Hey guys!! I am up with the next part. Hope that you guys will love it.....
And here we goooooo.................
The night sky slowly started fading away, indicating the rise of a new dawn after a dark dusk. The stars and the moon started fading as the sun slowly marked its arrival in the skyline.
The sun and the slow winds of the last night's rain complimented well with each other.
The rays of the sun fell on the small water droplets on the plants, making them twinkle with joy and the leaves and the flowers danced happily under the tunes of the flowing wind.
And in this heavenly atmosphere, the two beautiful souls found their solace in each other's arms. Their night was spent beautifully, and why not...things get better when you are with your soulmate.
Randheer rested his back on the pillar behind him while his love rested on his chest, forgetting all the worries and miseries of her life. His arms were wrapped around her protectively making her forget the outside world. They had his shawl wrapped around them, protecting themselves from getting a bad cold the morning.
The shawl fell from her back making her shiver after a few seconds. The cold winds sent chills in her body. She curled her toes, tightened her grip on his shirt and snuggled more deep into his chest, trying to find warmth in him.
His sleep got disturbed sensing the movements and slowly opened his eyes and got surprised for the moment finding them in the back lawn, but later, smiled thinking the beautiful sleep he spent in his love's arms.
He gazed her who was shivering a little and snuggling closer to him. He again wrapped the shawl across her shoulders and back, and hugged her tightly, in order to keep her warm. He noticed a sense of feeling relaxed and her grip on his slowly released making him smile and she again went into deep slumber.
He placed a soft kiss on her hairs and went to sleep again.
As the time started passing, the sun shined more and more in the sky, making it's rays reach each and every corner of the world.
As the rays hit Amrit's eyes, she clasped them tightly. It broke her sleep and she flickered her eyes a few time to adjust with the bright rays.
She tried to move but Randheer's tight grip didn't let her. She looked up and found him in a deep slumber. She blushed hard finding herself caged in his arms with the same shawl wrapped around them.
She smiled and again placed her head on his chest, but immediately sprang up. She noticed the time ticking and worried that anyone might barge and find them in the compromising position.
Unwillingly, she softly called out his name and patted his shoulder, but he didn't budge. She again tapped his shoulder and he moved a bit and woke up after a few taps.
He opened his eyes annoyingly, but his annoying face converted into a smiling one seeing the morning beauty in front of his.
"Suprabhat."
He wished her.
"Suprabhat."
"Sach kahun Amrit, kal ki raat badi haseen thi mere liye. Aapki baahon mein badi chain ki neend aayi."
Her cheeks flushed haring him. She couldn't meet his eyes and immediately lowered her eyes. He chuckled seeing her shyness. He held her chin and made her look up.
"Haye apka yeh sharmana kisi din jaan le lega humari. Yeh toh sirf ek raat hai mohtarma, shadi ke baad toh har roz humari baahon mein hi sona hai. Kab tak sharmayengi?"
"Dhat...aap bhi na."
"Are...aisa kya bol diya humne? Sach hi toh bola hai. Acha ek baat sacchi sacchi bataiye, kal raat aapko chain ki neend nahi aayi?"
Amrit shyed and again lowered her gaze.
"Jane dijiye mainu. Koi aa jayega..."
She whispered and tried to run away from his arms but his grip was way too tight for her to release.
"Na na kudiye...jawab diye bina nahi jane denge aapko. Aur itni subah subah koi nahi aayega."
He pulled her more closer making her cheeks flush more.
"Sach kahun Randheer...kal raat jaisi neend shayad pehle kabhi nahi aayi mujhe."
Her words made his grin.
"Haye soniye...yahi sunne ko dil taras gaya tha."
He whispered and moved closer to kiss her forehead and she closed her eyes seeing his gesture and pulled her into a hug. She rested her head on his chest and closed her eyes to feel his warmth. And he wrapped his arms across her shoulders promising her to protect her from the world.
