A very happy new year dear readers! May this year bring you more joy and peace than the previous year!
Part 5
While Anuj savoured the food prepared by Anupama, she rehearsed her confession in the washroom.
"Anupama, tu rehva de/rehne de!"
She pointed to her reflection in the mirror.
"Apna chehra dekhkar toh tujhse bola nahi ja raha hai! Anuj ko dekhkar bolne jayegi ne toh tere muh se ek sabd nahi niklega!"
She walked across the bathroom, trying to come up with a solution.
"Musqil hai, bahot musqil hai! Main jaise hi.. bolna suru karungi Anuj meri aankhon me jhaakne lagenge! Main sar jhuka lungi toh bhi.. woh nahi manenge! Phir toh.. mujhse kuch bhi nahi bola jayega!"
She came up with an idea very soon.
"Main.. aankhein band kar ke bol doon? Woh mujhe.. nahi dekhenge toh.. bolna jara aasan ho jayega!"
She decided to ask him to close his eyes as well.
"Pehle unko hi bolungi.. aankhein band kar lijiye! Nahi toh poochh, poochh karte rahenge.. ki maine kyun aankhein band ki!"
Mustering some courage she rehearsed what she wanted to say with closed eyes.
Satisfied with herself she pulled her plait and walked outside the bathroom.
................................................
Anuj appeared concerned when Anupama came out of the bathroom.
"Anu tum theek toh ho na?"
Anupama smiled to reassure him.
"Main theek hoon. Chinta mat kariye! Aapne.. kha liya?"
"Ha maine laapsi kha li. It was delicious! Gajar ka halwa maine dinner ke bad khane ke liye rakh diya. Handvo toh.. kharab ho gaya hai."
"Mujhe lag hi raha tha! Subha 4 baje banaya tha isiliye sayad. "
"Ha probably. Aur.. kheechu maine thoda sa taste kar liya."
"Koi jabardasti nahi hai! Aapko pasand nahi hai toh khane ki jarurat nahi hai."
"Tum.. chai piyogi?"
"Nahi woh.. raste me aate waqt pi thi. Jara aapka phone denge? Mere phone ki battery down ho gayi hai. Samar mujhe neeche chhodkar Pinakin ke ghar chala gaya. Main.. use poochh lu ki woh theek-thaak pahucha ki nahi?"
"Sure!"
He waited till she finished talking to Samar.
"Lijiye aapka phone. Thank you!"
"Sorry!"
He couldn't look her in the eye.
"Anuj.. Aap sori kyun keh rahe hain?"
"Maine tumhe galat samjha, Anu! Jab tumhara phone switched off aaya toh mujhe laga ki tumhe mujhse baat nahi karni hai isiliye tumne.. phone jaan kar band diya hai."
"Waise toh mujhe bahot sare sori kehne chahiye! 9 dinon se jama kar rahi thi par maine kaha ne? Aaj nahi! Aaj hum sirf achchhi baatein karenge. Hmm?"
"If you say so!"
"Abhi toh maine sirf ek hi surprije diya hai aapko. Ab 6 baki reh gaye hain!"
Anuj couldn't believe his ears.
"Kitne bole tumne?"
"6!", Anupama indicated using her fingers.
"Itne sare surprises! VIP treatment ha?! Ab toh har saal main kam se kam do bar tumse roothkar kahin chala jaunga!"
"Aem/Really? Ja ke dikhaiyye! Aap agli bar ruthe ne toh main manane nahi aaungi! Phir aap jahaan jayenge wahin pe bas jana ha!"
"Are you sure tum mujhe manane aayi ho.. ya 9 dino ki daat ki qasar do dino me puri karne aayi ho!"
"Dono!", she replied before fetching the gift bag.
...................................................
The first gift which came out of the bag was a wooden, nose shaped spectacle holder.
"Yeh surprise hai?!"
"Ha! Aapke kaam ki cheej hai! Aap apna chasmah yahan wahan khol dete hain. Kabhi ulta, kabhi seedha, toh kabhi tedha! Phir jab phrame dheeli ho jati hai toh use naak pe chadhate rehte hain! Aur har doosre mahine ek naya phrame utha laate hain!"
