Hi guys, this is Aazeen here. Some of my previous readers might know that once upon a time, I used to write fiction. Well, after a considerable lot of time, I scribbled again. This is a rant of my mind for Saroj, which I have tried to shape into a story. I hope some of you might feel lighter like me after reading this. If not, I am sorry, I understand that it is a considerable burden to feel light even after ranting about a character like Saroj.🤣
But anyway, here it goes. I would love to read feedback from you all after reading it.
Sauteli Saas (Step Mother-in-law)
“Maa, aapko pata hai, jab aap hum sab ki zindagi mein, iss ghar mein aayi thi, hum kitne khush they?” Kusum had one fine day decided to confront her mother. Her behaviour with Sayuri never changed and this somehow pained Kusum. Everyone in the house eventually left their bitterness for Sayuri and started loving her for the wonderful woman that she is; Kanha left his lifelong enmity with her, and not just made her his life partner, but also his soulmate – he loved her with his heart and soul. She, Kusum herself forewent her bitterness for Sayuri when she realised what a bitter pill in life Anjali had become. She too started loving Sayuri, and Sayuri loved her back even more. Nakul loved Sayuri, and so did Papa and Daddu. The one who never changed was their mother Saroj. Kusum had a misconception that just like her, her mother is also trying to let go of her bitterness what with Anjali’s exit and Sayuri saving her life at the cost of her own blood. But, she was wrong. She was wrong along with the rest of the family that Saroj’s silence was a quiet acceptance of Sayuri’s inevitable place in this house. But, Saroj proved all of them wrong by spilling her beans in front of Kusum- “ Hum kahan kuch kar rahe hain? Ab toh jo karegi, uski behen…” She accepted Rashmi just to make Sayuri feel out of place, and to create a rift between both the sisters. And as soon as Kusum understood this, she was distressed for the harmony of the house and decided to give her mother a piece of her mind.
“Aap jab humari maa banke iss ghar mein aayi thi,toh mohalle ki bohot si aunties humare peeth peeche bolti thi- “Saulteli maa aayi hai iski. Jaane kaise hi rakhti hogi. Aakhir sauteli maa toh sauteli hi hoti hai.” Aur humara mann karta tha ki hum jaake sabko zor zor se chillake kahein ki humari maa aisi nahi hain. Humare teen teen chote bhai hone ke baawjood, humari maa ne kabhi hum mein aur humare bhaiyon mein fark nahi kiya.Shayad, unse bhi zyada humein pyaar diya aapne. Humari sauteli maa nahi thi aap.” Kusum emotionally outpoured her heart. Kusum could see that Saroj was getting emotional too.
“Par maa, humari sagi maa bante bante, aap apne hi beteki sauteli maa ban jaayengi, ye hum nahi jaante they.” Kusum said dejected.
“Kusum!” Saroj had an affronted face. “Tum kuch bhibol rahi ho. Hum apne beton ke liye jaan de sakte hain apni. Unki sauteli maa banenge hum kabhi?”
“Haan maa, aap apne beto ke liye jaan de sakti hain,lekin apni zid ke liye, unki khushi mein khush nahi ho sakti. Unki jaan ki keemat ko ehmiyat nahi de sakti. Apni zid mein aake ek ke baad ek mohre banati chali jaa rahi hain aap. Kabhi humein aur Kanha ko. Wo nahi chale toh Anjali ko. Wo haanikarak ho gayi toh usko ghar se nikaal phenka, aur Bhabhi ki sagi behen ko unke khilaaf taiyyar kar diya? Kusum was disgusted.
“Humne kya kiya? Unn behno mein agar ekta nahi hai,toh ismein humari kya ghalti? Unki maa ki parvarish mein khot hai. Majaal hai ki humare bete aapas mein ek dusre ke khilaaf khade ho jaayein. Aisi hai humari parvarish.” Saroj had her head up in the air.
“Maa, itna ghuroor kis baat ka hai? Kya aapne zindagi se kuch nahi seekha? Papa kehte hain ki Chiru humare karmon ki wajah se chala gaya. Aapki zid ne Balwant uncle ki jaan le li toh niyati ne humse humare bhai ko chheen liya. Karm humare kahin nahi jaate, wo laut ke aate hain hisaab karne. Aaj aap unn do behno ko ek dusre ke khilaaf khada kar rahi hain, kahin aisa na ho ki apni apni patniyon ka saath dete dete, aapke dono bete ek dusre ke khilaaf khade ho jaayein. Kya reh jaayega iss ghar ka phir?” Kusum explained.
Saroj stood up seething in anger- “Kusum, ashubh baatein mat karo. Bhagwaan na kare humare ghar mein aisa kabhi ho. Iss ghar ki beti hote huye tum aisi baatein apne mooh se kaise nikaal sakti ho?” she stood joining her hands in the air and enchanted- “Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh – door karo saare kalesh!”
“Maa, kalesh jab aapka khud ka daala hua hai, toh bhagwaan se kya ummeed karti hain aap. Humari maaniye, toh ek sagi maa ki tarah apne beton ke liye sochiye. Iss ghar ki sukh shaanti isi mein hai.” Kusum ignited her mother.
Saroj was seething, as she held Kusum by her arms and shook her- “Ye kya saga sautela laga rakha hai jab se? Hum tum sabki sagi maa hain, aainda humse aisa kabhi mat kehna.”