But they came out of their la la land when the sound of door opening reached their ears. They shifted their gaze to find Ashwin and Gayatri, who got embarrassed seeing them close.
Amrit and Randheer immediately stood up embarrassingly. Amrit wrapped the shawl around and looked down because her clothes were disheveled, deeply embarrassed.
And Randheer immediately closed the top two buttons of his kurta which got opened.
"Woh hum har roz subah yaha sair karne aate hai...maaf karna baccho, humein pata nahi tha ki tum dono yaha honge, warna aaj nahi aate."
Gayatri said embrassingly making Amrit and Randheer more shy.
"umm...nahi...nahi mami ji...aisi baat nahi hai..hum toh bas...."
"Nahi nahi beta...koi baat nahi, jawani mein kabhi kabhi......."
Randheer was cut by mama ji which left him more embarrassed and couldn't hear more.
"Nahi nahi mama ji...aisa...aisa kuch nahi hai. Darasal hum raat mein yahi baithe the, mausam accha tha na isliye, aur pata nahi chala ki kab yahi aankh lag gayi...."
"Ohhh accha...tum dono jari rakho, hum chalte hai, kyun Gayatri?"
"Err han han...hum jate hai han."
Ashwin and Gayatri immediately ran from there, without giving Amdheer a chance to speak.
Randheer, who was damn embarrassed, sighed a relief as they went.
He turned towards Amrit, and his relieved face turned into a worried and scared one, seeing her glaring him angrily. He gulped his saliva scaredly.
"Randheer beta, aaj toh tu gaya."
His mind told him, and gaining courage, he called out her name with all the love the world.
"Mainu koi baat nahi karni aapse. Maine kaha tha aapse, koi aa jayenge, chodiye mainu, lekin nahi. Aaj aapki wajah se mama ji aur mami ji ke saamne mujhe kinna sharminda hona pada. Haye Rabba...ki soch rahe honge woh?"
"Are Amrit...lekin mujhe thodi pata tha ki woh dono achanak aise aa jayenge."
"Ha...isliye maine kaha tha aapse, lekin aap ne meri ek ni suni. Maine baat hi karni aapse."
Without giving him a second look, Amrit left fumingly making poor Randheer sad.
***********************************************************************************************
Randheer came near the dining area and found everyone already present there. He went and seated himself beside Amrit who looked at him with cute angry face, making him scared.
To avoid her angry face, he turhed his gaze and looked at front and found Ashwin in front of him who gave a naughty smirk.
"Kahin dekhne jaisa hi nahi hai. Randheer, sab ko chod, aur khane pe hi focus kar."
He didn't dare to look up and just focused on his tasty breakfast, but he was forced to look up as Gayatri's voice fell on his ears.
"Main ummeed karti hun kal aap sabko acchi neend aayi hogi? Koi pareshani toh nahi hui?"
"Nahi nahi behen ji...humein badi acchi aayi. Bade samay baad sukoon ki neend aayi."
Everyone agreed with Rajrani.
"Aur tumhari raat kaisi rahi Randheer bete?"
Ashwin's words made his eyes widen and forced Amrit to choke her food.
Rajrani patted her back and passed her a glass of water.
"Are are aaram naal. Dheere dheere kha puttar."
Amrit nodded and gave her a fake smile. She again turned to Randheer only to pass him a deadly glare making him gulp his saliva.
Gayatri and Ashwin who noticed it, passed a unheard chuckle.
"Acchi thi mama ji....acchi neend aayi."
Randheer answered making him pass a mischievous grin. Randheer gave him a pleading puppy look which melted his mama and decided not to tease his dear bhanja anymore.
Silence again prevailed in the hall, as everyone had their food silently.
Suddenly, Savita's eyes fell on Lala ji who was lost deep into thoughts.
"Kya baat hai bhaisahab? Aap kahi khoye khoye lag rahe hai."
"Nahi nahi parjayi ji...aisa kuch nahi hai, sab theek hai.
