17. Chapter 17
WARNING for A Learning Pen: please keep your tissue box aside...
A car was coming towards in full speed and in an uncontrolled manner as if the driver had lost his control over it's engine and at somewhere far from Abhijeet, in the middle of the road, there was standing a little boy with a red ball lying in front of him...there was fear in his eyes and he was looking towards the arriving car with fixed surprised gaze which proved that he had already become numb to do anything sue to fear...the onlookers were shouting, ordering him to jump aside but still...nothing was happening...neither he was moving away nor the onlookers were ready to help him...
The shopping basket dropped from Abhijeet's hand as he went forward, pushing away the crowd to see what was the matter...he looked towards the boy's face and a memory flashed in front of his eyes...
He entered in the parking lot of a shopping mall in search of a baby...the baby was sitting in floor at somewhere distance...he smiled at his success but soon the smile got vanished as he could hear the sound of ignition of a car...
He looked towards left and discovered a black car was coming backwards to find a proper place of parking...his face got paled and he shouted to the driver for stopping the car...but perhaps the driver could not hear it as the car continued to move backwards...now he knew there was only one way left to save the baby...he started to run...
He could see the car still coming backwards...right towards the baby...and he knew if he did not reach in time, the car would stamp out the baby...and he could never let it happen...
He increased his speed as the car had come dangerously close to the baby...and he could hear his brother's voice who too was running towards the car and shouting to stop the car...
The car had almost touched the baby when he dived in front, without caring for his own life, and pulled the baby near his chest...he then rolled away aside while the car stopped at the very same point where the baby was sitting till the very last second...he breathed out with relaxation and then stood up while arranging the baby properly in his arms who had already started to cry...his brother joined him in the very next moment while touching his arm with a panicked...
Daya: Abhijeet...tum theek ho?...
He came out from his trance with a jerk as he knew that it was not the time to remain in past memories...he knew his duties now and he must perform it today...
He pushed away some people and came in front of the crowd with FIRM steps and dived front wards while the little boy was still looking towards his arriving death with a wide open eyes...he pulled him towards himself, hiding his little head in his chest and rolled away aside...
The car passed away almost touching their head...but they were safe...Abhijeet sat up and felt that the chest part of his shirt had become wet due to tears of the little boy...he, suddenly, felt a pinch in his heart...after hesitation a bit, he began to pat his head with a soft...
Abhijeet: nahin mere bacche...rote nahin...dekho khatra tal gaya hain...tum theek ho beta...ek dum safe...kuch nahin hua...tum to mere bahadur bachche ho na?...rote nahin...(after a bit pause)...ro kyun rahe ho?...
Little Boy(still in his arms): uncle...uncle...mu...mujhe bo...bohot dar lag...lag raha hain...
Abhijeet shivered a bit and then tightened his grip on the boy with a loving...
Abhijeet: darte nahin hain beta...main hoon na?...
At that moment, his eyes fell on the crowd who had now encircled them...there was a similar expression of horror, shock and curiosity stuck over every face...Abhijeet frowned a bit and then touched his own face...
Next moment, with horror, he discovered that his scarf, by which he used to hide the scars of his face, was NOT there on his face anymore...he lowered his face in shame and some tear drops of shame and pain fell down from his eyes slowly...he tried to cover his face with his palms but it was tough for him as the little boy was still there in his hug...
He patted his back and slowly separated himself from the little boy...the boy looked towards him and he lowered his eyes in guilt and shame as he expected that the boy would be scared of his horrible face...but the boy bent over him...he looked up towards him in teary eyes...
The boy smiled and put a soft kiss on his scarred cheek with a smiling...
The boy: thank you uncle...
He picked up his ball and ran away from the place with hurry...now Abhijeet stood up and took a glance of the crowd, surrounding him silently...he lowered his gaze and began to search for his scarf...being unable to find it, he looked towards the crowd and requested...
Abhijeet: please...mera scarf...laa dijiye...
