Posted:
16 years ago
PART 15:
After the song finished, all the couples headed back for their tables, as dessert was being served. Angad and Tehzeeb stayed glued to each other, oblivious of their surroundings. They were still relishing the best dessert they had just tasted on the cruise….it was warmer, creamier and more luscious than any of the chocolate desserts that were being served at the tables.
They were finally interrupted from their trance by the loud noise of someone's wine glass crashing on the floor.
Both Angad and Tehzeeb were startled and fumbled for words, "Uh..Uh…Tehzeeb…I am sorry…I got carried away…" Angad pulled away.
Tehzeeb hesitated initially, but then looked at him lovingly, "I am not…," she whispered and ran towards the opposite end of the ship. The deck was deserted at the other end of the ship, with moonlight illuminating the darkness of the corner.
Angad followed her, "TEHZEEB! Please kahan jaa rahi ho?"
He caught up with Tehzeeb and stood next to her, as she stared at the waves carved by the sailing ship. Angad thought he heard some silent sobs, 'Tehzeeb? Please don't cry…..I did not mean to do that…."
Tehzeeb looked at him soulfully, "Angad….tum mujhey bhool tho nahin jaaogey na? Mujhey milney New York aaogey na?"
Angad looked away, unable to meet her honest gaze, "Tehzeeb bhoolunga tho nahin….par New York shayad kabhie nahin aaoonga…..shayad hamara saath yahin tak likha hai….in 12 dinon ko main hamesha ek haseen khwab samajh kar apney dil mein rakhoonga…..I will miss you Tehzeeb….but we have to be realistic…..hamari duniya bilkul alag hai…..it's best we don't give any name to our beautiful relationship…and leave it as it is….," he turned around and looked at her.
Tehzeeb wiped her tears and composed herself, "chalo…let's get some dessert and coffee…..," she knew Angad was right, but her heart ached to hear otherwise. She wanted him to openly declare his love for her…she wanted him to say "main duniya ka har bandhan chhod kar tumhare paas aa jaaoonga….," but she knew in the real world it was easier said than done….he had an ailing mother to go to, and she had to go back to her father in New York. Her father would never accept Angad….that much she was sure about Javed….and she knew she did not have the courage to face her Abbu about this…
They both walked back to their table, their hands brushing against each other; their fingers aching to twine with each other like a vine around a tree…..
Early next morning, their ship had docked at the Istanbul harbor.
Tehzeeb stepped out on her terrace and looked around. She saw the famous Blue Mosque of Istanbul, with its six minarets towering over the Sea. The Blue Mosque was perched on a hill overlooking the Marmara. Tehzeeb had butterflies in her stomach at the sight- her hands instantly went up in air, as she closed her eyes and said a silent prayer facing the grand mosque, "Ya. Allah! Tera laakh laakh shukriya…..meri har galti ko maaf kariyega……Angad ki Ammi par meharbaani kariye…unhey jaldi theek kar deejiye….," Tehzeeb was surprised at herself that she was asking Allah something for someone she had never met….she had always asked Allah to bless herself…this was the first time she found herself wishing for someone else…….
Tehzeeb collected her stuff and took the elevator to the lobby. She picked the photographs taken last night –she had made sure that they had printed 2 copies of each photograph. She admired how good Angad looked in the photograph- tall, handsome with his characteristic slanting smile-she put them in her bag and walked towards the exit.
Angad was wishing all the passengers, just as he had the first day when she had boarded the ship. She had a lump in her throat, thinking of what was going to happen in the next few moments.
She was surprised, when Angad whispered in her ear, "bahar mere liye wait karna…main tumhey Aapi ke ghar tak le jaaoonga…"
Tehzeeb's face lit up at his suggestion, "really?"
Angad gently blinked his eyes and nodded.
Tehzeeb stepped out of the ship and instinctively covered her head with a scarf. Although, Turkey has a Muslim majority, it was a secular country. Tehzeeb still wanted to cover her head out of respect for this holy land.
Angad joined her after awhile, "chalo…let's take a cab….wo address kahan gaya?"
