*Neeya ke Ghar*
The sun was now on top and Neeya was standing outside her house. She was feeling happy that she is going to see her Ma but still she was missing something or... someone...
"Shona..!" Ma comes to her and hugs her. "Ma..."she too hugs her Ma tightly, feeling heartwarming. "Kaisi ho Ma?" She ask her pulling away from the hug. "Tujhe dekh lia na...aur bhi acchi ho gi." Neeya chuckles and wipes the tear away from her eyes. "Tu kaisi h?..aur jamai babu kaha h?" Neeya's smiling face was now turned to the sad one. "Ma..wo..Unhe kuch kaam tha..islie..." "..Are nhi Baudi.." Prakash cuts her off.
"Jamai babu ji ki premika ki tabiyat kharab ho gi h. Islie apni patni ko chodh ke unke sath h." He says in taunting tone.
"Kya?" Ma looks at Neeya, who wasnt looking at her. "Are Ma...chodhie na..wo unki dost ki tabiyat kharab h na..aur Saudamini didi ko Anirudh ji ki jyada jaroorat thi. Islie...Accha ma..kuch khilaegi nhi mujhe. Maine apke haath ka khana bahut yaad kia...chalo naaa...." She says in childish way.
As they walked in, they were interrupted by the voices,"are aagai malkin ji....."
It was dida and ofcrse pishi joined her,"pati nazar nhi arha...lagta h pachta rhe h ab..kaha shaadi kr li." They both laugh making Neeya angry. "Nhi nhi Mishti. Ab bhala koi ameer khandan gharana ka ladka ek aisi gareeb besahara ladki se shaadi karega, nah!" Neeya goes to say something but Ma stops her and takes her to her room.
"Kya ma?. Q nhi bolne dia? Ye log kuch bhi bakwaas krenge. Jante hi kya h ye log mere Anirudh ji ke baare mai. Aur waise bhi ye log yaha kr kya rhe h?" Neeya ask almost in anger. "Teri dida ne bulaya h inko yaha...aur...." Ma says tensed. "Aur kya Ma? Kya hua?" Ma thinks for awhile. "Kuch nhi...accha ye to bata jamai babu aae q nhi?" "Ma...bataya to ki Saudamini didi ki tabiyat nhi shi h...tch....aap mujhse baar baar ye prashna na puchie." She says in kind of anger. "Accha theek h baba. Tu aram kar. Mai tere lie kuch leke aati hu." And with that she leaves.
Neeya sighs and sits down on the mattress.
'Jamai babu ji ki premika ki tabiyat kharab ho gi h. Islie apni patni ko chodh ke unke sath h.'
All the incidents of today and Anirudh's and Pishe's voice was going on in her mind.
How much she wish he was here with her, spending some time together so that they can revive their friendship.
She don't want Anirudh as a husband, but as a friend more. She miss her friend who was there with her at every seconds.
But she knows this very well, that she is the one who came between Anirudh and Saudamini, two lovers and she don't deserve him. Maybe in some other life...
•~ ~ ~ ~ ~*~ ~ ~ ~ ~•
The sun was setting now. The sky were blue and the birds were returning back to their nest after the long day.
Anirudh, who was sitting beside sleeping Saudamini, was left alone with his thoughts. He was trying to sleep, read books but the couch he was sitting wasn't much comfortable and was disturbing and so was his thoughts..
"Nhi Mini di. Mere se jyada apko Anirudh ji ki aur inhe apki jyada jaroorat h. Aise samay mai ek doosre ka sath dena sabse jaroori h. Rasm to kabhi aur bhi ho sakti h. Aap apna khyaal rakhie. Mai bhi nhi jaungi." "Kaha na. Jao!"
There Neeya, who was sitting down in her room, too wasnt able to concentrate on anything, she still wasnt able to take out Anirudh and Bhaumik's word from her mind and somewhere she was missing him.
Anirudh stands up and looks at Saudamini, sleeping peacefully and as always looking beautiful. He goes from there, trying not to make any noise, to his house. "Chote malik! Aap aagae?" Bihari stops him. "Ha Bihari. Jara mere lie coffee bana doge. Sar mai thoda dard ho rha h." "Ji Malik!" Bihari goes from there and Anirudh to his study room.
Neeya was now sitting outside, staring at the beautiful blue sky, filled with beautiful sky and flying birds, Anirudh's hanky in her hands.
