Mishal
Raheja
As Dutta
Follow the Heart
Part 5
Babi could have sworn she heard the
distant soulful tune of the flute.. somewhere in the stilled calm dark night..
she shook her head and dismissed it as a figment of her imagination.. what with
all of getting on in years.. must be all in her head but then; she had heard the pitched sound of a bansuri..
sometimes lengthened , then shortened.. yet again! only this time she noticed as sure as it sounded off,
strangely enough it dispersed into the nightly halcyon..
She turned from her deity Bappa.. still
unsure of what the gods had in store for
Nakusha? Much troubled she gazed down tearfully at Naku, who slumbered unware of the dark clouds
that gradually brewed upon her young life.. poor child ,laying on her side ,her
pillow clutched tightly against her feminine curves.Babi watched and wiped a
tear that escaped from her tired old puffy eyes and mused. True this girl was not hers. In no way related to her, but
somehow this Naku ! always managed to
awaken maternal sentiments in her Babi admitted.
She bent and covered the child and, admitted further, that it was not just
motherly instincts alone that constituted her bond with Naku. For today this young woman also
awakened in Babi, some form of sympathy
for herself too. Babi felt that Naku was being robbed of her right to choose
her own partner. Angrily Babi turned away from
Naku and chided herself.. what on
earth was she thinking? Nakusha having the right to select her own
partner? That was a notion next to nil. Culturally unaccepted in those parts where Nakusha lived .. such deeds from young people were
next to forbidden. But then forced
marriage too was bad enough. On top of it with a man three times her
age! surely deva! this was
objectionable? Babi cried.. this had to be gross injustice.. yes! as an
older woman her spirit too rebelled at the idea! and under duress she sat on
the edge of Naku's bed and sobbed
silently... Naku heard sniffles and felt something obstructed the extension of
her legs, at the foot of her bed. Startled she sprang up and found an immensely
upset Babi. Naku doubled up and leaned
over Babi and curved her arm around her
Babi maa's shoulders,
"kya hoya Babi maa? tu rooh rehe hai? soye nehin abhi? Babi wiped her
palm across her cheeks, as she tried to hide her tears from her dear child Naku.
But Naku insisted and protested..
"ab batao bhi kya hoya? ek tu tum
ne muhje neend se jagaya! soocha tha jaldi sau jaoon gi ,pun tum ne mera sapna
tor diya! Babi shifted and came closer and took Naku's
face in her palms and kissed her forehead, then sobbed and revealed to Naku
"
Naku thujhe neend se jagna hoga meri baachi, Nana Sahib ,ne tera lagan ke baat apne dost Kaido se paki ker de hai ! Naku pulled herself back from Babi, as though
her whole being was singed!. She gulped a lump in her throat, as the image of the ancient, maimed man conjured up in her mind.
Shocked her eyes welled up as she
recollected, that he was the friend whom Nana Sahib wanted her to serve with
refreshments. She fought back her vexed tears, when steadily things clarified before her. How she was manipulated into
making an appearance before this Kaido, under the pretext of serving him.. by
none other than her own uncle.. whom she always
looked upon as her father? a thought that now cut her up internally and
now seemed unlikely. She was ensnared by
him. She felt cheated and let down! In reaction, she hurled herself helplessly against Babi's motherly bosom,
with green eyes that brimmed with hot
tears, Naku moaned out!
"kyun kiya aisa Nana Sahib ne? maine
kya beghara hai unka? maine tu soocha
tha unke ekle zindaga mein Naku
kushi le kar aaye? kyon kiya aisa unhoon ne Babi maa..? Naku grabbed,
shook Babi's shoulders, deeply distressed. Babi hugged Naku and was about to
tell her the whole truth.. but restrained herself from doing so.. her loyalty towards
Nana clamped her. Naku waited, then sobbed. Her head bowed over the folded
fingers of both her hands. Her mouth sank
upon her knuckles and she pleaded, like before for Babi to tell her the truth.
Babi looked down at Naku's shaking shoulders and almost gave in, but Nana's
threat of kicking her out of the security of her job again deterred her.. Naku sighed and then stood up to leave
with the words..
