Zindaagi Ki Bhawar Mein
An exhausted Arjun rang his house doorbell; he hoped to see her when the door opens, to his disappointment Shanti opened the door. It was visible from his face...he didn't sleep at all since yesterday, he was restless, eyes were nothing but swollen from crying...after all he was a father who loves his son more than anything. Arjun Singhania the commissioner of Chandigarh City...a well-respected...dignified man, devoted toward his work; to fulfill his duty wouldn't even hesitate to give up his life if necessary. On the other hand a responsible, caring, and loving husband cum doting father. His world revolves around two people...his wife and 6 years old son. Arjun can go to any extent when it comes to his family, but when he has to choose between family and work, what will he do??
With heavy steps Arjun came inside; taking off his cap put it on the
table "madam ne darwaza khola??" "Nehi sahab, mem-saab abhi tak andar hai, paar
apke janeke baad kuch rone ki awaz arehi thi"...he felt a tug in his heart,
nevertheless a strong officer has no right to show his emotion "achha theek hai
tum jao, mein dekh lunga" "sahab khana laga doon" "nehi" saying he turned to
other side "saab ek baat bolu" Arjun wasn't in a mood to talk "kya hai Shanti??"
"aap Aman baba ko jaldi ghar wapas le aaye, mem-saab maa hai na, bachhe ke
ahant se hi uski dhadkan shant hogi" finishing her words she left. Arjun fell
on the couch; resting his head on the back looked up to the roof top blankly.
He was in deep thoughts, struggling in the war between mind and heart. His mind
was yelling an officer is no one's husband or father, where his heart was
crying relationships are above all duties. The officer inside him didn't allow
him to become unfaithful to his work, when a father inside him was dying
thousand times for having his hands tied up in spite of power and position.
He brought his face in palms; only yesterday's incident playing in his
mind. "Darling mera coat kaha hai??" Arjun stretched his arms to wear his official
coat "kya baat hai aap bari chup chap hai, meri Meethi Churrri jab zaban nehi
chalati mujhe khalipan mehsso hota hai". Arjun turned to receive only a glare
from his wife; making a puppy face he said "sachhi mucchi". Arohi copying his
tone "mein kaal sara din apne biwi aur bachhe ke saath bitaunga". Arjun laughed
at his wife's behavior "toh meine thodi mana kya hai??" "oh achha toh uniform
pehenke hum ghumne jayenge" "ji nehi, ek dangerous prisoner ko jail se transfer
karana hai, do din baad uski sunwai hai court
mein, baas uske baad mein wapas ajaunga aur hum ghumne chalenge". Arjun
combing his hairs "aur haan aaj Champ ko mein pick karlunga school se, tum baas
taiyaar rehna." Arohi came from behind, from the mirror he can see her angry face
"achha ek baat batao, iss poore Chandigarh mein baas tum hi ek officer ho jiske
saar pe haar khatarnak responsibility honi chahiye??" Turning around, he put
his hands around her neck, leaning close to her "azmake dekhlo"...with warning
tone "Arjun baat ko gumao maat"...Arjun irritatingly "kya yaar jab bhi mein
romantic mood mein hota hoon tum aise hi karti ho aur bad mein khud hi complain
leke beth jati ho...officers ko romance nehi ata" "toh jhoot kaab kaha meine"
saying she slipped under his arms, but before he could catch her, the phone
rang. She picked the phone when Arjun came from behind and caught her by waist
putting his face on her neckline due to which the phone fell from her hand.
"Papa, Papa" brought both the parents in real world, Arjun hurriedly picked the
receiver in his hand "Papa mujhe bachalo, ye log bohot gande hai, mujhe mamma
ke paas jana hai". It didn't take too long for Arjun to understand who was
behind all this and what their scheme was, before he can say anything Arohi
grabbed the receiver from his hand "beta kya hua?? Aman...mera bachha, mamma se
baat karo beta" "mamma mujhe apke paas ana hai, mamma..." someone snatched the
phone before he could have completed his sentence "oh madam apne pati ko phone
do" Arohi silently hand it over to Arjun "Mr. Commissioner, tum itna shatir ho
ke samajh hi gaye hoge humein kya chahiye, agar apna beta zinda chahte ho toh
humari baat manlo, dekho iss baar pyaar se samjha raha hoon paar agar koi
chalaki ki toh tumhare bete ke liye achha nehi hoga, court se pehle humara kam
ho jana chahiye warna" saying the kidnapper disconnected the call.
