CHAPTER - 2
[ MANAALI ]
While walking to school,Indira and Maahi stopped in front of a temple.Every year,since last 8 years,on Maahi's birthday,Indira comes and prays here.She comes here other days also but,Maahi's birthday,she never misses to come here,no matter how much she is busy or no matter,if it was raining or something like that.The priest on seeing both of them smiled broadly.Indira and Maahi greeted him.He blessed them and said to Indira,"Jeeti raho beta.Bhagwaan tumhe sukhi rakkhe.Aaj is bachchi ka janamdin hai na?"Indira smiled and nodded her head.The priest asked Maahi,"Jaao beta andar jaake bhagwaan se aashirwaad le lo."Maahi made a face and said,"Aapke bhagwaanji se meri katti hai.Vo bilkul achche nehi hai."Indira scolded her,"Maahi aisi baate nehi karte beta."The priest smiled and asked,"Achcha?Vo kyu bhala?"Maahi said,"Kyuki aapke bhagwaanji se main hamesha ek hi cheez maangti hu par vo to meri baat sunte hi nehi hai.Isiliye main unse gussa hu."Saying she puffed her cheeks and folded her arms.The priest laughed out loudly.Indira was so embarrassed.Seeing this,Maahi angrily said,"Main jhut nehi bol rahi hu aur naahi mazaak kar rahi hu.Main sachchi mein unse baat nehi karungi."Indira grinned,"Ye sab kya ho raha hai Maahi?"The priest stopped Indira and said,"Aaj jaake bolo,aaj vo tumhaari baat zarur sunenge kyuki aaj bohot shubh din hai.Aaj unse jo bhi maangogi aaj vo saari muraad zarur puri karenge.Jaao jaake unka aashirwaad le lo."Maahi thought for a moment and agreed in such a way as if by agreeing,she is doing some kind of favour to the priest.She went towards the idol and joined her hands.She said,"Main to aapse hamesha ek hi cheez maangti hu ke mujhe mere papa se milwa do,par aap to kabhi meri baat nehi sunte.Abhi panditji ne kaha ke aaj bohot shubh din hai aur aaj hum jo bhi maangenge,vo puri ho jaayegi,isiliye hi aayi hu,varna to aapko pata hi hai ke maine aapse katti ki hui hai."She then made a very sweet and innocent face and said,"Please bhagwaanji is baar mere papa ko mujhse milaado na.Main na aapse promise karti hu ke agar is baar mujhe mere papa mil gaye na to main aapko yahake sabse best halvaayi ke yaha se asli desi ghee ke laddoo khilaaungi."She winked at the idol and walked back to Indira.She said to the pandit,"Vaise to aaj maine aapke kehne par bhagwaanji se baat kar li hai lekin kahi agar aapki baat galat nikli na to main unke saath saath aapse bhi katti ho jaaungi."The priest raised both his hands and said,"Arey baapre nehi nehi,dekh lena is baar tumhaari dua zarur puri hogi."Maahi smiled and went out of the temple.Indira apologized,"Maaf kar dijiyega panditji.Bachchi hai,isiliye aise.."The priest smiled and said,"Nehi beti,ye bachchi to bohot pyaari hai aur bachcho ki yehi maasumiyat to sabko pyaari lagti hai."Indira thanked him and left with Maahi for school.
