T2: Ek Aur Zindagi..(Epilogue:page 130) - Page 18

PART 35:

"Sam ko laga ke Aisha, 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?

She could see he was evidently pained by the question. She didn't want to hurt him, but wanted to know what he was thinking. This question was in her mind for a long time. As a mother she just wished her son to have a happy life.

"tho ab aapko bhi lag raha hai ke Adi mere sath khush nahi hai?" she was not at all expecting that question. She knew that question was in response for the all hurt he had in mind. "nahi Arjun meri mtlab wo nahi..."

He looked down frustrated. "akhir aapko bhi wahi laga jo Sam ko lag raha tha. Ke mien mere bete ke khushi ke raste me araha hu. I don't know what to say now"

"maine aise kab kaha Arjun ke aap Adi ke khushi ke raste me hai? aap hi Adi ke khushi ho. and there is no doubt for that."

He looked up expecting her to carry on.Aayi took his hand in her palms. "aapko nahi patha ke mien kitni khush hu ye jaanke ke aap ek bohot ache pita ho. Jiss tharah aapne Adi ko paala hai, aur usse kabhi bhi Roshni ki kami mehsoos hone nahi diya... mien bohot khush hu. Aap hi Adi Ma-Papa, Bhai aur best friend ho. Sam ne galath kaha hai, aap kabhi bhi Adi ke khushi ke raste me nahi ho Arjun. And you can be proud of that. par aapke kya?"

"mere kya hai Aayi? Adi hi mere jeene ke wajah hai. mere sabkuch hai. koi ye bath ko samajhthe kyu nahi?"

"sab samajhthe hai Arjun. Mujhe bas aapke zindagi ke parwah hai. aapko nahi lagtha ke aapko ek sahaare ke zaroorath hai?"

He was silent for a while. "aap sab hi mere sahaara ho. mujhe aur kuch nahi chahiye"

"Arjun... maana aap Roshni se bohot pyaar karthe ho. maana Adi apke sath khush hai. par mujhe lagtha hai aapko ek humsafar ke zaroorathh hai. aapko aage bhadna chahiye"

"there it comes again. Aage bhadna... move ahead... sabko ho kya gaya hai? apko nahi lagtha ke mein aage nahi bhada hai? agar nahi hothe tho shayad hum do aise bathein nahi karthe. Aur Adi... wo bhi aise nahi hothe. I have moved ahead Aayi. Please ye dubara math kehna. Raath kafi ho chukki hai. aap so jayiye. Hum kal milthe hai."

He helped her back to bed and she silently allowed him do itwithout taking her eyes off him. He tucket her in the blanket and kissed her forehead. "goodnight Maa" he kept the side table light on and closed all others and reached the door, when he heard her voice again. "aap Roshni ko miss nahi karthe?"

He stood by the door for a moment and turned to her. "miss karthe hai... especially thab jab koi mujhe ye yaad dilathe hai ke wo ab nahi raha..."

That one line did have all that he felt and wanted to say. Though it was hard to see his face in the darkness, still she knew how he looked and felt when he said that. He stood there for a moment more and then walked out closing the door.

Aayi knew that the topic did pain him more than what he showed. It was not time to scratch the healing wounds. She decided not to bring up this topic unless it was truly needed.

***

Rishab dropped Sakshi home. Before parting, they both felt awkward. They both had something to say but couldn't.

At last Rishab took initiative. "kehthe hai ke koi sirf best friends nahi rahtha, especially when at least one felt something beyond it. I don't know whats going to happen in our case."

"I know... But I hope that wouldn't creat a distance between us."

He smiled at her and nodded negative. "so unless something turns something real weird, we will be friends. What say?"

She smiled back. "do you expect it to be weird?"

"insaan hu Sakshi. Kisse patha... anyway had a great time with you tonight. Kabhi aise dinner pe chaloge... mere sath?"

She smiled with her eyebrows raised at his question. He took his slip. "ok...now its getting weird, right?" He asked sheepishly.

"no Rishab, its not weird. It just shows how much I have hurt you... I am sorry..."

"ab aise formalities math dalo yaar... Ok then good night"

"goodnight..." she waited for him to turn back and he did.

He turned back when he heard her again. "next time bhi khulfi treat mere tharaf se..."

