Flashback Scene:
Tarika was at the office room doing the formalities necessary for taking Neha with them. She was still in a trance - she could not realize which is happening around her is reality or not! After completing those works she was about to go back to Neha's room - but just after turning around she stopped. She took out her phone - her eyes were moist - but it does not need a clear vision to dial the most habituated number quickly with her trembling fingers...
One... Two... Three...
Rigs are going on!
"Hello-", finally the awaited voice replied in a very low tone, "Baat kya hai? Tumne iss waqt phone kia – sab thik to hai na? Abhi thik hai? Tum – tumhe kuch hua to nahi na? Tum chup kyun ho? Hua kya hai?"
Tarika: Daya – wo – wo - main – mujhe –
Daya: Haan bolo na, kya hua hai? Koi problem hai? Main aa jaun?
Tarika: Nahi nahi – Sorry mera matlab hai, haan aa jao – par apna kaam khatam –
Daya: Par tumhari awaz se mujhe kuch thik nahi lag raha hai – tum please batao mujhe kya hua hai!
Tarika: Koi hai tumhare aas paas?
Daya: Nahi – main tumhara number dekhte hi bahar chala aya – hua kya hai Tarika? Please tell me –
Tarika: (broke into tears) Daya – wo – main uss home me – maine bataya tha na tumhe – Yahan mujhe ABHI – mera Abhi –
Daya: (deep fast breadth)…
Tarika: Tum sun rahe ho na Daya – humara Abhi – mila mujhe – Daya – wo – wo – zind—(could not complete – sob)
Daya: (pause)… (a completely different voice)W-wo thik hai? (sigh)
Tarika: (pause) Tum jaldi se ghar aa jao Daya –
Daya: Main 2 ghante me pahuch jaunga – tum – tum – sambhalke – usse – matlab – wo –
Tarika: Daya – tum aa jao – wo intezaar kar raha hai ek saal se - tum bas aa jao –
The call disconnected. Tarika wiped off her tears and made her way towards the room.
Flashback ends…
Tarika was going to open the door – when she was caught by her wrist –
Tarika looked at Abhi questioningly, Abhijeet averted his gaze from hers.
Abhijeet: (Very low tone) Usse pata hai?
Tarika: (loking directly at Abhijeet – deep straight tone) Tum mujhe kahan mili wo maine bataya – aur wo bhi ek CID officer hai Abhi – aur sab se badi baat wo DAYA hai –
Abhijeet did not utter a single word just lowered his head.
Few seconds later – the person entered – Abhijeet was sitting straight on his wheelchair – his face was expressionless except his eyes – those glittering eyes were able to speak thousands even when he remained silent like a grave!
Both of them were staring at each other – no one spoke a single word…
The few feet distance between the two seemed like thousands of miles…
Nt a word, not even a drop of tear… the whole room was silent like that before the storm! Tarika came near Abhijeet and took Abhimanyu from his arms – right at that moment the baby cried hard – that deadly silence broke into pieces! The two of them stirred out from their thoughts! "Chup – chup Abhi please - " Tarika was pacing up and down into the room and tried to calm him down, "Abhi dekho – dekho chup ho jao -"
The kid paused for a moment – he turned towards Daya – and thank GOD he identified his favourite figure and stopped.
Daya moved a little bit towards him – Abhijeet's heart beat became more and more faster –
Daya came there and stood just in front of Abhijeet. Their eyes were still not even blinking.
Daya: (Low deep tone) Itna - itna paraya bana diya hume?
Abhijeet immediately lowered his gaze.
Daya: Ek baar – Abhijeet – bas ek baar yehi keh dete ki tum zinda ho – Kaafi tha utna hi – Ek baar bhi tumne yeh nahi socha ki kya beetega hum par?
Abhijeet: Main janta hun Daya – (Abhijeet tried to hold his hand)
Daya: (jerking off his hand) Kya – kya jante ho tum, haan? Kuch nahi jante ho! Kabhi jeeye ho kisi apno ka maut ka bojh lekar!
Abhijeet instantly looked at him – his eyes were full of pain – just then – Daya, after looking at those hear wrenching gaze, immediately understood what he has said!
Daya: (now bending to him, tears were rolling down) Hum mar rahe the Abhi – har pal – har lamha –
This time Abhijeet did not reply – he just took him into a soothing hug – and let him shed all the tears he had stored since that day!
