Originally posted by: emilymine32
Hi hammie
so sorry for late comment just busy these days
poor dutta lost his dad
at least naku was there to support him
waiting to know what will happen next
thanks for update
Mishal Raheja
as Dutta
Follow the Heart
Part 8
Somehow she was convinced that her words had conveyed the need of the hour, so she reluctantly tore herself from him and carefully descended the compact hill top. Dutta couldn't bear her departure and as such shuffled his bottom and turned his back to her descent and unconsciously sat on the ground hugging the tree trunk. Still his heart gave in and he turned around his body and with a sided head he watched her figure, as it reached flat ground and scurried past the border fence, to her tau's haveli..He was once again engulfed by the sick sensation of solitude. He sniffed and palmed his stubble face, frustrated as to why do humans suffer so much from emotional dependency on others? was he being hard on himself one again? Naku did comment about mortals being unpreserved .. he almost scorned the fact and had a go at his deities.." if you had to give pain along with pleasure.. then you should have given me tremendous volumes of stamina ! to bear the sorrow of losing loved ones too!.. here you have wronged me Bappa! thek nehin kiya tune is Dutta ke saath! he roared. It was almost as if his cries ripped the firmament and the smoky grey remnants of the night sky dwindled making way for the diluted milky blue and finally the burnt orange rays of the sun beams.. yes life was still the same it goes on. Night gradually changed into day break. Dutta yawned and hauled his tired and emotionally crushed body up, stretched his arms above his head and then sideways. With a hardened face he came down his self- appointed seclusion spot. It was his haunt which he was usually reluctant to forgo, other than for compulsory reasons .. like herding the cattle back home at the end of the day. But today was different it was like he was to return to a ship tossed on the seas a ship without a captain!
~~~~~~~
Kulte came in a hurry to meet his boss who sat in his courtyard sipping his morning tea from a small china tea bowl.
"Nana Sahib, khabir hai! raat ke dosere phar mein mukhiye Ram Patil mar gaya! antim sanskar abhi thuri daer mein hai us ke ghar par! apprised Kulte Nana's closet henchman. Seemingly nonchanlant, Nana continued to relish his tea then gulped the final mouthful.. and replied calmly
" maar gaya bhudda! mera dushman! mere dandhe ke sab se barre rukwat tha ye shri Ram Patil .. Devaji ke kirpa! lagta hai hamare acche din shorru ho gaye hain! ab tu dekna Kulte ! ye Nana kaisa apne Lanka buniye ga! pun phele kuch dukh sukh kare ga! Yes Nana hated his neighbour with a vengeance but he was wily like the fox and venomous like the serpent. He will now don the grab of an innocent dove and play the humble mourner at Patil Nivas . After all he had to show the populace of both the villages that being a head man, he was gracious enough to set aside enmities on the demise of the neighbouring headman. He chuckled as he mused further that, his manner should be genuine especially before shri Ram's family.. Naku...he thought as he stroked his moustache.. I will use her too.. two fold ! One he'll impress the bereaved family by bringing his complete family to offer condolences.. and secondly villagers from both sides will also witness the credence he gives to Nakusha.. as if she were his daughter!
~~~~~~~~
Naku climbed back through the window, before crack of dawn. She scuttled straight into Babi's arms... that never failed to alleviate her woes. Almost breathless she narrated her meeting with Dutta. Naku's tearful expressions relayed the extent of Naku's attachment to Dutta Sahib. Babi almost predicted what Naku would desire next...
" Babi maa mujhe jana hoga Saab ke pas.. apne babba ka bahut dukh kiya Saab ko.. Babi toughed up and often became the rigid matriarchal figure if needed . this then was a moment when in sane mind she would have to show this love torn girl, that dreams are dreams!
