Tere Mere Dil
...Indeed the press was surrounding the building Tarika lived in. Abhijeet was careful enough not to be seen by any of them. Somehow he reached the spare exit of the building and got into. He was really hoping Tarika wasn't mad at him. He was wishing she hadn't gone through a lot. The press could be so insisting he knew.
He rang the bell twice but no one answered. In all this he never stopped calling Tarika though her phone was switched off.
Nidhi opened the door after a while.
"Tum yaha kyu ai ho iswaqt?? Kisine dekh liya toh! Just go away."
"Nidhi please. Mujhe bas Tarika se milna hain. Please."
"Abhijeet why don't you try to understand? It's not the right time."
"Who's this Nidhi?" Tarika came there asking. She looked at Abhijeet and fumed in anger. "Tum! Tum yaha kya kar rahe ho?"
"Tarika... let me in Please."
Tarika nodded at Nidhi and she let him in.
"Tarika you are okay?" Abhijeet was worried.
Tarika looked at Nidhi and she excused herself from there.
"Abhijeet tum yaha kyu ai? Agar kisi ne tumhe yaha dekh liya toh?"
"Tum- tumne newspaper para?"
"Haan... TV pe news dekhne ke baad para..."
"Dekho Tarika.. Ye Reeta bohot hi faltu ki journalist hain. Kuch bhi chapti hain. Remember maine kaha tha ki ek journalist rehti hain mere building mein. Ye wahi hain. Isiliye main usdin... Oh Gosh!! Phir bhi yesab ho gaya!" Abhijeet slapped his forehead. "I know this is too much for you."
"Tum pani piyoge?" Tarika asked calmly.
Abhijeet stopped realising he was panicking way too much.
"Nahi... Thanks. "
"Sit."
"Tarika tum.."
"Abhijeet, have a seat." Tarika insisted.
Abhijeet sat down on sofa. Tension was clearly visible on his face.
Tarika sat opposite to him.
"Mujhe hamari parents ki chinta ho rahi hain." Tarika was worried.
"Un.. unhe keisey pata chalega?? Matlab wo toh village mein hain."
"Tumhare parents keisey react karenge?? Coz unhe toh pata chalna hi hain.. mere gharwalo ko pata chala na chale."
"Un.. Unhe main samjha dunga. Aur uncle... Tum jayada stress maat lo."
"Mujhe jayda stress toh tum le rahe ho." Tarika smiled lightly.
"Wo..." Abhijeet loolek down. " Mujhe laga tum gussa ho gai hogi..."
"Tumne thori chapwaya... Ye Reeta mujhe mili thi hospital ke bahar ekdin. Stalking kar rahi thi sayad."
"Hospital ke bahar? Kab?? Tumne mujhe bataya kyu nahi?"'
"Tab main usey nahi janto thi... wo toh abhi jab usey dekha toh pata chala."
"You look very calm."
"Hyper hoke kya ho jaiga? Tum bhi na." Tarika smiled.
"Tarika main kabhi tumhe kisi pareshani mein nahi dalna chahta hu. Mere waja se koi tumhe ulta sidha bole I cant tolerate."
"Unke kehene se main thori weisa bana jaungi Abhijeet? Tum jante ho mujhe. Main janti hu mujhe. That's enough. Mere baba ko bhi mujhoe bohot bishwas hain. Haan sayad aspas ke logo ke taney sunne pare unhe par... ham kar bhi kya saktey hain."
"Tarika yelog tumhare bare mein bohot ulta sidha likhenge."
"Tumhare bare mein bhi toh likhenge."
"I don't give a damn."
"Me too. Let's not think about it okay."
"I can't understand how can you be so calm."
"Abhijeet, snacks?" Nidhi came there with a plate of snacks and sat beside Tarika.
"No Thanks."
"Abhijeet, relax. Just have it. Main pani lekar ati hu."
Abhijeet's phone rang. It was Sarah.
"Tarika..." He stood up. "Pani ki koi jarurat nhi hain. Abhi mujhe jana hoga. Is Reeta ki news paper ki toh main.."
"Abhijeet, don't be rush..." Tarika said.
Abhijeet cooled down. Tarika didn't need to know what he's gonna do with that freaking journalist and her newspaper.
