I am back with another update.First of all thank you all for such lovely feedback and appreciation.😃 Have replied some and would reply back individually once I am free from my chaotic timetable.😳
So here is the Part-18.Read On.
Part-18
Flashback
NewDelhi
"Nisha! Nahin ro mat beta..Aaja meri god mein.''Naina cajoled and brought a crying at top of lungs Nisha into her lap.
"Mu..mma ''Nisha growled and cried squealing in between.
"Mumma yahin hai na.. ''Naina spoke involuntarily not realizing that Nikita was no more to rush out from her room to hold Nisha in arms.
"Mum..aaa! ''Nisha grunted as she scrambled over Naina's breasts and chest to find her mother's warmth.
Tears of helplessness rolled down Naina's eyes as she held Nisha closest to her heart. You start with a darkness to move through but sometimes the darkness moves through you.
Nisha fell asleep in her arms as Naina tried to study for her final practical examinations of Post-graduation.She had missed classes and since no-one was there to take care of Nisha ,Naina voluntarily missed the classes to look after her.Her friends have been kind enough to lend her notes.
With the nipple of milk bottle inserted in her mouth;Nisha had dozed off peacefully in Naina's arms much to relief of her.She at last got some time to cook something to feed her stomach.
The door bell went off as she set out to chop some vegetables.
"Aap koun?'' Naina asked as she opened the door to a tall yet ungracefully thin boy ;same as of her age; sporting her a broad smile.
"Main Vikram Chauhan,M.Sc.LLB .Legal advisor,Two Eagles Company'' The boy introduced and stepped forward before Naina formally invited her.The attitude somewhat made Naina uneasy.
"Suzanne ne apke bare mein nahin bataya tha.Aap uski ane ka wait karenge?''Naina asked while Vikram made himself easy on the Mexican Teakwood sofa.
"Suzanne se main baat kar liya hoon.Sirf ek file to lena hai. ''Vikram spoke with all his assurance laced in tone to make Naina feel at ease but his words surely made Naina's heart race at some 100 beats per minute.
"FILE?Mujhe wo sab ke bare mein nahin pata.Suzanne ko ane do.Aap abhi jaa sakte hein. ''Naina nearly shouted while Vikram looked a bit surprised at Naina's hysterical tone and attitude.No doubt she had just lost her family like friends.
"Tum wardrobe kholo main khud dhund ke le jaunga.Der kiya to gadbad ho jayegi. ''Vikram shot another assured reply.
"Par..''Naina trailed only to hear cries of Nisha.
"Tum Nisha ko sambhalo main file dekhta hun.'' Vikram spoke as he unabashedly entered the bedroom.
In between trying to pacify a crying Nisha to seeing the already boiling water on gas stove, Naina opened the wardrobe and Vikram just pounced ,rummaging through the big pile of files.
"Got it.Thanks... ''Vikram trailed with a smile.
"Naina.'' Naina replied while making Nisha feed the bottle cradling her in her arms.
"Main chalta hun.Bye.Take care of Nisha and Take care of Yourself ''Vikram's parting wishes and the smile really unsettled Naina.Though she could not fathom what was it disturbing her but few hours later her fears,her uneasiness and her intuitions all proved right..shocking her and breaking her.
Few Hours Later
The door bell again went on shrills as Naina sat to complete her breakfast.Nisha had her stomach full and was now sleeping peacefully clutching the tiny pillow.
"NAINA! Vikram came?'' Suzanne's worried tone made Naina feel tremors starting to build up inside her.
"Haan..Kuch file leke gaya''.Naina informed and this made Suzanne feel defeated as she sunk into the same place where Vikram had been few hours back.
"Oh Jesus! Everything is ruined.''Suzanne's despair made Naina,'the Topper' feel like failure after days of failing infront of the whole school.
"Main kuch galat kar di kya?'' Naina asked and Suzanne nodded still trying to figure how to retrieve the file.
