her--kuchh zarurat pare to Chachu ko
kehna, thik hain?
Shirin: thik hain kahungi.
[At office] [one hour later]
Daya was about to enter into the office but he stopped hearing the words of
the employees...--pata nehi aab kaise rakhenge woh Neet ji ka
sahabzade,aise..kam ki bareme use to kuchh bhi nehi maloom, bilkul dudh peeta
huya bachcha hain,phir bhi agar Dev saab ko deke jata ye office..woh phir bhi
kuchh janta hain..aur ye...chhote sahabzade to bilkul kaam ka nehi hain,phir
bhi dekho, boss hokar baith jayega hamare sar pe,khud ka ghar me to ashanti hi
ashanti hain, arrey Dev saab to ghar se nikal diya hain apne bhai behn ko,
sunne me aya hain, ..ke.
As Daya entered there & everyone went silent,he didn't say anything,but only
went towards his father's cabin where the secretary was waiting for him.He
gave him a warm welcome..--bete, ajao,
--yes sir,ajaiye,malik ke bina office achchha nehi lagta hain..Daya glanced &
saw Neetji's PA Mr.Kamal Sahay was saying that
Daya looked at the big empty chair of his father,he inherited it, but would he
be able to do justice with it??
--sir, ye hain sare files bagera, aap par lene ke baad hume sawal puchh sakte
hain sir.The aged secretary now said very modestly.
--usse pehle main aap logo ko kuchh kehna chahunga..
--ha sir bataiye na.Aged senior Accountant Mr.Harshad Patnayek now gave his
opinion.
Daya said with utmost modesty & grace--dekhiye....ye sach hain aaj mera office
me pehla din hain..main wake hi ek novice hun,though I'm doing my MBA, phir
bhi...he felt a twinge of pain was disturbing inside him, his voice was
choking occassionally..but still he was trying to be strong,
--practical work experience......mera hain nehi.......main....main..ye
chahunga ke aap log mere sath co operate kare,........aap sabhi log ..mujhse
umru me bare hain....to.....agar mujhse...koyi galti ho jaye....chhota
samajhkar ...sudhar dena....Daya was feeling a clod of agony, a heap of
pressure upon his chest....since childhood his every flaws had been rectified
by his father but now he had to beg for it infront of a roomfull of people
whom he didn't know well.
Within a few minutes he controlled himself & went towards the cabin of
supervisor & before anyone could say anyhting he told them--jab tak us papa ke
chair me baithne ka kabeel nehi ho jayu, tab tak main yaha pe hi
baithunga,okay?
The employees glanced at one another but didn't say anything.
Daya came inside the superviosr's room & shuting the door just slumped down on
to the chair & started to cogitate eventually--kya maine kabhi socha tha ekdin
ye dekhna parega,kabhi main office me ayunga jab.....jab...Papa nehi honge...
he was trying hard but his spouting emotion couldn't be mollified easily,
--sir,lunch time hain,aap ke liye kuchh....he awakened by the voice of
caretaker boy.
--nehi, tum jao, Daya was in a deep thought & then he went out of the
office..though without fixing any destination. He was paasing by the stall
memorials, the dark green pastures,& he stopped to notice his collge
compound,the two big pastures were the same as these were five years ago,he
was wandering slowly on the path between the two pastures,the howl of the wind
was coming through the trees,& the white pieces of cloudlets were sailing
through the deep blue sky, there was an aroma in the air, a special aroma it
was, the fragrance that made him to recall his college days, after a long Daya
could feel the scorching glare of the sunlight, he was tired, wan & pale & was
seeking for a shelter to sit on,he headed towards a tree which would ensure a
protection from the scorching sunlight...Daya came & sat under the tree &
sighed being very much tired, he was thirsty & hungry, but ....who would feed
him with the care & love that Hema did.........some splashing scenes were
coming into his mind...Hema,...her yearing...her care & unconditional
love.......Daya closed his eyes to go back to four years ago.......
[Flash back]
Hema was searching for Daya in every possible corner of the college,in every
class rooms,liabrary,even she went to common room but he was nowhere..Hema was
visibly upset, finally she went to the Boys' Games room..as she peeped through
the corner of the door, Somesh noticed her & came with a smiling face ,Somesh
who was Daya's cousin as well as his best freind.
--kya baat hain Hema.Somesh asked her
Hema spluttered in a bit shaky & worried voice--somu,tumhe maloom hain Daya
kaha hain?
Somesh curled his eyebrow playfully & answered--hmm, agar batau to kya milega
mujhe?
Hema was restless--mazak maat karo Somu, please batao na kaha gaya hain woh..
Now Harish turned towards them & glanced at the tiffin carrier which was
dangling through Hema's hand..
He tried to chaff--arrey, khana leke aye hain, aur hume na deke....de....he
was about to snatch the carrier but, stopped to see tears in Hema's eyes---aaj
nehi Harish bhaiya, please, aaj mujhe jane do.
Harish & Somesh both was a bit surprised & let her go.
