Ye Jeevan Hain - Page 8

PART 54

[Next day] [Morning]

Sunlight slowly crept across the window...to lighten the dark room.....of Smita......As the heat started to grow ....Smita opened her eyes.......With sleepy eyes...as she tried to get up....she couldn't......& within a fraction of second....she could realise...that she was being enfolded....by Daya's strong arms....Her face was wreathed with a shy..abashed smile....as she kept her eyes on the sleeping face of her husband.....He was sleeping with so much peace.....& placidity.....Smita....kept looking at him.....with bemused eyes......& rumpled his thick hairs....by her thin fingers.......Daya sighed in comfort....& again lost into the beatific sleep.......Smita was chuckling to see her husband....& very slowly...she pecked.....on his forehead.......stroked his cheeks...gently....with brimming eyes....& then got up......but....again.....stopped....to feel.....that her aanchal was tightly clenched.....by Daya...
With a child's timidness....daya had been clenching her aanchal.....Se slowly....slackened it......& straight went to her daughter's cot.....Dhriti too was in deep sleep.....Smita ..sighed in a strange delight...&....after being fresh..she went to the puja ghar.....to kneel down..infront of the Lord..to express her humble gratitude towards the gracious Almighty----Bhagwanjee.......main andha hun prabhu......tum...hath pakarke....mujhe...le chalna......Meri har khushi......sirf tumhara hi hai prabhu......tumne hi meri jeevan me.....khushi laye ho.......rang se sajaye ho......Tum jis rah me mujhe le jaoge.....main jaungi prabhu.......Tum apna kripa......mere parivar pe bana rakhna prabhu......Meri pati...aur meri beti ko.........hamesha khush rakhna prabhu......hamesha khush rakhna......
The door bell rang....before she came out of the puja ghar.....She rang the bell of the puja ghar.....& then slowly went to opne the door....
Chachu entered.....& to see her..he said--wah!! bahuraani???....aaj tum bohot khush lag rahi ho....bilkul pehle jaisi.....usse bhi zada achchha....
Smita blushed & cowered her head down....Chachu straight went to the kitchen.....& engaged in daily work.....
Smita too went there...& asked peeling the potatoe off------kal....pablo ka janam din..kaisa tha chachu??
chachu smiled lightly & then answered in a sad voice-----bare ghar ka bachcho ki janam din jaise hota hai ........sabko bulaya gaya tha waha pe.....he started sniffling lightly.......& continued with choked voice-----barebaba bhi...aya tha......Munni baby ko leke.....
Smita was listening & watching him...with woeful eyes......
Chachu continued----kitni din baad dekha.......Munni beti ko....mujhe dekhte hi...daur ke ayi....aur puchhne lagi......bappa aur bappi kaha hai......kaha hai...un bechari ko kya pata...........ke.....uske bappa ko.......us ghar me se.........he started weeping.......
Smita's face shrivelled....in pain...& guilt......She stared vacantly at the floor...reminiscing about chachu's words......but jolted to hear from chachu---arey...dekho to....kitni khush thi tum....aur maine tumhe.....dukhi kar diya....chalo....chhoro ye baat.....he wiped his eyes off....& asked ----chhotebaba.....abhi tak utha nehi??....
Smita lowered her eyes....flushing in pink.....& quickly tried to scarper from there saying----main....abhi dekhti hun........

