FF~Trespassers Prohibited~#2;Upd.49,50 - 120,121 - Page 89

Khanak wore a pretty lemon yellow top in muted tones with very short sleeves. She had picked it up from a store on Ma's insistence. She thought that it wouldn't suit her but when she tried it, it looked gorgeous. She teamed it with a sky blue, ankle length jeans and put criss cross strappy sandals to complete the look. She hung her sling bag on one shoulder and let it go across her chest to reach the other side.

"Perfect !" she murmured in front of the mirror. She couldn't contain her excitement of meeting Shantanu after 15 days. It had been like this since a few months now…… they met for a day and then circumstances separated them for many days…….. they were on the mercy of phones and internet most of the time these days.

She slowly came out of the room and checked time. It was 5.30 pm……..Ma would be in Jai's room with his tea. She took slow deliberate steps to go to Jai's room. She entered and Ma and Jai both looked up to her, clearly surprised to see her ready to go somewhere.

"Ma………."

Savita was changing the pillow covers in Jai's room, matching them with the bedsheet, she had just changed.

Jai answered, "What happened, Mithoo?"

"Ma, I'm going out." She spoke in slow words. This time Ma looked up at her face trying to read the reason for her hesitant demeanour and just nodded in affirmation.

Usually, she asked where she was going. She didn't ask this time………

Khanak kept standing, fidgety……. and fiddled with her strap bag…….wanting to say more. Both Ma and Jai looked at her, waiting for her to either go or speak. They were both confused at her posture.

Finally, she gathered courage and spoke, "Ma, I am going to meet Shaan."

Jai sighed and pressed his lips. Ma kept looking at her and said, "Why are you telling me?"

"Ma………..I just………" she tried to make her speak more and kept fumbling with her own words.

"You are a grown up adult………..take your decisions yourself and don't bother………. thinking about whether it is going to matter to your family or parents."

"Savita, you are making life difficult for her. Just tell her in clear words whether you want her to go or not." Mr. Sharma spoke while coming in.

"Why should I? Who am I?" said Savita slowly but bitterly.

"This is not fair Savita……………..you are torturing all of us by not talking. You are not talking to me and Jai too. And what has Khanak done? She is in love…………."

Savita did not speak but her suffocation was visible on the surface………her face was distressed.

She went out to her own room and Mr. Sharma followed her.

Khanak looked at Jai in desperation.

"You go…………..don't worry about Ma."

"Jai…………. I know Ma is hurt."
"The worst is that she is not telling what she feels………..if only she talked her heart out. She is not even talking to us……" said Jai with worry in his words. He was now anxious for Ma and her health.

"I know she will talk………." Said Khanak confidently, "she hasn't talked to Shaan in 15 days. She 'will' talk Jai…………..but, only to Shaan."

"How can you say that?…………..she is almost suffocating due to pain. She needs to release……"

"I know Jai…………..but I am sure that she will definitely talk to Shaan. It is good that she didn't talk to any of us till now…………if she did, it would have become easy for Shaan…… It would be as if 'we' advocated for him…………. But I guess, he has to take it on himself………….Let her vent it out on Shaan first……..then it will be our turn."

"I think you are right……….I hope they talk soon."

"Jai………...he said that he is giving Ma some time, he will come and talk to her soon."

"Yeah…………….you are getting late…………..go."

She hugged him, "You are the bestest brother in the world."

"I know…………"

"Humph………… even Shaan answers like that to every compliment. No one returns the compliments to me………..I'm the best too."

"Mithoo………." He smirked, "you are good………..but you have a long way to go……. I think you should start working hard over it."

"Jai……." She whined and slapped his arm, "I'm in a hurry, otherwise, you were going to get many of these…………"

Jai sniggered and said, "Take care." ………….and she rushed out

"Be back soon."

…………………………………………………………………..

Shaan wanted to talk to Madhavi about her visit to the Sharma's residence in the morning. At the same time, he didn't want to embarrass her…….to make her talk about something she wanted to hold privy to …………didn't appear very 'human' to him.

He was pondering over it when there was a knock on the door. He looked up asking the visitor to come inside his chamber. And he was surprised to see Madhavi in his office. ……………immediately he got up.

"Mom !!!" he said with a pleasant surprise, going up to her, making her comfortable on the couch kept in one side of the office.

"Why? What makes you so surprised?"

"Nothing………..just…….." he shrugged.

"I went shopping so I just thought that I'll drop by and see you do your work."

He smiled and hugged her, "What will you have…….tea, coffee…?"

"Shaan, don't be formal…………I'll be leaving in a few minutes, didn't want to disturb you in your work……….."

"Mom……….please………disturb???" he signaled with his hand as a question mark at the way she spoke.

Madhavi did not answer him, looked at him and took a deep breath before speaking.

"Shaan……………..I'm sorry."

"For what mom?" he sat beside her.

"For everything………..I should have been a little more mature. It is parents' duty to see to it that they follow a code of conduct that guides their children. I, on the other hand, was immature, irresponsible and never gave you the love that you got from Savita."

