At Birla House:
Abhimanyu rushed back to check on Roohi. He was in desperate need of some peace of mind and Roohi's presence helped him a lot. He caressed her face and kissed her forehead. Roohi snuggled closer to her father's warmth, even in sleep and Abhimanyu pulled her closer. It took some time but his heartbeat settled down and he was feeling better.
That's how Neil found him. Neil barged in and just hugged his brother. He also needed to calm his thoughts that were running at God knows how many miles per second. Neil first went looking for Abhir, but he was busy studying and Anahita was talking to Rohan. So, he changed course and reached for his Bhaiyya because he didn't have it in him to wait even for a second more.
Abhimanyu just let Neil have his way and that's how they were all holding on to each other, in a time of need both literally and metaphorically. That's actually the best part about them.
Abhimanyu caressed Neil just like he did with Roohi. He understood Neil's feelings, but he felt, it was important for Neil to understand, that they can't meddle with the situation directly or indirectly. It won't be fair.
A short cut never pays off in the long run and Abhimanyu was a staunch believer of it.
He always chose the path that was righteous, no matter how tough that was. Especially, when kids and their feelings are involved, they can't take a risk. He wanted to tell Neil that, all they can do and should do in this situation, is, hold on to each other and stand strong as a family just like every other time.
Even Neil gave everything a thought again because of Abhimanyu's stance but he was still not very convinced of his Bhaiyya's ideology and way of tackling the entire situation. He wanted to get another restraining order or something of that sort that will keep Akshara away from Abhir, but he knew that his brother won't budge.
Neil believed that one should resort to anything that can save the family some tension. He felt really helpless because he didn't have a choice.
Abhimanyu saw the worry on his face and asked him, "Abhi bhi usi baat ko leke pareshan hai tu?" Neil sighed and nodded.
"Ab aapne jo bola, woh mujhe pasand nahi hain aur mere options ko aap manoge nahi. There is no mid ground here and I am left with no choice. I hope you know what you are doing Bhai." Neil expressed his feelings.
Abhimanyu smiled, "Itni si baat keliye tere paas choice nahi thi aur tu itna tilmila raha hain. Socho Abhir ko kaisa lagega jab uske paas apne decision lene ki freedom nahi hogi.
Woh hamari baat maanega jaisa abhi tu meri baat maan ne wala tha. But kya tu khush hain? "Abhimanyu asked and Neil swayed his head in a No.
"Toh phir uske dil mein yeh baat khatki toh? Kya hum hamesha is dar mein jiyein ki jaise hi hamara dhyaan hatega, waise hi Abhir manipulate hojayega?
It doesn't work like that Neil. Hum 1% ki scope ki wajah se 99% ko overlook nahi kar sakte. Hum uske pyaar ka insult nahi karsakte.
Use apni life mein aur life se kya chahiye woh decide karne ka haq sirf uska hain. Woh jo chahega, hum use woh denge. Bhale hi usmein hamari marzi shamil ho ya na ho." Abhimanyu explained.
Abhimanyu looked at Neil's expression and realized that it wouldn't be easy to convince Neil, but he tried again.
"Neil! Tu ne khud dekha na main kitna insecure hogaya tha pichli baar jab aisi baat chidi toh. Dar mere ander bhi hain aur insecure main bhi hojaunga aagey chalkar.
I am sure about it. Natural hain aisa feel karna. Sirf isliye hum Abhir se uska right nahi cheen sakte na?" Abhimanyu asked.
"Don't ask me Bhai! Aapko mera jawaab pasand nahi ayega. Kyunki mujhe lagta hain ki humein Abhir keliye ladna chahiye. Hell with it! It's not even a choice for me.
Itne saalon baad us aurat ko humein Abhir ke aas paas bhi bhatakne nahi dena chahiye. Woh nahin badli Bhai. Bilkul nahi badli.
She is BAD NEWS. Jo usne Roohi ke saath kiya, waisa koi ajnabee bhi nahi karta."
Neil was fuming. Abhimanyu didn't know what to say and he didn't have to because Neil wasn't done yet.
"Aap itni ajeeb tarah ki baatein bol rahe ho. I doubt ki aapko khud ko woh baatein samajh bhi aa rahi hogi ya nahin. Because baat jab Aksharaji ki aati hain toh aap kuch alag sa hi react karte ho. This isn't the first time."
Abhimanyu was taken aback by the vehemence in Neil's voice.
"On one end you say, Humein use decide karne dena chahiye and then you say ki we need to make sure, uski decision ke baad kuch nahi badalna chahiye.
It doesn't work that way Bhai. Jo decision lene ki freedom rakhta hain, use uske consequences se deal karne ka jasba bhi rakhna chahiye.
Last time when he chose you, he had to leave his mother behind and he did. He faced the situation. Agar is baar woh unke saath rehna choose karega, woh humein peeche chodke jayega hi na? No sugar coating will soften that blow."
Neil was brutally honest.
Abhimanyu spoke not very firmly, "Woh humein chodega tab bhi hum use nahi chod payenge Neil. Tu samajh kyun nahi raha hain?"
Neil glared Abhimanyu, "Agar woh ek baar ko sapne mein Aksharaji ke saath rehna choose karega, over, staying with us, then I will be HURT. ...........Aur main apna hurt dikhaunga.
Mujhe MAHAAN nahi banna hain. Agar mujhe lagta hain ki mera haq hain toh mujhe woh haq jatana hain. I am sure ki Abhir bhi wahi expect karega humse." Neil declared boldly.
"We can't decide that on his behalf Neil." Abhimanyu reiterated the same thing he has been saying.
