FF : HAR PAL... (CH 32: PG 143) - Page 93

CHAPTER 31:

Arjun waited for a while at the hospital. Pari was sleeping soundly in her bed. The security at the floor was increased to the maximum possible way. Sameer and team went on to discuss about the explosion tip and also the recent milk issue. Arjun was ready to go with them.

Sam: nahi Arjun, tum yahi ruko. She needs you here. Hum ye sambhal lenge.

Arj: par Sam...

Sam: par war kuch nahi... Lo, take it as an order Rawte. (he gives a small smile).

The air was becoming lighter between the friends with each passing day. Arjun smiled back at Sam and they went out.

He returned to the room. Badima was so tired. He realized that none of them had taken their breakfast. He informs the guards and goes out to bring breakfast for all. badima at first says no, but he forces her to have her breakfast and also her daily medicine. Riya asks badima to have a nap, as she looked so tired.

Next Arjun brings the food for Riya and himself. They took their morsel silently. but that silence was talking so loud, that their hearts were filled with pain.

Riya looks at Pari, who was sleeping well. If everything had gone right, she would have been enjoying Aloo paratta now with the little girl, fighting for a small piece and also giggling for no good reason. The food caught Riya's throat as tears brimmed her eyes. She gave out a soft sob, which was not missed by Arjun. he just brings a glass of water to her side without looking at her. He knew the one thing one would hurt someone most is, not letting the tears to take its regular path from its destination... ie, from the heart... to somewhere it find peace. To allow it to flow without anyone hindering it, is the best pain killer one could ever have. So he let Riya have her moment to herself.

He knew if something that she would need is a shoulder to cry. But he couldn't give it to her. As he was never good at handling tears. Never...Not Roshni's... not his own...

"Roshni... kaha ho tum??" he knew she would be in a bad state now. But how bad?? He was actually frightened to see her.

She was in their room. She was sitting on the floor leaning on to the bedstand. She was hugging her knees and he could tell she was weeping. He sits by her and holds her shoulder sideways. She never looked up.

"Roshni... please ab math ro... please..." he could feel her shivering. He hugged her tight.

She slowly brings up her face facing him. Her eyes were swollen by crying.it broke his heart. "Arjun... he is dead... wo bas 10 saal ka tha Arjun... how could someone be so careless...wo..."

"sh... Roshni... please ab math ro... it was an accident... ha wo driver ka carelessness ke wajah se ye hua hai... ab koi kya kar sakthe hai... aur tum... please aise math ro... I cant see it Roshni... please..."

"Arjun wo mere student the... Shiva... har roz mujhse najaane kya kya baath karthe the. Aur aaj usse... uss haal me dekhke... I coulnt handle it Arjun... uss parents ke bare me tho socho... How could they..." her voice trailed off. The death of her student in a road accident, the crementation ceremony and the reaction from the family and his little classmates... was too much for her handle. And Arjun knew it well...

She looked upto him. He had tears in his eyes too that didn't take the name of stopping. He didn't know the boy who had died, but her tears were so much for him. She cups his face. "Arjun... ye kya?? Please... aap mere wajah se ro rahe ho na?? please I'm sorry... I promise I wont cry..." she wipes his tears and hugs him.

"mien kuch bhi seh lunga Roshni, par tumhare aasu nahi. Kabhi nahi..."

"Arjun... ok I won't cry. Ab please smile...please... waise ek baath bolu...rothe waqt aap bilkul ek baby jaise dikthe ho..." he smiles at her words. "ye hui na baath, aap bhi na Arjun!!"

"Roshni, never cry ok?? I cant take it"

"nahi Arjun, aap galath keh rahe ho. aapko sirf mere nahi, kisibhi apne ke aasu dekh nahi pathe. Aur apke ye rough and tough role uske samne toot jathe hai... jo aapke apne hai..."

"mere apne tho tum hi ho Roshni..."

"SIR!!! Kya hua?? Are you alright??"

He feels some pressure on his shoulder, as if someone is jerking him. "ha, kya hua??" he speaks out.

Few minutes back, she saw him giving her water; he didn't even look at her. She felt that he was giving her some space. She welcomed it. he was standing by the window lost in thoughts. She watched him for a while and then his eyes were filling, his face lost the color and then he gave out a heart breaking sob, closing his eyes. She had never seen this part of him. She moved involuntarily to him and placed her hand on his shoulder. "Sir!!" he didn't even hear her.

She was worried for him. It looked as if he would break at any moment. She jerked him violently, holding his shoulder. "SIR!!!" bringing him back. "ha, kya hua?" he spoke up as if waking from a trance.

Ri: kya hua? Aap teekh tho hai na?

Arjun wipes his eyes fiercely and goes to sit by Pari. He gently carasses her hair. He was avoiding looking at Riya. But a lone tear left his eye that dropped on Pari's forehead. He wipes it off quickly.

Ri: akhir apno ke saamne apne aasu chupana nahi hai na, Sir!!

He was shocked at her words. He turns to her with lot of questions. She was standing calmly.

Ri: Pari apke apni hai, tho uske samne ye aasu ko chupana nahi hai. mien abhi bhi paraya hu. I can understand. Lekin agar apko kisi dost ke zaroorath ho, jo aapko apne keh paye, tho mien yahi hu.

Arjun could hear Roshni's voice in his ears too. He looked pale and looked at Riya for a few minutes. And then he walks off the room. He was literally running away from the room. Riya didn't know what she had said to hurt him that much.

Mom: koi baath nahi hai Riya.. (she turns around to see BadiMa behnd her. she was awake from her nap and on the sofa.) kuch yadein dil mien abhi bhi taza hai, isliye wo aise...

