Beyond Just Love (Chapter 6-10)

Chapter 6: Andhere ke kiran

As if to console her, as if to take every single pain off her, as if to feel her sorrowful state for himself, he cupped her face wiping the newly shed tears as well

He cradled her face in his hand and brought her closer to himself to pass on a warmth of relief to her, he voiced gently, consolingly, “tum akele nahi ho Sakshi……hum sab hai……[he didn’t know why he said that or did that…he didn’t know if it was only for consoling her or was it really from his heart!.....but he added without any second thoughts] main hoon tumaare saat!”

It was more than what she could handle now……it seemed like she got so much happiness all of a sudden in those few moments…..her eyes flooded up all over again….

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Arjun sat beside her and for a few moments she was in a kind of trance, getting the feel of warmth from the only man she had ever loved……

But in a few seconds, she snapped out of her trance and tilted her head away trying to free it from his hands…..

When he noticed her struggling to get away, he laid her back on the pillow and enquired, “kya hua?”

Sakshi looked away from him and switched the topic, “kuccch nahiii Arjun…..aaaap…..ko…kuccch…..”

She struggled to complete the words but then he understood what she was going to say……

But Arjun didn’t want to question her further though he understood that she wasn’t fine….something had pricked her or affected her……she was definitely thinking something in her mind…..but he ignored it and replied, “haan…..police head quarters jaana hai…..main shaam ko waapas aavunga….tumhe kuch chahiye?”

Sakshi shook her head meaning no and then voiced, “aaap…taqleef….matthhh”

Arjun snapped her short and said in a determined tone, “I will be back in the evening”

He caressed her hair gently to assure her that…

He smiled and then walked out…..Once he was out of the room, she turned to the direction and kept looking at the door….She could hear his footsteps slowly fading away….

Ho chandini jab tak raat, detaa hai har koi saath,
Tum magar andheron mein, naa chhodna mera haath
Ho chandini jab tak raat, detaa hai har koi saath,
Tum magar andheron mein, naa chhodna mera haath

Jab koi baat bigad jaye, jab koi mushkil pad jaye
Tum denaa saath meraa, o, humnavaa

She knew that he will come back in the evening but something inside her told her that he shouldn’t……The more closer he gets to her, it will make things more difficult for her…..Once he goes back from here, these good memories would torment her….she will miss him more than ever before…..All this kindness, the goodness, the concern, the care, and of course the sympathy, all of this pricked her deep in her heart and caused her pain….

This pain was intolerable than the pain of loneliness and despair she had been suffering so far….

Tears rolled out without a reason…she wiped it away and thought to herself, ”Sakshi, get a grip girl….how can you cry so much without a reason?”

She chided herself for the tears! But nothing stopped them!

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It was late evening……Usually Sakshi never kept track of the passing time….Any time, be it morning, evening or night, it was the same for her…..

But today, she was counting each second….her eyes darted to the clock on the wall opposite to her every second…..and then instantly she looked at the door….

Every footstep on the corridor sought her attention to it……

Annie grinned while she noticed this change in her and teased her a bit….”Sakshi, koyi aane waala hai kya??”

Sakshi smiled understanding that Annie knew what she had in her mind but then immediately smacked herself for behaving crazy!

Annie left after giving her the evening medicines…

Finally after a long wait, he came back…..He had been delayed in the meeting and once free, he rushed back to keep up his word….And he had to also get something on the way…..He had arranged for it in the morning itself and just had to pick it up on his way back…..

He came in silently and stood by her bed….She turned to him and her eyes were enquiring about the delay though she never voiced it out….

He replied “meeting mein phas gaya tha…aur phir traffic bhi tha”

She couldn’t help smile at the way he had started to understand her silent language and read her expressions…

So far, only Annie could do it….but Arjun being Arjun, he had mastered the art in a few hours time

His patient replies also amused her....It amused her that a nearly dead Sakshi had impacted him so much while a bubbly lively girl couldn't even make him turn his head to her.....

He held out a packet to her…..”yeh tumaare liye hai Sakshi”

Sakshi was reluctant to take it and just asked, “yehhh….kyaaa…hai Arjun?”

Arjun opened it up for her and held it to her…it was a new mobile phone……”ab jab bhi chaaho ETF mein sab se baat kar sakthe ho”

Sakshi’s eyes glittered at the thought of being able to talk to all of them again but the very next instant the glitter faded away and she became dull yet again…..

Pushing it back to his side, she voiced, “nahiii……Arjun……yehhh nahiii”

Arjun knew that she wouldn’t take a gift so easily but then he wasn’t going to give up either, “yeh gift nahi hai…..jab tum teek hogi tab tumse waapas le loonga…..ab ziddh matth karo”

But that wasn’t the only reason for her not accepting it…..talking to the team would only make her think more about her reality and her helplessness…..the memories of her happy life when she was in ETF as one among them would come back to her every time and torture her endlessly!

He kind of understood her reluctance and sat beside her, “ab kya hua? Kya soch rahi ho?”

Sakshi looked into his eyes and spoke up,”main…..unnn…..sabse…..bohatt…dhoooor….jaa….”

He knew it…..he had understood it already….he didn’t allow her to complete that….”tum aise haar nahi sakthi Sakshi…..kuch nahi bathla hai…..na tum….na hum sab……bathle hai toh sirf haalaat……aur yeh haalaat bhi bathalega……you will be fine soon!”

Sakshi replied, “maainnn…..iss haalaat se samjhauthaaa….karrr……chukiiii hooom…..Arjun……aise…..naye….umeeeedh…..lekhe……mayoos….”

He replied again snapping her….”umeedh toh tumhe apne andhar laana hi hoga Sakshi…..mayoos nahi balkhe tumhe inn sab haalaathon se ladhna hai…aur waapas apne zindagi jeena hai! Humaare Sakshi bann kar tumhe waapas aana hi hoga! ["Humaare Sakshi" that felt good to her........he paused and added on a lighter note] humesha mujhse ladhne ki bahaane dhoondthi thi na?? ab jab zindagi se ladhne ka maukha milaa toh kaise haar maan gayi??? [shaking his head] No, you cant give up…You have to fight back![after a pause, he adds]…..Samjhi ya samjhaavum?

That was the first time after meeting her now, he was using that punch line…..else, she remembered that everytime, they talked, it would always end up in a Samjhe ya samjhavum session!

She couldn’t help a chuckle at that……he hadn’t changed a bit…..may be even then, all this goodness and kindness lay hidden beneath the façade of that angry face!

She had seen it all in those deep eyes even then…..Wasn’t that realization of the real HIM which made her fall in love with the rough and tough, ever angry arrogant ACP?

Her chuckle snapped him out from his serious conversation as well….He raised his eyebrows and enquired, “KYA?”

She didn’t reply anything but just kept looking at him while he added, “mere mooh pe kuch hai kya?”

She smiled hearing that….and thought to herself “the ACP knows to joke as well!”

When she felt that her meaningful looks and chuckle could irritate him, she spoke up, “aapse…..humesha…..ladhthi thi….aurrrr….haaarthi…bhi….thi”

Arjun couldn’t voice it out but he thought in his mind,”ab haarne keliye thayaar hoom…bas tum teek ho jaao Sakshi……I cant see you like this!”

