Tere Mere Dil

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''Toh nind khul hi gai sahabzade ki?"'

''Haan.. khul gain,'' Daya said yawning, '' Tu kaha hai?''

''On my way to village,'' answered Abhijeet driving his jeep, ''actually, village mei hi hu. Ghar dhunna hai bas.''

''Arey wah!''

''Jaldi uth gaya tha..''

''Etne shots ke bad etni jaldi akhein keisey khul gai teri?''

''Abhitaq sar mei dard hai yaar. But, I want to finish this drama as early as possible. Chal bye. Ghar pohochke phone karta hu.''

''Hey wait wait wait.''

''Kya hai?''

''Rukega kaha? Tumlogo ka jo haweli thi wo toh nahi raha na ab?''

''Arey uncle ke ghar pe rukey huye hai Maa baba… mai bhi wahi jaunga.''

''Oh acha. Chal bye.''

''Bye,''

Abhijeet took off his Bluetooth from his ear and drove carefully on muddy road through the village.

''Ummm,'' he smelled the air, ''Gawn ki ye suni suni khoosboo… man khus ho gaya yaa. Agar sab kuch plan ke mutabik gaya toh ek adh week yaha rehkehi jaunga…''

Suddenly a cow appeared in front of his jeep and he pressed the break hard.

''Shit! Baal baal bach gaya…''

He got down from the jeep and checked the cow for any injury. To his luck, the cow was all fine. He thanked his stars and looked around for help. He needed help to find out the address.

''Kisse puchu?''

He was looking for help when he heard his tire being punctured. He quickly went behind his jeep and saw a kid running away.

''Aye ruk…''

But the kid was gone.

''Damn it. Tire puncture kar diya! Address bhi nahi mil raha…''

He saw some kids laughing at him at a distance.

''Hey.. idhar ao,'' he called them.

The kids shook their head.

''Logo ko madat karni aci baat hoti hai paraya nahi teacher ji ne?''

''Do mahino se teacher ji bimar haii… toh paraya hoga bhi toh bhul gai.'' They laughed on their on joke.

''Aye, suno idhar,''

''Kaha na nahi..''

''Arey mujhe Tiwari uncle ke ghar jana hai.. bas etna bata do kis raste se jana hai?''

''Tiwari uncle ke ghar?''

''Haan… bataoge?''

''Batane ka kya milega?''

''Abhi toh mere pass kuch nahi hai par I promise next time tum sab keliye chocolates launga.''

''Toh next time pata bhi puch lena. Chalo sathiyo..'' said one of the kid.

''Arey ruko…''

''Shanti Nibas jana hai apko?''

Abhijeet heard a female voice behind him and turned around.

''Haan.. Shanti Nibas.. Tiwari uncle ke ghar. Ap please bataingi kaha hai wo?''

The look on girl's face was priceless. She was irritated and also amazed. Abhijeet eyed the girl carefully. Typical village girl, wearing that long skirt, kurti and long scarf, hair neatly tied, ear rings, nose rings, flowers in hair. He stopped at her eyes. He couldn't help but admire that thin line of koholi on her eyes.

''Pehli bar ai hai gawn?''

''Ji? Ji.. bohot sal bad aya hu village.. I mean..''

''Yaha engrezi bolna mana hai.'' The girl warned him.

''Ji? Maine kab English bola?''

''Village bola na? Wo bhi mat boliye… Tiwari ji ka adesh hai.''

''Kya?'' Abhijeet was shocked. He then murmured under his breath, '' sab ke sab pagal hai kya yaha! Kaha fans gaya yaar!''

''Haan…''

''Okay.. mera matlab hai thik hai. Khayal rakhunga. Actually… darsal.. darsal main bachpan mei yahi rehta tha.. phir Canada shift ho gaya family ke sath.. ab yaha aya hu toh sab ulta fulta lag raha hai..''

''bachpan ke baat yaad hai apko?'' The girl became excited.

''Ji.. kuch khas toh nahi…''

The girl's face fell down.

''Acha… thik hai. Tiwari ji ka ghar jane ke liye ye talab ke kinare se hoke… us khet ke ander se jake… ek bara sa Kua milega apko.. phir uske bad dain e jana… ek rasta aiga.. phir bain.. phir siddha… phir bain.. a gaya shnati Nibas,''

''Kya! Ek bar phir bolengi?/ Mai note kar leta hu..''

''Ji nahi.. mujhe bohot kam hai..'' The girl walked away and became disappeared in a crop field.

''ajeeb log hai gawn ke..''

He left the car on road and started walking on the narrow road beside the pond. There's crop field on another side. He feet slipped on muddy road and he felt down. His dress got dirt with mud.

''Shey… bloody hell.'' He stood up', ''ab kapre keisey saf karu!''

As soon as the words were out of his mouth he was pushed into pond with a thud. He came out of the pond totally drenched and was extremely angry. He found the same girl standing at the bank with those kids.

