Originally posted by: DelusionsOfNeha
Main Hoon Tumhare Saath
Everyone was having breakfast in the mess before the morning drills. As it was saturday, there were no drills after that and they were free to spend their weekend as per their wish. Cadets were sitting together on the left side whereas Faizi and Sanju were sitting on right at their usual places.
As Karan entered the mess, his eyes searched for that one person, whose smile would bright up his whole day, just like it enlightened his whole life, his girlfriend.
Karan: Yeh Monami nahi dikhai de rahi, aayi nahi kya breakfast karne, ya jaldi kar ke chali bhi gai?
He wanted to ask Sid bit kept quiet as others would get suspicious. So, he thought to look in her room himself. As he turned to go, Sanju called him
Sanju: Aree Karan sir ji, bina nashta kiye kaha ja raho hain? Abhi to drill mein bhatero time hogo, saare jhingoor (cadets looked towards her) humao matlab hai, sare cadets to yahi hego, aa jao, dilbagh ji ne badhiya nashto banao hai.
Karan looked at Sanju and Faizi then at cadets, who were giving him curious glances. Taking a deep sigh, he went towards the counter, took little food in his plate and sat across Faizi and Sanju.
Faizi looked at Karan, found him fidgeting with the food, then looked towards cadets, and found Monami missing. He understood the situation and shifted his gaze back to Karan who sensed his gaze upon him and looked back at him. His eyes showing he is worried about her, Faizi blinked his eyes in assurance.
Suddenly, SumanJi realised something and looked around.
SumanJi: Aree yeh Monami kaha reh gai, nashta nahi karna kya usse, fir drill ke liye bhi to jana hai?
Chitra: Aree haa, #Mo kaha hai? Aisa to nahi ki wo hum se pehle hi #breakfast kar ke chali gai ho? Par roz to humare saath hi karti hai, haina?
Bala: Aree tabiyat to thik hai na doctor madam ki? Kal raat tak to thik thi. Sid bhai ji, aapko to pata hoga?
Their conversation caught trainers attention. Karan was impatiently waited for Sid's answer, while Faizi was looking him expectantly.
Sid: (taking a deep breath) wo nahi aayegi aaj shayad breakfast ke liye.
Karan's brows furrowed hearing him but wanted to listen further.
Premji: Nahi aayegi matlab? Bhook nahi lagi hai kya usse? Uska Swaasthya to thik hai na?
Sid: Assuming Swa...whatever to be health, yes, uski tabiyat thik hai, bas โฆ(his eyes got a little moist and he trailed off)
Karan could not hold back himself as his patience gave away
Karan: bas kya Siddharth?
Sid looked at him, seeing worry in his eyes for her best friend and internally smiling but with a lump in his throat.
Sid: Kalโฆ Juhi aunty, mera matlab hai Monu ki mom, unki death anniversary hai, he whispered.
Silence fell over, as everyone took some time to process what Sid just said.
SumanJi (after coming back to her senses): Sumanji ko lagta hai ki fir to hume Monami ke pass chalna chahiye, Sumanji samajh sakti hai maata pita ko khone ka gam kya hota hai (remembering her own parents who were killed in a terrorist attack). Hume use akele nahi chhodna chahiye.
Everyone nodded and about to go, but Sid stopped him
Sid: No guys, please usse akele rehne do. Woh strong hai bahut, bachpan se usne khud ko akele hi sambhala hai, I know she will be alright, bas usse akele rehne do. Aur drills ke liye aayegi hi waise bhi woh, kuch bhi ho jaye training nahi miss karegi woh, she won't let down her mom.
Karan, to say that he was shocked, would be an understatement. But more than shocked, he was in pain, because he knew the grief, pain of losing someone close to you, someone who was the only family to you for years. Getting hold of his emotions,
Karan (clearing his throat): Sabka nashta ho gaya ho to report in drill area (little loudly) NOW!!
Everyone walked out of mess area, Karan called Sid from behind,
Karan: Monami apne kamre mein hi hai na?
Sid: Haan, kamre mein hi hai.
