A/N: Flashback in blue font.
Part 7
Anuj became emotional while speaking about his long lost friend.
"Bunty mera dost nahi bhai tha! Humlogon ne ek hi school se H.Sc pass kiya tha. Aur ek college me admission bhi decide kar ke liya tha. College jate waqt woh aksar mujhe apni scooter pe lift diya karta tha. Jab maine use bataya ki mujhe tumse pyaar ho gaya hai toh woh bahut khush tha! Lekin phir.. dheere dheere use aisa lagne laga ki main tumhare pyar me.. us se door ja raha hoon."
He paused to collect his thoughts.
"Ek din main aur Bunty college jaate waqt scooter se gir gaye. Zyada chot nahi aayi thi isiliye hum college aa gaye. Devika ko yeh baat pata chali. Jaise hi hum free huye tab class se bahar jaate waqt usne mujhe roka. Tum bhi uske saath hi khadi thi.."
..................................
"Anuj! Maine suna aaj tera aur Bunty ka accident ho gaya?"
"Ha yaar.." Anuj replied while looking at Anupama, who was not looking at him.
"Zyada chot toh nahi aayi?"
He showed his bruised elbow to her, eyes still on Anupama, hoping for a reaction from her.
"Oh ho! Kafi lagi hai!"
Devika also turned to look at Anupama but she was busy fiddling with her plait.
"Bunty kahan gaya?"
"Woh aur kahan hoga!?"
Both of them laughed, knowing fully well that Bunty must've gone to meet Jagu.
"Devika, tujhe khi-khi karna hai toh kar, mujhe ghar jane de! Aaj Bhaves ka rejult lene school jana hai."
"Tu bahar chal, main aai."
"Bandar jaisi harkatein karne walo ko chot toh aayegi ne!", she muttered under her breath as she left.
Anuj was shocked with her rude remark.
"Aa su boli/Yeh kya boli? Bandar!? Scooter chalayi Bunty ne, thoki bhi us hi ne! Main peechhe baitha tha phir bhi mujhe chot lagi. Toh main bandar kaise?!"
The wound hurt him less than her words.
"Tu shanti rakh, bhai! Usne tere accident ke bare me nahi kaha. Us din annual fest ke liye auditions ho rahe the na..Tum ladke kood kood kar stage se neeche utar rahe the."
"Ha, toh?! Hum toh kaayam/hamesha aise hi utarte hain? Char hi toh seedhiyan hain! Utro ya kudo! Neeche aane se matlab hai na?"
"Ha, ha! Theek hai! Tumlog koode toh usne aisa bola ki.. yeh log kya bandar ki tarah uchchalte koodte rehte hain! Aaj bhi woh hi bola."
"Woh hi toh! Bola par dekha bhi nahi!"
"Woh jaldi me thi. Chal, ab mujhe jana padega varna mere bina hi woh ghar chali jayegi! Phir ma meri class lengi! Tu apna dhyan rakh aur first aid karva le."
................................
"Agle din se maine stage se koodna chhodh diya!"
"Meri.. gusse me kahi chhoti si baat ka bhi.. itna prabhav pada aap par?"
"Phir! Mujhe seedhiyan utarte huye dekhkar Devika ne smile di, tumne toh koi reaction nahi diya lekin Bunty mujhe aise dekh raha tha jaise main main nahi, koi aur hoon!"
They shared a laugh.
"Tabse uske dimag me yeh baat baith gayi ki main badal raha hoon. Uske alava bhi bahot kuch hua. Jab tumhari.. shaadi ho gayi toh maine decide kiya ki main fua-faiba ke pass US chala jaunga. Bunty ne mujhe bahot roka, yeh samjhana chaha ki mera ek saal barbad ho jayega. Usne kaha mujhe B.Com pura karke jana chahiye. Main tab kuch samajhne ki haalat me nahi tha!"
Anupama felt pangs of guilt. "Meri wajah se.. aapka saal bigda aur aapki dosti tuti?"
"Nahi Anu. Humlog touch me the. B.Com ke bad Bunty aur Jagu ka break up ho gaya. He moved on. Use phir pyaar ho gaya. Woh mujhse bhi kehta tha aage badhne ke liye. Maine try kiya lekin nahi hua! Hum door hote gaye, baatein bigadti gayi aur phir.. bol-chal band ho gayi."