"Lekin tera chehra toh kuch aur hi bol raha hai."
Papa Raizada's words made Lala ji silent for a minute.
"Ha Karmeya...ek baat toh hai."
"Are toh bol na...hichkicha mat."
"Nahi abhi nahi...baad mein, akele mein."
Not forcing him more, Papa Raizada nodded.
Soon after, everyone were done with their breakfasts. The ladies were busy with dishes and Lala ji and Papa Raizada settled themselves in the back lawn.
Silence prevailed between them for few minutes. Their heart was filled up but words were not escaping their throat.
"Kaisa hai tu Lale?"
Lala ji left a sigh and remained silent. Papa Raizada didn't say anything and waited for him to reply.
"Pata nahi."
Papa Raizada titled his head to look towards his dear friend.
"Main sach mein is baat se anjaan hun ki is waqt meri kya stithi hai. Woh sab bhulna aasan nahi hai."
Papa Raizada's eyes softens and he places his palm on his shoulder, understandingly.
"Yeh sab kaise hua Karmeya? Han? Un angrezo ne hindu ya musalmano pe raaj nahi kiya tha, unhone hindustan pe raaj kiya tha, us hindustan pe jaha hindu aur musalman dono the, jaha dono ek the, jinhone saath milke un angrezo ko desh se nikala. Jo diwar itne arse se mazboot khadi thi woh achanak toot ke bikhar kaise gayi?"
Papa raizada let out of sad chuckle.
"Lale.........................................mera dil bhara hua hai lekin shabd maano kahi kho se gaye hai."
"Bolna shayad bohot asaan hai ki hum sab bhul rahe hai, sab bhulne ki koshish kar rahe hai. Magar bohot mushkil hai, bohot mushkil."
The chirping of the bhe brids and the loud thunders of the clouds took over the silence they both remained mum.
"Aakhein band hoti hai toh us khaufnaak raat ki jhalakein aakhon ke saamne aa jati hai. Talwarein, mashaalein, shor, sharaba, gussa, aag, khoon, yahi sab tha chaaro taraf. Jaha dekho siyasat ki gunj uth rahi thi."
Lala ji left a unheard sigh. And Papa Raizada's gaze was stuck at a point, face blank.
"Bohot koshish karta hun ki us baare mein na sochun, aage badhne ki koshish karun magar na jane kaha se woh khayal baar baar man mein aa hi jate hai."
"Main samaj sakta hun lale aur yeh bhi janta hun ki yeh sab baatein itni aasani se bhuli nahi jayegi. Shareer ke ghav toh dheere dheere bhar jayemge, magar dil pe jo ghav lage hai woh samay ke saath hi jayenge."
"Janta hun Karmeya. Lekin kehte hai na ki khali dimag shaitan ka ghar hota hai. Aur isliye maine ek faisla liya hai."
"Kya?"
"Main wapas se apni ek hatti shuru karna chahta hun. Man bhi laga rahega, aur kharab vichar dimag mein bhi nahi aayenge."
"Magar Lale, abhi teri tabet theek nahi hai."
"Janta hun. Aur main abhi kaam shuru karne ki baat thodi kar raha hun. Jaise dheere dheere ghav bharna lagenge, uske baad hi kaam karunga."
Papa Raizada smiled hearing him and nodded.
"Aur waise bhi jitni jaldi kaam shuru karun utna hi accha hai, lekin yaha nahi, Amritsar mein. Amritsar mein mere bauji ki ek zameen hai, woh waha ek kothi banwana chahte the. Magar afsos, woh kar kaam poora ho paye uske pehle hi bhagwan ko pyare ho gaye. Main aur brij bohot chote the, kmate nahi the, isliye woh kaam band karna pada. Bade hue, aur sar pe zimmedariyan badh gayi. Chah ke bhi woh kothi ka kaam nahi karwa pa rahe the. Ab jab yaha aa hi gaye hai, toh bas kuch din mein Amritsar chale jayenge. Wahi apna kaam shuru karenge, aur dheere dheere woh kothi ka bhi kaam karwa denge.
