Chal Adhure Ko Pura Karein

Aage badhna zaruri hai

Sameer was pacing here and there in the living room, continuously biting his nails thinking something deeply. Naina came out of the kitchen holding the tray of cups and asked Sameer in an annoyed voice, "Ohho Sameer, naakhun khaana band karo. Agar tumhe khana hi hai to bolo main kuch bana deti hun, par ye paagalpan karna band karo. Bachhe lag rahe ho ekdum. Bachhe kya sikhenge agar tum hi aisa karne lage toh?"

Sameer walked up to her and took the tray and kept it on the tea table. He took her by hands and made her sit on the sofa and said hurriedly, "Naina main soch raha tha ki hum log sab kuchh karenge kaise?"

"Kya kaise karenge?" Naina said confused.

Sameer started, "Dekho....aur meri baat dhyan se suno. Abhi abhi Subham ke jaane ke baad Preeti ke ghar ke expenses kuchh zyada hi badh gaye hain. Nirmala aunty bhi bohot bimar rehne lagi hain aur unhe bhi bohot hospital ke chakkar kaatne padte hain. Uske upar se Preeti...usne jaise khud ko ghar ke andar qaid hi kar liya hai. Use apni zindagi mein aage to badhna hi hoga na..."

Naina did not let him complete and said in disbelief to his words, "Sameer tum kaisi baatein kar rahe ho? Arey usne apne pati ko khoya hai. Use dhakka to lagega na...aur tum kya keh rahe ho?"

"Naina ....Naina shaant hojaao. Maine aisa nahi kaha ki Preeti ko sab kuch ekdum se bhul jaana chahiye. Main manta hun, uske ruh ko thes pohchi hai aur sab kuch aise aasani se bhula dena uske liye aashan nahi hai. Par main bas thoda practical hoke keh raha hun." Sameer said calming her anger down.

Before Naina could pour her anger on him more, Sameer spoke by himself again, "Dekho Naina main tumhe samjhata hun. Ek mahina se zyada ho chukka hai Subham ko gaye, aur isiliye Subham ke office se kuchh documents aaye hain jahan wo kaam karta tha. Main jab Preeti ko kal milne gaya tha, tab ye papers aaye the courier se uske ghar. Maine Preeti ko kaha bhi tha ki uske naam se kuchh envelope aaya hai, to usne kaha ki main hi padh lun. Aur jabse maine ye padhe hain, mera dimag chalna band hogaya hai Naina"

Naina raised her eyebrows saying, "Aisa kya hai inn papers mein??"

Sameer handed over the papers to her. She undid the envelope's cover and read the papers keenly. Sameer observed her reaction changing from time to time from shock and concern.

Naina exclaimed in a shocked voice, "Ye sab kya hai Sameer? Aisa kab hua? Agar ye baat Preeti ko pata chal gayi to wo kaise sambhalegi sab kuch akele??"

"Yahi to main bhi keh raha hun Naina. Isiliye main keh raha tha ki use iss uljhan se nikalne ki koshish karni hogi sab kuch side mein rakh ke. Jo beet gaya use pakad ke to wo nahi jee sakti naa. Abhi uske liye important yeh hai ki wo apna ghar kaise chalayegi, aur to aur use apne bete ki parvarish bhi akele hi karni hai. Matlab hum toh hain hi, par phir bhi Naina. Use ghar ka bhi sab kuch dekhna hai, apni saas ka khayal rakhna hai...aur agar aise mein wo khud ko hi nahi sambhal payi to kaise chalega?" said Sameer sighing sadly.

They went quiet for a while when a voice came from behind, "Main khud ko sambhal lungi jijaaji."

Sameer and Naina stood up from their places. They looked at the girl in front of them from head to toe, who stood in an ocean blue chudidar kurta and dupatta pinned on her left shoulder, hair half tied in the clutches and the other half flowing to her waist. She had no makeup on her face and as always her eyes were swollen. She looked thinner compared to the previous times. They had nothing instead of feeling pity at her.

She spoke slowly coming to them, "Main khud ko sambhal sakti hun jijaji, meri fikr mat kijiye. Main bas ye puchhne aayi thi ki us paper mein aisa kya tha jo aap padhte hi kal pareshan hogaye the? Aur ye sayad Subham ji ke office se aayi thi, toh mujhe janna tha ki kya hai isme aisa?"

Naina looked at Sameer and made Preeti sit on the sofa, "Preeti mujhe ye bata ki Subham ji ke office mein kya employees ke...matlab....kya unke jaane ke baad bhi unki family ko wages diye jaate the?"