Chapter 14
“ Yes to save me this stupid girl here drank the simaiya.”Rajat said Everyone looked at Paridhi. “ What was I supposed to do I kept telling him that she is a vishkanya, this boneheaded wouldn’t listen to me. So I opted for the last resort.” Paridhi answered. “ It was the scariest day of my life. Now also when I'm thinking of it I’m feeling scared. No one had ever done anything like this for me before this. I was already head over heels in love with her, now I understood that she too loved me but wouldn’t say. The hakims tried everything, I prayed at the dargah then I prayed to kanha as well. But to no avali. Then they used heat to get the poison out of her body. I also asked my subjects to pray for her. But she wouldn’t come to her senses, as if she had no reason to live.” Rajat said. Paridhi saw tears shining in his eyes. “ I had almost lost hope at last I pleaded to her , over and over again. At last in the early morning she came to her senses, I felt like my life had come back.”Said Rajat wiping his tears. He smiled at Paridhi. “ Just look at him smile.”said Proff Dixit laughing. Everyone else joined him.
“ Jab kal mujhe hosh aya maine dekha ke Sahanshah mera haath pakar kar baithe the. Meri nazrein unse mili to ayisa laga jaise kamre main aur woh akele the. Unhe swast dekhkar meri khusi ka thikana hi nahi tha. “Sahanshah aap thik hai” maine kaha. Unhone “ Jodha kehkar gale se laga liya. Mere ankho se ansu nikal aye. Aisa laga ke itne dino ke vishad ke baad barsha ka agaman. Maine bhi unhe gale laga liya. Ishwar se parthana karti hun ki hum dono ke beech ab koi na aye.”
Everyone smiled “ So you did love him.” Asked Dr Bashak. “ Yes but I was scared to admit. I didnt know if he really loved me or was just greatful that I saved him.” Paridhi said. “ What the hell you still couldn’t understand I loved you. You wer such a dummy...” Said Rajat smiling. Paridhi threw a pen lying next to her at him “ was not.” She said “ was too.” Rajat retorted “ Oh shut up.” Paridhi said “ loser.”Rajat said laughing. “ Stop it you too.” Proff Dixt scolded “ Continue Paridhi.”
“Aaj jab mandir gayi to lautte waqt Sujamal Bhaisa se mulakat hui. Ankhe taras gayi thi unhe dekhne ke liye. We chup kar aye the kiyun ki Sahanshah ne unhe bidrohi ghoshit kiya hai. Mare vish paan ke khabar se woh aye the humse milne. Acha laga. Main Soch rahi hu ki yeh baat Sahanshah se kahu ya nahi.”
“ Aaj fir bhaisa mile unhone bataya ke Shahenshah ki jaan khatre mein hai. Mahal mein koi hai jo Abul Maali se milke Sajish rach raha hai. Main bahut chintit hun. Apne kaksh ke jharokhe pe baithe ke soch hi rahi thi ki kya karu, ke Sahanshah ke agaman ki ghoshna hui. “Kya baat hai Jodha begum akeli baithi hui hai aap.” Unhone pucha. Main unhe batana chaha bhaisa ke bare mein. Par himmat nahi huyi. “ kuch nahi Shahanshah bas yunhi. “ humne kaha. “ Aap kuch pareshan lag rahe hai kya baat hai.” Unhone pucha. “ Nahi kuch nahi.” Maine Jawab diya. Woh kuch der mere sath satranj khele phor chale gaye. Mujhe unse jhoot bolte huye bahut bura lag raha tha. Par kya karun dar bhi bahut lag raha tha.”
“ If you would have told me the trouble we faced later would’ve have been there. “ Said Rajat. “ You shouldhave trusted me.” Paridhi suggested “ I'm not God Paridhi” Rajat said. “ What would you have done if you were in my place “ Rajat asked. Paridhi was silent “ The same.” Answered Rajat. “ can we stop fighting about the past.” Said Proff Dixit. “ Pari please continue.”
“ Aaj kal Shahanshah mujhse kuch ukhre ukhre rehte hai. Kya pata kya baat hai. Aaj jab main unse milne gyi, unhone baandhi ko kaha ke weh aaj raat Rukaiya begum ke saath bitayenge. Ayisa laga kisi mere hriday mein chura bhak diya. Main udas waha se chali gayi. Mera man aaj bahut udas hai. Moti mere paas baithi baatein kar rahi thi paar main apni hi duniya mein thi. Mujhe samaj nahi aa raha tha ke kiyun Sahanshah mujse itna rusth hai. Mujhe gyat hi nahi tha kab mere aankho se ashru behene lage. Moti dekh ke chauk gayi. “Yeh kya Jodha tum ro rahi ho.” Usne pucha. Maine koi jawab nahi diya. “Par kiyun.” Usne phirse pucha. “ Pata nahi man bahut bhari ho raha hai.”maine uttar diya.“Batao na kya hua?” Moti ne Phir pucha. “ Aaj jab main Sahanshahse milne gayi, to unhone mere sath baat tak nahi ki ulta mere saamne baandhi se kaha woh aaj Rukaiya begam ke sath raat bitaenge. Par Moti mujhe itna bura kiyun lag raha hai.” Maine prashna kiya. “ Bewakoof ladki itna bhi nahi samajhti. Kiyun ki tum unse prem karne lagi ho.” Moti ne jawab diya. Maine kuch nahi kaha, par mere man mein yeh vichar aya ke shayad Moti satya keh rahi hai..”
“But Rajat Why the hell were you angry on her?” asked Dr Bashak. Rajat looked at me, then answered “ Firstly I found out that she was hiding something from me, and when I spoke to Mahamanga about it she told me that she had seen her meeting someone behind the durga temple. When I asked her who was it she did not tell me.” Proff Dixit looked at Paridhi “ But you had just met your brother right.” He asked surprised. She nodded.