One of them picked up his scarf and forwarded it to him which Abhijeet almost snatched and ran away from the crowd while wrapping the scarf around his face...the last statement which entered his ear before leaving was...
Voice: to isliye woh apni chehra chupake rakhte hain!...jala hua hain chehra...
Abhijeet rushed towards their house and threw himself inside after locking the door behind him...he sat down on the threshold while supporting his back on the door and just burst into tears...he had got injured while falling on the street but he was feeling absolute no pain in his body as the pain in his heart was much high...
He, in anger and mostly in PAIN, grabbed his own hairs and pulled it as strongly as he could...then released them and banged his hand loudly in the door...he was now feeling extremely angry and helpless and was not able to understand what he wanted to do actually...he tried to stand up but the pain in his leg wound, who had again started to bleed, due to running and mostly due to the friction with the street which saving the little boy, compelled him to sit down again...he closed his eyes and remembered his last night conversation with Surya in the video call he made from a private number...
Kya kar rahe ho Abhijeet?...jee rahe ho?...(with teasing laugh)...kaise?...zindagi ke saath?...yaa ghut ghutke?...
Kya faida aise jeene ka bolo zara?...kya kisi ko munh dikhane ki layak rahe tum?...kya mil raha hain tumhe aise jee ke bolo to?...dard, takleef, sharamindagi aur guilt...haina?...
Log kya kya soch rahe hain tumhare bare mein tumhe maloom bhi hain?...logon ko lagta hain ki tumne lakhon ladkiyon ka dil toda hain aur un mein se hi kisi ne tumhare yeh halat kiya hain?...ab socho kya image ban raha hain tumhara?...lakhon ladkiyon ki dil todne wala ek lafanga...
Abhijeet...tumne kabhi yeh socha ki Daya ki zindagi pe tumhara is image ka kya asar padega?...kabhi socha bhi hain ki log uske bare mein kya sochte honge jab uske...(stressing)..."bhai" ke...(in smirking tone)...itna haseen character ke bare mein itne maazedar aur masaledar kisse sunte hain...
Abhijeet covered his ears with his palms and laid on the same place where he was sitting...Surya's smirking voice was still ringing in his ears, making the wounds of his heart more deep, making his scarred face more horrible due to the scared and painful expressions stuck on it...he was lying on the cold floor, covering his face with his palms as if trying to hide all the marks of his disgrace from the world while tears were rolling down from his eyes...more accurately from his soul...or PAINFUL soul...
He was feeling tired now...both physically and mentally...he had become exhausted as he could feel that every drop of energy had abandoned him...he had become tired due to his continuous fight with his demons...his Daya...his BUDDY could provide him new energy but was it sufficient?...he did not feel so now...
Those nasty incidents, heart tearing words and harsh memories had always succeeded to break him into thousand pieces...that night, not only his body was attacked but his heart, his mind, his self respect, his trust, his strength, his each and everything was attacked also...not only attacked but being played with, broken and destroyed ruthlessly...
He screamed loudly in pain once and then again collapsed on the floor, crying with sound...in helplessness, in pain, in anger and in FEAR...
Daya returned home at evening...Despite ringing the door bell for several times, but Abhijeet did not open the door...Now he began to feeling extremely anxious...he took out his own keys and began to open the door with anxious calls...
Daya: Abhi...Abhijeet...boss...boss yaar kahan ho tum?...
He entered the house and found it completely dark...He frowned as he knew that Abhijeet turned on each and every light of house everyday in the very afternoon as he was afraid of darkness nowadays...he began to turn on the lights with anxious calls as...
Daya: Abhi...boss...yaar kahan ho?...boss...boss
But his boss did not give any answer...he went to Abhijeet's room and turned on the light with...
Daya: boss yaar...
His words stopped as his gaze caught the glance of Abhijeet who was sitting on one corner of the room...on the floor...with his face buried in his knees...with his arms circled around them...Daya rushed towards him and touched his shoulder with...