Anirudh was sitting in his study room's couch with his hand on his head. "Chote malik. Apki coffee." Anirudh takes it and drinks a sip. "Bihari. Ye coffee to aaj subah wali se alag h. Nhi. Aaj subah wali coffee sabse alag thi, waisi q nhi banai?" "Chote malik. Aaj subah humne nhi, bahu rani ji ne banaya tha." Saying this, Bihari leaves from there.
Anirudh looks at the cup and smiles. He walks to his window and stares at the sky, smiling.
But this smile soon fades away when he realised how rudely and harshly he spoke with her. "Aaj bahut galat kia maine tumhare sath Neeya. Mujhe is trh nhi bolna chahie tha tumse."
Somewhere Neeya was sad but also angry at the same time, 'kyu itne Khadoos h aap? Huh!? Bematlab gussa karte h aap jab dekho. Agar yhi roop pehle dikhaya hota na apne, to mai to bhaag jati mandap se.' she says looking at sky than his hanky.
'par tum bhi kaha baat sunti ho meri. Kitni jiddi ho tum. Ek baar mai koi baat hi nhi sunti.'
'Pata nhi kaise mujhe apse pyaar ho gaya. Sochti thi bhole bhale masoom insaan h. Par nhi. Ekdum Rakshas h. Nhi rakshas nhi, unse bhi bade wale rakshas h aap.'
'Lekin galti meri hi to h. Tumne thode hi kaha thi ki shaadi karo mujhse. Jimmedar tum nhi, mai hu. Mai.'
'Apka naam galat rakha gaya h. Anirudh Roy Choudhury nhi, Mr Khadoos Rakshash Roy Choudhury hona chahie.'
Both of them looks at the sky at the setting sun and then goes from there.
Anirudh walks to the kitchen to Bihari,"Bihari! Thodi der mai mujhe jaldi nikalna h Neeya ke ghar ke lie. To jaldi se mere jaane ki taiyari kar do" "Ji malik."
'Chodh na Neeya. Kiske baare mai soch rhi h. Us khadoos ke baare mai. Wo to tere baare mai bilkul bhi nhi soch rhe honge, to tum q soch rhi ho. Huff!'
And with that, pushing Anirudh in some other corner of her mind, she starts doing her some work.
While there, after marriage, for the very first time, he entered his room, with his own will.
He looks around and noticed nothing was change. Everything was in place, organised.
Honestly he missed his room but after arrival of Neeya, it was difficult for him to enter in his room.
Sighing he walks to the cupboard to take out his few clothes nd packs it.
He goes to pick out his watch from drawer of dressing table when he noticed her bangles, payal and sindoor.
He recalls her bangle's and payal's jingling sound which makes him smile. How much those sounds had effect on him, does it effect him now too?
Smiling to himself, he gets back to packing his stuff.
•~ ~ ~ ~ ~*~ ~ ~ ~ ~•
After packing his stuff, he goes down with his bag in one hand when Trilochan stops him,"Arre Anirudh. Itni jaldi mai kaha ja rhe ho taiyar hoke?" Trilochan approach him. "Wo..kaka...Mai Neeya ke yaha ja rha hu." "Neeya ke yaha? Par q?" "Pata nhi kaka. Bas dil nhi maan rha." "Kya-" "-Please kaka. Mana mat kariega. Mujhe jane dijie. Mera jana bahut jaroori h" He says and walks out of the house to find his motor vehicle.
He goes to Saudamini.
"Mini. Kaisi tabiyat h tumhari ab?" He ask her softly. "Theek hu ab mai. Shukriya Anirudh." She says smiling. "Shukriya q? Tum meri sabse acchi aur khaas dost ho. Tumhara khyaal mai nhi to kaun rkhega." He says smirking making her blush.
"Aao. Chaai banai h. Pee lo." "Nhi Mini. Aaj nhi. Mai jaldi mai hu." "Jaldi? Q? Kaha ja rhe ho?" "Wo...mai Neeya ke ghar ja rha hu. Aaj subah jis trh maine use bola aur akele bhej dia...shi nhi kia maine. Islie..." Saudamini looks on. "Par...ab kya faida? Wo to aajaegi na kal subah?" "Ha..par soch rha hu mai hi le aau usey apne sath. Usi ke sath gaon bhi ghoomna ho jaega. Theek h ab mai chalta hu. Apna khyaal rakhna." He smiles at her and then leaves for Neeya's home.
