Mera Rangsaaz

Chapter 1

Tara
13 years old

"Ma, Bade Thakur ne kya kaha?"

"Kitni baar batau Tara? Yahi kaha ki Teri shaadi Veer sahab se hogi"

"Veer" I try to say his name and immediately I receive a smack on the back of my head by my mother.

"Maaa" I whine but she just shows me her big eyes. All my protests die there.

"Chal ab chup Kar aur mujhe kaam karne de. Apne baba ko dekh ke aa ki kuch chahiye toh nahi unhe"

"Ji"

I go to check upon my father who is asleep on his bed. He was shot a day before yesterday. In reality that bullet was meant for Bade Thakur but my father is so loyal that he can even die for him, hence he took the bullet. So as a way to reward and give him respect, Bade Thakur announced that when I get older I will be married to his middle son. My father even in his injured state looked so proud and happy at that moment. Bade Thakur specially came to our house to announce that.

Bade Thakur basically rules this city. I have seen his men carrying big guns, even my father has one. Once my younger brother tried to touch it. Well it did not end good for him. Before he could even lay a finger on it, my father threw his slipper at him and it perfectly landed right on his head. And that slipper was filled with mud. He had to take a bath again while I was cackling.

I go to my terrace and look at Badi Haveli. It is just two houses away from our house. Even our house was gifted to my father by Bade Thakur. On their terrace I can see Jhanvi, the daughter of younger brother of Bade Thakur. Bade Thakur has 3 children, Vijender, the oldest son; Sanjay, the youngest son and the middle son is my to-be husband.

Bade Thakur has only one younger brother who has 2 children Jhanvi and Daksh.

"Jhanviiiiii" I shout from my terrace. She immediately turns to look at me and smiling, waves her hand.

"Tara tu aaj khelne kyu nahi aayi?"

"Wo mein sogyi thi"

"Kya yaar" she shouts back.

"Kyu chilla rahi hai chori?" My mother shouts from downstairs.

"Jhanvi se baat Kar rahi hoon Ma"

"Aaram se kar"

"Jhanvi mere Ghar aa" I say to Jhanvi

"Rukja aa rahi hoon" She says and runs. I don't even wait for 5 minutes and she is infront of me. We both sit down in the corner of terrace so nobody listens to our talks.

"Ab toh tu meri Bhabhi hai"

"Abhi thodi. Bade Thakur ne kaha Bade hone ke baad" I tell her.

"Haan Haan mujhe Pata hai. Par Kitna maza aayega hum sab ek saath rahege"

"Wo toh hai" I say and we both giggle. "Par Tara wo toh humesha gusse mei rehte hai"

"Yeh baat bhi hai" Jhanvi says sighing. "Veer bhaiya kisiki baat nahi maante siway Bade papa ke. Aur bade papa hi hai jo Veer bhaiya ko unke asli naam se bulate hai"

I nod my head in response.

"Tujhe pata hai wo aaj bhi ladai karke aaye school mei. Khoon nikal diye the dusre baccho ke"

"Sacchi? Par unhe maara kyu?"

"Yeh toh nahi pata mujhe. Mene Amma ko baat karte sunna tha. Aur waise bhi Veer bhaiya roz kissi na kissi se ladai karke aate hai" She says.

"Jhanvi" We hear a shout and Jhanvi immediately stands up. We both know who the voice belongs to. We look down from the terrace to see him glaring back at us. He always has anger sitting on his nose.

"Jaldi aa Amma bhula rahi hai tujhe"

"Abhi aayi Bhaiya" Jhanvi says and runs. I again look down from the Terrace to see him looking back at me. I tilt my head staring at him. Jhanvi halts beside him and breaking our eye contact he leaves.
He is only two years older than me but he acts as if he is almighty. Huh I am not afraid of him.

-------------------------

I make my hair in two plates and tie my ribbons. I am ready for the school.

"Accha Ma chalti hoon" I say lifting my bag.

"Dhyaan se jana"

"Ji Ma" I say to her and then looking at my younger brother, Amit, I slightly slap him on the back of his head as he is tying his shoe lace "Jaldi Kar. Late karayega mujhe bhi"

After tying his shoelace, he rubs the back of his head.

"Itne zor se bhi nahi maara hai" I say looking at his drama.

"Ruko abhi batata hoon" he says and pulls one on my braids. I am about to catch him but he runs aways. Having no option I too leave. No worries I'll take my revenge later.

I meet Jhanvi outside her house. We are in the same school but she studies in the same class as my brother. We both take our rickshaw. My brother always runs away so me and Jhanvi always end going together.

"Jaldi Chalo kaka" I say.

We both begin to gossip about our neighborhood. In middle of conversation I look back and spot him on his cycle. Jhanvi also turns around to see him.

"Veer Bhaiya" she says waving her hand to him.

"Dhang se baith ja" He says to her and we both turn around. For the whole school ride he follows us and even when our school is over, he is again there. This time I am with Amit, not with Jhanvi. Then why is he still following me?