#29
Note:- I had written this short OS for Frolic acid's "Playlist drabble OS prompt". I am adding it in this series just to keep a record. Though it is a bit long as compared to other chapters but I am really not willing to alter it anyway.
o-o-o-o
It's not sycophancy but love
Shreya opened the door for him but didn't welcome with that evergreen smile. Daya stepped inside with a heavy heart feeling neglected.
He got freshened up and came in the dining room. She was setting the dinner on the table. Daya was staring at her all the while. She served him the food. Daya was searching some words to break the silence but he saw her leaving from their taking her plate with her.
"Shreya kaha ja rahi ho?" He called her from behind. She stopped to hear him but didn't respond and moved ahead. Daya approached her.
"Shreya please! Aisa bhi kya ho gaya hai ki tum mere sath dinner bhi nahi kar sakti?"
Shreya looked at him with a rigidity on her face, "Because I am not happy with you. I am hurt Daya and I don't feel like having my dinner with you."
Daya sighed, "Shreya come on if you are talking about Jenny...
"Of course I am talking about her Daya. You know she was the only parent for her kids and now they are like an orphan just because of you. There is nobody to look after those little innocent kids because their mother is in jail. They are asking me about their mother, tell me what should I answer them? What pleasure did you get by arresting that woman?" Shreya bursted out in rage and discontent.
"Shreya, she has committed a serious crime. She is a criminal, she is a murderer. Usko arrest karke maine sirf apni duty ki hai." Daya answered calmly.
"Duty duty duty!" Shreya yelped, "just one thing for you! Relations are nothing to you? Sentiments are nothing to you? She was our maid. She had served us Daya. She was like a family. I know that she is not the murderer. Wo kisi ka khoon nahi kar sakti ye aap bhi jante hain na. Those evidences found against her are false. You could have neglected them. You could have been biased because it's nothing wrong in favoring someone we know that is not guilty!"
"Listen to me Shreya, I have sympathies for Jenny and her kids. She is our maid and like a family, that's true but after all I am a police officer and I had to arrest her because I got evidences against her right on the spot. Look Shreya, we are different in nature. Tumhari terah main emotional sentiments me aakar faisla nahi leta. It's not my duty at all to decide whether she deserves a penalty or mercy. Ye court decide karega. I am not a sheriff!" Daya stated it clearly meeting her eyes.
Shreya stared at him for a moment. "And me? Main kuch nahi hu aapke liye? Aap meri khushi ke liye itna bhi nahi kar sakte? You know Jenny ne aapse kuch nahi kaha lekin mujhse request ki, because she knew you love me and you will never refuse me for anything. Maine bhi yahi socha tha ki aap kabhi aisa kuch nahi karenge jisme meri khushi na ho. But I am shocked and I have a doubt that you still love me the same or not?"
Daya stared at her serenely, "Of course I love you Shreya aur pyar me ye jaroori nahi ki meri har khushi me tumhari khushi ho. I never expect you to do everything according to me. You are free to do whatever you like and so am I. Maine wo kiya jo mujhe sahi laga aur agar main sirf ye sochkar apna decision badal deta ki tum khush nahi ho to I am sorry to say but it's not love Shreya. It's called something like sycophancy. It's called servitude. Ji huzoori Karna kehte hain ise, pyar nahi! Try to understand it!" Daya snapped and walked out from there ignoring the food on the table.
Shreya watched him going. Her eyes shedding tears. She too skipped the dinner and moved to the bed.
Daya came and found her lying on the bed facing her back to him. She felt his presence near her and closed her eyes pretending to sleeping. Daya sat on the bed and leaned towards her. He softly moved his hand on her head.
"I am sorry Shreya. Please try to understand me. I love you. Circumstances are not good but it has nothing to do with my love for you. I am still the same guy and my love is also the same. Mujhe tumhe manana nahi aata but iska matlab ye nahi ki main tumse pyar nahi karta. My love is not doubtable Shreya. Having differences in our opinions and decisions doesn't mean we have got a gap between us. I don't know how to keep you happy but all I know that I want a smile on your lips." He said caressing her head lovingly and bent over to kiss her forehead.
The tears escaped from her eyes she was struggling to hold for so long. Daya lay down facing his back to her because he knew she would hate to see his face. Shreya wanted to turn and embrace him but instead of that she preferred to sob silently.
o-The End -o
