FF: Khamoshiyaan... (chap 37 page 133) - Page 4

CHAPTER 2:

She closed the laptop in a hope to close her memories. But no... the more she tried to close, the wider it became. She stood and walked off to the kitchen. She started to cook, for her and for him. She smiled as she cooked. There was a time when she used to hum... but the voice was lost somewhere. She doesn't remember any of the songs.

She made food and took it to the table. As usual she placed 2 plates. 1 for her and 1 for him. She served for him and for herself. She kept on looking at his plate. She could see him having a mouthful of food and winking at her. She smiled at his invisible soul. She took her food and placed it in her mouth. It was chocking her. She saw him nodding no. she smiled and had her food.

Do, pal ruka, khwaabon ka kaarvaan
Aur phir, chal diye, tum kahaan, ham kahaan
Do pal ki thi, ye dilon ki daastaan
Aur phir, chal diye, tum kahaan, ham kahaan
Aur phir chal diye, tum kahaan, ham kahaan

A knock came at the door. She looked at him again and smiled at him. He nodded to the door and then vanished. She opened and saw a small boy of 12 at the door.

"sorry di aaj thode late hu. Wo kya hai na... Maa ne kaha ke pura homework karo aur fir jao. Isliye..."

"its ok Rishi, tho apne homework kiya?"

"ha..."

"ok ab haath dhoke ao." They boy rushed to the washroom. Its her routine too. She made food for 2. One for her and the next shared by the little neighbor Rishi and her invisible love...

Rishi loved her food, so she had asked his mom to allow him to have his dinner with her daily. Mom didn't deny. The feeling that her son was not sleeping empty stomach was enough for that mother. It was tough to fill 4 stomachs daily. The small wages didn't allow her much. And so Rishi was here daily. After food he left her.

She was on the rocking chair with a book. Bed was not her companion now a days. And so was a good sleep. She read the book and rocked her in an attempt to sleep. Slowly her eyes felt heavy.

A small voice of the mobile woke her up. Mobile ringing... well that was not usual. No one called her. She rubbed her eyes and looked at the clock. Its 10 pm. She took her phone. Unknown number kept on blinking. She silenced it and kept on looking at the blinking number. It stopped after a while. she placed it back on the table and closed her eyes. After 5 minutes it started to ring again. She didn't take the phone but kept on looking at the number. Same unknown number. It stopped and started again. This time she took the phone in her hand and pressed the receive button.

"hello..." She said slowly.

"WTH AISHA... What took you so long to pick up the phone??"

She was surprised at the voice. "Aap...??"

"ha mien.. kyu kisi aur ko expect kar rahe the??" the voice was angry at her.

"par apko ye number..."

"don't underestimate the power of a Commissioner, Aisha. I have my sources." She smiled at the voice. Commissioner Dustin Coelho... the one who introduced her to them.

"kahiye Sir... aap iss waqt kaise call kiya??"

He was astounded now. The once ferocious Aisha was now speaking as a ghost. "Aisha..." there was care in that tone. "tum teekh tho hai na??"

She smiled at the voice. "ha sir... mujhe kya hua hai??"

"don't you lie to me Aisha... your voice betrays you..." she closed her eyes. It had always betrayed her.

"are you there Aisha??"

"ha sir... I'm here..."

"ok.. ab mien ye nahi puchunga ke kaha ho tum... because I know it. apne mobile number badalne se ya ateeth chupane se koi zyada nahi chupega Aisha..."

"patha hai sir..."

"kuch puchna nahi chahoge... ke kaise hai sab? Kahi wo tumhe miss kar rahe hai ke nahi... Kuch bhi... its almost 2 years now..."

"2 years and 4 months to be exact sir... I know they will be fine. Aur shayad mujhe miss bhi kar rahe hoge. But I cant help it."

"ye math socho ke wo log tumhe dhudke nahi nikal sakthe. Agar Sree ko ek bar boldu, tumhe uthane keliye,tho uske paas sare information hoge, and Chotu... he'll be more than happy to pull you out of your home."

She smiled with her whole heart... After a long time, imagining Chotu taking her up as a kitten.

"Aisha... did you get any mails from Rathod?"

"hm..."

"and I'm sure tum wo kholke bhi nahi dekhe hoge... Right?"

"right..."

"kyu?? Kya mien uske wajah jaan saktha hu?"

"because I'm not ready for it... and you know it well sir."

Coelho was lost in her words. He kept his silence. And this time Aisha spoke up. "Sir... are you there?"

"hm... I don't understand you Aisha... Akhir kaun ho tum?? I don't recognize you... na tum wo Aisha Kapoor ho, jinhe meine ETF ke office me introduce kiya tha... aur na tum wo... (he stops for a while, she knew what was coming up and closed her eyes) aur na tum wo Aisha Arjun Rawte ho... jisse uss din mien ashirwad diya tha... akhir kaun ho tum?"

She stays silent for a while.

"surname me kya rakha hai sir?? Na mien Kapoor hu aur na Rawte... mien bas Aisha hu... just Aisha... nothing more..."

Coelho knew he was defeated again. She was as stubborn as before.

"rakthi hu sir. It was nice talking to you."

"ek minute Aisha. Ek request hai..."

"agar aap wahi kehne wale ho, tho please don't."

"ok I wont say it... just for once, apne mails zaroor check karna. Please..."

She takes a heavy paining breath. "ok Sir. I'll try... Good night sir"

"good night Aisha... we are waiting for you... Aisha Rawte..."

The line goes off. She closes her eyes. Aisha Rawte... the suffocation was killing her. She felt a hand on her forehead.

Tum the ke thi koyi ujli kiran
Tum the ya koyi kali muskaayi thi
Tum the ya tha sapnon ka tha saawan
Tum the ke khushiyon ki ghata chhaayi thi
Tum the ke tha koyi phool khila
Tum the ya mila tha mujhe naya jahaan
Do pal ruka khwaabon ka kaarvaan
Aur phir chal diye tum kahaan ham kahaan
Do pal ki thi, ye dilon ki daastaan
Aur phir chal diye, tum kahaan, ham kahaan

She opened her inner eyes. He was infront of her. "missing me??" he had a naughty smile.

She nods no...

"jhoot... Aisha Rawte is a lair..." he hummed.

Her eyes were burning. He saw it. "hey you promised me meri jaan..."

She closed her eyes and gave out a sob. The tears were not taking any word of stopping. It came down without any control. She wept aloud.

"Sorry Arjun... ab mujhse aur nahi hogi..." her heart that was already broken was paining as hell.

She felt his hands caressing her hair. "its ok jaan...let it go... mien yahi hu..."

He kept on caressing her hair and she was slowly drifted to a sleep. Where she was free to be his arms.