He didn’t know why he felt that way but he knew just one thing…..He wanted her to get well soon…..he just couldn’t stand this state of hers……

Amidst his thoughts, he glanced at her and she was also looking at him enquiring as to what he was thinking….but when their eyes met, she smiled sweetly at him…..It took both of them down the memory lane when their eyes had met the first time…..He was examining an expensive suitcase and she sat right opposite to him…..Their eyes locked by accident for a few seconds….and then she had fluttered her eyelids breaking the eye lock and smiled the same way!

Both smiled again snapping out of those memories! Memories were a blessing at such times but more than that, it amused and surprised both, or perhaps just Arjun that all of those incidents still lay fresh in his mind…..He hadn’t forgotten any of it!

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Arjun saw her smiling face and felt relieved….he didn’t know why but that smile made him happy from inside and he smiled back, “ab yeh lo aur Rathod ya Aisha se baat karlo…sab ke numbers stored hai…”

She took it slowly and as her fingers brushed past his, her body trembled and she could feel her other hand aching itself to move too….He felt the change in her too but ignored it for the moment and sat back on the chair…

She spoke to Rathod for a few minutes….she couldn’t speak more and Rathod too was not in a position to talk much….her state wasn’t hidden from him….So he wanted to keep the conversation as short as possible……

Sakshi just asked Sameer to pass on her wishes to Aisha and cut the call quickly…..

After that, she looked at Arjun and he understood that she was calling him closer…He walked to her…

Thrusting the phone back to his hands, she pleadingly said, “plzzz”

He understood what she wished to say…..it wasn’t from her heart but even then maybe that’s what would give her peace now…He didn’t force things on her….nor did he want to hurry up things…..He knew that it would take time to make her come out of this frustrated and totally given up state….He had to give her the time and space…..and let her take it in her stride!….

He took the phone back from her “teek hai”

He sat there for some more time….It was dinner time and Annie came back to give her dinner before she left for home…..Her duty gets over in the evening but she usually stayed back till 8 and left only after Sakshi had dinner…..Annie knew that if she didn’t force, Sakshi would never eat it…..Next morning, the food would remain there untouched!

Seeing Arjun there, Annie smiled…..Sakshi muttered that she doesn’t want to eat as she isn’t hungry but then Arjun got the porridge bowl from Annie…..

Annie willingly gave it to him..she knew that he would make her drink it somehow……

As Annie bid bye and walked out, Arjun kept the bowl there and told to Sakshi that he will be back now…..Sakshi wondered what the reason was….

Arjun sprinted behind her and called back Annie….she turned around to face him….

Arjun: [holding out the phone to her] yeh phone main Sakshi keliye laaya tha par woh….

His words trailed off but Annie was quick to understand and she replied, ”I understand…usse iss duniya se baahar laana itna aasaan nahi hai….usske andhar yeh ehsaas ho chukha hai ke woh ab kabhi teek nahi hogi….so she doesn’t wish to hope for anything and get disappointed again! bohat stubborn hai!”

Arjun: [smiled faintly] I know..[yes he knew how stubborn she was....just like him.....after a pause, he added]...aaap iss phone ko rakh lijiye…..jab bhi usse humse ya kisi aur se baat karni hai toh deh dijiye……aur hum bhi usse call karenge…..

Annie smiled and took the phone from him…”ok”

Arjun: main kal waapas jaa raha hoom…..par touch mein rehunga…..Sakshi ke baare mein kuch bhi ho toh mujhe inform kijiyega…..humaare team mein sab ke numbers iss mein hai”

Annie nodded…

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Arjun came back relaxed that Annie was there to handle things here…..Sakshi didn’t enquire anything…..she seemed to have understood what Arjun was trying to do…..She didn’t want anything from him but again, she couldn’t refuse him either!

Arjun didn’t explain anything as well…..he just came near her and fed her…..She didn’t protest….but just ate in silence….

She enquired about his dinner to which he replied, “baadh mein”….

Once she finished the food, he gave her the medicines and water….

As the night grew older, he got up from his chair to leave……By then, she was in a sleepy state…..perhaps the medicines had effects of sedation……

In that state, he didn’t want to disturb her…so he just took her diary from the side table and wrote a note in it before leaving…..

She could feel his presence near her….but she didn’t see him writing the note…..

When he walked to the door, she tried hard to open her eyes to get a last glimpse of him……Through her drooping eye lids,  she saw him leaving…..she didn’t call him back…..She wished to stop him….but no, she couldn’t…..

[To be continued]

Chapter 7: Whatever happens, happens for the good!

As the night grew older, he got up from his chair to leave……By then, she was in a sleepy state…..perhaps the medicines had effects of sedation……

In that state, he didn’t want to disturb her…so he just took her diary from the side table and wrote a note in it before leaving…..

She could feel his presence near her….but she didn’t see him writing the note…..

When he walked to the door, she tried hard to open her eyes to get a last glimpse of him……Through her drooping eye lids,  she saw him leaving…..she didn’t call him back…..She wished to stop him….but no, she couldn’t…..

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All through the flight, he kept thinking of her….He felt a little bad that he couldn’t do more for her…..He also felt sad that he was leaving her there!

But he didn’t have a choice….he had to head back some day! But his mind was disturbed and it kept lingering in her thoughts and also about what could he do for her…..He just wanted her to become fine soon!....He didn’t know why her state affected him so much but he just couldn’t stop thinking about her!

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Back at ETF, Arjun fills the rest of them with Sakshi’s details…..They are all more than anxious about her…Shree also wishes to go and meet her…..

Liza: haan Specky, lets go and meet her na?

Sameer: relax team…..Abi toh Rawte milkar aaya hai na? sab wahaan jaayenge toh na jaane woh kaise feel karegi…[after a pause giving them time to think]…waise bhi hum usske bhai se baat karke usse Mumbai shift karne waale hai…yahaan rahegi toh hum jab chaahe mil sakthe hai…..

Chotu: haan sir….humaare paas rahegi toh jaldi teek bhi ho jaayegi!

All nod while Arjun was still in a deep thought…something was surely bothering him!

Aisha was still kept in the dark as to what the real state of Sakshi was or that’s what Sameer and the rest of the team believed but no, the cop in her had fished it out long back but she chose to be keep silent and not to enquire much about it and worry Sameer…..She wasn’t a weakling like he thought..She was stronger and pregnancy hadn’t made her emotionally so weak as he thought….She understood what Sakshi was going through but she also understood that worrying and getting tensed about it was never a solution!

Days pass by…Ajrun routinely calls up Annie enquires about Sakshi’s well being and her progress….There was nothing much to hear about her and be happy……Both he and Annie knew that an improvement in Sakshi was no less than a miracle…..

And Miracles in real life are very rare….perhaps non-existent too!

He also talked to Sakshi….Annie used to give her the phone whenever Arjun called…..

Silence was usually the language…it spoke in volumes to each other……Her answers were usually monosyllables, “hmmm” or a “haan”…..that was it….He knew that she couldn’t talk more neither did he force her to speak and strain herself! The enqueries were formal but it always ended up in a long comforting informal silence!

The feeling that he was there at the other end of the phone gave her comfort…..a feeling a closeness…..a feeling that he was there just a heart beat away listening to her instilling in her the ultimate belief that someone was there for her…..that HE was there for her…..

