Chapter 47Bihaan and Kabir were sitting in Kabir's car driving on a long, silent road. Kabir was driving while Bihaan was sitting with him trying to ask where they were going but Kabir told him that it was a secret only. Bihaan looked very annoyed which brought a smile on Kabir's face. After all their plan was working well.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Thapki was in kitchen doing her work when Kiran entered. She looked at Thapki and signalled her "yes" with her eyes. Thapki felt relieved as now she could work with out any tension. With her eyes she thanked Kiran. Kiran smiled and left kitchen. Her engagement was tomorrow so she herself had lots of work.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Thapki picked up the lunch tray and walked towards Shradha's room. She found Shradha and Vasu sitting on bed and next to them were lying jewellery boxes containing many jewellery items which looked very expensive. Thapki noticed Shradha looking at those boxes with greedy eyes. Shradha noticed Thapki and shut those boxes.
Shradha: "Wat r u doing here?"
Thapki: "Brought u lunch. The door was ajar so I came inside"
Shrdaha: "Okay put it on the table there"
Thapki put the tray on the table and was abt to leave when Shradha called her. Thapki looked at Shradha with inquiring eyes.
Shradha: "Mummy Ji, I could have put it all in my locker but it is already full of my jewellery and Dhruv's stuff so I was wondering that may be Thapki could keep them locked in her wardrobe. Actually the lock on my wardrobe is not working so I do not want to take a risk. Plus we can not keep in bank as we might be needing them time to time as so many functions are lined up ahead"
Thapkl: "Me??? but It is such a big responsibility and I do not..."
Vasu: "Shradha is right. With so many guests at home, even I can't put it downstairs as I have to open and reopen my wardrobe all the time. Thapki's room is also upstairs and these will be safe there. Isn't it so Thapki?"
Thapki knew it was a big responsibility but she could not say no to Vasu so she agreed.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Bihaan and Kabir were standing with their broken car on the side of the road. The sun was bright and there was no one to be seen on the road.
Bihaan: "We are out of mobile coverage area. We can not contact any one... How will be go back?"
Kabir: "I am also getting worried. I guess we must walk and see if there is somebody who could help us"
Bihaan: "I am still wondering, y u chose such a deserted area for ur factory. I am rejecting this place without even seeing it"
Kabir turned away from Bihaan and a smirk appeared on his face. Bihaan did not know that this was not a site seeing visit neither was his car broke but it was a part of Kabir's plan.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The family had gone to Mandir and after that they had plans of dinner. Only Thapki and Shradha were at home. Shradha was not feeling well so Thapki volunteered to be at home and this also gave her ample time to finish her work. She looked at her wrist watch. It was 8 pm and Bihaan was not home yet. She started getting worried. Before she could worry more, she heard the main door opening. She looked at Bihaan who looked very tired and annoyed at the same time.
Thapki walked towards him and greeted him. He looked at Thapki with a sad face and sat on the sofa in the lounge.
Thapki: "Wat happened Bihaan? U look so tired and..."
Bihaan: "Nthg. Had a bad day that is it"
Thapki: "Then Y dont u go get fresh and I will bring tea for u"
Bihaan nodded and walked into their room. After having a long shower he changed into his fav yellow t-shirt and loose white pants and came out.
As he stepped into his room, he noticed that the lights were off but candles were keeping the room bright. And in the middle of the room, Thapki was standing, holding a cake in her hands.
Thapki: "Happy bday to u. Happy bday to u. Haapy bday dear Bihaan, Happy bday to u"
She brought the cake to where Bihaan was standing while singing his bday song and Bihaan for the first time noticed that she has such a sweet voice. He wished she would continue singing and will never stop. Not only he praised her voice in his mind but also how beautiful she was looking in her navy blue sari with her hair open. He was still staring at her angelic face when he noticed that she was asking him to blow the candles and make a wish. He wished for sthg and blew the candles. Thapki put the cake on the table and started clapping. Bihaan hugged her and whispered Thank u.
She broke the hug and looked at his face. His thank u had so many emotions that she had to make sure that he was not crying. His lips had the smile but his eyes for sure had hint of tears.
Thapki: "Wat happened?"
Bihaan: "Nthg"
Thapki: "No tell me"
Bihaan: "My bdays were celebrated all those years but this year no one even remembered my bday and no one even wished me and this made me super sad but now seeing this cake and this celebration, I felt like my bday has been celebrated for the first time. This is the best bday of my life ever"
Thapki: "First of all, I am so sorry for making u sulk on the major part of ur bday. Actually I wanted a big party for ur bday but then Maa did not give me the permission so I planned this and Kabir helped me in this. He took u away so that I can bake this cake and decorate our room. The family has also not forgotten ur bday. After cutting this cake, we are joining them for dinner, which Vasu Maa thinks is a normal dinner but rest of the family has thrown this dinner for ur bday. Their gifts are already in ur wardrobe"
Bihaan: "I m speechless"
Thapki: "Lets cut the cake and move or else we will be late"
Shradha could hear the sound of music coming from Thahaan's room and she had seen Bihaan coming home and Thapki being all ready. She knew they were having their private bday celebration in there which made her super jealous. But she knew it was for a short time so she smiled and started getting ready for the dinner.
------------------------------------------------------------
The dinner was fun and everyone wished Bihaan without making it look like as if the dinner was planned for him specially. Vasu also wished him but not the same way she wished Dhruv in his bday party a week ago. Bau Ji and Dadi blessed him best wishes.
