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EPISODE TWO
"Saab, aap yahaan kya chhutti bitaane aaye ho?" The Sweeper asked.
The man nodded sombering, "Chutti to bas ek bahana hai dost... aya to main yahaan apni Zindagi ki talaash mein hu..." he said pensively looking into the space.
"Kya matlab?" The Janitor asked. The two men looked at him confused.
The man looked back at them and sighed, "Aaj nahin... Agar kismet ne saath diya, to sahi samay aane pe bataonga dost." He smiled again and asked, "Achchha aap logon ka naam kya hai?"
"Main Chandar aur ye Madhusudan Kaka..." the Sweeper obliged by introducing their names. Madhusudan joined his hands greeting him once again.
He smiled back, "Aap dono se milke bhot achchha laga Chandar... Madhusudan Kaka... Mera naam Karan hai... Karan Singh..." and held his hand out to shake with them.
The sweeper rubbed his hands with his shirt and shook it with him excitedly.
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It was past 6:45pm in the evening. She was running late today. Usually she leaves for her home by this time, but today due to the delivery of extra stocks, she has to wait longer. She has to make some purchases for her as well and it will take longer if she stays further. She finished her work quickly and went down to the ground floor of the store.
"Ye lijiye Chachaji, kal jo naya maal aya tha, ye uski stock list bana di hai maine..." she said handing the stock-list to him.
"Hmm..." he glanced at the stock list. It was perfect. Each item was categorized as per their nature and price. She has always been very good at work. "Bhot achchha beti..." he appreciated her, "Lekin tum itni der tak yahaan kya kar rahi ho? Ghar nahin jana kya?"
"Wo... chachaji, kal hi naya stock aya tha na, to maine socha agar bina stock list tayyar kiye ise aise hi chod diya, aur kahin kisi customer ki koi demand aa gayi to cheezein dhudhne mein problem ho jayegi. Phir itna sara samaan hai, koi cheez idhar-udhar ho gayi, to nuksaan ho jayega. Isliye maine ise aaj hi kar diya..." she replied looking at another set of bundles lying on besides the counter.
"Arey ek din mein kuchh nahin hota... tum kuchh jyada hi chinta karti ho Beti." He replied folding the fabric lying over the counter.
"Wo sab to theek hai chachaji, lekin pichli baar cheezein theek jagah pe na milne ki wajah se ek customer khaali Haathh chala gaya tha... Baad mein Chandar ne mujhe bataya ki Trilokinath ke yahaan se us customer ne poore 7 hazaar ki shopping ki. Humaari thodi si laaparwahi ki wajah se bekaar mein itna bada customer Haathh se nikal gaya..." she started helping him set other articles in their correct place.
"Koi baat nahin Beti, kaam-dhande mein ye sab to hota hi rahta hai..." he smiled casually.
"Maanti hu aapki baat..." she turned to him, "Lekin humaari thodi si samajhdaari se agar dukaan ka thoda aur fayeda hota hai to ismein harj hi kya hai... Waise bhi aajkal kaam kuchh theek nahin chal raha... Aur kal Chachiji ne bataya ki wo Roshan Seth phir se tang kar raha tha karze ki agli kisht ke liye..." she said looking worried.
"Haan, aajkal uska dimaag bhi saatwe (7th) aasmaan par hai. Jabse uska beta Videsh se padh ke waapis aya hai, tabse kuchh jyada hi pareshaan karne laga hai." He sighed.
"Isiliye to kah rahi hu, humein thoda samajhdaari se kaam karna chaahiye, taaki kaam mein aur barkat ho..." she said checking the packets lying on the floor.
"Hmm, baat to teri sahi hai. Lekin aaj to tujhe bhot der ho gayi hai. Vrinda bata rahi thi ki tujhe kuchh samaan bhi khareedna hai ghar ke liye..."
"Hmm, lena to hai... ghar jaate waqt le lungi." She took the stock-book again and wrote something in it.
"To phir tu ab tak yahaan kyun ruki hui hai, ab ghar wapis jaa. Tu jaanti hai na, ki wo tere bagair itni der tak nahin rah paati..."
