Part 46
Radhika was looking at the full moon that was shining above through the railings of her window' the smooth wind was blowing in. She saw the resting trees, but the crickets sound was giving a natural music to the nights of chandenpur. Her lips were tucked with a small chirpy smile'
"whose face you are trying to find in that full moon..?" the sound of daadi brought her back to reality. She smiled at daadi..
Daadi with a teasing smile: Radhika, I did ask you something?
Radhika with a smile: no ones
Daadi: um.. then why that smile for?
Radhika: I was not smiling..
Daadi: oh ya, you are right... then may be you were dreaming..
Radhika: daadi..
Daadi came and hugged her with a her usual teasing smile'.
Radhika: daadi, can I ask you something..
Daadi: what?
Radhika: do you hear that starnge villager's song now a days..
Daadi walking near to bed and sitting on it with her leg strighted up: I didn't pay any attention.. You are the one always listens to it and tells me, right..?
Radhika: ha.. but.. I really wish to hear him tonight..
Daadi: No beta.. may be just a traveler.. who comes and goes once in a while through our area..
Radhika: why can't he go every night through this way, so that all can listen to his songs..
Daadi: Radhika.. you didn't change at all..
Radhika: why should I?
Daadi was stroking on her hair' : so tell me about Delhi news..
Radhika: nothing daadi.. all were sad when Dev 's trip plan got preponded, but then dad cheered everyone up saying its just for six months..
Daadi: um.. I can see that cheer on your face too.
Radhika tried to hide her face in her daadi's lap and said: daaaaaadi..
Daadi with a teasing smile: so , you accepted the Prince.. then..
Radhika didn't say anything.. just tried to hide her face further '
Daadi just smiled and said: I know Radhika.. I know' But I am really happy for you... then after a pause she continued... He is starting on Wednesday, right? .. I forgot to tell you.. Birju brought the agarbathi.. it is in my room.. remember to take it with you..
Radhika sitting and giving a kiss on her daadi's cheek thanking her, she put her arms around her neck and rested her head over her shoulder'
Daadi: do you need anything else?
Radhika: no.. that is fine..
Suddenly as if noticing something, daadi: Radhika.. Where is your payal' looking widely at her right ankle..
Radhika looked at her ankle and said: I don't know daadi.. Maybe it fell somewhere?
Daadi: How can you say it in such a calm voice Radhika.. If it was fallen somewhere, why you didn't tell me right away , when you noticed it....
Radhika: actually I just noticed it daadi..
Daadi: don't try to hide it from me Radhika.. I know how much you like those anklets ..
Radhika: Daadi.. it's ok. I lost it in Delhi house only..
Daadi: oh, so that is why you are keeping quiet. It might have fallen somewhere inside your room, did you check?
Radhika: Ha, but didn't find anywhere..
Daadi: check thoroughly, otherwise we can buy a new one next weekend, ok..
Radhika: um' I am really feeling sleepy.. Can I ?
Daadi: um..
Radhika laying back straight in bed and closed her eyes..
Daadi just sat there looking at her face'that was blushing as she slipped into her dream world' Daadi looked kept her eyes on her as Radhika brought her arm upto cover her face and turned away her face from her daadi...
Radhika: why mom..
Rohini: you became more silent..
Radhika: no mom.. I am just the same..
Rohini: no, you did change and I can see that'
Radhika keeping the cup back near the sink: no mom' let me go dress up' I want to walk around..
Rohini : be careful..
Radhika: um' saying that she ran to upstairs..
Rohini looked at her disappearing image.. I can see it Radhika, and you did change. Seeing you from your birth ,my daughter, ...all that changes in you never escaped from my eyes.. .. ha, you are same, but now your mind is not with you.. it started flying off to catch the dreams.. and I can clearly see it my baby.. but I miss my Radhika, who was the voice of this house once.. whose giggle was the sound of the happiness in this house.. like any other girl, you also changes with time and nature, she felt her eyes feeling wet.. ' she took a deep sigh' and brushing it away without knowing the real meaning for those tears...
Radhika wearing an yellow churidar with completely printed work climbed down fast the stairs' looking at her mom's face she said: mom, I am going to see sweety first.. then few more rounds, and will be back..
Rohini: ye.. Radhika.. its too early..
Radhika: so what, I used to meet sweety first when I come back here..
Rohini: ha, but don't you think this is little early.. wait to have your breakfast and then you can go..
Radhika: I am fine mom..
Rohini: no' Babuji will be right back after his morning walk, then have breakfast with him and then go..
Radhika sat there with a heavy face,..
Rohini: now what happened?
Radhika: nothing.. I will wait..
Rohini just nodded her head and went inside.. but then called from there..: Radhika, come here, help with breakfast prep, now you also need to start on doing all these..
Quick response came back from Radhika: mom, I am going upstairs, need to check o Rahul.. taking the steps upstairs as quik as she can....
Rohini: ha.. now I can say you didn't change at all' Rohini said little loud for her to hear self'.
Seeing Radhika at doorstep , Yeshpal: Radhika beta.. is everything OK..
She turned and found daadaji and Surender standing near the angan..
Radhika smiled : ha.. vo where is sweety?