He looked at her face and leaned to hug her, "Mom, you have been amazing. I don't have anything to complain."

"It's because, you were lucky to get Savita's showers of affection. But Akshay was reserved there too. He became mature at a very early age. He suffered in silence."

Shaan kept quiet. He knew that she was true.

"I always thought that it is enough to provide with the best of facilities, best of schooling, clothes, books, toys and a comfortable home to kids. I realized later that kids don't even bother for the above things, though it is our duty to provide it……….they basically need time……..and understanding………..and the presence of parents with them…….. when I finally realized that, it was very late…….. you had gone far from me……"

"I love you mom……….and that is a fact."

"I know that………….still, even now you are facing the repercussions of 'my' mistakes."

"Mom……….I know that you were disturbed yourself at that time." he answered slowly.

Madhavi recollected those times when she and Sunil were almost on the verge of a divorce. They reconciled thinking about the best interests of their kids and later, the issue got solved.

"Whatever……….that little disturbance cost a lot………"

He didn't answer.

"I had gone to meet Savita and Mr. Sharma today." She informed him.

He looked up to read her face that was full of remorse and guilt.

"I couldn't have talked at home so I came here to tell you…………I have apologized about Jai's accident. Surprisingly, they already knew about it and were not shocked at all."

"I know……….."

"I never knew that a little 'owning up' at that time could have avoided so much of chaos."

"What chaos?" he appeard non-chalant.

"Don't pretend Shaan………….Akshay has told me everything……….the reason for your going away, though I had an idea that you are upset with me……… when I got to know about you and Khanak in Mumbai, I had thought that I should apologise. But was scared that it would jeopardize your relationship with Savita……..so I kept quiet. And then, after Ragini and Jai's issue, I was again ashamed at the behaviour of my sister and her husband. But today, I knew that I had to do it……..so I went to their home……."

"What did Ma say?" he asked slowly………..one word at a time.

"She appeared calm and she said that she knew about the whole thing and now she has forgiven me. They don't hold anything against us and have got the case closed. ….."

"Hmm……….I know……….."

"I have never seen such people…"

"Yes…………..amazing they are."

"You are lucky to have been close to them."

"Mom………..I love you." he put his head on her shoulder.

"I love you too…………… and I didn't talk about you and Khanak there. Was I supposed to? I really didn't know what to do so I kept restricted to apologizing."

"What you did was perfect." He hugged her tightly.

She placed her hand on his head and ruffled his hair.

"Mom, please………….." he got irritated, "…………I'm in office."

"It feels normal when you are irritated at me……" she laughed.

"See you at home…….."

"Bye."

……………………………………………………………..

She was waiting at Connaught Place, as he had asked her to park her car there and wait near ICICI Bank. He called her as he reached there…… she spotted his car and rushed to sit beside him.

She sat at the passenger seat and quickly shut the door……."Hey !!" she turned to him…….smiling…….excited.

"Hi….." And it was time for her to witness the most radiant smile flashed back at her while he extended his hand to her…….. in which she slipped her palm…… to be enclosed by his own…….tightly securing it and squeezing it…….. to convey the warmth that every pore in his body felt for her…….. for which he had never needed words……. the fingers intertwined………. every stroke of his thumb on the back of her hand…….. every touch of her fingers trapped within his……….. the palms snugging each other told an unspoken tale of the undying yearning for each other………..the ache……... the longing………….the seamless love………….. that held strong no matter what circumstances they faced………

"Let's go….." she whispered.

"How do I drive? My hand is in love with your's…….." he said in a dreamy tone, still holding her hand in a tight grip.

"Tell your hand to wait for some time….." her eyes reciprocated the naughtiness in his eyes…… which matched her voice too.

"It can't……..," he said flirtatiously, "……….your hand is too sizzling to leave………"

She blushed and pinched the back of his hand with the thumb and first finger, "My hand is naughty too……"

"Ouch ! How unromantic !!" he whined.

She giggled…….and then spoke, "Get going………..I don't have much time…….we are not in Mumbai. I have to go home before it is too late."

"Yeah……….I know."

He drove for some time and she was completely turned to face him telling him for the 'n'th time about what all happened in her house in past 15 days……. He knew each and everything by heart, they had been talking non stop all these days ………..but he let her speak…… he loved to hear her speak.

They entered India Habitat Centre…….

"Why did we come here?"

"It is the only place in Delhi that I find a little peaceful……"

They sat on the stairs of an empty amphi-theatre facing the stage. The open and cool ambience gave a serene feel all over……… quiet, cosy and perfect to talk. They sat side by side looking at the stage as if they were there to see a show. The stage was facing several rows of stairs in semi circle. They sat at one of the middle row. The hands sought each other once again and he held her hand in a strong grip.

She slowly shifted near him and placed her head on his shoulder…….mostly leaning against it.

"Mom came to office today after she came back from your home." He told her.

"Did she? Oh cool !! what did she say? What did she talk with Ma, papa?"