Daya was gazing at the stand photgraph of his wife..with rapt attention......but as he heard the noise of the door....he quickly scuttled to hide beside the wadrobe.......Smita entered there....but didn't see Daya anywhere.....
Smita took her baby in her lap........jerked a little with affection......& then gazed at her wih care.....
Daya chuckled lightly....& very gingerly stepped ahead...to reach athis wife....
Smita was gently stroking her tiny daughter....& ..suddenly...Daya draped her from the back...with his arms...
Smita shyly smiled...& cooed gently----arey..chhoro....kya kar rahe ho??..
Daya rubbed his face with Smita's cheek...& crooned with a soothing voice---wohi.......jo......karna chaiye.....
Smita grinned with pure bliss...& crooned--dekha??....teri papa kaise natkhat ban gaya hai??..
Daya reclined his chin upon Smita's shoulder ...& said looking at his daughter-----teri ma abhi mera natkhatpan dekhi kaha??...abhi se darr gayi hai....hmmm.....thik hai..abhi teri khatir chhor deta hun......He very lightly.....pecked on Smita's ear....& disengaged himself....from his wife...Smita was sated with bliss...she couldn't react for at least two minutes.....until..the baby ..started moving...& cooing..for milk.........She wakened from the dreaming state...& started feeding her daughter.......but..kept feeling.....the light peck....the warmth...of her husband......with closed eyes...untill heard a loud tap in the door.......She quickly opened her eyes..& noticed that her daughter had finished sucking the milk.....She laid her down within the cot.....& opened the door.....Chachu was quite excited--arey bahuraani....main puchhne aya tha...tum log kal raat me khaya nehi??..sab khana to fridge me para hai....Smita came outside....with an abashed face............but chachu was unstoppable------arey khaya kyu nehi??...bhukha reh gaye kal se??...main to....
--woh.........woh...chachu......darasal....main ..so gaya tha.........to....Daya was trying hard..to answer chachu..with an nervous embarrassed face....
Smita chuckled inside.....but was silent...
Daya continued---isliye....shayad.....tumhara...bahuraani......he squintly looked upon Smita at once & then again started bumbling----matlab....woh bhi.....nehi....khayi......
Chachu was suspiciously watching both of them....for sometime.....he was going to say something but before that the phone rang with trilling sound......Chachu went to receive it.....
Daya sighed...& Smita went abashedly towards the kitchen.....
Chachu took the receiver -----hello
otherside: kya haal hai???
chachu smiled & said----bohot achchha...
otherside: nadi kya abhi bhi ruthi huyi hai??...
chachu: aisa lagta nehi....
otherside: chehre pe phool khil raha hai??
chachu: ha bohot sare gul khil raha hai....
otherside: achchha...aab rakhta hun.....
chachu smiled & returned to the kitchen....Smita asked him normally-----kiska phone tha chachu??
Chchu started fumbling----woh.....woh....purashti se.....bhai ka......
Smita smiled & asked-----sab thik haina???
chachu promptly answered---haaa...saaaab thik hai..achchha na hoke...bhala kaise reh sakta hai....jab mere shiv parvati itni khush hai....he slyly glanced at Smita.....Smita too glanced at him surprisingly...& quickly chachu asked---lo bahuraani...bata do....kya banau..naste me.......kal se bhukha jo ho......par kaun kahega ki bhukha ho??....arey tum dono ne to mujhe chain se jeene bhi nehi dete ho....chalo..jaldi..kuchh bana du...aur khake...mujhe uddhar karo....agar aise tum log laparwa ho jayoge...aapne aapke bareme ...to is burape me...main kaise...samhalu.....he was continuously chattering.............Smita didn't interrupt him....but he had to stop....to hear the doorbell.......Chachu was going towards the door..but Daya said from the couch----main dekh raha hun chachu.....
Chachu repressed his smile....& went back to the kitchen.....
Daya opened the door....& surprised to see his doting sister & brother-in-law infront of him......Both were smiling their heart out....Daya smiled ......but could sense ..that they were giggling much more than the usual........Diksha just screamed in elated voice----wah..bhaiya??....Tere to har beemari dur ho gaya hai...ekdam fresh lag raha hai tu??....
Nehal supported his wife---haa....par do din pehle bhi to tum lete huye the..haina?? kyu Diksha?? he tried to be surprised....
Diksha too wasn't going behind to banter with her brother----haa....wohi soch rahi hun....Dr.Ruby to..kuchh na kar paye...jo.....Dr.Smita ne kar dikhayi....haina Nehal???..
Nehal was on peak---haa....of course....arey maine to Dr.Smita se achchha doctor aur dekha hi nehi..khas taur pe.....hamara chhote bhaiya ke liye..haina chhote bhaiya???...
Daya wasn't saying anything.....except looking over them with a mixture of huff & embarrassment..........
Diksha: hmm to lady doctor hai kaha??....
Nehal: Diksha....tum bhi......doctor to chamber pe rehti hai..ye bhi nehi pata tumhe....
Diksha: par ye doctor hamara ghar me hi rehti hai........par ye to bohot sharmili bhi hai......aur treatment ka fees bhi nehi liya......
Nehal: arey kya baat karte ho...hamare chhote bhaiya kaise aise free me karvayenge treatment...zarur fees diya hai.....
Diksha now goggled her eyes to ask with feighned surprise---------ha bhaiya??...........tune fees diya hai???...
Now Daya suddenly seized an ear of Diksha & said----achchha??....aab chal tujhe fees de dun.........
Diksha was wailing out.......being happy........