And there, Saudamini was fuming in anger and throws the flower vase hardly on the ground,"Nhi!!!....Tum us ladki ke paas nhi ja skte Anirudh. Tum sirf mere ho... mere!" She says/hisses looking at the mirror.
•~ ~ ~ ~ ~*~ ~ ~ ~ ~•
There Neeya, somehow tries to ignore Anirudh popping in her mind. She was still angry. And now she was helping her Ma with dinner.
"Are aaj beti aai h to baaki parivar ko bhool jaengi kya baudi?" Pishi comes there taunting. "Ji...aisa nhi h-" "-hume to aisa hi lag rha. Koi nashte ka intejam hi nhi h." Neeya looks at her. "Thoda jaldi haath chalao.." she orders her and turns around to walk away but Neeya stops her. "Agar itni hi bhook h to khud banake q nhi kha leti?" "Neeya! Tumhe mere aur Baudi ke beech mai bolne ka koi hak nhi h." She scolds her. "Accha. To apko bhi koi hak nhi h meri Ma se is trh baat krne ka. Naukar nhi h wo apki." "Zuban ladaegi ab tu mujhse." "Mujhe apni zuban gandi ni krni. Islie behtar hoga aap bhi shaant hojaie. Aur waise bhi, bin bulai mehmaan h aap log aur kuch nhi." Pishi looks and then starts laughing.
Neeya looks at her surprised,"Maine koi majaak kia kya?" "Lagta h teri Ma ne tujhe bataya nhi. Ye ghar aur tere baba ki jitni bhi jameene thi, sab tere pishe ke naam ho gi h." Neeya looks on shocked. "Aur is hisaab se tum aur tumhari vidwa ma is ghar ki mehman h. Aur agar is ghar mai rehna h, to humare hisaab se rehna hoga. Samjhi!?" Neeya looks at her Ma who wasnt able to look at her daughter. "Ma...ye sab....kya h ma?" "Neeya. Mujhe is baare mai koi baat nhi karni." And she leaves from there.
Neeya was thinking about the whole situation when her thoughts were distributed by someone calling her..
"Neeyyaaaa!!!.." "Sampoorna!?" She walks out of the kitchen to find Sampoorna with her husband, Saurabh standing and lookibg at her excitedly. "Sampoornnaaaa!!!" They runs and hugs each other. Saurabh looks at them in awe.
"Chalo. Aaj poore din kuch to accha hua." Sampoorna looks at her questioningly. "Kuch nhi. Chodho." She turns to Saurabh. "Namaste jamai babu." "Namaste choti malkin." Saurabh says smiling. Neeya looks behind her. "Yaha to koi choti malkin nhi h jamai babu." "Choti malkin....mai apko-" "-mujhe! Na baba na. Aap koi glt ghar mai aagae h. Chalie. Apni choti malkin ke paas jaie." She teasingly push him out. "Mera naam Neeya h aur apke lie bhi mai Neeya hi hu. Agar apni choti malkin se milna h, to wo to yaha nahi h." She says keeping hands on her waist side. "Accha...maaf kar dijie mujhe Neeya Ji!." "Nee-ya-. Sirf Neeya." "Theek h Neeya. Khush.'' Saurabh says joining his hand. "Bahut!" Sampoorna smiles at them.
************
There, after few moments, Anirudh reach to Neeya's home. "Jamai babu!?" Sujata, looks on. "Aap yaha?" She ask surprised. "Ji namaste!" Anirudh takes her blessings.. Anirudh looks around here and there.
"Neeya ko dhoond rhe h?" Sujata ask him smiling. "Nhi...ha...mera mtlb..kahi dikh nhi rhi h." "Dikhegi kaise? Andar h wo. Aur apse subah se gussa h. Mooh phulake baithi h." Anirudh sighs. "Janta hu. Galat kia maine....Mai mil skta hu...?" "Ji q nhi? Pati h aap uske...aaie"
Pati. Yes he is her husband and it's high time to accept this fact. Even if he want, he can't change the fact that he married her. And, very well, hearing "uske pati h aap" brought some kind of warmth in his heart. He actually felt good.
"Anirudh babu!?" Saurabh approaches him bringing him out of his thoughts.
