Here's the 79th chapter.
Enjoy reading.
Shaurya had returned home from college.
He was in a strange mood today, feeling desperation, and despondency.
Whatever he had witnessed today in college was still fresh in his mind, having left an indelible impression on him, and he couldn't seem to get past it.
The image of his Princess encircled and protected within her mother's arms was still vibrant in his mind, making him wonder what he had done wrong that he had never received such love and care from MISS AASTHA KASHAYP.
He'd changed into his casual clothes and sat on the couch, staring blankly at nothing in particular, his mind still occupied with the thought of HER, who had "deprived" him what every child desired from his mother.
He was agitated from within, wondering why he had been deprived of it when he had done nothing wrong, and why he had to suffer all alone for no reason.
He was engulfed in his own thinking, and grief, when someone's voice jolted him out of his stupor.
"Shaurya beta..."
He looked there at the doorstop, and found his Badi Maa standing there.
He stood up and said, "Badi Maa..."
Devi stepped in, and they both approached each other.
"Shaurya beta..."
"Kya baat hai... Aaj kal tum apni Badi Maa se zyaada milte nhi..." she began her melodrama.
Shaurya fell silent as he realized he had been lost in his own world of guilt and repentance for the past few days, confining himself to his room alone.
"Voh... Badi Maa..."
"Aisa nhi hai..."
"Bas vo college ka kaam-..."
"Main jaanti hoon Shaurya..." Devi spoke up in between.
"Shaurya... Beta main samajhti hoon tumhe..."
"Actually Badi Maa... Voh in dino college ke kaam mein zyaada busy ho gaya... Isliye..."
"I mean..." he tried to form words.
"Tum kehte ho toh maan leti hoon Shaurya..." she replied.
"Lekin ek baat tumhe btaana chaahti thi beta..." she changed her tone to serious this time.
He turned to look her in the eyes when he sensed her tone and asked what she wanted to say.
"Boliye Badi Maa..." he said.
"Dekho beta..."
"Meri baat ka bura mat maanna..."
"Main tumhe udaas nhi dekh sakti... Isiliye kuch kehna chaahti thi tumse..."
She tried to show him that she understands him and his feelings the best.
She began again, "Shaurya beta..."
"Mujhe pta chala... AASTHA PARSO VAAPAS LAUT RHI HAI..."
Shaurya's veins constricted as soon as his ears register the words. His heart sank.
SHE would go away... AGAIN !
SHE would go away leaving him behind as a TOTALLY WORTHLESS thing YET AGAIN !!
He averted his eyes in order to maintain his façade, but all he could feel was grief.
After thirty years, SHE appeared in front of him, and now SHE was going back YET AGAIN, just as she had done before; BY ABANDONING HIM BEHIND.
He swallowed the large lump in his throat, his eyes already watering, but he blinked them away. He didn't want to fall weak.
Devi resumed her talk after sensing the silence.
"Shaurya tum chaaho... Toh ek baar apni MAA se mil-..."
"Badi Maa...", Shaurya finally spoke up, interrupting her with a heavy voice.
"Badi Maa... VO MERI MAA NHI HAI..."
"Aur..." he gulped the lump in his throat.
"Main unka chehra bhi nhi dekhna chaahta...", his jaw clenched, his fist curled due to the torment.
Devi smirked as she listened. This was exactly what she wanted to listen.
She wanted to show him that she wasn't like his mother, who was self-indulgent, and that by telling him to meet his mother, she was showing her "fake" selflessness to him.
She realized by his reply that his "hatred" for his mother hadn't abated, and she wouldn't let it happen anyway in future too.
Now she needed to show her empathetic side to him that she was genuinely concerned if he wanted to meet Aastha.
"Shaurya..."
"Dekho main toh tumhaari Badi Maa hoon... Main achche se samajhti hoon tumhe..."
"Main jaanti hoon mera beta mujhse bohot pyaar karta hai aur mujhe bilkul bhi udaas nhi dekh sakta..."
"Lekin tum kya chaahte ho kya nhi... In sabka khyaal hai mujhe beta..." she said softly.
"Itne saalon baad Aastha yha aayi hai... Ho sakta hai tumhaara usse milne ka man ho... Lekin shaayad mere baare mein sochkar tum apni man ki baat nhi sun paa rhe ho... " she pretended to be humble, while he stood there enraged, his eyes averted.
"Aastha khudgarz ho sakti hai beta... Use tumhaari yaa Shaan ki chinta nhi hoti hogi... Lekin main aisi nhi hoon..."
"Isliye main tumhe btaane chaahti thi ki tum agar usse milna chaahte ho toh mujhe isse koi bhi aitraaz nhi hain... Mujhe koi naaraazgi nhi hogi beta... Tumhaari khushi mein hi meri khushi hai..." she said it while acting emotional.
"Badi Maa..." he finally spoke up.
"Aap galat samajh rhi hain Badi Maa... Aisa kuch bhi nhi hain..."
"Mere liye aapke alaava aur koi MAA nhi hain... So please... Aap aisa bilkul bhi mat sochiye..."
"Nhi milna hai mujhe kisi se bhi..." he clarified; his rage palpable in his voice.
Devi's heart felt lighter as she heard the words she needed to hear. She was heading right towards her intended "target".
"Shaurya beta... Main tumhe udaas nhi karna chaahti thi..."
"Main toh tumhaari MAA hoon naa... Tum mujhe apna MAA maante ho... Aur MAA ko toh apne bachche ki har zaroorat ka khyaal hota hai... Isiliye jab Aastha ke jaane ki khabar mujhe pta chal hi gayi... Toh maine socha tumhe bhi ek baar bta doon..."
Shaurya, who was trying hard not to think about HER, now focused his attention on his Badi Maa's words. He wondered, how Badi Maa knew about when SHE was returning to Kapurthala. He wanted to ask, but wasn't sure if he should.
Devi observed him and deduced what he was thinking from his expression. So, she continued to spew her trash words.
"Is baat ke alaava bhi mujhe tumse kuch aur kehna tha beta... Mujhe galat mat samajhna..."
"Badi Maa... Aap aise kyu bol rhi hain ?... Main aapko galat kyun samjhunga kabhi ?..." he seemed perplexed.
"Darasal... Voh main Aastha ke baare mein kuch aur bhi btaana chaahti thi tumhe..." she sneaked peek onto him, who had stiffened at the mention of HER.
