Naina rings the doorbell of her home. As soon as her mother opens the door, by the look on her face Naina understands that it's the same old thing!
Shutting the door, whilst removing her footwear, Naina asks,
"Ab kya hua?"
Naina's mother takes a deep breath, shaking her head.
"Bus itna kaha tha ke phone ka bill bharna hai cheque bana dena. Aaj last date thi. Ab kal extra cost bhi dena hoga. Itna nahi kar payi tum?",
shouts Naina's father, standing in the drawing room of their home.
Naina takes a deep breath, lowering her eyes she shakes her head and leaves for her room.
"Main ghar mein free nahi baithi rehti! Dhero kaam parhe rehte hain.",
retorts Naina's mother, raising her voice, reaching her father.
"Kya kaam karti ho? Sirf serials hi to dekhne hote hain.",
shouts her father.
His words irk Naina as much they irk her mother. But she stays quiet, closing the door of her room.
"Sirf serials dekhti rehti hun? Khana to khud bann jata hai na?",
asks her mother out of anger.
"To main bhi to free nahi rehta. Janti ho dimag mein koi na koi tension rehta hai. Naina ki parhayi; Naina ka future; uski shadi.",
shouts her father.
"Unn tensions se kya hoga? Uske liye tumhe kuch karna hoga. Sirf tension lene se mushkilein hal nahi hoti. Insurance and all ke barey mein soch kar kuch nahi milta uske liye kuch karna parhta hai, jo tumse to mujhe nahi lagta hone wala hai.",
retorts her mother.
"Tumse mujhe kuch baat hi nahi karni.",
shouts her father and walks to the kitchen to place back his empty glass after drinking water, out of anger. In the process he by mistake kicks the dustbin lightly and some litter gets split.
This raises Naina's mother's anger.
"Ab aur kaam barha diya!",
she taunts.
Out of anger, Naina's father collects the litter back in the dustbin whilst asking,
"Ye kuda kya sajane ke liye rakha hai? Kudey wale ko kyun nahi deti?"
"Koi shok nahi hai mujhe aise rakhne ka. Aaj aya nahi kuda lene main kya karun?",
shouts her mother.
Out of anger, Naina's father picks up the dustbin.
"Ab kya kar rahe hain aap?",
shouts her mother.
Naina gets out of her room to see what's happening, knitting her brows, nervous and angry.
Walking to the balcony, he throws the wastes down which get flowed away with the sewage.
"Baba ye kya kiya apne?",
shouts Naina, pissed off!
"Kya kiya kya kuda ghar se bahar fenka!",
shouts her father out of anger.
"Aap jaise logo ke wajah se hi iss desh ki tarakki nahi hoti!",
shouts Naina, pissed off.
"Arey iss mein tarakki ki kya baat hai?",
asks her father, raising his voice.
Naina doesn't wait to listen to him and leaves for her room out of anger.
Her parents continue with their argument.
●●●●●
Inside her room, locking the door, Naina puts her belongings at a corner. Frustrated she sits on her bed and in no time tears roll down her cheeks. She cries bitterly yet silently, not wanting her family to know that she is crying.
She was so damn happy, relaxed after spending quality time with Rajveer. She wanted to enter her room and cherish those moments but alas, when has her family given her the opportunity to feel free and light hearted?
The two extreme emotions when meet her up together, it becomes unbearable for her to tolerate. This is the reason she is indulging herself more into studies to keep her mind distracted from these daily arguments of her parents. If it happens sometimes, it's fine but when it becomes a routine, it starts suffocating you.
Sitting on her bed out of irritation Naina picks up her phone. She thinks of messaging Rajveer, but she keeps back her phone thinking - telling him won't solve her issue. And when he wasn't there in her life she used to deal with this all by herself so why today is she feeling the need to tell him? No, she won't tell him anything and disturb his mental peace too!
She rests her head against the bed post and closes her eyes, tear rolls down her cheeks afresh. She desperately wants to run to him as she finds solace in his presence. But she knows this is no solution to her problems. And how can it be right that to find solace she would burden up him with all her tensions?
Naina opens up the admission form in her mobile and takes a deep breath thinking that she had planned to talk about it to her parents after returning back but this whole fiasco had made her planning to go for a toss!