"She said she apologized to them for Jai's accident."

Khanak raised her head from his shoulder and looked at his face, confused…….

"Really?"

"Why are you looking at me so confused?"

"What did Ma, papa tell her?"

"Ma said that she is not angry with her and forgave her."

"Then………… why is Ma upset with us?" she spoke while her confusions increased.

"Even I was thinking about that……….she told me that 1 month back, she would have had no problem with us………..but not now."

"I know, because she was upset with Madhavi mom."

"Ma loves me otherwise……………she doesn't have any problem with me………… she forgave mom …………so why isn't she forgiving me?" he said sadly.

"and she is not talking to any of us…….she has started talking to papa but even he doesn't know her grief…….."

"What is troubling her, Khanak?"

"I don't know………………maybe she is upset about Jai as Ragini's parents behaved rudely."

"I know, but Ma even said that they are justified at their place. I feel that even if they are right to feel concerned about Rags but they cannot go and insult someone like this……. So maybe Ma is hurt……"

"but, in all this, where are you and me at fault?"

"Maybe, because we didn't tell about us?"

"That is not a very strong reason to be 'this' upset……"

"Then?" he looked somewhere far in space.

"Shaan, I told her how I loved you always and how I pestered you in Mumbai and how you avoided me…………she should have melted at that. I was shocked to see that she is not even responding to that heart-wrenching letter of yours….."

"You gave my letter to Ma?" he asked sternly……..clearly surprised.

"I had told you before……"

"No dear, you never told me that……….how can you pass on my 'love letter' to Ma?"

"It was anything but a 'love letter'……okay?...………you were almost breaking up with me."

"I wasn't…………..I gave 'you' the choice………" he softened.

"Whatever……but it was so touching………..it was your story of 6 years in a nutshell …… and before and after that too…………I thought Ma shed some tears, took the letter with her but then again, she is back to not talking."

"There is something else, I'm sure."

"She clearly told me that she is not with us and what I am asking for is impossible."

"That was 15 days back………..lots of things happened after that. She had time to think too…….. See, think about this……….she loves us, my mom apologized, she forgave her and mom says that she was calm about it. Khanak, I'm sure, there is something else too………….we need to find out."

"Okay, I'll try to talk to her again."

"What did she say when you told her that you are coming to meet me?"

"Nothing, she said that I shouldn't be telling her as I am a grown up adult to take decisions for myself." Khanak spoke in a depressed tone and then added as an afterthought, "Shaan……………….. I know she will talk to you."

"Even I think so……………..she is brimming with pain………….she needs to be shaken again."

"When?"

"Soon?"

"Why not today?"

"Not today…………….I think on Saturday………"

"Why Saturday?"

"Rishabh and Sonya are getting engaged this Saturday….."

"What? This soon…………..they hardly know each other…….." she opened her mouth in surprise and opened her eyes wide, clearly showing shock….

"How do you know?" he turned to her with a smile on his lips which was an inevitable feature once she was around him……no matter how tough the situation, she managed to amuse him and he would be full of adulation for her………she was a whiff of fresh air in a dull life…….he thought when he looked at her forgetting to blink.

"I mean……" she gulped when he looked at her like a typical flirt, smiling and looking keenly waiting for a sensible answer, "I mean, they just met 15 days back………... remember?"

"I remember sweetheart…... but would you mind if I ask you to come back to our own business?"

"Sure……" she said with a sheepish smile…..adding, "after all, you said 'our business' …………not 'mind your own business'…………"

He chuckled, "So, Saturday, it 'is'…….Right?…………they are getting engaged in The Hyatt………. as they met there first."

"Hmm……….where will 'we' get engaged Shaan?"

He again turned his face to look at her and found her looking at him with expectant eyes. He smiled pressing his lips, yet again and looked all around……….it was slightly dark now and they were alone……. There was no one around. He slowly bent and gave her a quick, feather-soft peck on her lips, adding, "In some washroom………?"

"Whattt ?"

"We have a history with washrooms……" and laughed with that.

"Very funny……... do you really think that your jokes amuse me?"

He chuckled again, "I don't know about that, but your reactions definitely amuse me."

She whacked him on his arm, sulking, "Don't talk to me now, I only seem to amuse you, right?"

Irritated at him, she got up to go………he smiled and held her wrist, still sitting where he was. Slowly, he exerted a tug to bring her back to her place. Making her sit near him, he looked in her eyes speaking huskily, "Sweetheart, you stimulate all emotions within me……..which I never knew, that they ever existed……."

"Liar….."

He lowered himself to bend near the level of her eyes, and whispered, "Hmm……… that's not a lie………… I feel happy when I see you smiling……..I feel sad when you are sad………I feel like laughing when you make faces………..I feel helpless when you cry…………I feel lonely when you are not around……..I feel ecstatic when you praise me………I feel jealous when I see you with someone else…………..I feel angry when you don't listen to me and insist on behaving immature………I feel satisfied when you say that you are fine……..…. And I feel………"

"Scared when I scream…??" she added.

