"Maa,Bua Maa don't worry! nothing will happen to Nandani and Manik! Aap log himmat mat haarein !"After wiping my incoherent tears I Kneeled down infront of my moms.
Two tears again trickled down my chin as I thought of them being all happy and cheerful before these mournful accidents.
"Ye sab kia hogya Bhabhi!Mere donu bache...."Bua maa's crying words left in middle as maa pulled her in a hug.
"Dad!"Dad who was standing in one corner all gloomy and depressed raised his eyes at me and I gestured him towards my crying moms.
"Suman,Anjali! Keep faith in God!Kuch nhi hoga donu ko!"Dad came towards us and tried to console them but they didn't listen instead they kept crying.
"Pta nhi kiski nazar lag gayi mere bacho ko!Ye donu tou kisi ka bura sochte tak nhi hain!"Maa cried and I held her palm at her laps when a voice from behind startled us.
"Mr.Malhotra!"
"Yes doctor !How are my kids ?"Dad asked frantically while we ladies stood behind him in anticipation.
"Your son is perfectly fit and fine!We have removed the bullet from his shoulder and he is recovering very well!"Doctor smiled and we all sighed.
"Thankgod!"Maa and bua maa mumbled together.
"And what about my daughter?"Bua maa asked and the smile on doctors face vanished.
A fear engulfed in my heart instantly.
God!Please don't snatch the little joy from us!
"Is everything right doctor?"I slurred.
"I'm sorry! We couldn't save the child but your daughter is absolutely fine!"As soon as these words reached my ears,I stumbled back and thumped on the accommodation chair behind.
"What?Doctor you are having some misunderstanding!My daughter wasn't pregnant in fact she isn't married yet!"Dad scrunched his nose in confusion when I whispered from behind,
"He is right Dad! Nandani was pregnant!"I was in daze before but now my tears had found their escape.
The doctor left from there considering it our personal issue.
The three elders turn towards me and I palmed my face,crying bitterly.
"Nandani--and--Manik--love each other!"I cried and they all stood there motionless.
"Wo donu bohot pyaar karte hain ek dusre se bua maa!"I stood up and held her hands but she didn't give any reaction.Her eyes were stuck somewhere.
I turned my head towards the source and my eyes widened seeing Mehra family standing there.
"Mehra sahab !"Dad muttered and was about to put forth his hand for a shake when Mehra uncle showed dad his palm.
"Meri zindagi ki sab se bari bhool thi jo maine aap jese logo se rishta jora!"Mehra uncle seethed and Dad lowered his eyes out of shame.
"Pta nhi kesi parwarish di hai aap logo ne apne bacho ko!Jawan bache peet peeche kia karte hain,kuch khabar bhi rakhi aap logo ne!"Kamini aunty spoke in a disgusted tone when I moved ahead.
"Bas aunty! Koi haq nhi hai aapka mere mom dad ki parwarish par sawaal uthane ka! Apne bete ko sambhaaliye pehle !" I spoke angrily and at last glared at Armaan.
He is the one because of whom my brother is in this condition!
"Shraddha!"Mom held my arm and showed me her eyes.
"No Mom! How dare she..."Before I could complete a passing by nurse retorted at us,
"Excuse me! This is hospital ! Kindly discuss your issues at your homes ! Silence please !"
She went away when dad spoke,
"Mehra sahab main apne bachon ki taraf se maafi mangta hn aap se!"Dad folded his hands and I looked at him with my teary eyes.
"No uncle ! Aap bare hain,aur bare sirf maaf karte hain,maafi nhi mangte!"Armaan held dad's joined hands and smiled.
I pursed my lips seeing his fake demeanour.
"See! This is how we should nourish our children!Mera beta!"Kamini aunty eyed bua maa and maa and then caressed Armaan's hair from behind.
"Kaaash main bhi aapka beta hota ! Nai ?Ka-meeni aunty!"Manik's mocking voice boomed in our ears and we all turned towards him.
"Manik! Why did you come out?"Maa went towards him and caressed his cheek.She was angry but after seeing his injured son tears escaped from her eyes.
.........
"I'm fine maa!" I held mom's palm and kissed it.
