Nightmare
It was a tiring day for Ram. He had back-to-back meetings with foreign clients. He was ravenous by the time last meeting ended. Adi had asked him a couple of times if he wanted him to order a pizza or something, but Ram had refused. Priya would be damn angry if he eats junk so late. Moreover, Priya would not have eaten and must be waiting for him. This made him happy and anxious both. He worried for her spoilt sleep but at the same time always looked forward to this part of the day. He thought to himself, if he was becoming selfish.
After his father’s death, he had become extremely lonely. Day was easy ,with Adi, Brinda and the entire friends gang never leaving his side, but the nights lonely and lifeless. He would return home, only to be greeted by the empty chairs of the dining table. The big sized empty chairs seemed to mock his lonely life. But things had changed for the past 3 months. He was married to Priya. His life suddenly became as dramatic as a prime time Hindi serial. Dramatic marriage, a conspiracy to kill him, elopement of sister, annulment drama etc., but amidst all this chaos one thing remained constant, Priya waiting for him at dinner no matter what and reprimanding him for taking pills.
Priya had now become Ram’s habit. Sitting in the car exhausted after a heavy day, Ram could hear his wife’s angry tone, “ Mr Kapoor,Maine kaha na acidity ki pills mat khayiega “. Ram could not stop himself from smiling. His thoughts were disturbed by a beep sound from his mobile. It was from Priya. The message read “Mr Kapoor, hope aap Pizza Vizza ke lalach me nahi pade honge. Maine aapke liye low calorie healthy sandwich banaya hain and I hope aapka meeting successful raha hoga”. Ram now gave out a wide grin “Ok, Boss Biwi, meri itni himmat ki aapki baat na manu ? Meri meeting khatam ho gayi hai, 45 minutes me ghar aa jaunga. Tum pls so jana. Mujhe 12 baj hi jayenge”
Ram admired everything about Priya. The way she would flare her big eyes and taunt him for eating excessive pills, for wasting money, wasting water, she looked beautiful while scolding him. But he never had the courage to tell her how beautiful he found her. Lost in these thoughts he did not even realize when he reached home. He hurriedly entered the dining area. Priya had fallen asleep on the table waiting for him. He smiled. He carefully tip toed near her, drew a chair and affectionately caressed her hair removing a careless strand covering her eyes.
Priya woke up by his touch. “Mr Kapoor aap aa gaye. Sorry wait karte karte kaise so gayi pata nahi chala. Mai abhi khana garam karke laati hun”. She first gave him salad, followed by a healthy soup and then 2 sandwiches.
Ram wondered 2 sandwiches, 3 months back could no way satiate his hunger, but now he was full. Whether it was the sandwich or the sincerity with which Priya cooked for him that made him content he did not know.
After chatting about their respective day, Ram and Priya retired to bed. Both tired, dozed off quickly.
Suddenly Priya heard some moaning voice. Confused if it was dream, Priya forced herself to sleep. But the voice grew louder. She woke up with a jerk and instinctively turned left towards her husband. Ram was screaming in his sleep,” DAD !! Plz mujhe chod ke mat jayie. DAD, DAD DAD !!!!!!!! Mai aapke bina bohut akela reh jaunga “ He was fidgeting his hands and legs very badly. Priya froze for a second. To see the ever smiling Ram this way was painful. She held his hand tightly , trying to comfort him. “Mr Kapoor, pls relax . Mai hun yaha. Everything is ok” . But Ram continued moaning. The sight of his father’s dead body soaked in blood was playing in his dream. Unable to withstand that sight, he woke up screaming like crazy “ DAAAAAAAD !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
Priya held his hand tightly, “Kya hua Mr Kapoor ? Koi bura sapna dekha kya? Aap mujhe bata sakte hain”. Ram was out of breath. He could barely speak. He mumbled ,” Priya DAD, KHOON, waha bohut khoon tha. Priya DAD…….” Priya quickly stepped out of bed, poured water in a glass and carefully made him drink it. “Mr Kapoor, pls relax everything is fine. Mai hu aapke saath”.
Her voice felt soothing. Ram drank water and felt a lot better. “Sorry Priya ,meri wajah se tumhari neend kharab ho gayi”.
Priya replied, “ Mr Kapoor, aap sorry mat boliye please. Aapko humesha haste hue mazak karte hue dekha hai, Mai aapko aise nahi dekh sakti” . She held his hand very softly and protectively.”Mr Kapoor , kya apne koi bura sapna dekha?”
Ram replied, “ Haan Priya, mere Dad ka accident ki wajah se untimely death ho gaya tha. Unke khoon se lipte hue shareer ke visions mere sapno me ate rehte hain. It’s really traumatizing Priya”.
