Horizons of Love✓

Part 23D

"Aun.."

"Ek minute! Humari puri baat sun lo. Tum dono barbaad ho sakte they, bahut kuch tha khone ke liye. Lekin tum dono ne kya chuna? Apne bure waqt se ladna. Agar tum dono apni zimedaari se piche hat jaate, agar Khushi tumhe Aarav ke baare mein na batati to bhi, Aarav ko bade ho kar kabhi na kabhi tumhare baare mein pata chal hi jata aur fir tum uske naam ke baap ban jaate. Shayad teeno kabhi saath bhi aa jate. Kya vo ehsaas aisa hi hota jaisa aaj ka hai? Tumhara beta tumhare awaz sunte hi bhaaga aata hai tumhare pass. Tum uske ek ek pal ko jaante ho, vo kab hasta hai, kab rota hai, kya chahta hai, tum dono achi tarah se samjhte ho. Ye jo tumhare phone ka behad pyaara screensaver hai, ye sirf aaj uske janamdin ki hasti hui tasveer nahi hai. Ye tumhari lagan aur mehnat ka nateeja hai. Tumhare piche na hatne ki wajah se hai. Ye raasta jo tumne chuna hai uski wajah se hai. Hum jaante hain aur samjhate bhi hain ki tumhe bura lag raha hai ki vo abhi bhi naraaz hai tumse par usse parwah to aaj bhi hai na tumhari? Usse thoda aur waqt de kar dekho."

("Hear me out first! You both could have destroyed your lives. So much was at stake. But you guys chose to fight your circumstances. Had you or Khushi strayed from your responsibilities, had she not informed you about Aarav, even then you both would have met some years down the lane. You would have become his namesake father then or perhaps a family but would it feel similar to what you have now? Aarav dotes on you, his eyes twinkle in your presence. You understand him like back of your hand, not missing  his smallest gestures. Your lovely screensaver is not just a birthday photo.It is result of your relentless efforts and determination to not step back. I can understand that you are feeling bad that she is still angry with you but she cares about you even now. Give her some time.")

"Aunty vo humare baare mein baat hi nahi karna chahti!"("Aunty, she doesnt even want to talk about us")

"Shuru mein to vo tumhari shakal bhi nahi dekhna chahti thi. Ab bhi vaisa hi hai? Nahi na? Kaun phone mila kar deta hai Aarav ko jab tum thoda late ho jaate ho shaam ko? Phele se to bahut behtar halat hai aaj. Jab tumne uss waqt haar nahi maani to ab kyun maan rahe ho? Hum jaante hain bina kisi umeed ke ye karna asaan nahi hai, ho sakta hai vo tumhe maaf kare hi na. Lekin agar tum uss tak paunchna chahte ho to abhi aur mehnat karni padegi. Tumhari jagah Khushi hoti to usse bhi main yehi kehti. Aur agar tumhe lag raha hai ki nahi bas bahot ho gaya to tum yahin ruk sakte ho, ye bhi bura nahi hai."("In beginning, she didnt even want to see your face. Is it same today? No, right? It is she who giving phone to Aarav after dialing your number whenever you get late in the evening.Things are much better than before. You didnt accept defeat then, so why are you giving up now? I know it is difficult to persist without any hope. Maybe sh ll never forgive you but if you want to be with her, you have much work left to be done.I would have told Khushi same thing had she been in your place. If you feel like quitting do it. What you have today isnt bad too.")

"Tum itne bade ho ki sahi galat sab jante ho. Aage kya karna hai ye faisla bhi le sakte ho. Aise udaas mat raho kyunki jab tak tum Khushi to takleef nahi paucha rahe tab tak hum tumhare saath hain, chahe koi aur ho na ho."("You are a mature person who knows about right and wrong. You must take your decisions independently. Dont be depressed coz I will support you as long as you dont harm Khushi" )

Garima left after that hoping he was less gloomy.

Manzil milegi bhatak kar hi sahi,

Gumraah to wo hai jo ghar se nikalte hi nahin

******************

In Shashi-Garima's room:

Khushi after washing her red swollen face came inside and simply lied down in her mother's lap. Her father patted her head with his slightly shaky hands.Neither they questioned nor she answered why she was cried so much, why she was sad. They all knew the turmoil, she was going through. They knew Arnav was suffering too. Shashi was no longer angry with him but not warm either.