FF: Khamoshiyaan T2: last part & VM page 66 - Page 9

CHAPTER 41:

Aman was standing at the window. The night was falling in with a cool breeze that came from the lagoon. Soon he heard the door clicking and saw Sameer walking out of the washroom after a bath, still wiping his hair with a towel. Clad in a white T-shirt, he didn't look like the usual chief. He looked much relaxed.

Sa: kya dekh rahe ho?

Am: you look different.

Sameer smiled at him and moved to the window combing his wet hair back with his hand.

Am: kithne shant hai yaha. Mumbai se tho bilkul alag.

Sa: yeah. green and serene. Aise lagtha hi nahi ke ye ek hospital hai.

Am: hm...

Sameer could sense Aman wanted to say something. "any problem?"

Am: nahi... bas... mien soch raha tha ke... Arjun kaise...

Before Sameer could reply, his mobile rang. A call from Coehlo. He sits by the bed. "hello Sir... yes sir..."

He notices another call coming in hid phone. Its from Sree.

Sa: sir, just a minute. (looking at Aman) Aman call Sree. He is trying to contact me.

Am: ok.

Aman moved ahead to the window again. He could visualize whats going on there back at Mumbai. Sree, Liza and Chotu might be waiting as if waiting for board result. Already a hundred world war might be over there on, "lets call" and "lets wait". Poor Chotu would have been stuck in between them with the usual banging his forehead and stating, "are.. Deva..."

He smiled at the thoughts. Before he could dial Sree's number, he called back.

Am: hello...

Sr: Sir... aap pohonch gaye? Did you see him? kya hua?

Am: Sree... Relax. Breath. Ok.. ready? Haan hum pohonch gaye. And yes we saw him.

There was a sudden silence at the other end. Aman could get it well.

Liza saw Sree and Chotu struck so she took hold.

Li: sir... kaise hai wo?

Am: hm... he is ... good...

Li: matlab?

Sree and Chotu were all ears. Aman knew they were waiting for the reply.

Am: he was in coma for more than a year. Aur baadme paralysis below waist.

Now pin drop silence.

Am: but don't worry. He is improving very well. Doc ne bathaya hai.

Sr: doctor?

Am: yes, he is in a hospital.

Ch: Deva...

Am: relax guys. He is fine.

Sr: then why did he hide?

Aman didn't know how to answer.

Am: Sree, hamare baath abhi thak nahi hua hai. Aisha is with him now. so maybe tonight ya tomorrow.

Again silence. Aman knew he deserve to give an explanation too.

Am: guys... I'm sorry. Mere bhi kuch chupane ka irada nahi tha. I came to know just a day back.

Li: then why did she lie?

Am: she too has her reason. And we should hear to that too.

Sr: hm...

Am: ok, I'll call you tomorrow. Bye.

Li: good night sir.

Am: good night.

He cuts the call and turns to Sameer, whose face said bad news.

Am: kya hua?

Sa: someone else knew all these too... Raghu sir...

Am: kya?

Sa: yeah... dammit...

His anger was evident again, but was saved by a knock at the door. Aman opened it for Varma.

Va: hai. Dinner ready hai. if you wish you may have it with him.

Sa: nahi. Uske koi zaroorath nahi hai.

Va: ok then. Bahar ek mess hall hai. you may have it there. Sakshi knows the way. she'll come and lead you.

Sa: she knows this place well.

Va: yeah. kafi bar achuki hai yaha..

Sa: hm...

Varma could read the distaste again.

Va: please. Uspe naraz math hoyiye. Jo galathi meine shuru kiya tha, Sakshi bas usme shamil hogayi thi. Kyunki...

Sa: I know... Halaath... Majboori... I get it...

He was totally frustrated and pissed off.

Varma sighed and turned slowly. Sameer felt bad for speaking as such.

Sa: baba... (standing up and moving closer) I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you. Its just... mien...

Va: patha hai. I can understand. Its ok.

He knew Sameer had said it in an impulse.