"Of course!" he laughed again and added, "……… and I feel out of my control when you look pretty……." He whispered leaning for a kiss.

But was shocked at her shocked face……

"What ?" he asked.

"What do you mean by 'when you look pretty'………..????"

"I mean……………when you are dressed up……….no, you always look pretty sweetheart, but I just wanted to ………….. I didn't mean that…………it hardly matters …………." He was speechless…..

"Tell me………..explain…………what you meant?"

"I mean, I am always out of control with you………….duffer."

"Thanks…." She blushed.

"Now give me a kiss….."

"Go………….get lost !!"

………………………………………………………………………..

"If Ma doesn't come for Rishabh's engagement?"

"She won't do that………I think she'll come……."

"But considering her mood…………….she might make an excuse and give it a miss……."

"I'll see to it that Rishabh makes it sure that she is coming….."

"Why not today?"

"I'm nervous………..I'm buying some time till Saturday……….. don't have guts to face her…….."

"Think of Jai and me………..we live with her and she is so so so so upset with us."

"I tell you that she is mad at something else……"

"What could that be?"

"We have weighed all possible reasons………..I think we need to ask her."

"Come home with me today, Shaan………….please !! Saturday is too far."

"If she scolds me or is mad at me……???"

"I'll hold you hand…………."

"Really? In front of Ma? Don't back out later…………."

"Very funny…………. But I won't back out. That night you gave me strength and almost pushed me to talk to Ma…………it's your turn now………….and I am with you.

He didn't speak but took his hand around her and encircled it around her shoulders and hugged her slightly.

…………………………………………………………………………..

"Come on Shaan………….you are behaving as if you are coming here for the first time!!"

"If she refuses to speak to me?"

"Big deal ? if she doesn't talk…………you talk to Jai and go home."

"You find it funny……?...huh…….." he was nervous again.

……………………………………………………………………………….

Part 50 -- in a while, after this !!

They entered inside and saw Jai and Savita in the living room. Both of them turned to look at the door as it was already ajar and noticed Khanak entering slowly and as she moved away from the door, they saw Shantanu enter behind her.

Both Jai and Savita were surprised to see him…….Jai smiled…….Savita pressed her lips.

"Hey Shaan………" said Jai as Shaan entered with hesitant steps.

Savita got up from her chair……..she had been cutting vegetables……she picked up her stuff and turned to go inside the kitchen.

"Ma……….."

Shantanu's voice stopped her in her tracks.

"Ma, I have come here to meet you………" he said slowly.

She stopped and looked at him………turning to Jai, she asked, "Jai…………ask your friend if he wants to have coffee……"

Jai, Khanak and Shaan……..all three stood silent and clueless.

Shaan gathered courage again and went upto her and held her hand, "I know you are upset with me………… I'm sorry Ma……."

"Sorry? Shaan, why are you saying 'sorry'…….??? Do you even know 'why' I am upset with you?"

"I guess…………"

Savita folded her hands in front of her chest and her eyes had intense agony, "Good, so please let me know too……."

He started speaking slowly, weighing each word,"It's because, I did not tell you about mom……….. and that I knew everything and still I did not stay away from Khanak."

She gulped bitterly, obviously angry, and said, "So, now that you 'assume' the reason of my being upset……… and are really 'sorry' about that……… will you stay away from Khanak, if I ask you to?"

Her sentence shocked both Shaan and Khanak………….they stood speechless.

"Ma…………" Jai spoke in between.

"Wait Jai…………..let me talk to them…………let me know how much 'sorry' they feel and how much they love me…….."

Both of them stood completely quiet………

"Ma, this is unfair….." Jai spoke again, "you are being harsh on them……."

"Jai……………I am upset with you too…….."

He held her hand and said, "Ma………..I have never seen you so angry……… you always understand things so well……….even before speaking you always come to know of what we mean……….. you have always been so supportive…………then why this angst today? What did we do?"

Ma had tears in her eyes and she did not speak anything. Shaan stepped ahead and held her shoulders, "Ma………… please don't be so angry with me…….. I can take anything but not your indifference."

She spoke between tears, "You have 'never' cared Shaan…………. 'never'……….."

He was taken aback !!

She was about to speak something more when they heard the doorbell ring. Khanak turned towards the door to answer and everyone was surprised as Ragini entered…….she had a duffle bag with her and a small air bag.

"Rags……." Shaan was shocked.

"Ragini…………….what are you doing here? At this time? what are these bags for?" Jai spoke in a flow hoping that what he thought was wrong.

"Let her come in first………Ragini……..come inside beta, sit." Said Savita while Khanak went near her and made her sit, keeping her bags on the table.

Ragini came towards Jai and said, "I've left my home Jai………I'll be staying here."

"What??" Jai opened his mouth in shock………….and almost everyone was shocked.

"What are you speaking, Rags?" Shaan turned to her.

"What I said is right Shaan…………I can't live without Jai. I love him…….. and mom, dad are just not understanding."

