Chapter 5

A/N: Hi guys. Sorry for being late. I was busy in my new university things. But here is the new update. Thank you so much for your precious reviews and to silent readers too.

Ok now have a happy reading.

The writing in italic is flash back and no one is imagining them. I will tell what happened in the past side by side. The writings in bold are also flashback but the person imagining them will be mentioned there.

Now no more bak bak. Enjoy...

…..

Flashback

It was a normal middle-class household. Everyone was sitting at the table as the food was already served in front of them. Vibha who was sitting there while sewing something was having some food along with Suresh. while Pradyuman was waiting for Divya to come. Pradyuman was sitting with little 3-year Abhijeet on his lap, who was continuously trying to get his attention towards his paper plane.

Pradyuman: (lovingly) Wow, yeh kiya banaya hai mere bete ne?

Abhijeet: (cutely) Mein ne nahi, mama ne banaya hai.

Pradyuman: (softly) Bahut piyara hai. (Squishing his cheeks) Bilkul mere gudde jaisa.

Meanwhile, Divya came with hotpot in her hand. She smiles listening to their conversation.

Pradyuman: Are Divya kahan reh gayin thi. Sab intezaar kar rahe the tumhara?

Divya: (while putting the pot down) bas aane wali thi. Maa ji ke liye roti daal rahi thi. Unhien garam roti pasand hai. Bas isi liye.

Listening to this, Vibha jerked and sat straight while leaning towards them with an angry face.

Vibha: (looking hatefully towards Divya) Aye meri baat suno, ye mujh ghareeb par malba dalne ki zaroorat nahi hai. (Gritting her teeth) Mat daala karo mere liye rootiyaan. Aake beth kar yahan kha liya karo khana.

Divya shared a hesitant look with Pradyuman who was looking at her helplessly. She took a deep breath and spoke

Divya: (tentatively) Nahi maa ji mera who matlab nahi tha. Main tu bas ye…

But she abruptly stops as Vibha showed her hand to make stop speaking. Divya lowers her head sadly without saying anything. Abhijeet hides more in Pradyuman in fear.

Suresh who was drinking water suddenly choked on it. He in irritation looked at the glass and spoke

Suresh: Are maa ye kya garam pani itni garmiyoon mein. Is ko pi kar tu mujhe heat stroke ho jaye ga.

Vibha angrily: Are tu jab shaam mein bike le kar nikle the tab bola tah an ke kharid kar le aaya na baraf…... Par nahi…... Pure sheher ka chakkar kaat aaye par baraf na laye. Ab piyo garam pani…... (telling with hand gestures) Aaj mein Malika ki taraf gayi thi. Unhoon ne abhi hi naya fridge kharida hai aur aik naya Ac bhi. Dil hi nahi chah raha tha ke wahan se wapis aaon.

Suresh: Un ke paas bare paise aa rahe hain. (In a mocking way) kahin chori chakari tu nahi shuru kardi.

Vibha: (shaking her hand) Are nahi bhai. Un ka bara beta London chala gaya hai na. Duniya badal di hai us ne apne ghar waloon ki.

Pradyuman and Divya were listening to her quietly. They didn't say anything because it was a routine for Vibha to whine about their wealthy condition. Pradyuman knew well about her habit but he used to stay quiet because whenever he tried to say something she always mocked him saying "tum ne pasand ki shadi karli. Beta hai tumhien kyun hamari mushkilaat samjh aayien gi." This sentence used to hurt him a lot. After the death of his father, his first priority in his life were his mother and brother. He started doing the job at a very early age leaving all his desires behind.

Vibha looked at him and said in a cheesy tone: Pradyuman, (rolling her eyes) Tum kyun nahi chale jate bahar. Suna hai wahan foreigners ko bahut achi jobs offer hoti hain.

Pradyuman eyes widened listening to her suggestion. Divya didn't even want to imagine life without him.

Pradyuman: Maa ji mein aise kaise jaa sakta hoon sab kuch chor kar.

Vibha: (angrily) Haan bhai tum tu kahin hil bhi nahi sakte in ke baghair.

This rose the anger bar in Pradyuman. He angrily stood up with Abhijeet in his hands and went towards their room.

…

Pradyuman was sitting on his rocking chair on the balcony. Abhijeet words were ringing in his head.

"Kabhi aap ne pichle 20 saloon mein mujh se pocha ke meri khuwahishat kiya hain"

"Apne bete ko tu lekar gaye ho gain na ap?"

"Jab mujhe aap ki zaroorat thi tab aap yahan nahi the. Aur ab maine aap ke baghair rehna seekh liya hai."

One thought led to another and in a while, he was sitting there thinking about something he possibly didn't notice at that time. He stood up and went towards Vibha's room. She was sitting there with Suresh pressing her legs. Looking at him, Vibha frowned a little, remembering their last conversation while Suresh passed him a nearly dead smile.

Pradyuman while sitting on a chair: Woh main kuch pochne aaya tha. (Vibha darted her gaze towards him) Abhi aap ne thori der pehle kaha tah ke aaj na tu koi office khula hota hai na hi university. Tu Ye kiya Abhijeet job dhoond raha hai?

Vibha looked hesitated with the question while Suresh looked worried with the sudden conversation.

Vibha: Nahi who job dhoond nahi raha hai…woh …. (Pradyuman raised his eyebrows, desperately waiting for a response). Woh job karta hai pehle se hi.

Pradyuman: (nearly shouted in anger) Who job kar raha hai? Par kyun or kab se? Us ko zaroorat kiya hai job karne ki.

Vibha: Shant ho jao. Batati hoon. (Rolling her eyes) Bhai hum ne tu usse kaha par who hamari sunta ho tab na? Bas usse to apni hi karni hoti hai.

Pradyuman: (Pressing his forehead with his hand) Kab se kar raha hai who job?

Suresh: (Hesitantly) 4 saal ho gaye hain.

Pradyuman: (shockingly) 4 saal ho gaye hain aur aap logon ne kabhi mujhe bataya nahi. Main paise bhejta tu tha us ke liye phir kyun who job kar raha hai?

Vibha: (playing the victim card) Bhai hum tu usse keh keh kar thak gaye par who kahan sunta hai. Jab ke usse jab bhi zaroorat hoti hai hum usse de dete hain. Phir bhi who apni karta hai.

Pradyuman: Aik minute … jo paise main us ke liye bhijwata tha who aap us ko nahi detein? Who paise tu main us hi ke liye bhijwata tha na?

Vibha looked alarmed due to the sudden slip of words from her mouth She instantly tries to think about an excuse but failed.

Vibha: Are kiya karte tumhien bata kar? Tum rok lete kiya jo paise us ke liye bhejta ho. Bhai us ke kaam hi aate na. bas isi kiye nahi bola.

Pradyuman: (angrily) Kiya matlab maa ji. Aap logon ne usse kabhi who paise nahi diya jo main us ke liye bhejta tha. Kiya sochta ho ga who ke main us ke liye kuch nahi bhejta? Shayad isi wajah se who job karne laga itni kam umar mein.

Vibha: Are bhai…

But her sentence remains incomplete As Pradyuman marched out of the room angrily closing the door with a bang.

Suresh (hissed): Dekh rahi hain aao bhai ki taiwer? Ya tu unhien kisi cheez ka khayal nahi tah ya phir ab itne baap ban rahe hain.

END