chapter 33
After he left gulaal closed the door sat without moving……her eyes were fixed on her arms where the red marks were present…and she cried bitterly
Here in delhi..Durgesh was sitting in his home and some gangster arrived at his home they were sweating and terrirfied
Durgesh asked "kya hua"
Ganster "bhai hum dushyant k haath lag gaye the usne encounter mein humare teen saathi ko maar diye hai badi mushkil se apni jaan bacha kar bhaage hain"
Durgesh said "hmm"
Gangster "bhai is dushyant ne teen din mein humare 12 member ka encounter kar diya hai…woo buri tarah se humare peeche pada hai kuch din k liye hume kahin door chale jaana chahiye bhai humari jaan khatre mein hain"
Durgesh looked at him and said with anger "agar jaan se itna hi pyaar tha to is dhande mein aana hi nahi chahiye tha woo dushyant kuch bhi kar le par us gulaal ko jab tak nahi maar deta mein chain se nahi beithunga"
Gangster "par bhai"
Durgesh said in between "nahi tum log jaakar gulaal ko dhundho aur haan dushyant ko humare baarein mein itna kaise malum…lagta hai koi humare duniya se hi use khabar kar raha hai dhundho use aur jis din woo mil gaya mein use nahi choodunga" he said with his fiery red eyes he was determinate to take revenge from gulaal and the informer unknowingly that kunal was sending his information to CiD department through constable sharma thorugh his link in underworld
Meanwhile dushyant was sitting in his bedroom he was looking at gulaal's pics fondly he looked at her and said "gulaal tumhare jaane k baad pata chala ki tum meri zindagi mein kitne maayne rakhti ho….mein har pal tumhe yaad kar raha hun…gulaal ek baar waapas aa jao mein kisi bhi keemat par tumhe apne aap se door nahi jaane dunga..kisi bhi keemat par nahi" with his eyes fixed on her
Day 4
Next morning gulaal woke and realized she was sleeping near the door in the sitting position she had slept there whole night thinking about kesar she stood up and went near the mirror and remembered what happened last night
Kesar words echoed in her mind "kaise apne aap ko tumhari yaadein se juda karo…kaise apne aap ko yeh yankeen dilau ki tum kisi aur ki ho….kaise tumse pyaar nahi karu"
"Kya karu mein gulaal bolo"
she was vunerable somehow she had managed to build a shell of armour around her heart…she had closed her heart but yesterday her protective armor had cracked open kesar had rippled her heart she remembered how much she carved for him to take her in his arms how much she wanted to break her shackles and she was vunerable to the things she feared most- losing herself to kesar….disappointing her father….failing to meet his expectation failing miserably in her society
she thought and said to herself "bas ab mein yanha nahi rahungi kal k baad se to bilkul nahi"
and she firmly stood and walked outside to talk to him
she roam inside to find kesar…and her eyes met him..he was looking at her with innocence and pleasant smile in his face there was no tace of vulnerability guilt passion and pain in his eyes..he was playing with kishmish
gulaal was bit surprised
kesar came near and greeted her "goodmorning and yeh kishmish tumhara pet hai par mujhe jyada pasand karta hai…soch raha hun ise apne saath le jau imli ko company mil jaayegi"
gulaal said in low voice woo…..mujhe….k..kuch ..baat karni hai" hesistantly
kesar's heart pounded but he said yaa bolo
gulaal dropped her eyelids and asked w…woo kal….raat ko tumhe…."
Kesar asked "kal raat ko kya?"