"Kyun nahi Bhai? Kya aapko bharosa nahi hain apne bete per ki uske liye aap sabse zyada matter karte ho?
Aksharaji se toh definitely zyada. Aap prepared hi kyun hona chahte hain for something that is not going to happen? Aapko kis baat ka dar hain?" Neil posed a very valid question.
Abhimanyu gave up on the pretense and came clean.
"Ok. I agree ki mujhe dar hai but woh sirf isliye kyunki mujhe apni kismat pe bharosa nahin hain. Isliye nahi ki mujhe mere Bache pe bharosa nahi hain.
But us dar ko main apne confidence pe haawi nahi hone dunga. I just want to be prepared." Neil was having none of it. He straight up answered,
"Aisi baat hain toh koi prep ki zarurat nahi hain and yeh discussion hi poora bekaar hain. Why are we debating on this? Nothing of that sort will happen and even if it was meant to, I won't let it happen.
Aap jo bhi bolo, main chup chap tamasha nahi dekhnewala. Aapko bhi aisa nahi karne dunga kyunki Abhir ko agar bhanak bhi lagi ki aap aisa kuch soch bhi rahe ho, use bahut bura lagega."
Abhimanyu gently tried to explain Neil, "Mera woh matlab nahi tha..." He was cut off by Neil who said,
"Aapka matlab hain ki, humein Abhir ke saath kuch bhi alag bartaav nahi karna chahiye. We need to shield him from our feelings. Use apni haal pe chodna chahiye aur use apna faisla khud hi lene dena hain.
The best part is agar uska decision hamari ummeed se hatke nikla toh bhi hum use waise hi pyaar karenge jaise karte aye hain. Woh jo bhi choose karein use kisi tarah ki koi kami mehsoos nahi hogi. Am I right Bhai? Is this what you meant?"
Neil snickered and Abhimanyu was speechless. Put like that, he himself wasn't convinced of his words. The whole situation has messed everything up. Abhimanyu's silence and doubtful expression irked Neil. For a change, he didn't want to put up with his Bhaiyya's self-sacrificing tendency.
Neil wanted Abhimanyu to put up a fight and exert his right when the situation demanded. Neil wasn't ready to have him behave any differently. His patience was running thin. Neil angrily kind of yelled,
"Ab aapko kuch nahi bolna hain. Apne hisab se cheesein nahi hui aur aapko kuch samajh nahi aya toh chup hojao.
No, no, no....Better take a STEP BACK and WATCH from the sidelines.
Yahi aata hain aapke dimag mein. Nayi baat thodi hain. I know that. Mujhse better koi jaan bhi nahi payega.........
But ek baat meri bhi sunlo..........
STEP BACK KARNE KI AADAT.......Aapko hain. Mujhe nahi."
Abhimanyu was taken aback by the sudden outburst and hurt flashed on his face. That hit hard even if he could see that Neil looked agitated. Before Abhimanyu could say anything else, Neil got up and left. He turned around and said,
"Mujhe thodi shanti chahiye and is discussion se mera dimag satak gaya hain. I am not having this discussion again.
Aap woh karo jo aapko karna hain and main woh karunga jo mujhe sahi lagega. Everyone is entitled to take their own decisions.
Phir woh Abhir ho ya Neil. Hain na?......... So called FREEDOM!"
Neil announced and left from there. Abhimanyu just looked on. Abhimanyu wanted to go behind Neil, but he knew that his presence would only restart the argument or remind him of the argument. He decided to let him cool off. Abhimanyu needed time to reanalyze as well. Neil has put in some really valid points, and he knew he had to think over them.
Neil on the other hand was irritated by his brother's self-sacrificing and overtly righteous syndrome. He decided to take things in his hands if needed. For now, he mindlessly hopped on to his Bhaiyya's bike and zoomed off. He felt the need for adrenaline rush to calm his mind.
Back at home, Roohi was moving in her sleep, and she got up suddenly. She checked her surroundings and tightly clutched Abhimanyu's T- shirt out of fear. She was sweating and Abhimanyu looked at her worriedly. He then understood that she must have had a nightmare. Roohi has always been a sound sleeper. She wouldn't wake up like that otherwise. He calmed her down and asked her,
"Kya hua Bacha? Kaunsa bura sapna dekhliya aapne? Batao" Her throat went dry. She was handed some water which she gladly gulped down.
"Poppy! I am sorry. But aap mujhse gussa mat ho aur please baat karna band mat karo. I can't handle it." Roohi mumbled the same thing twice.
"Roohi!"
Abhimanyu raised his voice to bring her back to senses. She looked clueless suddenly, but his raised voice made her eyes tear up.
"I love you Poppy" She spoke all of a sudden as she clutched him tight and cried like a baby.
"Ru! Bacha! Shaant ho jao baby. Breathe in......Yes..... Breathe out...That's the best thing to do while panic strikes. Poppy loves you too Bacha. Don't panic please. Breathe in...Breathe out"
Abhimanyu's concerned voice calmed her down relatively.
"Bacha! Kya dekha sapne mein aapne exactly? Kyun itna dargayi aap?" Abhimanyu enquired while still caressing Roohi.
"Woh...main...matlab..sab mujhse naraaz the aur aapne baat karna band kardiya tha.
Woh mumma aayi aur unhone aapko mere khilaf kuch bola aur aapne phir se mujhe gussa kiya.
Aap bahut gussa the Poppy. Bahut bahut gussa."
Roohi sobbed after she spoke up frantically.
She looked like a baby to Abhimanyu from the way she spoke.
Like his Baby!!
To be Continued............