Meetha sa Ruhani ISHQ (Sequel)

257. Mini's unexpressed emotional void.

He kept the bottle near her lips after opening the lid and she held it. 

Taking a few sips of water in between her sobs, she calmed herself. 

Neil: (keeping his hand on her cheek, raised her chin to meet her eyes) Mini... Kya baat hai?

He saw tears were still present in her eyes. 

Mini: Ab na mujhse yeh sab bardaasht nahi hota hai.... Vo sab memories... Jhagde.... Taunts...  Avoid karna chahti thi main.... Nahi sochna chahti hu main vo sab dobara....

Meeta: Dekh lo tumhari harkate kitna affect kar chuki hai Mini ko... Abhi vo tumse isiliye baat nahi karna chahti.

Ashok: Ha jaanta hu main vo affected hai... Par baat to kar sakti hai na?... Maafi mang lunga main... 

Neil couldn't understand her reaction this time. All they had the convo about her father was only twice. Firstly when Mini was consoling him after he was broken to know Keya isn't his daughter and secondly when Mini was drugged. He still remember every word she had said.

"Tumhe pata hai Neil, Mere babes se shaadi ek 1 month baad hi mere papaji London chale gaye. Me 17 saal ki ho gayi aur vo sirf 4 baar wapas aaye vo bhi thode time ke liye. ek baar jab me 1 saal ki thi....phir jab 3 saal ki thi.....ek baar jab me 12 saal ki thi aur ek last baar jab me 17 saal ki thi aur meri babes ka divorce hua....meine kabhi unke andar ke papaji dekhe hi nahi... phir mujhe hanuman uncle mile...unse mujhe vo pyaar mila jo mere papaji ko mujhe dena chahiye tha.....vo mujhe.....apni beti jaisa mante tha....mere papaji ke liye mere man me utni respect, utna care, utna pyaar nahi hoga jitna mere papaji na hokar bhi hanuman uncle ke liye tha, hai aur hamesha rahega....."

"Unme kabhi meine apne papaji ko dekha hi nahi.... Jab dekha to as a son, as a brother, as a disloyal husband but not ever as a father. But tumhari baatein sun ke laga that maybe he also would have felt as a father....maybe not as much as I felt bad in loneliness as a daughter but still... Maybe unhe kabhi apna father side dikhane ka mauka nahi mila.... But I still hate him.... Unhone koshish bhi nahi kari.... kabhi nahi.... never a single time ever in his life."

Neil: Mini.... you have felt the loneliness of not having your father for you.... to aaj jab vo milna chahte the... baat karna chahte the tumse..... to tumne kyu nahi baat kari?....

Ashok: Mini felt so lonely?

Mini didn't answered him and lowered her gaze.

Neil: You hated him right?..... because he didn't made any move to contact you except that letter... Haina?.... But today you got to know na?... He had tried many a times to contact you... Phir bhi tum suna ke aa gayi... Kyu?

Ashok: Usko pata hi nahi tha ki main aaya tha usse milne?

Neil was hell confused as she still didn't said anything.

Neil: Bolo na Mini.... Batao to sahi mujhe.... Samajh nahi paa raha hu main...

Meeta: Mini kuch bol kyu nahi rahi?

Mini: I don't want you to understand.... Chalo ab hotel chalte hai.

Neil was blank after listening this. She stood up and Neil too did. She turned to the door of the car but Neil, holding her hand, tugged her, and made her turn back to him.

Neil: (held her arms) Par kyu Mini?

Mini: Ek baat bolti hu.... aur agar tum soch bhi sako to bataana mujhe.

Neil: Hmm...

Mini: Tum apna naam Neil Oberoi.... Bade pride se lete ho na?

Neil: Ha.