Kabhi Kabhi Mere Dil Mein Khayaal Aata Hai

Ki Jaise Tujhko Banaya Gaya Hai Mere Liye

Ki Jaise Tujhko Banaya Gaya Hai Mere Liye

Tu Abse Pehle Sitaaron Mein Bas Rahi Thi Kahin

Tujhe Zameen Pe Bulaya Gaya Hai Mere Liye

Author's POV.

Surekha's eyes widened.

She had no idea about this. No one had told her at the first place.

She only knew that Priya was kidnapped.

"Baccha kho diya? Kaise? Kab? Aur tum pet se kab hui?".

["Lost the baby? How? When? And when did you conceive?"]

Priya whimpered. She looked up, her eyes wide with trepidation as she met Surekha's gaze.

Abhigyan held her arm tightly, caressing her another arm.

"Parso," he replied to his mother.

["Day before yesterday"]

And just like old aged psychotic freak, her words come tumbling out in a rush, her voice laced with accusation and blame

"Khud ka khyal tak nahi rakha gaya tumse. Itni laaparwah ladki ko ghar ki Bahu bana lae hum."

["You weren't even able to take care of yourself properly. I brought such a careless girl as the daughter-in-law of the house."]

She sensed the tension in the air, the weight of Surekha's disapproval hanging heavy between them like a dark cloud. Priya recoiled at the harshness of Surekha's words, her heart twisted with guilt and shame. The weight of Surekha's blame felt like a crushing burden on her shoulders, a punishment she cannot escape.

Abhigyan gritted his teeth, but before he could reply, they heard a voice from the door,

"Wahi bahu ko agwa kar liya Gaya tha kyuki uska pati apni maa ke ilaaj ke liye sheher Gaya tha."

["The same daughter-in-law was kidnapped because her husband had gone to the city for his mother's treatment."]

He stepped inside and growled, his voice is soft but firm, a steady presence in the midst of the tension that hangs in the air,

"Wahi maa ke ilaaj ke liye jo keh rahi hai ki unka koi dhyan nahi rakhta aur bakwas ilzaam humari bhabhi par daal Rahi hai."

["The same mother who is saying that nobody takes care of her and is falsely accusing my sister-in-law."]

Priya shook her head, looking in his direction to stop him.

Surekha turned to face him, her expression tight with frustration and anger,

"Hum tumse baat nahi kar rahe hai, humare bich me mat bolo."

["I'm not talking to you, don't interfere in our matters."]

Abhisar meets her gaze with unwavering resolve, his eyes filled with a quiet intensity. He moved towards Priya, standing beside her and spoke,

"Jisse bhi kar rahin hain, humari bhabhi ke baare me ulta-sidha baat kar rahi hai aap. Hume pata hai bhaiya kuch nahi bolenge, isliye hum keh rahe hai, shaant ho jaiye."

["Whoever you are talking to, you're speaking ill about my sister-in-law. I know my brother won't say anything, that's why I'm telling you, calm down."]

Surekha's eyes widened in surprise at Abhisar's unexpected declaration. She opens her mouth to protest, but Abhisar raised a hand to silence her, his expression resolute. Priya held Abhigyan's arm. He looked at Priya and Priya signalled him to stop Abhisar.

Abhigyan changed the topic and ordered him,

"Andar le kar jao bhabhi ko."

["Take your bhabhi inside the room."]

He nodded and Priya walked inside her room along with him.

Abhigyan spoke to his mother, his voice calm but firm,

"Maa - hum sach me nahi chahte Ghar me tamasha ho."

["Maa - I really don't want any drama in the house."]

Surekha taunted,

"Tamasha toh ho raha hai. Ho chuka hai. Aur hona baaki hai. Ghar ka ek mard biwi ke pallu se bandh Gaya hai aur dusra chup-chap shadi kar ke aa gaya hai. Aur dono mil kar hum par chilla rahe hai."

