The 'Un' Attached String

Chapter - 10

Although, Bela gave Bulbul that punishment, the one thing that she didn't realize that the punishment which she gave to Bulbul was going to have reverse reaction as it had ignited Bulbul's anger to the next level which made her take the most drastic step till then. Next day, while Bela was working in her office, she received a phone call from Madhu.

B : "Ha mamma bolo!!"

M : (in a very tensed voice) "Bela vo hai na main tab se Bulbul ki school ke bahaar khari hu lekin vo abhitak bahaar nehi aayi hai. Pura school khali ho chuka hai."

B : "Aapne andar jaakar dekha nehi? Andar kahi hogi."

M : "Maine sabse baat karli, sabne pura school check kar liya lekin Bulbul kahi nehi hai. Humne school ke saare washrooms aur compound ke aas paas bhi dekha hai lekin vo kahi nehi hai."

B : "Aise kaise vo kahi bhi nehi hai, aapne zarur thik se dhundha hi nehi hoga. Main abhi aa rahi hu."

Bela went to the school and herself searched everywhere for Bulbul but she didn't find any trace of her. She asked every cab driver nearby, every shop owner but no one could help her out regarding the whereabouts of Bulbul. Bela was extremely scared thinking that Bulbul might be in any kind of trouble and all sorts of bad thoughts surrounded her mind. On seeing no way out, Bela returned to office and almost ran to Ranjit's cabin where he was busy chatting with Reyhaan and his father. Bela came to Ranjit hysterically and said, "Papa Bulbul school mein nehi hai, pata nehi vo kaha chali gayi hai. Purey school mein sab jagah dhundh liya hai par vo kahi nehi hai." She grabbed Ranjit's collar and said, "Papa meri zindagi mein abhi Bulbul ke alava aur kuch nehi hai, meri bachchi ko dhundh kar do mujhe. Kahi se bhi dhundh kar laao aap meri beti ko. Aap ke paas to meri har problem ka solution hota hai papa, please kuch karo papa please!! Agar Bulbul nehi mili na to main apni jaan de dungi." She started screaming and behaving out of control and Ranjit tried to get her together and said, "Beta main abhi kuch karta hu. I promise you main Bulbul ko dhundh kar nikaalunga. Calm down!! Calm down beta!! Let's go to the cops." Ranjit held Bela in his arms as she was still shivering out of fear and he came out of his cabin and started walking out when suddenly one of his office staffs came running to him and said, "Sir!! There is an urgent call from the airport. One of our flights has been forcibly stopped from departure..." Ranjit stopped him and replied, "Handle it!! I'm busy right now!!" The man again stopped him and replied, "Baby Bulbul has stopped it by forcibly getting inside the cockpit and locking the door from inside." On hearing Bulbul's name, Bela immediately ran and received the phone call.

Bela : "Hullo Bela Sareen speaking from Queens Airlines!!"

Airport Manager : "Hullo this is the airport manager speaking!! Your girl has sabotaged one of your aircrafts and for that the passengers are facing immense trouble."

Bela : "Where is she now?"

Airport Manager : "She locked herself inside the cockpit and is now asking for you. All the cops are outside the aircraft and I'm afraid that she might get arrested. So please come and handle the situation."

Bela : "Please control the cops I'm coming right now!!"

