Part 6
Sometime during the wee hours, Malhar stirred from his sleep as the effect of the painkillers was wearing off. He turned to his side and adjusted his arm so it wouldn't hurt much.
His face came close to a lock of hair on the pillow. Blinking for a whole two seconds, he realised that Kalyani was sleeping with her head on the pillow.
He moved his head a little away so her sleep wouldn't get disturbed. After some hesitation, he pushed her hair back to make it comfortable for her.
He couldn't look anywhere else other than her face. She looked tired but there was a strength in her which he admired.
I'm sorry Kalyani... woh baat yaad dilakar tumhe hurt karne ka koi iraada nahi tha..
Dil toh bohot karta hai tumhare haat se khane ka... Tumhare saat wakt bitane ka.. baatein karne ka...!! Par pata hai ye sab nahi hoga...jhooti ummiden nahi dena chahta hun apne aap ko..
Pata nahi tumhe apne kareeb dekhkar mujhe khush hona chahiye ya nahi.. Pata nahi tum yahan kyun ho... Isliye ki tumhe meri fikar hai ya phir isliye ki humare kagzi rishte se majboor hokar?
She sneezed a few times in her sleep and rubbed her nose vigorously before turning her head the other side.
Malhar smiled at how cute she looked in her sleep. He drove his thoughts backwards to the day he had first seen her.
He had driven to Wadgaon, Aurangabad. He had taken a wrong turn and instead reached the opposite direction of the destination he was supposed to reach. He stopped his car and asked the locals when an elderly man offered to guide him as he was going to that same place.
In fifteen minutes they had reached the address he had been looking for. The man got down, "Aaiye.. Yahi hai ghar.."
"Thank you..", Malhar parked the car in front of the house and got down.
The man had gone ahead through the gate calling out, "Atul... Atul..!!"
Instead of a man a young woman had come out, "Rao uncle... Subah.. subah..aise gala kyun phad rahe hain..? Papa ko kyun bula rahe hain...?"
Her eyes fell on Malhar, "Aur ye kise leke aaye hain apne saat.. Maine kitni baar samjhaya meri shaadi ki baat lekar mat aaiye.."
"Lekin beta....maine..."
"Bas uncle.. Aap Papa ke dost hain isliye mai kuch bolti nahi.. Par please aap Papa ki zidd ko badava mat dijiye... Mai nahi kar sakti shaadi.."
A baby's cry could be heard and an elder man came out holding a little kid who was crying.
She rushed to take the crying baby into her arms, "Dhruv....mela baby... Nahi rote bacha... Bhook lagi hai na.. Chalo doodh peete hain..", she went in with the baby.
"Are Rao..!! Andhar aa jaa.. Aur ye kaun hai..?"
"Are nahi Atul.. Mujhe kuch aur kaam hai.. Ye naujawan tumhara pata puch raha tha, toh mai use yahan le aaya.. Aur dekho kya kya sunaya teri bachi ne.."
"Uski baaton ko bura mat mano.. Tu jaanta hai na.."
"Haan..Atul.. Jaanta hun.. Acha ab mai nikalta hun.."
Rao hurried out of the gate.
Atul then asked Malhar, "Ji kahiye.. Aap kaun? Hamara pata kyun puch rahe the..?"
"Ji kya yeh Sampada Deshmukh ka ghar hai..? Mai unse milna chahta hun.."
"Sampada se...? Aap kaun hai..? Kahan se aaye hain..? Kaise jaante hain Sampada ko..?"
"Sir mera naam Malhar Rane hai, Pune se aaya hun, Assistant Commisioner hun..", he showed the elder man his ID.
"Kya mai andhar aa sakta hun..?
"Haan.. Please aaiye.."
Malhar entered the house.
"Baitiye.. Mai paani leke aata hun.."
"Nahi.. Nahi sir.. Aap please baitiye...kya mai jaan sakta hun Sampada Deshmukh se aapka kya rishta hai?"
"Sampada ka pita hun mai.."
"Papa..!!" she came back with the baby again. The little boy was quite now.
She frowned, "Aap abhi tak gaye nahi..?"
"Beta ye Mr Rane hain.. Sampada ke baare me..."
"Kya kaha aapne..? Rane..? Rane kaha aapne...?"
"Haan beta..kya hua? "
She put the kid into his stroller which was nearby and then grabbed Malhar's collar with both her hands, pulling him up. Her eyes were spitting fire.
"Himmat kaise hui yahan aane ki..? Kyun aaye hain ab? Ye dekhne ke liye ki dhoka khane ke baad Sampada kaise jee rahi hai..?"
