She cuddled in a comfortable bed as voice started to sound in a distance and faded with passing moments. For a second, it felt as quilt has grown two hands to cover her completely, giving her the warmth she needed. With every breath, her eyelids got heavier taking her to another jounrney of dream world. An aura of optimism and peace surrounded her as she felt very familiar finger stroking her hair. The presence she wouldn't dare to mistake; her heart responded to her senses. She sat with a jolt to look at the face, her eyes yearned and a glance of it provided some life to her body. A smile adorned the face that gave her a relief of eternity. Her right hand acted on its own and cup her face not before she called out, "Sadhna" "Jiji!!" Sadhba said and hugged her.
"Pata hai...main tumhe kitna....yaad kar rahi thi...kahan thi tum..!" She said breaking the hug!
"Kahin nahi..Jiji...main to hamseha aap ke dil mein rehti hoon.." She replied with a moment silence then asked, "Par ...aisa kya hua..jo meri 'Sachchi-Pakki' Saheli ko meri yaad aa gayi!."
"Bas...bahut yaad aa rahi thi tum..aur kuch nahi..pata hai Tamanna aur Khushi ko khelte dekh mera mann bhar aaya teri yaadon se aur..."
"khushi...Khushi, kaisi hai Jiji?" Sadhna asked before Ragini completed her sentence.
"Bahut, achchi hai.........par apni Mummy ko Bahut miss Karti hai." she looked at Sadhna who apparently looked calm.
"Jiji...mein janti hoon wo apni Maa ke paas hai aur bahut achchi hai...'Kokh' se na sahi par 'Godh' se aap uski Maa hain...isiliye use Maasi Ma mein apni Maa dikhai deti hai. Aur Jis tarah se aap uska khayal rakhti hain waise koi nahi rakh sakta...aur Jiji, Meri Tamanna to theek hai na? Mujhe Pakka pata hai..wo meri Khushi ko kabhi kisi tarah ki kami nahi hone degi." Sadhna said assuringly and looked at Ragini, who was looking at her without blinking.
"Jiji, Aise kya dekh rahi hain?"Sadhna asked with curosity.
"Kuch nahi bas tera damakta hua chehra dekh rahi thi, iski ik Jhalak se meri Saari thakaan aur takleef door ho jaati hai kaash, hum saath-saath Kuch aur Samay ke liye rehte."
"Jiji, zindagi mein aksar aisa kuch hota hai...Jiski hum kalpna nahi karte...meine kabhi nahi socha tha ke mein apne pariwaar ko chod kar jaongi par mujhe jaana para...aur mere Pariwaar ka khayaal meri Jiji ne Rakha...Bahut achchi tarah se."
She grabbed Ragini's hand and let go very next moment as her hand sensed something.
"Jiji, ye kya hua ?" Many lines of worry appeared on her forehead and she looked at Ragini with utter preplexity.
Kuch nahi Sadhna bas pair phisal gaya .."
Sadhna gazes scanned her both feet and she gasped when she saw Ragini's left ankle.
"Arrey Jiji! aap ke haathon mein kharoch aur pair mein sujan hai..aapne sikayi ki?...koi dawa li??" Ragini was flooded with so many question. Ragini felt guilty for bringing concern on her calm face.
"Mein bilkul theek hoon,Sadhna!..Mujhe bahut dard ho raha tha par 'Tammy ke papa' ne mujhe haldi-dhodh de diya aur dekho kharooch par unhone khud dawa lagai hai." She showed her wrist to Sadhna. Sadhna relaxed a bit and a smile graced her lips as she listened to her sister conversation with an interest. "Doctor ko faurun bula kar mera check up kawaya!. Maine dawa khali hai...tum..tum chinta mat karo mein bilkul theek hoon." Ragini explained to her sister.
Sadhna looked at her sister as if reading her mind and spoke," Arrey wah! Jiji...'Tammy ke Papa' to aapka bahut khayal rakhte hain."
"H..Ha..Haan!" Ragini replied reluctantly, but her face had a smile that didn't escape Sadhna's eyes.
She lifted Ragini's face from chin and carefully looked at her,"Kya hua Jiji?..Aap achanak..ghabra kyon gayi..?"
"Ku..Kuch nahi Sadhna..bas aise hi..."
"Jiji, aap ko koi baat Pareshaan kar rahi hai?.."
