"Nisha!Uth jaa beta.School jana hai na aaj.''Naina called as she tidied the room.
"Mumma!Uncle aa gaye? ''Nisha mumbled in sleep as Nisha pulled her out from the bed.
"Nahin aaye hein.Ab nahin aayenge.Par aaj hum Nanaji ke ghar chalenge.''Naina said as she combed Nisha's dishevelled hair.
"Abhi chalenge?'' Nisha asked excited.
"Nahin.School se laut ne ke waqt''.Naina corrected and Nisha seemed impatient to meet Nanaji.
"Mumma!Hum Nanaji ke liye chocolates leke jaayenge?'' Nisha asked as she wore her school uniform.
"Haan leke jaayenge.Udhar ek Piku Bhaiya hein unke liye cookies leke jaayenge.Chalo ab table pe aa jao.Breakfast khatam karo.''Naina set the tie and brought Nisha to the dining table.
Meanwhile
Music Research Foundation and Training,New Delhi
"Sir! Kuch kha lijiye.Meeting ko abhi waqt hai.'' Namrata scurried behind Sameer as he juggled between files and folders.
"Namrata! Mujhe bhook nahin hai.Munna kahan hai?''Sameer asked as he put few papers in the scanner.
"Wo..Der hogi unko ane mein.'' Namrata informed fumbling.
"Kyun?Kya kar raha hai ghar mein?Meeting ke din bhi late.''Sameer enquired less frustrated and more nervous.
"Wo..Bhabhi ne bataya ki Bhaiya ko deri hogi.Aap samjha karo na.Khud bhi shaadi kar li ab to.''Namrata spoke blushingly and placed the Matar Kulcha on the table.
"Oh..acha samajh gaya.Tumne breakfast kiya hai? ''Sameer asked cocking his eyebrows and signing a few sheets.
"Aapke saath karungi.Malhotra Sir ko ane mein waqt lagega.Unka All India Radio mein kuch meeting hai.Isliye..'' Namrata trailed and Sameer gave an impossible' look.
"Ek dum chalu hai yeh admi.Kaam aur kaminapan dono isse achi tarah se ata hai.''Sameer declared as he finally sat for the breakfast.
"Sir!Wo aap jo CV mangwaya tha yahan hai. ''Avik barged into the cabin ceasing Sameer from taking the very first bite.
"Avik! Sir ab khane baithe hein na?Ab tum jao.Jao na.'' Namrata said stressing.
"Nahin Avik ruko.Namrata! Baad mein kha lunga.Ab ek acha sa coffee bhejo.''Sameer ordered while Namrata went away huffed.
Few Hours Later
"Haan Sameer!Bolo.'' Naina's voice flowed through as Sameer relaxed on the swivel chair.
"Tum free ho? ''Sameer asked emptying his 4th cup of coffee.
"Haan hun.Kyun? Koi kaam tha?'' She asked as she collected the rough manuscript of her latest book.
"Tum Nanaji ko thoda check karlete.''His voice mellowed and she understood something was off.
"Main abhi jaa rahi hun unse milne.Nisha ko school se leke unhe milne jaungi.Tum thik ho?''She asked while he felt a surge of relaxed breeze flow over him.
"Thank you.''He voiced out of formal habit for years.
"Tum pagal ho kya?Tumhare Nanaji ab to mere bhi Nanaji hein na.Breakfast mein kya khaya tha?''She asked and suddenly he was feeling glad to be bossed around.
"Kuch nahin.Meeting ki break chal raha hai.Khatam ho jayega to direct lunch karlunga. ''He briefed while she had a displeasure written on her face.Only if he could see it.
"Sameer!Kaam to thik hai par apni health ki bhi dhyan rakho.Itna travelling kar rahe ho bimar pad jaoge toh..''.She trailed while his words kicked in interrupting.
"Toh...'' His voice had a tease and she was no less..
"Toh Nisha bahut pareshan ho jayegi.Tum na apni wo PA ka number mujhe do.Usse mein baat karungi.''She replied with a sly smile.
