Chapter 4: Conflicting Views

3 years ago

Mahi

@Mannmohanaa

Chapter 4

Randheer was seated on the couch, lost in his thoughts. The conversation that he had overheard yesterday was disturbing him. Was Ranimaa really doing wrong with Veer? 

"Uhhmmmm, Kahan khoye hain editor sahab?"

Amrit brought in tea for them.

He looked at her face. Adorned with jewels and wearing a beautiful yet simple saree. She never failed to mesmerise him. But he felt a sense of relief in knowing the soul behind this face. In knowing the thoughts behind the poetry that she was. He knew Amrit in ways she didn't know herself, he knew the Ranjhan behind this Lalaji ki beti. He loved her deeper than any man possibly could. But nonetheless he was unable to discard the thought that maybe, maybe Veer had fallen for her too. What would happen once he returned?

His inability to let her be the Ranjhan they had dreamt about, him having no separate identity of his with the newspaper setup still under progress and now this Veer incident. It all felt so heavy and made him feel restless.

"Parvaane hai ishq mein hum bhi aur woh bhi, par kya Kshama ko bhi hoti hai mohabbat zara batlao humein?"

"Subah subah itni sher o shayri wah wah wah!" she smiled back while serving tea.

"Amrit" he whispered. She stopped midway. The tone of his voice seemed disturbed.

"Kya hua Randheer?" She asked, taking his hand in hers. "Sab theek toh hai?"

"Amrit aap..." he started speaking but stopped. What should he ask?

"Amrit aap mujhse pyaar toh karti hain na?"

He asked, vulnerable. 

Amrit kneeled down beside his chair and looked up straight in his eye.

"Main, Amrit Sahani Raizada aapse beintehaan mohabbat karti hoon. Aur hamesha karti rahungi chaahe kuch ho jaaye."

Randheer's heart skipped a beat. Warm blood crept up his cheeks and a serene sense of peace calmed his nerves.

"Kya aapko pata hai Veer, Veer..."

He closed his eyes shut. His lips trembled to utter those words.

"Veer mujhe pasand karte the?"

His eyes drooped and he looked away. She smiled and lifted up his chin. She took his palm and kept it on her chest. "Yeh jo dil hai na, yeh sirf aapke liye dhadakta hai Randheer. Ise koi farq nahi padta, kaun ise chahta hai ya nahi. Farq padta hai toh bass isse ki aap kya chahte hain?"

"Main chahta hoon ki aap hamesha meri nazaron ke saamne rahein aur main yoon hi bass, apni poori zindagi guzaar doon."

She looked into his eyes, reflecting truth and only love for her. Tears welled up in her eyes. How much did they have to go through to see this day. To feel the solace in each other's presence. To be truly happy.

A knock at the door brought them out of their trance. A servant informed Randheer about a phonecall for him. He patted her cheeks and left to attend it.

...

Randheer left for Uday's residence as soon as Uday called him up for help.

"Vashma, tum bilkul chinta mat karo, hum yoon gaye aur yoon aaye."

"Khairiyat se jaana." She hugged Uday before the two of them left with the Muslim family.

The Masjid was filled with hundreds of people rendered homeless. The massacre was huge and its repercussions were spine chilling. Women, children, men, all were ailing alike. They'd lost their homes, their family, their world, all in just a day. Some were half dead, some were handicapped for life and almost everybody was wondering about restoration to normalcy and the way ahead.

Randheer and Uday were deeply moved after seeing their plight. They dropped the family there and returned home. Amrit and Vashma were impatiently waiting for their return. After Amrit had come to know of Randheer leaving for the Masjid, she had decided to visit Vashma immediately. 

Dejected and saddened, they sat on the sofa.

Vashma rubbed Uday's back to soothe his pain meanwhile Amrit served them water.

"Veerji, Randheer kya hua aaplog itne pareshaan kyun hai?"

"Amrit, laakhon log hai, beghar, besahara. Laakhon logon ka parivaar bikhar gaya, jaise humaara bikhra tha ek waqt mein. Kya kasoor hai ab kisika?" He said, frustrated.

"Rai sahab, aap Nalini ji se baat kyun nahi karte. Unki itni badi party hai, itne karyakarta hain. Agar woh log in sabki madad kare toh kitna accha rahega haina?"

"Haan Randheer. Aap zaroor se baat kijiyega," Vashma said.

"Veerji Vashma, khayal bura nahi hai. Hum zaroor baat karenge Maa se." Amrit said thoughtfully, trying to cheer him up.

...

"Kya? Aap mazaak toh nahi kar rahe?" Nalini retorted sarcastically.

"Aapko toh sab pata hai phir aap humse aisi ummeed kaise kar sakte hain Randheer?"

Amrit was surprised.

"Ranimaa, aap wahan thi nahi shayad isiliye aapko samjh nahi aaraha. Itne saare log the..."

"Kya? Aap wahan gaye the? Aapka dimaag toh kharab nahi hogaya? Agar yeh baat faila di gayi ki Rajparivaar ka beta unn Muslim refugees ki madad karne gaya tha toh aapko pata bhi hai elections par kya asar padd sakta hai? Kitni baar aapko samjhaya hai ki aap ab humaare bete aur iss parivaar ke sadasya bhi hain. Zimmedaar baniye Randheer."

"Par Rainmaa...?"

"Vijendra ji, Madan ko turant uss Maulvi ke paas bhejiye aur donation karvaiyye. Aur Madan ko bolna unko samjha de ki Randheer aur Uday ke wahan jaane ki khabar bahar nahi jaani chahiye."

"Ranimaa, kya vakayee aapko fark nahi padta? Kya aapko kisi cheez se fark nahi padta? Matlab ek taraf aap Veer ki Choti si khwahish ka maan nahi rakh payin, dusri taraf shayad aapko election ke aage insaniyat nahi dikh rahi."

Randheer left immediately not wanting to hear what she had to say. But he knew that this time he wouldn't just remain a spectator.

...

Next day

Randheer was sipping on his morning tea seated in the garden, when Nalini said,

"Yeh kya badtameezi hai?"

She tossed the newspaper on the table. Randheer put on his spectacles and read the headline. He smiled back at her.

"Aapko yeh yoh yaad tha ki main iss parivaar ka beta hoon par shayad yeh yaad nahi ki main ek newspaper editor bhi hoon."

"Mujhe acchi tareeke se yaad hai aap kaun hain Randheer."

"Toh bass phir, ek zimmedaar editor hone ke taur par main itna toh chaap hi sakta hoon."

"Delhi mein bhadke Dange par saare neta hai chup - kya election bada hai insaniyat se? Yeh hai aapki zimmedaari?"

"Aapke bete ne toh koshish ki thi samjhaane ki, aap nahi samjhi. Shayad ek editor ki baat aapko samjh aajaaye? Maine suna hai jo log election ladte hain unhein newspaper articles mein badi dilchaspi hoti hai."

He talked politely.

"Mere beton se shayad koi ummeed karna hi bekaar hai."

Nalini left irritated and Randheer wondered about what could be done next to improve the situation.

...

Next chapter teaser: Amrit and Randheer attend a party. Uday and Vashma decide to help the refugees in their own way.