Chapter 14

Exhibition wale din, Mai late morning so kar uthi. Ek toh office nahi jana nahi tha toh jaldi uthkar bi kya karti. Kavita ko college jana tha isliye uske college se ane ke bad hi hum dono shopping par jane wale the.

Jab uthi toh fufa ji, Raman aur kavita ghar par nahi the kewal bua ji hi thi. Bua ji mujshe dekh kar boli, "nisha, tera hi wait kar rahi thi mai."Maine jab unko dinning table par 2 plates lagate hue dekha th, "bua ji, kya apne bi breakfast nahi kiya?""Nahi... Un logo ki tiffin ki tayari kar rahi thi. Nahi th woh late ho jate islye abhi tak nashte ka time nahi mila." Bua ji dheere se kaha jaise unke liye it' normal. Mujshe guilty feel ho raha tha ki mai jaldi kyu nahi uthi aur unki help kyu nahi ki. Mujshe pata tha agar mai kuch kahungi toh woh bolegi 'koi nahi'.Akhir woh bi mummy jaisi hi h family ko apne se phele rakhne wali. Isliye maine decide kiya ki aj unki help karwaungi.

Nashta karne ke baad, pure ghar aur kitchen  ki safai maine unki help ki. Waise toh unhone mana kar diya, "Nisha, tu aram kar. Yeh toh mai roj hi karti hu. Lekin kai dino ke baad tujshe leave mili hai." Mai muskurate hue boli, "koi nahi bua ji. Mai mummy ki bi th help karwati thi na. Kya yeh mera ghar nahi hai?" Maine jan bhuj kar last sentence thoda udas hote hue bola.Bua ji has kar boli, "pagali... Tera hai... Thik hai." Mai khush hote hue unhe hug kiya.

Kaam khatam hone ke bad, bua ji aur maine thodi ghapshap ki fir tv dekha.Jan sham ko kavita ayi toh maine tea banayi.Chai pine ke bad, maine kavita se pucha, "shopping chalna hai kya?"Kavita haste hue boli, "haa di... Woh Vedika bi ane wali hai." Maine pucha, "Vedika kyu?" Kyuki mujshe yaad tha kal kewal meri aur kavita ki hi baat hui thi.Woh boli, "actually, maine Vedika ko bataya ki hum shopping par ja rahe hai. Toh woh bi chalne ko ready ho gayi." "Oh" mere ko koi dikkat nahi thi usko sath mei lekar jane ki.