............................
Anuj got up when he received a call from GK.
"GK ka call hai. Abhi aaya.."
He went to the living room en suite.
Anupama decided to text bapuji.
While getting up she felt a cramp in her right leg.
"Aaj toh pura din baithe baithe nikala hai isiliye sayad ya phir neend poori nahi hui isiliye. Jo bhi ho! Sone se pehle balm laga lungi."
Anuj returned shortly thereafter.
"Anuj.. mera phone charging par hai. Jara dijiye ne.."
"Ha, woh deta hoon par.. tum theek toh ho na? Mujhe kyun aisa lag raha hai ki.."
"Bas.. thakan hai", Anupama interrupted him.
"Aisa karo ki tum bed par aaraam se pair lambe kar ke baith jao."
"Na, na! Maine kapde bhi nahi badle hain. Mayle kapde pehen kar bistar par kaise baithun?"
"It's okay Anu! Main housekeeping se kehkar sheets change karva dunga. Tum bed pe baitho ya.. chaho toh kuch der ke liye let jao."
"Nahi, main baithti hoon."
"Okay. Please make yourself comfortable."
He waited till she settled comfortably on the bed.
"Pakka chai nahi peeni hai? Hotel ki rajwadi chai amazing hai!"
"Hogi par.. daam bhi utna hi amajing hoga ne! Utne paison me toh hum bahar jakar basundi kha sakte hain!"
"Complementary hai. It's all part of the package. Koi paise nahi lagenge!"
"Agar aap bhi peene wale hain toh.. mangva lijiye."
"Abhi mangvata hoon! Saath me kuch khaogi?"
"Nahi, chai mangva lijiye. Main aapke liye Jamnagar ka phamous ghughra/sweet aur gaanthiya/dry snacks layi hoon! Gaanthiya hi khayenge chai ke saath."
"Done!"
He secretly apologized to Kanhaji.
"Sorry Kanhaji! Maine Anu se chai ke bare me jhoot bola. Nahi bolta toh woh raazi nahi hoti."
.................................
After placing the order, Anuj pulled the revolving chair next to the bed.
"Aap wahaan kyun baith rahe hain?"
"I'm fine. Tum aaraam se baitho."
"Ha, main theek hoon."
"Tumne bapuji se baat nahi ki?"
"Baat nahi karni thi. Ek message bhej deti hoon unko ki yahan sab theek hai. Baat karungi toh baa bhi baat karna chahengi. Unhone bol diya ki video call kar toh?"
She carefully tapped a message on her smartphone.
"Point hai! Maine dekha ki jaise Mumbai me tum bar bar ghar pe call kar rahi thi, inform kar rahi thi, bachchon ko instructions de rahi thi waisa is bar nahi kar rahi ho! Aur ghar se bhi tumhe calls nahi aa rahe hain!"
"Tab pehli bar seher se bahar gayi thi, woh bhi akele! Matlab.. aap the saath me par ghar se toh akeli hi gayi thi. Is bar Samar saath aaya hai toh sabko chinta nahi hai. Aur ab.. sabko bhi mere bina rehne ki aadat padh gayi hai isiliye mujhe bhi chinta nahi ho rahi hai."
He nodded as she returned the phone to him.
"Ise fully charged ho jane do."
"Ha. Woh.. aapne kaka ko bataya kya?"
"Nahi! Tum bhi galti se bhi mat batana!"
Anuj told her about GK's excitement before Ganesh Chaturthi.
"Maine mazaak me kya keh diya woh toh actually bank jakar dadi ka jadau haar lane ki sochne lage!"
"Maadi re! Ja.. jadau.. haar?! Woh bhi.. mere.. liye!?"
"Aur kya!? Aaj bhi maine bata diya hota toh kal subha bank khulte hi pahuch jate! Aur jitne bhi pushtayni zevar hai usme se kuch le aate!"
He let out a huge breath.
"Tum nahi jaanti ki unki overexcitement ko control me rakhne ke liye mujhe kya, kya karna padhta hai!"