After a few moments they separated. Daya looked at Tarika who was still standing there with a teary smile on her face.
Daya smiled at her and spread his hand to take Abhimanyu – who willingly jumped into his open arms!
Abhijeet: (smile) Tujhe achche se pehchanta hai ye!
Daya: (trying to free his nose from little Abhi's grip) (unknowingly) Boss – tumhara hi beta hai!
The moment he heard that "Boss" from his mouth, he felt how much he was longing for this single word…
Smile spread on all the three faces!
Hours passed….
All of them gathered around the dining table. Daya already met our new family member – and as expected made a new friend!
Around the table, it was Daya and Neha at one side and Abhijeet and Tarika were at the opposite side.
Daya: Arre tu to bada intelligent hai!
Neha: So to main hun – aap koi aur riddle puchho na please?
Tarika: Neha – abhi uncle ko khane do – aur tumhe bi to bukh lagi hogi na – tum bhi shuru karo –
Daya: (to Abhijeet) main ye to nahi puchunga ke tumne kuch bataya kyu nahi – bas itna zaroor janna chahunga- ek baar bhi mann nahi kiya ke aake mil lu?
Abhijeet averted his gaze.
Neha: Wo to humesha karta tha uncle – aur tabhi to usne uss diary lekar ke baith jate they –
Abhijeet looked at Neha with shocked expression! Daya's eyes were filled with tears… Tarika pressed her hand on Ahijeet's hand.
Abhijeet: (almost self talk) Main kisi ki zindegi me aise bojh banna nahi chahta tha! Aur mujhe pata tha – tum logo ko agar yeh pata chalein to tum mujhe kabhi jane nahi donge – aur khud bhi iss aag me jal kar –
Tarika: (interrpting) Ek minute Abhi – tum – tum yeh sab kya bole jaa rahe ho tab se haan? Yeh bojh – wagera wagera –
Abhijeet: Aur nahi to kya? Ab to zindegi hi –
Tarika: (Strong) Dekho Abhi, tum kya soch rahe ho ye to mujhe nahi pata, Par jis Abhi ko main janti thi wo to kabhi maut se bhi nahi dare – aur tum zindegi se dar rahe ho? Aur rahi baat bojh bankar jeene ki – Abhi – main doctor hun, main samajhti hu ki tum CID officer to nahi ban paoge – par iska matlab yeh to nahi ki zindegi yehi khatam ho jaye?
Haan kuch kami hai, hum sab mein kuch na kuch kami hote hai – Kya tum nahi chahte ki Neha – humari beti bhi ekdin kuch banei – apna ek pehchan banaye? To phir?
Abhijeet looked at her with shock!
Tarika: (looking at Neha) Maa hun Neha ki, main chahti hu ki wo bhi ek doctor banein aur kayi sare zindegi ka ummeed bane –
Neha's eyes were now glistening…
Tarika: (to Abhijeet) Aur tum inspiration ho uski – pata hai Abhi – yaha kitne saare log hai jine rah dikhane ke liye bas kisi ka sahara chahiye – kitne sare bachche hai – jinke pas school jane ke liye bhi paisa nahi hai – ya phir kaam se fursat nahi! Zindegi me hum jisse gham samajhte hai na, shayad wo kuch bhi nahi –
Daya: Haan Abhi, Tarika sahi hai – tum kabhi yeh mat sochna ke tu ab kisi cheez ke liye quabil nahi raha – Abhijeet, sach to yeh hai ke zindegi ek bureau se kaafi bada hai! Tarika ko hi dekho – ab wo kaha wo forensic expert rahi? Phir bhi wo jeer ahi hai na?
Tarika: Aur believe me Abhi – kaafi shanti hai aise jeene mein! Zindegi itni si baat ke liye theherti nahi –
Abhijeet was all silent while he was listening keenly to their talks! Suddenly he felt an unknown sooth inside his heart! Life is not so small - Nothing is ended. Nothing – a new sun will rise again – and he will live… He will live for them – for the world – which still needs him…
He looked at them finally and smiled – a smile of new hope, new determination to move along with life…
A/N: Finally ended the story. No I could not include the romantic moments as I was requested, but I think you will manage with it.
From the starting of this story – the thing I wanted to say - I finally said those in this last chapter. Whenever we think, there is a dead end – there is not! If we are on this earth, we are needed…
LIVE AND LET LIVE….
With love,
Abhirikafan.