OS: Pappa Jaldi Aa Jaana

Pappa Jaldi aa jaana...

Saat Samundar Paar Ke
Gudiyo Ke Baazaar Se
Achhi Si Gudiya Laana
Gudiya Chaahe Na Laana
Pappa Jaldi Aa Jaana

Nidhi was lying on the bed, telling bed time stories to her 6 years old Son Aadi and her 4 years old daughter Ashi... But, today, their favourite good night stories were also unable to divert the kid's minds off from that one person that they wanted... Today was their last working day, before the summer vacations began... Every child's parents had come to their school to pick them up, after the closing cultural function at school... As soon as the gates of the school opened, and in came their parents, their children ran towards their parents... Some running and going up in the arms of their mother, some of their father...

Aadi and Ashi too, holding each other's hands ran towards the gate, to find their mother standing... She immediately went on her hunches to welcome both her kids in her arms... Both the kids squealed- "Mummy" and wound their arms around her neck, resting their small heads against hers... Nidhi too took them both in a threesome embrace, uttering- "Mere bachhe" along with planting a kiss on top of both her children's heads... As soon as they reached to the parking, and Nidhi opened the gate of the car, sitting on the driver's seat, instantly she heard her children bickering... "Main mummy ke saath aagey baithungi" "Nahi... Main baithoonga..." and before, the fight could increase, Nidhi turned back to both of them, and glared her Not to mess around' look at both of them... "Dono peeche baithenge..." and both the children obediently followed their mother's instruction... They knew, not to make mummy angry on such things... After her mother had taken off from the parking and were driving on road, Aadi slowly uttered-"Par mummy, hum mein se koi ek toh aapke saath aage baith sakta tha na..." Nidhi immediately corrected him- "Only when one of you are with me... Otherwise you know na Aadi, Passenger seat par Mummy ke saath Papa, aur Papa ke saath mummy hi baith ti hain..."

From then on, both the kids suddenly felt a very pinning absence of their Papa... The entire evening, they had played out in the colony, but nothing could give them the solace... They looked around seeing children playing with their dads, and they too had that yearning in their hearts to play with their papa...

Lying on the bed, Ashi snuggled into her mummy's arms and poutingly asked- Mummy, Papa kahan hain?

Aadi added on- "Humein unki bohot yaad aati hai..."

Nidhi, who was lying between both her kids, brought Aadi also up in her arms and said- "Beta, papa border par gaye hain..."

Ashi immediately brought her head up from her snuggling position, with her curly hair coming over her eyes- "Mummy, border matlab?"

Nidhi put Ashi's hair aside with her fingers tucking them behind her ear...

N: Ashi, in which country do you live?

And the baby immediately answered,- "India"

N: Toh jahan par India khatam ho, aur kisi aur ki country shuru ho jaaye, usey border kehte hain baby...

But, the curious brain of the little kid wasn't giving up- "Par mummy, Papa wahan gaye hi kyu? Unhe humari yaad nahi aati?"

Nidhi kissed her forehead- "Aati hai beta... Papa ko aap sabki, infact hum sabki bohot yaad aati hai... But kya karein bachhe, Papa Army mein hain... Unka kaam country ko protect karna hai... Isliye wo saare waqt aap sabke saath nahi reh paate...

Now it was Aadi's turn to ask- "Mummy, papa country ko kisse aur kyu protect karte hain?

N: Beta, kabhi-kabhi na, do countries ke beech fight jo jaati hai, war... War ho jata hai, isliye Papa ko wahan rehna padta hai, apni country ko bachaane ke liye, apni country ke liye fight karne ke liye...

And the next instant, Ashi's innocent question left her speechless for a moment-

Ashi: Mummy, Kya countries ke paas unki koi mummy nahi hoti, jo unke beech fight hi nahi hone de? Jaise aap mere aur Bhaiya ke beech nahi hone deti...

Nidhi did not know exactly what to answer... More in depth meant, making her kids clueless, so she cut it by saying- "No beta..."

Tum Pardes Gaye Jab Se
Bas Ye Haal Hua Tab Se
Dil Deewana Lagta Hai
Ghar Veerana Lagta Hai
Jhilmil Chaand Sitaaron Ne
Darawazon Deewaron Ne
Sabne Poochha Hai Hum Se
Kab Ji Chhootega Gam Se
Kab Ji Chhootega Gam Se
Kab Hoga Unka Aanaa

Pappa jaldi aa jana...

