| | APART YET TOGETHER | |
PART - 3
-: Writer :-
Pritesh B. Thaker
thaker.prit127@gmail.com
© COPYRIGHTS
This book is copyrighted content of the concerned author as well as MatruBharti.
MatruBharti has exclusive digital publishing rights of this book.
Any illegal copies in physical or digital format are strictly prohibited.
MatruBharti can challenge such illegal distribution / copies / usage in court.
DEDICATED
My friends Manthan and Vivek who always encouraged and supported me for writing. They are always there to read every single page I write, they are my first reader and will always be.
And to Nivarozin Rajkumar (Niva aunty) who knows me only through facebook and yet without her it was quiet impossible to get this published….
AUTHOR INFO
-: NAME :-
Pritesh B. Thaker
-: PHONE NO. :-
8866663754
-: EMAIL ID :-
thaker.prit127@gmail.com
-: ADDRESS :-
71 Nilkamal park,
uni. Road,
sadhuvasvani marg,
opp. Suncity,
Rajkot – 360 005
INDEX
Part 13: ||back on the track||
Part 14: ||happiness knocks the door||
Part 15: ||take care of her||
Part 16: PRESENT....
Part 17: ||the diary||
Part 18: ||the diary||
Part 13:
||back on the track||
"hey, hey i am sorry for yesterday..." harsh said trying to get up, surrounded by empty canes of soft drinks, polythenes and a lot more garbage stuff.
"ahh... Forget about it, where are you now?" Nishi replied, she was sounding worried a little. Harsh looked around and said 'I am in a dus... Umm... Wait I am at home yes, home..." and he got out of that dustbin, he tried to recall what the hell happened last night and how did he end up in a dustbin but couldn't remember anything.
"what did you do with dii?" Nishi asked in an angry tone.
"what did i do?" rather he seemed asking his self, he was confused with her question and panicked at the same time.
"just shut up! And get to the sterling hospital right now..." she literally shouted at him.
"hello, hello..." he tried to ask something but she already had cut the call, hearing the word 'hospital' he got more panicked, he really couldn't come up with whatever was happening in his life. He called his driver and soon driver came to him.
"take me to the sterling..." he said getting into the car in hurry.
"why to an hospital sir?" driver asked, rather with curiosity.
"Because you are my driver and it is your duty to take me where i want to go..." harsh yelled at him, the driver looked at his cloths and asked him to change as he brought cloths with him because harsh instructed him to do so over the phone. Harsh changed his cloths in the car and combed his hair.
"Anything wrong sir?" driver asked looking into the rear view mirror.
"Shut up...!" harsh said giving him an irritating expression.
Soon they were in parking lot of the hospital, Harsh jumped out of the car before even driver stepped on breaks. He went to reception and inquired about Neha. Receptionist showed him the way to her bed, he rushed to it and was stepping in the room when he heard a male voice "wait!" he looked back hearing that, an old man with white beard was standing in front of him.
"I am her father, come with me..." the old man said. Harsh wanted to go and see Neha but he couldn't, her father led him outside the lobby.
"you have ruined her life..." her father said as they got out of the lobby in a low voice resting his hands over the grills.
"can you please tell me what happened, I am not in mood to solve puzzles..." harsh said getting panicked but soon realized it was rude and apologized.
"she is pregnant..." her father said breaking the eye contact and sighed. Harsh was stunned, he didn't know what to answer though he ended up saying "i love her..." as nothing else came up in his mind.
"oh! Really" her father gave him a doubtful look and went in with wet eyes.
"uncle I don't have a father can you..." harsh yelled chasing him and stopped him holding his shoulder, her father turned around and said "she means the world to me..." a drop of salt liquid made its way through his eyes.
"so does to me..." harsh answered. Both the men who meant everything to Neha were facing each other with tears in their eyes. Harsh stepped closer to him and gave a hug whispering in his ears "I'll never let her cry..." harsh father got back, wiped his tears and nodded, it seemed like he was trusting him now, he said holding his shoulder "go she is waiting for you my son..." he put extra pressure on words 'my son'.
Harsh went in the room, nishi got out seeing him and he sat beside her bed holding her hand and said looking into her eyes "hey! My angel..."
