Chapter 14

Part 14: Arjun's Truth

"Arjun bhaiya! called out Naina. Arjun was practicing for his upcoming match in the community playground. "Hey Naina...tu yahan...sab theek to hai na? Arjun called out. He excused himself from his team and ran to meet his sister. "Bhaiya...wo aapse kuch baat karni thi, mumbled Naina. "Abhi...itni kya zaruri baat hai...main game khatam karke aata hun na ghar pe, fir pakka baatein karenge? Chalega? asked Arjun. "Bhaiya..wo wo..., Naina thought for a moment. "Nahi bhaiya, vaise hi bahot der ho chuki hai. Please ab main aur nahi ruk sakti! she said. Arjun was startled at Naina's insistence. "Aakhir aisi kya zaruri baat hai Naina? Koi problem hai? questioned Arjun, getting a little worried for his sister. "Problem to hai bhaiya. Bhaiya, aapse ek baat kahun to aap bura to nahi maanoge? asked Naina. "Bol na, meri gudiya. Teri baton ka kya bura manana? smiled Arjun. "Bhaiya samajh nahi aata kaise kahun...wo...wo Sameer..., stammered Naina. "Sameer? Use kya hua? Kya wo tujhe pareshan kar raha hai? enquired Arjun. "Nahi bhaiya. Sameer acha ladka hai! Humne use bahot galat samjha. Bhaiya! Kya aapko  nahi lagta aapne uske saath galat kiya? Main jaanti hun aapne jo bhi kadam uthaya, wo papa ki khushi ke liye tha. Par kya jhoot se jeeti huyi khushi sahi hai? Aap galat the bhaiya aur Sameer sahi. Fir bhi wo us galti ki saza jhel raha hai jo usne kabhi ki hi nahi. Main jaanti hun ye jaankar papa ko dukh pahunchega, gharwalon ko  bhi taqleef hogi. Lekin hamein bachpan se yahi sikhaya gaya hai na ki hamein hamesha sach ka saath dena chahiye. Aur sach bolne ke liye himmat chahiye hoti hai bhaiya. Kya aap wo himmat kar paaoge? Aapki wajah se ek bequsoor ladke ke sar pe chori ka daag laga hai. Usne itni bezzati sahi hai, badnami sahi hai, jabki galti kabhi uski thi hi nahi. Galti to sabse hoti hai na bhaiya. Aur apni galti ko jo sudharne ki koshish kare, acha insaan to wahi hua na. Bhaiya! Sameer ne bhi kuch galtiyaan ki, lekin usne unhe sudharne ki koshish bhi ki hai. Galti maine bhi ki, uski puri baat jaane bina, sach jaane bina, uspe chori ka ilzaam laga kar. Lekin aaj main bhi apni bhool sudharna chahti hun bhaiya. Aur main chahti hu isme aap meri madad karein- khud ki galti maan kar. Aapko di huyi saza main jhelne ko tayyar hun, par ab main Sameer par ye jhoota ilzaam nahi lage rehne de sakti, concluded Naina.

Arjun was surprised to see his own sister turned against him today. But he knew that she loved him and that she was an honest soul. Arjun also knew that he was guilty. His conscience hadn't  let him sleep properly since the day of the exam, when he had stolen the papers. He'd heaved a sigh of relief when he was acquitted, but felt his heart wrench when Sameer was wrongly accused. He knew Sameer was fearless that day, because he'd committed no crime. He was speaking the truth. But Arjun hadn't been as brave as him. Deep down, he had always admired Sameer's confidence, his determination and his courage. Sameer had known he was no match to Arjun in studies, yet he had accepted the challenge. Many a times, Arjun himself had thought of accepting his folly in front of papa, in front of the principal, even in front of Sameer; but he'd never been able to muster the courage to do so. He was afraid of the social stigma he and his family would have to face because of his mistake. He was also scared of being expelled from school. He had always chickened out fearing the consequences. But here, his little sister was reminding him of his duty, of the need to stay on the path of righteousness. She was ready to take the blame upon herself, but not let an innocent person suffer. Arjun looked at Naina, his face sad and full of guilt. He knew he'd got what he didn't deserve and Sameer had suffered all that he, Arjun deserved. Words failed Arjun. He just nodded at Naina and left the field. Naina eyed her brother sadly and prayed that he would take the correct stand this time.