["Drama is happening? It has happened. And there's more to come. One man of the house is tied to his wife's pallu and the other quietly married and came back. And both together are shouting at me."]

He closed his eyes in frustration and breathed deeply, gathering his thoughts before he spoke,

"Priya ki tabiyat theek nahi hai maa. Hum nahi chahte inn sab baaton ki wajah se unka swasthya aur bigre. Haath jod kar vinti karte hai aapse hum."

["Priya is not feeling well, maa. I don't want her health to deteriorate because of all these discussions. I humbly request you with folded hands."]

With this, he moved towards his room, leaving her alone in the Aangan.

***

Priya was laid down on the bed and Abhisar was sitting near her feet, pressing her legs slowly. Abhigyan sat on the other side of the bed.

Priya looked at Abhigyan first, their eyes met and then she sat up slowly against the wall.

She looked at Abhisar and asked,

"Nupur Kahan hai?".

["Where is Nupur?"]

Abhisar gulped, remaining silent.

Priya clicked her tongue and he replied in a low voice,

"Hume nahi pata, kamre me hi hogi."

["I don't know, she must be in her room."]

She asked,

"Subhe se mile nahi aap ussey?".

["Haven't you met her since morning?"]

He shook his head.

She looked at Abhigyan and spoke,

"Ji, Hume Nupur se Milne Jana hai."

["Ji, I need to go meet Nupur."]

Abhisar spoke immediately,

"Kyu bhabhi, aap aaram kijiye na."

["Why, bhabhi, you should rest."]

Priya shook her head. Abhigyan knew that how desperate she must be for meeting her. She was talking about her since yesterday.

Abhisar spoke,

"Aap yahi baithiye, hum le aate hai usey."

["You sit here, I'll bring her."]

Priya shook her head and replied,

"Hum chale jaenge. Aap yahi baithiye, akele me baat karni hai hume Nupur se."

["I'll leave. You stay here, I need to talk to Nupur alone."]

He nodded. Priya stood up slowly and walked outside with her slow steps.

***

Abhigyan and Abhisar prepared dinner today.

While Abhisar was asked by Priya to have his dinner with Nupur in their room, Abhigyan too, moved with his wife to their room along with the plate of food.

They sat together, Abhigyan was feeding her and himself at intervals.

When they finished, Abhigyan wiped her mouth and stepped outside to keep the plate. When he returned, Priya was resting on the bed.

He shifted inside the blanket along with her and took her in his arms.

Caressing her arm softly with his palm.

Priya asked slowly,

"Baat Kiya tha aapne Abhisar ji se?".

["What did you talk to Abhisar ji about?"]

He nodded his head, looking into her eyes,

"Humne samjhaya, ki inn saari baaton me uski biwi ki kya galti. Woh toh fass kar reh gayi bich me. Akeli rahegi Ghar me, acha thodi lagta. Usey bhi toh apne pati ka saath aur pyaar chahiye hoga."

["I explained to him, that there's no fault of his wife in all these matters. She's stuck in between. It doesn't feel good for her to be alone at home. She also needs her husband's support and love."]

Priya nodded, nuzzling into his chest.

She spoke shyly,

"Humne.. humne Nupur se kaha.. ki uski pehli raat hai aaj.. shadi ke baad ki."

["I... I told Nupur... that tonight is her first night... after marriage."]

Abhigyan laughed mutely and spoke,

"Itna hi kaha? Sidha sidha kehti na jaise humne humare Bhai se keh diya."

["Did you just say that? Should have said it straightforwardly, like I told my brother."]

She looked at him surprisingly,

"Kya keh diya aapne?".

["What did you say?"]

He bit his lower lip and replied,

"Yahi.. ki aaj riwaaj ke anusar suhaagrat hai tumhari."

["That... today is your wedding night according to the customs."]

Priya closed her eyes in disbelief.

This straightforward?

She opened her eyes after some minutes and saw him looking outside the window, at the moon.

