Dhruv Tara: An End To a Long Wait

Chapter 4 - Reality check

Tara had locked Shaurya in that room. Her heart hurt to hear his cries, he was her baby. But that was needed. He couldn't get away with doing something so wrong. Insulting someone like that in itself was wrong, but then Dhruv, that was horrible on so many other levels. Dhruv had done so much for him, and this was how he treated him.

Dhruv... Where was Dhruv? What would he be going through. He must be so hurt. She needed to find him. So she ran towards Dhruv's room.

Reaching there, she noticed the room was very dimly lit. She looked around and saw him lying on the bed, asleep. No, that didn't make sense. Or was he unconscious? She got worried and rushed to his side. His legs were covered by a sheet and a wet rag was kept on his forehead. She called his name, seeing if he's awake. He didn't move. She did get a response, but not from Dhruv.

"Taru"

Tara turned around and saw Mahavir standing at the door. Her anger knew no bounds.

"Aap yaha kya kar rahe hai. Kya kiya aapne Dhruv ke saath?", she demanded.

"Humne kuch nahi kiya kehna to galat hoga, parantu usse bada prashna hai ki aapne kya kiya".

Tara was taken aback. Bhaiji had been the reason behind this mess. He had instigated Shaurya, he had teamed up with Bhabosa to take Shaurya away from Dhruv. How could he try to put that on her. So she argued back. What did he even mean by that. What had she done. And what had happened to Dhruv? She demanded to know that.

"Behosh hai. Waise to theek hai. Parantu mansik roop se nahi keh sakte", Meenakshi said, as she entered with a glass of water, which she placed near Dhruv's bed.

"Mansik roop se? Kya keh rahi hai aap? Kya hua hai unhe. Kya Bhaiji ne kuch...?"

"Chikitsak Dhruv ne... apne praan lene ka prayaas kiya".

The ground beneath her shook. She couldn't process it. Dhruv... had tried to kill himself? She looked at Dhruv, and couldn't take her eyes away. As the reality began to sink in, she was about to shout at Bhaiji, when he interfered.

"Iss sthiti se hum apni zimmedari peeche nahi le rahe, parantu Taru, aapne Dhruv ke saath... Jis vyakti se aap prem karti hai, aapke pati hai, unke saath itna anyay kiya! Aap hume keh rahi thi na, ki Chikitsak Dhruv ne humare liye kya kiya hai, to kya aap ye bhool gayi, ki unhone aap ke liye kya kuch nahi kiya hai. Apna parivar, apna astitva sab gava diya apke rishte ke liye parantu kabhi apse prem karna nhi chhoda. Aapko kabhi ye sab yaad nahi aya? Apne pati se door bhagti rahi aap. Unse unke putra ka sach tak chupaya! Itne jhooth, itne khel khelti rahi aap, kaise. Yaha hum Chikitsak Dhruv ko galat samajhte rahe, unhe itne katu shabd kehte rahe, par humari hi behen aisa kuch karegi! Hum samajhte rahe ki Dhruv ke karan humari behen ke saath galat hota raha par yaha to ulta hai. Kya ho gaya hai aapko? Ye jhooth bolna, ye khel khelna, humne kabhi apni behen ko nahi sikhaya tha."

"Humne apni khushi se nahi kiya aisa Bhaiji. Maharaj ne humare praan bachaye the. Hum bas apna kartavya..."

"Aur apne pati ki ore aapke kartavya ka kya Taru? Suryapratap ne aap ke liye jo kiya aapko yaad tha, parantu Dhruv ne jo kiya wo nahi?"

"Bhai sa ke liye aapne jo kiya, uske liye aapka aabhar. Parantu apne sabse mahatvapurna rishte ko kuchal kar kaisa mahan karya kar rahi thi aap. Bhai sa jaante the unhone kisi aur ki patni ko, putra ko bachaya hai, prem kiya hai. Avashya unhe thodi to apeksha hogi hi unke asli pita ke lautne ki. Ye nirnay unka tha. Jis din se Dhruv ji yaha aaye hai, uss din se keval jhooth bolti aa rahi hai aap. Apni aakho ke saamne unhe itna tadapte hue dekhti rahi aap, itni peeda me the wo, aur aap unhe aur takleef deti rahi."

"Taru, aapke aur Dhruv ke rishte ko swayam Kanhaji ne ashirwad diya hai, aisa aapne hi kaha tha na. Aap dono ke beech ka rishta asadharan hai, itne jude hai aap. To hum ye kaise maan le ki aapne maan liya ki wo mar chuke hai. Aapne swayam unhe dhundhne ka prayaas bhi nahi kiya. Jab unhone aapko dhunda to ye sab! Kisi ki sahayta ke liye unka abhar vyakt karna, unki sahayta ke liye swayam tayar hona sahi hai, parantu un ehsano tale dab ke apne apno ke saath itna anyaay karna kaha ki samajhdari hai?"

Tara felt numb. She tried to think of some excuse, any excuse to counter Bhaiji and Meenakshi's words. But she could think of none. She had done it. In her attempts to show her gratefulness to Suryapratap, she had taken away everything from Dhruv. She remembered her mother's words, of how much Dhruv's goodness was being hurt again and again. Her fears of what would happen when his patience wears off. And it had, here and now. But this outcome, she had not considered it. She was at a loss of words. She realised just how much she had wronged Dhruv.

She needed to make things right. Now. And then they were going to leave this place. They will go home this time.