DASTAN-E-MOHABBAT

Chapter 18

The grass tips shined, the river water turned warm and shiny as the sun now brightened heating up the earth. Amd so heated up was our Agarwal house.

"Tune hume yeh bataya kyon nahi?"

Rakesh asked Naina angrily as she told him that Sameer as well as Dadu had already told her everything before the Roka.

Rama-Tu hume uss wakt hi bata deti toh—

Naina-Toh kya maa?

Naina asked her mother.

Naina-Sameer pehle jo the aaj bhi wahi hai.

Rakesh-Woh Maheshwari nahi hai Naina, woh unka beta nahi hai.

Naina-Lekin usse Sameer thodi na alag hote hai.

Naina goes to her father.

Naina-Papa, humne Sameer se rishta woh Maheshwari hai isiliye thodi na joda hai, woh ache hai, mujhe khush rakhenge isiliye toh joda. Aapne dekha na woh sabki kaisi izzat karte hai, Aunty ke saath hamesha haath pakadke rehte hai, Bhabhi ko toh ek pal akela nhi chodte aur Dadi; jabse Dadu gaye hai tabse Sameer Dadi ko Mumbai apne saath hi le gaye hai.

Naina explained her father how attached Sameer is to his family, how he takes care of everyone, respects everyone and above all, loves everyone. She then turns to her mom who was seated on the sofa, and sits on her knees.

Naina-Maa, aap hi toh kal keh rahi thi ki Sameer kitne ache hai, mera kitna khyal rakhenge. Jiss Sameer ki aap kal itni tariff kar rahi thi woh aaj bura toh nahi hoga na, woh bhi iss wajah se ki woh Maheshwariyon ka sagga beta nahi hai? Krishna bhagwan bhi toh Yashoda maa ke sagge bête nahi the lekin fir bhi unhone toh hamesha Yashoda mata ko hi maa maana. Sameer bhi Vishakha aunty ko maa bulate hai, maante hai.

Naina stood up and looked at both her parents.

Naina-Aap log please galat mat samajhye, Sameer bure nahi hai.

Rama-Sameer bura hai yeh humne kaha hi nahi, lekin yeh sab hume pehle batana chahiye tha na.

Naina-Unhone kaha tha mujhe, woh khud bhi batana chahte the aap dono ko iss baare mein, par maine mana kiya.

Rakesh-Kyu? Naina tu humse jhoot kabse bolne lagi.

Naina-Maine jhoot nahi kaha papa, bas sach chupaya. Agar...agar uss wakt main ya Sameer aapko yeh batate toh aap unhe ussi nazariye se dekhte, ek god liye hue ladke ko dekhte lekin jab maine aapse yeh chupaya tab aapne usse dekha jo aapki beti ko khush rakhta.Aap unhe theek se jaante nahi the aur naahi jaan paate agar main aapko batati. Ab aap unhe jaante hai, ache se, ki woh kaise hai kaise nahi; yeh baat chodke ki unka surname sacha ya nahi.

Naina requested her parents to look and understand Sameer as Sameer and not Sameer Maheshwari. Just then she received a phone call from Kamya and she said she would reach the clinic soon. After disconnecting the phone she turned to her parents who were now silent and in deep thoughts.

Naina(slowly)-Maina aaj tak hamesha aapki baat maani hai aur aage bhi maanungi. Agar yeh sach jaanke aapko lagta hai ki shaadi wapis toot jaaye toh main mana nahi karungi.

Rama jerked her head up looking at her daughter who was once again ready to sacrifice her happiness for them. She watched Naina picking up her stuff and going out silently.

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The moon came up bright but painting the sky black. Stars seemed to have lost their shine. Even the dogs and crickets did not make much noise. All was silent just like the Agarwal family. No one spoke of the adoption since 2 days also not normally. It was almost bedtime when Naina saw her father standing in the balcony. She slowly went besides him and holding his arm, she rested her head on his shoulder.