chapter----7
the bike came and stood in frnt of pratigya's house..... krishna looked back as pratigya got down carefully....
then she stood before him and waited for him to say somethng......
krishna took of his helmet and took out the teddy bear wich she had given him. he smiled as he showed it to her------hello.....woh tumhe bye kehna chahta hain.....
pratigya touched it on the nose and whispered a bye.... then she looked at krishna and said------bye krishna......
she turned and walked towards the gate of her house... krishna put on his helmet and drove away..........
aarushi opened the door as pratigya rang the bell-----di aap kaha thi? mummy aur hum kitne pareshan the!!!
pratigya----kyun?
aarushi was abt to repeat the doctor's advises wen nainaji suddenly came in between and stopped her......
naina ji---aarushi...tum andar jao.....pratigya.....tum kaha gayi thi beta....humne tumse kaha hain na ki akele bahar mat ghuma karo......
pratigya said bluntly------hum akele to nhi the.....?
aarushi had alredy gone inside so she did nt hear the conversation between naina ji and pratigya....
naina ji------to kiske saath thi tum? rohli to apne ghar chali gayi hain...humne dekha use rickshaw mein.....fir tum kiske saath thi pratigya?
pratigya-----krishna ke saath........
naina ji----krishna? kaun krishna? woh adarsh ka classmate?
pratigya-----hmm...
naina ji was am little surprised as she didnt know wat to make out of this.. she tried to poke her more-----tum krishna ke saath thi? kyun? kuch kam tha?
pratigya did nt feel the requirement to tell lies,in fact she did nt have that mental cndition to tell lies to anyone-------nhi.....woh hume movie dekhne ke liye le gaye the......
naian ji's eyes grew wide....she had nt expected this at all......
she cud nt keep her voice low anymore-----film dekhen? kyun? tum to kisi ke saath film dekhne nhi jati...to fir aaj kaise tum ek ajnabi ke saath? pratigya tum janti ho tum kya kehrahi ho?
her voice made pratigya a bit afraid...naina ji had never talked to her in such a manner.... she stammered-------mummy...humne nhi kahan tha......hamari kya galti hain....aur waise bhi.....woh hamara dost hain.......
naina ji lowered down her voice after seeing her terror-stricken face----beta tum samajh nhi rahi ho....bas itna jaan lo ki ek ya do din milne se koi kisika dost nhi ban jata....samjhi? kisiko dost banane ke liye ya fir kisika dost banne ke liye ek dusre ko bht acchi tarah se jaanna padta hain..... tum to krishna ko thk se janti tak nhi.......
pratigya kept her eyes low.........she tried to analyse her mother's wrds.... yes,she was ryt......she didnt know him at all.....then why did she agree to go with him....why did she feel that she knows him too well.....why was it that wenevr she met him.....her heart seemed to leap out of excitement.....? pratigya did nt have a reply......
she looked up at her mother and said--------mummy hum bht thak gaye hain........
naina ji suddenly realised that she was blocking her way to her room.... she moved away and pratigya started to walk slowly towards her room........
naina ji muttered to herself-------hume is bare mein adarsh se baat karni padegi.......
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rukiye......bas yehi par ruk jaiye-------said komal to her driver..... the tata sumo halted in frnt of a big saree shop.....
her bodyguard helped her out and she walked towards the shop.... he was abt to follow her wen she turned and said----aap yehi rukiye...aapko andar ane ki zaroorat nhi hain...
the bodyguard said-----thakursaab ka hukum hain...aapko kahin bhi akela nhi chod sakte....
komal sighed.. she understood that it was useless to tell him anymore,he wudnt obey anyone except his THAKURSAAB, that is her father......
she walked inside the shop with the bodyguard following her... her appearance,her way of dressing...the jewelleries she wore...created such an impact on the people inside the shop that they almost stood up to greet her...they thot that she was some princess.....
the shopkeeper knew her well. he folded his hands and quickly came forward-----are didisaheb aap yahan hamare dukan par?........kitni khuskismat hain hum....... are bantia....e bantia...didisaheb ke liye bariya sa chaye lekar aa jaldi!!!!