"Baat karogi ya daantogi?Uski koi galti nahin hai.Mujhe hi bhookh nahin tha.''Sameer defended Namrata.
"Uski tarafdaari mat karo.Bas uski number do.Ab jao.Meeting khatam hote hi lunch kar lena.Main jaa rahi hun.Der ho jayegi.'' Naina spoke as she heard the clock chime 2 PM.
"Arey suno to..Hello..''He spoke only to hear the phone hung off.
"Kuch aadatein badalte nahin.''He mumbled as he proceeded to the Conference hall.
Meanwhile In Almora.
"Ek minute.Aati hun Niru''.Naina voiced as she applied the sindoor and dabbed her face with the compact powder.
"TUM!Ab kyun aaye ho?Mujhe tumse ab koi baat nahin karni.Busy hun.''Naina spoke and tried closing the door.
"Wah!Kya surprise hai Naina Madam!Shaadi karli aapne?Aur humein bataya bhi nahin?''Vikram asked in a mock tone checking out Naina from head to toe.
"Mere rishtedaar nahin ho jo apni personal kaam main tumhe bulaungi.Ab jao yahan se.''Naina commanded and saw a shift in the gaze of Vikram.
The next moment she found herself pinned up against the wall. Vikram stood towering over her with his frame dwarfing her.
"Kya tum mujhse pyar nahin karte Naina? ''He asked clasping her wrist in his calloused fingers.
"Bilkul bhi nahin.Yeh galat fehmi se nikal jao aur haath chodo mera.''Naina tried wriggling out.
"Tum jhooth bol rahe ho.Mera pyar itna kamzor nahin ke chand rashmon ke bandhan mein dum tod de.Bhale hi tumhare maang mein kisi ajnabi ka sindoor ho,par mere dil main ab bhi tumhare liye pyar dhadak raha hai''. Vikram spoke with pain and determination laced in his tone.
"Vikram!Haath chodo mera''.Naina writhed in pain as she tried unclasping her wrist.
"Nahin chodunga.Ab shaadi hi karni thi to mujhse kyun nahin?Bas ek baar bata do koun hai jo mujhse tumko chin le gaya hai?'' His grip went tighter and Naina shivered with an unknown fear.
"Vikram!Haath chodo mera.Mujhe dard ho raha hai.''Naina pleaded as tried pulling out her wrist.
"Nahin chodunga.Aur mera dard?Kabhi socha hai uske bare mein?'' He asked and moved dangerously close to her.
"VIKRAM!Mera tumse koi rishta nahin hai aur ab jao yahan se.Varna..mein Police ko bula lungi.''She threatened though in a meek voice.
"Hahha..Police!Ek baar complain ki thi na.Kya mila?Main chala jaunga lekin yeh bhi yaad rakhlo shaadi karke tumne thik nahin kiya.Yeh dard mujhe kaante ki tarah chubhi hai.Aur tumhein bhi kaanta banke chubhega.Yaad rakhna Naina Agarwal.'' Vikram said as he slammed her wrist against the door.
The glass bangles broke; pieces piercing into her wrist. Her wrist watch showed 2.35 and Naina knew she was late for school.
Wrapping the wounds in her handkerchief she picked up Nisha. There were some spots of blood on her sleeve which definitely caught attention of Nisha.
"Nisha!Nanaji ke pair(feet) chhuke pranam karna.'' Naina instructed as Piku opened the door to them.
"Nanuuu! ''Nisha shouted aloud as Nanaji came out from his room to receive the visitors.
"Aye meri Princess! ''Nanaji complimented as he lifted Nisha in his arms.
"Oops!Mumma ne kaha tha aapke pair chune ke liye.Niche utariye na.''Nisha spoke as she saw Naina touching feet of Nanaji.
"Princess pair nahin chute.Piku mere Nisha ko hot chocolate pilao''.Nanaji ordered while Nisha scurried to the kitchen behind Piku.