In the kitchen Smita was chuckling with shyness...Chachu was also smiling as well..& told her---bahuraani....jaldi jao...barna pata nehi..ye log aur kya kya karte rahenge.......
Diksha came running into the kitchen...& holding Smita's hand..she started pulling her--bhabiiii..chalo...chalo....
Smita was stupefied.....but at the same time she was beaming with glee....but very feebly let out----arey?kya huya hai??..haa??
Diksha dragged both Daya & Smita....into Smita's room......Both were surprised....nervous...& at the same time..a little bit embarrassed....Now Diksha told like a gurdian---haa...aab kaam ki baat...bhabi...ye lo......She gave something to Smita...
Smita was surprised & asked ----ye...kya hai saheli??
Diksha rolled her eyes to answer--ticket hai....Shimla ka....
Daya was totally taken aback..& spluttered---Shimla??
Diksha : haaaaa...shimla........shaadi ke baad se..kabhi bhi bhabi ko leke bahar gaya kya tu ullu??....
Daya got embarrassed......& tried to fumble---woh.....mauka..hi..kab mila??
Diksha yelped in joy---aab milega...agle hafte me...nikal par....thik hai??
Daya quickly tried to interrupt her--ppar.....Diksha....main....
Diksha was defiant-----par kya?? haa?? sharm nehi ate hai tujhe??...itni din shaadi kiya hai....aur patni ko leke honeymoon pe jaane ka mauka nehi mila.??
Daya was getting nervous..---pppa.r..Diksha.......office me kitne...kuchh....
Diksha gave her brother a cross look..& reprimanded him-------dekh.....abhi office ka o bhi bola na tune....to kat dalungi main.....abhi to...........sirf meri bhabi ko dekh.....
Smita was getting wrinkled in shame......& Daya too got abashed.....but he quickly got up....& clasping Diksha's hand he scowled to say-----bohot badmash ho gayi hai ..haa??...achchha........thik hai..........mauka milte hi..............main bhi badla le lunga..............tab maat bolna...............ke bhaiya jane de............
Diksha was giggling with brightness......& within a moment....she scarpered from there......
Daya sighed.....to be freed from the awkward imbroglio....& very slowly glanced upon his wife............
Smita was almost crinckled....with lowered eyes...Her blushing face was indicating the state of her heart...
Daya slowly came beside Smita......& sat there.....Smita hurriedly got up.....but...Daya too was quick...........to clench her hand.........Smita didn't say anything.......& syated riveted there....trying to overcome......the gusty blow inside her.......Few moments passed....with the silent parlance.....& then Daya....tried to splutter---woh......kuchh.....kehna tha.......Smita turned her blushing face....towards Daya...& kept her deep eyes into him.........Daya was reading the glance of Smita being enraptured.....Her every glance....the silent eloquence of her eyes..everything was seeming different ........but he startled to get the voice of chachu----bahuraniiiiiiiiiiiiiii......
Smita tried to loosen her hand......but Daya didn't let her go....
Smita beamed with a childish coy chuckle....& mumbled feebly-----baad me....batana......She then nearly ran away from Daya......like a sparrow......

Night approached slowly..but steadily.....Smita was riveted at the door of the balcony....gazing at the moon.....& was mooning over.........about the last night...with brimming eyes....She flushed ...& lowered her eyes.....as moon curled...& chuckled to see her .......She cloaked her face with her two palm...& kept standing there.....until....felt...someone's gentle touch....within her hair........Her heart was beating beyond her control which left her sweated profusly.....Someone was combing her long tress....with care...& love........She tried to turn back......but her eyes were betraying her.....She couldn't toss her eyes up.....Within a moment...the strong arms of her husband..swaddled her from behind.......& she.........could...only ....repose her head.....upon the arm of her husband.....consigning everything of her..........Daya was patting gently her straying hairs.........slowly.......with the eyes ...full of reverence.....& care......but......was the moon was tricking with me??...he tossed his eyes up...to look at the mischivous moon.......The moon gave him a naughty wink....to murmur-----kya woh.......uski baal......ya pher......ek jharna???.........Daya got muddled....& glanced at the thick mass of hairs....of his wife.....Every strand was shining ...as the moonlight shimmering upon ..........as if......as if.........million diamonds....were glittering.....within the deep vast dark ocean........He....dipped his face.....within the straggling tresses......to feel.....the warmth of his wife........Smita lost within deep reverie..closing her eyes.........
moments passed.....minutes passed........they kept riveting there.....within trance...capitualting themselves to each other.....until......Daya.....slowly.....clenched.....her fists....within his own......tightly........& murmured frivolously-----Smitaa.......
Smita didn't answer.....only....cooed a little...to recline her head more comfortably.......
Daya's eyes were brimming with pure compassion...for his wife....He chuckled lightly....& then again whispered feebly---heyyy.........
Smita was silent.......Daya now caressed..over her ...tousled hairs...........Smita ....very slowly opened her eyes.....but clasped Daya's arm more tightly......
Daya again murmured with impassioned voice-----mujhe chhorke.........kahi maat jana......main......
Smita tossed her wide embellished eyes....to glance at her husband.........His hangdog face was agonising her ......She immediately.....cuddled up....against.......him....with sheer yearn....& whispered---nehi.....nehi jaungi.....kahi nehi jaungi.........

this is great yaar.. so many episodes here. Just wanted to let you know that I havent forgotten you 😆 I'l try to read as much as I can each day and catch up here... mean while, keep writing 😃

PART 55(A)
Day one...

