FANAA

VALENTINE's GIFT

AT CHAUHAN MANSION

"Leelawati ko arrest kar liya hai?" Digvijay asked closing his book which he was reading

"Haan Bhai sa........aur complain Ishani ne kiya hai" Mrityunjay informed

"Seriously? Yeh baat kuch jam nhi rahi hai" Digvijay said

"Bilkul thik kaha apne bhai sa kyu ki Kartavya ka invisible force yahan kam kar raha hai.......yeh sab kiya dhara Kartavya ka hai. Mein Milne gaya tha Leelawati ne toh woh Kartavya ko accuse kar rahi thi"

"Bunny ne esa kiya?...... mujhe toh biswas hi nhi ho raha. Sabko pata hai ki Bunny, Leelawati ko kitna manta tha ........"

Digvijay's sentence was cut off by Mrityunjay "......apne baap se zyada manta tha....hume pata hai bhai sa.....sabko yehi dikhta hai ki Kartavya ne Leelawati ko humesha aap se upar rakha hai par uske piche Leelawati ne jo ek masum se chote bache ko manipulate kar ke usse khud ke baap se dur kar diya woh kisiko nhi dikhta"

Digvijay's eyes welled up hearing his brother. Mrityunjay held his hand and assured "time aa gaya hai bhai sa. Aab sab thik hoga. Itne saalon se jo dard aapne saha hai, Geetanjali jald hi uska ilaaz lekar aa rahi hai. Bohot jald aapko aap ka bunny mil jayega.....mera mann kehta hai bhai sa"

Digvijay sobbed hysterically missing his wife and looked at her smiling photo placed on the night stand.

Mrityunjay left Digvijay alone in the room to give him a private space. That is what he could do. He can ask him not to cry and console him but the one who is suffering only he/she knows the dept of the pain. It's better to leave the person alone to cry his heart out and get a bit of relief from the pain.

He stood near the staircase looking at their family picture which was taken on the eve of Diwali. He sighed gloomyly missing everyone. Nothing is same after that unfateful day. Their family stuffered the ruins of jealousy, insecurity, hatred and misunderstanding.

He walked back to his room. Upon reaching his room, he found the room a little bit more dark than his likeness. He thought Ahalya must be sleeping and hence she has turned off the lights but surprisingly he found the bed empty.

He saw the balcony door open. He walked near the balcony and saw Ahalya's shoulder shaking. Mrityunjay went closer to find Ahalya holding a photo frame of her and Kartavya. The picture was clicked on Kartavya's graduation day. In the picture Kartavya was holding Ahalya and was kissing her cheeks while Ahalya was happily flaunting his trophy with pride clearly shinning in her eyes.

Mrityunjay placed his palm on her shoulder but Ahalya didn't turn around. He side hugged her and kissed her forehead and Ahalya started weeping.

"Mein bohot buri hun" Ahalya said

"I agree" Mrityunjay agreed without an argument

"Aur andhi bhi jo Kartavya aur Geetanjali ki achae dekh nhi pae"

"Dekh ke bhi andekha kar diya" Mrityunjay corrected her

"Meine galat kiya, Kartavya ka haq usse chun kar. Mere liye woh bhaisa ke nazron se dur iss ghar ko chod kar Geetanjali ke saath chala gaya"

"Jan bujh kar galati kiya woh bhi. Sab janti thi sab samajhti thi phir bhi galati kara" Mrityunjay added

"Khudgarz bann gayi thi"

"Itni khudgarz ki Kartavya ke liya apna pyaar ka sauda kar baithi..........jo maa si mamta tumhare andar thi Kartavya ko lekar usiki kimat mangi bhaisa se tumne" Mrityunjay truthfully said

"Abhi ..........abhi kya karun? Bohot der ho gayi hai to realise ki mine jiss ghar ko parivar ko kuch saalon pehle sawara tha usse hi apne hathon se giri huyi soch se bikharne diya........." Ahalya hiccuped