"dekh Naku tuhje maine ne ijjazat di.. tu Dutta Sahib ko mil ke abhi aaye hai.. ab sapna maat dekh ke tu us ke ghar bhi jaye gi uska saath dene! ye nehin ho sakta meri baachi! bhaut bara risk hai ke thujhe dossere dafa thuhje jane doon meri baachi! " Babi knew it would be highly unlikely.. unless some god sent miracle shaped up! A bang on the door boomed .The lock is opened and in walked Nana dressed in a white kurta and white dothi .He gave an icy looks to Babi and rebuked her
" I allowed you in Nakusha 's room so you could serve her meals and then leave her in solitude! so she has a chance to reflect over matters that would only benefit Nakusha in the long run.. par tum tu is lardki ke mamala mein kerti woh ho! ju tumhara dil chata hai !complained Nana. But he was careful not to be too unyielding and unsympathetic in his manner too. He had to act show consideration, if he wanted Nakusha too accompany him for the final rites ceremony for shri Ram Patil.
"Nakusha.. saath wali gaon ka mukhia chaal basa hai.. main chata hoon, tu bhi mare saath chaale.. mere pariwar ka farad bune ke.. " Naku eyes flew open ,she couldn't believe her ears. She had to control herself from literally hugging this unpredictable heinous chameleon of a man! her uncle! Babi luckily was on the ball and she gave Naku a cautionary look..to remain under control and avoid exhibiting over- zealous behaviour For Babi knew Nana was a shrewd man and suspicious by nature. She would rather have Nana's scrutinising eyes off Naku, especially in the present circumstances when she was in his bad books. Thus briskly she suggested ..
" chaal Naku main tere kapre nikal doon.. tu tayeer ho ja".Befitting the occasion .. Naku wore a white shalwar kameez with a sheer white chunni.. she wore no jewellery, god given natural beauty was the order of the day.As she pinned back the strands of hair above her forehead, braided her hair in a single sided plait.. she looked at her saddened, simple joyless face in the mirror.. it was quite different from her usually groomed, maintained and made up look. She had a hushed word with her reflection , but really it was the call of her soul in conversation with Dutta's father
"Babba I feel so blessed that you saw me how I usually carried myself surrounded by colours.. today as a mark of respect I wear white.. a sign of my pure love for your beloved son"
~~~~~~~
This then was the second day in succession that marked formality in the life of Patil Nivas. Only yesterday this very mud court yard was arranged for the panchaiyat meeting that their mukhiya called for the appointment of his successor. How he knew his end was nigh? was beyond explanation? mused the village elders who now sat not on charpoys this time ,but pristine white sheets that were systematically spread around the havan where the pandit sat to administer the final rites. He looked impatient as he beckoned Abha the eldest bahu regards the beginning of the rites. She of course looked for her husband Kamde the new mukhayia of the village, who was involved in the ablution of his father's body before the final rites .. Baji was the usual tower of strength. Generously he offered support in every practical way. He noticed the pandit was exasperated as he had overheard the query about when to start the rites, but Baji panic was something else.. nothing could commence without Dutta's presence.. where could he be?? wondered Baji, then he milled in ..and made himself useful.. in place of his beloved Bhau.. pun yehra Bhau kadher hai?