"Bas ye samaan upar rakhwa du Chachaji..." she pointed towards a bundle, "...warna kal tak kahin idhar-udhar na ho jaya..." she turned to another packet to check its packaging details.
"Arey bas bhi kar, ye sab main karwa lunga..." he snatched the pen and notebook from her.
"Achchha theek hai..." she sighed, "Kal main aate hi saari cheezein theek se sahi jagah pe lagwa dungi. Phir kisi customer ko khaali Haathh nahin jana padega."
"Theek hai kal karwa lena... ab ghar ja jaldi, wo tera intezaar kar rahi hogi..."
"Hmm... lekin abhi to mujhe ghar pahunchne mein kam se kam ek ghanta aur lagega..." she said searching for her bag.
"Ye le tera bag..." he found her bag lying under the pile of some posters, "Tu bhi hud karti hai beti... agar tujhe aaj kuchh samaan khareedna tha to mujhe pehle bata deti, main ye sab khud karwa leta. Ya phir Chandar se kah deta, wo tere liye samaan le aata."
"Pehli baat to ye, ki jis kaam ki tankhwa main aapse leti hu wo kaam aap kyun karte? Wo to mera kaam hai na... Aur dusri baat ye, ki Chandar wo samaan nahin khareed sakta tha jo mujhe lena hai." She said taking her shawl from the hanger near the door.
"Tujhse bahas karna to bekaar hai, har baat ka jawaab hai tere paas. Lekin der to ho gayi naa tujhe, aur ab andhera bhi ho raha hai. Ab dekh, wo badmaash phir se tujhe tang karenge. Itni der se akele ghar jana theek nahin hai beti..."
"Chachaji, relax..." she held his hands patting them lightly in assurance, "bas thodi si der hi to lagi hai... aur rahi baat un badmaashon ki, to ab to mujhe aadat pad gayi hai. Aap meri chinta mat kijiye, meri to puri zindagi gujri hai aise logon se nipatne mein..."
"Ab main tujhe aur kya kahun beti, jaanta hu ki tu bhot bahaadur hai. Lekin phir bhi thoda sambhal ke jana. Aur agar zaroorat pade to mujhe kahin se bhi phone kar dena..." he said caressing her head affectionately.
"Theek hai, main chalti hu. Chachiji ko mera pranaam kahiyega." She smiled.
He nodded and saw her walk away towards a shop on the opposite lane. "Bhagwaan tujhe humesha khush rakhe beti." He mumbled.
This man is Shivnath Sharma. He is an old man of around 60, a very native of Kasuali. Shivnath lives here with his beloved wife, a son and a daughter. Few years back his son went to a city, somewhere in Maharashtra to earn money, but has never returned back. In first few months, they used to get regular mails from him informing of his whereabouts. He even called them at times, but with time every sort of communication stopped.
After that the worried Sharma couple tried to locate their only son, but couldn't. Months later, tired and broken, they renounced their search leaving everything in god and destiny's hands.
Shivnath sat on the bench placed behind the counter staring longingly at the variety of articles placed in the shop. He glanced at her once again. She was purchasing something from a local shop on the other side of the lane. A smile crept on his lips thinking about the time when he has first met her. He knows her for the last 3 years now.
Ever since she has come to their life, his and his family's life has changed dramatically. He never knew that his little casual effort to help a stranger will prove to be the best work of his life.
Whole life Shivnath has been observing people trying to abscond from their responsibilities and take advantage of others, but she has been an exception. He has never seen a girl so strong and yet so well-behaved in 60 years of his life. He knew that she is struggling to live her life normally with the only possession she has... her only reason to live. If it was in his hands, he had helped her in her struggle, but he was helpless himself.
Shivnath has a young daughter, just over 22 years in age. She is engaged to a local retail shop owner in the next city in Shimla. He and his wife have been trying to save money for her wedding, but the amount of debt they have, is not letting them save anything much. They have rented a small two room house to this girl working in their store.
Shivnath has two houses. One, in which he lives with his family and another one is a very small two room shaggy quarter located a little away from the fields near the sloppy lanes behind the village area. He has rented the small one to this girl.
