Piyu,Mini,Kalika,Ramya and Shradha🤗thanks guys because of you I still haven't given up on this story
Piyu and Mini I must thank you for putting up with me throughout the self doubt phase that i have gone through while writing last few chapters,but for you both I would have not been able to go on...Thank you for being my friends and wish you all a Happy Friendship Day
Chapter 22
….and our path separate here…..
DB entered in Gulaal's room and picked up the note that lay on the floor keeping it in the diary restoring it on the table,to it's rightful place, at least in her mind
Gulaal jaldi se tayar ho ja,tu janti hai na der hone pe kitna chidta hai woh,maine vaada kiya hai,tujhe waha tak leke aane ka….
Gulaal who was sitting on the floor with her head down, looked up slowly and smiled through the tears nodding her head in approval of DB's request
On the way to Saruben's place DB asked Dushyant to drop them near the temple, Dushyant who looked bit disturbed throughout the drive suddenly applied brakes harshly to stop at the temple, DB alighted and started climbing the steps without waiting for Gulaal……Gulaal who was looking at Dushyant with enquiring look finally asked if everything was ok with him, still keeping his eyes on the road Dushyant replied…
"Gulaal,agar tum Kesar se milne ja rahee ho toh usse keh dena, har waqt woh mere aadmiyo ko chakma nahi de sakta,maine uski suraksha ke hetu se hi unhe uske piche lagaya hai,agar samjha sako toh acha hi hai,PB se bhi kaha tha ki uske pairo main aisi bediya daal de ke unko tod ke kahi ja hi na sake per……" he sighed heavily nodding his head in disapproval
"Dushyantji, Kesar apni padhai toh puri karle aur phir ghrahasthi i ki jimmedaari ke layak toh ho jaaye uske baad hi hum koi nirnay le sakte hai,usse pehle kaise…"
"Gulaal,main sirf Kesar ko apni aakho ke saamne dekhne chahta hu,Mujhe uss Durgesh per bilkul vishwaas nahi hai,saher mein Kesar pe nazar rakhna bahut hi mushkil hai,aur pata nahi mujhse aisi kya dushmani hai ki mere saath sidhe muh baat bhi nahi karta woh……aakhir bada bhai hu uska….hamesha uska bhala hi chahuga na…."
"Apne bhai ke qatil ke saath kaise sidhe muh baat kare Dushyantji…" Sharp edge in Gulaal's voice startled Dushyant who looked at her horrified, stunned and speechless…..
"Ha Dushyanti Kesar ko sacchai ka pata hai,meri tarah usne bhi iss zeher ka ghoot toh pee liya hai, chuppi ke siva aap usse koi aur umeed mat rakhiyega,main aapse haath jodke vinati karti hu…iss ghar ki shaani banaye rakhne ke liye yehi uchit hoga….." Gulaal turned around and hurried behind DB leaving Dushyant staring at the spot she was standing
DB was waiting for her at the temple along with Kesar, she stopped remembering Dushyant's words ,she had to convince Kesar to accept PB's proposal somehow, the thought made her apprehensive and anxious, unknown fear gripping her heart and she stood rooted to the spot…
"Kya baat hai Gulaal…."Kesar came near and enquired, his eyes reflecting concern and anxiety Gulaal felt she conveyed her need to talk alone in not so many words and Kesar taking the hint turned towards DB ….."Aapko Arvind Sarufui ke yaha chod dega,aur main Gulaal ko ghar chod dunga,chalta hu DB aap apna khyal rakhiyega,bahut jald wapas aaunga…."he hugged DB who just nodded her head in way of acceptance ruffling his hair lovingly
Gulaal and Kesar walked towards the lake in complete silence each contemplating what was going through other's mind still they reached near the tree they had been before and sat down overlooking the tremendous force of gushing water flowing down tearing apart the strongest of the mountain…….
"Gulaal,main janta hu tu mujhse naraz hai,maine teri diary bina teri izzajat padhi,per tune bhi toh mujhse saari baate chupayi,soch agar mujhe yeah diary nahi milti toh main tujhe kitna galat samajhta,aur tujhe kya laga tha agar tu kissi ko nahi batayegi toh yeah baat kissi ko pata nahi chalegi,aisi baate kabhi na khabhi toh saamane aa hi jaati….."
