Chapter 10

3 years ago

Tvfanatic85

@Tvfanatic85

Prerna woke up in the middle of the night from a nightmare, sweating and panting. She searched for some water but found the jug to be empty. She got up to bring some water from the kitchen, but when she opened the door, she found Kukki unconscious on the floor.

“Kukki!!! Kukki!!!” scared Prerna shouted and tried to wake her up. Prerna realized Kukki had peed on her clothes and was lying all wet for God knows how much time. She ran to the study and frantically searched for Mr Bajaj. But he was nowhere to be found. Prerna came back to Kukki and realized she had no time to waste and quickly picked kukki up in her arms and ran to her room. She first changed her clothes, wrapped her in blankets and started rubbing her hands and legs, all the time trying to wake her up. After what seemed like forever, Kukki opened her eyes and frantically started hitting her hands and legs, trying to get away from Prerna. Prerna tried to protect herself and it took her a while to realize that the little girl was having a nightmare, scared out of her wits. Somehow Prerna stopped Kukki and hugged her tightly, getting her to relax. She kept patting on her head and speaking soothing words to her. Finally, Kukki relaxed.

Kukki then did the sign to get her papa and where is he. But Prerna could understand nothing. Kukki tried to do it again and again, but Prerna had difficulty understanding, making Kukki irritated. After sometime Kukki pointed towards the photo of hers and Mr Bajaj and Prerna realised what it was. 

“I am sorry. Aapko aapke papa chahiye” Prerna said. Kukki nodded her head. Kukki tried to show her in signals that she went to meet her father. His room door is never closed, but I don’t know how it was. He never closes it. When Prerna again didn’t understand, Kukki started crying angrily at Prerna. Prerna didn’t know what to do.

“Kukki beta mera baat suno.” Prerna said, but Kukki removed her hands.

“Please!!! Please mat ro. Acha main aapke papa ko bula ke lao. Kukki please,” Prerna kept pleading. She then decided that maybe she would have to find Mr Bajaj anyhow. Kukki needs him and he will know how to handle her. As she got up to leave, the little girl caught her hand crying and shook her head, asking her not to go. Prerna quickly hugged the little girl and kissed her on her head. Kukki hugged her back.

“Main nahin ja rahin hoon. Kahin nahin ja rahin” Prerna said, relaxing the little girl and reassuring her. No matter what she said to MrBajaj and what she must have thought or how she might have reacted, she can never hate this angel. She can never take out MrBajaj’s anger on her or punish her for his mistakes. It was something she couldn’t imagine even in the wildest of her dreams. Would this little angel make her forget her wounds she didn’t know, and this was not the time to think about it.

“Kukki!!!! Kukki!!! Sorry!!!” Prerna said, wiping Kukki’s tears and making a puppy face and catching her ears with her hands. Kukki then smiled and Prerna started ticking the little girl, making her smile.  

“Dekho main to aapki friend abhi abhi bani hoon to mujhe pata nahin hain ki tum kya bolna chahti hoon. Hain na mujhe bhi thoda time lagega. Aur mujhe jo nahin aayega woh tum mujhe sikha dena” Prerna said and Kukki nodded her head. Kukki then did all her actions again slowly and tried to get Prerna to understand. 

“Aapke papa………. Apna..nahin door…. Door kabhi band nahi rakhte hain. Aaj closed tha” Prerna tried to decode what she was saying, and that is when she realised what must have happened. Kukki must be used to running to her father in sleep when she gets a nightmare, but today since Prerna was there…. but how could Mr Bajaj be so careless with his daughter? He could have told her or had he done this deliberately to push her towards…. No, that can’t be…. but…...Prerna got pulled from her thoughts when Kukki tapped on her shoulder. 

“Woh aaj aapke papa room main nahin the study main the. Aur main room main thi. Aur pata hain main bhi aapki tarah akele main bahut dar jati hoon to maine door band kar liya tha. Mujhe pata nahin thana ki tum but I will not do it from tom. Tumhe agar dar lagega then you can come to my room. Okay. Aur hum dono milke sab bad dreams ko bhaga denge'' Prerna said and gave thumbs up to Kukki which she answered with the same. 