Atul intervened and pulled her away, "Kalyani..!! Kya kar rahi ho? Aur tum inhe pehle se jaanti ho kya?"
"Kalyani... This girl's name was Kalyani. Was this baby hers? Where was Sampada?", Malhar had thought to himself.
"Dekhiye.. Ms Kalyani. Mujhe aapse koi baat nahi karni hai, aap please Sampada ko bulaiye.. Mai unhi se baat karunga..ya phir unke Baba se.."
"Aapke peeche hi hai Sampada.. Kar lijiye baat..", she shouted.
Malhar turned and saw a photo of another young woman which was adorned with a sandal garland. He was shocked.
"Kya hua? Saanp sung gayi aapki zubaan ko..? Kijiye na baatein Sampada se? Uske man ke sawalon ka jawab dijiye.. Kyun dhoka diya use..? Kya galti thi uski..? Kya galti hai iss bache ki..? Apne maa ka chehra dekhna bhi naseeb nahi hua ise.. Aur iske Papa..iske paida hone se pehle hi chodke chale gaye..."
Malhar stood rooted to the spot.
Atul was also shocked but he held Kalyani's shoulders, "Kalyani kya bole jaa ri ho..? Kya tumhe pehle se pata tha ki Sampada ka gunehgaar kaun hai..? Yahi hai kya woh..? Mujhe pehle kyun nahi bataya beta..? Mai jaake iske pair padke le aata apni beti ke khushi ke liye.."
"Nahi Papa.. Pata nahi tha mujhe iska pura naam. Sampada ne apne aakhri saans lete wakt bache ke papa ka naam Rane liya tha....Mujhe agar pata hota na Papa.. Toh aapke tarah mai iske pair nahi padti.. Mai ise maar maar ke iski chamdi uthed deti.. Are aise dhokebaaz insaan ko apne behen ki aas paas nahi rehne deti mai.. Use saza deti.."
Malhar could now understand the anger that was burning within her, "Dekhiye Mr Deshmukh... Aapki beti ko galat faimi hui hai.. Mai Sampada ko jaanta nahi tha.."
"Wah...agar nahi jaante the toh aaye kyun hai yahan..?" Kalyani pushed him.
"Ms Kalyani, please aap meri puri baat suniye... Sirf surname sunkar aapne raai bana li.."
Atul held his head in both hands, "Ab sunne ko kya reh gaya hai.. Meri Sampu toh chali gayi na.. Woh wapas nahi aane wali.. Isliye aap bhi chale jaiye Mr Rane.. Mujhe kuch nahi jaanna hai.. Kuch nahi.. Hume hamare haal pe chod dijiye..", he broke down and sat on the chair, tears streaming down his face.
Malhar's own eyes couldn't hold back the tears seeing this man cry for his lost daughter. He went forward and kneeled in front of Atul, placing his hand on the elder man's knee.
In a voice choked with tears, he said, "Sir.. Aap sahi keh rahe hain...jo ho gaya use badal nahi sakte.. lekin please meri baat sun lijiye.. aapki beti ko uska haq nahi mil paya par aapke pote ko uska haq mil sakta hain na.. Use uska parivaar de sakte hain...atleast iss bache ki zindagi me thodi si mushkil kam ho jayegi.."
Kalyani's voice boiled with anger, "Acha..? Badi fikar hai aapko iss bache ki..!! Bade jaldi aa gaye iska haal chaal dekhne.. Kaan kholkar sun lijiye.. Ye mera bacha hai.. Iska parivaar mai aur Papa hi hai.. Kisi dhokebaaz baap ki zaroorat nahi hai ise.."
Before Malhar could reply to her Atul spoke, "Boliye Mr Rane...mai sunne keliye tayyar hun... Iss nanhi si jaan ko uske pita ka saaya mile toh khushi hogi mujhe.."
"Papa.. Ye kya keh rahe hain aap..? Mai apne bache ko kisi ke haat nahi saunpne wali... Hamare Sampu ka bacha hai Papa.. Bhool gaye aap uska saara dard..?"
"Kalyani..!! Beta..!! Ek baar sun toh lo.. Agar hume sahi lage tabhi hum Dhruv ko unke paas denge.. Warna nahi.."
"Nahi Papa.. Mai nahi dungi apne baby ko kisi ke haat me.."
"Zara apne baare me bhi socho na beta.. Ek bache ke saat kaun tujhe apnayega..? Mere baad tum akeli reh jaogi...ye sochkar hi mera jee ghabrata hai beta.."