Shaurya tried hard not to be affected by hearing about HER, but his Badi Maa kept talking about HER only. But he had no choice but to listen to his Badi Maa.
"Kya kehna chaahti hain aap Badi Maa ?... Maine toh aapko bta hi diya... MUJHE KISI SE NHI MILNA..." he said.
"Kisise milne ki baat nhi hai Shaurya..." she spoke up.
"Asal mein main tumhe kuch zaroori baat btaana chaahti thi Aastha ke baare mein..."
"Tumhaara jaanne ka hak hai beta..." she emphasized.
He seemed beffled by what she was trying to say.
"Dekho Shaurya..." she said solemnly.
"Aastha ko vaapas jaane mein abhi bhi do din hai... Mera matlab hai aaj aur kal..."
"Aur in do dino mein vo chaahe toh bohot kuch kar sakti hai..." she tried to instigate him.
"Main aapki baat nhi samjha Badi Maa..." he was totally clueless.
"Main samjhaati hoon tumhe..." she confidently replied.
"Aastha yaha Anokhi ko rokne ke liye aayi thi aur vo kaam toh ho chuka hai... Lekin jis kaam ke liye usne Anokhi ko yaha Delhi bheja tha vo kaam toh abhi tak poora nhi hua hai beta..."
"Aur jab Aastha khud yaha Delhi aa hi gayi hai... Toh vo yeh mauka nhi chodne vaali hai Shaurya..." she tried to provoke him.
He looked at her, taken aback, as soon as the words entered his ears. He now understood what she was saying. But this time he was certain that he would never make the mistake of misunderstanding Anokhi again.
"Badi Maa..."
"Voh... Anokhi..." he struggled to find the right words to persuade her that she was misinterpreting Anokhi in order to go against his mother.
"Beta..." she cut in.
"Anokhi ki baat abhi rehne dete hai..."
"Main jo abhi tumhe btaane vaali hoon vo tumhaare liye jaanna bohot zaroori hai..." she stressed her words.
She moved closer to him, and held his shoulders.
"Tumhaare Dad ab yaha tumhaare saath nhi rehte Shaurya..." she said holding his face, which had turned upset now.
"Shaan abhi akela rehta hai... Use vha Aastha se milne se rokne vaala koi nhi hai..."
"Aur isi baata ka faayda Aastha utha sakti hai Shaurya..." she finally said it.
He looked up at her, shocked.
"Haan Shaurya..." she continued; her gaze fixed on him.
"Itne saalon baad vo yaha aayi hain... Jaane se pehle ek baar toh vo Shaan se zaroor milegi... Chaahe aaj ho yaa kal..."
"Aur tumhaare Dad ko toh tum jaante hi hona beta... Aastha vaapas laut jaayegi yeh jaankar Shaan kuch toh karega... Aur vaise bhi Shaan ne jis din Sabharwal House choda tha usi din usne hume saaf- bta diya tha... Vo saaf apne aur Aastha ke beech sab kuch theek karna chaahta hai... Aur jab yeh baat vo Aastha se bolega toh mujhe poora yakeen hai... Aastha humaare zindagi mein vaapas aane ke is mauke ko haath se jaane nhi degi Shaurya..." she finally concluded her vile words leaving Shaurya shocked.
Shaurya stood there silent, his heart refusing to think anything negative about HER, but his mind didn't follow.
He was angry, but was trying hard to keep his cool.
"Shaurya..." this time, Devi spoke softly.
"Main jaanti hoon shaayad tumhe is baat par yakeen naa ho... Par yeh sab baatein main khud se bnaakar nhi keh rhi..."
"Asal mein yeh baatein toh Alok se mujhe pta chali beta..." she said.
"Chaachu se ???..." he turned to face her, puzzled.
"Badi Maa... Chaachu ?..."
"Main kuch samjha nhi... Chaachu ko yeh sab kaise-..."
"Alok ne Shaan ko yeh baatein karte hue suna tha beta..." Devi spoke up.
"Shaan phone par Aastha se baat kar rha tha... Aur..."
"Aur Alok ne voh sab baatein sun li..." she said.
Shaurya's body grew cold as he listened.
"Voh to bas vha se guzar rha tha jab uski nazar Shaan par pad gayi... Voh kisi galat intention se nhi sun rha tha Shaan ki baatein... Voh to bas apne bade bhaai ki bhalaai chaahta hai humaari hi tarah taaki use Aastha ke jaal mein kadam rakhne se bacha paaye..."
"Lekin... " she paused deliberately.
"Lekin ?..." Shaurya inquired.
"Lekin shaayad ab der ho chuki hai beta..." she looked him in the eyes.
"Aastha Shaan se milna chaahti hai... Ab voh tumhaare Dad se milne ke liye jaayegi Shaurya... Alok ne saaf-saaf suna tha yeh sab..." Devi disorganized the truth and blatantly lied, and she knew she had hit the bullseye.
The shell in Shaurya broke, and now this was too much for him to hear. He was enraged at the fact that how could SHE even think of getting back into their lives when SHE had never thought of them thirty years ago, leaving them behind like some useless things for her CAREER.
He was infuriated that after coming here in the name of changing Anokhi's decision, SHE was now making an attempt to make HER comeback in their lives before returning back.
His heart was still in no mood to believe what his mind was thinking; it still had a soft spot for HER, a yearning for HER; however, everything his Badi Maa said made it clear that SHE was there to make use of any "slightest" opportunity, which exasperated him.
"Shaurya beta..."
"Yahi baat thi jo mujhe lga tumhaara jaanna zaroori hain..."
"Mujhe tumhe btaana sahi lga... Isliye maine tumhe bta diya... Baaki tum jaisa theek samjho Shaurya..."
"Shaan toh tumhaare Bade Papa ki baat bhi nhi sunta... Meri baat toh chod hi do... Isliye socha ki use kuch bolne ke bjaaye seedha tumse hi baat kar loon... Kya pta tumhaare kuch kehne se vo koi galat kadam uthaane se bach jaaye..." she continued to fill his mind with animosity.
Shaurya stood there quiet. He had nothing to say. He was tangled in a thicket of emotions that weren't allowing him to think clearly about what he wanted; whether to hate HER more or not.
Devi kept a silent eye on his expressions, sensing that her "strategy" was working.
She knew that if she made Shaurya go to Shaan's flat, then seeing Aastha there would make him believe everything she had said up to that point. But she couldn't straightway tell him to go there without any reason as it would give him a pretty odd impression of her.