"Naina!Beta yeh haath mein kya hua hai? ''Nanaji asked seeing Naina blowing over the bandage of handkerchief.
"Wo kuch nahin Nanaji.Sidiyon mein gir gayi isliye chudiyan tut ke lag gayi hai.Thik ho jayega.'' Naina lied because Vikram was a chapter and she wanted to keep it secret.
"Jara dhyan rakho apna.First aid ke bina ghum rahi ho.Yeh bilkul galat hai.Piku! first aid ka box laa de''.Nanaji voiced to which Piku immediately obliged.
"Ahh!'' Naina mewled as pain shot through her veins.
"Tum metal ki chudiyan pehno. Kaanch ki pehen ne ki koi zaroorat nahin hai.Zyada dard to nahin ho raha hai?''Nanaji asked as he carefully bandaged her wrist.
"Nanaji!Aap please Sameer ko kuch mat batana''.Naina asked as he secured the bandage with a knot.
"Kyun nahin bataunga?Ab to tumhari har choti se choti baat jan ne ka zimmedari hai uska,haq hai uska.Koi baat hai beta? ''Nanaji prodded as he could see how her eyes lacked the spark of zest and happiness.
"Nahin Nanaji.Kuch nahin hai.Mujhe thoda publisher ke pass jana hai.Nisha yahin rahegi.Main ek ghante mein wapas aajaungi.'' Naina said and Nanaji caressed her head.
"Ache se jao.Jaldi aa jana.Saath mein lunch karenge.'' Nanaji uttered to which Naina obliged with a smile.
Meanwhile
"Bhaiya!Ab tak Sameer bhaiya ne kuch nahin khaya.''Namrata spoke worried to Munna.Munna seemed not so pleased with the guitar strums flowing from the locked room of his chamber.
"Tune khana khaya?'' Munna asked to which Namrata nodded in negation.
"Pagal ho gaya hai ye ladka.Ruk mein try karta hun.''Munna spoke determined and several rounds of intense knocks followed.
"Munna!Namrata!Jao yahan se..Mujhe kisise koi baat nahin karni hai.''Sameer commanded much to displeasure of both of them.
"Sameer!Namrata ne bhi kuch nahin khaya hai.Ab agar usko chakkar aa gaye to baad mein mujhe kuch mat bolna.Baaki tere marzi. ''Munna retorted back knowing very well that the trick would work very effectively.
And the trick worked well.The door opened and Munna sighed with relief.While Namrata shivered at the sight.She had expected this but now that it has happened she felt at her worst.
"Bhaiya!Phir se?'' Namrata's voice had an unsaid pain and Sameer looked at his badly cut finger.He had not used the pick' to play and direct strumming against the strings has cut his finger.
"This is the best way.''Sameer declared and earned a not-so-tight slap from Munna.
"Shaadi kar liya hai.Kuch to aadat badal le.''Munna spoke and left giving all the time to Sameer for introspecting his spoken words.
"Aap bhabhi ka number do.Abhi unhe call karke batati hun.Kya bhaiya? Itni choti baat ke liye..''Namrata trailed as she bandaged his finger.
"Choti baat?Samajhta kya hai apne apko wo Malhotra? Thodi si power kya mil gayi hai ki apne aap ko to bhagwan hi samjne laga hai.''Sameer's rage rose up like an extinct volcano suddenly turned active and flowing.
"Shaant ho jaiye aap.Ab iss sab ke bare mein kuch der sochna chodke kuch kha lijiye pehle.Subah se bhuke hein.Chaliye muh kholiye.''Namrata asked as she produced the biryani box from her satchel.
"Tu na ekdum ziddi hai.''Sameer spoke as Namrata thrusted the entire box in his hand.
"Haan hun ziddi.Aap se hi sikha hai.Waise bhabhi bhi ziddi hai kya?''Namrata asked as she intently admired the portfolio of Naina at the back cover of her book.The book which was adorning her Sameer Bhaiya's table.
