CHAPTER 4
Next Day, Morning -
Shreya was trying to wake him up.
'Daya utho na! 8.30 baj gaye.'
There was no response from him.
She flipped open the curtains and sunlight poured directly onto his face.
'Shreya please sone do thodi der aur wo parda band karo.' he said and covered his face with a pillow.
'Aap aise nahi manenge', she said. She filled a glass full of cold water and forcefully removing the pillow, poured some of it on his face.
He opened his eyes and sat up in bed. 'Shreya ye kya kiya tumne?' he said a bit angrily.
'Main itne dino ke baad aayi hu aur aap so rahe hai! Accha kya aap 2 din chutti le sakte hai bureau se? Mujhe aapke saath time spend karna hai', she said.
'Par main sir se kya kahunga? Tumhare baare me bataya toh sab pagal samjhenge mujhe. Waise kya tum sirf mujhe dikhai deti ho?' he said.
She nodded and pointed towards the mirror.
When he looked, he saw only his own reflection staring back at him.
'Mujhe sachme yakin nahi ho raha hai ki tum yaha ho Ya ye sab ek sapna hai?' he asked.
'Daya ye sach hai. Par mere paas waqt bohot kam hai.' she said sadly.
'Main tumhe kahi jane nahi dunga', he said holding her hand.
She smiled at him but didn't say anything.
'Accha aap ACP sir ko call kijiye', she said.
He called ACP Pradyuman. 'Haan Daya bolo?'
'Sir actually main puchna chahta tha ki kya mujhe aur do din ki chutti mil sakti hai?'
'Daya kya baat hai? Tumhari tabiyat to theek hai na?' asked ACP Pradyuman sounding concerned.
'Actually thoda stressed feel kar raha tha isliye socha ki thodi rest kar lu' said Daya.
'Haan haan koi baat nahi. Tum aaram karo. Baad me bureau chale aana.' said ACP Pradyuman.
He disconnected the call. He hated lying to ACP but he knew nobody would believe him.
Shreya arrived with a cup of hot tea and biscuits.
'Aap jaldi se ready ho jayeye tab tak main breakfast banati hu', she said.
When he came downstairs, a lovely smell wafted his way. She had prepared his favourite French toast, muffins and strong black coffee.
'Wow! Mera favourite menu. Thanks Shreya. Toh kya karna hai tumhe aaj?' he asked.
'Shopping', said Shreya happily.
'Shopping? Tumhe karni hai?!' asked Daya surprised.
'Mujhe nahi aapki shopping karni hai. Uske baad hum lunch karenge aur baad me movie dekhne jayenge. Phir raat ko beach pe jayenge. Aur haan mujhe ice cream bhi khani hai.' she said.
'Thik hai jaisa tum chaho', he said without question. He loved the feeling of being pampered by her.
They finished their Shopping and lunch. He was really enjoying himself and felt good after a long time.
At the movie theatre -
Daya had bought two tickets. It was still time for the movie to begin. The seat next to him looked was vacant to everybody else. And it would have seemed really stupid to talk to void next to him. So he kept quiet. He hoped the movie would start soon. On his other side a man was sitting with his girlfriend. He was observing Daya from a long time.
'Excuse me aapse ek baat kahu? Aap bura toh nahi manenge na?' he said.
'Nahi. Bolo kya baat hai?' he said.
'Lagta hai aapki girlfriend nahi aanewali. Aap intejar karna chod dijiye', he said.
Daya looked at Shreya and smiled.
'Ab kya batau tumhe? Saache pyar ki taquat shayad mere sivay koi nahi jaan sakta iss waqt.'
'Kya matlab?' he asked a bit confused.
'Mujhe jiska intejar hai wo yahi hai mere paas', said Daya.
The other person laughed.
'Janta hoon. Aap yahi kahenge na ki woh yaha nahi par mere dil me hai', he asked.
'Haan sahi kaha tumne. Mera ye manna hai ki pyar ek aatma ki tarah hota hai. Dikhai nahi deta par hum mehsoos jaroor kar sakte hai', said Daya giving him a creepy look. The man glanced at the vacant seat next to Daya warily. He didn't open his mouth to speak again.
Same Day, 9.00 pm -
They were sitting on the beach. Daya was looking at the waves crashing over the huge boulders. His mind was at peace. All his worries seemed to have vanished suddenly. Shreya was unusually silent. She had something on her mind. She wanted to talk to him but she didn't know where to start from.
'Shreya jo bhi kehna chahti ho mujse wo kehdo', he said.
'Aaj kaisa laga aapko?' she asked
'Bohot accha mehsus kiya aaj kai dino baad', he said.
