Here's the 23rd chapter.
Enjoy reading.
"Anokhi !!..."
She had just stepped out of the gate when she heard a voice behind her.
"Shaan Sir..."
"Anokhi beta... ek zaroori baat kehni thi..."
"Ji sir... boliye..."
"Vo... tum... tumne btaya tha na ki tum har weekend pe apna part-time job karti ho... toh... toh main keh rha tha ki... voh... kya tum kal ek baar us jagah aa sakti ho jaha hum us din mile the... If you're busy then it's absolutely okay... main bas poochh rha tha..."
"Kuch zaroori baat hai Shaan sir ?... Mera matlab hai ki aapko kuch kehna hai to abhi aap bol sakte hai... "
"Vo... actually mujhe... mujhe ek kaam hai tumse... ek chhoti si help chaahiye thi firse... I'm sorry main ... aise tumhe... but trust me it's something really important... "
Anokhi sensed by his expression that maybe he wanted to tell her something but can't talk about that at the college.
So she said, "Okay sir... main aa jaaungi... lekin sir main shaam ko aa sakti hu... vo subah aur dopaher ko to mujhe zyaada time nhi mil paayega..."
"Haan... haan Anokhi... bilkul... tumhe jaisa theek lage..."
"Ok sir... good evening..."
"Good evening...", Shaan beamed a bright smile.
Anokhi was getting ready for the delivery job, and her conversation with Shaan from the day before was replaying in her head.
"Anumaa... ye baandh do..."
Anokhi's trance was broken when Mimi pouted and showed her shoe laces.
She smiled at her adorableness and kneeled down to tie the laces.
"Chalo... ab hum chalte hai..."
They both left.
It was 5 p.m and Anokhi was over with her delivery work.
"Ek baar Shaan sir ko call kar leti hoon..."
She dialled his phone number.
"Hello... Hello Shaan sir..."
"Haan Hello... Anokhi beta... tum aa rhi hona ?..."
"Jee sir... bas aadhe ghante mein pahunch jaaungi..."
"Ok beta... drive safely..."
"Ji sir..."
She hung up the phone and rode her scooty towards the park.
Shaan was in Sabharwal's house, and after getting ready, he left as well. Someone, however, was keeping an eye on him.
Shaan had arrived at the park and was waiting for Anokhi, just when his gaze was drawn to a charming sight.
A smile made his way to his lips when he saw Anokhi and Mimi walking hand in hand together. They looked incredibly cute.
"Good evening Shaan sir..."
"Good evening beta..."
"Good ebeling... ", Mimi greeted him as well.
This made Shaan very happy.
Caressing her head, he said, "Good evening Mimi beta... aap kaise ho ?..."
"Main bohot achchi hoon... aap kaichhe ho ?...", she inquired sweetly.
He got awe at the little girl child.
"Main bhi bohot achcha hoon Mimi..."
Anokhi smiled seeing their exchange.
"Shaan sir... aap keh rhe the aapko kuch kaam..."
"Haan voh... ummm... baith ke baat kare ?..."
"Sure sir..."
Mimi was playing and walking around at a distance while they both sat down, but Anokhi was keeping an eye on her as well.
"Anokhi... I know... yeh thoda ajeeb lag rha hoga tumhe... maine aise tumhe yaha bula liya... But trust me... I don't have any bad inten..."
"Nhi nhi Shaan sir... yeh aap kaisi baatein kar rhe hai... maine aisa kuch nhi socha... par main samjhi nhi main aapko kaise help karu ?..."
"Mujhe actually... tumhaari... tumhaari..."
"Meri ?..."
"Tumhaari Aastha mam... unke... unke baare mein poochna tha..."
Anokhi was perplexed that Shaan had called her just to inquire about Aastha.
Was it that important ???
"Aastha mam ?... "
Shaan looked at Anokhi who had a puzzled expression.
"Haan... Aastha..."
"Anokhi... vo jaisa ki maine tumhe btaya tha... vo meri colleague thi... uske jaane ke baad kabhi baat nhi hui usse... isilye uske baare mein jaanna tha..."