A shattered Arohi was about to fall when Arjun hid her in his arms protectively "Arjun mera bachha, usse la do, mein maar jaungi, plz usse la do". He let her cry holding her in his warmth "abhi jao mere bete ko le aao, unhe jo chahiye wo dedo"...she left him when he didn't reply to her, she held him by the collar "kya hua tum jate kyun nehi?? Humara beta akela hai Arjun, wo gunde usse maar dalenge, Arjun kuch bolo??" Arjun quietly replied "wo jo chahte hai mein nehi kar sakta" Arohi was astonished by his answer, she brought him closer and shouted "kyun nehi Arjun, kyun??" He didn't dare look into her eyes "mere baas mein nehi hai ye" "kya kaha tumne, tumhare baas mein nehi hai, tum apne khud ke bete ko nehi bacha sakte, kaise??...she paused..."haan ek pita nehi ye ek officer bol raha hai". She let go of his collar "mujhe kuch nehi pata, baas mujhe mera beta wapas chahiye"...Arjun walked forward while Arohi took back steps, with shake of her head "mere paas maat ana, tum mere bete ko wapas le aao pehle, aaj tumhe apne bete aur duty mein se kisi ek ko chun na hai, officers ke paas kya sach much dil nehi hote?? mera Arjun toh aisa nehi tha, tum kehte the na hum tumahre duniya hai toh aaj kya hua?? Ek baat janlo aaj agar mere bachhe ko kuch bhi hua toh mein bhi nehi rahungi"...before turning around Arohi looked straight in his eyes "aur yaad rakhna Aman ki ye halat sirf tumahri wajah se hai" saying she ran to Aman's room and closed the door. Arjun felt suffocated, he couldn't digest her words...a father and husband's heart was stabbed when an officer felt defeated, yet he went behind her because the human inside him knew the words came from a broken mother. He tried his best to make Arohi open the door, failing he left for office the next day...on returning home, he found the same silence from his wife. ~~
Arjun sat straight in the couch now, her words didn't leave his mind for a single moment "Aman ki ye halat sirf tumahri wajah se hai". These words kept ringing in his ears, pinching his heart more every time. Arjun held his ears, he fall from the couch...kneeling down on the rug...shouted "mein bhi ek baap hoon Arohi, mujhe bhi chub tha hai, mere paas bhi ek dil hai jaha takeelf hoti hai, ye bhi rota hai apne bete ke liye, uss masoom ko tumne apne kokh mein 9 mahine rakhha hai toh meine bhi uske haar paal jiya hai, meine bhi usse janam diya hai...wo mera apna khoon hai...tumne ye kaise soch liya mujhe tumse aur hamare bete se pyaar nehi, ye Arjun adhura hai tum dono ke bina...haar paal mein ek naya maut maar raha hoon...mein ji nehi paunga tumahre aur Aman ke bagar, ji nehi paunga"...unavoidable tears were flowing constantly, today this strong officer broke down completely, when your most precious thing is in danger, any stable person also loses his balance. Today this hard core man felt old and lost at the same time. Shayed Zindagi Ki Bhawar Mein he was lost deep down...
Arjun ran to pick the phone hearing its sound "hello"...his fast
breathing was witness, how much anxious he became for this call. "kya officer
jaan pe paari toh ye halat, socho agar tumahre bete..." "Shut Up...mere bete ko
chuna bhi nehi" "ah ha awaz uchi nehi, tum pyasa ho aur hum kuwa, tumhare liye
chillana theek nehi, achha chalo kam ki baat karte hai, humare ek aur shart
hai" "kya chahiye tumhe" "tumhari zindagi" saying the kidnapper laughed "kab,
kaha??"...Arjun replied without any fear. The kidnapper mockingly "apna jaan
tumhe pyaari nehi??"... A confident Arjun replied "mere zindagi toh tumhare
pass hai". The kidnapper became irritated finding no fear in his voice "achha
theek hai, theek hai, kaal subah purani kele ke paas ajana humare saathi ke
saath, aur agar hoshiyari ki ya police ko saath laye toh apne bete ke lash
paoge"... Arjun clenched his fist then he laughed "khud officer ko bulate ho aur
police se darte ho, me waqt pe ajaunga par mere bte ko kuch nehi hona chhaiye"
saying he cut the call.
It was midnight when Arjun was already on his heels for his mission,
he only wanted to see Arohi for once because he didn't know after today if he
would be able to see daylight of this world...those two pieces of his heart anymore.
"Arjun"...made him stop on his track, he looked back to find a disoriented
Arohi whose heartbeats were running out of its pace. Arohi kept walking towards
him "Aman ko lane ja rehe ho" "humara beta subah taak tumare saath hoga Arohi"
"tumhare jaan ke badle??" "mein usse kuch nehi hone dunga" "Arjun tum mujhse
nazre kyun chura rehe ho??"...Arohi wasn't in her senses; she kept ignoring his
answers expecting to hear the truth from him. Arjun also realized Arohi
overheard his conversation with the kidnapper; she stopped in front of him.
