PART 31:
"DADI..."Adi rushed to her. She quickly placed the cake and took him up to his arms. For the first time, she felt she was actually belonging where she was belonged. A family with her little grandchild... a face that she had dreamed all day and night... hoping to hold him freely as any grandmother would do... and when she met him in the camp, it was just as "Nani's friend". How she wished to say that she was his Dadi... but two faces did pull her back. One, that had always almost banned her from visiting back even the memories and the other, that now stood infront of her.
Arjun was shocked... no.. he had even forgotten to breath.
He stood as the lady hugged Adi and kissed his hair and cheeks.
It took a time to know to feel a light pressure on his shoulder to break the trance. He turned to the side and saw Sameer nodding to assure him. He looked back and saw her still holding the kid but looking him.
Adi saw Arjun standing on his way. So he got down from Dadi and caught her hand, puling him to his father.
"Dad, meine bathaya tha na... Dadi ke bare me... ye hai Dadi. Nani ke dost hai. Wow... aap yaha? Nani ke saath ayi ho?"
Adi looked around and saw Nani standing by Sakshi. He winked at her happily.
He looked back at Dadi and Dad who had gone mute and looking at each other.
He caught Arjun's hand and tugged him. "Dad... kya hua??"
Arjun looked down to Adi, tried to smile and ruffled his hair nodding negative.
Adi was so happy and looked around.
"Wow... kithna sajaaya hai!! mere liye??"
All knew they should break the ice. Sree took initiative. "nahi tho... hum bas aiwee sajaya hai!"
Adi had a "haww... " look and for that Sree patted his back.
"of course champ. aapke bday hai... isse celebrate tho karna hi hai na?"
Adi was super happy.
"wow... thanks bhaiya..."
Ch: acha... sirf usse? hame nahi...?
Ad: aise thodi na hai... sabko thanks.
Still Arjun had not spoken a word and was looking at the kid's excitement while Dadi's eyes never left Arjun. Sam saw this was not going ahead well.
Sam: bade zor se bhoog lagi hai. Adi chalo... cake cut karthe hai. Dad aur Dadi ko le aao...
Adi started pulling Dad and Dadi with him to the center table. But all could see Arjun was lost. In pretense of helping, Sakshi moved to Arjun.
"Arjun... please... Adi ke liye..."
He briefly looked at her and nodded and then helped Adi. All sang together and Arjun helped Adi to cut his cake. Adi first fed Arjun and Arjun fed him back. Then Adi turned his attention to Dadi. While feeding each other, her eyes did fill up.
Ad: aap ro kyu rahe ho?
She smiled and nodded no. Arjun could not hold it more and walked to kitchen excusing everyone.
Adi was busy with feeding everyone that he didnt notice Dad leaving. But all others did. Aisha nodded to Sam and he walked to the kitchen.
When her eyes filled up, he felt the same pain when he had walked back for the last time from his home. He knew he couldn't hold himself more and so walked in to the kitchen. He was breathing heavily and almost falling back to a deep pit. He leaned onto the kitchen counter catching up his breath. He didnt know how long he stood there. but then felt a presence near him, and an extended glass of water.
Arjun took it an gulped down while Sam leaned on the kitchen counter by his side never leaving his eyes from Arjun's face. Arjun was taking it very hard.
Sam: Arjun.. sab bahar wait kar rahe hai.
Ar: unhe... tum laye ho?
It was not a taunt nor sarcasm. A plain question as it is. Sam nodded positive.
Arjun stayed back still letting the matter seep in.
sam: Arjun... Adi se kya kehne wale ho?
Ar: Sam please... give me some time. tum hamesha mujhe aise situation me kyu daal rahe ho?
Sam didnt know how to answer. They stood silent for a while until there was a knock at the door. They turned to see Aisha staying confused.
"Sir... Adi ko bhook lagi hai. Khana table pe hai..."
Arjun didnt say anything.
Sam: chalo. hum arahe hai.
She went away and Sam turned to Arjun who already stood lost. "Chale?"Arjun sighs and nods yes.
they were moving out when Arjun called him back.
