Bhaiji ka message??!

Abhinav looked at his phone in a bit of awkwardness..& then looked around..

All looked normal..

The home which was coated with dust & webs when they came back from udaipur is back to its beauty & order ..

Abhir's toys scattered her & there..

Aksharaji....no.. Akshara ......

in the kitchen listening to her lectures as usual multitasking...

But nothing was same either..

His home .. their home had an air of stifle..

All pahadi colours ...dulled giving a monotone vibe ...

Abhir ... always telling anyone who stops to listen about his Docman in awe ...

And Aksharaji....Akshara....

Her name is not even adapting to his tongue or psyche ....!!

Out side she is the old self..but he had seen the chink in her armour & she too has realised that her armour is not thick enough to prevent the memories past & recent past...

Now Bhaiji....

He looked at his phone again..

" Sharmaji..Aapse milna tha ..pehle Wale hotel mein ruka hoon.. mein intzaar karoonga "

Bhaiji ...
Kasauli mein..

Abhinav began to perspire in restlessness...

Kya bhaiji ek aur baar Aksharaji ko wapas paane ki koshish kar raha hai..?

Unka pyaar ,Unka junoon...sab aankhon se dekhne ke baad tum apne apse sawal hi kyun kar rahe ho Abhinav ...

Zaroor uske liye hi aaya hoga...

Aur Jo aadmi woh hai , saamne se hi baat karta hai isliye mujse milna chahta hai..

Abhinav stood up shakily...walked to drink water upsetting the settings on the table..

"Abhinav...yeh kya kar....

Aap theek toh Hain...kya hua...itne pareshan kyun hai??"

After taking a generous gulp of cold water  Abhinav turned to her composing himself but failing..

" Kuch nhi Aksharaji..woh loan payment ka notice nhi mil Raha tha..achanak khasi aagaya...Sorry Maine aapka arrangement disturb kardiya...

Aap padhiye..mein abhi  baahar hoke aaya..."

Abhinav took his sweater from hanger & walked to the door..

" Laut the waqt Abhir ko bhi laana...school chutti hoga tab tak.."

Akshara told as he reached the door but to her he looked listless...she noticed with a frown..

Her presence & care was making it tough for him to decide...

but the decision was never in your hands..

A little voice in his head reminded him...

*******

Abhi looked out through the window...

The calm and mighty mountains lush with greenary made him exhale ....

The days that went past in the 2 weeks went through his mind ...

*******

The first thing he saw...

His mom's face drenched in tears...

Ru... sitting by his side. drawing butterflies in her colouring book..

Arohi sitting at his desk going through files..

"Bhayya. !"
"Aap uth Gaye..??"

Nishta came into the room throwing everyone into frenzy...

To know you have been under for 3 days ..is kinda terrifying...

Akshu...

His lips formed the words but no sound came...

"Abhiiii"

Manjari  looked at him in distress..

" Tum Kahan....."

She stopped abruptly as a hand squeezed his arm reassuringly...

" Baad mein  Chachi...Abhimanyu.. pehle tu theek ho jao"

Shefali looked at him as she smiled sadly at him.

" Maa aap Bhabhi ke saath jaayiye aur rest kijiye.Abhimanyu ko hum dono dekh lenge ..aap refresh hoke aajayiyega.."

Arohi said as she noted down the vitals

" Poppy...."

The small subdued voice had made him quiver with guilt...

" Aap baat mat Karo...
par mujhe ek promise karna tha...
Ab se mein kabhi bhi zid nahin karoongi...mere papa star ban Gaye...
agar aap poppy se papa banenge toh  aap bhi star ban jaayenge...mujhe sirf poppy chahiye aur kuch bhi nhi"

He looked at Arohi..a sad smile conveying her acknowledgement...

" Tum so rahe the toh bohot mushkil tha ise samjhaana.. tumhara department tha na..lekin isne khud hi logic dhoond liya.."

" Ab chalo Ru bacha poppy ko school ke saare baate batao .. matashree poppy ke bare mein tauji se baat karke aati hoon."

It was therapeutic to listen to her nonstop chattering....

but suddenly one question cut him to the quick..

" Poppy..Abhir bhayya ko nhi pata ki uski mumma apki wifi thi..?!"

Abhi jerked a bit & looked at the earnest eyes questioning him..

" Aa aap ko kisne bataya...?"

" Woh Maine badi Nani aur Mimi ki baat suni thi...woh Abhimanyu aur Akshara ki daashi ki bare mein baat kar rhe the...Abhimanyu aap ho..Akshara Massi hai ...heina?"