"Woh loose ho jata hai toh.. change karna hi padhta hai na.."
She removed his specs and placed them on the spectacle holder.
"Ab apni naak ki jagah is naak pe chasmah rakh denge toh idhar udhar hoga bhi nahi. Ek jagah rahega aur phrame bhi tedhi ya dheeli nahi hogi!"
Here she removed the specs and gave it to him.
"Pehna do na..", he asked softly and she obliged, thereby fulfilling another dream.
..................................................
"Ab.. agla gipht hai yeh chandi ka sikka."
Anuj was literally surprised to see a small coin peek out of a square box.
"Chandi ka sikka?.. Samar Nandini ki shaadi ki date fix ho gayi hai kya?"
"Ha! Tab hi toh kankotri/invitation card bhi saath me layi hoon main!"
"Huh? Really!?"
"Areh, aap dekhiye toh sahi is sikke pe kya bana hai?"
When Anuj peered closely he saw a four leaf clover embedded on the coin.
"Mujhe Samar ne bataya ki yeh pakki dosti ki nisani hai! Woh.. Koi Angreji kahawat hai ki.. sachche dost iski tarah hote hain."
Anuj realized the meaning behind the gift.
"True friends are like four leaf clovers- hard to find and lucky to have!"
"Ha, woh hi! Aapke jaisa sakha puri duniya me kiske pass hoga? Main bahot lucky hoon jo mujhe aap mile! Chandi ka sikka sukh, samridhi aur yas ka prateek hota hai! Kanhaji aapko yeh sab aasirwad ke roop me dein!
"How sweet Anu! Gift ke peechhe ka thought bahot achcha tha. And it's the thought that counts!"
"Thank you! Agla gipht doon?"
The next gift was a metallic globe with 7 concentric circles and an arrow that pierced through each circle and came out at the other end of the globe.
"Yeh.. Is showpiece ke zariye kya kehna chah rahi ho?"
"Aapse dosti hone se pehle laga tha ki meri duniya yeh gole jaisi hai. Usme mere parivar ke alava kisi aur ki koi jagah nahi hai. Aur na hi kisi ke aane ka koi marg tha."
She pointed towards the arrow.
"Phir aap aaye! Pehle mere saath, phir Samar ke saath aur aise ek ek karte karte sab ke saath ghul-mil gaye aur meri duniya ka hiss ban gaye!"
She recalled janmashtami night with a smile.
"Jab aap pehli bar Janmastami par us ghar me aaye the tab.. kitna kam bol rahe the. Bilkul napa tula! Jitna poochha jaye utna hi! Bapuji ne bhi kaha ki.. aapka swabhav kitna saant hai! Dandiya khelne ke liye bhi Samar ko jor dena pada tab aapne khela!"
"Yaad hai mujhe. Tumhare saath pehli bar dandiya khelne ka mauka mila tha us raat!"
She blushed a beautiful shade of pink.
"Woh.. us raat me aur Diwali ki raat me pharak dekhiye! Bina kisi ke aagrah kiye, bina kisi sankoj ke, sab ke saath taal se taal milakar nache aap! Aur.. Aapki baatein sunkar laga ki.. saant pani hamesa gehra hota hai!"
Anuj could only smile in response.
"Maine socha bhi nahi tha lekin.. aapke accident ke bad jab Tosu ne aapse maphi mangi aur baa ne aapk liye prathna ki tab mujhe bahot achchha laga! Aisa laga jaise unhone aapko manse sweekar kar liya!"
She brushed tears away from her eyes.
"Saachu kahu chhu, jab Tosu ne mujhse maphi mangi tab jitni khusi huyi ne usse jyada tab hui jab usne aapse maphi mang li! Aur aapne hamesa ki tarah bada dil rakha aur maph kar diya!"
"Usne sirf mafi nahi mangi Anu. Mere ghar me rehkar tumhari aur GK ki help bhi ki. I'm thankful to him for that."
"Ab agla gipht hai yeh botal jisme pani 15 ghante tak garam ya phir thanda rehta hai."