Smita was watching the subtle charm & natural beauty of the greyish mountains through the light mist being enraptured. A wave of delight was shivering within her heart. As their jeep was going up,she was getting more mesmerised and bemused. Once she stared at the sky and started murmuring inside her----prabhu.....tumhari duniya,itni khubsuart hai??...ye mujhe kaha le aye prabhu?? Her eyes were filled with tears unconsciously,but she startled getting jerked gently by her husband. Daya engulfed her with his arms and jerked her a little, affectionately. As she looked at him,she noticed his pure,ingenuous smile. Smita couldn't bat her eyelids and kept gazing at him until his eyes started wandering through her face,desperately. After couple of minutes Smita lowered her eyes being abashed and reposed her head upon Daya's shoulder to get coddled by his warmth. Daya muffled her head and ears with woollen shawl very gently and sighed in an unknown delight looking upon the mountains.

In the night

Daya was near the fireplace getting the warmth of the fire to prevent his fingers from freezing.Smita was coddling her daughter with care,suddenly mischief started to glint in Daya's eyes.......
Smita was smiling satedly to see her sleeping daughter wrapped with woollen clothes. Her cheeks were getting reddish because of cold. Daya was watching her from a little distance but stood up within a minute and came just behind his wife gingerly, kept standing there to let his palms again cold. After about three minutes he came closer but before Smita could do anything he cupped her cheeks with his two ice cold palms. Smita shrieked --heyyy..kya kar rahe ho?? she reprimanded her husband with the glow of her eyes but Daya was unstoppable. He was laughing like a little scamp while telling----hatheli....ko thora garm kar do naaaaaa.....

Day Three

Today Daya and Smita visited pabbar river and there they enjoyed fishing for sometime. They also visited the holy Christ church to spent some silent moment there praying infront of the Gracious Almighty and to scrub out every guilt and sin out of their life by the compassion of the generous God.....
They also kept their eyes on the stained glass windows which represented faith, hope, fortitude,charity,patience & humility.....
They also visited Shimla state museum..
Smita was feeling tired..so Daya didn't want to visit any other places....& straight went back to the hotel......