"hii..." she whispered giving him a smile.
"will you marry me madam?" harsh asked kissing her hands.
"no..." she answered while giggling.
"okay then, give me my baby girl and you are free to go..." harsh said putting his hand over her stomach like he was caressing their child.
"hawww... no, he is my baby boy..." she answered putting his hand back.
"no, she is my baby girl..." harsh said and both laughed, it was the first time after a whole week when they had a real smile on their faces.
"I love you..." harsh said kissing on her forehead.
"I love you too..." she whispered with a smile on her face and tears in her eyes...
It seems their life is back on its track, but wait is destiny really so kind to them? Probably not... Let's see how many surprises are there yet.
Part 14:
||happiness knocks the door||
"ji... Ji ji... Theek he... Okay swami ji... Na ji perfect he..." Neha's father cut the phone saying this. Everyone was looking at him with great curiosity, but he seemed in mood to tease them that he didn't speak for a while, finally Nishi got irritated and asked tapping her feet on the floor "papa... Kaho na..."
"ruko baba ruko..." still he didn't answer and kept on reading the panchang he was holding in his hands. Nishi and Neha both couldn't sit calm they were biting their lower lips, tapping their feet on the floor and playing with fingers twisting them crossing with each other while harsh and Dev looked calm in comparison.
"so, bachoo..." her dad said taking his eyes out of the 'panchang' and putting off the specs.
"yes, yes, yes..." Neha and Nishi both shouted jumping from the sofa in excitement with a huge smile on their face.
"13th may, on Friday..." her dad said giving hi-five to both the girls and Nishi jumped while shouting "oh my god! Matlab next Friday..."
"Eeeeeee...." both the sister screamed in zest and excitement and hugged each other, on this reaction all the three men laughed on them. Harsh and Neha bent on her dad's feet to take blessings and harsh kissed on her cheek while no one was looking at them, Neha pinched him hard in answer.
"ab meri shadi ka kya?" Nishi asked making a puppy face with a naughty smile.
"mere bad kar dete he, Dev kesa rahega?" Neha whispered in her ears resting her hands on her shoulder.
"but, muje to jiju pasand he aap dusra dekh lo na..." Nishi said and ran away from her, Neha chased her yelling at her and calling her 'nakchadi' and everyone around there burst into laughter. Her father got up and gave a hug to harsh whispering in his ears "take care of her..."
"more than myself..." Harsh answered.
A deep satisfaction was looking in both of their eyes clearly. Everyone around there had seen clouds of rain again after a very long time of autumn. Smile on their faces was glittering like light on a diamond, finally almighty had become some kind to them.
"chalo, chalo ab pyar bad me jata lena... We have to make arrangements too..." Dev said and both of them got apart.
4 days later:
all the arrangements of their marriage were done. Harsh and Dev came there to see how everything was going, they were going to get married at Neha's native place where her father and mother did marry each other, and it was her wish. Everything was perfect there. Neha was taking a last look around and checking everything in detail. She had resisted a lot for this moment and didn't want it to get spoiled in any case. She was looking at the lights when Harsh came from her behind and took her hold.
"hey! Koi dekh lega to..." Neha whispered looking around and made sure that no one was there.
"no one is here shehzadi..." harsh whispered kissing her right ear.
"achhaww... But mister... humari shadi ko ek din baki he abhi..." Neha pushed him back saying this and ran from there. Harsh chased her but she was a bit fast to catch, finally chasing for a while Harsh got her and lifted her up.
"eyy mister... Don't cross your limits ha..." Neha said slapping on his chest a little.
"i just want to show you a real angel, now shut up..." harsh said pressing his fingers over her lips and covered her eyes with his hands and took her to the terrace of the temple.
"now, you are going to see an angel..." he whispered in her ear and opened her eyes.
"awww... Harsh..." she said caressing her cheek while a tear rolled down from her eyes. There was a vast mirror in front of her which was reflecting her image; she could never look herself in the way harsh could. She put her hands around his neck and lifted herself up a little standing on her toes to reach his height, harsh held her from her waist and grabbed her closer that they could inhale each other’s breathings, both kept looking in each other’s eyes until they got closed as their lips met each other. They kissed each other a night before their marriage beneath the stars and the moon in witness of the darkness of the night and cold breeze....
