Chapter 8
A/N: Hi guys. I am sorry and I know its super super late. But my website isn't opening. I did the vpn thing and tried it with a different vpn. Its working a little. But its so risky. I nearly got virus from it in my computer. Bcz of my website being inaccessible, I couldn't post anything, nor reply to any Pm. That's the worst part. If anyone knows how to fix it, please reply in the comment section. I tried many different ways but its always saying connection error. Please help.
...
The doorman didn't smile at him.
That thought plagues Abhijeet during the entire ride up the elevator to his cabin floor. Raju has been his favorite doorman since he started working at the RJ enterprises building. He always smiles and chats with him. But today, he simply held the door open with a stoic expression. Not even a "Salam beta. Aaj ka din kaisa guzra?"
We all have bad days, he guesses.
He, still pass a smile to Raju and avert his gaze hurriedly. He was mingling with his fingers, nervous about being late. He scowled with frustration at himself in the reflection of the elevator door. "Damn my hair - it just won't behave," He thought while waving his fingers in his hair to bring them to normal. He tucked his shirt inside his jeans but he again didn't like how he looks so he again pulled it out. The elevator ride felt like hours.
Finally, the elevator halted, making him more anxious. He walked past everyone but till felt like every eye were on him until he left the sight.
He was going to get seated when a peon came and told him that he is being called by the boss. Alright, it was not the moment to get stressed about it. He walked to his boss's office, desperately needing a glass of water to damp his dry throat. Oh, it's not easy. He made his way to the partially open door and pushed open it.
An old man, dressed in a fine gray suit, white shirt, and black tie with greyish-white colored hair and intense, bright black eyes that regard him shrewdly, was seated on his chair. It takes a moment for him to find his voice.
"Aaj tu tum bahut late ho gaye? His voice was softer, hard to judge whether it was angry or not.
"Who sir, aaj mujhe kuch assignment par kaam karna tha bas isi liye late ho gya. (Hanging his head down) Main aap ko inform karna bhool gaya.
The man straightened himself, closing the file he was reading. He passed him a fatherly smile, relieving some stress from him.
"Main samajhta hoon, tum university mein ho. Kabhi kabahr ho jata hai aisa. University ka kya bharosa bhai. Tum chaho tu aaj ki leave le sakte ho. "He smiled at him affectionately.
"Nahi sir, chutti karni hoti tu main aata hi kyun." He smiled. "I am sorry ke main aap ko inform nahi kar paya."
"Is mein sorry, ko koi baat nahi hai. I know you are a hardworking person and we need fresh minds to achieve our goals."
Abhijeet uttered a small "thank you". He was happy at least someone consider him something. He felt a little gush of happiness running into his veins but he didn't express it, knowing how rare it comes to him. He came back to his cabin to complete his incomplete work.
...
Vibha was sitting in her room sewing a cloth. Her face was having a clear frown while she was, again and again, glancing at the clock. She kept mumbling "itni der ho gayi pata nahi kahan reh gaye?" Suresh entered the room, knowing his mother's nature he knew what it was all about?
"Kya hua?" he still asked.
"Are 2 ghante ho gaye hain, zara sa saman lene market gaye the abhi tak nahi aaye hain. Pata nahi…"
Her sentence remains incomplete as they heard the bike horn. Pradyuman entered inside with grocery bags while Divya and Abhi came behind him.
"Bahut garmi ho rahi hai bahar." Pradyuman spoke with a gasp.
"Bahut der nahi ho gayi tum logon ko (glancing at the little toy car in Abhi hand's) Aur tum ne isse aik naya toy kyun dilaya? (angrily) is ne abhi apni purani car ke sath kahan khela tha sahi se. (Abhijeet hides behind her mother who was holding her tightly) Mujhe pata tah ye dono tumhare sath jayien ge na tu yahi ho ga. (looking at Pradyuman) Tumhien tu pata hai na kitni mushkil se guzara hota hai." She blurted out her anger on the poor soul.
"Choti si car thi aur (Pradyuman tried to say something but he sees no point in arguing so he gestured Divya to go to their room.) Saman dekh li jiye ga sara aagaya hai aur (taking out some money from his pocket) yeh paise bache hain.
"Suno aik aur baat karni hai tumse." Vibha said while motioning him to sit down. "Tumhari behen ka phone aaya tha. Pareshan thi bahut."
"Akshita di ka? Who pareshan kyun thi?" Pradyuman asked in a concerned tone.
"Bhai us ke sasural walo ne tang kiya hua hai. Aur khas tur par jab se us ke pati ko pata chala hai ke tum ne bike kharidi hai, tab se who usse tang kar raha ahi ke usse bhi bike chahiye." Vibha told him angrily.
