"I should not have done that!"- He screamed in mind.
"Deepak bohot achha ladka hai, meri izzat karta hai, isliye kuch kaha nehi mujhse! Lekin agar woh yeh poochta, ki aapko kyun itni chinta ho rahi hai, aap kis haq se yeh sab kah rahe hain, toh kya jawab deta main?"
FLASHBACK:
Daya pressed the door-bell of Shreya's apartment, but due to power-cut, it did not ring.
Hesitating a little, he pushed the door, and it was open. So he entered.
The hall was dark, and no one was there. Daya stood there for a few seconds, not sure what to do, then he noticed that the kitchen light was on. So he moved there.
Shreya was there, in the kitchen, standing on a chair, trying to reach the loft. The chair was in such position, that anyone could tell that she would fall in any moment. Standing at doorstep, Daya was shocked to see her like this!
Daya- Shreya!
Startled, Shreya turned quickly, and then, a number of incidents followed in fraction of a second.
1st, the chair slipped beneath her feet, and she was about to fall.
2nd, before she would fall, Daya ran, and caught her by waist.
3rd, in reflex action, she threw her arms around his neck, and hugged tightly.
Next moment, both of them noticed that he was holding her close to his chest, one arm under her knees, the other embracing her waist. Her arms were around his neck and she leaned on the broad chest.
No eye-lock followed. Both were extremely embarrassed noticing the situation. Moreover, a painful sensation in back, reminded Daya, that he was no bollywood hero, nor in his young age anymore! Carrying someone in bridal style, for a long time, was really difficult now, no matter how special she was to him!
He put her down carefully, and helped her to stand properly.
Daya (anxiously)- tum thik toh ho na?
Shreya (not looking at him directly)- uh… haan sir, main thik hoon!
Daya – par tum kar kya rahi thi?
Shreya- main woh… main kuch dhoond rahi thi…
Daya- is tarah? Shreya, Aapne aapko kya tum Jyoti ke umar ki samajhti ho? Abhi pichle hafte bathroom mein gir gayi thi tum, pair ka chot abhitaq puri tarah thik nehi hua! Aur aaj…
Shreya- sir, mujhe kuch nehi hua! Main toh bas…
Daya- kya? Kuch ho jane ka intezaar kar rahi thi kya? Aur yeh sab kaam tumhe karne ki kya zarurat hai? Jyoti aur Deepak kahan hain?
Shreya- Jyoti ghar pe nehi hai sir! Aur Deepak aapne kamre mein hi hai, par…
Before she could complete the sentence, Daya moved out from the kitchen, calling Deepak.
Deepak came almost running, and he was surprised to see Daya.
Deepak- Daya uncle! Aap kab aaye?
Daya- bas abhi abhi! Yeh batao, tum kahan the?
Deepak- main toh aapne kamre mein hi tha uncle. Yeh, (showing his new smartphone) itne sare apps, games aur musics hain is mein ki, iske sath toh time kahan se nikal jati hai, pata hi nehi chalta!
Daya (clearly irritated)- yeh hi toh problem hai is generation ki! Yeh smartphone, internet, social networking site, bas in sab mein hi aapni duniya basa lee tumlogon ne! aare, iske bahar bhi ek duniya hai, is virtual world ke bahar, tumhare aas-paas real log bhi rahte hain, woh yaad bhi hai ya nehi? Pata hai, Shreya ka aaj ek accident ho jata! (for the first time, he mentioned her as Shreya, instead of 'tumhari maa', to Deepak. He did not notice that, but Deepak did) pair mein chot hai iske, phir bhi chair par khadi hoke loft se kuch nikal rahi thi! Woh toh achha hua ki main aa gaya, (he stopped for a second) warna aaj agar gir jati toh fracture hona sure tha!
Deepak (shocked)- Kya! (to Shreya) maa, aap thik toh hain na?
Shreya assured him with a smile, but that irritated Daya even more.
Daya- ab poochne ka kya faida? Mujhe toh yeh samajh mein nehi aa raha ki, ise yeh sab karne ki kya zarurat hai? Tum madat nehi kar sakte the? Itna bhi dhyaan nehi rakha jata tumse?
Deepak- nehi uncle, aisi baat nehi hai! Mujhe toh pata hi nehi tha ki maa…
Daya- pata hoga bhi kaise? Mujhe safai dene ki zarurat nehi hai Deepak! Tum khud socho ki tum kya kar rahe the! Tumhare aas-paas kise kya ho raha hai, usse tumhe koi farq padta hai kya? Tumhare liye toh smartphone hi sabse zyada important hai, hai na!
Now Shreya was also irritated.