Part 15:
||take care of her||
Neha put on the bangles and stood up looking herself in the mirror. She was really looking stunning in that red sari she wore that day, she arranged her nose-ring and smiled looking at the mirror, all covered with different ornaments her every look could even make lord of love fall for her. Her eyebrows were acting like Cupid’s bow killing everyone with her looks and whenever she acted shy it seemed like whole nature was adoring her. Her face was glowing like it was making sun pale in comparison.
"aaj to jiju behosh hi ho jane vale he..." Nishi opened the door and said looking at her sister, even she was stunned, it took her time to believe that the girl who was standing there was her sister only.
"chup pagal..." Neha said putting her sight down acting like a typical bride.
"umm... Dii aapko niche bula rahe he..." Nishi said taking a last look at her sister as she was checking that nothing was missing in her.
"but, abhi Harsh kaha aaya he..." Neha said taking her eyes out of the mirror and looked at her.
"are pandit ji ne kaha pehle kuch rasme karni he chalo..." Nishi said in hurry.
"okay baba..." Neha said and followed Nishi to the pendal. She sat beside her father and he smiled at her giving her blessings through his eyes. Dev was standing there wearing a traditional 'kurta'. When Nishi inquired him about Harsh he told that he would be there in a while. Surrounding was very pleasent due to various fregrance of materials used in ritual ceremonies.
Finally after a while when pandit ji asked about where the bridegroom was, Dev called Harsh but it was switched off. His forehead lines got stretched because of some certain tension but he assured everyone that he will be there in a while. Time was passing by and each second seemed like an hour in wait of Harsh and still they didn't have any clue where he was. Dev told them that he went to his room few hours ago when he was getting ready but now he was not even there. Smile on everyone's face was disappeared till now. It was now two hours and Harsh was not there, not even any news where he was. Her father was walking around here and there getting tensed, Dev was constantly making calls to get a single clue of harsh but all in vain, both the sister were sitting there holding each other in fear when Neha screamed and slapped hard on the floor breaking her bangles, she was holding a baby within her and what about the father of the child, no one knew where he was on his marriage. Everyone rushed to her but in a single stroke she pushed everyone away yelling 'leave me alone... Or kill me..." she put off each ornament she was wearing and started throwing it here and there while slapping herself hardly. No one around there could gather the courage to go near her. After a while of crying badly and beating herself like hell she fell unconscious. Looking at her, her father got paralyzed in shock and fell up on the floor with his hands on his heart feeling an immense pain; he felt a great tension on his nerves and muscles. Dev was in dilemma he couldn't decide for a while whom to support and handle hence he called the ambulance immediately. It was a heart attack. Neha became conscious after a while. Dreams, happiness, smiles every single thing was seized away from their lives. The person whom she loved the most she had no clue where he was on their marriage and her father who brought her up was laying on the bed due to heart attack. Everyone around there seemed dead though they were breathing. Neha didn't even blink in shock since few hours. It took two days for her father to get conscious when Neha was still in her marriage dress. Everyone rushed to her father when doctor informed them about his getting conscious. He took Neha's hand in his as they reached there and put it in Dev's hand. Neha wasn't responding, it seemed she had lost all of her senses, her father whispered when Dev leaned down to his face "take care of her..." and shut his eyes. ECG was showing straight line. No one there could even cry due to shock. Even endless tears couldn't maybe express their pain. Everyone seemed like a statue that could inhale and exhale. His last words were resonating in Dev's mind "take care of her..." Dev got out of the storm in his mind when Nishi got up and slapped Neha right on the face yelling at her "get out... Get out... Get lost both of you... You seized my father, my everything from me..." and then she threw herself on the floor and Neha walked from there, both were lifeless Dev was standing in between both of them...
Part 16:
PRESENT....
