T2: Ek Aur Zindagi..(Epilogue:page 130) - Page 15

PART 34:

"Rishab... I need your help... help me to sort out myself"

He smiled at her."at least you considered me as your friend... now speak up... I'll listen... Let's sort it out together"

Sakshi nodded and then moved ahead and sat on a rock, with the air moving through her hair... she felt him sit by her side.

Maybe its time...

She sat for a while and then decided to speak it out to him.

"har kisike tharah ek time pe mien bhi apne friends ke sath mere shaadi wale bathein karke hasthi thi. Najaane kya kya bolthi thi. But on a serious note I never cared of it. jab hoga thab dekha jayega. I did have some wishes as of how he should be. And trust me; you match up in a very good way."

She turned to him who was completely lestening to her.

"you are a very good guy Rishab.jab mom ne pehli bar tumhara naam liya, I didn't know what to do or say. But as I knew you, I thought I will think it out and make a decision. Which I failed terribly. I am sorry"

"there is no need to say sorry Sakshi. Everyone have a right to decide their future"

"aaj kal mien meri career pe zyada concentrate karne lagi hu. I was one among those, jo situation ko mere tharaf kheechke usse samne karthi thi. Par aaj kal situation samajhke handle karne lagi hu. there is a lot more to learn. And for that I need some more time. Maybe within a year I can set my priorities well. I know its already late for a girl to decide over what she wants, but still I want to sort it out. Aur thab thak mien tumhare future ke sath khelna nai chahthi. I know I am hurting you. I am really sorry"

"yes you are right. I am hurt a bit. But this step was not unexpected from your side. So its ok. I admire your thoughts Sakshi. Aajkal ke zindagi keliye ye bohot important hai. Even if you had yes for our relation it would nat have gone well as it should have been with all these thoughts. So I am ok with your decision."

"but I know you had some feelings for me"

He sighs and then gives an assuring smile. "yes I did. But as I said I knew you are an independent girl who thinks with brain and heart and not just with your heart. Good choice"

"but that doesn't mean we will part our ways. We will be friends, right?"

"koi shak??"

They smiled relieved of their confusions.

"Rishab I want to clear something more. Jo shayad tum soch rahe ho aur kehna nahi chathe... I am not in relation with anyone else. I hope you trust me on that"

"sure... I can understand. There can be times when we are so. Bas sabko maanne me thode time lagtha hai. agar koi kisiko na bolu... matlab that person loves someone else?? I mean, can't anyone be single and say no? I don't get it"

"even me too Rishab. Kabhi Maa bhi puchthi hai. At least she know me well."

"yaa.. Mom can be difficult at times. No doubt on that..."they had a hearty laugh.

"lo... ab jaise sare confusion dur hua hai... aur hamare dosti ke restart hua hai... how about a dinner? Wo kya hai na... usually anxiety wale parts girls ko hothi hai... aaj mujhe bhi tha. Tho lunch nai kiya..."

Sakshi had a good laugh. "you are impossible Rishab. Chalo dinner on me.."

"that's not fair. Ek khubsoorath ladki ko dinner pe lejathe ho, aur unse treat bhi karwathe ho? duniya kya kahegi...?"

"ohk... then after dinner, kulfi treat tho mere side se..."

"ok... well and good... chalo..."

They moved ahead. Yes there was mild pain inside both of them. To forget everything is not so easy. But they belonged to those who trusted in each others relation and thoughts. For now their relation status changes to just friends again. And the future is not in anyone's hands...

[My note: not even mine...]

***

By evening Dadi was back at the home. Arjun had arranged the guest room for her. He helped her to the room with strict orders of rest. Sameer had come down during the shift time and Adi was having a great time indeed. The idea of Dadi going to stay back at home was too much for him. But he too was strict in making her have her rest. Once settled Sameer goes back leaving the family together.

Adi sits by Dadi who sat up with her grandson near to her. Arjun after fresh up reach the room and sees that they were having a relaxed time. Adi had cuddled closer to her and they were chatting while she was ruffling his hair.

Ar: kya chal raha hai yaha?

He sat by their side with a relaxed smile.

Da: hum bathein kar rahe the. patha hai Arjun... Adi ke camp pe ek Sid hai. uske ghar pe puppies bhi hai. wo bhi 4.

Ar: haan. Mujhe almost unke har friends ke ghar ke patha hai.

Da: hm...good.

Ad: dad... hum puppies kab lenge?

Ar: filhal abhi nahi. Lekin next vacation ke time sochthe hai.

Ad: hm...

There was a slight gloominess on that face. Dadi and Arjun were quick to notice it.

Da: ok... koi bath nai. Ab hum dinner ke bare me soche?

Ar: haan, I was about to make it.tho kya khaoge aap dono?

Da: are tum kyu bana rahe ho? mien banathi hu.

Ar: for yur information Aayi, aap aaj hi hospital se ayi ho. aur apko rest karne ko kaha hai. so forget about getting up from the bed.

Da: par main ithni bhi weak nai hu. mien ...

Adi: no.. aap yahi rahoge. Samjhe ya samjhau??