Indira teaches in the same school where Maahi is studying.She did it for two reasons,firstly she told the principal everything about Maahi and Sameer,so that there is no problem regarding Maahi's admission in the school,since in every school,Maahi's father's name will be asked.Secondly,if such kind of inappropriate situation occurs also,Indira will always be there to save Maahi from all these troubles.The principal is the only person to know about Sameer and she is a very nice and understanding person and requested all the staffs not to raise this topic ever in front of Maahi.During the recess,in school,Maahi was playing with her friends,after having her lunch.Sneha was Maahi's best friend.She always used to help and stand by Maahi,whenever she is alone.Naina,the richest girl of Maahi's class always used to boast of her wealth and status and loved to show off.Her father is a rich timber merchant of the locality.Since Maahi was a bright student of her class and also very sweet by her nature,Naina never liked her and was very jealous of her.She never left any single opportunity to insult her.Naina's father brought her a new doll which was very costly.She was showing it to her all the classmates.Maahi was also looking at it.Suddenly Naina's eyes fall on her and she said,"Arey Maahi dekho ye mere papa lekar aaye hai,achchi hai na?But mujhe na tumhaare liye bohot bura lagta hai kyuki tumhaare paas to papa hai hi nehi jo tumhe itne achche achche dolls laake denge."Maahi angrily said,"Mere papa hai aur zarur aayenge aur mere liye dher saari dolls bhi laayenge aur dekhna vo sab kuch tumhaare waale se laakh guna achcha hoga."Naina sarcastically said,"Tumhaare papa aayenge aisa to tum hamesha kehti rehti ho,par vo to kabhi aate nehi.Meri mummy kehti ke tum sabse jhut bolti ho asal mein tumhaare papa hai hi nehi."She then started mocking her,"Maahi jhuti hai,Maahi ke papa nehi hai."Everyone started repeating after Naina.Tears started piercing out of Maahi's eyes.She folded her lips.Sneha now shouted at everyone,"Chup karo tum sab log.Bohot ho gaya.Hamesha tum sab log aise hi usko pareshaan karte rehte ho,uska mazaak uraate rehte ho.Kyu?Kya bigaara hai isne tum sabka?Tum log saare bohot gande ho."She then looked at Naina and said,"Aur tum,tum apne doll ko lekar khush ho na?To hamesha Maahi ke peeche kyu pari rehti ho?Jab dekho tab usko tang karti ho.Main tumhe warn kar rahi hu,agar tumne phir se kabhi Maahi ko tang kiya na to main tumhaari complain principal mam se kar dungi."She looked at Maahi and found that she was sobbing.She moved towards Maahi and said,"Tu ro mat Maahi,mujhe pata hai,tere papa tujhe jald hi mil jaayenge aur koi is baat ko maane ya na maane,main maanti hu."Maahi wiped her tears and ran to Indira.
Indira was in the staff room,when Maahi came running to her.She was very scared to see Maahi like that.She just threw herself in Indira's arms.Indira hugged her tightly and asked,"Maahi,beta kya hua,kyu ro rahi ho?"Maahi didn't say anything.Indira at last picked her up in her arms and went outside.She gave her time to cool down and continued patting her back.Maahi after sometime,stopped crying and Indira then put her down.She kneeled down before her and asked,"Ab mummy ko batao,kya hua?"Maahi replied,"Mummy dekho na vo Naina hai na,usne phir se mujhe papa ke naam pe chiraaya.Vo bolti hai ke mere papa nehi hai.Aap hi bataao kya aisa kabhi ho sakta hai?Is dunia mein sabke papa hote hai,aapke bhi hai,Sneha ke bhi hai,mere saare dosto ke bhi hai,to mere bhi to hai na.Ha vo alag baat hai ke vo kho gaye hai,par kahi na kahi pe to hai na.Aap bolo na jaake unko mummy ke vo log mujhe aise na bole,ya phir mujhe papa ka address do,main unko vaha jaake le aaungi aur sabko kahungi ke ye hai mere papa.Bolo na mummy,mere papa hai na?"Indira hugged her tightly and wept.She said to herself,"Tu bohot lucky hai Maahi,ke kamsekam tu roke,gussa karke apna dard bahaar to nikaal sakti hai,par main to vo bhi nehi kar sakti.Mujhe apna saara dard isi tarah se ek ghut mein pee jaana parta hai,sirf tere liye."Indira wiped her tears and broke the hug.She said,"Mera pyaara bachcha,rote nehi hai beta.Tum in sabke baato par dhyaan mat do,ye sab to tumse jalte hai,isiliye aisi baate karte hai,kyuki tum is dunia ki sabse pyaari waali angel ho na.Just ignore them.Vo log tumhe jaanbujhkar gussa dilaane ke liye aisa kehte hai."Indira wiped her Maahi's tears and said,"Jaao,abhi class ka time ho raha hai na."Maahi nodded her head and went away.