Bela almost immediately ran out of the office building followed by Ranjit and Madhu. On the other side, the pilots and the cabin crew of the flight were standing outside the cockpit, knocking at the door trying to negotiate with Bulbul. At first, Bulbul thought that she could blackmail her mother but later the situation turned against her which made her realize what a grave mistake she has committed and as soon as she heard the voice of the cops, she got more scared. At the beginning she thought to open the door but later out of extreme fear, she could not open it as she thought that she would be arrested for what she had done. From inside the cockpit, she just asked for her mother and was continuously crying. The cops outside could easily open the door but they didn't want to apply force as Bulbul was a kid and so they tried to persuade her but she was too scared to open the door. Within some time, Bela reached the airport and came to that particular aircraft. She broke the crowd that formed in front of the cockpit door and knocked at the door and called for Bulbul. She said, "Bulbul!! Beta dekho mamma aa gayi hai na abhi darwaaza khol do." Ranjit, who was standing outside the aircraft, enquired the security in charge of the airport about how could they not stop a little girl from entering the airport like that, to which they replied that Bulbul was running so fast and also since she was Bela's daughter they just could not apply force. On the other side, on hearing Bela's voice, Bulbul immediately wiped her tears and got up from the ground and replied from inside, "Mamma!! Mamma aap hi ho na?" Bela replied, "Ha mera bachcha mamma hi hai, darwaaza kholo please!!" Bulbul, in a scared and crying tone replied, "Mamma police mujhe pakar kar le jaayegi mamma. I swear main aisa nehi karna chahti thi. Main to bas ye chahti thi ke aap mujhe India bhejne ke liye maan jaao, par main na police ki awaaz sun kar dar gayi thi mamma. Mujhe jail nehi jaana, main aisa waapas se kabhi bhi nehi karungi mamma. Cops ko bolo na ke vo mujhe nehi lekar jaaye." Bela said, "Ha main bol dungi cops ko ke vo tumhe nehi lekar jaayenge beta, bahaar aa jaao." Bulbul opened the door and came out from inside. Her face was swollen and eyes were red due to continuous crying. Though Bela was very very angry from inside when she came to know about Bulbul's dangerous attempt, but the moment, she saw Bulbul's those pair of scared eyes which were screaming to Bela to hug her in her protective arms, Bela's heart melted and she hugged Bulbul as tightly as she could. She too was crying and said, "Bulbul!! Meri jaan pata hai main kitna dar gayi thi." Bulbul broke into tears and replied, "I'm sorry mamma!!" Bela broke the hug and at first apologized to all the passengers for their inconvenience and also committed 50% refund of their flight charges due to the inconvenience and then requested the cops not to put any charges on Bulbul. She then left the aircraft along with Bulbul and on seeing them Ranjit was so angry at Bulbul that he was about to yell at her but Bela stopped him and said, "Papa please! Bulbul abhi bohot hi zyaada dari hui hai isiliye please aap kuch nehi bolenge. Isse kaise deal karna hai vo main dekh lungi, abhi mujhe isko lekar ghar jaana hai aur ha ek aur baat, passengers ko jo pareshaani hui hai us vajah se maine 50% refund ka announcement kiya hai, so please aap zara vo process initiate karwa dijiyega." Bela held Bulbul's hand firmly and walked back out of the airport towards their car. While, on their way home, Bulbul sat with her mother leaning on her as Bela wrapped her inside her arms and pampering her. Bulbul was still very scared to speak anything and so Bela started talking so that she could bring Bulbul out of the trauma. Bela asked, "Bulbul tum airport pohchi kaise?" Bulbul replied, "Vo main school ke back door se pehle hi bhaag gayi thi aur aap mujhe jo pocket money deti ho maine usse cab book kiya aur usne mujhe airport chor diya." Bela said, "Tumko pata hai beta tumne kya kiya hai? Maine tumko kitni baar samjhaaya hai ke school ke alava tum akele kahi nehi ja sakti ho. Agar vo cab waala tumhe kahi aur lekar chala jaata to? Pata hai kya kya ho sakta tha tumhaare saath? Phir mamma kaha jaakar dhundhti tumko?" Bulbul lowered her head and replied, "I'm sorry mamma!! Main aagey se aisa kabhi nehi karungi." Bela said, "Aaj tumne sach mein mujhe bohot dara diya tha. Agar aaj tumko kuch bhi ho jaata na to mamma apni jaan de deti." Bulbul held her ears and said, "I'm sorry mamma!! Mujhe sach mein pata nehi tha itna kuch ho jaayega, main to sirf aapko manwaana chahti thi lekin phir na vo sab pata nehi kaise ho gaya aur mujhe na bohot dar lag gaya." She again started crying and Bela felt so pity for her that she hugged her again and said, "Aww mela bachcha!! Koi baat nehi mamma kuch nehi kahegi, koi kuch nehi kahega tumko. Bulbul jab bhi roti hai to mamma ko nehi achcha lagta hai baba aur Bulbul na roti hui achchi bhi nehi lagti hai, uspar to bas shaitaani suit karti hai." In order to lighten up the moment, she said, "Pata hai kal na Reyhaan uncle ki haalat dekhne laayak thi vo pizza khaane ke baad aur jab tumne vo brownies bhijwaaye the na mere liye, usko dekh kar to aisa laga ke vo un brownies par jhapat hi parenge lekin maine ek bhi nehi diya." Bulbul slowly replied, "Achcha hua!!" Bela tickled Bulbul in order to make her laugh and after some time their car stopped in front of their mansion.