''Tumlogo ki shararat thi ye? Apne gawn ai huye mehmano ka aise sowagat karte hai log?'

''Aphi ne toh kaha ki ye mitti keisey saf karu… isliye hamne madat kar di,'' said one of the kids.

''Tum logo ki toh mai..''

''Dekhiye Mr Canada.. jo log khud kehi gawn mei ake mehmano jeisa bartav kare unke sath yahi hona hai… chalo bacho…''

The girl left with the kids.

Abhijeet cursed the girl under his breath.

''She needs psychiatric help. Seriously. Isne pakka galat address bataya hoga mujhe..'' Abhijeet chose not to follow her direction.

He walked on the road and found an elderly person. He stopped him.

''Ji suniye..''

''Haan beta bataw?''

''Mujhe Shanti Nibas jana hai.. meri gari ka tire puncture kar diya bacho ne.. ap madat kar dijiye thoda.''

''Tumhari ye halat bhi bacho ne ki hogi? Ye bache bhi na… chutiya chal rahi hai na unki.. bas din bhar masti majak… tum ao mere sath mai tumhe chod deta hu Shanti Nibas.''

''Nahi nahi uncle.. ap bata dijiye mujhe..mai chala jaunga.. apko kam hoga na..''

''Arey nahi beta… mai kam thode der bad kar lunga. Tum chalo mere sath.''

''Ji bohot bohot Shukriya..''

He started walking beside the man.

''Tumhara nam kya hai weisey?''

''Abhijeet…''

''Haamare Kapoor sahib ke bete ka nam bhi Abhijeet hai.. ab wo Canada mei rehte hai.''

''Ji uncle mai hi apke Kapoor sahib ka beta Abhijeet hu,'' Abhijeet smiled.

''Kya! Sach? Kapoor sahib bhi ai huye hai kya?''

''Haan.. maa baba bhi ai hai.. or ham Mumbai shift kar chukey hai do saal pehle.''

''Achi baat hai.. tumne apne Sham mamu ko nahi pehchana?''

''Mujhe pehchana hua lag raha tha… par …'' Abhijeet chose his words carefully so that he didn't say any English words.

''Koi bat nahi..''

They walked for some minutes and arrived at Shanti Nibas. Abhijeet became statue as his childhood memories came in front his eyes. He vividly remembered a girl playing with him.

''Arey Abhijeet beta a gai tum?'' His father came and hugged him.

''Namastey Kapoor sahib..'' said Sham.

''Arey sham! Keisey ho bhai… ao ao ander.''

''Nahi sahib.. bad mei aunga.. abhi kheto mei kam hai.. Ye Abhijeet babu ko chodne agaya.. bachone ne shararat kar di inke sath… mai chalta hu.''

''Thik hai.. ana kabhi.. gappe kerenge sath mei.''

Sham nodded, '' haan haan jarur.''

Sham left and Mihir, Abhijeet's father turned to his son.

''Bacho ne paresan kia?'' HE laughed, ''ab pata chala.. jab bachpan mei tum dusro ko pareshan karte the toh logoko keisa lagta tha..''

''Bacho ke sath ek badi gadhi bachi bhi thi..''

''Kya matlab?''

''Arey Abhijeet…'' An elder man came to them.

''Abhijeet, ye tumhare Mahesh uncle..'' Mihir introduced his friend to his son.

''Pata hai Baba.. inhe keisey bhul sakta hu. Ap bhi na..''

Abhijeet took blessings from Mahesh.

''Jitey raho beta.. or ye tum bhig keisey gai?''

''Bacho ki shararat..''

''Haan..ajkal bache bohot pareshan kar rahe hai logo ko.. or meri beti bhi unki sath de rahi hai.. bohot shikayat ane lagi hai mujhe,'' Mahesh laughed.

''Wo apki beti thi?'' Abhijeet asked, unbelievably.

''Kuch jayadahi pareshan kar diya sayad usne tumhe… koi bat nahi, mai use bat karta hu.. wo meri baat kabhi nahi talti. Tum upar kamre mei jake fresh ho jao.. phir khana khane a jao niche.. ham sab tumhara hi intezar kar rahe the…'' said Mahesh and turned towards a servant, ''Gopal, Abhijeet ka saman upar wale kamre mei rakhwa do.''

Abhijeet followed the servant to his room.

''Ye abhi bhi joint family hai kya?'' Abhijeet asked the servant.

''Haan.. chacha chahi or unki betia bhi rehti hai.. Suresh sahib ki do choti choti betiya bhi hai..'' The servant kept describing all the members and within that time they reached Abhijeet's room.

''Ye apka karma.. kuch bhi chahiye toh bas awaz de dena.''

''Haan thik hai.. kya nam hai tumhara, haan, Gopala..''

''Sab, Gopala nahi Gopal..''