"That's fine beta," Said Savita, intervening and coming towards her, "but leaving home is not the option……..it is not good. Your parents will be very upset."

"I know Ma………but I couldn't think of anything else. Mom and dad are torturing me by keeping a tab on my activities………they check my phone for calls and messages …….. call STC to inquire whether I was there or went somewhere out………they don't talk to me properly at home…………and today……….dad has got my tickets done to send me to my uncle in New Zealand. I am just not going. And I can't stay in their home anymore……. Please get me married to Jai so that I can stay here forever."

By this time, Mr. Sharma had come out in the living room, hearing all the chaos.

Even he was worried, "Ragini, this is not right beta. We understand what your parents are going through. If we were in their place, we would have felt the same and we can't get you married to Jai without your parents' consent."

Savita and Mr. Sharma talked to Ragini and Shaan and Khanak looked at each other in despair.

Ragini was in a terrible state and had tears in her eyes, "I have already left my home leaving a note behind……….if you don't allow me here, I have no other place to go."

"Ragini………this is so immature……" Jai spoke softly.

Khanak couldn't help but notice the similarity between Shaan and Jai……. How patiently and maturely they explained things to their girlfriends.

Shaan looked at everyone and wondered how complicated things were becoming. Ragini was not ready to budge, while Ma, papa explained to her that how wrong it was. Jai tried to talk to her and even Shaan thought that the move was not correct. But then, he also understood the desperation on the part of Ragini and adamance of her parents.

He couldn't think straight as once again, everyone involved was close to him.

He looked at Khanak and found her looking at him with lots of affection in her eyes. He raised his eyebrows in question and she twitched her lips. Both shrugged simultaneously ……………at the same time.

"Ma, please try to understand……………I don't want to go away from Jai and if you send me back to my home, my parents will forcibly send me to New Zealand."

"Ragini, listen to me………….even if you stay here………how can we get married?" Jai was helpless.

"Why? Why can't we marry?"

"Ragini……….. just try to understand…….. it is impossible."

All focus was on Ragini !! Shaan and Khanak stood as onlookers, not knowing what to speak………..not willing to unnecessarily intervene……..

An hour passed……….. they sat and discussed the pros and cons, everyone trying to convince Ragini to go back……..and Ragini trying to convince them to let her be there.

After an hour, Madhavi called Shaan. He was sitting on a chair dragged out from the dining table.

"Shaan, where are you?"

"Jai's home."

"Is Ragini there?"

He looked at the discussion still going on and though he didn't know whether he should tell or not, still he said, "Yes, mom."

"What? Her parents are worried for her…….she just left the home with 2 bags, leaving a letter saying that she is leaving the home………only servants were home. It's so late at night and maasi and mausaji are freaking out……….they came here to see whether she is here."

"Hmm….."

"Stay there, we are coming there. Akshay and Sunil are making frantic calls at Police station, Airport…….and hotels……….this girl is so impulsive….. she should have waited, I was trying to convince Mala…….. Anyways, I'm coming."

"Hmm….." he didn't speak much and disconnected. Khanak had been sitting beside him on another dining table chair. She looked at him with a question. He extended his hand to give her his phone……she took it and saw 'received calls' list and saw Madhavi's name.

She looked up at him, using her eyebrows to ask whether he told them and he nodded.

They were back to being the onlookers again………

Shaan looked at Ma many times and she appeared completely distressed…….. she was already going through a lot……… and now this !! Ragini's parents were going to hold Ma, papa responsible for this and he definitely did not want Ma to go through this…….

After some time Madhavi, Sunil and Akshay entered with Ragini's parents.

There were not many formalities done or greetings exchanged……… Ragini's parents were very upset with her.

She got up from her seat on the couch and went near Jai………..and stood by him.

"Ragini…………let's go home, beta."

"No dad, I can't go there. I have told you before………….that I just want to be with Jai."

Jai felt helpless once again, as he did not want his parents to face the insult once again. Shaan was worried about the same thing and he stood up too…….

Ragini's dad was his mausaji and Shaan knew that how shrewd he was, he did not understand anything even remotely related to the word called softness !!

"This is sheer immaturity and childishness………….we have told you that you can't get married to Jai….." he spoke sternly.

Sunil and Madhavi intervened………….. and asked him to be soft with her and be patient. They made her parents sit and sat themselves too.

"Let's talk patiently, there is no point fighting………….these are not small kids…… they are grown up adults……."

Maasi and Mausaji mellowed a little and sat down. They patiently asked Ragini to go home with them.

"Mom, dad……………..I love Jai…….."

"That's it? You've said what you wanted………..now I want to know, why? You are behaving like a lovesick teenager………..you don't know the difference between right and wrong."

