"tum se kiran dhoop ki
tum se siyaa raat hai"

JANHAVI

Once we landed in Patna, it was already evening. Being in the aeroplane,we couldn't contact anybody. As soon as we were done with all the checking and casualities, we went towards the parking lot where a car was already waiting was us, obviously priorly arranged by Ishan ji.

Ishan ji had already taken police permission so that we could drive as fast as possible. I cannot express in words how grateful I am.

By the time we got inside our gali, a could see a huge crowd gathered around our house. Obviously in Bihar everyone gathers in other people's house in good or bad times.

Me and Ishan ji had to push through the crowd to get in. Some people even recognised Ishan ji and wanted to communicate with him but he completely ignored them.

As I entered the hall, I saw a figure lying on the ground, covered with a white cloth.... Maa. Incense sticks were burning all around creating a hovering smoke and people were howling and crying. People had been waiting for me to come before going to the burning ghaat.

I walked near her.. body, and slowly removed the cloth from her face. Tears fell down my cheeks. Maa eas looking so beautiful, just like a newly wedded bride, with all those chandan tika on her face. Her face was unscathed, with no trace of pain or worry, she looked so peaceful, wary of all ties.

Why didn't you take me with you?

I touched her feet, to take her blessings one last time. The memories of Maa where reeling in my mind constantly, making it more painful for me. How could she leave me all alone in this cruel world?

My head started to feel heavy and dizzy, but I kept my eyes forced open. I wanted to get a good view Maa as long as I could. Suddenly darkness fell upon me, and I felt a pair of hands holding me tightly.... I don't remember anything afterwards.

ISHAN

Tears were rolling down Janhavi's eyes and I felt so useless that I couldn't do anything for her. I could feel a lump in my throat. I just wanted to assure her that, I'm always there for you.

Abruptly, Janhavi collapsed, and thank god I got hold of her in time. Before I could react, she loosed consciousness.

"Janhavi? Janhavi?" I shouted, patting her cheeks.

Janhavi's aunt came rushing, "Beta tum use andar le jao", she said.

I lifted her up in bridal style, and rushed inside. I placed her on the bed where her aunt asked me to. I was having a hard to keep my nerves down. She will be alright na?

Outside, people were taking Janhavi's mother to the samshan ghat. Perhaps it was expected from me to go as well, but I can't leave Janhavi alone like this. I sprinkled water on her face, but she was still unconscious. I got outside to ask someone to call a doctor but no-one was to be seen.

Everyone had gone to the burning ghat, and the ladies of the house were doing some rituals. Suddenly a kid came running to me.

"Pranam mausaji", he said politely.

Mausaji? I choked on this.

"Mausi ko kya huya?", he asked innocently, "Maine serial mein dekha hai ki jo pregnant hoti hai wo aise behosh ho jaati hai phir hero use godi mein leke jata hai "

Thoda bhi innocent nahi hai, was my first thought. I choked again on his comment.

A lady came running to us, perhaps his mother.

"Shiku kaisi baatein kar rahe ho tum?", she said softly slapping her son.

"Ishan please don't get offended haan? Jo muh mein aata hai wahi bol deta hai ye", she said.

"Nahi nahi... Koi baat nahi. Actually Janhavi ko abhi tak sense nahi aaya.." I said.

"Tum chinta mat karo, zyada trauma hone par use hota hai aisa, kuch der mein thik ho jayegi. Oh by the way, main Janhavi ki didi hu"

I nodded and went inside, to be with Janhavi.

As I got into the room, I saw she was already awake and wiping tears from her face.

I rushed to her, "Janhavi? How're feeling?"

"Sad and alone", she said looking at me with her glistening eyes.

"You are not alone", I said patting her head.

She passed a faint smile and said, "Ishan ji you should take some rest"

Before I could reply, someone knocked on the door. I went forward to open it and saw a man standing on the door. He didn't seem to be a family member.

Ignoring me completely, he barged into the room and sat infront of Janhavi. He took Janhavi's hand into his, in a very romantic manner?

Kaun chutiya hai bhai?

To my utter surprise, Janhavi seemed to be elated to see him.

"Sorry Jan mereko aane mein bohot der ho gayi", he said sobbing.

Jaan? Benchod saala.

Just because Janhavi had not reacted yet, otherwise I would have punched him in the face.

Janhavi grabbed his hands tightly and placed her forehead on his shoulder. He put his hands on her back and pulled her into a hug... Both of them were crying.

Now I wanted to punch myself in the face because I wasn't able to punch him yet.

"Maa.. Maa ko aakhri baar dekh bhi nahi paaya main", he said in a fit of sobs.

"She was looking very pretty pata hai?", Janhavi said.

He broke the hug and wiped his tears. Then he wiped Janhavi's tears as well.

Thank you bhagwan for giving me so much self control

He cupped Janhavi's face and said, "Ro mat tu, Maa tujhe sabsamaye hasta dekhna chahegi. Aur tu rote huye dikhti bhi bohot buri hai"

Janhavi weepily smiled at him.

"Aur tera celebrity pati kahaan hai?" he asked.

Before Janhavi could reply, I replied to him, "Yahi khada hu, you didn't notice me I guess"

He got up from the bed hastily, and stood infront of me. The man looks handsome I must say, he could have been a actor if he wanted to.

"Big fan sir", he said giving his hand for a handshake.

I shook his hand and curtly nodded.

"You are?" I asked.

"I'm Veer, her childhood friend", he said smiling.

Lag to raha hai ki childhood lover hai.

"Baitho Veer main chai laati hu", she said getting out of the bed.

"Nahi wait. Tumhe jaane ki zarurat nahi hai main bana deta hu", I said pushing her back to the bed.

"Aap banayenge?.."

"Haan, tumhe abhi hosh aayi hai. You should not go near the oven now", I said firmly.

Veer placed a hand on Janhavi's shoulder and said, "Chhod dena tu, unki baat sun"

Samajhta kya hai khudko?

"Don't worry Veer, my wife listens to me" a said passing a smirking smile to him.

Janhavi perhaps noticed the emphasis on the word 'wife' and she was eyeing me suspiciously.

Mujhe aise dekhne se kya fayda? Meri biwi ke saath ye bhadwa chipkega toh mujhe jalan nahi hogi?

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