28. 𝙉𝙚𝙬 𝘽𝙚𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨

ᴀᴀꜱʜɴᴀ'ꜱ ᴘᴏɪɴᴛ ᴏꜰ ᴠɪᴇᴡ

One Year Later
1935 Hours

"Bro, aapko mazak lagra hai!!!! Aap teeno kr kya rhe ho aakhir???" I almost yelled at Sid bro, Faizi Bhai and Karan Bhai who were decorating the terrace for their tonight's surprise proposal to Sanju di, Kuhu di and Monami.

Sid bro looked at me and whined, "Bro mazak nahi kr rha nervousness ho rhi."

Whereas Karan Bhai and Faizi Bhai nodded their heads in a yes, agreeing with Bro, I glared at them and said, "Come on bhaii!!!! Aap dono Special Agents ho buckle up!"

"And bro, yeh nervousness aapki gundo ke saamne fight krne mein kahaan jaati hai? Monami ne btaya tha ki jab aap academy mein aaye the, aap mere en Khadoos Bhai se nervous nahi huye toh ab kya???" I said looking at Sid bro with a smirk.

Bro chuckled sheepishly while looking at me whereas Karan... Nope, Khadoos Bhai glared at me and said, "Kya kaha tumne mujhe? Khadoos Bhai? Aapko apne senior se ulajhne ke consequences pta hain na Maharani ji!"

"Khadoos Bhai, pehli baat, aap filal mere senior nahi ho, so considerably, agr maine join kiya bhi abhi, toh Bro, Kuhu di and Monami are my direct seniors aur vaise abhi esme vakt hai!" I said with a sky smirk.

Faizi Bhai laughed seeing Karan Bhai's expression as he said, "Aashna, en Janab ke mooh mein haanth daalna, sher ki mooh mein haanth daalne jaisa hai, pta nahi ek tum aur ek humari Special Agent Monami Mahajan, yeh kaise krlete ho?"

"Bro, you know that jaise Monami Tsunami hai vaise Aashna toofan hai!" Sid bro said with a laugh while Karan Bhai smiled on the mention of his Rani Sahiba.

I smirked at them and said, "Sisters telepathy! Ab terrace decorate kijiye, main meri en teen jaans ko dekhke aati hoon! "

I turned to leave when from the corner of my eyes, I saw Sid bro sitting on the table sighing as I shouted without turning back, "And please, ab agr aap log yeh arrangements krne nahi bethe ya aapne ek aur vase giraya ya toda toh Param Bhai ko bulake aap logon ki haddiyan tudwa dungi!"

And now I just knew that they were cursing me while getting up to decorate the terrace and make arrangements as I laughed inwardly to myself.

I went to Sanju di's room and found her studying some files of the recent case along with Kuhu di as I knocked on the door while they raised up their eyes in my direction.

Sanju di smiled at me while putting down the files she said, "Aashna, tu jey bahar kaaye ke laane khadi hai.. andar aana!"

"Haan Aashna! Andar aana!" Kuhu di said as I grinned while entering the room and went to hug her and then Sanju di turn wise as we separated after a moment.

And that's when I enquired a bit nervously, "Dii, suno na, aaj raat ko 10'o clock ke around aap dono upr terrace pe aaoge?"

Sanju di glanced at Kuhu di as the latter nodded me before nodding her head in affirmative as she questioned, "Jey toh thik hogo, hum aajaenge lekin kay hogo?"

"Voh surprise hai, esse aage kuch mat puchna and wear that pink side slit wali dress! And 10'o clock se pehle, don't go on terrace!"

"And Kuhu dii, aap please voh black shining wali dress pehen-na!"  I instructed in a breath as I ran out of the room to avoid their interrogation session.

Now, just Monami is left.

I went to the cafeteria thinking she would be there with Karan's Bhai sautan, aka coffee. She really got addicted to drinking coffee last year alot even after knowing it's not good, but now, who has the audacity to stop her when even Major Special Agent Karan Shergill couldn't stop her.

Sometimes I feel bad for Bhai, but it's okay. Khadoos Bhai has to deal with his Khadoos Mahajan who is addicted with coffee.

I peeked inside the cafeteria and was startled on finding it empty as I whispered to myself, "Yeh Monami kahaan gyi? I hope abhi kisi aur pe tsunami banke na baras rhi ho, atleast aaj raat nahi!"