Tehzeeb took out a crumbled envelope from her purse; the address was barely legible after being washed repeatedly in the rain and seawater.
The cab driver had a hard time finding the address, as it was in the old part of the town. After an hour or two of going around in circles, they finally arrived at their possible destination. Tehzeeb was once again thankful for Angad's presence. Frankly, she would not have cared if they had gotten lost and driven around in circles all day!
Angad held Tehzeeb's hand as they walked through the narrow streets to arrive at the address on the envelope.
Tehzeeb squeezed Angad's arm, as she was nervous and excited about meeting her Aapi after so many years. Angad sensed her anxiety, and knocked at the door.
The door was finally answered by a middle-aged lady (imagine dadi from KYPH), "kaun?" she asked trying to find some familiarity in Angad's face, "kaun ho tum? Kahin dekha hai tumhey?…kahan se aaye ho?"
Angad stepped backwards and let Tehzeeb come forward.
Tehzeeb had tears in her eyes as she saw her Aapi- she was exactly as she had remembered her, except for a few more wrinkles and gray hair- Tehzeeb could not control her tears and hugged her grandmother, "AAPI!"
Aapi was speechless, as she hugged Tehzeeb, "Tehzeeb? Tu? Yahan kab…aur kaise aayi? Andar aa beti…..kitna zamaana ho gaya tujhey dekhey…..,"
Aapi stepped away and admired Tehzeeb's youthful looks, "kahin nazar na lag jaaye meri gudiya ko…..Allah mian ka shukr hai jo usney mujhey yeh din dekhney ke liye mehfoos rakha hai…..," Aapi had tears in her eyes too, as she pulled Tehzeeb inside her tiny flat.
"Aao beta tum bhi andar aao….kya naam hai tumhara?" Aapi looked at Angad
Angad touched her feet out of respect, but Aapi hugged him in return, "nahin beta gale lagte hain…khuda ke alaawa kisi ke aage jhukna nahin chahiye….."
"A..Angad…" Angad hesitated but answered her question
"Tehzeeb ke dost ho?"
"Haan….bas kuch aise hi samajh lee jiye….jis ship se Tehzeeb aayi hai, main usmein kaam karta hoon…" Angad explained.
"Aaj bahut pak din hai Tehzeeb…aaj Milad-e-nabi hai….is din khuda se jo bhi maango, wo mil jaata hai…..main kitney saalon se yeh dua kar rahi thi ki apne bacchon ko dekh loon…..aaj meri dua kabool ho gayi..," Aapi looked up in the sky with her arms in the air, as if thanking Allah.
Tehzeeb looked at Angad, and then looked up in the sky; she silently said a prayer herself.
"Aao…tum dono ko main kuch khaas khilaati hoon….Tehzeeb tujhey bahut pasand hain wo…peele meethe chawal….," Aapi was really excited and wanted to be the perfect hostess for her grand daughter and her friend.
Angad and Tehzeeb had a wonderful home-cooked meal on this auspicious day.
After lunch, Aapi asked Angad, "beta kahan ke rehney waale ho…bahut jaane-pehchaane lagte ho….."
"Main Mumbai ka hi rehney waala hoon…"
"Humein tho Mumbai chhode kayi saal ho gay…pata nahin kahan dekha hai…khair yaad aa jaayega…budhaape mein yaad kuch kamzor ho jaati hai….," aapi smiled
Tehzeeb hugged her Aapi from behind, "Aapi…boodhey ho aapke dushman! Aap tho abhi bhi bahut jawan hain!"
Aapi caressed Tehzeeb's face affectionately, "Tere Aabu kaise hain? Usney tujhey aane diya? Wo khud kyon nahin aaya?" Aapi had a lot of questions.
Tehzeeb's face fell, as she told her Aapi the complete truth.
Aapi was touched by Tehzeeb's story, "tu mere liye itni taqleef seh kar aayi hai…..mujhey ab aur kuch nahin chahiye…"
After a few hours of hanging out with Tehzeeb and Aapi, Angad stood up with his bags, "meri flight ka time ho raha hai…ab main aap logon se ijaazat chahta hoon….,"
Tehzeeb was like hit by a boulder, "Angad! Tum itni jaldi jaa rahe ho?"