When Shivnath met her over 3 years back, she was in a very bad state. She was alone, had nothing with her except two small bags, one of which is her dear-than-her-life possession. He could still clearly remember that day.
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***Flashback***
4 years back.
He was sitting on the same bench behind his store counter attending a customer in the evening. It was around 5:30pm. As soon as he was relieved by the last cutomer, casually looking outside on the lane he saw a girl walking down the street holding two bags, with one held strongly against her chest. Though it wasn't too rare to see a woman walking onto the lanes, but this time it seems different.
This new girl looked different than all others. Her sharp features and the way she was dressed was a clear indication of her being an outsider. She looked vulnerable, helpless and little sick. She was looking around expectantly as if searching for something or maybe someone. Shivnath sighed looking into his daily sales log trying to concentrate on his work.
A few minutes later he heard some commotion near the three-way crossing on the opposite side of the street. For a moment he thought it's the usual day-to-day routine when vendors and hawkers pounce on the tourists to sell their goods. But soon the louder getting noises made him aware of something unusual happening on the street.
He was about to get up from his seat when he saw Chandar, the street sweeper walking hurriedly towards the main entrance of the market.
He called him out, "Arey Chandar..."
"Ji chachiji...?" the boy stopped and turned to him. He was a young boy of around 22, who used to work as a sweeper in the market.
"Ye bargad ki munder ke paas kya halla ho raha hai?" Shivnath asked Chandar. (Note - Bargad means Banyan Tree)
"Wo ek ladki hai Chachiji, behosh ho gayi hai. Main usi ke liye paani lene jaa raha tha... Munder pe paani khatam ho gaya hai." Chandar replied panting a little.
"Itni dur kahaan jayega tu... ye le, mere paas se leja paani." He took out a bottle from under his counter and gave it to Chandar who ran back taking the water-bottle with him.
A few minutes later though the commotion was suppressed, but Shivnath could still see some people crowding the place. It was 6:30pm now and he was to close down his shop. It was unusual and early for a shopkeeper to close the shop at 6:30pm, but his store had nothing to sell after this time. His store wasn't doing too well in terms of business and so instead of staying late in the store waiting for a customer and increasing his electricity bills, he used to close his store early and go back home.
He closed the store and took a quick look towards the Banyan tree, near the three-way crossing of the Market. The crowd was still assembled there. People were surrounding the Banyan platform, murmuring and discussing something or shall say someone. He locked his shop and walked towards the crossing with his small Jhola (hand bag) on his shoulder.
He decided to check what exactly is going on. Moving through the crowd as he reached the tree-platform, he saw a girl lying on the ground. He recognized her at once. She was the same girl he has seen an hour back. Chandar was standing near her feet with a water-bottle in his hand. He was trying to wake her up sprinkling water over her face.
After a few attempts, she moved a little. "Aah..." she moaned in pain. She was still in her semi-conscious state and tried to sit, but failed as her body was weak.
Apart from Chandar no one else was trying to help the little lady. Seeing nobody helping her
Shivnath walked to her hearing her painful voice. He was kind-hearted man.
"Beti tum theek to ho?" he called sitting beside her. She just moaned further since she wasn't in a condition to talk.
He looked at her carefully. He was right she wasn't a local native of the place. Her simple but yet nicely fitted cotton suit told that she was a visitor. She was not exactly white, but fair enough to be called beautiful. Her eyes were closed but anyone could tell that they were big and beautiful. Her hair black tied back in a simple plait while her dupatta covered her upper body carefully enough.
When Shivnath called her, though she couldn't register his voice correctly, but even in her semi-conscious state she was careful enough to take care of her modesty and fixed her dupatta further over herself safely covering her body.
Chandar, who was still standing besides her, looked around at the people peeking to look at her, shushed and shoved the crowd from there.
She tried to sit... Shivnath helped her to sit with her back resting besides the towering platform. He signaled Chandar to pass him the water bottle.
"Ye lo beti, paani peelo..." he took the bottle and placed it near her lips.
