PART - 4
It has been 17 years since Suryabhan and his family came to US, 15 since his brothers death and today their daughter has turned 21……Surya has planned a big party for her birthday and invited all her friends through Gayatri's help……..
Gayatri after doing her morning puja, went up to Kripa's room to wake her up…..It was still early morning , but they always took their kids to temple on their birthdays, the tradition their ancestors passed on to them………..
G: Utho Kripa beta…….She said opening the curtains, allowing the morning sun enter the room……
K: Mama thodi der aur……..she said putting blanket on her face, to block the sun light…..
Gayatri went near her and took the blanket from her face and pinched her cheeks lightly…..
K: Ouch mama….sone do na….she said putting her head on her lap…..
G: Happy Birthday beta……….she said kissing her cheeks…smiling….Mandir nahi jana….papa taiyar ho rahe hain……..tu bhi uthakar taiyar ho ja…..Phir college bhi to jana hai…..
K: Kripa smiled dreamily….thank you ma….do min aur sone do na….
S: Are wah aise kaise sone de……ajj humare beti ka janam din hai….pure 21 saal ki ho gayi hai……aaj to hum apka janamdin badi dhum dham se manayege……..Suryabhan said coming inside the room…….aur agar utho gi nahi to tumhara present kaise dekhogi……..That woke Kripa immediately…..
A: Dekha mom present ka naam sunte hi kaise uth gayi….Nahi to kitne nakhre kar rahi thi……..he said making faces at his sister….
K: Arjun ke bache…..tumko to mein abhi dekhti hun…..she grabbed a pillow and throwed on him…..but it accidently hit Surya, as Arjun ducked and went behind him…..she bit her lips…..sorry papa….she said apologetically…..
G: Are abhi to bachpana chod….itni badi ho gayi hai phir bhi hamesha uske piche lagi rahti hai….her mother scolded frowning…..
S: Are ye kya kah rahi ho bhagyawan………humare liye to abhi ye bachi hi hai…….he said putting a hand on Gayatri…….who made a face at him…..shaking her head…….
A: Papa, iske college ke sare friends khud apna flat le kar rehte hain aur job bhi karte hain….aur app isse bacchi keh rahe ho….he said rolling his eyes…..mein to 4-5 saal mein job dhund kar apne doston ka flat share karunga….Prithvi bhaiya ki tarah…..
K: To, tu ja na..….mujhe mama papa ko chod kar kahin nahi jana……she said frowning……..
S: Arjun….he said glaring at his son…..tu chup kaar….kuch bhi bak bak karta rahta hai…..Apne khandan mein ladki ki jab tak shadi nahi hoti tab tak woh apne ma ke ghar hi rahti hain….Kripa made a face at him and he did the same…..
A: Happy birthday sister dear….aur haan. Ma, iski shadi kab kara rahe ho…..Jaldi hi kardena……..nahi to aise hi mujhe mar mar kar pareshan karege…..he said grinning at her….. Kripa took another pillow and throwed at him angrily, but it missed it too….as he was out of the door…..but Arjun came back swiftly, took the pillow and hit Kripa with full force………
K: Arjun ke bacche….mein tujhe badmein dekh lungi…
S: Happy birthday Beta…..Ye raha tumhara gift….he said putting a small gift on her lap…..Kripa immediately forgot everything and opened her present…..excitedly….
K: Iphone…..vow….thanks papa….thank you so much……I love you….I love you…..she said jumping on the bed and hugging Surya…..
S: Pasand aya….?
K: You are the best papa….bahut pasand aya….thank you ma…..she said hugging her mother….her mother hugged her, but she had tears at the corner of her eyes……
G: Chal aab…ja ke tayar ho ja….tere almari mein tere liye naya dress aur us ka matching set rakha hain meine……hopefully tujhe pasand aye…..
K: Aap ki pasand to mujhe humesha achi lagti hain mom…..she said going to the bathroom…..
S: hum niche tera intazar kar rahe hain….jaldi ana…..
K: Ji papa…she shouted closing the door……..
