FF: Ek Aur Zindagi.. Ch:29 page 137 - Page 89

CHAPTER 28:

Sameer woke up late than usual. A sleepless night did take a toll on him and he had only slept by a time near to dawn. He checked the time and found that he should be back office in an hour time. But he was not ready. So he decided to call up Arjun.

Arjun was getting ready to get to office and Adi was already at the table waiting for him. So when he found his dad's mobile ringing and saw that it was Sameer's name flashing, Adi took it up.

Ad: good morning uncle.

Sam: Good morning Adi. Dad kaha hai?

Ad: change kar raha hai. kaise ho?

Sam: I am fine baba. Aaj cycling pe nahi gaya?

Ad: nai. Aaj dad ko kisise milne mandir jaana tha. Tho wahi gaya?

Sam: mandir? Aur wo bhi Arjun?

He was surprised.

Sam: tho mila unse?

Ad: nai. Dad ne kaha wo nahi aya.

Sam could connect the dotes. He knew the reason for the visit.

Sam: ok... Adi, dad se kehna ke mien aaj thode late hoga.

Ad:ok... kya hua?are you alright?

Sam: I am fine. Just need some time. um... kuch kaam hai.

Ad: mien keh dunga.

Sam: ok then, bye. Take care.

Ad: you too.

The line goes off. When Arjun comes, Adi informs about Sam and they leave for the day.

Back at Sameer's place he was lying in his bed when the talks that happened last night lingered.

Sam: aaj kya hua tha? In Arjun's cabin?

Aisha knew that she would have to speak sooner or later. She smiled and started to respond.

Ai: well... its over there, Sir. in fact waha kuch shuru bhi nahi hua tha, jo khatam hone ko tha.

Sam: I didn't get you.

Ai: hum sab baki logonke bare me soch rahe the. kisise puche bina unkeliye decisions bhi manane gaye. I am not blaming anyone. Kyunki sab ek dusre ke bhala hi chahthe the. aur fir yaha thak pohonch gaya.

Sameer sat silent for a while.

Ai: meine kabhi bhi unse shaadi ke bare me soche hi nahi tha. Adi ko mien pasand karthi hu, care karthi hu.lekin in sabke ye matlab hoga... ye nahi socha tha.

Sam: but Adi really liked you.

Ai: patha hai sir. even I love him. mere koi beta nahi hai. firbhi I feel so attached to him. lekin Arjun sir se shaadi... I didn't even think about it. unhe ye sab sunke kithna bura laga hoga. Anjaane me hi sahi, meri wajah se unhe tension lena pada. I feel guilty for that.

Sam: don't be. You never knew it. wo... hum sabke wajah se... I mean, mere wajah se...

Ai: aise math kahiye. He is your friend, and you wanted him to be happy. But he was getting hurt.

Sam: I know.

Ai: and... you were hurting yourself too, haina sir?

That question was out of blue. His confused face gave her the reply. She sighed and looked ahead through the front window.

Ai: mujhe laga tha ke mien bohot smart hu. I too get all the points around me. Par nahi... I feel I was a fool.

Sam: Aisha...

Ai: you thought of making decisions for me, even without asking me sir...

Sam: aise nahi hai. I knew you didn't feel anything to me...

He just said abruptly without thinking. He stopped and saw her facing him. He felt bad for being in such a situation.

Ai: so it was true??

Silence again.

Ai(closing her eyes and leaning back to the headrest): I was such a stupid...

Sam: no you were not.

He took a while and then thought of clearing all the confusions.

Sam: yes its true, that I felt something for you. But never gave it a push as I knew you are an independent self and you have the right to choose. Fir mujhe patha chala ke tumhare mann me aisa kuch nahi hai. aur baad me Adi... so I thought that was the best option left.

Ai: option for whom, Sir? me ya Adi ya aapko...? Sorry if I am talking rudely.I never meant it. aap keh rahe ho ke I had the right to choose. Then why did you decide it? ek baar mujhse pucha kyu nahi, sir?

Sameer was literally out of answers.

Ai: I know you meant the best, but dekhiye. We reached a point that not only us, we did hurt Arjun sir too. Thank God, Adi thak nai pohonche. Warna usse tho...

Sam: I agree.

Ai: ok... so whats over is over. Let it be. Isn't it sir?

Sam: yeah...

Ai: I think I should leave. I am sorry if I hurt you with my words. I was just confused that I didn't know what all I said.

