XOMANTORAL

Chapter 12

After reaching hotel, Rohan helped Disha with bringing down her suitcase and she left for Assam. Aditi went to take some rest. She got into pajamas and kept lying on bed. She called Arohan
"Hello sir!"
"Kenekua gol?"
"Najanu, kintu sobe bhaal hua buli koise. So bhaal lagise."
"Congratulations."
"Thank you.... for everything."
Arohan smirked and said,
"Joldii aaha. Ekeloge celebrate korim."
"Hmm."
She smiled and cut the call. Few days of Arohan in her life made him one of her most important person. It was fascinating for her to imagine. His presence really had a big impact in her life.
In the evening, she got ready to explore MUMBAI. It was kind of a dream for her. It would have been better if Arohan was with her. But, anyway she was going to enjoy every bit of it, she thought. She wore denim pants with a white sweater. She tied her hair and put a little lipstick. She was locking the room when Rohan called her. She quickly locked the room and picked the call.
"Sir jaai aasu."
She took the elevator and went to the lobby. Rohan was on his track pants and a hoodie. He looked at her as she approached her. He said,
"Ready to explore?"
Aditi nodded. She was excited as anyone could say looking at her. She said,
"Kot jaam aami sir?"
"Shopping koriba?"
Her excitement was on another level.
"Paari sir."
Rohan took her to one of the shopping streets of Mumbai. They went on a cab. She took photos throughput the road. Mumbai was really something else for her when she visually experienced it. After reaching the place, she was mesmerized with all the clothes and jhumkas on the street. She shouldnt believe her eyes. It was beyond her imagination. She went to one of the cloth store and saw a beautiful dress. She said,
"Kitna price hain iska?"
The salesman said,
"Mam iska 500 rupaya."
Aditi stepped back and started going out. Rohan said,
"Ki hol, nuluwa neki?"
She gave a troubled look and said,
"Iman daam. Bhaal lagileu kinibo nuwari."
He said,
"Suwali hoii dordam koribo nuwara?"
And gave a teasing laugh. She looked at him with a little shame. He said,
"Come, moi xikaam tumak bargaining."
He went to the shop and said,
"Bhaiyya kitne mein denge aap?"
"500 chahiya bhaiya."
"Hum apko 200 denge."
Aditi looked at his face. He blinked with assurance. The seller said,
"Nahi nahi, hum last 350 mein de sakte hain."
"Naah hum apko 200 hi denge."
"Thik hain, 300 de dijiye."
"200 last."
"Nahi de sakte, jaao jahan milega."
Rohan said,
"Arre bhaai, de dijiye na. Isko bohot pasand hain. Pyaar karta hoon lekin jeb khaali hain. Aap bhi help nahi kar rahe hain."
The seller laughed and Aditi was shocked. The seller said,
"250 mein denge. Isse kam nahi."
Rohan took out the purse and gave Rs 25p to the seller as he packed the dress and gave it to him. He looked at Aditi and winked. As they moved forward, she said,
"Poisa kio dile aapuni? Moii dilu hoii toh."
He laughed and said,
"Bohut shopping koribo ase darling. Aagot kibaa etaa di dibaa mok bola."
Aditi felt a little uncomfortable and he sensed that. He said,
"Arre arre, sorry bou. Uncomfortable feel nokoriba. Moi maje maje dhemali korii thakim aaru. No beya intentions. "
He put a hand on his lips and acted like he zipped it with two fingers. Aditi laughed. They did a lot of shopping. Some for her maa and deta and a little gift for Arohan, a book. Arohan loved reading, she knew it. So, she took a book, "Of course I Love you" by Durjoy Datta. She also gave a shirt to Rohan. 30 rupees more, but it was okay. Rohan said,
"Street food khaba? Or dinner e koru?"
She gave a cute smile and said,
"Aaji dinner nokoru diyok. Iyaatei kiba khaau."
"Okay, done."
As they were moving towards the street food market, she saw a stall with variety of jhumkas. She got struck with a pair. She said,
"Bhaiyya kitna hain iska?"