Daya: boss...
Abhijeet's body shivered with the touch and he looked up towards Daya after a moment with a moist yet caring...
Abhijeet: aa gaye tum Daya?...(while trying to stand up)...kaisa gaya aaj ka...aaaahhh!...
He again sat down on the floor with his hand covering his leg wound...Daya now looked keenly towards him and discovered some traces of blood on the floor...he looked towards Abhijeet who immediately lowered his eyes while a painful expression stuck over his face...
Daya sighed sadly, then picked up Abhijeet easily and made him sit on the bed...he went out, returned within a minute with a first aid box and began to dress Abhijeet's wound with...
Daya: kaise hua yeh haan?...yeh ghaw to bharna start ho gaya tha na?...kya hua tha?
Abhijeet shivered badly with the question and all the whole scene, happened with him in morning, appeared in front of his eyes...he tightly closed his eyes and whispered...
Abhijeet: kuch bhi nahin Daya...please mujhse kuch mat poocho...nahin hain mere pass koi jawab iska...please mujhe thodi der ke liye akela chod do...please...
Daya understood that something serious had happened with Abhijeet...but he did not ask any question to him...he just wrapped his buddy in his arms with a soft...
Daya: accha main nahin poochta kuch...par yeh to batao ki tumne ghar ke lights on kyun nahin kiya?...itna der ho gaya...aandhera bhi to ho gaya na?...accha chodo...lagta hain tumne lunch bhi nahin kiya...chalo fresh ho jaao...main khana garam karta hoon...
Both the brothers separated and Daya wiped away Abhijeet's tears with a smile and soft...
Daya: jaao...
Daya was heating the food in microwave when Abhijeet entered the kitchen in slow silent steps and sat on the kitchen counter with...
Abhijeet; Daya shayad hume yeh ghar bhi chodna padega...
Daya turned towards him with...
Daya: kyun?...
Abhijeet(with hesitation): yaar aaj na...aaj na maholle walon ne mera chehra dekh liya hain...to woh logon ko shayad MERA yahan rehna pasand na aaye...
Daya again turned towards the microwave with least interest...
Daya: pasand na aaya to chale jayenge yahan se bhi...yeh kaunsa humara khud ka ghar hain?...kiraayedar hi to hain hum yahan ka...chale jayenge kahin aur...
Abhijeet(in hesitating tone): Daya...woh...woh mujhe tumse kuch aur bhi kehna tha...
Daya turned towards him with a smile, grabbed him from his shoulder with...
Daya: usi baat ka hi to intezaar kar raha hoon main Abhi itni der se...achche se janta hoon main tumhe...un logon ne tumhara chehra dekh liya yeh baat batane ke liye tum itni der se khichdi paka rahe ho yeh baat mujhe kuch hazam nahin ho raha tha ab tak...ab bolo baat kya hain?...
Abhijeet(in low tone): yaar Daya...main yeh keh raha tha ki...yeh keh raha tha ki...yaar Daya...
Daya(in soft tone): kya baat hain yaar boss?...kuch kehna haina?...(Abhijeet nodded)...to bol do...itna hinchkhincha kyun rahe ho?...(in softer tone)...Abhi...kya baat hain?...
Abhijeet only lowered his gaze and grabbed Daya's hand with...
Abhijeet: yaar main keh raha tha ki...keh raha tha ki tum kyun bekaar mein apni zindagi barbaad kar rahe ho mere liye?...
Daya's face got stiffened with this but he still said In firm tone...
Daya: main kuch samjha nahin Abhijeet...saaf saaf bolo kya kehna hain...
Abhijeet: yaar dekho...dekho tumhe mere wajah se hi to humara Aashiyana chodke aana pada na?...wahan humare padosiyo ko mujhse problem the...tumse to nahin...magar phir bhi tumhe woh ghar chodna pada...(in moist tone)...kisi aur ka to pata nahin magar mujhe to maloom haina ki tumhe us ghar se kitna pyar aur kitna lagaw tha?...