"Kesar, hum ab iss vishay pe baat kyun kare,tu janta hai main vivash thi,apne Vasant bha ko to janta hai na phir yeah sawal kyun,kya mere liye aur koi rasta choda tha Vasant ne…."
"Per ab toh hum dono iss mushkil ka milke saamna kar sakte hai na,,mujhe ek mauka toh de apni galtiya sudharne ka,main tujhe woh saari khushiya dena chahta hu jiski tu haqdaar hai,maine woh Gulaal ko wapas paana chahta hu jo mere Vasant bha ke saath iss gaav ki chaukhat per aayi thi,main….."
"Woh Gulaal toh Vasant apne saath le gaya Kesar,Iss Gulaal ke liye toh Vasant ka woh sapna pura karna hi jeevan ka ek maatra dheyey reh gaya hai,iss parivaar ko ektra rakhna,iss gaav ke liye dekhe hue uss sapne ko sakaar hote hue dekhne bas yehi toh chahti hu main,Vansant jaha bhi hoga yeah dekhkar bahut hi khush hoga…."
"Aur tujhe iss tarah ghut,ghut ke jeeta hua dekh bhi khush hi hoge hai na,hamesha se teri khushi hi toh chahi na unhone,yehi likha tha na tune uss diary main,woh kaise bhul gayee Gulaal,kabhi toh dusro se pare apne liye kuch soch,tujhe bhi jeevan main kush rehne ka,apne sapno ko jeene ka aur apne liye jeene ka haq hai na Gulaal,Main tujhse keh chuka hu Gulaal main tere siva kissi aur ke saath…"
Kesar,Gulaal's sharp voice stopped him mid-sentence and he looked at her questioningly, Gulaal looked at him straight and uttered in a determined tone "Yeah kadapi mumkin nahi hai Kesar…..Tujhe PB ki baat swikaar karke apni umar ki ladki ke saath vivah karna hoga,issi mein sabki bhalai hai…"
"Kyun,Kyun karun main kissi aisi ladki se vivah jise main janta tak nahi,jisse main pyaar nahi karta,aur main kyun kissi aur ke baare main sochu,jab ki main……"
"Kesar mujhe iss baare main aur koi behas nahi karni,tujhe wohi karna hoga jo parivaar umeed karta hai tujhse,unki ummeedo ko……"
"Nahi Gulaal,main teri tarah zeher ko has ke nahi pee sakta,manta hu main kabhi bhi teri zindagi mein Vasant bha ki jagah nahi le sakta,na hi lena chahta hu,sirf apni ek choti si jagah banana chahta tha jo mujhe malum hai kahi na kahi dabi padi hai,mujhse woh umeed toh mat cheeno,main kabhi bhi PB ki baat nahi maan sakta,kabhi nahi….."
"Theek hai,toh tu wahi kar jo tujhe theek lagta hai aur main bhi wahi karungi jo sahi hai,main kal hi iss DV ko todne ki arjee Panchayat mein dekar iss ghar se hamesha ke liye chali jaungi,main tere iss niranay ki wajah se ghar mein kissi ka bhi saamna karne main ashksham hu,kaise mila paungi nazare unse jinko diye hue vachan ko pura nahi kar payee,kaise rahungi uss chat ke niche jo baar,baar mujhe apne vishwaasghaati hone ka ehsaas dilate rahegi…yehi chahta hai na tu toh yehi sahi….."
"Gulaal,nahi tu aisa nahi kar sakti,tu iss ghar ko chod ke nahi ja sakti Gulaal,tu mujhe chod ke jane ke baare mein soch bhi kaise sakti hai….".Kesar's urged in a croaky voice trying hard to stop the tears that threatened to overflow from his eyes
Gulaal turning away from him replied in hesitant voice, "Kear yeah toh ek hi shart pe mumkin hai agar tu PB ki baat maan le aur Talli se vivah karne ko rajee ho jaye…."
Kesar didn't utter a word throughout the journey and on reaching the backyard alighted from the bike waiting for Gulaal to get down before saying…."Gulaal mujhe teri har shart manjoor hai,main tujhe iss ghar se dur nahi dekh sakta…" and then murmured to himself ….."aur yeah bhi yaad hai ki bada hokar mujhe hi tera khayal rakhna hai,tujhe akele nahi hone dunga,vaada kiya tha tujhse usse jarur nibhaunga Gulaal….." he took off on his bike without turning back to look at Gulaal who could not stop tears from falling freely……
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Cricket
