The 'Un' Attached String

Chapter - 9 [Past]

[Few days later]

On getting to airport one day, Bela came to know that the flight she was about to get in with Maahir as her captain, now she had to fly with another pilot which was very unusual since Maahir would never leave any opportunity to fly with her. She decided to enquire about it and the best person who would tell her was Kuhu as she knew that Anu was the last person with whom she could talk about Maahir. She went to Kuhu and found that she was getting ready for her own flight. On seeing Bela, Kuhu asked,"Hi Bela!! What's up?" Bela replied,"Vo aaj meri Maahir ke saath flight thi lekin abhi maine dekha ke meri flight mein koi aur captain hai. Abhi Anu ko to tum jaanti hi ho, usse to main puch nehi sakti hu to tumhaare paas..." Kuhu replied,"Vo aaj Maahir ne chutti li hai kyuki aaj uske parents ki barsi hai. Aaj ke din vo mandir mein unke naam par havan karwaata hai aur phir waha sab mein khaana aur kapre baatta hai." Bela felt very sorry on hearing about that and said,"Kamaal hai itna saara bakwaas karta hai aur itni important baat usne mujhe batayi hi nehi." Saying she was about to leave, when Kuhu stopped her and said,"Sochna bhi nehi Bela kyuki aaj ke din vo akela rehna pasand karta hai.Dekho main bhi aajtak kabhi nehi gayi."Bela replied,"Vo to uske pasand ki baat hui na, main uske pasand se to nehi chal sakti hu na. Main apni marzi ki maalkin hu."She was again about to leave when Kuhu reminded her,"Bela tumhaara to abhi flight hai, agar Sir ko pata chala ke tum aise hi apni flight chor kar chali gayi ho to...Vo aise unprofessionalism ko bohot hi zyaada dislike karte hai." Bela waved her hand in front of Kuhu's face and replied,"Oh don't worry Kuhu!! Vo mere papa hai aur mujhe ye bohot achchi tarah se pata hai ke unko kaise handle karna hai. Tum bas mujhe us mandir ka address do. Papa ki setting main kar lungi, mujhe unki dukhti rag pata hai."Kuhu gave Bela the address of the temple and then Bela left from there. After Bela left, Kuhu said to herself,"Abhi tak sirf ek taraf aag thi, abhi dusri taraf aag na sahi lekin chingaari zarur lag gayi hai."She smiled all by herself.Before getting out of the airport, she informed the airport manager that she was not feeling well all of a sudden and so she won't be able to fly today and then she called her father.

B :(made a sound as if she was dying due to the pain) "Papa!"

R :(he was already scared on hearing Bela's tone) "Bela??? Kya hua beta? Aap aise sound kyu kar rahe ho?"

B : "Papa aaj na mera flight tha par main na flight par nehi ja sakti hu kyuki na achaanak se mere pet mein bohot dard shuru ho gaya hai."

R : "Ha to beta aapko jaane ki koi zarurat nehi hai, aap ghar jaakar araam karo, main abhi doctor ko keh deta hu ke vo aakar tumhe check karle."

B :(almost screamed) "Nehi nehi papa aap na fikar mat karo. Main mamma ka kaadha pee lungi sab kuch thik ho jaayega."

R : "Thik hai beta aap phone rakkho aur rest karo."

B : "Ok papa!!"

After disconnecting the call, Bela said to herself, "Kabhi kabhi na mujhe lagta hai ke uparwaale ne jitni fursat se mujhe banaya hai usse bhi zyaada fursat se usne mujhe ye dimaag diya hai. Kasam se kabhi kabhi lagta hai ke mujhe apni hi nazar lag jaayegi." After that she thought to go to her house to get ready to go to the temple. On reaching her house, she told her mother everything and she also told her to handle her father and Madhu assured her of handling everything and she got ready and left for the temple where Maahir was performing the prayers of his parent's death anniversary.