he gave her a chair to sit down.. komal sat down and said-----shukriya...chacha ji aap hume saaree dikhayiye...... hamare ghar mein puja hain aur isbar hum hamari pasand ke saree pehenenge......
the shopkeeper looked extreamely pleased... within few minutes....there was a big heap of sarees placed in frnt of komal...with varying colours and designs...all of them were marvellous... komal looked confused... she had nvr done shopping before on her own and each and evry saree luked awsum to her...... at last she decided to buy all......
she said to the shopkeeper------chacha ji...aap ek kam kijiye...aap in sab sareeyon ko pack kar dijiye.......aur payment kitna hua bataiye...
the shopkeeper's face depicted that he was overjoyed... bt still he asked to verify-----sare ke sare?
komal---haan.....hume sab accha laga.....
the shopkeeper started working on the huge sale......in total there were 11 sarees...... the total bill came out to be rs.23000..
komal handed the bags over to her bodyguard... at frst he had refused saying that it was nt his job... bt komal was pretty clever. she said-------sharam nhi aati....tumko ka sirf khade rehne ke liye aur hamare piche faujdari karne ke liye paisa diya jata hain? huh? kaam karo kaam.....warna bauji ko kehkar tumhara pagar kat denge.....
the man took the bags without another single wrd and followed komal outside the shop.......
he placed the bags inside the car and then said to komal----aap andar baith jaiye...bht der ho gayi hain...thakursaab naraz ho jayenge...
komal did nt answer him...she was looking at the ice-cream parlour on the other side of the road.... she remembered how krishna used to give her a treat of ice-cream wenevr they went for shopping..... she missed her brother a lot......
she thot-----to kya hua agr krishna bhaiya hamare saath abhi nhi hain......hum is parlour se ice-cream zaroor lenge.......bhaiya ko batayenge....woh kitna khush ho jayega.....
she turned to her bodyguard and said----hum us ice-cream parlour se ice-cream lekar aate hain...tum yehi ruko...hum abhi wapas aa jayenge...aur ye zyaada dur bhi nhi hain...tum yahanse hume dekh paoge....
the bodyguard did nt argue.....he was kind of afraid of her short temper.......
komal walked across the road towards the ice---cream parlour.... in her excitement she tripped and her purse fell out of her hands.... she stooped down and had hardly picked it up wen suddenly someone grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the way of a speeding wagon wich she had not noticed........ she cudnt keep her balance and fell down bt to her surprise she did nt touch the ground... the same person whu had saved her grabbed at her waist and supperted her on his hand..... she looked at his face......he was a vry gud-luking guy,well dressed,fair,with curly black hair........ he helped her to stand on her feet...
she started arranging her clothes at once. the guy,whu was pratigya's elder brother adarsh asked her-------tum thk to ho na?
komal gave a quick reply----haan.... she was nt used to talking with strangers.....
adarsh----agr kuch second aur der ho jata hume to pata nhi kya hota.......
koaml shuddered at the thot ......she felt really grateful to this unknown guy and was abt to thank him wen suddenly her bodyguard came running....
the frst thng he did was to grab adarsh's collar and punch him hard on his face.... he fell face down on the ground.....
komal was too shocked to speak.....
the bodyguard hissed at adarsh-------teri himmat kaise hui choti malkin ko haath lagane ki? agr thakursaab ko pata chal jaye na to tere tudke tudke karke sangam mein fek denge......
adarsh got up,anger and disgust poured frm his eyes...... without wasting a second,he punched him back on his chin... it had less effect on him physically bt it increased his anger.....
he started beating adarsh black and blue...... now komal cud nt stay quite any longer.... she came in between the fighting duo and with all her strength she succeeded in saving adarsh frm her bodyguard's clutches......
then she faced him and put a hard slap across his face........ the bodyguard was so surprised that his mouth hang open......
komal shouted at him-----tum samajhte kya ho apne aap ko? huh? agr marne pitne ka itna hi shauk hain na...to jao jakar kisi akhade mein maramari karo.....tumhari zaroorat wohi padegi......hume tumhari koi zaroorat nhi hain......samjhe tum?
the bodyguard looked down....he felt ashamed.....
