Krish woke up slightly later than usual, as it was a Sunday and he had spent most of the night diligently monitoring Radhika's fever.
To his surprise, he discovered that Radhika was in the process of getting ready to leave somewhere.
She was about to step out of the room but he stopped her.
Krish: 'Radhika...ruko ruko...kidhar jaa rahe ho itni subah subah?' (He asked yawning)
Radhika: 'Mein mandir jaa rahi hoon...'
Krish: 'Tum pagal vagal toh nhi ho gayi....theek ho na tum?'
Radhika: 'Ab kya kiya meine...?'
Krish: 'Abhi kal rat tak tum itni bimaar thi aur ab subah hote hi mandir chali...Kahin nahi jaogi tum chup chap rest karo...'
Radhika: 'Mein koi choti bacchi nahi hoon jise khud ko sambhalna nahi aata...'
Krish: 'Dekha maine kal KiTnA sAmBhAlNa AaTa HaI...baitho chup chap... kahin nahi jaogi tum...'
Radhika: 'Dekho main na... aaj jhagda karna nahi chahti hoon aur na hi mujhme himmat hai... isiliye main aaram se keh rahi hun mujhe jane do...'
Krish: 'Theek hai...dawaiyan lelo aur jo karna hai karo...' (he took out 4 different tablets, and kept them on the table)
Radhika: 'Itni saari... thodi kam kardo...'
Krish: 'O Madam... mein doctor nahi hoon jo kam zyada kar dunga... Mujhe doctor ne jo bola tha main vo de raha hoon........... Ab koi nakhre nahi...lelo inhe...'
Radhika: 'Khadoos.......(she said in a hushed voice...)
Krish: 'Sun lia meine...'
Radhika: 'Haan toh... ho aap khadoos....ab khush... (She loudly said this, then took her medicines and stormed out of the room)
Krish: 'Ise kuch to hua hai...par kya vo mujhe pata nahi...dil kyun keh raha hai she is suffering from something silently...'
Radhika visited the nearby temple dedicated to Lord Radhakrishna.
Afterwards, she distributed prasad to the underprivileged individuals in the vicinity of the temple.
Seeking solace and reflection, she then found a serene spot in the park and spent some time in peaceful contemplation.
Eventually, she returned home, where everyone had gathered for breakfast.
Mom: 'Radhika... aaja beta jaldi baith ja...'
She glanced at Krish, who was already looking at her, and started eating. (Inka coincidence bhi dekho...dono ki nazar ek dusre pe ek hi time pe padti hai...🌚)
Bua: 'Kahan sair sapata karke aa rahi ho... itni subah subah...?'
Radhika: 'Bua ji... voh mein mandir gayi thi...'
Bua: 'Accha mandir jaati ho tum...theek hi hai fir...'
After breakfast, Radhika silently went to her room, to work.
Whole day passed.
In the evening everyone again sat together in the living room for the evening tea.
Dadi: 'Oye Krish...hum sab yahan hai...Radhika abhi tak room mein hi hai... ja use bula la thak gayi hogi ab tak, kaam karte karte...'
Krish: 'Haan dadi...'
Entering the room, Krish discovered Radhika sound asleep, her head gently resting on the table while her laptop lay nearby.
As he approached her, his gaze fell upon the tear stains adorning her face, evoking a pang of sadness within him.
With a heavy heart, he gently placed his hand on her shoulder, softly urging her to awaken from her sleep.
Krish: 'Radhika... Radhika utho...sab bula rahe hai tumhe...' (He said softly)
Radhika: (She opened her eyes and found Krish looking at her) 'Ohh... I'm so sorry voh pata hi nahi chala kab neend aa gayi...chalo chalte hai...'
She freshened up up and went downstairs, while Krish just stood there with his thoughts.
Krish: 'Bas bohot ho gaya...aisa kya hai jo ise itni takleef de raha hai... don't know why par ansu nahi dekh paa rha hoon mein iske....ab to pata lagana hi hoga ki akhir kya problem hai...'
He also went down.
In the living room,
Radhika made tea and served it to everyone but, accidently she spilled little tea on bua's dress.
Radhika: 'Sorry bua....Galti se ho gaya...'
She stared at her angrily, but didn't say anything.
A little while later...
Mom: Toh bataiye aaj dinner mein kya banau...?' (Bua intervenes)
Bua: 'Tum kyun banaogi....Radhika banayegi dinner... Mein bhi toh dekhun ise kuch aata bhi hai ya fir sirf office jana hi ataa hai...'
Dadi: 'Yeh tu kaisi baatein kar rahi hai....Tujhe pata hai na uski tabiyat theek nahi hai...'
Bua: 'Toh subah se aaram hi kar rahi hai na... aur vaise bhi mein sirf khana banane ke liye hi to bol rahi hoon... koi pahad todne ko to nahi kaha na...'
Mom: 'Toh usse kya hota hai...(Radhika intervenes)
Radhika: 'Koi baat nahi mumma...main theek hoon...aap mujhe bata dijiye ki kya banana hai... main bana dungi...'
Krish's discontent with the conversation was evident as he abruptly stormed to his room without uttering a single word.
In his room, he became immersed in deep thoughts, trying to find the underlying cause of Radhika's confusing behavior.
Meanwhile, Radhika mechanically proceeded to prepare dinner. Although physically present in the kitchen, her mind remained preoccupied, lost in a constant stream of thoughts.
Unfortunately, her distracted state led to an oversight, causing her to forget to add salt to all the dishes she prepared.
At the time of dinner all the family members were present on the dinning table.
She started serving food to everyone.
