ONCE

14

Abhi and Ananya turns there attention towards Abhay who was munching chocolate given by Aditi.

Ananya went to him, "Baccha," Abhay looked up at her then again turns his attention to chocolate making Abhi burst out laughing. Ananya glares him.

Ananya: "Abhay, baccha hume ghar jaana hai." Listening this he looked at her shocked then Abhi and slowly shook his head.

Ananya: "Baccha kyun nahi jaana, nani aapko bht miss kar rahi. Mein bhi miss kar rahi, kritarth pa....I mean uncle woh bhi aap ko miss kar rahe."

Abhay: "Aap nani ko yaha bhj do woh nahi krengi mujhe miss."

Ananya: "Aur main"

Abhay: "Aap busy nahi ho. Aaj?" Ananya looked startled. 

Abhay: "Mujhe nahi aana" Tried to reach for Abhimanyu.

Ananya's eyes filled up.
Abhimanyu takes him and sat on chair with Abhay on lap.

Abhi: "Abhay, mumma aapko boarding school nahi bhjegi agar aap waha jaoge tobhi."

Abhay looked at Ananya. "Sacchi?"

Ananya looks at Abhi. "Nahi bhjungi baccha. Aapne kyun nahi bola ek baar bhi ke aapko waha accha nahi lagta,"

Abhay: "Mujhe laga ke mai ghar p rhunga to aaplogo ko meri wagah se disturb hoga."

Ananya: "Aapki wagah se disturb kabhi nahi ho sakta mujhe. Kisne kahi aapko ye baat?"

Abhay: "Kisine nahi, par aap hamesha busy rehte ho, or kritarth uncle bhi kehte hai ke aap doctor ho aapke pass time nahi rehta or aap tired ho jaate ho." Tears formed on Ananya's eyes and she wipes it immediately now she was realising what Abhi said 6 years back.

"Dekho Ananya baccho ko time dena padta hai jo medical ki padhai, training in sab ki wagah se hamare pass bht kam hoga. Kahi bacche ko aisa na lagne lage ke woh hume disturb kar raha hai. Let's Abort Ananya. We'll plan baby when we get settled in our career."

Abhay: "Mumma, yaha pe to hamesha koi na koi rehta hai vedu chachu, nish chachu, bua, dadi, badi dadi, bade dadu. Dadu, Papa ke pass bhi time rehta hai. Mein Yaha rhunga to Aap to disturb bhi nahi hoga or jab aapko mujhse milne ka aap yaha turant aa sakte ho kolkata aane mein to bht time lagta hai. Dekho kitne saare benefits hai Aur bhi bht saare hai ye to major major hai." Abhi chuckles.

Abhi: "Aur kya kya benefits hai?"

Abhay: "Bht saare, Sabse pehla To vedu chachu bhi yahi hai ab agar kahi bahar jaana ho to unhe mujhe ghar se yaha tak chupa ke nahi laana padega, Mujhe unke sath bht accha lagta hai. Aur Yaha pe to Papa ko bhi cooking aati hai or chinese or italian bhi. Ab nani ko mere liye wo sikhne ki zaroort bhi nahi hai....or badi dadi Palak paneer bhi bht tasty banati hai mujhe Vedu chachu ne khilaya tha, mai ghumne bhi jaa sakta hoon koi na koi hamesha free rehta....he went on and on and on." Akshara and Mamta was listening his talks from behind.

Mamta: "Ab mujhe pura yakeen hai yaha be Abhay hamesha khush rhega."

Abhay: "Aur ek baat, vedu chachu ke school mein to 4-5 hours mein chutti bhi ho jaati hai, kolkata wale mein to 6 months baad hoti thi. Papa ne kaha hai wo mera admission yaha krayenge. Phir mein vedu chachu, nish chachu sath sath jaayenge." Ananya saw the happiness in Abhay's voice which made her smile.
Abhi was tensed he doesn't know how will Ananya react. It was not his decision to make.

Ananya: "Ye to bht acchi baat hai vedu chachu ka school India ke top schools mein se ek hai, kolkata wale se accha." Abhi signed in relief.

Abhay: "Really?"

Ananya: "Haan, aapke papa ne bhi wahi se padhai ki thi." Abhay sees Abhimanyu who nodded in return.

Abhay sees Mamta, "Nani" he went to her and Akshara and mamta takes him out of kitchen.

Abhi: "I am sorry Ananya maine tumse bina puche ye decide kar liya."

Ananya: "Thankyou Abhimanyu" Abhi looked at her surprised.