She sighs and closes her eyes to find some peace.
Her mother knocks the door of her room. Naina opens her eyes and realizes that the argument has finished or may be has gone for a rest as for now. Taking a deep breath Naina opens the door and finds her mother standing there. Keeping the door open for her to enter Naina goes back to her bed.
Reaching her, her mother sits on the bed and asks her lovingly,
"Chaye bana dun?"
"Nahi Ma mann nahi hai.",
says Naina, disinterested in anything and everything.
Her mother looks around her room and says,
"Kya haalat bana kar rakha hai apne room ka Naina!"
"Ma main abhi ayi hun isliye thoda idhar udhar hai sub kuch. Kar lungi theek thodi der mein.",
says Naina.
"Acha ye bata kya kya khareeda tu ne?",
asks her mother, smiling lovingly.
Naina resting her head against the bed post, her eyes closed, says,
"Kuch nahi!"
"Kyun? Mujhe to laga tu bohot sari shopping karke ayegi?",
says her mother, smiling.
Naina opens her eyes and looks towards her mother,
"Aap jante ho na ke main shopping wagerah zada nahi karti?"
Naina's mother lowers her eyes, smiling sadly she says,
"Haan janti hun. Aur ye bhi janti hun ke kyun nahi karti!"
Naina's heart skips a beat and she looks towards her mother.
"Tu tere Baba aur mere roz ke jhik-jhik se pareshan ho gayi hai na? Isliye mann nahi lagta na tera kahin?",
her mother asks, her eyes turning teary.
Naina looks towards her mother, feeling sorry for her.
"Maaa... Ma please!",
Naina hugs her mother to calm her down.
Leaving her, she tries to assure her,
"Ma jaisa tum soch rahi ho aisi koi baat nahi hai."
"Tum bekar mein aisi baatein soch kar tension le rahi ho.",
says Naina, knitting her brows out of concern.
"Tu na bus parhayi khatam kar aur shadi karle.",
says her mother.
Shivers run down her spine.
"Ma! Aap... aap ye kaisi baatein kar rahi hain?",
says Naina, knitting her brows.
"Kyun kya galat kaha maine?",
asks her mother, staring her.
"Ma aap achi tarah janti hai mujhe inn shadi-wadi ke chakkaron mein nahi parhna please.",
says Naina, getting irritated.
"Kya matlab shadi nahi karni? Shadi to karni hi hai Naina ek din!",
says her mother.
"Kyun? Aisa kahan likha hai ke har ladki ko shadi karna zaruri hai?",
asks Naina.
"Shadi to karni hogi Naina. Aur main yahi chahti hun ke tu jald se jald shadi karle taki tu tere Baba aur meri ladayi ke beech aur na pisey!",
says her mother, sadly.
This irritates her.
"Oh god Ma! Aap please... please meri shadi ki baat mat kariye. Main shadi nahi karne wali. Aur... aur aap dono ko akela chor kar jaungi? Taki aap dono aram se yahan larh sako? No ways!",
says Naina.
"Dekha! Yahi baat hai na? Pata tha mujhe.",
says her mother, sadly.
"Ma... Ma please. Haan ye ek reason hai. Par main baat ye nahi hai.",
says Naina, pissed off.
Her mother stares her with sorrowful eyes.
"Bhaiya ke jane ke baad aap dono ki zimmedari mujh par hai. Main aise situation mein shadi karna to durr shadi ke barey mein sochna bhi nahi chahti.",
says Naina, out of anger.
Her mother cries all the more.
"Ma please ab aap ye apni aankhon se Ganga-Jamuna bahana band karo.",
says Naina, pissed off.
"Main bus tujhe khush dekhna chahti hun Naina!",
says her mother, crying.
"Main khush hun...",
she trails off, frustrated.
She takes a deep breath, controlling her frustration. Calming down a little she says again,
"Main khush hun Ma! Yakeen mano aap dono se durr jaungi to khush nahi rahungi. Yahan khush hun main."
"Yahan khush hai tu?",
asks her mother, knitting her brows.
Naina stares her, serious.
"Kamse kam ye jhoot to mat bol mujhse Naina.",
says her mother.
Naina rolls her eyes at this.