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Life in ETF wasn’t any different but yes there were lots of changes in RR equations…Though they had not become good friends like they used to, the cold vibes they shared seemed to have disappeared gradually….Sikandar’s death had mellowed down Arjun Rawte to a certain extent, and Aisha’s entry into Sameer’s life had softened Sameer and of course Sakshi short yet an effective term with the team had its effect…….

Even in his serious stern arrogant attitude, Arjun had started venting off his thoughts in Rathod’s presence……..perhaps with a belief that his old lost friend Sam still existed inside the ready to fire dammit Rathod!

Whereas Rathod had sobered down a lot…..a lady’s presence in his life, that too a lady who understands his equations with all in the team, especially his past and present equations with the hot cop Arjun Rawte sure had its impact……She really worked towards bringing them closer and was quite successful too!

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One late evening after the case is solved……

Rathod was in his cabin and was almost preparing to leave when Arjun barged into the room angrily…..”koyi insaan itna kaise girr saktha hai?”

Rathod looks up and understands that the hot cop was in maddening rage….”kya hua Rawte?? Kiske baare mein baat kar rahe ho?”

Arjun looked away to the panel on the wall “uss Sumeet ke baare mein……”

Rathod: kaun Sumeet???[Realizing who he was, enquires]Sakshi ka bhai?

Arjun: [annoyed to the core] haan wahi….

Rathod: tumne baat karli usse?? Kya kaha ussne?

Arjun: [angrily] woh aur usske biwi dono se baat kiya maine…..log itne insensitive kaise ho sakthe hai Rathod….apni behen keliye koyi pyar nahi koyi jazba nahi….woh sab chodo….insaaniyat bhi nahi hai unnke paas……they just don’t care about her Rathod!

Rathod: calm down Rawte…..kya patha unnke koyi majhboori hogi ….

Arjun snaps him short, “apnon se badaa koyi majhboori nahi ho saktha Rathod…waise bhi Sakshi ke haalat unnse chupi toh nahi…..Agar woh chahthe tho usse ek acche hospital mein admit karaa sakthe teh, right? Aise ek home mein chodhne ka kya matlab hai?”

Rathod: sab ek jaise nahi sochte Rawte….[pausing for a few seconds] aakhir ussne kya kaha?

Arjun: kaha ke agle saal jab India aayega tab sochega….sochega my foot!

Rathod: chalo…..atleast ussne aisa tho kaha…kuch toh asar hua tumaare samjhaane ka!

Arjun glares at Rathod and shoots back, “tab tak usse wahi uss home mein chodh deh, huh??”

Rathod: [trying to cajole him] relax Rawte…aur kar bhi kya sakthe hai??hum kitna bhi khoshish karlein, concern aur care dikhaayen, par paraaya hi rehenge na…..usske bhai, usske family se badhkar toh nahi honge…..inn sab matters mein family ka decision hi important hota hai Rawte…..hum kuch nahi kar sakthe….

Arjun: agar paraaya nahi rahunga toh sab kuch kar saktha hoom na?

Rathod: [scrutinizing his eyes on him] Rawte, tum kya karne waale ho?

Arjun: wahi jo tum soch rahe ho Rathod…..[seeing the umpteen questions on Rathod’s face, he answers the unvoiced questions] ek pati se badhkar koyi nahi ho saktha na? kuch bhi karne ka haq bhi hoga!

Rathod shakes his head in total disbelief and walks to him, “Rawte, tum yeh kya keh rahe ho? Maana Sakshi ke haalat se tum bohat pareshan ho….believe me, hum sab bhi pareshaan hai….par aise decisions jazbaaton mein behke nahi le sakthe….Shaadi bohat bada decision hai…yun hi bina soche samjhe nahi le sakthe!…..

Arjun responds instantly, “maine yeh faisla bohat soch samajh kar liya hai Rathod!”

Rathod: [pats him on his shoulder and in a friendly tone] kya tum ek shaadi keliye ready….

Arjun snaps him understanding what Rathod was thinking, “kuch baatein harr jazbaat, pyar, zindagi, inn sabse bhi aage hote hai Rathod….Sakshi keliye main kya feel kartha hoom woh tum nahi samjhoge….na hi main tumhe samjhaa paavunga…..kyun ki mujhe khud….”

Rathod cuts him short, “Sakshi ke haalat se sympathy hai tumhe Rawte….parr uss sympathy ke wajeh se shaadi karna…..” [shakes his head in disagreement….Rathod cares and is concerned for Sakshi but he knows marrying her will only add to his friend’s despair…..He surely wants Arjun to remarry but someone like Sakshi who is bed ridden and whose recovery is not less than a miracle wasn’t going well down into him…..He wants Arjun to marry and happily move on in life and not get tied up to another big responsibility which could even take a life time to bring joy to him….No he couldn’t allow it whole heartedly….He added] tumaare life mein problems kya kam hai Rawte jo tum iss responsibility ko tumaare uphar lena chahthe ho…..

Arjun knows that it was his friend who was speaking now….

He turns to Rathod, “maine aaj tak yeh baat kabhi nahi kaha par Sakshi ke wajeh se hi maine apna life ka mission poora kiya…Roshni ka mauth ka badhla liya…..Sakshi ne mera saat deh kar bohat badaa ehsaan kiya hai mujhpar….”

Rathod: aur tum woh ehsaan ab usse lautaana chahthe ho, huh?

 Arjun: [turning his face away from him] aisa bhi keh sakthe hai par its not just that Rathod….she needs me….she needs my care and support Rathod….usske woh haal mujhse dekhi nahi jaathi…..I want to bring her back to life…..mere liye iss waqt yeh shaadi usse zindagi mein waapas laane ka ek zariya hai….aur kuch nahi…..I don’t see any other option Rathod!

Rathod could see a glimpse of the Arjun he knew long back when he spoke those words…He saw the Arjun who had hopelessly fallen in love with Roshni and was willing to break all the rules to get her into his life…….….He could see a glimpse of the same love in those deep intense eyes….and this time, it was certainly his love for Sakshi which spoke those words…Though his words ceased, Rathod could read the unspoken words from his eyes!

There was nothing more that Rathod could say….He couldn’t understand if he was happy for his friend or not but then, something in his mind told him that “Whatever happens, happens for the good!”…

And he saw a ray of hope that perhaps, this hidden love in Arjun would bring back Sakshi and she in turn would bring back the lost happiness into Arjun’s life!

Perhaps this was what fate had in store for them….Perhaps this is what is written in their destiny…..A life together supporting each other in every possible way…..

Rathod didn’t argue further…..He just said to himself “Pyar aur shaadi ehsaan nahi hote Rawte! Pyar pyar hota hai….aur shaadi shaadi….aur tumhe Sakshi se sirf sympathy nahi balke pyar hua hai! Bohat jald yeh baat tum bhi samajhne lagoge…..”

A few moments silence passes by……

Sameer broke the silence and voiced out, “kya Sakshi iss shaadi keliye maanegi?”

Arjun replied instantly, “nahi maanegi parr usse main manaa loonga!”

[To be continued]

Chapter 8: Mujhse shaadi karogi? 

Rathod didn’t argue further…..He just said to himself “Pyar aur shaadi ehsaan nahi hote Rawte! Pyar pyar hota hai….aur shaadi shaadi….aur tumhe Sakshi se sirf sympathy nahi balke pyar hua hai! Bohat jald yeh baat tum bhi samajhne lagoge…..”

