20.2. 𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙨 𝙄𝙣 𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩

ʙᴀʀᴋʜᴀ'ꜱ ᴘᴏɪɴᴛ ᴏꜰ ᴠɪᴇᴡ

I took a bite of the sandwich prepared by Param and I closed my eyes in ecstasy, its been an eternity since I had sandwiches made by him.

Pepper salt....

A memory came flashing into my mind as I recalled.

Flashback

"Barkha, esme kaala namak hai..." said Param whining while we sat in the hall, having sandwiches.

"Haan, toh?" I enquired teasingly while sitting infront of him.

Param made a pout as he answered, "Tumhe pta hai na ki mujhe kaala namak bilkul pasand nahii!"

Whereas I internally chuckled knowing his dislike towards the pepper salt but decided to tease him further as I spoke up making a serious face, "Kya Param? Aapko pepper salt kaise nahi pasand hosakta?"

Param frowned hearing me while I smirked internally, but seeing his cute face, I took my sandwich and got it near his mouth while he raised his eyebrows but then took a bite of it doubtfully and the very next moment his lips broke into a smile and I smiled seeing him.

Param looked at me as he said with a smile, "Tum mujhe kehti ho ki main tumhari chai change krdeta hoon lekin tum khud kya krti ho?"

"Chaliya khaiye ab." I said while getting sandwich near his mouth in order to feed him, while he got the pepper salt sandwich and started to feed me, while both of us broke into an heartily laughter seeing eachother's gestures.

Present

I came out of my trance of thoughts and opened my eyes to find Param staring at me, or rather adoring me when he instantly shifted his gaze from me to the ground and eventually it landed near the door of Baby's room.

And following his gaze, I spoke up before I could stop myself, "Bohot mushkil se soyi hai, rat laga kar bethi thi ki Papa aayenge, unse milungi phir soungi.... Bohot ziddi hai voh..."

"Tum par gyi hai..." Param said with a smile.

And that's when our eyes met, and I lost control over my emotions and whispered unknown to myself, "I missed you Param..."

"I missed you too..." escaped from his lips and a silence prevailed in the hall.

A tear rolled down my eyes and he instantly kept aside the sandwich and tea as I took him in a bone crushing hug which was reciprocated by him, as I buried my face in crook of his neck, letting the tears flow down my eyes which I was holding now for an eternity.

"Barkhaa..." said Param after what felt like an eternity, still holding me close to him or rather, I didn't allowed him to leave me again.

But then, I was lost and closed my eyes tightly after hearing my name from his mouth after years but still didn't leave him as he spoke up in an soothing voice, "Barkha, main hoon na tumhare saath, tumhare paas ab... Shaant hojao... I love you and I won't leave you ever again."

I calmed down at his words, and my cries had turned into sniffles as he separated himself from me but didn't let go off my hands, and started to wipe off my tears with his thumb, caressing my cheeks and I closed my eyes, feeling his touch, it is soothing.

"Barkha, aankhein kholo na... Ab toh tumhare saamne hoon na..." Param insisted but I refused to open them.

And that's when I spoke up, my voice trembling a bit, "Kaise aankhein kholun Param? Darr lagta hai ab ki aankhein kholun aur yeh sab ek sapna ho.... Aapko ek baar kho chuki hoon, vapis aapko khone ki, khudko todne ki taakat nahi hai mujhme... Aakhiri baar Karan, Faizi aur Sanju ke liye sambhala tha khudko, es baar nahi sambhaal paungi...."

"Barkha main itne vakt baad tumhare paas aaya hoon aur jab tum mujhe dekhna hi nahi chahti, toh main yahaan rehkar bhi kya krunga phir?" I heard him ask, as his grip on my hand loosened a bit and I opened up my eyes with a jerk and my grip on his hand tightened out of reflex, and he didn't vanish.... this is not a dream!

I slowly let go off his hands, and covered my mouth with my palm out of ecstasy and happiness I was feeling while my tears flowed down my eyes, out if happiness as he enquired with guilt in his tone, "Maine bohot galat kiya na tumhare saath?"

I nodded my head in a "No" and then slowly nodded it in a "Yes" and I again nodded in a "No" making him confused as I told him, "Aapne mujhe pareshaan nahi kiya Param kyunki aapne jo kiya apne desh ke liye, humaare desh ke liye kiya lekin aapne mujhe khoob rulaya..."