"Saurabh! Tum yaha?" He ask surprised and hugs him. "Mai Sampoorna ke sath aaya tha Neeya se milne. Aaie. Dono andar hi h." Anirudh nods and walks in.
"Are jamai babu!" Prakash comes to him,"Nomoskar..mai Neeya ka pishe. Mujhe laga aap aenge hi nhi...akhir apki mitra duvidha mai jo thi..." He taunts him. Anirudh looks at him sternly.
"Ji thi. Par ab wo theek hai aur waise bhi, meri patni jaha hogi, waha mai bhi hounga. Ummeed hai mere aane se koi takleef nahi h apko." "Are nhi nhi Anirudh Babu bilkul nhi-" "-shukriya."He joins his hand and goes in.
***************
"Pata h tujhe. Kitna jyada Khadoos h. Yr itne Khadoos to baba bhi nhi hote kisi ke. Aadhe se jyada waqt to shant rehte h lekin jab bhi bolenge, to gussa hi nikalte h." Sampoorna looks on and goes to kitchen chuckling.
There Neeya didnt know that he was here and coming to her room, and she was busy in mimicking and complaining about Anirudh to Sampoorna.
Neeya frowns and sits on her bed. "Mujhe to itni gussa aarhi h.....Pehle Anirudh ji aur ab ye log...Hey dugga Ma..saare khadoos aur aise rishtedaar mujhe hi dene the kya apko.." "kya badbada rhi h akele mai?" Sampoorna ask entering room with some sweets and a glass of water for both of them.
"Kuch nhi. Bas gussa arhi h. Tumko pata h. Jo Anirudh ji h na, wo jaise dikhte h waise bilkul bhi nhi h. Naak pe har samay gussa rehta h. Khadoos h bahut bade wale. Pata nhi kab bhadak pade." She complaints in one breathe.
"Shh..aisa nhi bolte pati ke baare mai." She interrupt and scolds her. "Q? Patni ko sab bole aur pati ko kuch nhi. Aur mai glt keh rhi hu kya. Mtlb shaadi se pehle wala roop aur ab uske baad wala roop...hai dugga..kitna antar h pata h tujhe. Chillate rehte h har samay. Are janti hu ki Saudamini didi ki tabiyat kharab h aur maine thode na kaha tha chalie. Maine yhi bola ki aap rhie mai bhi ruk jati hu. Ek baar theek ho jaengi di, tab chalenge. Par nhi. Maanna kaha h inko. Sirf apni chalate h. 'Mai nhi chahta meri wjh se ruko. Jao tum. Maine kaha na jao' (she says mimicking her husband) itna kaun chillata h. Pyaar de bhi to bol skte h na. Pata h, mujhe lagta h unki dictionary mai Pyar wvyar hai hi nahi to bolenge kaha se." she says fuming in anger folding her hand.
"Hey dugga! Itna gussa! Are itne acche insaan h wo. Kuch bhi anab shanab na bolo." Neeya looks at her. "Accha. To ab tujhe apni sabse khaas priya dost se jyada tumhare Anirudh babu ki padi h. Theek h. Jao. Mai tumse bhi katti." Neeya says and turns around. "Are.. Gussa ho gi kya?....sun na." Neeya ignores her. "Na mai tumse baat karungi aur na hi un Mr Rakshash khadoos ji se."
"Uff ye ladki" muttering, Sampoorna looks at her, when her eyes falls on Anirudh standing at the door looking at Neeya smiling. Sampoorna goes to say something but Anirudh keeps a finger on his lips.
Neeya stands up and puts both the hand on the side of her waist and stands like man. "Mai Anirudh Roy Choudhury hu aur mai London se padhkar aaya hu. Mai yaha samaaj ko badalne aaya hu. Mai fark mitaunga. Tujhe pata h jab unhone mujhe bataya ki wo Roy Choudhury h tab batau kya bole wo. Bole tum pareshaan na ho. Roy Chowdhury hu to iska ye mtlb nhi ki mai tumhe kha jaunga. Par ab dekho. Ye nhi lekin inka gussa mujhe khae ja rha h. Sach mai, pandit ji ne namkaran karte waqt na samjha nhi hoga ki bade hoke kitne khadoos hojaenge. Nhi to inka naam batae kya hona chahie tha?"
