Soooooo sorry for the long gap in posting ....thousand apologies
OK, now that real life is a little under control, (mind you, just a little ), I should be more regular in posting. Also, a very wise gal ( Anushka) suggested that I should include some PKB pictures .....so here goes...but, it appears for me to do that, I have to read some tutorials...so 'rukavat ke liye khed hai'...ðŸ˜ðŸ˜
Chapter V
A flurry of emotions crossed Prateeksha's face in rapid succession'.eagerness replaced by elation that was superceded by an undefined emotion that was almost disappointment'she stood still for a moment and looked around to see Milind and Aziz watching her reaction. She looked at Aziz who gave her an encouraging nod 'she finally moved towards Araina and Bijoya with a cautious smile.
"Maa aapko kuch ghalatfahmi hui hogi, yeh to Araina hai,'''..kaisi ho tum Araina? Aur yahan kaise aana hua?"
Araina and Bijoya looked at each other and smiled.
"Prateeksha'mera matlab hai, Kajol Di, main hi Mishthi hoon'Mama Papa ne mujhe anaath aashram is god liya tha'.main itni choti thi ki mujhe kuch yaad hi nahi raha'. Lekin ab mujhe sab pata chal gaya hai, mujhe mera saga parivaar mil gaya hai'."
Araina looked towards her mother and brothers and smiled. Prateeksha was still in shock and continued to stare at them in disbelief. They all laughed aloud to dissipate the tension and moved to give her a big hug'.
"Arre Kajol, abto maan lo, yeh such hai'Araina hi Mishthi hai", Milind said while give her head a playful and loving shake. The morning's incident at the mandir and this unbelievable news had temporarily robbed her of powers of speech and she continued to look dumbstruck. Finally, the two sisters turned to each other and shared a tentative smile'both knew there were many issues that needed to be sorted out between them, but they realized that that would have to wait. For now, they put on a happy face and enjoyed the moment of reunion with the rest of the family.
Just then Radha and Devika entered the room to announce that breakfast was ready.
"Chaliye sab log, ab kuch pet pooja ki jaaye", Aziz spoke up. They moved to the dining room where Bijoya sat at the head of the table and looked on indulgently as her children took their places and served themselves and each other, all the time talking and laughing. Bijoya could not contain her happiness at the sight and more than once laughed out aloud, while silently offering thanks to Devi Maa in her heart. Araina and Prateeksha sat next to each other and tried their best to reduce the awkwardness between them by smiling whenever their eyes happened to meet.
After the meal, when the table had been cleared, Milind, Aziz and their fiancees decided to watch the IPL match on TV and Bijoya left for the market to pick up fresh fish and vegetables. Prateeksha offered to accompany her but she refused saying,
"Tum dono behnon ko bahut saari baatein karni hongi, tum Mishthi ke saath raho"
Left alone in the room with Araina, she looked everywhere but at her sister and pretended to be engrossed in removing imaginary dust from the sofa armrest. A nervous silence engulfed the room and Araina moved around restlessly. Finally, Prateeksha being the elder of the two, decided to take the lead.
"Araina tumhe mujhse bahut si shikayaten hain aur woh sab jayaz hai'main tumhen ab sab kuch bata dena chahti hoon taaki tumhen jaano maine jo kiya woh kyun kiya'"
The effect these words had on Araina was dramatic, to say the least. She immediately came to kneel at Prateeksha's feet and taking her hands in hers said, " Mujhe aap se ab koi shikayat nahin hai, main to khud is asmanjas mein thi ki kaise aapse maanfi mangoon'..God has really taught me a lesson '.Main Araina Rai hone ka itna ghamand karti thi'kisi ko bhi apne barabar nahin samajhti thi'dekhiye reality to kuch aur hi thi'.main Araina Rai nahin, Mishthi Das hoon."
Prateeksha was further taken aback at this 'it seemed that miracles would not cease to happen that day. Ever since she had laid her eyes upon Araina and seen this different side of her, Prateeksha had been bracing herself for the return of the old snooty, supercilious Araina. She had been expecting her to deliver a severe tongue-lashing to all of them for having dared to imagine themselves to be her relatives. But apparently, here again she was wrong, and she felt guilty for having mis-judged Araina so. Mentally chastising herself and deciding her own confession could wait, she squeezed Araina's hands, pulled her up to sit beside her and said,
"Mujhe batao ki tumko yeh sab kaise or kab pata chala'.kya Aunty Uncle ne bataya'..ab tum kya karna chahti ho?"
Araina looked down at their linked hands for a moment and then lifted her head to look Prateeksha in her eyes,
"Mama ne to mujhe Maa ka woh letter, adoption centre ka pata de kar mujhe yahan aane ko kaha tha, magar mai nahin maani and refused to come to Kolkata. Mama ne mujhko bahut samjhane ki koshish ki but not surprisingly, I would have nothing to do with it" she said with a rueful smile.
"Then yesterday I was forced to listen'I was forced to accept the truth'by my best friend"
Prateeksha's heart skipped a beat when she realized that only one person fit the description.
"Shashank Sir", she mouthed, though no sound came out.
"Haan, Shashank. Kal wo jab ghar pahuncha to seedhe mera haath pakad kar mujhe kamre main le gaya aur bhitha kar saari kahaani sunayi'shuru se aakhir tak'.. Kaise wo Sumo se pyaar nahin karta tha, kaise ussey aapse pyar hua, aap donon ka Sumo ki khushiyon ke liye kiya hua sacrifice, wo accident'." At this, Araina couldn't help choking up'she paused for a moment, took a deep breath and then continued.
