KAL HO NAA HO
Part-6
Kaka's words brought rudra back to reality.... he nodded and got out of the car as they entered the house they saw nalini who came up to them amd touched virendra's feet
"pranam kakaji .... aap kab aaye ??
"aaj afternoon main aaya tha beta magar main wahan se apne best friend se milne chala gaya" putting a hand on rudra's shoulder smiling
"kakaji main abhi aata hun ...." saying so rudra left for his room
" kaka wo theek to hai naa .... aaj subah....."
" haan beta main jaanta hun...... but i think he is ok now ...... much better.... avantika, bhai saab aur baaki sab kahan hain ...?"
"avantika to kitchen main hai aur pitaji bahar maa ke sath garden main hain ..."
"theek hai main zara unse mil kar aata hun..."
rudra went to his room and quietly sat on his bed he slowly picked up his nag opened it and took out a red squeezy ball and stared at it then he pulled out the gold pocket watch suddenly his mind was filled with yesderday's thoughts
" beta i wanted to give u this on your birthday but i don't think ki hum tab yahan honge....."
"bhaiyya aap jab aaoge naa to meri ball le aana plzzz.."
he smiled thinking about him, it must have taken a hell lot of determination for him to part with it he was very possessive about his things but then again some words echoed in his mind
" rajveer is your half brother......" " rajveer aapka sautela bhai hai ..... aapke papa ne hum sabko dhoka dia hai....."
suddenly his face hardened and clutching the ball in his hands he walked quickly towards his study table and opened a drawer and searched through it.... it was not there.... he opened the second one it was not there too he went to the left side and opened it and found it .... it was there...... he picked it up ... it was a picture ..... of two young boys the younger one was hugging the elder one from behind who held him as if giving him a piggy back ride .... rudras head was turned sideways to look at veer who was laughing... certainly enjoying his ride on his brother's back ..... it was clicked by their father..... he took the picture out of its frame and looked at it blankly...... there was another picture on the table ..... it was of an old man who wore an elegant black jodhpuri , head held up proudly and a young boy standing with him ...... it was rudra and his grandpa.... he again looked back at the picture he held in his hand .... rajveer and his..... he held the picture in his hands and..... tore it into two pieces..... and with the last look at the torn picture he left the room.......
in the garden devendra was pacing up and down lost deep in his thoughts...... the events of the morning still fresh in his mind... "mujhe rudra par hath nahi uthana chahiye tha .... aakhir bachha hi to hai... main use yeh baat aaram aur pyar se bhi to samjha sakta tha naa... " he felt a hand on his shoulder
" Ranaji kya soch rahe hain aap...?"
" kaushalya ... kahin rudra hamse nafrat naa karne lage..... ki hamne pehle uske papa ko ghar se nikaal diya aur aaj itni badi baat is tarah se uske saamne aayi.... aur to aur hamne us par hath bhi utha diya ....."
" haan yeh shayad aapna theek nahi kiya...." came another voice they both turned to see virendra kaka standing
"Virendra...!! kahan chale gaye the tum ..... rudra kahan hai pata hai hum kitna pareshaan ho rahe the.... "
"rudra theek hai ..... wo mere sath tha ..... namaste bhabhi...." virendra touched dadi's feet (his sister-in-law)
" jeete rahiye " she blessed him, virendra continued
" surya rudra ko sab kuch pehle se hi bata chuka tha...... wo kal usse milne gaya tha...."
"kya !!! to rudra yeh sab pehle se hi jaanta tha.... lekin usne hamein to kuch nahi bataya " kaushalya was surprised
" kya kehta .... kaun tha yahan jo uski baat sunta... samajhta.... apni naarazgi main hum yeh bhul gaye ki uss bachhe ke mann par kya beet rahi hogi...... surya ne jo kiya wo theek nahi tha magar uski saza rudra kyun bhugte....?? "
"lekin ab kuch nahi ho sakta virendra... surya jaa chuka hai aur yeh sab us bachhe ki wajah se hua hai usne hamse hamara beta duur kar diya.... aur surya.... hum use kabhi maaf nahi karenge aur hum sabke liye yahi achha hoga ki jitni jaldi ho sake hum un dono ko bhul jaayein ........"