She had to carefully choose her words so that it appeared as if she was only there to tell him that Aastha and Shaan were going to meet one day before she returned, and thus she informed him of it so that he could know that his mother would try to entrap Shaan.
Devi decided that she should indirectly tell Shaurya to meet Shaan today only, so that he wouldn't doubt that she had a purpose behind, and he would also get to see his mother there, which would be the cherry on top of her plan to work.
"Vaise Shaurya beta..."
"Hume Aastha ka Shaan se milne ka iraada toh pta hai..."
"Lekin vo agar ek-doosre se akele mein milenge bhi... Usme ab hum toh kuch nhi kar sakte..."
"Humaare haath mein toh kuch nhi hai..."
Shaurya turned to look at her listening to this.
"Isliye yeh sab baatein abhi rehne dete hai..." she tried to divert his attention away from the previous topic.
"Tum mujhe yeh btaao Shaurya..."
"Tumhe tumhaari Dad ki chinta toh hoti hain main jaanti hoon..." she changed her tone to soft.
"Lekin bohot din ho gaye... Tum Shaan se milne nhi gaye..."
Shaurya stiffened as he listened.
Since the day he and his Dad had clashed over Anokhi's matter, their dynamics were back to nearly square one, and he hadn't visited him in his flat since. He would get to see him only in college.
"Kya hua Shaurya ?..." Devi waited for his reply.
"Voh..."
"Badi Maa..."
"Dad se meri college mein hi meet ho jaati hain... Unke flat gaye hue bohot din ho gaye..." he revealed.
"Toh aaj mil aao Shaurya..." she said softly, cupping his face.
"Aaj ?..." he was taken aback.
He had no plans of going there today, and he was perplexed as to why she was suddenly asking him to go.
"Aaj... Kyun Badi Maa ? ..."
"I mean main baad mein kisi din chala jaaunga..." he said casually, though he wanted to meet his Dad, but wasn't in a good state of mind.
"Main toh bas aise hi bol rhi thi Shaurya..."
"Main jaanti hoon ki tum apne Dad ko kitna miss karte ho... Isliye socha tumse bolu ki usse mil hi aao..."
"Vaise bhi Shaan abhi recover kar rha hain... Tumhaare alaava aur kaun khyaal rakhega uska Shaurya..."
"Humaari madad toh vo lega hi nhi... Hum toh kuch lagte hi nhi uske..." she tried to emotionally manipulate him.
Shaurya listened to her, and realized she was saying right.
He hadn't paid him a visit in his flat in a long time, and they hadn't spoken since Anokhi and Miss Aastha Kashyap's matter became entangled. He decided that he should go today to check on him, and at the very least, to be normal with him.
"Badi Maa..." he finally spoke up.
"Shaayad aap sahi keh rhi hain... Mujhe Dad se milne jaana chaahiye..." he said.
Devi felt relieved because she had met her goal. This is what she had planned, and it ultimately worked out.
"Jaisa tumhe theek lage beta..." she gently patted his shoulder.
He gave her a thin smile, and she said, "Maine Aastha ke baare mein jo bhi baatein kahi... Unka bura mat maanna beta..."
"Mujhe yakeen hain tum samajh gaye hoge ki maine vo baatein tumhe btaana zaroori kyun samjha..."
Shaurya's smile faded, but he blinked, assuring her that he understood her intention.
Patting his shoulder, she left his room leaving behind a displeased Shaurya...
Two pairs of feet could be seen walking at the same pace through the green grass blades.
"Yaad hai Noor..." he said softly, the cool breeze brushing their bodies and the grass swaying like tree leaves.
"SHAADI se pehle..."
"Hum yaha... Isi jagah par mila karte the..." Shaan spoke up as his eyes twinkled.
Aastha swallowed the huge lump in her throat, averting her gaze.
This was why she wanted to avoid him, to deny his request to meet her, but she couldn't because she still loved him in the same way she had for the past thirty years and would continue to do so.
"Shaan..." she finally spoke up, her voice heavy.
"Tumne mujhe yaha milne ke liye bulaaya tha..."
"Mujhse mil liya tumne..."
"Ab mujhe jaana chaahiye..." she said, suppressing her emotions.
He turned to face her and said, "Naaraaz ho mujhse tum..."
"Hona hi chaahiye..." he said, his face adorned with a sarcastic smile, his eyes visibly misty.
"Shaan..." she spoke up as she looked at him.
"Main pehle bhi tumhe bta chuki hoon Shaan... Mujhe tumse koi naaraazgi nhi hai... Aur naaraaz hone ka koi hak bhi nhi..." she said, her voice quivering.
"Aur vaise bhi... Mujhe abhi Anokhi se milne jaana hai... Isiliye main jaane ki baat kar rhi thi..."
"Noor..." Shaan came to a halt, as did Aastha upon seeing him.
"Noor please..."
"Mujhe tumse kuch baat karni hain... Bas thodi der... Thoda sa vakt mujhe de sakti ho tum... Sirf thoda sa ?..." he begged, his voice shuddering.
With wet eyes, she looked at him. He seemed to be in deep sorrow from the way he was pleading, which she already knew, but seeing it right in front of her eyes stabbed her heart. She didn't want to add to his grief, and this was probably their "last" meeting, so she decided to stay a little longer and let him say whatever he wanted.
She wished for their final meeting to be at least free of discontentment for both of them.
"Shaan... Tum keh sakte ho tumhe jo kehna hai..." she said in hushed tone, averting her eyes.
"Dekho Noor..." he began to say.
"Tum Kapurthala vaapas laut jaao... Usse pehle main tumse aakhri baar ke liye kuch chaahta hoon..." he got right to the point.
He had had enough of loneliness, sadness, alienation, guilt, and everything else for the past thirty years. Now he wanted to get rid of them all, at the very least by apologizing to his NOOR and requesting that she give him one last chance and to STAY IN TOUCH WITH HIM even though she was away from him in Kapurthala.
"Please Noor..." Shaan said.
"Main jaanta hoon ki maine tumhaare saath jo kiya uske baad mera koi hak nhi hai tumse yeh maangne ka... Lekin main ab aur aise... Is tarah se nhi reh sakta..."
"Kya kehna chaahte ho tum Shaan ?..." Aastha spoke up, her voice trembling.