Hema now came into the canteen & she was peering at everywhere & at last she
noticed Daya in a damp corner, he was eating some breads & a boiled egg.
Hema just went infront of him, Daya was staggered completely * before he could
react, Hema clenched his hand within her own & pulled him towards the door.
Daya was totally stunned--arrey..ye....kkya...kar rahi ho?....chhoro....
Hema just scowled at him & whispered--chalo yaha se..
Daya was embarrassed as well infront of a roomfull of eaters--arrey, khane to
do mujhe....
--nehi,Hema said firmly..
--thik hain, paisa to dene do....Daya told being helpless...
The canteen supervisor was smiling lightly to see the banter between the two
young lover & he said--thik hain Daya, baad me paisa de dena, aab jao
Daya was abashed & after paying for food he was nearly dragged by Hema towards
the pasture...
Daya was a bit peeved--kya karti ho tum...sabke samne... aise...
Hema wasn't speaking anyting & she stopped coming under a huge tree, lots of
yellow floweres were strewn over the place.She slumped down there as well made
Daya to sit,both were panting in an unknown excitement & couldn't speak
within a few minutes..Finally Hema looked at Daya, he was looking so pale &
tired, why not? tears were trying to brim over her eyes..but..she controlled
it & said slowly--sukhe sukhe roti aur sare huye ande se pet bhara rahe
the.....phir bhi...mujhe..kuchh bhi nehi....kahoge...she burst into a silent
sob after finishing her words.
Daya stared at Hema with his wide eyes full of helplessness & was feeling
searing pain inside...to see Hema's tears, he tried to speak--kya kahu Hema?
--wah!! kya kahu....rehne do, kuchh bhi kehna nehi parega tumhe, she was
opening the carrier while talking with him & at last she took some Tarka with
roti & raised her hand to feed Daya. Daya smiled in satisfection ...
--hasne ke liye nehi, khane ke liye bola hain, Hema said with huff in her
voice....tears were this time spilled down her cheeks
Daya was watching Hema with rapture in his eyes,Hema wasn't looking at
him..only was taking food for Daya & raising her hand to feed him,now Daya
came closer & cupped her face within his palms....Hema very slowly tossed her
teary eyes up...& kept upon Daya's...Daya very gently wiped off her
tears...now Hema couldn't be silent, she started to blubber badly,Daya tried
to pacify her taking her within his arms, but to get his warmth..She was
wailing more & more...Daya now again took her face within his hands &
whispered--kya huya hain? kyu aise ro rahi ho Hem?
Hema was whimpering in pain..with very difficulty she spluttered--aise kab tak
chalega?
--kya Hem?
Hema took Daya's hand & said--didi ...tumhe bohot dard pauchati hain na?
Daya sighed in distress & said --ye sab....kkya
--jhut maat kaho Daya, main sab janti hun, aaj tum apne khana tak dikshu ko de
diya...kuchh bhi nehi khaya aur.....she couldn't speak anymore
Daya didn't say anything & cowered down at the ground & was plucking grasses
one by one from their roots...
Hema again continued with wavering voice--tum Neet uncle ko sab kuchh kyu nehi
batate ho Daya?
Daya's face became dolorous & rueful, after a pause he told slowly--papa
ko...main...aur zada ...pareshan karna nehi chahta hu Hema....
--to Dev bhaiya ko to bata sakte ho na? Hema was too much worried..
Daya didn't answer but Hema was desperate--thik hain, main bataungi Dev bhaiya
ko..
--nehi Hema..tum aisa nehi karoge
Hema: kyu nehi karungi Daya, main bataungi unhe ke unka patni tum dono ke sath
kaise bartaab karte hain, kaise khane ka dard dete hain, kaise har roz..
--Hema. Daya shrieked out, he was breathing heavilly in excitement--tum aisa kuchh bhi nehi karogi Hema
Hema touched Daya's chin gently & begged--main tumhe aise dekh nehi sakti hu Daya, mujhe......mujhe....her voice strangled in pain....
Daya now pulled Hema within his arms & patting her tangled hairs lovingly he whispered--jab tak tum mere sath ho.......mujhe koyi dard se....darr nehi lagta hain.Hema closed her eyes & ....
Daya opened his eyes..& realised he had sunk into the past memories, he tossed his head up & saw the tree, yellow flowers were strewn everywhere..even today...cold breeze was carrying the same fragrance,the birds were chirping the same way,leaves were swaying in blow in the same way....but...Hema isn't here with him today....she would never come,she was sundered from him ...forever.....she would never wipe his tears off the way she did, she would never....Daya startled to hear the ringtone of his cell...
--hello..
--ha Daya, Shirin bol rahi hun..ek baar aa sakte hain aap?
--kyu kya huya hain? a frisson of fear he felt inside him
--woh Nehal aye hain..aur dikshu... woh...thora sa...
--thik hain, main abhi araha hun..he cut the line in haste...& now he realised that his face swamped with tears..he wiped it off & just ran towards the main road..
Edited by suchi_dev2006 - 17 years ago