"Ma mera sir dard se fata ja raha hai. Mere liye please ek cup chai bana doge?",
requests Naina, trying to bring this topic to an end.
"Haan chai mujhe bhi peene ka mann kar raha hai. Mera bhi sir dard ho raha hai.",
says her mother.
"Abhi banati hun chai.",
saying so her mother gets up to leave.
As she turns to leave Naina looks towards her sadly. She finds herself in a dilemma. She wants to discuss about KMA with her mother. But by the current scenario and the way her mother's thoughts are proceeding towards, Naina gets nervous, knowing that discussing about her plan with them would only be an invitation to yet another argument! Which initially would start from Naina and her mother but soon will end up into yet another argument between her parents, because that is exactly what happens each time she demands something out of box from them!
●●●●●
She shuts the door after her mother leaves. Unable to control her frustration any longer, she calls Rajveer up.
"Hello!",
says Rajveer.
His tone skips Naina's heartbeat, he seems to be pissed off, she can tell by his tone.
"Ahmm... Hi. Kya kar rahe hain aap?",
asks Naina, politely, nervously.
She hears him taking a deep breath.
"Kuch nahi thoda kaam kar raha tha.",
says Rajveer, his tone still pissed off.
"Kya hum kuch der baat kar sakte hain?",
she asks, nervously, knowing that something is definitely amiss at his side.
"Haan Naina bolo.",
he says and she understands that he is trying to be polite to her.
"Aap bahar hain?",
she asks as she could hear the sounds of people and vehicles around him, clearly giving her a picture that he is outside.
She hears him opening a door without replying to her and entering into a quieter area.
"Nahi!",
he says finally.
Her heart skips a beat. She realizes that he has just entered his house but the fact that he didn't reply earlier as he didn't want to lie to her touches her heart.
"Aap abhi bahar se aye na?",
asks Naina, politely.
"Hmmm...",
he says.
"To jhoot kyun kaha?",
asks Naina.
"Jhoot kahan kaha? Ghar mein ghus kar hi kaha ke main bahar nahi hun.",
he says, smiling a little.
Naina smiles and shakes her head.
"Kya hua?",
asks Naina, feeling something odd.
"Koi problem hai?",
asks Naina, nervously.
"Ye aaj kal ke sweepers na kya bolun. Ghar ke bahar itna kachra parha rehta hai. Teen-chaar din tak wo waisa hi rahega. Kabhi kabhi to usse bhi zyada. Fir neeche kitni baar maine inhe naali mein aise hi dump karte hue dekha hai. Desh ko saaf rakhne ka theka kisi ek ne nahi liya hua. It should be a joint effort. But ab ye baat inhe kon samjhaye? Inn sweepers ko to bus apna bojha halka karna hota hai humare ghar ke samne se kuda uthalo fir jahan marzi fek do, dekhne kon aa raha hai? Aur dekh bhi liya, to bolne kon aa raha hai? Abhi dant laga kar aya.",
says Rajveer, pissed off.
Naina takes a deep breath but doesn't reply.
Rajveer who had expected an immediate and revolting reply from Naina finds her silence surprising and disturbing.
"Kya hua?",
he asks, politely.
"Nahi kuch nahi. Aap batao!",
smiles Naina.
"Kya bataun?",
asks Rajveer, taking a deep breath, politely.
"Abhi kuch din pehle ek show shuru hua 2nd February ko 'Rag Rag Mein Ganga'. Kafi acha show hai.",
says Rajveer, calmly.
"Hmm... dekha maine. Indeed bohot acha laga mujhe. I am looking forward to watching further episodes.",
smiles Naina.
"To isliye aap mein suddenly swachchata ka keeda uchla hai?",
asks Naina, smiling.
Rajveer blushes hearing that.
"Nahi Naina aisi koi baat nahi hai but yes it's a nice initiative. Inn band dimag logo ko aise shows dekhne ki bohot zarurat hai. Safai Ganga ki ho ya apne aas paas ki safai is safai aur subko cleanliness freak hona chahiye.",
he says, pissed off and sighs as he completes his line.
"Hmm... apki tarah!",
says Naina, smiling.
Rajveer blushes again and sits on his sofa.
"Kitna gussa bhara hai na aap mein?",
asks Naina.
This comes as a surprise for Rajveer. His heart skips a beat.