"My son!"She cried and kissed my cheeks frenziedly.
"Arey maa! Kuch nhi hua !"I chuckled and hugged her tightly.
My eyes found di and I smiled at her,but she glared at me while crying making me chuckle.
I heard another sniffing sound and a wide smile spread on my lips after recognising the source.
Haaye sasu maa!
I winked at her but she turned her eyes on other side.
Naraaz Kyon hogayi ye?
"Mr.Malhotra we are breaking all ties with your family ! Aesi bad-chalan bahu nhi chahiye mughe !"Kameeni aunty spoke and my eyes shot up at her.
After gently breaking the hug I moved
towards her.
"Kia bola?"My jaws were slammed,badly.
Iss burhiya ka tou gala hi daba dena chahiye! Kese chupri chupri zabaan chalati hai!
She took a step back and I raised a step ahead.
"KIA BOLA?"I shouted so loud that the busy hospital went silent after my shriek.
"Manik!"Armaan sneered and I turned my eyes towards him.
"Teri itni hadian tooti lekin aqal phir bhi nhi ayi tugh main!" I gestured him towards his bandaged arms and forehead when he glared at me back.
Ye saala,mar k hi sukoon lega!
"Aur aap Mrs.Kamee--"I stopped abruptly as she raised her wide eyes at me.
Control Manik Control!
"Kamini! Aap apni zubaan ko lagaam dijye! Gol-gappi k bare main Kuch bhi ulta seedha bola na tou jaan le loon ga!"I whispered gritted last four words in her ear and literally I found her tiny bleached hair raising up at her neck.
Eeeww!
She looked at me with scared eyes as I glared at her with deep intensity.
"Armaan! Chal-yahan-se!"She stammered and held Mehra uncles arm being afraid.
"Nhi maa! We are not breaking this relationship ! I love Nandani and I won't marry anyone else but her!"Armaan spoke while glaring at me and I clenched unclenched my fists.
"Listen! Nandani meri thi.meri hai.aur meri hi rahegi!Itni si baat samagh nhi ati tughe!"Without any fear I confessed my love infront of everyone.
"But she doesn't love you!"Armaan scowled and I took a step towards him.
"Iska faisla tu na kar tou hi acha hoga!"I gritted my teeth at him.
"Aunty Nandani Hates Manik! He used to force himself on her!"Armaan spoke venomously and I held his collar from one hand as my other hand had a fracture due to the bullet.
"SHUT UP!Not a word against our relationship Armaan or else I'll kill you!"I was literally shivering in the intensity of anger.
To my dismay I was turned and was slapped by someone brutally.
"Dad!"A whisper left my mouth and my hand went to caress my cheek where I just received a slap.
"Raj!"Mom came and cupped dads shoulder but dad jerked her hand away.
"Don't rescue your beloved son anymore ! Arey iss jesa beta hone se tou acha hai mera koi beta hi na hota!"Dad uttered in a disgusting manner and I looked at him with unbelievable eyes.
A tear trickled down my cheek and dad slapped me again.
"Raj nhi!"Mom cried and came in between of us.
Di came and held my arm but my eyes were stuck on one man,my dad.
"Mr.Malhotra! This is hospital! I request please maintain silence!"Doctor who was in some patients ward came out.
"You all have to take care of the patient very much! All you have to do is to cheer her up or else she'll go under depression!"Doctor spoke and went away.
"Gol-gappi?" I turned my head towards di and she nodded while crying.
"What happened to her ? Kia hua use ? Mera junior?"I asked frantically but di didn't answer instead she cried hard.
No !
"Di ! Answer me ! DI !"I shook her shoulders hard.
"Wo--Nandani! Sshe fell from stairs!"Di cried and my eyes widened in horror.
I stopped where I was.My heartbeats turned erratic.
"Mera junior?"A tear cascaded down from my cheek as di shook her head negatively at me.
Mera junior chla gaya!
Another tear fell from my eye and I glanced at the private ward where my love was.
I was about to move when somebody wrapped fingers around my wrist.
"Bua maa?"I whispered in confusion and she turned her face on other side.
"Chla ja yahan se!"Without looking at me she muttered sternly and my teary eyes looked at her with hurt.
