Kabhi Toh Nazar Milao Part 3

Letter

Ramdhari extended an envelope towards Sameer. He stared at it. The edges had a slight yellowish tinge to them. It was probably kept pressed under something heavy... he could see the zigzag pattern on its surface, because of the chain it held.

A gentle nudge on his shoulder from behind made him realise that Ramdhari was still standing with the envelope. Gingerly, he lifted his hand, holding the letter that nanu had specially written for this day of their life... with the awareness of his absence to share it with them.

Naina pressed his shoulders, placing both hands on them. He needed the strength.

"Nanu ne diya hai hamare liye, Sameer. Dekho na." She insisted.

With a deep breath, he lifted the flap, slipping out the folded piece of paper. Settled in between the folds was a gold chain. He picked it up, holding it with two fingers and thumb.

"Yeh toh... yeh toh nani ki chain hai." He recalled seeing it in many of her pictures.

"Haan, Sameer bhaiya, naniji pehenti thi yeh. Isiliye nanaji ne rakhi hai aapke bachhe ke liye. Unka aur naniji ka, dono ka pyar hai ismein." Ramdhari smiled, reminiscing about the few days he got to spend with the elder lady of the house.

Naina took the chain from him, holding it with great care and love, "Jaise nanu humse kabhi alag nahi hote, har jagah unki maujoodgi ka ahsaas rehta hai waise hi baby ko bhi unke aur ab naniji ke paas hone ka mauka milega."

A smile spread on Sameer's face. Nanu had left his presence everywhere... with everyone. He would always be with them... in some form or the other.

He unfolded the letter.

Sabse pehle toh gale lag ja mere sher. Itni achhi khabar suna ke tune dil khush kar diya. Nanu toh tha hi, ab tune dadu bhi bana diya. Iss tarakki ki jitni khushi ho rahi hai na, utni toh bade se bade munaafe ki bhi nahi hui.

Sameer pressed the letter against his heart, wrapping his arms around it. Nanu had left him a warm hug as well.

Beta, tujhe Naina ke saath khush dekh ke mujhe itni shanti milti hai ki main bata nahi sakta. Mera andaaza galat nahi tha. Naina ne tere jeevan ki har uss kami ko poora kiya hai jo tere bade nahi kar paaye. Kahin na kahin iska zimmedar main bhi hun. Mujhe Vishakha ki baat sunni hi nahi chahiye thi aur tujhe pehle hi Nainital se le aana chahiye tha. Lekin kehte hain na... kismat mein jo likha hota hai woh hoke hi rehta hai. Shayad teri kismat tujhe mazboot banana chahti thi... jisse tu mere baad bhi khud ko sambhal sake.

Aur fir Naina se milne ke liye yahan bhej diya. Aaj jab main yeh chitthi likh raha hun toh meri khwahish hai ki tujhe aur Naina ko ek saath dekhun. Jab tu yeh chitthi padh raha hoga tab tak yeh sapna hakeekat mein badal chuka hoga. Main tumhari khoobsurat duniya se door nahi hun, beta. Sab dekh raha hun. Yeh khushiyon ke din jo tum dono ko mile hain inki roshni hamesha tumpe rahe iske liye mujhe seedhe bhagwan ke head office aana pada... direct baat karne ke liye. Lekin iska matlab yeh nahi ki main tumhare saath nahi hun.

Isse aage ka khat Naina ke liye hai. Chal usse de de ab, tera hissa itna hi tha.

Sameer looked behind at Naina. She had been reading along with him. With a blink of assurance, she asked him to go on... both of them reading together what was ahead.

Naina, beta tujhme mujhe hamesha se woh thehri hui, samjhdar ladki nazar aati thi jo mere iss garam mijaz, lekin bhole naati ko sambhal sake. Shayad mein thoda swarthi ho gaya tha isliye tumse uski itni baatein karta tha... jisse tum Sameer ko jaan sako, usse milne se pehle hi usse thoda samajh sako. Uska gussa ek aisi aadat hai jise main chah ke bhi kam nahi kar saka. Mujhe darr tha ki kahin uske gusse ke kaaran tum usse galat na samjho. Uski zindagi mein jo khalipan tha usse poora karne ke liye mujhe tum bhagwan ki bheji hui koi pari lagi... kyonki tum uss samay mujhe mandir ke darwaze pe mili thi jab main Sameer se jude sawaalon ke jawab mangne gaya tha. Aisa laga ki khud bhagwan ne tumhe woh jawaab bana ke bhej diya.