Agar Tum Saath Ho...

"Parivaar"

A week passed. Bandana and Manjot were spending more time together, on the other hand Sameeksha and Abhishek were busy with their case and cricket respectively.

It was a Saturday and Sameeksha came home early, Bandana decided to talk to her as she looked in a good mood.

"Kaafi din ho gey hai. Tu kisi se theek se baat nhi kar rhi" Bandana said, "aaj kar leti hu, bata kya baat hai?" Sameeksha asked.

"Abhishek ne jo kia uski saza tu baakio ko kyu de rhi hai?" Bandana asked, "Abhishek ka theka nhi le rakha mene. Apne kaam me busy thi bas. Itna bada case chal raha hai, uspe lagi hu itne time se" She said rudely.

Bandana looked down, "kyu jhooth bol rhi hai?" She asked, "yehi baat karni hai?" Sameeksha asked, "haan" Bandana said.

"Mujhe tujhse baat nhi karni, jaa yaha se" Sameeksha said looking away.

"Uss ek ladke ke lie tune sabse muh mod lia hai. Mujhse baat nhi kar rhi tu, ghar aane ka jaane ka koi time nhi hai tera, Kabir bhi pooch raha tha Choti Mumma ko kya hua hai..." Bandana complained.

Sameeksha kept quiet.

"Apni personal aur professional life ko alag rakh. Nhi karti na usse pyaar? To tujhe fark bhi nhi padhna chahiye. Woh kucch bhi kare, kisi ke bhi saath ho, tujhe fark nhi padhna chahiye" Bandana said clearly.

Sameeksha looked at her, "aur agar yehi Manjot ne kia hota to?" She asked, "Manjot ki baat alag hai" Bandana said, "waah!" Sameeksha exclaimed, "uski baat alag kyu hai? Pyaar karti hai tu usse?" She asked. Bandana didn't reply.

"Agar woh ese kisi aur ke saath sex karta dikhe to? Woh teri peeth peeche kisi aur pe muh maar raha ho to?" Sameeksha raised her voice and stopped when received a tight slap on her left cheek.

She looked at Bandana with shock and tears in her eyes, "tune...kisi teesre aadmi ke lie mujhe thappad maara?" She asked after a few moments, when she finally digested the fact that Bandana slapped her.

Bandana stood up and left without answering Sameeksha's question.

Sameeksha sat in the same position for a while, crying, heartbroken.

*******

Bandana was sitting in her room, with her face behind her palms. She was crying from the moment she left Sameeksha's room.

"Mumma" Kabir came, Bandana wiped her tears off her cheeks, "aapne Choti Mumma se baat ki?" He asked innocently, "abhi jaao me baadme baat karti hu" She said.

"Mumma aap ro rhi ho?" He asked coming to her, "Kabir kaha na baat nhi karni abhi" She almost shouted.

Her voice startled Kabir, he took some steps back. Manjot came running, "Bandana yeh kya tareeka hai bacche se baat karne ka?" He asked as Kabir hugged his legs.

"Mujhe abhi kisi se baat nhi karni, dono jaao yaha se" She said controlling her anger, Manjot was about to speak when she shouted "get out!!".

"Chal Kabir" Manjot said and closed the door.

Kabir was quiet, still scared. He sat on the couch and Manjot sat on the carpet, "kya karu me teri Maa ka?" He asked tired.

"Kya hua hai Mumma ko?" Kabir asked, "dimaag kharab hua hai Mumma ka" Manjot replied, "gussa to ese kar rhi thi jese duniya ko aag laga degi" He shook his head.

He looked at Kabir, "champ" He said, "udaas mat ho, me hu na? Me Mumma se baat karunga. Sab theek ho jaega" He said, Kabir smiled and hugged Manjot.

*******

The next day, Manjot decided to talk to Bandana once again, he went to her room and Kabir stood outside.

"Bandana" Manjot called her, she closed the file and looked at him. "Mene kaha tha na nhi karni baat?" She said rudely.

He looked down and went towards the door.

"Beta tum Aaliya ke saath khelo, me aata hu" He said to Kabir.

Kabir left and Manjot locked the door.

"Kya samajh rakha hai tum dono ne? Pagal hai ham sab?" He asked, she looked away. "Mujhse behens mat karo" She said, "kyu na karu?" He asked holding her chin and making her look at him.

"Poore parivaar ka mazak bana rakha hai. Abhishek ne galati ki, Sameeksha ne kucch sudhaarne ki bajaye aur kharab kar dia, aur tumne to hadd hi kardi" He said.

They looked in each other's eyes, "parivaar ki baat to tum mat hi karo, kyu ki tum mere parivaar ka hissa nhi ho" She said. He felt a sudden pain in his chest when she said those words.

He nodded sightly, "right. Me tumhare parivaar ka hissa nhi hu" He said, "tumhare parivaar ke mamlo me interfere karne wala me kon hota hu? Me hoon hi kon tumhara? Haina?" He asked.

She kept quiet and moved her gaze away from his teary eyes.

He turned and left.