"Main unki utsukta samajh sakti hoon. Unhone bhi bahot saalon tak intejaar kiya hai. Unhe bata dete toh unko bahot khusi milti!"
"I know Anu par aaj kal main dekh raha hoon ki woh bapuji ke BFF ban chuke hain! Toh GK ko batane ka matlab hoga bapuji ko batana. Bapuji baa ko bata denge. Aur.. baa ko pata chalega toh puri Shah family ko.. pata chal jayega na?"
Anupama failed to understand the reason behind his hesitation.
"Ha.. toh?"
"Toh.. a.. Main.. umm.. "
He cleared his throat and reframed the sentence.
"Pyaar ko.. apni family se, baki sab se chhupakar rakhne ka.. ek alag hi maza hota hai! Matlab.. chhup-chhup kar milna, ghoomne jana yeh sab.. Jo excitement hoti hai na isme woh tab hi mehsoos ki jaa sakti hai jab.. pyaar ko raaz rakha jaye! I hope tum samajh rahi ho main.. kya keh raha hoon?"
Anupama laughed, leaving him bewildered.
"What's so funny?"
"Aaj tak yeh sab sirph philmon me aur.. serial me dekha tha! Hero heroine duniya ki najar se bachkar milte hain ya.. ghoomne-phirne jate hain! Kabhi socha nahi tha.. ki ek din main.. Main bhi aisa kuch karungi! Woh bhi is umar me!?"
"Tum apneaap ko itna underestimate kyun karti ho, meri.."
He caught the word "jaan" just in time before it tumbled out of his mouth.
He looked away and covered his mouth with his fingers.
"Meri.. samajh me nahi aata! Tumhe hamesha aisa kyun lagta hai ki yeh mere saath nahi ho sakta ya.. Mere liye koi kuch special nahi kar sakta? Main iske laayak nahi hoon! Ya meri umar nikal gayi hai.. Kyun Anu?!"
"Kabhi.. aaj se pehle is tarah socha hi nahi mere bare me! Na maine na kisi aur ne! Hamesa yeh hi suna ki.. chhipkar kuch bhi karna galat hai. Aaj tak.. aapke alava kisi ne aisa.. kuch kaha ya kiya nahi.. ki mujhe aisa lage ki main.. khaas.."
She felt a burning sensation in her throat.
Anuj held her hands and spoke in a comforting tone.
"Aaj main keh raha hoon, Kanhaji ni sam!
Tum sabse khaas ho! Age is just a number! Duniya ki baatein bhool jao! You totally deserve to be loved and cherished!"
Anupama could no longer hold back tears.
"Annuuu..! Please.."
He brushed away her tears with his shaky fingers.
Anupama looked into his eyes to find them moist.
"Annuujj? Aap.. kyun?"
An overwhelmed Anuj shrugged in reply.
"Main.. bhavuk ho gayi isiliye?"
"Tumhari aankhon ke saath meri aankhon ka.. aisa connection hai na, ki.. aisa ho hi nahi sakta ki tumhari aankhein roye toh.. meri aankhon me nami na aaye!"
The bell rang at that moment, startling both of them.
Anuj composed himself.
"Tum moonh dho lo. Main chai lekar aata hoon."
..................................
"Tum theek ho?"
"Aap theek hain?"
They asked each other simultaneously and smiled in unison.
"Main theek hoon. Aur aap?"
"Main theek toh hoon lekin yeh chai peekar ekdum fresh ho jaunga! Aur tum bhi!"
Anupama removed the packet of snacks from her bag.
"Chai ka maja duguna karna hai toh saath me ganthiya khaiyye!"
"Waise mere pass kuch aur bhi hai! Tumhare haath ke methi khakhra! Ek minute!"
"Methi khakhra? Woh jo.. do haphte pehle banaye the?"
"Ha, woh hi!"
"Woh aap yahaan uthakar laaye?! Tab hi GK kaka ko dabba nahi mil raha tha."
"Tumhe kaise pata?", asked Anuj as he placed the round steel tiffin on the bed.