After putting the kids to sleep, Nidhi walked back to her room... Their room... Ashutosh's and her room, and stood infront of the wall, that hung pics from different-different occasions... She touched the one, of their wedding, he looked so handsome, and that smile that could kill millions of girls... Her thought went to the day, when their marriage alliance was fixed... Ashutosh while sipping his tea, walking over the garden with her said- "Aap fikar mat kijiyega Nidhi, I assure you, you'll have a very good, prosperous and happy life with me... Main poori koshish karoonga, ki aapko kisi cheez ki kami mehsoos na ho..."

Today while thinking those words, her eyes filled up with tears...

N: Ashutosh, inn sab aaraam-shaukh ki cheezon ka main kya karungi... Iss mulaayam bistar mein wo baat nahi, jo aapki baahon mein sar rakhke milti hai... Khaana kitna bhi achha bana loon, lekin, aapki aakhon ki chamak dekhe baghair ye khana bhi beswaad sa lagta hai...

Ye mehenge kapde gehne kis kaam ke, agar aapki baahon ka haar na mile...

Ye ghar agar mehel bhi hota, toh bhi main iska kya karoon, aapke bina toh sab kuch adhoora sa lagta hai...

Ashutosh, pichle saal aapke saath bitaaye hue humaare family time ki pal-pal ki yaadein maine sanjo kar rakhi hain... Sirf tab tak, jab tak aap wapas nahi laut te...

Lekin, ab wo yaadein bhi kam padne lagi hain... Aapke bachhe, humaare bachhe bhi aapko bohot miss kar rahe hain... Unki har harkat mein main aapki kami mehsoos kar rahi hoon...

(Then giving a hearty kiss on one of his smiling pics) Jaldi ghar aa jaaiye ab... bas bohot ho gaya... Ab ek pal bhi aapke baghair guzaarna, sadiyon sa lag raha hai... Laut aaiye ab...

Maa Bhi Lori Nahi Gaati
Ham Ko Neend Nahi Aati
Khel Khilaune Toot Gaye
Sangi Saathi Chhoot Gaye
Jeb Hamaari Khaali Hai
Aur Baasi Deewali Hai
Hum Sabko Na Tadpaao
Apne Ghar Wapas Aao
Apne Ghar Wapas Aao
Aur Kabhi Phir Na Jana

Pappa jaldi aa jana...

It was Sunday evening, and no summer class was conducted that day, the kids wanted to go play outside with their friends... Even after Nidhi's explanation, that their friend's families might have their plans somewhere, they shouldn't go, But, on Aadi's urges and Ashi's threatening tears, Nidhi allowed them out... Not had it been more than 30 minutes passed by, when the grumpy kids re-entered the house... Aadi immediately threw his bat and ball in the games kit, and plopped on the sofa... And and Ashi hugging her Barbie and her doll's accessories, came to her mother...

Ashi: Mummy, Bhaiya ke friends na, sab vacations par apni family ke saath chale gaye... And jo meri friend hai na Riya, jiske saath main apni Barbie khelti hoon, wo na, apne mummy-papa ke saath Amusement Park gayi hai... Ab hum dono kiske saath khelenge Mummy??? (The little girl again held those glistening tears in her eyes...)

Nidhi, who had held herself busy making her kid's favourite Chocolate Cake, felt her heart melting, instead of the chocolate, that was supposed to melt, seeing her kids so sad and empty handed... She had never liked her children, sitting 24x7 infront of tv or computer, and they were habitual to it...

Nidhi picked her little daughter, and made her sit on the kitchen counter...

N: Ok! Aisa karte hain, why not we play with your Barbie? Mummy aapke liye cook bhi karti jaayengi, aur aapke saath aapki Barbie ko bhi dress hote dekhengi... Is that ok?

And aah! The baby got her friend to play with her Barbie... she gave a smacking kiss on her mother's cheek... "yesh Mummy... aap dekhna..."

While Nidhi did her cooking work, she looked up at her boy-

"Aadi, beta jab tak main cooking kar rahi hoon, why not we have a game of Scrabble? Let's see who wins this time..."

Aadi felt elated... Atleast, if not cricket, he had some game to play, that he liked... He immediately set the board on the counter and took a stool and sat playing... Aadi played both for his and his mother's behalf as she told him to do...

Later, Nidhi played cricket with Aadi, with Ashi bringing the ball everytime it went beyond the set boundaries... In total, the 3 mother and children had fun together, trying to fill the emptiness in each other's life...

