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Part Four: Rishte
"Bahiyaa! Khaana laga diya hain maine, app jaldi se ajaye varna sara thanda hojaye ga…" Khanak called out to Aditiya from the small dining room that was shared with an open kitchen in their small house.
"Agaya Chutki, tum shuru toh karo main bus yeh ajj kay last accounts ka hisaab karlo…" Aditiya called out from his room as he continued on with tedious calculations.
"Bahiyaa app jante hain main raat ka khaana appke bagair nahi kahti…" Khanak came into Adi's room and reminded him of her known habit. The way she had insisted Aditiya for dinner made him give in almost immediately as he got up putting away his accounts journal and calculator.
"Chutki… tum kabhi nahi badalna…chalo varna baad mein mujhay blame karogi ke tumhay bhooki rakha…" Adi hugged his little sister as they walked to the dinner table and sat down for Kahank's favorite sabzi and hot rotis.
"Hmm…yum, ajj toh khaana bahut acha banaya hain…"
"Thank you Bahiyaa…app araam se kahao aur kal main University se jaldi ajao ge toh kuch naaya try karogi… " Khanak passed the rice bowl to Adi and informed him of her plans for tomorrow.
Meanwhile Shaantanu found himself wandering the empty streets of Manali in the late hours of this cold night. He felt if he stayed in that same small room where Sunil's harsh words turned his small world upside down in seconds he would have surely suffocated. He knew he had no one to go to in this new town to share his sorrows but he knew if he diverted his attention for sometime maybe his wounds would subdue the severity of his pain that he was feeling tonight.
"Chutki, main thodi dair kay liye dukaan tak jaraha hoon , actually voh order book bhool aaya, tum chalo gi saath?" Adi asked grabbing his bike keys as Khanak was finishing up the dishes by the sink.
"Haan chalay main chalti hoon saath…Chacha ki dukaan se mujhay coffee bhi leni hain do din se khatam hain…" Khanak dried her hands and fixed her duppatta quickly as Adi headed out the front door.
Khanak and Adi were now in the local town market where Adi's shop was located. Adi gave Khanak some money as she wanted to buy her coffee while he goes inside the shop and gets his order book. While walking towards Chacha's shop Khanak spotted Shaantanu leaning against one of the parked cars in distance, she stopped midway and stared at him, but judging by his sad expression he looked like a completely different person, he was not the same music magician she had imagined him to be earlier today.
Shaantanu was lost in his own trance as he didn't even look around to notice Khanak in the surrounding vicinity. He had not eaten anything since morning and now his stamina was giving up on him as he could feel the weakness take over his body. Glancing around the various shops in the market he decided to go ahead and feed himself enough to keep him alive for the night. As he took slow steps towards the food vendor he felt his head growing heavier with pressure and his heart was once again aching, wanting to burst out of his burdened chest.
"Suniye...?" A familiar voice called out but Shaan kept on walking believing that no one is familiar to him or his existence in this town.
Khanak had mustered up enough confidence to follow him and then call out him, but he had not
once notice her or her faint call. She had forgotten all about her coffee and was mindlessly following Shaantanu, a stranger who she had met just this morning but in a much better state. Her curiosity was unable to let her go about her business without making the stranger aware of her genuine concern for him. She finally caught up to him and stopped him from walking any farther. He looked up at her and she could clearly see something broken in his eyes, she just couldn't tell what.
"App theek toh hain na?" She asked him bluntly; taking him by surprise once again as she didn't bother acknowledging any formalities that most strangers do before jumping into a question like that.
Shaan just looked at her, he didn't have words, he wasn't suppose to really as he didn't even know who she was and why their fate had crossed path twice in one day. His heart was ready to pour out its emotions while his mind prohibited him from executing any such impulsive actions. He was looking for a genuine touch, a soothing voice, something he could hold on to and looking at Khanak in that moment he felt like he had gotten exactly what he had wished for.