"Kitni baar samjhaun aapko... Mujhe shaadi nahi karni hai...!! apne life ke baare me sochkar..selfish hokar... mere Dhruv ke saat kuch galat nahi kar sakti mai...Aur ye kya 'akeli reh jaogi' wala bakwaas kar rahe hain aap.. Duniya me bohot saare aurtein bina shaadi ke bhi apna jeevan khushi se bitati hain...."
"Kalyani...!!"
"Kaan kholkar sun lijiye aap donon.. Mai apne bache ko kisi bhi aire gaire ke haat nahi dungi, chahe woh uska baap hi kyun na ho.."
Atul got up, "Aap jaiye Mr Rane...Kalyani ka faisla badalna mushkil hai...woh bohot gusse me hai.. Kuch ghusega nahi uske dimaag me.. Nahi sunegi woh kisiki baat.."
"Mai samaj sakta hun Sir... Mai do teen din baad wapas aata hun..."
"Hunhh..!! Aap jab bhi aaye aapko yahi jawab milne wala hai.. So please wapas mat aaiye.. Kisi bhi Rane ki shakal nahi dekhni hai hume.."
Ignoring her words, Malhar walked to the stroller and kneeled beside it, admiring the baby who was sleeping peacefully even in all this chaos. He ran his finger gently on the little guy's cheek, held the boy's little hand in his and bent down to kiss his fingers.
"Dur hatiye mere bache se.."
Malhar got up, "Aapka gussa bilkul jayaz hai Ms Kalyani. Lekin thande dimaag se sochiye.. Dhruv ko bhi apne Baba aur unke parivaar ko jaanne ka haq hai...Jo galat ho gaya hai use sahi karne ka mauka toh dijiye.. Aapki behen toh wapas nahi aane wali.. Par woh bhi yahi chahegi ki uske bache ko uske Baba ka pyar mile.. Sochiye.. Apne Papa se bhi discuss kijiye.. Ye lijiye mera card, Mai teen din isi sheher me hun.. Aur agar aapko woh wakt kaafi nahi hai toh ek hafta ya ek mahina bhi le lijiye......"
She didn't take his card, so he left it on the side table.
"Mera card phek sakti hain aap.. Par mujhe yahan wapas aane se nahi rok sakti.. Aur please mujhe majboor mat kijiye ki mai koi legal actions lun...."
"Dhamki de rahe hain mujhe.. Policewale hone ka faida utayenge aap?"
"Nahi... Sirf sach bata raha hun..Aap Malhar ko yahan se dhakke maarke nikal sakti hai.. Lekin ACP Rane ko nahi. Agar iss bache ke parivaar walon ne aap par custody case laga di toh mujhe majbooran apna duty nibhana hoga..."
"Lagake dekhen woh... Mai bhi bataungi court me kaise meri behen puri pregnancy men akeli tadpi....kaise use mental trauma hua tha... Aur ye so called baap ne meri behen ka saat nahi diya.."
"Ms Kalyani kya aapne socha ki jo bhi hua uska koi toh wajah ho sakta hai.. Nahi na..!! Seedha aapne dhokebaaz ka label laga diya.. Haan mai jaanta hun duniya me aisa bohot hota hai.. Par kya aap jaanti hain ki kabhi kabhi aisa na bhi ho sakta hai...Agar dhokebaaz hota toh mujhe yahan nahi bhejtha aur aaj mai aapke saamne nahi khada hota....
Isliye Mai aapse request kar raha hun...Thande dimaag se sochne ki..."
"Toh khud kyun nahi aaya..? Dar lag raha tha use..? Isliye apne taraf se policewale ko bhej diya...?"
"Iska jawab jaanne keliye aapko meri puri baat sunni hogi....aap tayyar hai toh call kijiye.."
He got up to leave, he held Atul's hands," "Sir...Aap donon ke tarah mai bhi iss nanhi jaan ki khushi aur bhalayi hi chahta hun... Aur usse jyada ek baat hai.."
Atul looked at him questioningly.
"Mera kehne ka matlab ye nahi hai ki Ms Kalyani ya aap use pyar nahi karenge ya ek achi zindagi nahi denge.. Lekin bina maa baap ke ek bache ki zindagi kaisi hoti hai, ye mujhse behtar koi nahi jaan sakta.. Isliye please aap bhi sochiye.."
Her hand fell heavily on his waist, causing him a little pain and breaking his chain of thoughts. She was still sleeping.