Sam: its ok,sometimes its better to speak, than keeping in mind. And I learnt it the hard way.

She smiled and got off. But then, turned to him.

Ai: you are right sir. its better to talk... so would you like to talk... about...

Sam was literally blown away now. "about...?"

Ai: kuch nai... good night sir. and sorry again.

Sam: good night.

She walked off to her home while he sat there for a while.

Sam: what did she mean? Did she mean about... Us?

And that took off a night's sleep. He thought about the events that went these days. Were all these a coincidence or something planned before itself?

He didn't know.

***

3 days later: 4 days left for bday:

Mrs. Anand was visiting the temple in the morning. After offering the prayer, she was turning back, when she heard a name that caught her attention.

Poojari was talking to a lady. She couldn't see her face.

Lady: 4 din baad mere pothe ke janam din hai. kuch pooja karwani thi. Aap batha sakthe ho ke mujhe kya karni hai?

Poojari: bache ka naam?

Lady: Aditya Rawte...

That caught Mrs. Anand's attention. She heard the lady giving further details and the man giving instructions. She waited till they finished their talk and then saw her face.

Mrs. Anand: excuse me...

Lady: ji kahiye.

Mrs. Anand: aap, ACP Rawte ki...

Lady: Maa hu. Aap janthe ho unhe?

Mrs. Anand: ji. Mien Mamta. Aur meri beti, Sakshi aapke bete ke saath kaam karthe hai. ETF mien.

Lady: oh...

Mam: apke naam?

Lady: Gayathri.

Mam: acha... par Adi ne bathaya nai ke unke Dadi aye hai, unke bday keliye. Oh surprise the?

Ga: aap Adi ko janthe ho?

Mam: kyu nai? Wo mere hi summer camp me athe hai. Adi bathaye nai?

Mamta noticed color fading from Gayathri's face.

Mam: kya hua? Aap teekh tho hai na?

Ga: ji... mien teekh hu.

Mam:tho fir...

Ga: aise hi... ek ache biwi banke, mien ache Maa aur Dadi nahi ban payi.

Mam: mien samjhi nai.

She was silent.

Mam: kya hum waha baite?

The ladies take a seat.

Mam: boliye. Kya hua?

Gayathri mentions little about that she was not staying with her kids.

Ga: mere bete ko apna ek sapna tha. Jinhe mere pathi ko pasand nai tha. Chale gaye wo,aur mien kuch nai kar paya. Uske shaadi mien bhi nai shamil hopaya. Par Roshni mujhe kabhi kabhi Adi se milwathe the. par unke jaane ke baad wo bhi... mien uss samay mere bete ke saath nai tha, jab usse mere zaroorath tha. I failed him.

Mam: aise math kahiye. Ye bas samay ka ek khel hai. sab teekh hoga.

They sat there for a while. Gayathri was feeling good for at last she found someone to speak freely. At last they decided to part.

Mam: ek bath bolu? Agar aap chaho tho aap Adi se milne asakthi ho. mere camp me.

Ga: is that possible?

Mam: kyu nai? Adi ko shayad apke bare mien patha nai. Lekin ek din wo janega na? aap kal ayiye. Ye lijiye address.

Gayathri was feeling blessed now. she thanked her whole heartedly.

***

Night: Rawte House:

Suryakanth was walking back to his room after dinner. He saw his wife in another room packing a few boxes. He went in.

Su: ye sab kya hai?

Ga: aaj mere ek dost se mili thi. Wo ek summer camp chalathe hai.kal waha ja rahi hu.unse aur bacho se milne.

He noticed a change in her tone. It's the same for some time now. Earlier she used to take every step with his permission. But then, she started withdrawing herself. She was the most dutifull wife. But he knew she was slipping. But he couldn't do anything now.

He left her. But on the way he got the smell of a sweet. It reminded of a face who loved that sweet, kaju khatri.

***

Camp: next day:

Gayathri came in with bags of sweets. Mamta was happy to see her.

Mam: ye sab kya hai?

Ga: kuch sweets hai, sab keliye.

Ma: hum bahar se sweets dethe nahi hai.

Ga:I understand. Aap check kar sakthi hai.

Mamta felt bad. "iske zaoorath nai hai. sabko dethe hai. ayiye"

She took her in. there were a bunch of kids playing. But it didn't take a moment for her to recognize her kid who was busy playing.

