FF: Khamoshiyaan T2: last part & VM page 66 - Page 20

CHAPTER 45:

He stayed stand still beneath her arms. Her fear was clogging in. His silence, his pained look, and above all the faster heartbeat... she could feel it all. And she couldn't take it.

Ai: relax Arjun... relax... I am here... wo sab kal tha. Forget it.aap jaan bhoochke kuch nahi ki hai. wo sab hona tha, so ho gaye. Bhool jao... we need to go ahead.

Still silence.

It was time for a treatment with Baba. An attender came in with a wheel chair. He mechanically let them help him to the wheel chair. Once in Baba's cabin,he was quick to notice Arjun's change in form.

Ba: kya hua Arjun? everything alright?

Arjun just nodded yes. But Baba could read it well too. He looked at Aisha and saw her tensed face. They lead him to the area where he had a therapy session.

Ba: Aisha, mere saath aao. Kuch oil lana hai.

He led Aisha out while the attender helped Arjun prepare for the session.

Ba: kya hua? Arjun aise kyu behave kar rahe hai?

Aisha mentions about the picture incident.

Ai: mujhe dar lag raha hai Baba.he should not have seen it. And now his silence is killing me.

Ba: hm...

He was thinking too and takes her in with the medicines. Baba observed Arjun while starting the session. He was not at all involved in it.

Ba: Aisha, zara baahar jaana.

Both looked startled.

Ai: kyu, baba?

Ba: I said go out for a while. Come in after this session.

Ai: par...

Ba: I said... leave... please...

Arjun looked confused at Baba. He had never seen Baba annoyed before. Aisha looked confused too and then leaves. She waited outside for almost an hour. She couldn't understand whats going on.

The wait was terrible. After one hour, Baba came out.

Ai: ya kya tha, Baba? Why did you send me out?

Ba: bathathi hu. Go in. he needs you. After clean up unhe room me lajao. Ramesh will help you.

And then he goes away. She goes in. it was not needed to say that the session was hectic. He looked completely drained. She went to him, but Ramesh stopped her and finished the clean up. And then she could go to him. He looked severly tired. They lead him to the room and she sat by him. He had some water.

Ai: aap teekh tho hai na?

He nodded while his face said he was not. The tireness and her presence by him... he went to a sleep soon.

She was not able to grasp the situation. So she went to Baba's cabin.

Ba: is he asleep?

Ai: ji... par ye sab kya horahe hai?

Ba: I know you are worried. Sit, I'll explain.

She took seat and waited.

Ba: aaj ke Arjun ke state tum dekh liya hai na... he is again gone back to the shell. Aur jab thak wo waha rahenge... nothing is gonna happen.

Ai: tho...

Ba: pehle wahi hamare kaam hai, and for that this was the first step.

Ai: mien kuch samjhi nahi.

Ba: aaj ke session isliye tough tha, kyunki wo respond karna nahi chahthe the. First guilt, aur fir tumhare paas na hona. It masked the guilt for a while. I could sense it.

Ai: I still don't get it.

Ba: ek choti se experiment hi kehdo. Agar asar hua tho Arjun will be back faster than expected. Nahi tho,kuch aur time lagega. I think... You should be away for a while.

Ai: what??

Ba: I know, I told you that you are his strength. Par abhi jo hua hai, that makes you his weakness. At the moment, jabhi wo tumhe dekhe tho... usse sirf guilt feel horaha hai. Change that equation. Bring in other feelings. Let him know that you are the same person he had. Let him wait and get you back. Let that guilt die out.warna kuch nahi hoga...

Ai: par mere na honese kuch nahi hoga.

Ba: I know. I expect zero percent improvement in these few days. He will be angry, despair and frustrated.

Ai: then how is it going to help him?

Ba: ek baath bolo... Sakshi told me about his old working days. Jab koi uske kaam ko rok rahe the, ya fir usse provoke karthe the, tho kya hotha tha?

Ai: he used to be almost violent. Fir wo kaam complete karthe hi chodthe.

Ba: exactly. We are pushing him out of that guilt part. Build in the need to get up and move on. The need for you to be by his side. Make him face you without any hard feelings at heart. The need for him to be the old ACP.

Ai: I still doubt this trial.

Ba:ye bohot din keliye nahi hai Aisha. just two nights.

He could see her despair.

Ba: do saal wait ki hai. ab bas do din aur... please...

Ai: what should I say to him? I cant lie to him.

Ba: its ok, mien Sakshi aur tumhare chief se baath kartha hu. just don't let him know you are leaving until then.

She thinks for a while and nods half heartedly. She goes back to the room and sits by his side. He was still asleep. She was still in confusion. She didn't know how this was going to be.

Ai: sorry Arjun, lekin ab Baba jo keh rahe hai... uske saath jaana hoga. Sorry if I hurt you.

It was late when he was up and fine. After dinner she sat by him with his medicines. She felt he was avoiding her eyes.

Ai: why are you avoiding me, Arjun?

Ar: nahi.. aise kuch nahi.

Ai: jhoot. Aap kabse jhoot bolne lage?

Ar: mien jhoot nai...

Ai: tho fir nazren kyu nahi mila parahe hai?

She was worried.

