CHAPTER 2 :
"Shreya" Kabir uttered surprised.
"Hello Mr.Kabir Sharma... how are you" Shreya said in a sugary voice.
"Shreya... why are you here? What do want now?" He asked controlling his anger so as not to create a drama in the office premises.
"Oh Kabir... aisi bhi bhala kya naraazgi mujhse... anyways let's talk in your cabin over a cup of coffee" she again said in a honey coated voice.
"I don't even want to see your face... lest I want to talk to you... and the last thing I would ever want is to have coffee with you. I have warned you for umpteen times to stay away from me and..."
"Yeah... stay away from you and Anshika... never interfere in your lives... leave you alone... blah blah blah" He was cut off by Shreya's words.
"Exactly... jab tumhe sab kuch yaad hai to phir kyu aayi ho yaha?" He asked gritting his teeth supressing his urge to break her head.
"Dekho Kabir... let me come to the point straight... main tumse shaanti se baat karne aayi thi... but ok let me make this very clear... main khud tumse Koi naata nahi rakhna chahti hoon... but I am here for Anshika..."
"Anshika se tumhara Koi rishta nahi hai samjhi tum... don't you dare say her name from your polluted dirty tongue"
"Aise kaise rishta nahi hai Kabir... tum bhool rahe ho main..."
"Tum kuch nahi ho uski... kuch bhi nahi. You mean nothing to me or Anshika... you better understand that as soon as possible."
"Kab..." she silenced as she saw Ronnie, the PCR head approaching them.
"Kabir sir aapke aur Manav sir dono hi bulletins ki taiyaari ho gayi hai... Aap dekh lijiye aur bata dijiye ki kuch add toh nahi karna hai..." He completed as his eyes darted at Shreya as he saw her standing beside Kabir. No one in the office knew about her relationship with him.
"Ronnie here...I will be coming in a minute... anything else?" Kabir uttered in a tone that made Ronnie understand that he needs to leave immediately.
"No sir...thank you" He said and left the next moment.
"Shreya yeh mera office hai court nahi... is baare mein main ab seedhe court main baat karunga... Youn baar baar mere office aane ki zaroorat nahi tumhe... just get out now or you very well know what I am capable of..." He uttered with a look that terrified her insides for a moment and he turned and moved in his cabin without a backward glance at her.
Shreya fumed looking at Kabir's retreating back. She felt as if her pride was trampled under his feet. She gritted her teeth helplessly as she turned and left the office as quietly as she had come. Her eyes seethed with angst as she sat in her white Audi and drove off.
~~~~
Ananya was wrapping her work calling it a day when her cell buzzed. She smiled sweetly seeing the call to be from her mom.
"Haan maa... kahiye..."
"Ananya beta... vo can you bring some essentials and groceries on your way back. Beta main shaam ko bataana bhool gayi thi... Tum le aaogi kya?"
"It's okay maa...I can understand... you text me the list of Al the things you need and I will bring them..." she replied lovingly.
She knew that her mom was doing much more than she should. She knew being a single parent was not an easy task and her mom was playing both the roles perfectly. She was her mom... her dad... her everything. She can completely understand that she has a lot of responsibilities to handle and Ananya tried her best to help her. The relationship the duo shared was more of friends than a daughter-mother relation.
She quickly took her bag and moved out of the office. She was about to start her scooter when her phone rang again. She saw that this time it was Tinu and she immediately picked it up.
"Madam ji... Ek bohot badi kead mili hain... vo Karol Bagh ke paas ek party chal rahi hai... Jahaan tak mujhe pata chala hai vo ek rave party hai... late night hain... waha drugs ho sakte hain aur shayad hame Aditya Bajaj case ke liye koi clue bhi mil jaaye..." she heard Tinu speak in a go.
"That's great Tinu... chal tu mujhe address text kar and also all the other info... I will reach ASAP..."
Tinu agreed but not before warning her to be careful as the place can be dangerous. Next Ananya made a quick call to her mom to inform her about the sudden lead and her being late to reach home. She then dialed Kabir's number which she had got from him so that she can personally update him about the very controversial Aditya Bajaj case..."
She dropped him a message of her kead and whereabouts as her call went unanswered twice and on the third time it was switched off... and next she hired a cab leaving her scooter in the office as she couldn't drive to Karol Bagh to avoid being late and went away.
~~~~~
Kabir wanted a change. Whole of last fortnight has taken a toll on his mind. He felt he would go nuts if he didn't go away from all the chaos in his life. He took a swift turn to go to the place which never failed to provide him with the much needed solace whenever he felt low... He felt frustrated and drained... whenever he wanted to calm his inner turmoil... He halted the car and came out of the car. The beautiful India Gate drowned in the darkness of the night but glowing in the light of the moon and stars. The place, the huge monument, the trees and rocks present there were the only witness to the vulnerable Kabir masked with the facade of the rough and tough Kabir Sharma.