Abhi: "Tum mujhe Thankyou bol rahi ho? Nahi nahi shayad maine kuch galat suna." Ananya rolls her eyes. "Accha ye batao kyun bola Thankyou?"

Ananya: "Abhay ke face pe is smile ke liye, and I am sorry mujhe tmhari baat tab samajh hi nahi aayi thi. Mujhe dadi ki baat sahi lagne lagi is wagah se mein...."

Abhi: "It's okay Ananya let it be, Ab jo ho gaya hum use badal nahi sakte."

Ananya: "Yesterday I felt like a failure, jab Abhay ne tumhare sath jaane ke liye pucha to I was shattered. Mujhe samajh hi nahi aa raha tha ke Abhay 2 din mein tmhare sath itna comfortable kaise ho gaya. Mere sath wo bht distance maintain kar ke rehta tha infact hai. Boarding jaane ke pehle bhi wo mere sath comfortable nahi tha. Mein use boarfjng mein nahi dalna chahti thi but.... Woh mujhse kabhi kuch share nahi karta yaha tak ke uski babysitter Babita woh uske sath bilkul bhi accha behave nahi karti thi use usse dar lagta tha ye baat bhi usne mujhe nahi batai ek baar maine Ghar p cctv camera's install kiye the mujhe usse pata chala."

Abhi: "Kabhi tumne usse kaha ke woh tumse baate share kar sakta hai?" Ananya looked at him shocked.

Abhi: "Ananya, Pyaar karna hi sab kuch nahi hota kabhi kabhi hume uss pyaar ko jatana bhi padta hai. In a way Abhay is just like vedu. Vedu bhi mere ya mumma ke alawa kabhi kisi se koi chiz share nahi karta chahe wo chiz use kitni bhi pareshan kyun na karrhi ho. Even I don't share my feelings with everyone hum share usse karte hai jispe yakeen hota hai ke woh hamari baat sunenge or samjhenge bhi."

Abhi: "Honestly speaking Ananya, tumne Abhay ko ye feel karwaya ke he is a burden or ye baat mai nahi keh raha hoon. Abhay ne kaha mujhse jab wo humare sath chup ke ghumne aaya tha or ghar jaane ka time ho raha tha."

Ananya's eyes filled up. "Ye sach nahi hai Abhi maine hamesha ye koshish ki ke Abhay ko sab kuch de saku, ek acchi life, Acchi education taki use apne career ko le ke kabhi struggle na karna pade."

Abhi: "I know but tum use attention dena bhul gayi, luxaries ke kayi jyada important pyaar hota hai Ananya, tumhe apna pyaar proof karne ke liye luxaries ki zaroort nahi hoti tum waha ho wohi kafi hota hai. Isi baat ka dar tha mujhe isliye kaha tha ke hum baby ke liye ready nahi hai or nahi woh sahi time tha. But tumhe laga ke main humare rishte ko le ke imsecure hoon tumne ye soch bhi kaise liya Ananya."

Ananya heart was breaking she was realising how wrong she was. She got influenced by her Dadi's and bua's words.

Ananya hugged Abhi "I am sorry mai dadi or bua ki baato mein aa kar.... I am sorry abhi."

Abhi wipes his tears. "It's okay Ananya, now let it be. I am happy ke atleast tumhe realisation to hua."

Ananya breaks the hug. "From now on I'll try to be good mother for Abhay."

Akshara coming there: "You are already good mother Ananya, is baat pe koi shak nahi hai. Ye maine dekha hai, vedu or tumhe sath dekh kar. Jab Abhi ke kehne p maine apna kaam wapis shuru kiya tha tab tumne ki vedu ko sambhala tha. Or jis tarah se vedu ki aankho mein tumhare liye pyaar or respect dikhti hai isse proof hota hai ke tum ek bht acchi maa ban sakti ho."

Akshara: "Tumhe pata hai jab tum chali gayi thi to sabse jyada Affect vedu ki hua tha, Abhi ne to apne aap ko sambhal bhi liya tha par wo mujhse bhi nahi sambhal raha tha. Bht time laga tha use,"

Abhi: "Uske baad bhi wo tumhe nahi bhula Ananya, aaj tumhe dekhte se dekha tha itna khush ho gaya tha wo, mujhse tak kitni zid karne laga tha. Mere daatne pe bhi apni zid mein tha or tumne baat ki to maan li usne baat."

Akshara: "Don't give up Ananya, Abhay ke sath phir se shurvat karo or use apni mumma ko jaanne ka mauka do." Ananya smiled and nodded.

Ananya: "Thankyou, mujhe meri mistakes realize karwane ke liye."