"Lekin Shaan sir... ek baat poochu ?...", she interrupted.
"Haan... haan poocho..."
"Nhi matlab... maine aapko Aastha mam ka phone number diya tha... aapki unse baat nhi hui ?..."
Shaan remained silent; After all what could he say ?.
"Haan... vo tumne number diya toh tha... lekin baat aisi hai Anokhi ki... bohot saal ho gaye haina tumhaari Aastha mam se mile... itne saal hum touch mein nhi the... toh isiliye thoda awkward sa lag rha tha... isliye socha main tumse pehle jaan leta hoon... fir phone to baad mein bhi kar sakte hai...", he faked a laugh.
"Achcha...", Anokhi comprehended.
"Toh aap kya jaanna chaahte ho Shaan sir ?..."
Shaan paused for a moment before responding.
"Aastha... kaisi hai... m... matlab vo theek haina... vo Kapurthala mein hi rehti haina ?..."
"Ji sir... vo bilkul theek hai... Aur haan aapne bilkul sahi kaha... vo Kapurthala mein rehti hain Nanu-Nani ke saath..."
"Nanu-Nani ???..."
"Ohhh..", Anokhi smacked herself.
"Vo sir... Aastha mam toh meri doosri maa jaisi haina... toh isiliye unke ma aur papa mere Nanu-Nani hue na...", she smiled.
Shaan felt a prick in his heart as he listened to this.
How desperately Aastha must have wished for Shaurya to call her parents "Nanu-Nani", but her wish was fulfilled by the girl sitting in front of him. He was being sentimental, but kept his emotions under control. He was overjoyed that Aastha had a student like Anokhi who revered her as her mother.
"Kya hua Shaan Sir ?..."
"Huhhh ?... Haan to... achcha toh tum Aastha ke parents ki baat kar rhi thi... Vo sab kaise hai... Baauji... Maa sabhi theek haina ?..."
"Jee sir... Sabhi bohot achche hai... Aastha mam unka bohot achche se khyaal rakhti hai... maine dekha hai...", she laughed a little.
Shaan tried hard to hide his tears.
"Aastha job karti haina ?... Kaha padhaati hai vo ?..."
"Aapne suna hoga Made Easy ka naam... GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering) ke preparation ke liye ye ek coaching institute hai... main branch yaha Delhi mein hi hai... aur vaha Jalandhar vale branch mein Aastha mam faculty hai..."
Shaan was overjoyed to learn that she works in a reputable institution. It's all because of her determination and never-say-die attitude.
"Oh Made Easy... haan main jaanta hoon iske baare mein..."
Shaan spent more time with her, asking about Aastha, her parents, her job, what Aastha had done in previous years, and how Anokhi knew Aastha, as well as Anokhi's journey to Delhi. He did not enquire deeply in order to avoid suspicion.
However, they had no idea, that someone was smirking at them through his car window from afar.
"Parjai ji... kuch socha aapne ?...", Alok asked.
"Hmmm... kuch sochna toh padega hi... baat itni aage badh gayi Alok... Shaan us ladki se milne tak chala gaya vaha... Isse pehle ki zyaada der ho jaaye mujhe kuch karna hoga...", Devi was tense.
"Toh parjai ji... simple sa hi to kaam karna hai hume ab... jaaiye aur jaake Shaurya ko yeh baat bta deejiye... kaam khatam paisa hazam !..."
"Alok !... Tumhe budhdhi kab milegi ?... Agar maine aise jaakar Shaurya ko yeh baat bta di... toh tumhe kya lagta hai use thoda shak nhi hoga hume yeh baat kaise pta chali... Tum vaha gaye the toh ek dhang ka kaam nhi kar paaye... ek photo hi kheech lete us ladki ki Shaan ke saath... kam se kam Shaurya ko yakeen to dila paate..."
Alok remained silent for few moments.
"Ek to inka kaam bhi karo... upar se daant bhi suno... huhh...", Alok blabbered in mind. But, then suddenly something clicked his mind.
"Idea !!!..."