The man stood up from his chair and saw the jhumka that she pointed towards. He said,
"Madam, iska thoda price jyada hain. 800 rupaya."
She said,
"Bhaiyya thoda kam karenge?"
The man said,
"Madam apko 700 mein de sakte hain, lemin isse kam nahi."
Rohan looked at her as she looked back. He raised his eyebrows asking what had happened. She shook her head and moved forward. Rohan said,
"Jaai thaka sun. Mor call eta koribo loga ase. Jaai asu."
She nodded and went to a food stall. There it was. Full of colours and lights, with varieties of people roaming here and there. She wondered how it was different from Guwahati! Yes, she seemed small in that big crowded city. It was a city of dreams and her dreams were always limited to the roads of guwahati. She looked into people's eyes. People were selling street food, but theirs eyes showed a different shine of dreams, dreams that left unfulfilled, dreams that they still yearn for.
After sometime, Rohan came to the stall. She already ordered momos for her. He ordered a chicken roll for himself. As their meal was being prepared, Aditi said to Rohan,
"Aami kintu paan khaam deii."
Rohan looked at her with amusement. How on earth was she so weirdly wonderful! She was like the ball of sunshine with lots of weird curiosities and cravings. She smirked and said,
"Paan o khuwa tumii?"
She gave a confused look and said,
"Kio? Imano bhbelii nhoiii deii."
Rohan laughed and nodded at her plea. The time in that big city was flowing like the river and they couldn't even take hold of it. It was full of memories and laughter, lots of mew sprung bonds. It made the trip even more special.
They finished their dinner and took a paan. She got it packed and they went to marine drive. When they reached there by auto, it was already 11 at night. But, marine drive was full of life. It was like, it's never night there. She looked at the phone and checked the time. She said, woth concern in her eyes
"Ami jaabo lagisil neki hotel?"
He gestured her to look at the front and said,
"Enjoy it! Eibur exomoyor memories hobo tumaar."
She smiled at him and looked at the vast sea. The gateway of India was visible, but they didn't go there. They sat in the concrete seating arrangement near the sea. She closed her eyes t feel the breeze in her body. The breeze made her soul calm and at peace. She opened her eyes and said, smiling,
"Arohan sir aahile bhaal lagil hoi. Sage morom khini xaagoror xotot bisaari paalu hoi."
Rohan looked at her and then at the sea. He said,
"Ketiaba nijok bisaarii pua tuo important hoi. Nijok bhaal paabo xikaa. Eii botaah jaakot nijok bisaari sua sun. Nijok paahorii pelaai busaari jua. Sage bhaal puatke kibaa besii bisaari puaa."
She looked at him. There was a kind of grief in his eyes. The grief that always made him the bad one, atleast for the people who loved Arohan. It felt unnecessary, but she turned around, facing Rohan's side. She said,
"Apunak kibaa xudhu?"
He looked at her and said,
"Hmm hmm."
She shook her head. He again said,
"Eko naai. Etiya aami friends. You can ask me anything. "
She said,
"Arohan sir aru apuni..... kio enekua? "
He smiled,
"Rather inappropriate to reveal everything."
She said,
"Buju sir. Kintu ketiyaba apunalok duyuke dekhi beya lage. Ijone anjonor kotha bhabio kio enekoi thke. Bhul nubujibo. Arohan sirok jimane janisu, ximaneii xaathor hoii goi ase. Xaathor r uttor bisarote nijok besikoii heraisu teur usorot. Teu mok uthaat bisaario dise, kintu aakou heraisu. Xeii xaathor r uttor aapuni he dibo paaribo."
Her words concerned her. Her extent of adoration towards Arohan wasn't something he expected. He said,
"Ami eta broken family r part. Or so called happy family. Maa detaai sob programs ekeloge attend kore. It feels like teulok etaai antuk erii thakiboii nuware. But in reality, they hate each other."