Daya(in calm tone): magar tumhe yeh maloom nahin hain ki usghar se kayi zyada pyar aur lagaw tumse hain Abhijeet...aur yunh ghuma phirake bolne ki zaroorat nahin hain...jo bolna hain bol do...
Abhijeet(in irritated tone): mujhe samajh nahin raha hain ki samajh nahin rahe ho ya samjha nahin chahte ho...saaf saaf hi to bol raha hoon main...chod do mujhe mere haal pe aur wapas laut jaao apni zindagi mein...waise bhi main kitne din tum par bojh...
A hard slap on his cheek compelled him to shut his mouth...he could feel Daya's fiery gaze on him...he did not touch his slapped cheek as he wanted to feel the pain...he closed his eyes tightly when he heard Daya's firm voice as...
Daya: Abhijeet yeh sab baatein main tumhare munh se dobara na sunu to hi behtar hoga tumhare liye...tum table set karo main khana lekar aata hoon...
Abhijeet went to dining table and began to arrange it with his eyes fixed on the kitchen door...Daya came out with a plate of food in hand and kept in front of Abhijeet with sound...Abhijeet silently looked up towards him...Daya said in cold tone...
Daya: khana kha liya to bohot bada ehsaan hoga mujh par...
Abhijeet was about to say something when the doorbell rang...both of them looked towards the door and picked up his scarf which was kept on the sofa and wrapped it around his face properly...being confirmed from his side, Daya rubbed his hands over his face to calm his emotions and then went to the door to open it...
Outside the door, their new neighbours were standing...Daya, all of a sudden, felt that an unknown fear was grabbing his heart slowly...those nasty incidents and harsh words, through which Abhijeet was attacked by their former neighbours, were coming to his mind again...he felt that those words were ringing in his ears again...he began to feel suffocated...
Seeing his bloodless white face, one of the neighbour came forward and asked with concern...
Neighbour 1: kya hua Dayaji?...aap theek to haina?...tabiyat to theek hain?...
Daya gulped down his fear anyhow and then turned to take a glance of Abhijeet, who was standing in the hall with questioning gaze towards him...Daya again turned to face the neighbours who was still looking towards him...he said with a firm tone now...
Daya: kya hua?...aap log yahan?...woh bhi is waqt?...
Neighbour 2: Dayaji...hum jan chuke hain ki Abhijeetji kyun humesha se apni chehra chupake rakhte hain?...(after a pause)...woh ek acid attack victim hain...haina?...
Neighbour 3: kyun kiya aap logon ne aisa Dayaji?...
Daya's face got pale...he was AFRAID to guess about those people's reactions after knowing that secret which THEY were trying to hide since long...he again gulped but managed to maintain a firm face with...
Daya: woh actually...hum nahin chahte the ki kisiko yeh baat pata chale...
Neighbour 3: kyun Dayaji?...kyun soche aap logon ne aise?...yeh koi chupane wali baat hain kya?...
Daya: woh kya haina...hum is baat pe kisi par trust nahin kar sakte...humara past experience accha nahin hain...pehle hum jahan rehte the wahan humare padosiyo ko is baat ki pata chalne par woh log bohot hi ruthlessly hume wahan se chale aane ke liye majboor kar diya tha...to hum...
Neighbour 1(with a sad smile): Dayaji...hum nahin jante ki aap aur Abhijeetji yahan aane se pehle kahan rehte the...shayad woh ek bohot hi high class society hoga...par maaf karna aaap dono...humare society ke log shayad utna paisewala nahin hain...par yahan hum sab yahan ek saath ek parivar ki tarah hi rehte hain...aap dono yahan, is society mein naye hain to shayad yeh baat jante nahin hain...par aaj jan lijiye...(grabbing Daya's hand)...agar aap dono ko yahan, is society mein kisi bhi tarah ki koi bhi pareshani ya takleef hota hain to aap log bejijak hume keh sakte hain...hum yahan ek parivar hi hain...yahan paisa, mazhab ya aur kisi aisi farq koi maaine nahin rakhta...umeed karta hoon ki aap dono bhi yahan, humari isi parivar ka hissa banke yahan rehna pasand karenge...
