Chapter 32
"Itne bhi pyare nahi hai woh,
Bas meri chahat ne unhe sar par chadha rakha hai."
Antara's POV
I stood there dumb stuck holding the hanky in my hand which he gave me to wipe my tears as if adding some more bit of salty mockery to my still opened wound. As raghu's feature moved further on the other side of road whistling as if nothing happened, my tears, my complains anything didn't matter to him at all, like everything was only a matter of joke to him. I burst out on him lot more than I should. I was almost about to reveal in front of him that he was one of the cause of parant's death. Thank god I didn't let my anger overtake on my sane. But his attitude was just too normal to handle. Didn't he feel anything at all?!
As he disappeared on the alley leading to the basti's entrance, my jaw hardened as I gripped the hanky tightly in my hold in utter frustration and disgust. Why should he be affected seeing my anger and remorse? After all he was raghunath naik, the cold heartless mercenary of Daya Naik. He should rather be indifferent to any human feeling than getting effected by them. He wouldn't be able to understand anyhow that what it meant to me to lose my loving parents. If he could understand, he would never do such things at first place. Death was just a mere On/Off to him!! How could he feel my pain?! It was impossible for him!
All those thoughts were making my grip tighter on the hanky in my hand. I looked at that hanky. If I didn't consider the unending pain he gave me that hanky was his very first token to me. The guy didn't even have idea that how much it was hidden under my eyes and he wanted me to wipe them with just a piece of cloth?
I didn't need his sympathy. Actually I didn't want anything from him! He had already given enough which completely shattered me inside. He had literally taken my life from me!!
With utter disgust, I was about to throw the hanky on the road when a light pat startled me. Quickly cleaning my eyes I moved back and face rhea standing at my back.
"Rhea?!!!" I was really surprised I didn't expect her to be there. She smiled and forwarded my cell phone to me. Damn!! I must had forgotten to take my cell phone with me.
"Di, just never ever left anything behind like these. U know, just for this cell phone mom woke me up from my early morning sleep and I had to rush here. I couldn't even wash my face yaar!!" queen Victoria complained pouting. "Thank you! Sorry for breaking your early morning sleep." I smiled in apology and took the phone from her hand. "It's alright!! Also, I think it's good that I came here. Otherwise u will again hang around with this tragic heroine face!!" she chuckled. "Errr... what?!!" even in that low mode she managed to crack me up. "What else di?! I know that janglu again made you upset!! I know how his presence bothered you!" as she stated those words I understood that she saw raghu and my encounter. I stood there in silence feeling clueless. I really didn't know what to say at that moment. "But he was right in one fact di. You are really looking like a sukhi ghass!!" Rhea finished. "Rhea!!..." I uttered in a bit irritating voice and chuckled in annoyance looking away from her. "Di!!!" Rhea held my hand and made me turn towards her. "I know what you are feeling. But please, for now let's forget about everything. U have important presentation today and I know my di will never be affected by such things when it comes to her professional life, right?" she smiled towards me. I was silently looking towards her and listening to her talks. "Hey don't look at me like that. After all these all were not my dialogue. You are the one who used to tell me that!!" rhea said making a pout. I grinned and gave her a tight hug ruffling her hairs. She also hugged me as I felt her smiling. "Rhea, what would I do without you?!" I said mumbling. "Well I know u can't do anything without me!" she answered instantly. With a smile we broke our hug. I looked towards the hanky on my hand. "Rhea, would u do me a favor?!" I asked her. "Anything for you!!" she prompted excitedly. I handed over the hanky to her, "Just give it back to him and say that I don't need this." I said in cold voice and rhea silently looked towards my face. "Can u do it?!!" I asked her with worry. I didn't know if returning his hanky through her would be safe but I didn't want him to think that I took his sympathy and mercy and wanted to give that back as soon as possible. "Off course di!" she said in confidence. "Be careful okk?! Don't do anything reckless while giving it back to him! U know better than me that he is dangerous than anyone around!!!" I warned her. "Don't worry... i'll be f9!!" she assured with a smile. I caressed her face with a small smile "I have to go now... otherwise I will be getting late" I said looking at my watch. "Okk... Happy jouney... And all the best for ur presentation!!" she showed me thumbs up. I smiled and rushed towards the road. Seating inside an auto and saying the direction of my office I fully focused on my presentation letting everything out of my brain.