Aditi looked in confusion. He continued
"Sounds filmy, i know. Kintu ki koba, filmy scenes amar jibonor ondhokar asil. Maa detaai nijok loiiiman busy je aami exist koru xeituo pahori jaai. Amr maa superficial. Detaa e dadak bhal npaai, because dadai detaar kothat ultaai koisil. Edin kajiya logaat, dadai sob kaapur baandhi mama kokak maati gusi gol. Saage bisarisil maa e taak bisaari jbo. Nhol tenekua. Maa e gomeii npale dada ghorot naai je. Dudin pisot he monot poril. Nibo goisil. Nanile logot. Bhem etiya khong hol. Maa seemed to care less. But moii ghor eribo nuwarilu. Detaar kothaak ghurabo nuwaru. Even maaro protitu kothaa mone mone xojjyo koribo pora khyomota ase. Dadar naai. Xeibabe moi bhl, dada beya. Aaru dadar sokut moii villain."
He wiped his eyes with his blue t shirt and cleared his throat. He then continued
"Amar maar extra marital affair o aasil. From our very childhood. Teu amar mama kokar e friend r lora. Teur logot biyaa nhol. But morom thaki gol. Detai jane, but ketiyao gom paabo nidile. Amar ghorot etiyaao aahe. Bhaal nalage mor. Arohane o beya paai. But they don't care."
Aditi felt like someone slapped right across her face. So much happened with Arohan, but he never said anything.
"Etiya jodi bhabi asa Arohan e tumak eibur kio kua naai, ketiyaao nokoii xi. He ran away from that house. Xeikhon ghoror kothaa eko nokoi xii. Amar detaar kotha nokoi. Maar eibur karonor babeii xii maak dekhibo nuware."
Aditi looked over her shoulder to the sea. He looked at her face,
"Mor taar logot bonding bhaal nohoi. Cuz moi maak support korisu. Taar mote moi wrong. But xii bohut kothaa easily bhabi thoii diye. Moi nuwaru."
She looked at him and said,
"Apuni kio support korile?"
"Tumaar maaye goteii morom jodi napale. Koto aapun feel nokorile, tumii jaanu maar pora xeii etaa bhaal factor kaarhi anibo paariba? Ayub uncle e maak jii detaai diya naai sob dise. Poribo ulaale sombhali loi, kandile soku paani musii diye, happy moments t celebrate kora. Moi teuk bhaal napau. Ketiyao napau. Kintu maak bhal paau moi. Maa e bhal paai amak."
Tears fell from his eyes. He wiped them and continued,
"Arohan r feelings naai. Xii selfish hoi. Beya napaba. Xii bhabe prithibi khonot ataitke beyaa taar maak. Karon maaye taak anibo juaar dina apple loii goise, aaru xii apple bhl napai. Kintu xii ketiyaba janibo khujisene maaye ki bhaal paai? Maa did everything to protect him. Ki paale binimoyot? Exopa hatred."
Aditi was silent. He fell silent. She again asked,
"Keneke protect korile? Teu sun bhonga ainaa jen. Jimane janisu ximaneii tukuraa bisari paisu!"
He smiled and said,
"Buji napaba. Keneke protect korise. Arohan amar detaar reflection. Jibonot kaam aaru poisar bahire eko sini napai. Jetiya aagote detaai Arohan k maaribo khedi aahe, maaye nijok detaar logot room t lock korii thoi. Detaai Arohan r khong maar uporot uliyaai. Arohan e gom paaio eko nkoi, karon xi maak dekhibo nuware. Jidina taak anibo jaam bulii goise mamar ghoror pora, asolote kokak taak gotaai dii thoi aahise. Eii ghor khon taar babe bhal nohoi."
Aditi wiped tears from her eyes and asked,
"Aaru apuni?"
He closed his eyes for a few moments and the opened. He looked at her and said,
"Mok detaai bhaal paai. Sole reason. Maa e mok bosabo nalage. Aamr baaki safe, just Arohan k beya paai. Snehako bhal napai, but khurar sake t nkoi eko."