Daya was running behind Hema gustily to catch her within that forest...Hema was laughing like a kid while running speedily to maintain the distance between herself and Daya.....
--aaaaaaaaaa......mat ...........mat pakro,She was laughing vehemently,
but Daya caught her at last. Both were exhausted and were gasping for breath, but Daya was oblivious about that and asked her becoming little restive-----mera photo de do.
--le lo....he got a prompt answer from naughty Hema .Her eyes were glinting with perky mischief.......
Daya's face went humorous and peeved at the same time. He kept requesting----de do....de do mera photo.....kyu aise chhinke le ayi??
---le lo? le lo na........Hema wasn't in a mood to obey Daya....
Now Daya tried to snatch it from Hema's hand which she kept behind her back---nehi doge?? nehi doge??
--nehiiiiiiiiiiiii..nehi dungi.....ye mera hai. Hema again was about to run with her famous smile but Daya held her plait gently and asked---achchha?? tumhari hai?? ye tumhari kaise ho gayi?? haa??
Hema now spun on her heel and glanced at Daya deeply with her vivid eyes and after a pause she spluttered with mellifluous voice----photo chahe jiska hi ho.....photo me....jo hai........She lowered her eyes and then again continued-----woh to.......mera hi hai na?
Daya chuckled lightly inside him. His eyes were getting deep unable to be affected by Hema's puckish twitter but he was trying to kept strong curb upon his overflowing emotion and after a moderate pause he asked----achchha??....abhi jake bol du unclejee ko??....
--kya bol doge??..Hema asked with a child's innocence.
Daya squinted his eyes at her once and then a bit shyly said----jo.....sach hai.......
Hema goggled her eyes as well started gawping at him with feigned surprise and uttered humorously---achchha??...tum??...bata doge???..papa ko???
Immediately a tint of reddish hue spread over Daya's face, he couldn't say anything only stared at Hema a little coyly.
Hema grimaced at her and again burst into a loud chortle saying--ulluuuuu..buddhuuuuuuuu..darpok kahika....tum bataoge mere papa ko??...a cascade was as if falling through her impish laughter.
Daya was only watching her with rapture in his eyes, but kept a curb within a minute and asked trying to be normal----kyu??...main bata nehi sakta hun??
Hema answered back in between her tingling laugh----tum agar ye papa ko bataoge....to main...aaj shaam hi.............sabke saamne bata sakti hun.....
--kkya??..Daya asked getting scared.
Hema made herself stopped with difficulty but her eyes had been moistened with tears because of vehement laughter. She uttered quickly ----aur kya? jo sach hai wohi. Hema was playing with her plait with lowered abashed eyes.. Daya stared at her for some seconds ,he wished to teach a lesson to this naughty girl.
He continued---kyu??...main bata nehi sakta hun.....ke tum ek chor ho??...
Hema immediately turned her face towards Daya and goggled her eyes in surprise and then pretended to be angry----kyaaaaaa???....main chorni hun??
A tint of light puckish smile was playing in the corner of Daya's lips,he slowly spluttered-----kisi dusre ki cheez...........bina bataye lenewali ko to.......................yehi kehte hai......
Hema's face gleamed with a strange skittishness, she was ready to answer----achchha??....par agar main chorni bhi hun..........ye shiksha to........maine..tumse hi li hai...
----mujh se??...mujh se kaise??....Daya was surprised....
Hema chuckled with a little shyness and said----tumse bara chor...maine to kahi nehi dekha........
Daya was getting mortified inside,he suddenly clasped Hema with both of his arms tightly. Hema shrieked out in a bit nervousness and scare and also with an unknown delight. Daya pushed her towards a tree and made her to repose herself over the stalk of the tree and gave her pretended reprimand---main chor hun?? haa?? main .....
Hema was dumb getting so much closer of her king. His breath, the beats of his heart and his crimson, exhausted yet gleaming face everything was making her restive yet silent. She was feeling his presence intensely without uttering a word.
Daya was panting a little, he again asked----kya huya??...do mere photo.....
Hema now slowly draped her one arm around Daya's chest and reclined her face there and whispered with passion----le lo.....mere hatho me hai....
Daya was utterly dumb....Till then he was getting restless to get the photo back but when she was giving him the chance and the permission his hand was getting stuck. Slowly and gently he too draped his arms around Hema to get back the photo. Hema laid yielding and soft within his arms and didn't protest when Daya took it from her clench. Instead she was busy to listen to the beats of his heart keeping her eyes closed, she was busy to feel his heaving heart, to feel the chinking flow of his blood. Daya too stayed riveted there for about five minutes closing his eyes and stretching his head at the above sky until heard a soft croon from Hema-----photo to bahana tha bas..........tumhare baho me ane ka.
Daya looked upon Hema, she was uttering every single word frivolously. Daya started patting her neatly combed hair by his care. Hema cooed by getting soft touch and after about two minutes Daya a bit forcefully cupped Hema's cheeks and whispered----tumhe......ye photo chaiye??....
Hema very slowly opened her eyes ,initially her eyes were only sauntering about Daya.
Daya again crooned with affection--chaiye??.....to keh sakti thi na....mmm??......aise.....sabke album se.....churake laane ki....kya zarurat tha?? His glance was getting deeper as he continued to speak....
Hema was watching him with her two restive eyes which were continuously wandering upon his face. After feeling each other's warm breath for about a minute Hema murmured passionately----thora niche ho jao...
Daya frowned skittishly---kyu??
Hema flinched and again murmured--baat karna hai kano me.......ho jao naa...
Daya looked around and said---yaha to koyi nehi hai..kano me....kyu??
Hema pretended to be peeved and said--zarurat hai...ho jao naaaaaaa....
Daya came more closer for giving her the opportunity to whisper in his ears. Hema then grabbed the photo from his careless hand and nibbled at his ear.
Daya winced in pain but by that time she managed to disengage herself from him and started flying away with her perky chortle----nehi puchhungiiiiiiiii..nehi puchhungi..nehi puchhungi........ye meri hai..kyu puchhuuuuuu??
She vanished away within two minutes with jumping and dancing steps,
But her soothing voice was still clinking in his ears.-------raaaaaajaaaaaaaaa

Daya just jarred and trembled for once as his trance got broken and he had to come back at present. He was desperately peeping through the mist to see ahead but couldn't still the resonance was there as if one word was reverberating within the whole forest--rajaaaaaaaaaa....rajjjaaaaaaaaaaaa..............................
Daya started panting and even within so much cold he was exuding perspiration.
He started running back towards the road and reaching on the road he was almost gasping for breath. He started hobbling down the road with difficulty. His eyes were getting blurred and he was feeling a little groggy too but he stopped to notice the small temple. Bell was ringing over there. Daya could clearly listen to the clattering sound of the bell and it seemed to him that the bell was beating upon his nerve to make him remind about the incident five years back. He shambling towards the temple with heaving heart and the temple was indeed reminding him about every single moment he spent here nearly five years back. He tried to sway his mind somewhere else but defeated against the strong force that was impelling him to reminisce about that day. Heavy steps brought him infront of the temple and he again sank within his past.