Surya, Gayatri, Arjun and Kripa all went to the temple before the morning Aart and did their puja
P: Beta aaj Kishan kanhaiya ka koi bhajan to ga do na……kitne din hue tumhari awaj nahi suni…..the priest requested…..
Kripa smiled and sang a beautiful bhajan of Krishna…..Few dieties who were there praised her saying she had a beautiful voice…..
The priest blessed her and gave everyone prashad…..Surya patted her head proudly and Gayatri kissed her cheeks affectionately……
Soon they were back around there breakfast time …..Kripa and Arujun ate there breakfast quickly…..
K: Ma mein chalti hun…..Harshini intazar kar rahi hogi…..
G: Jara sun to beta…..Arjun ko bus stop chod de….mujhe ajj bahut kaam hai…
A: Mom, I am not a kid any more…..I can go by myself…..he said angrily…..
G: Arjun…..I don't want to hear anything…..jau jiji chod degi…..
A: Oh….whatever…..par please….jiji wiji…..why can't I call her just Kripa…….
K: Arjunnnn……Call me whatever you want…..but can you please take your bag and be quick…..Mujhe late ho raha hai……..
S: Nahi beta…..woh tujse umr mein bahut badi hai….aur apnon se bade logon ko naam se nahi bulate ….Unki izzat karna sikho….
A: Jee papa…he said making faces…and ran behind his sister…..taking his bag….
Suryabhan and Gayatri sighed, as they saw them leaving together….
S: Chalo breakfast kar le?
G: Jee…aap baithiye….mein abhi chai le aati hun….They ate silently…..Surya noticed that Gayatri was in deep thoughts and was not eating properly….
S: Kya baat hai Gayatri? Kuch pareshan lag rahi ho?
G: Jee kuch bhi to nahi….
S: Mujh se chupaogi? He asked softly….putting a hand on her shoulder…….
G: Jee aap se kabhi kuch chipa sakti hun…..Mere dil ki har baat mere kahne se pahle hi apko pata chal jati hai…..to aap se kya chipaungi….she said looking at him….
S: To kahon…..Kripa ke kamre mein the tab bhi tere ankhon mein ansu the….kya koi Kripa ko lekar problem hai?
G: Mein to sirf….Angad aur Kripa ke bare mein……..
S: Surya sighed closing his eyes and squeezed her arm…..…..Gayatri meine pahle hi kaha na tujhse….woh purani batein sab bhul jao……woh gudde gudiyan ka khel tha….sachai nahi…..
G: Bhagwan Srinathji khud jis rishte ke gawah the, use aap kaise bhulne ko keh rahein hai….? Aur ab to woh 21 saal ki ho gayi hain……college ka bhi akhri saal hai…..Frustrated Surya left her shoulder and got up….
S: Gayatri…..meine pahle bhi tumko samjhaya hai….aur ajj phir se samjha raha hun…..Kripa 17 saal se US mein pali badhi hai…woh yahan khush hai….hum yahan khush hai…..abb yahan settle ho gaye hain….humare sare dost yahan hai……..aur jis purani riti rivaj ke bandhan tod ke mein yahan aya hun, tum aaj apni beti ko dubara wahin dhakel rahi ho…..Aur ye bhi to socho….apni bacchi ko humse itni door bhej sakogi……Aur waise bhi wahan humara hai kaun…..Haan agar bhaisa aur bhabhi hote to alag batt thi…..par ab to wahan humara kuch nahi hai……Nahi….Gayatri…..Kripa dubara wahan nahi jayegi…..Uski shadi yahin kahin ache ladke se karvayenge hum…..jissase woh humare paas hi rahein, aur abhi to woh bahut choti hai…..Uski padhai hone ke baad, jab woh apne pairon par khadi ho jayegi tab sochenge…..Haan aur ek baat…..agar woh kisi ko chahti hain….aur khandan accha hai….to hum use mana nahi karenge….....mein chahta hun, ki woh apne zindagi ka faisala khud kare…..he said putting a hand on her shoulder….Gayatri looked up……
G: Magar…
S: Magar wagar khuch nahi Gayatri……Kripa ko kabhi is baat ka pata nahi chalna chahiye…..tumhein meri kaasam….he said squezzing her shoulders lightly and kissing her forehead before leaving to office……
Gayatri closed her eyes, tears flowing from her eyes…… She went to her room and opened her suitcase and took out the sari and jewelry given by Devyani…….. Hey Srinathji….ye kaise mod pe lake khada kar diya hai aapne…..Mein kya karun Thakur ji…….kiska sath dun….kya galat hai aur kya sahi mujhe kuch pata nahi………Aap hi rasta dikhaiye bhagwan….Inhone to kasam dekar mera muh band kar diya……abb aap hi koi rasta dikhaiye..….she said crying silently……
At college….Kripa was in midst of her lecture….when her cell phone rang…..She took her phone and disconnected the call…..