"I think maine app ko disturb kiya…Sorry…" Khanak felt embarrassed as he had not answered her back, the way he was looking at her made her even more nervous so she decided to leave him alone without adding any more awkwardness to the situation.
"Nahi…I am sorry…voh actually main kuch sooch raha tha…" Shaan quickly made a good use of his words by making an excuse for his odd behavior. She was dressed in a mustard-orangish churidaar, her simplicity still intact in her poised style, her features were still afresh in his mind.
Although his recent worries had taken over his senses and blurred the most beautiful encounter of his day today, in no way had he forgotten anything about it.
"Toh app theek hain?" Khanak repeated her question once again as she found Shaantanu's facial expressions relax a bit.
"Pata nahi…vaise hum ajj dosri baar mill rahay hain, should I be concern? Mujhay koi follow toh nahi kar raha?" Shaan was good at hiding the worst of his emotions and this tactic had its advantages at moments like these, he even smiled a little to be convincing.
"I think app theek hain…main yunhi sawaal pooch rahi thi…sorry once again" Khanak turned around to leave but he managed to stop her midway with his words once again.
"Maafi toh mujhay maangni chiyay, Dusri baar bhi apna introduction nahi karaya maine…Mera naam Shaan hain... aur yahaan per naaya hoon iss liye shayad kuch pareshaan lag raha hoonga appko…" Shaan covered up for his behavior in the most convincing and upbeat tone and even though Khanak's heart had its doubt she decided to believe him.
"Acha issi liye app upset thay…Khair main Khanak hoon aur humaray chotey se town mein appko welcome karna chaho ge…kya kissi ne yahaan app ko preshaan kiya hain?" Khanak inquired thinking about the possibilities of his worries earlier.
"Nahi, bilqual nahi…I don't think kay yahaan per loog aik dusre ko preshaan kartay hongay, voh toh hum jaise out of town loog he apni frustrations lash out kartey hain…yahaan per toh sub kuch bahut acha hain, bahut simple hain." Shaan added, wanting to keep his sentence and the double meanings hidden from her."
"Manali ki yahi khass baat mujhay bhi bahut pasand hain… per abb mujhay jaana hoga…Coffee khareedni thi bhool gaye…" Khanak smiled lightly and excused herself as Shaantanu looked on faintly smiling and watching her go like before.
It was a very brief meeting, a conversation that initiated because of her genuine concern for him. He was surprised at how she had managed to find him in his moment of darkness and somehow soothe his aching heart and hammering head. Few minutes ago he felt like he had no hope, like he was lost and there was no way to be found, but now things were better. Her humane touch had made a difference in his thinking and he was able to let go of his disheartened self momentarily.
Khanak was surprised at her own actions as she had never acted so strange before, the whole walking up to a complete stranger and asking if he is alright or not was not at all like her. She didn't know why but something about this music magician kept her skeptical about him and her own behavior towards him. She knew he was different and somewhat mysterious but his mystery was of her liking and she could hardly wait for it to unfold. She bought the Coffee from the shop and rushed back to Adi's shop where he was waiting for her on his bike to head back home.
The next morning Khanak attended Sir Shekhar's Music literature class where he was conducting a lengthy lecture over Victorian era and how writers were changing perspectives during that time period in literary history. Unlike most students Khanak was excited about today's lecture as Sir Shekhar had promised to touch upon Victorian poetry. She had an inclination towards lyrical aspect of poetry and Victorian poetry covered exactly what she looked up to as her own inspiration. She would have continued to pay her undivided attention towards Sir Shekhar's lecture if Shaan's appearance at the classroom's door had not startled her.
"Sir may I come in?" Shaan knocked lightly on the door and requested permission from Sir Shekhar who was clearly smiling and glad to see him in his classroom.
"Ofcourse, come on in!" Sir Shekhar gestured him to come inside, he stood up to welcome him in as well as the rest of the students watched from their respective seats as Sir Shekhar was known for his selective approach in praise and favorites.
