Chapter-6
Ashutosh barely stood up at the sudden shock he got... His once best friend, that claimed to love him once, is standing as his younger brother's lover, that too around more than a decade older than his brother... Ashutosh's shocked eyes, suddenly left Mallika and Rohan's, hearing a hitch of breath, everyone looked at the direction of the only sound in the hall, that was from a shattered and broken Neeti... Her suppressed cries were threatening to burst, and only the force to stop them from coming were her uneven breaths... She suddenly, turned around to leave as fast as she could...
Admist all this, Nidhi was the most distressed of all, whom shall she go with... Her husband, who needs a partner, who's younger brother has all messed with his life,
Or to go with her little sister, who needs a desparate shoulder to cry her heart out, who's little small wonderous world, that she was knitting with so much love, came down thrashing in a minute... Nidhi called out for Neeti, tried taking fast steps towards her, but Neeti had swiftly kept Nidhi's phone on the nearby table and ran into the car, before Nidhi could even come near her... Nidhi just for once looked back towards Anji, who equally gave her a helpless look, both the sisters have come here to their own home, leaving behind their distressed baby... For the first time in these 3 years, Nidhi so wished she was at her Maiyka, and she could console her sister... A silent tear escaped her eye at her sister's condition... She quickly picked up her cell phone, and went to the porch, and dialled at her home... Baba picked the call...
Yograj: Hello...
Nidhi: Hello Baba?
Y: Nidhi beta... Kya baat hai? Kuch kehna tha kya?
N: Baba, mujhe aapki help chahiye (Nidhi narrated all in brief)... Please Baba, Neets ka dhyaan rakhiyega, usko aap sab ki bohot zarurat hai iss waqt... Main apni zimmedari mein bandhi hoon... Ashuji ko meri zarurat hai... Plz baba, Neets ko koi akela mat chodiyega...
Y: Tum fikar mat karo beta... Apne parivaar par dhyaan do, hum sab hain na... Neeti ka har haal mein saath denge...
N: Thank you baba...
Nidhi cut the call and went into the hall, to see, an Angry Ashutosh standing there with the rest of the family...
Ashutosh: Rohan, mere saath chal, mujhe tumse khud akele mein baat karni hai...
A little apprehensive Rohan, of his brother's mood followed suit... After reaching a solitudous place in the home...
Ro: Ji Bhaiya..
A: Kya main pooch sakta hoon Rohan, ke ye sab kya hai?
Ro: Bhaiya, main Mallika ji se pyaar karta hoon, aur unke hi saath zindagi bitaana chahta hoon...
A: Aur Mallika? Wo tumse pyaar karti hai?
Ro: Ofcourse bhaiya... She says, she loves me...
A: Aisa wo kabhi mujhse bhi kehti thi...
Ro: Par bhaiya, ultimately, aapne Bhabhi se shaadi kar li na? Aapne mallika ji ko kabhi dost se zyada nahi samjha, toh ismein unki kya ghalti... Kya unko dubaara pyaar karne ka haq nahi hai?
A: Bilkul hai Rohan... Lekin, tumse?
Ro: So what Bhaiya? Agar unko aapka saath nahi mila, iska matlab ye nahi hai ke unko aapke bhai se pyar nahi ho sakta...
A: Rohan, main mallika ko tabse jaanta hoon, jab tum pyaar ke matlab bhi nahi samajhte hoge... she's an ambitious girl... Wo apni age se 15 saal chote ladke se shaadi kyu karegi bhala?
Ro: Oh come on bhaiyaa!!! Aap toh age gap wali baat par issue na hi create karein toh better hoga... After all, you too have married with a huge age gap... Bhabhi aapse 11 saal choti hain...
A: Rohan, now you are taking it in a wrong sense brother... I wouldn't have objected on that matter, but Main mallika ko jaanta hoon...