"They were property papers of company..the important ones and the ones for which Nisha has been rendered an orphan.Ab to sab galat hona shuru hoga shayad.''Suzanne's straight words made Naina feel dizzy.She felt nausetic and wanted to puke.The restlessness was increasing and there seemed to be no respite.
"Leave it.You better take care of Nisha.I am trying to retrieve it back.''Suzanne said as she left not before kissing a sleepy Nisha.
"Hello!Chachaji!''Main Naina.Naina spoke into the receiver as she heard the voice of her friend-philosopher-guide's voice on other side.
"Naina!Kuch pareshani hai?Hum Delhi bahut jald jaanewale the.''Chachaji spoke and Naina felt like Home' after days.
"Aap Delhi mat aaiye mein Ahmedabad aa rahi hun.''Naina spoke as she clutched the spiral telephone cord tighter perhaps to draw strength.
"Par tumhari parikhsya? ''Chachaji enquired.
"Wo khatam ho gayi hai.Aap fikr mat kijiye.''Naina assured Chachaji less and herself more.
"Thik hai.Jaldi aao.''Chachaji said as he hung off.
Naina sat resting herself against the hallway wall as the horror of past night flashed by her eyes. The way two sturdy people had broken into the house.The way she was held at dagger's point as one of them rummaged ruthlessly through the cabinets of wardrobe.The way she was manhandled and the way Nisha had cried and screamed not finding any warmth by her side.
She decided to face up to awful things because she can't go around them, or forget them. The sooner she says 'Yes, it happened, and there's nothing I can do about it,' the sooner she can get on with her own life. She has got Nisha to bring up. So she has got to get over it.
Nirmala Jyoti Society,Ahmedabad
"O bai! Mujhe to abhi tak vishwas nahin ho raha hai ki bin maa ki bachi she shaadi karne koi doctor kabhi raazi hoga.Kismat khulgayi humari Naina ki.''Taiji voiced as she served the guests with some samosas.
"Vakeel Babu ki wajah se humein humara khoya hua atmasamman wapas mila.Itna to banta hai.Ladki padhi likhi ho,sundar aur sushil ho ..aur kya chahiye? ''A man with salt and pepper head uttered while all nodded in agreement.
"Bhagwan jhooth na bulaye Naina ki to bhag khul gayi.Pahunchti hogi ab. ''Chachiji spoke as the Naina's prospective groom's family awaited for her return.
"Chachiji!'' Naina called as she presented herself before the family holding Nisha in arms.Nisha cowered in fear seeing new faces and clutched Naina tighter .
"Yeh Naina hai?'' A lady asked while Chachiji nodded.
"Yeh bacha kaun hai? ''The perspective groom asked.
"Naina ki dost ki.Bechari ki maa-baap ek accident mein gujar gaye hein.Apna kehne wala koi nahin hai.''Chachiji spoke as she gestured Naina to get ready for Bride-Selection' Ceremony.
"To apne dharmsala khol rakhi hai.Agar yeh shadi hogi to Naina ko yeh bachi chodna padega.Shadi se pehle bahu ke haath mein bacha log dekhenge to kya rahega humara samman,humari izzat?'' The old man uttered which broke the last straw in Naina's self control.
"Main apni Nisha ko kabhi nahin chodungi.Aur aap bhi apne pass rakhiye aapki samman aur izzat.Nahin karni hai mujhe shaadi.''Naina gave out her ultimatum before storming into her room.
Naina knew the taunts,scoldings were awaiting to be thrown at her during her whole stay but she cared for no one now,not even her career,future ,dreams..everything now rotated around Nisha.Nisha squealed in joy as she completed her cereals bowl.Naina caressed her hair and wiped her mouth clean.
"Achi maa ban gayi hai tu Nisha ki.'' Preeti voiced seeing Naina putting Nisha to sleep.