"Guys, Shaantanu Khandelwal here will be joining our class from today, and being a music major I recommended him take up our class as it would help in his musical interests…instrumental toh kafi acha compose karte hain but lyrics will be a whole new subject for you…" Sir Shekhar introduced him proudly and asked him to take a seat as the rest of the students welcomed him warmly.
As Shaan looked about the room for an empty seat he found Khanak smiling at him from the second row while pointing him towards an empty desk in the row behind her. He walked over with a confident smile and took the seat behind her; she didn't turn her head to see him settle down but could feel his eyes on her as she resumed her attention back to the lecture. The one thing that Khanak made a mental note about was to ask him about his name, the fact that he had introduce himself as Shaan and not Shaantanu Khandelwal.
Back in Mumbai
"Sunil yeh tum kya kehrahay ho? Aisa kaise kar sakte ho…" Daadi questioned his son after hearing about his impulsive decision of disowning her youngest grandson.
"Maa app baat ko samjhay aur vaise bhi Shaantanu ne jo kuch kiya hain uss mein kissi aur ne interfere nahi kiya phir meray iss decision mein app sub kyun interfere kar rahay hain?" Sunil said turning away from his mother who was not only angry but very disappointed in him.
"Sunil yeh mat bhoolo kay voh tumhara beta hain…iss ghar ka hissa hain hum sub ki tarah, kyun itnay kathore ban rahay ho? kal aisa na ho kay tum apnay iss faislay pe pachtao…" Daadi warned his son trying to make him understand that relations are not meant to be broken on such impulsive terms.
" Nahi Maa, Shaantanu ki gair zimdaari aur bachpana abb mujhay aur bardaasht nahi hain…na iss ghar mein na iss family mein…kitni mehnat se maine yeh business set kiya hain aur kitnay saloon se yeh mera armaan tha kay voh bhi Akshay ki tarah…"
"Yahi, bus yahi sooch tumhay hum sub se dur karday gi…tum jaante ho Akshay aur Shaan dono alag hain…har insaan aik jaisa nahi hota, Shaan tumhari kahtir business mein interest leta raha par tumne kabhi yeh soocha bhi nahi kay voh khud kya karna chahta hain…usskay kya sapne hain…Sunil mujhay ufsoos hain kay meri tarbeeyat ne tumhay itna sakht bana diya hain…" Daadi spoke her mind clearly and then left Sunil to ponder on her words, but he was known for his adamant behavior and there was no going back now.
Afternoon In Manali
After class ended Khanak met up with Shaan and introduced him to the rest of her gang. Everyone welcomed Shaantanu and was quite impressed with his charming personality. It was the first time Shaantanu had met up with a group of people that led their carefree lives without restricting themselves to status or forced emotions. He felt belonged here, unlike his life in Mumbai University, where people knew him only as the rich industrialist's son and nothing more.
"So Lucky aur Tara kay beeck mein kuch hain kya?" Shaantanu asked Khanak after the rest of the group dispersed around for various reasons but promised to meet up again for lunch. Shaantanu and Khanak both had some gap in between classes at this time so they were walking around the campus.
"Haan…aik dusre ki bahut pasand karte hain shuru se, engagement bhi ho chuki hain per jub karte hain toh sub kuch bhool kar larte hain dono…" Khanak informed as she remembered their random fights which would take the entire gang to break apart and reconcile the bickering couple.
"Aur Abhay voh kafi fun types lagta hain…what is he studying?" Shaantanu inquired further about the gang.
"Filmmaking…University kay koi bhi event ki coverage Abhay kay bagair adhoori hain…usskaa camera hum sub se zaayda acha dost hain uska…lakin jub Abhay jitna talent ho toh phir iss baat ka shikwa(complain) karna fazool hain…" Khanak added as Shaantanu agreed with her open minded
thinking.
"Sam aur tum kafi achi dost ho…best friend types…?" Shaantanu asked as he recalled the closeness he had witnessed when Sam was around earlier.
