CHAPTER 21

shreya was in her room, sitting before the mirror, removing her jewelleries, as she was sleepy and was preparing to go to bed…divya was sitting on the bed and just staring her..

divya: hmm…to matlab tu aaj bhi jeeju se kuch nahi keh payi..

shreya: (removing her bangles) kaise kahu, tu to janti hai, ghar me itne sare mehman hain, jab main akeli hoti hu to wo 4 logo se ghire hote hain, aur jab wo free hote hain to ..main busy ho jati hu..kitni baar koshish ki unse baat karne ki lekin..

divya: to ek kaam karte hain na, kuch karke tum dono ko akele me milwa dete hain..

shreya: mujhe to nahi lagta ki is ghar ,me aisi koi jagah hogi jaha koi na ho..itne sare log hain ghar me to..

divya: umm..phir kya kiya jaye?

Shreya: pata nahi..kab keh paungi main unse..

Divya: don't worry..tujhe apne dil ki baat kehne ka mauka jaroor milega, aur waise bhi..tu tension mat le, jeeju ko achhe se pata hai ki tere dil me kya hai?

Shreya: unhe kuch nahi pata..unki harkato se to yahi lagta hai..

Divya: anyway tu itni jaldi sone kyun ja rahi hai..chal dekhte hain neeche kya kar rahe hain sab log..

Shreya: nahi yaar, mera man nahi hai…main sone ja rahi hu..

Divya: offo! Shreya, chal na, ye din baar baar nahi aate..shadi wale ghar me log itni jaldi sote nahi.

she caught her hand and forcefully dragged her out of the room..as they both came down in the hall..there were all gossiping in a group about the marriage and preparations..the gents were busy in their own discussions..and ladies had their own topics to chat..

Suhana: auntie, haldi ki rasam me kya hota hai..

Pratima: kuch nahi bas, dulha aur dulhan ko haldi lagayi jati hai..

Suhana: I am really excited for tomorrow..pehli baar itne kareeb se kisi ki shadi ko dekhne ka mauka mila hai..

Purvi: don't worry Su, meri shadi ke baad ye mauka tumhe dobara bahut jald milega, daya bhai aur shreya bhabhi ki shadi me..then she spotted shreya and divya coming..

Are ye lo shreya bhabhi bhi aa gayi..

Taniya: are tum dono kaha thi..

Shreya: kuch nahi mom…wo bas kamre me thi..jewelleries utar rahi thi…

shreya said occupying her seat beside her mom..ladies were busy in their conversation when little adi came to tarika..

Adi: mumma..mujhe sona hai..

Tarika: ha to beta jakar so jao na..

Adi: aap mujhe sulaogi nahi to main kaise sounga..

Tarika: beta, mumma thoda busy hain na aap jao papa ko bolo papa sula dennge..

Adi: papa ne bola mumma ko bolo, aur aap bol rahe ho wapas papa ko bolo..aap dono mujhse bilkul pyar nahi karte..kisi ko meri koi fikar hi nahi hai..

Tarika: beta aisi baat nahi hai..achha chalo main aapko sula deti hu..aa jao..

she said and moved with adi to his room..meanwhile daya came there..

Daya: maa…mere sar me bahut dard hai…please jara chumpy kar do na..

Pratima was busy in something with purvi..

Pratima: han, beta ek minute..

Purvi: maa..ek minute bhi nahi, pehle aap mera kaam karo..main to 2 din baad chali jaungi, bhaiya to humesha aapke paas rahenge na, phir jitna marji utni chumpy karte rehna unki, unka sar apni god me rakhke..

Daya: theek hai maa koi baat nahi, bhabhi kaha hai?..

Suhana: tarika bhabhi to adi ko sula rahi hain, daya if you say..main kar du..

Shreya who was sleepy till now became attentive, she looked at both of them..

Daya: nahi Su its okay..tum rehne do..

Daya was about to go, when divya interrupted..