Dadi: 'Humari Radhika bohot tasty khana banati hai. . . tu chah ke bhi kami nahi nikal payegi...'
Dad: 'Bilkul... hum to fan hai Radhika ke haanth ke khane ke...'
Bua put the first bite in her mouth...
Bua: '....itne bekaar khaane ki aap log kabse taarif kar rahe ho...'
All looked at her in shock......
Bua: Radhika... Ek kaam hai jo tumhe dhang se karna ata hai...isse khana bolte hain... kisi bhi cheez main namak nahi hai... agar khana banana hi nahi tha to seedha mana kar deti...yeh nautanki karne ki kya zaroorat thi haan... Kuch sikha kar bheja hai tumhare maa bap ne ya unhe bhi tumhari tarah kuch nahi aata...?'
Radhika was hurt but hearing bua's last line she totally broke down in tears. She kept her hand on her mouth, and hurriedly left from there.
Bua: 'Yeh dekho sunne ki himmat nahi hai to bhag gayi...' (Krish intervenes)
(He was controlling himself but now all limits had been crossed)
Krish: 'Bassss... bua bohot hua aapka...(everyone looked at him in utter shock as he never talked to elders like this) ...mein kal se dekh raha hoon...aap Radhika ko kaise treat kar rahe ho... aakhir kya problem hai aapko usse....Usne to aapse galat tareeke se bsat bhi nahi ki fir bhi... Aap khud ek aurat hokar uske saath aise kaise behave kar sakte ho jabki aapko pata hai ki voh kal se bimaar hai...usne fir bhi kuch nahi kaha...Sirf namak hi nahi hai na khaane mein...toh isme kaunsi badi bat ho gayi jo aap uski upbringing pe sawal utha rahe ho....agar aapki khud ki beti ke sath uske family vaale aise hi bartav karenge to aapko kesa lagega....aur sabse badi baat bina kuch jane...bolna nahi chahiye... Jis bat ke liye aap uske parents ko bhala bura keh rahe ho na... voh to bechare iss duniya mein hai bhi nahi... Mein salah de raha hoon aapko... apni ye jo choti mentality hai na use sudhaar lijiye... Ladki shaadi karke kisi ke ghar ek member banke jati hai unki naukrani banke nahi...'
After saying this he stormed towards his room.
Dad: 'Sharam aa rahi hai mujhe tumhe apni behen kehte hue... itni pyari bacchi ko tumne bina kisi vajah ke kya nahi keh dia...'
Mom: 'Aapko aisa nahi kehna chahiye tha didi...'
Dadi: 'Agar hum khud izzat aur samman lena chahte hain na to hume vo dena bhi padta hai...'
Everyone left from there.......
Here, Radhika found herself completely shattered in the solitude of her room, her tears flowing uncontrollably.
Krish approached the door, intending to retrieve the spare key, but halted abruptly upon hearing her anguished cries.
Radhika: 'Kyunnnnn....Mere saath hamesha aisa kyun hota hai bhagwan...kyun mein na chahte huye bhi sabko dukhi kar deti hun... Kyun chod ke chale gaye aap mujhe mumma papa is duniya main yun akele...yahan koi kisi ka dard nahi samajhta...mein bilkul akeli pad gayi hoon... isse accha hota mein aapke saath hi chali jati... Ye duniya bohot kharab hai....ab nahi saha jata mujhse... aur jee ke fayda bhi kya hai...mera hai hi kaun...?'
Krish: (He was standing outside the room) ...'Oh no ye kuch ulta seedha na kar le...'
In no time, he quickly rushed downstairs to retrieve a spare key for the room. Within seconds, he returned and hastily opened the door, only to find the room enveloped in darkness, with only the soft glow of moonlight seeping through.
He searched the entire room and finally spotted her, sitting on the floor in a corner, consumed by sorrow as she clutched a photo of her parents.
Witnessing her distressed state, his heart filled with pain. He closed the door gently and quietly settled beside her on the floor.
This time, she didn't bother to wipe away her tears or cease her crying. She continued to weep inconsolably, holding onto him tightly as if seeking solace, much like a vulnerable child.
In an attempt to soothe her, he placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
Unexpectedly, she responded by embracing him tightly and weeping, as though she had finally found someone with whom she felt a sense of belonging and security.
Her tears flowed freely, as if she were pouring out her deepest emotions, perhaps experiencing a feeling of home for the first time.
Krish: 'Shh.....sh... bas Radhika bas karo please.... Chup ho jao.... I can't see you like this...'
Eventually, her cries subsided into gentle sobs, yet she clung to him as if her very existence relied on his presence.
Krish: 'Mein jaanta hoon.... tumhe bua ki baat ka bura laga na... koi baat nahi meine bol dia unhe ab vo kuch nahi kahengi....please ab shant ho jao...'
Radhika: 'Mein isliye nahi ro rahi ki unhone mujhe danta...koi bat nahi voh badi hai mujhse...lekin...lekin unhone mere parents ko bola.... vo bhi aaj...aaj ke din...'
Krish: 'Aaj... aaj kya hai Radhika...?'
(He looked at her with a face full of concern...Woh scene yaad karo jab yeh dono, PM ki shaadi mein gaye the, and Gautami was crying seeing PM ki performance, and how Abhyudaya looked at her with concern...imagine the same face of Abhi here...)
Radhika: 'Aaj...aaj unki... dea...th... anniversary hai...aaj ke din voh mujhe chod ke chale gaye the...' (She again lost her control and started crying badly...)
Krish found himself at a loss for words, unable to understand what he could say to console her.
Krish: 'Kaise... Kaise hui thi unki death...?'
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To be continued. . .