Meanwhile within Patil Nivas, further activity progressed. But all of it was steeped in great sadness and an odd buzz of deathly silence circulated, despite the presence of mourners both inside and outdoors. Outside the boundary wall of the house, crowds of men women and children sat in marked respectful silence for their dead headman. Inside the house, Daksha , despite her dizzy spells continued to be on the move. She lit the incense sticks around the propped up photograph of her father in law. With immense sadness she suspended a garland around it. Fondly she recalled how he never failed to utter good words for his daughter in laws. Yes she thought, Dutta would not be the only one to feel the dearth of babaa's presence. Shri Ram Patil 's sons, Kamde , Davde , Shinde busied themselves in last minute preparations for the final rituals for the esteemed mukhaiya. Kamde looked around much agitated then grabbed Baji by the arm and asked him impatiently
" Kahan hai tera wo dost? talk about being irresponsible.. sab phooch gaye hain aur ye awara lardka pata nehin kahan hai!.. Baji, almost tongue tied and himself confused by Dutta's absence muttered something to the effect of
"ata hi hoga Bhau .. main dekhta hai baher ja kar! and with that, a confused and flapped Baji stepped out of the house. What he beheld was beyond believe.. Naku!! beside an older man dressed in a white kurta pyjama! Baji's eyes took in brief details of the man, curved up thick dyed black moustaches.. thick gold belcher chain with Shiva pendant hang from his neck, and an equally thick gold bracelet hung from his wrist ! followed by two armed men.. Baji concluded
hona na ho ye namoona Nana hi hoga .. salla ye edhur aam kahane aaye hai? one of the BG yelled at Baji with authority
"Nana Sahib aye hain mukhia Patil ke kiriya karm ke liye! undar jana hai! Baji looked at Naku dressed in white and nodded.. as he stepped aside and Kamde received Nana and took him to the area around the havan. Baji sided his head and watched Naku go in.. hain? he wondered ,how come Naku complained about her uncle..on the face of it they look a right loving uncle and niece! something is odd? things don't seem as they appear. Daksha was clearly astonished to find Naku at her babba's funeral rites, but simultaneously she was content as Naku's presence would be added support for Dutta at such a time. Naku sat with the rest of the vahinis and women in complete silence. Adjacent to them sat the men lead by the noticeable figure of Nana Sahib, who was on the lookout for the his ex foe's sons left behind. Apart from the one who ushered him, Nana was at a loss to find out much about the sons. Pandit ji complained to Baji , as he was the one to bring him to the house
"dekho humien shorru kerna para ga! kiriya karam ka waqat nikla jar aha hai." Baji looked at Naku who sat beside Daksha, bent his legs, walked up and whispered to Daksha ,
"Bhau abhi tak nehin aaya? Naku tune bola tha use ke ghar ja??" Naku nodded in silence , her eyes too were fixed to the red main door.. within herself her heart cried out for him.. main ap ke liya aaye hoon Saab aur aap ho na jane kahan? she suddenly felt so helpless and feeble, it seemed like all her words to him on the tilla, were of no significance.. for if her words had meant anything to him, he would have been here.. but he wasn't..
Baji, disappeared briefly and then resurfaced with an ivory silk sari clad middle aged women who wore a benign expression on her face. Baji brought her to the spot where Daksha and Naku sat and introduced her as every one's Aye Sahib. At Naku her son smiled the longest and his mother wondered why ever so? but this she reckoned was not the time or place to quiz her son , about the speciality of this girl. All looked up when the three sons of shri Ram Patil carried in his shrouded body, towards the simple white sheet which was laid upon the mud court.. set up for his body to be displayed before all, and for the ceremony till the final familial farewell..
The pandit began to chant repetitive scripts from the holy book .It was indicative to all that the devotional rites had commenced . At that very point in walked Dutta in his black kurta and white dohti. With tearful cloudy eyes he stopped in his tracks. They could have waited..but it seemed to him at this point that his brothers were in a hurry to dispose off his beloved father! Naku looked across at the excluded lone figure. Dutta gathered himself but still was glued to the ground. Kajri spotted him and scampered past the seated crowd straight to Dutta's slightly parted legs. Heads turned as his lamb announced the arrival of the prodigal son! With a frigid expression , his cold eyes pierced his brothers faces accusingly. Baji slowly stood up from the men's section, and Aye Sahib pressed her palm on the hard floor and tottered up too and silently walked bare feet towards Dutta.. his head and shoulders were already slouched and Aye Sahib opened her arms and embraced his wide shoulders.. Dutta sank his face against the side of her neck and wept.. for all to see..