In the temple, Maahir was performing a havan on his parents' name when he suddenly saw Bela coming and sitting beside him. On seeing her, Maahir was surprised and asked,"Bela?? What... are...you..." Bela stopped him in the middle and replied,"I know aaj meri flight thi, par Kuhu ne mujhe bataya hai ke aaj tumhaare parents ki barsi hai so main yaha aa gayi." Maahir said, "Bela please aaj nehi, mujhe aaj ke din thora akele rehna pasand hai." Bela looked at him and replied,"Vo to mujhe bhi kabhi kabhi tumhaari bohot saari harkate pasand nehi aati hai to kya tum vo nehi karte? Tumhaara yu har baar cheezy lines bolkar mujhse flirt karna mujhe bari boreing lagti hai to kya tumne mere saath flirt karna chor diya? Nehi na?Main hamesha apne dil ki karti hu, main apne papa tak ki nehi sunti to tumhaari kya sunungi?Mujhe Kuhu ne kaha hai ke tumhe aaj ke din akele rehna pasand hai lekin agar tumhe aisa lagta hai ke is vajah se main yaha se chali jaaungi to tum Ms. Bela Ranjit Sareen ko abhi tak pehchaan nehi paaye." Maahir asked,"Aur jab sir ko pata chalega ke tumne apni flight is vajah se chor di hai to?" Bela made an annoyed face and replied,"Oh God!Kuhu ne bhi mujhe yehi baat boli hai. Kamaal hai yaar mere papa koi monster nehi hai aur vaise bhi boss honge vo tumhaare, par vo mere papa hai so... Chill!! Aur phir abhi na meri choro aur apne havan par dhyaan do jiske liye yaha aaye ho kyuki main to yaha se jaane waali hu nehi." Saying she joined her hands and closed her eyes and Maahir, nodding his head disappointedly did the same. After the havan, Maahir went to serve food to the poor people and seeing him, Bela too followed him. She asked, "Tum har saal aaj ke din gareebo ko khaana aur kapre dete ho?" Maahir replied,"Ha bilkul!! Mujhe bohot achcha lagta hai. Pehle ma aur papa har saal mere janamdin par karte the, vo kehte the ke isse dil ko bohot sukoon milta hai ab jab main aisa karta hu to mujhe bhi sukoon milta hai aur..." He gave a sigh and continued, "Kuch pal ke liye hi sahi aisa lagta hai ke vo log mere saath hai." Bela put her hand on his shoulder and said, "Your parents are so lucky that they have a son like you. Aaj unhe tumpar bohot proud feel ho raha hoga." Maahir asked her, "Tum yaha aa rahi ho mujhe bataya kyu nehi?" Bela replied, "Tumne bhi to nehi bataya na ke aaj tum chutti lene waale ho. Mujhe apna dost kehte ho aur mujhse tumne itni bari baat chupaayi hai." Maahir replied, "I'm sorry!!" Bela nodded her head in acceptance of his apology and Maahir smiled then took her to the area where all the foods were gathered. On seeing those giant sized containers, Bela swallowed the lump that formed inside her throat. Maahir walked up there and brought two buckets and said,"Ye lo ye dal hai tum serve karna aur puriya main serve kar dunga." Bela looked at the bucket of lentil and her eyes widened in such a way as if it would just pop out of the hole and she somehow picked up the bucket and walked towards the poor people whom she had to serve. She followed Maahir and observed how he was serving them and so when it was her turn to serve, she picked up the giant spoon and dipped it inside the bucket of lentil but at the time of picking up, her hands were shaking and also the spoon that she held was held in a tilted way and so it slipped from Bela's hand and fall into the bucket. Bela made a sorry face to Maahir and he understood that Bela had never ever served food in her whole life and even in her house food always used to be served to her. Bela pouted and said, "I'm sorry!! Vo kya hai na ghar mein bhi mamma serve karti hai aur ye bohot bhaari hai...to..." Maahir felt pity for Bela and said, "Achcha thik hai tum ek kaam karo tum puriya serve karo main dal serve kar deta hu. Puriya tum do ya teen uthakar haath se de dena." Bela's eyes glowed with happiness on imagining that it would be much better and easier for her. After serving the food, suddenly Bela's eyes fall on a small boy who was not being able to eat because of his paralysis and was crying out of helplessness. Bela put down the bucket and went to his aid and felt very pity to see his condition. She then herself