Indira got up and looked at Maahi going away.Suddenly,someone put her hand on her shoulder.She turned and found,it was the Principal,Mrs.Aarti Gupta.She asked,"Aakhir kabtak aisa chalega Indira?"Indira wiped her tears and gave her a confusing look.Aarti said,"Is tarah se Sameer ke wajud se Maahi ko anjaan rakhna,kya ye uske liye thik hai?Vo bari ho rahi hai Indira.Aaj jo sawaal vo maasumiyat se puchti hai na ekdin yehi sawaal tumhaare liye zeher ban jaayega.Apne papa se dur hone ka uska vo dard tumhe mehsus nehi hota?"Indira said,"Main jaanti hum mam,main sab samajhti bhi hu.Lekin main kya bolu usey?Kaise sab samjhaaungi main?Ye sab samajhne ki umar uski nehi hai."Aarti said,"To maine kab kaha hai ke tum usey apni beeti zindagi ke baare mein bataao,usey Sameer ke baare mein to bol hi sakti ho na.Ek taraf tumne khud usey Sameer ka naam diya hai aur dusri taraf tum hi usey uski asli pehchaan se dur rakh rahi ho."Indira replied,"Maine aisa isliye kiya taaki Maahi ko koi najaayaaz na kahe.Main apne upar aane waale har tufaan ko jhel sakti hu,sab kuch bardaasht kar sakti hu lekin koi meri bachchi ko laawaaris kahe vo mujhse sehen nehi hoga."Indira continued,"Aur aapko kya lagta hai mam,mera dil nehi karta usey Sameer ke baare mein bataane ka,kya main nehi chahti ke vo har us normal bachche ke tarah apne ma-baap ka haath pakar kar chale.Main chahti hu,par..par main kya karu jis insaan ne mujhe dhoka diya,mujhe nehi apnaaya,vo meri beti ko apnaayega,kabhi nehi aur main nehi chahti ke main jis dard se guzri hu aur aajtak guzar rahi hu,vo sab usey bhi sehna pare.Maine Sameer ke vajah se sab kuch kho diya,apna ghar,parivaar,apne ma-baap sabko chorke main yaha aa gayi,Maahi ko janam diya,usey apne jeene ka maksad banaa liya aur aap keh rahi hai ke main usey apne ye saare zakhm dikha kar uska bachpan cheenlu,nehi mam,hargiz nehi.Main uski maasumiyat khone nehi dungi chaahe mujhe iske liye saari umar Sameer ka sach usse chupaana hi kyu na pare."Aarti said,"Par kahi agar baad mein sachchai jaanne ke baad usey tumse is baat se nafrat ho jaaye ke tumne ussey ye sachchaai chupaai to kya karogi tum?Jab ek bachche ka apni ma par se bharosa uth jaata hai na to vo is dunia mein aur kisipe bharosa nehi kar paata."Indira looked at Aarti with a kind of determination in her eyes and said,"Maine ab kal ke baare mein sochna chor diya hai mam.Mere liye jo hai mera aaj hai,mere liye vahi sach hai aur sach yehi hai ke mera aur Maahi ka ab bas ek hi pehchaan hai ke vo meri beti hai aur main uski ma."Saying she went away.Aarti looked at her way and said to herself,"Main jaanti hu ke Sameer ne tumhaare saath jo kiya galat kiya par ye zindagi bohot choti hai Indira.Bhagwaan kare ke tumhe tumhaare zindagi ke us karve sachchai se dubaara kabhi rubaru na hona pare.Par vo jo bhi karte hai bina matlab nehi karte aur agar unhone Maahi ko tumhaari zindagi mein bheja hai to vo ek din apne ma-baap ko milaane ka zariya zarur banegi,tum dono ke rishte ke us toote huye dhaage ko zarur jodegi aur usdin faisla Indira Sharma ko nehi ek ma ko lena hoga."She smiled and returned to her room.
[ DH , DELHI ]
Sameer returned from office in the evening.He took a shower and after that he joined his parents in the drawing room.Rajshekhar asked,"To kaisa raha aaj ka din?"Sameer replied,"Achcha tha dad aur hume aaj ek naye project ka proposal bhi mila hai.Bohot important project hai,US ke ek NRI company ke taraf se mila hai."Rajshekhar asked,"Kaisa proposal?"Sameer said,"Vo ek resort banaane ka,vo."Suddenly,Sameer remembered that Simi wanted to talk with him.He asked Simi,"Mom subhe aap mujhse kuch kehna chahti thi na?"Simi,too actually forgot that matter,but when Sameer asked,she remembered.She went to her bedroom and returned with an envelope