"Preeti ! Mujhe badi tension ho rahi hai. ''Naina spoke as she rested a bit ,all tired physically and emotionally.
"Tu fikr mat kar.Sab thik ho jayega.Arey Doctor gaya to Engineer aa jayega.''Preeti tried cheering up while Naina had dozed off to a heavy slumber.
During her 15 days stay innumerable people questioned her about Nisha and the comments made her cringe.The wedding proposals came either had a cringy comment to make on Nisha's origin or Naina as an unwed mother.Naina wanted to marry not for her but to find a protector for Nisha.She by then had realised how thing were muddier in Nisha's case.The child who had not even spoke a complete sentence had been attacked once for life.
"Hum kaise vishwas karlen ki yeh apki beti ki nahin balki kisi aur ka hai?DNA Test ke bina to yeh shaadi mumkin nahin hai.''The words from the groom's side was the final nail in coffin for her.
No more she wanted to get married and get settled.Everytime Nisha would scamper on her with broken utterings of ''Mum..maa'' Naina felt she can leave everything,every happiness of hers just to be with Nisha.
Nothing was certain in her life but for one fact--Nisha and she were inseparable now.If anyone wanted Naina then he would have to want Nisha first.
As her final exams approached she returned back to Delhi and this time Preeti accompanied her.Somebody needed to take care of Nisha while Naina went away for her examinations.
If the days looked a bit brighter now for Naina little did she know life would take a U-turn for her.
Naina returned back to Ahmedavad only to step first in her house and receive a slap from Taiji.
"Karamjali! Yehi karne vilayat(foreign) gayi thi wo do saal?'' Taiji's words made her surprised and then in few seconds she knew from where it all stemmed from.
"Hello Lekhika ji! Surprised? ''Sudip's baritone voice made goosebumps rise on her nape.
"TUM?Yahan kya kar rahe ho?''Naina's words were cut by cuss words from Taiji.
"Kya kar rahe ho matlab?Yeh to bhagwan ka shukr hai ki humko sab sach pata chal gaya.O bai!Main to pehle se bol rahi thi ki iss ladki ki lakshan thik nahin lag rahen hein.'' Taiji looked all miffed while Chachiji had tears.
"Chachi!Yeh sab kya hai?'' Naina asked as she handed over a sleepy Nisha to Preeti.
"Beta!Yeh DNA ki test kyun karwate hein?'' Chachiji asked wiping tears.
"Maa-Baap ki pehchan jan ne ke liye.''Naina uttered not knowing why the questions seemed all absurd and out of place.
"Bhagwan jhooth na bulaye beta!Sach bata Nisha teri aur Sudip ki bachi hai?Tum logon ne New Yark mein saath mein the na?Sach bata kya hua tha wahan?''Chachiji prodded while Tauji still held the DNA Test report in his hands.
"KYA?Aap pagal ho gayi ho?Nisha Nikita Didi aur Sharad Bhaiya ki beti hai.Aur Sudip? Aaj tak humne dhang se baat nahin kiya hai..Preeti dekhna Chachi aur Taiji kya badbada rahein hein''.Naina went hysterical with all the accusations.
"Naina!Tum Sudip se New York mein mile the ya nahin?'' Tauji asked straight.
"Mila tha par aisa kuch ..''Naina trailed only to hear 'Sirf Haan Ya Naa'' from Tauji.
"Haan.'' Naina uttered.
"Ek hi building mein rehte the?'' Tauji further enquired.
"Haan'' Naina uttered knowing that a bigger storm was waiting to hit her hard..may be very hard.
"Andar jao..Shadi ki muhrat pakki karne Pandit ji ko bulata hun aaj sham ko.'' Tauji gave her ultimatum while Taiji seconded and Chachiji went to inform Chachaji and Rakesh who were out of town to support Arjun for his selection in Ranji Team.