Ai: Arjun, this is not fair. Ek bath boliye, aise kya bath hai jo aapko aise peeche keech rahe hai? mujhe laga tha ke mien apke madad kar paunga. But you are not letting me to help you. Kyu?

Ar: aise koi baath...

Ai: firse jhoot. Aur fir...

Her lines were not over and her mobile start ringing. It was from Sameer and she knew that the next step was starting.

Ai: hello sir... ya he is fine... no soye nahi hai... kyu? ok... just a minute.

To Arjun, "speaker me rakh rahi hu"

Sam: hello Arjun.

Ar: hi.

Sam: kaise ho?

Ar(eyeing Aisha) fine.

Sam: I am sorry, ek baath bathana tha. Ek important meeting bulaya gaya hai. jisme sare team members ko aana hoga. Aisha ko bhi. Aur tumhare sudden entry brought up some questions. So Aisha will have to give some explanation on your behalf.

Arjun was not able to get it all. Sameer was asking Aisha to go back.

Ar: par mere bare me information sab baadme bhi desakthe hai na...

Sam: ye ETF ke chat nahi hai Arjun. We will have to answer the higher officials. Aur ye zaroori hai... so that when you come back it won't matter...

Ar: mere wapas aana...

Aisha gave him a don't you dare to say that' look.

Ar: I mean... mere wapas aane me abhi bhi time hai...

Sam: hoga. Par seniors need an answer now. so Aisha, be in airport by 9 tomorrow morning. Your ticket will be there.

Ai: um... Yes sir.

Sameer speak for a while and then cuts the call.

Ai: sorry. Jaana hoga.

Ar: its ok... um... pack karo...

It was real tough for both. For him, that she was leaving. And for her that she was lieing to him. But she was hoping for the best.

That night was silent than ever. Though he slept off due to the medication, sleep was the last thing she thought of.

In morning, she was hurrying up. She didn't want to show her weak side to him. He too tried to keep it cool. Soon after breakfast she left him. It was real suffocation for both of them.

Ba: tum meeting keliye jarahe ho.so no frequent calls. Ok?

Ai: ok. I hope ye koi negative asar na chode.

Ba:kuch nahi hoga. Trust me.

She reached Mumbai with a heavy heart. She called up him and informed him of reaching safe. Then as of decided, her mobile was switched off.

He was truly cut off there and same was her state too. Baba knew he would have a tough time to keep up with his reculsive state.

Night came and she called him up.

Ar: how was the meeting?

Ai:boring.

She looked around.she was in an empty cabin in ETF office, with nothing that she could keep up.

She talked for a while to try to relax him up. He was speaking, which was a good sign. She provoked him to speak more and freely. Maybe Baba did do it right.

Day 2:

It was tougher for both. The team was trying to keep Aisha busy, hardly missing her strain.

Arjun on the other hand was totally silent. Baba came in with 2 cups of tea.

Ba: will you join me? Kaafi din hue hai na... ek sath chai peeke.

He gave a fake smile and joined him. Baba was keenly observing him.

Ba: missing her already?

Ar: huh?

Ba:bano math. I know you are missing her. Par tumhe patha hai, ke aaj kal wo kithne upset hai? jithna pehle tha... Shayad usse bhi zyada.

Ar: I know... mere is halath...

Ba: you got it completely wrong then.

He looked up surprised.

Ba: usse tumhare iss haal me nahi... tumhare khamoshi se dar lagne lagi hai. ye jo guilt tum leke chale ho... its killing her. Socho Arjun, is guilt tumhe kya dega? Wo din ab wapas nahi arahe hai. aur un dino keliye sirf tum nahi,balke mien bhi zimedar hu. (Arjun try to speak up) no Arjun... aaj mien bolunga. You are hurting her more than ever. Aise math karo. Have you not seen it in her eyes?

Arjun knew every word spoken to him was true.

Ba: uski wapas aane se pehle apne ateeth ke sath samjhoda karlo Arjun. warna tumhare aane wale kal bohot dard hi dega. Sirf tumhare liye hi nahi, balke Aisha keliye bhi...

Baba knew his work was done. A day was left for Arjun to think up and decide what he wished. And he knew Arjun won't disappoint him. Baba left Arjun for himself.

That whole day he spent pondering on Baba's words and the look that Aisha gave him when she spkoke to him before she left. He couldn't believe that he was still hurting her.

The third day was already up. And he opened his eyes to see her by his side. If felt like that the dream was coming true again.

She smiled and cupped his face. She has been waiting for an hour for him to wake up. He just pulled her to him to make himself believe that she was there. She has been waiting for it too.

It felt as if being blessed to be in the arms of ones love. He couldn't have asked for more.

"I'm sorry..." his first words hit her hard. He pulled herself up. "Arjun... ye aap..."

He silenced her with a figure on her lips.

"I know meine tumhe dard di hai. fir bhi tum ayi wapas. Aur jab aye, tho sirf aur dard diya. Ab aur nahi. I promise it won't happen again. Ab ateeth ke koi bhi baath hamare raste me nahi ayega. We will move on. Haina...?"

His question brought up a smile behind the twinkling tears.

Ar: doge mere saath...?

She was so happy now. At last he was ready...

She came forward and kissed him. And he got his answer too.

Unres