"raath kafi hua hai... I mean... unhe ghar..."
Sam: take her name Arjun. Aayi hai tumhare.
Arjun stood eyes lowered still breathing hard.Sam stirred his head frustrated.
"unke ghar pe koi nahi hai. (Arjun looks at him) Baba went out of town. Kal hi ayega"
Still no response did make Sam upset. This was not what he wished to happen. It seems everything was still in stand still.
But then he spoke up. "thanks Sam..."
Not another word. He stood for a while and then walked out of kitchen followed by Sameer.
Ad: Dad... kaha gaye the? Chalo... khana khathe hai.
Adi was already half way to kitchen. Arjun pulled him from the ground and took to the table and settled him in his lap. He needed Adi by his side to support himself.
"mein khilau aaj?" Adi nodded happily.
Dadi was watching Arjun smiling and speaking to everyone, asking to eat well and also thanking for bringing up food parcel. He was looking everywhere but her. She didnt mind it too. She knew him too well that this smile and talks were a mask to the pain he was feeling. Nani saw it and held Dadi's hand. she smiled assuring her. Dadi agreed it.
Arjun was feeding him, occasionally smiling to Adi's update to the trekking. All knew the kid was tired but too excited to accept. All eyes where on Arjun when he remained silent all the way long and Dadi's silence. They were thinking how this ice would break.
After dinner, Arjun took Adi to washroom while the ladies were helping to keep back the plates. Dadi and Nani were in the hall with Sameer.
Sakshi, Aisha and Liza were upset in kitchen.
Sa: damn... sare mehnat paani me. they are not even looking at each other.
Ai: you missed the silent peeps Sakshi.
li: par isse kya hoga? more pain na?
sa: kuch tho karna hoga.
Ai: kya?
Sa: lets see.
They walked back.
Sak: wow... awesome dinner na?
Everyone was there at hall and agreed to it.
Sa: ab iske upar ek ice cream bhi milthe tho maza aatha...
sree: haan... icecream hum...
Sa: wahi tho... ice cream laana bhool hi gaya.
Sakshi didint allow him to go on. While Sree was thinking how did she forget the icecream in the fridge.
Sr: par...
L: tumhe Ice cream nahi chahiye SREE?
She gave a 'shut up else I'll kill you' look. Sree got it.
Sr: yeah...
Sam: ab ithne raath ko ice cream kaha milega?
Ch: milenge sir...
Sam: par...
Ais: aise case ke bina time bohot kam milthe hai. kyu na bahar jaake khaye?
Adi was all excited again. "wah... haan chalthe hai"
Ar: nahi Adi... aaj keliye bohot hua. thak gaye hoge. lets fresh up and sleep.
Ad: Dad please... ek ice cream... please...
He looked about. He knew what was going on.
Sam nodded yes and he agreed. "ok... jao. par zyada der bahar math rukhna."
Ad: aap nahi aoge?
He was silent.
Sam: nahi Adi... wo kya hai na, aaj Dadi yaha rukhne wale hai. (Arjun looks confused at him, but Sam continues) unhe ice cream pasand nahi hai. tho dad unke sath yahi rukega.
Ad: ok... mein jau dad?
Arjun agrees.
Sakshi: men uske baad mom ke sath ghar jaunga. I have my scooty outside.
Sam: aur baki sabko mein drop karunga. and then drop Adi here.
All agrees and leave them.
An awkward silence comes in. Both stood silent for a while. She could see he was trying to understand what next.
dadi: dress badlo. mein yahi baithti hu.
He takes a while and goes to his room. Once he goes she slumps to the sofa and covers her face in her palms. the tears that was held long time now, comes out freely.
Inside the room, he was not in a different state. He sat on his bed for a long time. He was physically tired and mentally too. But then he went for a hot shower and dressed for night.
When he came out she was walking out from the kitchen with a glass of milk. He looked at her and days were passing by in his mind. She stood unsure that he would take it. She gave the glass forward and she felt she waited ages before he take the glass. When he sipped she could see, he was still remembering the old taste. the right amount of badam and sugar in it.