L: Miss. Kripa no cell phones allowed in the class…..please…..
K: Sorry Mrs. Johnson……I forgot to switch it off…..She said looking down….the phone rang again….and Kripa looked down irritated……
L: That's fine….If you want to take the call then please go out and do so…..but this won't be allowed next time….
K: Thanks Mrs. Johnson…..She said taking the phone and leaving the class……
K: Hello….
P: Kya yaar…..subah se kitni baar phone kiya meine….tum phone on nahi rakh sakti……
K: Prithvi…..Mein college mein hun….Lecture chal raha hai…..she scolded…..
P: To kya hua…..mein bhi to kaam chod ke tumhe phone try kar raha hun subah se……
K: Kripa sighed…..sorry….woh subah mandir mein phone off kar diya tha, papa ke kehne par…… aur phir shayad college ke pehle, mere friends mera naya Iphone dekh rahe the, to unhone chalu kiya…..she explained…..any ways….aab mein chalun….mera lecture miss ho jayega….
P: Ye acha hai….ek to tumhe wish karne ke liye phone karo….aur daant bhi khao…..aur upar se dhamki…..
K: Prithvi…..
P: Sorry yaar…..thik hai thik hai…..happy birthday…..sham ko milte hain….he said angrily…
K: Thank you……gussa mat hona….par….she said smiling and grinning at the phone…..
P: haan…haan kaho…tumhe jana hai…..jau ab….late nahi ho raha hai? He said switching of the phone…..Kripa grinned and went in her class after switching off the phone….
Prithvi and Mishti were her moms friend Damini Aunties kids, whom they have known from last 16 years….They met in the Indian association program, and became very close friends through the years……Mishti was her class mate in middle school, though she was couple of years bigger than Kripa……Prithvi was 2 years older to Mishti and 4 years older to Kripa, and he was more a friend to Kripa than Mishti was……Mishti and her friend circle was totally different…..Harshini was her college friend…..who she had met when they first joined Arts college….then they found out that they lived in the same community and they had sticked together ever since……Mishti had taken different field and joined other college…….
Kripa had a blast for her birthday……In spite of her inner turmoil, Gayatri arranged the party with variety of food and drinks.....She decorated the whole house with her friends help with flowers and silk curtains……Arranged for live music…..In all it was a grand party and all her friends praised her saying she had wonderful parents who did so much for her………
P: Kripa madam…..humein thoda apaka waqt milega…..he said going to Kripa….
K: Hi Prithvi…..kyun nahi jarur milega….she said grinning…..
P: Thanks…..I thought I had to take appointment from you……Waise tum ajakal, thoda jyada hi busy ho gayi ho…..
K: Hmmm….final year hai na….aur phir project bhi submit karni hai 2 weeks mein….
P: Bus bus…..pata hai mujhe……Ye lo….this is for you….he said giving her a small gift…….
K: Thanks….kya hai isme….
P: Khud hi nikalkar dekh lo….
Kripa grinned and opened the box….
K: Vow….bahut acha watch hai…..Thanks Prithvi….