She held it at once and drank the water hurriedly like she has been thirsty for ever, pouring some on her dress as well, her eyes were still closed. Soon she opened her eyes and looked around dazedly pressing the sides of her forehead with one hand while her other hand was still holding her small bag.
"Beti tum theek to ho na?" Shivnath asked again.
"Ji..." she nodded and tried to get up, "Maaf kijiye main..." but due to her feeble condition she couldn't get up.
"Arey sambhal ke beti..." Shivnath said holding her saving her from falling, "Tumhaare saath aur koi nahin hai kya?" he asked her.
"Ji main akeli hu..." she replied meekly.
"Tum yahaan kisi ko jaanti ho?" he asked.
"Nahin..." she mumbled almost inaudibly.
Looking at her lost and gloomy face Shivnath understood that she is not only new to this place, but probably alone as well. Her weak state wasn't hidden from anyone. His heart melted seeing the helpless beautiful stranger in pain.
"To phir tum kahaan rahogi ab? Raat bhi hone ko hai..." he asked her again. She kept quite looking down. Shivnath thought for a moment and then said, "Tumhe agar aitraaz na ho to tum mere ghar chalo aaj raat ke liye. Mera ghar yahin paas mein hi hai. Bazaar se thodi doori pe."
"Ji nahin, main kuchh intezaam kar lungi... aapko bekaar mein taqleef hogi..." she said unsurely.
"Taqleef kaisi beti? Tum to meri beti ki tarah ho. Aur chinta mat karo, main akela nahin rahta, mere ghar pe mere saath meri patni aur beti bhi rahti hain." He explained understanding her uncertainty to go with a stranger.
She looked at the friendly looking stranger. His wrinkled face had something that assured her that her that he is harmless. She has spent all her life on streets confronting different sort of ugly creatures and knew the difference between good and bad very well. But she was still hesitant.
Shivnath understood her indecisiveness and said in a fatherly tone, "Main jaanta hu beti ki tum ek ajnabee ke saath uske ghar jaane mein hichkicha rahi ho, lekin itni raat ko tum yahaan sadak pe to nahin rah sakti. Mere saath ghar chalo, agar tumhe wahaan zara bhi sandeh lage to tum jahaan chaahe, wahaan chali jana..."
"Ji Memsaab, Shivnath Kaka bhot bhale insaan hain. Aap unke ghar mein bilkul surakshit rahogi..." she heard Chandar saying so.
She thought for a few minutes. He was right; she couldn't stay on streets in such weak state. Besides he looked like a gentleman, a fatherly figure. She could atleast go with him and see if she could stay for a night there. She will leave tomorrow and pay him for his help. She nodded and agreed to go with him reluctantly.
Shivnath smiled and helped her getting up. "Lao tumhara samaan mujhe de do..."
"Ji nahin, main utha lungi ise khud..." she didn't want to bother this affable stranger.
"Koi baat nahin beti, mujhe de do, tumhe chalne mein asaani rahegi. Chandar humaari madad kar dega..." he turned to Chandar and said, "Chandar, zara chal to mere saath. Bitiya ka samaan ghar tak pahuncha de..."
"Jee kaka..." Chandar nodded vigorously and took the bag from her.
But she didn't give the small bag to him. They kept asking her to give them that bag too, but she refused firmly. So they didn't push her further.
She followed them onto the street out of the market on west side. She looked around the place carefully, grasping all in her way trying to familiarize with everything. She saw a few street hawkers pushing their strollers with various stuffs. A few kids were playing on the streets; dogs barking and running around; men and women busy in their chores.
She saw Shivnath being greeted by a few people on their way. All of them greeted him respectfully. It means he is a well-known elderly respected man of the place. Despite of all her apprehensions and fear, she felt a little relieved.
After walking for around 15 minutes they reached a neat and clean lane that had a number of wooden as well as stone-build houses. They stopped near the wall of a fairly big size house. Shivnath knocked the door.
"Ruko zara aa rahi hu baba..." A girl of around 20 opened the door. "Aaj kitni der kar di baba, andhera hone ko aya..." she complaint taking his Jhola from him.