Mam: bachon... inse miliye. Ye meri dost hai, aap sabse milne ayi hai.aur aap inhe dadi bula sakthe hai.

Gayathri looked at Mamta.

Mam: yaha sab mujhe Nani bulathe hai.

All came up to her but her eyes never left Adi. Mamta saw her longing. So she took the sweets and gave to all.

Mam: Adi... jao pucho dadi se ke unhe sweets nai chahiye.

Adi rushed to her. "Dadi aapko sweets nahi chahiye?"

She felt so happy to be called dadi and nodded no.

Adi: apko patha hai... ye mere favorite sweet hai. aur mere dad ke bhi.

Ga: acha... tho apeliye aur apke dad keliye mien extra sweets dethi hu. Ok...

Adi: wow, thanks dadi.

She placed her hand over his head and blessed silently.

Ga: kaise ho beta? Aur apke dad?

Ad: hum tho teekh hai. aur aap?

Ga: mien bhi.

Ad: kya apke ghar kids hai?

Ga: nai hai.

Ad:oh...

Ga: par ab aap haina?

Ad: haan.

They spend quality time together. Gayathri mingled well with all the kids. It was ages now that she felt so happy. She took special attention for Adi, observing his every movement. She could strike similarities with Arjun's childhood. Many a times her eyes filled up. She was trying her best to keep up. At last she was reaching the peak point. But she couldn't let herself go infront of kids. She went to Mamta. "sorry, mujhe nikalna chahiye"

Ma: I know. Aap fikar math kijiye. jabhi Adi se milna ho, aap aasakthe ho. I'll see to it.

Ga: thanks a lot.

She was leaving when Adi caught her hands. "aap jarahe ho?"

Ga: haan. Kuch kaam hai beta.

Ad: fir aaoge?

Ga: I'll try. Be safe ok? Apna khayal rakhna. Aur apkeliye kuch sweets Nani ke paas chodi hai. jathe waqt lena.

Ad: ok. Bye.

She leaned and kissed his forehead. "bye beta."

She went off as fast as possible. Her driver was waiting outside. As soon as she got in, she crashed down.

***

Evening:

Arjun came to pick up Adi. They were driving home.

Ad: dad, patha hai? aaj mujhse milne Dadi ayi thi.

He almost hit the brake hard.

Ar: kaun?

Ad: dadi... Nani ke dost hai. bohot achi hai.

He was confused. Adi took out a sweet box. "ye Dadi ne di hai. sabko sweets layi thi. Jab meine kaha ke ye mere aur apke favorite sweet hai, tho mere liye ek special box choda. Dekho..."

He opened the box. Arjun almost gasped seeing kaju katri. It did bring lot of emotions.

"yani... Aayi camp me ayi thi... par unhe kaise patha...?"

He couldnt understand. He woke up when Adi brought a sweet to his lips. Unknown to himself, he opened his mouth. It had the same flavor.

Adi saw his dad almost disturbed. "kya hua dad?"

Ar: kuch nahi. Ghar chale?

He nods and goes home. After dinner they get freshed up for sleep. Adi was by Arjun's side saying the stories of the day. One part of him was listening, the other part was in thoughts. He felt Adi jerking him. "dad... kaha kho gaye ho? kabse bula raha hu?"

Ar: um... Kya hua?

Ad: dad, mien ek aur sweet lu?

Arjun saw his puppy face and got reminded of himself.

Ar: par aap brush kiya hai na?

Ad: mien firse brush karunga. Please...

Arjun was in distress now. He nods yes. Adi runs off to the kitchen.

He could see himself as a kid infront of his mom. "Mom... ek aur please... please..."

"Arjun... aap bohot khaliya hai. bas..."

"please... please..."

"ARJUN!!!" that was his dad's voice. Obviously he was pleading too loudly. Arjun turned to mom and pleaded with his face. She nods yes. And he runs to the sweet box and comes back with two. One in each hand.

"DAD..." Adi was running to him, with a sweet in each hand. He got up on the bad and sat on his dad's belly facing him. he started munching on the sweet.

Arjun could see Adi was enjoying the sweet as he used to do. But something else was also noticed. Adi seemed to be filling with a question.

Ar: kya hua? Kya soch rahe ho?

Ad:um... ek bath puchu?

Ar: pucho.

Ad: wo... aapke mumma kaha hai?