Qurbat - A Nuptial Knot

Flashback

Shahveer finally decided to tell Bandana what actually happened after the accident.

"Accident ke baad emergency services hame Wayanad se Kerala ke ek hospital me leke gey" He said, "aur kisiko itni gehri chot nhi aai thi, par tumhari condition serious thi. Iss lie tumhe yaha shift kia, aur uske baad..." He said...

*flashback*
"Doctor, yeh...yeh do hafto se ese padi hai...kab theek hogi?" Sameeksha asked the doctor. "Dekhie coma me esa hi hota hai. Bandana isi waqt hosh me aa sakti hai aur at the same time, kabhi nhi" Doctor said. Sameeksha cried. Tears were her new friend after the accident. Bandana in that condition, was something she simply couldn't bear.

Shahveer came to Sameeksha. "Rohit ki family ko kucch baat karni thi, tumhe bulaya hai" He said. "Shahveer...dekho na ise!" She said hugging him. He caressed her hair. "Ise jaldi hosh aa jaega...ab chalo unse milne" He said holding her wrist and taking her with him.

*******

Sameeksha and Shahveer reached Negi Nivaas. Everyone was waiting for them, including Bandana and Sameeksha's families. She got a bit nervous. Everyone had their eyes fixed on her.

"Accha hua tum aa geyi, tumhara hi intezaar ho raha tha" Sameeksha's mother said. "Kya baat hai?" She asked. "Beta...engagement ki date nikal chuki hai. Agar shaadi di date nikal geyi to hamare Rohit ki jaan ko khatra hoga" Rohit's mother said. "To isme me kya kar sakti hu?" Sameeksha asked.

"Ab...pta nhi Bandana kab hosh me aaegi. Ham chahte hai...tum Rohit se shaadi krlo" said Rohit's mother.

Sameeksha looked at her in disbelief. Shahveer looked at Sameeksha. Rohit and Sameeksha looked at each other. It was unexpected for the three of them.

"What nonsense?" She said. "Sameeksha!" Sameeksha's mother raised her voice. "Kya tareeka hai baat karne ka?" She asked. "Dekho, bhalai isi me hai ke tum shaadi krlo. Kabhi na kabhi karni to hai hi, Rohit accha ladka hai..." She said. "Yeh Bandana ka hone wala pati hai! Bandana ka!! Usko kya jawaab dungi me?" Sameeksha asked in a loud voice. "Jab use hosh aaega tab dekh lenge. Agar use shaadi se pehle hosh aa gaya to saari rasme rok denge" Her mother said. "Naa aaya to? Shaadi kar lu me isse?" Sameeksha asked.

Everyone was quiet.

"Bandana ke ilava me kisi se shaadi nhi krunga!" Rohit said gritting his teeth. "Chup raho tum! Pyaar to shaadi ke baad Sameeksha se bhi ho jaega, usme kya hai" His daadi said. A tear escaped from his eye. "Jab Bandana hosh me aaeghi, tab me usse shaadi krunga" Rohit said and stood up to leave. "Sameeksha se shaadi to tujhe karni hogi" His daadi said. "Nhi karunga, matlab nhi karunga" He said and left.

"Kucch to accha kaam kia isne" Sameeksha whispered to Shahveer. He was still in shock. Somewhere inside he knew that there were chances of Sameeksha getting married to Rohit.

After some discussions Sameeksha and Shahveer left.

*******

The next day Rohit went to meet Sameeksha in her lab.

"Tum yaha kya karne aae ho?" She asked. "Me shaadi ke lie tayyar hu" He said. She widened her eyes. "Daadi ne khana pina chod dia. Mujhe haan karni padi" He said lowering his lashes.

"Tum majboor hoke haan kar sakte ho, par me iss shaadi ke lie kabhi haami nhi bharungi!" Sameeksha said. "Sameeksha please haan bol do. Daadi ko kucch ho gaya to? Bandana pehle se hi...upar se daadi. Please" He said. "Agar shaadi ke baad Bandana ko hosh aata hai to me tumhe divorce deke usse shaadi kar lunga. Tumhe iss rishte me rehne ki zarurat nhi hogi" He said.

She thought for some seconds. She was ready, but what about Shahveer? What about them?

"Theek hai" She said in a low voice.

*flashback ends*

"Aaj...un dono ki...suhaag raat hai" Shahveer said lowering his lashes.

Bandana couldn't control her tears. She couldn't blame anyone. The circumstances made everything the way it was now.

She was crying. All her dream shattered in those four weeks.

"Sameeksha se baat krni hai mujhe" Bandana finally said. Shahveer looked at her, he was scared. "Bandana please uspe gussa mat hona...woh...uski galati nhi hai" He said. "Shahveer mujhe pta hai. Mujhe zarurat hai uski...please bulao use" She said. He nodded.

*******

Negi Nivaas...
"Kya? Hosh aa gaya? Me abhi aa rhi hu, khayal rakhna uska" Sameeksha said to Shahveer, and disconnected the call.

"Bandana ko hosh aa gaya?" Rohit asked placing his hands on Sameeksha's shoulders. "Door raho mujhse! Use hosh aa gaya hai. Me jaa rhi hu milne" She said, pushing him.

"Me bhi aaunga" He said. "Theek hai jaldi chalo" Sameeksha agreed and they left.