The 'Un' Attached String

Chapter - 25

On their way to Maahir's apartment, Bela asked Maahir to first go to Kuhu's apartment to pick her up since Rohit was out of town and Maahir obliged to that. After taking Kuhu's apartment number, Bela went to Kuhu's apartment leaving Bulbul with Maahir. On seeing Bela at that time at her doorstep, Kuhu was surprised and asked, "Bela tum itni raat gaye? Is everything alright?" Bela said to Kuhu, "Ek request hai Kuhu please mujhse abhi kuch mat puchna, bas tum apna saamaan pack karo aur chalo mere saath. Jabtak Rohit nehi aata tum hamaare saath rahogi is condition mein tumhaara akele rehna its not right." Kuhu didn't argue on that matter as in her heart she was actually very scared to stay alone especially during her first trimester and so she agreed and asked Bela to come inside and said, "Thik hai vo to main ready ho jaaungi lekin tumhaare ghar mein already itne saare log hai, mehmaan bhi hai aise mein main..." Bela corrected her and replied, "Main mama-mami ke ghar ki baat nehi kar rahi hu, main aur Bulbul Maahir ke apartment mein shift ho rahe hai to tum hamaare saath wahi chal rahi ho, ab please apna samaan pack karlo aur saari zarurat ki cheezein bhi aur agar kuch left out ho jaayega to vo baad mein le aayenge." Kuhu on seeing Bela understood that something big might have happened which compelled Bela to take such decision and so she didn't waste much time and packed her luggage and many other important things along with her medicines and came out of her apartment with Bela. Bela helped her with the luggage and then Kuhu opened the back door of Maahir's car and found Bulbul sleeping there and so she put Bulbul's head on her lap and Maahir started the car. Suddenly, on their way, Kuhu's eyes fall on Bulbul's face and she was scared to hell and exclaimed, "What the hell? Bulbul ko..." Bela and Maahir exchanged looks with each other and Kuhu then seriously asked, "Will you guys please tell me what happened exactly? Kuch serious nehi hua hota to tum dono aise aadhi raat ko ghar se bahaar nehi nikalte?" Bela took a deep breath and told Kuhu what happened after she left and listening to this, Kuhu was horrified and very lovingly patted Bulbul's head and said, "That was brutal! I don't know what to say but you did the right thing. Achcha kiya jo tum teeno waha se nikal aaye, jiske liye reh rahe ho, if she's not safe then what's the use? At least ab Bulbul to safe hogi and if Bulbul was true about Reyhaan to fir to tum bhi waha par safe nehi ho." Maahir and Bela were completely silent because it was true that Bela had taken the decision of leaving the house spontaneously but on the other side she also knew that may be she was not having a healthy or a happy relationship with her husband but at least Bulbul would now be happy and also Bela could live the way she liked and Maahir would never show her the doors. Within some time, they reached outside Maahir's apartment and after getting inside, Maahir put the sleeping Bulbul on her bed and asked Bela to change her dress. Since it was a 3 bedroom apartment, so Kuhu was given the guest room and everyone rested in their rooms and after changing Maahir went to the kitchen to make some food. Bela too came out of Bulbul's room after changing her and Bulbul's clothes and found that Maahir was preparing food. Bela went to the kitchen and stood beside Maahir. Although, he didn't look at her but he felt her presence and said, "Welcome to our daughter's house!" Bela asked, "Kyu ye tumhaara ghar nehi hai? Aur tum itni raat ko khaana kyu bana rahe ho? Order de dete?" Maahir, while cooking replied, "Ha ghar mera hai, I mean I bought it but mera sab kuch meri beti ka hai so ye ghar bhi usika hua. Tumne bahaar shaayad dekha nehi hoga, Bulbul ne naya name plate lagaya hai 'BULBUL SEHGAL & PARENTS'. Ye hua tumhaare pehle sawaal ka jawaab aur dusre sawaal ka jawaab ye hai ke itni raat ko kaun bichaara order deliver karne aayega aur ye expect karna bhi galat hai aur mujhe khaana banana aata hai." Within some time, the food was ready and then he put two plates on the dining table and seeing that Bela asked, "Ye dusra plate kiske liye laga rahe ho?" Maahir chuckled and replied, "Bulbul bina khaana khaaye kabhi so hi nehi paayegi aur tum usse pehle kabhi khaati nehi ho. So, right now, I don't think you expect me to believe ke us ghar mein jo hua uske baad tumne ek niwaala bhi muh mein daala hoga." Bela looked at Maahir and felt how still now he could easily understand everything that's going on with her and she was actually very hungry and seeing her standing like that, Maahir understood what she was thinking and so he said, "Well... parents aise hi hote hai. Ab tumhaare aur mere beech ki ek common kadi wahi to hai jiske liye hum dono kuch bhi kar sakte hai aur jaisa ke maine kaha ke ghar Bulbul ka hai to uske ghar mein uski mamma ko rehne ka pura haq hai. Lo abhi khaana khaalo, zyaada kuch to banaya nehi hai, boiled sabzi aur dal chaawal and let's go to sleep then, aaj ke liye bohot ho gaya hai." Both Maahir and Bela silently finished their dinner and settled down in their own rooms.