"Okay okay. You be safe. Kahi bahar maat jana. Ho sakey yoh do din ki chutti le lo "
"Abhijeet, main aur Nidhi kaal Delhi ja rahe hain."
"Delhi?"
"Haan.. actually mere dimag se hi nikal gaya tumhe batana. Kuch papers ke liye."
"Par aise mein keisey?"
"No problem Abhijeet. Ham bas jainge...college se papers lenge aur sham ke hi train se wapas ajainge..."
"Train?"
"Haan.. flight ki return ticket nahi mila "
"Tarika tum..."
"Abhijeet its fine."
"Haan Abhijeet. Bohot urgent hain. Aur main bhi toh ja rahi hu. Kuch nahi hoga " Nidhi explained.
"Okay." Abhijeet said reluctantly.
He bid them good bye and left. Tarika called his father and talked sometimes. She wanted to know if he knew the news but it didn't seem so. Sighing in relaxation she started packing her bag with necessary items for tomorrow's journey.
Tarika left Mumbai next morning with Nidhi. Abhijeet had sent a car for them to drop them at airport. Tarika was worried about him. She could feel his temper but she didn't knew how to make him calm. His and Reeta's conflicts seem old and serious. She decided to look into the matter when she would come back.
Abhijeet had charged the news paper in multiple section. But that only was making the news more viral. He was never so worried about what media wrote about his personal life. He didn't give a damn. But he couldn't take what they had written about Tarika. He was also worrying how their parents gonna react.
He was thinking to go to airport to see of Tarika when his phone rang with his father's number.
"Baba.. "
"Abhijeet... tum abhi aoge gaw." His father demanded.
"Abhi? Par baba..."
"Mujhe koi arguements nahi chahiye. Aur Tarika ko bhi sath laoge "
"Tar.. Tarika toh Delhi chali gayi Baba."
"Kya?? Tumne ussey aise situation mein Delhi jane hi keisey diya?"
"Usey jaruri kam tha. Uski friend bhi gai hui hai. Baba.. mujhe apse baat karni hain "
"Main newspaper par chuka hu.. mujhe tumse baat karni hain."
"Baba... jeisa likha hain newspaper mein weisa kuch nahi hain..."
"Mujhe apke karname pata hain Mr Abhijeet Kapoor."
"Par Baba.. I swear.. ap Tarika ko toh jantehi hain... wo.. "
"Dekho Abhijeet... Tumhari Maa tumpe bohot gussa hain. Aur Mahesh toh kuch bol hi nahi raha.."
"Mahesh uncle ko keisey pata chala.. Baba ap..."
"Tum bas jaldi ajao... main phone rakhta hu."
"Ji.. thik hain baba."
Abhijeet cursed his fate. He was glad that Tarika wouldn't be there. He could have stopped Tarika but he decided against it and moved out with his jeep towards village.
Hours later when he reached to the enterance of Tarika's house at village he could listen the high pitched voice of Tariks's uncle. Abhijeet went inside and stood beside his father silently. His mother refused to look back at him.
"Chori ko Mumbai bheja.. Delhi bheja... toh aise karname ke khabar chape gehi na... ab toh keh rahi hain usey bidesh jana hain.. waha jake kya karegi uska toh pata nahi... desh mein hi yesab karte phir rahi hain.." Tarika's uncle taunted.
"Lakhan..." Mihir tried to talk to him.
"Ap kuch nahi bolenge bich mein bhaisab. Aphi ke bete ne behlaya hoga hamare full jeisey bachi ko.."
"Aplogo ko apne khud ke beti pe bharosa nahi?" Abhijeet finally spoke, a bit harshly.
"Abhijeet! Jab bare baat kar rahe ho toh bich mein nahi bolte." Mohini snapped.
"Ye log kuch bhi bol rahe hain hamare bare mein.. aur main sunta rahu.."
"Ab toh sirf ham hi bol rahei hain.. kal toh pura gaw kahega. pura saher kahega." Lakhan shouted
"Bahar wale hosla nahi torte.. hosla toh apne hi torte hain uncle ji." Abhijeet stated.
"Abhijeet beta tum..." Mihir came to his son.
Mahesh was silent totally.