I turned towards her room and entered inside quietly only to find her staring at something, I tilted a bit to get clearer view as I caught her staring at the old photograph of Juhi ma'am and Mom....

I stood still, it's been a year since I saw Mom's picture, in this span of year, I never dared to open the old pictures or my memories with her, because I will get hurt, and she wouldn't want that... Monami wouldn't want that.

But right now, I don't feel any pain, I just want to ensure that Monami is alright.

My chain of thoughts were broken as Monami spoke up without looking at me, "Oye, sirf vahin pe khadi rahegi ya andar bhi aayegi?"

I inhaled deeply before making my way towards her and back hugged her tightly, as I placed my chin on her shoulder as we gazed at that picture, beside it lied two more photo frames, one of me and her and the other photo frame had the picture of Karan Bhai, Sid bro, Faizi Bhai, Kuhu di, Sanju di, Barkha bhabhi, Param bhaiya, Baby, Deepak uncle, Avi uncle, me and her.

I sighed looking at the three photo frames as Monami spoke up breaking the silence in the room, "Aashna, yaad hai kl kya hai?"

"Mom ki death anniversary..." I mumbled staring at her picture.

"Aur tera birthday... Aur Medical College ka pehla din." Monami added and I smiled faintly.

I rubbed my chin on her shoulder before resting it again, so it doesn't hurt her as Monami said with a sad smile, "Tum mujhe thoda sa bhi hurt krne se darti ho aur maine tumhe life time ka scar dediya, phir bhi you don't hate me.. why?"

From her tone, I knew she was crying as I pacified her, "Monami, tumne kuch nahi kiya, aur agr tumhe phir bhi yahi lagta hai ki tumne mujhe hurt kiya hai toh yeh samajhlo ki dard bhi tum thi aur ab dawa bhi tum ho."

She didn't said anything as silence was about to loom over when I enquired, "Hum aaj yeh saari baatein kyun kr rhe hain?"

"Kyunki tum ek saal mein itni mature hogyi ho ki mujhse apna pain chupane lagi ho." she answered and I stared at her confused.

Monami paused for a moment before continuing, "Do din pehle ro rhi thi apne kamre mujhse chupke, btaya bhi nahi.."

I could sense the hurt in her voice, she is talking about 2 days back, when I was having my mood swings and I just started to remember Mom and my time with her.

I came infront of her and saw her eyes brimming with tears as I wiped them off slightly and spoke up, "Mere mood swings the voh bas Monami, tum faltu mein upset horhi ho, and I am not that weak! You trust me naa???"

I enquired the last line with a pouty face as she nodded her head whereas I wiped off her tears, and recalled her words from the year back.

"Oye, tum na aag hi thik ho yeh paani barsane ki zaroorat nahi hai. Tumhari personality ko suit nahi krega, Miss Aashna Gunjan Bhooshan and soon to be Doctor Aashna Gunjan Bhooshan!" Monami said while caressing my head.

I glanced at Monami and pulled her into my embrace as I started to caress her hairs and said imitating her tone from that time, "Aur vaise bhi, oyee, tum na aag hi thik ho, yeh paani barsane ki zaroorat nahi hai. Tumhari personality ko suit nahi krega, Special Agent Doctor Monami Juhi Mahajan and soon to be Special Agent Doctor Monami Mahajan Shergill!"

I added the last line on purpose as Monami tried to contain her laugh, and maintaining her trainer mode, she held my ear, as an act of scolding while I made a pouting face as she left me sighing.

"Kher, sahi vakt aagya hai..." she said while opening her drawer.

"Kis chiz ka?" I questioned.

She took out a silver pendant, and I clearly recognised it as Mom's pendant, it was her favourite, she was used to wearing it everyday, everytime.

I stared at the pendant startled as she started, "Parakram aane se pehle Maasi ne mujhe mumma ka broach diya tha, tab jab main apni nayi life shuru kr rhi thi, aur kl tumhari nayi life ki shuruaat hai, aur esliye Aaj main tumhari Mom ka pendant tumhe de rhi hoon..."