"Main bohot pyaar karta hn Nandani se bua maa!"I cried but bua maa didn't turn her face towards me.
"Come Manik!"Mom came and held my wrist,making bua maa left my wrist.
"Manik mere sath chlo!"Mom shouted as I was staring at stone hearted bua maa with tears in my eyes.
"Maine hamesha aapko apni maa maana! Aapka beta ban kar raha aur aaj aap ek ajnabi ki baat par bharosa kar rahi hain,apne bete par nhi!"I was so hurt with her rude behaviour.I always thought that she loved me like her own child but no she didn't.
"Manik! Let's go home!"Maa started pulling me while I kept looking at bua maa with hurtful eyes.
The whole ride to home tears kept rolling down my cheeks as I laid my head on my mothers laps. Driver was driving the car with dad sitting beside whereas me and mom were sitting behind.
"Manik!"Mom ruffled my hair softly and one more tear fell from my eye.
"Maa! Mere pyaar ki pehli nishaani bhi salamat nhi rahi ! We lost our first child maa ! Maine apne junior ko kho dia maa!"I cried and maa ruffled my hair more smoothly while sniffing.
"Suman pack his bags! Your son is going to Lucknow for a week!"Dad muttered nonchalantly as soon as car stopped infront of our house.
"Main kahin nhi jaonga!"I wiped my tears and announced.
Without giving my answer any heed dad stepped out from the car.
I looked towards mom."Main kahin nhi jaonga maa!" My tone was so firm.
Mom nodded at me and we stepped out from the car.
"I'll make some sandwiches for you!Go rest in your room!"Mom spoke softly and I nodded at her before choosing the path towards my room.
"Dad!"As soon as I reached my room I found dad standing there,packing my luggage by throwing any and everything which came in his hands into backpack.
"Dad! Im not going anywhere !"I gritted my teeth but he ignored me,expertly.
"Nandani ko yahan chor kar nhi jaonga! Meri hai wo aur use apna bna kar hi dum lunga!" I snarled and threw away the backpack from bed which he was packing.
Dad raised his menacing eyes at me.
"You won't go ?"He shouted suddenly and I shouted back,"NHI ! NHI JAONGA MAIN!"
"MANIK!"He roared and raised his hand to slap me.
"MAAR LIJYE JITNA MARNA HAI APNE MUGHE PAR MAIN KAHIN NHI JAONGA!" A tear fell from my eye but I shouted again at him.
"Kia hogya hai aap donu ko!"Mom came running to us.
"He is your father Manik behave!"Mom showed me her eyes and I moved my eyes reluctantly from him.
"Inse keh dijye maa,main Nandani k bina kahin nhi jaonga!"I spoke angrily while keeping my eyes on other side.
"Ye sikhaya hai aapne apne ladle ko!Kis tarah se badtameezi kar raha hai ye! Dekh rahin hain aap!"Dad glared at me and I shrugged making him more angry.
"Mom Dad!"A voice interrupted our fight and we turned our heads towards the source.
"Di ! Where is Nandani ? Is she fine ? Ro rahi hogi na bohot main abhi mil k ata hn us se!" I ran towards Di who was standing on doorstep and muttered hastily.
"Koi kahin nhi jayega!"Dad announced and I turned to give him a frustrated look.
"MAIN JAONGA ! MAIN GOL-GAPPI SE MILNE BHI JAONGA AUR USE APNE SEENE SE BHI LAGAONGA! ROK SAKTE HAIN TOU ROK KAR DIKHAYE MUGHE!" I screeched and ran upstairs towards her room.
"MANIK !"Dad shouted angrily behind me but I cared less and continued to climb stairs,frantically.
Upon reaching her room my steps halted automatically as I found bua maa standing outside her room.
"Bua maa ! Please !"I literally begged but she didn't clear my way.
"She doesn't love you Manik!"Bua maa muttered nonchalantly while keeping her face on other side and I scrunched my nose.
"Kisne kaha? She loves me bua maa!"I was getting tired now.
"No ! I don't !" The door opened and Nandani came out.
"Gol-gappi!"I sighed and was about to move towards her when my eyes caught Armaan coming out from her room.