"Kisi ko jante ho Amritsar mein?"
Lala ji shook his head.
"Fir? Waha ja ke kya karoge?"
"Pata nahi."
"Are! Kya pata nahi Lale? Waha tumhara koi ghar nahi hai. Rahoge kaha? Aur kaise?"
Lala ji didn't answer and fell on the chair's back. A drop of tear escaped his eyes.
"Batware ne sab barbaad kar diya Karmeya. Sab barbaad kar diya. Sab kuch khatam ho gaya."
Dil mein ashao ke deep jala kar toh dekho
Man se apni kismat ek baar badal ke toh dekho
Kamyabi kadam chumegi tumhare
Ek baar khud pe bharosa kar ke toh dekho
Lala ji and Papa Raizada turned and found a teary eyes Amrit behind them. They smiled sadly hearing her words. Amrit came near them and sat on her knees.
She held her father's palm supportingly.
"Bauji, aap hi kehte hai na ki jo khud ki madad karte hai bhagwan unki madad karte hai, na ki unki jo himmat haar ke baith jate hai. Bauji, abhi toh humari nayi ki bas shuruat hui hai, agar hum abhi se haar jayenge toh kaise chalega. Kehte hai na ki jab upar wala koi pareshani deta hai toh uska samadhaan bhi usi ke saath deta hai. Dekhna, bohot jald sab theek ho jayega, aur jab yeh hoga na tab yeh kaanto bhare din kisi ko yaad nahi aayenge. EK baar khud par bharosa kar ke toh dekhte hai."
"Amrit bilkul theek keh rahi hai Lale. Humne jab pehli baar kaam karna shuru kiya tha, tab bhi toh hum kahi se shuruat ki thi. Bas maan lete hai ki wapas wahi waqt laut ke aaya hai. Humari pariksha lene."
"Bilkul. Aur bauji, jab hum sab ek saath hai toh ghabrana kyun? Jaise har mushkil se saath mein lade hai, isse bhi lad lenge."
"Pakka na?"
Amrit nodded with teary eyes and hugged her father and he reciprocated cryingly.
Unable to control more, Amrit broke down seeing her father's condition.
Amrit broke the hug and wiped her father's tears.
"Bauji, aaj se humari nayi zindagi shuru hui hai aur is nayi zindagi mein aasuon ke liye koi jagah nahi honi chahiye. Agar kuch hona chahiye toh sirf muskurahatein aur khushiyan. Hmmm?"
"Jab tere jaisi beti ho toh aadmi zyada der tak udaas reh kaise sakte hain."
Lala ji said with a small smile and kissed her forehead.
"Sach puttar, jab sab haar maan jate hai tab tum unka haunsla badhati ho. Tum kisi ko tootne nahi deti. Mujhe garv hai tum pe aur Randheer pe hi, jisne humare ghar ke liye inni sohni bahu chuni hai. Sach tumhare ghar aane ka ab intezaar nahi hota."
Papa Raizada blessed her and she blushed hearing. Just a mere thought of Randheer being her husband created havoc in her heart.
She managed to control her blush somehow but it didn't go unnoticed by her two fathers. They chuckled seeing their shy daugther.
"Waise Karmeya, ek baat kehni padegi."
Amrit and papa raizada looked toards him.
"Tere Randheer ke saath rehte rehte, meri Amru bhi shayariyan karne lagi. Sangat ka kaafi accha asar ho raha hai kudi pe."
Lala ji teased her and she blushed hard. Papa Raizada chuckled hearing him.
"Mujhe kuch kaam yaad aa gaya, main aati hun."
She ran from there in jet speed making both of them laugh heartily.
Their laughs slwoly faded and looked at each other a small smile. Papa Raizada clutched his friend's hand.