"Bas thoda der ho gayi beti..." Shivnath smiled at the girl and kissed her forehead.
She understood that this girl is probably his daughter, the one he was talking about.
The girl saw a stranger with her father and asked, "Ye kaun hai baba..."
"Saare sawaal darwaaje pe hi puchh legi ya humein andar bhi aane degi..." he cocked his brow.
"Oh... aao andar..." she said moving aside.
Stepping inside the house, she looked around. There was a small 'aangan' (lawn) in front floored with brick-mosaic. A Manji (folding bed) laid near the small plantation over the left. There was a hand-pump near the plantation. On right was a shed-like room, which looked like a store-room. In front was middle sized two storied house, with a ground-floor and a first floor.
"Chandar beta ye bag yahin rakh de..." Shivnath instructed him pointing towards the Manji. Then turned to his guest, "Aao beti, yahaan baith jaao..."
She came and sat on the Manji still looking around.
"Garima beti ye humaari mehmaan hai... aaj raat yahin rukengi. Inke sone ka intezaam kar de zara." Shivnath introduced his guest.
"Ji baba..." Garima, Shivnath's daughter replied going inside the house.
"Chandar, beta tu kuchh paani-waani lega kya?" Shivnath asked.
"Nahin Kaka, ab main chalta hu. Wo Bus-stop pe jana hai. Bade babu ne kal wahaan ki safai karne ko kaha tha. Aaj tu main kaam mein bhul gaya. Abhi jaake thoda kaam kar deta hu, baaki kal karunga. Warna Bade Babu kal mujhpe chillayenge..." Chandar said.
"Theek hai..." Shivnath said. He went to close the main door and came back to sit on a chair near the Manji and took the glass of water from the small stool placed there.
"Baba, upar wala kamra khol diya hai. Maine thodi jaad-phunk kar di hai, lekin phir bhi thoda ganda hai." Garima said wiping her hands with a cloth.
"Lo Beti, tumhaare rahne ka intezaam bhi ho gaya... bas thoda..." Shivnath pointed.
"Koi baat nahin... aap jyada taqleef mat kijiye..." Their polite guest interrupted.
"Ab tum jaake thoda araam karo. Thodi der mein jab khana ban jayega, main Garima ko kahke tumhe bula lunga..." He smiled while she nodded.
As she got up and held her bag to go inside, her head felt dizzy once again. With a muffled groan she fell down ground going unconscious once again.
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A few hours later, she opened her eyes only to find herself tucked into a small old bed. She looked around to see the same girl folding some clothes with her back facing her. She held her head and tried to get up. The other girl turned to her when heard some noise.
"Arey aapko hosh aa gaya..." she walked near the bed to stop her from getting up, "Uthiye mat, Vaidyaji (local doctors) ne aapko araam karne ko kaha hai. Main abhi jaake baba ko bula kar laati hu..." she went out to call her father.
She looked around and saw that she is in a small room with many things placed here and there. It wasn't exactly a store, but the condition of the room showed that it is being used to store important daily purpose clothes and other goods. To her left, was a window. When she looked at it, she realized that its already morning. She knew that she has to leave the place now.
Suddenly she remembered her small bag. She looked around and got up from the bed throwing the covers away. She turned the things up and down searching for her small bag worriedly and desperately. Where is it?
"Arey beti, tum bistar se uth kyun gayi?" Shivnath asked as he entered and found her searching for something.
"Mera bag kahaan hai? Wo chhota wala bag..." she asked almost on the verge of crying.
"Achchha wo bhure (Brown) rang wala bag?" he asked while she nodded vigorously wiping her eyes. "Wo to ye raha..." he went to her bedside and took out the bag from under the mattress.
She sprinted ahead almost pouncing on him to take her bag back. Opening the bag immediately, she checked its ingredients. Finding everything in place she sighed with her eyes closed and clenching the bag tightly to her chest.
"Sab theek to hai na beti?" Shivnath asked her looking worried.
"Ji..." she opened her eyes. Realizing that how lamely she has behaved, she mumbled, "Mere aise bartaav ke liye main maafi chaahti hu. Lekin ye bag meri..." she chocked her words.