"Nahi Sadhna..aisi koi baat nahi hai.." Ragini tried to push the matter awayl, "Sab kuch theek hai aur sab khush hai aur...aur kya chahiye.Pata hai! Mera sara waqt....Ghar ke kaam mein guzar jaata hai aur phir Bachche aa jaate hai..phir unke saath shaam kaise guzar jaati hai
Pata nahi chalta..kisi ka home work to kisi aur ki koi aur si farmaish. achcha lagta hai jab mere pariwaar mein sab muskurate hain aur pata hai.." She unknowingly came to a point where her eyes along with her tongue spoke, " 'Tammy ke Papa' ki poori Koshish rehti ke Bachchon ki Har zarooorat puri ho...Pata hai Bachchon ne Garmiyon mein Bahar jaane ki Zidd ki aur us dauraan Papaji Business mein Uljhe the aur Mummyji Sanstha ke Kaam mein Busy thi. Phir mein bhi Jiyaji ko chor kar nahi ja sakti thi. Wo bachchon ko akele le kar Gaye...apni poori zimmedari par aur Bachchon ne unke Saath Khoob mauj-masti ki. Wo tu wapas aa kar busy ho gaye par Bachche to kayi din tak apni trip ki baatein karte rahe..." Ragini was on roller coaster of pleasant memories and Sadhna just listened to her, interestingly.
"ik baar tu Mmmy ji ko alergy ki wajah se Bukhar ho gaya tha...aur pata hai! Papa ji ki Ghair Maujoodgi mein unhone is baat ka pura khayaal kiya ke Mummy ji ko kisis tarah ki koi parshaani na ho." Sadhna just looked at her sister, who spoke vibrantly; it was an unusal view. Many past years haven't winess Ragini's delighted mood so often yet Sadhna acknowledged that,"Jiji app ko pyaar ho raha hai " Sadhna said looking at Ragini face after searching her sister's heart.
Ragini froze at Sadhna's words as if her heart disclosed a subject she never tried to touvch upon and looked blankly angelic sister.
"Haan Jiji, aap ko pyaar ho raha hai...Zindagi se! Aap ke mann mein ik nayi Umang jaagi hai jisne aap ke is Massom chehre par Muskurahat bikhair di hai..ik maqsad jo aap ko mil gaya zindagi jine ka....wo bhi khushyon ke saath. Jo waqt ne aap ko Zimmedariyan saupi thi...unko nibhaate-nibhaate aap phir se jina seekh gayi...Meri 'Khushi' ki Ma ban kar..Tammy ki Ma ban kar..."
Ragini relaxed a bit and smiled at Sadhna," Sadhna tere aur Ranveer ke jaane ke saath-saath..saari Khushiyan meri Zindagi se chali gayi..par Waqt ne Meri Godh do-do betiyon se bhar di. Agar Ranveer aur tumhari kami khali to Khushi aur Tamanna ki Maujoodgi ke ehsaas ne Mere Aasoo poch diye aur Zindagi ki Bhaga daur mein kayi Saal beet gaye.....aur in Saalon mein bahut kuch Naya dekhne ko mila..." Ragini paused but Sadhna completed the sentence "...aur ik 'Sachche Humsafar' ki Anmol dosti bhi mili." Ragini just look at her sister and said,
"Haan!" Her face expressed no awkardness and her lips curved in a satisfied smile.
"Sach Sadhna..Bahut hi sachchi dosti mili mujhe ...jis rishte mein koi Maang ya zabardasti nahi sirf apna pan hai. Mere baghair kahe un cheezon ko Samajh Jana jo mujhe Pareshaan karti hain...Meri choti-badi...har uljhan aur Pareshaani ka hal Rehta hai unke paas Bahut.." her tongue seemed to stammer a little as she reached at this part of her sentence but she completed it willingly"..bahut achche Dost hain aur bahut achche Insaan bhi." She sucessfully said.
"Jiji"
"Haan"
"Ab meri dua hai ke Meri Jiji ko Pyaar bhi mil jaaye...wo pyaar jo aapki zindagi mein phir se Khushiyon ke rang bhar de..aur meri Jiji ko Khoob Khush Rakhe!..."
"Sadhna, yeh kya keh rahi ho...pyaar mein..mein pyaar kar chuki hoon aur ab mujh se pyaar nahi kiya jayega...Bahut pyaar kiya meine Ranveer se....par wo mujhe chor kar chale gaye..Zindagi ke beech safar mein.."
