Rudhita - Jeene Bhi De

Before and After

3 Years later

" Toh yeh thi meri Maa Baba ki kahani." Anika said with a sad smile. Shyam Dutta, her best friend held her hand and consoled her.

" Lo, rotlu Anika ko sambhalte huye uska chela Shyam. Aha ki shundor drisho" two girls said.

" Tum dono ko mera peecha karne ka itna Shauk hai kya? Itna chahte ho mujhe?" Anika said with sly smile.

The girls were tounge tied and looked at eachother. Anika looked at them and was about to go when one of the girl stopped her.

" Tumhari zubaan kuch zyada hi tez chal rhi hai." The girl said. " Barrister ki beti hoon. It's inbuilt inside me. Sorry, can't help it." Anika said taunting them.

" Toh issi tezz zubaan se apni Maa ko rok leti. Roka kyun nahi?" The other girl said.

Anika looked at them silently.

" Bologi?" The girl said. Not finding her replying, the girl raised her hand to slap her when shyam held her hand, tightly.

" Oh Dear. Don't you dare lay your hands on her. Otherwise, kal se school mein kya iss sheher mein nahi dikhogi." Shyam said. Hearing him, the girls ran away from there. After all, he was the son Zamindaar. After Trilochan Roy Chowdhary, the villagers feared Ram Dutta.

" Meri himmat nahi huyi unhe rokne ki. Kyun ki baat unki self respect ki thi shyam. Gharwaalon ne bohot roka unhe. Sivay Baba aur mein. Baba koi paas rokne ki koi wajah nahi thi, aur mere paas wajah hokar bhi meine nahi roka." Anika said sitting on the bench.

" Kya tumhe unki yaaf nahi aati?" Shyam asked kneeling infront of her.

" 3 saal beet gaye shyam. 3 saal beet gaye yeh umeed lagaye huye ki ek baar, bas ek baar mujhe woh dikh jaye, door se hi sahi, tasali milegi ki woh theek hai. Par shayad bhagwaan ki marzi nahi." Anika said with a sad smile and tearful eyes.

Shyam wiped her tears, and said
" Tujhse dosti ki hai. Vaada karta hoon, ussi dosti ke naate. Mein tumahri Maa ko dhoondunga."

Anika giggled and said " Zaroor."

Both walked away from the class room. Shyam was talking about something while Anika was looking at a chain. She opened it and caressing the pic whispered " Miss you."

Roy Chowdhary Haveli

"Haan toh isme meri galti kahan se hui da? Mei toh sabka Bhala hi chah raha tha. Apne bete ka Bhala chahana bura hai kya? Toh kya hua agar mein Apni dost ki beti ke saath Anirudh ka vivaah karana chahta hoon. Aapko bhi Bahu mil jayegi aur mujhe unke property ke aadha hissa. Company ko bhi iska fayda hoga." Binoy said angrily to Trilochan.

" Arre mat maari gayi hai kya tumhari? Tumhe sunaayi bhi de raha hai ki tum kya keh raheho? Ek baat kaan khol ke sunn lo. Anirudh ka vivaah nahi hoga. Bas nahi hoga. Humare liye Bondita hi humari Bahu thi, hai aur humesha rahegi. Samjhe?" Kaka said ending the conversation. But was it actually an end?

" Aap kuch bolte kyun nahi?" Naina said while pouring tea in a cup for Somnath. She was heartbroken by seeing the condition of the house. After she left. She missed her. A lot. Did she talk to her ? Maybe.
"Roz ka hai. Adat ho gayi hai. Chod insab cheezon ko. Tum apne kaam pe dhyaan do. Exhibition ke dates final huye?"

" Nahi." Naina mummered and gave the tea. "Kyun nahi? Tumhara humesha ka. How can you be so careless?" Somnath said angrily.

"Haan toh aap hi Tay kar lijiye. Waise bhi meri kaha chalti hai. Aapka bas chale toh aap mujhe chod do." Naina said angrily and walked away. Walking inside the kitchen, she took one green Chilli and ate. Continuing the process, she silently cried both due to pain and spiciness.

Somnath threw the cup of tea he was drinking.
"Teen saal ho gaye hai uss baat ko. Teen saal." Mummered Somnath and got lost in his thoughts.

"Kahan the aap?" Tara asked to Batuk while folding the clothes. "Office mei. Aur kahan rahunga." Batuk said while checking some papers.

" Kabhi mere liye aur gun-gun ke liye time nikal liya kariye. Jab dekho office office." Tara said to which Batuk threw the papers on the table and walking near her said " Whats your problem Tara? Kya kehna chahti ho yeh sab mei jaan buchkar kar raha hoon? Haan? Mujhe bhi bura lagta hai. Mein bhi ek insaan hoon. God, you are acting so much."Saying this he went out after banging the door hard.

" Haqn toh kya galat kaha meine.? Jo sach hai, woh sach hai." Tara whispered to herself with tears  rolling down her cheeks. She was crying when she heard her baby wailing. Wiping up her tears, she walked to the cradle and picked her baby trying to calm her down.

This was the daily scenario of the Roy Chowdhary Haveli. Before it was a happy family though for sometime. Due to one decision, every relationship broke. But was it only his fault? Yes he knew what he did was against his family, but he did this to free her, from  a relationship which could never give her happiness. Did he regret it? Maybe. He missed her. He missed her laugh, naughtiness, advices, not so laughable jokes, her warmth, her care. Hr missed his best friend. Did he love her? Yes, as a friend. Like a lover? No.

Or, that's what he thought.
But where is he?