Note for readers: here we go first chapter, hope you all like it. please do leave your feedback.
Chapter 1: Ek beraang zindagi..sahab ke naam
In the captivity of chanda and her chacha dutta goes through lengths to get to naku and here he was. Dutta didn't know if It was fate or nakus longing that had got him to this point but he was here. Seema had acted in duttas benefit taking him for a hospital check up but in doing so the car had collided. Injuring seema and her chacha yet for dutta it was a gift from god.
The car had collided with none other than bajis car. Shocked to see his friend in this terrible state. All of the details are overlooked when baji comes to face with dutta. The reunion of two friends bought with it a comforting feeling for both. Dutta finally felt like he was on his way home and baji for him dutta was sight he had been dyeing to see.
As baji takes bhau along with an unconscious seema and her chacha to the closest hospital. Sitting in the driver seat of that jeep. The two unconscious bodies in the back baji has lots to tell bhau. Lots to ask yet one thing that was really hard per the moment was trying to ask dutta about his eyesight. Baji drove on and the hesitation within grew… the curiosity began to turn within him…should he ask him should he not.?? Was it really the way it looked? Dutta had lost his eyesight.? Taking regular glances over to his friend and then back to the road….its not as if dutta has not noticed. Yet he says nothing.
Instead he asks about…naku.
Dutta: "Baji naku kaisi hai?…"baji noticed how bhau's eyesight had no really point of focus he didn't even turn to talk to him.
Baffled with a sense of worry baji answered with broken words.
Baji: "Bhao waoh..kaisi hogi uski haalat buri hai…tumara intaazar kati rehti hai"
Dutta could feel that constant watch of bajis and in response he answered his query.
Dutta : Aise dekhna band kar baaji…hah muje dikhta nahi hai.
…….. Meanwhile in Patil Niwas the phone rings
Patil Niwas lounge and glum faces drape around the house. Nakus depression makes all feel the pain of duttas loss yet they all believe naku. There is confirmation through duttas phone calls to naku that he is still alive but only naku had spoken to him.
As naku spends time in bhaos room in front of her saahabs image nakus eyes cup in tears. The many a days naku had spend crying in wait of her sahab yet little did she know today was the day she would see him. The phone in patil niwas rings and aayi sahab pick up the call. Baji on the opposite end tells aayi sahab that dutta is coming home. An uncontrollable happiness fills ayyi sahab.
……. In the surroundings of a conventional hospital the blue and white corridors create a feeling and that hospital sent baji hates yet he puts up with it. As the doctor completes checking bhao's eyes duttas sits patiently. he knew that the verdict was again going to be the same and it was too.
The doctor moves away from bhau and smiles
Doctor: "fikar maat kijyey aapki ankhon ko vakt lage ga lekin woh theek saarur hogi. Please apne aap ko stress se dur rakhe, dhere dhere aapko dhekayay dega."
Baji smiles in relief at the doctors words yet for dutta it was nothing new. it was what seemas doctor had said. The doctor stressed to baji that dutta was to take care of his eyes. Giving dutta dark glasses to where, medication the doctor dresses the vague scars on duttas body from the accident.
……….Walking through hospital corridors on the way out dutta decides the leave seema and her chacha in the hands of the doctors and baji thinks its best not to add. Instead baji touches upon the matter of kala tai.
Baoh kala tai… dutta stops baji..a movement of his hand as a gesture stops baji from talking.
Dutta: "Mein jaanta hoon baji.." Baji gives an surprised look to dutta.
"Woah seema ke chacha ne akhbaar se padke sunayay tha." bajis face was astounded, he was surprised to see dutta was so calm about everything.
'Taiyi ki nafrat pachees sal purani hai baji.. tume lagta hai ke yey mujse chip sakta tha. dutta shri ram patil se kuch chupa nahin hai. nahin kabhi tha." The truth was that dutta knew all along but she was his sister after all. He never thought that she would go as far as harming other members of the family especially not naku. Yet kala had got what had come to her and dutta was thankful to baji for getting his family through this. As baji felt duttas hand over his shoulder a little like a pat on the back. Baji felt bhaos presence back for good and he knew this gesture was a thank you.
Patil niwas is all lit up in smiling faces and joy..aayi sahab has the house lit up with candles..duttas favorite meal is cooked. Kishore, madhu, leela and roops all prepare for duttas home coming yet in the back of there mind duttas blindness is of concern
….Naku cant believe what she hears..thanking her bapa nakus trail of tears don't stop…overwhelmed with the news naku doesn't know what to think…how to react. Dutta was finally going to be before her and how she had missed him, she had no words her emotions were so deep that she knew before him they would spill. Everything she had held back to control herself for the sake of the family she would be able to share with him. Yet she was scared? There was a knock at the door and as nakusha turned around to see aayi sahab.
Taking a few steps into the room and closer to naku Aayi sahab gives a comforting smile. Her expression carried a motherly warmth and that smile made things feel easier than ever.
Aayi sahab could see that naku had been crying..her expression, her eyes were soar, wiping her eyes with the use of her pallu naku tries to hide her tears yet aayi sahab sees through it. Opening up her arms for naku…aayi sahab comforts naku in a hug. It was something naku needed after all babi was no longer around and even the strongest of personas needed a mother figure.