"Mom………I'm not a teenager……………I am a doctor. I meet almost 50-70 patients everyday……… human beings of all kinds, all races and statuses……..I listen to their history, their story and realize how bitter and hateful people in this world are…… there are so many people who look beautiful on the surface and their inner self is so cunning…….there is so much of cheating, so much of opportunism…….people beating their wives…………. not respecting women………..people raping women……..and killing female infants within their mother's wombs………….not caring for their parents, children and wives when they are ill……….and leave them to die in the hospital………I have seen life and death closer than you mom…………I understand what is good and what is bad…….. I have seen a lot of negative people and life is not so sugary sweet as we all assume……..but Jai is totally different…………I look upto him…………..his values, his ideologies…………I have never met a person like Jai. He has every quality that a woman will die for to have in a husband…… he is caring, compassionate, understanding, too mature compared to me…….. he is soft spoken, thinks of everyone else before him and is very talented………he listens to me patiently…………guides me whenever I need a practical advice………… sticks to his principles………. never lets his own views come before his understanding of the other……….. he is so calm and composed ……… I know him since 4 years now but fell in love 6 months back…………. ………..he is a gem……… We gel at various levels and I cannot think of a life without him."

She spoke emotionally but so confidently that everyone listened with a pin-drop silence…….

Encouraged, she continued, "You will never be able to get a match better than him for me, mom. Please try and understand."

Jai closed his eyes trying to believe that all that she said was for 'him'……. the confidence she gave him was unmatchable and she had been doing this since many months now……….. though it was difficult for him to believe.

Shaan felt proud of his cousin as he had always felt exactly the same about Jai.

Khanak and Savita tried hard to get over the pain they felt in their throats due to the lump formed out of heavy rush of emotions. Sunil and Madhavi felt a surge of relief mixed with worry……

None of them could speak……………overwhelmed with emotions !!

Finally, her dad spoke, "But Ragini, what will he do? Can he support a family?"

"Yes, he can………….he writes amazingly. His articles get published. He is even writing a book……..I think he has a great future……"

"Okay, even if I agree to all that you said…………I accept that he is a nice man. But Ragini, I'm your mom, how can I see my only girl, getting married to a person who……"

She didn't complete the sentence.

"Yes Ragini, your mom is right," spoke Savita with tears in her eyes, "Jai can't walk and it appears easy now but it might become difficult to live with him."

Ragini had tears trickling on her cheeks now, she went towards Ma and said, "You tell me Ma…….. if this accident had happened 'after' our marriage, even then, would you have asked me to leave him and go?"

Savita was speechless.

"Accidents happen everyday, everywhere………..they can happen to anyone. It can happen with any of us tomorrow……….that doesn't mean, we will stay away and stop supporting the person we love." Ragini couldn't control herself and broke down…...

Savita hugged her to console her. Ragini turned to her parents and said, "And if it bothers you even now, then let me tell you that I have been monitoring his treatment at STC and have seen amazing results. He stood on his legs three times, and I am sure he will start walking soon. I am so sure of it………. and his progress rate will be doubled if I stay with him to take care…………..please let me……….."

Tears rolled from Khanak's eyes and Mala's eyes too.

Everyone was silent………….it was surprising that Ragini's parents were silent too……

Mala looked at her husband and he sighed….……. She finally got up and went to Savita, saying, "Madhavi and Sunil have been trying to convince us since a long time but we were not open to this thought of Ragini with Jai………… and we considered this as a mindless frenzy thinking that our daughter is senseless. But her confidence says that she knows what she is doing. Madhavi is right……….. they are not kids. And if my daughter feels that she can live happily with Jai………..we will support her."

Everyone heaved a sigh of relief………..tears of relief and happiness flew out and Savita hugged Mala.

Sunil and Akshay smiled and congratulated Jai while Shaan stepped forwards and hugged him………he was relieved…………a heavy burden was off his chest today…….. Madhavi was relieved too…………she couldn't control her tears.

Everyone congratulated Jai and Ragini and finally they all sat down again, much relieved now.

Savita was wiping her tears, when Shaan went near her and slowly held her elbow……. saying, "Ma………"

Savita looked at him with, what he read as, deep pain in her eyes. She did not talk to him and removed his hand from her elbow.

She did not talk to Khanak as well…... and went ahead to talk to Ragini.

"She is still upset with us!" murmured Shaan.

"But why?" Khanak whispered.

Everybody else was busy talking to each other, except Jai who looked at them and was worried about Ma's response. Ma had hugged Ragini but not him………and everyone had congratulated him except Ma……Jai was as worried about Ma being upset at him, as Shaan and Khanak were.

All three were still thinking about what they should do, when Madhavi saw them and went upto Savita.

"Savita, now that the things are slowly settling down and the future looks a little more positive…….. and you have forgiven me too…… I don't know how to thank you……"

"Don't say that Madhavi………..in fact, I should be thanking you. It was an accident and Jai's life was spoiled 6 years back……..we were broken………..we could have ended as a complete failure but you saw to it that Jai is back to normal life…………from his treatment to his morale ……… from his career as a writer……….to convincing Ragini's parents ………you have stood by Jai and us, at every step………..we can't thank you enough !!"

Savita did not stop her tears, which trickled out once again.