"aaj lagata hai ke koi nehin hai
mera is puri duniya mein! " she declared before Bappa's wall plaque.." main haran hoon Bappa, aaj tera dil bhi patthar ho gaya! jise aapne Aye mana, who tu dai maa hone ke sawa , aur kuch nehin
nikle! she pointed an accusing finger at
Babi.. Babi, got up from the bed , and hugged Naku before Bappa's idol,
cried out and defended herself
"aagar ab tak ye tere Babi maa chup hai , Naku! tu isilye, ke..
Nana Sahib ne dhamki de hai mujhe ke, aagar tu lagan ke liye nehin mane tu
mujhe naukari se nikal de ga! .. Naku
reeled from Bappa's idol and then gazed compassionately into Babi's eyes.. she felt coerced to say, yes ! she understood Babi's
predicament and that yes for her sake! she
would say yes to the lagan. But realistically,
Naku was greatly dispirited as
,she knew in marrying Kaido.. she would give up, whatever she has with her
Dutta Saab! So her grief became evident by
tears that tipped out of her eyes,
backed by muffled sobs! Babi studied her face and saw some profound sorrow
written on Naku's face .. worse perhaps than hers of being rendered jobless! Nonetheless Babi was worried..
as Naku stubbornly wiped her tears off
her cheeks and walked towards the window and opened it to let some fresh cold
air.. to freeze her weakening sentiments..
Babi walked to her and confronted the sad
young girl, bathed by the moonlight.Tears once again glistened in her green doe
eyes and a concerned Babi asked gently..
" Naku.. kya baat hai? ye dard ju tere chera par hai..
ye dard kisi cheez ko kone ka hai..?
bata apne Babi maa ko..."Naku grabbed
the old woman's hands and stared with conviction into her eyes..
" dekho Babi maa, main lagan kare ge , bas tumhare
naukri baachai ge.. pun haan dukh hai tu
is baat ka , ke ye kam dil pe pathar rekh kar main kere ge.. Naku squeezed Babi's
hands and confessed intrepidly..
" lagan main kaise kare.. main
kisi se pyar kerti hai! she uttered
clearly and slowly.. Babi's eyes widened and she demanded
" kaun hai woh? Babi asked rather stupidly as she roughly had
an idea, but still waited for confirmation. Which she also was aware that Naku
would disclose to her.. and Naku did quite unabashed.. for what was the
fear in confessing her fondness.. her affection, her inclination.. her love..
no crime was committed?
" main Dutta shri Ram patil se pyar kerti hai , Babi maa.. saath wale gaon ka hai.. aur haan
maine jaan booj ke nehin kiya.. ho gaya..
jaise ke devi ,devata ke is mein marzi ho!
confessed Naku. Babi looked at her face.. it shone, as it was
a blessing ,this sentiment she felt.. and not some unwarranted shame. the girl
seemed proud of it. Babi, studied Naku's
face and then asked her..
"woh, lambu sa joytsi larka?
mujhe phele se hi shaak tha Naku.. teri
chaal aur chera..dono mein mujhe use waqat nazar aya ke tu badli hoi dekhti
thi" Naku grabbed Babi's hands and yet again beseeched tearfully
"tum meri maadat karo ge ne Babi
maa? Dutta Saab se ja ke bola ju mere
saath ho raha hai.." Babi paused to think, and then decided to defer the
matter presently..
"dekh Naku.. abhi tu intezzar
kar.. ho sakta hai Nana Sahib kudh tera
Kaido se lagan ke bare mein phir se
soochien.. filhaal tu pareshaan maat ho meri baachi, aram kar.. aur Bappa pe sab chor de.." Babi wrapped up
the touchy subject.. there was
verbal non-committal from her before
Naku.. but Babi still felt she needed to
alert Dutta.. as Naku desired, but she justified not telling Naku
this, was predominantly so as not to
raise the poor child's hopes.. as
anything could happen? life was so unpredictable.. but it was a
troubled Babi that lay down her head to
rest.. meri baachi Naku.. she cried
herself to sleep.