A few moments silence passes by……

Sameer broke the silence and voiced out, “kya Sakshi iss shaadi keliye maanegi?”

Arjun replied instantly, “nahi maanegi parr usse main manaa loonga!”

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That night, Arjun sat in his home thinking about his decision and also about Sam’s views on it….No, he wasn’t rethinking…..and there were absolutely no second thoughts….

He would go ahead with this…But he wondered what was bothering him so much that he couldn’t let her alone there so far away from him in that state of hers….And what had made him take such a leaping step…..a decision to marry her for the sake of bringing her closer, right before his eyes so that he could take care of her, provide her the best treatment possible….to assure her that he was there for her always!

But the prime reason for all these thoughts and self analysis wasn’t clear to him….

Only one thing was clear to him…..He just couldn’t get her out of his head….He wasn’t able to sleep peacefully as her state, the vision of her lying immobile on that white bed disturbed him endlessly! Her face which reflected just pain and sorrows and never a genuine smile hurt him deep….it pricked him somewhere deep in his heart! After Sikandar’s death, his sleeplessness had come to an end and he resumed to his normal state gradually….but now after seeing her, it seemed like the sleeplessness hit back on him!

No he couldn’t give up on her so easily…..Was it sympathy? Was it the urge to return back her favor as Sam said? Well may be but a part of him refused to accept that as a reason completely…..

Yes, he definitely empathized with her….He could feel her pain and helpless feelings…her misery and emotions……Something in her had touched him deep down…..well it wasn’t just a change that happened right now…..

May be from the day she had proposed to him about her honest love and commitment to him…..may be the promise she made to him that she would be with him in that mission!…May be the times when she had stood by him and helped him in nailing down Sikandar….May be the way she just vanished one fine day making him miss her and get anxious about what happened to her….

But his ego or perhaps call it a damn false ego which refused to let go of his true emotions!

He couldn’t accept that another girl could touch him so deeply after Roshni…..He just couldn’t accept that another girl could take her place in his heart, in his mind and in his life!

May be the thought that he would be betraying his first love, his Roshni by accepting Sakshi in his life…..those were the years when he longed to smile, longed to live again……longed to desire and make wishes again but yet couldn’t……it always felt as if his conscience would prick him if he did that……So he always recoiled into his shell and closed himself with the façade of a stone like face which always looked void of any expressions and emotions!

Abhi Mujh Mein Kahin, Baaki Thodi Si Hai Zindagi
Jagi Dhadkan Nayi, Jaana Zinda Hoon Main Toh Abhi
Kuch Aisi Lagan Iss Lamhe Mein Hai
Yeh Lamha Kahaan Tha Mera
Ab Hai Saamne, Isse Chhoo Loon Zara
Marr Jaaun Ya Jee Loon Zara
Khushiyaan Choom Loon
Ya Ro Loon Zara
Marr Jaaun Ya Jee Loon Zara

Even when a smile threatened to creep up, he hid it tactfully in a smirk! May be he used his own SYS sessions on himself and forced the smile to pull back itself!

But none knew, behind that pretence was a man who longed for everything that a living being yearns for!

Sakshi had somehow managed to see that vulnerable side of him or perhaps she felt that she could bring back the life in him…She realized that he wasn’t a stone after all like he seemed….

She tried to barge into and break that stone wall which he or rather his ego couldn’t let happen……He insulted her endlessly just to throw her away from himself but she didn’t step back! May be she was in love with him already and stepping back was never an option to her! If he was stubborn, no less was she too!

She wished to make him smile again….she promised herself that she would do that no matter what….She longed to see him smile and live his life again!.....She wished to become his oasis in his otherwise dry, worn out life……She took up Sikandar’s case and helped him avenge Roshni’s death as she knew that things would get better for him only after that……

Just before the final encounter, she had proposed to him like as if it was a now or never situation!  Perhaps she also knew the dangers that lurked in the mission!

But, he didn’t acknowledge or react to her confession as always! But neither did he say no! He just posed to ignore it and walked away from her!

All these years when Sakshi suddenly disappeared from all their lives, he was fighting with himself or within himself for what…he didn’t know…..may be he longed to give her a reply but couldn’t…..or her absence made him feel that perhaps he was the reason for her to go away like that!.....He would hate to admit it but he was a confused soul in more than one ways after she left! But yes, life moved on…..and things in ETF and on his side got better! He and Sameer weren’t at logger heads always…..Sameer and Aisha’s wedding only improved all the relationships in some way or the other…..Sakshi was always in their minds but they only hoped that she was happy and living her life to the fullest somewhere……

Little did they know what was happening at her end!

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But now when he met her and saw her in that state, all his confusions regarding her crumbled down to earth….When her brother clearly washed his hands off her, all Arjun could think was how to get her out of that hell like situation…and how he could bring her back to life!

At the end of all that thinking, he came up with this…..yes, it did appear insane and crazy but a marriage was the only solution which would make him rightfully her guardian and he could take all the decisions for her! He could decide what was best for her!

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He snapped out of his thoughts……He looked at the clock…..it was almost 8 in the evening……He picked the phone and dialed the number……Luckily Annie was still in hospital…..he asked her to pass on the phone to Sakshi….

Annie gave the phone to Sakshi and bid bye for the day asking her to keep the phone with herself!

Sakshi had no choice but keep it with her……No matter what or how stubborn she was, she couldn’t avoid his call…..

She placed the phone near her ears to listen to him…..her breath reached him….it was almost like a deep sighing sob……He responded hearing it, “hello…Sakshi….tum teek ho na?”

She just nodded, “hmmmm…aaap?”

Arjun: haan…main teek hoom…

A long silence prevails where none could talk but were just happy listening to the other’s silence!

Arjun finally decides to break it and speaks out, “mujhe tumse kuch important baat karni hai Sakshi…..”

Sakshi wondered what it could be and waited for him spill it out while he just added, “phone pe nahi…..main weekend pe aa raha hoom…..”

Sakshi couldn’t believe that he was coming back to see her again….Was it a joke or just another way of consoling her?

She replied instantly, “Arjun…..itna taqleeeef utaane ki...”

He snapped her short knowing what she was going to say, “Ek important kaam hai isiliye aa raha hoom…..”

Sakshi just nodded….

That was not the only thing he wished to say to her…..he wanted to comfort her and assure her again but he couldn’t speak anything more….

Arjun: [sensing her silence] teek hai phir Sunday milthe hai….good night!

Sakshi: hmmm…bye Arjun!

The night wasn’t easy for both……a talk with him had triggered off her lost love…was it really lost? Or did she pretend to have moved on from all those feelings?  She smacked herself for even thinking about it now….

While he wasn’t able to sleep thinking about how he would convince her…it wasn’t going to be easy….it was almost impossible but he had to make it happen somehow!

*************************************

Sameer’s home…

Sameer decides that it was time he told Aisha about Arjun’s plans of marriage and also a bit of Sakshi’s real state because, now that Sakshi would come back to Mumbai, Aisha would anyways come to know of it…..

Aisha was in the balcony when Sameer walked in with a glass of milk for her…..She saw him coming and voiced, “arre aap kyun laaye….main khud lethi na?”

Sameer places the glass down on the window sill and smiles at her…”tum harr raat doodh peena conveniently bhool jaathi ho Aisha…And I cant allow that!”