Aditi took out the phone from her purse. He clock showed 12:12. She opened her gallery and looked at Arohan. A pain gripped her heart. Tears constantly kept flowing along with her nose. She tried to wipe it, but couldn't. Rohan took out his handkerchief and gave it to her.
"Tumaak bhal paai Arohane. Don't worry. But he's messed up. Don't rush. Take things slowly."
She nodded while taking the handkerchief from his hand. She wiped her tears and returned it to Rohan. She whispered thnk you to which Rohan responded with a nod.
Aditi said,
"Sir janene? Moi bohut xohoj xorol ghoror. Eibur kothaa mor mone xojjyo koribo nuware. Moro bohut kahini ase, but sir eibur moii bujaar baahirot. Sage ketiyaao bujio napam. Arohan sirok bhal paisu. Sage lagatke besii bisari pelaisu. Sage bhul korisu. Kintu korilu bhul. Hoi gol. Ghuri aahibo nuwaru. Najanu kii hoi."
He saw honesty in her eyes. He saw her love towards Arohan. He looked down and sat for a while. He said after a while,
"Xeibur baad diya. Tumaar birthday ketiya?"
Aditi smiled and said,
"Porohi."
His eyes widened and he said,
"Shit! Ghor jaabo nupuwa mane?"
She shook her head and said,
"Upaai naai."
He again said,
"Aami aasu nohoi. Aaru xuna, mok tumii buli koba. Aapuni is too Arohan and I am nothing like Arohan."
She laughed and said,
"Aapuni... sorry tumii Arohanor dorei.."
He smiled and said nothing. After sometime, he patted at her shoulder to get up and keep going. They started walking. Rohan looked at her,
"Dhuniya lagise tumak."
She blushed a little. He continued
"Haahi thakiba. Bhaal dekhi."
It reminded her of Arohan and said,
"Tumar kotha buru Arohanor dore."
She laughed and kept walking. He said,
"Eta kotha."
"Hmm"
"Xidina hatot khun kio korisila."
She felt silent. The smiled disappeared from her face. He kept looking at her. After a while, she said,
"Mor eitu kotha ulaabo issa naai. I am sorry."
He gestured to push with his hands and said,
"Not pushing."
She smiled. She took out the phone and opened the camera. As he walked ahead of her, she clicked his picture. He heard the sound of the click, he said,
"Photogenic nohoi. Laaj lage."
Hearing him, she laughed. After few minutes, they reached the hotel. After they entered the hotel, he looked at her,
"Kaile dinner koribo jabo lagibo. If you want to go anywhere else, text me okay?"
She nodded and smiled. He threw his hand in air and said,
"Now, I am gonna go."
"Hmm good night. "
She went before him. After reaching her room, she took out the phone. No, she didn't want to call Arohan. She just texted him,
"Aahi paalu."
After a few seconds, Arohan called
"Tumaar logot kothaa patiboii chance pua naai re."
Arohan said as soon as she picked up the call. She replied
"Bohut busy. Sorry."
"Eko naai. Aaji iman deri kio hol?"
"Rohan sir e bojaar koribo nile. Then marine drive bohii thakute kiman deri hol gomeii napalu."
A hint of jealousy appeared in his mind. He said,
"Ki kotha patila nu?"
"Enei... apunar kotha."
Arohan's body grew hot. His ears became red.
"Ki kole?"
"Apuni kobo nibisora, dekha nupuwa kothabur."
Arohan kept silent
"Manuhok bhul buji nijok justify koraa xohoj sir. Kintu teur kii hoi ase, aami janibo sesta nokoru. Bhul tateii hoi."
"Aditi tumi eko najana."
Arohan said, with hands trembling with anger
"Ji janibo lagise, janilu sir. Aapunio ebaar saabo buji."
He kept silent. It was something he never wanted to address. It was something that always made Arohan uncomfortable. Aditi again said,
"Sir. Beya napabo. Aapunii xukhi thokaa bisaaru."
He cut the call. Aditi gave him time. She didn't call him back. In the mean time, she changed her clothes and laid down on the bed.