Gulaal said "tum mere room…mein"
Keasr "oh haan mujhe neend mein chalne k bimari hai…kabhi chalte chalte yanha wanha chala jaata hun…….kyun kuch hua tha kya?"he asked innocently
Gulaal was irritated she said "oh really aur neend mein chori bhi kar lete hoge right"
Kesar smiled and said "exactly yahi to problem hai koi samjhata hi nahi hai see yeh sab neend mein hota waise mein kuch nahi karta sach mein"
And he smiled and walked away
Gulaal turned her face and shut her eyes in frustration and then followed him in the garden
She said "kesar tum meri baat suno"
And she saw kesar was standing in the garden with color pallete he took
Brush and oil paints and started drawing strange figure on the canvass
Gulaal was surprised she asked "kesar yeh kya kar rahe ho"
Kesar while drawing said "painting kar raha hun pata hai mein jab chota tha to painting karne ka bahoot shuakh tha aksar akaash ko dekha karta tha aisa lagta tha yeh aakash ek bahoot bada canvass hai aur bhagwaan isme bore hokar tarah tarah ki painting karte hai pehle ajeeb ajeeb drawing karte hai aur phir khud hi rubber se mita kar nayi painting kar dete hain"
Ans smiled at gulaal…she smiled coz she had said those words to kesar….she looked at him and said "bachpan se painting karne ka sauk hai aur phir bhi itni boori painting karte ho?"
Kesar looked at her and gave her the color pallete oilpaints and brush and said "oh really dekhte hain tum kitne badi painter ho….so kuch draw kake batao"
Gulaal smiled and within a sec her fear her dilemma about previous night vanished in the thin air..she hold the brush and oilpaint and felt elated...after so many years she was holding a brush in her hand….not a gun but a brush…..she was there to create not to destroy the red color didn't looked horrendous but was beautiful in her color pallete…..she looked at the canvass fondly
Kesar said "kya hua gulaal ruk kyu gayi painting karni nahi aati"
Gulaal looked back and said "chalo saamne beith jao"
Kesar was surprised he asked "what tum meri painting banuagi"
Gulaal smiled Kesar walked and sat inront of her and she looked at him and started painting
While gulaal was busy…kesar was staring her without moving he was capturing her in his eyes……
Gazing her in admiration and deep love kesar stood up and walked towards her and said "do ghante ho gaye hai bas ab dikhao kya banaya hai"
Gulaal said "arey uth kyu gaye"
And he looked at the painting and said to gulaal "yeh kya hai flower yeh kyu paint kiya???"
Gulaal smiled naughtily and said "kesarji yeh kesar ka phool hai..saffron flower"
Kesar was surpised he said "what agar flower k painting karni thi to do ghante se mujhe kyu dhoop mein beitha kar rakha"
Gulaal smiled and said "style hai mera"
Kesar replied "bakwass style hai…"
And then he said "waise painting bahoot sundar hai…"
Gulaal looked at him shyly and signed her initials in the painting and then said "for u"
Kesar said "thanks"
Then gulaal walked inside and saw a person was sitting with a camera
Gulaal was amused to see him she asked "ji aap??"
He said "hello mein ek professional photographer hun mujhe mr neeraj Mehta ne yanha bulaya gulaal ji ko photography k kuch basic technique seekhane k liye"
Gulaal looked back at kesar who standing there with his folded hands he smiled back
Gulaal said "yeh photographer kyu"
Kesar said in low voice "tumhe photography pasand thi naa ab yanha ho to seekh lo"
Gulaal said "par yeh sab kyu aur phir yeh to bachpan mein pasand tha ab kanha yeh sab thek lagta hai….phir kabhi"
Kesar looked in her eyes and said "zindagi jeene k liye waqt ka intzaar nahi karna chahiye bas jab bhi man kare apni jindagi jee leni chahiye"
And he gave a professional camera that he bought for her and said "for u"
Gulaal looked at him in admiration it was first time in her life someone had bought something that she wished….not the gift she was always bound to accept with her big smile..
Then she took the camera in her hand and smiled wholeheartedly
The professional photographer taught her the basic skills and techniques of photography and gulaal was learning with great enthusiasm and kesar was standing in the near distance staring her
After sometime photographer left and gulaal engaged herself in clicking the pics from her new camera….she took the pics of sky trees garden lawn sprinklers her pet kishmish….then she turned around and started taking clicking his pics kesar said "arey meri pics kyu le rahi ho…meri nahi"
But she didn't listened and continued to click the pics and he too made some funny faces and weird pose to make her smile
After a while gulaal said naughtily "ok now take off ur shirt"
Kesar said in surprise "what?"