“Chalo ab tum so jao. Raat bahut ho gayi hain” Prerna said. But Kukki signed that she wants to eat something. 

“Bhuk lagi hain.” Prerna asked excitedly, and Kukki nodded. Prerna got up to get her some milk when Kukki quickly stopped her. 

“Are kuch nahin main tumhare liye dhoodh lene ja rahn hoon. Bas yu gayi aur yu aayi” Prerna said, but Kukki clung to her.

“Ok baba tum bhi chalo” Prerna said, picking up kukki in her arms. 

She went to the kitchen and started boiling some milk while the kukki kept looking at her excitedly. Once Kukki had finished her milk, Prerna took her to her room and tried to get to sleep. After sometime Kukki went into a deep sleep and Prerna remembered what Mr Bajaj had said: that she can get the biggest of devils to fall in love with her. Prerna couldn’t help but smile looking at her. She didn’t realise when she fell asleep sitting like that only and after sometime snuggled in bed next to her. 

Mr Bajaj woke up early in the morning as he wanted to finish all his work early so that he could spend time with her angel. The middle door was closed. Prerna might have slept late, he thought, and went to freshen up. He came out and saw that the door was still closed. Not wanting to start his day with a fight, he went on with his work. He had to talk to Prerna by tonight anyhow. The only reason for giving that portion of the room to Prerna was to make her comfortable, but Kukki was used to running to his room when she would get scared at night. Prerna needs to make sure that she doesn’t close that door at night, as Kukki might barge in anytime. Mr Bajaj had thought about sleeping in Kukki’s room, but doing that every day would lead to questions. Last night was fine. Kukki was already asleep and Masi had said that she would be with Kukki, so he had let go. He came down to the hall. 

Prerna woke up surprised by where she was. Then she saw Kukki lying beside her and remembered the night’s event. Prerna knew that Mr Bajaj might come to the room to visit Kukki. She quickly got up and made Kukki bed to show that she was sleeping alone. She then kissed her forehead and caressed her on her head. 

“I love you Kukki but I will not so easily give MR Bajaj the satisfaction to think that he won. I am sorry.” Prerna thought to herself and ran with her stuff to her room, making sure she left no sign behind. 

“Good morning!!” Rishab said

“Good morning,” Maasi said

“Rishab, is everything okay. Kukki!!!!” Masi asked and Mr Bajaj got confused.

“Woh actually main room main apna charger lene gayi thi and meri friend ka phone aa gaya aur usse baat karte karte kab aankh lag gayi pata hi nahi chala. Kukki she didn’t come to you last night, or she didn’t have any nightmares. Was she okay? ‘’ Maasi asked. The color left MR Bajaj’s face, and he ran to Kukki’s room. He felt he could breathe when he saw her daughter asleep with a satisfied smile on her face. But with a different kind of smile. He went near her and caressed her cheeks, and Kukki moved in her sleep. Not wanting to disturb her sleep, Mr Bajaj patted her on the head and the little girl went into deep sleep again. 

“Chalo good, she is okay Hume dar tha woh roz ki taraj tumhare room main na bhagi hoon. Usually jab bhi tum medical checkup se aate hoon she gets even more scared. I guess tumhara Prerna ko lane ka decision sahi hi tha.” Maasi said, but Rishab knew that might not have been the case. Once massi left, he went straight to his room. Usually he knocked, but today he went straight into Prerna’s portion as she was about to go to the washroom. 

“Mr Bajaj aap aise kaise??” Prerna shouted

“Mrs Bajaj kya kukki kal raat ko aapke room main aayi thi?” Mr Bajaj asked with no care. Prerna, however, did not respond. 

“Main kuch puch raha hoon aapse.,” Mr Bajaj shouted again. Prerna went on with her work. 

“MRS BAJAJ!!!!!” Mr Bajaj shouted. 

“Nahin” Prerna replied, turning away from Mr Bajaj.

“Are you sure Mrs Bajaj?” Mr Bajaj asked, knowing that she was lying. 

