abhijeet rushed out of the room, he could not think anything, the world seemed to be blank to him! He wanted to cry his heart out loud, but he could not, he felt like someone had thrown him into a deep sea binding his limbs with heavy stones. His eyes were dry, his heartbeat was unknown to him. He was standing there still like a statue.
"Abhi" , Daya called him softly, " main ACP sir se baat kar li hai, tum aaj ghar pe raho, Tarika ke paas."
Abhijeet: (blankly) Tarika ke paas? Par woh to nahi rehna chati hai na humare paas? mere paas? Bol na Daya - woh nahi jayegi na?
his helpless eyes pierced Dayas heart. He could not face this gaze any more, God have mercy on the poor soul! Daya pressed his shoulder - " bhabi nahi mani?" He finally uttered these words.
Abhijeet: kis baat ko manegi woh? Yehi ke jis bachche uski andar itne dino se badh rahi hai, pal pal jisse woh mehsus kar rahi hai, usse maar de? Kya itna asaan hai Daya? Woh koi cheez nahi Daya - woh ek jeeta jagta jaan hai - aur Tarika ( his voice chocked) maa hai ek - main usse kaise samjhaun? Iss bachche ko agar maar bhi diya, to tujhe kya lagta, mujhe Tarika wapas mil jayegi?
Daya remained silent as he had no answer to that. He silently removed his hand from Abhijeet' s shoulder.
Daya : hum bureau ke liye nikalte hai, khayal rakhna - apna aur ... ( he paused)
shreya entered, her eyes were still moist.
Shreya: hum soch rahe the ke aaj bachcho ko Purvi ke waha -
abhijeet: (cutting her loudly) nahi nahi Shreya - bachcho ko please kahin mat bhejna, ab bas wohi to hai ...
he stopped suddenly and left the place without completing his words. Shreya was about to follow him when Daya stopped her holding her wrist.
Daya: usse kuch der ke liye akela chhor do Sheeya - mera bhai bohot strong hai ( teary tone) ab jo bhi hoga usse woh sambhal lega - khud ke liye, humare liye - aur sab se zyada Tarika ke liye
they left for the bureau with nothing but a helpless prayer in their heart.
Abhirikas room...
Abhijeet entered the room after Daya and Shreya left for the bureau. Tarika was on the bed clutching the pillow tightly to her heart, she hid her face into it, Abhijeet could easily feel her teary face even without seeing it, he could feel his heart being piearced with every drop of her tear. He moved towards her very slowly and placed his one hand on her head, she lifted up her face, it was all wet with tear...
she did not say a single word and jumped into his protective arms. She started sobbing bitterly. Abhijeet also for the first time let his tears flow freely, he took her inside the hug even more tightly.
Abhijeet: (brushing his hand through her hair) shhh... Tarika... Chup - chup ho jao... Main yehi hun -
Tarika: (in sob) Abhi, main tumse dur nahi jana chahti -
Abhijeet: i know Tarika - mujhe pata hai -
Tarika: par Abhi - main yeh abort(chocked)
abhijeet could not see her like this, how could he? She is his Tarika!
he did not reply, only hugged her more tightly. Moments passed, they both let their tears flow freely. After some more moments, Tarika looked up.
Tarika: Abhi, tumhe humari pyar pe bharosa hai na?
Abhijeet simply nodded as yes.
Tarika: tumhara pyar mujhe maut ke muh se bhi lauta kar layega - dekhna Abhi - kuch nahi hoga hume - par isse ( she touched her belly and then took his trembling hand and placed that on her belly) isse kuch mat hone dena -
Abhijeet looked at her face, and then towards his own hand which was on her belly. He then closed his eyes.
each second seemed to them like hours...
Some more minutes in silence.
.
.
.
Abhijeet: ( looking directly into her eyes) Jo bhi tumhari faisla - main tumhare saath hun (teary) kyunki main tumhe kabhi bhi , kisi bhi halat mein dukhi nahi dekh sakta - par in dino mein mujhe tumhari saath mera puri zindegi beetani hai - tum dogi na mera saath?
tears were flowing down her cheeks, she nodded as yes and then she took him into the most loving hug ever.
abhijeet whispered into her ear, " Mujhe chhorke mat jana Tarika - nahi jee paunga main -"
Tarika tightened her grip, and then cupped his face - she looked deep into his eyes and kissed him passionately...