"Yelog kuch bhi bol rahe hain baba... main toh chalo kal ka aya hu... mujhe keh de jo marji... par Tarika ko nahi jante yelog? Phir uske bare mein kya anansanab bakey ja rahe hain?" Abhijeet said in rough voice.
"Betiya ghar ki izzat hoti hain.. aur aise bhare bazar mein uske nam pe kuch bhi chap de akhbar wale aur ham chup rahein??" Lakhan was furious.
Abhijeet was about to taunt him back but he noticed Mahesh was sweating a lot.
"Uncle... ap thik hain?" Abhijeet ran to him.
"Mere sine mein bohot Dard..." Mahesh uttered with difficulty holding his left side of chest
"Bhai... tu thik hain... abhi Dr ko bulata hu main.." Lakhan got panicked, "Gopal.. Gopal... ja jaldi se Dr ko lekar aa "
"Mujhe lagta hain inhe heart attack araha hain. Hame jaldi se hospital le jana parega inhe " Abhijeet suggested
"Kya! Heart attack?? Koi Tarika ko phone karo... Gari... gari nikal ta hu main..." Lakhan was panicking a lot. Mahesh's pain was getting worse.
"Uncle ap shant ho jaiye... Main hu na.. Mere pass gari hain. Ham chalte hain inhe leke Dr ke pass." Abhijeet said
"Par Abhijeet. yaha gaw ka hospital.. khamakha time ki barbadi... main toh kehta hu direct mumbai leke chalte hain " Mihir suggested from his friend's side.
"Baba.. intezam mein time lagega.. tab tak yaha jo hai dekh lete hain na." Abhijeet said.
Abhijeet instructed everyone what to do. They took Mahesh to the village health complex in Abhijeet's jeep. Meanwhile Abhijeet called Sarah.
Half an hour later the doctor declared it was a massive heart attack indeed, blocking more than 70% of its blood supply after doing ECG and other tests being available in that remote area. He needed to be shifted soon.
Lakhan and other family members got panicked. They tried to call Tarika but her phone was switched off as she wanted to avoid calls from media.
"Air ambulance bas atahi hoga." Abhijeet informed them.
Mihir gave him a proud look and Mohini hugged his son for his prompt decision.
"Air ambulance... etni jaldi??" That's all Lakhan could utter in shock.
"Haan... maine ghar pe hi phone kar diya tha. Thankfully pass hi helipad hai toh helicopter land kar sakta hain. We need to move uncle fast. " Abhijeet explained.
Lakhan wanted to hug Abhijeet right away but he controlled
"Aur haan.. aplog sayad Tarika ka phone try kar rahe honge. Par uska phone off hain.. media walo ne bohot pareshan kar rakha hain kal se usey. Main uske room mate ke jariye usse contact karta hu aur usey jaldi se Mumbai lane ka intezam karta hu. Ap sab chinta maat karo. Necessary jo bhi saman hain jaldi se pack kar le "
Soon they left for mumbai. Lakhan accompanied Mahesh in air ambulance while the other left in road transport.
When Abhijeet reached Mumbai's hospital with his parents Lakhan informed them Mahesh had been shifted to HDU and they are not allowed to meet him. The doctor said he needed an immediate angioplasty. He was too weak to undergo a bypass surgery then.
"Tarika kyu nahi hai yaha... mujhe toh yesab pata bhi nahi thik se.. kya bol rahe hain yesab." Lakhan was worried.
"Uncle... Ye Mumbai ka best Cardiac hospital hain. Apko chinta karne ki koi jarurat nahi. Aur Tarika bas atehi hogi."
Mihir Supported Lakhan.
Sarah came there running with her phone. Abhijeet took her to a corner.
"Kya hua?" He asked her assistant.
"Sir, ap Baat kijiye.. ye larki toh.. I mean.. meri baat nahi maan rahi."
Abhijeet took the phone.
"Hello Nidhi?"
"Abhijeet tum? Mujhe laga ye larki jhut bol rahi hain... you know.. the media."
"Its okay. Mujhe apne number se hi phone karna chahiye tha. Par main busy tha isliye Sarah se keh diya."
"Acha.. kya hua? Achanak se.."
"Tumlogo ka kam ho gaya?"
"Haan... bas nikal hi rahein hain college se."