Sampoorna remains silent with her eyes travelling between Neeya and Anirudh. "Tu chup q h? Pooch na kya.!"
"K-ky_kya?" Sampoorna stutter as the person whom she was talking about was standing behind her. "Mr Rakshash Khadoos Roy Choudhury." She says with heavy sound.
Listening this, Saurabh chuckles keeping hand on his mouth so that Neeya couldn't hear him. Anirudh gives him a teasing anger look signaling him to remain silent and looks back at his wife who was completely dumb about his presence and complaining bout him.
It would be a lie to say he wasn't enjoying this, he was but somewhere, deep down he was hurt. He now realized actually how rudely he behaved with her even when she had no fault. "-Sach bata rhi, agar mujhe pata hota na ki ye aise h, mai to bhaag jati shaadi se." Anirudh looks on. He felt pinge of agony to hear such thing. The marriage wasn't what he wanted but imagining her running away from him or her not being around him was now scary and something he would never ask for.
While speaking she didnt notice but she was walking backward where Anirudh was standing.
"Barristery mai nhi, khadoospan mai degree milni chahiye thi inko-" suddenly her left side back collides with something hard, losing her balance but a hand holds her tight around her waist and one on her back.
Neeya's mouth and eyes wide open to see Anirudh's face few inch away from hers and his arms around her.
"A...Ani...Anirudh ji..!?" Anirudh nods and raise his eyebrows.
"Saurabh, tumne bataya nhi ki yaha mere gun gae ja rhe h. Mujhe nhi pata tha koi meri itni acchi acting kar skta h. Waah! Aur bahut accha naam dhoonda h tumne mere lie, 'Khadoos Rakshash Roy Choudhury'. Mai na ek kaam krta hu, kal hi court jake apne naam badalwa deta hu. Theek rhega. Nhi?" He ask in anger tone. Neeya looks on scared and moves her head in no. "Wo...wo..mai...Bas...aise hi.!." "Bas aise hi? Nhi nhi. Arey phir to hume tumhara naam bhi badalna padhega. Mrs Jiddi Rakshashni Roy Choudhary. Kaisa laga Naya naam?" Neeya frowns, and looks at him. "Mera Naam q? Aap KHADOOS ho-" "-Aur Tum Jiddi!"
Sampoorna and Saurabh looks on at them as they were cutely fighting like an old couple and totally unaware of their position and surroundings.
Neeya looks at him sternly. "Dekho to. Itna darti ho mere gusse se!" He chuckles.
Suddenly Anirudh's hold around her tightens making her hard to focus anywhere else other than his hands, his touch on her body.
"Neeya. Patni ho tum meri. Jindagi bhar ab isi gusse ke sath rehna padega. Aadat daal lo. Maine to tumhare jidd ko apna Lia h." He says in his husky voice.
Neeya somewhere felt a spark in her body and butterflies in her stomach, as he never called her 'his patni'.. She looks at him in his eyes. Her heart beating at a fast pace.
He too looks her in eyes with his heart beating at a same pace as hers. They missed this, this proximity, this teasing to each other, fighting and caring at same time.
They both were enjoying this proximity, closeness.
Sudden chuckles and throat clearing brings them out of their thoughts and they notice Saurabh and Sampoorna looking at them in awe. They then noticed their position and quickly stands up properly.
Anirudh looks at Neeya smiling and then at Saurabh and Sampoorna. "Kya hans rhe ho Tum log!?"
"Kya kre, aap dono ekdum aise ladh the the jaise aap log ki Shaadi ko Kitne saal ho gae ho." Saurabh says and Sampoorna adds on,"sach Mai aap dono ek doosre ke lie hi bane hai."
At this, Neeya and Anirudh looks at each other blushing.
But Neeya quickly turns into anger one to come out of this awkwardness,"Aur aap yaha kya kr rhe h?" "Q? Nhi aasakta mai?" "Nhi. Mera mtlb Saudamini didi-" "-wo theek h. Islie mai aagaya. Aaj subah maine tumpe chillaya...uske lie sorry." He says holding his hand. Neeya looks at him raising eyebrows. "Maaf? Apko?...tch" she says moving her head in no and walks out.
At this again both Saurabh Sampoorna chuckles.