It was like naku hadn't taken the situation softly and innocently she reassured herself by asking aayi sahab again. "Aayi sahab woah aa rahe hai naa?"
Aayi sahab nodds..naku in her arms aayi sahab realizes that naku was very vulnerable and maybe it wasn't the right time to tell her of duttas blindness.
Aayi sahab: "sun naku…dutta aaraha hai, aise swagat karengi uska" naku takes a look up at aayi sahab and gives a negative nodd. She didn't want dutta to see her this way. Naku realized that aayi sahab was right, it wasn't the time to cry over but she should be happy. Brining a smile to her face naku gets ready for duttas return.
Draping herself in an orange saari…. Naku glanced at herself in the mirror, added sindhoor to her parting and put around her neck her mangalsutra. This is what she had been waiting for, the moment had come.
…………………
Kishore received a phone call from baji a few minutes back and all eyes were at the entrance of patil niwas. All waited for the moment that bhao would walk in. eagerly waiting for a brother, a son..a brother inlaw…each and every member was relived in thinking he was back. Family members waited in the lounge for dutta yet naku was not to be seen. Naku was with her bapa, upstairs in duttas room nakus bapa sat in the place where dutta had given to naku for her ganpati.
As naku thanked her bapa for duttas safe return downstairs in Patil niwas baji walked through the entrance. It was nice to see baji but eyes were in search of dutta before aayi sahab could ask where datta was…dutta walked in. his footsteps as always left a trademark in patil niwas. His presence as ever gave off power, authority and class. Every inch of patil niwas welcomed dutta and naku who was still away from the moment could feel duttas presence. Opening her eyes something told her that her sahab was back. Rushing to the door of the bedroom naku looks from the entrance of the bedroom and looking down from the balcony sees dutta walking into the the house. Her eyes glow with a sparkle and her lips curve to a smile…she utters "sahab" under her breath. As dutta walks in he uses his senses and faded eyesight strongly…as per person dutta is sharp even without his eyesight. He can make out everything with his mere presence and something told him naku was not around. Patil family looked on with happy expressions.. as dutta walked in they looked at that very personality that was missing for so many days.
Draped in a grey shawl apart from the fact that those glasses were an addition dutta looked as strong and dominant as ever. He walked without the aid of anyone and this showed that dutta was still dutta shri ram patil. Stopping at the perfect distance from the family members aayi sahab was close to dutta. Her eyes were filled with motherly love and she was the first to speak.. – "Dutta!!"
Dutta heard his aayis voice and his expression eased… responding with the word "aayi" dutta waited for his mother to fall into his arms and usual and she did. With a mixture of happiness and sorror.. dutta took his mother and comforted her with his words.. "mein aagayay hoon naa aayi..ab sabkuch theekh hojayeyga". The way in which dutta had no real focus to his eyes was visible and it hurt aayi sahab to think that her son had suffered so much.
Roops and leela..greeted there brother with a hug and dutta realized that madhu wasn't with them. Calling out for madu for the very first time put a smile on madhus face. "meri choti bhen khaha hai.??" amazed at the way dutta had stated this madu came forward and spoke. "bhaiyay mein yaha hoon." For the first time in such a long time and the first time for madhu…dutta had a smile for her. She was a little scared or at least unknown to what dutta wanted.
"Aaja…" was the word bhao used and too madhu in his arms too. Madhu out of worry asks."Bhaiyay aapki ankhe?"
Overlooking all this from the landing upstairs nakus eyes filled up with joy..yet it was only now that she realized that her sahab could no longer see. A shock took over naku and she ran in a hurry down the stairs to her sahab. Forgetting herself naku had got to the point where she was footsteps away from dutta yet a silence had fallen and all eyes were drawn towards her. Feeling awkward in the presence of all family members what naku really wanted is to embrace her sahab yet she couldn't. nakus eyes dropped to the floor having seen all watching her yet from kishore to aayi shahab only smiled understanding her eagerness to see dutta.
The silence that surrounded made dutta think yet somewhere deep down dutta knew naku was close..she was here.
Now naku was in this situation she simply glanced up at her sahab…eternally pleased within her expression was overwhelmed but how was she to break the ice. Dutta was unaware of nakus presence or at least this is what he had made out.
"Kya hua…sab chup kyon hogayey.. " trying to make out what had happened and why madhu had moved away all of sudden. After a silent pause naku sounded a call for dutta.
-"Sahab" and dutta replied by acknowledging naku … "naku??"
Naku stepped closer to dutta..her eyes filmed with liquid yet not wanting to cry and fade the moment she waited for dutta to take her in his arms but for the family she controlled herself. She took one long look at her sahab and his presence she captured. Closing her eyes and reopening them to see dutta in front of her.
Another silent pause for dutta he had called out for naku and in such a long time he could feel her presence. He was as egar to be close to naku but there was another pause and baji speaks.
"Bhao vaiynee pair chu rahi hai" reacting to bajis words dutta reaches over to raise naku…and he does so with ease yet in doing so naku notices that duttas eyes do not aid him. Feeling comfort seeing dutta naku reassures dutta.
"Sahab..aap fikar naa karo aaj se mein aapki anhkhe banege." In the back of nakus mind she awaited for her sahab to take her in his arms but that was not to be.
Patil family members standing from a distance admired the couple.
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