Abhi winced in pain as he heard her name ..but Abhir....

I didn't even think about him in all this selfishness....!

Sharmaji aur Akshara ka beta..

" Aap uss baat ko bhool jao Ru aur.. Abhir ko bhi kuch batane ki zaroorat nhi hai...Tum donon ki dosti hogaya kya..?"

"Haan poppy , bhayya Mera care ache se Kiya jab aap ,Dida aur matashree hospi mein the...kya bhayya humare saath reh sakte hai...?"

The innocent questions were tearing up the fine stitches on the festering wound in his heart..

He did wrong by trusting his heart...

He did wrong by misunderstanding her care..

Koi bhi...Shayad koi bhi mere jagah hota toh woh bhaagke aati...

Kaise Sharmaji se kaha ki uski patni Aaj bhi...

Blood rushed into his head as Akshara's voice boomed in ..

"Mere pati..."

" Abhimanyu....relax....thoda aur rest zaroori hai ...Ru...beta aapki sone ka time ho gaya hai.. poppy ko good night bolo Dida aapka wait kar rha hai "

" Good night poppy!" She kissed on his hand.

As Ru went out  Abhi managed his breath..

"Dr.Arohi ".

Arohi stopped as she was about to administer the sedative .

"Aaj mein Akshara ko wapas apni zindgi mein wapas laane Gaya tha.."

Arohi visibly slumped in her stance...

" Mein move on nahin kar pa Raha hoon aur woh kaise itni aasani se apni zindgi savar Li is baat se mein hairaan tha .

..jab woh accident ke time mere pas bhaag ke aayi mujhe meri Akshu dikhi aur mein phir kuch bhi nahin socha...na Sharmaji ki bare mein ,Na Ruhi ki bare mein..na Junior ki bare mein..."

A bitter but sad smile played on Arohi's lips registering her exclusion...

Abhi drew in a painful breath..

" Galat Kiya..lekin Dil ki hisaab se sahi Kiya..nahin toh yeh Dil phir woh ummeed dhoondhte rehthe..magar Akshara..."

The lump on his throat bobbed convulsively..

" Akshara ne mujhe apna sach dikha Diya..woh kabhi bhi mujhe maaf nahin karegi aur ab uska saath Sharmaji ke saath hai.....bol diya..."

" Abhimanyu..relax...yeh sab phir batana ab tum yeh injection le lo...mein IV mein daalti hoon "

Arohi...screwed her eyes as she injected the medicine into the IV fluid.

" I am sorry mein tumse aur Kairav se Kiya hua wada nahin nibha saka..."

" Tum ne koi wada nahin toda Abhimanyu..Mere liye Ruhi sab se important hein aur mein jaanti hoon ki tum kabhi bhi Ruhi ko disappoint nhi karoge..aur dekho usne kaise apni zid wapas liya...humne sahi Kiya Ru ke saath.."

A smile bloomed in his eyes at her reply...

" Thank you.. for understanding..Haan humne sahi Kiya Ru ke saath...."

His eyes slowly closed as Arohi exhaled in resignation...

" Lekin Junior ke saath sahi nhi Kiya...."

His subconscious taunted him...

*******

Now as he stood looking at the scenary before him Abhi recollected his first meeting with junior..

The football...

Kitna protective tha woh apne mumma papa keliye ...

Kuch ajeeb sa apnapan mehsoos hua tha us din se aur Jab udaipur mein aaya toh lagaav sa ban gaya.....

Phir bhi use mile bagair jaana hoga ..

Hope Sharmaji message ko positively le aur Mrs Sharma ko kuch bataye Bina hi aa Jaye...

They can sort it out later between them.

****

Abhinav braced himself ...

Their last meeting ...in the hospital..

He was insecure & his insecurities bested his emotions that night..

Bhaiji was open & direct and ..... correct.

Aksharaji tries hard to set normalcy but then she  snaps out just like that... going into a world of her own with walls.....

Two weeks after his realisation that he is definitely between two ppl who love eachother but hurt eachother to an extent that they themselves can't start healing...

Being a namesake husband to a real husband.... just my pipedream..

******

The knock brought back Abhi from his reverie...

" Sharmaji aayite...baithiye.."

Abhi said with a deliberate cheerfullness..

Abhinav looked at him puzzled ...

He was expecting the person who had challenged him that night at the hospital..but here is a smiling yet serious person .

"Bhaiji..aap yahaan achanak...woh ..sab theek hai..?aap theek hai..?"