"Ha.. yeh mere bahot kam aaye.. ga."
Anuj noticed the word HOPE written in big bold letters on the insulated flask.
"Yeh.. Ho.. Hope?"
"Ha. Jis dukan se yeh khareeda wahan aise teen botalein thi, ek pe hope likha tha, dusre pe brave aur teesre pe lovely. Maine yeh wala chuna kyunki.. Aapne mujhe apna bujiness partner banakar mujhe ummeed di.. ki main apne pairon par khade rehkar, apne aur dusri aurton ke liye kuch karne me saksam hoon!"
Anupama noticed tears in Anuj's eyes.
"Kya hua Anuj?"
"Tumhe nahi pata Anu.. Main ummeed kho raha tha. Aur yahan aakar tumne meri ummeed lauta di!"
He held her hand and squeezed it.
"Thank you so much!"
"Welcome!"
She let him hold her hands for a while.
Anuj drew strength and warmth from her hands.
Though he didn't feel like leaving them, he let go and apologized.
"Sorry.. Main.. bhavuk ho gaya tha."
"Main samajhti hoon. Koi baat nahi!"
"Carry on.."
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Anupama gave him wireless headphones as the penultimate gift.
"Yeh aawaaj band karne wale headphone hain."
"Aawaaz band karne wale?"
"Ha. Samar keh raha tha ki ise laga lo toh baki aawaajein nahi sunai dengi. Sirf jo gana sun rahe hain woh hi."
Anuj bent his head and spoke in a low tone.
"Noise cancelling headphones!"
"Ha, yeh hi kaha tha usne! Main..aapki man ki har baat sunne ke liye taiyyar hoon! Jo baatein aap kisi aur se na keh paye ne woh bhi.. aap mujhe toh bata hi sakte hain! Aur.. bol doon, bol doon aise poochhne ki bhi jarurat nahi hai! Aaram se bina kisi sankoch/ hesitation ke bol dijiye!"
Anuj couldn't control the tears that ran down his cheeks.
Anupama used her pallu to wipe them.
"Boliye.. kya kehna chahte hain aap?"
"I.. am.. so blessed to... have you.. in my life! Thank you for.. making me a part of.. your world! I love you Anuuu!"
He took her hand and placed it on his forehead.
"main bhi utni hi bhagyasali hoon ki aap mere jeevan me aaye! Pehle mere purane sehpathi/ classmate bankar, phir mere dost bankar, phir mere partner bankar, phir mere dost se jyaada bankar aur.."
Anuj looked up at that instant.
He searched her eyes.
"Aur kya Anu?"
"Anuj.. Main ab aapko aakhri aur.. sabse khaas surprije dene ja rahi hoon!"
"I'm waiting.."
"Aankhein band kijiye!"
Anuj complied instantly.
Anupama closed her eyes and cleared her throat before speaking.
"Arj kiya hai:
Jink ruqsaar k saamne pheekey lagey tamaam najaarey,
Jink ruqsaar k saamne pheekey lagey tamaam najaarey,
Woh hi hai mere chaheetey sitare!
Jo ksitij/horizon mile mujhe samandar kinare,
Woh hi hai mere chaheetey sitare!
Jaise.. Radha Rani ke man me basey.. Kanhaji pyaare,
Waise hi.. Anupama ke.. man me basey.. Anuj.. pyaare!"
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His eyes flew open long before she completed reciting the shayari.
Anupama slowly opened one eye to gauge his reaction.
She was disappointed to find a deep frown on his face.
"Anuj?.."
"Anu yeh.. jo tumne padhi woh shayari kisne likhi?"
"Maine.. ", she blushed.
He flat out refused to believe her.
"Ho hi nahi sakta! Tum aur Urdu?! Tumhe toh meri shayari samajh me nahi aati thi na? Phir yeh? Ruqsaar ka matlab pata hai?"
"Ha! Chehra.. Mere pass Urdu Hindi sabdkos/ dictionary hai. Maine usme dekhkar theek theek likha hai."
"Yeh shayari.. yeh a.. jo last line thi.. uska kya matlab hai?"