Priya said,” Mai aapka dukh samajhti huun. Aap jisse pyaar karo, wo aapko chod ke chala jaye to bohut takleef hoti hai. Par hum ateet ko badal to nahi sakte na. Chahe ateet kitna hi kadwa , kitna hi meetha kyun na ho, hume jeena to apne aaj me hain. Mai aapke Dad ko janti to nahi ,par ye pure yakeen ke saath keh sakti hun, ki he must be so proud of you today. Aaap desh ke best businessman me se ek hain, duniye ke sabse achhe bete hai, sabse achhe bhai hai, apne friends group ke hero hai aap, Adi-Brindha ,sabhi log jaan chidakte hai aap pe, aur……..
Ram eagerly asked, “ Aur kya Priya “? He wanted to hear sabse achhe pati …. But alas, today was not the day.
Priya replied,” Mujhe kehte hue acha to nahi lag raha, par meri puri family bhi aap pe marti hain, khaskar meri maa, wo apse bohut zyada pyar karti hai, par mujhse thoda kum samjhe aap Mr Kapoor?
Aap chahe jitna jadu chala le ,meri maa mujhse hi sabse zyada pyar karti rahengi . OKK?
This made Ram giggle. Jealous Priya was a cutie pie , but second only to drunk Priya. Seeing her cute jealous face, Ram almost forgot his painful nightmare.
He said, “Achha Madame, mai jadu chalatu hun, sach mein haaan “?
“Haan sara din apna jadu chalate rehte hai. Apni innocent puppy eyes se mere sabhi gharwalon ko apni side kar rakha hain …”
Ram quicky cut her saying ,” Kya fayda aise jaadu ka , jo puri duniya pe to chalta hain par biwi pe hi nahi chalta”. He made a cute puppy face which almost melt Priya.
Priya instantly confessed, “ Arrey kyu nahi chalta aapka jaadu mujhpe, bilkul chalta…………………………..” and she stopped realizing the gravity of what she was about to say.
She immediately tried to cover up,” Aap bhi na Mr Kapoor, apni gol gol baato me na mujhe phasa dete hain. Chaliye ab so jayie “.
Ram smiled, he said to himself, “ Its ok Mrs. Priya Kapoor. Ek din aisa zaroor ayega jab meri biwi khulke apni feelings mujhse share karegi. Aur mai us din ka wait karunga”.
Priya made Ram lie down, and helped him put on the blanket.
Ram suddenly held Priya’s hand, exactly when she was about to turn. “Ek baat puchhu Priya?”.
Priya said “Haan puchiye”.
“ Mujhe aise dek kar tumhe bohut ajeeb lag raha hoga na. Matlab tum to itni strong ho,tumhare saath aisa kabhi nahi hua hoga na..”
Priya’s face turned pale and lifeless.
But she quickly managed,”Mr Kapoor raat bohut ho gayi hai , hum iss bare mai phir kabhi baat karenge “. Ram agreed, he bid her goodnight and this time peacefully slept. He did not notice her pale face. He was confident that a woman as strong as Priya would not get panic attacks like him.
Priya closed her eyes and was reminded of the infinite times she had woken up almost howling from sleep, sometimes remembering her dad screaming at mom, sometimes she would hallucinate Rakhi taunting her mom’s broken marriage and parvarish, sometimes it was of those days her Dad barged into their house warning Priya to stop her post graduation, he had screamed “ye sab padne likhna ka hi natija hain, baap se baat karne ki tameez nahi hai. Kal se college gayi na to tange tod dunga”, or the day when she saw Sara di’s husband raising hand on her, but the most painful image was of that unfortunate day she had seen Maitreyi and Neeraj , lip locking passionately on a rainy night, mercilessly breaking her heart and most importantly trust. How was she supposed to trust anyone, when her own father and sister betrayed her. Priya immediately pulled up the blanket this time covering her face entirely ,she could barely breathe, but it was ok.
These visions would haunt Priya in her dreams just like Ram, but she had put immense efforts in getting rid of these visions. Just like Akki would train his muscles at gymn, Priya had trained her mind, to stop listening to her heart. She had shut herself from the world of love, hope and fantasies. She had forced herself to become Khadoos Priya, a girl whom everyone made fun of as negative and emotionless.
She had fenced and fortified herself from all sides, but Ram’s warmth and affection was making her weak. He was trying to invade the fence. Priya slightly removed the blanket and glanced at Ram, he was sleeping so peacefully like a baby. Priya covered herself again this time more tightly, “ Mr Kapoor aap mujhe khadoos, aur karele ki tarah kadwi samjhte rahiye, mai aapke samne kamzor nahi pad sakti. Mujhe tutne se dar lagta hai. I don’t have the strength to be vulnerable ”.
With these thoughts Priya forced herself to sleep. A tear drop escaped her eye. She did not try to rub it. She eventually fell asleep and the tear drop dried on its own, similar to the thousand tear drops that she had shed in the darkness, loneliness and protection of the blanket unnoticed by the oblivious world outside.
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Guys, this is my first attempt to write an OS. Do give your feedbacks, if you liked it or not !!!!!!!!!
Would love to read your thoughts on this !!
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