"Bahut ziddi hai.Waise tu aaj kaafi achi dikh rahi hai.Kahan se li yeh dress? ''Sameer asked and Namrata's eyes widened.Her Sameer Bhaiya complementing her was something phenomenon of blue moon' occurrence.
"Sarojini se.Waise Bhabhi aur Nisha ke liye bhi kuch laayi hun.Aap jaate waqt le jaana.Aur aise hi smile banaye rakhna chehre..Gusse mein na dus sar wala danav dikhte ho..''Namrata giggled as she pulled his cheeks.
In Almora
Rishav's House
"Rishav!Pata hai aaj Mumma ke haath mein chot lag gayi hai.Stairs se gir padi.Bada dard ho raha hai shayad.''Nisha melancholically voiced and Rishav produced a chocolate bar from his pocket to cheer her up.
"Aunty ko bolna Muscodac laga de.Jab bhi mein gir jaata hun Mummy wohi laga deti hai''.Rishav suggested while Nisha opened the chocolate bar.
"Moti! Shaadi ke photos Papa studio se laa diye hein.Main bahut acha dikh raha hun.'' Rishav informed and Nisha's face suddenly lit up.
"Aur main kaise dikh rahi hun?Photos laa na mujhe dekhna hai.Please''.Nisha prodded and Rishav stealthily took out the photos from the cupboard shelf.
"Wow!Mumma kitni sundar dikh rahi hai.Uncle bhi.Aur yahan main bhi hun.''Nisha was overwhelmed seeing her pictures and how beautiful she looked too.
"Tu ab tak Uncle ko Uncle bula rahi hai?''Rishav asked as he took a certain photograph where Sameer was making Naina wear the 'mangalsutra.'
"Uncle ko uncle hi bulaungi na.Tu aisa kyun puch raha hai?'' Nisha asked eyeing the photograph.
"Mujhe lagta hai tujhe Uncle ko ab Papa bolna chahiye.Mummy aur Papa ki bhi aisi ek photo hai.Aur shayad sab Papa aise photo lene se pehle uncle hote hein...Aunty ne tujhe kuch bola nahin hai?''Rishav asked scratching his head.
"Nahin to.Papa kitna ajeeb lagega Uncle ko bulane.Main uncle hi bulati hun.Tujhe aadat ho gayi hai Papa bulane ki mujhe to nahin hai na.Sham ho rahi hai.Main ghar jaa rahi hun.'' Nisha uttered and Rishav got up giving her a hand to get up.
"Kal main aaungi to milke Maths solve karenge.Burrowing ache se mujhe samajh aa gayi hai.Byeee'' Nisha waved and Rishav's Nani escorted her to her house.
Next Day
"Piku!Nanu thik hai na?Kahan hein wo?'' Sameer asked dropping his briefcase on the bed.
"Haan thik hein.Bahar gaye hein ab wapas aa jayenge.Apke liye chai banau?'' Piku asked while Sameer nodded in affirmation.
He unbuttoned his short buttons at the top; ran a hand through his silk hair before he wordlessly slumped against the chair.He had been exhausted with the meetings and travelling to and fro.He needs to talk to Naina immediately about shifting to Delhi and few other things.
"Sameer!Tu agaya.Bahut acha kiya. ''Nanaji spoke and Sameer turned up in the chair.
"Ji Nanu!Par aap aise phone karke kyun bulaya?Waise bhi main parso anewala tha.Koi problem hai?''Sameer asked as he checked Nanji's forehead.
"Meri fikr mat kar.Main bilkul mast hun.Naina se milne tujhe bulaya tha.Pareshan hai who koi baat ko leke.''Nanaji sounded gloomy.
"Aapko kaise pata?'' Sameer asked thinking of probable situations.
"Yeh baal aise hi dhup main safed nahin kiye hein.Ab time waste mat kar aur jaldi jaa use mil le.Aur haan sidiyon se girke chudiyan tut ke haath mein chot lagi hai use.Sambhalke baat karna aur uski dhyan rakhna.''Nanaji instructed and caressed Sameer's shoulder.
"Main abhi nikalta hun''.He voiced not completely convinced about the falling in stairs theory.