"Neeya...maaf kar do na." Anirudh pleads following her like a child. "Bilkul nhi. Sirf 2 din hue h shaadi hue aur aap to...sirf chillate h. Najane aage kya hoga... Aise mai maafi to...nhi." he stops her holding her hand. "Nhi maaf karogi?" "N-Nhi." "Nhi?" He ask pulling her towards him. "N...nhi..."
Anirudh again pulls her making her back collide with his chest.
"Bahut jiddi ho tum-" at this Neeya quickly get out of his hold, "-ha to aap khadoos ho skte h mai jiddi nhi." Anirudh sighs. "Accha....to mai aisa kya karu ki tum mujhe maaf kar do?" He ask, missing warmth of her body on his.
"Kuch karne ki jarurat nhi h....jaie maaf kia." And she walks away, smiling.
Anirudh chuckles looking at his Jiddi but cute wife walking figure.
For this time, there was no Saudamini in his mind, no anger or frustration. But only her.
•~ ~ ~ ~ ~*~ ~ ~ ~ ~•
After dinner, everyone was getting ready for bed.
"Jamai babu ..Ap Neeya ke kamre mai so jaie." Ma says to him and Neeya looks on, heartbeat increasing.
"Are...iski koi jaroorat nhi h..mai so jaunga kahi par-" "-are kaisi baat kr rhe h aap? Neeya. Ja. Jamai babu ko leke jao." Saying this, she leaves them alone.
Neeya and Anirudh looks at each other and the surrounding was totally awkward. Even at Haveli they never slept together, not even in same room and now today, this was going to change.
Neeya walks to her room with her husband following her awkwardly.
"Tum pareshan mat ho. Mai bahar pe so jata hu-" "-nhi Anirudh ji. Kaisi baat kr rhe h aap? Aap yhi palang pe soenge." Anirudh hesitate.
"Mai janti hu apke mann mai kya chal rha h. Lekin baat ko samjhie. Agar aap bahar soenge to sabke paas bolne ke lie kuch hoga aur agar aap jameen pe soenge to mujhe accha nhi lagega. Islie aap uppar khatiya oe so jaie mai neeche jameen pe so jaungi-" "-nhi nhi. Ye nhi hoga. Tum kaise jameen pe sogi. Aur Mai khatiya pe. Nhi nhi."
"Aap koi baat q ni mante h?" "To Tum meri baat manti ho?" "Anirudh ji-" "-Neeya ji. Tum khatiya pe so jao aur mujhe neeche sone do."
"Anirudh ji-" he puts finger on her lips. "Bas!." He says looking straight into her eyes. Anirudh takes a step back and sits on the mattress that was lying down nearby.
Neeya, feeling defeated, turns around only to find lizard on the floor, making her screams,"Aaahh!!" She turns around, losing the balance, resulting her falling on Anirudh who kind of hugs her.
Neeya was on top of him with her head and hands on his shoulder and eyes closed while Anirudh hands were around her back and waist, with her hairs on his face. The scent of her hair mesmerizes him.
With closed eyes, she moves back and sits up with his support and Anirudh too sits up. Neeya slowly opens her eyes and looks at Anirudh, who was looking at her, lost.
Anirudh was feeling butterfly and goosebumps in his stomach. He dont know why but he was feeling something different, that he ever felt with anyone, even Saudamini. He loves how innocent her face was and the dim sparkling light of diya was making her skin shine more like a goddess. Her face was reflecting the epitome of beauty; but a strand of hair wasn't allowing him to look and admire her face properly.
He slowly moves his hand and moves the strand of hair behind her ears.
Neeya, was too feeling like she is on cloud nine. When Anirudh moved strand of hair, his finger touched her face and ears and she felt electricity passing in her body.
"Kya hua? Chillai q?" Anirudh asks softly. Neeya turns her head around to look at the floor,"wo waha chipkali thi..". And speaking so, she turn back only her head to collide with Anirudh's head again. "Ouuu..." Anirudh start rubbing his head while Neeya looks at him,"sorry sorry.....lagi kya apko...sorry...." "Nhi..theek h.." he said rubbing his head.
Neeya looks at him thinking for awhile.
"Anirudh ji." "Hmm?" He looks at her and then again she bumps her head with his. "Ouuuu...Neeya!" Anirudh gives her angry look. "Sorry sorry...wo kya h na, ek baar sar takrae na to sing nikal aate h." Anirudh looks at her and then both starts laughing....