Divya: jeeju..aap ek baar shreya se bhi to puch leejiye..

Shreya looked at divya, who winked at her…

Taniya: han daya beta, shreya hai na, bahut achhe se chumpy karti hai..shreya beta jao na..

Divya whispered to shreya..

Divya: tujhe akele me waqt chahiye tha na jeeju ke sath..ab mana mat karna..

Daya: (looking at shreya) par I think shreya ko bahut neend aa rahi hai..

Shreya stood up immediately

Shreya: nahi to aisi koi baat nahi hai..main kar deti hu..

She was about to go with daya when nikhil came there from nowhere..

Nikhil: waise sar to mera bhi bahut dukh raha hai..shreya mujhe bhi chumpy karwani hai..

Shreya looked at him and then at daya..Divya frowned at him as he was spoiling her plan..

Divya: tum disprin kha kar so jao..shreya free nahi hai, wo jeeju ki chumpy karne ja rahi hai..

Nikhil: tum chup raho..shreya ki chamchi..jab bhi mere sar me dard hota hai to shreya hi meri chumpy karti hai…he came and hugged her from side..meri behan ke hatho me na jadu hai..

Taniya: are nikhil lekin..

Nikhil: mom..aap chup raho han..main apni behan se baat kar raha hu..

Shreya was helplessely looking at daya..

Daya: its okay shreya, tum nikhil ki chumpy kar do..

Nikhil: jeeju please aap na bura mat mano..ab shreya to zindagi bhar ke liye aapki hone wali hai, aap jab chaho chumpy karwa lena, par mujhe to nahi mauka milega na..

All were looking at them and enjoying daya and shreya's expressions..they both were cursing nikhil..but he was fully determined to spoil their chance to spend some time alone..

Pratima: kya soch rahi ho shreya..

Nikhil: aaj dekhte hain ki ek behan ke liye uske bhai ki kya value hoti hai..kyun shreya bol na..kiski chumpy karegi tu..

Shreya looked at him with a tired expression and grabbed his wrist..

Shreya: bas jyada natak mat kar, chal mere sath, karti hu teri chumpy..

and without saying anything more she moved from there with nikhil..pratima turned to daya and looked at his sad face..and could not hide her smile..

Taniya: ye nikhil bhi na, humesha shreya ko pareshan karta rehta hai..

Dadi maa: are koi baat nahi..pratima bahu jao tum hi kar do daya ki chumpy..

Pratima: han..daya, chal..

pratima was sitting on the sofa and daya was sitting on the floor tilting his head backward towards pratima..who was massaging his head..

pratima: ab kaisa lag raha hai daya..

daya smiled sweetly..

daya: bahut achha laga raha hai, meri maa se achhi chumpy duniya me koi nahi kar sakta..

pratima kept masagging his head..

pratima: hmm…waise tujhe nikhil pe gussa aa rahi hogi na..

daya: nahi to..gussa kyun aayega..

pratima: kyun tu nahi chahta tha ki shreya teri chumpy kare..

daya: maa..aisi koi baat nahi hai..pata nahi shreya ko theek se chumpy karna aata bhi hai ya nahi..main to kehta hu achha hua jo wo nikhil ki chumpy karne chali gayi..

pratima smiled and lightly slapped his head..

pratima: achha bachhu! Maa hu teri..sab janti hu..dekha tha maine..tera chehra kaise latak gaya tha jab shreya nikhil ke sath chali gayi..

daya: maa..aap na bas faltu ki baate mat karo..

pratima: faltu ki baate?

Daya: maaaaa..

Pratima smiled at him and kept masagging his head..

Next day

Everybody was getting ready for haldi function…and soon it was performed successfully…purvi was surrounded with lot of ladies..

Woman 1: chalo bhai, haldi ki rasam bhi ho gayi, matlab ab dulha..dulhan shadi tak ek dusre se nahi mil sakte..

Purvi: what! Par wo kyun?..

