FF: Beyond everything (Mohit-Sonarika) Part 3 Pg 4

Part 1

Ashutosh was walking restlessly towards the house, he was in great hurry. One of his friends had been gravely injured.When he entered into the room he saw his friend lying on the bed and he was wincing in pain. His shoulder got a bullet shot.

" Ashu..", he murmured.." come and sit.."

Ashutosh gritted his teeth and said , "Who did this? I want the name.."

" Prajapati Pandey..", said another man standing there.

" As expected..how did this happen?"

" My cattles were grazing there, they crossed the border and entered into Prajapati's area..I told him, it was by mistake, but he didn't listen, the conversation heated up..and..".

" What did the Doctor say?"

" The bullet just passed, didn't enter, that is a good thing, one month is the timeline."

Ashutosh stood up, he said ," You must rest Danish, I will take care of other things.."

Ashutosh left the place like a storm. He was thinking a lot. Prajapati Pandey is becoming out of control. He is taking his anger on poor farmers. Once Prajapati's father was defeated in a court case to Ashutosh's family. Ashutosh's father, Sadanand Thakur was on the opposition. Prajapati couldn't take this defeat. He had been incurring bloodshed for that, over the decades.

Ashutosh came to the Matth , the usual meeting place near the main temple of the town. His other followers were waiting there. All stood up in respect and made place for his seat.

" Thakur, Prajapati Pandey went too far this time, Danish Mian is innocent, he is a poor farmer, do you realise how his family would endure this crisis?" said Nandan Yadav.

" I do understand, but right now counterattack will be an idiotic action, Prajapati knows that we will retaliate..that won't be wise, first we need to strengthen our defence.."

" You are our leader , you will take care of our welfare Thakur.."

" I am one of you Yadav..by the way..it's your duty to make sure that Danish will have good care, inform me everyday whatever he and his family need, I have to go, I have to meet some people in factory.."

*****

After a long hectic day, when Ashutosh got back to his house, he saw his Amma seated in the verandah with some neighbours. The usual evening chat was on.Ashutosh went inside. The maid served him tea when he got freshen up.

Thakurain came and sat beside her son.

" Yes Amma..how was your day..?"

" Panditjee came,"

Ashutosh knew what did that mean. Elderly priest is very concerned about Ashutosh's marriage, every second day he comes with several details of different girls along with their photograph and Amma chews Ashutosh's head.

" Hmm.."

" What does that mean Ashu? Won't you see the photos?"

" No.."

" You won't get married ?"

" No..I am good in my way..why should I complicate my life?"

" Someday you will have to marry.."

" Amma, a lot to do..you know what Prajapati Pandey did today morning?"

" What is new in that? Why we should stop living our life because of that moron?"

" We are living our life Amma..aren't we?"

" Yeah..look at this haveli? Only two of us, after Bade Thakur passed away..and a gang of servants..don't you want a person who will take the charge after me? After you, no child is born in this haveli..haveli looks haunted at times.."

" Amma..don't start all these again, I am having headache.."

" Everytime, when I talk about your marriage, you have headache .."

" Then stop talking about my marriage..", said Ashutosh and left for his bedroom.

Thakurain slapped her forehead and shouted , " Yeah..go ..why would you listen to your mother..you will just mess with Pandey for no reason.. arre..right now we don't have any personal accounts with him, it is other's problem, and you must interfere in that..and everytime something happens, they call you and make you the leader.. "

" Amma, your BP will get high, stop screaming..", Ashutosh shouted from his bedroom.

" Ohh, you do care about my BP!! Strange..then why don't you get married? My BP gets high because of your action..", Thakurain shouted again.

" Stop it Amma...I am checking some files.."

" Yeah.. earn money for those hooligans, you sponsor them I know very well..earn money...a lot money..who will spend them? What do I want,...that you will get married, have children..I will adore them, spoil them, I will buy them things with this money, but no...you will give the money in the matthh..don't I know that?"

Just after few minutes, Nandan Yadav came..." Thakur Saab.."

Thakurain looked at him and her anger level went higher.." You have come again..you hooligan.. I know you provoke Ashutosh in such actions..you are good for nothing..and you are making him just like you."

" Amma.. why are you so angry today?"

Thakurain started to cry, " What else I should do Nandan, my only son, refuses to marry, so many photos are there, he is not ready to meet anyone..you tell, after him who will carry the name?"

By the time , Ashutosh came out of his bedroom.

" Amma..stop crying, now it's being excess.."

"Thakur, Amma is right..why don't you get married?"..Nandan said.

" Yadav, now you don't start..tell me what is it?"

" I bought the medicines for Mian and gave to him.."

"What happened ?"

" Danish Mian, the farmer..who leaves near the Matthh, Prajapati Pandey shot him today morning.."

" Ohh my god..!!"..Thakurain shouted again..