"l..lekin ranaji aise kaise bhul jaayein..... ek bhi din aisa nahi beeta hoga jab hamein unki yaad naa aayi ho... aur veer .... wo to aapki jaan hua karta tha naa .... kya itna asaan hoga unko bhulna...??
" hua karta tha kaushalya..... hua karta "tha".... hai nahi.... hum un dono ko kabka apne mann se nikaal chuke hain aur aapke liye bhi yahi behtar hoga ki aap bhi jald se jald unhe bhul jaayein..... mar gaye wo hamare liye...." saying this he left the garden kaushalya stood there rooted on the spot.... virendra put a hand on his bhabhi's shoulder consoling her
" virendra... inhone kitni asaani se keh diya ki bhul jao magar kya ye kabhi ek maa ke mann ko samajh paayenge...... aur veer kitne araam se keh diya woh inka koi nahi.... kya woh khud reh paayenge apne 'armaan' ke bina.... nikaal paayenge usko apne dil se .....
" bhabhi sambhaliye apne aapko .... sab theek ho jaayega ..."
*sigh* sadly " kya theek ho jaayega virendra aur kab.... aur kaun jaane hoga bhi ya nahi.."
virendra went quiet even he too was not sure whether everything will be normal again like before
in the house everybody sat down for dinner
" rudra dekho beta aaj hamne aapka favourite gajar ka halwa banaya hai..." avantika said smiling she was really trying hard to bring things back to normal
" wow !! mom.... ummmmmm, it smells soooo good thanks mom ..... u know aaj main kaka ke sath ghumne gaya tha ... aur mom hum itni achhi rides par baithe .... kaka itne brave ban rahe the magar rides par dar ke maare bachho se bhi jyada chilla rahe the....."
everybody laughed they were enjoying kakas embarrassment and it was quiet sometime since they all had laughed .avantika was little surprised at rudra's sudden bubbly behavior but didnt say anything she has seen him smiling after soo long
" hey main darr ki wajah se nahi chilla raha tha ... wo to meri excitement thi ... u know..!!"
" virendra tum bachho ki rides par baithe the.....??"
" nahi bhaisaab .... wo to actually mujhe rudra ko company dene ke liye jaana pada"
" aha.... jhuth dadaji.... khud mujhe jabardasti pull kar karke le kar gaye the aur itna chilla rahe the ... itna to ve..." he stopped in mid sentence realising what he was about to say, but he quickly changed the topic as didnt wanted everybody to be sad again " arre next time aap chaloge naa to apne aap dekh lena..."
dadaji was so happy to see that his little grandson was now going up and was realising his responsibilities towards his family after the dinner everybody dispersed for their work dadaji too got up and as he was about to leave rudra called him
"dadaji" devendra turned
" dadaji ..... main kehna chahta tha ki.... main abse kabhi dad aur veer ke baare main kuch nahi kahunga .... kabhi unke baare main nahi puchunga...... i will be a good boy dadaji..... main aapko mom ko aur baaki kisi ko bhi pareshan aur dukhi nahi hone dunga..... i promise dadaji ...."
devendra walked towards him and hugged him tightly all his worries were melted away with these few words .... rudra saw his mother watching them she had tears in her eyes but he knew that she has heard him and was with him he assured her with a small smile which she returned ..... and he knew everything will be fine again.....
NEXT MORNING
rudra was getting ready for his school putting few books in his bag
" rudra hurry up beta aapka doodh ka glass aise hi rakha hua hai.... why havent u finished it yet...??"
"badi maa (nalini) ..... mujhe doodh nahi peena ..." he stopped doing his work looked at her and said seriously "i have quit drinking milk..." saying so he left quickly
" par beta ..... rudra....." she called but he was gone...... she stood there with milk glass in her hand..... surprised ny his behaviour he loved drinking milk......
