Mera Rangsaaz

Chapter 2

Tara
16 years old

I look back to see him following my rickshaw again with his bike. He does this every day, not even once has he missed since that day. I have gotten used to it now. I return to my talks with Jhanvi.

"Bhabhi aaj aap aaoge na pooja mei."

"Haan Jhanvi. Mujhe toh Amma ne Naya suit bhi dia iss Pooja mei pehanne ke liye"

"Mene bhi Naye kapde liye. Amma ne paise diye the" she says, smiling so big.

I always get invited to their house events like a family member. I guess I'll become one in few years. I slightly look back to take a glimpse of him. All these years his anger has only increased. He isn't even wearing his helmet.

We get down from the rickshaw as we reach our school. I hear his bike stop.

"Shukriya kaka" I say.

"Aree beta yeh toh mera kaam hai" he replies. I nod and start to head inside.

"Veer bhaiya aapka toh school Khatam hogaya hai. Aap kyu roz roz Darshan karne aajate ho?" Jhanvi says to him.

"Chup karke class mein ja apni" he says to her

"Khadoos" she says under her breath and runs aways. I can feel him staring at me but I don't look at him. Keeping my eyes slightly down, I start to walk.

"Ruko" he says. My heartbeat increases in anticipation. I hear his footsteps coming towards me and then halting in front of me.

"Amma ne suit dia?"

I nod.

"Aaj wahi pehanna"

I nod.

"Muh se bolne mei Kasht hota hai aapko"

I shake my head.

"Tara gussa mat dilao. Dhang se bolo" he says in his angry tone. He scares me.

"Ji.. ji me..ein pehan lungi"

"Hmmm. Jao ab"

Nodding, I walk till I am in the middle of ground and then only I look back. He is still standing at the door with his arms crossed. He continues to look at me.

"Jao" he shouts and I immediately start walking again with my back to him. A small smile grazes my lips.

Once our school is over, I see him talking to my younger brother. Amit seems to follow him around a lot. I don't think he teaches him anything good.

I go and stand beside Amit.

"Aree Didi itni Der kaha kardi?"

I look at Amit, completely ignoring the other stare.

"Wo mein homework likh rahi thi"

"Kya didi Jab dekho padhai padhai-"

"Oye" Amit is interrupted by him.

"Mein toh mazak Kar raha tha jiju" Amit says laughing nervously. Everyone is afraid of him. The thing is everyone knows that he isn't even afraid of Bade Thakur, just respects him a lot.

"Chale?" I ask Amit.

"Mein khelne ja raha hoon aap Jhanvi ke saath aajana"

"Aree par-" before I could say anything he runs away. I wanted to tell him that Jhanvi has already left earlier with her classmates.

Isko toh mein Ghar Jake bataugi.

Well now I have no option, I'll take rickshaw on my own. I began to walk forward when I collide with his chest. I look up to see his angry expression. Rubbing my head i step away fom him. He is still here?

"Kaise jaogi Ghar?"

"Ji rickshaw karke"

"Akele?"

I nod.

"Aao bike par baitho mein chordunga"

I finally look at him. He is always looking at me. I immediately turn away my gaze. He sits on his bike and says "baitho"

I quietly walk to his bike and sit with my both legs on one side. I am hesitant to hold his shoulder so I hold onto the back of the bike. I have sat so many times behind him on this bike but I am still shy.

"Hone wala Pati hoon tumhara koi aur nahi. Chup chap dhang se pakdo"

"Ji" I say and hold onto his shoulder. They are firm. When was the last time he got a massage?

"Kisine dubara pareshaan kia tumhe?" He says while keeping his eyes on road.

"Nahi"

"Kare toh mujhe batana. Saale ki akal thikane laga dooga" he says sending shiver down to my spine.

Nobody even tried to cross me while he was in the school. Once he passed out, a group of guys tried to talk to me. My brother must have seen this and informed him as just half an hour later he was here beating the shit out of those guys. He even scared them with his pistol.

He stops his bike in front of my house and I step down.

"Andar jao" he says and I leave.

Once he left, I finally sigh. Who does he think he is? Always ordering me around.

"Aagayi beta" my Ma says noticing me.

"Ji huzoor" I say flipping one of braids.

"Pagal ladki. Ja haath muh dho le aur kapde Badal le. Pooja mei jana hai tujhe" she says smiling. I give her a tight hug and then get ready.

I wear the emerald green anarkali suit. Amma, grandmother of Jhanvi, mother of Bade Thakur gave it to me but I know whose choice it is.

Combing my waist long hairs, I give myself a good look.

"Accha Ma ja rahi hoon mein"

"Thik hai"

My parents never have problem with me going to Badi Haveli. It's the only place they allow me to go. Maybe it is because of him.

I stand in front of the Haveli. So many men are doing there work. Some are guards, some are decorating the Haveli and some are running to do one or the other thing. As I enter, the first person I see is Vijender bhaiya.

"Bhaiya Jhanvi kaha hai?"

"Asha ke saath uske kamre mei. Chetan ke saath khel rahi hogi"

"Ji Bhaiya"

He nods his head and I climb the stairs to go to Asha Bhabhi's room. Chetan is 2 year old son of Vijender Bhaiya and Asha Bhabhi. I enter their room revealing all three of them.

"Jaldi idhar aa Tara" Asha Bhabhi says.

"Kya hua Bhabhi?"

"Yeh Veer bhaiya ki photo dekho" Jhanvi says as I sit on the bed beside her.

"Bachpan mei bhi khadoos hi the" she says and I nod my head.

"Aree Tara apne hone wale Pati ki taraf se kuch kahogi nahi?" Asha bhabhi says.

"Aree jhooth kya bola isne. Sach hai bhabhi sach" I say.

"Aur nahi toh kya Asha bhabhi. Aur Tara, humari hone wali bhabhi kya bolegi? Yeh bas humare samne bolti hai. Veer bhaiya ke samne inki sitti bitti ghul ho jati hai" Jhanvi says and they both laugh. Even Chetan.

"Aisa kuch nahi hai" I say defending myself.

"Accha"

"Haan"

"Theek hai. Toh abhi neeche jao aur Veer bhaiya ke muh par unko khadoos kaho" she says challenging me.

"Bas itni si baat. Mere hone wale Pati hai, itna toh mein keh hi sakti hoon" I say faking my confidence. Inside I am screaming like a scared kitty.

Hey bhagwaan ji yeh kya musibat mol leli mene