***

Arjun thought and thought on how to start the confession. Naina was right. He had been carrying this burden for long and it was his due to clear Sameer's name. Rakesh came to the room and saw Arjun sitting idle, lost in thoughts. "Arjun, ye kya time barbaad kar rahe ho. Jise samay ki qadr nahi wo bhala kaise safal ho sakta hai. Arey mehnat nahi karoge toh..., he started shouting at him. Arjun just looked up at him in silence. Rakesh halted midway and stared at him. He didn't seem afraid today. His eyes wanted to tell him something. "Arjun? Kya hua hai? Sab theek hai na? enquired Rakesh, cooling down a bit. Arjun remained silent. "Bolta kyun nahi? Chup kyun hai? Rakesh shouted again. Naina, who'd come to speak to Arjun again, to help him accept his mistake; had just entered the house, when she heard her father shouting. She ran inside to see what was happening. "Naina! Dekh kya hua hai ise! Kuch bol nahi raha! Rakesh was angrily pointing at Arjun. Naina too stayed mum. Rakesh took hold of Arjun and shook him by his shoulders, "Kuch bolta kyun nahi hai? Goonga ho gaya hai kya! Aakhir aisa kya ho gaya hai?Arjun seemed to have been jerked into the present as Rakesh shrugged him. "Papa...Papa...I'm sorry! Main aapka acha beta nahi ban paaya. Aapka naam roshan karne ki jagah maine wo duba diya! started Arjun.

Hearing the commotion, the entire family rushed to the scene. Arjun was crying now. He went down to his father's feet and begged for forgiveness. Rakesh became extremely worried now, "Kya hua hai? Kya kiya hai tune? Sach sach bata! "Exam papers ka chor main hun, Sameer nahi. Maine aapki chaabi ki duplicate banwayi, papers churaye aur isiliye itne ache marks lekar headboy ban paaya, Arjun blurted out amidst tears. Rakesh was stunned at hearing this. He involuntarily let go of Arjun. "Kya? Rakesh could only manage to say. The rest of the family was equally shocked. How could Arjun cheat and steal? Naina too had tears in her eyes now. She was sad for her family, but was glad that her brother had stood up for truth today. Arjun narrated everything to his family and accepted his fault. He begged and begged Rakesh to pardon him, but his father had turned to stone. Chachaji was extremely disappointed with Arjun. "Arjun, ye tumne bilkul sahi nahi kiya! Tumne chori ki. Aur uske upar apni galti ki saza ek begunaah ko dilwaayi! he scolded him. Rakesh felt his pent-up anger rising inside him again. He turned and slapped Arjun hard. And as he did so, he remembered how he'd slapped Sameer that day in front of everyone. He'd taunted him about his upbringing, while his own upbringing, his own son had failed him. Today Arjun had marred the image of honesty that he had been cultivating for years! "Aisi kya zarurat aa padi thi tujhe haan? Match to jeet hi gaya tha tu. Aur padhai me toh...padhai me to us Sameer se kayi guna acha hai na tu! Sach bata kya usne tujhe dhamkaya hai ye ilzaam apne sar pe lene ke liye? Ya ya fir ye Naina...ye Naina use padhati thi na, Rakesh glared at Naina. "Ohh...to ye Naina ne us Sameer ko itna ache se padha diya ki tujhe is hadh tak girna pada? Rakesh was about to slap Naina as well, when Arjun held his hand. Arjun said, "Nahi papa, na to mujhe kisi se dhamkaya hai na hi isme Naina ki koi galti hai. Sameer nirdosh hai aur main gunehgaar. Sach to ye hai papa, ki aapki mujhse itni umeedien thi. Main darr gaya ki agar main jeet nahi paaya toh. Papa main aapka naam zarur karna chahta hun, par shayad main utna mahan, utna pratibhashaali nahi hun, jitna aap mujhe banana chahte hain. Aur is darr se ki kahin main aapko sabke saamne sharminda na kar dun, mere kadam is galat raaste par pad gaye, Arjun concluded, teary-eyed.

Rakesh became aghast at Arjun's words. He looked at the crowd gathered and then left the room in rage and sorrow. Chachaji ran after him outside, "Bhaiya... Rakesh went to the park and sat down on a bench there. He had erupted into tears. He couldn't believe his ears. Chachaji came and sat next to him. "Sab khatam ho gaya Anand! Meri barson ki mehnat par paani fir gaya. Mera apna baccha- mera Arjun chor nikla! Ek adhyapak ka beta chor! he sobbed. Chachaji put his hand on his shoulders. "Bhaiya...main khud Arjun se bahot dukhi hun. Ek chote se competition ke liye usne chori kar li. Main ye bhi jaanta hun aapne apne dono bacchon par kitni mehnat ki hai. Lekin shayad kahin na kahin, hum jitna apne bacchon ke liye karte hain, usse kahin zyada ki umeed hum unse karne lagte hain. Aur shayad Arjun bhi hamari badhti umeedon ka shikar hua. Dukh to is baat ka hai ki uski galti ki saza se kisi aur ko mili. Rakesh listened to Anand's words as he wept, disappointment engulfing him. "Bhaiya, shayad Arjun humse keh nahi paaya ki uspe bahot dabaav hai. Aur is dabaav ke chalte usne ye galat kadam uthaya. Humein shukar karna chahiye ki usne khud ko koi haani nahi pahunchayi. Is umar me bacchon ka dil bahot kaccha hota hai. Bahot jaldi pareshan ho jate hain wo. Choti choti cheezon ko zindagi aur maut ke barabar samajhne lagte hain. Par bhaiya, har buri se buri cheez bhi hamein koi seekh deti hai. Mujhe Arjun ke chori karne ka gham to hai, par is baat ki khushi hai ki usne sach bolne ki himmat dikhayi. Matlab ki wo apni bhool jaanta hai, use sudharna chahta hai... said Anand. Rakesh sat there listening to him, till he had calmed down and was able to think straight.