Gulaal pointed towards her camera as she wanna click his pics
Kesar looked at her and naughity took off the shirt and she saw he was wearing tshirt under
She said "what tshirt..shirt k neeche tshirt kaun pehenta hai"
Kesar said naughtily "style hai mera"
Gulaal looked at him and said in barely audible voice "bakwass style"
And then she started clicking the pics
Kesar looked at her and said "gulaal ghar mein kya pictures logi chalo kahin bahar chalte hai wanha jaakar picture click karenge"
Gulaal exclaimed "ofcourse bahar chal kar click karte hain"
And they sat on the car and reached mansar lake…gulaal was overwhelmed to see the beauty of the lake and she started clicking the pics of the lake
While kesar looked at the street band that was present there near the street a guitarist was playing a soft tune and the lead singer of the band was singing the soulful song and some ppl surrounded them and were listening the music
Kesar looked there and walked towards the band and talked to them and took the microphone and then addressed the crowd "goodevening everybody may I invite miss gulaal on the stage and ask her to sing a song for us…."pointing towards gulaal…..gulaal was surprised…she was extremely shy she thought for a sec and then shyly went near him and asked in the low voice "yeh sab kya hai kesar kya kar rahe ho"
Kesar said "kyu tumne hi to kaha tha tumhe gaane ka bahoot shaukh hai…bas tumhe gaana gaane ko kah raha hun"
Gulaal said "yanha sadak par street band mein gana gao r u mad?"
Kesar replied "ab tumharei liye mein stage kanha se laata isliye yanha gaa lo waise bhi itni boori jagah nahi hai aur yeh band bhi bahoot acha hai"
Gulaal "par"
Kesar said "par war kuch nahi bas jee lo is pal ko…."and he said in low voice "kuch bhi gana par hum hai rahi pyaar k waala song mat gaa dena warna tamatar mujhe padenge"
And he gave her the microphone and stood in the near distance
Gulaal took the mic and looked at the audience who was eagerly waiting for her to sing
And she sang
Dholida dhol re vagad mare hinch le viche
Since most of the ppl present there were gujarati they connected to the song instantly they clapped and sang with gulaal
Kesar was thrilled to hear the song he had heard this song in his childhood…so many childhood memories refreshed in his mind his vasantbha use to play lovely dhol in this song even he has learned the dhol from his vasantbha he immediately went near a dholi man and asked a dholi man to give him the dhol he took it and played incredibly well gulaal looked at him his dhol beats brought a new energy in her and she sang the song more ecstatically and the crowd cheered for them
As soon as the song was over the crowd clapped and kesar was exhausted playing the dhol he gave the dhol back and was breathing heavily gulaal was extremely delighted she went near him and hugged him and said thanku thanku thanku…..thanks a lot kesar"
And then she looked at him who was gazing her with his increased breath….they looked each other silently….gulaal then realized she had hugged him so withdrew herself……..she had tried not to come close it was inevitable like the erosion is inevitable coz of the constant battering of waves against the rock…..
They thanked the crowd and quielty went inside the car and drove home…they reached home….gulaal was still humming the song as her heart was filled with immense pleasure it was a beautiful day for her and she was enjoying every moment of it
Kesar looked at her fondly and then said "gulaal kitni khush lag rahi ho"
Gulaal smiled
He said "gulaal tum hamesha aise kyu nahi rehti…woo kyu nahi karti jo tum chahiti ho….kyu tum apni zindagi apni marzi se nahi jeti"
Gulaal looked at him and her face grew stern she avoided him and said "yeh sab phir se kyu shuru kar diya meine kaha naa chodo yeh sab"
Kesar hold her and said "nahi gulaal tumhe sunana padega…gulaal listen to ur heart apne dil k suno woo kya chahata hai use kya chahiye"
Gulaal was taken by she dropped her eyelids and said "mein waise bhi khush hun"
Kesar said "nahi gulaal tum khush nahi ho woo job aur dushyant k shaadi k faisle se tum khush nahi ho"
Gulaal said "yeh tum kaise kah sakte ho…kisne kaha mein khush nahi ho ……mein is shaadi k faisle se khush hun"
Kesar "agar khush hoo too tumhare chehre par dikhaayi kyu nahi deti tum 4 din se bhuj mein ho gulaal phir bhi ek din bhi tumne dushyant se baat nahi ki hai uske baarein mein kuch nahi kaha hai kyu nahi gulaal…."