~~~~~~~~~
On his way back from Baji's house
after the change of clothes. Dutta's legs took him invariably towards the
partitioning fence.. and he paused as was required. It was the end of the
line.. this was as far as it went. He had to keep to his side , and she to
hers.. he thought dryly. But it was quite innocuous if he looked on yonder at the forbidden land. A
rugged slanted smile played on his square defined jaws.. what attraction was this? that infused a quiet rebellion in him.. that
he had to fight to achieve what he desired.. and Nakusha was what he
needed! It was the tough task of diving
in and grabbing the hard to get! that kicked in his adrenalin and defiantly he pulled out the flute from
his sewn in kurta pocket...and pressed his
lips against it .. his fine slender fingers tips felt and tapped the keys and finger holes of the hollow reed
musical instrument.. he pressed his tongue against the bansuri and played the high pitched trembling note.. but soon enough
he opted to check his over indulgence of rebellious love.. and lowered his
flute ,pocketed it and turned and slowly
he commandeered himself away from the fence.
Naku... heard the note, leapt up,
slipped her feet hurriedly into her slippers.. and ran like the wind from her
room, across the courtyard.. out of the front door.. down the empty gulley on
the ruddy bumpy fields till she stopped and panted beside the fence.. yes she could see his
silhouette, but disenchanted she noted
that Dutta gradually walked away from
the fence. She had to call out to him! Saaab!
He had barely moved when the sound of
her voice shot out in the dark ! He dismissed it as an hallucination.. till he
heard her voice ,Saab! .. He
only turned his head and looked over his
shoulder and yes it was her.. distantly over the fence.. in the dark.. caught
in the moonlight.. his Naku.. without a
chunni.. her long wavy raven black blew
in the soft cold breeze.. Saab.. she
panted.. but Dutta still disbelieved, it was her.. and he
checked her cry's validity, by
nearing the fence. Once there, he pressed his tall body against the
fence. He tarried a while , to check if
he was being followed by Nana Sahib's BGs so he
turned off guard, folded his arms and rested them both on the edge of the wooden fence. But his eyes stared
ahead into the hazy elusive darkness.. his tapered eyes checked.. silently for
any movement against the looming
silhouette back ground of a singular
elevated hivali surrounded by other humble dwellings of the
village populous. Dutta held his breath, blinked and considered that the figure
in the distance was Naku, none other..
she stood on the other side.. looked slightly dishevelled and bedraggled.Calmly
Dutta folded his arms on the fence in
the dark.. and studied her distant figure
on her side of the partition.. what brought her out her in the middle of
the night? why was he stopped? but before he uttered a word and posed questions, she ran up
to him grabbed his folded arm and looked up into his narrow deep set lion
like eyes.
"saaab!
mujhe baachlo! She cried hysterically.. as she clung on to his reposed arms.. and then impulsively ran to the gate of
the padlocked fence! shoved her bare feet on the parallel wooden
planks and attempted to throw her leg over...Dutta ran over from where he stood
and caught her in his arms as she heaved over, and gently set her upon the
ground.. though internally he was put off by her rowdy impulsive action.
Naku grabbed his arm and literally hid behind
his tall body and cried yet again so he could apprehend the trauma she was
going through.
" baach lo Nakusha ko Saab! she tugged at his arm .Dutta
looked across and narrowed his strained eyes.. no one was about and he twitched
his jaw , tilted his head sideways and
looked down at the top of her head that pressed against his arm..
"kis se baach loon? He asked
irritated and Naku.. babbled somewhat
incoherently as she cried and sighed..
"you can't see him! for he is
unseen! but he is there! you are my only hope! you will have to save me! she
continued with her mad banter.. Dutta twisted his waist .. and forced his arm
away from her tight grip and pulled her before him.. pushed both his palms on
the side of her weeping face and propped it up.. and looked firmly into her
saline wet green eyes..
"ghup! stop it! enough of your
dramatics!.. he commanded and Naku
clamped her mouth shut.. Dutta relaxed his tough wide palms against her
temples.. and tenderly, with one finger moved a wavy tendril away from her moistened face and this time
gently, asked..
"Naku get a grip.. koi nehin hai
wahan.. waise, stop trembling.. koi janwar tha jis se tu dar kiye hai? Naku threw
her head back, laughed and cried bitterly and replied..