Thapki was standing with Bihaan when Sheena and Kabir walked towards them.
Kabir: "I could not say sorry to u earlier but plz excuse me for making u walk many miles on ur bday. But in my defence, it was Thapki's plan"
Bihaan looked at Thapki with love which made Sheena super jealous.
Bihaan: "Its okay Kabir. I have forgiven u NOW as now I know it was for a bigger cause"
They all laughed except Sheena. Sheena handed a gift box to Bihaan and asked him to open it. The box contained a beautiful gold bracelet and looked very expensive.
Bihaan: "Its beautiful but I cant take it as this is very expensive"
Sheena: "Oh plz Bihaan don't be so modest. I know Thapki must have given u even a more expensive gift than this"
Thapki looked at Bihaan with sad eyes.
Bihaan: "Gifts are not judged by its price"
Sheena: "Then dont judge mine and accept it. I will appreciate if u do"
Bihaan nodded with a thanks. And they all left for their houses.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Thapki handed the gifts of family members to Bihaan. He opened them all. They all have gifted him nice stuff. Bihaan put the stuff on the table and came and lie down on his bed.
Bihaan: "Where is the special gift?"
Thapki: "Special gift?"
Bihaan: "Arre I am talking abt the gift from ur side"
Thapki sat down next to Bihaan and looked into his eyes.
Thapki: "I know every one has given u expensive gifts. I do not have much but..."
Bihaan saw tears appearing in Thapki's eyes. He held her face in his hands and kissed her cheeks.
Bihaan: "R u crazy?? U r the biggest gift of my life"
Thapki: "U r saying so to not make me feel sad"
Bihaan: "R u calling me a liar?"
Thapki: "No no I am not"
Bihaan smiled and wiped her tears.
Bihaan: "Then stop crying. I told u once before that all I have is urs. U should never feel that u have nthg. And it is okay if u did not bring me a gift. I was just joking"
Thapki: "Who said I am not giving u a gift"
She got up from her place and walked towards her side of bed. She took out an envelop and handed it to Bihaan. Bihaan looked at her with inquiring eyes. Thapki asked him to open it.
Bihaan took out the documents from the envelop. It contained the ownership documents of Thapki's house.
Bihaan: "Wat is this Thapki?"
Thapki: "Papers of my house"
Bihaan: "I can see that too but y"
Thapki: "I do not have any thing of my own but this house. I want u to have it"
Bihaan (angrily): "Have u gone mad Thapki"
Thapki: "No I have not. I want u to sell it and use that money for sthg"
Bihaan: "Is this a gift or an insult?"
Thapki: "No Bihaan plz do not think that way"
Bihaan: "Y not... This is the only thing u have of ur parents and u r giving it to me like that. Do u think all I need is money"
Thapki: "I am sorry if u felt that way but I want u to start ur own work and the money can help u in that"
Bihaan: "U r saying this coz u heard my conversation with Kabir the other day. Yes I was telling him that I am short of some cash but it does not mean that I will take it from u. I will arrange that on my own. U need not to worry abt it and take these back and keep them some where safe. And do not think abt doing such a thing ever again"
Bihaan put the envelop on the bed and left the room.
--------------------------------------------------------
Thapki felt bad for making Bihaan upset. She was not expecting him to take it this way. She waited for Bihaan till late and he finally returned. He noticed Thapki sitting on sofa. He looked at the bed and the envelop was gone. He came close and sat next to Thapki. He noticed that she had cried. He took her hand in his and kissed it.
Thapki: "Bihaan I am so sorry. I did not want to hurt ur feelings or ur ego. I just felt like helping u out and ..."
Thapki started crying again. Bihaan felt guilty too.
Bihaan: "I am so sorry Thapki. I did not want to hurt u. I am sorry for making u cry. Plz stop or I will start crying too"
He made a sad face so she started smiling.
Bihaan: "That's like my Thapki. Now let's go to sleep as tomorrow is Kiran's engagement and we need to travel too"
He got up and walked towards the bed. Thapki walked towards the bed and lie down very close to Bihaan.
Bihaan: "U sleeping in sari tonight?"
Thapki: "I was thinking may be we can spend some time together before going to sleep"
Bihaan: "Did we not spend time together the whole evening?"
Thapki moved closer to Bihaan and put her head on his chest. Bihaan finally understood wat she meant but he knew it was not the right time to explain a lot of things to her. He decided to talk to Thapki after Kiran's engagement.
Thapki: "Yes but not alone na"
Bihaan: "But I m so very tired tonight. And we have a long day ahead so may be we must go to sleep now"
Thapki knew it was a rejection but she did not understand the reason. She was his wife and she herself was inviting him to have romantic time and he was saying no which meant he was not interested. It broke her heart and she moved away from Bihaan and put her head on her pillow. Bihaan knew Thapki was hurt but he did not respond as he did not have any clarification for his actions. And Thapki who was expecting Bihaan to turn back and hug her felt even more hurt.
------------------------------------------------------------
The jailer asked the lady to sign the papers and handed her stuff to her.
Jailer: "Kosi Devi, U r finally getting free. I hope u go to ur loved ones and do not do anything wrong this time"
Kosi: "Yes Jailer Sir. I am finally going to my loved ones. I am coming my son... I am coming Vasu to claim wat is mine"
To be contd...
Book Talk
Anupamaa