A tear rolled down from her eyes and she got out of memories. It seemed so real that it felt like it happened yesterday, she could still feel that pain. She experienced the worst part of her life few minutes ago, though now she was aware that it all happened 5 years back. Harsh was disappeared after that day, no one knew where he was, Nishi broke all contacts with her and as her father said Dev and Neha got married, the only reason Neha was alive was her child, her five years old boy who was named after him because still a part of her believed that Harsh cannot do that. Infect she died the day Harsh left her but she was still breathing only for sake of their child. She could never express her gratitude towards Dev, though she wasn't able to act like his wife and give him that love but she did, in every possible way. They were leading a happy married life in New york, far from India where no one knew them and suddenly one day Harsh comes out from nowhere. Life was again taking them back to the situation they never would wish to face. Where the hell he was in these five years? Why didn't he show up on their marriage? Why did he betray them? She wanted all the answers. She asked some of her trust worthy workers to find out every single thing about Harsh and it wasn't hard for them as they were well known family and industrialist in New-york, they had link with officials too, soon they found out his address and hand over to Neha, she made call to Dev looking at the address.
"hey! Sweeetii..." Dev greeted her answering the phone.
"hi! Umm... Listen, we will take dinner together tonight get back earlier today..." she said in a lovely tone.
"anything special?" Dev asked being confused.
"ahh... Nothing, love you..." she said and cut the phone, Dev was puzzled with this behavior of her.
Neha got out of the room and climbed down the stairs in hurry.
"I'll be back soon and make something special tonight..." she said to house maid while walking towards the door.
"yes, madam whatever you say..." maid was happy finding her normal again and confused too.
She didn't take driver with her and drove herself to Harsh's place. It was in a slum kind of area. Children around there rushed to her as she parked her Mercedes in parking lot of his apartment, she ignored them and climbed up the stairs reading in that chit of paper 'B-204'. She stopped stepping in front of his 1 BHK flat; maybe it was no bigger than her washroom. She took a deep breath and sighed, thought for a second before knocking the door and finally coming up with some strength she knocked the door. She was waiting but no one seemed to open it, checking here and there later she realized that it wasn't close and opened it at once pushing it with her hand. Her eyes got wide as she stepped into the room and became numb; she fell on the chair nearby in shock. Harsh was laying on a relaxing chair, his favorite show was going on in t.v. that still she remembered , he was holding an empty bottle of sleeping pills and in other hand he was holding a pen, a diary was there laying on the table with open pages. Soon she got that she was in a critical situation and regretted why even she thought of going there, she informed the ambulance and took the diary with her, he was admitted in nearest hospital and sitting on a bench in hospital she started reading his diary just because of curiosity. With every line she read a tear would fell on the page and with every page she turned she would curse herself more. Finally reading the last page she couldn't hold back any more and started crying madly...
What was there in the diary?
Part 17:
||the diary||
Today I saw her. Neha yes that is what she calls herself but I doubt, angels do not have name like this. Yes, she is an angel the real girl, the girl for whom I was seeking throughout my whole life. She has potential to make me stop breathing whenever she looks at me. I met her today during our music class and you know diary what is the good news? She is joining us from tomorrow. When I touched her hand, it felt like she calmed down my every nerve like she stopped blood circulation within me. Yes, she is the real girl diary. I found her finally. Should I ask her out? No, she is not that type of girl. She will probably deny and I don't want to lose her. Dekha tumne, muje use khone ka dar bhi lagne laga, this is the first time in my life. Yaar diary, it seems like I am changing, changing from inside, she is changing me.
Look Harsh first calm down... You've just seen her once...
To kya hua? Love at first sight bhi to ho sakta he! Okay, okay I got you my dear diary...! I'll mind it. But you know she has wizardry powers. Well, diary ab tera kya hoga? Muje toh apni real girl mil gai. Haha don't worry me tuje bhi sambhal ke rakhunga sari bate usise thodi share kar paunga.
But you know na Mr. Raj Jadeja ki life me problem na ho quite impossible. I had doubt that Dev also likes her but wasn't sure and you know what happened after she went from there, don't tell anyone ha.
"hey! Stop this being playboy and flirting attitude over here, this is my place..." Dev pushed me from my shoulder on a chair and yelled at me staring at my eyes. I had this great urge to punch him right on the face but i controlled myself as I didn't want to create a scene.
"hey dude! Easy, what happened?" i tried to be as cool as I could because he is the only friend I have, I can't lose him too.