"Alok !... Chilla kyu rhe ho ???..."
"Arre parjai ji... ek badhiya idea aaya hai..."
Alok told her about his malicious plan, and Devi agreed that she should not wait and should go ahead with it.
"Badi maa... ye... yeh aap kya keh rhi hain ???... Ho sakta hai aapko koi galatfaimi hui ho... Aisa bhi toh ho sakta hai aapko... aapko sunne mein galti ho gyi ho...", he tried to control his rage.
"Nhi Shaurya... maine jo bhi suna sab sahi tha... ab agar tum apni badi maa par vishvaas nhi karna chhahte to theek hai... lekin baat sirf itni hi nhi hai Shaurya... isse aage bhi bohot kuch ho gaya hai... mujhe dar hai tumhe samajhne mein tab tak der naa ho jaaye aur Aastha humaari zindagi mein..."
"Badi maa... "
"Badi maa... isse aage bhi bohot kuch ?... Iska kya matlab hai badi maa ?..."
"Main yahi btane toh aayi thi tumhe... lekin shayad iss baat par toh tumhe aur zyaada vishvaas na ho..."
Now Shaurya's patience was reaching its peak.
"Badi maa please... main aapko trust karta hoon... mujhe please btaaiye kya baat hai ?..."
"Toh suno Shaurya...", she made him sit and she also sat down.
"Dekho... is baat ko sunne ke baad tum Shaan ko galat mat samjhna beta... Mujhe pta hain tumhe yeh jaanne ke baad bohot bura lagega kyunki mujhe khud achcha nhi laga tha..."
"Jaisa ki abhi maine tumhe btaya Shaurya... us din raat ko maine Shaan ko Aastha se baat karte suna tha... lekin jaisa tumne kaha main bhi sure nhi thi... isiliye mane tumhe bhi tab kuch nhi bataya tha... lekin fir kal ... kal shaam ko Alok ne Shaan ko kisi se phone par baat karte suna... vo use bta rha tha ki vo vha pohonch rha hai... Beta tum hume galat mat samajhna ... tumhe lag rha hoga ki hum Shaan par nazar rakh rhe the par aisa nhi hai... vo bhi toh humaare parivaar ka hissa hai... isiliye Alok uske peeche gaya tha yeh dekhne ki vo har roz jaata kaha hai... lekin fir vha jaakr... usne jo dekha... Vo... vo ladki... "
"Kaun ladki ?..."
"Anokhi... Anokhi Bhalla..."
"Shaan... Anokhi se milne gaya tha... Alok ne khud apni aankho se dekha... tumhe ab tak toh samajh aa hi gaya hoga na... Anokhi ne hi Aastha ke kehne par Shaan ko vha bulaaya hoga taaki..."
"Bass badi maa !!!... ", the rage had reached its peak.
"Ab main aur chup nhi rahunga..."
"Dad ne mujhse vaada kiya tha ki vo uss ladki se dobaara milne ki koshish nhi karenge... lekin nhi... unhone apne bete ki baat nhi maani... main... main hoon hi nhi kuch unka... meri koi care hi nhi hai unhe... lekin ab main bhi chup nhi rahunga...", he stormed out of the room after saying this, while Devi continued to call him by feigning emotion.
She smirked once he left.
"Mera kaam to ho gaya... "
"Main bohot achche se jaanti hoon ki Shaan ne hi zaroor us ladki ko vha milne ke liye bulaaya hoga... lekin Shaurya ko us ladki ke khilaaf bhi bhadkaana hoga nhi toh Shaan ko control nhi kar paayenge..."
She heaved a euphoric sigh of relief.
Shaurya was driving recklessly. His veins were throbbing with rage.
"Aapne yeh theek nhi kiya Dad... bilkul theek nhi kiya..."
"Ek baat boli thi aapko... vo bhi nhi maani aapne..."
"Aur us Miss Bhalla ke kehne par..."
"Urghhhh...", he slammed his fist against the steering wheel.
"Kyu koi mere baare mein nhi sochta... kyun kisi ko meri parvaah nhi hai... meri feelings... meri insecurities... kisi ko koi lena dena hi nhi hai..."