"Chinta mat kar Lale, bohot jald sab theek ho jayega."
Lala ji nodded hearing him with a ray of hope in his eyes.
* * * * *
Amrit was sitting in her room with a blank face. He expressions were unreadable. Unshed tears were formed in her eyes.
Her fingers twisted and turned with each other. Her mind was blank. She could hear nothing expect the ticking hand of the clock.
Her eyes were fixed at the clock and kept looking at the running time on which she no control.
A thunderous gush of wind came and hit the iwndow maing it open apart and hit each other.
Her dupatta flew away but neither did she move nor did she care.
Jo doosro ke aansu ponch unhe zindagi ki nayi ummeed dete hai, shayad log bhul jate hai ki unhe bhi kandha chahiye, apna man halka karne ke liye.
Her trance of thoughts broke and her gaze teared away from the clock only to see the man of her life looking at her lovingly, with his hands clutching her dupatta.
She turned her gaze and immediately wiped her unshed tears.
"Apne saathi se kabhi kuch nahi chupana chahiye. Chahe woh aansu hi kyun na ho."
He wrapped the dupatta across her shoulder and his other hand, cupped her cheek lovingly.
He freed her from his grip and brought her a glass of water. But to his dismay, she pushed the glass away, shooking her head.
"Please."
He muttered and she couldn't deny to his pleading face.
She gripped the glass and had few sips of the water and kept the glass aside.
"Cahliye ab bataiye ki meri ranjhan jo sabko zindagi ki nayi ummeedein deti hai, woh kyun udaas baithi hai? Abhi thodi der pehle aap hi Lala ji se keh rahi thi na ki humein kabhi umeed nahi chodni chahiye aur zindagi mein aage badhte rehna chahiye, aur yhe baat aap khud hi bhul gayi?"
She sighed and sat on the bed and he sat beside her.
"Nahi Randheer. Bauji ke saath meri jo baat hui, main uske baare mein nahi soch rahi. Main janti hun ki aaj nahi toh kal sab theek ho hi jayega."
She muttered in a low tone. He scrunched his brows.
"Toh?"
"Jante hai Randheer, ek insaan ke liye uski zindagi ka sabse dardnaak pal konsa hota hai?"
Her eyes which were stuck at her hands, turned and looked at Randheer who was already looking with a questioning gaze.
"Uske mata pita ki aankh mein aansu dekhna."
She whispered, trying to control her tears. His scrunched brows relaxed and his lips curved into a sad smile. He nodded his head slowly.
"Bauji se maine bachpan se baat suni hai. Manzilein unhe milti hai jinke sapno mein jaan hoti hai, pankh se toh kuch nahi hota, haunslo se hi asli udaan hoti hai."
"Kya baat hai. Sach. Kya gehri baat kahi hai unhone."
"Humesha jeevan ko sakartmakr nazariye se dekhte hai woh. Ghar mein humesha usi soch aur khushiyon se sabko baandh ke rakha tha unhone. Jante hai, Brij chahe ka haath humesha se aisa nahi tha. EK accident ke chalte unki aisi halat ho gayi thi. Aur jab doctors se pata chala ki unka ek haath kaam nahi karega, tab unhone zindagi se saari ummeedein chod di thi. Kaafi din tak woh kamre se bahar nahi nikle the. Kisi se baat nahi karte the. Tab jante hai bauji ne kya kiya tha? Woh bhi apna sara kaam sirf ek hi haath se karte the. Ha, shuruat mein thodi dareshani zaroor hui thi. Magar unhone kabhi haar nahi maani. Woh date rahe. Aur dheere dheere woh apne saare kaam ekdum bakhoobi karne lage. Brij chacha ko yeh dikhane ki koi bhi mushkil ho, koi bhi dushvaar ho, toh uske aage ghutne nahi tekne chahiye, wanra woh mushkil hum pe haavi ho jati hai. Nayi zindagi ko apnane mein muskilaat zaroor aati hai, magar kehte hai na ki raasta chahe jitna bhi kathin kyun na ho, lekin uski manzil kahi zyada khubsurat hoti hai. Yeh seekh bauji ne humein di hai.Woh humare ghar ke stambh hai. Unke rehte ghar mein kabhi koi nahi toota. Lekin aaj, aaj usi stambh ko batware ke aaye bhuchaal mein dagmaga ke bikharta dekhna, us raat ke drishyo se bhi zyada dardnaak hai mere liye. Mera did toot raha hai, main til til mar rahi hun unhe aise dekh ke."