komal turned to adarsh.... his mouth was bleeding..... she took her handkerchief and pressed it against his cut...... he looked at her...... the frst thng wich came to his mind was that the grl whu stood in frnt of him,caring to his wounds was as beautiful as a princess......in fact,he thot....she WAS a princess........that is why she had a bodyguard and was dressed so beautifully.......
he put her hand down and said----thk hain......am okay........
komal----aise kaise okay? itna khun behraha hain...hume lagta hain tumhe kisi doctor ke paas jana chahiye......
adarsh----nhi uski koi zaroorat nhi hain....humne kaha na hum thk hain....
komal did nt pursue him anymore.... she said-----thk hain...jaise tumhari marzi bas hum tumse maafi mangte hain........hamari wajase tumhari ye halat hui.......
adarsh shrugged his shoulders in a careless manner as if it was nothing to him......
komal turned and glared at her bodyguard. then she said----chalo......
he followed him...head still lowered out of shame......
after walking few steps ahead suddenly she turned back. adarsh was standing there.....wiping his wounds with his own handkerchief... she came over to him and said-----tum kahan rehte ho? tumhe ghar drop kar dun?
adarsh----nhi.....aapko taklif uthane ki zaroorat nhi hain.... he was quite careful to address her as "aap" as it was clear to him that she was of a vry high status......
komal smiled-------thakur baldev singh ki beti ko bachane ka koi to inam milni hi chahiye....... chalo tumhe ghar drop kar deti hun........
the earth shook beneath adarsh's feet-------thakur baldev singh? sajjan singh ka chota bhai?
komal---haan......wohi...
adarsh's face twisted in disgust and hatred.. all his gentle feelings for this unknown beauty disappeared at once------tum uski beti ho?
komal---haan baba....aab chalo?
adarsh turned away frm her and said-----nhi.....hum nhi jayenge...hume paydal chalna zyaada accha lagta hain........
and without waiting for her reply,he walked away.........
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ADARSH?????-----naina ji was shocked to see his state----ye kya halat bana rakhi hain aapni?
adarsh entered the room,without replying... he dropped down on the sofa and tossed back his head.....
naina ji came over to him quickly-----beta kisse jhagra kiya tumne? kya hua? tum kuch bologe bhi?
aarushi came out of her room,hearing her mother's excited voice... evn she was shocked to see his state----bhaiya kua hua? ye saab kaise?
adarsh-----zyaada bak bak mat kar aur hamare liye jaldi pani lekar aa....
aarushi----abhi lati hun....she ran into the kitchen.....
adarsh turned at his mother------kuch nhi mummy...logon ki madat karne ka saza mila hume...
naina ji----matlab?
he described to her the whole incident.....naina ji's face became red in anger-----aise logon ko goli mar deni chahiye.....are...kisiki madat karne par koi aise pesh ata hain kya?
adarsh----mummy ye bare log hain.....aur inka yehi kaam hain...hum jaise middle-class admiyon ko apna sahi jagah dikhana......
bhaiya,pani----aarushi came up to him with the glass of water....
naina ji got up----bneta tum aaram karo....hum haldi tel garam karke late hain...tumhare ghaw par laga denge...jaldi thk ho jayega.....
aarushi followed her mother to the kitchen and as they left adarsh closed his eyes.......
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vinay came into his room after dinner and suddenly noticed somethng on krishna's table.... it was a teddy bear..... and that also pink in colour....
he was so amused that he cudnt stop laughing... krishna came out of the bathroom to see him clutching his stomach tightly and rolling in laughter.....
krishna---are...ka hua? kahin pagle to nhi gaye ho? aise kahe has rahe ho?
vinay gasped for breath...
krishna---are kuch batlaoge bhi?
vinay pointed to the teddy bear and said------krishna tumko ka aab jakar baccha banne ka shauk chada hain?
he started laughing agen.....
krishna picked the teddy bear up frm his table and said----kyun? sirf bacche log hi rakh sakte hain kya yeh sab?
vinay----haan...bacche ya to fir laundiya......
krishna----to ka hua.....hum bhi rakhenge...krishna ko jo cheez pasand aata hain woh uska ho jata hain....hume ye khilona pasand aya hain.......
