The 'Un' Attached String

Chapter - 17

At Sarna House, next day, Bela was trying to feed breakfast to Bulbul, which of course, she didn't want to take and which in turn was making Bela more impatient and angrier. From the time Maahir visited last, Bulbul behaved very arrogant especially with Bela. But as Bela received a warning from Madhu to handle Bulbul with patient, she was unable to express her agony. At the end, Bela said, "Baby main bata rahi hu na tumko main tumhe Canada lekar abhi nehi jaaungi. Hum sab maasi ki shaadi ke baad jaayenge abhi to kha lo, tum jaisa chahti thi vaisa ho to raha hai." Bulbul replied, "Mujhe Canada kabhi bhi waapas nehi jaana hai mamma, kabhi bhi nehi." Bela said, "Beta aisa to nehi ho sakta hai na, tum chahti thi to hum abhi nehi ja rahe hai lekin ek na ek din to waapas jaana hi parega na, hum hamesha ke liye to India nehi reh sakte hai na, we're not Indian citizens aur hamaara visa bhi ek mahine baad khatam ho jaayega phir hum vaise bhi yaha par nehi reh sakte hai." Bulbul said, "To phir aap ye manage kar lo na aap to sab kuch kar sakti ho." Bela asked, "Tumhaara school aur mera office uska kya hoga?" Bulbul replied, "Daddy yaha par kisi achchi si school mein mera admission kara denge maine daddy se bol diya hai aur daddy ne bhi kaha hai ke vo mujhe yaha se nehi jaane denge. Main aap dono ke saath India mein rahungi." Bela angrily pushed the plate away and said, "Bulbul tab se main bohot patience ke saath tumse deal karne ki koshish kar rahi hu lekin tum bas apna daddy puraan bandh hi nehi kar rahi ho. Ho kya gaya hai tumko? Tum hamesha mere saath rahi aur main bhi tumse kitna pyar karti hu lekin tum ho ke achaanak se daddy tumhaare itne favourate ho gaye hai ke mamma ki tumko koi parvaah hi nehi hai. In 7 dino mein pata nehi daddy ne tumpar kya jaadoo kar diya hai." Bulbul pouted and replied, "Daddy mujhpar kabhi shout nehi karte hai aapki tarah. Vo mujhse hamesha pyar se baat karte hai." Bela said, "Vo isliye kiya hoga kyuki unhone tumhaara asli roop nehi dekha hoga na." Bulbul replied, "Nehi maine bohot shaitaaniya ki hai, colony mein to har roz mera fight hota tha aur daddy ko roz vo solve karna aana parta tha aur is vajah se unko office bhi late pohochna parta tha, tab bhi unhone kuch nehi kaha." Bela replied, "Isiliye belagaam ghori ban gayi ho." Bulbul looked angrily at Bela and said, "Aap bhi to abhi bohot buri mamma ban gayi ho, daddy bhi aapse gussa hai lekin vo kabhi bhi aapke baare mein bura nehi bolte hai aapki tarah." Bela said, "Mujhe pata hai main bohot buri hu and I really don't care about what you think about me. Now finish your breakfast!" Bulbul made a face to Bela and walked away from the dining table leaving Bela alone and more angry at Maahir. On the other side, Maahir had arrived at Sarna House along with Pratham, in his car and after pulling the brakes, he asked, "Par ek baat to bata maine to tujhe kal raat ko hi sab bataya tha to tune itni jaldi papers ke arrangements kaise kar liya?" Pratham and Maahir both came out of the car and then Pratham said to Maahir, "Well I'm a lawyer Maahir, itne saalo mein itni reputation to ho hi chuki hai meri ke ye sab bohot asaan hai mere liye." He gave the papers to Maahir and then said, "Ye chaar copies hai, achche se padh kar inme sign karle." Maahir took the papers from his hand and said, "Arey kya baat kar raha hai tu yaar hai mera, abhi papers padh kar main teri insut thore hi karunga." Pratham still insisted and replied, "Dekh hamaare profession mein ye kaha jaata hai ke documents ke maamle mein na apne baap par bhi bharosa nehi karte hai kyuki ek sign na hamaari zindagi badal sakta hai." Maahir put the papers on the bonnet of his car and replied, "Tu kaunsa meri company apne naam kara raha hai, ek legal document hi to hai jo meri so called 'biwi' ka dimaag thikaane lagaayega." He just signed the papers and returned them to Pratham and Pratham replied, "Dekh le baad mein ye mat kehna ke maine warn nehi kiya tha." Saying Pratham and Maahir both went inside the house. On getting inside, all the family members were informed that the would be son in law of the family had arrived to meet them on hearing about which all came out rushing but