"Aap Rajkot aaye uske ek din bad main aur bapuji unko khana dene gaye the. Tab kaka ne humare liye chai banayi. Chai ke saath dene ke liye unhone khakhra ka dabba bahot dhunda. Jab nahi mila toh unko aisa laga ki woh dabba kahin rakhkar bhool gaye hain!"
Anuj nodded from behind the tea cup.
"Aap toh khakhra khareed bhi sakte the. Bechare kaka ke liye yeh chhodkar aate, ya thode se lekar aate."
"Jab aaya tab pata nahi tha ki ek hafte tak rukna padega ya zyada. Toh socha ki.. tumhare haathon ka bana aur kuch toh khane ko milega nahi. Isiliye khakhra ka pura dabba lekar aa gaya! Taki roz kha sakoon!"
The manner in which he said that tugged at Anupama's heart.
"Agli bar aapko roothkar jana ho ne toh mujhe bata kar jana! Main saath me thepla, chhunda, khakhra, halwa, chocolate phudge.. sab pack kar ke dungi!"
"Agli bar aayega hi nahi! Areh, tumne ultimatum jo de diya ki roothkar jaoge toh wahin bas jana!"
He held his ear and clicked his tongue.
"Areh, tauba! Itna bada risk kaun lega?!"
"Baatein karva lo inse, bas!" she blushed.
"Jo chahe karva lo! Aapka huqum sar akhon par!"
"Phataphat chai pijiye phir mujhe college ki baat bataiyye. 7.30 baje Samar aane wala hai."
"Oh yes! Tumhe toh Nandini ke liye saree khareedni thi na?"
"Woh toh Samar khareed lega, sab ke liye."
"Phir itni jaldi kyun jana hai?"
"Ha? Woh a.. Pinakin ke ghar jana hai ne. Uski mummy raah dekhegi. Bus shtand se seedhi yahan aa gayi."
"Dinner kar ke jaati. Samar ko bhi bula lo na! Hum neeche wale restaurant me dinner kar lenge ya kuch yaheen order kar lenge."
"Woh.. achcha nahi lagta ne. Pinakin ke mummy pappa kya sochenge ki humare ghar me sirph sone ke liye aayi hai!"
"I.. understand. Actually Christmas time hai isiliye hotel bhi fully occupied hai. Mere kuch team members parso aaye par unhe yahan room nahi mila. Varna main tumhare aur Samar ke liye yaheen koi room book karva deta."
"Jaroorat nahi hai. Hum Pinakin ke ghar me hi theek hai."
"Uski joint family hai kya?"
"Nahi. Kyun?"
"Tumhe privacy toh milegi na.. raat ko call karne ke liye?"
Anupama nodded with a shy smile.
"Thank God!"
"Aap kahenge toh.. main aur Samar yahan tab tak ruk jayenge jab tak aapka khana nahi ho jata."
"Rehva do, chalse/Rehne do, chalega! Waise bhi maine aaj sham ko itna kuch kha liya hai ki dinner toh main der se hi karunga. Tumlog timely nikal jana aur uske ghar pahuchkar mujhe inform kar dena."
"Kal ka.. aapka kya sidool/schedule hai?"
"Kal ka din toh packed hai! Subha 10 baje se lekar sham ko 4 baje tak busy hoon. Phir free ho jaunga."
Though Anupama did not say anything he sensed her disappoinment.
"Main dekhta hoon agar kuch.. postpone ya cancel karva sakoon."
"Cancel mat karvana! Postpone tak theek hai par.. meri wajah se aapko nuksan hoga toh mujhe jara bhi achchha nahi lagega!"
"Fine. Tumhari bus kitne baje ki hai?"
"7.30 baje"
"Oh ho! Phir toh tum der raat ko Ahmedabad pahuchogi."
"Chinta mat kariye! Tosu aa jayega."
"Hmm. Parso Christmas ki chhutti hai toh tum aaraam se sona aur apni neend puri kar lena!"
"Mujhe toh bus me baithe baithe bhi neend lag hi jati hai!"
"Achchha?! Toh aaj kyun nahi lagi?"
"Aaj aapke bare me.. soch.. rahi.. thi."
She fumbled as realization hit her.
"I love you!", he said for the umpteenth time.