Shreya- aap aisa kyun kah rahe hain sir? Deepak aisa nehi hai, mera bohot dhyaan rakhta hai yeh! Waise bhi, aaj agar mujhe kuch ho jata, toh sabse zyada toh ise hi pareshani hoti! Doctor, hospital sab kuch ise hi dekhna padta!
Daya stopped. All of a sudden, he realized what he was saying, and to whom.
Daya (in low voice)- sorry, main ne kuch zyada hi bol diya! After all, it's your family matter! Waise mujhe bolne ka koi haq nehi, par…
Now Shreya also realized her mistake.
Shreya- nehi sir, aap galat samajh rahe hain! Mere kahne ka woh matlab nehi tha! Main bas yeh kahena chahti thi ki aap jaisa soch rahe hain, waisa nehi hai! Actually…
But Daya was not in the mood to listen.
Daya- it's ok Shreya. Main samajh sakta hoon!
Shreya (helpless)- aap nehi samajh rahe hain sir! Hua yeh ki…
She was interrupted by Jyoti's call.
Jyoti- maa! Darwaja kholiye!
Shreya- haan beta, aa rahi hoon!
She opened the door, and Jyoti entered with a big box in hand.
Jyoti- arre, Daya uncle! Aap aa gaye! (to Deepak) yeh kya? Tum bahar kyun aaye? Tumne promise kiya tha na, ki jabtaq hum nehi bulate, tum bahar nehi aaoge?
Deepak- haan, par main…
Jyoti- this is cheating Deepak! Ek to tumne pahle hi humara sara plan barbad kar diya! Upar se aapna promise bhi toda! That's not fair! (to Daya) dekhiye na uncle!
Daya (confused)- par Jyoti, baat kya hai?
Jyoti- arre haan, main toh batana hi bhul gayi! Uncle, aaj Deepak ka birthday hai. Toh main ne aur maa ne uske liye ek choti si surprise party arrenge karne ka socha tha! Lekin (glaring at Deepak), inke policewala dimag ne pahle se hi humara sara plan pakad liya! (making a face) phir jab hum dono naraz ho gaye, toh isne wada kiya ki jabtaq hum party ki sari taiyari nehi kar lete, yeh aapne kamre se bahar nehi aayega! Par…
Daya was really feeling guilty now. As the lights were now on, he noticed how beautifully the hall was decorated!
Shreya- arre, light aa gayi! Chalo achha hua! Jyoti, cake le aayi?
Jyoti- haan maa. Chaliye, is par candles laga dete hai!
Shreya- haan, chalo.
Daya- ek minute Jyoti! Tumne jab mujhe phone kiya, tab yeh kyun nehi bataya ki aaj Deepak ka janamdin hai?
Jyoti (smiling)- bas aise hi! Socha aapko bhi thoda surprise de diya jay!
Daya was about to say something, but Jyoti left saying, "ek minute uncle! Maa bula rahi hain!"
Now Daya and Deepak were alone. After a few moments of silence, Daya took a step towards Deepak, put a hand on his shoulder and said softly, "Happy Birthday beta! And sorry! Puri baat jane bina, mujhe aisa nehi kahena chahiye tha!"
Deepak- uncle please! Aap mujhe sharminda kar rahe hain! Waise bhi, aapne jo bhi kaha, woh bilkul sahi tha. Aaj ki baat alag thi, lekin main smartphone mein kuch zyada hi addicted ho gaya! Yeh thik nehi hai!
Daya (faint smile) phir bhi, aaj tumhara birthday hai, main koi gift bhi nehi laya, aur upar se itna daant diya, woh bhi bewajah!
Deepak looked directly in his eyes, and said with a strange smile, "nehi uncle! Aap nehi jante, aaj aapne mujhe zindegi ka sabse khas tohfa de diya!"
Before Daya could understand what he was saying, Jyoti called them, "Deepak! Daya uncle, jaldi aayiye! Cake katne ka waqt ho gaya."
FLASHBACK ENDS
Daya still did not get the meaning of his words. But he was not worried about it. Only thing he was concerned about was, 'did they understand anything?'
The realization, he was trying to deny so long, hit him like a bolt of lightning that day. He could no more deny the fact, that he was still in love! The separation of so many years, could not change that! And he was afraid that, what if other people also know about it?
But why was he so afraid? Was he ashamed of his feeling? Actually, he was! Because he should not feel like this! He knew he should not. He did not have control on his feelings, but at least he could control his actions. And he would. He would not let anyone know about it. One wrong movement from his side would have negative impact on many other lives. He would not let that happen.
He did not expect anything from life anymore. If he was destined to bear only the pain of love, he would. But not Shreya! he would not disturb her settled life again.