“What do you mean, am I sure?? Main thina is room main. Aur kaha ja sakti hoon main?? Woh aati to mujhe pata nahin chalta.” Prerna replied again avoiding his gaze. 

“Fine !!! Aaj se aap apna door khula rakhengi. Kukki to aadat hain raat to mere room main daud ke aane ki. She gets nightmares. Aur agar woh aati hain to aap mujhe uthaengi. Any time any moment?? Is that clear??” Mr bajaj said.

“No way!!! Main apne room ka door nahin khula rakhungi aur nahin aisa kuch karna wali hoon” Prerna replied with a stern face.

“Uski tabiyat aur jyada kharab ho sakti hain”Mr Bajaj asked. 

“To ho jaye.Why should I care?? Why the hell should I care?? Mujhe kya farak padta hain.” Prerna replied and Mr Bajaj looked straight ahead as Prerna moved her eyes again. “Kal kaha tha maine us pyaar ke liye kuch bhi kar sakti hoon.  ‘’ Prerna continued. 

“Mrs Bajaj natak utna hi kijiye jhooth itna hi boliye jitni aapki... Apni bachi ka ek ek ehsaas pehchanta hoon main. kal aap thi uske saath…. Am I right?? Kal woh daud kar aayi thi is room main ....“Mr Bajaj said and for the first time holding her arms turned her around in anger 

“Don't be a coward, stand up straight in front of me and answer me. Meri aankhon main aankhen daal kar baat kijiye” Mr Bajaj said and Prerna looked surprised at his hands on her. Mr Bajaj moved his hands away  as soon as he realised what he had done. Prerna tried to leave, But Mr Bajaj stopped her midway.

“Kal raat ko aapko mujhe batana chahiye tha.” Mr Bajaj shouted. 

“Maine aapko bulaya tha. Khoja tha pagalo ki tarah. Aap kahin nahin the,” Prerna replied and Mr Bajaj cursed himself for going to the roof for a cigar and some quiet moments.

“To aap mujhe call kar sakti thi.??” Mr Bajaj spat

“Kukki needed me aur main us waqt aur time waste nahi kar sakti thi” Prerna replied 

“To ek baar use relax karke aap mujhe bata deti. Shubh bata deti. Aapko ab tak uski condition uski health ke bare main nahin pata. Uske prescriptions…. medicines….. Uske bare main….. She could have,” Mr Bajaj replied, surprising Prerna with the concern and fear that she was seeing on Mr Bajaj’s face right now.

“Woh theek thi aur so chuki this isliye maine zaroorat nahin samjhi. She was okay,” Prerna replied.

“Main jaanti hoon aap Mr Basu se kitna pyaar karti hain lekin aap shayad yeh nahin janti ki main apni beti se kitna pyaar karta hoon. Don’t you dare test it? Be careful with her? Kal raat will not be repeated and you will keep this door open and inform me of anything that happens with her ……” Mr Bajaj said with a serious and almost threatening look, and all the hurt that Prerna had forgotten for those fractions of seconds came back in full swing.

“Oh but I think it will be repeated not once but many times, you know jab bhi main aapko defy karungi aap ki baat nahi manungi ya you will realise that I am going crazy over Anurag. I mean aur agar kuch hota hai I mean agr ar uski tabiyat jyada kharab ho jati hai to aap ka plan aur jyada successful hoga.” Prerna spat..

“Plan???” Mr Bajaj replied, confused. 

“Haan plan. I mean yahin to socha thana aapne.” Prerna replied, 

“Excuse me,” Mr Bajaj replied

“Oh, come one MR Bajaj. Aapko laga tha ki main Kukki ko openly accept kar lungi khushi khushi yahan rehne lag jaongi lekin aise hua nahin to apne aise us bachi ka use kiya. How disgusting can you be??? Dar ke mare woh bachi Gili na jaane kabse bahar padi thi. Sharam nahin ati aapko??? Yeh tarika nikala hain aapne. Mujhe Kukki ki taraf push karne ke liye aap yeh sab natak karenge us bachi ka use karenge???” Prerna shouted.

“MRS BAJAJ” Mr Bajaj shouted scaring Prerna and left fuming in anger.