Ro: Please bhaiya, agar hum mallika ji ke baarey mein bura na hi bole toh behtar hai... Aap mere bade hain, main aapke saath behes nahi karna chahta... All I can say is, I'll prove mine and Mallika ji's relation as a pure one... So, that you can believe, that the impression you have about Mallika ji is wrong...
A: I so wish Rohan, that I'm proved wrong... I shall pray, that May the Almighty bless you both with prosperity...
With that, the topic was ended, and Ashu n Rohan came back to the hall, to meet a very distressed family... Rohan came and announced to his parents-
Ro: Maa-baba, Mallika ji ke parents ke jaane ke baad unka yahan koi nahin hai... Isliye, wo ab humaare saath yahin humaare saath rahengi...
To this, his parents could only do was show her the guest room...
Ashutosh was really upset to see the newly wed couple all disturbed with the sudden change of events... He took it all on his shoulders, and chilled the environment,
A: Arrey bhai, kya ho gaya hai aap sab ko, huh? Anji aur Ranga humaare aise faces dekh ke kitne pareshaan hain... They are all so waiting for the announcement, when shall we all retire to our respective rooms, so that they can proceed to theirs... Kyu Anji?
Anji, whose forehead was creased with the tension around, first split into a wide grin, and then turning up all shy, hearing her Jeeja ji teasing her so... Nidhi who knew very well, why her husband is doing so, came and side hugged her sister smilingly...
N: Aur nahi toh kya Ashuji... Bas... Ab bohot ho gaya... Chaliye sab apne-apne rooms mein chaliye, inko apni privacy chahiye...
Anji, who was all blushing slowly said- "Aisa kuch nahin hai Di..." To this Nidhi answered back,
N: Really Anji? Aisa hai? Wow!!! Main Ashuji ke saath so-so kar bore ho gayi hoon, aur tumhare saath night-out kiye bohot waqt ho gaya hai... Toh ek kaam karte hain, Ranga, Ashuji ke saath humare room mein so jaayenge, aur Tum aur main tumhare room mein.. (Then she turns to Ashu) Khamakha, aapne inka room decorate karwaya... inko toh saath waise bhi rehna nahi hai... hai na?
Seeing the horrified expressions on Ranji's faces, the entire family burst into peels of laughter... The intended thing worked out, the charged up and tensed environment for the newly weds lightened... Ashu gave a releaved look at Nidhi...
Nidhi took Anji to their room, took out a night dress for her,and kept it aside, winking at her- "Wear at your convenience" Nidhi left a shocked Anji behind in the room...
There outside, Ashu put his arms around Ranga's shoulder, grilling him thoroughly, knocking some sense in him... Finally Ranga retorted- "Bhaiya... ye ghalat baat hai.. Maine aapko aapki shaadi par itna pareshaan nahi kiya tha" Finally Ashu too left Ranga at his doorstep, and turned back to the hall... After assuring the family, that everything will be fine, he made all to get back to their rooms... Finally, Ashutosh went back to his room... Nidhi was in the washroom... Ashutosh went and stood infront of his and Nidhi's wedding picture, his hands in his pocket... He wondered, How long have both of them come up since their wedding... Come what may, they have always stood together, becoming each others support... He smiled at Nidhi's words, that she had once said, that she'll always be with him- "Na main khud doobungi aur na aapko doobne doongi... Aur kabhi agar aapko lagey ke main bhi doob rahi hoon, toh please Ashuji, mujhe apni baahon mein le lijiyega... Chaahe jo ho, hum saath rahenge... Jeeyenge, toh saath mein, aur agar doob bhi gaye, toh wo bhi saath mein... Aakhir Jeewan saathi hain hum"... Ashutosh came out of his memory lane with those gentle tender arms coming from his back, folding around his chest... Her head leaned against his back... Ashu's all tensed body relaxed with Nidhi's touch, and a genuine smile came on his face...
Nidhi: Ashuji, aap fikar bilkul mat kijiye... Jo hoga, bhale ke liye hoga... Aur hum sab hain na... Bhagwaan na kare ke kuch bura ho, lekin jo hoga, hum sab mil baat ke sambhaal lenge...