"Why? Why was his life so screwed up? Why is fate throwing problems in his life like that of a stone thrown in a calm still oceans... disturbing the so called tranquillity of his life. Why is Shreya doing all this?... What does she want... why can't she leave me alone in my life..." Kabir's brain throbbed with all these questions as his head split in a mind numbing ache... Kabir halted his car in a corner near the gate as usual and watched into oblivion towards the monument like always. He would always come there and do that whenever he was depressed. He had been relieved if not very happy when 4 years back when he got a chance to move to New Delhi to work with KKN... He just wanted to leave Mumbai and leave the painful past... and just fly away to some other place. Luck has been on his side as he luckily got an offer to work with the new channel KKN and he felt as if god answered his prayers. Along with post of Editor and Chief he also got to host a full fledged bulletin of his own "Khaas Khabare Kabir Sharma ke Saath" airing on 9 pm. After that there was no looking back and he and Anshika had shifted from Mumbai to to New Delhi within a fortnight with the help of Armaan, his best buddy since school time. A beautiful 3 BHK house in a city like Delhi, respect in the society, the post of Chief Editor in a renowned channel like KKN, also having the aura and persona to be the first choice of any young girl was the cherry on top. Kabir had everything man could want in his life but still a void always persisted there... an emptiness that never left his side. The last few years had been sort of a roller coaster ride in his life. The lively happy man in him has been completely converted into an introvert and harsh person he is today over these years.
He was jolted out of his thoughts by the buzzing of his phone. He frowned seeing the caller ID to be of his land line number. He quickly took the call,
"Hello Rachel, all good?" He asked his maid who was on the other side of the call.
"Sir... Anshu baby is not eating anything and she has locked herself in her room. She is not even listening or responding to my pleas to open the door. I am scared sir" Rachel explained him in a single breath with panic dripping from her voice. Kabir was scared to death at Rachel's words as they added to the tension to his as already stressed mind. He immediately started his car and drove to his house.
Rachel heard the doorbell ring exactly 15 minutes after she had finished her call with Kabir. He hurriedly barged in the house and moved towards Anshika's room.
"Anshu baby... darwaza kholiye bete... Dekhiye papa aaye hai... papa ki princess unki baat maanegi naa" Kabir tenderly said trying to cajole his daughter into opening the door. A few minutes later, after much cajoling, the door opened and a beautiful girl of about 5 and a half year emerged out. Her face was tear stained and her nose red. Kabir bent down and pulled her in a bone crushing hug to assure himself that she was okay.
"Baby aapne khud ko room mein lock kyu kar liya tha... Daddy was very scared you know..." He said as he cupped her face and kissed her forehead. Anshu started sobbing again as she clutched his shirt and cried hard. He caressed her hair and asked her again why was she crying and why she had locked herself up.
"Papa... Anshu no friends... Anshu feel bad... so she lock the room" the little girl said in her baby tone.
"Why no friends... papa is your friend... Rachel is your friend... my special baby has special friends naa." he tried to explain.
"Papa is...my friend... sachhi" she asked sniffling.
"Yes baby... We are your friends... We love you so much"
A small smile appeared on Anshu's face and she went in her daddy's warm embrace. She then replied "Anshu loves papa and Rachel... but papa-Anshu... khelte nahi"
Kabir hugged his baby close as he dropped a kiss on her head. He then lifted her in his arms and sat on the couch with her in his lap. He then said "Oho... my baby wants to play... Chalo aaj papa aur Anshu khoob khelenge...What should we play" He asked her lovingly.
"Sachhi" she innocently asked.
"muchhi"
"Anshu papa... play hide and seek"
"ok... what do we do in it?" Kabir asked as if didn't know what game she is talking about.
"Anshu hide... papa find me" she said.
The next hour passed in Kabir and Anshika playing and running around the house cheerfully.
"Baby now I am tired... bohot zor ki bhook bhi lagi hai. Let's have dinner" Kabir slumped on the couch pretending to be very tired by the running around and gestured Rachel to bring dinner as he knew she had not eaten anything since evening.
Anshu after initial relents gave in to her daddy's blackmailing and Kabir gestured Rachel to serve the food on the table. He moved in his room to freshen up.
Kabir's mind wandered back to the day's happenings and Anshu's behaviour. She was feeling rejected... kind of neglected. The tender heart of a 5 year old baby was not able to accept that she is not like other children of her age.
Although Kabir and Rachel were never leaving any stone unturned to make her feel special and normal but still not being able to communicate with children of her age, not being able to play with them... create the needed bond with them was affecting her mind badly.
