Chapter 96
The new morning came up with the new energy and new chaos.
Everyone had already headed towards their destination except Abhishek.
He had to go with Sadhwi for her college admission and was waiting for her to show up.
He was patiently waiting but she was nowhere to be seen when Shreya emerged in the hall.
"Office nahi jana?" She asked coming towards him.
"Jana hai, bhabhi. But usse pehle wo Sadhwi ke sath uska college admission karane jana hai par pata nahi kahan reh gayi ye itna late kar diya." He said with a hint of irritation.
"Aa rahi hogi." She replied.
Abhishek glanced at his wrist watch, "Aaj ek important meeting hai aur mera hona jaruri hai. Mujhe late ho gaya to bhaiya se daant pad jayegi." He mumbled in himself while glancing at the hallway in between.
Shreya assured him, "Ruko mai dekh kar aati hoon." She said but stopped when she saw Sadhwi emerging in the living room from the hallway that led to the servant quarter.
"Good morning, mam." She chirped looking at Shreya.
Shreya returned the gesture with her sweet smile, "Good morning, Sadhwi."
"Good morning, sir." Sadhwi wished Abhishek.
"What good morning?" Abhishek snapped.
Sadhwi momentarily taken a back by his tone.
"Time ki koi value nahi hai?" He scolded.
Shreya hushed him and gestured him to keep quiet.
She turned her attention to Sadhwi who was looking at the floor with a sad face, "Hey it's okay, tum iski baaton par dhyan mat do. Ye saare bhaiyon ka gussa naak par hi baitha rehta hai." Shreya told her softly.
The girl was so young and innocent and when Shreya got to know that the little girl had lost her parents when she was just ten years old, that broke her heart.
"Sorry, sir." Sadhwi apologized to Abhishek.
Abhishek looked at her tear filled eyes and felt bad for making her cry, "It's fine. Let's go." He murmured.
He hugged Shreya and pecked her hair before mumbling, "Bye, bhabhi."
Shreya smiled, patting his cheek lightly. Abhishek went away from there.
Shreya turned to Sadhwi, "All the best." She wished her making her smile.
"Thank you, mam." Sadhwi said and ran behind Abhishek.
Abhishek was already seated in the car. Sadhwi came and opened the back door before settling down on the back seat. Abhishek looked back at her incredulously.
"I'm not your driver." He said in a taunting tone.
"Aage baitho." He told her.
She clicked her tongue and hurriedly sat down on the front seat.
Abhishek shook his head and drove off the car to the road.
Sadhwi was looking outside at the huge buildings and busy roads of the city.
Her eyes were wide with curiosity and excitement.
There was a hint of fear inside her heart but she was more excited than nervous to explore the new city.
She had lived in the village from her childhood and this was all new to her.
She turned back at Abhishek with a light jump on her place, "Yahan par to bohot badi badi buildings hai. Kitna sundar lag raha hai sab. Mere gaon me to bohot chote se ghar hain." She said in awe.
"Sab bahar se dekhne me hi sundar hai andar se sab kaid hai in badi badi buildings me." Abhishek replied looking ahead.
"Aisa kyun?" She asked curiously.
Abhishek glanced at her before replying, "Tumhare gaon me ghar bhale hi chote ho par logo ke dil bohot bade honge par yahan seher me har ek insaan do chehre le kar ghoom raha hai.
Tumhare saamne ek chehra aur tumhare peeth peeche dusra chehra.
" He said, his voice was quite but filled with something unspoken.
"Aisa kuch nahi hai, sir." She said, "Acche log to har jagah hi hote hai.
Bas humein insaan ki parakh karna aana chahiye ki kaun accha hai aur kaun bura.
Shayad aap ko abhi tak bure log hi mile honge islie aap aisi baatein kar rahe hain par jab aapko koi accha insaan milega na tab aapko pata chalega ki ye duniya kitni khoobsurat hai.
" She said cheerfully without realising the depth of her words.
Abhishek paused for a second listening to her words. The girl was so young to be this mature.
He glanced at her with a smile and she returned her wide grin in response.
"Aur jab wo accha insaan mujhe milega to mujhe kaise pata chalega ki ye wahi insaan hai?" He asked, wanting to hear her answer.
"Simple hai." She shrugged, "Jab sab kuch accha lagne laga. Jab life me problems to ho par uss insaan ke saath baith kar aisa lage ki agar ye saath hai to ye mushkil bhi door ho jayegi." She said causally as if she was reciting her syllabus.
She turned her attention to him, "Jab laakh buraiyaan hone ke baad bhi sirf uss insaan ke paas hone se ye duniya khoobsurat lagne lage to samajh jana yahi hai wo insaan." She said.