His trail of thought was broken by the ringtone of his mobile. Deepak's name was flashing on the screen.
Daya somehow composed himself, and said in normal tone, "haan Deepak, bolo."
Deepak- uncle, abhi aap free ho kya?
Daya- haan, matlab… kyun? Tumhare ghar pe kuch hai kya? Agair aisa hai toh, sorry haan, main nehi aa sakta! Aaj mujhe kuch zaruri kaam hai.
Deepak- nehi uncle, woh baat nehi hai! Main yeh kah raha tha ki, aap zara maa se baat kijiye na!
Daya (bit startled)- tumhari maa se? kyun, kya hua? Sab thik toh hai na?
Deepak- actually, aap toh jante hain ki mera Police Academy ka training ab pura hone mein zyada waqt nehi hai. Mujhe ek assignment diya gaya, jise pura karne ke liye mujhe kal Mumbai se Kolhapur jana hai, aur agle din sham taq wapas aake report karna hai. Lekin maa mujhe jaane nehi de rahi hain!
Daya- kyun?
Deepak- kyunki is waqt train ya bus ki koi bhi ticket mil nehi rahi! Isliye mujhe by car jana padega. Mere ek dost ne mujhe aapna car diya jaane ke liye, lekin pichle kuch dino mein us highway pe bohot accidents ho rahe! So, maa nehi chahti ki main khud wahan se drive karke jaun!
Daya- oh, toh tum cab se chale jao!
Deepak- uncle, main ne koshish kee thi cab book karne ki! Lekin un accidents ke waje se hi koi bhi cab driver ajkal us raste se jana nehi chahte! Par uncle, aap please maa ko samjhaiye! Mera jana bohot zaruri hai, aur mujhe kuch nehi hoga! Agar yeh assignment main pura nehi kar nehi paya, toh shayed mujhe aur 6 mahina ya ek saal is Police Academy mein rahna padega!
Daya (hesitating a little)- accha, tum aapni maa ko phone do!
Soon after, he heard her voice from other side, and suddenly found his mouth bone-dry. With some effort, he managed to say, "hello Shreya!"
Shreya- haan sir, boliye!
Daya- Shreya, Deepak ko kyun rokh rahi ho? Uska jana zaruri hai…
Shreya- main janti hoon sir, par woh rasta safe nehi hai! Aur uske paas driving license zarur hai, lekin main janti hoon ki uska hath thik se set nehi hua abhitaq! Itna lamba rasta, main use akele nehi chod sakti! Aur na hi uske sath jaa sakti, kyunki abhi mujhe office se chutti nehi milegi!
Daya- Shreya, itni chinta kyun karti ho? Kuch nehi hoga use! Aur dekho, jo zindegi woh apnane jaa raha hai, us mein toh har paal khatra hai!
Shreya- woh alag baat hai sir! Lekin jahan khatre ko avoid kiya jaa sakta hai wahan jaan-bujhke khatra mol lene ki kya zarurat hai? Nehi sir, use chahe 6 mahine aur training period kyun na continue karna pade, main use aise nehi jaane dungi! Use medical ground dikhake yeh assignment cancel karwana hi hoga!
Daya could hear that Deepak was trying to protest, and an argument was going to happen between mother and son. He thought for a moment, and decided what to do.
Daya- ok, listen! Main kya kahta hoon, Deepak ko akele jaane ki zarurat nehi hai! Main uske sath chala jaunga.
Shreya (surprised)- aap sir?
Daya- haan, kyun? Koi problem toh nehi hai na?
Shreya- arre nehi sir! Isse achhi baat toh ho hi nehi sakti! Par aapko koi taqleef toh nehi hogi na?
Daya- Shreya please! Itni formalities ki zarurat nehi hai! Tum bas Deepak se kah do, ki kal subah mere ghar aa jay. Meri car toh hai hi, usi se chale jayenge.
Shreya- ok sir. Thank you so much!
Daya (smiling)- good night Shreya!
Shreya (smiling)- good night sir!
Call cut from both ends.
Daya (to himself)- yeh achha hua! Mujhe yeh pata karne ka mauka mil raha hai ki, Deepak ke mann mein mujhe aur Shreya ko lekar koi shaq ya koi bhi baat hai, ya nehi! Agar hoga, toh main use kisi tarah samjha dunga ki, aisi koi baat nehi hai! Bas uski galat-fehmi hai.
Little did he know, the journey of Mumbai to Kolhapur, or Kolhapur to Mumbai was going to change his mind, his life, his little world, his everything!
A/N- sorry for late update friends. This chapter was also written in hurry, don't know it's up to the mark, or not!
Thanks to all my readers and reviewers for your support.
Please read and review.