Abhi guided him to the sofa and poured water for Abhinav.

" Sab theek hai...aur main bhi theek hoon Haan thoda issues hua hai..par uske bare mein phir kabhi discuss karenge..."

Abhi extended the glass as Abhinav took it with faint Shiver..

"Bhaiji aap Aksh....'

" Sharmaji mein apse maafi maangne aaya hoon...us din ....hospital mein.... mujhe woh sab aapse nahin kehna chahiye tha...aapki insult karna nahin chahta tha par ho gaya..aur agle din bhi Maine badtameezi ki.. ho sake toh aap mujhe maaf kar dijiye..."

Abhi looked straight into the face of Abhinav who was sitting with a bewildered face devoid of response....

Abhi's face clouded a little

" Jo Maine Kiya woh maafi ki laayak nahin hai..aap nhi kar paayenge toh...mein,"

"Bhaiji..aap hosh mein nahin the...Maine hi aapse hospital mein bhida tha...mujhe nahin karna chahiye tha...aur Mandir mein aapne apne baat rakhi... Aksharaji ne apni...Aapko maafi maangne ki zaroorat nahi hai"

Abhi gave a self depreciating smile and nodded..

"Aapse yehi ummeed tha mujhe.....lekin Jo badtameezi Maine Junior ki maa se Kiya iska bharpai karne ka permission de sakthe hai aap..??"

As Abhi stood up and walked towards the table to fetch a file Abhinav asked..

" Bharpai... Bhaiji mein samjha nhi..??!"

Abhi sat down opposite to him his fingers moving delicately over the file caressing it...

"6 saal pehle Maine apne bachon keliye kuch paise invest kiye the..do FD Hain..."

He inhaled hard..

" Ek Maine Ru ki naam kardiya Hain aur ek Maine Junior ke naam. Aap yeh document apne paas rakh sakte hai.... Junior ki padhayi ya Jo kuch bhi ho is se aap ache se kar sakte hai......"

Abhinav sat still..his mind racing...

Aksharaji se kya kahenge..?

Agar Bhaiji ko mana kar Diya toh??

Lekin yeh Abhir ka papa hai aur yeh Abhir ka hi haq hai ..kaise mana karenge..?

Lekin le bhi nahin sakte..

Aksharaji ko samjhana aur sambhalna mushkil hoga..

" Sharma ji aap mere jazbaat samjhenge na?!"

Abhi was clearly praying that Abhinav agree to his request..

The way Junior described his ambitions & the expense to meet it he knew Abhinav can't meet....

He had discussed this with badepapa also who too was apprehensive as he revealed that Akshara never took money from their shares..

He reminisced the pride he felt of Akshara when he learnt that....

But badepapa was having good faith in his Jamaisa .

" Bhaiji...yeh mein nahin le sakta..aapse Judi koi bhi cheez meri patni sweekar nahin karenge yeh toh aap jaante hi hai..."

Abhinav paused & looked at Abhi quizzically..

"Aap ki shaadi hone Wale hai...Arohi ji se..shayad samjhote ka shaadi hai phir bhi aap ke khud ke bache honge tab aap istamaal karlijiye.."

Abhinav stopped short as an intense pain & bittersweet expression sweeped Abhi's face..

" Bhaiji.."

" Woh kya heina Sharmaji. ..Dr.Arohi se mein Shaadi nhin kar raha hoon...toh samjhote ki shaadi ki baat khatam.. Ab toh aap lenge na..koi tension nhi hai mere bachon ki..."

Abhi tried to be flippant...but Abhinav had seen something & it nagged him..

" Arohiji se nahin toh aap kisi aur se shaadi karenge na...kya aap saari Umar aise hi...aapki maa ..bhalibuaji ....unka Dil toot jaayega...woh bade khush thi na apke shaadi ko leke....?"

Abhinav's words trailed at the mocking smile that creeped on to his lips..

" Woh.. Sharmaji shaadi ke baad kuch expectations hote hai woh agar nibha nahin sakta toh...kisi ek aur ka shraap kyun Lena..!"

"Bhaiji Aisa bhi ho sakta hai ki koi aapko aap ke hisaab se chahe..tab apka bhi ek family ban jayega"

Abhinav was not ready to let go & Abhi was visibly upset now...

" Koi kyun shadi mein bacha nahin chahega Sharmaji...?"

Now Abhinav was truly puzzled..

" Aapko bache pasand toh hai...aapne apne bache keliye yeh deposit ki hai toh aapko iss baat se aitraaz kyun..?"