Aisha smiled as she picked the glass and starts sipping instantly, “ab khush”

He encircled her with his arms and voiced, “haan bohat khush!”

He pecked her forehead lightly and turned to the opposite side leaving her……She sensed that something was bothering him…..

Aisha: is something bothering you Sameer?

Sameer knew that she would catch it soon….he just nodded…and added, “tumse kuch kehna tha…..actually inte din kuch chupaaya tha Aisha…I am sorry for that!”

Aisha couldn’t see him like that….She kept the glass down and hugged him from behind resting her head on his back, “don’t feel so guilty Sameer…..Sakshi ke baare mein na? mujhe patha hai!”

Sameer turned around quite surprised by her words….Oh yes, how could he underestimate the cop inside his wife! He just grinned and then continued, “aur kuch bhi hai jo mujhe pareshan kar raha hai….Arjun Sakshi se iss haal mein shaadi karna chahtha hai…I mean, its good but still…..”

His words of uncertainity ceased because he knew Arjun was determined and nothing could stop him now!

It was indeed a surprise for Aisha but somehow, might be her intuition, but it had crossed her mind more than once that this would eventually happen some day!

She replied, “I guessed that Sameer!”

Sameer looked at her a little amused by her guessing skills…..perhaps women are quick to catch such things!

She took his hands in hers and voiced, “don’t worry…..jo bhi hota hai sirf aur sirf acche keliye hota hai…. …shaayad aisa hi kuch iss baat mein bhi hoga!”

Sameer smiled at her assurance and nodded!

******************************************************************

Sunday morning…..

Arjun walks into her room…..She looks to his direction…she had already guessed his arrival with the foot steps…..Yeah, she was eagerly waiting for him from the time she woke up…or was it from the night? She hadn’t slept the previous night!

How could she sleep knowing that he was coming to meet her the next day?

He gave her a pleasant smile…the most pleasant she had ever seen on his face……She instantly remembered how she had longed to see this smile on his face!

She smiled back too and her face showed that it was a winning smile…..may be it was because she eventually won in fulfilling her promise!

He sat beside her…..She looked at his face and she felt that he was quite different today….his attitude, his behaviour, his smile…..totally a new Arjun….She wondered what the reason was or was she imagining it because this was how her heart wished to see him always!

He looked at her for a long moment and then voiced out….”poochogi nahi ke mera important kaam kya hai?”

Sakshi looked up at him enquiringly while he added, “main tumhe Mumbai waapas le jaane aaya hoom Sakshi….”

She didn’t show any signs of surprise or happiness…all she did was let out a chuckle, shrugging it off as a joke and then turned away from him…..

He asked after a small pause, “tumne sunaa nahi ya unsunaa kar rahi ho?”

She didn’t turn to him but just replied, “aaapke….baaaat naa sunnnne….ki….aadat si…hogayi hai Arjun….”

Arjun instantly replied, “toh ab aadat dhaalo Sakshi……kyun ki…..agar pati ke baat nahi maanogi toh paap lagega…..phir tumaara vrat shart sab behkaar jaayega!”

That made her turn back to him……what was he talking about?? Did she hear “pati”? No may be she heard it wrong…..her questions and confusions were clearly visible on her face…..

He replied to all of them in short, “haan tumne teek sunaa…main tumse shaadi karne waala hoom…”

Sakshi was in a shock but instantly snapped out laughing aloud….she laughed so much that her eyes flooded with tears and she looked away through the window….

Her laugh gradually faded and voiced slowly, “it..was…a….bad….joke…Arjun……[after a brief silence, she added] cruel too!”

Arjun voiced sternly, "It wasnt a joke Sakshi!"

Sakshi turned to him and one look at his face, and into his eyes was enough to make her realize that he was quite serious about it....She shook her head negatively and muttered, "nahiii"

He wasnt surprised...he expected that response and so he added, "tumse permission nahi le raha hoom.....bas bathaa raha hoom Sakshi!"

She looked at him once more and their eyes locked and their mouth ceased to talk further!

[To be continued]

Chapter 9: Zindagi ab tum hi ho

Arjun voiced sternly, "It wasnt a joke Sakshi!"

Sakshi turned to him and one look at his face, and into his eyes was enough to make her realize that he was quite serious about it....She shook her head negatively and muttered, "nahiii"

He wasnt surprised...he expected that response and so he added, "tumse permission nahi le raha hoom.....bas bathaa raha hoom Sakshi!"

She looked at him once more and their eyes locked and their mouth ceased to talk further!

**************************************

Sakshi eyes had infinite questions to him and he could read them clearly……He understood that she was thinking about her state and backing out of this!

Arjun voiced, “yeh shaadi toh tumhe harr haal mein karna hai Sakshi…phir bhi tumaare kuch sawaalon ka jawaab deh raha hoom….”

She looked at him a little taken aback and also enquiringly as to what he intended to say while he continued, “main tumhe yahaan akele, aise bebhas chodke wahaan cheiyn se nahi reh saktha Sakshi……isiliye tumhe legally apna banaakar mere saat le jaa raha hoom….samjhi ya samjhaavum?”

“Apna banaakar le jaa raha hoom” that sounded so good from him but something hit her hard…..he wasn’t confessing anything at all……She smacked herself the next instant…..Anyways, she didn’t expect a confession from him at this point of life! Never…..

It was his sympathy for her that was speaking out now! It was his impulsive decision but something like marriage cant be done impulsively and never out of sympathy….She couldn’t let him do that and then regret later! She never wished to become a burden on him!

She shook her head refusing it completely, “Nahiii…shaadi…..aur….sympathy….apne apne……jagah….teek……hai……..dont…..try….to mix….them…Arjun…plzzz”

Arjun: mujhe patha tha ke tum aisa hi kuch sochogi aur manaa bhi karogi par main apne decision se hilne waala nahi hoom! Agar maine kuch decide karliya hai toh phir uss decision ko koyi nahi bathal saktha…..main khud bhi nahi……..aur yeh baat tum acchi tarah se jaanthi ho….

Sakshi didn’t bother to reply…she just turned away from him as if ignoring him and his words totally!

Her indifference and ignoring his words didn’t flare him…..it was the first time that such things didn’t irk him and the reason was definitely her present state…..and he could never ever deny that! But even then, he knew that he wasn’t doing all of this just because of his sympathy for her….He was doing it for himself….for his peace of mind! Her helpless and miserable state disturbed him big time to the extent of even causing sleeplessness! He didn’t know the reason but it wasn’t just sympathy!

He held out his hand to her side and spoke up, “tumne mujhse kaha tha ke tum mujhse bohat pyar karthi ho….kya woh baat sach hai?”

Sakshi turned to him wondering where he was heading to while he continued, “aur yeh bhi kaha tha ke harr haal mein tum mera saat dena chahthi ho…..yeh sacch tha ya bas yun hi kaha tha?”

Sakshi tried to explain, “woh…..toh….bohat…..”

Arjun snapped her short….”sirf haan ya naa Sakshi….”

She is reminded of that day when she had confessed her feelings for him and also said that she wanted to support him always…but that was for the mission to nail Sikandar! And then her situation was totally different…..She really wished to become a part of his life and give him all the happiness of life which he truly deserved…..She wanted to become his partner for life and stand by him always! Yes she was or perhaps even now head over heels in love with the man before her!