Her smile was taken over the pain, her heart was overfilled with, and eyes were spilling the pain in form of tears that she held for so long! Her throat was dried as 'Long-kept' pain made its way out of her heart! She hugged her sister and cried and cried. Sadhna held her sister to comfort her and spoke as a while passed.
"Jiji, Bahut Garv hai mujhe aur Ranveer ji ko aap par...jisne ik ajnabi se shaadi karke Humhare parivaar ko ik bate diya....Jisne pichle kayi Saalon mein her Zimmedari ko nibhaya hai...aap ne us rishte ko nibhane ki koshish ki jise halaat ne jora aur kab wo rishta aapki zindagi mein apni jagah bana gaya...aap ko pata hi nahi chala"
Sadhna said proudly. Ragini tears stopped, her sobbed were lost in her throat as she broke the hug and looked at Sadhna.
"Jiji, aksar zindagi mein pyaar chehra badal kar aata hai...bas hum use pehchaan nahi paate.....aur aksar insaan ko apne 'dil' ko samajhne mein samay lagta hai...aur Jiji koi zaroori tu nahi...ke aap ka pehla pyaar hi aap ki zindagi ka akhri pyaar ho..Pehla pyaaar ki jagah tu dil mein Hamesha rehti par zindagi ke safar mein, kab koi aapke dil ko chokar us mein apni jagah bana le....ye pata nahi chalta. Waise bhi 'Tammy ke papa' aur aap ke rishte ki bunyaad pyaar nahi..'dard' hai Jiji! Jise Ranveer ji ki ichcha ko poora karte huye bata hai aap dono ne, Wo 'dard ka rishta' Jahan ik dil doosre dil ke dard ko Mehsoos kar leta ..jahan Shabdoon ki bhi Zarorat nahi parti.Apne dil mein jhakiye Jiji! shayad aapko Saare Sawaalon ke Jawaab mil jaaye." Sadhna paused and looked at restless Ragini and said "..aur Jiji Ranveer ji ki yaadon se aise duniya ko sajao jo zindagi jine ke kaam aa sake...ab aur nahi Jiji..mat door rakho apne aap ko un khushiyon se jin par sirf tumhara haq hai...ik Mauqa do zindagi ko...phir Khushiyon meri Jiji ki jholi bhar jaayegi aur is Massom chahre par Hamesha Muskurahat Saji rahegi! Pata hai Jiji zindagi aksar hamara sab kuch cheen ke hume dukh aur andhere ke dal- dal mein dhakel deti hai par Ishwar humari Zindagi mein ik umeed ki kiran ko bhejta hai aur waqt chalte us ik kiran se Zindagi ki shaam bhi sawere jaise lagti hai...aur ..aur Kiya pata aap ke ass-paas hi koi aisa ho jiske liye aapka wajood uski duniya ho...aapki hasi mein uski khushi ho..aapki aankhon mein uske sapne baste ho! Door rehte huae bhi aap uske bahut qareeb ho!"
Sadhna's word fell on her in form of anxiety; she felt as if somehow she had this 'person's' presence in her life! She just stared in an empty space, fully aware of Sadhna's gaze on her yet she didn't meet them. Somehow she wanted to shield something from her..perhaps from herself as well! She had so much to talk about to her sister yet she couldn't utter a word at the moment! Sadhna spoke of things she always thought of at times! As her thoughts creatied a wall of silence between Sadhna and Ragini, She was becoming aware of the heaviness in her right arm for the first time in this meeting!
She looked at Sadhna and saw a smile on her face; Sadhna spoke," Bas Jiji! Aap khush raho! mein to nahi hoon aapke paas par koi hai Jiski subah aur shaam aap se shuru hokar aap par khatm ho jati hai aur jab koi itni parwa karne wala ho to mujhe apni Jiji ki koi chinta nahi apna Khayaal rakhna aur hamesha muskurati rehna!...Isi tarha" Sadhna's last two word made her aware of her smile that she had while her eyes had tears. She wiped them off as she hugged her sister and rested her head on Sadhna's shoulder with closed eyes.
She felt as if she was becoming aware of her surroundings again! A feeling of drowsiness was leaving her and she felt she was waking up from a deep slumber. She felt herself lying on something soft as many familiar voices touched her eardrum! Her eyes open to see her room again! Feeling a lot better, she tried to wake up and sucessfully sat on bed. Her back was not sore anymore and ankle had very light pain!
"Ab aap kaisa Mehsoos kar rahi hain, Ragini?" Her head jerked up to see Anmol entering the room with Guni who held a tray with some bowls in it.
