Kuchh Ankahi Baatein

Taana

Even after so many attempts Naina was not able to see him again whole day and left School. On her way to home, Preeti keep on chatting on so many gossips they did today but Naina was so lost and busy in her own world, not giving any attention to anything.

Preeti: Yaar Naina, kabhi toh books aur padaai ko chhod ke kisi aur baat mein hissa liya kar.. mein kab se bole ja rahi hun aur tu hai ki butt bani hui hai.. kya soch rahi hai bata na...

Naina (lying to her): Nahin aisa kuchh nahin, bas soch rahi hun ki is baar kitni jyada padai karni padegi...

Preeti: Tujhe pata hai tu kitni badi vali paagal hai.,. Saal ke pehle din exams ke baare mein sirf tu hi soch sakti he.. buddhu

Naina (in her mind) : ab ise kaise bataun ki mein kya soch rahi hun... Jab mein khud hi itani confuse hun to ise kaise samjhaungi..

While talking they reached home and entered shouting...

Preeti : "Mummy, Pooja Didi, kahan ho jaldi aao baahar.. dekho Naina ko Award mila hai.. Best Student of the Year.... Ms Naina Agarwal.... Taaliyaan" she said dramatically to cheer for her....

Before Chachi & Pooja comes, a harsh voice reach to them from their back

Taiji: O Bai, Award to aise dikha rahi hai jaise koi bada teer maara ho...

Chachi to defend Naina: Bhabhi ji, yeh sab Naina ne apani mehanat aur kismat se hi to paya hai... aapko toh khush hona chahiye....

Taiji : Bela mera munh mat khulwao.. Badi aai Kismat... Agar iski manhoos kismat na hoti to yeh paida hote hi Rama ko na kha jaati... aur dekhna kaise yeh tum aur tumhare ghar mein bhi manhusiyat phela degi...

After a pause, she continued... "are mein to kehti hun ise Pooja Preeti se dur hi rakho... ab Pooja ki shaadi hai kuchh mahino mein, agar isaka saaya bhi pada to saare shubh kaam apshagun mein badal jayenge... dekh lena agar meri baat sach na ho to...."

Chachi to avoid further taunts: "Bhabhi ji, voh pralay ke aane ka time ho gaya hai... aap usake liye meetha banana wali thi na.. to aap jaiye mein bana ke Preeti ke haath se bhej deti hun..."

Taiji... "are haan, mera pralay aane wala he.. Bechara kitna thak jata hai... Aisa karna thodi mewa jyada daal dena..mein thodi der aaram karke aati hun..."

Saying this Taiji left with leaving Naina in tears and pain.. Chachiji immediately took her in her embrace and keep consoling her to avoid all useless talk of Taiji...

After some time, Naina Preeti left to their room to change and freshen up and Chachiji & Pooja preparing to serve lunch for all.

Preeti: Mera man to kar raha hai ki taiji ke pichhe kutta chhod dun.. voh unhe bhaga bhaga kar yahan se bahut dur le jayega.. hamesha khud hamari khushiyon mein aag lagati he aur dosh tujhe deti hai...

Naina in low voice: Theek hi to kahti hai... agar mein manhoos nahin hoti to kya yeh sab mere saath hota...

Preeti : "Ek thappad marungi agar dobara aisa kaha ya socha bhi tune... Tu meri hi nahin is ghar ki jaan hai.... Papa tujhe mujh se bhi jyada pyar karate he aur mummy, unki toh subah hi na ho agar tujhe na dekhe. Pooja didi bhi to tujhse hi saare ideas leti hai jijaji ko impress karne ke aur mein... mera to patta bhi tere bina nahin hilta... agar dobara aisa kaha na toh dekh tera kya haal karungi...." she sits turning her face showing fake anger....

Naina with a faded smile : achchha baba, itna lamba lecture mat de.. Mein theek hun. Chal change kar lete he phir khaana bhi to khaana he...