"Please aisa kuch mat kehna jo tum jaante ho main nhi kar paaungi..." she clarified herself the very next moment.
She had already sensed a hint of what was to come, and she didn't want to face it. She knew she couldn't grant him what he desired, nor could she simply deny him, breaking his heart.
"Aastha... Kya mujhe ek aakhri-..."
"TOH AB AAP YAHA BHI AA HI GAYI... MISS – AASTHA - KASHYAP...", before Shaan could complete, he was cut in by a sudden voice.
They were both taken aback when they realized who it was. They both turned to face the owner of this unexpected voice.
There stood their SON, staring at them both with wrath-filled eyes.
Aastha foresaw what awaited next.
His hatefulness for her was perceptible in his eyes, pricking her heart.
"Shaurya tum ?..." As Shaurya approached them both, Shaan spoke up.
Aastha shifted her gaze in a different direction, her vision blurry.
Shaurya walked over to them and came to a halt right in front of HER.
"Mujhe lga tha aap jis kaam ke liye yaha aayi thi vo poora ho chuka hai... Lekin main toh galat nikla..."
"Aapke toh kuch aur hi plans hai..."
"Haina... MISS KASHYAP !!..." he gritted his teeth, asserting her maiden name repeatedly to make it clear that she was no one to him.
Aastha didn't say anything and kept looking in the opposite direction, knowing that her words would be useless. Moreover, she didn't want to have another argument with him after what happened that day in SIEST.
"Dekhiye zara..." Shaurya retorted.
"Ab toh nazre milaane ki bhi himmat nhi rhi aap mein..." his jaw clenched.
This time Aastha turned to face him, her eyes clearly reflecting her hurt, but he averted his gaze to avoid becoming weak.
"Tum iss tarah se pesh nhi aa sakte Shaurya..." Finally, Shaan jumped into the conversation.
"Kyun Dad ?..." he was quick to reprimand.
"Maine galat hi kya bola ??..."
"Inhe dekhiye toh..." he said, turning to face his mother, "Aur kitna neeche girengi aap Miss Aastha Kashyap ??..."
Aastha's eyes teared up hearing his rude words.
"Ek mauka kya mil gaya... Aapne immediately uska faayda uthaane ka soch liya..."
"Great !!!... I must say..." he gritted his teeth.
Aastha gave him a hurtful look.
Since the day she arrived in Delhi, he had been accusing her, making her an offender in her own eyes.
She tried hard not to be affected by his words, but it was beginning to wear her down.
She had no intentions of defending herself or her actions from thirty years ago. She just wanted to let him know that there was something he was unaware of, and that he couldn't just accuse her of whatever came to his mind.
"Shaurya... Main yaha kis kaam ke liye aayi hoon yeh tum bohot achche se jaante ho..."
"Toh bevajah yeh sab ilzaam ka kya matlab hai ?..." she inquired; her voice subdued.
"Oh yes !... Of course I know aap yaha kyun aayi hain..." he replied mockingly.
"Anokhi ke matter ko solve karne ke bahaane aap yaha aa toh gayi... Ab jaane se pehle apna asli kaam niptaana chaahti hain aap Miss Kashyap..." he said belligerently.
"Asli kaam se tumhaara kya matlab hai Shaurya ?..." she said, knowing exactly what he meant but wanted clarification.
"Ab yeh bhi mujhe explain karna padega ??... Really ??!..." he shot back.
"Itni innocent kyun ban rhi hain aap Miss Kashyap ?..."
"Humaari life mein vaapas apni jagah banaana... Yahi toh chaahti hain aap... Yahi toh hai aapka Dad se is jagah milne ka INTENTION..."
"Mauke ka faayda uthaana koi aapse seekhe !!..." he yelped.
"Shaurya !!..." Shaan yelled, unable to take it any longer.
Aastha's eyes had welled up by this point, and she couldn't believe that her own son had developed such resentment for her that he didn't even hesitate to label her as an opportunistic.
She wanted to make it clear to her son that her arrival in Delhi had nothing to do to with her return to their lives.
If that had been her intention, she would have done it long ago, not after thirty years.
Hearing her son's words hurt her deeply, and she decided that she had to speak up or else she would have to repent for never trying to tell him the "truth" and instead bearing the brunt of the false accusations and suffering for it.
"Aastha ko maine yaha bulaaya hai Shaurya..."
"Tum har baar bina jaane kyun doosro par ilzaam lgaana shuru kar dete ho ??!!..." Shaan said angrily.
Shaurya was taken aback by this and turned to face Shaan. He had assumed SHE herself had come to meet his Dad, but it turned out to be the other way around. But he couldn't bring himself to stop criticizing her, because what she had done with him was something he could never forgive.
"Vo khud yaha aayi ho yaa aapke bulaane par hi kyun naa aayi ho..."
"Unka maksad toh sirf ek hi haina Dad..."
"Shaurya !..." This time, Aastha spoke up, her patience having worn thin.
She had remained silent till now because she did not want to get into a tussle with her son. However, it appeared that the situation wasn't in her favor.
"Maana ki tumhe mujhse naaraazgi hain... Lekin iska yeh matlab nhi ki tumhe jo lagta hai humesha vhi sahi hoga..."
"Aap mujhse yeh kehna vaali hoti kaun hain ?..." he scoffed, his eyes narrowing.
Aastha was hurt, but she tried to form words.
"Tum..."
"Tum jaante ho ki main kaun hoon Shaurya..."
"M... Main tumhaari..."
"Tumhaari MA-..."
"NO !!!!!..." he screamed angrily.
Aastha flinched at the intensity of his voice while Shaan looked on helplessly in sadness.
"Khabardaar jo khudko mujhse jodne ki koshish bhi ki toh..." Shaurya stuck his gaze on her, who had been moved to tears by his harsh words.
"Shaur-..."
"Tees saal pehle nhi yaad tha yeh ?..." he cut her off, his voice quivering.
"Tab socha tha ki aap kaun lagti hain meri ?..."
"Tab mera khyaal aaya tha aapko ?!!..." his throat tightened.
Aastha continued to look at him with teary eyes. His tear-stung eyes broke her heart. The pain with which he said those words made her feel vulnerable. She couldn't even put words together.
"Tab toh mera yaad nhi tha naa aapko..."
"Chodke chali gayi thi mujhe... " his throat choked.
"Ek khilauna jaisa hota haina... Us tarah khela mere saath..." his voice rattled.