Khat Na Samjho Taar Hai Ye
Kaagaz Nahi Hai Pyar Hai Ye

Nidhi sat on her writing table-chair writing in her diary, capturing the moments to cherish... Today, it is another Karwa Chauth without him... Nidhi was waiting for the moon to rise... Oh! How she always had waited for these special days, all her life... Every year, when Ashutosh used to be there on Karwa Chauth, she would be on the ninth cloud, enjoying her fast... The other times, when he would not be here, she quietly kept her fast and whole heartedly prayed for his long life... Even today, she was, like any other day, praying for his well-being, and here she was writing her diary, addressing Ashutosh...

Ashutosh,

Aaj humara 8^th Karwa Chauth hai... Iss baar bhi aap nahi hain yahan... No complains though, but yes, I do miss you... Just a wish, ke kaash aap bhi saath hote... Khair, na bhi hain, toh bhi, duaaein toh dil se hoti hain, and I shall pray from all my heart, to keep you safe and sound, from all the enemity, harms and injuries...

Aaj aapki beti pooch rahi thi, ki aaj kaun sa festival hai, mummy ki tarah fast karegi... Badmaash khaana nahi khaane ke bahaane dhoondh rahi hai... Shaam ko khoob royi, kyuki maine usko zabardasti khana khila diya, tab jaake maani jab maine usko bahaana banaya ke, Mummy ne bhi khaaya tha, Sorry, bachhi se jhoot bolna pada... But, how could I have seen my little baby stay hungry the entire day? Now, mummy ko dekh ke usko bhi achhi dress pehen ni hai... Last year ki humari Jaipur trip se jo humne uske liye Ghagra-Choli li thi, wo pehni-pehni sabko dikha rahi hai... Uske nana aaye they, unke saath apni Nani-Bua ko bhi dikhaane gayi hai... Dono bachhe laut te hi honge... (And then Aadi came running in the room- "Mummy aap moon ka wait kar rahi hain na... Moon aa gaya hai...) Chaliye ji, Chand nikal aaya hai... Aap door hain mujhse, lekin dil se bilkul nahi... Aapke saath hone ka ehsaas hota hai mujhe... Chaliye Vrat kholti hu...

Nidhi took the Pooja ki thali to the balcony of her room, that gave a beautiful view to the sky and thus, to this full moon too... After doing the Aarti, Nidhi took the Chalni in her hand to look through it at the moon... And then turned to her left with the Chalni still at the same level, and closed her eyes... Oh yeah! Here she sees her husband with her mind's eye... A well chiselled body with hands folded at his back and a gorgeous smile on his face... Nidhi's face lit up seeing him... She so wished, she could have him really infront of her eyes...

Bending down to touch the ground where she assumed Ashutosh to be standing, and then stood up and ran her fingers over her head touching her hair parting... She gulped down a sip of water, and was about to take a bite of a sweet, when Aadi came running to her, and breathlessly asked-

Aadi: Mummy, Kargil kahan hai?

The name of that place itself, made Nidhi turn attentive, and keeping her voice as calm as she could asked-

N: Kyu beta? Kya hua? Kahan suna aapne ye jagah ka naam?

Ad: Mummy, maine abhi tv on kiya na, toh wo pehle se hi news channel tha, usmein bata rahe they ke India and Pak... pakis...

N: Pakistan...

Ad: Haan, Pakistan mein war ho raha hai... Mummy, Papa kahan par rehte hain?

Before Nidhi could answer, her cellphone began ringing, she immediately rushed to her room to see her father calling... Colonel Verma, was a retired officer in Army, who served his nation loyally and then chose his Son-in-Law too as an Army man... Nidhi picked up the call, while standing before the television about the news... In totality of the mixture of emotions, all Nidhi could manage to utter from her clogged throat was- Baba...

Colonel Verma, who knew, what his daughter must be going through, immediately said-

CV: Nidhi, you saw the news...?

N: Hmmm...

Cv: Beta, just don't worry, I'll let you get all the news before hand, and I'm sure sab theek ho jaayega... (When he heard no response from the other side) Nidhi...Beta, you there...?

Again, Nidhi wasn't able to utter anything, except a more sorrowful- "Baba"... It made clear to CV, that his daughter is on a verge of a break down... She needs her dear ones... Suspending the call immediately, Colonel Verma, asked his Bua, and his family friends and neighbours, the Solankies to accompany him to Nidhi's house...

Here Nidhi, just plopped down on the chair, immediately her eyes went blur... some involuntary tears ran down her cheeks... And as soon as her eyes had shed those tears, she saw her children looking at her with utter disbelief... They never saw their mother crying... After all, she was a brave woman... Seeing her children looking so clueless, a mother in her took lead and set aside the distressed wife's role, she wiped her cheeks to rub the tears away... Her mind was talking to her-

N: No Nidhi, Tum iss tarah kamzor nahi padd sakti... Ek biwi hone ke naate, tumhara mann tadapna, vichlit hone jaayaz hai, par ye mat bhoolo, ki tum ek maa bhi ho, unn bachho ki, jinhe har ek pal apni maa ki zarurat hai... No Nidhi...