Surender tightening his forehead: sweety?
Yeshpal with a smile: who else, the great sweet maker only' ha ha .. then turning to Radhika he said : um.. everything changed, except your call..
Radhika: vo mei.. .. please daddaji'
Yeshpal: she is in kitchen'
Radhika: ok Daadaji, let me go and meet her..
Yeshpal with a smile: um..
She was conscious to walk in slow. Her eyes were scanning everywhere as she walked towards the kitchen.. it was mostly empty' her eyes dropped down seeing the silence of the house.. finally she reached near kitchen..
"Radhika.. how are you beta.?." sound of Suchi brought her back to reality..
Radhika smiled conveying a positive message.
Suchi: is there anything special? You came this early?
Radhika: ha vo..
"she is like that, whenever she comes back from there, next day morning she will be present in front of me.. need to keep up the attendance, right? .we got used to it now' I was also expecting her.." saying that she went near and hugged Radhika'
They chatted for some time. Finally with all her impatience, she tried to act normally..: where is Lechu?
Suchi: upstairs in Sushma's room.. still sleeping. She was talking with her all through night and went to bed late night.
Sushma: what else, she was talking about your dance performance and all only.. I think now she might have awake now.. go and check..
Radhika with a smile: ji..
And ran off from there..
Suchi and Sushma just smiled.. Radhika's eyes scanned the hallway as she went to sushma's room.. Lechu was still sleeping. She tried to wake her up , but Lechu crawled under, saying.. "later di, please..
She straightened her spine and walked slowly down the stairs, very disappointedly.. suddenly Dev's words strike back in her mind.. that he will wait for her in the meadow'
She paused one second..then with a raising heartbeat.. her feet started taking longer pace. Within seconds she was shown in front of Suchi and Sushma..
Radhika: Suchi mom, I need to go.. bye..
Sushma: where is Lechu?
Radhika answered as she turned to run away: sleeping''.
Suchi: Radhika.. my stomach is starving for some yummy guava..
Radhika: ha.. I can look for '..
Before completing that sentence she disappeared from her sight..
Her payal on her (L) ankle sounded its maximum as she was placing it faster to catch up with her mind's speed.. it brought a rhythmic thal as if it is not missing one.. her yellow soft chiffon duppatta was flying away from her neck on its both end.. On her way.. she didn't see little one's calling for Radhika deedi to play with them, she moved in with a tunneled vision... ' she just gave a dreamy smile to the kaki who stopped to talk to her on her way' she circled on that muddy pathway pacing slow , looking into her wrinkled eyes, acknowledging that she saw them' but it was just a show.. they stood there watching their Radhika.. running with a hidden smile on her lips and hopeful eyes' her legs stepped on that unevenly organized stones near the river bank.. she didn't notice the soft water flowing with all its happiness seeing her feet near them....
"Isn't it the most beautiful scene Radhika' best for a panoromic nature portrait'" the sound of him made her eyes to raise up and there he is standing in front of her with holding onto his camera with a smile on his lips and loving eyes....
Dev with a beautiful smile looking around started praising the nature around.. she looked at him unbelievably.. her eyes tried to read his happiness seeing all that around him.. but then her mind gave up on her, her eyes just gazed on his face, his moving lips... her eyes wandered over his face, admiring his features, she didn't hear what he was mumbling... but she knew his lips are moving, her ears acted deaf for her eyes to satisfy his presence near her .
"Radhikaaaa'''" the soft lovable voice, called her from his inner heart.. she heard it.. she jerked her head once and then widening her eyes, she realized what she was just doing.. suddenly she tried to hide her face and looked away.. Dev's lips played a shy smile and he looked away too.. the silence engulfed them for few minutes'
"what you were saying..?' Radhika with a hesitant soft voice..
Dev looked back at her and said with another tease smile: nothing..
Radhika tried to get up by rubbing away the dirt from her hands..
Dev held her hand: where are you going now? Sit here na, please..
Radhika didn't turn back but said: I need to go..
Dev: where? Just now only you came here, then why hurry.. I mean not even five minutes..
Suddenly the tone changed in her, she turned back: not even five minutes!!!' you don't know how long I was waiting for you here and now you are saying not even five minutes..
Dev stood from the stone and looked into her eyes: I thought you will never admit that you waited for ME..
Radhika realized her slipped toungue.. she suddenly changed her subject: ha, that's because you told me that you want to know more about buva..so only I came..
Dev: oh.. that's a nice reasoning..
Dev: then tell me about Buva. as if letting her know that he understood it
Radhika: I told you whatever I know..
Dev: then why did you come?
Radhika swallowed on her words: vo.. vo' that's because you said like that.. means, you wanted to know what happened at the campus..
Dev hang the camera across his chest and said: come , let's walk
Radhika: where? I need to go..
Dev looked at her slightly demanding face, and smiled once, and her slightly tinged bitterness just melt away.. she looked at him with a normal lovable face..
Dev: come , Radhika.. let's walk..
Radhika folded her arms around her chest level, and her duppatta in a single layer was covering her neck down up till her abdomen and it was just spread completely over her both arms, and the end of it just freely hanged down..