Aastha and Shaan widened their eyes.
"Chaar saal aap khush thi ek khilauna ke saath... Tab tak uske saath khel liya... A... Aur..." his voice shivered," AUR JAB BORE HO GAYI TOH UTHAAKE PHENK DIYA KACHRE KE DIBBE MEIN USE..." a lone tear escaped his eyes.
"Shaurya..." Aastha gasped in shock.
Shaan was flabbergasted.
"Kya keh rhe ho tum yeh Shaurya ?!!..." she sobbed as she moved closer to him.
"DOOR !..." Shaurya showed her his palm.
"Door rahiye mujhse..." he said sternly.
"Shaurya tum please baat ko-..."
"Aaj mujhe kehne do Shaan..." Aastha interrupted, wiping her tears away.
Shaurya continued to stare at her with raged eyes, and she turned to face him.
"Tumne abhi jo bhi kaha vaisa bilkul nhi hai Shaurya..." she said softly, her tough exterior giving way to her motherly side.
"Main..." she said as she swallowed the lump in her throat.
"Main tumhaari-... Tum mere bete ho Shaurya... Koi khilauna nhi-..."
"Kitni baar repeat karna padega mujhe ?!!!... Naa main aapka... Aur naa aap meri kuch thi ya hain !!!..." he hollered.
"Sharm nhi aati aapko aapka mujhpe yeh hak jataane mein ??..." he grumbled.
"Jo hak aap jata rhi hain vo aap bohot pehle hi kho chuki hain !!!..." he clarified.
"Afsos hota hai..." Aastha replied, her gaze fixed on him.
"Afsos hota hai mujhe Shaurya..." a single tear escaped her eyes.
"WOW AASTHA KASYAP..." he snapped back.
"Aapko AFSOS bhi hota hai..."
"Yeh toh naya shabd hai aapki dictionary mein..."
"FANTASTIC !..." he remarked.
"Tees saal pehle asal mein hua kya tha... Iska tumhe koi andaaza nhi hai Shaurya... Poori baat nhi pta hai tumhe..." she said.
Shaurya looked at her with questioning gaze. Even after all of this, she was attempting to defend herself by lying, which was too much for him to endure.
"Aapni yeh FABRICATED STORY naa apne paas rakhiye... Mujhe is mein koi interest nhi hain..."
"Aur mere sach mein ???..." she was quick to retort.
"Mere sach ko toh tum jhootla nhi sakte naa..." she stressed her words.
Shaan, who was silently witnessing his son and wife's brawl, was filled with guilt. With teary eyes, he bowed his head in.
"Main hazaar baar keh chuka hoon... Apna yeh fake drama mujhe mat dikhaao..."
"Main sab jaanta ho kis tarah ki aurat ho tum..." he said, hurting himself.
Aastha and Shaan were shocked as they listened to his undignified words.
"Aur kaan khol ke sun lo ek baat..." Shaurya started over.
"TUM MERI MAA NHI HO..." he made it clear, his eyes red.
"Shaurya... Yeh baat chaahe tum laakh baar keh lo... Lekin bhagvaan khud bhi aakar naa is baat ko galat nhi saabit kar sakte ki... TUM MERE BETE HO..." she replied back.
"Pichhle tees saalon ke baare mein tumne mujhse bohot kuch keh liya... Lekin PLEASE Shaurya... Ek baar meri bhi toh suno... Mujhe bhi toh kuch bolne ka mauka do..."
"Maine Sabharwal House nhi choda tha !!... MUJHE VHA SE NIKAALA GAYA THA..." she cried out.
Tears streamed from Shaan's eyes as he squeezed them shut.
"Pehle tumhe mujhse CHEEN liya gaya Shaurya... Aur fir baad mein..."
"Baade mein... MUJHE TUMSE DOOR RAKHA GAYA..."
"JHOOTH !!!..."
"Aur kitna jhooth bologi... Haan ?!..." Shaurya howled violently.
Shaan, who had his head bowed, turned to look shocked at Aastha. Listening to Aastha's final words caught him off guard.
What did she mean when she said she was KEPT AWAY from Shaurya ?
"Jabse yeh ghar chodkar gayi ho... Ek baar mudke nhi dekha mujhe... Aur ab-"
"Tumhe kaise pta hoga Shaurya... Tum to bohot chhote the..." Aastha cut him off.
"Sabharwal House ki deewaare bohot oonchi thi..."
"Us deewaar ke paar kya ho rha hain... Kya chal rha hain... Tum nhi dekh paaye..." she said, her eyes stinging from tears.
Shaan stood there silently watching them, having no idea what she was talking about.
"Kya kehna chaahti ho ?..." Shaurya asked in angry tone.
"Yahi ki ghanto..." Aastha's voice broke.
"Ghanto main Sabharwal House ke baahar baithi rhi... Is intezaar mein ki ek baar tumhaari jhalak mil jaaye..."
"Sach keh rhi hoon..." her voice cracked.
Shaan was astounded as he listened. He was unaware of it all these years.
"Main jitni koshish karti gayi... Utni Sabharwal House ki deewaare oonchi hoti gayi-..."
"Dekho apna jhooth na tum kisi aur ko samjhaana..." Shaurya abruptly cut her off, his eyes bloodshot.
"And you know what !!... Main bohot khush hoon ki meri parvarish TUMHAARE JAISE insaan se nhi hui... Nhi toh main bhi tumhaari tarah ek jhootha... Ek gair zimmedaar insaan ban jaata..." his lips twisted in anger.
"Tumhe chaahe bura lage yaa jhootha..." her eyes brimmed, "Lekin sach toh yahi hai... MAINE SABHARWAL HOUSE NHI CHODA THA... MUJHE VAHA SE NIKAALA GAYA THA..."
"Yeh decision lene ke liye mujhe majboor kiya gaya tha..."
"Lekin iske baavjood..." she wiped her tears.
"Iske baavjood har saal main tumhaare..." more tears streamed down her cheeks.
"Main har saal tumhaare spe... special din par..."
"Tumhaare JANM DIN par main vha aati thi... Tumhaara favorite cake lekar... Lekin mujhse yeh kaha jaata tha ki SHAURYA GUSSA HO JAAYEGA... SHAURYA KO BURA LAGEGA... Tumse milne nhi diya jaata tha... Aur naa jaane... Kitni saari baatein kahi gayi thi..." she wailed in agony.