''Oh Sorry. Gopal.. acha ye batao, yaha English bolna mana hai kya?''

''Nahi toh sab? Ye kisne bola sab apko? Haan, Engrezi bologe toh kuch samajh aiga nahi jayadatar logo..''

''Kya! Is Ladki ko toh mai..''

''Kon Ladki sahib..''

''Ye batao.. ye Mahesh uncle ki ladki kaha hai?''

''Wo toh rasoi ghar mei hain sahib.. mai bhejta hu unhe.. kehta hu ki ap bola rahe hai..'' gopal proceeded to leave.

''Arey Goapala.. sun sun..''

''Haan sab..'' Gopal stopped.

''Maine kab kaha ki use bolaw! Mat bolaw.. tum bas wo raste mei meri gari kharap pari hui hai wo mangwa lo.. or kuch sukhe kapre de do.. ye kapre bhig gai hai jo bag mei tha."

""Ji mai yaha bed pe rakh dunga kapre lake ap pehen lena."

''Shukriya.''

''Kya shab ap bhi,'' Gopal smiled and left the room.

Abhijeet called Daya.

''Haan.. pohoch gaya thik se?''

Abhijeet narrated him the whole drama in one breath.

''Ab bol.. ye ladki pasand kia hai Maa Baba ne mere liye! Ek toh gawar.. upar se..''

Daya was laughing like mad.

''Tu has mat yaar,''

''Sorry sorry. Tu ye bata ladki dikhne mei keisi hai?''

''Maine dhayan nahi diya.. thik thak hi hai weisey,''

''Toh game is on? You know gawn ki larki patina bohot asan hoti hai..''

''Tu chup reh… Mahesh uncle ki beti hai… weisey hi na karne mei acha nahi lagega, or tu hai ki..''

''Arey mai toh majak kar raha tha…'' Daya laughed again.

''Phirse has raha hai!''

''Arey yaar mai kya karu! Is ladki ne tujhe ekdin mei etni hindi bolwa diya jetna tu saal bhar mei bhi nahi bolta.''

''Tu chup rahe.. Stupid kahi ka..'' Abhijeet cut the call.

Abhijeet took a shower and wear the clothes kept on bed by Gopal, pajamakurti.

''Not bad!'' Abhijeet smiled at his reflection on mirror.

''Niche sab khane pe intezar kar rahein hain.'' A girl's reflection appeared on mirror beside him.

''Tum!!!!!'' Abhijeet turned to face her.

''Kya bat hai dusri hi mulakat mei ap se tum!'' The girl teased him.

''Bakwas band karo apni!'' Abhijeet marched towards her. She ran behind the bed. Abhijeet kept following her and spoke, '' khet, talaw, kua… dain, bain…''

''Dekho.. weisey atye toh bhi phoch hi jate yaha.. thoda der se hi sahi..''

''Engrezi bolna allow nahi hai…''

''Dekho… sab niche intezar kar rahe hai jaldi chalo niche..'' The girl tried her level best to keep herself away from him.

''Mai tumhe chodne nahi wala samjhi tum… tumhare waja se mai gila ho gaya..''

''Tum hindi toh kafi achi bol lete ho!'' The girl stopped and stood still.

''Baat ko ghumao mat..''

''Arey Abhijeet… naraz ku ho rahe ho! Chalo.. mai mafi mangti hu tumse… Sorry.'' The girl held her ears.

Abhijeet stopped following her. He was surprised with her casual behaviour. She was behaving very friendly, surprisingly. Not like the bride.

''Kaha kho gai?''

''Kahi nahi.. ''

''Ye mat kehna ki tum mujhe bhul gai! I mean tumne Baba ko pehechana toh mujhe bhi toh yaad hona chahiye na!''

That girl… he played with.. in his childhood… did pranks all day.. that curly hair.

''Tarika…'' He said in a flow.

''Mujhe pata tha tumhe jarur yaad hoga.. Gappu ne bola tha tumhe yaad nahi hoga.. Mai shart jit gai..'' Tarika became excited.

''It's good to see you after long.. matlab tumse milke bohot acha laga.. ''

''Hey Mr Canada etni English ati hai mujhe..'' Tarika laughed, ''or seriously gawn mei koshish karna ki English na bolo.. Baba ne mana nahi kia par unhe pasand nahi.. unka manna hai ki ham apne sanskar wagera bhulte ja rahe..''

Abhijeet smiled at her. He found it stupid. Even when his parent's talked about Mahesh uncle's daughter he didn't remember her as his childhood friend. And suddenly he felt burdened cause he had to say no not only his father's friend but also to his friend.

''Abhijeet kaha kho jate ho tum? Chalo nichey chalte hai… or phir sham ko mai tumhee hamare sare dosto se milwaungi… chalo ge na?'' She asked.

Abhijeet nodded.

Tarika smiled and left his room. Abhijeet followed her.

KK: PLZ REVIEW.