Her words were slowly replaced by soft weeps. Randheer immediately pulled her into his warm embrace to soothe her.
"Amrit, aaj tak Lala ji ghar ke stambh the. Jo humesha adig khade rahe. Ghar ke sab sadasyo ko saath bandhe rakha. Aur aaj jab hum sab is sthiti mein hai, toh woh zimmedari aapko leni hai. Aaj sab sab bikhar ke gir rahe hai, aise halat mein aapko woh chattan ban ke khada rehna hai jo chahe tufaan aaye, bhuchaal aaye, baadh aaye, bhukanp aaye, woh kabhi na bikhrebalki har tufaan ke saath aur mazboot aur tathast bane."
Amrit gazed with with teary eyes.
"Amrit koi insaan kitna hi mazboot aur dridh rahe, magar uski zindagi mein aise kayi mod aate hai jab jeevan se uski saari ummeedein hi khatam ho jati hai. Woh haar jata hai, bikhar jata hai. Aur waqt, uske parivar, uske apno ka yeh farz hota hai ki woh unhe samete rakhe aur un dino unka sahara bane. Lala ji aaj apni zindagi ke mod pe khade hai Amrit."
Amrit sniffled and pulled her out of his embrace. She nodded.
"Main janti hun Randheer. Aur main apni taraf se poori koshish karna chahti hun Randheer, sabko samete rakhne ki. Bauji ko tootne na dene ki. Magar khud pe bharosa nahi kar pa rahi Ek ajeeb sa darr lagta hai."
"Aapko darne ki bilkul zaroorat nahi hai Amrit. Main har kadam pe aapke saath hun. Are aap toh meri Ranjhan hai, woh Ranjhan jiski kalam poori duniya ko badal dene ki taqat rakhti hai. Duniya ki jaan Ranjhan hai aur Ranjhan ki uska parivar. Aaj bhi toh aapne sambhala na unhe, aage bhi sambhal lengi. Aapke Randheer aap pe poora bharosa hai."
"Aur mujhe aapke bharose pe bharosa hai. Aap humesha itne suljhe hue kaise reh sakte hai Randheer?"
"Amrit ghabrane se ya tanaav ko man pe haavi karne se koi bhi pareshani ki hal nahi milta toh in sab ko khud pe havi karna hi kyun? Jitna man shant rakhenge, sab utna hi accha aur mushkilein utni hi aasan lagengi. Koi suljha hua apne janam se hota, use suljha hua rehna padta hai."
Amrit smiled between her tears and found her way into his arms.
"Jab tak aap mere saath hai tab tak main duniya ke saari unchaiyon ko chu sakti hun."
She whispered in his arms and he tightened his grip.
"Zindagi mein aap jab jab peeche mud ke dekhengi, tab tab aapko sambhalne ke liye aapko aapke paas milunga."
Amrit felt blessed to have him in her life.
"Dekhte hi dekhte sab theek theek ho jayega Amrit. Hum sab theek kar denge. Saath mein."
Amrit nodded.
Zindagi ke hai rang kahi.
EK taraf khushiyon ka gulaal toh duji taraf hai dukh ke kaalik kahi.
Toot ke bikharne wale toh hai hazar
Magar jo toot ke wapasa khada ho, zindagi ka asli yoddha hai wahi.
Done with today's part.
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