Shaan was getting back-to-back shocks. He stood there in daze coming to terms with all of it which he was unaware of.
"Ho gaya tumhaara... Haan ? ..." Shaurya retorted.
"Bas... Ab mujhe tumse koi baat nhi karni..." he turned to rush away.
"Shaurya !..." she cried out as she held his arm.
"Samajh nhi aati meri bhaasha..." he glared at her, who had his arm in her grip.
"Shaurya meri baat suno... PLEASE..."
"Main sach keh rhi hoon Shaurya..."
"Tumhaare Dad toh jaante hai... Unse poochho... Main sach mein tumhe chodkar nhi jaana chaahti thi... Tumhe mujhse zabardasti cheen liya gaya tha..." she begged; her face streaked with tears.
Shaan's tears finally ran down his face. He was disgusted with himself for never having the courage to tell his son the truth all these years, and now his wife was pleading with her own son to BELIEVE in her, and he stood there silently like a shameless person.
"MERI MAA TOH THI HI NHI... LEKIN DAD KO BHI CHEEN LIYA MUJHSE..." he voiced out his inner turmoil, his eyes brimming up.
Shaan looked at him through tears.
"Haath jodta hoon !!... Mera haath chodo aur mujhe jaane do !!..." Shaurya squealed.
"Aaj jab baat saamne aa hi gayi hai... Main tumhe poora sach btaaye nhi jaane de sakti Shaurya..." she said, releasing him from her hold.
"Mujhe kuch nhi sunna tumhaara... Tum jitna bhi koshish karlo... Main apne parivaar ke against nhi jaane vaala..."
"Bohot achche se samjahta hoon tumhe... Tumhaara maksad mujhe un logo se DOOR karna hai jinhone mere liye vo kiya jo TUMHE KARNA CHAAHIYE THA !..." he exclaimed enragedly.
"Mujhe agar tumhe door karna hota naa toh main kab ka kar chuki hoti Shaurya..." she wept.
"Lekin main nhi chaahti thi ki ek rishte ke vajah se paanch – paanch rishte ki kurbaani deni pade..."
"NHI CHAAHTI THI KI TUMHE TUMHAARE DAD SE JUDAA HONA PADE..." tears ran down her face.
Shaan's eyes were filled with tears as he looked at her. He was overwhelmed with extreme repentance.
Shaurya averted his gaze to avoid becoming weak due to Aastha's tear-stained face. He was driven mad and was struggling to maintain his cool head.
"Kaash..." Aastha began, wiping her tears.
"Kaash us vakt main khudgarz hoti..."
"Sirf tumhaare aur apne baare mein sochti naa... Toh shaayad aaj kuch aur hota Shaurya..." she looked up at him, her eyes puffy.
"Duniya ke liye toh main ek zimmedaar aur strong aurat thi hi... LEKIN THI TOH EK MAA HI NAA..."
"Ek maa jitna chaahe duniya ke liye strong ho... Lekin apne bete ke saamne toh vo kamzor-..."
"NAA - MAIN – TUMHAARA – BETA - HOON... NAA – TUM – MERI - MAA..." he stated.
"Shaurya... Please..." Aastha begged.
"Please meri baat suno..."
"Pichhle tees saal mein main isi AAS mein jeeti rhi... Ki ek din..." her throat became dry.
"Ek din... Main apna saara SACH tumhe bta doongi... Apne is GUILT se baahar nikalkar chain ki saans loongi..." she sobbed.
"AUR M... MAIN ISI AAS MEIN JEETI RHI SHAURYA..." she had had enough and didn't have the strength to explain herself any further. She had nothing left to say. She just moved closer to her son, and gave up by hugging him and completely broke down into profuse tears.
"SHAURYA..." she buried herself in him, and endless tears flowed from her eyes as she perceived the sensation she had been YEARNING for the past thirty years.
Shaurya stood there motionless with blank face, his body turned rigid, his hands on either side of HER.
Shaan was moved to tears by the sight. He just wanted to be that forever until reality smacked him hard, when he saw Shaurya holding her arms to move her away from him.
The sudden jerk startled Aastha, who looked up at her son with swollen, watery eyes.
Shaurya horribly glared at her with his SICKLY PALE eyes and what he said next rendered Shaan and Aastha dumbstruck.
"Tum JIO..."
"Yaa toh MARO..." bile rushed up in his throat.
"I..."
"DON'T..."
"CARE..." he shoved her away, whose frozen body was then supported from behind by Shaan.
"SHAURYA !!!!!..." Shaan screamed in anger while he cradled Aastha in his arms and turned to face his son, who had stormed out of there after uttering those virulent words.
Aastha's entire world had come to a halt the moment her ears registered those deathly stabbing words from her son's mouth. She was benumbed, her mind went blank, and she landed on the ground with a thud. Her heart split into a million pieces that couldn't be reassembled.
"Noor !!..." Shaan exclaimed, sitting beside her and balancing her.
Uncontrollable tears had begun to fall from her eyes.
"Noor please meri taraf dekho..."
"Please Noor..." Shaan cried out, trying to cup her face.
Aastha had exhausted all of her energy in the face of reality. She had gone numb.
"Noor... Shaurya ne jo-..."
"MAIN BOHOT BURI MAA HOON !!..." she exclaimed upwhile sobbing.
"Bohot buri maa hoon main !!!..."
"Mere bete ko koi fark nhi padta ki main jeeu yaa maru..."
"Mera... Hona naa hona uske liye koi maaiyne nhi rakhta..."
"Nhi Noor aisa nhi hain !!..." Shaan was devastated to see Aastha in such a miserable state.
"Tum toh jaanti hona HUMAARA beta gusse mein kuch bhi bol deta hain... Vo aisa-..."
"Main sochti thi... Ek din mera beta meri majboori samajh lega..." Aastha continued to cry incessantly, falling deaf ears to what Shaan was saying.
"Main sochti thi ek din mera beta mujhe maaf..." she gasped for breath.
"Mujhe maaf kar dega..."
"Uske andar jo NAFRAT bhari padi hain vo door ho jaayegi..."
"Vo mujhse PYAAR karega... LEKIN NHI..." she wailed in agony.
"Lekin ab kuch nhi ho sakta..."
"Kuch... bhi... nhi... ho... sakta..." she whimpered.