"Haan haan sab set hai.Main shaadi ke baad Naina ko lekar Delhi pahunch jaunga phr to sab meri.Arey mil jayega aapko apki keemat.'' Sudip's voice reverberated in the room as Naina returned from the downstairs to drink a little water while all her family were on their way to the temple.
Naina heard the words and her stomach twitched.The steel glass fell from her hand alarming Sudip and before Naina could escape she was held by a sharp clutch on her hair.
"Kisiko sach batayi to tere anshoon ponchne wala koi zinda nahin hoga..Nisha bhi nahin.'' Sudip had enough strength in his voice to shake away all the strength of her.
Sitting at the backyard of the Shiv temple and holding Nisha in her arms slightly patting her to sleep she saw the gulmohar tree shed some flowers.The flowers blew along the road choosing their own destination ,no more controlled by the tree,their origin.
She decided to free herself, dance into the wind, create a new language.She decided to choose her own destination.
"Shefali!Mere liye ek Ahmedabad se Shimla ki train ki booking karlegi?Please.Aur kisiko batana mat.Tujhe meri kasam. ''Naina spoke as she handed a five hundred note to Shefali.
"Par Naina teri shaadi..Ghar mein aise bina bataye..''Shefali tried reasoning.
"Tu sirf mere aur Nisha ke bare mein sochkar yeh ticket karle badi meherbani hogi.''Naina pleaded as a lone tear spilled down her eyes.
"Karlungi.Subah ke Chaar baje ka train hai.Chalega? ''Shefali asked checking the Train Time table book.
"Haan chalega.''Naina agreed and gave her best friend a bone crushing hug.
The journey she had decided to embark upon was not easy. Also she was sure some beautiful paths can't be discovered without getting lost.
Naina realised that her life was no more the same as she got down at the Shimla Railway station.Nisha had cried,puked,giggled and had fallen asleep in her arms gradually getting acquaint with Naina's warmth and odour.
"Bhaiya! Almora ke liye bus kahan milega?''Naina asked in the counter at the bus stand.
"Almora!Koi rishtedaar hai wahan?'' The man behind counter had a surprise look.
"Haan.Hein.Aap Almora ke liye bus bata dijiye.Please''.Naina pleaded while Nisha flashed her smile at the counter man.
"Aapki bachi bahut pyari hai.Acha apko Almora ke liye direct bus to nahin milega yahan se.Aap ko break journey karna hoga.Yahan se Haldwani bus lekar jayiye aur phir Haldwani ke Bus stand se aapko Almora ke liye bus mil jayegi.''The man informed while Naina thanked with an exhausted yet happy smile.
"Aap Suzanne ji ke mehman hein?'' A lady asked Naina as she shrunk to the ground on the stairs to Suzanne's house.
"Haan.Thoda pani milega''Naina asked as she felt she would soon fall unconscious.
"Zaroor milega.Aap humare ghar chaliye.Suzanne ji ko shayad lautne mein waqt lagega.Bachi bhi bhukhi hogi.Laaiye bachi ko mujhe dijiye.''The lady volunteered to pick up Nisha while Naina held the nearby electric pole to stand to her feet.
"Thank you...''Naina trailed.
"Nirupama.Aapka naam aur yeh pyari si bachi ka naam?'' Nirupama asked as she fed Nisha with some more cereal.Her baby Rishav was also of same age.So she better knew how travel sick babies behaved.
"Naina Agarwal aur meri bachi Nisha.Lagta hai badi bhookh thi meri bachi ko.Aapka bhi bahut pyara bacha hai.''Naina commented as she saw Rishav crawling round the house giggling and grunting.
"Naina! Listen! No body knows about this address of mine.You are safe here.I am going to settle in Chicago this month only.Have talked about you in the agency.Any problem you can confidently contact them.Settle yourself now and give me a call if you need anything for yourself or Nisha.''Suzanne briefed before leaving for the meeting.
