Navika stopped short, as she gaped at the figure in front of her. She looked into Mohan Bhatnagar's eyes, not seeing the pain in his eyes, her mind filled with the hatred she had nurtured for the last twelve years. She shouted "mera naam Navika hai. Bas Navika!"
Mohan: jaanta hoon. Lekin aapko mei warn kar rahi hoon. Mere saath batamizi karne ke koi zaroorat nahi hai. Aapko jo kaam diya hai, wohi kijiye. Mujhe aaj shaam tak wo report chaiye.
Navika turns on her heels and angrily leaves the office, once again, not having had the chance to tell that hated man exactly what she thought of him. Every time she tried, he cut her off. And despite her anger, she knew she couldn't afford to loose this job. Besides, she thought, she wouldn't give him the satisfaction of driving her away! She flops at her desk, angrily switching on her computer. As she waited for her computer to come on, she looked towards the office where that hated man was sitting. She noticed his head in his hands, and somewhere inside, there was a wince of pain. He had called her Ms. Vyas, not Ms. Bhatnagar. It felt like he had turned his back on her again.
In his office, Mohan buried his head in his hands, his mind reeling with the pain of having to talk to his beloved daughter like that. But he had no choice. She was becoming increasingly rude, and unprofessional. If Anupama had heard her, she would not have hesitated to throw Nanhi out and Mohan could not afford to let that happen to her. Even though he was not looking at her, he could sense her eyes on him, and had to steel himself not to react to the hatred he saw in her eyes every time she looked at him. His mind goes back over the last couple of days and how he had landed up in the same office as his beloved chavanni.
***FLASHBACK*** Mohan, having landed in Indore following the newspaper article that Guru had taken so much pains to hide, had researched the article, talked to the boy and once again, despite himself, his investigative instincts kicked in. He sensed that there could be a clue in the boy's story that would lead him to Addu. While talking to the boy and his family, he watched as this young chit of a girl barged in on him. The moment the girl had seen him, he noticed her entire demeanour had changed.
As Mohan watched, he could sense the intense anger from this girl, who looked at him balefully and when he tried to take his leave of the boy and his family, had spoken insultingly to him. Puzzled, Mohan made his way out of the house, and was about to climb into the car he had rented when the girl came out and shouted "stop Mr. Bhatnagar!" Mohan turned to her and watched as the girl ran up to him and said "Mr. Bhatnagar, aap kahan bhage jaa rahe hain?"
Mohan: excuse me?
Navika: kya aap phirse bhaag jayenge, buzdil ki tarah
Mohan: excuse me, lekin tum ho kaun? Aur aisi kaisi baatein kar rahe ho. Mei to tumhe pehchanti bhi nahi
Navika: pechanenge kaise? Aap to bas kayaron ki tarah bhagna jaante hain!
Mohan, incensed, says "mujse aisi baat kaise kar sakte hai jab mei tumhe jaanta bhi nahi hoon."
Navika: aap to pehle bhi hame jaante nahi the. Isiliye to bhag gaye, apni family ko tabah karke, chod kar chale gaye!
Mohan looks at her shocked and says "ye kaise baatein kar rahe ho? Mere baare me kya jaante ho?"
Navika: kyun? Aap hi wo the na, jo ek maa ko uske bete se juda kiya phir kaayaron ki tarah bhag gaya jab unke aap ke sabse zyada zaroorat thi'
Mohan stares in at the spitfire in front of him, shocked beyond word and asks "ye kya kahe jaa rahe ho? Tum ho kaun?"
Navika: haan, aap to itne kaayar hain ke pehchan bhi nahi paate jab aap ke saamne khare ho
Mohan: kaun ho tum?
Navika: mera naam jaankar kya karenge? Kya in bara saalon me hum log aap ko kabhi yaad nahi aaye?
Mohan looks at the girl in front of him and as he takes in the long hair, the pink glasses and the accusing look in her eyes, his eyes moisten over as he whispers "chavanni?"