in her hand.She gave the envelope in Sameer's hand and said,"Inhe kholke dekh aur jo tujhe pasand aaye mujhe bataana."Sameer confusingly looked at Simi and then opened it.He found there are almost 10 photographs of girls.He asked,"Ye sab kya hai mom?"Simi replied,"Shaadi ke liye larkio ki tasveer."Sameer threw the photos on the table and got up.He yelled,"What????Shaadi????Mom are you out of your mind????Aapko pata hai na mujhe shaadi ke naam se kitni cheer hoti hai?"Simi said,"Pehle pehle har larka shaadi ke naam se ukhar jaata hai par jab biwi aa jaati hai to vo ma-baap ko bhul hi jaata hai."Sameer got more irritated and said,"Main mazaak ke mood mein bilkul nehi hu mom."Simi said,"To main kaunsi hu?Main to is baar sahi mein serious hu teri shaadi ko lekar.I want to see you settled beta.Vaise agar teri nazar mein koi hai to mujhe bol sakta hai."Sameer felt like pulling his own hairs.He said,"Meri nazar mein koi nehi hai mom aur mujhe ab kisi bhi larki pe koi interest nehi hota."Rajshekhar said,"Par college ke time pe to bara cassanova bana ghumta tha.Tab?"Sameer turned towards him and said,"Tab ki baat aur thi dad.I was very young at that time aur main kya karta agar larkia mujhse aur mere status se apne aap impress ho jaati thi to."Simi,with a disturbed attitude asked,"Aakhir shaadi se tujhe problem kya hai Sameer?"Sameer sarcastically replied,"Problem??????Shaadi ke baad hi to saari ki saari problems shuru hoti hai,kyuki aap logo ke demands to kabhi khatam honge hi nehi.Aaj shaadi karne ko bol rahi hai aur phir agar shaadi karli to phir pote-potio ki demands karenge.Mujhe jitni ki na larkio se cheer hai ussse bhi kahi zyaada gussa mujhe bachcho ke naam pe aata hai.I just simply hate kids.In sab ki chakkaro mein main nehi phasna chasna chahta kyuki ek baar phas gaya to meri life ka vahi the end ho jaayega."Simi surprisingly asked,"Tu bachcho ke vajah se shaadi nehi karna chahta????"She continued,"Arey shaadi ke baad to bachche honge hi,aur bachcho se koi nafrat karta hai kya???Bachche to hamaare zindagi ka sabse anmol taufa hota hai.Is dunia mein ma-baap banne se zyaada khushi aur kisi cheez mein nehi hoti hai beta."Sameer said,"Ha aur phir isi chakkar mein zindagi bhar piste raho.Bachche paida karo,phir unhe baraa karo bas yehi life mein ek kaam reh jaata hai aur baaki life mein kuch aur bachta hi nehi hai.Baaki ka pata nehi par main apni life in sab cheezo mein waste nehi karna chahta."Saying he went away.Simi looked at him going away and yelled from behind,"Main bhi dekhti hu ke jab tere khudke bachche honge na to ye saari baate muh se kaise nikalti hai."Rajshekhar said,"Cool down Simi.You know Sameer kaisa hai,usey uske haal par chor do.Don't force him for anything aur vaise bhi shaadi jaisi cheeze hum tey karne waale koi nehi hote ye sab to niyati ka khel hai.Dekho shaayad tumhaare bete ke liye bhi koi na koi bani hogi."
Sameer banged his bedroom's door from behind.He was frowning with anger from the moment he heard the topic of marriage.He started walking restlessly in his room.He grinned,"Shaadi,shaadi aur shaadi,bas ye mom dad logo ko aur koi kaam nehi hota hai kya?Hume hamaare life mein akela kyu nehi chor dete ye?Pehle shaadi ki demand aur phir bachcho ki.Inko ek simple si baat samajhme kyu nehi aati ke hamaare life mein shaadi ke alaava bhi aur bohot kuch hai karneko."He disturbingly sat on his bed and said,"Agar mujhe pata hota ke mere US se lautne ke baad mom aur dad mujhe is tarah se pareshaan karenge to main abhi aata hi nehi."He prayed to God,"Please God,mujhe is shaadi aur bachcho ke jhanjhat se hamesha dur rakhna aur ha please ek baat aur vo US waala project main successfully handle kar saku."On hearing his prayer,the destiny somewhere laughed whole heartedly on him.
