कभी ज़िद सा, खामोशी सा
कभी रूमानी सा, मदहोशी सा
एहसास-ए-ईश्क सरगोशी सा
कभी किनारों सा, बहारों सा
कभी झरने से गिरती फुहारों सा
एहसास-ए-ईश्क मल्हारों सा
कभी जीवन में कमी सा
कभी रेगिस्तान में नमी सा
एहसास-ए-ईश्क ज़मीं सा
कभी सहर सा, कभी‌ मेहर सा
कभी है ज़हर सा
एहसास-ए-ईश्क ब्रह्म पहर सा....


Ram enters the class. The first lecture has ended and second one was about to begin.

Dimple:- Kahan the tum. Mujhe bataya bhi nahi, bas aese hi chale gaye. Jaao jaake kisi aur ke paas betho.


Ram:- kaam tha kuch isliye gaya tha. Me to yahin bethunga nakchidi. Tumhe bhi kisi aur bench par nahi jaane doonga.


Teacher enters the class. Everyone is paying attention to the lecture but Ram is lost in his thoughts reminiscing his past, back to the time when he met her.

Ram's POV:-

Kehne ko to sab kuch hi tha mere paas. Bada sa ghar, bahut pyar karne waale mom dad. Boarding school me bhi nahi tha me 5th class tak. Fir zindagi me aesa bhoochal aaya ki sab badal gaya tha. Dad was caught red handed, he was cheating my mom. Nafrat karne laga tha me unse. Unhone mom se bahut maafi maangi ki kabhi aesa nahi karenge. Mom ne to maaf kar diya par me nahi kar paaya. Kyun karta. Dhokha diya tha unhone. Dheere dheere unki aur mere beech ki khaayi badhne lagi to mom ne mujhe hostel bhej diya. Tab me sixth class me tha. Hostel me bhi sabse ukhda vyavahar, kisi ki baat na sun na meri aadat ban gaya tha. Padhai me acha tha par bahut badal gaya tha me.

Fir ek din tum aayi Dimple. Hawa ke jhonke ki tarah. Tumne meri zindagi ka rukh badal diya. Tum kisi se baat nahi karti thi. Akele rehti thi hamesha. Mene bahut koshish ki tumse dosti karne ki par tumne har baar mana kar diya. Apni si lagti thi tum, ya kahun ki mere jesa sannata tha tumhare andar bhi.

Ek din class ke kuch ladkon ne tumse tumhaare papa ke baare me kuch kaha aur tum rone lagi thi. Uss din mene pehli baar kisi ke daant tode the. Tumne rokne ki koshish ki par me ruka hi nahi. Aur mujhe koi gam nahi kyuki wahin se shuru hua tha hamari dosti ka silsila.
Principal office me mere dad ko bulaya gaya, chaar thappad bhi pade the. Yaad hai tumhe jab me class me aaya to tumne kya kaha tha?

"Hii, I am Dimple. To aaj se ham dost. Lekin dobara kabhi gusse me wo mat karna jo tumne aaj kiya, agar manzoor hai to me hamesha tumhari dost rahungi."

Mene kahan haan manzoor hai.
Sab bache chhutti me ghar jaate, par me wahin rehta. Tum ghar isliye nahi jaati thi kyuki tab tumhara koi ghar nahi tha.
Tumhe yaad hai tumne kya kaha tha?

"Ram tum ghar kyon nahi jaate. Vanvaas par nikle ho kya. Aunty tumhe kitna yaad karti hain. Chale jaao na"

I said, "Nafrat hai dad se mujhe, tum ache se jaanti ho unhone kya kiya tha. Nahi jaunga me"

Tumhe yaad hai apna jawaab?

"Agar kisi ko apni galati par sach me pachhtaava ho to unhe ek mauka dena chahiye Ram. Kam se kam apni mom ke liye aesa kar sakte ho. Wo bhatke zarur par wo laut kar bhi to aaye na. Atleast you have got a dad, please give him a second chance"

Tumhare kehne par ghar gaya tha me. Dad ki khushi ka thikaana nahi tha. Tumne wo khaayi dheere dheere bhar di. Kahan tum meri dost thi aur kahan aaj tum mom aur dad ke liye mujhse bhi zyada important ban gayi. Tumne hamare bikhare hue parivaar me zindagi bhar di. Big B bahut badal gaye hain Dimple. Mom bahut khush rehti hain aur meri to duniya ho tum ho.