"haan janwar hai! at least that's
how I see it, if you don't save me from his jaws I will be doomed for the rest
of my life! " she cried. Dutta's hands grabbed her shoulders and almost
shook her and demanded
" ayee Naku stop talking in a
paheli! saaf saaf bata.. mujhe gol mol
batien pasand nehin.. aur jaldi bol.. we shouldn't be here.. it's your welfare
I think about.. not my life.. a woman's reputation, is fragile and as such has
to be handled with care.. he said impatiently.
Naku cried again and once more he showed compassion.. and queried moderately.
" Saab mera lagan hone wala hai? ek aadmi se
ju umar mein mujhe se bahut bara hai.. Nana Sahib ,ju mera tau hai.. sab
usne kiya hai! mai mar jaye ge Saab! Dutta moved away from her, and rubbed his
fingertips. He had never experienced such a situation.. he was speechless. Naku widened her green doe eyes and ceased
her wailing.. and just stared at her Saab.. he was silent..just heaved, but silently..
his eyes fixed in space as if deep in thought..
Naku drew closer to him and demanded for his reaction.
"kuch bolo Saab? have you nothing
to say? mujhe tu laga tha you will save me and whisk me away like a knight in
shining armour? and then her voice faltered and she lowered her tearful face in her palms.
Dutta slowly dropped his eyes on the top
of her bowed head, with his furrowed
brow.. tears welled up in his eyes
and he sighed. and whispered feebly
"kya bolon Naku..?
ek zindagi ju kuch samma phele mile thi.. ab lagata hai hatoon se nikal
rehe hai!... then he threw back his head and laughed sarcastically, and
continued.." apni marzi se tu koi marna nehin chata.. bas apna bhi haal aisa
he hai.. life is slipping by Naku.. my
mind is confused, I know not what else to say to you? he confessed. Naku
flashed her eyes at him and grabbed him by his muscular arms and yelled
"will you take me out of this
situation or not? pyar nehin karte ho aap mujhse? batao Saab? she sobbed..
" apne se zayeeda thujhe chata
hoon Naku.. pun ye bhi jano main, ke aisa koi kam ye tera Saab nehin kare ga
jis se tere izzat pe aanch aye.. to rescue you forthwith, from this forced
marriage situation, means to elope with you.. to me that is an dishonourable
and dastardly act to carry out.. for a lover that would be the kneejerk
reaction.. but as a man ,integrity matters a great deal to me Naku.. waise bhi..mera pas koi jagaa bhi nehin jahan
thujhe main rekh sakoon.. think about it.. I think.. you did the right thing by
apprising me oabout the whole situation..
yes I love you dearly..now this
love is accentuated by taking
responsibility for your honour, your welfare and safety.. mujhe waqat de
thura sa.. apne logon ko jink ko mein trust kerta hoon.. that I can share this
news with them and seek their advise.. Naku ..I, ummh we both need their support.. abhi bhagne
se I cannot put your life at risk..
isliye aagar tu Saab se pyar kerti hai tu foran apne ghar laut ja mera intezzar kerna Naku main wapis aaoon ga! he consoled her..
as he helped her over the fence back to
her territory.. gave her a sincerely tender
look, then turned and walked away from her..
Naku with tearful eyes watched his tall
imposing frame, gradually distancing himself from her. She folded her hand
against her heart and felt a certain peace.. it was prompted by the veracity of
his words and thoughts.. she sighed and then slowly was homeward bound.. as her
Saab had advised her to do..
~~~~~~~
Dutta plodded wearily.. she preyed on
his mind. For once the domestic instability of his home seemed dwarfed by the
expectations that went side by side with true love.. after hearing her
predicament, somehow quite willingly he
found himself accountable with regards to her happiness not only before her ,but before himself too. He wasn't sure if he had consoled
her enough with his serious commitment to her? he tilted his head to the side
and sighed as he maintained silently on his way home.. she will have to trust
my word .. meri baat par aaitebar kerna hoga thujhe Naku.. he mused. The chowkidar, at Patil
Nivas noticed Dutta as the youngest malak returned home. Silence
reigned in the mud courtyard, as his Bhau with their wives had obviously
retired.. which seemed fine with Dutta. For him entry into his home meant to
honour the first prompt of meeting his
father. As he neared his babaa's room. Silence
prevailed there too.. which he might be asleep. As the naughty son who returned
home late.. he tiptoed and gently pressed open the door to his father's room
with his palms. he found the reason why
babaa was rested. Daksha vahini, tended to him.. she looked at Dutta and
stood up by her father in laws bedside.
