Ek Ajnabee Haseena

chapter 7

Dushyant, who was wide awake now, turned to his left, even though ishita's back was facing him, he knew she was not asleep.

"pata hai, aaj ek couple aaya shaadi karne ke liye, unki taraf se na teen-chaar rishtedaar hue the gawah banne ke liye...toh mujhe na unka number jaldi karwane ke naam pe paise lene padhe..." informed dushyant, as ishita was facing him now.

"toh tumne yeh kaise kiya?" asked ishita.

"kuch nahi, bas kaha pehle ke maine unka number check kiya hai, shaam ka hai...tha woh dopeher ka, maine unhe keh diya woh maine karwaya hai...phir unhone tip diya shaadi ke baad..." replied dushyant, as ishita scoffed, shaking her head in disbelief.

"aise toh tum mujhe bhi tang kar sakte the, kyun nahi kiya?" questioned ishita.

"kis baat se banata, tumhe apna number pata tha, tumhe rohan ki aane ke chinta gawah hone ki se zyaada thi...main kya keh sakta tha tumhe?" retorted dushyant.

"toh meri madad karne se tumhe kya mila?" interrogated ishita, as dushyant now lied down on his back, no longer facing her anymore.

"main jabse chota tha na, tab se ek alag si ability sit hi mujh mein, ki main logon se aaram se baatein kar ke unhe bharosa dila leta hai apne upar, unka dukh jaan leta tha, jaise bhi hoon, unki help karne mein, ajeeb sa peace feel hota tha...phir mere maa aur baap chale gaye, saare rishtedaar samjho, parayee se ho gaye, koi nahi lekar gaya mujhe apne paas...sewayee mere tayaji ke...unko sab bura bhala kehte the, unki shaadi nahi hui thi na...unki ek ration ki dukaan thi, badi se, supermarket jaisa...main dekhta tha, woh apni dukaan mein hi ek chote se salesmen ki tarah ghoomte the, koi bhi kuch dekh raha hota tha na, unhe chupke se batate, ki woh expire ho chukka hai, aur uske badle mein ek sasta sa kuch lene ko kehte...logon ko bharosa tha un par, isliye koi agar ek baar aata tha, toh wapas zaroor aata tha...bas tabse, sikh leeya, logon ki help karne se kuch milein na milein, jhoot bolna to tumhare faydee mein hota hai...lekin, jinn tariko se apni roti kamata hoon na, kabhi-kabhi raaton ko khatakti hai mujhe...maa-baap ke yaad aati hai, jinhone logon ki help karna sikhaya tha, sochta hoon, woh kya sochte honge mere baarein mein..." narrated dushyant his childhood, but as he turned to his left, facing ishita, seemed like he was being honest of what he had been feeling for a long time.

"tumhe dekha, toh socha agar ek ki bhi madad kardoon, toh shayad woh mujhe bilkul sharam ke saath na dekhein..." stated dushyant, as ishita couldn't help but understand how he could maintain such a stoic face, he seemed to be more hurt to her, than he could express.

***

Tarika, woke up by the rays of sunlight reflecting through the cars front view mirror. She looked around, surprised to find herself, sleeping next to abhijeet. She couldn't at all recall what happened last night. She immediately shaked him, in order to wake him up.

"kya hua, kaveri, sone do!" exclaimed abhijeet, still asleep, as tarika finding no way out, slapped him, as his eyes opened immediately.

"yeh kya kiya apne!" yelled abhijeet.

"apne kya kiya mere saath!" screamed tarika back.

"kya bol rahi hain aap?" questioned abhijeet, completely puzzled.

"main yahan kaise?" interrogated tarika, as abhijeet, relaxed now, was about to go back to sleep.

"arre, gaadi kharab ho gayi thi, baarish ke kaaran mechanic bhi nahi aaya bahaut der tak, toh aapki aankh lag gayi, main wait karta raha, jab woh aaya nahi, toh so gaya..." replied abhijeet, as tarika sighed in relief, rubbing her eyes, looking at her watch to see what's the time.

"no!" exclaimed tarika, as abhijeet woke up again.

"arre ab bas bhi kijiye cheekna, heart attack aa jayega mujhe.." remarked abhijeet.

"arre 9 baj gaye hain!" informed tarika, as abhijeet was wide awake.

"kya keh rahi hai? Arre mujhe woh mujhe pahaunchna tha, ek meeting ke liye 8 baje." Worried abhijeet, as he attempted to start the car.

"gaadi kharab hai!" reminded tarika, as abhijeet slammed his forehead, before taking a deep breath, and taking out his phone.

"hello, amit ji! Haanji, jaanta hoon, woh kya hua na, bache ko school chodne gaya, phir woh office waalon ne keh diya ki iski passport size photo chahiye, phir ji ghar itna door tha, aur iski photo koi purani report card se nikalni padi! Haanji, bas abhi dekar aaya hoon, hanji, ji, abhi bas pahaunchta hoon...really sorry." Hung up abhijeet on the call.

"aapke toh bache hi nahi hai..." retorted tarika.

"usko thodi pata hai.." replied abhijeet.

"abhi kuch bahana karke phone karlo...keh do half day ka...phir ghar jaake aaram se nashta banakar khao...kapde press karo, nahao aur kaam pe jao." Stated abhijeet, as he started to dial another number.

"mera ek dost wahi jaa raha hai, jahan mujhe jaana hai, main usse bula leta hoon, woh hum dono ko drop kardega..." assured abhijeet, as he already was on the phone with someone.

***

Kavin, who was peacefully in a deep sleep on his bed, was suddenly, woken up by purvi.

"kavin!" exclaimed purvi excitedly.

"kya hua?" asked kavin, as he now lied on his back, trying to get up.

"toilet seat pe sirf ek bottle ka disinfectant laga..." informed purvi excitedly, as kavin got up immediately.

"aur saaf bhi nahi karni padi?" asked kavin, as she shook her head in no, happily.

"yaar, lagta hai meri promotion hoone waali hai!" exclaimed kavin in glee.

"haan ho sakta hai, pata hai maine abhi dhyaan diya...toilet mein kal se paani hai!" exclaimed purvi, as kavin too rejoiced.

"arre room bhi hamare aane se pehle saaf tha, woh bhi phenyl se..." recounted kavin, too, as purvi sat on the bed happily.

"bas, ab aaram se ham ghoomenge...jai mata di!" exclaimed purvi happily, as she went inside the bathroom, with her towel.

"arre balti toh bharlo!" exclaimed kavin.

"geezer chala diya tha, aur shower bhi hai!" replied purvi, her happiness not finding any settlement whatsoever.

"jai mata di!" thanked kavin, with a smile, while joining his hands.

***