Satranga Ishq

iii.

" Aapki mati vrasht toh nahin ho gayi hain ma? "

" Mrityunjay. Apne shabd- "

" Kshama kariyega ma, par hamaara uttar naa hain. "

Mrityunjay got up from his seat and made his way out when, " Yudh se pehle bhi humnein aapko yahin prashn puccha tha. ", Lekha stated.

" Aur tab bhi hamara uttar na hi tha. " he didn't stop in his tracks.

Realising that her words are having no effect on him, she softened her tone, " Jay, baat ko samajhiye. "

" Nahin ma. ", he turned around, " Iss baar nahin. Hamara pehla vivaah, pitaji ka faisla tha, par humein koi aakrosh nahin, kyuki hamara vaivaahik jivan, bohot acchi tarah se chal rahan hain. Aur humein, kisi aur stree ki avashyakta nahin. " his eyes sought Geetanjali, who averted her gaze, when their eyes met.

But he couldn't miss the layer of sheen coating her orbs.

" Parantu iss rajya ko hain Jay. Gauravgarh ko ek yogya rani ki avashyakta hain. " the woman was getting irritated at her son.

" Geetanjali mein bhi rani banne ki yogyata hain ma. " his tone laced with rage.

How could his mother degrade his wife in front of him?

" Yogyata hain ya nahin, yeh toh aap bhi jaante hai. Parantu hum ek baat- "

" Aapko mera antim uttar pata hain ma, aur koi tark nahin. " he walked towards Geetanjali, held her hand and started walking out of the dining hall.

" -Geetanjali ne bhi apni haan rakhin hain aapki dwitiya vivaah ke liye. " that made him stop dead in his steps, " Unhein koi aitraaz nahin hai isse. "

Geetanjali felt an excruciating pain in her wrist, where her husband was holding, " Kya yeh satya hai? "

She looked at Mrityunjay and then at his clenched jaw, " Rajkumar, Gauravg- "

" Haan ya naa Geetanjali? "

" Haan " the dining hall fell silent, Lekha with a winning smirk, Geetanjali with fearful eyes and Mrityunjay, he felt short of words.

" Ranima- " the heavy tension still lingering in the air, " -Maharaj aapko bula rahein hain. "

Lekha nodded and walked out, giving her son a final look, while Mrityunjay left Geetanjali's wrist with a jerk and stormed off to their chamber.

Confused and frightened, she also ran behind him. The instant she was in the chamber, a strong arm was wrapped around her waist, a hand on her jaw, tilting it to make her look into the burning orbs.

She whispered out, " Rajkumar- "

" Sshhhhh. Kisne anumati di aapko, hamarein dusre vivaah ke nirnay lene ki? " he whispered close to her lips.

" Humein laga- "

" Bass aapko laga, aur hamara kya? " Geetanjali closed her eyes, when she felt her husband leaning in, but the next moment, she was left cold. Opening her eyes, she saw her husband standing in front of the wide window, his back facing her.

" Kya aap chahti hain hum khudko ek dusri stree ko saunp dein? " she shook her head, even if he couldn't see it, " Kya aap chahti hain ki hamarein hriday mein kisi aur ka sthan ho? ", fat tears rolled down her cheeks, " Kya aap chahti hain, ki hum hamara prem baat lein, kyuki humse woh nahin hoga Geetanjali. " he faced her, expressions stoic.

She couldn't hold back anymore and broke into cries, hiding her face in her palm, " Nahin Rajkumar, hum aapko kisi aur ke saath nahin dekh sakte- "

" Phir aapka yeh nirnay ? " Mrityunjay interjected.

" -par baat sirf hamaari nahin hain. Baat Gauravgarh ke bhavishya ki hain. Usse ek rani- " she started but,

" Aur aapko kyun lagta hain ki aap iss pad ke liye upyukt nahin hain? " he cut her off in mid-sentence again.

Geetanjali lowered her head, " Kyunki hamari parvarish uss tarah se nahin hui, jiss tarah se ek rani ki honi chahiye thi. "

A knot appeared between his eyebrows, " Ma ne kahan aapko aisa? "

" Satya hi toh kahan. " he sighed out frustratingly.

" Toh aapko taaj ka moh nahin? ", she shook her head meekly.

" Aur hamara? ", it remained unanswered, which finally broke the thread of patience in him.

" Thik hain phir. Taaj ussi ko milega jo humse vivaah karengi. Unhe hamari patni ka darza dena hoga. Tab, humein bhi hamara waqt, prem aur khudko unhe dena padega, kyuki woh hamara pati-dharm hoga. Aur tab, shayad, hum aapke samip na reh paaye. " he walked backwards, never breaking their stare, and removed the gold ring -the symbol of their marriage- from his ring finger and kept it on the table nearby.

" Yeh aap kya- " tears choked her words.

" Ab isme bhi haq toh kisi aur ka hi hoga na? " she just sobbed at his bitter words.

It isn't easy for her, to say yes to her husband's second marriage, it breaks her from inside too. Couldn't he see that?

A knock was heard, and Mrityunjay let the attendee in," Pranam Rajkumar, Maharaj ne- ", she stopped noticing Geetanjali's pale face.

" Maharaj ne? " Mrityunjay gritted out. He was already handling a lot.

" -ji unhone aap dono ki upasthiti ki chah rakhin hain. "

~•~

Ah....so much of hindi dialogues.....pehle hi bol deti hu... Hindi is not my first language, so if there's any mistake, please don't take it by heart. Bass trying to give my best....give your review on this one. Do vote, comment and support. Constructive criticism is welcomed. ☺❤