Dev wearing a jeans short sleeve shirt and black pant, just walked along with her..
Radhika looked at him suspiciously..
Dev: I have seen you wiping her tears off.. why she was crying the other day.
Radhika:buava , crying! When?
Dev: Radhika.. I saw you wiping her tears the other day' you know last time, I mean after our engagement and all..
Radhika: how did you see her crying?
Dev: why you need to ask all these questions. I saw you both standing in your backyard, and clearly saw you wiping her tears , from your window side..
Radhika: aap jassosi kar rehe the?
Dev: Radhika' please..
Radhika: sorry, sorry.. um' as if thinking hard' Buava.. crying.. no actually she wasn't crying..
Dev: don't try to hide it from me now.. I saw it clearly..
Radhika: actually it was not the crying what you think it was..
Dev looked at her with his confused face..
Radhika: she was crying with happiness.
Dev: what?
Radhika: ha. In a trance. first time I saw her in suspicion while talking to me, doubting her confidence or may be trust and I was not understanding any reason for that.. so when I said that there is nothing to be concerened like that. She broke into tears instantly with happiness.
Dev: what?
Radhika realizing what she just said: nothing..
Dev: tell me again..
Radhika: it is nothing , did I say something..
Dev: ha you did..
Radhika: vo vo.. ok.. she was happy about our engagement and she cried for that..
Dev: you are really confusing me..
Radhika: did I?
Dev looked at her happy winning smile..
Radhika: then I am happy.. then she continued.. I told you.. I don't know much about her.. I know that she makes the best sweet, I know she makes the best pencil sketches, and secretly but still now you know she can tell stories too.. and yes, she was happy with our engagement' that's all..
Dev: but Radhika.. I think you are hiding something from me.. that you don't want me to know..
Radhika just blinking her eyes once, and tightening and then releasing her facial muscle .... disagreed with his statement.
Dev: ok.. if you don't want to tell me , its fine. I won't force you..
Radhika with a relief: good boy' just like I imagined..
Dev: what?
Radhika: nothing..
Dev: um' ok then tell me what happened at the college..
Dev: what?
Radhika controlling her laugh: you know what' last year, Suckhi madam went to attend one of her best friend's wedding. I mean she was close to both bride and the groom. They don't have any siblings, but both were very close to her, so they gave her a diamond ring as a gift during their wedding to show their love to her. Then cracking up in a big laughter again she said.." she came next day to college, here everyone was looking at her and smiling, she also felt strange, but didn't understand the reason behind it.. she went to class.. kids were secreting looking at her.. you know how she is, she never scold anyone or question them ..so she kind of thought there is something wrong in her look, but nobody is telling her or asking her' finally she went to her lecturer's room , thinking hard, what happened to the people around her..
One lecturer sitting little far away , asked in a raised voice: Sukhi madam this is not fair.. we all are working for few years together,, and why you kept it as a secret..
Sukhimadam: what?
Another lecturer: don't ask like that. .. we can clearly see that shining ring on your finger..
Sukhi in a normal tone: oh this one, my friends gave at their wedding.. nice na..
Lecturer: what?
Sukhi mom told the the real story behind the ring..
Lecturer: Sukhi, then you are wearing that in a wrong finger..
Then only she realized the seriousness of it and you should have seen her face at that time.. the color from her face just drained away and she suddenly took it off and put it in her bag and looked at them as if she solved the problem immediately.. you know how hard it was for her to face the students after that. Now also few ask her.. mom where is that ring? When is your marriage?
Dve smiled: but Radhika.. you are saying as if you saw everything in front of your eyes, but it happened inside the teachers room
Radhika: ha, Heena and I was standing at one of the lecturer's table with our project work, watching and listening to all this talk.. so I saw it..
Dev smiled imagining Sukhi madam's face..
Radhika also continued her laugh......
Dev: but still you didn't tell me about your ring , why nobody noticed it..
Radhika: you know first day what happened at college , right? Nobody was willing to even look at me.. so may be no one noticed it, then the next day was patch up and mostly everyone scattered and busy with our own work, and sometimes it is like that none notice it quickly.. you know.. then Wednesday also we all were busy with practice and arrangements.. kids watch all these when they have free time, like when they have only study in their mind.. and the next day you broke the news in front of everyone..
Dev: Heena also didn't notice it..
Radhika: no.. but first she didn't talk to me, but then came hugged me, happily'but yes, few looked at me strangely.. and yes, I experienced that before when you drop me first time at college last year '
Dev: but that time you came back with your angry face, I remember..
Radhika: ha.. at that time I didn't like people looking at me like that, as if I was a showcase doll..
Dev smiled again' seeing her imitation..: so this time you didn't feel angry even they looked at you like that and questioned you....
Radhika with a shy smile tried to turn her face away from there' she adjusted her duppata once to her neck'
Dev: did you miss me?
Radhika didn't say anything..
Dev: so only you came early to haweli, right?
Radhika looked at him curiously..
Dev: I know..
Suddenly Radhika: no, actually I used to visit Haweli to see my sweety..
Dev: Um really!, then why you came out so quick..?
Radhika: how did you know?