She said and went back to her home. He stood there smiling, trying to understand this lady. At a moment she was confused of the relation. Later she decides to give it a thought. Then she felt it as wrong. But somewhere he was getting a hint that she was hurt just like him. Maybe she never knew it. Maybe she will know later. Later?? But when? He didn't have any answer. He too decided to move along with the wind. Maybe too much planning takes a different toll. Maybe he too needed sometime for himself.

He walked back to his car, and drove back to home.

***

Sakshi never hide anything from her mother. Her mother didn't know how to react to her. She seemed very confident of her decision at the same time confused too.

"Maa, patha nahi aap mere bare me kya soch rahe ho... but please ab kuch math puchna. Please..."

Mom patted her hair. "nahi Sakshi. You have right to decide over your life. Meine tumhe aise hi paala hai. You are good enough to decide for yourself. Kabhi bhi mere zaroorath ho, tho batha dena."

"ji maa..." she was tired for the day and went to sleep after quick fresh up.

***

Aayi was always quick to wake up. Though she was tired by the medicines, she woke up with a fresh air. At last, she was feeling home again.

Home... she was worried for her husband. His routines were crystal clear. He wanted everything perfect. She wondered how he would be doing it. She was thankful that the ever so caring Chacha was at home. If someone knew him well other than her, it was Chacha. She wondered if he had his regular tea. Arjun had inherited the tea habbit from from his father, though his father preferred a clean and tidy one instead of the cutting chai wala.

She got up remembering Arjun's tea, and got up fresh soon. As she went to kitchen she smiled. Arjun was already there boiling milk. He turned to her as he felt her presence. "are Aayi, good morning. Aap kyu uthe? You need to take rest na?"

"mien bilkul teekh hu. aise bed me rehke bore ho jaungi. Ab hato, chai mien banathi hu"

Though he protest at the start soon he give up and sits up on the counter watching her make the tea for him and herself.

"Adi uthe nai ab thak?"

"nahi. Abhi bhi so raha hai. socha sone dethe hai. ab hostel me thode na aise sone ko milega"

"usse wapas kyu bhej rahe ho Arjun? yahi kahi school me kyu nahi bharthe?"

"par aap tho mere work timing janthe ho. kab ayega, kab jayega, kuch nahi patha. Aise me, mien uske teekh se khayal nahi rakh paunga"

Again she was willing to raise her concern. But she had decided not to bring it up. She didn't want to hurt him again.

"par ab mien yaha hu na? usse yahi rehne do. Mien uska khayal rakhunga..."

He was so happy to hear that, but then he was worried too. He knew her too well that she was smiling with a lot held behind her. She was not a good actress. He knew her inside out to know that she was worried a lot.

He let the matter be so for a while as he didn't want to stress her out again.

She walks to his room to see Adi. He was still curled up in the blanket. Arjun leaned at the doorway watching them. She sat by Adi and ruffled his hair.

"aap dono ke aadathein bohot milthe hai Arjun. dekho bilkul tumhare tharah sothe hai ye."

He smiled at her.

"Arjun aaj kaam pe nahi jana kya? Jaldi fresh hojao. Mien breakfast banathi hu. no... koi behas nahi. Mien bilkul teekh hu aur khana bhi banaunga. Adi ko sone dethe hai. jabhi uthenge, mien dekh lungi. Mien hu na yaha pe?"

"yes boss..." he salutes her and goes to be fresh. By the time he was out, a great smell came from kitchen and also Adi was stirring from sleep.

"good morning dad..."

"good mornig beta..."

"aap fresh hogaye? Aaj jogging pe nahi jana tha?"

"its already time Adi. Aap sorahe the. aur mien bhi. Tho aaj jogging canceled. Tho seedhe work pe ja raha hu."

"wow...kya smell hai? Dadi kya bana rahi hai?"

"I think aapke favorite hi hai.jaldi fresh hoke aao. Bhoog lagi hai na?"

Adi nods and rushes to kitchen to give Dadi a tight hug from behind on her waist. "morning Dadi. Mien abhi fresh hoke aaya. Bohot bhoog lagi hai"

"ok... ok... ek minute..." she bends down to kiss his cheeks and then he runs off to his room.