Batao na kese jaane doon tumhe khood se door. Haan tum usse pyaar karti ho, par mujhse bhi to karti ho na, chaahe dost ki tarah hi sahi.
Wo tumhari zindagi me nahi hoga to ek din tumhe mujhse pyar ho hi jaayega. Par me tumhe jaane nahi doonga, pyaar aur jang me sab jaayaz hai.

Finally the day was over. Before Ram and Dimple could head for home, it started raining very heavily.

Dimple:- Ram ab bike par kese jaayenge yaar. Sadken kitni slippery hongi.

Ram:- Kuch nhi hoga, tum to aese keh rahi ho jese pehle ham kabhi barsaat me bike par nhi gaye. Dheere chalaunga me, ab to chalogi.

Both just went a little farther, Dimple slipped and twisted her ankle. Daksh, who was on the way to take her home, saw her and came running.


Daksh:- Kya hua tumhe, tum gir kese gayi. Dekh kar kyun nahi chalti ho. Aur ye heel jab tumse sambhalti nahi hain to kyon pehan rakhi hai. Lagta hai pair me moch aa gayi hai.

Ram pushes Daksh aside and says:- Don't worry sir. Me use khud le jaunga.

Ram to Dimple:- Utho Dimple, aaram se aaram se. Dheere dheere chalo, bas ham parking se thodi door hain.


Daksh:- Have you gone mad, Ram. Wo bike par nhi jaayegi. Iss baat par behas mat karna warna acha nhi hoga, he says in an angry tone.

Dimple:- Dekhiye Mr. Oberoi, aap mere dost se aese baat nahi kar sakte hain. Me usi ke saath jaaungi. You can leave now.

Daksh:- Tum khud car tak to chal nahi paaogi miss Dimple (he winks at her), let me give you a ride.

He picks her up in his arms. Ram is froze and he could'nt speak a single word.

Dimple:- Mr. Oberoi, behave yourself. Mujhe abhi neeche utaariye, warna acha nhi hoga.
She tried her best but couldn't free herself.

Daksh:- Tum kam hilogi to mujhe kam mehnat lagegi tumhe wahan tak lekar jaane me. Drop to me hi karunga tumhe, you can shout or do whatever, I don't mind.

He finally makes her sit in the car, this time next to him.

Daksh rides away while Ram watches them going.

Ram:- Acha nhi kiya Daksh tumne. Dekh loonga tumhe. Ohh kahin ye meenu maa se milne to nhi gaya hai. Fir to Dimple ko pata chal jaayega.

Meanwhile, on the way,

Daksh:- Bhutta khaaogi tum?

Dimple:- Don't talk to me. Mujhe nhi khaana. Aapke upar kidnapping ka charge lag sakta hai, maloom hai aapko.
Aur office me jo aapne aaj kiya wo dobara mat karna.

Daksh:- Laga do kidnapping ka charge, ek kaam karta hoon, tumhe saari umar ke liye kidnap kar leta hoon.
Office me aesa nahi hota agar tum baat maan leti. Agli baar aesa mat karna.
He again smiles at her.

Dimple:- K.... K... Kk... Kya kaha aapne. Aese kese kidnap kar loge. Listen, mene self defense ki training li hai. Door hi rehna mujhse, aaye bade kidnap karne waale.

Daksh chuckles and says:- Gusse me bahut pretty lagti ho. Haha.

Dimple to self:- Me to keh hi rahi thi ye banda kuch gadbad hai. Ab to uncle ko pakka bataana padega ki unke bete ko doctor ki zarurat hai.

Daksh:- Ghar aa gaya. Khud chalogi ya fir se mujhe kuch karna padega.

Dimple:- Me chali jaungi and yes, you are not invited. So kindly leave, kidnapper.

Daksh:- Permission to tumhaari maangi hi nahi mene. Me to aa raha hoon meenu maa se milne.

Dimple:- Aunty bolo unko. Tumhari kuch nhi lagti hain wo. Sirf meri mamma hai.

Before dimple could enter her home, she hears a voice calling her. It was her neighbour, Geeta aunty. She needed some help with online payment, so Dimple went with her.

Dimple:- Mr. Oberoi me abhi aati hoon. Aaram se hi jaungi, faaltu me instructions mat chaalu kar dena apni. Aap andar jaao, mamma ghar pe hi hain. Unko bata dena aap kon ho, me aati hun tab tak. Aur haan, unko sirf aunty ji bolna, mamma wo sirf meri hain.