vinay came over to him and tried to study his face....krishna lowered his eyes------are aise ka dekh rahe ho huh?
vinay----chinta mat karo...hum ee nahi dekh rahe hain ki tum kitne khubsurat ho...... bas hum to ee dekhne ki koshish kar rahe the ki aakhir baat ka hain?
krishna-----wo ka hamre chehre par likha hoega?
vinay-----wohi to dekhne ki koshish kar raha hun.......aha...baat to kuch aur hi hain...lagta hain....aab zaara khulke bataoge?
krishna scratched his head and said------kachu nhi...bas ek dost ne di hain......
vinay noticed the change in his face as he uttered "dost",it seemed as if he blushed.....
he came over to him and gave him a big hug......
vinay----oye hoye!!!!! aapka chehra kitna khil raha hain...dekho dekho......krishna ji...... aap to gaye kaam se.....bass aab ee bataiye ki humko nauta kab mil rahi hain....? thakur sajjan singh ka ek laute bete ke shaadi mein baraati banne ka?
krishna's blush became more intense------kya baat kar raha hain yar...aisa kuch bhi nhi hain.....
he kept on refusing gently while vinay kept on teasing him... he was sure that krishna was in love.......
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amma,kya hum sachmein bht bare log hain?------komal asked her mother innocently.....
her mother reply was full of false pride---haan beta.....hum thakur hain...thakur.....pure ellahabad mein sab log hamari bht izzat karte hain...darte hain humse........samjhi? tere bauji ek rajja hain...rajja...aur tu uski beti...yaniki hamari aankhon ka tarah...hamari rajkumari......
komal------amma agr bauji raja hain aur hum rajkumari...to aap bhi to maharani hongi..hain na?
the smile fade away frm her mother's lips....
komal cntinued---agr aisa hain to kyun tum kaam karti ho hamesha....raniyan to kaam nhi karti? sirf aaram karti hain.......aur kya raja apne maharani ko marte hain? to fir bauji aap par haath kyun uthate hain? rajwado ke khandan mein aisa hota hain kya? boliye na amma? aab aap chup kyun hain?
amma did nt know wat to reply....her daughter's innocent mind was full of questions....... those questions wich she had also once asked her own mother...before her marriage.......bt got the answers after a long time...wen she came to know the actual truth abt the life of women.......
she stroked her daughter's head gently and said-----beta aab tu nhi samjhegi ye saab....jaab teri shaadi hogi tab apne aap tujhe sab samajh mein aa jayega....
komal sat up on her bed----nhi amma....hum aise ghar mein shaadi nhi karenge...kabhi nhi karenge.....
tears came into her eyes to thnk of herself being treated in the way her father treats her mother.....
her mother tried to console her-----nhi beta......tujhe hum aise ghar mein thodi na bhejenge...tere liye to ek rajkumar ayega...safed ghore par sawar hokar...aur tujhe yahan se udakar le jayega....bht dur....
komal did nt believe her-----aap jhoot bol rahi ho....koi rajkumar nhi hota....ye sab kahaniyon mein hota hain bas......aur waise bhi hume koi rajkumar chahiye bhi nhi.....
her mother became amused at her daughter's wrds....she became little curious too.. she poked her-----to...tujhe kaisa pati chahiye...? zaara apne amma ko bhi to bata?
komal thought for a while and then started to say------hume ek aisa pati chahiye jo humse bht pyaar kare......woh rajkumar hi ho...aisa zaroori nhi hain...bas ek accha insaan ho.....uske ek accha parivaar ho....aapki jaisi amma ho uski.....par bauji ki tarah baap na ho......aur.....aur...
komal's amma-----aur kya bol?
suddenly adarsh's face came into her mind and she cntinued in a trance-------woh hume har mushkil se bachayega.....humpar koi aanch nhi aane dega......woh swabhimaani hoga........woh ek aisa insaan hoga jiski hum bht izzat karenge.........
her mother's wrds brot her back in reality------are wah!!! hamari nanhi si beti to badi ho gayi hain...... kyun? thk hain beta....tere liye hum aise hi kisiko dhund kar le ayenge...... aab khush?
komal smiled..........
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Ghum Hai Kisikey Pyaar Meiin