A while later, Rakesh came back upstairs on Anand's suggestion. The family was still gathered there. All were sad, except Taiji, who was feeling content seeing Rakesh getting humiliated by his own son. Naina and Preeti were consoling Arjun. Rakesh came into the house and put a phone call to the school principal. After a brief discussion over the phone, he came inside Arjun's room. "Arjun, Naina, Preeti- tayyar ho jao. Hum school ja rahe hain. Principal sir ko phone kiya hai maine. Unhone hame school bulaya hai. Ye sach unhe bhi pata hona chahiye. Aur haan wo us..us Sameer ko bhi phone karke bula rahe hain. This startled the three children, especially Naina. But half an hour later, all three of them were dressed up and out on their cycles, following Rakesh to school.

Principal sir was already there and he seemed extremely serious. "Kya hua Rakesh ji. Aisa kya zaruri kaam tha ki aapne chutti ke din hamein bulaya? Aur Sameer Maheshwari ko kyun bulaya? he enquired. At that moment, Sameer entered the principal's office. "May I come in sir? he asked and halted in his tracks seeing Naina there. Arjun, Preeti and Rakesh were standing besides her. Sameer got tensed. Had they come to know about the bet? Did Naina tell them he was bothering her? Did she not love him anymore? Sameer started sweating. He couldn't lose Naina now. He felt himself go weak in his knees. He tried to compose himself as his Nanu joined him. "Namaste sir. Aapne humein chuttiyon ke beech bulaya. Kahin Sameer ne fir koi shaitani to nahi ki? Nanu asked, a bit worried for his grandson. Sameer gulped. If everyone had got to know about the bet, he could say good bye to his dream of marrying Naina.

"Namaste Jai Prakash ji. Dar asal, Rakesh ji ne hum sabko yahan bulaya hai aur inhone hi aapko bulane ke liye kaha tha. Kahiye Rakesh ji, kya maajra hai? asked Principal sir. Rakesh felt ashamed and so did Arjun. Rakesh started, "Sir...baat ye hai ki... At this Arjun cut him off. "Papa...ye baat mujhe hi bataani chahiye, he stammered. "Sameer...I'm sorry. Meri wajah se tumne bahot kuch jhela hai, he started. Sameer was surprised. He didn't expect himself to be at the receiving end of an apology right now. "Sorry...aap kyun bol rahe hain..sorry to mujhe..., he paused as he caught sight of Naina. Her eyes warned him to keep silent. Sameer was puzzled and so were Nanaji and Principal sir. "Principal sir..., resumed Arjun, "headboy competition ke dauraan jo papers ki chori huyi thi, wo Sameer ne nahi...maine ki thi. Arjun was surprised, how speaking the truth out had emboldened him. He was now prepared for the worst. "Kya? Principal sir almost shouted. Nanu was equally baffled and so was Sameer. He looked bewilderedly at Naina and saw her lower her eyes. It was then that he knew that Arjun was speaking the truth. Sameer understood Naina must have forced him to speak up. He suddenly felt a stab in his chest. So Naina had known all long about his innocence? He recalled how she'd been really angry at him after that incident and then had suddenly forgiven him by coming to his birthday party. He remembered how Naina had told him multiple times that she knew he hadn't stolen the papers. But he had never asked her how she was so sure. He had attributed it to his charm and sweet talk. But all this while, she had hidden the truth from him. She had loved him, yet she had spoken what she thought was the truth that time and hadn't hesitated from accusing Sameer, for the sake of her family. Sameer felt the proceedings whiz by as he was lost in his own thoughts, his eyes on Naina's lowered eyes. "Sameer...Sameer! he heard principal sir calling out from a distance. "Huh...uh.., he stammered. Principal sir was very somber. "Sameer...main jaanta hun ye tumhare liye ek bahot bada jhataka hai. Lekin mujhe is baat ki khushi hai ki Arjun ne saamne aakar apna sach kubool kiya aur tumhare sar se galat ilzaam hataya. Sameer, hum sab tumhe galat samajhne ke liye tumse aur tumhare poore parivaar se maafi maangna chahte hain. Parantu yahan par Arjun ne ek nahi do galtiyaan ki hain- ek to papers chori karne ki aur dusri ek beqasoor par galat aarop lagane ki. Chunki Arjun ne anushashan toda hai, use uski saza zarur milegi. Aur iske liye, Sameer tum jo saza dena chaho, Arjun ko de sakte ho. Hum tumhare saath hain, he concluded.