Kuch der bad, Vedika aa gayi aur hum teeno shopping ke liye chal diye.Hum teeno street Market gaye kyuki ek toh waha new new design milte hai upar se budget mei bi aur bargaining bi kar sakte ho. Vedika aur kavita bargaining mei bahut achi hai. Meerut par maya aur yaha yeh dono.Humne ek shop se bahut saste mei tshirts kharidi toh Maine haste hue kaha, "tum dono toh bargaining mei ek number ho." Vedika haste hue boli, "di, humko pratice hai. Hum jante hai woh kitna kam kar sakta hai." Mai jhenpte hue boli, "par mujshe nahi hoti bargaining." Kavita, "pata hai humko tabhi toh maine apko bolne ko mana kar diya tha." Aur woh dono hasne lagi.Mai gussa hote hue boli, "jarur maya ne bataya hoga." Kavita kuch nahi boli kewal hasne lagi toh, "ek bar mauka milne do I will not let her go easily." Woh dono hasne lagi phir humne aur shopping ki. Jab hamare hath shopping bag se full ho gye toh vedika, "mujshe to h bhuk lag rahi hai." Kavita aur mai bi thak chuke the islye mai boli, "chalo kuch khate hai." Mai snacks ki shop par gaye. Humne three plates chat aur kulche order kiye.Order dene ke bad hum ek table par baith gaye aur shopping bags ek side rakh diye. Hamara order table par aa gaya. Maine ek bite liya aur boli, "mhhh.... It's tasty." Kavita boli, "yeh yaha ki famous shop hai." Vedika ne bi hami bhari. Maine pucha, "tum dono ki shopping finish ho gayi ya kuch aur lena hai." Vedika, "mere ko kuch nahi lena aur apko." Maine aur kavita ne bi mana kar diya. Kuch der bad Vedika ne pucha, "di, kya yeh sach hai ki ved bhiya ne apko apna mobile number diya hai." Maine kavita ko ghura toh usne niche muh kar liya. 'Koi nahi beta tere ko toh baad mei dekh lugi' maine ankho se kavita ko bola. Aur vedika bataya, "ha... Kyu?" Woh muskurate hue boli, "kyuki aap pheli ladki ho jisko usne apna number diya hai. Pata hai apko meri kitni friends ne mere se unka number maga hai. Unse puchne par unhone har kisi ko mana kar diya." Mai samajh gayi ki woh kya kehna chahati hai islye maine usko sach bataya, "aisa kuch nahi hai. Ved ko koi friend meerut mei rehta hai. Aur woh ek dusre ke sath contact mei nahi hai islye uske bare mei pata lagane ke liye usne mere se bola. Isliye hi usne mujhko apna number diya." Vedika chokte hue boli, "unka koi friend meerut mei nahi rehta." Maine pucha, "tum kya uske sare friends ko janti ho? Kya pata uske us friend ke bare mei tumko nahi pata ho." Vedika smirked, "whatever... Woh toh bad mei dekha jayega." I rolled my eyes but didn't say anything. Uske baad humne us bare mei koi baat nahi ki lekin ek dusre ke sath gossip aur joke share kiye.

Ghar aakar jab humne shopping bag apne room mei rakh diye toh mai kavita ko datte hue boli, "kavita tune vedika ko kyu bataya?" Kavita darte hue boli, "di, sorry mere muh se nikal gaya." "Agar woh Ritika ko bol degi toh..." Maine ghari sas lete hue bola. Kyuki ved aur mere beech mei kuch nahi tha.Aur wese bi ek ladke ke liye, mai apni friend ko dhoka nahi de sakti thi.Kavita mujshe samjhate hue boli, "Vedika nahi bolegi.... Usne mere ko promise kiya hai... Yeh baat kewal hamare beech mei rehegi." Isse phele mai kuch bolti mera mobile bajne laga. Jab screen par maine caller id dekhi toh kavita aur mai ek dusre ko dekhne lage. Kavita muskurane lagi jabki maine usko chup hone ko kaha.I gulped and answered the phone, "hello." Kavita ne muh se ishara kiya 'speaker par'. I rolled my eyes par speaker mode par mobile kar diya kyuki agar nahi karti toh woh galat samjhati aur Vedika ko bata deti.Dusri taraf se awaz ayi, "hey, nisha.. busy ho kya?" Kavita hasne lagi lekin maine usko ghura toh woh chup ho gayi. Maine kaha, "nahi... Kyu?" Woh bola, "thik hai... Ek ghante baad mere ghar par milo...  Mai aa raha hu." "Kyu?" Maine chokte hue pucha.Thodi der baad, woh bola, "tum bhul gayi... Kal Hi toh humne baat ki... Mere box ke bare mei..." Mere ko yaad aya, "ohhh... Thik hai..." Maine bina kuch sune phone kaat diya. Kavita jor jor se hasne lagi, "toh aap date par uske sath uske ghar ja rahi ho." Mai gusse se lal ho gayi aur chilati, "kavita...." Woh jor jor se hasne lagi. Maine usko ved ke box ki baat batayi aur kaha, "mujshe toh lagta hai ki mujshe locker key ki shop kholni chahiye." Woh haste hue boli, "ha, fir apko uske ghar nahi jana padega kyuki woh apse milne apki shop par joh aa jayega." Kavita ko bolna bekar tha agar mai kuch kehti toh woh aur majak banati.