"Ye tum kaise keh sakti ho?",
asks Rajveer, enjoying this.
"Hmm... exam mein bhi apko mujh par gussa aya tha!",
she reminds, politely.
Rajveer smiles and says,
"Tum harkatein hi aisi kar rahi thi."
This sets her mood off.
"Arey maine kya kiya? Agar aap mere samne ayenge to kya main apko dekhun bhi na?",
asks Naina.
"You should have concentrated on your exam instead of me Naina.",
says Rajveer, politely.
"I know!",
says Naina, feeling guilty.
"Main bus itna chahta tha ke tum distract na ho.",
says Rajveer, genuinely.
"Pehle aap mujhe khud apni taraf dekhne ko majbur karte hain aur jab main dekhti hun to mujhe iss baat par danta jata hai ke main distract ho rahi hun? Kitne ajeeb hain aap.",
scolds Naina, mildly.
Rajveer laughs.
"Aisa hi hun main. Kya karogi ab?",
challenges Rajveer.
Naina blushes.
"Karna kya hai? Bhaag jati hun apse dur.",
says Naina, teasingly.
"Jao!",
says Rajveer, all calmly.
This comes as a surprise for Naina. Her heart skips a beat. How could he say that so easily?
"Jaun?",
she asks, surprised.
"Hmm... kya hua? Rag rag mein bijli daud gayi kya?",
asks Rajveer, teasingly.
Naina does feel goosebumps but more from his second line than from the first.
"Ye itna mushkil bhi nahi.",
says Naina, clearing her mind, challenging him.
"Bilkul! Chahi to kuch bhi mushkil nahi Naina.",
smiles Rajveer.
Naina goes numb. Rajveer purses his lips, holding back his amusement on finding her numb. They both stay quiet, none saying anything just hearing each other's breath.
Naina plays a song on her bluetooth device, neither wanting to end the call nor has anything particular to talk about.
Kahin to ye dil kabhi mil nahi patey,
kahin se nikal aye janmon ke natey.
Ghani thi uljhan bairi apna mann,
apna hi hoke sahey dard paraye, dard paraye.
Kahin duur jab din dhal jaye,
saanjh ki dulhan badan churaye,
chupkese aye.
The song catches Rajveer's attention. He smiles and asks,
"Tumhe purane gane pasand hain?"
"Ji, bohot! Aur apko?",
asks Naina, smiling.
"Bohot!",
mirrors Rajveer.
Naina blushes, Rajveer blushes too.
Sighing Rajveer says,
"Chaliye kuch to ek jaisa hai hum mein."
Naina's eyes twinkle in excitement, hearing that.
"What kind of music do you like?",
asks Rajveer.
"Light music. Actually aise ganey jo meaningful ho. Dil ki kuch aisi baatein jo hum shayad kabhi shabdon mein bayan nahi kar patein, jab gano mein piroye jate hain and suddenly sunn kar humein aisa mehsus hota hai jaise kahin na kahin humari situation; humari feeling ko iss gane mein utar diya gaya ho, aise gane ache lagte hain.",
smiles Naina.
Rajveer raises a brow, impressed.
"Nice thoughts and choice.",
he says.
Naina smiles hearing that.
"Apko kaise ganey pasand hain?",
asks Naina.
"Bilkul waise hi jaise tumne kahe. Par shayad main itni khoobsurati se shabdon mein bayan nahi kar pata jis tarah tumne kiya.",
smiles Rajveer.
Naina blushes.
Naina's mother knocks the door and hence skips Naina's heartbeat.
"Naina!",
she calls out after knocking.
Naina gets scares.
"Ahmm... chaliye Ma aa gayi hain, main rakhti hun.",
she says, quickly.
"To? Kya hua, unke samne baat karo!",
states Rajveer, all serious.
This comes as a shock for Naina.
"Ma ke saamne apse baat karun?",
asks Naina, shocked.
"Haan to iss mein galat kya hai? Hum konsa koi chori kar rahe hain?",
asks Rajveer.
Naina shakes her head in negative in utter disbelief.
"Main abhi rakh rahi hun, we'll discuss this later bye.",
saying so Naina ends the call quickly.
"Arey...",
says Rajveer but hears the beep already.
Sighing, he ends the call.