"Sam ko main sirf do saloon se jaanti ho aur Tara ko bachpan se…Sam yahaan per jin halaat mein Manali ayi thi usski vajah se kafi disturbed thi…Ussay Maa aur Papa ki divorce hogaye hain aur voh unn see dur apni aunty kay saath rehti hain…Shayad hum dono ki understanding zaayada iss liye hain kyunki hum dono ki zindagi mein parents nahi hain…" Khanak revealed one of her saddest aspects of her life as Shaantanu observed her sadness quietly while they sat at one of the benches in the central garden.
"I am sorry…I didn't.."
"Iss mein appki toh koi galti nahi hain…Main khud bhi bahut choti thi jun Maa aur Baba aik accident ki vajah se iss duniya ko chor kar chalay gaye…bus abb Adi Bahiyya he meray liye Maa aur Baba hain…"
"Kitni ajeeb baat hain na…iss duniya mein jin logoon ko Maa aur Baap jaise rishtoon ki zaroorat hoti hain unhay he inn rishtoon mein adhoorapan milta hain…kabhi rishtay kum par jaate hain aur kabhi halaat unhay hum se durr kar detay hain…" Shaan was remembering his own turmoil and couldn't help but to share his feelings with Khanak while they were discussing parental roles in their life.
"Kya matalab?" Khanak asked quite confused by the sudden heaviness in Shaan's tone
"Meri kahani bhi kuch ajeeb hain…jahaan Mom, Daadi, aur Bahiyya ka bepanah pyaar milla vahi Dad ki disappointment aur ghussay ne hameesha mujhay dukhi rakha…Dad se durr tha per ghar mein baaqi sub se kareeb raha aur shayaad thori dair kay liye Dad aur meray beech ka distance bhula diya per kissi cheez ko bhula denay se voh khatam toh nahi hojati…abb toh shayad uss rishte ka haq bhi mujhay nahi raha..." Shaan sighed closing his eyes momentarily in relief, it was the first time he had let out what he was feeling for past two days.
"Per rishtoon ka haq koi insaan kissi se aur se kaisay le sakta hain…aik baap apnay betay kay saath kyun aisa karay ga…?"
"Khanak itnay barey sawaal ka jaawab toh meray pass nahi hain per itna kaho ga kay abb Manali aur apni zindagi mein main akela hoon…jo kuch ho khud ho aur bus yahi se meri shuruaat hain…agay kya hoga, kaisay aur kub hoga yeh nahi pata…per aik umeed hain jo mujhay tootne nahi deti…mera music he meray liye mera sub kuch banay ga bus ussi din ka intezaar hain…"
"Per iss mein apna itna acha naam chupanay waali kya baat hain..?"
"Naam?...kya matlab..?"
"Shaan aur Shaantanu mein farq hain…Shaan keh kar apni pehchaan adhoori kyun chor rahay hain app…Mujhay Shaantanu zaayda pasand hain…" Khanak smiled looking at him as she tried to lighten up his mood.
"Acha, aur yeh "app" vaali formality mujhay nahi pasand…"
"Mujhay hain…."app" meray liye formality nahi respect hain…voh izzat jo main app ko dena chahti ho, iss liye that won't change…"
"Khanak vaise arguments ko jeetna koi tum se sheekhay…abb itna flattering response aayega toh main kabhi mana nahi karoonga…" Shaantanu smiled and agreed to her terms as she took notice of his smile that glowed despite the pain he held in his eyes.
"Okay then, Shaantanu luch kay liye chalay…sub intezaar kar rahay hongay.." Khanak suggested as she remembered her promise to the gang.
"hmmm…lets go…" Shaantanu stood up and walked with Khanak, they talked about the randomness that they saw while walking to the cafeteria.
They both had some sort of attraction that clicked from the very first time their eyes met. Nothing was filmy about them; there were no dramatized notions that brewed between them. It may be friendship to many, much more than that to some who knew them better than others, but to them there was no label, it wasn't needed. There was a genuine humane relation that was built upon honesty from the get go and that simplicity and emotional fondness was enough for both of them for the time being.
Anupamaa
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