I pouted at the end while he poked my cheeks and cupping my face he said, "Shayad yeh sach hai, ki main jaanta hoon ki tumhe mere saath khushi zaada milegi ya gam... khushi ka pta nahi lekin gam main tumhe already bohot de chuka hoon Barkha.... aur tumhe khush rakhne ka rasta mujhe dikh nahi raha, kyun ab bhi mere liye, humare desh, aur meri duty se badhkar kuch nahi hai... Tum bhi nahi ho Barkha aur na Baby hai, na Karan.."

I could see the guilt reflecting in his tone, and I knew he is broken but he is confident about his decision and now I cupped his face and leaning forward I replied in a gentle but firm tone, "Param, shayad main, Baby, aur Karan aapki mohabbat hosakte hain, lekin aapka ishq, humara vatan hai..."

"Mohabbat voh hai Param jo insaan ko abaad krti hai, azaadi deti hai lekin ishq voh hai jo aapki ibadat ho, junoon ho.... aur aapka marna, mitna ya mitaana sirf humare desh ke liye hai...." I continued looking straight into his eyes.

I inhaled sharply and looked back into his eyes, being sure about what am I about to say, "Aapka ishq aapki mohabbat se badhkar hona chahiye Param. Aur humme se koi aapke ishq ka hakdaar nahi hai siwai humare desh ke, na Karan, na Baby aur na main!"

Tears streamed down Param's eyes and I started to wipe them with my thumb when he enquired, "Lekin phir, tumhara kya? Baby ka kya? Karan ka kya? Baakiyon ka kya Barkha? What about all our love, love that I have for Sid, Ko, Faizi, Sanju, Aashna, Monu, Karan, Baby and you?"

His question was complicated but the answer wasn't, I smiled and answered, "The love isn't gonna vanish anywhere Param! Aap aaj bhi hum sabke liye utna hi matter krte hain jitna saalon pehle krte the, balki usse bhi zaada... Jaante hain kyun? Because love resides in heart and with the time sirf voh badh sakta hai, kam nahi hosakta...."

A subtle smile appeared on his face, and I made him stand and said with a cute face, "Chaliye na Param, mujhe aapko kaafi kuch dikhana hai..."

Param nodded as we first went to our family wall, which Param would have missed mistakenly, and there were the pictures of Monami playing with Baby, her picture with me, Karan, and Baby, then my picture with Karan, Monami, Siddharth, Sanju, Faizi and Koel along with Baby as I told Param still gazing at the pictures, "Jaante hain Param, aapke jaane ke baad yeh family wall khaali hogya tha, bilkul humare dilon ki tarah. Lekin phir Monami aayi, jisne Karan ke dil ko dhadkan di, Baby uski Chachi aur mujhe ek choti si behen di..."

"Karan aapke jaane ke baad ek dum Khadoos hogya tha, bohot koshish ki thi usse badalne ki, lekin kuch nahi kr paayi, voh sirf chaar logon ke saamne ek choti si muskaan laata tha, mere, Baby, Faizi aur Sanju ke saamne..." I told him while Param looked at the pictures in awe with a huge smile on his face.

"Lekin Monami ke aane ke baad, usne vapis jeena shuru kiya. Monami, Siddharth, aur Koel ne es ghar mein vapis se roshni bhardi, yeh khaali family wall bhar diya, sirf kisi ek ke nahi, balki sabke khil-khilate huye chehron se..." I completed and smiles adorned both our faces, as we kept in staring at our happy family pictures.

I peeked at Param and said, "Es wall par bas ab aapki hi kami hai..."

Param turned and looked at me with a satisfied smile and told me, "Es mission ke baad voh bhi puri hojaegi... Don't worry..."

We started walking back in the wall while holding eachother's hands when Param enquired while stopping infront of Baby's room, "Aaj Baby ke room mein ruke kya?"

I nodded my head, knowing his feelings and affection towards Baby and we entered her room, while I closed the door and both of us laid on the either sides of the bed, and I placed my left arm in Baby's stomach, turning towards her.

And that's when Param kept his right hand over mine securely making me pleasantly surprised, as he turned to face me and Baby while he removed his spectacles and a subtle grin appeared on Baby's face, which made us smile as well and we closed our eyes whispering, "Good night..."

Finally, Baby will get the love of her father, now we are complete, everything is.... and soon the endings will lead to new beginnings!

******

So, I guess the chapter was a bit emotional with a bit of crap?

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Thankyou.
Yours
R•