Va: don't think too hard. Lets speak. Kyuna dinner ke baad mile. Aapko sab patha chal jayega. Aisha aur Sakshi ko bhi bulathe hai. no more doubts then.

Sa: ok...

He could feel the sincere effort in the old man's tone.

Va: good. Aap dono fresh hojayiye. Sakshi will come here to take you.

Sa: ok.

Varma leaves them and Aman leaves to be freshed. By that time, Sakshi comes back and leads them to the mess hall. They were silent all the way. There were family members who were staying back to help the patients. And some patients too who were slowly walking towards their life.

Sameer was closely watching everything. Aman saw him still waiting over the food.

Am:Rathod... kya hua?

Sa: look around Aman. There is someone or other to take care of everyone. Then why did he do it all alone, all these years?

Aman and Sakshi were truly dumbstruck at the questions. They could never answer it.

***

Aisha stayed back in his arms for a long time. There was no melodrama over there. Their love was above all of that, that the mere presence did have the healing power on all the pains and sufferings.

She left his arms and sat by him. His hands never left her's. He held her tight.

Ar: ye nahi puchoge ke meine ye sab kyu kiya?

Ai:nahi. Tell me when you wish it.

Ar: I did hurt you.

Ai: yes you did.

Ar: I almost killed you.

Ai: yeah almost.

Ar: firbhi tum mujhe maaf karoge?

Ai: aapko kya lagtha hai?

Ar: patha nahi. Tumhare yaha hona hi ek sapna jaisa lagtha hai. aur kuch aur sochna...

Ai: do saal... pehle sabkuch maanne ko bilkul mann nahi tha. Sab keh rahi thi... but I knew it... par koi mere wiswas nahi kiya. Sabko laga ke mien shock me hu. Dheere mujhe bhi yahi lagne laga. Mujhe patha hi nahi chala Arjun ke sach kya hai, aur jhoot kya? Every second was killing me.

Ar: Aisha...

But she snapped in. "fir uss ghar pe rahna namumkin hogayi thi. Bhaag gayi mien. Kaha, ye pehle mujhe bhi nahi patha tha. Fir dheere dheere jaha thi, waha judne ke koshish kiya. Firbhi mann me kahi na kahi ek wish ke tharah aap thi..."

He was guilty with her every words.

"har pal... har pal aapko mere paas mehsoos karne laga. Har saans aapke sath thi. Shayad mien pagal hogayi thi..."

She was smiling in a trance. Two years of bottled up pain was coming out.

"fir wapas aana pada. Usse ek chamathkar kaho ya coincidence. Aaj mien yaha hu..."

He smiled behind glittering eyes.

"ab aur aage akele jaane ke himmath nahi thi Arjun... aise lag rahi thi ke mien mar jaungi..."

He closed her mouth quickly and nodded no.

"I'm sorry..." that was all that he could say. Nothing more.

They sat there fir a long time and the trance was broken with a knock at the door. Varma walked in. she quickly wiped her tears but he saw it. He was happy to see her close to Arjun, holding his hands. So the night mares were not true.

Va: sorry to disturb you. Arjun, your dinner time. Aisha, apke liye bhi hai.

She gets up to help him.

Ai: aap ithne thakleef kyu liya?

And now he got to hear her voice. Her face has changed within the time they have reached. It have changed from the worried and pained one to a happy loving one.

Va: isme thakleef kya hai beta? Ithne mahine se...

He stopped abruptly. She smiled.

Ai: aapko mien kabhi bhi shukriya ada nahi karungi. Kyunki mien wo kabhi nahi kar paungi. Jo aap mere liye kiya hai wo..

Va: bas bas... meine kuch nahi kiya... meine wahi kiya jo..

Arj: jo ek baap apne bete ko kartha hai.

He snapped in.

Arj: not what a doc would have done. But what a father would have done.

Varma was so happy at heart. He lost his words again.

Va: (turning away and clearing his choked voice) khane ke baad ye tablets and a sleep. I am giving you all the charges now.

Ai: ok. No problem baba.

