Chal Adhure Ko Pura Karein

Part 18

"Thank you mummy.....mujhe pura yakeen tha ki aap log zarur meri baat samjhoge....Swati kaa saath zarur doge" Pandit said with a teary smile to his mother.

"arey aise kaise saath nahi denge....humari bhi ek beti hai....bhagwan na kare agar uske saath bhi kuch aisa waisa hogaya to hum uske saath bhi zarur khade hote....to iske saath kyun nahi.....ise jab pehli baar dekha na maine abhi, tabhi mujhe isme Shakshi ki jhalak dikh gayi thi....badi pyaari bacchi hai....." Sushila aunty said fondly rubbing Swati's cheek.

Swati was dumbfolded. The lady standing in front of her was comparing her with her own daughter. Actually, addressing her as her own daughter. Her heart was so much filled with thankfulness that it came out of her eyes again.

She suddenly came to Pandit frowning and twisted his ear saying, "aur tu....aaya bada.....'mummy....main bhi Swati ke saath jaaunga' (imitating Pandit)....kahan par jaayega tu?.....ek supermarket ka maalik kya ban gaya....itna bada ho gaya ki ghar chhod ke jaayega tu?...aur kahan jaata is akeli ladki ko leke?" Pandit's father suppressed his laugh seeing his son's condition.

In all these while when she was speaking, she forgot that Pandit was tiptoed to his left side due to the stretch of his ear, "aaaahhhh mummy......baaki taane baad mein suna dena....warna mera ye wala kaan lamba hogaya to tumhare ghar mein bahu kabhi nahi aayegi......chhooodooo....."Pandit said whining.

"jaa....chhod diya....tu bhi kya yaad rakhega...." His mother answered dramatically and smiled at the end. Pandit rubbed his ear making faces. Swati smiled seeing the happy family in front of her. She felt somehow jealous of Pandit at that time. What would go if her parents also were like his?

His father also came and patted his back saying, "waise aaj kamaal hogaya Sushila.....tumhara beta bada hogaya hai haan....yeh to Munna jaise kehta tha waisa hi Ponga tha aaj tak par ab lag raha hai jaise kuch to samajhdaari wala kaam kiya hai isne...." Pandit frowned fakely but smiled listening 'Ponga' from his father's mouth.

His father again continued, "itna bada faisla isne akele hi leliya....par mujhe tujhpar garv hai sanchi...." His father smiled at his son's deed and fondled his cheek.

"waise yeh baat sanch mein puchh raha hun main.....tujhe to pehle se hi pata hai ki Sakhshi ho ya tu.....humne tum donon ko kisi achhe chiz se roka nahi hai.....chahe wo dusron ki madad karna ho ya.....apne hi doston kaa haath thaamna ho....phir tujhe aisa kyun laga ki hum donon Swati ko apne saath rakhne se mana kar denga?" His father asked creasing his eyebrows.

He looked at Swati and then said, "papa wo....aap to jaante hi hain ki bahar wale jo muh mein aaya wo bol dete hain....kuch sochna samajhna chahte hi nahi.....maine aap ko abhi bataya na ki kaise main aur Swati jab yahan ke liye nikal rahe the.....to log kaisi kaisi ghatiya baatien kar rahe the....koi mujhe kuchh nahi keh raha tha....ya kisine ye nahi socha ki iske pati ne kuch galat kiya hoga.....sab isi par ungli utha rahe the....toh mujhe laga ki sayad aap log bhi usi wajah se.....Swati ko yahan....." Pandit showed his fear.

"suniye ji....iski baat to sach hai.....ye dar to jayaz hai na....aise mein sab log isi bechari ko bhala bura kahenge....bhale hi hum donon ne baat samjhi hai.....par sab log to humari nazariye se nahi dekhenge na haalat ko....." Sushila supported her son.

Swati was shocked beyond words. Pandit's parents were so understanding. Till now, she had observed only Naina's Chahaji and Chachiji to be like this. Even her own parents were not standing with her. They being the people who didn't know her, neither had she seen them before. But they were so calm that they understood every situation and then supported her whole-heartedly.

"hmm....baat to tumhari sahi hai....waise yeh baatein to hoti hi rahegi....Sushila pehle Swati bete ko room mein to leke jaao.....aur sabse pehle khana waana khilao....kitni khushi ki baat hai ki ghar mein itne dinon baad laxmi ne kadam rakhe hain.....jaao jaao....."Pandit's father nudged his wife.