" nalini....." she turned to see dadaji standing there " jaane do use .... wo nahi piyega....." nalini sighed and went away she knew very well that it was of no use rana men are stubborn bulls
AT SCHOOL
Rudra entered the school gate mansi got busy with her friends and went her way as he was walking towards his class his eyes fell upon some small children playing in the swing area he stood there watching them and suddenly saw a child who came there running and shouting
" yaaaaaaaaaaaaa" jumped and landed far in the sand pit as the boys back was towards him he could not see his face but suddenly he felt his heartbeat rise....
" is he... is he...." and then the boy turned...... it was not 'him' rudra came back to reality and took a deep breath suddenly his face hardened and he moved from there towards his class thinking
" rudra ... what are you doing ... you are still thinking about him ...... have you forgotten what you promised dadaji and mom yesterday .... and not to forget yourself....." he was repreminding himself for thinking about him .... just then he heard someoe called from behind
" oye..... rana ke bachhe..... where r u running huh...... are you afraid of me.....!!"
ridra turned back and .... smiled
" achha main darr gaya "chuhe" ......"
" arrre who are you calling "chuha" huhhh " the boy came up to him rolling his sleeves and stood in front of him with his hands on his sides and then they both laughed and hugged tightly
" achha abhi ek chuha le kar aata hun phir batata hun ki who is a bigger chuha ..... " he laughed " i'm soo glad u r back sameer...... i really missed u yaar" softly
" hey rudra.... " sameer sensed something was not right he knew his friend very well after all they were chaddi buddies but he knew he wont spill out untill he is at ease breaking his hug he said
" so .... mr.rana .... basket ball abhi bhi aata hai ya ........"
" U r challenging ME !!!!! i think its u who have forgotton who lost last time..... "
" last time is past lets see it now... first 15 basket wins"
" you'r on"
" but what will the winner get...?? "
" anything they wish.... now lets start "chuhe" "
he threw his bag away and they started playing and at the end rudra lost to sameer
" hehe ..... huh.... huh .....( panting) so mr.rana..... i think you need some oiling... and coaching "
" haan ...haan big deal....ek game hi to hai (sarcastically)"
" hey Mister u promised whatever i wish.... dnt forget..."
" yeah.. yeah i know..... like u r going to let me forget... so what do u want...??"
"later... but do u know.... there is a new admission in our class ....."
" what ??? now !!! its almost 2nd term "
" yeah its some transfer case...."
" who can say you were not here for full 2 weeks !!! how u get to know all the information?? "
" links beta .... sources...." rubbing his nails on his shirt
" oh come on.... so.. who is it ..... a boy or girl ??? "
" ohhooo mr. rudra is soo eager .... why?? why?? " teasing him
" sameeer " annoyed
" ok ok chill i dont know.... that stupid tikamsingh dropped in as i was listening to that ugly hippo..."
" i dont believe it !!! u were eavesdropping on that subramaniyam ......!!!! she would have taken you straight away to princi's office "
" really yaar i was missing it.... has he changed the decor..... two weeks without any visit to princi.... huhhhhh " he said dramatically sighing deeply "neway i m looking forward for that bakra... hehehehe " he gave a evil laugh
" sameer tu bhi naa.... " shaking his head " lekin sach kahu to even i was missing all the action yaar ....."
" same here man .... but i was just wondering agar "bakri" hui to...... " said sameer scratching his head
" arre simple yaar...... sundar hui to tu apni bhabhi bana lena aur agar ugli hui to main apni bhabhi bana lunga...... fine "
" yeah right...." and he again started moving... then he realised what rudra has just said " huhhhh .... rudra je bachhee .... ruk...... main batata hun abhi......" and he ran after rudra who was already on the run laughing... like this they reached the class room and crashing on their favorite seats laughed aloud clutching their stomachs......
" hahahaha....... peace man peace...... ohhhhh hahaha " rudra cried out
" rudra...."
" hmmmmm "
"its good to see U back buddy...." sameer said in a bit serious tone smiling a little
" yes sameer.... rudra is back....." he too said somewhat seriously and smiled nack at sameer
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NEXT
new student in the class ...... whats going on in australia.....
Udne Ki Aasha
Cricket