fed the boy and seeing this the one of the other volunteers came and asked,"Arey arey aap ye kya kar rahi hai?" Bela looked at the person and replied,"Arey ye bichaara bachcha kha nehi pa raha hai to main usko khila rahi hu." The person said,"Dekhiye is bachche ke haatho aur pero mein kitne ghaao hai, aapko bhi ho jaayegi." Bela smiled and replied,"Ab agar isko iske parents ne saare vaccinations nehi dilwaaye to isme is bichaare ka kya dosh hai? Aap fikar nehi kijiye mere parents ne mujhe saare vaccinations dilwaaye hai to mujhe kuch nehi hoga aur vaise bhi main Punjabi hu aur vo bhi dono side se aur uske upar non vegetarian,menu kuch nehi hona hai."All the other volunteers were staring at Bela as she was feeding the boy and when Maahir looked at her an automatic smile formed on her face. After serving food, Maahir and Bela went to distribute clothes. While Maahir was unpacking the clothes, Bela said,"Ek minute ruko main bhi shawls laayi hu, main abhi lekar aati hu." Bela ran towards her car and brought heaps of packets with her. On seeing them, Maahir was very embarrassed and said, "Bela already tumne bohot kuch kiya hai maine kuch nehi bola abhi tumhe itna kharcha karne ki kya zarurat thi?" Bela replied, "Mamma ne kaha hai ke aise mauko par khaali haath nehi jaate to main shawls utha laayi aur vaise bhi mere papa ke paise bank mein pare pare sar jaayenge so... main unki help kar rahi hu aur abhi na tum zyaada bak bak mat kiya karo, bare irritate kar rahe ho tab se." Saying she unpacked the things and on seeing the content, Maahir's eyes got widened and he looked all shocked at her and the reason behind this behaviour was just that instead of regular shawls, Bela brought pashmina to donate. Maahir cleared his throat and asked, "Uh...Bela although Iam not complaining, main bas ye janna chahta tha ke tum kitne shawls lekar aayi ho?" Bela happily replied,"100!! Purey main khud count karke laayi hu." Maahir asked, "Ok!! To tum saare donate kar dogi?" Bela made a face and replied,"Dumbo!! Laayi hu to donate hi karungi na itne saare shawls ka main kya karungi?" Maahir asked, "Nehi main to bas ye keh raha tha ke tum donate karne ke liye...pashmina utha kar le aayi?" Bela excitedly replied, "Ha to kya hua? Main khud designer ke alava pehenti nehi hu to kisiko bhi ainvayi cheezein de dungi kya?Main jin stores se shopping karti hu wahi se utha laayi hu isiliye na aane mein thori der ho gayi, bohot jagah ghum kar aana para." Maahir stared at Bela on her reply and seeing that she was confused and asked, "Kya hua? Pashmina donate nehi karte hai kya?" Bela made such a pouty face that seeing that Maahir could not stop himself from smiling but that time he chuckled and seeing that Bela was angry and asked, "Maine kya koi joke maara hai? Has kyu rahe ho?" Maahir somehow stopped and asked, "Ms. Saaren kya aapko kabhi kisine kaha hai ke aap bohot zyaada adoreable hai?" Bela gave a wide grin and replied,"Ha bilkul!! Mere papa roz kehte hai ke main is duniya mein sabse zyaada adoreable hu, main to fairyland ki princess hu." Maahir just kept on looking at Bela and understood that no matter how much rich and spoilt Bela was but she had a golden transparent heart which had not a single ounce of darkness inside it. Inside a grown up Bela, resides the heart of a child. After distributing the clothes, when they were about to leave, Bela offered Maahir lift to his home to which he agreed. On reaching Maahir's apartment, Bela asked,"Tumne kuch khaaya?" Maahir nodded his head in a negative way and Bela asked him the direction of the kitchen and then asked him to wait for sometime. Maahir rested on his couch and Bela went to the kitchen but she was scared as she didn't know how to cook anything. On getting to the kitchen, she searched and to her relief found a packet of noodles which was the only thing she knew how to cook. After 5-10 minutes, Bela returned with a bowl of noodles and gave that to Maahir. Maahir looked at the bowl and then tossed his eyes at Bela and she said, "Dekho mujhe isse zyaada aur kuch banana nehi aata hai aur ye bhi maine bohot mushkil se seekha hai." Maahir smiled and