Ek ghante bad maine usko message kiya, "tum ghar par ho kya kyuki mai aa rahi hu?" Jaise hi maine message bheja ek minute mei usko reply aya, "ha... I am waiting you." Maine ghari sas li aur bua ji ko bol kar uske ghar ki taraf chal di. Woh ghar ke bahar hi khada tha. Mere ko dekhte hi muskurate hue bola, "let's go inside." Maine kewal haa mei sar hila aur hum uske ghar ke andhar chal diya. Hall mei koi nahi tha shayad sab apne room mei hoge. Jaise hi usne apna room ka door khola. Mai surprise ho gyi. Uska room kafi bada tha Vedika se bi. King-size bed,  side table, wardrobe, study table, couch, attached bathroom and balcony. Mai janti thi uska ghar us colony mei sabse bada hai. Par uska bedroom toh sabse alag tha. I felt jealousy. Usne mera reaction dekhkar pucha, "do you like it?" Mai muh banate hue boli, "by the way, I am jealous with you." Kyuki ek th mera room isse bahut chota tha upar se mujshe maya ke sath share karna padta tha jabki woh akela hi itne bade room ko enjoy karta tha.Usne haste hue pucha, "kyu?" I smirked, "don't ask because you don't like my answer?" He chuckled, "let's try." I sighed, "because I want to kick you out from this room and make it my room." He mumbled something but I couldn't hear it. I asked with confusion, "kya?" Usne na mei apna sar hila aur muskurate hue bola, "kuch nahi...." Maine pucha, "box kaha hai?" Kyuki agar mai us room mei jayada der rehti toh sach mei us room ko chodkar jane ka mera dil nahi karta isliye jaldi kaam khatam karke jaldi apne ghar jana chahti thi.Woh bola, "tum waha baitho. Mai abhi lekar ata hu." Mai ek couch par baith gayi aur woh box lene chala gaya.Uska room jitna bada tha utna hi clean tha. Koi bi saman idhar se udhar nahi tha. Har saman sahi jagah par tha. Manna toh padega bande ko.. safai ke mamle me perfect jabki mostly boys careless hote hai. Thodi hi der mei woh ek wooden box lekar aya. Wow... It's not normal wooden box. It's like treasure. Woh ek purana but costly wooden box tha. Jaise hi apne usko apne hath mei liya bina soche samjhe maine box art par hath phera. Aisa lag raha tha ki mai koi historical tv serial dekh rahi hu. Uske awaz sunkar, mai hosh mei ayi, "yeh mere dada ji ka tha. Mujshe pasand tha toh yeh unhone mujshe gift kiya tha." Uski awaz mei excitement tha. Aisa lag raha tha woh memory uske liye khash hai.Mai muskurate hue boli, "koi bi is box ko pasand karega." Woh haste hue bola, "pata hai. Yeh box mere liye important hai aur iske ander ka saman priceless hai lekin maine iski key kho di." Akhir sentence usne dukhi hote hue bola. Actually, box mei iternal lock tha."Ok... Let me try... Kya pata mai khol du." I tried to convince him.Usne haa mei sar hila, "kya tumko koi help chahiye?" I looked at him with confusion. Woh muskuraya aur mere sar hi taraf ishara karte hue bola, "Bobby pin" Maine uski baat samjhane ki kosis ki. Ohh... Maine juda bana rakha tha garmi ki wajah se. Kya mai usko idiot lagati hu ki ek Bobby pin ke liye apna juda kharab karugi.Mai haste hue boli, "nahi." Aur apni jeans ki pocket mei se ek Bobby pin nikal kar usko dikhaya, "mai sath mei layi hu." "Oh" usne kewal itna hi kaha. Maine Bobby pin se try kiya par it's hard. I needed to trace the lock first. Mujshe laga ki koi mujshe dekh raha hai jab upar ankh utha kar dekha toh ved mere ko dekh raha tha. Hamari ankhe ek dusre ko dekh rahi thi. Maine kaha, "agar tum yaha baithe rahoge toh mai concentration nahi kar paugi." Woh muskurate hue bola, "kyu?" Mai gusse se boli, "kyuki mujshe aisa lag raha hai ki tum mere sar par khade ho. Please go somewhere jisse mai concentration kar pau." Woh haste hue bola, "ok ok... Mai kuch snacks lene ka raha hu..." I nodded and he left. Uske jane k bad, Maine ghari sas li aur dubara apne kaam mei lag gayi. Kaafi der baad mei pasine pasine ho gayi par at last, lock khul gaya. Jab lock khul gaya toh mai muskurate hue upar dekha toh ved wahi baitha tha.Usne pucha, "khul gaya." Maine haste hue usko diya, "finally.... But tum kab aye?" Woh haste hue box lete hue bola, "kafi der se par tumhara upar dhyan box par tha aur dekho maine tumko disturb nahi kiya." "Haa." Jaise hi maine pasine puchne ke liye apna hath uthaya usse phele ved  tissue mere pasine pochne laga. "Thank you..." Kya tum nahi dekha chahti ki isme kya nahi." Mai uske is behaviour se shocked thi par maine kuch nahi kaha.