"I haven't done anything Savita……. I was struggling myself………..Jai gave me the strength to look beyond myself……….I could never come out of that depression…….. I have been careless, reckless and such a poor mom……. I could never understand how you managed to be a perfect mother not only to your kids but mine too………"

Savita was in tears again, "No Madhavi, I am not perfect……….I have been the lousiest mother. I did a poor job…………and I was a complete failure……." She wept inconsolably, keeping her pallu on her mouth……..leaving everyone stunned……..

Madhavi made her sit on the couch and placed her hand on her shoulder, "You have been the best Savita………..why do you think you were not good?"

Jai placed her hand on Ma's hand, taking it in his own.

Savita looked up at Madhavi, and said, "Do you want to know, why? Ask him…….." she signaled towards Jai, "He thinks that he can solve everyone's problems. He went on the verge of nervous breakdown himself, but never let me know that he was hurting so much. He knows everything about everyone……. shows that he cares for me, loves me but doesn't let me near his problems………. I could only guess what he was going through………….he never shared anything himself."

Jai listened with tears in his eyes……….so did Khanak and Shaan.

Savita continued, "and about my only daughter, who I thought of as my best friend……. she loved your son since teenage but didn't let me know anything about it….…… never spoke anything……… she never considered me able enough to understand her…… And such a lousy Ma, I am, that I couldn't guess…….. I had a little, faint intuition but they hid it very cleverly."

Then she looked at Shaan, and said, "And the most hurting is the failure of my love for Shaan………. he has proved that he is 'not'mine…………he called me Ma ……… but I was just another 'aunt'……….no matter how much I loved him…...considered him equal to Jai………. but when he needed someone, he distanced me from him………… just because I did not give birth to him………….I am not his Ma…….….. and I was a careless person…………… to not judge what he went through………."

Shaan kneeled beside her with tears in his eyes, held her hand and said, "I'm so sorry, Ma………"

"Don't call me Ma………..I am very angry at you………. you went through so much pain in last 6 years and did not give me even a small hint of it………..Had I been your Ma, I should have guessed the loneliness you suffered…………… You talked to me almost twice a week in this time and gave me a fake impression that all is well at your end………when I think of past 6 years, I look at all your calls and talks as fake…… I couldn't read your misery…………and you never told………….the relationship is false…….. how could you do this to me? Is this what you do when you consider someone close ? …….. you loved Khanak and you didn't even tell her……….. conveniently distanced yourself from her?... but she sensed that there was something wrong and kept pestering you…………I didn't even guess that…………… you lived alone and went through a guilt for something that was not your fault……… I would have loved if you and Khanak told us that you love each other……."

"But Ma, that day at terrace you told that you don't approve of us………"

"And Ma, you told me too that what I am asking is impossible……….."

She replied to both of them,"Yes, I did !! As it came as a shock to me………….I couldn't see Jai suffering so much and at the receiving end continuously…………I was hurt that both of you did not tell me about yourselves………….. I was sad that you knew about the whole thing and did not tell us………but when I asked you that whether you could have avoided it……… you accepted and said 'yes'………………I was moved…….. Shaan, you could have told me that how could you avoid something like 'love'………..it has to happen and in your case, you loved her before Jai's accident. But you didn't say anything………… you could have fought with me……… if you considered me close enough. Like she did……….and made me talk to her. But when she gave your letter to me where you had written how guilty you felt…… how miserably you spent last 6 years and how you coped up with the grief……… trying to avoid her and stay away from all of us all the time…………I was shaken and completely broken………….. I have lost the battle as a mother……….. my own kids don't feel like sharing anything with me, especially their pain…………. And I always had this misconception that I know you all………..but I didn't……….I didn't know about even a small part of your lives… ……..I thought, Shaan is a son to me……… but he isn't….."

"Don't say like that Ma………….I 'am' your son………. It's true that you didn't give birth to me…… but I will always be indebted for everything else that you gave me………"

Shaan had tears flowing over his cheeks and he was still kneeling in front of Savita, holding her hand strongly, "I didn't want to see you in pain………that is why, I hid things from you………….I'm so sorry…………please forgive me."

"Even, I'm sorry Ma…………I have told you about everything except Shaan." Said Khanak and hugged her.

"Forgive me too Ma……………" Jai spoke slowly.

"I was shocked at the amount of sadness you all went through……… 'that' was a bigger pain…..." Savita hugged them back.

"Forgive them Savita, even you would have done the same…….. we try to hide our pain and problems." Said Mr. Sharma.

"Yes, Savita……." Nodded Madhavi.

They were supported by Sunil, Akshay and Ragini's parents too……….

"This is what I am trying to tell them…………pain decreases when shared…….. they could have shared with any of us……. instead of going through it all……… they should learn to trust us and each other………. We have to share our sorrows with loved ones, or they will kill us……….. that is what I wanted to show them when I stopped talking to them. You all couldn't see me 'not sharing' and holding pain for 15 days……… you were worried for my health………. Imagine, what I felt when I came to know of what you suffered for 6 years………especially you, Shaan."