"I have never seen Shashank so determined and serious while at the same time he had this air of utter hopelessness about him that I found really strange. It was almost as if he had lost something jo ussey jaan se bhi zyaada pyari thi'." She looked at her sister with probing eyes, trying to gauge her reaction to these words. She had her answer when Prateeksha pulled her hands back and stood up with a jerk to go and stand in a corner across the room. She took a moment to compose herself and then turned around with a smile, "Phir'?" But Araina's expression told her that she had not fooled anyone.
"Phir Shashank told me about Raunak's involvement in the accident, about his father's disgusting behaviour, about your pretend marriage to Raunak and the ensuing blackmail. Usne mujhe bataya ki aapka aur Raunak ka rishta hamesha ek dost ka tha jo eik doosre ki zaroorat ki ghadi mein kaam aaye the, aur bas kuch nahin"
"He proceeded to tell me how he had traced you down to this city, how he had gone looking for you at the adoption center. Jab wo anaath ashram ke baare mein bata raha tha, tabhi Mama hamen dhoondhti huin kamre mein aayeen'.us adoption centre ka naam sunte hi wo bhi dher saare sawaal poochne lagi'.baaton baaton mein unko pata chala ke Aap Bijoya Das ki beti hain'.aur ke aap log Mishthi naam ki ladki ko dhoond rahe hain'.tab to unke man mein koi doubt nahin rah gaya aur unhone mere adoption ki saari kahani batayi. "
"For the first time that evening I saw a smile on Shashank's face and he forced me to step out of my denial and accept the story of my birth mother and immediately made travel arrangements so that I could get here the soonest'.he described how desperately you all were looking and waiting for me."
"Once I accepted the truth, I was compelled to look at my hollow claims'my thirst for revenge'.mujhe yeh maan na pada ki hum sab'aap, Sumo, Shashank, Raunak, Jyoti aur mein kismat ke ek ajeeb haadse ka shikar hue the us raat, aur kuch nahin'.."
"Yeh sab jaan kar mujhe apne aap se nafrat si hone lagi'maine aapko aur Shashank, Raunak ko kitna ghalat samjha tha'kitna dukh pahunchaya tha'.Sumo ke naam par jo ki khud was so warm-hearted and trusting. I was actually hurting her memory by embarking on this journey of revenge'.please forgive me'?"
Prateeksha had been listening to these revelations with increasing incredulity and couldn't stop herself from exclaiming, "You are saying sorry to me'?"
Araina made a face at her and said ,"Choti behen ko maanf nahin karengi'.Sumo ke khatir?"
"Ek shart par'agar tum bhi mujhe maanf karo to, jaane anjaane mein jo maine tumhen dard diya hai"
The two sisters looked at each other with brimming eyes and embraced. After a long bout of cathartic crying that went a long way in clearing the air, they separated, wiping each other's tears and smiled.
"Main aaj kitni khush ho'mujhe meri pyaari ie choti Mishthi mil gayi'ab mujhe koi dukh nahin"
Araina watched Prateeksha say these words with a sceptical expression.
"Meri sister banne ke kuch rules hoten hain'"
"Kaise rules..?"
"Ek doosre se sab share karna hota hai, kabhi jhoot na bolne ki kasam khani padti hai"
"To maine jhoot kya kaha?"
"Aapko ab koi dukh nahin hai?...to aapki aankhe kisi ko dhoondh kyun rahin hain"
"Kisko dhoondh rahin hain?"
"Phir jhoot'.aisa nahin chalega 'for your information, I know who you are looking for and I have a plan for you."
Prateeksha could keep up the pretence no longer and she dropped her guard. "Shashank Sir tumhare saath aayen hain, kahan hain?" she asked, trying unsuccessfully to keep the longing out of her voice.
"Shashank yahan aaya to nahin hai lekin hum uske paas jaayen ge"
A crestfallen Prateeksha replied "Main kuch samjhi nahin'.jaayenge, kahan jaayenge?"
"Delhi. As he would have told you I am sure, usne apne Dad se saare bandhan tod liye hain aur ab wo Papa ki London factory ko wapas join karne jaa raha hai '.usne mujhse kaha ki ab uske liye India mein kuch nahin hai'."
Hearing this Prateeksha started to cry once more, but Araina quickly moved to take her in her arms and said,
"Arrey mere hote huey aap pareshan kyun hoti hai'.usne abhi apne Visa ke liye apply kiya hai'.yeh sab cheezen overnight thodi ho jaati hain'.usme time lagega. Isliye hamare paas bahut waqt hai ussey manaane ka'you just have to stay strong and keep the faith". She wiped her elder sister's tears with tender hands and cajoled a smile out of her.
"Lekin tumne kaise jaana ki mujhe Sir ko manaane ki zaroorat hai? Unhone tumhen yeh sab bhi bataaya'."
"Do you think I am blind? Anyone who looks at both of you can see how miserable you are without each other'.the only thing that surprised me was the air of despair and defeat he had around him'.I have never seen him like this'as if he had been mortally wounded. You have your work cut out, I guess. But not to worry, mai hoon na aapke saath. "
"Bas ab aap Delhi jaane ki tayyari kijeye, hum log kal ki hi flight le lenge'.Maa, Deba Da aur Shujoy Bhai ko bhi saath le chalenge'Mama would be so happy to meet everyone."
Prateeksha didn't know what to say. She wrestled with the idea for a while and in the absence of any viable alternative, decided to follow Araina's lead. To Delhi then, they were to go'
To be continued in Chapter VI
Edited by vista90pro - 14 years ago
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