" He is alright now..I just came to inform Thakur that I bought him medicines..".

Thakurain gritted her teeth and said , " This Prajapati Pandey , beyond any reform..moron..Nandan.. do one thing.. Danish has two little kids as far I know.."

" Yes Amma.."

Thakurain went to the kitchen..came with a vessel and a jar.

" Here is some milk and some sweets..give it to them..poor kids..Mian's wife will have to take care of him..what the kids will eat..give it to the kids..and you come back here only..have your dinner here only..now just go."

"Jee Amma.."

After Yadav left, Ashutosh laughed..said , "What was that Amma?"

" Shut up..you should have told me ..poor fellow..go and do your work..I am going to the kitchen..Nandan will come soon.."

" Maid will prepare the dinner, why don't you rest.."

" Get married , then I will rest..not before that.."

" Not again..", said Ashutosh and took to his heels.

*****

While eating, Yadav said , " Panditjee came today, Amma?"

" Yes, so many good looking girls, but this monkey , has no interest.."

Ashutosh gave a killing glare to Nandan. He was his friend.

" Thakur, Amma is right..you should get married now.."

" Just talking about marriage, and this fuss is taking place, imagine what will be the chaos after marriage..Yadav..eat..don't encourage Amma.."

Thakurain started to cry again, " Every time he says this , Nandan, what will I do? When Bade Thakur was in this age, Ashutosh was born, and now..."

" Amma , I am just 26..Bapu had an early marriage..I would I do?"

" Just don't do anything..nothing for me..all day roaming around like a vagabond..or working in the factory, this wealth, this haveli...god only knows what days are waiting for me..and you..Nandan..you are the root of all this.."

" What did I do, Amma?"

" Do something then, tell your friend to get married.."

" Amma is right..Thakur, this haveli needs your Thakurain..or I am having a doubt..do you have any girl in your life? Tell us..Amma..you have any problem with that?"

"NOOO..what are you saying..anyways, in this town, I find no girl who can tempt me.."

With great frustration, Thakurain said ," Then find a girl who can tempt you, I will solemnize your marriage with her..I promise.."

" Yeah, I will go on the road, and some girl will be there to tempt me..exactly..have some sense Amma.."..Ashutosh said with double frustration.

" Okay, how much time you need to find that girl?"

" One year..at least.."

Thakurain said , " If you don't find such girl within one year, then?"

" Then I will marry any girl you choose.."..Ashutosh surrendered finally..said , " Happy? Now stop sulking.."

" Nandan, you will keep eye on him, and if I find that you two are cheating..then I will break your head, then his..", Thakurain threatened.

Part 2

Ashutosh was seated in the matthh. Yadav was seated near Ashu's feet.

"Thakur.."..Yadav called.

"Yes..give it to me.."..

Yadav gave him the bowl filled with bhaang sharbat. Ashutosh has no other addiction like alcohol or smoking. After so many days , Ashu felt an urge to have bhaang. It was a monday, many people were performing something related to Lord Shiva.

" Thakur, Amma is right, you should get married, tell me..is there nobody in this town who can tempt you?"

"..Aaah..Nandan, spare me the nonsense.."

" You have one year..or else you will have to marry whom Amma will choose.."

" To hell with you Nandan, I came here to get some refreshment..and you are eating my head.."..Ashutosh stood up and went outside, near the temple.He was taking small sips of his sharbat and he sat on the steps of temple.

"Thakur Saab..where the hell you have been..I was waiting for you..have another bowl.."

" Ahh..I am not done yet.."

" Thakur..look..look who is coming..Pandey..what is he doing here?"..Nandan became alert.

" Nandan..you are on high spirits..you have gone cuckoo..totally..that is why you thinking about that ..Pandey.."..Ashutosh said in a calm tone.

But, Prajapati Pandey was coming with his family. Pandey's elder daughter's marriage was about to be fixed. The groom and his family were waiting for them near the temple. The marriage has been fixed, Prajapati's wife insisted to make some charity to the beggars near the temple, Pandey was very happy and he agreed on that. And they found Ashutosh seated on the step. Pandey smirked, and threw some coins to Ashutosh.

" It seems, God is really kind to us, look we got a proper beggar at the first step of the temple.." Pandey said with a voice full of conceit.

" For God's sake Pandeyjee, we are in temple, don't start it here, at least..Thakur Saab, why are you sitting here?"..

" Can't you see..he is fully into bhaang..he is not in this world right now.."..Prajapati said with an attitude.

" And you, Pandeyjee..you have gone cuckoo without the bhaang..I believe.."..Ashutosh said coolly.

" You mind your language.."

" You rectify your deeds Pandey.."..Nandan said in a heated tone.

"Pitajee.."..here came a female voice.Ashutosh looked at the owner of the voice. A girl , not more than 22, was coming towards them.."Nandan..is she your daughter?"..Ashutosh said with a smile.