"Sing! Hahaaa...." Looking at her laughing husband, she realise how much she love his smile and laugh. 'vada karti hu apko humesha aise hi khush rakhungi. Kabhi apke chehre pe udaasi nhi lane dungi..'
"Accha tum dari kisse thi itna?" "Wo.. chipkali thi." She says looking at the floor which was now clear. "Tum jaisi itni bahadur ladki aur chipkali se darti h!?" Neeya stood up and says dramatically,"darti to mai sher se bhi nhi hu.....lekin kya h na...chipkali se ghinn machti h. Bachpan mai ek chipkali ne bahut pareshan kia tha...bas tabse..." And again he starts laughing... "Apko hasi aarhi h?" Neeya ask frowning. Anirudh control his laugh. "Accha. Sorry. Ab na kuch bolunga na hasunga. Ekdam shaant!" He says keeping finger on his lips.
Neeya looks at him sitting like an innocent child keeping finger on his lips. "Bol skte h, chalega." Anirudh raise his eyebrows. "Kya? So jaie."
She was going to lye down on mattress when Anirudh stops her. "ye khatiya mai do log aram se aasakte hai."
Neeya looks at him who was busy in preparing cot for both of them.
Neeya feels her cheeks turn crimson red which didn't go unnoticed by Anirudh. He smiles and signals her to come.
It was awkward but yet heartwarming.
Both lies down on their side when
Neeya keeps the pillow between them,''ye kya kar rhi ho?" "Deewar bana rhi ho taaki mai udhar aur aap idhar na aajae."
'taaki aap aram se Bina kisi jhijak ke so pae.'
He gives her questioning look,"hume sona h, nachna nhi h." "Mai...mai neend mai bhi nachti hu." She keeps all the pillows between them and then blows away the lantern and sleeps on a side of bed with back toward Anirudh.
And Anirudh also lays down, but he looks at Neeya's back from the gap between all the pillows.
'shi mai. Jiddi h par...ikdam bacchi h.'
'khadoos! Akdu! Jo bolu wo kam h. Hey dugga ma, nhi. Hai dil, tujhe yhi mile the, koi aur nhi mila?'
After few mins of laying down, Neeya sits and groans. She looks at Anirudh side only to see him looking at her,''neend nhi aarhi?" "Nhi. Apko?" He moves his head in no and sits.
"Chalie." Neeya says getting up. "Kaha? Itni raat ko?" "Chalie to shi."
Anirudh gets up and starts following her.
"Kaha le ja rhi ho?" "Bhoot ke paas. Use khana chahie to socha apse accha kya ho skta h." "Hahaha...mazak mat kro." "Ha to shant rhie na. Barristery karke aae h to iska mtlb nhi ki har jagah kachahari h."
'is ladki se koi nhi jeet skta'
Neeya takes him through the farms to its centre and there was some woods for fire, a khatiya, and some blanket.
"Ye kaha le aai?" "Yaha pehle baba apne sabhi dosto ke sath yaha aate the. Mai aur Sampoorna bhi aate the. Ek trh se adda h humara. Raat bhar yhi aag ke paas baithkar baate kia karte the. Baba ke jane ke baad, ab sirf gaon wale aate h. Aaj socha apko leke aajau." Anirudh smiles.
He looks around. There was farm of mustard all around. Green leaves and yellow flowers were making it more beautiful. It was quite all around with insects chattering and stars above the sky.
He sees Neeya carefully firing the wood and coughing. "Mai jala deta hu." She smiles and he burns the wood and sits beside her.
"Tumhe bahut yaad aati h na unki?" Anirudh ask breaking the silence. She nods. "Kuch bata skti ho unke bare mai?" She smiles,"bahut acche insaan the mere baba. Mera dard jaise unka dard, meri khushi jaise unki khushi. Merihjaar jeet, jaisi unki.....Phool ki trh sanjog kar rkha....jab khana khane ka mann nhi karta tha to...apne hatho se khilate the...aur jab bhi gussa hoti thi..to budhiya ke baal laate the aur kisi trh mana lete the....aisa pyar dia jo shayad hi koi pita apni beti ko deta ho....Shi galat ka gyaan dia. Sirf mujhe hi nhi, poore samaaj ko. Apna dukh, chot, dard kuch nhi dikhta tha. Kisi bacche aur boode ke chehre pe muskaan aajae, whi unka malham tha.....Sapna tha unka is samaaj mai badlaw dekhna, khushiyan dekhna, sukoon dekhna. Par kuch log h na, jo sirf apne swartha ke lie jeete h. Aur mere baba unke swarth ke marg ka kanta the. To usi kante ko phenk dia....." She want able to speak further..."wo rhe to nhi...par unki chaap h abhi..." She turns to Anirudh. "Aur wo chap, wo chavi...ap pe dikhti h mujhe..." Tears escape her eyes...
