4*
The next morning Sidharth woke up with terrible headache. Last night was freezing cold. He couldn't even open his eyes. He completely covered himself with the quilt and was suffering it silently. He felt a soft touch of someone's hand on the forehead.
_' Tumhara sar daba dun shab ?'
_' Thank you Guddi. Tumhe keyse pata chala mera sar dukhh rha hai? '
_' Mumma ka bhi dukhta hai. Mujhe pata chal jata hai.' after a soothing head massage he got up from the bed and took an aspirin tablet. It was a Sunday. He decided he'll again work on the design of the power plant project to check if it could be any better.
While having breakfast he asked Nakul _' Nakul, tumhari patni yahaan rehti hai ya kaheen aur? '
_' Babuji humne shaadi hi nehi kiya. ' he replied being a little shy.
_' Kya ? To beti kahaan se.... ' he didn't complete the question but Nakul could understand. He said _' Aapse kya chhupana Babu Ji. Bohut lambi kahani hai. Aap kahain to sunau. '
_' Ha sunao. Mujhe koi problem nehi hai. '
Nakul started telling his story.
Nakul was married forcefully to a girl in his very early life. He could never accept that marriage and left home. He became a member of a team of looters . They used to loot only the rich people and especially those who's wealth came from exploitation of the poors. After a long working life he took retirement on his own and started living in Allahabad.
After that Sidharth said _' Achcha kaafi interesting hain tumhari life . To Beti iske baad mili? Adopted? Matlab gode liya? '
_' Babuji, meri beti to apni beti se bhi apni hai. Khoon ka rishta pyaar se bara nehi hota. Uske saath jo hua....... bohut bura hua Babuji...... Sunna chahenge ap? '
_' Kiyun nehi? Sunao. '
After that Nakul started telling his daughter Rani's story.
_' Rani bitiya ko uske baap ne zabardasti shaadi kara di. Usne bohut koshish kiya samjhane ki lekin rok nehi payi . Uski shaadi ho hi geyi. Agle din hi pata chal geya sasural walo ko.' he stopped suddenly.
_' Kya pata chal geya Nakul? '
_' Guddi uski pati ki beti nehi hai Babuji , shadi ke pehle hi...... Rani bitiya aj tak kisiko Guddi ki baap ka nam nehi bataya.'
Sidharth took a while and tried to understand what he just said. After that he asked _' to sasural walo ne shaadi tod diya? '
_' Sirf tod diya? Usko aur bachche ko mar dalne ki koshish kiya ! Behosh karke ganga main fek diya! Wo to maine dekh liya tha. Apne ghar leke aya usko. Tabse wo mere paas hi hain. '
_' Achcha. To unke pita ne....'
_' Apni baap se koi rishta wo nehi rakhna chahti thi. Do char din maine manane ki koshish kiya, wo laut jaye apne baba ke ghar. Wo to hain hi ziddi, uske baad Bitiya ki tabiyat bahut bigad geyi to Maine use aur pareshan nehi kiya. Phir Guddi ayi. Mujhe bhi aadat lag chuki thi . Bitiya ka khayal rakhna , bachche ko paalna. Main un donose aur dur nehi rehe sakta tha. Phir Humlog Allahabad chhorke yahaan aageye. '
_' To Tumne Guddi ki baba ko dhundne ki koshish nehi kiya? '
_' Rani bitiya uska naam bataye tab na Babuji . Kasam kha liya hain Kisiko nehi batayegi. Duniya itna chhota hain, wo mujhe zaroor mil jata. ' Nakul said with desperation.
Sidharth finally understood the whole story. Nakul was silent for a while. Then he said again _' Rani bitiya ko sabne gaaliyan di Guddi bina bap ki aulaad hain. Ha, ho geyi thi meri beti se ek galti, lekin main hazar bar kasam kha sakta hun wo sita maiya jeysi pavitra hai. log kuch bhi bole, mujhe maloom hai wo keysi hai.' He looked like a proud father while talking about her.
Sidharth said _' Bohut himmatwali hai tumhari beti . Jo bhi kiya sahi kiya. Eysi beti eysi maa har ek ghar main ho. ' he murmured _'Such a strong woman. '
Nakul said _' Yahaan pe usko school main naukri mil geyi. Main Guddi ko samhalta tha. Ab maine bhi kaam le liya. Hum bohut khush hai Babuji.'
Sidharth was really pleased hearing his story. His faith was restored that anyone can rise from the ashes. Anyone can find happiness even after falling apart.
* * *
_' Tum Shivani ki birthday party kiyun avoid karna chahte ho? ' his mother sounds annoyed.
_' Mummy main yahan kaam karne aya hun. Bohut workload hain. Main nehi ja paunga. Samjhne ki koshish karo please .' he replied while working on the project plan. His mother angrily cut the call. She somehow understood her son is stretching out from her control. Her commands are being less effective these days.
Sidharth again focused on the plan. Nakul came in his room and said _' Babu Ji, aj Guddi bitiya ka janamdin hain. Uski maa ne subah se khana pakaya. Wo bohut khush hogi agar aap rat ka khana ......usne veja hain aapke liye. '
_' Thik hai Nakul, table main rakh do. ' he said smiling. He was really glad by her nice gesture . Nakul smiled broadly out of happiness and gratitude. He was leaving the room when Sidharth said _' Guddi aj ekbar bhi nehi ayi. '
_' uski maa ghar main hain na !' saying Nakul went out.
After a while Sidharth came to have his dinner. He couldn't remember, if he ever had such a tasteful and satisfying meal . He was so thankful to the unknown lady who had sent him the dinner. He decided, he will buy some gifts for Guddi and wish her in the next morning.
YOU ARE READING
After Falling Apart.
Fanfiction* Completed * My Second Sidnaaz fiction is here. It will be filled with emotions, drama but still as genuine as possible .
