Rudhita - Jeene Bhi De

Yashoda and Devki.

" Maa...Nahi.." Anirudh said slowly and started to get up and was about to run when but Sumati held him by his ears and made him sit on the sofa.

" Kya Nahi? Tel ka upyog Nahi karte isliye aisa ho raha hai." Sumati said standing behind him and opening the oil container.

" Par Maa.." Anirudh tried to intervene but was made quite by Sumati. He suddenly remembered something and stood up startling Sumati.

"Kya hua Jamai Babu?" Sumati asked. Anirudh didn't say anything and made her sit on the sofa and sat on the ground.

" Ab lagayiye." Anirudh said closing his eyes  and a small smile. Sumati smiled and taking
little amount of oil, she applied it on his scalp. As Sumati massaged his head lovingly, Anirudh felt relief. Maybe after a long time, he felt mother's love.

" Apko Pata hai Maa? Mein jab chota tha na, aur sar mein dard hota tha, toh Maa bhi aise kaan pakad ke tel laga deti thi. Bohot mana karta tha par phir bhi. Lekin lagane ke baad, sukoon milta tha." Anirudh said getting nostalgic.

Being the eldest son of the house, he was given most of the responsibility at a very tender age. And the biggest responsibility was, when his mother died while saving his baby brother. He had to take care of both Som and Batuk, though Trilochan Kaka was there but his Mother had given this responsibility to Anirudh.

" Aur aaj, itne saalon ke baad mujhe phirse Maa ke pyaar ka anubhav hua hai. Thank you Maa." Anirudh said in a choking voice.

" Bondita bhi aise hi thi. Mere haath se nahi, balki apne baba ke haathon se tel lagati thi. Khub nakchadi thi. Meri ek naa sunti, par apne baba ki,har ek baat ko dhyaan mein rakhti. Baba ki dulhari thi woh." Sumati said remincing old days.

" Bondita ke saath kam se kam uske baba tih the na Maa. Mere saath toh Na baba the aur naahi Maa. Bhale ki mere Kaka ne baba jaisa pyaar diya hai, par phir bhi kahin na kahin, baba ki kami khalti thi mujhe." Anirudh said with a sad smile.

" Zindagi kab kaisa mod dikhaye, kya Pata Jamai Babu. Kismat pe aaj tak kisi ka bas nahi chala hai, khud Kismat ki bhi nahi." Sumati said remincing the past days of her life.

Anirudh turned and kept his head on Sumati's lap, to which Sumati smiled and hesitantly patted his head. "Apko Pata hai Maa. Jab Anika ne Bondita ko Maa bulaya na, mujhe bohot gussa aaya, ki Anika Vanshika ki jagah kisi sur ko kaise de sakti hai? Vanshika uski Maa thi, hai aur rahegi. Lekin, dheere dheere Pata chala, ki Anika ne Bondita ko Maa kyun maana! Anika ne kaha, ki agar shree krishna ki do Maayen ho sakti hai, toh meri kyun nahi?"

" Sahi kaha Anika ne. Janam dene wale se paalne wala bada hota hai. Anika ke zindagi mein, Vanshika ki jagah koi nahi le sakta, Bondita bhi nahi. Aur..Aur Bonditane Anika ke zindagi mein jo jagah banayi hai, woh bhi koi nahi le sakta." Anirudh said raising his head and looking at her.

Sumati nodded and wiped her tears. She patted Anirudh's head and was about to get up, when Anirudh held her hand and said
" Mein..mein bhi apko Yashoda baane ka adhikaar dena chahta hoon. Meine sirf kehne ke liye aapko Maa nahi maana hai Maa, dil se maanta hoon. Kya aap mujhe apna beta maanti hai?" Anirudh asked Sumati with expectant eyes.

Sumati looked at Anirudh getting shocked. No one in that Era, no son in law respected this much to his mother in law, except few people like Anirudh who believed in equality, respect. Sumati saw a glimpse of her husband in Anirudh. Arvind was just like him, giving respect and rights to all. Just like Arvind, Anirudh didn't see anyone below him, infact he was the one who use to give wings to the one who were told to keep their foot on the ground. As a widow she never got the same respect as she used to get when she was married. She was deprived of any color of life, she was given bland food while others enjoyed delicacies.

She looked at Anirudh with tear filled eyes, as she was finally fully assured that she has given her daughters hand on right person's hand. Sumati closed her eyes and sent a prayer for her newly found son, who was looking at her expectantly. She nodded and smiled while Anirudh gave a light smile and again kept his head on her lap. Sumati patted his head and Anirudh closed his eyes, feeling his brain nerves relaxed.

Somnath and Batuk were talking and walking  towards the hall, when they saw Anirudh and Sumati. They looked at eachother and shouted " Hum bhi hai.."
Anirudh and Sumati got startled hearing the loud voice. Anirudh frowned when Som and Batuk came running and sitting on each side, beside Sumati. They laid their cheek, against her shoulders and closed their eyes while Sumati laughed heartily and caressed their cheeks. Anirudh made a face and tried to push them away, but they didn't move. The four of them laughed and spent some Mother and Son time.

Binoy and Trilochan were seeing all this from upstairs. They were smiling. Though Trilochan Kaka didn't like the idea of Sumati taking place of Mother in three brothers life, still he stayed calm and forgot his beliefs just for his sons.

" Anirudh, Somnath aur Batuk ko kitne samay baad khush hote huye dekha hai. Maa ka pyaar milte huye dekha hai." Trilochan said with a constant smile on his face.

" Haan Da. Sahi kaha aapne. Jo hua uske baad bhi Sumati ne mere bachon ko apna maana. Uss raat.." Binoy was speaking when Trilochan stopped and said "Har baat , har khushi pe uss manhoos raat ko laane avashakta nahi hai. Ainda se uss baat ka zikar bhi humare saath mat karna." Saying this he walked away while Binoy went to his room, thinking something.

Another person was watching all this, with smile, respect and tear filled eyes. Bondita was standing against the pillar, looking at the four people. After so many years, after her father's demise, someone finally gave the respect to her mother which she deserved.
Bondita couldn't believe that Anirudh gave Devki's place to Yashoda. Anirudh gave Shubra's place to Sumati.

Precap : Thank You, Sakha Babu.