took the bowl and then said, "Mere liye yehi bohot hai. Thank you!!"Maahir took one spoonful and then said to Bela,"You know aaj ke din na main akele rehna hi pasand karta hu aur koi aata bhi nehi hai yahatak ke Kuhu aur Anu bhi nehi. Ha Kuhu knows how to respect someones' privacy par aaj pehli baar tum aayi ho. I would have been very angry if it would have been anyone else but pata nehi kyu tumhaare maamle mein mujhse gussa hua nehi jaata aur isliye aaj mujhe gussa hi nehi aaya." Bela replied, "Pata hai meri mamma kehti hai ke jab koi dost dukhi ho, to na zabardasti usko gale par jaana chahiye, chahe usko kitna bhi gussa aaye, ya gaaliya de usko akele bilkul nehi chorna chahiye aur phir tumko to pata hi hai na ke main kitni stubborn hu.Isiliye aa gayi."Maahir asked, "Aur agar main tumse gussa karta aur chilla deta to?" Bela replied, "Mujhse koi bhi kabhi naraaz nehi reh sakta par ha agar tum aisa karte to main tumpar double zor se chillati. Sherni hu main apne khaandaan ki." Maahir put the bowl on the table and replied,"Mere dad IAS Officer the aur meri mamma University ki Professor thi aur main na bilkul tumhaari tarah apne parents ka ek lauta beta hu aur main sirf 20 saal ka tha jab unki death ho gayi. Tab koi bhi mere saath nehi tha, koi rishtedaar nehi aaya. Bas unki death ke baad kuch dino ke liye aaye aur phir sab chale gaye, phir kisine bhi meri khabar nehi li. Jab main college mein parta tha tab college ki library mein part time job karta tha, usse mere saare kharche nikal jaate the kyuki uske baad pilot ki training ke liye mujhe apna ghar geervi rakhna para aur papa ki saari savings usime chale gaye. Ye jo apartment dekh rahi ho na ye bhi rent ka hai aur abhi har mahine apne ghar ka instalment bhar raha hu bas waha rehne ka dil nehi karta us ghar mein unki yaad aati hai. Pata hai aaj mujhe lagta hai ke agar ma aur papa hote na to aaj meri life hi kuch aur hoti, yu akele akele nehi rehna parta. Jab bhi main ghar waapas hota to darwaaza kholne ke liye koi na koi zarur hota, mujhe roz akele nehi khaana parta. Mujhe cooking aati hai, lekin kiske liye khaana banau?Saath beth kar khaane waala koi hai nehi. Main ek makaan ya apartment to kharid sakta hu lekin ghar to gharwaalo se banta hai na." Maahir had tears in his eyes while he was talking about his parents. He wiped them and said, "Jab bhi main first aata tha, ma mujhe mera favourate dish banaakar khilaati thi aur exam se pehle dahi shakkar. Unke jaane ke baad jab bhi main dahi shakkar banaane jaata tha na to pehle pehle hamesha dahi ke jagah par paneer bana leta tha aur khaana to aksar jala leta tha. I was so dumb."Suddenly he heard a sound of hiccups and when he turned towards that source of the sound, he found Bela was weeping badly. Seeing that Maahir became very embarrassed and asked,"Kya hua? Kya ho gaya?" Bela wiped her tears and replied,"Tum itni sad baate karoge to mujhe rona nehi aayega? Main sad stories sunte hi bari emotional ho jaati hu isiliye main sad filmein bhi nehi dekhti hu. Tumko pata hai ek baar main Kal Ho Naa Ho dekhne theatre gayi thi aur Shah Rukh Khan ka death scene jab chal raha tha to main itne zor se ro rahi thi ke sab film ke bajaaye mujhe hi ghur rahe the." All the time, Maahir was sad thinking about his parents but on hearing Bela, he burst out into laughter and said, "Tumhaare saath na koi bhi dukhi reh hi nehi sakta hai."Bela said, "Tumhaare aur papa ki soch na bohot milti hai.Vo bhi bilkul yehi kehte hai."Maahir finished the bowl and put it on the table and said, "Ek baat bataau? Thanks for being there with me today aur jis tarah se aaj tumne sabko khaana khilaaya aur khaaskar us bachche ko... I don't think ke koi aur rich larki agar tumhaare jagah par hoti to aisa karti. Even Anu bhi aisa nehi karti."Bela was just going to reply him when her phone started ringing and she found that it was her father. Maahir became very cautious on seeing Ranjit's number blinking up and seeing Maahir's face Bela said, "Tum kyu dar rahe ho? Mere papa tumhe kha nehi jaayenge.Ruko dekho abhi kaise handle karti hu main. Watch and learn!" Saying she picked up Ranjit's call and put it on speaker.