Nidhi was immediately on her feet and then giving a determined look said-

N: Chalo tum dono khana khaane...

Because the kids had seen the look at her mother's face, they too didn't trouble her, and immediately sat on the chairs of the dining table... Nidhi had cooked various dishes today, she served them to her kids, while making Ashi eat from her hand... While the kids were half done, the door bell rang, Nidhi opened the door and as soon as her family entered, her Dadi Bua cried- "Meri Bachhi", ready to shed tears, but stopped immediately seeing Nidhi's stern face nodding a subtle no, eyeing towards her kids, indicating them, not to create any scene before her children... Dadi bua changed her expression and happily hugged her, the way she always did, so that the kids do not see what actually has happened... Nidhi literally wanted to cry out her grief, but did not, and smiled at her family and said- Aaiye na, khaana khaate hain...

She made everybody eat, serving them, CV silently asked Aadi, if his mummy ate anything, and he nodded a no... CV immediately brought his free hand out and called for Nidhi... She immediately stood beside him... He took her by her hand, and made her sit beside him... Serving some food in her plate, asked her to start eating... Nidhi seemed reluctant...

N: Nahi Baba... Mujhe bhookh nahi hai...

And there came a stern "Nidhi" from her father, that said, he would really be angry, if she doesn't eat... Nidhi felt no wish to argue with him, and thus, started nibbling her food, and finally ate something considerable, for her family's sake...

After putting her children to sleep, Nidhi came back to her parents... They consoled her, and asked to have patience, and have faith in God, everything shall be fine...

Suddenly Nidhi had no urge to cry, and she in her semblance bid her family adieu, with a promise, that they shall meet soon...

Doori Aur Itni Doori
Aaisi Bhi Kya Majaboori
Tum Koi Naadaan Nahi
Tum Isse Anjaan Nahi
Is Jeevan Ke Sapne Ho
Ek Tumhi To Apne Ho
Ek Tumhi To Apne Ho
Saara Jag Hai Begana,

Pappa jaldi aa jaana...

It has been 13 days since the war started... A week later, the war ended, with the news of endless number of soldiers dying at both the ends... The shots of some of the places of war on tv, made Nidhi all the more edgy... Blood everywhere, Jawaans taking the bodies of their dead and injured soldiers on stretchers... Nidhi was very-very restless... Inspite of Colonel Verma's repute, there was no news of the one soldier they wanted- Lieutenant Colonel Ashutosh Mathur... Where was he?

Even on Colonel Verma's urges, all they got to know, there is no news, the soldiers and officers, that were alive, have after doing the last official ceremonies of their dead army men, have returned back, but, no official documentation yet has received, if Lieut. Col. Ashutosh Mathur is alive or not... Now even Nidhi was becoming numb... She did all her duties as a mother, yet the heart of a wife was bleeding heavily... Those eyes of hers were as if turning into stones, waiting to see her husband standing infront of her...

Nidhi, was sitting in her small Mandir at home, putting her head against the feet of the Lord's idol... All she wished and asked the Almighty was her husband's health and welfare...

Nidhi just closed her eyes and uttered a hearty, "Ashutosh... Kahan hain aap?", then is when she heard her children scream- "Papa..."

Nidhi ran into the room attatched to the main door, fully stood stunned to see who was standing there...

"Oh my Goodness!" she was just amazed at her lucky stars... The soothing balm of her heart, the tonic for her eyes, was standing right infront of her... She was unable to move even a step...

Her trance broke, when her father hugged Ashutosh, congratulating and wishing him well being... The kids too went into their father's embrace, taking their fill of what they missed without their father...

Seeing Ashni wanting a moment, CV took the kids with him stating, DB want to see them for a day... The children reluctantly left their father, and Ashi spoke in her baby voice- "Papa... aap kahin jaana mat ab... Hum aate hain Nani bua se milke..."

As soon as CV went out of the house with kids, closing the door behind him, Ashutosh uttered a soft- "Nidhi" and all Nidhi took, was some hurried steps, landing into his arms... She kept moving her hand all over his face, arms, chest, back, everywhere, taking in the reality, that her husband is standing there right infront of her... Alive and healthy...The tears, that she had been stopping since 2 weeks began to flow freely, she cried her heart out... She began kissing him vehemently all over his face, venting out all her pain through her kisses... Even Ashutosh seemed to find solace in her love... He let her keep going, by holding her by her waist...