Ashutosh turned back to her and gave her a whole hearted smile... He couldn't help taking her in his arms... Life cannot be tensed as long as his Nidhi is with him...- Ashu thought...
Tuney jo na kahaa,
Main wo sunta raha.
Khamakhaa bewajah,
Khwaab bunta raha.
Jaane kiski humein lag gayi hai nazar,
Iss sheher mein na apna Thikaana raha...
Koi chaahat se na ab apni chalta raha,
Khamakha khwab bunta raha...
Dard pehle se hai zyada,
Khud se phir ye kiya waada,
Khaamosh nazrein rahein bezubaan...
Ab na pehli si baatein hain,
Bolo toh lab thartharaate hain,
Raaz ye dil ka, na ho bayaan...
Hoga na ab asar hum nahin,
Hum safar mein toh hain, humsafar hai nahi...
Door jaata raha,
Paas aata raha,
Khamakhaa bewajah khwaab bunta raha...
Aaya wo nazar phir aise,
Baat chidne lagi phir se,
Aankhon mein chubhta,
Kal ka dhuaan...
Haal tera na humsa hai,
Iss khushi mein kyu gham sa hai,
Basne laga kyu phir wo jahan...
Wo jahan door jisse gaye they nikal,
Phir se Aankhon mein karti hai jaise pehel,
Lamha beeta hua,
Dil dukhaata raha,
Khamakhaa bewajah khwaab bunta raha...
Tuney jo na kaha, main wo sunta raha,
Khamkhaa bewajah khwaab bunta raha...
There, Neeti, after reaching her home, rushed to her bedroom, without saying a word to anybody... Avantika knowing her situation called her... but, she was far away from listening anyone... Yograj Verma swiftly walked with Neeti... She was about to close the door, when he held it from the rim of the door...
Y: Neeti beta... Don't close the door... I want to talk to you...
Nidhi, without any disobedience, opened it for him... Yograj eyed everyone in the hall, that he'll handle it, and went inside... Sitting on the corner of the bed, he made Neeti sit too...
Neeti in her attempts to stop her tears flowing infront of her father, looked away... Yograj understanding her pain, put his hand on her head...
Y: Its ok beta... It happens...(Neeti looked at her father with a disbelief...) Tum bhale hi na kaho beta, lekin, these doe like eyes are the same, that of your mom and ur Nidhi di have... They speak volumes beta... But, we cannot impose our emotions on anyone na...
Ne: (Slowly tears rolling down her eyes)Baba, you know all of it?
Y: yes beta.. I knew... Abhi tumhari Nidhi di ka call aaya tha... Pata hai wo kitni ghabra gayi thi?
Ne: Par baba, mujh se control nahi ho raha tha... And I didn't want them to see any of my tears...
Y: Koi baat nahi mera bachha... Kuch nahi hota... Jaane do... Aur beta, kasoor rohan ko bhi nahi de sakte na... He never said anything to you...
Ne: But, I thought he...
Y: I know beta... You must be feeling ditched... But the fact is, he never confessed it to you, and thats the foremost thing beta... hain na?
Ne: (Wiping her tears) Hmmm... I think you are right... Ok baba... I'll be fine... Thank you...
Y: Its ok beta... Ab shaanti se sone ki koshish karo, Kal Anji Di pagphere ke liye aayengi... Tumko jaldi uthke preparations mein sabki help karni chahiye...
Ne: Ok Baba... Good night...
After Yograj closed the door behind him, Neeti went to the washroom, changed her clothes, and went under the cold shower, in an attempt to wash away all those thoughts that she once was all happy about... Those tears, quickly spilled out her eyes... She let them flow, till she felt light... Changed into her night dress and went back to her bed...
The next morning brought another adventures to the Mathur Mansion... Nidhi with a determined will got to the main hall, to light the Diya at her home... And soon after, Anji and then the rest of the members of the family started coming out, including Mallika... Nidhi went into the kitchen to get for the breakfast, when Anji followed her...