A sweet smile appeared on Daya's lips though his eyes had got filled with tears already...he only nodded and was about to call them inside when another neighbour said...
Neighbour 4: Dayaji kya hum Abhijeetji se mil sakte hain thodi der ke liye?...unhone aaj mere bachche ke liye jo kuch bhi kiya hain, main uska ehsaan zindagi bhar chuka nahin paunga...par bas unhe ek baar milke shukriya kehna chahta hoon...
Daya(with a smile): haan...kyun nahin?...aap log andar aaiye na...
Neighbour 5: nahin Dayaji...raat bohot ho chuka hain...bas hum Abhijeetji se ek baar milke unhe shukriya kehna chahta hoon...aap please unhe bula lijiye...agar ho sake to...
Daya nodded and then frowned remembering something...he asked again...
Daya: par Abhijeet ne kya kiya hain aaj jo aap log...
Neighbour 4: aapko maloom nahin hain?...(Daya nodded in no)...darasal aaj subah mere bete Rahul ko...
He then narrated all the happenings of the morning while Daya's tears were rolling down by his cheeks...but now happy tears...he just could only say...
Daya: aap log rukiye...main abhi Abhi ko bulake lata hoon...jana mat haan?...
He rushed inside the house without waiting for their answer...Abhijeet was still standing aside with questioning gaze...Daya just rushed to him, picked him up in his arms and rotated him around himself with his eyes over flooded with tears...finally he put him down on the floor and said while grabbing his arms...
Daya: tumne aaj ek bachche ko apni jaan pe khelke bachaya Abhi?...(Abhijeet nodded)...sach mein boss?...
Abhijeet(in low tone): main tumse kabhi jhooth bolta hoon kya Daya?...
Daya pulled him in a tight hug and exclaimed in super happy tone...
Daya: main aaj bohot khush hoon yaar boss...bohot hi zyada...(while separating)...par tumne mujhe kuch bataya kyun nahin?...
Abhijeet(in guilty tone): uske baad to sab ne mera chehra dekh liya yaar...main kaise...
Daya remained silent for sometimes and then said in fresh tone...
Daya: chalo bahar chalo...bahar humare padosiyan tumse milna chahte hain...
Abhijeet looked towards him with fixed gaze and thought...
Abhijeet(in mind): yeh log mujhse kyun milna chahte hain?...kahin...kahin yeh log bhi un logon ki tarah hume...pata nahin kya kya soch rahe honge sab mere bare mein?...(with helplessness)...sab meri galti hain...mujhe aaj market jana hi nahin chahiye tha...
Seeing him in trance, Daya jerked him strongly with...
Daya: Abhi...(Abhijeet looked towards him blankly)...chalo yaar...woh log intezaar kar rahe hain humara...
He pulled him towards the door while Abhijeet kept staring towards him sadly while thinking in mind...
Abhijeet: yeh Daya bhi aisa behave kyun kar raha hain?...kahin...(in hurt)...kahin use mujhe logon ke saamne beizzat hota hua dekhke maza to nahin aane laga na?...
Duo reached the door and at the same moment, Abhijeet felt a warm soft grip around his waist...he jerked and looked downwards to discover the little boy, whom he had saved in the morning, was trying to hug him but failing of course as Abhijeet was much taller than him...
He, without looking towards the crowd, knelt down and hugged the boy tightly...some painful tears escaped from his eyes and fell on the boy's shoulder but now he REALLY did not care about them...
Feeling a warm touch on his shoulder, he looked up and discovered Daya was looking towards him with a warm smile yet his tears were sparkled in those eyes...he himself felt ashamed and guilty due to those thoughts which came to his mind some moments ago...