"Forgive me Ma……………please." Shaan squeezed her hands in his own palms.

"Only on one condition………" said Ma wiping his tears.

"What?"

"Now, that you are fond of tolerating torture with sealed lips……..you will continue the trend…………..Promise me that you will happily endure the tantrums of my little girl without complaining………."

He took a while to understand and when everyone smiled, he just hugged Savita, "I promise, Ma……... I will behave like a gentleman………will never complain….…."

There was a smile on everyone's lips…………...as Jai and Khanak too hugged Savita Ma and apologized for not telling about their problems.

It was quite late at night and after a round of coffee and snacks, they all dispersed………. deciding to meet at the coming weekend to get the dates and other preparations finalized for the engagements of two couples…….

Shaan stayed for some more time to talk to Jai and later made him comfortable in his own room. He returned to the living room and saw Savita cleaning the area……. He picked up coffee mugs and took them to kitchen following Savita.

"Shaan, stay for dinner………..you rajma-rice are due………."

He chuckled, "I'll come some other day Ma……….. I should be leaving now."

"Come tomorrow……" she touched his arm with an affectionate smile.

"Yeah…………I will…………"

"Is Jai in his room?"

"Yes, I just left him there………...he is tired it seems."

"I'll quickly make the dinner……….it's late today," she murmured.

"Ma………..shall I leave?"

"Okay…….." she smiled warmly.

"Right then…………" he hesitated.

She folded her arms, "Shaan…………..you want to see Khanak before you go, am I right?"

"Err………….Mmm…………No………..it's fine………..I'll meet her later."

She smiled,"Shaan, go and talk to her…………."

"Ma…………..actually……….. " he felt embarrassed and pressed his lips, "I think, I should go home."

"She is in her room, in case you change your mind……." she spoke while walking towards the kitchen.

He scratched the nape of his neck with an awkward smile, "Nah………..I'll talk to her later."

"Good night Shaan….." Savita smiled and waved him.

He smiled back and turned to go out with heavy steps, wanting to talk to Khanak just once. Their parents had agreed to their relationship……..every problem had been sorted……. All burdens were cleared………. And he felt relieved……….relaxed…….. ecstatic and very very very happy !!!

He wanted to share it with her but couldn't…..

'looks like I'll have to remain satisfied with the phonecall……..' thinking about her he walked out till the parking area and searched for his car keys. Checking all his pockets, he realized that the keys were missing……..he wondered whether he left it inside……. But maybe he forgot to lock the car………..he was confused and thought of checking the car first before going back inside to search the keys.

He opened the door and it opened………..he sighed hitting himself that he had forgot to lock it.

It was quite late and the parking area was poorly lit so that when he entered inside to sit at the driver's seat, he did not notice immediately that she had been sitting on the passenger seat. But the moment he sat and made himself comfortable, he was shocked and jumped with a scare………..leaving a deep breath, when he finally realized that it was her.

"Gosh ! you scared me…………I thought -- who's this !"

"You were going without meeting me……." She sulked.

"Sweetheart, how could I tell Ma that I was going in your room to talk to you……. what would she have thought?"

"But how could you go?" she whacked him.

"I didn't go…………see, I haven't gone as yet……" he defended himself poorly.

"Oh yeah ! You are in your car to drive back home and you tell me that you haven't left……..very funny !! Shaan, I am telling you, please stop acting smart……"

"Khanak listen to me………….I was 'dying' to talk to you sweetheart !!"

"Jerk !!" she slapped his arm again.

"Thanks !! Finally, you called me a 'jerk'……..so happy I am…….."

"So you accept the charges?" she giggled.

"Of course ! I accept all the charges...and the sentence too……….from now on, I will officially be enduring all the tortures inflicted on me……"

"Yeah…………..and you will not complain………"

"Never…….."

"You'll do whatever I'll say……"

"Always !!"

"And will agree to all my demands………."

"Without a doubt !!"

"And will let me do whatever I want?"

He raised his eyebrows, "What are you planning to do with me?"

She smiled and raised her palms to hold his cheeks and kissed him…….he was surprised and kissed her back……

After a few minutes, he whispered with his lips still lingering over hers, "Congratulations !!"

"To you too………" she whispered back.

"Happy?"

"Very Happy !!... Shaan……."

"Hmm……"

"Do you remember that when we talked properly for the first time in Mumbai, at the beach, you said that I won't be able to make a breakthrough in your territories……."

"Yes………… I never knew that you will rock my world like this……….."

"And you had also said that 'Trespassers Are Prohibited' in your life…………"

"That, my sweetheart still hold true……….."

"Hmm?" she shrugged.

"But with a little change…………. 'Trespassers are once again Prohibited' ……but in this relationship !! We'll stay together………."

"Forever ……!!!" she completed the sentence.

And he kissed her again…………deeply and passionately !!!

………………………………………………………………………

Thanks to everyone who was a part of this journey of ShaNak in

Trespassers Prohibited !!!

Hope you enjoyed it as much as I loved writing it !!!

love to all,

Mani