"Aye Sahib ap ne bahut daer kar de mera babba ja chukka hai is duniya se".. Aye Sahib pressed her arms around his back and patted his back , and gently advised him,
" ja Dutta mere beta.. kapre badal ke ah aur vida kar apne babba ko.." Dutta parted from her and with tears in his eyes and a cynical smile he told her
" Aye Sahib, ab tu is Dutta ko har dum aap ke zaroorat pare ge.. batien, khanien aap bhi tu muhje choor ker nehin chali jayen gi? Aye Sahib held his stubble face in her palms and gave him her comforting touch
"nehin Dutta mere baache, thujhe aur Baji ko kahan choor kar hum ja sakte hain? chal ab tu ashnan kar ke kapre badal ke ah.." and with that she returned to where she sat previously.. Naku arched her neck as she watched him leave towards his room. She wished she was invisible and obscure so she could slip away to him undetected. While the required religious chants were recited by the pandit ,Daksha noticed Naku's wanting to be close to her devar..her Bhau. She earnestly believed that having any interaction with Naku, however brief if may be, would be beneficial at this point of time.. when the funeral was underway. So Daksha feigned nausea, she got up she showed she needed Naku's help in taking her to her room which was adjacent to Dutta's room. As luck had it, people present were busy as they sat grimly but intently listening to the chants.. deeply immersed in the rites.. too notice two women slip away..
~~~~~~~~
Daksha proceeded to her room and pointed surreptitiously towards Dutta 's room. The door was open..one brisk look around with the turn of her head and Naku's foot crossed over the threshold. His smooth bare back was in full view which took her breath away. Thankfully in the rear view his posterior and defined long legs were also covered and secured in a white pyjama. She stopped short! Saab was clearly in the midst of dressing up. With back still toward's her he roughly shoved his neck through the collar of the fully embroidered white kurta. Her anklets that she forgot to take off! tinkled! and he spun around and faced her highly embarrassed. Hastily he pulled his kurta down and then pushed his long arms one at a time into the sleeves. All the time his narrowed lion like eyes were fixed on Naku dressed in her white shalwar kameez.. as she stood in his door way .She too stared back at him. slowly he folded his sleeves one at a time and paced towards her; then folded his arms across his chest and looked right into her eyes
"thuhje dar nehin lagta Naku? baher itne sare log aur tu mere kamre mein? defiantly she shook her head
"nehin lagta Saab.. the grief you suffer is far greater than my fear.. all I fear is about your emotional state" Dutta gulped and replied dryly
"main thek hoon Naku.. tu haina mera saath.. so the grieving is halved. Although I hate to appear such a weakling. What do think ?is it a failing within myself because I am the youngest? Naku shook her head
"nehin Saab it's nothing to do with your placement within your family.. haan it's true your brother's may appear stronger to you because you accept them as being older then you..but I tell you levels of grieving for every individual is different .. it's personalized .. it's takes time . How much time you'll take to come to terms with babba's demise will be hard for you to ear mark too.. like look at me I grieve for my Aye ,babba now that I have found out that they are dead.. but now I find my sorrow in your loss.. such are we humans.. we understand and empathise with each other..that's why I came here to you.. to remind you that deal with your grief in the way you can bear it.. Dutta shook his palm at her and moaned
"bas tu na bata mujhe! itna kamzoor nehin hoon maine Naku.. maagar sirf ek beta hoon.. who is apprehensive of the change that may come in my life after babaa's .. ummh.. departure." Naku saw vividly how fresh tears welled up in his already puffed up red eyes.. yes it's true he smarted ...
"dekho Saab , there will be changes in your life.. especially if the figure head of one's family is no more. this shows how as humans, both our life and death has implications on others.. our actions invariably have effect on others." Dutta cut her short and interrupted
" haan Naku and I have already noticed changes.. tune dekha main apna babba ko tayer bhi nehin kar saka Naku! mera Bhau ne khud he kar diya! he cried as he wiped a tear from the inner corner of his eye with a curved thumb.. he looked at Naku defiantly.
" they are excluding me already Naku? ye hai change? If so then main nehin manta ye change! I'll fight it! and he turned away from her and faced the wall of his room. Naku walked towards him and held his arm from behind. She didn't want to face him so direct confrontation with him could be avoided.