"Tarika ko phone do."
"Haan ye lo.. wo agayi..." Nidhi handed the phone to Tarika.
"Haan Abhijeet bolo."
"Tarika suno... college se nikaltehi tumhe ek black colour ki Marceedez dikhegi."
"Haan dikh raha hain."
"Good. Tum aur Nidhi usmein beith ke abhi airport jaogi."
"Par Abhijeet hamara return ticket nahi..."
"Tarika do as instructed. Airport mein jaogi toh waha Sarah ne sab intezam kar diya hain. You are coming Mumbai from a private jet."
"What? But.. kya hua? Etni harbari mein kyu.. Kuch hua hain kya?"
"Nahi bas..."
"Abhijeet please, don't lie to me."
"Wo actually... Mahesh uncle..."
"Kya hua Baba ko?" Tarika cried almost.
"Tarika relaxed. Abhi wo stable hain. Heart attack aya tha unhe."
"Heart attack... "
Tarika was in shock. Seeing her condition Nidhi took the phone and asked Abhijeet what's the matter. Abhijeet explained her everything. Nidhi told him not to worry, she would take care of Tarika and cut the call.
Abhijeet informed everyone that Tarika would reach Mumbai soon. Lakhan thanked Abhijeet.
"Beta... tumne bohot madat ki hamari... pata nahi keisey kar patey ham yesab... "
"Uncle keisei batein kar rahein? Main paraya thori na hu. Mahesh uncle ki chinta mujhe bhi toh hogi na."
Lakhan nodded.
"Ab aur Parul chachi hamare ghar jake aram kar le... Main hu yaha pe."
"Nahi.. pehle Tarika ajai. "
Abhijeet didn't force them.
At night Tarika rushed into the hospital with Nidhi. She ran to her uncle.
"Chachu.. baba keisey hain?? Etna sab kuch ho gaya aur main yaha nahi thi... " Tarika cried to see her father.
"Tarika beta relax. Ab Mahesh bhai sahab stable hain." Mohini consoled him.
Tarika relaxed a bit.
She went to talk to the doctor and returned back after a while being informed that they could save his father only due to the prompt action taken by their family. His attack was massive. Tarika scheduled the angioplasty next morning without any delay and came back to inform her family. Lakhan seemed satisfied with the decision taken by Tarika.
"Ab ap sabko thora aram karna chahiye." Tarika said.
"Main toh tab se hi keh raha hu." Mihir said.
"Tu pura din bahar thi.. tu jake aram kar le." Lakhan said to Tarika.
"Chachu main thik hu. Main rukti hu na yaha."
"Nahi main nahi jane wala yaha se."
"Acha, ek kam karte hain. Lakhan yaha reh jata hain. Tarika tum aur Parul chalo hamare sath." Mahesh suggested.
"Main Chachu ke sath rukti hu." Tarika protested.
After much arguements they decided Lakhan and Tarika would stay.
Before leaving Parul moved towards Tarika.
"Khayal rakhna apna."
"Haan chachi."
"Abhijeet dikha nahi.. jab se tum ayi ho..."
"Haan.. main bhi wahi soch rahi thi.. kaha gaya wo."
"Ajaiga..."
"Haan.." Tarika nodded.
"Abhijeet ne aj bohot madat ki hamari. Agar wo na hota toh... usi ne etni jaldi jaldi sab manage kiya. Bohot acha larka hain wo."
"Haan Chachi.. sach mein." Tarika's eyes teared up.
Parul narrated her the whole incident. Tarika knew half of them but listening the entire thing from Parul left her spellbound.
"Ab main chalti hu... Tere chacha ka dhayan rakhna." Parul left with Mihir and Mohini.
Outside they met Abhijeet.
"Tu kaha chala gaya tha?" Mihir asked.
"Wo baba... office mein urgent kam agaya tha. Ap sab ja rahe ho?"
"Haan.. Tarika aur Lakhan hain ander."
"Acha thik hain.. Good night."
Abhijeet moved inside. He was on corridor when he noticed Tarika. Tarika noticed him back and ran towards him. Abhijeet stopped.
"Tarika tum..."