Dutta gave her a questioning gaze and she grabbed him by the arm and took him
aside. and answered her devar's
questions. She reported that his father was restless.Time and again he had asked about Dutta.. this ignited guilt
in Dutta
especially as he was busy in a clandestine meeting with the girl he
fancied..
"waise tu itni daer se wapis aya
hai Dutta.. itna time laga thujhe kapre
change kerne mein ? complained Daksha. Dutta moved his head to the side and
gave her a narrowed look.. and then evaded
the topic brashly..
" roti mile ge? ya woh bhi main
khud parosoon? Daksha nodded and pointed to her father in law..
" tum beitho babaa ke saath, main
le ker ati hoon roti tumhara
liye.." Dutta inched towards his father and it seemed he sensed his son's
presence.. The old man's eyes part opened, and he raised his thin bony arm that
lay by his side..
"Dutta.. mera baacha..pas ah.. he groaned feebly as he
attempted to sit up. Tearfully Dutta progressed forward, looped his strong arm
around his father and propped him closer to him.. his babba, weakly said..
" mere gale lag ja Dutta ! dil
bahut bechain tha tere liye " shri Ram Patil, whispered hoarsely as he
pressed his wrinkled saggy cheek his
youngest son Dutta's stubble cheek.. Dutta felt his father's warm breath
against his neck and his eyes welled up as he gently tightened his hold around his father's bony
back and replied back softly to his
father as though, he was the child and Dutta the father... such is the frailty of
an aging parent..
" babaa, babaa! main pas hoon
apke.. Dutta khabhi nehin aap se dor jaye ga babaa.. Dutta ko ap ke zarorrat
hai.. khudgarsh hoon.. chorun ga nehin
saath aap ka! he cried and consoled his father. His father, dragged his palm
painstakingly and felt the side of Dutta's face.. and then moved his head to
the side of his sons neck.. pressed his lips on the soft skin and kissed him..
Sri Ram Patil overcame with emotions as he realized his days were numbered..
and he wept at Dutta's neck.. Dutta's heart sank.. and sweat built up on his
creased brow .. his father felt low .. Dutta had to pull him out of this down dispirited despair.. so he gently
lowered his father back on the piled up pillows and leaned forward and reached
out for his father's bony hand.. this lovable man without whom Dutta cannot
live.. needed to be given some news to perk him up.. Dutta stroked his hand..
like a father would do to his child and confided ..
" babaa .. tumhare nakhetu Dutta
ko ek lardki mile hai.. pyar ho gaya hai tumhare Dutta ko.. tum kush ho na
babaa? maine wohi kiya ju tum chate ho.." his father's tearful eyes
sparkled with joy and slowly shri Ram
Patil feebly gripped his son's wide strong palm.. Dutta leaned forward and
mopped his father's brow with his other palm.. and with an authoritative smile
ordered..
" ab tum jaldi se theek ho jao.. milna
nehin tum ne us lardki se? tumhare aishirwad ke zaroorat hai hum dono ko..".. but shri
Ram patel..stared at Dutta .. and then sighed and closed his eyes and went to
sleep.. with a smile on his face.. Daksha entered and held a tray in her hand..
Dutta hooded his eyes and received the tray from her hand with a mumbled
thanks.. Daksha watched him eat.. the reason she hung around was ,because she
had caught onto the bit where Dutta revealed
his love towards Naku. Daksha offered him the metal glass of water, and
determined, this was her chance to prove her loyalty to Dutta..
" aacha kiya tune Dutta , ju
babaa ko Nakusha ke bare mein bata diya.. aur mera ye kehna
hai ke.. Naku ko babaa se milne main tere maadat kar sakte hai main.. aagar tu
chahe Dutta? she said covertly.. Dutta stopped chewing for a moment.. and then
stiffly full of tavar and attitude
muttered..
