Chal Meri Jaan

Last chapter

Time is the best healer.

Five years later:

It was the daytime, the sun was shining in the sky and the birds were hovering over the ground and the ground was decorated. The chairs were kept there and people were sitting on the chairs. Some were in civil dresses but mostly were in police uniform. The police officers were rewarded with the medals and awards. Avni was the one who was giving the medals and rewards. She was the chief guest there. Neil was sitting there with the common people because he wanted to sit there. Neil smiled to see Avni. A man looked at Avni.

Man: Madam, agar aap kuch words logon se kahengi to humain khushi hogi.

Avni was surprised.

Avni: Main kya…

Man: Please.

Avni was about to say but the man insisted so Avni said, ok. The man smiled and he said, thank you.

The man was standing at the Rostrum.

Man: Congratualations to all the cadets. Now I would like to invite IPS officer Avni Neil Khanna to come on the stage to say something to our cadets and share her experience with them.

Everyone clapped including Neil. Neil felt proud on Avni. Avni got up from her seat and she went to the Rostrum. Avni was standing on Rostrum and she sighed.

Avni: first of all, congratulation to all the cadets.

Everyone clapped.

Avni: and after that thank you. Thank you for calling me here and giving me this honour. I am honoured. Honestly main koi speech tiyar kar ke nahi ayi. Mujhe yeh nahi bataya gaya tha ke mujhe speech bhi dani paregi.

Avni and others smiled. Avni gulped and sighed.

Avni: Main apni bahaduri ke qisay sunane yaa bari, bari batain karne ke bajaye aap logo ko ek story sunana chahugi. Ho sakta hai aap main se kuch log us se relate kar paen yaa us se inspire ho paen.

Avni cleared her throat.

Avni: Yahi Mumbai main ek parivaar raha karta tha. Kehne ko ek parivaar tha lekin thay do parivaar. Ek parivaar main ek Maa, beta rehte the aur ek parivaar main ek Maa aur beti. Kehne ka matlab yeh hai ke us ghar main ek larki apne mata pita aur dadi ki sath rehti thi. Kehne ko to woh sab log ek ghar main rehte the lekin woh ghar kisi makan se kam nahi tha. Us larki ki Maa us se bohat pyaar karti thi bohat zyada lekin us ke pita…

Avni shook her head.

Avni: woh us se bilkul bhi pyaar nahi karte the. Pata hai kyun? Kyun ke woh ek beti thi. Beta nahi.

Everyone felt bad. Neil looked down.

Avni: Us larki ka pura bachpan apni Dadi aur Papa ki dant, tane aur maar khate, apni Maa ko tane sunte aur insult hote dekh, apne pita ko us ki Maa per hath uthate dekh hi guzra. Us ke Pita ne kabhi us ki taraf pyaar se nahi dekha. Us larki ne than liye ke woh khub mehnat kare gi aur ek maukam hasil karegi. Woh khud ko aur apni Maa ko ghulami ki zanjirun se chura kar rahegi. Woh apni Maa ko ek achi zindagi degi. Us larki ne apna struggle shuru kiya aur khub mehnat ki aur agaye bharti gayi. Struggle karte us ka bachpan guzar gaya aur us larki ka yahan ke best college main scholarship per admission ho.

Everyone smiled.

Avni: Bohat khush thi woh us din. Usay us ke sapne sach hote dikhai dene lage. IPS officer banane ka sapna.

Avni paused for a moment and thought and then she sighed and smiled.

Avni: Lekin usay andaza nahi tha ke woh apni zindagi ke ab tak ke sab se mushkil parao main kadam rakhne jaa rahi hai. Us college main yahan se rich logon ke bache aate the jo us ka Mazak banate aur usay pareshan karte the lekin us larki per un ki baton ka koi asar nahi hota tha kyun ke usay apna laksh hasil karna tha. Us ne apni mehnat jari rakhi. Phir ek din college ke kuch students ne shararat ki aur us larki ko lab main band kar diya woh bhi exam wale din.