"Itne saalo baad... Dad ne MISS KASHYAP se baat karne ki koshish ki... one minute !!... Dad ke paas... Dad ke paas unka number kaha se aaya ???... ", he again banged his fist on the wheel.
"Yeh bhi Miss Bhalla ka hi kaam hai... How could she stoop so low ???... Kisi ke kehne par vo aise doosro ke matters mein kaise dakhalandaazi kar sakti hai..."
"Main sab samajh gaya hoon... badi maa ne bilkul shi kaha tha... vo UNKE recommendation par hi yaha aayi hai... lekin main UNKE intentions ko kabhi poora hone nhi doonga... UNHONE kabhi meri care nhi ki... main bhi UNKI care nhi karta...", he felt a sting in his heart.
He reached his destination where he had decided. He rang the bell and the person who opened the door was taken aback.
"Shaurya ?..."
Shaan stood there numb.
How did Shaurya find out about his apartment?
Gayatri was the only one who knew about it.
"Chauk gaye mujhe dekhkar ?... Meri shakal dekhna bhi pasand nhi karte aap to ?..."
"Yeh tum kya keh rhe ho Shaurya..."
Shaurya stormed in from the side, and Shaan shut the door behind him.
"Shaurya... tum... tum... yaha... tumhe kaise pta..."
"Dad !!!..."
"Bass Dad !... Ab mujhse aur nhi ho rha... maine ek vaada karne ko kaha tha aapko... vo bhi nhi nibha paaye..."
"Kaisi baatein kar rhe ho Shaurya... kaunsa vaada..."
"Bas bohot ho gaya Dad... aap aur kitna neeche girenge..."
Shaan was deeply hurt by his statement. His own son was berating him. Maybe, it was fruit of his own deeds.
"Maine... maine aapko mana kiya tha... Miss Kashayp ke baare mein dobaara jaanne ki koshish mat karna... lekin nhi... aap to... aap to usse bhi bohot aage badh gaye... Jise itne saalo tak kabhi humaara khyaal nhi hua usko aapne pachchees saal baad phone kiya... itna hi nhi balki... unki bheji gayi student ke kehne par aap usse milne chale gaye... Aap... aap samjah nhi rhe yaa samajhna nhi chhahte ???... Vo aapki kamzori ka faayda utha rhi hai aur aap... aap ho ki..."
"Lekin main aapki tarah nhi hu hoon samjhe Dad !... Mujhe unke intentions clearly dikh rhe hai... Main aapko itni badi galti karne nhi doonga...", by now his anger had vaporized into tears.
Shaan, who had been silently listening to everything, was heartbroken. He didn't even have the freedom just to know about the well-being of his own wife. Their own son was against them. He felt completely defeated. He felt disgusted at himself. He felt helpless.
"Kya hua Dad ?... Aaj aap chup kyu hain ?... Kuch bolenge nhi apne bete ke khilaaf... Ohh sorry sorry... extremely sorry... aapka beta toh aapke liye exist hi nhi karta... everything is just show-off..."
"Shaurya !!!...", Shaan did not remain silent this time.
"Stay in your limits Shaurya... Mujhse naaraazgi hai... theek hai... mujhpe chillaanaa hai... theek hai... lekin mere pita hone ko tum aise insult nhi kar sakte..."
"Kyu Dad ?... Kabhi aapne mere baare mein socha bhi hai... Mujhpe kya beetti hai... meri ichchha... kabhi in cheezo ke baare mein socha hai aapne ?... THE ANSWER IS NO !!... Toh fir aap mere dad kaise hue ?... Mera... mera koi hai hi nhi duniya mein... badi maa ke alaava... aur bade papa ke alaava aur... aur ch... chaachi...", he fell down with a thud.
"Shaurya... ", Shaan grabbed him by the arms almost immediately.
"No Dad...", he gathered himself.
"Mujhe... mujhe bolne deejiye aap..."
"Aaj main chup nhi rahunga... mere har savaal ka javaab dena hoga aapko aaj..."