Raghu's POV
I huffed as I finished my early morning pushups. My whole body was covered with sweat. As I jumped up from the ground and wiped my face my eyes as usual fell on the close door of the next balcony leading me to remember the encounter from morning. I could never forget her mad outburst at the moment. It showed me that how much she was hiding inside her. Although I knew that she didn't forgive me yet but at least she expressed her wrath to me a bit, she was not cold like before. I understood what exactly her problem was, what was bothering her so much. Not just the loss of parents but the thing was that she was carrying the sadness inside her and never express to anyone. I never thought about her aituation deeply. As ruksana said, she was a very ambitious girl. She was about to go to abroad for further study. Everything was perfect in her life and all of sudden her world just made a 180 degree turn. She lost her parents. Not just that, she might not be able to mourn over her loss properly. Hiding her deep sorrow inside she had to go on because she had to take care of her little brother who was still reliable on her. For some complicated reason she couldn't vent out her sorrow which was literally eating her inside. It was just my doubt but after morning incident my doubt was getting confirmed.
I moved under the shower and opened the knob. The cold water felt good on my warmed muscles. Closing my eyes I started to remember the very days of my childhood when I just lost my mother in severe illness and thrown out the road by fate from where mai took me in Naik Sadan. It took me so many years to recover the loss of my baba and ayi. Specially ayi, I was so attached with her. With ajji's care I slowly started to recover and move on my life. But after so long years I felt like I was watching myself in mirror.
Getting ready I was about to come down when I saw rhea getting inside our residency. I was surprised to see her there. She looked up and find me there. As soon as our eyes met she behaved a bit odd. Looking towards me silently for a while she looked away and sighed. Strange, she never gave such cold attitude towards me. We didn't interact much but whenever we met she threw her naughty smile. I frowned at her behavior. she move forward and took the stairs which lead to my balcony. I understood that she was coming to meet me. As she came and stood at my front she threw a silent gaze. I was surprised again. Her glance was not like some teenage chirpy girl like always, but there was some stiffness in her whole posture. Seriously, I never saw her being so cool at my front. After a long pause, I at last couldn't bear the silence.
"Kya Hain?!!" I asked with a slight annoyance. She didn't make a single word and stretched her hand I was surprised to find my hanky in her hand which I offered to antara that morning. "Di ne kahan wapas de nee kee liye. Unhone kahan unhe nahin chahiye." She said with low voice looking straight towards me. I stood there motionless for some moment trying to digest the heavy situation. At last I slowly took back the hanky from her hand and looked towards that. Rhea sighed and turned away from me and was about to go but I stopped her.
"Oye!!... Sun!!" my call stopped her feet abruptly. "Hmm..." she looked back again. Her every reaction was cold and seemed measured at that moment which was really not her. I was taken aback every time by her reaction. "Ek baat bata... Teri didi... Us ski problem kya hain mere see help lene mein? Jab bhi help karne jati hoon aise kharros jaisi sakal kyun banati hain?!" I asked in such an annoyed voice. She looked towards me with a slight amused face. "Teri didi koo madad karne wale log pasand nahin hain kya?!!" I asked as the irritation increased in my voice. Rhea sighed a bit and said, "Aisi koi baat nahin hain." she said just the single sentence which annoyed me even more. She moved away her eyes from me and said, "Samajh loo unki bad luck hii kharap hain!!" as she uttered the word I again felt a small chink of pain inside. Antara's teary eyes flashed in my mind again. Poor girl had gone much more than I thought and rhea might know that. Cause I saw, antara was really really close to her, more than any other person in that house. "teri did...mere see bahut naraz hain naa?!!" I asked in cautious tone. Listening to my question she looked straight to me and threw a really confusing glance. Looking towards me silently for a while and slowly said something which left me speechless.