The flavor was something he cherished for a long time and whenever he drank it before, he couldnt help himself to think about the magic in her hands.
They moved to the sofa, and waited for each one.
mom: kaam sab kaise chal rahe hai?
Ar: teekh hai.
Mom: Adi ko kithne din aur chutti hai?
Ar: ek-do hafte aur...
The questions were ceasing. they sat again in silent.
Mom: aur uske baad... firse akele?
Arjun looked at her eyes that showed concern. "aadat hai...its ok..."
He saw a barrier breaking now and a drop falling down. He felt a pang again and took away his eyes. She wiped it away.
Ar: (clearing his throat) ghar pe sab...?
Mom: he is fine.
There was a bluntness in her tone which didnt go unnoticed by him. He saw another form of her now.
Mom looked back to him and soon they heard a car stopping by his door. He went to the door and saw Aisha bringing in Adi who was asleep on her shoulders. Sam just behind her.
Ar: baki sab?
Sam: ghar choda hai.
Arjun took Adi from Aisha's hands and went to the room. He placed him on bed, changed the clothes of a half asleep Adi and tucked him in a blanket.
Outside, Aisha went to her.
Dadi: thanks beta. mujhe yaha lane keliye.
she smiled and nodded.
Dadi: Sakshi se bhi kehna. mujhe kehne ka mauka nahi mila.
Ai: mein keh dungi. aap... teekh tho hai na?
she nods yes and then turns to Sam smiling.
Ai: bade ache choice hai aapke Sam.
Sam looked confused at her and then at Aisha, who was equally in shock. Dadi saw their faces and smiled again.
Dadi; Maa hu, sab janthi hu. aapk dono ke chehre pe sab dikthi hai. mujhe khushi hai Sameer,aap dono keliye. I hope aap dono teekh se soch liya hai, aage ke bare me.
Aisha lowered her eyes blushing, while Sam was all pink.
Sam: Aayi aise koi bath...
dadi: jhoot math boliye please... khair rath bohot ho chuki hai. Aisha ko drop karo aur jaake sojao. good night.
They wished good night and went off. When she came back after locking the door he was already in the hall. And she knew he had heard her.
mom: aap jaanthe ho un dono ke bare me?
Arjun nods yes. "kafi din se try kar raha hu, dono ko track me lane keliye, par ye log mantha kaha hai?"
There was a smile on his lips. She was feeling happy too.
Mom: aise bathein hume chod dena chahiye. Hum Maa hai. Track pe le aana janthe hai.kahi aap bhoole tho nahi?
He smiled involuntarily thinking of their old days. When he used to hide from dad and appear near her. When she used to catch him with magazines when he was supposed to be studying. When he tried to smoke for the first time, choking his breath and she holding back and then swearing never to do repeat it. When he told her first time that he wanted to be a police officer...
She was watching him smiling at his memories and then saw it fading. she knew where the track had gone now. She could see a moist in his eyes when he sat back on the sofa. She went to him and sat by his side. She could see his hands shivering. She held his hands tight in his palms and that made him to look at her.
Ar: sab bar track pe le athe ho. tho thab kyu nahi aaya, jab mujhe aapke zaroorath tha?
She sat silent and waited. They both have waited a long time to speak aloud. This was time.
Ar: thab kyu nahi tha jab mein apne zindagi me nayi kadam lene wale the? aur jab mere zindagi me mere Adi aya? aur fir hum do akele ho gaye... maana meine bhi ruuta tha aapse. but hamesha aap hi manaathe the na? tho fir...
She could see all the walls breaking now. Tears were rolling down his eyes and it fell.
She cupped his face and looked at his eyes. "sorry beta... aane me thodi der kardi... sorry..."
That was the last straw and he crashed to her shoulder. she held him tight, and patted his back.
His sob was hard to control and she didnt try too. It was a long held dam, let it break.
He hugged her tight and wept his heart out on her shoulder. And the time stood away from their way. It was just them... and only them.
35