Anirudh looks at her and he recalls what he said to her regarding her baba. He feels ashamed.
Anirudh too gets tear and slowly he wipes her tears away.
"Mai tumhare baba jaisa to nhi ban skta...par unka sapna poora krne ke lie poora saath dunga..humesha...Neeya mujhe us din ke lie maaf kr do, Jo Maine tumhare baba ke baare mai....itna bura bola...Bina kuch jaane...-" "-nhi Anirudh ji. Koi baat nahi. Apko galat bataya gaya tha. Apki galti ni thi. Lekin agar kabhi bhi apko mere ya baba ke baare mai Kuch Jan na ho, aap mujhse poochenge, kisi teesre pe vishwas nhi krenge." He nods.
They both looks at each other like they can feel each other's pain.
"Meri Ma..." Anirudh says smiling with tears. "Shubhra Roy Choudhury.....jab ankhe band karta hu na..tab ankho ke samne ma ki chavi aati h.. Pyaar se mujhe..Kopal bulati thi...daudti rehti thi..bhagti rehti thi yaha se waha..sara kaam karti thi...dinbhar...chahe hume sambhalna ho ya ghar ko sambhalna ho, kitchen ko sambhalna ho ya... jimmedariyo ko, wo sab khushi khushi karti thi...chehra humesha muskan se khila rehta tha...kabhi thakti hi nhi thi.. Itne kaam ke baad bhi wo apne lie waqt jab milta tha raat mai..jab sab so jate the...." He never shared this thing with anyone, not even with Saudamini but with Neeya, he felt like telling her, like he can trust her, she is the one to understand her. Or maybe he wanted to.."Aur us samay kuch na kuch likha karti thi..... shayad unhe chitrakala ka bada shauk tha unhe...bas canvas, paintbrush aur rang de so unhe..aur wo kuch sundar rang biranga banadeti thi....unme bahut si khubiyan thi....aur pata h..badi kamaal ki adat thi ma ki..aur har baat ke ant mai ek cheez wo jaroor bolti thi, takya kalam lagati thi. Jano na...har baat pe chahe kuch boora ho ya accha ho...jano na.." He turns to her. "Jano na...koi bhi kaam adhoora nhi chodhti mai....." He chuckles crying.
Neeya holds his hand. "apne hantho se saundesh..kheer..banake khilati thi.... Bahut meetha gaati thi bahut accha....bhajan gaati thi... bahut yaad aati h Neeya...bahut.....hume lori sunati thi...apne god mai sulakar..sar thapthapa kr..sulati thi..chanda re..chanda re...haule se..haule se...mere khok mai chup ja....chanda re chanda re...dheere se muska.....haule se..haule se...palko mai chup ja......." He starts crying and Neeya hesitates at firts but seeing him like this, breaks her heart and she takes him in her embrace.
They can totally feel each other's pain of losing someone whom they love alot.
Neeya's one hand was at Anirudh's back head and another one at his back. While Anirudh's head was on her shoulder and hands around her back.. both were crying.
People who never cried infront of anyone, felt like crying all their heart, pain out to each other. Just to each other...
They both recall their Ma nd Baba and moments with them and together cry all their heart out....
*Door h par tera shaya h mujhpe, bharosha q jane tujhpe.
Mai dhool hu asma ye tera....
ho jaise hum do kinare...
Mai hu is mitti se..
vilayati babu h tu.
Ha yu hi mil hi jaenge jaise saanjh aur savera
paraya hokar bhi lagta apna sa.......
Rishta tera mera....
rishta tera mera....
rishta tera mera...
rishta tera meraaaa.....*
There was no noise, it was quite all around. The sky was shining with the stars and moon was showering its light all around. And there between farm, two people were sitting in each other's arm, enjoying each other's company with love blossoming in their heart for each other...
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