An: Di, main aapki help kar deti hoon...
N: (Holding Anji's hands in hers) Anji, pata hai, jab main yahan, iss ghar mein Bahu banke aayi thi na, Maa ne mujhse tab tak koi kaam nahi karwaya, jab tak mere haathon ki mehendi nahi utri...
Aur ab, iss ghar ki badi bahu hone ke naate, ye mera farz hai, ke main tumko bhi tab tak, koi kaam na karne doon... Tum bas apne inn golden days ko enjoy karo... Because, no matter what, ye din wapas kabhi nahi laut ke aatey...
Standing out of the kitchen in the hall, Nidhi's parents- in-laws were just awestruck... This little girl, seems to become so elder, that she's taking up the responsibilities of the family, as the eldest daughter-in-law of the house, and not just an elder sister... This girl is really something...
Hearing Nidhi n Anji's convo, Mallika came in...
M: Par, main toh aapki help kar sakti hoon na?
N: (Dumbed) Ji? Nahi Dr. Mallika, aap kyu karengi yahan kaam... ( When she was about to say, that "Aap toh yahan mehmaan hain.." Mallika cut in between)
M: Ab ek na ek din toh mujhe bhi iss ghar ki bahu banna hai, toh mujhe bhi yahan ke hisaab se dhalna chahiye... Nahi?
Seeing the uneasiness on Nidhi's face, her Mother-in-law tried saving the situation...
Anu: Mallika... Beta, abhi Nidhi ko thodi jaldi hogi... Anji ko apne maaike jaana hoga na pagpheron ke liye, kaam pehle finish kar lete hain, tum baad mein help kar dena... Abhi toh baaki servants hain na... Aao, tum yahan baitho...
To this Nidhi gave a relieved sigh, and as soon as Mallika could join the rest of the family, sitting together, sipping their tea, Ashutosh's cell phone rang... It was Armaan calling... He got up and went upstairs to talk to him in silence...
As: Good morning Armaan...
Ar: Good morning Ashutosh... (After a pause) Sab theek toh hai na ghar par?
As: yeah!!! Abhi tak toh, sab theek hai Armaan...
Ar: Woh main jaanna chaah raha tha, ke kya aisa mumkin hai, ke main Anji ko lene pagphere ke liye aaoon?
As: Arrey yeh koi poochne ki baat hai Armaan? Bilkul yaar... iss ghar mein Nidhi aur Anji mein koi farq nahi hai yaar... Agar Nidhi ke pagphere hue thhey, toh Anji ke bhi honge... Ghar mein kaun aa raha hai, kaun jaa raha hai, issey koi matlab nahi hai... Anji ke jo haqq hain, wo uske adhikaar hain, aur wo usey zaroor milenge... Tum bejhijhak Aao Anji ko lene...
Ar: Ummm... Ashutosh...
As: Haan Armaan... Kuch aur bhi kehna chahte ho?
Ar: Wo main soch raha tha, ke kya main Nidhi ko bhi saath le chaloon... Wo Neeti...
As: (Running his fingers through his hair) Neeti... Main apni pareshani mein usko toh bhool hi gaya... Kaisi hai wo? Kisi se baat ki usney?
Ar: Jab ghar aayi thi, toh bohot upset thi... Nidhi ne Chachaji ko pehle hi call karke inform kar diya tha... so, unhone hi usko sambhala... Wo shayad kisi aur se baat nahi karti... Nidhi ki shaadi se pehle, uski humraaz, uski friend, sab Nidhi thi, phir uske baad Anji... Ab dono nahi they... Wo kisi se apne dil ki baatein itni aasaani se nahi kehti... Isliye phir uske baba ne hi usko sambhala...
As: (Giving a tired sigh) Ab kaisi hai wo Armaan?