as soon as they saw Maahir, except for Mrs. Sareen and Bela all were happy, especially Bulbul. She ran onto her father and then Maahir picked her up in her arms and Bulbul said, "Daddy aap mujhe lene aaye ho na mujhe pata hai par main akeli nehi jaaungi, mamma ko bhi le lena kyuki main mamma ke bina nehi rahungi aur mamma bhi nehi rahegi." Before Maahir could reply, Pratham pulled Bulbul's cheek and said, "No baby ab aapko aapke daddy ko ab koi bhi aapse alag nehi karega." Mrs. Sareen made a face to Maahir and said, "Arey Pratham beta tum is aadmi ke saath kya kar rahe ho? Tumhe aise logo ke saath uthna bethna nehi chahiye, shaayaad tumhe pata nehi hai ke....""Mujhe sab pata hai auntyji!", said Pratham cutting Mrs. Sareen in the middle. He continued, "Maahir mera college ka friend hai and I know everything about him and Bela... bhabhi but abhi Maahir mera client hai aur main uska lawyer hu aur ye rahe court ke orders jiske mutaabik Bulbul ko legally aap log uske papa se dur nehi kar sakte hai." Bela was shocked and asked, "What the hell? Kya matlab hua iska?" Pratham gave a copy of the order to Bela and said, "Aap dekh sakti hai." Maahir mocked Bela, "Ha ha dekho dekho, apni aakhe phaad kar dekho, bari aayi thi na meri bachchi ko cheenne waali." Pratham raised his hand at Maahir's face and replied, "Just wait Maahir, mera bolna khatam nehi hua hai." He took a deep breath and continued, "Is order ke mutaabik, agle 6 mahine tak Maahir ko Bulbul aur Bela ke saath rehna parega, chahe vo Maahir ke ghar par ho ya phir jaha Bela rahe aur ek important baat agar in 6 mahine ke beech mein ek parent ne dusre parent ko pareshaan kiya ya mental torture kiya, ya other parent ke marzi ke khilaaf bachchi ko usse dur kiya to automatically Bulbul ki custody dusre parent ko de di jaayegi. Ab aisi situation na aaye isliye court ne mujhe ye authority di hai ke main time to time inspection karta rahu aur 6 mahine ke baad you people can take the decision of permanent separation aur usike baad hi aap log custody ke liye file kar sakte hai." On hearing about the order, Maahir was so shocked that he put down Bulbul from his arms and asked, "Pratham ye kya keh raha hai? Maine to tujhe..." Pratham smiled at Maahir and replied, "Maine tujhse kaha tha ke padh kar sign kar lena but you didn't do it and so don't blame me now aur main tera lawyer hu isliye aisa kuch nehi karunga jisse tera nuksaan ho. Trust me bhai!" He patted on Maahir's back and then looked at Bela who was so angry seeing the paper that she was about to tear it but Pratham stopped her and said, "Bhabhi agar aap ye soch rahi hai ke paper ko phaad dene se order cancel ho jaayega to aap galat soch rahe hai." Bela replied, "I'm not going to stay with this man at any cost." Pratham said, "Well aapke paas literally iske alava aur koi option nehi hai so... you have to kinda comply." Bulbul pulled Pratham's hand and said, "Maine aapki photo dekhi hai aap meri Suhaani maasi ke honewaale husband ho na, mujhe pata hai aur na aap mujhe bohot achche lagey kyuki aap meri tarah intelligent ho. Ek baat batao court ka order na manne se kya hota hai?" Pratham replied, "To aapke mamma papa ko jail ho sakti hai." Bulbul said, "Nehi nehi main mamma aur daddy ko jail nehi jaane dungi." Pratham replied, "To phir aapko is baat ka dhyaan rakhna parega ke aapke mamma papa aapke saath rahe." Bulbul held Maahir's hand and said, "Mere daddy rahenge mujhe pata hai. Hai na daddy?" Maahir was so disgusted with Pratham that he glared at him and Madhu who was standing there, came to Pratham and said, "Hone waale dulhe raja aaj to aapne mera dil hi khush kar diya, ye dono to bohot bare waale bewakuf hai lekin mujhe is baat ki khsuhi hai ke aap jaise sensible log hai Maahir ke saath. Aap shaayad mujhe jaante nehi hai, main Bela ki ma hu aur Suhaani ki bua." He then took the evil eyes of Pratham and said to Mrs. Sareen, "Bhabhi zindagi mein pehli baar ye aapne sahi kaam kiya hai ke bachchi ke liye achcha ladka dhundha." Pratham took Madhu's blessings and replied, "Vo to thik hai buaji lekin abhi aapko bhi in dono par nazar rakhni paregi." Before Madhu could say something, Maahir grabbed Pratham's hand and took him outside forcefully.

