Ishq ka Raang Safed Piya

43.Nabhah Sparsham Diptam

                                                      

Shehnaaz sat on the threshold of the entryway to her house like a hollow and trembling leaf fallen from a lifeless tree,she was herself on the brink of breaking down yet again....

She saw people,kids officials and families moving out hurriedly out of the cantonment with a scared and worried face in emergency with their suitcases...

Few of them came and asked about her well being...checking about her and Sidharth....and some of them choose to ignore her walking away fast as they gave more priority to their safety and mostly time ...Time which felt running extremely fast...but for Shehnaaz it felt millions of years in every second without her Sidharth beside her.But yes the area felt abandoned in that hustle bustle environment also with the unrest all over the country and specially the southern part of India as a outcome of the mishap...The time flies as they say it waits for none but for Shehnaaz it has to wait....as she was waiting for Sidharth endlessly..It has been 4 hours ..he has not returned to her...she did not knew about his where abouts....no letter ,any text or calls from his side...but she has got many calls from her home in Darbhanga and Bhagalpur both...asking and trying to make her understand the gravity of the situation and come back with the very first flight,train ..the emergency helicopter services for the families and staffs of the army and what so ever needed at the moment....Vidyut has called and checked on her as well in return to which she has only asked about him?...where is Sidharth ?...to which he has no reply.

"Shehnaaz...bahu wapas aa jaiye...Humne Bhagalpur ko dange ki aag me jalte dekha hai..logon ko bemaut marte dekha hai.....bahut kuch bura ho sakta hai...aap wahan akele..kaise?..musibat padne par koi madad(help) nahi karta...sab beech raste me chhor kar chale jate hai...".Dadi maa has said worried.

And Shehnaaz knew this well!

"Sid...Sidharth...wo bhi to akele chale gaye hai na humko aise chhor kar..uska kya?...par hum unko akele chhor kar kaise aa jaye dadi maa".Her poor heart has asked..

"Sidharth wapas aa jayenge beta...wo kaam hai uska..aadat hai ye sab jhelne ni usko...wo aa jayenge...humko vishwas hai..jab tak unki dadi maa jinda hai...humare lalla ko kuch nahi hoga...mata rani itni nisthur(cruel) nahi hai ki is buddhi dadi aur maa baap ke rehte uske jawan bacche ko chheen lein...aa jao beta ..please".Dadi Maa said hopeful...but she also knew an army man's life is very unpredictable..their life is not in  their own hand...they can vanish any time like a thin air.

"Dadi maa....kuch dino me hamara pehla Vat Savitri ka Vrat hai...humne Pooja ki sari taiyari kar rakhi hai...Sidharth ke bina kaise karenge...unse door...".Shehnaaz said crying.

"Are Savitri to Satyawan ko Yamraj ke pas se le aayi thi...tum bhi Sidharth ko le aaogi...tumne jawab khud de diya...ab bhagwan ke liye wapas aa jaiye...train se utna lamba rasta aise mahaoul me tai karna jaan aur izzat dono ko jokhim me dalna hoga...humari maniye abhi ke abhi...wapas aaiye...Vidyut ne kaha hai na..Sidharth ke battalion walon se baat ho gayi hai...aap unke sath hawai jahaz se wapas aa jayen abhi...ye humara faisla hai".Dadi maa has ordered and hung up the call which Shehnaaz has decided to disobey for the first time.

She remembered and fumed in anger the very next second....."Sidharth ko koi chinta nahi hai na humari...hum yahan pagal pareshan ho rahe hai akele unke bina.....aur wo hamesha ki tarah bina bataye gayab hai...khamosh ho gaye hai bilkul...".She uttered to herself and twitched her fingers clasping them in her strong hold...twisting them unknowingly...she was too angry and running out of patience with the passing time when her wrist ached and felt hurt....

But her angry face changed it's color as Shehnaaz's lips smiled on a sweet reverie....her eyes dropped innumerable tears silently thinking ,missing and worrying about him...