Guddan and Akshat - Made for Each Other

Chapter 33 - The Endeavour - Part 3

Guddan had slept in Savitri Devi's room that night. Savitri Devi had made sure her Guddan slept properly. She woke up multiple times to check upon her. Although Guddan was denying herself any affection and care of her family, thinking she doesn't deserve it, all she really needed was care and affection to heal her wounds. And though Guddan was stubborn, Savitri Devi was an master of emotional blackmail, after all, it was the only method that came in handy while handling her stubborn son all these years. Savitri Devi made her sleep in her lap, humming her a beautiful song, making sure Guddan forgets her worries and has a sound sleep, she showered all the motherly affection on her. As a result, Guddan woke up anew the next morning, somewhat relieved of the heavy burden of the day before. After all, a good night's sleep combined with mother's love is an effective medicine for any pain and suffering, be it physical or mental. All her clothes being in her cupboard in her room, she hurried upstairs to get a change of clothes.

As Guddan entered her room, she is surprised to see her mother's photo alongside Antara's photo. Akshat is lighting the lamp in front of the photo.

Akshat (seeing Guddan's reflection in the photo, smiling) - Tumhe apni Maa ki yaad aati hogi na, isiliye Revati se kehkar tumhari Maa ki tasvir yahan le aaya. Ab yeh bhi tumhaare saath issi kamre mein rahengi. Thik hai na?

Guddan turns away, guilt-ridden, teary-eyed. Akshat notices this. His suspicion gets confirmed. Guddan couldn't even look at her mother's photo. He knew for sure, in that moment that she was hurt by Kaushalya's remarks regarding the death of her mother.

Akshat (placing his hand on her shoulder) - Main jaanta hun tumhe kaunsi baat pareshaan kar rahi hai. Wahi baat jo tumhaari Mummy re tumse kaha, hai na? Par tum bhi jaanti ho uss baat mein koi sachchai nahin hai. Hmm?

Guddan (turning towards him, teary-eyed) - Kaise koi sachhai nahin hai? Sach hi toh kaha Mummy ne. Kya galat kaha? (tears rolling down her cheeks) Aur sirf woh hi kyun, sab kehte hain, sab maante hai, ki hum manhoos................

Akshat (placing finger on her lips) - Shhhhh! Chup. Bilkul chup. Kabhi mat kehna aisa. Manhoos nahi ho tum. Manhoos woh log hain jo aisi soch rakhte hain. (pauses for a while, wiping her tears) Tumne iss bejaan ghar mein jaan daal di, Guddan. Tumne mere iss berang ghar mein rang bhar diye. Aaj iss parivaar mein sab khush hain, tumhaari wajah se. Maa kitna khush rehne lagi hain, tumhaare aane ke baad. Sabkuch kitne ache se sambhaal liya hai tumne. (smiling) Apni bakbak........... mera matlab baaton se sabka mann lagaye rakhti ho. Ab batao tum manhoos kaise hui? Jo tum sachmuch manhoos hoti toh kya tumhaare aane se iss ghar mein sab khush rehne lagte? Hmm?

Guddan (looking him in the eye) - Kya aap khush hain?

Akshat stands still for sometime, processing the direct question that she had just asked, straight to his face. He looks away, but stays silent, unable to find the right words.

Guddan (continuing) - Chup kyun hain, boliye na? Aap khush hain? Aapki zindagi mein kya koi rang bhar paaye hum? (opening the cupboard) Yahan koi rang dikh raha hai aapko? Nahin na? (pointing at the walls) Aur yeh deewaren, aaj bhi utni hi berang hain, jitni aapki zindagi hai. Koi rang nahi bhar paaye hum. Bharenge bhi kaisi, hum toh Guddan hai na, kisi kaam ke laayak hi nahi hain. (smiling sadly) Maaji ko lagta hai ki hum Lord Krishna ka aashirwad hain iss ghar ke liye. Galatfehmi hai unki. Thik kehti hain Durgaji, agar kisi aur se aapki shadi hui hoti, jo laayak hoti, toh shaayad aaj aap aise akele na hote, aise ukhde huye nahi rehte har waqt. Agar hum laayak hote toh aap apni mann ki baat apne mann mein dabaye nahin rakhte, apna dard apne andar chipaye nahi rakhte. (tears finding their way out of her eyes) Agar hum itne se bhi laayak hote toh aap yun apne beton se, apne parivaar se alag naa hote.

Akshat (trying to console her) - Nahin Guddan, aisa nahin hai........... Ismein tumhaari koi galati................

Guddan (interupting him) - Kaise humaari galati nahi hai? Aisa hi hai. Ek saas ki, ek bahu ki zimmedari hoti hai na ghar ko jode rakhna, parivaar ko ek saath rakhna. Kahan ho paya humse? (wiping her tears) Aur kaunsi khusi, kis khusi ki baat kar rahe hain aap? Kaunsi khusi de di humne iss parivaar ko? Kuch pal ki muskurahat, khusi nahi hoti. Aur kya hi kar liya humne? Kaunsa bada kaam diya? Aisa nahi hai ki humne koshish nahin ki. Par kahan kar paaye kuch? Aur kahan khush hai yeh parivaar? Kahan se khush dikhte hain aapko sab? Nahin, bataiye na, kahan se? Humein toh nahin dikhta aisa.