But today, her situation was entirely different…..She was in a totally paralyzed state and she had nothing to offer him in this proposed relationship as husband and wife……

She was all empty and hollow….she had already succumbed to what fate had thrusted upon her…she had surrendered herself to this immobile state of hers and accepted it as the bitter harsh reality of her life….

She would only be a lifeless body to him which couldn’t even talk properly! What would he ever get in this marriage?? Just more pains and sorrows.….even after knowing all of that, why the hell was he proposing this and making it all the more difficult for her??...how could she even think so selfishly and ruin his life?...…what if she never ever gets well?? A lifelong burden on him! No Never!

Wasn’t love all about selflessness and at this point, turning away his proposal was the best thing she could do for him….

Her thoughts only led to a stern NO from her side…She somehow managed to say again, “No”…. but her tears were unstoppable! And her voice cracked up giving away the suffocated miserable feeling she was trying to control while voicing the negative reply to him!

That’s when he spoke again in a slightly mellowed down tone….her tears melted him again,

He gently spoke up in a consoling voice “I want to bring you back to life Sakshi…yeh bhi ek jung se kam nahi hai….kya tum iss jung mein mere saat nahi dhogi?”

Sakshi looked at him helplessly while he assured her that nothing could wrong when he was with her and she would definitely get well soon!

He spoke up seeing her reluctance, “mujhe maaloom hai ke tum kya soch rahi ho….yeh shaadi, usske baadh humaara rishta, mere khushiyaan…yahi sab na?? .but trust me …. kuch bhi important nahi hai…..ab iss waqt agar mere liye kuch important hai woh sirf aur sirf tumaare teek hona hai Sakshi! [pausing] ….Samajh lo ke you are doing me a favor by saying yes Sakshi… So just say yes!”

She thinks deeply and looks at him for a long moment before slowly giving her hand into his! She wasn’t convinced but she couldn’t refuse anything for long when it came from him….

He could feel her reluctance and hesitation still reflecting in the feel of her hands in his…..her fingers shivered….but he gripped them firmly to stop the shaking…

He understood that she was saying yes only because he was forcing her to say it……..She had always obeyed him……be it then or now!

Both couldn’t  help but go into the past for a brief moment….They remembered how she had fulfilled his weird orders when he had insisted again and again….She had done things which she never once did before like breaking a lock with a flower vase…..

 Closing her eyes shut and pulling out a dead lizard from an old trunk even though she was damn scared of lizards…..Even the sight of it freaked her out completely and she runs miles away from it but when he had ordered her, she had obeyed him though hesitantly and also cursing him under the breath!

****************************

Her hand was in his when Annie came in smiling…..

”Good morning Sakshi”  She chirped happily as she entered quite oblivious to the scene….But she knew why Arjun was here and that’s why she was so happy as well!

Seeing their hands together, she clears her throat to snap them out and then enquires, “so Sakshi madam shaadi keliye maan hi gayi!.maan gaye Sir……aapne mujhse kaha tha ke 10 minutes ke baadh aa jaana Sakshi ke haan readily milega…and you did it right on time!”

Arjun grinned as he gently left Sakshi’s hand and turned to Annie…

He requested her, ”Sakshi ko jaldi se ready kar dijiye…..main abi aatha hoom….kuch formalities baaki hai…aur saat mein registrar ko yahaan laana bhi hai!”

Annie nodded…”don’t worry…..main usse bilkul dulhan jaisa sajaa dhoongi!”

Arjun: aur aap ka leave sanction hua na?? agar kuch problem hai toh main khud baat karunga!

Annie: filhaal ek hafte ka leave sanction ho gaya hai….. usske baadh mujhe kuch dinon keliye waapas aana hoga….yahaan sab settle karna hai na?

Arjun nods as he understands her position as well…she had to come back to complete her notice period before she can free herself from this job and become Sakshi’s full time home nurse and look after her at his home!

****************

Sakshi was lost in her thoughts and doesn’t respond to any of their conversation! She is shocked, surprised at the speed in which it was all happening…..She couldn’t believe that Arjun had planned it all so soon and had even expected that he would manage to convince her! And Annie coming with her is another big surprise! But she is relieved that Annie was going to be with her even if she goes to Mumbai!

Arjun leaves while Annie gets to her work of dressing Sakshi up…”chalo Sakshi, ab dulhan banne keliye ready ho jaao….”

She is all smiling and very happy for Sakshi….Sakshi is in a trance lost state to respond or even notice anything but when Annie opened the packets which she brought with her and pulled out a red lehenga, typically a shaadi attire, she was surprised…..

Sakshi enquires, “yeh…sab?”

Annie smiles, “tumaare hone waale pati ne diya tha tumhe pehnaane keliye….[knowing her next question, she answers] maine poocha tha ke yeh sab zaroori hai kya? jaanthi ho unnone kya kaha?”

Sakshi eagerly awaits her reply while Annie adds, “kaha ke tumhe yeh sab pasand hai…aur yeh sab pehankar shaadi karna tumaara sapna hai!”

Sakshi thinks to herself, “Arjun ko yeh baat ab tak yaad hai?”

She couldn’t help a slight smile thinking that he remembered her talks which he had brushed away and rubbished as nonsense and useless!!

As Annie removes her hospital gown slowly and gives her a sponge bath, Sakshi’s mind wanders to the day when she had told him her dream about becoming a bride…

It was during a case and they were hiding inside a cab and waiting for a kidnapper to pick the ransom, she had forcefully switched on the radio for timepass….she had changed the news to the songs band….

And the famous song “mehndi lagaake rakhna” from blockbuster movie DDLJ rolled out all of a sudden shocking Arjun!

He glared at her for that and shook his head in total disbelief and anger……but nothing impacted her or stopped her from enjoying the song to the fullest…..

She didn’t care if he was listening or not but just spoke up enthusiastically, “patha hai Arjun, yeh mera sabse favorite movie hai…..atleast sau baar dekhi hogi….and this song…..wow….jab bhi sunthi hoom bas kwaabon mein kho jaathi hoom”

She could hear him hissing in frustration and could also sense that given a chance, he would sew up her mouth so that he is saved the pain of hearing to her bhakwas but even then, she continued, “Kajol dulhan ke roop mein kitna khoobsurat lagthi hai….WOW….”

She added in a dreamy voice, “main bhaag ke bhi shaadi karungi toh bhi sajh dajh ke karungi…..laal rang ka jodha…haan wahi mujhe suit karega! Aur choodiya….woh toh must hai!”

Arjun snapped her for that, “tum aise bhakwaas humesha karthi ho ya phir aaj kuch special day hai jo mujhe aise torture kar rahi ho!”

Sakshi gave a mocking grin and made a funny face at him and replied, “woh toh humesha karthi hoom par aaj kuch special bhi hai…..[when he looked at her enquiringly] aaj ACP Arjun Suryakanth Rawte  jo mere saat hai….special toh hogi hi na?”

She winked at him playfully!

Arjun shook his head in anger once again thinking to himself, “isse baat karna hi waste of time hai!” and then turned away totally annoyed with her antics!

Sakshi snapped out to the present day when Annie patted and asked her to slide a bit to the side so that she could slid the blouse properly and tie the dhori as well…..

Annie didn’t leave any stone unturned to make her look like a bride….she put a chain around Sakshi’s neck and then stuck a cute bindi on her forehead!