Dadi's eyes go wide with amazement. "Arjun,... ye tho tumhare dialog hai?? isne bhi seekh liya??"

Ar: akhir beta kiska hai Aayi??

For that she slaps his shoulder playfully. "iss ek dialog se mere dimaag khatha tha tum pehle. Adi... please aise math karna beta. Ek experience hi kafi hai..."

Adi enjoys this fun time together with Dad and Dadi.

Arjun goes to make after all the prostest while Adi entertains with his stories. She had missed the kid's childhood and to hear his stories was such a treat.

Arjun came later with three plates of dinner. Aayi was happy with it.

Da: hm, not bad Arjun. kafi cooking seekhliya hai aapne.

Ar: aadat hai Aayi.

He smiled and concentrated on feeding Adi who was today in a very naughty mood. So he preferred eating from Arjun's and Dadi's plates who took turn him in feeding.

Arjun was oblivious to Dadi's attention on him. She was watching how he was adjusting himself with this life. It pained her to no extend too. After dinner Arjun went back with the plates after helping Aayi to washroom and back.

Dadi asked Adi to sleep with her. But for that night Arjun asked Adi to sleep with him as he didn't want Aayi to be disturbed at night. She still needed rest. Adi readily accepted it. In between talks Adi had slept by Dadi, and Arjun took him to his room and tucked him in the duet.

He came back to give the medicines and stopped at the door when he heard her speaking.

"khana khaya...? Aur dawa dedena... wo thode gussa karenge... Chacha... aap please sambhal dena... haan mujhe patha hai... Arjun aur Adi bilkul teekh hai... ji... rakhthi hu..."

He had stayed outside the door till she composed back. He walked in later and found her keeping back the phone on the table. She felt a bit awkward as if he caught her red handed. He sat casually and handed over her the medicines. She took it silently.

When he tried to get up she called him back. "Arjun..."

He sat back facing her.

"kuch puchna nahi chahoge Arjun?"

"kya puchna hai Aayi... Agar aapke khushi yahi hai tho mien kya kar saktha hu? but I still don't understand you..." she smiles sadly and touch his cheeks.

"hum dono ke beech me wahi rishtha hai Arjun... jo tumhare aur Roshni ke beech me tha. Maana hamare beech ke jo rishtha tum dono ke tharah dikhtha tho nahi, par yahi sach hai. jabse unse shaadi hui hai, wahi meri sab kuch hai. haan iss soch ne mujhe bohot samay chup rahne ko majboor kiya. Lekin wo sabkuch unke galthi nahi the. mere bhi thi. Agar hamare relation uss understanding se hothe tho, aise kuch nahi hotha. Par mien zara purane samay se thi. Jaha sirf unke shabd hi sab kuch tha. I don't blame him for everything. Yes I blame me and also the situations. Aap bhi unko zyada blame math karna..."

"maaf karna Aayi. Par shayad mujhme apke tharah chup rehne ka shakthi nahi hai. I am like this..."

She smiled sadly again.

"I know.. akhir aap Suryakanth Rawte ke bete ho... mien samajh sakthi hu..."

He didn't want to prolong the decision. She noticed it too. She tried to change the topic.

"Sameer ke bath kaha thak pohoncha?"

He knew well she was trying to lighten the mood. He smiled.

"patha nahi... wo abhi bhi confused' hai. gadha..."

"kis bath ki confusion? Ladki tho bohot achi hai..."

"aap Sam ko nai janthe Aayi. Patha hai...? usse Aisha pasand hai. fir usse kahi se laga ke Aisha ko aise feeling nahi hai. Aisha, Adi ke bohot kareeb hai. tho Sam ne Aisha ko mere tharaf bheja. Bechari Aisha confused ho gayi thi.akhir mujhe hi kuch karna pada. Ab mien raste se clear hu. Aisha ko bhi akal agayi. Par mere Chief abhi bhi bholu Ram banke ghoom raha hai. patha nahi iska mien kya karu?"

He said it so jovially. She could get the glimpse of her old Arjun who used to come to her every evening giving such tit bit updates of his school/ college days. Those days she used to know everything going in Arjun's life. And now she didn't have an idea of what he had gone through.

He looked up from his smile to see his Aayi smiling with tears in her eyes.

"are... kya hua?"

She wiped her tears and no negative.

"kuch nahi... aap fikar math kijiye... Sam ko mien dekhthi hu. Aisha bohot achi ladki hai"

"haan Adi ko bhi bohot pasand hai"

"tho... Sam ne sachme Aisha ko apke aur...?" she couldn't believe what Sam had tried to do for Arjun.

"haan. Usse laga ke wo Adi ke Maa ban sakthi hai. par ye bhool gaya ke... Adi ke Maa... matlab ek aur relation bhi hai... (he looked down and silently said) jo mien nahi chahtha..."

Though he had said it in low voice, Aayi caught it well. "kyu?" he looked up. "kyu nahi chahthe Arjun? akhir aise kya hai jo apko aage bhadne se rok raha hai?"

He looked surprised at his mom. He knew this topic would come one day. But this soon?