Mera Rangsaaz

Chapter 17

Tara

I go to the kitchen to help Asha bhabhi serve the food. Everyone quietly sits down on the khaats and we give them food. I can see the hand imprint on Sanjay's cheek. My husband still hasn't came out of our room. He didn't need to be so hard on Sanjay.

"Sanjay?" Vijender bhaiya says.

"Ji bhaiya?"

"Theek hai?"

"Aree mujhe kya hona tha bhaiya. Mujhe uss chu- mera matlab chuhe ko bulana hi nahi chahiye tha" Sanjay replies with a smile.

"Tu nahi sudhrega" Vijender says with a smile.

"Sudhrege mere dushmann"

"Khana kha"

Everyone is eating silently when my husband decides to grace us with his presence. Everybody looks at him but he pays no attention and sits down to eat his food. I can literally feel his anger radiating through his body. 

Despite being the last one to come for the dinner, he is the first person to finish it. He gets up from the khaat and starts to go outside.

"Kaha jaraha Veer?" Vijender bhaiya asks him.

"Bahar ghoom ke aaraha hoon bhaiya" he says firmly.

"Ruk mein bhi aaraha hoon" Vijender bhaiya says getting up.

"Koi nahi bhaiya-"

"Veer"

"Theek hai bhaiya"

"Sanjay tu bhi chal"

"Bhaiya mujhe kyu pitawane par tule ho aap" Sanjay whispers going near Vijender bhaiya, holding his cheek.

"Chal chup chap"

"Theek hai"

"Bhaiya mein bhi chalu?" Daksh asks raising his hands.

"Tu yahi reh"

"Par kyu-"

"Tujhe bhi chalna hai kya?" Veer asks him firmly.

"Aree nahi nahi. Mein yahi theek hoon" Daksh replies smiling nervously.

Once they all go, Daksh says "Bach gaya mein toh" and then he and Jhanvi go to their respective rooms.

Me and Asha bhabhi wait for everyone to return. I know Vijender bhaiya can handle him but still I am worried. I look at Asha bhabhi who looks tired holding Chetan.

"Bhabhi aap jao mein dekh lungi"

"Koi nahi Tara mein theek hoon"

"Bhabhi, Chetan ko bhi neend aarahi hai. Aap jao sojao, mein hoon"

"Pakka?"

"Ji bhabhi"

She goes to her room along with Chetan while I wait for men to return. Two hours go by but still there's no sign of them. I go in the verandah to look at our street which is empty besides three dogs. I continue to wait for them thinking the worst case scenario.

Finally they arrive with Sanjay driving the jeep. Isn't he too young to do that? When they get down, i understand the reason. From the way my husband is walking I know he is drunk. He drapes his hand around Sanjay while coming inside.

"Tu nahi milega na usse?" He asks frowning.

"Aree pakka bhaiya. Aapki baat Sar ankho par" Sanjay replies nodding.

"Sabashhh"

Vijender bhaiya who is walking infront of them, nods looking at me and simply goes to his room. I know he is also drunk by the way of his walking but less than his brother.  My husband sees me and says "Aree meri Tara meri biwi"