She got up to place the pack of ganthiya in her handbag.
"Hu.. tamne prem karu chhu!", she said with her back towards him.
"Mujhse keh rahi ho ya ganthiya se?"
"Mataji se keh rahi hoon! Subha unse milne Chotila jana hai ne! Unse milne hi toh chhek Amdavad se yahan aayi hoon!"
"I see! Waise, subha tumlog Chotila kitne baje ja rahe ho?"
................................
Anupama contemplated whether to reveal that she wanted to visit the temple with him or hide it.
She decided that she did not want to keep anything from him.
Sitting on the bed in front of him she asked him straight up.
"Samar keh raha tha ki usne toh mandir dekha hai. Toh aap mere saath chalenge?"
"Maine bhi bachpan me dekha hai. Tumne nahi dekha kya?"
"Kain bar dekha hai."
"Toh phir se kyun jana hai? Yaheen aa jao!"
"Yahan pe.. kyun? Matlab kaise? Aap toh kaam me honge phir main akele kya karungi?"
"Aaram karna! Meri zyadatar meetings toh is hi hotel ke conference hall me hain. Ha, ek online meeting hai 10 baje. 2 baje tak main yaheen hoon. Phir mujhe site pe jana hai. Toh tum subha jitni jaldi aa sako aa jana!"
"Main.. yahan baithungi toh aapko online meeting me dishtub nahi hoga?"
"Bilkul nahi! Main living room me baithkar meeting kar lunga. In fact, tum yahan aaogi toh humein baatein karne ke liye zyada time mil jayega!"
Though Anupama did not reply she was thrilled with the idea.
"Anu.. aa jao na..! Breakfast aur lunch mere saath hi karna."
"Theek chhe! Main wapis jate waqt raste me koi sabji wala dikhega toh us se methi ya dudhi/lauki le lungi. Kal subha aapke liye dhebra ya thepla banakar laungi!"
"Thanks but no, thanks!"
Anupama was shocked with his refusal.
"Aapko.. mere haath ke thepley nahi khane hain?"
"Bilkul nahi! Thepley main Ahmedabad jakar kha lunga. Tum ghoomne aayi ho aur unke ghar me guest ho toh guest bankar raho! Kam toh tumhe wapis jakar karna hi hai!"
"Bhaley! Guesht bankar wahan toh mujhe Kathiyawadi khana milega! Yahan mujhe kya milega?"
"Surprise! Aaj tumne diye, kal meri bari!"
"Kai jarur nathi/Koi zaroorat nahi hai!"
"Bahu jarur chhe/Bahut zaroori hai!"
"Maathu tamaru/Tumhara sar!"
Anuj laughed out loud which brought a smile on Anupama's face.
"Waise mujhe tumhari ek baat samajh nahi aati hai, Anu.. Jab tum Gujarati bolti ho toh mujhe "tame" kehti ho. Par jab Hindi bolti ho toh "aap" kehti ho! Hindi me bhi tum kaho na!"
"Gujarati me toh.. hum sab ke liye "tame" sabd ka hi istemal karte hai ne.."
"Hindi me bhi 'tum" ka istemal karo na!"
"Nahi kar sakti!" She shook her head.
"Achcha, chhodo! Mujhe "tum" mat kaho! Par.. English me "I love you Anuj!" hi keh do!"
"Main aise.. aapki tarah.. ghadiye-phadiye/bar bar yeh sab.. nahi keh sakti! Aadat.. nahi hai mujhe!"
"Tum mere liye itna nahi kar sakti, Anu?", he pouted like a baby.
She immediately lowered her gaze.
"Aap aankhein band kariye!"
"Yeh aankhein band karke bolne ka kya logic hai!?" he laughed.
"Aapko sirph sawal karna hai ya.. woh wala jawab bhi sunna hai?" she glared.
"Okay, Okay!", he raised his hands in mock surrender.
"Aankhein band hain. Bol do!"
While she closed her eyes, Anuj sneakily opened one eye.
"I.. I love you, Anuujj!"
"I love you too, Annuu!", he said and promptly closed his eye.
...............................................
Anupama opened her eyes to the sight of his charming face.