Karan nodded and Sid turned to go, but again turned back to Karan.
Sid: Waise Monu aaj tak to akeli hi rahi hai, par iss baar shayad usse kisi ka saath mil jaye to use accha lage.
Sid left, but Karan stood there pondering over Sid's words. He came out and walked towards Monami's room with a determination.
Monami, iss bar tum akeli nahi ho, mai hu tumhare saath.
Karan reached outside Monami's room and saw the door was half open. He peeked inside and saw Monami sitting near the window, clutching something to her heart. Something like a photo frame. He entered the room and went near her. She was so lost that she did not realise her presence until she felt a warm touch on her shoulder. She looked up and saw him, her strength, staring down in her eyes. She was a strong person, of course she loved her mother, so she gets emotional on her death anniversary, but yet she was proud on her. But today when Karan stared at her, love and care oozing out from his orbs, she could not control herself. She kept the frame aside and hugged him from his waist, wetting his shirt, crying her heart out. Karan understood and he let her cry for some time caressing her head. No words were needed, because no words could describe the emotions they both were feeling. For Monami, it was grief, that she couldn't get enough time with her mother, to make more memories. For Karan, it pained him to see her love in pain yet he couldn't do anything as he himself knew no words could compensate her loss.
After a while, when she calmed down a bit, Karan took her to the bed and made her sit there. He then made her drink water to which she gave him a little smile.
Monami (clearing her thoat): I am fine Karan, thanks, and sorry, thodi emotional ho gai.
Karan (Holding her hands): Don't be. Monami, main jaanta hu kisi apne ko khone ka dukh kya hota hai, aur woh toh tumhari maa thi, to zahir si baat hai, aaj ke din unhe miss to karogi hi, hai na? Aur yeh bhi janta hu ki tumhe unn par bahut garv hai, hona bhi chahiye, kyuki unhone jo desh ke liye sacrifice kia wo karna har kisi ke bas ki baat nahi hoti. Aur unhone sirf apni life hi sacrifice nahi ki, unhone aur tumne bhi sacrifice kiye woh moments jo tum dono ek dusre ke saath bita sakte the, woh memories jo ban sakti thi par ban nahi payi, woh dukh jo baate ja sakte the par baat nahi paye, woh khushiyan jo saath celebrate ki ja sakti thi par saath kar nahi paye, isiliye brave sirf tumhari maa nahi thi, tum bhi bahut brave ho Monami, aur iss sab ke baad bhi tum apni maa ke jaisi banna chahti ho, unhi ke jaise desh ki seva karna chahti ho, yeh bahut himmat ka kaam hai, and I am proud of you. More importantly, she must be proud of you.
Monami had tears in her eyes, suddenly she realised something.
Monami: Time kya ho raha hai? Ohh no, drill ke liye late ho gaye, chalo chalte hain.
She gets up but Karan pulled her hand and made her sit again.
Karan: It's okay. Aaj waise bhi sirf morning drills hi hai, aur wo bhi revision hi hai. To aaj rehne do. Monday se continue kar lena.
Monami: par baki sab? Unhe kya kahenge?
Karan: Wo sab mujh pe chhod do. Unhe bhi pata hai, Siddharth ne bataya sabko mess mein. I am sure they will understand.
Monami nodded, then kept her head on his shoulder. Karan wrapped his arms around her.
Karan: Waise kal barsi hai toh, (hesitantly) ghar jaogi tum? Pooja toh hogi na?
Monami understood his hesitation, after all what his father has done previously, it is obvious for him to get worried and insecure about her being manipulated by his father again. She lifted her head and made him look into her eyes.
Monami: Nahi, ghar nahi jaungi. Aur rahi baat pooja ki? (Taking a deep sigh) woh to wese bhi mujhe hi karni hai, to kahi bhi karu.
Karan: matlab? Tumhare papa?