He was momentarily taken back by her maturity and choice of words.
His thoughts had shifted to Roohanika. But Sadhwi's definition of love or finding the right person was not matching with Roohanika.
Abhishek loved her but he never felt at peace with her.
It was always a different level of energy that connected both of them together.
When Sadhwi described love as calmness but him and Roohanika were always a chaos together.
"Apni age se jyada samajhdaar ho tum. Ye sab baatein sikhata kaun hai tumhe?" He asked.
"Zindagi." She replied.
"Matlab?" He frowned.
"Matlab ye ki age aur maturity ka koi connection hi nahi hai. Jab kismat waqt se pehle jimmedaariyaan kandhon par daal deti hai to zindagi khud insaan ko sab sikha deti hai." She replied, her cheerful tone shifted to quiet.
Abhishek noticed the change of her voice and tried to divert the topic, "Waise lagta nahi ki tumne gaon se padhai ki hai, English to bohot acchi hai tumhari." He praised.
"Maine khud seekhi hai wo bhi internet se." She said proudly.
Abhishek nodded, "Nice." He muttered.
"Aapko pata hai sir gaon me to koi English bolta hi nahi tha islie mai akele hi khud ke saath English me badbad karti rehti thi aur isse meri practice bhi ho jati thi." She told him.
"Hmm matlab ye badbad karne ki aadat bachpan se hi hai tumhe." Abhishek joked.
She laughed, "Ye to kuch bhi nahi hai mai to isse jyada badbad kar sakti hoon bas koi sunne wala hona chahiye."
"Hum aur kitni der me pohchenge?" She asked without missing a beat.
Abhishek sighed, "Bas pohchne hi wale hain."
She didn't kept quiet even for a minute and again turned towards him with enthusiasm ready to share an another story, "Aapko pata hai, sir...
"No need of formalities. You can call me bhai if you want." He suggested.
She smiled softly, "Sacchi?"
Abhishek rolled his eyes before nodding.
"Okay... bhai." She tried the word on her tongue.
Abhishek smiled.
He stopped the car in front of the college and they both stepped out of it. Sadhwi's eyes widened looking at the college building in front of her. It was huge and beautiful just like she had seen in the movies. She quickly turned towards Abhishek in surprise.
"Mai iss college me padhungi?" She asked in bewilderment.
"Hmm kyun accha nahi laga?" Abhishek asked.
"Accha? Ye to bohot accha hai bilkul waisa jaisa maine movies me dekha hai." She said while staring at the building with dreamy eyes.
Abhishek chuckled, "Let's go inside."
They both headed inside. Abhishek was walking ahead but her gaze was exploring each and everything.
Her eyes were wide and face was morphed with mixed feelings.
They reached to the admission office, the new semester had started a month ago but because of Malhotra's influential name they gave the admission to Sadhwi in her desired course.
Now, Abhishek was doing formalities when he looked up at Sadhwi.
"You can go and explore the campus while I'm doing these formalities." He suggested her.
She happily nodded as she was waiting for that moment.
"Meet me in the parking after twenty minutes." He told her.
She nodded and hurriedly went away from there to explore the new environment. She was feeling nervous from inside but her excitement was more than anything she was feeling inside herself.
She asked the way to library with a student and headed towards it.
She entered the library and her breath hitched in her throat when she noticed the thousands of books neatly piled up in the racks.
She loved to read and the books were the only thing that always snatched her attention over anything.
The room was quiet, a few students were silently reading sitting on their desks.
Her gaze landed on a couple who was sitting in the corner desk.
They were sitting too close to each other for her liking.
She made a cringed face looking at them and swiftly left the place.
Then, she explored the canteen. The aroma of the crispy fried food reached to her nostrils.
The canteen was exactly opposite, it was as noisy as the library was quiet.
The students were seated in the small groups, laughing and chattering with each other.
The sight was overwhelming to her, she started feeling nervous whether she would ever be able to make so many friends.
If not so many then at least a one friend who would make this new journey easy for her.
She was roaming around the campus, noticing everything. When she landed in a hallway where a few boys and girls were sitting in a group. She was about to pass by their side when a boy from the group stopped her.
"Hey listen?" He said from behind.
Sadhwi stopped dead on her track and meekly turned around to face them.
The boy stepped forward a little, "New student?" He asked raising his brow.
She nodded.
He smiled at that not evilly but there was a hint of mischief in his smile.
"Then introduce yourself to your seniors." He said.
She looked at them one by one before replying, "My name is Sadhwi." She said, her voice was low.
"Sadhwi." He said the name. His voice was smooth.
"I'm Arush." He said, extending his hand.
She let out a small smile and forwarded her own hand to shake with him but he pulled back his hand making others laugh. She looked at him in confusion and he was smirking at her.