Ar: sab kaha hai?

Va: mess se khana kha rahe hai.

He smiled acknowledging it.

Va: wo bohot naraz hai.

Ar: I know. But it will be alright soon.

Va: ok... Aisha, tablets ke timing important hai. take care.

Ai: sure.

He left them as he was sure that he was in safe hands now.

Ai: khana khaye?

Ar:saath me.

Ai: ok.

She brought the food for him. He was just watching her adjusting everything for him. Bringing the food table for him, adjusting him to sit, and then bringing the plate in front of him. She saw him watching her. She knew its going to be tough. Any second he may go back to I'm a trouble for you' mode. She knew that she should handle him with care.

The old ACP was missing. He looked helpless. That's not acceptable. The first matter on her mind was to bring back the old confidence which he had hidden deep inside. She wanted him back, not only physicaly but also mentally. She brought up a food chunk in front of him but he never knew it.

Ai:khana khao Arjun.

He opened his mouth for her, keeping the eye contact with her. The food was chocking inside him. He was getting vulnerable again. She couldn't afford it.

Ai: nahi... kuch math socho. Just let it be for a while. It's going to be ok.

Ar: par... kab?

She felt a crack in his voice.

Ai: bohot jald. I promise.

She smiled at him giving him the confidence.

She fed him with the food and also fed herself upon his insistance. They she helped him to clean up and gave him the medicines. It did have the sour taste, that made him wrinkle his face. She smelled the medicines. "kadwi hai..."

Ar:hm... aadat hai.

Ai: aur apke cutting chai?

Ar: baba nahi dethe.

Ai: ab mujhe uske aadat hai.

Ar: bohot kuch miss kiya hai na meine? Tumhe...tumhare bathein... your presence... kaam... sab kuch...

Ai: we will make it up.

Ar:kaise?

Ai:kaise matlab? We will get our life back... together... jo bhi miss kiya hai... wo sab...

Ar: par...

Ai: for a change, trust me.

Ar: I always did Aisha.

Ai:no you didn't. Warna ye doorie, akelepan, aise kuch bhi nahi hotha. So iss bar mien apko samjhaungi... ok?

She gave a naughty smile. He knew she was trying her best to lift his spirits up.and he knew she was doing well too. He was feeling much better...

She helped him back to his bed and sat by him.

Ai: sojayiye... its time.

Ar: I don't want to close my eyes.

Aisha slowly closed his eyes with her palm. "sleep... mien yahi hu..."

She bent forward and wished him his goodnight as she used to do... memories were flooding in for both. They lingered for a while before moving back. She brushed his wavy hair. Soon he was fast asleep. As peacefull as never before in the recent past. Her presence did give him that effect.

Soon she could sense that he was asleep. A tiny tear drop that she was holding long back fell down. She was happy that she was here now. She was not there when he struggled. He still thinks she is troubled. But no... now she was sure that she will stay back for him... whatever happen.

She couldn't take her eyes off him, even after he slept. This truly felt as a dream.

A knock at the door brought her back. She opened he door to Sakshi.

Sa: sorry, mien..

Ai: its ok. He slept.

Sa: did you have your dinner?

Ai: hm...

Sa: Aisha, I know there is a lot to explain. So please are you ready to hear it?

Aisha nodded.

Sa: Sameer aur Aman, room 12 mien hai. tum bhi join karogi? Baba bhi hai...

Aisha could see the worry on her face.

Ai:mien aarahi hu. Fresh hoke...

Sa: ok... we will wait...

She stood there for a while uncertain and then turned back. Aisha was still at the door steps.

Ai: Sakshi...

She turned back.

Ai: thank you.

She looked confused.

Ar: unhe sambhalne keliye. Mujhe jagaane keliye. Sab keliye... thank you.

Sakshi's eyes brimmed again. She just nodded and walked off.

Aisha went in and freshed up and changed to a cotton salwar. She moved to him who was sleeping. She kissed his forehead. "mien abhi ayi... sleep well..."

She smiled at him and went towards Sameer's room.