Tarika: par war kuch nahi..rasam hai nibhani to padegi..

Purvi: okk..but bhabhi video chat ke bare me kya khayal hai..

Tarika: hawww..very smart han..but wo bhi allowed nahi hai..

Divya: offo! Sabar karo purvi..bas ek din ki hi to baat hai, phir to sari zindagi rajat ji ke sath hi gujarni hai..

Suhana: han waise bhi sabar ka phal meetha hi hota hai..

Shreya along with other girls was busy in teasing purvi..when pratima came to her..

Pratima: shreya beta, jara idhar aana..maaji tumhe bula rahi hain, kuch jaroori baat karni hai..tumse…

Shreya: dadi maa…mujhe bula rahi hain..

Pratima: han..aao jara….

pratima took shreya with her and headed towards grandmother's room ..as shreya entered she found daya and her mother taniya were already there..shreya turned to look at pratima who closed the door behind them…shreya became more curious to know what is going to happen, why dadi maa has called her there, what is the matter, what daya , her mother and mother-in-law are doing there..

Shreya: dadi maa..kya baat hai..

Dadi maa was sitting on her bed and daya was sitting on the chair beside the bed..pratima and taniya were standing on either side of the bed..dadi maa smiled at her..

Dadi maa: idhar aao beta, mere paas..

Shreya was confused , she went and sat on the bed near dadi maa..

Dadi maa: tum dono yahi soch rahe hoge na ki pata nahi kyun bulaya hai maine tum dono ko yahan?..

Shreya and daya looked at each other..dadi maa smiled at both of them..

Dadi maa: are chinta mat karo..main tum donno ko daantne ya marne nahi ja rahi hu…

Daya: dadi maa..phir kya baat hai..aapne hum dono ko yaha is tarah se kyun bulaya hai..

Dadi maa: batati hu, batati hu..

Then she signalled something to pratima, who nodded and went towards the big old box placed in the corner of the room, she opened it and took out another tiny box from it , she came and handed over that tiny box to dadi maa..daya and shreya were confused, they were just silently looking at dadi maa..

Daya: dadi maa, kya hai is box me?

Dadi maa: sabar rakh, batati hu…

Dadi maa opened the box , there were some older accessories in it, then dadi maa slowly took out a old paper like thing placed inside the box…it was an old photograph, she kept the box aside, and turned to daya and shreya..

Dadi maa: ye dekho…is tasveer ko, kya tum dono inhe pehchan sakte ho?

Daya took the photograph from her hand..in photograph there was a little baby girl of about 7-8 months lying in her perambulator and a little boy of about 5 years was bending over her and sweetly kissing her cheeks, but the baby was crying loudly.. shreya took the photograph from daya's hand..and looked at it, a sweet smile formed on her lips..

Shreya: how cute..! par dadi maa..ye dono hain kaun..

Dadi maa pratima and taniya smiled at her..taniya came near shreya and pointed at the photograph…

Taniya: ye daya hai aur ye uski Mitthu…

Shreya's expressions changed on this..

Shreya: Mitthu…kaun mitthu?

The three ladies were continuously smiling..

Dadi maa: wo daya se pucho, kyun daya, mitthu yaad hai ya bhool gaye?

Daya was also confused..

Daya: dadi maa..kaun hai mitthu..main nahi janta!

The trio ladies started laughing..

Shreya: aap log hans kyun rahe ho, bataiye na, kaun hai ye mitthu?

Taniya came and sweetly patted her cheeks..

Taniya: buddhu kahi ki, ye tu hai..humare liye shreya aur daya ke liye uski mitthu…

Daya and shreya looked at each other..

Daya and shreya (together): mitthu!

Shreya: ye main hu?

She said looking at the photograph with a beautiful smile on her lips, She took the photograph in her hand and felt like blushing…

Daya: lekin maa, ye shreya ka naam mitthu kaise pada?