Jab usne yeh pucha toh I was wondering, "Kya tum nahi dekha chahti ki isme kya hai."

"Maine na mei sar hila diya, "nahi... Yeh tumhare liye important hai." Mere liye nahi par maine yeh bola nahi.Usne kuch nahi kaha aur tissue aur box taraf rakh diya aur mere thoda karib aa gaya. Mere joh thode baal juda mei se nikal gaye the, usne inko mere ear ke piche kiye aur bolne ke muh khola. Isse phele woh kuch bolta,  darwaza khula aur bhabhi tea aur snacks lekar andar ayi. Jise hi unhone humko dekha toh piche mudh gayi aur boli, "kam se kam lock toh laga lete." Maine isse phele kuch samjhati. Bhabhi table par tray rakh kar chali gayi aur ved apni gardan ke piche hath rakh kar muskura raha tha. Maine confusion mei pucha, "yeh kya hua? Tumne bhabhi ko kuch bola kyu nahi?" Jaise hi mai utne lagi toh ved bola, "it's ok nisha. Mai bhabhi se baad mei bat kar luga. Let's eat first." Maine mana kar diya, "nahi... Mera kaam ho gaya. Ab mai ja rahi hu. Ghar par sab mera wait kar rahe hoge." "But..." Isse phele woh kuch kheta mai uske room se bahar aa gayi. Aur dekha toh bhabhi kitchen mei akeli thi aur dinner ki preparation kar rahi thi. Maine bhabhi ke pass gayi aur boli, "bhabhi." Mujshe samjh nahi aa raha tha ki kya bolu unko.Woh mere ko dekh kar muskura kar boli, "ha bolo." "Bhabhi..... Woh joh apne dekha aisa kuch bi nahi hai.... Mai toh bas uski box kholne mei help kar rahi thi... Please kuch galat mat sochiyega." Woh haste hue boli, "nisha... Don't worry. Mai kewal majak kar rahi thi. Mai sab janti hu." Pata nahi aj kyu mujshe unki baat aur hasi mei kuch alag raha tha. But I shook my thoughts and said, "ok bye bhabhi." Bhabhi boli, "itni jaldi... Mai dinner ready kar rahi hu. Dinner karke jana." Maine muskurate hue boli, "thank you bhabhi par aj chat kulche khaya hai islye bhuk nahi hai.... Bye" Isse phele woh kuch aur kheti mai ghar ki taraf chal di. Sach mei puri family pagal hai. Kuch bi soch leti hai.

***बेहतर पढ़ाई का आनंद लेने के लिए नॉवेलटून को डाउनलोड करें!***