Ziddi Dil...Maane Naa

Sang hu tere 1.2

Karan reached outside Monami's room and saw the door was half open. He knocked but getting no response, he peeked inside and saw Monami sitting near the window, clutching something to her heart. Something like a photo frame.
He entered the room, quietly placed the tray of food on side table and went near her. She was so lost that she did not realise his presence until she felt a warm touch on her shoulder. She looked up and saw him, her strength, staring down in her eyes.
She was a strong person, of course she loved her mother and misses her, yet she was proud on her. But today when Karan stared at her, love and care oozing out from his orbs, she could not control herself. She kept the frame aside and hugged him from his waist, wetting his shirt, silently crying her heart out.
Karan understood and he let her cry for some time caressing her head. No words were needed, because no words could describe the emotions they both were feeling. For Monami, it was grief, that she couldn't get enough time with her mother, to make more memories. For Karan, it pained him to see her love in pain yet he couldn't do anything as he himself knew no words could compensate her loss.

After a while, when she calmed down a bit, Karan took her to the bed and made her sit there. He then made her drink water to which she gave him a little smile.

Monami (clearing her thoat): I am fine Karan, thanks. And sorry, thodi emotional ho gai.

Karan ( Holding her hands): Don't be. Monami, main jaanta hu kisi apne ko khone ka dukh kya hota hai, aur wo to tumhari maa thi, to zahir si baat hai, aaj ke din unhe miss to karogi hi, hai na? Aur yeh bhi janta hu ki tumhe unn par bahut garv hai, hona bhi chahiye, kyuki unhone jo desh ke liye sacrifice kia wo karna har kisi ke bas ki baat nahi hoti. Aur unhone sirf apni life hi sacrifice nahi ki, unhone aur tumne bhi sacrifice kiye wo moments jo tum dono ek dusre ke saath bita sakte the, wo memories jo ban sakti thi par ban nahi payi, wo dukh jo baate ja sakte the par baat nahi paye, wo khushiyan jo saath celebrate ki ja sakti thi par saath kar nahi paye. Isiliye brave sirf tumhari maa nahi thi, tum bhi bahut brave ho Monami, aur iss sab ke baad bhi tum apni maa ke jesi banna chahti ho, unhi ke jese desh ki seva karna chahti ho, yeh bahut himmat ka kaam hai. And I am proud of you. More importantly, She must be proud of you.

Monami nodded while having tears in her eyes, suddenly she realised something,

Monami: Time kya ho raha hai? Ohh no, drill ke liye late ho gaye, chalo chalte hain.

She gets up wiping her tears but Karan pulled her hand and made her sit again.

Karan: It's okay. Aaj wese bhi sirf morning drills hi hai, aur wo bhi revision hi hai. To aaj rehene do. Monday se continue kar lena.

Monami: par baki sab? Unhe kya kahenge?

Karan: Wo sab mujh pe chhod do. Unhe bhi pata hai, Siddharth ne bataya sabko mess mein. I am sure they will understand.

Monami nodded, then kept her head on his shoulder. Karan wrapped his arms around her.

Karan: Wese kal barsi hai toh, (hesitantly) ghar jaogi tum? Pooja toh hogi na?

Monami understood his hesitation, after all what his father has done previously, it is obvious for him to get worried and insecure about her being manipulated by his father again. She lifted her head and made him look into her eyes.

Monami: Nahi, ghar nahi jaungi. Aur rahi baat pooja ki? (Taking a deep sigh) woh to wese bhi mujhe hi karni hai, to kahi bhi karu.

Karan: matlab? Tumhare papa?

Monami (chuckling a little): Papa? Unke paas time hi kab tha? Jab mummy thi tab bhi kabhi humare liye time tha hi nahi shayad unke pass, conference, meetings.... bas inhi mein busy rehte the. Jese hum the hi nahi unki duniya mein. Eventually, maine aur mummy ne bhi apni duniya bana li. Mummy ke jane ke baad toh jese wo aur door ho gaye mujhse. Aur unki barsi par bhi wo kabhi ghar pe hote hi nahi thi. Toh main hi pooja karti thi pandit ji ko bula ke. Anyways, iss saal bhi pooja mujhe hi karni hai to yaha karu, ghar jau, kya farak padta hai. Kal wese bhi Sunday hai, to subah mandir jaa kar unke naam ki pooja kar lungi. Aur fir...

Karan: Aur fir?

Monami (smiling a bit): Tumhe pata hai, har saal, iss din ek fix routine rehta hai. Pehle main aur sid ghar pe pooja karte hai, fir oldage home jaate hain. Waha pura din unke saath spend karte hain. Jab wo log smile karte hain na aur humare sar par pyar se apna haath rakhte hai, to esa lagta hai jese mummy aaspas hi hai aur mujhe dekh rahi hai, smile kar rahi hai.

By now she again got tears in her eyes and seeing her, Karan felt his eyes getting moist. He wiped her tears with his thumbs.

Karan: If you don't mind, iss baar main bhi tumhare saath chal sakta hu?

Monami smiled and kept looking at him.

Karan: Ese kya dekh rahi ho? Agar tum nahi chahti to it's okay, I understand.

Monami: Aree mere buddhu ram, esi koi baat nahi hai. Tum kal chaloge to mujhe aur unhe, dono ko accha lagega. (Sadly) Main to bas yeh soch rahi thi ki kaash mummy hoti, toh main sabse pehle unhe batati humare baare mein, and wo kitni khush hoti yeh jaankar aur tumse milkar.

Karan (taking her in a side hug): Wo nahi hai to kya hua, dekh to rahi hai wo hume, aur wo tumhare andar hai Monami, tumhari aadaton mei hai, tumhari kindness mein hai, tumhari himmat mein hai, tumhare jazbe mein hai. Bas unhe mehsoos karne ki zarurat hai...

Then he walked towards the side table, took the tray and went towards her.

Chalo ab breakfast kar lo, aur fir thoda rest kar lena. Main drills ke liye jaata hu, okay?

Monami nodded and Karan kissed her forehead lovingly. He reached the door but turned again, and looked at her, she understood and blinked her eyes as if saying she is fine and asking him not to worry. He nodded and left.

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To be continued....

That's it for this part.

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