Uncharted Trails

Pain of the Ocean

Anurag straight away went to Basu Badi… he wanted to get on with things fast coz...his life depended on this plan. When he was entering and Prerna was beside him Mohini looked at Anurag and totally ignored Pree. No one much noticed Pree at all except for Debuda and the other servants. But then came Moloy Basu and he first bent in front of  Prerna to kiss her forehead. And immediately Anu felt the tightening in his chest to ease a bit. Mohini did the aarti of Anurag only and again Anurag was getting irritated, he was about to say something when someone pinched his hand and he got it. But then he was Anurag the Devil not for nothing…

Anu stopped Mohini from hugging him “ Maa apne dekha nahi Prerna bhi aayi hai, well aapko dikhi nahi hogi. Maa aap vitamins toh lerahe ho na?” and then he very casually turned and picked her up in his arms, and immediately thought damn she felt good in his arms. And then entered the house with her in his arms. Mohini did notice the implication and was not happy with it. But she was seeing her son after a long time and did not want to upset him. But she did not miss the shame and unease on Prerna’s face. Thats the place to hit.

After an eye contact with Moloy Basu, Anurag went to see him in his study.

Moloy: "Haa toh, Priu man gayi na?"

Anurag: "In a manner...matlab Shadi ke liye man gayi but maine use baki ka kuchh nahi bataya… aap jante ho use woh aati hi nahi phir."

Molloy was exasperated. “Kya Anu seedha bol you had cold feet. But main bata de raha hu, agar tune apni maa ki batayi ladki se shadi ki sochi bhi toh main tujhe disown kar dunga…” 

“Main bhi… matlab as brother-in-law disown kar dunga” Anupam enetered the room and immediately hugged Anu.

“Kaise hai Doctor sahab, congratulations!! Bhai.”

Anu: “Arey arey anupam main abhi doctor nahi bana Pree ki nazro mein, use yahi bataya hai ki main sab kuchh beech mein chhodke aayaa hun, and agar use mujhe yeh degree lete huye dekhna hai toh use meri baat manni padegi…. Bas”. And he started to chew on his lower lip. 

Prerna was in a room on the ground floor holding in her hand a meager gift she had bought with her first few months salary. She held it in her hand but had no idea how her Grumpy will react, and then she smiled. He would scream jump start with his famous and choicest of cuss words. But then he will carry it proudly as if it were something very precious. 

Anurag enters the room to see Pree was holding something in her hands, he wanted to see what was it the way she held it, it made him feel jealous. “Kya hai tere haath mein? Dhikha…”

Pree turned and gave him a very sheepish smile. She showed him a Pen, a gold fountain Pen which looked damn expensive. He opened it to see “My Grumpy Bear” Engraved on the body of the pen. He smiled like a little boy on a treasure hunt then he saw the little suitcase full of gifts for him. A gyroscope, a pocket watch, A book by Rumi, a pack of Uno…. He kept laughing admiring everything and then at last found the  Sharma house deeds in his name. And he was flabbergasted and then angry. 

Anu: “What the hell is this Bandariya? And started pulling her long hair by her braid. Kyu? Why the hell would you do this you fool?”

Pree removed his hands from her hair and held his hands in both her hands. “Grumpy sun meri baat, please please. It has always been my dream that once you are done with your Doctorate you should start something of your own rather than working for someone else. If you ever want to do that I want you to have this house. Use whichever way you want, use the place as your workshop or sell it to get your capital.”

Anu: “Tune yeh sab plan karke rakha tha, par kisliye? Teri shadi hojayegi isliye?” 

Pree kissed his tight fist, because she knew he was upset. “Tu baithega toh main bataungi, aur beech mein gussa nahi karega. Dekh ab teri shadi hogi aur baat bat pe aise gussa karega uske samne toh kya sochegi woh?” She made him sit and he sat at her feet as usual and held his face in her hands. “Dekh thoda waqt dega na tu usse toh she will fall head over heels in love with you, keep this temper in control Grumpy just for a few months. And bas use pyar hojayega iss grumpy ke peechhe chhupe us cutie pie se jise hum sab jante hai…”

Anu: “Achha tujhe... tujhe kaha hua pyar mujhse? Agar main itna hi achha hota toh sabse pehle toh tujhe pyar hota mujhse. Haina? But dekh itne salo mein nahi hua” There was smile on his face but hurt in his eyes, and his Piddi saw it clearly. She was still in shock….

Before Pree could say something Mohini entered the room with few thals held by servants.  Anurag left to get his emotions in control. “Yeh sab tumhare liye. Anu ko toh kuchh samajh ataa nahi ab mere apne bete ki shadi hai aur uski demand hai ki beech mein humare naukar ki beti ki shadi bhi ho. Iss bachche ko koun samjhaye ke main apne friends and relatives ko kya bolungi? Ya do do shadiyo ka intezam kaise karungi? Woh bhi shadi for someone who is on a wheelchair…”

Anurag was just entering the room again and heard the wheelchair part, he looked at Prerna’s bent head and folded hands sitting on the same wheelchair life has stuck her in. But what made him mad was the bowed head and this stupid tendency she had, to never fight for herself. 

Anu came in “Wow maa i didn't know you were facing so many problems. Do one thing cancel my marriage to this paragon you have chosen. Let’s concentrate on the person I have come back for and her marriage. Don't worry Anupam NiviDi and me will manage the cancellation part and everything pertaining to my Prerna’s marriage. And please tell someone to get these gifts from you to be thrown out. For my Prerna I will buy things with my own money which i have earned in all these years.”

P.S. Hi guyz... you have no idea how much fun i am having writing this fast track ff. There are so emotions tripping each other and dreams weaving in. Come on peeps... bombard me with more n more pouring in of your experiences ...memories in the comment section regarding ur special friends. And thank you again for your love...support... votes ...shares and follows😍😘😘. Happy Reading!!