" bolo.. main sun raha hoon..."
he ate silently , but his ears took in
all she offered to facilitate Naku's
possible meeting with his father.. she poured the small jug of water on Dutta's
finger tips and accordingly he brushed
his damp fingers past his pink lips and then stood up from the low stool and
proclaimed..
" humm aacha khayal hai.. aagar pura ho jaye tu.. and then he turned to leave, but paused and
showed manners towards his youngest
vahini.. who seemed to support him, quite selflessly..
" kahne ka shukariye , Daksha
vahini, ab jao aap bhi sau jao.. main
babaa ke pas hi sau jaon ga" Daksha smiled at his words of concern.. seemed she was beginning
to win Dutta's trust. Dutta carried his rolled up bedding under his armpit, his
pillow clutched in his other hand.. and quietly
entered his father's room. In familial devotion, he stood at the foot of
his babba's bed and tenderly stared upon
his father's sleeping face.. tears came
to his eyes.. deva! may his babba live forever! for he needed his babaa by his
side.. sniffed Dutta. Then turned away and unfurled the rolled bedding on the
mud floor beside his father's charpoy. With one final check- up of his father.
Dutta sat down on his hard floor woven mat bed.. and gradually sank back his head on his pillow. Sleep had
to be cajoled to cast it's spell on him. In the mean while.. Naku with her
emotional baggage.. smiled at him from
nowhere.. "Saab" .. "Saab"...Dutta closed his eyes.. ja.. sone bhi nehin deti..
he muttered in sleep..
~~~~~~~~
The few days that followed were like
walking on egg shells. Both Babi and Naku avoided Nana Sahib.. as luck would
have it, he was out of town ,visiting his other landholdings.For Dutta, he
radiated with a new found sense of responsibility that soon showed up in his
life style at home too. His brothers and his other two vahinis too , noticed the
positive transformation ,but in keeping
with their true natures, out of
their mouths came nothing ,bar caustic remarks for Dutta..
"dekhna tu ye hai ke kitne din
tak Dutta apna naya roop rekhe ga?
commented Bela.. to Abha..who replied
equally nastily..
" chorru use, humien kya? hum apna
reviya nehin badlien gi.. yaad haina humara maqsaad use is ghar se nikalne
hai" she hissed. Daksha heard their evil scheming and lowered her eyes as
she folded Dutta's bedding and tidied up
her father in laws charpoy.. well if only these two knew that Dutta now
has a sister in this household , who will protect him against all evil and wrong doing, mused
Daksha .
Dutta in his black kurta and muslin
white dhoti stood by the door ready to head for the fields to tend to the
cattle. Kajri frisked about in leaps and bounds and bleated in glee. She
obviously was used to the routine of having Dutta all to herself when he was
out shepherding the cattle.. she
licked his leg just above
his exposed leg.. Dutta jerked
and looked downwards and yelled.
" oyeee Kajri ke baachi! kya lotcha hai? bahut jaldi mein hai tu..
humm? and he bent down and looped her fleecy pulsating body in his arms and
gave her an eye to eye ,nose to nose look! .. and pressed his lips against her droopy fleecy ear and whispered.." main bhi bechain
hoon.. teri gorri se milne ke liye.." Daksha tittered as she
came by Dutta and handed over the tiffin. With a reminder ..
"Naku se mulakat zaroor kerna aaj
Dutta .. pata haina kyun? Dutta smiled shyly,
lowered his eyes and turned his face the
other way, and went,"hummm" he
raised Kajri up and positioned her on the back of his neck, and off he
went to his usual spot the tilla.. the
small hill with a tree atop it!