Riya moves to her and sits by mom on the sofa. She leans and places her head on mom's lap.

Ri: aise kya hai Ma, jo mujhe abhi thak nahi patha hai. unke patni, Roshni, jinhe wo bohot pyaar karthe the. Fir wo kisi Sikander ke haatho mar jathe hai. aur fir bhai aur unke ladayi. Ye sab kya hai?? aap janthe ho?

Mom: ( after a deep breath) ha Riya, ye sab sunne me ek kahani jaise lagthe hai. par hakeekath bhi hai. Roshni ek school teacher thi. Chote bachoko sikhathe the. Arjun usse ithna pyaar kartha tha ke, uske koi bhi baath ko na nahi keh the. Patha nahi kyu, ek din Arjun se wo kasam lethe hai, ke wo kabhi bhi apne farz ko piche nahi chodenge. Aur ussi kasam ne uske zindagi thabah kar di.

Ri: par kaise??

Arjun: (walking in that time) tumhe in sabse kya lena dena hai??( the angry man was back) aur ma, aap firse kya karne wali ho?

Mom: ye samajne ke koshish karne wali hu, ke mere beta Sameer ne tumhe pehle kyu nahi pehchaan paye? (Arjun shocked) wo tumhare sabse ache dost the. Tho fir wo tumhare baath ko kyu nahi mane? Kyu tumpe shak kiya?

Arjun walks closer to her and sits on his knees opposite to her. "tho, aap manthe ho ke maine jo kuch kia, wo galatha nahi tha??"

Mom: nahi Arjun, tumne uss waqt sahi kiya tha. Kisisko diya hua vada pura kar raha tha. Apna farz nibha raha tha. Ek darinde ko khulle aam khoomne se rokna chahtha tha. Mien kabhi tumhare uss decision se khafa nahi hu. Tumhe apne pyaar pe viswas tha, aur usse apne bhagwan pe. Tum aur Roshni apne side mien bilkul sahi the. Bas haalath galath the. Mien tumse naaraz nahi hu beta...

He loses all his control now and hugs her. He couldn't hold back any tears from her. Though he never had a blood relation with her, she was always there for him. From the day when he was high with fever in hospital bed at the training centre, to the day when he was out of his wounded state after those dreadfull days. But what did he give her back? Worry and nothing else. He left her, when he was back on his feet. He had alienated himself in such a way that no one could trespass his nearby region.

The tears fell without any shame on her shoulder. He shivered at the distress. Mom looked at Riya to move a bit away, as she knew Arjun needed some space. Riya went and sat beside Pari, while mom mabe him sit on the sofa with his head in her lap. The tears soaked the lady's saree. She caressed his hair. "so jao Arjun... patha nahi tum akri baar kab soe the. Shayad wo Pari ke saath the. Ab tum so jao... apne sapno se dur, apne apse dur... ek aise duniya me jao, jaha sirf tum ho, aur tumhare khushi..."

Arj: (in between the sobs) ma... kya waha... wo bhi hoge?? Meri Roshni...?

Mom: kyu nahi beta... wo waha zaroor hoge... tumhare intezaar me hoge...ab jao... so jao...

She hums slowly for him to hear. His eyes feel heavy and his mind was going blank. His throat feels a lump, but it was melting with her hum...he gives in for the sleep... he welcomed it...

Riya watched him drifting to sleep. Her eyes were full by the sight. Mom notices this and smiles to her weekly. She bends to check if Arjun was asleep. The mother smiles at him... she places a kiss on his hair and caresses it for him.

There it was so warm. The sun was havng a golden yellow color. He walked upto the beach... the water had a soothing effect for his feet. He stood there watching the sun. he felt a soft hand on his hand... he didn't turn to look whooo it was. The touch was so familiar... he smiled even without looking at her. She walked and stood in front of him... the smile...Well he was dying to see it again...

"Arjun... kaha the aap?? Kithna wait karwaye mujhse??"

"sorry Roshni... mujhe nahi patha tha ke tum mujhe yaha miloge..."

"kabhi aakar dekh sakthe the na?? aur kaise aathe... aap tho kabhi bhi teekh se sothe bhi nahi the.. tho yaha kaise milthe??"

"kya karu Roshni, tumhare saath, neend bhi mere saath chod diya tha...patha nahi ab kaise mujhpe meherbani kar gaye??"

"meherbani neend ne nahi Arjun, balke aapne khud ne ki hai. patha hai aaj apko neend kyu aye hai? (he nods no) kyunki pehle baar saalon baad aapne kisiko aapke paas ane diya... badima... wo apse bohot pyaar karthe hai Arjun. acha kiya ke aapne kamse kam unse baath ki. Ab dheere dheere apne aapo kholne ke koshish karo Arjun. you will feel much better. Aur thab jake apko achi neend bhi milege. Aur thab hi hum aise mil paoge... ab kuch samjhe ya samjhao... ACP Saab?" she asks with her naughty smile.

"kahi jaana math Roshni... please..."

"nahi Arjun, mien yahi hu."

She makes him lie down with his head on her lap. And gently carasses his hair. He looks her a while and then closes his eyes. He feels peace all around.

There in the real world, badima was patting him to sleep, while in his dreamland, Roshni was doing her part.

He never knew that all were there to love him, to understand him, to care for him, to share his fate. But he himself took hold of his fate, pushing everyone out. But not now.

The days past can never be back... The lost light... Roshni would never come back... but that dosent mean there would not be any other light in his life... its now or never Arjun... wake up... wake up to the light... and hold on to it...

PRECAP:

Doc gets an envelope... a letter... a photo...

"she is fine doc... just do as I say... S"

CHAPTER 32: PAGE 143