She held the mirror once for Sakshi to see but she looked just once into it and then turned away pushing it to a side…..

Annie ignored that gesture of indifference….She very well knew that Sakshi wasn’t fully convinced for this…..

After doing everything, she glanced once at Sakshi head to toe and her face showed that she was happy with her looks …..

Smacking herself as if remembering something, she spoke up ”arre haan ek important cheez toh bhool hi gayi……”

She pulled out he bangles from the case and held it out to Sakshi…….It were the same designs that she used to love wearing…..red ones and golden ones to match well with her lehenga….She couldnt help a chuckle at her own pitiable state....A bride who couldnt even get up and dress herself up!...She needed another person to do everything for her! 

As Annie knelt down to put them in her hands, a voice stopped her “main pehena dehta hoom….aap jaakar yahaan ke warden ko le aayiiye…..we need one more witness…..Registraar bas dho minute mein paunch jaayenge!”

Annie smiled and leaves handing over the bangles to Arjun!

He looked at her bridal form…She looked beautiful in it and her face glowed literally……

Though she had tried her best to push him away from her, she couldn’t refuse, atleast to herself that she loved him deeply even now…..the very thought that she was going to marry him and he was taking her to his home with him made her happy from deepest of her heart and that showed on her face too……

He didn’t know what all this was leading to….but he felt happy as well…..Wasn’t this what he wished for too?

A step towards her genuine happiness….A step towards a life….their life together!

It wasn’t going to be easy…And he didn’t expect it to be easy as well!

Tera Mera Rishta Hai Kaisa
Ek Pal Dur Gawara Nahi
Tere Liye Har Roz Hai Jeete
Tujko Diya Mera Waqt Sabhi
Koi Lamha Mera Na Ho Tere Bina
Har Sans Pe Naam Tera

Kyuki Tum Hi Ho
Ab Tum Hi Ho
Zindagi Ab Tum Hi Ho
Cheiyn Bhi Mera Dard Bhi
Meri Aashiqui Ab Tum Hi Ho

 [To be continued]

Chapter 10: kuch ankayi baatein….

Though she had tried her best to push him away from her, she couldn’t refuse, atleast to herself that she loved him deeply even now…..the very thought that she was going to marry him and he was taking her to his home with him made her happy from deepest of her heart and that showed on her face too……

He didn’t know what all this was leading to….but he felt happy as well…..Wasn’t this what he wished for too?

A step towards her genuine happiness….A step towards a life….their life together!

It wasn’t going to be easy…And he didn’t expect it to be easy as well!

*************************

He went and sat beside her…..He took the first set of bangles from the box and looked at her….

Her eyes were alternating between him and the bangles in his hand…..On one side, she was enticed by the beauty of the bangles…He indeed had chosen the best for her…..the other thing whch was enchanting her endlessly was the fact that he had volunteered to make her wear those bangles…

It was every girl’s dream to get her guy do such chores for her…..be it dressing her up or decking her with the accessories…..And Sakshi couldn’t have been more happier when she heard him volunteering! Inspite of all her shortcomings and sickness, inside her was still a girl alive with all the feminine traits!

But on the other side, she was unhappy because he was doing it for her because she couldn’t do it herself…

Such gestures are always a symbol of love and romance for normal couples but here it was nothing more than sympathy, care and concern for her or that’s what she perceived of it!

He tried his best to read her mind from her face but it looked totally blank now…..There was a hint of helplessness in her but he knew that whatever he did, that feeling wouldn’t erase of completely from her….Dependence on another person for whatever be the reason always made a human being feel helpless, weak and vulnerable! And she wasn’t any different! So he had to learn to handle this mood swing and gloominess of hers!

But he told himself that he would do his best to comfort and ease her of that feeling!

Holding her hand as gently as possible, he slid those bangles slowly into her hand…..

He held out his hand to her other side for her give her hand to him almost missing the reality that her other hand was immobile and she cant lift it up on her own….

She looked at him with tears brimming her eyes……He instantly realized his slip and smacked himself mentally…..

It wasn’t going to be easy, he thought to himself….he had to take every step and do everything carefully and ensure nothing or no action from his side offends or hurts her…..

At every step, his mindless gestures could have a totally unintended effect on her mind! He knew that she was in such a vulnerable state that she would try to read between lines and take out meanings which he could never even think of!

As his mind welled up with thoughts about their future life together, she gave a faint smile and remarked sarcastically, “ab…..aapko……inn……sabka….bhi…..aadat daalna…..hoga….”

He didn’t reply but went to the other side of the bed and slowly lifted her immobile hand and slipped the bangles into it as gently as possible so that it didn’t hurt her in any way!

She added in self pity, “ab…..aise …..museebat….ko….apnaayenge…..toh…..”

He snapped her short and voices, “mujhe yeh museebatein manzoor hai Sakshi….”

She looked at him…her eyes speaking volumes while her lips just managed to mutter, “Arjun….ab bhi…..waqt….hai…rokh…..dho….yeh….”

He knew where she was heading to….he cut her short and replied showing off the bangles in both her hands to her, “You liked this?”

Sakshi knew that he changed the topic purposefully and will never stop this wedding….she couldn’t argue as well….so she just nodded, “hmm”

He noticed her dull face while she nodded and gently glided his fingers on the bangles as if he was counting them and absorbing in its beauty, He voiced, “I liked it too….tumaare haathon mein isske khoobsurati aur bhi baddh gayi hai!”

Saying that he clinked the bangles making them chime in a rhythm!

She saw that he was enjoying while he did that….his eyes showed his interest in watching the bangles on her hand!! A small ray of happiness touched her deep within!

She couldn’t stop herself from going to their past when he used to be totally annoyed by the clinking sound of her bangles….

Once while in a meeting, he had even scolded her for the disturbing noise it made…

Pointing to her hand, he spoke up, “Miss Sakshi Anand, kripaaya aapke yeh choodiyon ka dhukaan bo bandh karke case discussion pe aana…..Its disturbing us big time!!”

Shree, Aisha and Chotu had suppressed their grin somehow hearing it while she was so annoyed that she started making more rattling noises when he continued the discussion just to irritate him!

Only after Shree caught her hand sternly and rolled his eyes gesturing her to stop doing that, did she stop…..and that too after Shree’s silent plead to let go of her adamant behavior!

That day, his glares from his angry fuming eyes could have burned her down to a hand ful of ashes!

But she did mentally make a note of it and taunted him back when he was playing a game on his mobile during another case discussion….The frequent sounds from the game were distracting Rathod….

Sakshi had immediately commented, “Sameer, humein kisi ke game ka over hone tak wait karna chahiye… case ka kya hai….game ke baadh discuss kar lenge….right Arjun?”

Though he had said something and taken it all in his stride and got over it in his trademark SYS style, it was evident that Sakshi’s comments definitely had its effects on him!

***************************

Present: Arjun’s fingers were still lingering over her bangles when the registrar and his associate entered the room closely followed by Annie and the matron of the home!

Arjun stood up and acknowledged them….The proceedings were quick enough…..

The registrar showed the places to be signed…..Arjun signed first and then he made Sakshi sit up a little in a slanting position supporting her in his arms…..He sat beside her and engulfed her with his hands so that she doesn’t fall back…..