Kabir had somewhere known much before that this was goto come. One day she will try to mingle with people and then problems will surface up... and that will hurt his baby. But knowing and experiencing are two different things... seeing his sweetheart suffering and hurt broke his heart. His heart was somewhere feeling guilty even when he knew that he had done everything he could do and now he couldn't do much. He felt helpless not being able to eradicate her pain... her big doe like eyes had asked him that 'why only she?' and he wasn't even able to answer her. It had been a couple of months since Rachel has started taking Anshika out to play with the children in their colony. She hadn't even paid heed to his disapproval of taking Anshu for mingling with people. He had reasoned that she still needs time to communicate with people. Her mind and her tongue are not that developed to be able to understand and talk with people other than those very close to her.
In these two months he had got to hear more than ten complaints from Anshu's mouth like 'no one play with me' or 'no one talks to me' etc etc. But still Rachel tried her best to befriend Anshu with people.
Rachel had been a mother figure to him. Shreya had brought her with them to help them settle down after their wedding. Rachel had instantly developed a liking towards Kabir and she sometimes took his side even when he was the one at fault during one of the many small conflicts between him and Shreya.
Kabir moved a hand on his face only to realise that his face was hot.
"Kabir baba... dinner lag gaya hai... You know na when you're at home Anshu never eats without you." Rachel said from outside Kabir's room. On hearing Rachel's voice he realised he had been weeping silently. He wiped his tears and quickly finished his shower and after wearing a loose pair of tees and trousers he moved out of the room. He masked his expressions to cheerful ones as he unlocked the door to his room to come out and took his seat on the dining table.
"So aaj kya bana hai aapne khaane mein" He asked sweetly.
"Kabir baba and Anshu baby ka favourite... kadhi chawal aur pyaaz ke pakode" Rachel replied.
"Kadhi chawal... yay! " Anshu beamed.
Kabir smiled at his sweetheart. He pulled her in his lap lovingly and said while he stuffed her mouth with a spoon of food, "Aaj papa Anshu ko apne lap pe baitha ke khilayenge" She giggled happily and chewed on the food. That brought a smile on his lips. His daughter was his life...the apple of his eye... the only reason to live... his world. She meant more than everyone and everything to him. His heart glowed whenever she flashed her sweet smile.
The father daughter duo talked, giggled and laughed as they had their dinner while Kabir fed her as he took his morsels too in between. He saw she was yawning as he ate his last bite. He quickly cleaned his hands and lifted her in his arms and took her in her room. He laid her on the bed as he switched off the side lamps and covered her with the comforter.
"Baby... now sleep... kal school bhi jaana hai na aapko" He said as he tried to put her to sleep.
"No papa... first story"
"Story! baby papa is weak at this.. you know na. When Rachel puts you to sleep she tells you a story... aaj papa sula rahe hai toh ek din please sleep without a story."
"Noo... Anshu no sleep without story"
"Achha... papa story nahi par lori sunayenge... aap ko papa se lullabies sunna pasand haina... ok"
She pondered a bit before she smilingly agreed.
"Aa chal ke tujhe
Main leke chalu
Ik aise gagan ke tale
Jaha gham bhi na ho
Aasoo bhi naa ho
Bas pyaar hi pyaar pale" he sang melodious voice. He looked at her and realised that her eyelids were drooping. He slowly patted her to sleep and when he confirmed that she was asleep he tiptoed out if the room.
Kabir was standing near the window of his room. His thoughts drifted to some 5 and half years back. He had been so happy to know that he was going to be a father. His joy had known no bounds and he was literally jumping in ecstasy. Though Shreya had been doubtful and her face wasn't showing the happiness of a would be mother. When Kabir asked her the reason for it she juat said that she doubted about how she would cope up with her pregnancy and career but Kabir had reassured that they would together take care of everything.
Anshika's arrival had been like a beautiful dream come true for him. Shreya still had not been happy while the last month but still she delivered the baby and then after two months their life turned topsy turvy... As the women who had claimed to love him at some point of life left him and her couple of months old baby and walked out of their life... He had tried so much to stop her... even pleaded to her... begged her but in vain. He had tried a lot to talk to her...to clear the misunderstandings between them and also to make her understand that Anshika was their baby... their creation... their own blood. She cannot leave her at least but Shreya was adamant and she just walked out of his life not paying any heed to his explanations.
Since the young and cheerful man in him was locked somewhere deep in his heart giving birth to a ruthless Kabir. Anshu and Armaan were only one of those very few people for whom he smiled. His life had become mechanical since the day; His day only consisted of working like a machine in the office and taking care of his little autistic child. The centre of his attention... his world.
Anshika was diagnosed as a highly functioning child with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity syndrome (ADHD) when she was three. Although the doctor had already told that his baby may have some neurological abnormality in the seventh month of Shreya's pregnancy. Kabir was shocked to the core but had hid the truth expecting that the treatment the docs were giving Shreya in the last few months would do everything good. But when Anshu turned about two she started having much difficulty in pronouncing words clearly and in sustaining attention. Because of the very reason, it became difficult for an outsider to clearly decipher that what the child is saying.
