Chapter -2

Mein Heroine hoon (I am the Heroine here )

Laliahbagh

She wa running very fast. He will definitely be angry and irritated. He doesn't like waiting for so long! It had been a week or more they had met. Irawati huffed,and then wiped off her sweat off.

Akash was not in Laliabagh,and She was not allowed to call him. Irawati smiles at her bag. She had made Mung Dal ka Halwa by her own hands. She had put almonds and pistache over it amorously exactly how her boyfriend Akash relishes. As she reached the Ghat, Akash was standing there smoking impatiently, glancing his wrist watch time and again!

"Sorry sorry late ho gaya

(I am so sorry I am late)
She was about to apologise.

Tumhari aane se pehele tumhari bahane aa jate hai Waqt ka kono kadar hai ya nehi?

( You always have your excuses ready huh? Do you even have any value of time?)
He taunted, not even he smiled or expressed his joy, meeting her after so very long time. Ira was never been that typical docile girl who takes her boyfriend " s taunt smilingly... But today, she decided not to answer back. Sometimes you need to let the situation thaw for a while. She smiles. Does Akash remember that once he used to compliment that she looks beautiful when she smiles! She take out the tiffin box and smiled a little more

"Tumhari liye tumhari favorite halwa laye hai"! Isiliye toh...
( See,I have brought Moongdal ka Halwa for you.... Its your fav....) Akash snatched it from her hand and keep it on the paded seat of his bike not really caring of her effort.

Jaldi kaho kyun phone kiya tha... Samjho is baat ko ek ek minat kimati hai humri liye... Yuhi zaya nhi kar sakte!

( Make it fast.... Why did you want to meet me... I hope you remember that I dont have time to waste every minute is precious for me)

He crushed the bud of his cigar under his shoes .

Irawati had been in this relationship since they were in school. Akash had never been this immodest like this. Despite being a moderately good student Ira had to quit her studies after 12. Her father preferred her to learn household chores better than pursuing graduation. Akash on the other while had cleared his Prelims and a week ago had given his Mains... Ira understands that It must be very ardous to carry the pressure of such examination but her heart was yearning to meet him... She had been noticing changes in him, and decided to talk about it, but today, they after all, had been meeting for a long time. She decides to let it go, and gulped her agitation.

Softly, She kept her hand upon his shoulder and asked

"Bhanwa kahe rahe ho baba! Kitne din bad mil rahe hai na hum...accha kaho exam kaisa hua?

( Why are you getting angry... Tell me how was your exam?)

Exam ka kya hai.. Hua... Jaise hona tha.

then he smiled
mockingly and replied

Ab agar rashtra niti ya krishi khetre mein kya kya samasya hota hai.... Directive Principles of State Policy kaha kaha lagoo hota hai ispe charcha karenge toh tumko samaj ayega kya babu?

(How does it matter to you even if I tell you How was my examination? Is there even a point of discussing administration, Problems of Indian Agronomy or How Directive principles are applied with you? Will you understand dear?)

Ira was going to retort his taunts.But today its not the right time....She had more serious issues to discuss. She snorts a little, diverting the topic.

Babuji ko aab zyada der tak rok pana mumkin nhi ho payega humare liye....kundali ka jo dosh hai woh kat gaya hai....Ab aur unko mere shaadi ke liye rok pana possible nhi ho payega ! bat samaj rahe ho na Akash?

Now it is seemingly becoming difficult for me Akash to stop Babuji to find alliance for me. The defect I had in my horoscope had got annulled. Now he very soon will find a match for me....Are u understanding the gravity of the situation?

Akash huffed some rings of the another cigarette that he had already lit.and replied

"Toh hum ka kare?Shaadi manale? Kya khilyunga tumko Chana??

(So what are you expecting me to do...Should we get married?What shall I feed you after marriage Peanut)?

Now this was it for Ira. She jerked off Akash "s hand and almost yell

"Laliabagh hai yeh ...7 saal saal ka rishta hai...baat hawa mein yuhi feilti hai.....Agar bauji ko pata chal gaya toh gardan kat denge humari.....Tum apni baba se bat karo... Aur humara rishta bheja aur baki jo hai kharche ke bat kar rahe ho....uska jugar vi ho jayega..IAS bane nhi ho par ban to jayoge kavi na kavi....samjho pls...aur intezar karne laage jo saat janam sat rehene ka sapne dekhe ho woh dhara ka dhara hi reh jayega !

(This is Laliabagh....It is a small place. Rumors of our seven years of relationship, can spread any moment and it will eventually reach to Babuji..He will never accept that I am in love with someone...He will kill me. We will manage something....Now you may be you are not an IAS....but one day you definitely will become the one....But we cannot wait for that long.....If u still did not discuss this matter to your father and negotiatiate our alliance then our dream of becoming the one will never be fulfilled.)

Chillaye kahe rahe ho?

(Why are you shouting?
Now Akash was equally furious).

kya jugar kar logi bolo??

And tell me how you are going to manage it?

Ira looked at the waves of the river for a while and then desperately looked into his eyes

"Mein kama lungi....jab tak tumko naukri na mile.....kar lenge jugar!
" I will earn until you dont get the job....We will manage.

Akash looked at her some while and then burst out in a mocking laughter.

Tum 12 vi paas....kya kar logi??Ira naukri milne ke liye....jugar nhi qualification zaroori hota hai...Aur hum Laliabagh ki Thakuron ki Munshi ki bete hai.....Humari ghar ki bahu beti ghar samhalti hai ghar chalati nhi...

You are just a 12 th pass... You need qualification to do a job not some wiered management skill.And I think you are forgetting that I am the son of the Munshiji who works under the respectable Thakurs of Laliabagh... Women of our house are the care givers,they dont earn for a living.

Tears are now falling from her eyes..as Ira looked on and contemplate that Akash had changed a lot.....
"Tum se ek dupatta nhi samhalta....
You cannot even handle a scarf
Akash put her Dupatta on her shoulder...
aur tum Shaadi biya ka soch rahi
ho.....
And you are thinking of getting married?

chupchap baithe
Sit quietly!
you dont need to be messy...
raho....Hum dekgenge kya kar sakte hai

Let me handle the situation.

Akash pressed the acceletor of his bike and the tiffin box rolled out in the ground. As his bike rushed over the path...Ira realized an eerie sense of darkness is engulfing her existence.