Angad shrugged his shoulder, "kya karoon? Mumbai ki ek hi flight hai aur wo 2 ghante mein nikal rahi hai…"
Angad knew that saying good-bye was going to be the hardest part of this past fortnight. He tried to hide his emotions, "let me call a taxi…"
Tehzeeb's eyes glistened with tears. Her Aapi, of course, was still very attuned to Tehzeeb's emotions. She understood that the relationship between Tehzeeb and Angad was more than just a casual acquaintance or even a friendship. Her experienced eyes could tell that they were in LOVE WITH EACH OTHER- all afternoon they had teased each other and stolen loving glances from each other, presumably when Aapi was not looking.
Aapi interrupted, "Nahin beta…mera driver tumko airport chhod aayega….Tehzeeb tum bhi jaao Angad ke saath….usko thodi company rahegi…."
Tehzeeb smiled through her tears, "thanks Aapi…main jaldi se tayyar ho kar aati hoon…"
Tehzeeb accompanied Angad to the airport. That was the longest journey they had spent together. Tehzeeb tearfully gave copies of the cruise photographs to Angad.
Angad tried to lighten up the air, "jab tumhara nikaah ho jaaye, tho apne mian ji ko mat dikhaa dena yeh photo…kahni jalan na ho jaaye unhey…."
Tehzeeb smiled at his teasing, "yeh photo sirf mere hain….aur kisi ka haq nahin hai in par…."
They finally arrived at the airport. They both walked into the airport with a heavy heart.
Tehzeeb finally broke down, "Angad….please mujhey call karna…yeh mera number hai…apna bhi de do…"
Angad obliged and then pinched her nose, "apne passport ki tarah bhi isey misplace mat kar dena…"
Tehzeeb smiled through her tears, "misplace kar doongi tho tabhi tum mujhse milney aaogey haina?"
Angad smiled back and gave her a hug, "apna dhyaan rakhna Tehzeeb…"
Tehzeeb buried her face in his chest and sobbed, "Nahin rakhoongi! I know you will come and look after me if I don't take care of myself…."
"Bacchon jaisi baatein nahin karte….," he kissed her forehead and peeled away from her, as the final boarding announcement was made.
Tehzeeb waved at him; he walked through the gate without looking back, aware that his body was boarding the flight to Mumbai but his heart was going to fly with Tehzeeb to New York….
Song in background: "do pal ruka" from "veer-zaara" (I cry evertime I hear this song)
http://www.dishant.com/lyrics/song-21063.html
Do, pal ruka, khwaabon ka kaarvaan
Aur phir, chal diye, tum kahaan, ham kahaan
Do pal ki thi, ye dilon ki daastaan
Aur phir, chal diye, tum kahaan, ham kahaan
Aur phir chal diye, tum kahaan, ham kahaan
Tum the ke thi koyi ujli kiran
Tum the ya koyi kali muskaayi thi
Tum the ya tha sapnon ka tha saawan
Tum the ke khushiyon ki ghata chhaayi thi
Tum the ke tha koyi phool khila
Tum the ya mila tha mujhe naya jahaan
Do pal ruka khwaabon ka kaarvaan
Aur phir chal diye tum kahaan ham kahaan
Do pal ki thi, ye dilon ki daastaan
Aur phir chal diye, tum kahaan, ham kahaan
Aur phir chal diye, tum kahaan, ham kahaan
Aa... aa... aa...
Tum the aa khushboo hawaaon mein thi
Tum the ya rang saari dishaaon mein the
Tum the ya roshni raahon mein thi
Tum the ya geet goonje fizaaon mein the
Tum the mile ya mili thi manzilein
Tum the ke tha jaadoo bhara koyi sama
Do pal ruka, khwaabon ka kaarvaan
Aur phir chal diye, tum kahaan, ham kahaan
Do pal ki thi, ye dilon ki daastaan
Aur phir chal diye, tum kahaan, ham kahaan
Aur phir chal diye, tum kahaan, ham kahaan
Aur phir chal diye, tum kahaan, ham kahaan …
to be continued…