Ar: Theek hai... Subah se, sabse normally behave karne ki koshish kar rahi hai... But, at the end of the day, bachchi hai... Humse door kahan jaayega uska dard... Sab uski aankhein bayaan kar rahi hain...
As: Armaan, she need Nidhi?
Ar: Humko toh aisa hi lagta hai... Coz Nidhi se zyada, uski koi remedy nahi rahi hai... Jo bhi takleef wo apne andar dabaaye rakhi hai, I'm sure, wo sab baahar aa jaayega...
As: Bilkul-bilkul Armaan... Main Nidhi se bhi tayaar hone keh doonga... Abhi toh breakfast mein lagi hai... jald se jald ready ho jaayegi...
By the time Ashu concluded the call with Armaan , and went downstairs, the breakfast was already laid, and all were all set to eat... Nidhi was in the kitchen, looking if, everything has put, set... And Hiraman kaka stood beside her, if she needs help... Ashu came into the kitchen, and almost keeping a straight face said- "HK, aapko maa breakfast table par bula rahi hain... Aur phir kaka, please jaake dekh lijiyega, ke bahar reception ke liye decorators aaye ke nahin..." With this, HK shook his head and smilingly went away...
As soon as HK was out of sight, Ashu making sure, nobody sees him, pulls Nidhi to the corner of a pillar in the kitchen, so as to save themselves, from anybody's eyes... With the sudden pull, Nidhi's hair fell on her face, with a strand of hair, leisurely placing on her face...
Ashutosh, with the lightest of his fingers weight, very slowly removed that strand from her face, making it tickle to Nidhi... Tucking it at the back of her ear, he intendly looked at his wife's face... She looked absolutely cute, and beautiful... Specially, when she's carrying, their baby in her...
A: Did I tell you, you're looking so pretty today?
N: Abhi tak toh nahin... Kal raat tak ka toh yaad hai... (Chuckled Nidhi)
A: Koi baat nahin, ab keh deta hoon... Nidhi, u r my queen... The queen of my heart... And no matter, however beautiful girls pass by me, No one can ever compete with you, from my eyes... Because, you are the one, that's the most beautiful...
N: (After looking at him to her fill finally Nidhi came out of her stupor, with Ashu's hands lazily moving on her body) Hatiye ji...!!! Kahin bhi shuru ho jaate hain... Koi dekh lega toh?
A: (Laughing, at the pitch, only audible to them) Tum pichle 3 saalon se roz rahi bolti aa rahi ho... Par, look... I'm such an expert, humein aaj tak kisi ne nahi dekha... Tum bhi na, kitna ghabraati ho...
N: Ashuji, aapko naashta nahi karna kya? Phir Armaan bhaiyaa aa jaayenge, toh naashta nahi ho payega... Anji ko pagphere ke liye bhi jaana hoga na...
A: Haan!!! Pagphere se yaad aaya... Nidhi, mujhe aur Armaan ko aisa lagta hai, tumko bhi jaana chahiye Anji ke saath... Neeti ko tumhari zarurat hogi... (Nidhi, who was till then looking down, suddenly looked into his eyes) Main bhi kitna khudgarz hoon... Apni aur apne ghar ki pareshaani mein main, humaare doosre ghar, aur unki pareshaani, specially tumhari pareshaani ko samjh hi nahi paaya... I'm so sorry Nidhi... You must be feeling so tied up... Whom to support... Me or your sister... Mujhe bilkul dhyaan nahi raha... Lekin, tum ek dutiful Patni aur behen dono ke farz bakhoobi nibha gayi... Nidhi, I'm so proud of you...
N: (Putting her hand on his arms) Bas-bas!!! Bohot ho gayi meri taareef... Sab aapse hi seekha hai... Aapne itna socha.. mere liye yahi bohot hai... Chaliye, ab breakfast karte hain...
Both turned around to find a jealous and angry Mallika standing just behind their back, on the kitchen door, folding her arms on her chest...
Comments and/or likes are most welcome...😃
Kumkum Bhagya
Tu Dhadkan Main Dil
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