Few Minutes Later
"Arey bhai ruko..Bell tod doge shayad! ''Naina grumbled as she was interrupted while drafting a beautiful paragraph for her upcoming novel.
"Sam..eer! Tum to parsho anewale the na?'' Naina fumbled as she opened the door.
"Kyun aaj mujhe dekh ke khush nahin ho?''He asked cocking his eyebrow and she blushed at the intense gaze.
"Tum baitho.Main chai banake laati hun''.She said and tried escaping to the kitchen lest he bombards her with questions about the wound.
"Mujhe tumse baat karni hai.Haath dikhao.'' He asked and she looked into his eyes suddenly feeling weak under the questioning gaze of his.She could lie to the whole universe even but not him.
"Kaise lagi yeh chot?'' He asked inspecting the bandaged gauge cloth.
"Wo jaldi mein sidiyon mein pair phisal gayi.''She said mechanically and he instantly knew how rehearsed the speech was.
He pulled up her sleeve and gripped hard her elbow.She just looked at him, feeling utterly empty. She didn't know what she was supposed to say to him.
"Yahan dard hai? ''He asked and she nodded in negation.
His hands trailed up above to her shoulders.She felt her breath steer deep as his fingers gripped the collar bones.
"Yahan dard hai?'' He asked with the same piercing gaze and she could only nod a NO.
Her knees stifled as his fingers pressed them hard through the satin.She felt tickle on her skin and every bit of her insides were in continuous movement, shaking and shivering.
"Yahan dard hai?'' He asked and she could fumble out "Nahin..hai.''
"KOUN AYA THA NAINA?'' His eyes on her eyes and she felt she was tearing apart, inside and outside.
"Main sach mein gir gayi thi. ''She tried sounding confident so that it sounds convincing too.
"Sidiyon mein girke bhi tumhein kahin aur chot nahin lagi sirf haath mein hi chot lagi hai?Jhooth Nanaji ko boli ho,shayad Nirupama ji ko bhi bole hoge..aur Nisha ko bhi..Mujhe to mat bolo.''He spoke ;anger and frustration, evident in his voice.
"Tum bekar mein tension le rahe ho.Tum na yeh batao meeting kaise gaya? ''She tried diverting while he seemed all focused on the wound.
"Darwaze ke pass kya hua tha Naina?'' He asked not wavering from the topic.
"Kounsa darwaza?Tum na be wajah tension le rahe ho.''She tried calming him and he was in no mood to relent her rehearsed facade.
"Wohi darwaza jiske pass tumhari chudi ka ek tukda ab bhi tut ke pada hai.Aur jis pe khun bhi hai.Gadha nahin hoon mein.Batao kya hua tha? ''He enquired and she felt she was a fool to not notice the broken bangle piece while cleaning.
"Main nahin bata sakti.Bahut kuch kho chuki hun aur ab kuch nahin khona chahti.''She voiced; broken.
"Kyun nahin bata sakti?Bataoge tabhi kuch karunga na.''He tried making her see sense.
"Usi ka darr hai.Kuch karoge to main tumhe kho dungi aur saath mein Nisha ko bhi.Main phir se akeli ho jaungi ya phir Nisha hum dono ke bina bilkul akeli ho jayegi.Tum samajh jao.Please.'' Naina uttered and slumped against the wall sliding to the floor.
"Aur tum soch rahi ho ki tum apna jung akele ladhoge aur main yahan baith ke tamasha dekhunga.Isliye shaadi ki thi mujhse?Tumse baat karna hi bekar hai. ''He voiced all annoyed and got up to leave.
"Sameer suno.. meri baat ''She voiced trotting behind him.
"Mujhe kuch nahin sun na.Karo apni manmani.Main jaa raha hun.''He jerked her hands away and left without even throwing a glance.
All the worries,anxieties and his sudden exit had been too much for her.She suddenly broke down in tears.She could not resist tearing up while everything around her was collapsing.He didn't understand and she didn't know how to make him understand while she still was in fog of confusion.