[Flashback]

Daylight was ebbing away slowly to cloak the queen city of the hills under the darkness and cold. Hema awoke listening the voice of Daya---hey??...kya huya?? hotel wapas nehi jana hoga kya??....chalo....
Hema was still gazing at him desperately as if she was watching him for the last time. With bated breath she could only let out---haa.....
Daya got off the ground and flung his hand for Hema. Hema slowly touched it and got up to go ahead. They were strolling slowly within the green verdant deodar forest but Hema was abnormally silent. She was stepping ahead with slow dejected steps, cowering her head down at the ground. Daya was surprised and also a little worried for her, he gently touched her hand and asked very softly----hey....kya huya hai??...itni chup kyu ho?? Hema stopped walking and turned to face Daya. Daya noticed her vivid eyes filled with tears, she breathed out after swallowing a lump of pain------aise lag raha hai.......jaise........
----jaise kya Hem?? Daya asked her worriedly.
----jaise.......jaise......kuchh..bohot kimti ....cheez ko............kho rahi hun main.......jo......ye zindegi me.......kabhi...kabhi bhi....She was crumpling in excruciating pain, tears were streaking down her cheeks.
Daya came closer hurriedly and murmured--kya baat hai Hema??...kyu itni pareshan ho??.......kyu..kyu aise ro rahi ho Hema?? Hema snuggled up against Daya for sobbing her heart out. Daya was getting anxious and at the same time his heart had been bludgeoned to see the tears of his beloved. After couple of minutes Hema stared at the sky with teary eyes and muttered in a unsteady voice----ye shaam ja rahi hai Daya.......aur kabhi na ayegi.....
Daya gazed at her beseechingly unable to find a way to pacify her. Hema continued----ye...asman ....ka rang....aur kabhi na ayegi.....tumhare sath.....bitaya huya....ek ek pal........kabhi......aur kabhi na ayegi .......
Daya's eyes misted with tears. He sputtered out with tremulous voice----aisa kyu keh rahi ho Hem??....hum yaha......phir se ayenge.......haa, he tried to subdue her pain. Her gloomy eyes were wandering through the opalescent sky, Daya gently held her palm and jerked a little. Hema slowly moped her tears off and grasped Daya's hand to go ahead.
As they reached on the road, they heard the sound of the bell. Hema murmured in febrile voice---chalo Daya..mandir me jaate hai.....shayad sandhya arati ho rahi hai. Daya smiled lightly and stepped towards the temple.
Indeed that was the time for evening Aarti there. Pujarijee was ringing the bell and doing the aarti with complete devotion,Daya and Hema too stood riveted there with folded palms and closed eyes.
As the aarti was over pujarijee turned back and to see them he smiled and asked ----shaadi ke baad baba ke ashirwaad lene aye ho??
Both glanced at each other shyly and with a little hesitation but didn't say anything.
Pujarijee said--achcha ruko beti.....main tum dono ko prasad deta hun......aur beti..tumhare liye...sindoor bhi......
Hema was embarrassed and quite helpless, neither she could tell him the truth nor could accept the sindoor..
Pujarijee again knelt down before the lord and after a while he turned back to face them.
He first gave them the Prasad but he was looking grim.
He again asked Hema but this time with a sombre voice-----tum dono pati patni ho??
Hema turned a little crimson to combat with the diffidence, she lowered her eyes ,started twiddling with the corner of her dupatta and then muttered hesitantly----jee nehi......par......banne wale hai......
Pujarijee gave them the prasad with an appalled silence, Hema and Daya both were worried to see him like that, they exchanged once their surprised glances and then Hema mumbled, dithering about a little-----kya baat hai pujari kaka??
Pujarijee was silent but Hema was nearly entreating in front of him---bataiye na kaka...kya baat hai??....
Pujarijee kept his hand upon Hema's neatly combed hair and said ----tum dono......kabhi bhi pati patni nehi ban payoge.
Hema turned blanched, her eyes went stiff for some seconds,she couldn't react for a minute being extremely appalled. Daya too gawped at him with sheer surprise, Pujarijee further said glumly----tum dono ka....woh sangyog..nehi hai, is janam me.....tum dono ka milan......likha huya nehi hai.
Hema's face contorted in pain and blotted apprehension. She was on the verge of crying.
Pujarijee again kept both hands over their heads and blessed them----Bhagwaan tum dono ko sahi raste pe le jaaye....roshni se tum dono ki zindegi ki har andhera door kar de....yehi prarthana hai meri, he then went out from the temple slowly.
Hema went stiffened with terrible scare, tears were falling onto the floor from her eyes. Daya quickly mitigated the storm that had twirling inside him, and clasped Hema to calm her down. Hema burst into tears within the arms of Daya to blubber badly.