"dekho Saab if you were excluded from babaa's ablution .. tu the fault was not your brother's but it's because you went without saying anything.. aur pandit ji too reminded us that the auspicious hour for the rites was likely to pass.. so Saab , don't be too hard on others and yourself.. follow the religious rites.. they are put into place so both the deceased and his or her family have peace and consolation.. abhi main jate hai.. aap bhi ah jao." Dutta gazed across at her with tender eyes almost, gratitude like.. as she stood by his door..he sighed as she slipped out and turned toward's Daksha's room..Dutta turned from the door and jerked his head to the side and stared at the floor with a bashful smile.. it's a good thing Daksha prompted Naku's visit to my room.. he mused. Naku nearly bumped into Daksha who looked at her questioningly. Naku smiled, lowered her eyes and nodded. Daksha held her lower arm and squeezed it well pleased that Naku had met Dutta..
~~~~~~~~
Dutta finally came dressed in white kurta and pyjama.. Nana sided his head and noticed the upright stiff gait of Dutta , both his arms held behind his back. Nana threw back his head a bit and whispered to Kulte..
"Kaun he ye kal ka bacha? Kulte shook his head ignorantly and the elder who sat on the ground beside Nana obliged,
" ye jawan! Dutta hai , mukhiya ji ka sab se chotta beta.." Nana noted with interest and stroked his moustache.. no problem , looks like any young lad, innocent and raw.. nothing for me to get anxious over, smiled Nana with sarcasm in his eyes.
To Dutta all present were simply non-existant at this point in time. The final religious mantras he could hear distantly.. as bare foot he neared the body of his father. For a moment with a blank expressionless face he stood over this pale face with sunken cheeks and sunken hollow hooded cavities which were once eyes.. nostrils stuffed with cotton wool. Dutta raised his eye brows and slowly a furrow crept upon his forehead right above the bridge of his nose.Then his hooded eyes became cloudy to the point where his vision just became impaired. Slowly he raised his head and tilted it to the side where Baji sat.. Baji sat tensed up as he looked across at Naku who sat with her head hung low to conceal her tears. Aye Sahib wiped a tear with the corner of her pallu , and she tilted her head up and chanted silently ,
"Jagdammba ! shakti dena Dutta ko... Dutta hung his head as he stood over his father's shroud .. then slowly he folded his knees and sat sided on the floor beside his babaa's body. Slowly he turned his head and with a curved arm that half rested on shri Ram patel's chest .. he brought his face closer to this person..
" kaun ho tum? kaun ho tum? he shook his head and carried on with a puzzled expression,
"main tumhe nehin janta?..na hi maine tumhe ijazzat de hai ke tum shri Ram Patil ke ghar mein ah kar yahan bebas pare raho! jawab do? kaun ho tum? mere babaa is gaon ke mukhiya hain! haan aagar tum chaho tu apni pareshani unhe bayan kar sakte ho .. babaa ka dil bahut barra hai tumhe bhi is ghar mein rehene ke ijazaat de dein ga! Dutta prattled on while all around just watched and heard him.. Baji was on standby in case Dutta broke down in the final good byes.. Dutta sat comfortably .. his folded arm relaxed on his babba's chest.. suddenly he caressed his father's brow gently , and smoothed his hair back on his cold skull.. then lovingly he complained , as he continued to caress his father's hair..
"babaa..talk to me.. khamoosh kyun ho..? waise babba aaj tum ne mera intazzar nehin kiya! kya babba !rooz tu ye tumhara nikamah Dutta tumehe tayeer kerta tha! pun aaj tumhe jana ke itne jaldi thi ke tum khud he tayeer hogaye tum! aisa kyun kiya tum ne babaaa! why did you rob me of the last chance of dressing you up babba! you denied Dutta his final joy babaa ! I hope ke tum sun rehe ho!. Dutta cried as he laid his head on his father's chest.. Naku now couldn't restrain her tears and she looked at Baji desperately who immediately got up from where he sat, walked over to where the body lay, and leant over Dutta. With gentleness Baji tried to move his friend , but Dutta turned his head towardS Baji and cried in a muffled fragmented voice!