" Ohh God..you have certainly gone cuckoo Thakur..I am not married yet, I myself is 24..how can she be my daughter..?"

Shrimati Pandey introduced her, " She is my youngest daughter Thakur Saab..Maheshwari.."..

Ashutosh looked at Maheshwari. Maheshwari looked at Ashutosh with a straight gaze as if she was piercing his inner self. Ashutosh could look at her more any long, he looked away. He said ," Nandan, let's go...".

After Ashutosh left, Maheshwari asked her mother, " Who is that ?"

" Chhote Thakur, Thakur Saab actually, after Bade Thakur passed away. Thakur Ashutosh Singh. His ancestors were the zamindars of this area in earlier days, now they are no more the landlords, but yes, huge amount of wealth they have, still very respected by local people, that day you saw the factory, it belongs to them.."

" Ohh cut it out, he is nothing but a hooligan, leader of the gang including that rascal Nandan Yadav..every second day they are creating some chaos.Chhotki, don't pay any attention to that goon..come, let's donate something for the temple.", said Prajapati and proceeded towards the priest.

****

Ashutosh was working in his factory, whenever he gets disturbed , he increases his amount of work. After meeting Maheshwari that day, Ashutosh is not being able to be at ease.Something was in her eyes. Nandan came, "Thakur, Amma sent lunch for you.."

Ashutosh started to eat with an annoyed face.

"What happened Thakur.."..Nandan asked.

" Nothing, how many daughters does Prajapati Pandey have?"

" Three, Maya, the eldest one is already married. That day, Malini, the second one's marriage got fixed. Maheshwari is the youngest one..till now , she was in Banaras, for study.."

"Hmm.."

Nandan looked at his from the corner of the eye..symptom is not good. Thakur is very disturbed after that day. If his thinking is right, then it's not a good symptom. Is Thakur finally getting tempted to that girl? Okay, what is the problem with that? Honestly, they will make a great pair.

" Thakur, why don't you go home? Have a sound sleep..you look so tired..", Nandan suggested.

"Hmm.."

That afternoon, Ashutosh was standing on the terrace of his haveli, having his tea and again she appeared in his vision. She was riding on a cycle, going somewhere.And she stopped, looked at the terrace, stared for sometimes, Ashutosh had a keen urge to throw the cup at her. Then she left. After half an hour, she was passing by that lane again. A known friend of her recognised her.."Arre..Maheshwari..how have you been..?"

She stopped, and started to talk to her. While talking she kept staring at Ashutosh, who was still standing on the terrace.He was staring at her too. After the chat ended, Maheshwari climbed back on the cycle and she heard , "Excuse me..". She turned back, it was him.

"What the hell is this?"

" What?"

" Why are you taking round and round of my house?"

" I am not, you are misunderstanding.."

" I am understanding it very well..why were you staring me like that? I believe you are from a civilised family, it doesn't suit you.."

Now Maheshwari got angry, she said with an acidic tone , " You are right, local people praise a lot about you, you are like a Lord to them..that day in the temple I saw your popularity, so I decided I must not miss the chance to visit the place where a paragon of virtue like you stays. Darshan karne aaye the aapke..pranaam Prabhu..I should go now.." and she made her way leaving him dumbstruck.

*****

Later , in the evening, Ashutosh and Nandan paid a visit to Danish.

" How are you feeling now?"

" Much better..Chhotki Didi came..she apologised on behalf of Pandey.."

Nandan looked Ashutosh's stunned expression, he asked , "Who is Chhotki Didi?"

" Maheshwari Pandey..the youngest daughter of Pandey, I still remember, when my cattles used to intrude into Pandey's land in earlier days, Chhotki Didi used to save them, without the knowledge of Pandey, if she would have been there, Pandey couldn't do this to me.."..Danish said in a weak tone.

Amina, Danish's wife said gladly , " You know Thakurjee, what did she bring for us, two nice Banarasi sarees, 2 pair of dhoti kurta for Mian..nice clothes for the children, three boxes of sweets, one big jar of desi ghee, lots of fruits...she has been so kind to us always.."

"When did she come..?", Nandan asked.

" Just one and a half hours ago.."

Ashutosh recalled the scene in front of his haveli, when she was going she had a big bag hanging on the handles, the cycle carrier was also carrying a big cloth made bag. When she was coming back, she was empty handed. He missed to notice that time, that the way she was coming from was way to the matthh, Danish's home.He understood everything.

"Prajapati Pandey must have done something good in his previous life..why else such girl would be his daughter..? Isn't it Thakur?", Nandan asked cautiously.

"Hmmm..Bhauji, make some tea for us.."..Ashutosh said to Amina.

" Sure, Thakurjee.."

Nandan hid his smile.