His expressions seemed lost. She caressed her palm over his chest and asked,

"Where are you lost?".

He shook his head.

She clenched her fingers on his kurta and spoke,

"Bataiye na Hume, kya soch rahe aap?".

["Tell me, what are you thinking?"]

He shook his head again, caressing her face and pushing away hairs that were falling on her face,

"Aise hi soch rahe the. Pareshan hone wali baat nahi."

["I was just thinking. Nothing to be worried about."]

She looked into his eyes and spoke,

"Jaisi bhi baat rahe, Hume janna hai Abhigyan. Bataiye na."

["Whatever it is, I want to know, Abhigyan. Please tell me."]

He smiled. Placing a kiss on her forehead.

"Yun zid karti ho jab, hum khud ko sambhal nahi paate."

["When you insist like this I can't handle myself."]

She smiled shyly. She waited for his reply and saw his face straightening again as he spoke,

"Pichle kuch dinon me kitna kuch ho gaya na Priya," his heart ached with a sense of guilt and sorrow, his mind filled with a thousand unspoken fears.

["So much has happened in the past few days, Priya."]

She nodded her head, caressing his chest with her palm. The weight of their shared grief hung heavy between them, a silent barrier that separated them like an invisible wall.

Abhigyan looks up, pain evident in his eyes as he spoke,

"Hume dar lagta hai ab, Priya."

["I'm scared now, Priya."]

"Darr..? Kis baat ka, Abhi," she asked, her voice soft, having slight hint of what he is about to speak.

["Fear..? Of what, Abhi?"]

Abhigyan sighed heavily,

"Tumhe chune se.. dar lagta hume ab."

["I'm afraid of touching you now."]

Tears welled up in her eyes as she replied, "Hum samajhte hai aapko."

["I understand you."]

He spoke,

"Aaj subhe bhi tumhe humne dekha na Bina kapro ke, Hume kuch waisa mehsus ho nahi hua Priya. Kuch bhi nahi. Ek Zara bhi nahi. Kyuki hum tumhe uss tarike se dekh nahi paenge ab, humare mann me darr baith gaya hai."

["Even this morning, when I saw you without clothes, Priya, I didn't feel anything like that. Nothing at all. Not even a bit. Because now, I can't see you in that way, fear has settled in my mind."]

She caressed his chest and her hands moved to his neck, tracing her nails over it lightly and spoke silently, only to lighten the mood by teasing him a little,

"Kya hogaya Abhi? Humse Mann bhar Gaya kya aapka?".

["What happened, Abhi? Have you had enough of me?"]

He looked into her eyes, wrapping his arms tightly around her and hugging her close,

"Dobara kabhi Aisa mat bolna. Jis din tumse Mann bhar Gaya humara, uss din hum iss duniya me nahi honge."

["Never say such things again. The day I've had enough of you, that day I won't be in this world."]

Her fingers traced his lips and she asked in a low voice,

"Kya hua fir, bataiye Hume? ".

["What happened then, please tell me?"]

He inhaled deeply and then whispered in her ear,

"Jab se humne tumhe waise haal me dekha hai, Priya, Ajeeb sa mehsus hota hai. Darr sa. Agar hum tumhe kho dete fir?".

["Since I saw you in that state, Priya, it feels strange. Fearful. What if I lose you again?"]

He tightened his grip, as if he didn't wanted to let her go at any fucking cost,

"Nahi chahiye Hume baccha ab. Tum kaafi ho humare liye. Kuch nahi chahiye Hume."

["I don't want a child now. You are enough for me. I don't need anything else."]

She cupped his cheeks and shook her head,

"Aise nahi bolte, Abhi. Buri baat."

["Don't say like that, Abhi. It's not a good thing."]

He shook his head, holding her wrist,

"Sach bol rahe hai hum, Hume bas tum chahiye. Bas tum."

["I'm telling the truth, I just need you. Just you."]

She nodded and caressed his face, knowing that she'll change his mind slowly, by time.

*****