Dadi maa: pada nahi, tune hi uska naam mitthu rakha tha!

Shreya looked at daya..he also looked at her..and they both smiled at each other looking into each other's eyes..

Daya: maine? Par kyun?

Pratima smiled and turned to daya..

Pratima: bahut lambi kahani hai iske peeche..

Shreya: kaisi kahani maa?

Shreya said immediately but tried to hide her excitement as everybody stared her..

Dadi maa: han han..batati hu..darasal ..jab tum dono chote the na to humare ghar me ek tota (parrot) hua karta tha..uska naam mitthu tha..daya usse bahut pyar karta tha..humesha khud khane se pehle use khilata tha..aur wo mitthu..wo daya ke alawa aur kisi ke hath se diya gaya khana khata hi nahi tha..daya ne use good morning , good night..aur bahut kuch bolna sikhaya tha..daya usse ghanto baith ke baate kiya karta tha..wo daya ka sabse achha dost tha..

Both daya and shreya were listening dadi maa very attentively..shreya looked at daya with a sweet smile..while daya's eyes were fixed on dadi maa..

Shreya: phir..

Pratima: (sadly) phir ek din, humne dekha mitthu ka pinjra (cage) khula hua tha..aur mitthu usme nahi tha..humne use bahut dhundha..par wo hume kahi nahi mila..hum sab ghabra gaye, humne socha ki agar daya ko pata chala ki mitthu gayab hai to use bahut dukh hoga, kyunki daya usko bahut pyar karta tha..

Shreya looked at daya who was perhaps lost somewhere..then she looked at dadi maa..

Shreya: phir kya hua..

Dadi maa: hum sab isi soch me baithe the ki ab kya kare, ye baat daya ko kaise batayenge..tabhi daya humare paas aaya..

Flashback

Little daya: kya hua dadi maa, aap log aise udas kyun ho?

Dadi maa took little daya into her lap..

Dadi maa: daya beta..mitthu ghar me nahi hai..shayad kisi ne galti se uska pinjra khol diya tha, wo udd gaya…hume chodkar chala gaya..

Daya: dadi maa maine hi khola uska darwaja..maine hi to udaya use..

Dadi maa…daya's mother and everybody else were astonished hearing this..

Pradyuman: kya? Daya beta tumne mitthu ko uda diya, lekin kyun, beta wo to tumhara dost tha na, tum to usse bahut pyar karte the na..

Little daya smiled at his father cutely..and gave a very innocent reply..

Daya: dad, usse pyar karta tha, isiliye to use uda diya..

Pradyuman: par kyun beta?

Daya: dad aapko pata hai..jab kal shararat karne par maa ne mujhe kamre me band kar diya tha..to mujhe bahut rona aa raha tha..aur mujhe bilkul achha nahi lag raha tha..main khel bhi nahi pa raha tha..aur na hi apne dosto se mil pa raha tha jabki mere sare dost ground me football khel rahe the..tab mujhe laga ki, humne mitthu ko bhi to aise hi band karke rakha hua hai na..use bhi aasman me udne ka man karta hoga na..jaise baki birds udte hain..use bhi to apne dosto ke sath khelne ka man karta hoga na..

Dadi maa: aur isliye tumne use uda diya..

Daya: han..maine use uda diya, ab wo kitna khush hoga na..aur main bhi khush hu..

Dadi maa was just looking at his little grandson without blinking..her eyes were filled with tears..Nobody had ever thought about that..and that little innocent kid had actually done such a noble act which many mature people could not even think about that..dadi maa just kissed his forehead and hugged him..

Dadi maa: mera bachha..aisa kaam to tu hi kar sakta hai..usse itna pyar karta tha, ki uske bina ek pal bhi nahi rah pata tha..aur use apne se door kar diya taki wo khush reh sake, bina apni khushiyon ki parwah kiye!