Monami (chuckling a little): Papa? Unke paas time hi kab tha? Jab mummy thi tab bhi kabhi humare liye time tha hi nahi shayad unke pass, conference, meetingsโฆ. bas inhi mein busy rehte the. Jaise hum the hi nahi unki duniya mein. Eventually, maine aur mummy ne bhi apni duniya bana li. Mummy ke jane ke baad toh jaise wo aur door ho gaye mujhse. Aur unki barsi par bhi wo kabhi ghar pe hote hi nahi thi. Toh main hi pooja karti thi pandit ji ko bula ke. Anyways, iss saal bhi pooja mujhe hi karni hai to yaha karu, ghar jau, kya farak padta hai. Kal wese bhi Sunday hai, to subah mandir jaa kar unke naam ki pooja kar lungi. Aur firโฆ
Karan: Aur fir?
Monami (smiling a bit): Tumhe pata hai, har saal, mummy ki death anniversary par ek fix routine rehta hai. Pehle main aur sid ghar pe pooja karte hai, fir oldage home jaate hain. Waha poora din unke saath spend karte hain. Jab wo log smile karte hain na aur humare sar par pyaar se apna haath rakhte hai, to aisa lagta hai jaise mummy aaspass hi hai aur mujhe dekh rahi hai, aur keh rahi hai, ' I am proud of you beta, inn sabke ashirwad mein mera ashirwad bhi to hai '.
By now she again got tears in her eyes and seeing her, Karan felt his eyes getting moist. He wiped her tears with his thumbs.
Karan: If you don't mind, iss baar main bhi tumhare saath chal sakta hu?
Monami smiled and kept looking at him.
Karan: Aise kya dekh rahi ho? Agar tum nahi chahti to it's okay, I understand.
Monami: Aree mere buddhu ram, aisi koi baat nahi hai. Tum kal chaloge to mujhe aur unhe, dono ko accha lagega. ( Sadly) Main to bas yeh soch rahi thi ki kaash mummy hoti, main sabse pehle unhe batati humare baare mein, and wo kitni khush hoti yeh jaankar aur tumse milkar.
Karan (taking her in a side hug): Woh nahi hai to kya hua, dekh to rahi hai wo hume, aur woh tumhare andar hai Monami, tunhari aadaton mei hai, tumhari kindness mein hai, tumhari himmat mein hai, tumhare jazbe mein hai. Bas unhe mehsoos karne ki zarurat haiโฆ
Chalo ab ja ke breakfast kar lo, aur fir thoda rest kar lena. Main drills ke liye jaata hu, okay?
Monami nodded and Karan kissed her forehead lovingly. He reached the door but turned again, and looked at her, she understood and blinked her eyes as if saying she is fine and asking him not to worry. He nodded and left.
Next Morning, Sid, Monami and Karan left the academy and reached the temple. They performed pooja and as Panditji asked Monami to offer flowers to the portrait of her mother, she went near the photo and found her smiling back at her. She got teary eyed. But she found Karan and Sid on either side, supporting her. She knew how important she is for both of them and vice versa. She smiled a little and sent a silent thanks to her mom above to give her these two, without whom she cannot imagine her life.
After pooja, they went to oldage home and spent the entire day with them. Karan was looking at Monami, who was looking so happy watching the smiles on those faces and with the affection she was getting there. He was lost in her smile, when Sid nudged him
Sid: Waise Karan sir, I know mujhe kehne ki zarurat nahi hai, but thanks, meri monu bro ko sambhalne ke liye. Thodi pagal hai wo, I know, but uske liya aapka aaj yaha aana bahut matter karta hai.
Karan (smiling): Jaanta hu.
Sid turned around to go but stopped listening Karan
Karan: Bahut lucky hai Monami, jo tumhare jaisa dost hai uske paas. Aisi dosti kismat se dekhne ko milti hai.
Sid( in SidG style): I know, we are rare, me and my Monu. Aap se behtar kon jaanta hai. Rare hai tabhi to aap ke chakkar mein fas gai bechari monu bro.
Karan glared at him, and he gulped, but then both smiled.
Unknown to them one person was smiling, looking at the two as she wiped her happy tears.
~By Shefali (iAmsphere)
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