H: Meri pasand hai…..she said grinning…
P: Tum apna muh nahi band rakh sakti….he asked angrily…
K: Hmm….to ye baat hai…..nice choice Harshu….vaise mein yahi soch rahi thi ki ye budhu itna acha topha kaise la sakta hai….aab samaj aya……she said laughing….
Prithvi looked angrily at both of them…..
Harshini tried to stop her laugh…but was unsuccessful….
P: Mein tumhe dekh lunga badmein…..he said glaring at Harshini….
H: Baaad mein kyun abhi dekh lo…..hun na khubsurat……tumhare liye hi sajh dajh kar ayi hun……she said winking at him……...Kripa burst out laughing and went away, seeing Prithvi's red face………Prithvi just turned and joined Surya for a drink, shaking his head…Chal Kripa ek gana ho jaye…..
K: Na baba…..Itna live music chal raha hai….aur mujhe kyun keh rahi hai…..she said rolling her eyes….
H: Don't be a spoil sport….Aaj to tujhe gana hoga….She said pulling her on the small stage set…..
K: Harshu….she said laughing…..Harshini took the mike with a grin and announced that Kripa was going to sing a song for them all……There was a loud appaulse and everyone started calling her name….Kripa rolled her eyes and smiled and went up…..She told the dj guys, who were on the drum, guitar and piano, which song she was singing and they nodded with smile…..
(Hum rahe ya na rahe kal
Kal yaad aayenge yeh pal
Pal, yeh hain pyaar ke pal
Chal, aa mere sang chal
Chal, soche kya
Chhoti si hai zindagi
Kal mil jaaye to hogi khushnaseebi
Hum rahe ya na rahe, yaad aayenge yeh pal) - 2
Shaam ka aanchal odhke aayi
Dekho voh raat suhaani
Aa likh de hum donon milke
Apni yeh prem kahaani
Hum rahe ya na rahe, yaad aayenge yeh pal
Aane waali subha jaane
Rang kya laaye deewaani
Meri chaahat ko rakh lena
Jaise koi nishaani
Hum rahe ya na rahe, yaad aayenge yeh pal
Hum rahe ya na rahe kal
Kal yaad aayenge yeh pal
Pal, yeh hain pyaar ke pal
Chal, aa mere sang chal
Chal, soche kya
Chhoti si hai zindagi
Kal mil jaaye to hogi khushnaseebi
Hum rahe ya na rahe, yaad aayenge yeh pal – 2
Everyone cheered for her and had a wonderful time….…..They all enjoyed the party very much and atlast around 9.30 everyone left……Kripa said her bye to all, and then went to her room to take bath and change, as she was tired………..
G: Prithvi….thank you so much…..tum ne madad nahi ki hoti to itna sab arrangement nahi ho pata beta……She said patting his shoulders……Aur ye live music ka idea bhi to tumhara tha……
P: Auntie, Kripa mere bhi to dost hai…..mujhe thanks keh kar to aap mujhe paraya kar rahe hain…..
S: Bilkul thik…..are bhai Gayatri…..isi jara cleaning ka kaam bhi de dena tha…..ye aur Arjun milkar sara kaam achi tarah kar denge……tum kyun itni mehnat kar rahi ho……Do do jawan ladke hain humare, jara unhe bhi to jimedariyan lene do…..he said looking at Gayatri putting a hand on her shoulder and grinning at Prithvi.……..
G: Aap bhi na….she said laughing.……chal beta…..abb tu bhi ja ghar…..kal office bhi to hai tujhe….. aab ghar ja aur aaram kar…..thak gaya hoga….ye to kuch bhi kehte rehte hai…..