"What?" He asked.
She shook her head. She was feeling embarrassed when they laughed at her.
"Introduce yourself." Arush repeated.
She blinked at him, "Abhi to bataya... Sadhwi." She whispered.
"Aise nahi. Theek se batao, Sadhwi." He said, stepping back.
"Dance aata hai?" He asked her, raising his brow.
She was fidgeting with the hem of her duppatta. Her face was nervously darting between each of them.
"Uh-uh don't be nervous. Hum tumhari ragging nahi kar rahe hain. Just a friendly introduction." He trailed off.
She didn't reply and kept looking down.
Arush folded his arms over his chest and leaned against the wall, "Start dancing, Sadhwi. We're waiting." He said.
Sadhwi closed her eyes for a moment before gathering her courage, "Aap jo kar rahe hain wo ek crime hai." She said, her voice was low but firm.
"Haww!" Arush gasped dramatically, "Apne juniors ke saath thodi si masti karna ek crime hai?" He asked.
She glared at him firmly.
He stepped towards her seeing her glare and she involuntarily stepped back, "Aankhein neeche." He hissed.
She didn't back off. His lips twitched up slightly at her fierceness.
"Mai aap logo ki complain karungi." She threatened.
He stepped back making a space for her, "Go ahead." He said nonchalantly.
Arush's friend stood up, "Oye, kya bol raha hai usne sach me complain kar di to college se nikal jayenge hum." Sameer whispered from behind.
Sadhwi's eyes were fixed on Arush and his eyes were fixed on her in a challenging look.
"Jao, karo complain." Arush said again.
She started going from there.
Arush's friend panicked, "Arush, roko usey agar usne complain kar di to problem ho jayegi." A girl said.
"Hum sab fas jayenge." His another friend added.
Arush was staring at Sadhwi's back before yelling, "Principal cabin left side par hai."
"Have you gone mad?" His friend asked with horrified eyes.
Arush turned towards them coolly, "Don't worry, kuch nahi karne wali wo." He said.
"Aur agar usne complain kar di to?"
"Wo aisa kuch nahi karegi, relax." He replied confidently.
Sameer sighed, brushing his hand through his hair. He glanced at their another friend Yash before asking, "Arush, yaad hai na aaj match hai?"
Arush nodded, "Yaad hai, bro."
"To phir konsi team support kar raha hai tu?" He asked.
"Wahi apni team." He replied proudly.
Sameer gestured to Yash and he nodded in response.
"You guys carry on, mai class lene jaa raha hoon." Arush said, sliding up his bag on his shoulder.
"Arush class lene jaa raha hai? Kahin mai sapna to nahi dekh rahi." His friend teased.
Arush rolled his eyes dramatically before leaving the place. Yash ran behind him to the class and sat down beside him.
"Tu bhi class le raha hai?" Arush asked in disbelief.
Yash nodded with a chuckle.
"Arush, tujhe ek baat batani thi yaar." He said.
Arush nodded, "Bol." He said taking out his notebook.
"Apne 1 lakh ready rakhna." He said.
Arush sharply turned towards him "1 lakh mai nahi wo Sameer ready rakhega kyunki mai ye bet haarne nahi wala."
"Par jis team par tune paise lagaye hai uske saath to tu hi iss bet me haarne hi wala hai." Yash replied.
Arush glared at him.
"Mere ek uncle hai unhone mujhe bataya hai ki aaj wala match already fixed hai teri team haarne wali hai." Yash informed in a whisper.
"Aisa kuch nahi hota." Arush replied without giving much attention to him.
"As your wish. Mujhe pata tha tu nahi maanega isliye maine tujhe pehle hi bola 1 lakh ready rakhna." Yash said in manipulating tone.
"Mere uncle bohot influential hai aur ye match fixing ki news unhe team ke ek cricketer ne hi batayi hai." He added.
Arush didn't reply but his words settled inside his mind. Yash smirked internally looking at his thoughtful face.
~________________________________________~
Abhishek was waiting for Sadhwi in the parking.
But she was again late, he leaned against the bonnet of the car folding his arms over his chest. His biceps were flexing in this position and the girls were elbowing each other's while teasingly giggling looking at him.
He ignored them and pulled out his phone from his pocket that was when Sadhwi ran up to his side.
"Phir se late kar diya tumne aur aise bhaag kar kyun aa rahi ho?" Abhishek asked, standing up straight.
She apologized, "Sorry, bhai."
They both settled down inside the car and Abhishek started driving. Sadhwi was silent, she didn't say a word and was only looking outside of the window.
"Kya hua abhi tak to bohot bol rahi thi ab itni chup kyun ho?" He asked, noticing her silence.
