FF: Khamoshiyaan... (chap 37 page 133) - Page 63

CHAPTER 27:

She reached home after the work. Aman and Sakshi had dropped her home. She went straight to her bed and lay down on her bed, bringing back the Aisha who was invisible in her at the office.It was almost like she was playing different roles in a play, she was now a master in showing different faces at times. She was a straight forward officer when in a case. The best buddy of Sree, Chotu and Liza gang, who tried to smile with them, joining in their leg pulling session. Sakshi's new friend who brought up a different feeling all together. Rathod's best officer and a good friend. Aman's… well there was no relation there. Except that he was a good guide for her, who was always there with Sam to give her the moral support.

And now at home, she is the old Aisha… Arjun's Aisha…

She lay there for a while and then went for fresh up. After a cup of coffee, she went to the most important part of her home.

It's a plain room. With a white wall that had a portrait. It was hung right in the centre position of the wall. It was a present from Sree, days after their marriage. The other things in the room were a single leather sofa, a table with some books and a cupboard with some files. This was Arjun's favorite room. It was in such a location that there was a regular breeze that would enter in through the large window.

She went to window and opened its glasses. A mild window came in through the lacy curtain that fluttered her hair with it. She closed her eyes, feeling the wind on her face. She felt a finger that tucked some loose strands of hair on her face behind her ear. She jerked and turned around; there was no one except the smiling face in the portrait.

She took her dairy and went to the sofa and sat facing the portrait. It was taken by Sree, on her wedding day. She was in a red saree, there was a mark of vermillion on her forehead.he was by her side, in white shirt with a pleasant smile. His one hand was over her shoulder keeping her close to him.there was a naughty look in his eyes and shyness in her's. Sree had captured that moment at the right instant. And the day he presented it to them, he was so happy.

She could still feel Sree's excitement when Arjun and her self were opening the wraps. He was crossing his finger behind him. And when they saw the pic… the only memory she had was Arjun's face…precisely his eyes…

There was bliss in those eyes. And to witness that event… she felt so blessed… she had mentally thanked Sree on that more than any other day. It was the perfect gift one could ever wish for.

And now she was still looking at the portrait. He still had those naughty look and she still had the shyness… only he was not here with her now…physically…

She couldn't write anything in her diary today.everything was there in her heart, nothing would come through her pen.if words could be directly be flown from heart… then no diary ever made would have been enough to capture it…

A silly talk about Sree and Liza… a talk if it would ever be turned to love… a rememberence of the feeling of love…

"pyaar ek alag hi jasbath hothe hai… jis din tum pyaar karne lagoge, uss din jaan jaoge…"

She could hear his husky voice. She could see the truth in his eyes. She could feel the pain in his heart…

It was one of those days when both Aisha and Arjun understood that there was something beyond colleague, beyond friendship… something beyond everything. But to name it was tough. A case comes up where a boy murders a girl whom he loved because she didn't reciprocate his love.he was furious that he killed her mercilessly. And when caught, he said he did it for love. Arjun was the first one to react to it and had given a good talk to him, something the guy would remember in his whole life. That was one of those instants when Aisha noticed that Arjun would change to some other self, when a crime is done in the name of love.

Ais: ye pyaar sabko pagal kara dethe hai.najaane aise kya hai uss pyaar me ke log apne hosh hi kho baite??

Arjun turned to her. She looked oblivious to the feeling of love… she turned and saw Arjun looking at her. The eyes said something, but the face didn't show it. "lagtha hai tumhe kabhi pyaar nahi hua hai Aisha?"

She stood numb.did she know what love was? was it similar to the feeling that she felt when his eyes locked to her? when he cared for her? When he looked out forher, even if it was through a glare? Was this love?

She didn't say anything. She saw him moving to her side, her eyes never left his.he was right in front of her. "pyaar ek alag hi jasbath hothe hai Aisha… jis din tum pyaar karne lagoge, uss din jaan jaoge…"

"mien uss jasbath ko samajh rahi hu Arjun.jo samajh me nahi parahe hai, wo hai ye dard… laut aao Arjun…ab mujhse aur nahi hoga…"

***

Sakshi was back at her lodge. There was a small slip of tongue from her side. She was hoping Aman wont catch upto her. She was crossing room 121 to reach her room, but then she stopped.

"tum dono ke pyaar mere jaan loge Arjun. aaj Aman ke samne baal baal bachi hu. Mujhe aur tang math karo"

She was speaking to the closed door.

She looked frustrated and combed her hair with her hands. And then glared at the door again. "mien bhi kise samjha raha hu? Samjhane ka department tumhare hai na?"

She walks off to her room. Any one watching her would have thought that she lost her nuts.she was speaking to a closed door, as if a person was standing in front of her with a guilty face.

***

Aman was back in his room. He could hear Sakshi'swords again in his ears. "ek umeed ko zinda rakhne se kya problem hai?"

So true… umeed se hi duniya chalte hai.lekin uss umeed me kaise jeesakthe hai, jisse pura hone ka chance thak nahi hai.uska wapas aana…patha nahi…ye kabhi hoga ke nahi…

Sree isi umeed pe hai…

Sam kabhi dikhathe nahi,lekin andar kahi na kahi chupaya hai…

Aisha tho kabhi wo chodi hi nahi…

Aur ab Sakshi… patha nahi aise kyu lagtha hai ke usse sabse zyada viswas hai…

***

He was asleep in his chair. Somehow his sleep was broken. He looked around. He was in his cabin itself. He looked around adjusting to the light. It was as if some one had called him from his sleep. He was wide awake now.

He sat there for a while and the walked out of the cabin to the corridor. some people were sleeping in the chairs in the corridor. Some had a tensed look, while others were just too tired. It was a common scene in the hospital corridor.

He walked to the ICU region. Something seemed off.why is the light off? Where is the dimlight? Where is the sister who should have been in the nearby desk?

He went to the desk. The sister was lying on the floor, she looked unconscious. He checked her. Her vitals were stable. She was just knocked off.

He rushed to the ICU. In the light that fled to the room through the open door, he saw it…

The oxygen mask was on the floor. Instead he was being stangled with a pillow by a man. His back was to him. The victim would die any moment now….

"NO!!!!" Varma screamed aloud. He looked around. He was his room. He could feel the sweet on his forehead. He wore his glasses and rushed to the other room. Arjun aka Aryan was sleeping peacefully there. Varma walked to him and placed his hand on Arjun's forehead.

Arjun woke up at his touch and turned toVarma. "kya hua baba?"

Varma just smiled. "kuch nahi.sojao.."

He turned to leave but Arjun caught his wrist. "boliye… kya bath hai? aap soe nahi?"

Va: kuch purani yadein…

Arj:firse wahi baath? Aap wo bhool kyu nahi jathe?

Va: koshish kartha hu.lekin…

Arj: agar uss din aap nahi hothe tho mien aaj yaha nahi hothe…

Va: aise bath math karo Aryan.

Arj: tho fir aap bhi yaad rakhiye… fir se bol raha hu… kisike jaan lena aur jaan bachana alag bath hai…

Varma smiles at him."yaad rakhunga. Ab so jao. good night Aryan."

Arj: good night baba.

Varma went back to his room. It was easy to say, but to remember Arjun's condition at that time… it always gave him a shiver.

He sat on his bed and sighed.his eyes went to a photo frame.he took it.

A young boy was smiling at him… his Aryan.