Then they both left but Preeti knows well what's going on in Naina's mind and heart. She is deeply hurt with Taiji's taunt and his father's behavior in Assembly. Though Naina didn't said anything but Preeti knows how she is feeling that how much Naina can prove herself but never got even acknowledgement from the elders of their house. Even Arjun never show any support for Naina as elder brother.

After lunch Preeti and Pooja was watching TV and Bela was busy in kitchen.

Naina POV :

Aaj kitna kuchh ho gaya ek hi din mein... Subah Mandir gayi thi ek nayi shuruaat ke liye prarthana karane ke liye, par ek ajeeb si bechaini thi, jaise kuchh aur hi hone wala he... Bhagwan se bhi achanak hi maanga ki mere aas paas jo bhi he voh sab khush rahe...phir school mein achakan usse dekha.. Subah Jab usse dekha laga jaise bhagwan ne use mere paas mere liye hi bheja ho, ek sapne ki tarah... ek ajeeb sa apnapan laga use dekh kar par usaki Aankhen... samundar si gahrai thi unme.. jaise bahut kuchh bolna chahti ho, batana chahti ho par shayad andar se udaas thi, usaki hasi usake hothon se usaki aankhon tak nahin ja rahi thi...

Mujhe to shuru mein laga jaise koi sapna dekha ho par phir assembly mein use dekh kar samajh aaya ki nahin voh haqiqat hi tha.. phir jab usne mere liye taliyaan bajayi aisa laga sirf isi ek taali ka intzaar tha. Usaki aankhon mein mere liye itani Khushi thi jaise mein usaki sab kuchh hun. Laga mere pariwar ke baad shayad voh hi sirf mere liye itna khush tha... aur voh kitna handsome, charming hein.. school ke pehle hi din saari ladkiyan sirf ussi ki baatein kar rahi thi... kaise sab usase sirf Hi Hello kahane ke liye taras rahi thi... (she laughed recalling other girls' efforts to meet him, but he was only busy with his friends)

Mein to uska naam bhi nahin janati par phir bhi ek connection sa lag raha tha.. poora din usi ke baare mein sochti rahi, use ek baar phir se dekhne ke liye baichain thi par nahin dekh paayi.. par aisa kyu hua.. kaun he voh mera jiske liye mein itna soch rahi hun.. ek pal ke liye to mein apane aap ko bhi bhool gayi thi use dekh kar...

Aur ghar aake jis tarah taiji ne mujhe sab kaha.. mera kadwa sach ki mein ek manhoos hun, jo kisi ko Khushi nahin de sakati. Na hi mujhe khush rehne ka haq he. Sach hi to he, aaj itni ummid thi ki shayad school mein sabke saamne dikhave ke liye hi sahi papa mere sar par haath rakh kar apana aashirwad de denge par voh koshish bhi nakaam ho gayi.. unke liye mere hone ka koi Astitva hi nahin he.. kabhi kabhi lagta he taiji sahi kehti he.. Kaash aaj meri Maa hoti to voh in sab ke taano se mujhe bacha leti jaise chachiji karti he, par badon ke saamne voh bhi chup ho jati he. Ulta meri wajah se unhe aur chachaji ko bhi kitna kuchh sunane ko milta he, sab meri wajah se kitne dukhi rahte he.. pata nahin yeh sab kab aur kaise khatam hoga.. Kaash koi hota jisse mein apane dil ki har baat khul kar kah pati, jo mujhe samajhata, mera dard share karta.. kaash koi hota......

With heavy heart and tears Naina slept. Evening went well as Chachaji gets very happy seeing her award and encourage her. He is always be the biggest supporter for her morally and emotionally. Later Preeti told her parents happening at School in award ceremony and Chachiji told what Taiji said to Naina. Chachaji feels very bad but as he always respects his elders and cannot argue with them keep quite but ensure to lessen all pains which little girl is suffering for. He prays for her and his family.

All slept after a tiring day, but two souls were lost in their dreams and mixed emotions ...