I smiled looking at the pendant as I could picture Mom wearing it as Monami made me wear the pendant from her hands as she continued, grabbing my attention, "Vaise eska ek aur reason hai, ek saal pehle mujhe nahi laga tha ki tum khudko sambhal paogi, because of your previous behaviour but aaj main sure hoon ki you are mature enough to handle this pendant and yourself."

Saying so, Monami pulled me into a hug as I returned the hug to her when I suddenly recalled about the plan, and I glanced at the block behind her, "9'o clock???"

I instantly broke the hug and spoke up looking at Monami with pleading eyes, "Suno na, please apni voh red off shoulder dress pehenke, 2200 hours tak terrace pe aao!!! No more questions go!"

Monami stared at me wide eyed before shaking her head as she went to washroom whereas I peeked at the photo frame again before leaving her room.

2215 Hours

"Khadoos Bhai, Faizi Bhai aur Sid bro! Aap log yeh meri behenon ko taadna band kro, unhe aapki hi nazar na lag jaaye!" I said dramatically while taking the evil eyes off my sisters.

I stole a glance at my sisters who were spellbound looking at the decorations as I gestured my trio brothers who nodded their heads.

I switched on the camera of my phone, and started recording, as I switched on the electric lanterns and fairy lights, as the girls looked at me confused when I indicated to them to look at wall and as soon they complied, their jaws dropped on reading, "Will you marry me?"

Stunned they looked at their partners, who were already on their knees with the ring in their hands for their partners, as Sanju di's, Kuhu Di's and Monami's happiness knew no bounds as they nodded their heads in yes, pushing out their hands forward.

I instantly clicked their photos as Karan Bhai slided the ring in Monami's ring finger, followed by Sid Bhai who pushed off the ring in Sanju di's finger and finally Faizi Bhai, sliding off the ring smoothly in Kuhu Di's finger.

Even if this was getting recorded, I wanted to capture these moments alone, as I shouted, "Congratulations!!! Enjoy yours dates! See you tomorrow morning!"

And as soon the words left from my mouth, they looked at me and I knew they were gonna ask me to hug them but I just gave them a flying kiss before switching off my camera and running downstairs.

It's their night!

And I guess, I need a conversation...

My legs stopped outside Monami's room as I pushed the door open and slowly made my way towards Mom's photograph as I kneeled down.

Everything started with  'The Change: Unveiling The Mask Of Pretence' as everyone was wearing their own facades, sometimes for mission, sometimes for their loved ones and sometimes for their self satisfaction, to ensure no one but themselves that they are strong enough.

This journey started with the change and by the end of it, so many facades were taken off by the time...

"Mom, aapko toh pta hai that I have always admired Monami, aapko pta hai kyun?" I enquired faintly.

"Kyunki, ishq krna asaan hota hai, ishq nibhana usse mushkil, apne ishq ko apni aankhon ke saamne dum todte dekhna mushkil lekin apne hi ishq ko har pal apni hi aankhon ke saamne tadapte huye dekhna, sabse Zaada mushkil kyunki aksar, jaan, jaan se badhkar dil, dil se badhkar vatan aur vatan se badhkar kuch bhi nahi aur yeh raah aksar kurbaaniyon ki hoti hai...." I stated as I averted my gaze to Monami's picture.

I have seen you living this phase of your life Monami and the only thing I want to say is, that my only love is my country and my motive is to serve my people.

I glanced back at Mom's picture and said with an stoic expression, "Mujhe sab manzoor hai, lekin pyaar nahi. Maine Monami ko apni aankhon ke saamne Karan Bhai ke liye tadapte huye dekha hai, yes country is superior but the feeling of getting torn between love and duty, I have seen it."

"I just believe in love because of them, but for me, meri life mein pyaar ki koi jagah nahi hai, my family and my country is only what matters to me." I said before getting up as the clock striked 12.

This is the time for leaving the past behind and move forward, because this phase has ended because everything has an ending, but all the endings lead to new beginnings.

THE END!

******

Author's Note:

My heartiest thanks to everyone who was a part of this book as I am actually emotional right now, because this book is really close to my heart.

This one is more of a epilogue but still, tried it from Aashna's point of view.

This is no prank and I have actually ended this book, I just wanna say thankyou for sticking by my side.

And, if you don't mind, then please pen down your thoughts about the story.

Thankyou.
Yours
R•