Daksh:- Wo to bata hi doonga, aur mamma kiski hai wo baad me tumhe pata chal hi jayega, he smiles at her.

Both left.

Meenakshi aunty:- Beta tum kon ho aur Dimple ki aawaaz aayi thi, wo kahan hai.

Daksh touches her feet and then hugs her tightly and says, "Meenu maa, kahan thi aap. Pata hai mene aapko kitna miss kiya. Mom bhi chhod kar chali gyi mujhe aur aap bhi."

Meenakshi aunty:- D.. Daksh, tum ho. Kitne bade ho gaye ho beta, aur handsome bhi. Tumhari mom.....kese, kab hua ye. Kitne wakt baad mile ho Daksh beta. Jaana kahan chahti thi me par tumhe to sab pata hai Daksh. Dimple ko achi zindagi dene ke liye jaana zaruri tha. Lekin ab me tumse door kabhi nahi jaungi. Maaf kar sakte ho apni meenu ma ko tum?


Daksh:- Aap kyun maafi maang rahe ho, maa. Jaanboojhkar thodi na gyi thi aap. Bas meri kismat hi kharaab thi.

Both hug each other again.

Meenakshi aunty:- Betho tum, batao kya khaaoge.

Daksh:- Me aapko mom bula sakta hoon?

Meenakshi aunty:- Tumhe jo acha lage wo kehkar bulaao. Jitna hakk tumhaari uss nakchidi ka hai na mujhpe, utna hi tumhara bhi hai. Koi din aesa nhi gya jab tumhe yaad na kiya ho, par halaaton ne kabhi mudne ka mauka hi nhi diya. Acha ab batao, kya khaaoge. Aur tum Dimple ke saath kese aaye? Kahan mili tumhe wo.


Daksh:- Aapka beta bada ho gaya hai mom. DIMT ka chairperson hoon me ab. Dimple se to mandir me mila tha pehli baar, tab pata nhi tha ki wahi hai. Rahi baat khaane ki to ek kaam karna mom. Aap kal mere liye Aloo gobhi ki sabzi, wahi ekdum aapke style ki bana dena. Bahut time ho gaya aapka banaya khaana khaaye. Aap Dimple ko pakda dena mera tiffin. Ab me chalta hoon mom. Fir aaunga fursat me.

Meenakshi aunty:- Itni jaldi jaa rahe ho. Acha koi na, lekin agli baar jaane nahi doongi. Aur ye tumhara hi ghar hai, jab mann kare aa jaaya karo. Tumhara tiffin kal pakka bhejungi.

Daksh again touches her feet and takes her leave. Finally he left for his house.

Later,

Dimple:- Jaan kahan ho. (Ye Mr. Oberoi nahi dikh rahe, she thinks)

Meenakshi aunty:- Tum aese kyu chal rahi ho. Achaa aaj fir pair fisla na tumhara unn chappalon me. Kitni baar kaha hai heels mat pehna karo, tumse sambhalti to hai nahi.

Dimple:- Haan jaan, ab wo sab chhodo. Ye batao koi aaya tha kya??

Meenakshi aunty holds her ear tightly, twists it and says, "Daksh mila tumhe aur tumne mujha bataya bhi nahi. Aaj bhi tumhe jealousy hoti hai uske mujhe maa bulaane par. Kitni bigad gayi ho tum. Kyun nahi bataya mujhe ki Daksh mil gaya tumhe.

Dimple:- Tumhaara Daksh kahan se ho gaya wo. DIMT ka chairperson hai, me kyun bataungi uske baare me. Mujhe to pagal bhi lagta hai.

Meenakshi aunty:- Tum Daksh ko nahi pehchaan paayi, guddu. DIMT ka chairperson tumhara dost, tumhara jigri dost Daksh hai. Badi bewkoof ho tum to. Daksh bhi kya sochega tumhare baare me. Aur khabardaar usko pagal kaha to. Khudki harkaten dekho tum. Aur haan kal Daksh ke liye tiffin lekar jaana, aloo gobhi banaungi uske liye.


Dimple is stunned on hearing the truth. Now she could make sense of that weird behaviour of him towards her. She couldn't speak a word and quietly leaves towards her room.