Naina put Nisha on the bed as she set her things in a cornor.Her feet enthralled at the touch of the wood on the flooring and as the cool wind of evening touched her hairs.She felt like free bird and knew that it all new beginning.
New Home,New Memories and of course New Challenges.
Sameer pulled her into a hug, which she fell into, feeling crushed. She had the strangest feeling they were stealing this moment and no matter how tightly she held on, it wouldn't help. Her fears had not subsided by then so were her tears.
He planted a kiss on her forehead as he shushed her.The bitter days brought out all the roars buried deep inside her. After a moment or few minutes in sequential time; everything felt suspended: time, law, prohibition: nothing exhausted, nothing wanted: all desires abolished, for they seem definitively fulfilled... A moment of affirmation; for a certain time, though a finite one, a deranged interval, something has been successful: she felt fulfilled in his arms.
The shrills of door bell accompanied by loud thumpings on the door made Naina jerk from her state and she looked at the watch. It was past midnight.
Who could be there?
"Mat jao''. She asked clutching the fabric of his shirt tighter as he tried to pull her out from the embrace.
"Kuch nahin hoga.Main dekhta hoon.''He assured tucking the loose hair strand behind her ear.
"Arey ruko.Koun ho tum.Adhi raat ko aa gaye?'' Sameer muttered under breath as he opened the door.
"Tum!'' Sameer stood shocked at the threshold.
"Uncle!Mumma..'' Nisha pushed Sameer while Raunak gave a helpless look.
"Thank you Raunak Uncle!Bye'' Nisha waved back as Sameer closed the door.
"MUMMA!Main aa gayi.''Nisha squealed as she hugged a surprised Naina .
"Niru ke pass so rahi thi na?Kya hua?'' Naina asked as Nisha sat fidgeting with the 'gajra'.
"Mujhe neend nahin aayi isliye Uncle ko bola ki mujhe ghar chod de.''Nisha clarified as she planted a kiss on Naina's cheeks.
"Nisha!Chalo ab raat bahut ho gayi hai so jao.''Sameer spoke as he put the pillows.
"Uncle!Aap aur Mumma ne kapde nahin badle?Kya kar rahe the? ''Nisha asked while Naina blushed a little at Nisha's enquires.
"Hum dono baatein kar rahe the ''Sameer clarified as he opened his satchel to take out the night suit.
"Mere bare mein?''Nisha asked all excited while Naina nodded.
"Mumma! Main wo milk shake pi lun?Bahut tasty tha.'' Nisha asked as she saw the filled glass tumbler on the table.
"Pi lo. ''Sameer said as he brought the glass to the bed.Nisha completed the glass and wiped her mouth with Naina's pallu.
"Ab so jao.''Sameer asked as he made Nisha lie down adjusting the pillow under her head and clearing few petals.
"Aap aur Mumma phir baatein karenge?''Nisha asked as Sameer patted her to sleep gesturing her not to talk anymore and sleep.
Naina put the blanket over her not before planting a kiss on her forehead to which Nisha returned the kiss before falling into slumber.
"Tum bhi so jao.'' Naina asked Sameer as he came out of bathroom changing clothes.
"Kyun tum kya bhajan kirtan karogi?Kapde badal ke sone aa jao.''Sameer nearly instructed as he lied on the bed and checked his phone for any new messages.
"Main sofa ke upar so jaungi.Yeh bed pe jagah nahin honge teen.''Naina clarified as she took out her jewellery.
"Serials ki mahan bahu ki tarah mat bano.Main adjust karlunga.No more words.''Sameer commanded as he pulled Nisha towards his side making enough place for Naina.
"Ziddi ho na tum.Kabhi nahin sudhroge'' Naina stumped her feet as she went into the bathroom.
As he tightened his embrace around Nisha, he knew he'd made the right choice.
He held the whole world in his arms.
(To be continued)
P.S.:Thank you for reading.😃 Would love to read all your feedback.😳 Next update will be after 30th of April.
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