She couldn’t get a grip on her body and was forced to rest onto him which he didn’t mind but warmly welcomed in……She looked at him while he nodded assuringly and gestured her to sign the register without any hesitation! Their eyes met for a brief moment when all she could communicate to him was gratitude and all that his eyes returned was compassion and assurance!

He gave her the pen and made her clutch it tightly….and took her hand to the spot where she had to sign…..She thought for a long moment….a sign from her was all that was pending to make her his legally wedded wife Mrs Sakshi Arjun Rawte!…..But will she ever be able to become his wife in the real meaning?

Such thoughts clogged her up but his slow whispering “kuch matth socho Sakshi….just sign!” snapped her out….Her hands trembled as she tried to sign…..

He could feel her tremble and also the reason for that….He held her hand as if promising his support to her in every step of their onward life together!

She gathered up and signed after sending a quick prayer to all her gods to give her the strength and confidence to live up to this relationship….and to get well so that she could become his wife very soon!

His very first reason for his decision to marry her was slowly getting justified….Her low or lost self confidence and motivation was slowly rebuilding itself! She now had a wish or rather an urge to get up from this state of hers atleast for his sake! She couldn’t bear the thought of being a burden on him for long!

He was able to see that determination on her face now…something he wanted to instill in her! He felt a sort of relief soaring through him and now he knew that his decision would never go in vain now….She will be come back to life pretty soon!

************************

Annie and the matron signed as witnesses and then the registrar pronounced Arjun and Sakshi as husband and wife!

Sakshi looked at Arjun for a few seconds trying to judge if he was really happy or was it some other emotion….Feeling her gaze on him, he turned to her side and gave her a sweet honest smile once before turning to thank the registrar for treating this as a special case and taking time to come there on his request!

After congratulating both of them, the registrar and his associate leave…

Annie took a happy snap of the couple in Sakshi’s mobile when both were closer to each other and looked into each others eyes trying to communicate all that their hearts and minds chimed but never came to their lips!! It was taken without their knowledge…so it came out so natural and they looked cute together!

Annie then hugged Sakshi and passed on her wishes….The matron wished them all the happiness and left……Arjun laid Sakshi back on the bed and then left the room as he had important things to do before they could leave the place!

Arjun had already informed the matron about Sakshi’s discharge….So the processing of the papers was going on already!

They had called up her brother and informed him also about the wedding and Arjun’s decision to move her from this home….

Was it anger for this sudden marriage and that too without informing him before or was it indifference from his side or was it his shock over Arjun’s decision to marry a paralyzed girl, it was difficult to judge from his reply….he just plainly asked the matron to pass on his wishes to Sakshi and Arjun…..

Sakshi knew that his brother would say something similar….may be she had already seen and realized his indifference towards her! But she didn’t react or say anything against him…not once did she blame him for abandoning or disowning her!

Annie started packing Sakshi’s things….They were leaving by the evening’s flight! Arjun had planned it all in such a way that Sakshi wasn’t strained much and they would reach home before it was too late…..He didn’t want to stress Sakshi much and also didn’t want any disturbance to her routines and her sleep time!

Annie had already packed her own bags and was ready to leave to the airport directly from there!

[PS: I am purposefully avoding more detailed description of how she is transported etc etc….obviously its via a wheelchair but it adds a painful poignancy to even visualize it…so skipping all of that detailing!]

Sakshi bids bye to the people there and the nurses and doctors who had attended on her…

Sakshi sure has problems in getting to the flight and also through the journey but with two most supportive people by her side especially Arjun who was her husband now, she sails through it with minimum struggle….

At all places, where she couldn’t be wheeled through, he gathers her up in his arms and passes it all with ease….

Though Sakshi feels a bit down for having caused so much hardship to him, his ease in handling her relaxes her a bit….And Annie was constantly trying to cheer her up with her playful comments regarding how loving and caring her pati dev was!

Sakshi couldn’t control the blush creeping into her cheeks when he took her in his arms each time….It was for the first time that they were so close to each other and it sure had the effect on her body…..She felt a little shy, awkward and all those feelings that a new bride would feel when her husband touches her so intimately! She never knew that these senses were alive in her still….she had always felt that her senses had died out with her body but now, it sure seemed to come alive slowly!

They have dinner in the flight itself…and they are home before its late night!

Arjun had only informed Sameer about their arrival tonight and had told him to keep it under wraps till next morning….He didn’t want the entire team to land up during the night and disturb Sakshi…..

Sameer took special care about that….and he decides that he, Aisha and the rest would visit Arjun and Sakshi only the next morning …

*************************

Arjun takes Sakshi to the room which he had made ready for her….He had cleaned the entire house and made it presentable but that room was extra clean and ready for her use….

Though Annie is given the guest room for keeping her things, he had asked her to sleep in Sakshi’s room itself in case she requires anything during the night….

Annie freshens up Sakshi and also takes off the bridal attire from her so that she can sleep in comfort….

Sakshi’s eyes flood up when Annie does it….it was ideally their wedding night and if she was a normal bride, then Arjun would have been with her tonight! She couldn’t help dreaming what a normal bride dreams of on such a night!

Annie wipes off her tears understanding well what those tears meant and consoles her, “don’t worry Sakshi….woh din bhi zaroor aayega! Bas tumhe bharosa aur hosla banaake rakhna hai!”

Sakshi nods but her tears fail to cease!

Once she is done with Sakshi’s dress changes and had made her lie down comfortably, she excuses herself and walks out saying that she will be back now….

Arjun was in the living room catching up on some breaking news!

Annie walks to him, “sir….”

He mutes the television and looks up at her, “haan….kuch chaahiye??”

Annie: [a bit hesitantly] mujhe lagtha hai ke aaj raat aapko Sakshi ke room mein usske saat rehna chahiye….I think she wishes that! Jaisa bhi ho, yeh aap dono keliye khaas hai na?

Arjun raises his eyebrows, “Annie, aap already jaanthe hai ke yeh shaadi kyun kiya hai maine….”

Annie cuts him short, “haan jaanthi hoom aur usi wajeh se keh rahi hoom…..agar aap Sakshi ko ek patient ke tarah kam aur ek friend ya apni wife ki tarah treat karenge toh woh zyaadha khush hogi….usse aise apne se dur rakhenge toh usse yahi lagega ke aap sympathize kar rahe ho….she will never feel at home here sir!....aap jaanthe ho na ke aise patients ka khush aur comfortable rehna kitna zaroori hai….Khush rahehi toh treatment ka effect bhi better hoga!”

She continues before he could argue, “waise bhi main sirf aaj raat ki baat kar rahi hoom….aapse kuch baatein karegi toh usse accha lagega….[pausing] agar usse koyi bhi help chahiye main yahi guest room mein hoom…jab chaahe bell bajaa dijiyega….I will be there!”

Though Arjun was still not convinced fully, he nodded as he also felt that Annie had a valid point about not treating Sakshi as a patient, “hmm…”

Annie smiled and walked away after saying good night to him….Arjun sat back to catch up on the news but his eyes darted to Sakshi’s room and his mind wandered to what Annie had said!

Kya Kabhi Savera Haa Haa
Laata Hai Andhera Haa Haa
Sukhi Syahi
Deti Hai Gavaahi
Sadiyon Purani Aisi Ek Kahaani
Reh Gayi Reh Gayi
Ankahee Ankaheeee 

[To be continued]