"Koi baat nahin..." he placed his hand on her shoulder, "Main to kal hi samajh gaya tha ki ye bag tumhaare liye bhot keemti hai. Raat jab tum behosh ho gayi thi, tab bhi tumne ise Haathh se nahin chhoda..." he smiled, "'baith jao..." he urged her sit down.
"Maine aapko bhot taqleef di hai. Lekin ab mujhe jana chaahiye..." she got up again.
"Lekin tumhaari tabiyat theek nahi lagti beti... raat ko Vaidyaji aaye the, unhone yehi kaha ki is waqt tum bhot kamzor ho, tumhe araam ki sakht zaroorat hai. Aur lagta hai, tumne kal poore din kuchh khaya bhi nahin..."
"Ji... wo..." she was hesitant to say anything.
"Koi baat nahin, ab kha lo humaare saath. Pehle jaake naha (bath) lo, phir neeche aa jana. Garima ki Maa ne nashta banaya hai." He said, then turning to his daughter he said, "Garima beti, Didi ko zara bathroom dikha de to..."
"Ji baba..." Garima nodded and took her to the bathroom.
After freshening up, she went down to find Shivnath sitting on a chair near the open lawn, busy writing something in a notebook. In one corner of the open lobby, Garima was laying the food on the small, low-height stools which looked like miniature dining table. There were four of them placed in a circle, with sitting mattresses made with jute paired with each stool meant to sit on the floor.
She walked to the dining area slowly and offered her help to Garima, "Laiye, main aapki madad kar deti hu..." she stretched her hands to take the plate.
"Koi baat nahin, sab ho gaya hai. Aap bas baith kar nashta kar lijiye..." Garima replied politely putting the plates on stools, "Main maa aur baba ko bula kar laati hu..." with that she went inside to call her mother.
Shivnath looked up to see her sitting quietly on a matress besides one of the stools. He closed his notebook and went to have his breakfast.
Two minutes later, Garima came back followed by an elderly looking lady. She had pleasant wheatish complexion just like her daughter. Infact, Garima looked like a young replica of the lady. The woman was wearing a cotton saari with her head covered with her pallu. The lady came and took a seat opposite to their guest while Garima and Shivnath took their seats on either side.
She smiled at the elderly lady. By her straight face, it looked like the elderly lady wasn't looking too happy with her presence, but seeing her warm and thankful smile her heart fluttered. She smiled back at their guest and started serving the food.
While having their food, Shivnath felt her awkwardness, so decided to introduce himself and his family to his guest.
"Lo bhai, main tumhe apna parichay dena to bhul hi gaya. Mera naam Shivnath hai. Main Jeevan Haathh mein ek chhoti si kapdon (textile) ki dukaan (shop) chalata hu. Ye meri patni (wife) Rajshri hai..." he pointed towards his wife. She smiled folding her hands to greet the elderly lady once again. Shivnath continued, "Aur ise to tum mil hi chuki ho..." he pointed towards his daughter, "'ye meri beti hai, Garima." She smiled at Garima.
"Tumhara naam kya hai?" The elderly lady, Rajshri finally spoke.
"Ji?" she looked at her. For a moment she was paused by her sudden question. It wasn't something unusual or unexpected, but she was so much occupied in her own world, that the most general question of the world also sounded like strange to her. Finally registering the question she smiled and answered, "Ji mera naam Riddhima hai..."
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Hi Friends... Finally i managed to write another one for this as well.
I can see curiousity building up in my readers as they expected the first Introduction to be Armaan. Many, no i think most of you were expecting HIM to be Armaan, but he is not. Armaan will be introduced later. For the time, i hope you like to read about Riddhima...
Please dont forget to leave your comments as it really helps me shape the story...
P.S. - PMs will be sent only to those '
1. Who request for PMs.
2. Who continue to reply in future as well.
3. Who have added me to their buddy list.
P.S.S. - PMs will stop in case there is no reply for 3 successive episodes...
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Episode 3 - Page -
Edited by Wild.Aimee - 14 years ago
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