A smile stretched his face when he remembered that quality of hers which he had admired that day and did so till date, her fierce protectiveness towards her sister's little boy.
Who in this big bad world would have been ready to sacrifice their own future for a child who was not born to them? She would. She had been ready to live her life as an unmarried single mother for Baby Dhruv. That one quality itself spoke volumes and had raised a deep rooted respect for her in his heart.
Circumstances had made them man and wife. But he understood the pain that she and her family had undergone. That's why he would never hold a grudge against her even if she never ever accepted him. He was glad that he could atleast help her by bearing her vent of anger.
One day... When all her anger would drain away... May be....He didn't let his thoughts go beyond that.
Right now.. It didn't matter to him that they lived like strangers under the same roof. He would consider himself lucky if he could just see her everyday.
Mai iss khamosh zindagi me bhi khushi dund lunga.. Par tum.. Tum toh mere saat ghutan mehsus kar rahi ho.. Samjhaota kar rahi ho...ye mujhe chubta hai Kalyani.. Mai chahta hun ki tum hamesha khush raho.. Mere saat nahi toh apne man pasand insaan ke saath..
Lekin sochne se hi dar lagta hai...ki tum bhi ek din mujhe akela chodke chali jaogi.... Aur meri zindagi me phirse wahi khalipan bhar jayegi...
She was stirring, so he quickly closed his eyes, not wanting her to feel embarassed at seeing where her hand was.
That evening Malhar was discharged and Sourav drove them home. Kalyani got down first as Sourav helped Malhar.
"Ye darwaza kaise khula hai..? Maine toh ache se lock kiya tha..", Kalyani said loudly.
"Ruko Kalyani...!! Sourav tum pehle andhar jaake dekho..", Malhar said balancing himself against the jeep's door.
Sourav took two steps towards the entrance when someone came out.
"Saab, Bhaiya aa gaye..."
"Raghav...!!" Kalyani called out moving forward and saw her father also rushing out.
"Papa..!!"
Atul walked past her with a big smile, "Malhar... Aa gaye...!! Chalo andhar..."
"Baba.. Aap kab aaye..?" Malhar asked him as he walked slowly beside Atul with Sourav supporting him.
"Abhi aadhe ghante pehle hi pohonche hum... Soch hi raha tha ki tumhare ghar aane se pehle aa jayen...."
Once inside Kalyani asked, "Aap yahan kyun aaye Papa..? Woh bhi bina bataye..? Aur tala kaise khola aapne..?"
"Tum pehli beti hogi jisne apne baap ko pucha ki woh yahan kyun aaye...Hunhh.."
"Mera matlab woh nahi tha.... Aapko itne dur akele travel karne ki kya zaroorat thi..?"
"Are rakho apne matlab apne paas... mai akele nahi aaya, Raghav ke saath hi aaya hun.. Aur Malhar ko dekhne kahin bhi travel karunga.. Rahi baat mai andhar kaise ghusa, toh, Malhar ne mere paas bhi ek set chaabi chodi thi..."
Sourav leaned towars Malhar and whispered, "Jab bhi meri shaadi tay hogi na.. Mai tumse training lene aaunga.."
"Kis cheez ki training..?"
"Sasur ko patana kaise hai.. Wahi.."
Malhar elbowed him, "Maine kuch nahi kiya.."
"Acha..? Hmm.. Toh phir tumhare sasurji bade special insaan hai..."
"Haan.. Ye baat sahi kaha tumne.."
"Maine decide kar liya.. Ladki pasand ho ya na, uske papa pasand aa jane chahiye..."
"Kuch bhi...!!"
"Are hamari safety bani rahegi...Ek insaan toh hamare side me hoga na.."
"Chup..", Malhar giggled softly.
As Sourav settled Malhar in his bedroom, Atul came in.
"Jyada dard ho raha hai?"
"Nahi Baba.. Aap pareshan mat hoiye.."
A knock turned all their heads towards the door. Kalyani stood at entrance.
"Uh.. Aap sab keliye chai bana dun..?"
"Tum rehne do.. Raghav ko bol diya maine, woh bana dega.. Malhar ko Raghav ke haat ki bani chai bohot pasand hai.."
Raghav entered the room, "Bhaiya aapke kitchen me saare saamaan do do kyun hai.. Kaunse lena hai..?", he scatched his head.
Malhar felt a bit conscious that this fact was now in the open but he couldn't do anything about it, "Blue wale containers se le lo.."
Kalyani stood there for few minutes but the men were busy talking so she turned away and went back outside the house and began watering the plants.
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