At night, while Madhu was doing some work in the kitchen, Bela came there and said to Madhu, "Mamma mujhe aapse kuch baat karni hai." Madhu wiped her hands with a towel and then both came out of the kitchen and then she replied, "Bol na kya baat karni hai." Bela said, "Mamma main ghuma phira kar baat nehi kar sakti hu isiliye main seedha seedha mudde par hi aati hu. Aaj jo kuch bhi Bulbul ne kiya hai na usne aaj se pehle aisa kabhi nehi kiya. Sirf India jaane ke liye vo is hadh tak arrogant ho sakti hai maine ye kabhi nehi socha tha. India jaane ki zid vo pehle bhi karti thi lekin aajkal vo kuch zyaada hi zidd karne lagi hai aur usne kuch dino mein ye saari jo harkate ki hai na mujhe lagta hai kuch chal raha hai jo mujhe bilkul bhi dikhaayi nehi de rahi hai." Madhu's heart skipped a beat as she realized where this conversation was leading to and Madhu could never disclose the fact that Bulbul came to know the whereabouts of her father and talks with him on regular basis. She behaved as if she is not giving it any importance at all and replied, "Arey pehle kabhi jaane ka mauka bhi nehi aaya hai na. Par abhi to Suhaani ki shaadi hone waali hai to ek opportunity aayi hai to bas isiliye zidd kar rahi hogi meri bachchi. Par is baar na usne sach mein hadh kar di hai." Madhu looked at Bela and realized by her looks that she was not convinced at all but Bela was in no mood to argue and said, "Kuch to zarur chal raha hai mujhe agar aap log batana nehi chahte hai to vo alag baat hai aur sach batau to I don't even care! Mujhe apni bachchi ki khushi ke alava aur kisi cheez se koi matlab nehi hai." She was about to leave when one of the servants informed that a man had come and was asking for her when Bela came to meet that man, she handed him over two passports and asked him to get Indian visa for one month and arrange for tickets as soon as possible. After the man left, when Bela turned to leave for her room, she found Ranjit standing and asked, "Ye to hamaara travel agent hai na? Ye yaha kyu aaya tha?" Bela replied, "Maine bulaaya tha vo mamma aur Bulbul ke liye Indian visa ka intezaam karna tha aur tickets ke liye bhi. Maine keh diya hai ek mahine ke visa ke liye aur school mein to vaise bhi chuttiya shuru hone waali hai to zyaada nuksaan bhi nehi hoga." Ranjit could not believe his ears as Bela talked about sending Bulbul to India. He asked, "Tum Bulbul ko India bhej rahi ho? Are you out of your mind Bela?" Bela replied, "To main aur kya karu? Aaj usne jo kuch bhi kiya uske baad mujhe intezaar karna chahiye ke vo isse bhi bara koi kaand kare? Aaj agar usko kuch ho jaata, ya airport ke bajaaye vo kahi aur pohoch jaati to kya karti main?" Ranjit replied, "Vo bachchi hai Bela, uski har zidd puri karna zaruri nehi hai. Kuch dino baad vo ye sab zidd karna chor degi." Bela stopped her father and said, "Bas papa!! Main maanti hu ke vo ziddi hai, nasamajh hai lekin vo meri beti hai. Usko agar kuch ho gaya to mere paas khone ke liye kuch bhi nehi bachega. Meri jaan atki hui hai usme aur main ab koi risk nehi lene waali hu. Agar Bulbul ko India jaane se khushi milti hai to aisa hi hoga, vo India jaayegi aur phir main khud usko waha se waapas lekar aaungi aur ab mujhe is baare mein koi behes nehi chahiye." Before Ranjit could say anything to change her mind, Bela left from there.