He couldn't finish. Tarika hugged him. He could hear her sobbing. He wrapped his arms around her slowly. His grips weren't firm. He could feel her heart beats. Though he wanted her to keep hugging him like that for the rest of the night he needed to separate her. He didn't want her uncle to see them like that. That man was too much.
"Thank you so much. Thank you." Tarika whispered.
She broke the hug, wiping her tears.
"Tarika, ye toh mera farz tha." Abhijeet said. "Tum meri jagah hoti toh tum bhi toh yahi karti na. yesab maine tumhare liye nhi kiya. Mahesh uncle mere liye bohot matter karte hain."
Tarika nodded.
"Phir bhi thank you."
Abhijeet smiled.
Lakhan came there and Abhijeet left for his home giving necessary instruction. He didn't want to but Tarika insisted. Abhijeet also thought to have a nap before morning. Next day he would take the shift letting Tarika relax.
Next day the angioplasty went well. Mahesh's condition got better and after three days he got discharged. Tarika wanted to take her father to her apartment but Mihir didn't let her.
In all this they didn't get time to dig in media's matter but they were highlighting AbhiRika everyday.
The elders were talking in hall room. Abhijeet was watching them from first floor's corridor. He was in deep thought. He knew their parents were talking about their marriage.
"Abhijeet..." Tarika came there.
"Tum gayi nahi abhitaq?" Abhijeet thought she had left.
"Nahi... bas jane wali hu." she had night shift.
"Tumhare chacha chachi kab jane wale hain?"
"Wo kal subha hi chale jainge."
"Aur Mahesh uncle "
"Main unhe apne sath rakhne wali hu..."
"Wo yaha bhi reh sakte hain." Abhijeet said.
"Main yaha etna ana jana nahi karna chahti Abhijeet." She looked down. "Mujhe logo ke bato se fark nahi parta... par Baba ko parta hain."
"Wolog hamari shadi ki baat kar rahein hain." Abhijeet informed her.
"Janti hu. Chachi ne kaha..."
"Tumne unhe bataya nahi..."
"Kya batana tha?"
"Tumhara degree... phd ke bare mein?"
Tarika shook her head.
"Par Kyu?" Abhijeet was surprised
"Kya faida Abhijeet!"
"Tarika tum.. apna future istarah barbad nahi kar sakti..."
"Main Baba ko taklif nahi dena chahti Abhijeet."
Abhijeet looked at her, totally disappointed.
Tarika couldn't take his constant gaze on her. She turned to leave but Abhijeet held her wrist.
"Tarika... we need to talk "
"Mujhe late ho raha hain."
He turned her around.
"Main shadi ke liye na karun?" He asked.
"Tum mujhse shadi karna nahi chahte?" She asked, her voice teary.
"Chahta hu. Bohot hi earnestly chahta hu. Par istarah se nahi Tarika."
"Main sayad tumse bohot jayada mang rahi hu Abhijeet... par please shadi ke liye na maat karna. Mere liye toh hargiz nahi. Kyuki mere liye mere Baba se barkar or kuch nahi hain. Main janti hu wo mujhe samjhenge par mere jane ke bad ye log unhe sunatehi rahenge... main risk nahi lena chahti. Maine bohot kam umar mein apne maa ko kho diya hain Abhijeet... Baba ko khone ki himmat nahi hain mujh mein. Meri shadi karwake agar wo khush rahenge toh wahi sahi." Tears were continuosly flowing from her eyes.
Abhijeet wanted to wipe them away but a strange kind of anger was residing inside him. He couldn't decide on whom he was angry, on himself or on Tarika.
Tarika looked at him with hopes in her eyes that he would understand her but all she could decipher was disappointment.
"Abhijeet please.. " she pleaded. "Dont think about me much. You love me right? Phir problem kya hain? And you are the best life partner I could ever have." She gave a forced smile.
Abhijeet turned away. He didn't want to talk. He knew his words gonna just hurt her. He bent forward a little keeping his hands on the railing
Tarika's phone rang.
"I need to leave."
He nodded.
"Bye."
"Driver tumhe chor dega."
Tarika nodded and left. Abhijeet banged his hand on railing.
AN: Another cliff hanger! Seems like problem never gonna stop chasing our Abhirika, right? Don't want to give a spoiler so no precape. But you can leave your guesses on comment section. How do you think abhirika will manage this situation?