"Kuch nahi, bhai." She replied quietly.
He frowned, "College pasand nahi aaya kya?" He asked.
"College to bohot accha tha."
"To phir kuch hua hai? Aise chup kyun ho?" He digged.
She looked at him cautiously, "Wo mai jab college ghoom rahi thi to kuch seniors ne meri ragging ki." She told him.
"What?" Abhishek snapped, stopping the car, "Tumne mujhe college me kyun nahi bataya?" He asked angrily.
"Hum wapas chalte hain. Abhi dekhta hoon un logo ko." Abhishek said while turning the steering wheel.
"Nahi nahi, bhai please jaane dijiye. Maine handle kar li thi situation ab wo log nahi karenge aise." She said as she didn't want to escalate the matter.
Abhishek looked at her firmly, "Unki complain karna jaruri hai, Sadhwi."
"Please bhai mujhe kisi ki complain nahi karni agar unhone phir se aisa kiya to mai jarur action lungi iss baar jaane dijiye...Please." She requested.
Abhishek reluctantly nodded his head understanding her feelings and started the car, "Agar phir se aisa kuch ho to directly mujhe batana." He said firmly.
"Mere chote bhai bhi isi college me padhte hain koi bhi problem ho unse share kar dena. They'll handle." He informed her.
She nodded her head.
He smiled, "Tumhara admission ho gaya hai ab tum kal se college jaa sakti ho. Already one month late ho tum islie classes skip mat karna aur saare notes complete kar lena." He advised in a elder brother tone.
She happily nodded, "Thank you so much, bhai." She said from her heart.
~________________________________________~
Advait emerged in his room from the bathroom.
He had just returned from the office after a long tiring day.
Shreya was sitting in the balcony. She was holding up a book in her hand.
The sun was setting below the horizon in the background casting the sky with the orange shade.
Advait fixed his hair in front of the mirror before entering the balcony.
Shreya looked up at him with a smile, she was sitting down on a chair.
Advait dragged a bean bag to her feet and sat down himself on it.
"Kya padha jaa raha hai?" He asked, gently placing her feets on his thigh.
"Apne pati ki hekdi nikaalne ke teen hacks." She replied in a serious tone.
He narrowed his eyes in a mock offense and she laughed out loud at his expression.
"Accha ji apne pati ka mazak banaya jaa raha hai huh?" He said, tickling her feet to make her giggle.
"Choriye Advait." She giggled, struggling to pulled back her feet.
But he leaned down and pressed a firm yet gentle kiss on her feet. She blushed profusely.
He trailed up his lips to her ankle and slided up her saree a little bit.
She moaned when the cool air brushed past her skin.
He trailed up the kisses and slid up her saree's fabric with his other hand.
She bit her lower lip between her teeth.
But a knock interrupted them when he was about to kiss on her bare thigh.
He groaned in frustration, "Iss ghar me koi mujhe shaanti se romance karne dega ya nahi?" He yelled at the person on the door.
Shreya laughed at his irritating face and fixed her saree before running away from there to open the door.
Sadhwi was standing there with the tray of coffee cups in her hands.
Shreya passed her a welcoming smile and opened the door for her to enter inside.
Sadhwi entered the room and placed the tray on the coffee table.
Advait entered the room and glared at Sadhwi's soul making her gulped down in fear. She quickly ran away from there.
Shreya shook his head at him, "Kya Advait aap bhi, bechari bacchi ko dara diya aapne." She said disapprovingly.
He stepped towards her before pressing her against the wall, "Aapko har kisi par daya aati hai na...siwaaye apne pati ke." He said, an irritating frown was set on his face.
She rolled her eyes and pushed him away. She royally ignored him and settled down on the couch before picking up her cup. Advait exhaled sharply and also sat down beside her. They started having their coffees in silence. Suddenly Shreya remembered something and turned her attention to Advait.
"Advait." She said before clearing her throat.
"Ji?" He asked, shifting his eyes on her.
"Aapko yaad hai na parso kya hai?" She asked hesitantly.
He nodded at once, "Yaad hai." He replied curtly.
"Aap pooja ke arrangements kar lengi?" He asked her.
She nodded, "Maine pandit ji se already baat kar li hai aur pooja ka samaan mai kal jaa kar le aaungi." She replied.
"Hum dono chalenge." He replied with a small smile.
The silence again erupted inside the room.
A heavy silence, both were busy in their own thoughts.
It was his mother's death anniversary on the day after tomorrow.
They always perform pooja on this day for the peace of Priya's soul.
On this day Advait didn't say anything to anyone but his eyes always held something beyond pain.
He behaved like any other day but something in his eyes shifts when he performs the pooja in front of her mother's photo frame.
~________________________________________~