P: Abhi kaise ja sakta hun auntie……abhi chala gaya to uncle se bada lecture sunnana padega….abhi to kaam khatma karke hi jaunga……chal Arjun….lag ja kaam par……and they both together did all the cleaning within hour, in spite of Gayatri's protest..…..and then prithvi left …….he wanted to talk to Kripa, but she was still in the bathroom and he was getting late…..so he left, asking Gayatri to tell Kripa to give him a call, when she was free……
After the cleanup…. Arjun went in Kripa's room and kept a small gift on her bed and ran away ……Kripa was in the bathroom, so was surprised to see another gift…..she took the card and opened it and was surprised to see Arjun's handwriting….Happy birthday jiji….Lots of love….your little bro…Arjun……Kripa smiled affectionately and kissed the card……She slowly opened the gift and found a small pair of delicate pearl earings………She loved it at first sight…..she took the box and card and went to Arjun's room, where he was getting ready for the bed…..
K: Arjun, mujhe gift dekar bhag ke kyun aa gaye……she said smiling at him….
A: Woh….jiji…kuch nahi….aap bathroom mein thi na….issiliye…..
K: Chal koi baat nahi…..thank you so much….ye to mera sab se pyara gift hai……bahut khubsoorat hai…Aaj jitne bhi tophe mile, un saab se jyada, mujhe ye earings pasand aye…..she said coming near the bed….
A: Sach…..he said with a hopeful expression….
K: Aur nahi to kya….mein jhoot bol rahi hoon…..
A: He looked guiltily at her……woh mujhe laga….ki saab ne aapko itne ache ache gift diye…..woh mere paas jyada dollars nahi the na…..to ….
K: To tumhe laga ki ye bahut chota aur sasta hain? She went to him….and pulled his cheek….mera budhu bhai…..tophe ki koi kimat nahi dekhi jati….bas iske piche denewalon ka pyar dekha jata hai……samjhe…..Aur in pyari si earrings mein to mujhe tumhara dher sara pyar dikh raha hai….to ye hui na anmol…….she said kissing his forehead…..
S: Bilkul sahi kaha tune beta…..Arjun, jiji ki ye baat ka dhyan humesha rakhna beta…..he said smiling at his kids……
A: Ji papa……
S: Kitni samajhdar ho gayi hai…badi badi batein karne lagi hai abb…..he said coming near the bed and kissing Kripa on forehead…..
A: Akhir jiji kiski hain……he said smiling at Kripa taking her in his arms…..
S: Tumhari….aur kiski….he said laughing, hitting his head lightly…….Bhagwan, tum donon ko humesha isi tara khush rakhe….Jao abb so jao dono….goodnight…..he said leaving the room……
K: Goodnight Arjun….she said kissing her brother affectionately on her cheek and hugging him lightly…..
A: Goodnight Jiji…Kripa switched of the light and closed the door of his room and went to her room………
G: Beta Prithvi ko phone kar le……jara…..woh baat karna chahta tha tujhse…..she called out, when she saw Kripa going to her room….
K: Jee ma karti hun….Goodnight mama papa……
S & G: Goodnight beta….they said ……Kripa went to her room…
She looked at the earings and smiled at it……She kept it in her wardrobe and sat on the bed with a book……It was a memorable day for her…..Her parents and little brother had made sure of it…..She closed her eyes and prayed to God to keep her family happy for ever….She took her phone and called Prithvi….
K: Hi….
P: Pursat mil gayi madam ko….
K: Hmmm…..bolo kyun phone karne ke liye kaha…..
P: Uncle Aunty se baat nahi ki…..?
K: Kis bare mein…..she asked innocently….
P: Kripa…..he scolded her….
K: Nahi ki…..I don't think they will agree Prithvi…..
P: Puchkar to dekh na….
K: I will…..she said very slowly….
P: Ye tumhari career ka sawaal hai Kripa….he told her sternly….
K: Mishti ne bataya tumhe?
P: Haan….isiliye phone kar raha tha subah…..
K: I still have couple of weeks…..mein baat karti hun…..let's see what they say….
P: Thik hai…..If you need any help, then mujhe bolna…..thik hai….
K: Thanks Prithvi….I will…..bye….and thanks for helping mom today for my party….bahut acha tha….party aur music…..donon….
P: You are welcome…..bye….
She kept the phone down and sighed sadly…..She shook her head frowning….and then started reading the love story, she read every night………
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