"Mumma!Kya hua?Aap ro kyun rahi ho?Uncle mere liye chocolate nahin laaye isliye? Apko daanta kya?''Nisha asked cupping her mother's face in her tiny hands.
Naina sobbed harder and hugged her harder.
"Naina!Kya hua?Nisha jaake paani lao Mummy ke liye.Andar chalo'' Nirupama helped Naina to feet while Nisha was annoyed with her Uncle.He came and left without meeting her.He could have given her a call.She was at Rishav's home only.And seems like he had forgotten to bring her chocolates too.Even he made her dearest Mumma cry.She decided to talk to him about this and sort it out.How proudly she had declared that she would get chocolates for Rishav and Priya once her Uncle returns from Delhi.This is not acceptable.
"Niru!Wo samajh.. nahin raha hai.'' Naina stammered as Niru pulled her into a hug.
"Nahin Naina aise nahin rote.Kabhi kabhi aise jhagda ho jaata hai.Kuch der baad unka gussa shaant ho jayega to khud call karenge ya phir milne aa jayenge.''Nirupama tried consoling while Nisha made her mother drink water.
"Mumma!Aap na tension mat lo.Main Uncle se gussa hun.Mujhe gussa dekh wo phir se aa jayenge.Aap mat ro.'' Nisha said wiping Naina's tears.Her cute talks definitely brought smiles to Naina's face amidst tears.
"Niru!Tum kuch der Nisha ko leke ghar jao.Mujhe thodi der akela chod do.'' Naina spoke and without waiting for the reply ;slammed the door of her bedroom.
Meanwhile
"Arey Sameer! Itni jaldi aa gaye?Naina thik hai?'' Nanaji asked as he kept down the newspaper.
"Main kal Delhi jaa raha hun.Piku mera shirt iron karlena''.He asked Piku and Piku obliged taking the shirt from him.
"Naina se jhagda karke aaya hai?'' Nanaji asked straight seeing his demeanour.
"Khudko pata nahin kya samjhti hai.Apni manmani use karni hai.Main to gadha hun.Kuch nahin ho sakta mujhse.Velle baitha hun''.Sameer had a tone of despair and Nanaji could take no more.
"Use akela rote huye chod aya?Baar baar aise galti kyun karta hai Sameer? Usse abhi teri zaroorat hai aur tu..Yeh umeed nahin tha mujhe.'' Nanaji spoke utterly dejected.
"Usse meri zaroorat nahin hai.Khud boli hai mujhse.''Sameer defended.
"Wo bol di aur tu chala aya.Akal bhi hai tujhme. Abhi jaake use Sorry bol.Itna bada ho gaya hai aur yeh sab bhi main bataunga?'' Nanaji commanded and Sameer got up to leave.
"Kahan jaa raha hai?'' Nanaji asked seeing him leave in a huff.
"Mujhe kuch der akela chod dijiye.'' He spoke and slammed the door.
The phone at Sameer's place went in shrills.
"Hello! Mausa Ji.Main Nirupama bol rahi thi. ''Niru spoke into the phone hearing Nanaji's voice at the other end.
"Haan boliye.Naina thik hai na?''Nanaji asked suddenly worried. He was quite upset with Sameer's behaviour. His door was still locked from inside.
"Pata nahin.Darwaza band karke baithi hai.Sameer ji hein ghar pe? ''Nirupama asked and Nanaji told how he too had locked up himself in room.
"Aise jhagdenge to kaise hoga? Nisha bhi hai na. ''Nirupama said while Nanaji agreed.
"Ab hum dono ko hi kuch karna hoga''. Nanaji suggested while Nirupama agreed to support whole heartedly.
"Mujhe bhi lagta hai humein hi sab kuch karna hoga.'' Nirupama said and hung off after discussing something.
Oblivious to two broken souls behind the doors two important people of their lives decided to play the cupid.
(To be continued)
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Fan Fictions
Kabhi Neem Neem Kabhi Shahad Shahad