Lips curved in a smile, eyes closed and specs, as usual, sitting on the bridge of his nose.
When she used her index finger to put them in place, two of her fingers brushed against his lips.
Anuj opened his eyes. He felt the urge to pepper each of her fingers with tender kisses.
But he looked away and resisted the urge, yet again.
"Umm.. Thanks!"
"Sut up!", she said which made him turn right back at her.
"Itni si baat ke liye thanks bolne ki jaroorat nahi hai!"
They laughed heartily.
"Ab college ke dino me mujhe wapis le chaliye!"
"Kaash! College ke dino ko hi wapis la pata!"
Once again he sighed deeply.
"Tumhe pata hai "kaash" lafz ek hi hai magar.. jazbaat hazaar hain! Khair, main tumhe yeh batata hoon ki annual festival ke din kya hua.."
Anupama listened with rapt attention.
"Tumlogon ka dance humare group ke dance se pehle hi tha. Main, Bunty aur baki ke ladke backstage area me aaye tab hi tumhare dance ki announcement hui. Maine tumhe dekha toh bas.. dekhta hi reh gaya!"
He had such a dreamy look on his face that Anupama wondered what she must have worn.
"Tumne red aur white colour ki kathak ki dress peheni thi. Baalon me gajra, mathe pe badi lal bindi aur kafi sare gehney pehene the. Haath pair me woh lagaya tha.. lal colour ka.. kya kehte hain use?"
"Altaa! Woh.. dance competisan ya pogram se pehle main hamesa lagati thi!"
"Ha, woh hi! Ghunghroo bhi pehene the. Us din pehli bar yeh khayaal aaya ki.. Jab humari shaadi hogi.. tab tum kaisi lagogi? Shaadi ka paanetar/ bridal saree pehenogi, humare khandani gehne pehenogi toh kya.. itni hi sundar lagogi ya.. isse bhi zyada!?"
Anupama blushed at the thought.
"Phir laga ki nahi! Shaadi me tum isse bahot zyada sundar lagogi kyunki.. Tab tumhare sar par ghoonghat bhi hoga na, lal rang ka gharchola!"
That reminded Anupama about her second wedding and she turned stiff. The colour drained from her face.
"Tumhari kamar pe meri ma ka favorite chhalla hoga! Waise toh woh apna chhalla har waqt saath rakhti thi lekin.. apni vahu ko dene ke liye bahut utaavli thi! Yeh bhi socha ki.. ghunghroo ki jagah tumhare pairon me meri nani ki paayal hogi, jo.. pehle nani ne phir.. ma ne apni shaadi me pehni thi! Tumhare.. haath aur pair toh.. nazar hi nahi aayenge! Mehndi itni.. itni.. geh.. gehri hogi.."
And he teared up while saying that.
Anupama held his hands and brought them to her forehead.
"Sori Anuuujj!"
Her voice broke alongwith her heart.
"Bahot, bahot, bahot jyada sori! Main aapke dukh ka.. sirph andaja hi laga sakti hoon. Mere kaaran aapne bahot dukh sahe.."
"It's.. okay Annuu! Tumhe.. pata nahi tha.. aur usk liye bhi.. main hi zimmedar hoon!"
He noticed the tears running down her cheeks.
"Nahi! Aisa mat kahiye!"
"I'm sorry Anu! Maine yeh sab.. kaha toh.. tumhe bhi apni.. shaadi ka.. din yaad aa gaya hoga na?"
Anupama closed her eyes and bit her quivering lips to suppress her sobs.
Her wiped her face as fresh tears appeared in her eyes.
"Anuuu.. Tumne mujhe headphones dete waqt kaha tha ki jo baatein main kisi aur se nahi keh sakta woh tumse keh sakta hoon. Main bhi tumse woh hi kehta hoon.."
He got up from the revolving chair and sat next to her on the bed.
"Bolo.. Jo kuch bhi aa raha hai tumhare man me, bol do! Main sunne ke liye taiyyar hoon!"
.....................................
Hope you liked this part.
Cheers,
Noorie
Part 8 in page 20
Edited by Noorie17 - 3 years ago
Itti Si Khushi Sab TV
Cricket
4