After sometime both the Rawte boys are out ready and Dadi is ready with table too. Arjun gives her before food tablet and then they settle for food.Adi decides to skip camp as he was staying back with Dadi. Arjun goes to work, this time content of what was going on.

***

ETF office was back in action. Cases were flooding in. all were busy. But still there was time to catch up everything between them. Sakshi had her time with Aisha, Liza, Chotu and Sree. While Arjun caught up with Sameer.

When others heard about Sakshi's decision, first everyone doubted it. later they agreed for the better good. While Sameer was happy with Aayi staying back at home.

"Sam, Aayi keh rahe hai ke Adi ko yahi kahi school me admit karwadu tho acha hoga. Keh rahe hai ke wo ab Adi ke khayal rakhenge. What should I do?"

"that's a great thought Arjun. ab bichara Adi kab thak ye boring boarding pe rahenge. Yaha hum sab ke sath rehne do. Usse acha lagega. We all know hows boarding life. Haan discipline sab hoga, par ye bhi koi zindagi hai? ab agar Aayi ghar pe hai tho achi bath hai na?"

"magar..."

"problem kya hai Arjun?"

"Aayi abhi bhi unke bare me soch rahe hai. I know mere samne tho nahi kehthe, par unhe thakleef horahi hai. aur shayad mere aur Adi ke wajah se nahi keh rahi hai"

"ye decision tumhare wajah se nahi hai Arjun. she took it from her own will. Ab agar wo aise khush hai tho unhe math bhagao"

"what do you think Sam? Ke mien meri aayi ko ghar se bhagaunga? No. she can be with me forever. Until she wish to be so. I really don't care for him"

"and that is a lie..." Sameer said with a victorious smile.

"and what does that mean Sam?"

"you are not worried for him? tho ab ye sab kyu bol rahe ho?"

"I am just worried for her. Not for him..."

"ACP Rawte, ye math bhulo ke tum kisse bath kar rahe ho. I know you well man, aur ye bhi patha hai ke tum ye accept karne ko ready nahi ho ke tum apne Baba ko miss kar rahe ho. maana ke tum dono ke beech bohot problems hai. maana ke solve karna mushkil bhi hai. firbhi aise koi din nahi tha ke tum apne parents ko miss nahi kiya hai. agar aayi ke bare me socha hai tho Baba ke bare me bhi socha hai. and don't deny it"

"ok... so what do you want to prove Sam?" he was angry now.

"I don't want to prove anything Arjun. its you who want to prove yourself."

Sam could see he wan not convinced yet. "Arjun, tum chahthe ho ke Adi tumhare paas rahu. Aur ye bhi ke Aayi bhi tumhare sath ho. But you are worried kyunki Aayi ab Baba ke bare me sochke pareshan hai. if ever she wish to go back to him, you wont be able to stop her, as you know that he is as lonely as you are. So its better you think how to sort things out."

"dekho Sam, ye sab kehna..."

"patha hai... asan hai, karne ko nahi. Yahi keh rahe ho na? Arjun, ye ego sirf unke paas nahi balke tumhare paas bhi hai. unless one of you take the first step it wont change anything."

"then why should I take the first step? Why not him?"

Sameer slaps his forhead. "hey bhagwan... Arjun, forget I spoke to you. Kyunki tumse behas karne ka mere koi iraada nahi hai. so for the time being, search for some school. Summer vacations are about to be over, kahi der na hojaye. Aur Adi ke school me bath karo"

"so you think, he will be fine over here?"

"what do you think, Arjun?"

He didn't have an answer. He will have to look into it.

"aur haan Arjun, bathana bhool gaya. Aayi ka call tha. Kaha ke sare team ko ghar pe dinner keliye le aao. Meine mana kiya. Ab kal hi hospital se aye hai, aur aaj ithna kaam? Par tumhari Aayi ko bhi zid karna athi hai. so at last meine batha diya ke mien dinner keliye aaunga. Aur baki team ko baadme. That's fine, right?"

"sure. Aayi bhi tumse milna chahthi thi."

"kyu??" Arjun knew well what his Aayi was planning, but he decided to keep quite for a while. "bas aise hi..."

But Arjun didn't know that Aayi had more than one reason to meet Sameer.