"what were you trying to show in front of that girl? That you are the king over here and we are pawns..." he shouted at me in anger and kicked a chair hardly. I was not able to figure out why he was so furious.
"there's nothing like that yaar..." I tried to explain him being cool though I was still puzzled with his behavior.
"just one thing! Stay away of her..." he said pointing his finger at me trying to calm him down.
"but why?" I asked him out of curiosity...
"because there isn't your name written on her..." he was somehow trying to prove his illogical point to me.
"neither yours..." i said acting careless and ignoring him and stood up from the chair.
"you..." he rushed to me yelling at me. I surely didn't want this to turn into a fight.
"okay... Okay... I got you chill..." I said just to avoid the quarrel and he punched me though I couldn't solve out why he was reacting over protective towards that girl.
What you think diary? Does he likes her too? What if yes he does? Then i probably should not get in his way. He is a good man. I'll sacrifice her if he ever tells me how he feels about her. I need to talk to him as soon as possible. It's better to make things clear. Well, I do love her and anything cannot change it and my love doesn't force me to win her, all I care about is her happiness, her wizardry smile because love is not meant to be taken moreover it is meant to sacrifice one's self totally for the sake of love. Asli pyar ka matlab usse hasil karna nai hota. Kuch zyada hi senti ho raha hu na? I know I know...
Chalo good night and love you diary sweet dreams...
Part 18:
||the diary||
hey diary sorry, sorry, sorry... I couldn't meet you for three days bahot sari bate batani he, I was in hospital. I had an accident and broke my hand. I had a fight with Neha too but it was not my fault really and you know Dev is behaving strange since some days. We were playing a tune but couldn't it perfect so I was frustrated and Dev knew that very well. Somehow it felt like he was not paying attention, he was missing the tunes just to tease me more and I got angry with that you know that how possessive I am about music even he does know. I threw my guitar on the floor and sat beside it. Dev ordered some snacks and coffee as he was trying to be some helpful. I was not getting his strange behavior. One of his servants came with coffee and snacks and he accidentally threw the mug full of coffee on my guitar. I couldn't even imagine that this would happen. Apparently I got furious over him though I shouldn't have done that I slapped him, I was not in control of myself but Neha couldn't just tolerate this and she slapped me too. I was stunned, later I realized my mistake but it was too late she was gone from there.
I was cursing myself for what did I just do while I heard an evil laugh from behind me, it was Dev I was all confused when I saw him giving thousand rupees to that servant. I was like what he was doing? is he my friend or what? His servant messed with my guitar and he was paying him thousand rupees for that, and moreover he was laughing on me.... I got mad at him looking these all.
"What are doing Dev?" I asked him in as loud tone I could speak out. He was still laughing that made me more furious at him, I was just staring at him standing there waiting for him to end his nonsense laughing and answer me.
"What was these all?" I asked again looking into his eyes.
"It was... It was planned... a prank and you are the victim..." he said with my surprise still laughing loudly, I was already mad at him; I punched on his shoulder in anger. What he said a ‘prank’? because of his 'prank' Neha slapped me right on the face!!! A 'prank' haaa. I walked from there as i didn't want to face him, went back at home and had a nap.
I was damn frustrated, I made a cup of coffee for me and thought for a while. After all he is my friend... right diary? I thought I should forgive him and Neha, I'll apologize to her later. I just wanted to over those all mess I created between us. Hence in order i went to his house, he seemed very cool when he opened the door like nothing had happened though it gave me some strength but I didn't expect that. I apologized to that servant and while I was walking from there when he offered me some drink. I agreed because drinking together is the best way to make your bond stronger and i wanted to tell him something that i couldn't tell without getting drunk. We were at his terrace full drunk saying each other sorry again and again because of the after effect of alcohol we both were then not in control of our selves when finally I shouted "I love Neha...." He was stunned listening this, ho looked numb for a while then he grabbed me near holding neck of my t-shirt "are you serious you son of...." He shouted at me and I yelled in answer "I love Neha..." he cheered me for that and filled another glass of rum. I was not in sense, I stood up over the wall of his terrace and like I wanted to tell the whole world that I love her I kept shouting that. I was yelling like a mentally retarded person while I felt getting pushed from back and fell from there while dev shouted "I love her you son........"