Navika: khabardar! Aap ko koi haq nahi hai mujhe chavanni bulane ke. Mei aapse kitna nafrat karti hoon, aap ko aandaza bhi nahi hai
Mohan looks at her pleadingly and says "chavanni'" but is unable to continue as his tears overwhelm him, looking at his beloved daughter who had grown into the elegant beauty in front of him. Navika turns away and takes off as if the devil was behind her while Mohan watches her departing back, unable to follow her as he remembered the hatred in her eyes. He slowly climbed into his car, and the phone goes off. Guru was calling to have him talk to Rimjhim. After a short conversation where he convinced Rimjhim he would be back soon, Mohan returns to his hotel.
He lays down, unable to forget the accusing face and the hatred filled eyes, and cursed his luck that of all the people in Indore, the first person he had to run into was her. His mind's eye remembered her. His lips curved into a soft smile as he recalled how grown up she was. His Chavanni had grown up, he thought, and had become quite a young woman. He could see the fire in her, and even though it was directed at him, he could sense she would go places. His pride increased as he thought of his daughter. He closed his eyes, remembering her hatred, her angry words, and knew that she was justified.
After a fruitless effort to sleep, he rises and goes over his notes, and decided to do some research. He worked long into the night, and finally came to the reluctant conclusion that if he wanted to continue his search, he no longer had a choice. 12 years had gone by while he depended on others to do what he should have done himself. Despite the clues he had sent to the police, they had always been unsuccessful in following up the clues. His own reluctance to step into the city where he had lost everything had delayed matters even more. Mohan knew that he could no longer avoid it. He had to return here.
Mohan lay down, reflecting on both the information he had obtained as well as the meeting with his past. So, he thought, they hate me. Well that was to be expected. It was my fault that Addu was lost. He remembered the promise he had made 12 years ago, and come what may, no matter what happened to him, he would fulfil it. But it was obvious that sitting in Bhopal, it would not be possible, so he reluctantly had to make the decision to return to this city where he had lost everything. As he was lost in his thoughts, his phone rang again and he saw the call from Anu. As he took the call, he knew that he had no option. When Anu repeated her question, Mohan, finally, defeatedly, says "thik hai. Mei wo job karunga."
Anu, who was preparing mentally to continue the argument, stopped short and asks "kya kaha?"
Mohan: meine haan kaha. Mei editor in chief ban jaunga. Lekin meri apni terms and conditions hoga
Anu: absolutely. Tum jo chaho, jaise chaho. Tum mujhe contract papers bhej do, mei sign kar doongi
Mohan and Anu discuss some further details and once the conversation is over, Mohan prepares for a very difficult conversation with Guru. Guru, he knew, would be completely against the plan, but Mohan also knew that Guru would support him no matter what. He makes the call, and after the tears and arguments, Mohan convinces Guru who reluctantly agrees to close up the Bhopal house and come to Indore with Rimjhim. After the conversation was over, Mohan goes to bed, refusing to think of anything else.
In Vyas house, Navika silently goes about her evening. Megha looks at her worriedly wondering why she was so quiet and reserved, but for once Navika did not meet her eyes. She seemed lost in her own world but Megha could sense the seething emotions just below the surface. In spite of her pleas, Navika didn't say anything to Megha about her hated spiderman returning to Indore. Megha watched over her before reluctantly lying down, unable to shake the feeling of something momentous about to happen.
The following morning, Navika makes her way to work, mulling over her interview of the kidnapped boy and his family, and takes her seat, and begins to work, not paying attention to the discussions around her, till she hears someone say "good morning ma'am." She looks up and freezes as she sees Mohan Bhatnagar accompanying Anu into the office. At the center of the room, Anu claps her hands and says "good morning everyone, your attention please."
The staff all look towards Anu who says "allow me to introduce the new editor-in-chief of Awaz India, Mohan Bhatnagar" and pulls Mohan forward. She makes a short speech telling everyone that Mohan was in charge of the news section of Awaz India, and had full authority on that area. She starts making introductions and when they approach Navika's desk, Anu stops and says "Mohan, this is Navika. She is the latest reporter to join us, and I am sure she will be very successful."
