The horizon had turned golden… slowly the sun rose and brought in a new morning… He hadn’t slept a wink… The alarm ringing at his bed side brought him to the present… At the breakfast table his mother asked, “Kya baat hai Anu?? Thik se soye nahi tum beta?? Ankhen aisi kyu lag rahi hai??” “Nahi maa… who ek case ko leke thode chintit hai… Waise abhi hum chalte hai… Shamko mulakat hogi… Khayal rakhiyega…” His mind was still restless… He wanted answers and he was going to get them… He decided to visit MPT. The scene at MPT angered him beyond limit… He had no expectation of responsible behaviour from other members of MPT, even KS could be irresponsible at times… But HM… How could she?? His anger had hit the roof because he thought HM was making excuses… “Uttar managa hai humne Haseena Malik” He roared. KS tried to intervene but she also had to face the brunt… “Humari aapko ye chetavni hai Haseena Malik, agar aapse dubara aisi galti hui toh aapka sthanantar kar diya jayega.” With that he left MPT. His questions still unasked and unanswered.
Next day he was near the marketplace waiting for an informer. “Damadji aap yaha?? Kaise hai aap?” It was HM’s Ammi. He was confused why she was addressing him as son-in-law. “Pranaam Ammi. Hum toh thik hai… aap yaha??” “Hum kuch saman lene aaye the… Waise hume laga tha ke Mahipal bhaisaab ke yaha se lautne ke baad aap aapni ammi ko lekar ghar aayenge… Shaadi ki tayarian bhi toh shuru karni hai na…” He did know how to react. What was Ammi talking about? “Haseena ne bataya jo Genda ne kiya… Hum bade sharminda hai…” Ammi continued. “Lekin uski wajah se shaadi mei kyu deri karna… Hum kabse Haseena se keh rahe hai ke aapko aur aapki Ammi ko ghar bulane ke liye… Magar woh humari sunti kaha hai… Aaj aap mil gaye toh socha aapse hi seedhe baat kar lete hai…” “Ammi woh hum…” He fumbled. “Maaf kar dijiye… Aap yaha kaam se aaye honge aur hum aapni baatein lekar baith gaye… Hum abhi chalte, aap haseena ko bata dijiye kab aap aur aapki ammi humare ghar aayenge…” “Ji…” he replied. “Khush rahiye…” Ammi blessed him and left. Why had HM not told her mother the truth?? What is she upto?
At MPT the day was going as usual. HM entered and found CC flirting with SS… “Santu ji, aaj aap bohot pyaari lag rahi hai…” “Sach mei cheete… aaj maine na naya soap try kiya hai… shayad isiliye…” SS said with her usual innocence… “Uff yeh masumiyat…! koi itna masum kaise ho sakta…?” “Isko masumiyat nahi kehte…” Billu replied from his Billu Niwas. SS made a cute sad face. “Ae billote… chup raho tum… nahi toh jo baal bacha hai na us takle par… woh bhi ukhad denge… bata rahe hai tumko…” CC warned Billu. “Aap logon ka ho gaya ho toh kaam kar le??” HM asked. “Jai Hind MS” CC and SS said while trying to stand straight… “Jai Hind… KS aur Pushpa ji kaha hai??” “MS aaj un dono ki duty check naka pe lagi hai… wahi lad rahi hongi dono…” CC replied. HM hid her smile… she knew what CC said was true. “Ok… koi naya case?” “No MS” SS replied. “Hmm… Good… Hum cabin mei hai… aap log timepass band kariye aur kaam kijiye” saying so she moved to her cabin.
HM was engrossed in her work when she heard the landline ringing loud… When it was unanswered, she walked out to an empty room… She answered the call… “Hello MPT, hum aapki kya seva kar sakte hai?” “Karishma… beta Anu ka phone nahi lag raha…” someone said from the other end while breathing heavily. “KS toh thane mei nahi hai… aap kon bol rahi hai?” HM had a feeling it was AS’s mother, but wanted a confirmation. “Anu ko bulayiye… hume kuch thik nahi lag raha…” with that the call ended. HM panicked… She picked her car keys in a jiffy and rushed to her car. “Hum jaruri kaam se bahar ja rahe hai… aap thana sambhaliye…” She told CC and SS who were enjoying their tea at Badnaam’s stall.
She was driving and simultaneously calling AS. But all her calls were unanswered. She called his desk phone but same result. She wasn’t able to get to him. She reached his house and rushed inside… Maa had fainted as soon as she opened the door… HM held her in her arms and took her to the couch. She immediately called the doctor.
AS was in a meeting when his phone kept ringing continuously. It was HM… What did she want?? He ignored a few times then switched his phone off. After the meeting ended, he drove to MPT. He wanted answers. “Jai Hind Sir” only CC and SS were present. “Jai Hind. Baki log kaha hai?” He asked. “Sir, KM aur pushpaji check naka pe duty kar rahi hai aur MS baher gayi hai kuch jaruri kaam se.” CC replied cautiously. He could read that AS’ mood was not good. AS was indeed angry now. She was calling him the entire afternoon and now was not even present in MPT. “Chalte hai…” he said. “Jai Hind Sir” “Jai Hind”. It was nearing end of duty hours so he decided to head home.
AS used his keys to open the door of his house, not wanting to trouble his Maa. He walked in to see HM coming out of the kitchen with a bowl of soup in her hand. What was she doing here? And that too in his absence? “Aap yaha?” he asked sternly. Anger laced in his voice. “Woh hum…” HM fumbled. “Woh kya Haseena ji?” His volume had raised and turned HM speechless. “Aap is waqt yaha kya kar rahi hai?? Aapko toh thane mei hona chahiye tha na?? Aur aisi kya aafat aan padi thi jo aap hume baar baar call kar rahi thi??” he said agitatedly. Both had not noticed that Maa had walked out of her room listening to AS’ high volume. “Yeh kya tarika hai baat karne ka Anu??” Maa asked. “Maa aap…?” “Ek toh bacchi bechari dupehar se humari seva kar rahi hai aur tum uspe hi chilla rahe ho… aaj agar Haseena nahi hoti toh tum apni Maa ko kho chuke hote…” Maa said getting emotional. “Aunty ji aise kyu bol rahi hai aap…” HM said. Looking at AS’ confused expression Maa continued, “BP low ho gaya tha humara. Tumhe phone kiya lekin tumne jawab nahi diya… Isliye thane phone kiya Karishma ko bulane ke liye magar who bhi nahi thi… Haseena waqt pe aayi. Hume sambhala aur dotor ko call kiya… mana karne par bhi soup bana rahi thi humare liye.” AS felt guilty but chose to remain silent.
“Aunty ji… Please aap jyada stress mat lijiye aur yeh soup pi lijiyega.” HM said placing the bowl on the coffee table. She then turned to AS, “Sir, Dining table pe prescription aur medicines dono rakhe hai… Humne ek dose de diya hai. Next dose dinner ke baad dena hai. Doctor ne kaha hai ke thodi namkeen cheeze dene hai aunty ji ko aur juice mei bhi thoda namaak add karna hai. Hum chalte hai. Jai Hind” with that she left. HM was hurt. Why was Anubhav Sir yelling at her every time he saw her? She was OK with the fact that he didn’t love her… But she will not be able to bear his hatred. The road ahead blurred behind her tears…