Armaan and Anshika were very fond of each other. Although Anshu had problems in her daily life but he saw to it that one of them is always there with her to help her deal with them. Ashu had admitted her in Delhi's best school and had also talked to the principal that no one teases Anshika and she should be treated like an ordinary student.
Armaan was a doctor basically a neurologist and worked in Breach Candy, Mumbai and visited them on regular intervals. He being a neurosurgeon knew how to tackle her. He understood her and loved her like his own baby. Kabir had understood that even if Anshu is an autistic child, she is commendably intelligent. She had many times proved the same unconsciously. She could instantly solve puzzles and riddles and cubes too at such a young age.She was too good at maths. She could calculate and solve sums that no other kid in her class was able to do. Infact she would even solve complex 3 to 4 digit calculations within seconds while Rachel made the monthly budget. Kabir was always proud of that. He sensed she had difficulty in languages and he helped her with that. Although he knew there is no known cure, but there have been reported cases of children who recovered.
Kabir had tried to research and gain information as much as possible for him. His field was media but still he with Armaan and Taarini's help learnt a lot about the psychology of an autistic person.
He suddenly recalled he had to go to Taarini. 'She must be ready by now. Her flight is at 12.30 am and it's already close to 11', he thought as he looked at the clock. He immediately got hold of his car keys and hurried after locking the door. He realised his phone was still in the car and wondered why hasn't Taarini called him when he saw that his mobile was dead and he had also forgot to take his phone charger. He sped up the car and turned across the turning which went towards her house.
He rang the doorbell and the door opened immediately. A fuming a Taarini with her hands on her hips stood in front of him. He smiled sheepishly and that triggered her anger.
"Oh... Mr. Busybee Kabir Sharma free ho hi gaye aakhirkar..." she said as she moved in and Ashu followed her. He saw that the atmosphere in was really cheesed up as he saw that Taarini's 7 year old naughty and hyperactive son Anurag was sitting quietly on the couch.
"Kabir bhaiya... aaj to mummy aapki band bajane wali hai... bohot gusse mein hai" he whispered as Kabir sat beside him.
"Haa beta... tumhari mummy ka dimaag kafi garam lag raha hai... I will try to talk to her" he said while Taarini offered him a glass of water.
"Sorry Taarini... it slipped out of my mind that I had to drop you to the airport and take Anurag with me. It was an emergency too..." he replied as he sipped at the water.
"Jhooth toh bolna mat... I called your secretary and he told me that you left the office in the evening itself as there was no lead or emergency..." she uttered.
"You are right... koi lead ya official emergency nahi thi but I had some emergency at home. Anshu ne gusse mein apne aap ko room mein lock kar liya tha..."
"What? Is she fine... hua kya tha jo usne aise..."
"Relax...She is fine... voh apne hum umr bachho se bond nahi bana pa rahi hai and she is upset for that. Maine jaake usse baat ki aur samjhaya to vo kisi tarah maan gayi... par pata nahi aage..." he trailed off.
"Awww... my poor baby... Koi baat nahi Kabir... ab tum Anurag ko leke jaa rahe ho naa... School mein toh Amurag hota hi hai uske saath... ab kuch din ghar par bhi uske saath rahegi toh sab theek jo jaayega. You don't worry..." she tried to console him as she kept a warm hand on his shoulder.
"Hmn... Chalo... I will drop you aur phir Anurag ko leke ghar jaata hoon... kal school jaana hai na Anurag... you have to sleep as soon as we reach home."
"Haa chalo... meri flight ka time ho gaya hai"
Kabir helped her with her bag and they drove off.
In the car he asked,
"So Dr. Taarini...I heard your paper on neurodevelopmental disorders has been selected for the conference... vaise yeh conference toh 3 din mein khatm jo jaayegi... Phir tum vapas Delhi aa rahi ho na"
"Ofcourse aa rahi hoo... par tum kyu pooch rahe ho?"
"Haan vo tum aa jao phir tumse Anshu ke regarding kuch baat karne hai... Abhi mat poochna please... tum aaogi phir bataunga..." She nodded and he continued driving. Soon they reached the Safdarjung Airport and after bidding Taarini a goodbye Kabir realised that Anurag had slept on the back seat of the car itself. He smiled shaking his head and started the car to go back home.
He was driving when he saw a human figure lying on the road. On nearing he realised that it is a girl lying injured and he rushed his car. Getting down from the car he went near the girl only to realise that it was none other than Ms. Ananya Kashyap...
Have a happy read...
Thank you :)
Edited by Amreen... - 10 years ago
Debate Mansion
Anupamaa