Sameer and his Nanu were stunned. Sameer was happy that at least he had been absolved of the false accusations. He gathered himself, gave a long piercing look at Naina. He loved her yes, but that wasn't going to affect his decision here. "Sir. Aap sab logon ko ye pata chal gaya ki maine galti nahi ki thi, mere liye yahi kaafi hai. Thanks Arjun! Main jaanta hun apni galti maan ke, sach bolne mein bahot himmat lagti hai. Aur tumne wo himmat dikhayi. Shayad tum bhi pressure me aa gaye the competition ki wajah se. Koi baat nahi, he said. "Sameer..., Arjun was astounded to see Sameer forgive him. He had suffered so many taunts, abuses, had been made fun of, been called callous and a spoilt brat. His own father had hurled insults at him and his family. Rakesh sir had pointed out to him that he had no sense of morals, no character and had not been bought up properly. Still, after all this, he chose to forgive him. Arjun's guilt multiplied a hundredfold. "Main nirdosh hun, ye wo sab log jaante hain jo mere kareeb hain- mere Nanu, mere parivaar wale, mere dost, said Sameer as he eyed Naina, "mere liye yahi bahot hai. Main chahta hun sir ki aap Arjun ko maaf kar dein! said Sameer. Sameer concluded and looked into Naina's eyes. She was looking at him with surprise and her eyes shimmered with pride for him. Sameer could see that she was guilty of hiding the truth and his heart melted a little. "Sameer...Jai Prakash ji. Mujhe bhi maaf kar dijiye. Maine aap sabko bahot galat samjha. Bahot galat tareeke se pesh aaya main, Rakesh sir had folded his hands in apology. "Nahi sir. Aap please maafi maang kar hamein sharminda na karein. Aap shikshak hain. Aap ki daant se bhi hum bacche kuch seekhte hain. Agar aapne us din mujhe fatkaar na lagayi hoti to shayad mujhmein ye badlaav na aa paaya hota, said Sameer, acknowledging Naina through his eyes. He bent down and touched Rakesh sir's feet and Naina knew, this time it was with genuine respect. Then Sameer got up and excused himself, lest anyone would see the tears ready to burst through his eyes. Nanu went up to Rakesh sir to console him, while Principal sir was stunned to see the large-heartedness and maturity of a 16 year old boy.

***

Naina's eyes followed Sameer. She knew he was going to the secluded corner of the playground to absorb the events of the evening. Naina became restless. She wanted to speak to him. She crept out of the room unseen, gesturing Preeti to cover up for her. Preeti nodded. Naina ran towards the playground. There he was, sitting on a bench, his head hanging down. She could hear tiny sobs. She came behind him and put a hand on his shoulders. Sameer looked up and gave her a slight smile. "Thanks mat bolna, ye maine isliye nahi kiya ki tum mujhe maaf kar do. "Jaanti hun, said Naina. Sameer was surprised to hear her say that. "Naina! Tum jaanti thi sach...? Isliye tumne mujhpar bharosa kiya tha? enquired Sameer. Naina nodded and added sadly, "I'm sorry Sameer. Maafi to mujhe bhi maangni chahiye. Tum par bina sach jaane galat ilzaam laga to liya, par sach jaan kar bhi tumhare sar se ye ilzaam nahi mitaya. Tumhe...tumhe bataya tak nahi... "It's okay, said Sameer. He'd forgiven her. He couldn't stay mad at her for long. Their love story had been full of twists and misunderstandings. It was time to let bygones be bygones he thought. Naina smiled a little at this. "Tumhara dil bahot bada hai Sameer. Thank you! Naina muttered with self-reproach, tears creeping into her eyes as well. Sameer smiled at her. "Main us din ka intezaar karunga Naina jab tum mujhe maaf kar paaogi. Aur us din se main phirse tumhe pyaar karna sikhaunga Naina. Ye Sameer ka promise hai, Sameer replied. With this, they both got up. Sameer washed his face with water, to remove traces of tears from his face, put on a big smile as they both went back to the principal's office. Naina could only admire the courage of this young boy as she kept on looking at him, pride and love welling up in her eyes.