"Honestly man, maine tumse yee expect nahin ki thi!! I still can't belief ki tum woo kar sakte hoo!"
Her voice was silent and mearsured, still there was something which made me speechless at the moment. Seeing my silent response, she finally turned back and rushed down the stairs. I was standing like idol. Her odd behavior increased more question in my mind. as she was seen nowhere. I looked back at my palm where I was holding that hanky. My jaw hardened again. I clearly understand antara's indication. She just didn't give back a mere hanky to me but with that she refused my help in her life. she clearly showed that she wouldn't give me any chance for helping her so I could repent. In simple word, she wouldn't give me any chance to say sorry.
I smirked and chuckled. "Dekh te hain misscall... Kitni ziddi hain tu... Waisey ziddi apun bhi kam nahin hain... Apun kaa sorry too tere ko lena hii parega... Chaein aise yaa waisey." I whispered as the hanky waved a bit in small breeze.
"Raghubhai!!..." buntiya rushed at my side. He was panting hard. "Raghubahi!!.. Jaldi niche chalo!!" he informed somehow. "Eee buntiya?!! Tu subha subha aise daur kyun rahi hain?!" I asked him. "Raghubhai, woo borivali wale godown mein police red par gaya hain!! Mai aap koo bula rahi hain niche..." Buntiya somehow managed to say. The news was so shocking that it numbed me for some instant. But I quickly recovered the shock and rushed downstairs.
As we reached our storage in borivali the whole place was covered with polices everywhere. Among them I found the Head inspector of the local, Tiwari. I just straightly headed to him with heavy pace. As soon as Tiwari watched me coming his cookie eyes widened and fear appeared them. He was about to run from the place but I didn't let him. He was really heavy and with that big fat belly it was almost impossible for him to run away much further. Just increasing my pace a bit I caught his neck and locked them to the wall behind. The constables and other just watched seeing their head inspector trapped. They know what would be the result if they came to defend me.
"Arey raghubhai!!... raghubhai... apun kii baat to suno..." Tiwari tried to explain but I was really mad like hell. "Abey mote... Teri himmat kaise huyo mai ke godown pee red daal nee ki..." I asked increasing the pressure on my throat. His fearful eyes widened more and he suffocated for breath. "Raghunath kya kar raha hain chor issey..." Mai came and stood at my side. "Nahin mai..." I disagreed to him, "Iss motey nee aap kee khilap jane ki himmat ki hain... Aaap kee paise pee kha kha kee charbi zama kiya hain iss ney.. Aur abh apun logon kee go down pee red kara raha hain. Eee mote bata kis ney kahan tujhe yee sab karne koo?!" I turned back towards Tiwari. His condition was really bad but I didn't showed any mercy. "Dusre party kee log ne kahan hoga zarur... Bahini kaa image kharap kar dena chahte hain election see pahele..." Manohar KaKa said from side. "Abey oye kakka... Apna dimag pee thora break laga nee kaa... Agar dusri party kee log kuch karte too apun logon koo pahele see hi pata chal jata... admi hain udhar humare..." I reminded him. "Eee raghu tujhe meri koi baat pasand kyun nahin atta?!" Kakka sniffed. "Arey koi mujhe bachao..." I heard Tiwari's voice who was really in bad position. So at last I left his neck and grabbed his collar. Tiwari huffed and took a lung full of air.