Pratima and pradyuman looked at each other and exchanged a proud look…

Present

Dadi maa caressed daya's hair who simply smiled at her but shreya was busy admiring him with lot of love for him in her eyes…

Pratima: daya mitthu ko bahut miss kar raha tha..aur wo thoda udas bhi ho gaya tha..kabhi kabhi bas chupchap baithkar uske khali pinjre ki taraf dekhta rehta..par kisi se kuch nahi kehta..

Taniya who was silent till now spoke in a low voice..

Taniya; aur usi beech ek din pratima humare ghar aayi..daya bhi sath me tha..tu bas 6-7 mahine ki thi..tu dusre kamre me so rahi thi..idhar main aur pratima baato me lag gaye..thodi der baad daya humare paas aaya aur bola..

Flashback

Daya: auntie..wo shela ro rahi hai…

Taniya: shela? kaun shela beta?..

Daya: wo jo itti choti si hai..he said gesturing his hands to describe her size..

Pratima: achaa..wo shreya..

Daya: han..wahi

Taniya smiled at him..

Taniya: beta uska naam shreya hai shela nahi..

daya tried to pronounce shreya but it was difficult for him, he could only pronounce shela aur shelaya..or something else like that..

daya: maa, uska naam bahut ganda hai..mujhe uska naam bolna bilkul pasand nahi, aap log uska koi chota sa naam kyun nahi rakh dete..

taniya smiled at him..

taniya: achha to ..tu hi bata de kya naam rakhe hum iska jo tujhe bolne me pasand ho..

daya: koi chota sa naam..jaise ki ..jaise ki…mitthu!

Pratima and taniya looked at each other and smiled at his innocence..

Taniya: achha, apne mitthu ko to uda diya, aur ab use miss kar raha hai to meri pyari si beti ko mitthu bana diya han, dekh le pratima tere bete ko, kitna smart hai.

She said pulling his cheeks..

Pratima: bilkul sahi beta..aaj se tum na shreya ko mitthu hi bulana..

Daya: ok..maa..lekin sirf main use mitthu bulaunga, aur koi nahi bulayega..

Taniya: han han theek hai..hum use mitthu nahi bulayenge sirf tu hi bulana..

And they went to little shreya who was crying loudly probably due to hunger..daya went near her and patted her cheeks..

Daya: oh mitthu..mat ro, chup ho ja..main tujhe ghumane le chalunga..

But the little girl started crying more loudly as daya touched her..pratima and taniya looked at each other..

Taniya : kitne pyare lag rahe hain na, ek minute inki ek tasveer le leti hu..

She brought the camera and started clicking some pictures of them..ignoring that the little girl is crying so badly..daya tried his hard to make her quiet..but he was unsuccessful, finally he sweetly cupped her face and kissed her cheeks very lovingly..and taniya captured this beautiful moment in the camera..but shreya was still crying…daya looked up at her mother..

Daya: dekho na maa..jab main rota hu to aap mujhe aise kiss karti ho to main chup ho jata hu, isliye maine bhi mitthu ko kiss kiya par ye to abhi bhi ro rahi hai..

Pratima: beta mitthu abhi bahut choti hai na, use bhookh lagi hai, isliye ro rahi hai…

Taniya: ye le pratima ye camera pakad..main ise chup karati hu…

Present..

No sooner the story finished..shreya turned to red..it was really hard for her to hide her blush..that too when her elders are also there with her…

Taniya: to ab samajh me aaya..daya tujhse bachpan se hi pyar karta aaya hai..tu uski mitthu jo ban gayi thi..

Shreya just hid her face with her palms, dadi maa smiled at her and hugged her, shreya buried her face into her arms..daya was also turning red ..he lowered his head covering his face with his hand..pratima went and hugged daya from side..

Pratima: are ab bas karo tum dono..humse kya sharmana…

Shreya separated but she was still blushing , it was really difficult for her to make any eye contact with daya..

