A Family We Could Have

Prem's Past

''Prem..''

''Nahi dad, ab ye maat kehna ki aap mujhe mother india or unke wo patidev ke pass rakhna chahte the so that I could grew up having both father's and mother's affection like Sneha. I am not Sneha. I am Prem dad... Mujhe mere parents ki jarurat thi... mujhe apki jarurat thi and Maa ki bhi..''

''Prem we are not doing this again... maine tumhe pehle bhi samjhaya tha..''

''I know I know... I know your words by heart. Par mujhe nahi samajhna.''

''Prem tum apni condition jante ho... or tumne promise kiya tha mujhse..''

'' I don't care dad...''

''Prem jo tum chahte ho wo kabhi nahi ho sakta..''

''Kyu nahi ho sakta... agar mother india ke iddash wapas na ain..''

''Koi fark nahi parta... it just a matter of few more days.. main Prerna ko khud sabkuch bata dunga... Or agar tumhare behaviour mein change na ai toh main wo wait bhi nahi karunga. '' Anurag stated with a strong authoritive voice.

''No, you won't.''

''I will Prem. Prerna is stronger than we think.''

''No dad..''

''Main dr Frank ke sath tumhara session fixed karta hu.. you better pack up your bags.'' Anurag walked away with Prem shouting behind him.

Mohini tried to talk to Prem but he threw away some vases of hall room and left the place as well.

Anurag entered into the room and find Prerna sitting on her bed. Sampada was standing beside her. She looked at Anurag and left the room. Prerna looked at Anurag with fiery eyes and stood up.

''Tumse puchne ka koi faida toh hoga nahi.. kyuki tum bataoge nahi mujhe..''

''Prerna please baad mein baat karein.. I need some time alone.''

''Phir tum room mein kyu ain?'' Prerna asked.

Anurag sighed. He sat down on bed.

''Kya jaana hain tumhe Prerna?''

Prerna kept looking at broken Anurag and found her words lost. Her anger started to vanish like a sudden magic. She slowly sat beside him.

''Mujhe batana agar tumhe etnahi taklif deta hain toh mujhe kuch nahi janna Anurag.'' Prerna said lovingly.

''Thanks.'' Anurag said softly, looking at her.

''Main tumhe sabkuch bataunga Prerna... har wo sawal ka jawab jo tumhe janna hain... par time ane pe... kuch batein sayad tumhe dhakka de or tum unhe she na pao...''

''Anurag tum, prem, sneha mere sath hain... isse bara sach mere liye kuch nahi... sayad tum nahi jante ki yahi meri zindagi hain.''

Anurag smiled ruefully and nodded. Prerna gave her cute smile and opened her arms for him. Anurag looked at her startled. Prerna without waiting for his response took him in her hug. Anurag knew he shouldn't feel like that way but still he felt relaxed. For a moment he felt like what if his world started and ended in her arms only. He dismissed the thought immediately and broke the hug smiling at her.

''Mujhe bohot nind arahi hain... said Anurag.

Prerna nodded.

''Main bed ready kar deti hu..''

..

..

Sneha and kasak were discussing about evening's incident when Sampada entered into their room.

''Tum dono abhtaq soyi nahi... kuch chahiye?/'''

''Nahi... Aunty hame apse kuch puchna hain.'' Said Sneha.

''Kya?/'

''Wo aj Uncle ne Prem ko..''

''Sneha... wo bas aisehi..''

''Nahi Aunty maine Anurag uncle ko etne guuse mein kabhi nahi dekha tha...'' said Kasak. ''Please bataiye hame.''

''Tumlog AB se hi puch lo..''

''Par sayad unhe is barein mein baat karna acha na lagta ho...''

''Haan wo toh hain.. par tum dono please ye baat Prerna ko maat batana..''

''Nahi Aunty.. nahi batainge..;; said Sneha.

''Actually Prem jab 9 years ka tha tab se hi wo sketches banata tha... pehle pehle toh thik tha par phir uske har sketches mein uski dream family hua karti thi... uske dad, shravan , wo or uski maa... ajeeb si baat hain ki wo kabhi apne behen ko draw nahi karta tha... jab ki use pata tha ki uski ek behen bhi hain... bed time pe uski story hua karti thi uski mom ke stories. Anurag ne toh chaha tha ki Prem ko uski maa ke bare mein sab pata ho.. par yesab batein use negatively affect karne lage... uske jetne bhi friends the sab single parents ke sath hi rehte the par mom ke sath.. dad ke sath nahi... or jo ek adh dad ke sath rehte the wo bhi apne mom se milte rehte the.. wo, wo apne mom ko bohot miss karne laga.. bohot hi jayada... AB ke life mein Prerna nahi thi par uski kami Anurag ke sath sath Prem bhi mehsus karta tha... Prem AB se bohot attached tha or sirf apne liye nahi wo chahta tha ki AB ke life mein bhi Prerna ho or uske life mein uski maa... yesab bohot complicated hain actually. Tab AB or main etne ache dost nahi the... yesab batein mujhe AB ne bohot baad mein batayi....''

''Phir?""

''Phir Prem major depression mein chala gaya... he got so sick ki AB ne decide kiya ki wo Prem ko lekar Mumbai wapas ajaiga or Prem ko Prerna ko de dega kyuki AB ko laga wo Prerna ki kami mehsus karta hain.. use prerna ki jarurat jayada hain.''

''Toh wo ai kyu nahi Prem ko lekar Mumbai?''

''Dr Frank ne jab session start kiya uska toh unhone har perspective samjhaya use.. anurag ke decision Prem ko samjhane ki koshish ki unhone... Prem stepped into his teenage life by then. Anurag ke liye bohot mushkil tha yesab...''

''Prem Mumbai an eke liye raazi tha?''

''Jab Prem ko Dr Frank ne explain kiya toh usdin session bich mein hi chor ke agaya... ghar pe akar usne bohot torfor ki.. use control karna bohot mushkil ho raha tha... phir wo achanak se chup ho gaya... main usdin wahi thi... wo achanak se aaya, AB ko hug kiya ro rone laga... ye keh ke ki.. ''apne aisa soch bhi keisey liya ki main apko chor ke jaunga? How could you dad? Mere liye apse jayada important zindagi mein kuch bhi nahi hain.''

''Oh.. phir Prem ke condition...''

''Phir Prem bohot jaldi recover karne lag gaya... Or Dr Frank ke kehne pe AB Prem pe jayada pabandhi bhi nahi lagata tha... Sneha, Etne saal bad bhi Prem ki zindagi mein aj bhi sabse jayada Anurag hi maine rakhta hain. Tum kabhi Prem se Anurag ke barein mein bat karke dekhna... tumhare maan mein AB ko lekar jo shikayat hain sayad wo kam ho jain.. khair chalo, so jao.. raat bohot ho gain hain.''

''Aunty, ab Prem thik hain na?''

''Haan... bas emotional extortion wo aj bhi handle nahi kar sakta..''

Sam bid them good night and left.