Part 22: Om stared in shock as Manya's body was pulled out of the water. The police officer shook his head.
P: Yeh tho inki kismat hai ki hum aur hamari search team abhi kareeb hi thay. Verna...inke saath bhi wohi ho sakta tha jo-jo Akash ke saath hua-
Om closed his eyes in pain and opened them as a soaking wet and passed out Manya was taken to the hospital.
The doctor came out of the room and looked at an expecting Om.
Om: Doctor, how is she?
D: Mr. Prakash, Manya has-Manya has lost her memory.
Om's eyes opened wide in shock.
Om: WHAT?
D: Yes. Her head hit a rock, causing a fracture to her head. She is suffering amnesia.
Om: Oh my God-
He sat on the bench, shocked.
D: But this is not permanent. Her memory can come back, but only after she witnesses an event that changes, or changed, her life.
Om held his head, crying.
Om: Yeh tumne kyun kiya, Manya! Ek baar mere baare mein tho soch laiti!
MM rushed to the hospital, crying once Om told her the news.
MM: Meri bachi! Meri choti se bachi ke saath yeh kya ho gaya!
Om held her shoulders, crying.
D: You may see her now. We have informed her that you are her mother.
Om and MM opened the door to Manya. She was laying still, her head bandaged, her eyes looking out the window into space.
MM: Manya?
Manya's head turned slightly, a blank expression on her face.
M: Aap-?
MM: Main Ma hoon tumhari, beti!
Manya's expression didn't change much as MM hugged her tightly. She looked at Om, a puzzled expression appearing on her face.
M: Yeh-
MM stood up, wiping her tears.
MM: Yeh Om hai, Manya.
Om: Main Om, Manya, tumhara bachp-
MM suddenly cut him off.
MM: Tumhara hone vaala pati, Manya.
The room spun around Om as he stared at MM, shocked. Manya's eyes grew a bit wider as she stared at him, blinking slowly.
Om settled Manya in her bedroom back at home with a smile.
Om: I'll just be back.
Manya simply nodded, looking up at the ceiling blankly. Om walked downstairs to MM angrily.
Om: Aunty! Yeh aapne-
MM suddenly opened her dupatta in front of him as if begging, crying.
MM: Meri bachi ki zindagi bacha lo, Om!
Om stared at her quizzically.
MM: Oos ki zindagi ruk gayee hai, Om. Usko ek nain zindagi dhay dho! Ussai haq hai jeene ka, Om, aur main jaanti hoon ki yeh haq tumse acha ussai aur koi nahin dhay sakta!
Om shook his head.
Om: Woh Akash se pyar kerti hai, Aunty!
MM: Lakein Akash ja chuka hai, beta! Uske saath saath kahin meri Manya bhi na kho jaye, Om!
She fell to his feet, crying.
MM: Main jaanti hoon tum ussai hamesha khush rakho ge, Om. Ussai koi aanch nahin aane dho ge! Meri jholi mein meri beti ki khushiyaan daal dho, Om!
Om looked up the stairs painfully towards Manya's room.
Om: Teek hai, Aunty. Teek hai...
After two days, Manya walked with Om on the beach.
M: Main aapse ek baat poochoon?
Om looked up at her face. Her expression was blank again. He couldn't remember the last time he had seen her smile.
Om: Tum mujhe 'aap' kyun kehti ho, Manya? 'Tum' kaho na.
Manya looked at him.
M: Aa-tum-kya main tumse pyar kerti thi?
Om looked up sadly, surprised at the question. He sighed and looked away, remembering the time Manya and Om used to be best friends.
Om: Haan...
Manya grew silent.
Om: Lakein, uh, ek accident mein tum cliff se neeche gir gayee, aur-aur-yeh sab ho gaya...
Manya licked her lips.
M: Chalo!
Om: Kahan?
M: Ussi cliff per!
Om stared at her, shocked.
Om: WHAT?
M: Haan! Please, mujhe dekhna hai!
Om shook his head.
Om: No way. NEVER.
Manya frowned.
M: Main aapse phir kabhi pyar ker hi nahin sakti thi. Aap tho meri baat bhi nahin maante!
Om frowned.
Om: Manya, yeh kya bachpana hai?
M: Mera haq hai yeh jaane ka, Om!
Om stared at her. This was the first time after her memory loss she had called him Om.
Om sighed.
Om: Chalo, Manya.
Manya stared at the hill, wondering how that day must have been. She was probably with Om, since he knew all about it. Were they up on the hill having a sweet romantic day?
M: Yeh jagga kitni khoobsurat hai, na?
Om nodded. Manya looked around. Suddenly, in her mind, she imagined a boy yelling "Kiss of Love" and a girl running, laughing. A slow, confused smile spread across her lips.
Om looked up and stared. She had just smiled!
Om: Muskura kyun rahi ho?
M: Huh? Oh, kuch nain-
She wakled to the cliff once again. Om walked with her, his heart racing, afraid.
Om: Manya, peeche raho yahan se-
Manya rolled her eyes and looked down.
M: Wow. Yahan se girne ke baadh mein zinda hoon?
Om nodded with a smile.
Suddenly, Manya felt the wind blow. She heard a boy scream her name. She suddenly felt as if her dupatta was slipping from her neck. She saw the red color of it flowing in the air, falling in the waves.
M: NAHIN--!!
Her hand reached out suddenly. Om looked at her, shocked.
M: Mera dupatta-
Manya brought her hand back quietly then, confused. Om stared at her.
Om: Tumhara dupatta? Tumhara dupatta tumhare gale mein hai, Manya.
Manya felt her neck and noticed her dupatta was still there.
Om: Chalo yahan se, Manya. Please, let's go.
Manya followed him away, shaking her head. She stopped all of a sudden.
A distant cry echoed in her mind.
"Maaaanyaaaa...!!"
Manya clasped her hands to her ears. Om turned.
Om: Manya! Tum teek ho, Manya?
Manya gulped, nodding her head.
M: Haan, main-main teek hoon.
They were on the bridge, walking back to the hillstation, when Om's foot slipped into the one of the broken wood pieces.
Manya's eyes opened in wide shock. Although it was only Om slipping, the scene of a boy falling down in the water played in her head. She held the ledge of the bridge, staring down below in the water waves.
M: AKASH--!!
Edited by sonikudi1 - 16 years ago
comment:
p_commentcount