After taking him outside, Maahir left his arms and asked Pratham, "Ye tune kya kiya?" Pratham replied, "Maine wahi kiya jo mujhe karna chahiye tha." Maahir said, "Maine tujhse kaha tha ke kuch aisa kar ke meri beti mere paas aa jaaye. I don't want Bela and she too doesn't want me back in her life." Pratham looked at Maahir for a few seconds and then said, "Take out your wallet Maahir!" Maahir looked at him in a strange way and asked, "What?" Pratham repeated again, "Apna wallet nikaalo!" Maahir was so shocked with the shock iven by Pratham that without thinking anything, he took out his wallet and gave that to Pratham and he opened it and showed Bela's photograph to Maahir and said, "Hum hamesha jisse pyar karte hai uski photo apne wallet mein rakhte hai, its very common, maine bhi Suhaani ki rakkhi hui hai lekin koi bhi insaan ek hi wallet zindagi bhar use nehi karta hai." He gave the wallet back to Maahir and said, "Tu 8 saal se Bela ki photo ko apne wallet mein rakhna nehi bhul paaya and you're telling me that you don't want to live with her and you want me to believe that." Maahir stayed quiet but visibly angry at Pratham. Pratham said, "Dekh Bela aur Bulbul na... ek packaged deal ki tarah hai, Bela ke bina tu Bulbul ko apne saath nehi lekar ja sakta hai, kyuki vo 8 saal ki bachchi hai aur vo apni ma ke bina nehi reh sakti hai usko aadat nehi hai. Bela usko time nehi de paati lekin iska matlab ye nehi hai ke vo usse pyar nehi karti hai aur tujhe kya lagta hai Bulbul jaayegi apni ma ke bina? Tu hi kehta hai na ke vo kehti hai ke usko tum dono ke saath rehna hai. Us bachchi ko aisi situation mein mat daal ke usko apne ma baap mein se kisi ek ko choose karna pare, tu soch bhi nehi sakta hai ke isse uske zehen mein kya asar parega. Broken families se aaye huye bachche aksar is kadar destruction ki taraf nikal parte hai na jiske baare mein tujhe koi andaaza hi nehi hai aur uske baad koi unko waapas nehi lekar aa pata. Tu shukar mana ke Bulbul ke paas teri saas hai. Ek minute ke liye maan bhi le ke aisa situation aa bhi gaya to Bulbul Bela ko hi chunegi, bachche aam taur par ma ke paas hi zyaada comfortable hote hai aur upar se vo larki hai aur bari ho rahi hai yaar, she needs her mother. Apne zidd ke vajah se bhai apni beti ki zindagi barbaad mat kar usey ek normal childhood ka haq hai. Aisa koi impossible sa demand to hai nehi uska jo uske liye tu pura nehi kar sakta." Maahir still could not make up his mind and then Pratham said, "Maine abhi tak tujhe ek dost ke haisiyat se samjhaaya hai abhi as a lawyer I'm going to give you a reality check. Tere life mein jo kaand hua hai na Maahir, isko zariya bana kar do minute nehi lagenge Bela ko tujhse divorce lene mein aur Bulbul ki custody to tu bhul ja. Tujhe pata hai tere life ke is kaand ke vajah se ye jo order maine nikalwaya hai na bohot mushkil hui thi, vo to isliye mil gaya kyuki tune dusri shaadi nehi ki. Isiliye maine kaha tha ke tera case bohot complicated hai aur maan le agar tum dono kisi dusre vajah se alag huye hote, tab bhi hamaare desh ka law, sympathy ma ke taraf hi dikhaata hai, custody milne ke 90% chance tab bhi Bela ke hi the. Phir soch agar divorce ke baad, custody milne ke baad, Bela ne dusri shaadi ki to Bulbul ka kya hoga? Jaanta hai na step children ke saath kya-""Kaisi baate kar raha hai?", Maahir almost screamed in terror and seeing that Pratham gave the master stroke and said, "Sochte huye bhi dar laga na to bas jo kuch bhi kar Bulbul ke liye kar. Arey tujhe 8 saal baad apni beti ka baap banne ka mauka mila hai aur phir soch Bela ne tujhse 8 saal tak Bulbul ko dur rakkha tu hi kehta hai na to ab Bulbul ko apni aadat lagwa de aur ye prove kar ke tu ek better parent hai isme aagey chalkar tera hi faayda hoga kyuki jaisa ke maine kaha court custody ke maamle mein na hamesha ma ko hi favour karta hai. Tu Bela ko samjha ke 8 saalo se usne tujhse kya cheena hai, usey is baat ka ehsaas kara." Maahir gave a thought to Pratham's words and realized that he was correct and Bela had to realize what she had snatched from him but still that was a very big decision to be taken from his part since 8 years have passed and so he said, "I understand but mere liye itna sab kuch process karna itna asaan nehi hai. 8 saal... bohot waqt hota hai... I need to think!" Pratham realized that it would not be better to force him for anything as he too understands his situation and could not expect him to get ready so soon and so he said, "I can understand but bhai time zyaada nehi lena aur ye bhi yaad rakhna that this is the only chance." Maahir nodded his head and sank again in his own thoughts.