Dor Jo Na Toote (Sloth Updates)

15

Sirat (purses her lips and tries again)- Kartik-

Kartik (shakes his head)- Sirat, please abhi nahi. Itna bada hadsa- (sighs) Khair, mujhe tumse kuchh aur bhi baat karni thi par jab tumhein kuchh batana hi nahi hai to fir poochhne ka to koi matlab hi nahi hai. 

He stormed off the room with that, passing by Swarna on the corridor moving to call him and Sirat. However, Kartik chose to skip the meal while Sirat remained frozen with the tea cup in her hand. It wasn't until Swarna knocked on to the room that she realised it and kept it down. 

Sirat (plastering a smile)- Haan, maan?

Swarna (turns to look at Sirat from the corridor)- Vo khana- Ab tumhein kya ho gaya hai?

Sirat (hums)- Mhare ko ke hoga? Main to badhiya hoon.

Swarna (nods with a frown)- Achchha thik hai, main tumhein khane ke liye bulane aayi thi.

***

Sitting on the bench by the porch Kartik sighed. As the night breeze calmed his temper his concerns changed.

Kartik (frowning)- Kya Kartik? Aisa karte hain kya? Vo pehle hi disturbed thi aur uske upar maine use daant diya. (defensive) To disturb to hogi hai na, agar aisi cheezon se akeli deal karegi to pareshan nahi hogi to aur kya hoga? Aap hi us ladki ko kuchh sadbuddhi deejiye Krishna ji.

Naira (sitting beside him hums)- Jab uski itni chinta hai to bahar kyon baithe ho?

Kartik (turns to her)- Kyonki mujhe ab bhi Sirat par gussa aa raha hai.

Naira (looks into his eyes)- Aur tum nahi chahte ki ye gussa us par utre.

Kartik (glances away)- Us par chillane se to kuchh nahi hoga. Ye sab to uski galati hai jo Sirat ki jaan lena chahta hai. Usne to jo samajh mein aaya vo kiya. Dhyan rakha ki ghar ka koi bhi insaan unsafe na ho.

Naira- Tab to usse aise baat karna ka koi logic nahi hai.

Kartik (looks back at Naira)- Arre, logic kaise nahi hai? (focus behind her shoulder) Sabka dhyan rakha par apna dhyan rakhna bhool gayi. (gaze flits between Naira and to a side) Kitna stress hua hoga use is baat ka, par chuchap bina kuchh kahe aise hi behave karti rahi jaise kuchh hua hi na ho. Maine bhi dhyan nahi diya, mujhe laga agar vo jaakar practice karegi to use productive feel hoga, gharwalon ke beech use ajeeb lag raha hoga... Par nahi, I made her even more unsafe. Mujhe usse pooja par hi jaane nahi dena chahiye tha.

Naira (her hand ghosts over his shoulder)- Tumhein khud ko un baaton ko doshi nahi therana chahiye jinmein tumhari koyi galati nahi hai.

Kartik (makes eye contact)- Main bas ab use bhi nahi kho sakta, Naira. Tum to jaanti ho kitni mushkil se cheezen behtar hui hain, Chauhan sa jail mein hai... Ab agar Sirat ko kuchh ho gaya to. Aur apnon ko khone ki himmat nahi hai mujhmein.

Naira (removing her hand, her head ghosted over his shoulder)- Sab thik ho jaayega Kartik, bas thodi himmat aur.

Kartik (hums)- Ek baar bas vo insaan pakda jaaye, fir sab thik ho jaayega.  

Aware Naira was correct Kartik attempted to gather his composure back. It wasn't as if he could spend the night outside. He needed to return to his room, as well as, have a sober conversation with Sirat keeping his temper in check. Until the knowledge of the attack wasn't at forefront of his mind every moment he remained seated. In his thoughts, he missed Manish coming out, finding him on the porch and fisting his fingers in an attempt to control his emotions. 

Manish- Pata nahi ye ladki mere bete ko aur kitna satayegi.

About to reach out to him, then he thought better of it. Instead turning around and seeking the culprit behind Kartik's despondent mood. As he thought, she was in Kartik's room after dinner pacing before the bed. Manish knocked on the door. Something akin to hope swirled in her eyes before she registered it was him.