'Daya ye kya haal bana rakha hai apne app ka? Main aapko aise nahi dekh sakti.' she said.
'Sab tumhari galti hai Shreya. Kyu chali gayi itni dur mujhse? Bohot selfish ho tum. Mujhe akela chodke tum chali gayi aur hamare bacche ko bhi saath le gayi'.
He remembered the day when she had broke news of her pregnancy...
** FLASHBACK**
Daya returned home early. It was his birthday. Shreya had planned a very special evening for him.
They went for a romantic dinner date in their favourite restaurant. Later they went to their plush beach house. He held her hand as they walked along the shore.
'Aaj tum kuch alag lag rahi ho', said Daya looking at her.
She blushed. 'Matlab kaise?' she asked.
'Nahi pata. Par aaj kuch to hua hai. Kya baat hai Shreya? Batao mujhe', he said.
'Kuch baat nahi hai. Bas bohot khush hu aaj', she said.
'Accha mera birthday gift kaha hai?' he asked
'Thodi der me mil jayega. Daya main thak gayi hoon. Kahi baithte hai', she said.
'Okay. He led her towards a hammock. They lay on it in each others' arms watching the moon and the stars. They talked about their work, recalled their happy memories.
After sometime Shreya said, 'Apni aakhein band kijiye. Mujhe gift dena hai aapko'
Daya closed his eyes.
Shreya searched in her bag and took out a small gift wrapped box and placed it in his hand.
He unwrapped it and took out a huge coffee mug with 'Happy Birthday Daddy' written on it.
He stared at it stunned. He looked at her. 'Shreya sach?' he asked.
She nodded smiling. His joy knew no bounds. He hugged her tight. 'I love you. Sabse special b'day gift mili hai mujhe aaj. Sirf tumhari wajah se.'
He pulled her to him and kissed her passionately. Later he gently caressed her stomach and kissed her belly. 'Jaldi aa jana. Ab intejar nahi hota', he said softly. She smiled.
'Daya abhi bohot time hai. Sirf first month hai'
'Haan bohot wait karna padega mujhe', he said sadly.
'Waise mujhe beti chahiye', they said in unision.
Daya smiled. 'Ab toh jaroor ek pyari si princess hi aayegi hamari zindagi me', he said kissing her nose.
'Aur ab iss princess ko bhi toh apna khayal rakhna hoga', he said.
'Aap ke hote huye kya ho sakta hai mujhe?' she asked him.
'Kuch nahi', he said kissing her forehead.
**FLASHBACK OVER**
Both had tears in their eyes. 'Kyun kiya tumne aisa? Jawab do mujhe', he said.
'Daya main bohot miss karti hoon tumhe. Par ye sab hamare haath me nahi hota', she said.
'Wo mujhe kuch nahi pata. Main tumse bohot naraz hoon bas', he said with childlike adamance.
'Daya please...' she said.
'Aur ab jab main sab bhool chuka tha tab tum phirse wapas aa gayi mujhe phirse akela chodne ke liye', he said.
'Kya bhool chuke ho aap? Daya kya lagta hai aapko main aapka dard nahi janti? Mujhe pata hai aapko dard chupana acchi tarah se aata hai. Raat raat aapko neend nahi aati. Har roz Bureau se late ghar aate hai. Aur sochiye aapne kisise bhi kaam ke alava koi bhi baat ki hai? Abhijeet sir kitne hurt hote honge jab aap aise behave karte hai. Aapko nahi lagta aap galat kar rahe hai unke saath? Unhone har waqt aapka saath diya hai bina koi sawal kiye. Lekin aap unse apna dukh share nahi karte. Unse jyada baat nahi karte. Aise behave karke aap unki insult kar rahe hai. Apni health ki taraf bilkul bhi dhyan nahi hai aapka... Aur...' she was saying.
'Shreya ye sab karne ke liye tumhe hona chahiye tha mere saath.' he said and just hugged her.
'Mat jao Shreya please. Kya tum nahi chahti hum saath rahe?' he asked.
'Daya I love you. Par main chahkar bhi aisa nahin kar sakti. Mujhe bohot takleef hoti hai. Main iss duniya ki nahi hoon.' she said.
'Kyu? kya problem hai? Hum abhi jaise hai waise hi rahenge hamesha. Aur main kisiko nahi bataunga tumhare baare me', he said.
She looked away. Tears stung her eyes. She wished she could stay forever with him. But that was not possible. Suddenly a thought came to her. It was the only way she could think of to get him out of his suffering. She would convince him no matter what.