"Aitraaz ..."

Abhi turned and roughly rubbed his face ..& then faced Abhinav..

"Aitraaz nahin Sharmaji..shayad aapki ..umm patni umm......ne apse sab baatein bataya hoga.. "
Abhi was uncomfortable but continued determined.

" Woh..hmm..... jab mujhe pata chala  ki accident ke baad  woh maa ban sakti hai lekin uski Jaan bhi Jaa sakti hai...toh mujhe bada shock laga...

Maine yeh baat kisise share nhi Kiya tha aur us time pe mujhe..uski zindgi ke aage kuch nhi dikha tha.. isliye Maine bhi ek doctor's appointment liya ...!"

Abhinav looked at Abhi baffled and slowly the implication trickled down to his senses ..

Bhaiji.....ne....

Abhi gathering his flippancy went on...

" Lekin bhagwan ko kuch aur hi manzoor tha aur baaki sab aap toh jaante hai...toh...ab Maine apna Raaz aapko bata Diya toh kya aap theek samjhe toh yeh bhi Raaz rakh lijiye..abhi nahi lekin phir aagey jaake Junior ka kaam aayega..."

Abhinav was dumbfounded and could only nod .Abhi felt relieved..

" Yeh toys Ru ki taraf se ..woh Bhai ko miss kar raha hai...aur aap aur family mere wajah se Udaipur aana mat chodiye...bas....bata dijiye mein aas pas...aas pas ..kya door .... bhi nhi aaoonga..."

Abhinav held the file & the carrybag and stood up shakily...

" Thankyou Sharmaji Ab hum phirse na mile toh aapke liye behtar hoga nhi??!...aisa hi ho....."

Abhi shook hands and Abhinav walked to the door ...

" Sharmaji aap darwaza band karenge please..."

Abhi requested as the tears shimmering made his vision hazy..

The answering click of the door made him slump on to the cushion..hands covering his tear drenched face...

*******

Abhinav dragged himself to turn after closing the door ...

His mind boggling under the heavy weight of the sadness..

He had seen Akshu ki Abhi's care ..

Akshu ki Abhi's junoon......

but Akshu ki Abhi ka sacrifice....

Sacrifice as such in this time and era..!!!

His thought processes froze as a figure appeaed in his line of vision..

Devastated... crumbled & tearful....

Aksharaji...!!

For the first time he didn't feel sorry for her ..

He found his gruffy voice

" Aap mere peeche.."

He noticed his phone clutched nervously in her hand ...

" Ohh..toh aap ne sab sunliya...!"

His resigned statement was answered by her quivering lips

A deep silence engulfed both as they stood facing eachother..

Abhinav broke it with the thrust of the file to her .

"..aapke bete ka haq...aap hi rakhlijiye ..."

Akshara looked at Abhinav pleadingly but his face was dark with realisation....

" Maine aapse kaha tha ki mein itni badi zimmedari ki laayak nahin hoon....

kya aapko pata hai aapki delivery ke time pe doctor ne mujhse poocha complicated surgery hai Maa ya bacha kisi ek ko hi bacha paaoonga toh Maine kis ko chuna...??!

Maine kaha bache ko kuch nhi hona chahiye...

Mein khudgarz tha..Mujhe aap ke bache se lagaav ho gaya tha...aap ke baad shayad mere apne kehne keliye woh bacha toh rahega .. lekin ek baar bhi us bande ka nhi socha jis ka yeh bacha hai...unki lagaav pyaar kuch bhi nhi dikha....Sirf meri khudgarzi dikhi..."

Akshara's stricken eyes pinned on him..

Abhinav shrugged desolately....

"Lekin aap aise pyaar ko thokar maar ke aayi hai toh mera pyaar aapke liye kya hi hai..."

The Kohl eyes looking at him didn't falter him..

" Aaj mein Dil se pachta Raha hoon ki Maine aapko apni man ki karne Diya...kisi bhi bahane aapko ussi din Ghar chod Dena chahiye tha..."

Akshara held her face sobbing as Abhinav held her and made her walk..

" Mera dosti aur pyaar toh aapke liye hamesha rahega.Aap ne aagey badne ki soch liya hai... lekin humara rishta tab badhega jab Bhaiji ko aap sab sach batayega .!"

The determination on his face sent shivers through her as realisation dawned

........... She lost her only Ally .....!!

PS. For ppl triggered about Vasectomy..
It's reversible & in any case IVF protocol can be applied for having kids...