"Chal.. Bahut sansein le li... Ab apna pet saaf kar aur jaldi see bata de ki idhar red kayeko dalla?" I asked keeping my tone harsh. "Mai..." Tiwari's knees still shaking while he looked towards mai with fearful eyes. "Mai meri koi galti nahin hain... Upar see order ayya tha... Khud commissioner sahab nee order diya tha is basti mein red daal nee ke liye." he uttered with dried voice. "Commissioner sahab?!!" Mai was in utter shock, "Woo kyun order dengey... Agar koi bata hoti too woo too mujhe phone kar kee poochte pahele." Mai said. "Mai baat yee hain ki... Naya commissioner ayya hain. Aur ussi nee kahan kii iss godown mein red lagaya jayein woo bhi aap koo bina batayein... Agar nahin lagata too apni naukri chali jati Mai..." Tiwari said in poor voice. "Naya commissioner?!! Mujhe too is ski khabar hii nahin milli... Kaun hain yee naya commissioner?!" Mai asked in curious voice. "Bas do din huye hain Mumbai mein unki posting huyi hain mai... Aur kya bataoon... Atein hii poore police department koo sar chara rakha hain... kahene koo too woo bilkul khus nahin hain ki Mumbai ki crime rate itni jyada hain... unhone nee yee bhi kahan kii ek mahine mein poore sahar koo ssaf karwa dengey..." Tiwari informed. All of us became silent for a while listening about the commissioner. Really we didn't have any information about him. "Arey... uss commissioner kaa naam too bata pahele!!" Manohar kakka said some logical thing for very first time. "Woo mai unka naam hain Samsher Khan. Suna hain iss sey pahele woo Kashmir mein posted the." Tiwari said at last.
"Samsher?! Samsher khan?!..." mai whispered her name and suddenly I felt slight gasp in her voice. I looked towards mai who seemed a bit worried. I didn't understand why she looked slightly worried. Why should she bother about commissioner's activity? She was not associated with any crime! However I looked back to tiwary and said, "Abey tere uss commissioner kaa bheja sanak gaya hain kya... Aur red daal nee kee liye apun logon kaa gadown hii mila tha... Kya hain idhar... bas woo mai kee NGO kee liye kapre aur saman hii rakha huya hain idhar... Iss mein tere commissioner koo kaunsi chir hain?!" I asked angrily. "Arey raghubhai... maine bhi too wohi kahan tha. Par unkaa kahena hain kii iss godown mein gayar kanuni hathiyar..." Tiwari couldn't finish the word and a scream interrupted from my side.
"Tiwari!!... Apne juban pee lagam de..." Mai's loud voice alarmed all of us. I looked towards her. Her gaze was so dark and unredable which was fixed towards Tiwari. We all knew that posture of her really well. Whenever she was furious she used that cold but dangerous look. Even towari was taken aback and bend his head. Mai sighed and looked towards me with composed face. "Raghunath, Tu gari ke pass jaa kee intezzar kar.. Hum tiwari see kuch batein kar kee atein hain." Mai ordered me. "Par mai... apun..." I was about to deny but mai stopped me lifting her hand. "Tujhe ek baar mein samajh nahin atta raghunath?! Mujhe zaroori bat karni hain tiwari se, tu yahan rahega too waisey hii tujhe bata baat pee gussa atta hain... Main thik see baat nahin kar paungi!!" Her words really hurt me that moment. But I stood there silently downing my head. "Maine kahan naa raghunath... Gari kee pass jaa kee intezaar kar... Apne mai kee baat nahin manega tu!!" she asked me. I didn't said a single word and moved awy from the place. As I moved near the jeep, I kicked the ground in impatient. For the past ten years I was serving mai faithfully. But for some very days, she was sometimes really avoiding me. I felt left out sometimes. I always felt that she was trying to hide something from me. But why?!! And what should she hide from his raghunath?!
I sighed hard and composed myself. If mai was doing something it's for good and might be there was some reason she wanted to keep me away from all those. I knew one thing that she would never think anything wrong of me. And I shouldn't doubt or angry on her decisions. But still I was feeling restless and frustrated. I lay on the bonnet of engine and closed my eyes to compose myself.