Daya just jolted to get into the present from the past. The sound of the bell was as if trying to shroud the shrill heart rending yelp of Hema till then. Daya closed his eyes slowly to feel, to listen to the agonizing, stinging yell of Hema at the same place after five long years. He entered into the temple sluggishly, unconsciously when his face had been suffused with tears he couldn't perceive. He knelt down infront of the idol of the lord closing his eyes, tears were descending through his cheeks fast, heart was heaving with an acute stab of affliction. He kept praying solicitously ----Bhagwan.......Hema ....jaha kahi bhi hai........ya hogi, tum.......use achchhi rakhna........Use ye ashirwaad dena.....ki pichhle dino ki......sare baate ko apne dil se mita kar.......woh ek nayi zindegi ki shuruyat kar sake............Use woh shakti dena Bhagwan......taqi mujh se bichhad ne ka gham ko...woh jhel sake........Aane wala har pal me......uske liye dher sare khushiya bhar dena bhagwaan....dher sare khushiya bhar dena.......taqi woh......apne dard bhara ateet ko.........bhul sake............

PART 56

Smita was deeply worried for Daya. Before going out, he had assured her to come back soon but since the past three hours, Smita hadn't been able to mollify her restlessness. She once checked the reception to know if her husband had called there, but she didn't get any message from there. Perturbation was burgeoned within her heart as she was unable to subdue the intense angst for her husband. She came out of the hotel for searching her husband, her fingers were getting frozen, lips were getting more dried by the chilly air of the winter. The snow almost started drizzling and the city shrouded with stark darkness. Smita was getting terribly distraught and petrified by the gnawing of the nature. Some bitter apprehension was trying to blot her mind and blur her eyes.
She was hobbling down slushy road, peering into the mist with a glimmer of hope to see her husband once but as she was going ahead, the descending darkness was snarling at her . She was looking fraught, she started praying for her husband's well being, but she wasn't being able to quell the flickering scare of her heart. Suddenly she heard the sound of ringing bell. She tried to elicit the direction of the sound with befuddled mind. Just at that moment she noticed someone coming towards her. She asked her hurriedly----behenjee ye ghanta kaha se baj raha hai keh sakte hain?? The woman smiled and answered-----haa, thori age chalke aapko ek ratsta milega....usse baye taraf jake Bhagwan shivjee ka mandir hai...waha se arahe awaz....sandhya aarti ho raha hai...
Smita expressed her gratitude and stepped ahead with haste.
Daya was there kneeling down just outside the temple, clasping his hands together in prayer and closing his teary eyes , constantly murmuring in supplication. Smita noticed him from a moderate distance and started running to reach at him within least possible time.
Daya sank deep into the prayer.
Smita reached just beside him with sheer stupefaction and deep reverence in her eyes and slowly sat there beside her husband and kept contemplating at him. Tears were raining from his eyes to suffuse his face ,Smita's thirsty eyes were vividly roving through the face of her husband, his murmuring lips, his trembling folded hands, his contrite helpless face, everything was dashing onto the shore of her heart, waves of pain were rippling within the ocean of her heart. She kept gazing at him until heard the voice of the punditjee-----kya baat hai beti??....prasad chaiye???
Daya jolted hearing the voice and as well to find Smita beside him.
Smita was looking at her husband with silent adoration. Slowly she clutched Daya to enter into the temple.
Punditjee gave them Prasad and sindoor as well to Smita. Smita shyly accepted it, kneeling there to get blessed. Daya was in trance and was in a muddled state of mind
punditjee smiled and said-----bhagwanjee sada...tum logo ka jodi sahi salamat rakhe.....yehi duya karta hun.
Smita clasping Daya's hand went out of the temple for returning to the hotel. Daya was walking within a daze. Million of sounds were coming into him to dash onto his ears. The sharp yell of Hema , the flickering sound of the tree, the gentle lapping of the waves, the larks of the birds everything was making him restive . He closed his eyes but within the dense darkness everything was overlapping one another. He was totally unaware about his surrounding and all the happenings around him, just one clattering bell and an painful wail was making him to feel dizzy. Even the bleak wind of the winter couldn't make him aware. They reached at the hotel within half an hour.