Dadi maa: jab kuch dino baad tu London chali gayi na to, daya phir se udas ho gaya..humesha puchta rehta, mitthu kaha gayi, mitthu kab wapas aayegi…aur hum bas yahi kehte ki teri mitthu jaroor wapas aayegi..maine is tasveer ko bahut sambhal ke rakha tha, ye sochkar ki jab tum dono ek dusre se miloge to ise tumhe de dungi…to bolo kise du ye tasveer..

Both daya and shreya were silent..they were lowering their head, not looking up..

Dadi maa: theek hai matlab tum dono ko nahi chahiye ye tasveer..and she opened her box to keep it back..when shreya instantly spoke..

Shreya: nahi…dadi maa…main rakhungi ye tasveer…she said very innocently..

Dadi maa and everybody looked at her..and then they all burst out laughing on her..she was embarresed..dadi maa..caressed her cheek lovingly..

Dadi maa: ye le..

Shreya took that photograph blushingly, she looked at daya through corner of her eyes who was staring her cutely..

Dadi maa: tum dono ko jab bhi dekhti hu na to aisa lagta hai ki meri umar saalo badh gayi hai…aajkal ke jamane me..jaha bachhe apne maa baap se theek se baat bhi nahi karte..wahi tum dono ne humare har faisle ko na sirf dil se mana..balki puri izzat ke sath apnaya..jab humne tum dono ki shadi kar di thi na bachpan me tab..kai logo ne mujhse kaha ki dekhna ye bachhe bade hokar humare faislo ko nahi manenge..aur na hi is rishte ko nibhayenge..lekin tum dono ne to humse kabhi ye bhi nahi pucha ki maa..dadi maa..aapne humari shadi bachpan me hi kyun kar di, bina humse puche…tum dono ne kabhi iski wajah bhi puchne ki koshish nahi ki..

Daya who was silent till now..gently took grand ma's hand into his..and gently squeezed it..

Daya: dadi maa..kya fark padta hai..wajah kuch bhi rahi ho..hum dono is faisle se khush hain..aap log bhi khush ho, hum sab khush hain..bas aur kya chahiye..

Shreya: han dadi maa..humare rishte ke peeche jo bhi wajah rahi ho..hume usse koi matlab nahi hai…

Dadi maa: main janti hu..beta lekin phir bhi tumhara haq banta hai…sach janne ka..

Daya and shreya looked at each other..

Dadi maa: purvi ki shadi ki sabhi rasme puri ho huki hain..bas ek do din mein uski bidai bhi ho jayegi..aur phir wo ghadi aayegi jiska hum sabko na jaane kab se intejar hai…tum dono ki shadi..

Shreya lowered her head like an ideal would be bride hearing the name of their marriage..daya also felt a little different hearing the name of marriage…

Dadi maa: lekin main chahti hu, ki is shadi se pehle tum dono ko hum wo sachhai bata de, ki aakhir aisi kya wajah thi jo hume 2 masoom bachho ko shadi ke bandhan me bandhna pada..jiska unhe matlab bhi pata nahi tha…aur main janti hu..ki wo sab janne ke baad tum dono ka ye rishta aur bhi majboot aur , aur bhi gehra ho jayega..jo 7 janmo tak bhi nahi tutega..

Daya: dadi maa..aisi kya wajah thi..

Dadi maa..pratima and taniya looked at each other…they all went silent..daya and shreya exchanged glances finding them silent..

Dadi maa: beta..hua ye tha ki….

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A/N: hmm…finally I am there with the new chapter of YRKKH..dont have much time , I just want to clear that I am not ill, I am absolutely fine, don't spread rumors..due to some reasons I had just lost Wi-Fi connectivity in my hostel..the problem is still not resolved…I am posting it from somewhere else..because it was realy getting difficult for me to bear the rewievs saying, get well soon..yaar pls aisa mat kiya karo aap log…

Anyway..not sure about the next update, but please have patience, and stay tuned with YRKKH…

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Aapki

Geet