[ MMH , MANAALI ]
After the dinner,Indira and Maahi were discussing about their zoo visit today.Suddenly Maahi asked,"Mummy aapke mummy papa kaha hai?"Indira's expression changed in such a way as if someone scratched her old wounds again.She made a sad face and said,"Vo yaha nehi hai beta,vo Delhi mein rehte hai."She exclaimed,"Delhi mein??????To aap yaha kyu rehte ho?"Indira made a very scared face at first and then replied,"Vo-uh-kyuk-kyuki-mujhe yaha pe job jo mil gayi hai aur sabse important meri Maahi hai na yaha.Maahi jahape hogi,mummy bhi vahi hogi na,kyuki Maahi aur mummy dono hi ek dusre ke bina nehi reh sakte,hai na?"Maahi nodded her head.She asked,"Kya aapko unki yaad nehi aati?Kya aapko unse milne ka dil nehi karta."She slowly said,"Aati hai beta bohot aati hai.Hamesha,har roz aati hai."Indira cupped Maahi's face and said,"Par hum jo chahte hai vo hamesha puri thori hi hoti hai."Maahi gave broad smile and said,"Aaj maanglo mummy,aaj panditji ne kaha tha na ke aaj jo bhi maangogi sab pura hoga."Indira smiled.Just then Shaanti came with a glass of milk for Maahi.On seeing her,Indira said,"Arey Shaanti,tumne kyu taklif ki,main to abhi aane hi waali thi."Shaanti replied,"Koi baat nehi didi,main laayi,aap laaye ek hi baat hai."Indira took the glass from her hand and said,"Chalo Maahi ye shehed waali dudh peelo."Maahi covered her nose and said,"Nehi mujhe nehi peeni hai ye,chee dudh bhi koi peene ki cheez hai."Indira said,"Kitni baar kaha hai Maahi,khaane ki cheezo ko kabhi chee nehi kehte aur dudh to sehat ke liye bohot achcha hota hai.Isse hume taaqat milti hai."Maahi made an angry face and folded her arms.Indira tried many times to make her drink the milk,but Maahi was too stubborn for her.She said,"Aaj kuch bhi ho jaaye main ye dudh nehi peene waali."Indira got fed up.She then opted for the best option.Though she didn't want but she had to use the trick because she had no other option left and she knew that it would definitely work.She said,"Thik hai mat peeyo,phir tum kabhi papa jitne strong bhi nehi ban paaogi."Hearing her father's name,Maahi's expressions changed.She asked,"Papa bhi dudh peete the?Unko dudh peena achcha lagta tha?"Indira said,"Ha aur shehed waali dudh to papa ko bohot pasand thi,par tumhe agar pasand nehi hai to thik hai,main tumhe phir kabhi peene ko nehi kahungi."Saying,she gave the glass on Shaanti's hand and signalled her to go away.She was about to go,when Maahi grabbed her hand.She said,"O pakaanewaali mausi,tumne suna nehi mummy ne kya kaha ke shehed waala dudh mere papa ko bhi bohot pasand hai,isiliye abse main bhi roz ye dudh peeyungi."She snatched the glass from Shaanti's hand and drank it.Shaanti and Indira exchanged a meaningful smile with each other.After completing,Maahi asked,"Mummy,ab to main bhi papa jitney strong ban jaaungi na?Ab main bhi papa ki achchi waali Maahi banungi na?"Indira kissed on her forehead and said,"Ha.Chalo ab home ke church se jaake prayer khatam karke aao aur phir jaldi se aakar mummy ke paas so jaao."Maahi went away to do her night prayers.
After returning to her room,she said,"Pata hai mummy maine abhi Jesus se kaha ke vo aapko apne mummy papa se milaade."Indira had tears of gratitude in her eyes.She kissed on her hand and said,"Thank you."She made her sleep beside her.Indira was staring at her,without blinking and was thinking about her family.Maahi asked,"Mummy aapke ghar mein kaun kaun hai?"Indira replied,"Naani hai,naanaji hai,tumhaare do maama hai,maasi hai,maami hai aur ek bhaiya bhi hai."Maahi was very surprised.She asked,"Itne saare log?"Indira smiled and replied,"Ha."She then asked,"Aur papa ke ghar mein?"Indira said,"Mujhe nehi pata Maahi.Abhi so jaao,raat ho gayi hai."Maahi shivered a bit and said,"Mummy bohot thand lag rahi hai."Indira smiled and opened her arms.She said,"Aaja mera bachcha."Maahi wrapped herself in Indira's arms and said,"Dekhna mummy ekdin jab papa mil jaayenge na to bilkul aise hi main papa se lipat kar soungi."Saying,she closed her eyes.Indira said to herself,"Kaash aisa ho sakta to sabse zyaada khushi mujhe hi hoti.Lekin kya karu meri kharaab kismat ke wajah se aaj teri ye haalat hai.Main kabhi tujhe tere papa se dur nehi rakhna chahti thi,par mere paas iske alaava us waqt aur koi option bhi nehi tha.Shaayad teri kismat ko bhi yehi manzur tha."She prayed to God,"Aap meri beti ko hamesha khush rakhna.Vo mujhse jo maangti hai vo to main usey de nehi saki par usne aaj aapse jo bhi maanga hai vo usey zarur de dena."Saying she hugged Maahi more tightly and fall asleep.
No one knows what fate had for them in its store,so as Indira,Sameer and Maahi.Unknown to each other,three of them made the same prayer.Neither Indira,nor Maahi and nor Sameer knew that their paths were soon going to be crossed with each other and they were soon going to confront each other.
Edited by -Paulomi- - 10 years ago