“Aaj mujhe bhaisa ka sandesha mila ke unhe kuch to suragh mila hai to mujhse milna chahte hai. Main phir se sham ko unse milne gayi unhone bataya ke koi to subedar hai jo Sahanshah ko Abul Maali ke sath milke maarna chahta tha. Main laut gayi. Par main bahut chintit thi.”
“I had followed you on the insistence of Mahamanga. I had asked her wether it could be your brother. But she mis guided me saying why would you hide it then. I was really worried what if you were in trouble. But you being you wouldn’t tell.” Rajat said. “ What could I do. He had made me promise not to tell you. And you know very well that for a Rajput promise was everything.”said Paridhi
“Yeh kya ho gaya sab khatam ho gaya. Mera sansar jaise mere ankho ke saamne bikhar gaya.
Kuch dinon se Bhaisa ki koi khabar nahi thi. Phir kal woh naya khwajasera mere kaksh mein aya aur apna bhesh utara to pata chala wohi bhaisa the. Hey kanha aab kya hoga kanhin Sahanshah ko pata chal gaya to. Yeh soch hi rahi thi ke Sahenshah sainik o ke sath aur Atgah sahab ke saath aagaye. Unhone Bhaisa ko giraftar kar liya.
Maine Sahanshah ko itne ghuse me kabhi nahi dekha. Mera hriday tuth gaya ke unhone yeh socha bhi kaise ke main kisi aur se chi.... unke haath se rakth behte dekh mujhe pida ho rahithi. Unhone kaha ke main kal subha ke suraj nikal ne se pahle agra se chali jaun.
To bas main chal padi. Apne aapko jagat ke bhid me kho dena chahti hun. Pata nahi kaha jaungi par jana to hai."
“ Pages are empty for quite a long time" Paridhi said. “ She must have lost her interest to write.” Stated Dr Bashak. “ What did you do next.” Proff asked Rajat looking at him. “ As soon as I found out that the person was Sujamal. I was divastated. I ran back to Jodha begum’s room thinking she would forgive me but I was late. She was gone. I dint know what to do. I had committed the biggest crime of my life. Biggest injustice had been metted out by me. My Ammijaan was angry with me. She refused to see my face unless I brought her daughter back. So I left for Amer. My jealousy had blinded me. When I reached Amer I found out she hadn’t reached there I felt like I was struck by lightening. Raja Bharmal and Rani Mainavati tried to console me but I felt like my heart had stopped beating. The next day it self I left again in search for her after days of search at last lord led me to Mathura where Todarmal sahab helped me look for her. But she was stubborn she wouldn’t come back with me. She went back to Amer. I followed her tried to convince her but no use.” Rajat said.
“ Aaj mujhe ek khush khabri mili Sahanshah ne tirth kar hata diya hai. Aur unhone daas pratha bhi khatam kar diya hai. Mera hriday ne mere mastishk se virodh kar diya mujhe abhi Agra lautna tha. Maine yeh baat bapusa ko bataya .unhone sare prabandh kiye, aur Sahanshah ko patra likha. Main raat ko hi nikal gayi.”
“When Salima begum read me the message I was the happiest.I felt like I was flying. Life without her had felt useless.” Rajat said smiling eyes not leaving Paridhi. “ Look it is getting dark lets pack up.” Everyone got up.and started leaving. Rajat pulled Paridhi to him. “ Tommrow your brother is going to come, want me to come to the airport with you?” Rajat asked. “ It would be nice if you come.” Paridhi said resting her head on his chest. “ ok , now go pack up we’ll leave for the hotel.” Rajat went of to pack his bag.
Paridhi .was putting her equipments back in the case when suddenly her mobile rang. It was Rajat’s No. She picked it up. “ Hello.” She said “ Zara yeha aana.” He said “ kaha .” “us jagah jaha tum mujhe chod ke gayethe pichli baar.” His voice said. “ Par tumhe maalum hai na ki mujhe waha dar lagta hai.”Paridhi answered in a surprised voice. “ Main hun na darte kiyun ho.” Voice said again. At last Paridhi cut the phone and followed the voice as if in trance.
Rajat had told Paridhi to pack and come fast but it was already half an hour. “ ufff girls always late.” He said and went to the spot where Paridhi had been packing but she wasn’t there. He looked around but she was no where “ PARIDHI....PARIDHI” He called out. Then he ran to Dr Bashak “ Have you seen Paridhi?” he asked her “ No she was packing just now.” She turned to where Paridhi was. But there was no one .” where did she go?”. They ran to where Proff Dixit was waiting “ Arre why are you guies taking so much time. Lets go" he said “ Have you seen Paridhi professor?” Rajat asked with desperation. “ She must be here somewhere.” He answered. Rajat turned to Mr Singhaniya. “ No haven’t seen her” came the answer.
“PARIDHI..... “ Rajat screamed again. “ SARIFUDDIN...AGAR USKA EK BAL BHI BANKA HUA MAI TUMHE JAHARNUM MEIN BHI DHUND NIKALUNGA. TUMARE ROOH KO BHI JALA KE RAAKH KARDUNGA.” He screamed and ran into the forest, Looking for Paridhi.
Rajat’s heart seemed to know where to go, he ran to the clearing where he and Paridhi were yesterday. What he saw shocked him., there she was lying on the ground unconscious and over her was hovering a translucent apparition from the look of it he could make out Sarifuddin. On seeing him approach it seemed to dissappear. He ran to Paridhi picked her up by her shoulder and hugged her. “ Oh God.” He said as he kissed the top of her head. He picked her up on his shoulder dmand took her back to the site
Anupamaa
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