After some minutes, when finally she seemed sated, she looked over him, and his injuries... He was bruised and injured at many places... Forehead had a bandage, his forearms had swabs and gauze, elbows seemed scraped from the folded sleeves of his uniform, and she was sure, he must have been injured further on his knees and legs, coz, when they started to walk, he was limping, but, she had no heart to probe her eyes further to see him injured so much at this moment... She took him to their room and made him change into something comfortable and then made him lie down... He must have been very-very tired... After both had food, Nidhi lie down beside him, and put her head as light as she could on his shoulder, and then giving a contended sigh, weaving her arm around his neck, and kissed him again and said-

N:"Ashutosh, bas ab aur nahi hota, aapke bina rehna, aise lagta hai, jaise main roz ek nayi maut mar rahi hoon... Bachhe aapke bina tadapte rehte hain... Jaante hain, ye 2 hafte maine kaise guzaare hain ..."

Ashutosh could feel wetness of her tears on his t-shirt... he with his other hand, cupped her upper cheek and said-

A: Hey Nidhi... Ye kya... Tum phir se rone lagi? Nidhi, you have always been my brave heart, itni bahadur ladki ho, aur aisi baatein? Nidhi, tum mujhe inn aansuon se kamzor bana dogi, par, tum meri kamzori nahi, meri taaqat ho... Main wahan, ghar se, tum sab se door isliye reh pata hoon, kyuki, mujhe iss baat ka yaqeen hai, ki ghar par tum ho, jo mere behalf par sab sambhaal logi... Nidhi, Bhagwaan ne humein 1 karte hue bhi 2 alag-alag logon mein pata hai kyu baata hai, kyuki, jo kaam main yahan rehke na pura kar sakoon, wo kaam tum mere liye kar sako... Tum yahan, mere bachhon ki parent bhi hoti ho, meri jaan bhi ho...

Par agar main yahan par hi reh jaaon, toh bataao, wahan mere behalf par desh ki raksha kaun karega...? Bolo nidhi...

Nidhi immediately nodded a yes in understanding...

N: Theek hai... Aap chale jaaiyega, lekin abhi kuch din yahin guzaar ke, itni jaldi toh main aapko jaane nahi dungi...

A: Ok baba... as u say... (Kissing her forehead, both closing theirs eyes to drift into their blissful sleep...)

Later at Night, the children sat around their father, as if theywon't leave him, or else, he would again disappear... Little Ashi wanted to lie down on her father's chest and stomach, as she always did, and she immediately received a no from her mother...

N: No Ashi beta, Papa ko chot lag gayi hai bachhe... Unko dard hoga na...?

The little girl immediately had tears in her eyes... Seeing this, Ashutosh gave a smirk-

Ashu: Guess, whose daughter is she?

And Nidhi immediately understood the underlying sarcasm of fun in his voice... And mock glared at him and said-

N: Main itna nahi roti hoon, na roti thi, jab bachhi thi... This girl inherited something, I never had... I'm sure, it was you, who must have been a cry baby...

A: Main toh aisa nahi tha... Ye meri qualities mein nahi hai...

N: Haan! Toh kya padosi ke hain...? Ashutosh, what do you mean huh! ?

Ashutosh gave a roaring laugh...

A; Arrey baba, she must be having this quality of her own...

Dropping their bicker at that point, Nidhi picked Ashi up in her arms, and pulled on to Aadi's hand with her free hand...

N: Chalo dono bachhe log, khana kha lo, then Papa ke paas hi aa jana...

Later, when the kids had their dinner, Ashi was lying on top of Ashutosh's chest and stomach cosily her eyes started to droop... The baby immediately drifeted into sleep, while Aadi was lying near Ashutosh, telling about his school and friends... Later, he too was asleep... When Nidhi came to the room, after clearing everything, she found her kids sleeping... Nidhi began to shift them to their room, when Ashutosh said-

A: Rehne do na Nidhi... Aaj hum chaaron saath sotey hain... This bed is huge to accommodate all of us... I too have missed my family a lot...

Agreeing, Nidhi picked Aashi up and laid her in between Ashutosh and Aadi, and came on other side of Ashutosh, and laid down softly hugging him to her... Her heaven... her bliss...

That looked an absolutely picture perfect family, sleeping together...

~~**~~Thank u...~~**~~

Comments and/or likes are welcome...😃

Regards...

Aazeen