She simply smiled, "Mein theek hoon!" She looked at Guni who was simply smiling,"Yeh kya hai, Guni?"
"Soup!" Guni replied. "Aap ke liye....ab chaliye kuch kha lijiye."
"Guni, bachcho ne kuch khaya..aur.." She looked at Anmol then at Guni "aap logo ne kuch khaya" Anmol spoke before Guni could reply "Ragini, ab kisi ki koi chinta mat kijiye bas aap soup pe lijiye aap ko iski bahut zaroorat hai!...mein abhi aaya bachcho ko bata kar ke aap uth gayi hai...kaafi worried the" He left the room and Ragini went to the washroom with Guni's help!
When Ragini sat on bed, Guni spoke, " Chachi khake bataiye kaisa hai?"
Guni made Ragini taste the soup from spoon and waited. A smile spread across her face and she replied," Arre! Ye to bahut tasty hai..Guddi ne to kamal kar diya!" Guni chuckled and Ragini just looked at her, puzzled. "Kya hua Guni? Kya aap ko soup achcha nahi laga!" She asked .
"Chachi, ye soup Guddi didi ne nahi banaya hai!"
"Guddi ne nahi..to aapne banaya hai?" Ragini asked.
" No, Chachi."
As if she somehow knew the cook, her tongue stammered as she asked ,"to phir ye sou...soup kisne bana...banaya, Guni"
"Chachu ne-The most romantic guy and bhole chachu ne, chachi aur wo bhi itna achcha!" Guni said.
"Hum sab ko kitchen mein ghusne nahi diya jab tak soup tayyar nahi ho gaya."
Ragini was not expecting this surprise!. The taste of soup was very delicious and she looked at Guni once again! "Aap bhi khaiye, Guni!" she looked at another bowl that was still sitting in tray.
"Chachi, hum sab ne khana kha liya ..siwaye aap ke pati-dev ke..unhe na! bhook nahi lagi thi..wo kayi baar aaye par aap so rahi thi aur aapko wo uthana nahi chate the" Guni's word made her feel bad. After entire day of work, Anmol ate nothing becasue he was not feeling hungry!
Anmol entered the room once again,"Bachche so gaye hain" he informed no one in particular! "Guni ab aap bhi jaake so jaiye aur apni chachi ko tang mat kijiye!" He said in a light tone.
"Chachu, mein sab jaanti hoon aap ko chachi ke saath akele rehne hai to ..Ok!" She got up and said "Good night!" she left the room.
Anmol looked back at Ragini who seemed lost in some thought!
"Kya hua? Aapne soup nahi piya!?" He asked.
"wo..aap ne khaana nahi khaya?" Ragini asked without waiting.
"wo..um...bhook nahi lagi thi....aap ne khana nahi khaya tha to.."
"to??..."
"To..socha aap ke saath kha longa....ye lijiye soup pijiye warna thanda ho jayega."
She moved her hand to hold the bowl but heaviness in her right arm didn't permit her to hold the bowl and she pulled it back. Anmol looked at Ragini and sat on the bed, holding the bowl in his hand.
"Ragini.." He called out and Ragini saw Anmol's hand holding a spoon an-inch away from her mouth and gesturing her to take a from sip it. Her dried tongue tasted the delicious soup again and her taste bud craved for more. She did not know if she wanted Anmol to feed him but she couldn't refuse him, either.
On the other hand, Anmol scooped soup out from bowl, hoping her to maintain the flow of the moment. He felt happy when she did not express any kind of disapproval and had some soup.
"Mujhe..akele Khaane ki aadat nahi.." She said after having half bowl of soup.
Her indirect invitation brought a smile on his face and he took some soup when she was done eating. In a short while, he was finished and got up to give her medicine.
"Aap ne kabhi bataye nahi aap itna achcha soup bana lete hain.." Ragini finally spoke breaking the awkward silence.
"Haan, wo...Ji??" He said when realised what she had asked.
Ragini looked at him and smiled through her eyes," Soup..ach..achcha tha..Thanks!"
"My pleasure!" he said smilingly and handed her the medicine with a glass of water, "Ab, aap aaraam se soyiye mein abhi aaya." Anmol left the room once again.
After having some soup, she felt sleepy as she had nothing in many hours. The delicious soup has made her feel full; she hit the sack and drifted off to dreamless sleep.
When Anmol came back, he found Ragini sleeping peacefully.
Indian Mythology