“Nahi maa, aap hum sabki sagi maa hain, bas Kanha ki nahi. Uski sagi maa pata nahi kahan kho gayi hai. Jal gayi hai shayad apni nafrat ki aag mein. Aapne humein, ek bin maa ki anaaath ladki ko iss tarah apnaya ki jiski misaal nahi. Aur dusri taraf, Sayuri Bhabhi ko, jo khud bhi ek bina pita ki anaath ladki hai, usko sarasar thukra diya. Aur inn sab mein aap Sayuri Bhabhi ki sauteli saas bante bante, Kanha ke saath bhi sautelapan karne lag gayi.” Kusum spoke truthfully.
“Kusum, hum kabhi nahi bhoolenge ki uss ladki ki wajah se humare Chiru ki maut huyi hai. Hum usey kabhi maaf nahi karenge.”Saroj spoke icily.
“Maa, shaastra kehte hain ki har jeev apna jeevan aur apni mrityu ka samay likhwa ke laata hai. Na toh koi uss samay se pehle usko janm sakta hai, aur na koi usko jaane se rok sakta hai. Chiru ka jeevan itna hi likha tha. Uske bhagya mein jaana likha tha toh wo chala gaya, phir chaahe kisi bhi wajah se gaya ho. Uska dosh Sayuri pe madh ke aap khud ko halka toh mehsoos kar leti hain, lekin, khud ke antarman par bojh daalti jaa rahi hain. Sayuri ki kundali ka dosh hai hi nahi. Jab Chiru se uski shaadi huyi hi nahi, toh uska bhagya Chiru ko kaise lag sakta tha maa? Chiru apne bhagye se aaya aur apne hi bhagya se gaya. Sayuri ka bhagya Kanha ke saath juda hai, aur Bhagwaan ki daya se Kanha swast bhi hai aur khush-haal bhi hai. Aur aap hi kehti hain na ki aap Papa ki zindagi mein Lakshmi maa ka roop banke aayi, aur humare din badal gaye. Ghaur kariye maa, jab Sayuri iss ghar mein aayi, tab humare ghar ki kya haalat thi- Chiru chala gaya tha, ghar mein sabke dil toote bikhre pade they, vyaapaar ka kuch aagey peeche samajh nahi aata tha, Amitabh uncle ne tak saath chodh diya tha. Wo Sayuri ke shubh kadam they jo iss ghar mein Lakshmi banke aaye they, ki Kanha wapas ghar ko patri pe le aaya. Maa Sayuri manhoos nahi hai.” Kusum spoke wisely.
“Phir bhi Kusum, hum Sayuri ko kabhi nahi apnayenge.Wo iss ghar mein rehti hai toh raha kare. Hum kaun sa usko nikaal rahe hain.Lekin humare dil mein kabhi jagah nahi denge usko. Kabhi bhi nahi. Humari bahu sirf Rashmi hai. Phir chaahe koi humein sauteli saas hi kyu na bole.” Saroj looked sarcastically at Kusum.
“Maa, humein samajh nahi aata ki aapko kya bolein.Ghar ki Lakshmi- Saraswati roopi bahu ko thukra ke aapko lagta hai ki iss gharki sukh shaanti bani rahegi? Yaad na ho toh hum yaad dila dein, Anjali ki wajah se humara vyaapaar barbaad ho gaya tha. Hum sadko pe aane ki kagaar pe they, ye ghar bik jaata, hum karzon mein doobey they aapki mehengi wali sagai-shaadi karne ke chakkar mein. Ye business, ye ghar, ye aish-o-aaraam Kanha aur Sayuri ka diya hua hai. Unki mehnat hai ismein.” Kusum tried to make sense.
“Sab humare Kanha ki mehnat hai, uss manhoos ne kya yogdaan diya siwaaye apni manhoosiyat phailane ke? Aakhir uski manhoosiyat hi thi jis wajah se humara vyaapaar barbaad ho gaya. Na wo Kanha se shaadi karti,na Anjali roothti, aur na hi vyaapaar mein nuksaan hota.” Saroj was adamant.
“Usi Sayuri ke saath se Kanha mein dubara himmat aayi thi ke do baar iss doobey huye business ko usne phir se paar laga diya.Sahi mayno mein toh ye business bhi uska aur ye ghar bhi uska hai. Hum sab toh yahan rehte hain. Maa, meri aapse haath jod ke vinti hai, itna kalesh mat badhaiye ghar mein ki dono bhaiyon ko apne raaste alag karne padd jaayein.Kanha ne toh majboori mein business ko sambhala tha, par Nakul ka business mein koi interest nahi raha. Wo toh sahi maayno mein apne pairon pe bhi khada nahi hai, aur humne uski shaadi kara di hai. Uspe Rashmi ki bhi responsibility hai,aur wo khud bhi padh hi rahi hai. Maa aap unka bhi toh sochiye. Kanha apna business aasmaano ki oonchayi tak le jaayega, aur Bhagwaan ki daya se Sayuri bhi apne college mein job karti hain, unki koi dikkat nahi hai, par Nakul aur Rashmi ko bohot hogi. Aur apne beton mein itna fark dekhke aap sabko bohot takleef hogi. Meri maaniye, toh Sayuri Bhabhi ki sauteli saas aur Kanha ki sauteli maa banna chodh deejiye. Iss ghar ke liye yahi sahi hoga.” Kusum left the room leaving a silenced Saroj inside.
~~THANKS FOR READING~~
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