Navika, who was listening in horror to Mohan's introduction as her boss, stands up as they approach and reluctantly meets Mohan's eyes. Mohan who was shocked to see her, simply nods his head, and looks away, unable to sustain the hatred he could see. As soon as they leave, Navika sits down, and quickly types up her resignation letter and marches to Anu's office where she knocks the door and when she hears "come in" she enters.
She stops short when she sees Mohan sitting on Anu's desk while Anu was on her chair. They look up as Navika comes into the office with the letter and Anu asks "Navika, any problem?"
Navika: maam, ye aap ke liye
Anu: ye kya hai? (taking the envelope)
Navika: mera resignation. Mei yahan aur kaam nahi kar sakti hoon
Mohan, who was silent, raises his eyes and looks at her. Anu takes the resignation letter, and asks Navika why she was resigning to which Navika says she can't work with someone like Mohan. Anu looks at Mohan shocked while he doesn't react. Anu looks at Mohan who signals her to refuse the resignation and Anu turns to Navika saying that she had signed a contract and per the contract if she left the job within 3 months of joining the job, she would have to pay an early leaving fee. If after 3 months she wanted to leave, Anu would accept her resignation at that time. Till then, she could either honour the contract or she would make sure that Navika never had a journalist's job in Indore again.
Navika angrily turns around and returns to her desk while Anu tries to prod Mohan on why he told her to refuse the resignation. Mohan shakes his head and says "Anu, kuch cheezen bata nahi paunga, lekin thanks." Anu takes him to his office and Mohan settles down to work. After a short while, Navika, who was still steaming, barges into Mohan's office and Mohan looks at her startled. Navika shouts "mei apke saath kaam nahi karungi!"
Mohan (leans back on his chair): contract ke mutabik tum kaam chod nahi sakte ho aur tum mere saath kaam nahi karna chaate ho to koi problem nahi. Tum apne articles kisi aur ko de dena aur mei dekh kar haan ya naa kahunga. Iss tarah, tumhe mere saath kaam karne ke koi zaroorat nahi.
Navika looks at him suspiciously but sees him focussed on the computer. He then continues, "tumhe mere saath kaam na karna ho, to email ke zariye bhi apne articles submit kar sakte ho. Mere saath koi contact ke zaroorat nahi hai."
Defeated, Navika turns around, not seeing the moist eyes watching her departing back. Mohan realised the moment he saw Navika, that somewhere inside, his chavanni still existed. Otherwise his daughter would not have turned to journalism which she knew was his first love! He knew he couldn't get back the daughter he had left behind and he could see the hurt and pain with every word and look. He wouldn't try to win her back, but at least she was here with him, at work. He could take comfort from the fact that he could see her. He no longer had any expectation of getting them back into his life. He was fine with Rimjhim and Guru. But he couldn't deny that his feelings for his other family were still as strong.
Back in the present, turning back to the computer, he wipes his eyes, and focuses on the research he was doing. After an exhaustive search, he finally calls it a day, and packs his bag, getting ready to return home when his phone rings and his lips curve into a smile as he hears Rimjhim on the other side. He chats with her as he makes his way out of the office, not seeing Navika who was still at her desk. She was completing her assignment when she saw Mohan leave, talking on the phone. Her curiosity piqued when he used the word "jaan" and she watched him leave the office, and was not able to stop the tears that formed.
Navika angrily wipes away the tears and rises, the office suddenly seeming too constricted. She grabs her bag and runs out of the office, and reaches the door as she watches Mohan driving away. Navika makes her way home and once again, silently goes about her evening without much conversation, lost in her thoughts. She falls asleep, unable to stop the tears that were falling as her mind goes back to the way he had talked to her. ***END FLASHBACK***
Indian Idol 16
Fan Fictions