"Tu who di ko kyun tang kar raha hai?"
"Are take who hamein tang kare. (Emphasizing on) Who chahta hai ke hum usse bike kharidh kar dein." said Vibha
"Maa aap ko pata hai na who bike maine apne paison se kharidi hai. Committee nikli thi aur Divya ki choriyan bech di thin. Aur yeh sab baatien di ko pata hain. Aap un ko samjhayien," said Pradyuman.
"Samjhaya tha. Par rone lagi. Ab tum hi batao main kiya karoon?" said Vibha annoyingly.
"Tu aap batayien mein kiya karoon. Sab kuch aap ke samne hain. (Looking at her) Aap mana kar dein unhien."
"Tum se mana kiya gaya tah jab tumhare bete ne tum se farmayish ki thi khilone ki?
Pradyuman was hell shocked after listening to her mother's statement. He couldn't believe she would compare two drastic situations like these.
"Ab bhai Divya ka tu koi mehka hai hi par meri beti ka tu hai na. Yahan apni pareshaniyaan nahi bataye gi tu aur kahan bataye gi?"
Pradyuman slowly nodded his head and went from there aiming something in his heart
.…….
Pradyuman: Divya samjhne ki koshish karo. Agar mein kuch saal bahar jaa kar kam karlon tu yeh jitne masle hain na yeh sab khatam ho jayien ge.
Divya: Aur jo naye masle kharien ho jayien ge us ka kiya.
Pradyuman: Main kaunsa wahan hamesha ke liye ja raha hoon. 3 se 4 saal ki baat hai bas jab sab kuch settle ho jaye ga main foran wapis aa jaon ga.
Divya: 3 se 4 saal. Kaise rahoon gi aap ke baghair, sab kuch tu aap ke samne hai. Main agar aaj yahan par hoon tu who sirf aap ki wajah se hoon. Aap bhoolien mat ke hamari pasand ki Shaadi thi aur aap ke tamam ghar wale is ke khilaf the. Aur aaj tak unhoon ne mujhe dil se qubool nahi kiya hai.
Pradyuman: Main jaanta hoon, lekin tum meri majboori bhi tu samjho (after looking at her, who was wiping her tears off with the back of her hand) Acha men aik kaam karoon ga. Wahan jaise hi thore bahut paise jama hoon ge, main tumhien aur Abhi ko apne pass bula loon ga.
Divya looked at him with a little hope in her eyes.
Divya: Lekin yeh sab hoga kaise? Matlab mera tu passport bhi nahi hai aur baqi arrangements-
Pradyuman: Tum bas abhi is baat ka kisi se zikar mat karna. Main wahan jaisi hi thora bahut settle ho jaon ga, tumhien foran bula loon ga. Bas abhi tum is baat ka kisi ko kehna mat.
Divya: Theek hai. Lekin (pleading) kiya aisa nahi ho sakta ke aap na jayien. Main bhi job kar loon gi. Hum dono mil kar kaam karien ge.
Pradyuman: Main bahar kyun jaa ha hoon. (Holding her hand) take tumhien aur Abhi ko aik achi zindagi de sakoon. Main tum dono lo koi dukh ya takleef nahi dena chahta.
The tears in Divya's eyes started flowing at great speed.
...
Pradyuman was continuously glancing at the clock waiting for Abhijeet. It was past 10 but still no clue of him. He was going towards Suresh room when the door clicked and Abhijeet entered inside. He was looking tired but as soon as his eyes fell on his father, the expressions on his face changed.
"Beta kahan reh gaye the main kab se intezaar kar raha hun tumhara." Said Pradyuman politely.
Abhijeet ignored him like he wasn't even there and tried to move towards his room.
"Main tum se baat kar raha hoon. Kahan jaa rahe ho?"
"Mujhe aap se koi baat nahi karni." He replied shortly.
Pradyuman took a deep breath. "Dekho main bas itna chahta hoon ke …...
"Aap kiya chahte hain aur kiya nahi, mujhe si se koi farq nahi parta." he said angrily.
"Main yahan aaya tha ye soch kar ke baqi ki zindagi tum logon ke sath rahoon ga. Lekin agar tumhien acha nahi laga tu main wapis chal jaon ga."
Abhijeet laughed sarcastically at this.
"Kya hua?" Pradyuman asked.
"Hasi aagayi aap ke jane ki baat sun kar. (Slowly with tears forming in his eyes) Aap ko tu aata hai an chor ke jana."
He moved past Pradyuman quickly but he saw the tears falling on his face. He felt a sword stabbed in his heart. His heart sank while a sorrowful quiet weep came out of his mouth.