~~~~~~~~
Seeing that the coast was clear, Naku had
all the time to venture forth out of the house. Babi's support system that she
put in place for Naku was to grant her permission to go out of the hivali on
her own.. now if she meets Dutta? so be it! determined Babi .She would let the poor girl have a fair
chance at choosing her own "var".. baki ju bhi hoga dekha jaye ga? mused Babi and
suddenly felt she was doing the right thing.. funnily enough, she felt lighter
and happier when she saw Naku ...dressed in a rustic red and brilliant
blue bandhni print flared ghagra and a modest boat neck choli with skin tight below the elbow sleeves .. what
was left of her lower bare arms were hidden by dozens of mixed and matched
combinations of dozens of red and blue bangles! She looked radiant! with mid parted hair, bound in two long red
paranda woven plaits that hung from underneath
her red and blue georgette
chunni. Babi pinned the chunni securely like always at the back of her head .Looped jumhkis danced
from her ear lobes, and tapped her long neck. Her feet, couldn't wait to leave,
and the tinkle of her payals.. mirrored the rhythm of her heart beat! Babi beamed at Naku , then folded her hands,
tapped the knuckles against her temples to ward off evil eyes from her
apsara jaise baachi Nakusha ! Babi maa, stuffed her sari pallu in
her mouth overcome with her love for Naku..but warned her nevertheless..
" apna khayal rekhna Naku..
kisi kisam ka kehtra ho, wapis
ghar ko laut ana.. Roops tum bhi Naku ke saath he rehena , ekele maat choorna
isi .." she advised the two girls, as she watched both friends leave, linked
up arm in arm. How they chattered! and
laughed! Babi smiled and sighed simultaneously and then turned to her domestic chores.
~~~~~~~~
Dutta herds the cattle towards pastures where the grass seemed thicker.. not that it mattered to these
beasts of the soil.. they mouthed and chewed and subsequently cud for longer periods. He carried
a long pole which he seldom used, for any other purpose than to steer the
buffaloes, and cows in some orderly direction. He often jumped to one side! and
ensured his feet missed from being covered with buffalo bowel movements in
particular! Kajri too was also let down, to frisk about and run around in the
green meadows.. he had to keep an eye on her as she loved to weave in and out
of the cattle.. many times Dutta dived
in and retrieved her from being trampled by the cows. Dutta
patted and petted the swollen bellies and trailing knobbly backs of his cattle
that strayed happily. Mid- morning he looked
around petulantly ,and wondered anxiously about the likelihood of her turning
up here in the fields ? This was broad day light exposure. It was far more
secretive and romantic at night time. He flared his nostrils and shook his head
once, the time of the day mattered naught to him.. it was a meeting with her
that he hankered for ,really!. Soon enough the heat played tricks with his eyes, for wherever his eye roved across the
fields.. he would see her approaching ..so, before his own foolishness took
over him fully , he scooped and bunched
up Kajri on the side of his waist and made way to his favourite haunt. The lamb
bleated loudly in protest of being carried on in this sided manner, as opposed
either against his wide chest or the back of his cosy neck.. Dutta let her down
and she scampered up the mound. and what's more she got to the summit and the
tree faster than he did !
He too got to the top .. and sank down
on his bottom with his broad back propped up against the bumpy bark of the
tree. One more time he revolved his head
to the side of the fence.. where she was most probably meant to emerge from.
But much to his angst! nothing came out of nothing.. He felt the hard bansuri..
against his hip and whipped it out and very nearly rammed it under his pouted
pink lips.. tu dil ke pukar nehin sunte
Naku.. tu meri bansuri ke awaz
shayed thujhe khench lae? He groaned.. and then his slender fingers found the openings of his
flute, and he drew his breath and blew! The tune rode on the wings of the breeze and scattered it's notes all around.. right to the ears
of Naku.. who with Roops arm in arm crossed over
with a skip in her gait. She turned her head and her eyes inevitably fixed on the far off tilla where her prize
lay.. the man that made her heart skip
and miss many a beat.. sat calling her.. goading her to come to him with notes
that cascaded out his soul and drizzled
upon her where she was...
"Roops there he is! atop the
world.. he calls me ! I have to go to him at once.. without wasting time! which
is flying by ,why won't it stand still for those who love? Roops pulled Naku back
and asked cautiously as they both
trekked through the fields towards the
mud mountain's gradient..
" how can you be so sure that you love him Naku? don't be hasty. Naku gave her a sided smile and replied..
" maine zindagi mein kabhi kisi
mard se pyar nehin kiya.. and neither did any man love me in return.. no I
didn't imagine my var either.. but when
I met him, remained by him for a while..
it felt we were meant to be, I know it's hard to explain... it's just that I feel
comfortable with him..waise bhi jis situation mein main hoon.. I asked for his
help, and he never promised to assist, but was truthful enough to say.. he
would definitely find an honourable
solution.." Roops interrupted her and protested , much confused.