Shaan was shattered and he couldn't think of anything how to console her. The incident which had just happened had sent her to an inconsolable state. He himself was heartbroken hearing those words from his son for his mother. But the most important thing right now was to somehow calm down his wife, which he was struggling to do.
"Noor..."
"Dekho..." he wiped her tears gently.
"Noor mere saath chalo..."
"Utho..." he said softly.
He made her stand up with great difficulty who was still shedding uncontrollable tears.
He led her to a nearby bench and made her sit there, before taking a seat next to her.
"Main bohot buri hoon Shaan... Bohot buri !!..." she was still sobbing.
"Shaurya... Mujh... Mujhse... Vo... Voh bohot nafrat karta hai Shaan..."
"Suna naa tumne... M... Mere bete ne... Muj... Mujhse kya kaha..." her sobs had turned into hiccups.
"Noor please meri baat samajhne ki koshish karo... Aisa nhi hain..." Shaan was constantly stroking her back, and he was on the verge of crying at her vulnerability.
"Aisa hi hain Shaan !!... Aisa hi hain !!..." she cried out.
Shaan was struggling to console her. He needed to calm her down first, and he wanted to take him to his apartment, which was only a few minutes away from the park, but he knew Aastha would refuse.
"Noor..."
"Ghar pe chalkar baat karte hain please..."
"Mera flat yahi hain..." he pleaded.
"Mujhe kahi nhi jaana Shaan !!..." she wiped her tears.
*cough*... *cough*... *cough* Aastha coughed several times.
Shaan gently stroked her back, but she needed water because her throat had collapsed due to her unstoppable crying.
"Noor... Bas kuch der ke liye mere saath chalo naa..."
"Please..." he begged.
"Please Shaan mujhe kuch karne ke liye zabardasti mat karo..." she requested, her eyes bubbling up.
Shaan realised she wouldn't agree and that he would have to fetch water for her himself. He didn't want to leave her alone, but he didn't have any other options.
"Achcha theek hain Noor..."
"Main tumhe kuch karne ke liye nhi bolunga... Lekin bas ek promise karo..." he made her face him.
"Main bas abhi aa rha hoon... LEKIN TUM KAHI NHI JAAOGI... Theek haina..." he emphasized his words.
She just nodded in a yes in tears, and Shaan half-heartedly stood up.
"Main bas abhi aaya Noor... Please yahi rehna..." saying so, he rushed out of the park towards his apartment.
Aastha sat there, sobbing over her unfortunate fate.
Sha started blabbering to herself while crying.
"Shau... rya..."
"Main..."
"Maine jab-jab tumse milne ki koshish ki... Mujhe zaleel karke tumse door kar diya gaya..."
"Main toh bas yahi chaahti thi ki tumhe thodi khushi de doon... Main kuch chheenna nhi chaahti thi tumse..."
"Kuch nhi cheenna chaahti thi tumse..." she sobbed in grief.
She couldn't stop crying as she remembered her son's heart-breaking words obliterating her heart. Those words were still ringing in her ears.
"TUM JIO... YA TOH MARO... I DON'T CARE..."
She squeezed her eyes shut, and more tears spilled out of her eyes.
Realization dawned upon her that the words were truly spoken by her son few moments before, and that he wished for her to go anywhere FAR AWAY from him.
"Tumhaari khushi agar mere door jaane se hain... Toh..." she hurriedly wiped her tears away, "Toh main bohot door chali jaaungi... "
"Bohot door..." she stood up quickly.
"Nh... Nhi rahungi main yaha..." she headed for the exit of the park.
She walked away from there in tears, completely oblivious to WHAT SHE WAS DOING and WHERE SHE WAS GOING...
Shaurya was driving recklessly.
Fury was coursing through his veins for what he had done.
By uttering those heart wrenching words, he had ended up hurting HER as well as himself.
By saying those dreadful words, he had devastated HER, as well as himself.
By saying those bitter words, he had broken HER as well as himself.
He had no idea he would have an encounter with HER today, let alone in this way.
On his Badi Maa's asking, he had decided to pay his Dad a visit this evening, but when he arrived at his flat, the door was locked, and he was left wondering where his Dad had gone. He was concerned about his father's whereabouts, because he usually preferred to stay in his flat all the time.
When he got down the stairs, he noticed the park and decided to check it out to see if his Dad had gone for a walk there, and when he got there, he found HER.
It had sparked extreme rage in him because seeing HER with his Dad confirmed what his Badi Maa had told him and that SHE was indeed there to take "advantage" of the situation.
Furthermore, whatever story she chanted that she didn't leave him, but was forced to do so, made him lose control of his mind because he was infuriated at her audacity that after staying away from him for thirty years, she was still attempting to defend herself by lying.
He was enraged by what she was saying against his family, his Badi Maa and Bade Papa, which he couldn't stand.
She was trying to assert her right over him by saying she was his mother, despite the fact that she had never done anything for him that a mother would do for a child.
All of this had driven him insane to the point where he declared that HER existence didn't matter to him, but it wasn't from his heart; IT JUST CAME OUT AS HIS NATURAL FEELING OF VANGEANCE.
Vengeance for SNATCHING AWAY away his childhood from him.
Vengeance for DEPRIVING him of what was rightfully his.
Vengeance for TAKING AWAY his most precious moments.
Vengeance for WHAT HE HAD ENDURED ALL ALONE FOR THESE PAST THIRTY YEARS KEEPING EVERYTHING TO HIMSELF.
His grip on the steering wheel became gradually tighter, and his eyes remained sickly pale, tears threatening to fall out at any moment.
Just thinking about how SHE might be feeling right now after hearing what he said made his heart shudder.
He knew he had hurt HER. He knew he had hurt himself.
But he couldn't help himself and uttered those words, MAYBE TO SET FREE HIS SPIRIT OF VENGEANCE...
Anokhi was pacing across the room, worried and impatiently waiting for Aastha Mam who had told her she would be there by the evening, but she had yet to arrive.
Kitty, Bebo, and Reema were sitting with Mimi, chit-chatting with her.
Actually Anokhi had herself invited the three of them there.
The day Kitty and Bebo arrived in PG to meet her for the first time, they were both unable to meet with their Aastha Taayiji in a suitable way, firstly because they themselves weren't aware of their relations, and when they got to know about it, they couldn't interact well with her Aastha Mam due to her emotional state.
The three friends had thus arrived at Anokhi's PG together, to meet Aastha Mam and the little girl, Mimi too.