" Baji , who is this strange man? why is he here? who let him in? and why is nobody not doing anything? guards! he yelled.. ise baher nilkalo! Daksha almost ran over to Dutta and knelt before him and patted his shoulder.. with tearful eyes ,she gently took his arm and reminded him
"Dutta , babba hamien choor kar chale ghaien hain.. now you be strong and take him to his place of rest.. " Dutta looked at Daksha on her knees and he bowed his head once and stood up immediately and moved to the side.. as his brother became the pall bearers of the coffin.. Naku tried not to recall what Dutta had said earlier about feeling excluded .. she turned to Aye Sahib beside her and whispered..
"Aye Sahib, I know it's not my place to say .. but from what I can see the youngest son.. seems withdrawn.. is he meant to be carrying his father's kaphan? Aye Sahib got up from her place and walked over to the family taking position around the shroud.. she gently had a word with the eldest son..
" beta tum char bhai ho.. tu aagar tum bura na mano .. bara bhai aur chota bhai .. aage hone chaiye and dosere dau pheche" Baji heard it all and nodded vigorously in agreement and then moved to Dutta and said
"chaal Dutta take your rightful place! you give the shoulder to babba with Kamde Bhau.. and Shinde and Davde will be at the back.." Dutta looked at Baji directly and replied with phased out eyes
"aur tu Baji ? tu nehin de ga khandah babba ko..? Baji smiled embarrassed and replied
"ho Bhau! mein bhi tere saath he hoon ga tu fikar maat kar.. "
The women as was the accepted tradition stayed behind and
silently watched Dutta alongside his brothers lift the kaphana and in united repetitive chants of
"Ram nam sate hai! the funeral procession left the courtyard of
Patil Nivas.. Dutta himself felt like a lifeless corpse as he carried his
father's body over the threshold of his house.. all but his eyes were alive with saline tears
as he mused .. babaa can you feel it ,
that you are now leaving your house? now you are leaving the streets of the
village where you ruled over the hearts and minds of the people? babba do you
regret your departure ? as all your
people cry as they bid you're their last farewell? Lifelessly like an automaton his legs moved
forward in unison with his older brothers .. their shoulders rubbed and jogged
against the load of poles of the kaphana ..
Nana recalled his other motive of bringing Naku was to introduce her as his daughter.. so now that the coffin had left, he clearly had the opportunity to mil around.. with the women folk.. Aye sahib ,he noted looked a woman of some ranking.. so he held Naku by the arm and led her to the old lady..
"is se milya .. ye Nakusha hain.. mere beti.. aur muhje tu ap jante hogein.. NanaTavde! saath wala gaon ka mukhiya." Aye saab nodded and looked at Naku yet again and became even more curious about this much notable young beautiful girl..
~~~~~~~~
Finally the shamshaan ghaat, the resting place of the dear parted arrived. Dutta in a trance followed what was required. Every now and then he sided his head to ensure that Baji was by his side. Dutta just preferred to stand as a by stander like the rest of the men as Kamde being the eldest gave light to the funeral pyre.. Dutta eyes saw his dearly beloved father disappear... under a pile of sandal wood and tongues of fire... his eyes burned with the smoke but the tears that came readily were tears from sting of death!
~~~~~~~
Suddenly the heaven's became grim and cloudy Dutta refused to budge from the cremation ground. He watched the pandit with Kamde gather the remains of his babba in an urn. Dutta turned to Baji and reflected aloud..
" waise Baji dukh apni jaggah hai .. but have to say this whole cremation procedure for me is humbling .. makes me think. Here the game ends!.. our end.. god's most favoured creation man! made out of dust turns too ashes and dust eventually! utter nonsense! Bhagwan ko kiya zaroorat thi insan bune ke.. jab hamra anth rakh hai? Baji turned his neck and replied
"ho Bhau tu theek bolte hai! pun hum insaan aise dehet cheez hain, ke we can have a life full of sorrows but nope! never want to stop living! haina Bhau! zindagi chitne bhi bure kyun na hoon .. we cling to it with all the life in us! Dutta nodded and replied dryly
"haan Baji this is the irony.. we may hate life ,regret what it dishes out to us.. jaise I feel,in losing babba I have been wronged! but.. " Baji sniggered and finished the sentence off for Dutta ..