Antara's POV
The presentation became a huge success. Aman sir and others were really impressed by me, parth and kirti's team work. So at last we got the deal for our company. The customers were really tough to handle but we made it through anyhow. And at last, when they agreed to get the deal we three musketeers were almost about to jump and scream in joy in front of them but quickly managed our self as aman sir scowled and signaled us. But we couldn't control our huge grin which. As they left we all took a breath of relief. And after coming out of the hall we couldn't control our self and jumped with a huge scream giving hi5 to each other. Even other employees of the office rushed to us seeing our enthusiasm and congratulate us. That presentation meant a lot for us. It was very first big presentation for all three of us and we succeeded. As the chaos and excitement turned down we saw aman sir standing at side with a mild smile waiting for our excitement mode to turn off. We all stopped our childish act and bit our tongue in embarrasement which made his smile turn into a small laugh. "Sir!! Sorry we didn't notice you!!" Kirti said biting her tongue. "Its okey kirti. Really I am so glad and impressed by three musketters performance!! You don't know what this deal meant for us. I don't know it's enough or nit but thank you!" Aman sir said with thankful eyes. "Sir you are making us embarrassed. It would be our shameful failure if we turned you down after keeping so much faith on newbie like us." I prompted. "You deserve that faith people and I am really happy seeing the fact that not only antara but also parth and kirti worked for the project and you all gave equal effort." Aman sir said with generous smile. weall smilled and looked towards each other. Myrah came there, "Sir... It's time for u to go there..." she said. "Ohh yeah!! Okk people I have to go now. And no more work for today. U may take leave and enjoy your success now." Aman sir announced and we again jumped in excitement. "Huraah... Sir u are too good man!!! U rocks more than ranbir kappor..."kirti said in excitement. "Errr what?!!" Aman sir threw a confusing glance to us. "Ohh nothing sir.. It's just her screw went loose in excitement... R8 antara... come on... bye sir..." parth almost drag kirti along with her and me to followed in hurry.
As we both were outside kirti threw an angry glance to us. "Hey... Don't look at me like that. I was just saving u." Partj prompted. "and exactly from what?!!" Kirti frowned. "Come on kirti... u and ur ranbir kapoor!! You are comparing aman sir with ranbir kappor?!!" Parth made a face. "Hey!! What was wrong in that... and beside whats bad in my ranbir?!!" kirti pouted. "Ur ranbir?!!... since when he became ur private property?!" Parth teased. "Guys guys..." I interfered before the weather turned bad between them, "Please don't spoil the mode now. Come on let us celebrate..." I said. Still they both threw annoyed glances to each other. "Okk.. if u people keep on arguing like this then I am leaving." I said and it really worked. "Hey antu wait!!" both kirti and parth stopped me and apologized. "Just look at us yaar.. we both are fighting like kids." Both of them laughed and I joined them.
I didn't know how I would survive with those small cheers, little laugh and happy face around who flashed upon the black sky of my saddened life like a thunder, giving me hope still.
"So, where to go now, any idea?!!" Kirti asked us. "Ummm.. I knew a good restaurant nearby... we can go there." parth suggested. "See guys..." I said, "The success is really special today...So why don't we celebrate it in different style?" I asked them. "Hmmm... so whats your plan?!!" Kirti asked. "See guys,.. we still have time in our hand... What's about a small trip to Juhu Beach?! I never went through that place of Mumbai." I suggested. "What a gr8 idea!!! I'm in. Its better than any boring restaurant!!" parth jumped. "Me too guys... don't forget about me." Kirti said from my side. We three musketeers hurried to taxi stand.