"Bataaiye... bataaiye kyu milne gaye the aap Miss Bhalla ko... usne aapko milne ke liya bulaya tha na... usne..."
"Shaurya... meri baat suno... uski koi..."
"No !!!.... Mujhe sab pta hai... usne hi aapko bulaaya tha..."
"Aap abhi bhi usko defend kar rhe ho dad... Chalo theek hai... maan liyaa... maan li aapki baat... toh fir yeh bataaiye Dad... Miss Kashyap ka number aapke paas kaise aaya ???... Ye toh sirf Miss Bhalla hi kar sakti haina Dad... Kyun ?... Abhi bhi usko bachaane ke liye koi excuse banaayenge aap..."
"Shaurya vo..."
"Nhi Dad... meri baat ka javaab deejiye... Haan yaa Na ??? Miss Bhalla ne aapko number diya yaa nhi ?'''
"Shaurya...."
"Sirf haan yaa naa...", he warned.
"Haan... haan... haan... usne hi diya mujhe number !!!!", Shaan said defeatedly.
"Bass... mujhe toh pehle hi baat pta thi ye.... Mujhe mere saare javaab mil gaye... "
"Aapne meri baat nhi maani... ab main bhi aapki baat nhi maan paaunga Dad... Main ab chup nhi rahunga... Kal Miss Bhalla ko mera saamna karna hi hoga... She has crossed all her limits...", he stormed out of there, and Shaan continued to call him, but in vain.
Shaan sobbed as he leaned against the door.
"Yeh kya ho gaya..."
"Ab... ab main kya karu..."
"Sab gadbad ho gaya... It's all messed up... "
"Naa main Shaurya ki baat rakh paaya... naa hi main Anokhi ko bacha paaya..."
Dard mein bhi yeh lab muskura jaate hai
Beete lamhein hamein jab bhi yaad aate hai
Someone's soothing voice can be heard in the room of silence.
Dard mein bhi yeh lab muskura jaate hai
Beete lamhein hamein jab bhi yaad aate hai
The guitar strings vibrate in time with his voice.
Beete lamhein...
His eyes well up with a lone tear.
Chand lamhaaat ke vaaste hi sahi
Muskuraakar mili thi mujhe zindagi
Chand lamhaaat ke vaaste hi sahi
Muskuraakar mili thi mujhe zindagi...
A scene of a boy child running merrily around the ground flashes before his eyes.
Teri aaghosh mein din the mere kate
Teri baahon mein thi meri raate kati
Aaj bhi jab woh pal mujhko yaad aate hai
Dil se saare gamo ko bhula jaate hai
He closes his eyes, and everything goes black. But he could make out his mother's face in the darkness.
Dard mein bhi yeh lab muskura jaate hai
Beete lamhein hamein jab bhi yaad aate hai
Beete lamhein...
He sighs deeply and scolds himself as he blinks open his eyes.
"Nhi... main... main unko yaad nhi karunga..."
"Unhe kabhi meri parvaah nhi thi... mujhe bhi unki koi parvaah nhi hain..."
"Vo swaarthy hain... vo meri k... koi nhi hain... toh fir kyun ?... Kyun ab aap vaapas aana chahti hain humaari zindagi mein ?..."
"Main nafrat karta hoon unse... bohot nafrat..."
His conscience questioned him, if he hated her, why was he singing about her a while ago ?
He stands up and throws the guitar in the bed, unable to accept the answer.
His eyes burning with rage.
From the corner of his eye, he looked at the guitar. He threw it this way because of a memory associated with it, and the same memory made him vulnerable. He calms down and walks over to it, picking it up.
Despite the agonizing memory associated with it, he couldn't let it go because it was his only companion in his loneliness. He picks it up and places it safely inside the gig bag before locking the cupboard.
•◆•
Jitna bhi door rehne ki koshish kare
Aakhir mein aana padhta hain isi ke paas
Kyunki jo yaadein judi hain is yantra se
Vo hain uske liye kuch bohot khaas...
•◆•
So, how was it ?
Do tell me in comments 😊