"Kal hamari shadi hai aana zaroor!"Armaan came infront of me and spoke with a sly smile playing on his lips.
He descended down the stairs after throwing a smirk at me but I cared least about him.My eyes were fixed on one person only.
My breaths were turning rough and somebody had already started shivering under my seething gaze.
With a jerk I held Nandani's hand and pushed her inside the room and locked the door after entering myself.
Bua maa banged the door from out side but I didn't pay any attention to her.
"Manik jao yahan se!"Nandani tried to be stern but her voice ditched her.She staggered back when I clutched her waist from my one arm.
"Tum mughse pyaar nhi karti?"I gritted at her face and she tried to push me.
"TUM.MUGHSE.PYAAR.NHI KARTI?"I roared suddenly and she flinched away ultimately which stopped her struggle to push me away too.
"MAIN YAHAN PAGALON KI TARAH SAB SE TUMHARE LIYE LAR RAHA HN AUR TUM ARMAAN K SATH SHADI KI DATE FIX KARNE MAIN BUSY HO!"I shouted and left her with a jerk.
Tears trickled down from her cheeks and she held my collars angrily.
"HAAN HN MAIN BUSY ARMAAN K SATH LEKIN TUMHE KIA FARAQ PARTA HAI HAAN?TUMNE HI TOU KAHA THA NA K MAIN TUMSE PYAAR NHI KARTI!" She barked with her tears and I closed my eyes,inhaling a breath.
"Main gusse main tha uss waqt Nandani!"I hissed and she chuckled sadly.
"Aur ab! Abhi bhi tou tum gusse main hona Manik! Main tou kehti hn acha hua Bhagwaan ne mera bacha wapis le liye!"She eventually stopped as heavy tears filled her eyes.
My angry eyes softened too.
"Mera bacha mughe chor kar chla gaya Manik! Mera bacha !"She shook my collars while crying bitterly and I lowered my teary eyes.
"Sirf tumhari wajah se! Just because of you Manik Malhotra !"She moved back and sneered while I looked at her with painful eyes.
"Na tum Armaan k ghar ate aur na ye sab hota!" She sniffed and I smiled.
"Right! Sab meri hi tou galti hai!Tum tou kuch ghlt karti hi kaha ho!Its me who is wrong every time!ITS ME!"I shouted at last angrily and threw my fracture band away.
"Manik!"She muttered in astonishment and was about to take a step when I showed her my palm.
"Nhi ! Mat aao mere kareeb!Im harmful for you!I was harmful to my kid!Isilye tou hamara bacha bhi chla gaya!Haina ? I'm the murderer of my own son ! Right Miss khurana?" I chuckled and licked my lips to control the flowing tears.
"Hum kabhi sath nhi ho sakte Manik!Hamara rishta kabhi nhi jur sakta! Kyon nhi samaghte tum?"She cried more while coming towards me.
"Because I love you ! Main tumse bohot pyaar karta hn gol-gappi!"My lower lip jounced as multiple tears cascaded down my cheek.
She closed her eyes and turned away.
"Go away Manik ! Just Go away !"She cried loudly and I closed my eyes drinking tears away.
"Shadi bohot bohot mubarak ho gol-gappi!" I muttered softly and she turned towards me.
"Hamari gustaakhiyon ka safar khtam hua aaj!" A tear again fell from my eye and she ran towards me.
I stepped back as she climbed on me.
"I love you Manik ! I love you very much !"She cried heavily in my neck and a smile spread on my lips.
Before I could wrap my arms around her petite frame she mumbled in my neck,"But we can't be together! We can't be together Manik!"
These were the last words which I heard before barging out of her room and leaving the house.
Kia khabar thi kise k kismat main gustaakhi abhi ek aur baqi thi hamari!
Anjaan ban kar,ya shayad jaan bujh kar! Hojayegi humse ye gustaakhi,Dil jud jayenge,raah paa jayegi ye sirphiri aashqui hamari!
.....
I can't tell what's there in next chapter ! Damn !🙈😂 Just wait! Wanna read something mushy mushy?😋*laughs*
Goodbye!
NEW WANDERER!