Lovingly Arohi put her hand on his cheek; she caressed it as if no tomorrow
where Arjun let this feeling washes over him with closed eyes. Arohi's eyes
were full of tears, but she didn't let them flow "Arjun tumse kuch mangu??"...
without speaking he just gestured his cheek on her hand "tumhe yaad hai humare
SR paar tumne pochaa tha mujhe mu dikhayi ke kya tofa chahiye??"...Arjun opened
his eyes to look at her...Arohi continued "meine kaha tha jab mujhe jaroorat
paregi mein tumse mang lungi, mujhe aaj wo tofa chahiye, tum mujhe mera tofa
doge na??"...involuntarily his head moved in agreement... "mujhe meri suhag
sahi salamat wapas chaiye Arjun"...he moved his face to other side; realizing
his denial Arohi held his collar; the tears she was holding back, rushed out of
her eyes "mujhe pata hai tum apne uniform aur humare bete paar koi anch nehi
ane doge, paar tumhe ek patni ko uski pati bhi lautani hai, karoge na
tum??"...she shook him "suna tumne, mujhe tum chahiye ho, mujhe tum dono wapas
chahiye" saying she slid down holding him. Her hands were tightly clenching
into his pants and side of face resting onto his thigh, Arohi choked on her own
words "mujhe maaf kardo, meri narazgi tumse nehi thi, nazane apne dukh me tumko
kya kuch nehi keh dya!! Apne mamta mein ye bhi bhul gayi ke akhir tumpe bhi toh
wohi dukh beet rehi hai, meine apne dard ko tumse kaise alag samajh liya!! Ek maa
ka farz ke aage mein apni patni dharm bhul gayi, humara pyaar ka kasmein bhul
gayi, ek paal ke liiye bhi sehi paar mujhe tumhara saath chodna nehi chahiye
tha. Plz meri irada tumhe hurt karneka nehi tha, Arjun mujhe meri galti ka itni
bari saza maat do" blabbered a broken Arohi. Arjun fell down on his knees, his
eyes had the same tears as hers; reaching her level Arjun just hugged her. His
voice had vast of emotion "nehi Arohi, tumahre liye mein khudko saza de sakta
hoon paar tumhe saza...sapne bhi nehi soch sakta"..."toh phir ye saab kyun??" "humare
Aman ke khatir" "dono taraf toh mujhe hi khona hai na, Aman aur tum se meri
saasein hai Arjun, ye ruk jayenge!!"...he put his fingers on her lips "sshh aisa
kuch nehi hoga" "toh wada karo tum Aman ke saath laut aaoge"...their eyes didn't
leave each other's sight as they were making promises, in that eye lock he took
her hand in his and automatically mouthed "wada"...~~
"Arjun kya kaar rehe ho, Aman dekhega toh kya sochega??" "kuch nehi
sochega, wo toh khush hoga ke papa...mamma se pyaar kar rehe hai" "Arjun tum
kabhi nehi sudhroge" Arjun with chuckle "kabhi nehi"...he laid down putting his
head on her lap. They came for family picnic; Aman was playing with some kids where
Arjuhi made themselves comfortable on a mat watching Aman from afar. Aman came
running to his parents; as soon as he came Arjun pulled him for a hug putting
Aman's head on his chest. Aman got up instantly, looking between his parents "mujhe
naya gudiyaan chaiye"...Arjun got up from Arohi's lap hearing his son "kya
gudiyaan??" as if he heard wrong "aare you are son of a police officer, you
should say gun, cars, video games...jo ladkoke khilone hote hai"...Arohi with
mock anger "abhi bandao isse apna jaisa" "Arohi!!..."...Aman cutting off his parents'
argument "mamma papa mujhe gudiyaan hi chahiye"...making a face Arjun asked "sach
mucch" "haan"...pulling his cheeks Arjun said "okay theek hai, mere Champ ke
liye kuch bhi, hum aaj hi kharidenge"...Aman yelled "nehi, mujhe real wala
chahiye"...Arjuhi confused "matlab??" "aargh mujhe gudyiaan jaisi behen
chahiye, sabke paas hai baas mere paas hi nehi" he said in one breath. Arjun and
Arohi's jaw dropped, both were embarrassed to the core, Arohi didn't dare to
answer their son, but Arjun naughtily mentioned "mein toh kabse apko ek behen
dena chahta hoon paar apki mamma..."...before finishing his sentence Arohi
elbowed Arjun "behsram"...to divert Aman's attention Arohi pulled Aman to her
lap "beta toh ye batao, apko behen hi kyun chahiye??"...Aman looked at Arohi's
face then Arjun, leaving her lap he went and sat beside his papa "kyunki humein
apki refection chahiye" answered both father-son in unison. Arohi glaring at
both "papa ki Chamcha"...Arjun and Aman yelled together "mom chamcha nehi Champ"
saying they high-fived. Their surrounding filled with laughter, momentarily
Arjun engulfed his treasures in his arms, taking a chance whispered in Arohi's
ear "toh kya kheyal hai Mrs. Singhania humare bete ki nayi khilona ke bare mein"
which only made Arohi lean closer to him in shyness. Arjun remained like that
keeping both his wife and son near his heart, capturing the moment.
Zindaagi ki Bhawar mein Arjun found his way unlike many people. He was one of those lucky men who had his humsafar by his side. In the phase of life there would be many ups and downs, but when you know someone is there by your side, fighting against all odds also become an easy task because in that moment your insight shouts "you have to not only fight but win, you are precious to someone". That day Arjun had his Arohi's support, yeah he was hurt in the process of his mission, nevertheless gave up. Today their vows overcame all those struggles leading them toward a new journey. ~~
srry guys for another torture...it's little dramatic n typical story but the idea was bothering me...so I had to pen it down n see Arjuhi in those characters...srry for the mistakes, didn't get to edit properly...if not interested plz kindly ignore...
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