Kesar "gulaal woo tumhare honewaala jeevansathi hai apni pyaar k baarein mein sochene k liye to din kam pad jaatein raatein kafi nahi hoti….ankhon mein bas uski tasveer hoti hai par tum…par tum nahi sochiti kyun"
Gulaal avoided his eye contact and said "dekho mein is baarein mein koi baat nahi karna chahiti aur woo mere hone waale pati hai sochiti hun mein unke baarein mein bahoot fikr rehti hai"
Kesar said "acha to is baat se ankhon kyu chura rahi ho kisko dhoka de rahi ho gulaal khud ko yaa dushyant ko"
Gulaal looked at him and replied angrily "dekho kesar yeh mat samjhana k tumhe koi chance"
Kesar cut her short and said "mein apne bare mein baat nahi kar raha gulaal mujhe aise koi umeed nahi hai aur mein janta hun aisa kuch nahi hoga…par mujhse nafart karne aur dushyant se pyaar naa karne mein bahoot farq hai gulaal dono batein bahoot alag hai"
Kesar "just look at urself gulaal dekho khud ko kya kar rahe ho apni life k saath apne saath saath dushyant k jindagi bhi barbaad kar dogi…woo tumse hamesha pyaar k umeed rakhega aur jab tum use nahi de paaugi to socha hai kaise samna karogi uska "
Gulaal said "yeh arrange marriage hai aur saath saath rehte rethe pyaar ho jaata hai"
Kesar looked at her and said firmly "agar aisa hai gulaal to tumhe mujhse pyaar ho jaana chahiye tha naa…pyar naa sahi ….nafrat to nahi karti par tum aaj bhi mujhse nafrat karti ho gulaal…aur dushyant usne kya kiya hai kyu use jabardsti k bandhan mein baandh rahi ho kyu nahi kah deti usese k tum usese pyaar nahi karti"
Gulaal looked at her with teary eyes
Kesar said "janti ho gulaal kitni takleef hoti hai jab koi pyaar karta hai aur badle mein pyaar k umeed karta hai aur use woo pyaar nahi milta bahoot dard hota hai gulaal…mat karo aisa…galat kar rahi ho gulaal bahoot galat kar rahi ho"
Gulaal looked at him and said "tum mujhe sahi galat k baat samjha rahe ho…tum jo khud kitna galat kaam karte ho chori karte ho"
Kesar immediately turned his face away and said "gulaal mujhe is baarein mein koi baat nahi karni"
Gulaal stood infront of him and said "kyu nahi karni kesar kyu nahi…kabhi socha hai tumne ki tum kitne galat ho…kesar mein janti hun tum dil k boore nahi ho par ho to chor hi na…tumne socha hai tumne kitne logo k saath galat kiya hai..aur iska nateeza kitna galat ho sakta hai"
Kesar stod silent he tried to walk away "mujhe kuch nahi sunana"
But gulaal didn't let him go "nahi kesar aaj sunana padega tumne socha hai kabhi kitne logo ko takleef de hogi aur tumhare maa baap unpar kya beet rahi hogi"
Kesar looked in other direction he was at verge of tears to hear about his parents he said "gulaal plz stop"
Gulaal said "no kesar batao kesar kya tumhare maa baap ko koi takleef nahi hoti yeh jaankar k unka beta ek chor hai ek criminal hai"
Kesar closed his eyes in desperation but frustration and anger was building inside
Gulaal continued "koi dard nahi hota yeh jankar ki unka beta galat raaste mein hai…."
He stood silent
Gulaal said in anger "yaa phir tumahre maa baap bhi aise hi hai tumhare tarah criminal aur apradhi"
And kesar couldn't take it any more his eyes burn in anger and he was furios he shouted at the top of the voice "bas gulaal enough! "