Daya smiled at him and gave an assuring nod to him...Abhijeet closed his eyes tightly and took a deep breath...then separated himself from the boy and stood up to face the crowd but now with firm and confident gesture...
The boy's father came towards him and grabbed his palms tightly with a grateful...
Father: sir...aapne aaj mere bete ke liye jo kuch bhi kiya hain uske baad main aapka jitna bhi ehsaan manu kam hain...mere pass aapki shukriya adah karne ke liye labz hi nahin hain...main bas itna keh sakta hoon ki mere ek laute bete ke jaan bachane ke liye thank you very much sir...thanks a lot...
Abhijeet(with a small smile): aapko shukriya kehne ki koi zaroorat nahin hain...main samajh sakta hoon ki jab kisi...(taking a glance of Daya who smiled back at him)... apne ko wapas pate hain...tab kaisa lagta hain...
Daya excused himself from the place and entered the house slowly...he once wiped away the drop of tear present on his cheeks and then went to the refrigerator...he came out after some moments and found Abhijeet on the threshold as if he was about to enter the house...seeing him approaching, he whispered in low tone...
Abhijeet: kahan gaye the?...
Daya: kahin nahin...
He then went to the little boy and handed him a chocolate bar with...
Daya: aap ne subah Abhijeet uncle ki madad ki to ab Daya uncle ki taraf se yeh chocolate aapke liye...
Boy(while grabbing the chocolate): par Daya uncle, Abhijeet uncle ne hi to meri help ki...main kaise...
Daya took a glance of Abhijeet, who immediately looked down, and said in soft tone...
Daya: kiya hain ek madad...woh aap nahin samjhenge...bas yeh chocolate rakh lo...
After the dinner, Abhijeet was sitting in half lying position on the bed and was starring towards the sky through the open window when Daya entered his room with a fallen face and sat beside him while forwarding his medicines to him with...
Daya: Abhi...dawai...
Abhijeet gulped all the medicines silently and then looked towards Daya with a low and guilty...
Abhijeet: Daya woh mujhe tumse ek zaroori baat karna hain yaar...
Daya(in calm yet low tone): usse pehle meri baat suno Abhi...bohot zaroori hain...
Abhijeet felt the seriousness in his voice and asked in low tone...
Abhijeet: kya baat hain Daya?...tum itne pareshan kyun lag rahe ho?...
Daya: baat hi pareshani ki hain boss...ek buri khabar hain yaar...
Abhijeet(with shock): kya khabar yaar?...
END OF THE CHAPTER
To kya buri khabar laaya hain Daya Abhijeet ke liye?...kya chunauti intezaar kar raha hain humare pyare duo ke liye?...kya hain yeh Surya ke koi naya chal?...kya duo jeet payenge is nayi chunauti ko?...janne ke liye stay tuned...
Abhisad: at first welcome to my story zone...Thank you for the review...one thing more...I just love your penname...
Ro: yes you are absolutely right dear...to get something we must sacrifice something...thank you for the review...
HS Duo: didi though I do not support illegal activities, but sorry to say that in this case, imprisonment will not be the correct punishment...according to section 326 A of Indian penal code, minimum ten years imprisonment is given to the criminal with offence of acid throwing which extend to life time imprisonment with fine...but didi, can this punishment reduce Abhijeet sir's pain and suffering?...
Cracesta: dear welcome to my story zone...perhaps I have seen your review in the review section of great writer's stories...ummmmm I can not remember it properly...it is good that you read the story in one go...thank you for the review...
Cutie Pari: no no...you spoke alright...thank you...
A Learning Pen: thank you for the "maafi"...and for the review too...
Guest: dear sorry for not answering... I will definitely answer it but in late...because it is neccessary to include this part befor...thank you...
Next Chapter Will Be 750 reviews...
A Pure Duo Chapter Will Full Of Sweet Moments...
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Thanks to each and every reviewers...
With love and regards...
Yours Nikita...
Take Care And Stay Blessed...