" but you'd rather live then .. full and final! haina Bhau? chirped Baji as he put his arm around Dutta's wide shoulders..
Clap of thunder and lightening! and then the down pour!.. all the pyres that burned in the crematory .. were watered down. Baji and Dutta ran like school boys and got drenched .. Dutta went to the other extreme as the rainy shower soaked him! Baji cackled , skipped and kicked and shouted! as he bent and picked up a branch.. like a sword he held it above his head and yelled
"le Bhau.. mukhaiya Shri Ram Patil ke entry ho gaye hai falak par! listen to all the fan fare! Dutta smiled as he wiped his stubble face with his palm.. and added
" waise Baji rao ! we don't need to purify ourselves after returning from the shamshaan ghat.. barish ne sab shudh kar diya hai!
~~~~~~~
As the two still frolicked about in the rain .. they neared the boundary fence and Dutta nearly walked past it when he noticed behind the tree trunk of a huge mulberry tree a speck of white.. he blinked his rain sprayed eye lids and his heart missed a beat as a rain drenched head bopped at the side of the tree trunk! He turned to Baji.. and mouthed Naku? Baji with twinkles in his big eyes and dimples in his cheeks .. nodded and whispered to Dutta.
"ja Bhau barsaat ke maaza loot! I'll make myself scarce" and he scampered off..
Dutta headed towards the tree trunk. Naku could see he was totally soaked. His kurta was glued to his skin and his hairy chest and the outline of his skin was visible under his kurta. Slowly the distance between them ended and Naku pulled him behind the broad tree trunk. Dutta looked at her and shyly she covered herself with her white chunni. Dutta pulled his mouth to one side blinked his eyes and turned his face the other way..
"tu edher barish mein ? why ? you'll get into trouble" he mumbled. Naku felt his arm and forced him to face her so she could answer
" main ap ka wait kar rehe thi? how was it? sab thek ho gaya..? Dutta was moved by her concern and he replied as he moved the wet snake like jet black tendrils of hair from her fair face.. with his forefinger..
"humm.. theek tha. Baji was with me ,we got douched by the rain.. he laughed and I too laughed Naku? ghalet kiya maine? after all babba left me forever to day! he said sadly.. Naku looked up at him with her green eyes and consoled him
"nehin Saab.. you laughed and believe me, babba must have laughed with you too.. remember , he still walks with you like your shadow.. jab aap udhas ho ge ,tu soochna ke babba bhi udhas hoon ge.. think of him as with you always..and you'll never walk alone..." Dutta extended his arms and gently pulled her close to him, and encircled his arms around the small of her back..
"Naku main soochta hai agar tu na hoti tu mara kiya bunte ? humm? you bring out sentiments in me that build me up in the worst case scenarios..what could be worse for me than losing my father? Naku raised her palm and pressed it against his warm lips and replied..
"no Saab you haven't lost him.. you have immortalised him in your heart and soul.. ab babba will never leave you ..till the day you yourself allow him to step out of your being.." Dutta tightened her drenched body against his.. they were not aware but both were cold and being close kept them warm.. Dutta mused and then told her in a fragmented voice..
" Naku thujhe pata hai , when I felt babaa today he felt cold as marble... my heart broke.. I could have sworn he was asleep Naku.. but strangely, even the warmth of my body, my love ,my devotion for him could not spark the fire of life in him.. saach mooch dekne mein ek zinda lash tha mera babaa Naku!! he wept and wept to his hearts content.. Naku just stood against his chest as the rest of his body heaved and rocked under his crying... to be continued, Hamlet53 3.4.15
Bart , hope you had a swell time in Missori??. hope you
survived the rafting? [9 lives].. ok every one else enjoy the season of Spring
and happy Easter to all! go easy on the eggs!
Choc gives headaches and spots! Haaa haaa..
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