Anupama had a face palm moment.
"Shayar Kapadiaji.. Aapko shayari ki bhasa jaldi samajh me aa jayegi yeh hi sochkar maine sayari me mere man ki baat kahi. Par aap ko ab tak samajh me nahi aaya!?"
She was irritated when he gave her a blank stare.
"Areh, aise kya dekh rahe hain?! Radha rani jaise Kanhaji se pyaar karti hain waise.. Anupama Anuj se pyaar karti hai!"
"Ha?..", he uttered still seemingly clueless.
"Ha!", Anupama nearly yelled in response.
When that did not give her the desired response either, she cupped his face.
"Annuuuujjj! Saambhdyu ke nahi? Hu tamne prem karu chhu!/Did you hear me or not? I love you!"
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Anuj placed his shaky hands on top of hers which were still resting on his face.
"Anu.. Yeh sapna toh.. nahi hai na?"
"Nahi mere budhdhu Kapadia! Main sach me aapse keh rahi hoon ki.. Main aapse bahot, bahot pyaar karti hoon!"
She told him what he didn't know.
"Jab aap hospital me behos the ne maine tab hi aapse keh diya tha ki.. main is ristey ko ek mauka dena chahti hoon!"
"Par jab Maine thodi der pehle kaha ki yeh rishta dosti se door aur pyaar ke nazdeek pahuch gaya hai toh tumne aisa kyun kaha ki.. Tumhe aisa nahi lagta?"
"Kyunki yeh rista toh pyaar tak aa pahucha hai!"
Her simple explanation was enough to break the shackles of disbelief.
Anuj smiled through tears as he felt the relief which had longed for.
"Anu.. mujhe.. nahi laga tha ki.. is janam me main yeh din dekh paunga!"
She put an arm around his shoulder when he started crying.
"Mujhe laga tha ki.. jab tumhari life puri ho jayegi.. Tum apne bachchon ke bachchon ki shaadi dekhkar, ek long, happy aur peaceful life jeekar 90 saal ki umar me Swarg me aaogi tab.. Chitragupt ji tumhe tumhari life ka action replay dikhayenge! Jab 18th year ka replay hoga tab.. tumhe pata chalega ki yeh Anuj Kapadia tumse kabse pyaar karta hai aur marte dum tak isne tumse kitna pyaar kiya hai!"
She didn't know whether to laugh or cry at his fantasy.
"Tab tum mujhe Swarg me dhundogi ki.. kahan hai yeh Anuj Kapadia? Kaun sa deewana hai yeh jo ek saal tak pyaar karta raha, padhai me nahi sirf mujh par dhyan deta raha lekin.. bata nahi paya! Jab main tumhe milunga tab tum mujhe pehle daatogi ki maine itna time kyun lagaya batane me aur phir.. Tum mujhse kahogi ki tumhe bhi mujhse.. pyaar hai!"
"Achchha? Matlab Swarg me Yamraj, Chitragupta ji aur Niyati devi ke saamne bhi daat toh khayenge hi aap mujhse?!"
"Ha.. Aur un sab se maine is hi janam me yeh keh diya hai ki.. is janam me jo karvana tha karva liya mujhse. Enough is enough!.. Agle janam me.. mujhse itna.. intezaar mat karvana! Main yeh dard dobara.. seh nahi paunga!"
He shook his head and folded his hands.
"Agle kya aanewale kisi janam me mujhe.. aisa dard na mile! Saat janmo ka.. dard ek hi janam me.. seh liya ho.. aisa lagta hai! Phir kisi janam me mujhe.. 26 dino ke liye bhi.. apni Anu se door mat kariyega! Jis din mujhe.. usse pyaar ho us hi din! Us hi din, us hi ghadi.. use bhi mujhse pyaar ho jaye!"
He placed his head in her lap and cried like a baby, revealing the pain hidden in the deepest chambers of his heart before her.
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Let me know how it was. Please ignore typos.
P. S. Shayari by yours truly.
Cheers,
Noorie
Part 6 on pg 14
108 Base Hospital Uri
4