Anokhi was occasionally casting glances at the clock as evening was showing up, and Aastha Mam still hadn't arrived yet.
"Bebo... Kitty..."
"Aastha Mam ne kha tha vo chheh baje tak aa jaayengi... Pta nhi abhi tak aayi kyun nhi vo..." Anokhi said concerned.
"Koi baat nhi Anokhi..."
"Hum kaha jaa rhe hain... Hum to yahi hain... Aastha Taayiji bhi aa jaayengi..." Kitty, who was busy drawing with Mimi, spoke up.
"Haan Anokhi... Tu tension mat kar... Ho sakta hain koi kaam aa gaya ho unhe..." Reema said.
"Tension kaise naa karu Reema... Aastha Mam toh phone bhi nhi utha rhi hain..."
She had even called Aastha Mam several times, but she wasn't answering.
"Achcha toh thodi der baad fir try karna tum..." Bebo said.
"Haan... Tab tak tum yaha aao... Aur yeh dekho meri drawing..." Kitty smiled as she helped Mimi draw a flower.
"Kit-kat Mauchhi toh bohot chhundal dlawing bnaati hai Mumma..." Mimi praised cutely.
Anokhi smiled as she looked at the drawing and then at her baby girl. She walked over to them, and they all got busy in their conversations for a while.
After some more time had passed, Anokhi turned her gaze to the clock and was startled.
She noticed that the hour needle had moved past six o'clock in the evening, which made her cautious. It was too late now.
"Ab toh chheh bhi baj gaye... Itni der kyun lag rhi hain Aastha Mam ko ??..." she spoke anxiously.
"Main ek baar fir try karti hoon..." she said, dialling Aastha Mam's number once more.
She was about to dial her number, when her phone itself rang up. She looked at the caller ID and wondered why he was calling at this time, which worried her even more.
Everyone's attention was drawn to her, and Reema inquired, "Kiska phone hain Anokhi ?... Aastha Mam ka ?..."
Everybody hoped for a positive answer.
"N... Nhi..." Anokhi replied.
"Shaan Sir ka call hai..." she said; she was feeling frightened due to unknown reasons.
"Taayaji ka ??..." Bebo exclaimed.
"Call receive karo naa Anokhi..." Kitty said.
"H... Haan..." Anokhi answered the phone and put it on speaker.
"Hello Shaan Sir..." she said.
"Hello Anokhi beta !!..."
Anokhi got bewildered sensing his rushed tone.
"Kya hua Shaan Sir ?..."
"Anokhi beta Aastha..."
"Aastha tumhaare saath haina ??!!... Vo theek toh haina ??!... Vo mera phone kyun nhi utha rhi hai main kab se try kar rha hoon..." he said in haste.
This was too much scaring for Anokhi. The other members exchanged worried looks as well.
"Nhi Shaan Sir..."
"Aastha Mam yaha nhi hain..."
"Unhone kaha tha ki vo shaam tak aa jaayengi lekin abhi tak nhi aayi... Aur mera phone bhi nhi utha rhi hain Mam..." she said anxiously.
"Kya ??!!..." Shaan was gripped by intense fear.
"Beta vo tumhaare saath nhi hai toh kaha hain ??!!..."
"Lekin Shaan Sir aapko kaise pta ki vo yaha aane vaali thi ?..." Anokhi inquired seemingly out of nowhere.
"Anokhi beta... Aastha mere saath hi thi kuch vakt pehle... Lekin fir... Voh... Shaurya-..." his voice had begun to shiver. He couldn't come up with anything. He was only concerned about Aastha's whereabouts.
"Shaurya Sir ??..." Anokhi inquired stiffly.
"Shaurya Sir ne kuch kaha Aastha Mam ko ??..." she enragedly asked.
"Beta... V... Vo un dono ke beech... Jhagda ho gaya aur fir..." Shaan struggled to form words, but realized it wasn't the right time to discuss the matter. The priority at the time was to learn about Aastha.
"Anokhi beta... Abhi yeh sab baatein rehne do please..."
"Abhi bas Aastha ka pta lgaana hai beta... Main kabse call kar rha hoon voh utha hi nhi rhi hai..."
"Main ek kaam karta hoon... Uske rental apartment jaa rha hoon abhi..."
"Tum use call karti rho Anokhi... Kuch pta chale toh please mujhe btaana beta..." he frantically said.
"Theek hai Shaan Sir... Main unhe firse try karti hoon..." Anokhi replied, tense.
She hung up the phone, and turned to face her friends.
"Mujhe bohot darr lag rha hain..."
"Main..."
"Main Aastha Mam ko call karti hoon firse..." she started dialling her number.
All of the friends exchanged fearful glances, but Mimi was lost in her drawing, totally unaware of the worrisome situation.
Anokhi placed the phone on her ear, and prayed for Aastha Mam to pick it up this time. The ringing continued for a while longer, and her heart raced with each passing second until the call was finally picked up, much to her relief.
"Hello Aastha Mam!!..." she exclaimed.
"Mam aap kaha ho ?... Aap aa rhe ho naa ???... Aap phone kyun nhi utha rhi thi ??..." she had gone insane.
"Hello... Haanji ???..." the reply came from the other end.
The voice from the phone took her aback.
Someone else had picked up, not her Aastha Mam, and she was even more bewildered by the background noise, which sounded like people screaming.
"H... Hello... A... Aap kaun ??..." Anokhi asked suspiciously.
"Madam... Yeh mobile mera nhi hai !!... Yeh toh yaha neeche pada hua tha..."
Anokhi's heart sank with fear.
What in the world was he saying ?
"N... Neeche matla-..."
"SAB TOD DAALO !!!!..." before Anokhi could finish her sentence, these words from her phone jolted her.
"Tod daalo ?..." she gasped in shock, unable to comprehend why people were yelling those words.
She was filled with dread, wondering what was going on and where her Aastha Mam was.
"Hello ??!!... Aap kaun hain ?!!!... Aastha Mam kaha hain ???!!!... Unka phone aaapke paas kya kar rha hain ???!!!!...." she shrieked in terror, drawing the attention of her friends.
"YAHA DANGE CHAL RHE HAI MADAM !!!!... " The person shouted back.
"Mujhe kuch nhi pta aap kya keh rhi hai..." he yelped.
The ground gave way beneath Anokhi's feet, leaving her speechless...
How was it ?
Do tell me in comments 🤧