"kya hone wala hai tere
saath Naku? and how can this man of yours
help? tell me clearly.. " as they scaled the slope of the small hill, Naku reported about her possible forced
marriage to Kaido.. Roops ,obviously supported
Naku and consoled her that she would do all in her power to thwart this
marriage from happening..
Dutta meanwhile tipped his head back
,closed his eyes and had a siesta. Naku
eventually got to the top and found Dutta asleep.. his bansuri lay nestled
against the chest hairs of his open collar black kurta.. Naku wished to
surprise him but Kajri bleated and pranced toward's Naku's ghagra and finally
grabbed the corner of her chunni between her teeth.. Kajri's bleating.. like
always, startled Dutta and he opened his eyes and his head rolled to the side and his narrowed ,
reddened drowsy eyes spotted Naku who stood
shyly in her red and brilliant blue outfit.. feeling the ends of her
colourful paranda ! Dutta sniffed and leaned forward, pulled his knees up and
reposed his long muscular arms on his knees. he looked ahead.. then sided his
head and eyes and said dryly..
" ab kuch bol bhi de.. so I know
for sure that tu koi khawab nehin, haqeet hai.." Roops tittered .. as she
stood behind Naku.. and Dutta raised his
eyebrow and asked Naku curtly..
"mera pe bahroosa nehin, ju apne
saheli ko bhi saath mein le aye humm?
before Dutta could reply he heard
Baji's voice..
"Bhau! areee ye kya lotcha
hai? and before Dutta realized
would transpired.. Baji came up panting and heaving.. and that's not all Daksha
too followed him.. Dutta just shook his head..
and then looked at Naku
helplessly and muttered..
" ye kya hai family get together..? Baji ye sab tera bakhara lagata hai! kuch khena tha Naku se mujhe.. pun tu mau utha ke chala
aya hai! Dutta growled. Baji was most
disgruntled and on top of it he tried to lighten the situation by jest
infusion..
"erryeee Bhau.. choor na! ju
tu Naku se bole ga.. sab ko pata
hai..tum ko Naku se pyar hai! Dutta snubbed him as Naku blushed profusely..
"oyeee bikwas band kar! jab dekho
muskhari! kabhi tu serious ho jaya kar.. " Baji's face fell especially as
Roops too was present.. than Daksha flew to his rescue..
" Dutta! inta gussa khae ko
re?.. Baji ko maine buliye tha.. soocha
khenien daer nah ho jaye.. tu maine Baji
ko Naku ke lagan ke bare mein sab bata diya..
mujhe pata tha aaj tu Naku ko milne wala tha.. is liye Baji ko kaha , mujhe tilla pe le kar aya.. so I can
brief Naku.. about what you want done
,Dutta.. so stop deducing that everyone around you is out to get to" she
clarified. Dutta of course buttoned up rather uncomfortable. Baji though grasped that Dutta needed time alone
with Naku.. and he whispered in Daksha's
ear. Soon after, Baji took Roops to the
side and Daksha too followed.. Baji said
with a dimpled smile
"Daksha vahini, ise milyen ,ye hai Roops..Naku ke saheli..
aur meri pasand bhi! he sniggered..
Dutta turned his head and gazed at
Naku..
" aah ja beitha ja yahan.. mera
samna.. he tilted his head a little and noticed her new outfit and remarked..
"itni saaj ke kisi lagan mein ja
rehe hai tu, humm? he teased as he bopped
his head forward towards her.. Naku giggled and shook her head..
" nehin tu.. aap ke liye saji
hoon"
Dutta raised his face up to the sun and closed his eyes ,and gave a cheek
to cheek complacent smile..
" itna
pyar de gi tu tera Saab suroor mein he mar jaye ge" she leaned forward and
pressed her warm soft palm on his lips and whispered ..
"subh subh bolo
Saab", Dutta opened his eyes slowly and lowered her palm gently and said..
"
yehe bolna tha thujhe..I want my babaa
to meet you".. to be continued Hamlet53 13.3.15
~~~~~~~~
Edited by Hamlet53 - 9 years ago
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