The juhu beach area was really really beautiful. Colorful, vibrant, full of life and really like the heart of city! The place was crowded but not messy. And beyond the crowd, there was the quite sand and unending blue sea. The evening sun had warmed the beach. Leaving the crowd apart we came at the quite corner of beach stepping over the sand. The cool breze was so soothing and evening sun reflected wonderfully on the blue water making a beautiful view. Leaving our sandals and boots on the sand we went inside water and felt the salty warm water in our feet. Parth was the naughtiest! He even threw water on us. So me and kirti didn't leave him either we rushed behind him through the shore line while the upcoming sea waves washed our feet sometimes. We wouldn't be able to catch parth if he didn't slip over the sand and at the next moment a sea wave drenched him totally from top to bottom. As we looked his condition we couldn't stop our laughter. "Guyss!! This is not fare!!..." parth complained but we couldn't stop our giggle. Soon we all were lying on the sand looking at the sky above and enjoying the last ray of sun.
Really it was the best day of my life after I came to Mumbai. I hardly remember when last time I was so happy after the huge loss of my life. Those happy moments were like the saving grace of my darkened life.
After some moments we stood up and moved towards the crowded place. "Hey antu wanna try?!!" Kirti asked showing me a gol gappa stall. "Why not!!" I jumped in excitement. Soon we were busy with gol gappas. Here also parth was champion with 20 gol gappas. Gosh!! He ate so much. I left after five and kirti couldn't reach beyond ten. "Petu kahika!!" kirti said teasing. "Well when u can't have the talent don't tease others." Parth commented. I was missing ruksana there. She should be there with us. I was sure that she would give a tough competition to parth in case of eating. I hope someday I could introduce them.
After the gol gappa competition we were about to leave when I found a cotton candy stall at just some distance. Rhea loved that thing so I thought to bring some for her. I told parth and kirti to move forward and I would join them latter. I moved towards the cotton candy stall. While taking two huge lumps of cotton candy my eyes fell on a bit distance and I immediately froze at the spot.
Aman sir was there standing at the other side of a fruit vendors stall just some few mitters away. I could see her through the bamboo bars that were hanging at the back side of stall. And the shocking news was that he was wearing that same faker like attire which I saw in that railway station. I stood there for long trying to detect my eyes were fooling me or not. But after some moment I was convinced that it was no one but aman sir. He didn't noticed at my side as he was busy in talking to phone. I refrained myself from calling him. Somehow I felt like something was wrong there. I didn't know why but my sixth sense was giving me negative vibes. So I slowly went near the fruit vendor's stall. While I was just at some fete distance, aman sir cut the phone and looked everywhere with alarmed eyes. The gaze made me shocked somehow. As much as I knew man sir, even he was strict about work but he was always very my dear person, and always carried that persona with him. But that cold eyes whoch had sheer hardness, I never saw aman sir like that. it really worried me. Before he could look at my side, I quickly moved at a side and hid myself behind another stall. I peeped from my hide out and saw him moving forward and I couldn't stop myself from following him. I kept a fare distance between us so that he couldn't doubt. But at some distance I lost him as he mixed in the huge crowd of beach.
"Damn!!" I cursed myself. I lost him again. With a huge sigh I composed myself. I didn't know why I was following aman sir. Even I had so many problems to deal with and I couldn't screw up more with another matter. But whenever I saw aman sir in that odd attire I felt some bad feeling. seriously, not just attire it felt like his whole personality was changed. I remembered that aman sir left office for client meeting when we came out. He came to juhu beach for client meeting and also in that attire?!! What kind of client were they?! Nothing went into my head. I stood there at the middle of crowd almost clueless.
Someone pat on my back. "Hey..." I heard kirti's voice. I looked back in startked phase and faced kirti;s smiling face. "What are you doing here?!! I thought u lost the way out!!: kirti said. "Not exactly..." I said with a sigh. "Come on... parth waiting outside with taxi. It's getting dark." Kirti said. I gave a last glance towards the crowd in vague hope and then moved with kirti.
PS: i really don't have idea that how peoples gonna react to this chapter. Its mostly a filler part and so many things happened in a single part, Actually i don't wanna drag those matters with separate chapters so finished all of them all together. SO forgive me for its length, I really can't make it shorter Edited by BabyHimavari - 9 years ago
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