[In the night]
Smita was worried for Daya as he was abnormally silent, as if the enthuse the zeal she had noticed within him when they had coming there, had suddenly been effaced from his heart. But at the same time she was very cautious not to ask him anything as she could feel that Daya might have experienced something which was very delicate to handle.
Daya was sitting in front of the fireplace, fastened his eyes on the flaming fire.
Smita very slowly sat beside him and reclined herself upon his arm. Daya got into reality. His face started to twitch with pain ,lips started to quiver, Slowly and surprisingly he laid on the floor keeping his head on Smita's affectionate lap and like a child's innocence clasped Smita with his two arms tightly.
Smita was dabbing his hairs gently to mollify the excruciating affliction that he was bearing but at the same time she could feel his tears which were getting her sopped slowly.
Million questions were trying to blot her mind, apprehension started clouding her heart whether she would able to comfort her sensitive husband when he needed her support the most,
She kept stroking Daya very gently, Daya's whimper had been mitigated within five minute, but he was silent like a sullen child.
Smita breathed out slowly----yaha …….har jagha pe uski yaadeein bhara huya hai…….haina??
Daya clasped Smita timorously and closed his eyes, while Smita kept murmuring----so jao Dayaa, so jao….magical beams were oozing from her eyes, but Daya was trying to get up slowly to mumble something which he wasn't being able to. Smita continued stroking his hair and in her soothing voice she asked---woh mandir?
Daya nodded eagerly and again tried to mutter something but remained speechless fighting against an unforeseen force which left him dumb, but the profound agony which was getting unbearable, was being assuaged slowly by Smita's gentle touch and murmuring loving words. He kept gazing vacantly over Smita to listen more. Smita hissed again----tumhe..woh tamam palo ka…..yaad araha hai na?...hmmm??
Daya's face contorted with pain, he nodded slowly wiping the moist of his eyes with his sleeves.
Smita kept saying in undertone----use yaad karo Dayaa…..magar…..asu se nehi……muskurake yaad karo use Dayaa…
Her voice was flickering with fervour----barna….tumhara asu ….use jeene nehi degi Dayaa……
Daya kept contemplating at his wife with surprise, wonder and sheer veneration
---usne kaha tha mujhe ……hume khushi khushi jeene ke liye……,…..uski dil tumhare sath aise jura huya hai……….ki tumhare ek ek bund asu …..uski dil se ek ek bund khoon banke jharega….
Daya was sobbing into the lap of Smita unable to subdue the intense pain he had having, Smita's eyes misted up but she was calm. Her glance was fixed at the burning flame of the fireplace, she was fingering soothingly within the thick hair of Daya and whispered in impassioned voice---ro lo Daya….jitni rona hai…..aaj hi ro lo……kyuki iske baad hum …….asu me bhi muskan dhunege……..dard me bhi khushi …..aur……aur……har pareshani me bhi …..sakoon dhoonege Dayaa….
Daya was blubbering into the lap of Smita and when he stopped sobbing he couldn't feel but reposed himself into a deep slumber.

[Next Day] Morning

It was the time to bid goodbye to the queen city but Daya was peering through the window of the bus desperately. His eyes were craving to find something within the trailing scenery.
Smita could sense the turbulent storm inside Daya's heart, she clutched her husband with her warmth for giving him the sense of support, patted his unruly hair with care, caressed over his arm but Daya was as inconsolable as an innocent child. He was smouldering inside with a kindling fire that had left him perturbed. He muttered in febrile voice-----main.........main.....kuchh chhorke ja raha hun Smita.....kuchh phek ke ja raha hun........kuchh.....aisa......jo...jo…..
He was panting and puffing with sheer restiveness. Smita was having a tough time to pacify her husband but she succeeded and within half an hour Daya reposed his head upon Smita's shoulder to be quiet and lost into a short kip like a child.

Next morning

Daya and Smita reached Mumbai safely. Smita was much worried about her sensitive husband as he was silent since the journey started.
Chachu was overwhelmed to see both of them along with the baby. Daya entered with sluggish, dejected steps and slung himself onto the couch being completely frazzled. Smita was getting restive but she didn't let it reflect on her face, instead tried to be normal engaging herself with her infant daughter.
But Chachu wasn't that much sensible as Smita. He started chattering---chhotebaba? arey kya ho gaya?...itna thak gaye ho ke.......jao....naha kar kuchh kha lo.....aur pher ek lamba sa neend ...bas sab thakan chala jayega.......
Daya didn't respond for a long and chachu kept disturbing him---chhotebaba....arey kya ho gaya?? jhagra to nehi kiya mere bahuraani se..ha??
Smita came hurriedly and assured chachu by her eyes. Chachu went out and then Smita sat slowly beside Daya. Daya was lying there like a servile, submissive child. Smita kept staring at him for few seconds and then gently started rumpling his hairs. Daya opened his eyes slowly and his eyes were stuck with the loving smile of his wife. After about ten seconds she muttered slowly with a soothing voice------mere baat....yaad haina?...hmm? Daya gave her a doleful smile and then he got off to obliterate every guilt and grievous agonizing thoughts. He turned to Smita and cupping her cheeks, breathed out-----yaad hai.....har ek baat. Both glanced deeply at each other. Just then doorbell rang loudly. Daya clenched Smita's hand and himself went ahead to open the door.
Postman was there to give a registered letter. Daya took it from him and kept the door shut on.
Smita was looking at Daya warily and was getting worried as she noticed Daya's surprised and baffled face to read the letter. She came closer and asked softly-----kya baat hai?
Daya's wandering eyes were now straying from the letter and with frowning eyes he was in deep muse.
Smita was eagerly waiting to get the reply from her husband.
After a minute Daya looked upon her and spluttered out with a mixture of shock and disbelief-----advocate Bansal ka letter hai !
Smita was totally taken aback, she could only let out with fretful voice---------advocate????