In Dimple's Room:-

She is talking to self, " Mera Daksh hai wo. Par mujhe bataya kyun nahi usne. Bewkoof kahin ka. Hey bhagwaan, mene to bahut raayta faila diya. Ab me kya karun. Daksh ko face kese karungi. Dekho Daksh diary me likhkar tumse baat karna bada aasaan hai. Par ye to socha hi nahi ki tum saamne aaoge to me kya karungi. Bhagwaan ji, wo sach me mera Daksh hai. Par usne mujhe bataya kyu nhi. Kahin aesa to nahi ki wo kisi aur ko pasand karne laga hai. Nahi aesa kese ho sakta hai. Aesa hota to wo itna sab kyun karta.

Dimple was caught in a storm of mixed emotions. On the one hand, she was very happy. On the other hand, she was worried about all the mess that she has created. She is also scared of facing him. It was a blast of emotions for her.

She runs towards hall on hearing Ram's voice.

Dimple:- Ram jaldi chalo andar. Kuch baat karni hai tumse. Jaan me isko leke jaa rahi hoon. Khaana baad me kha lega ye.


Meenakshi aunty:- Arre wo poora bheega hua hai. Kapde to badalne de usko.

Dimple:- Nahi, baad me badal lega.

She takes him inside.

Ram:- Kya hua tumhe. Aese kyun pakad kar laayi merko. Wahan to chhod kar aa gayi thi tum, haan.

Dimple hugs him and says, Ram tumhe pata hai mera Daksh mil gaya mujhe. Mr. Oberoi hi Daksh hai. Me bahut bahut bahut bahut zyada khush hoon Ram. Tum best friend ho mere, tumhe to ye baat sabse pehle bataungi na pagal.

Ram fakes a smile and says, "Wow Dimple. Sach me Daksh hai kya wo. I am so happy for you. Par... Par tumhe kese pata chala?

Dimple:- Mujhe kahan pata chala tha. Wese shuru se hi lagta tha ki kuch to apna sa hai isme, par fir mujhe laga ki aesa shayad isliye kyuki iska naam milta hai Daksh se. Par dekho na Ram, jise aapki aankhen na pehchan paaye use tab bhi aapka dil pehchan leta hai. Jaan ne bataya mujhe. Me bahut khush hoon. Kal milungi usse. I am so happy Ram, I am so happy.

Ram:- Haan haan, pata hai mujhe. Ab jaao yahan se. Mujhe aese hi bheega hua rakhogi kya?

Dimple:- Ohh, sorry Ram. Tum please change karo. Fir khana kha lena, ok. Mujhe to bhookh nahi hai.

Dimple gets back to her room.

Dimple to self:- Ek baar Mr. Oberoi, ohh I mean Daksh ko call karun kya. Itni baarish ho rahi hai, pata nhi wo ghar pahuncha hoga ya nhi. Par me.... me kya kahungi, kyun call kiya hai. Rehne de Dimple, pahunch hi gaya hoga.

Dimple switches her tv on to distract herself from her annoying thoughts.

On news channel:- Bhaari barsat ke kaaran solan me sadke hui jaam.
Breaking news:- Highway par hui landslide. Ek bus khaayi me giri. Kaafi saare log fanse hue hain. Rescuers are on the way.

Dimple:- Arre ye kya ho gaya. Yahi to main raasta hai, shehar ke dono corners ko connect karta hai. I hope sab log sahi salaamat bach jaayen. Bhagwan sabki raksha karna please.

Suddenly a thought creeps her mind.
P...p.. Par Daksh bhi to yahin se gaya hoga na. Kahin use to...... Nahi nahi aesa nhi ho sakta. Usko call karti hoon. Par mere paas to number hi nahi hai. Haan college ki website se nikaalti hoon.

Bell is ringing, someone answers it,

"Hello, kon"

Dimple, "Mr. Oberoi aap ghar pahunch gaye na theek se"

"Beta me Daksh ka papa hoon. Wo to abhi tak nhi aaya. Wese beta tum kon ho. Koi kaam ho to bata do, me Daksh ko inform kar doonga"

"Uncle, me Dimple. Aapko mandir me mili thi. DIMT me hi admission liya hai mene. Aap please unka number de sakte ho mujhe"

"Arre Dimple tum ho. Kabhi milne aana mujhse, ab to me bhi aa sakta hoon tumse milne, he says with a joy in his voice. Sab theek hai na beta, kuch zaruri kaam hai kya"

"Uncle.....wo...sab theek hai, she says hesitatingly. Aap please number de do. Bas kuch assignment se regarding puchna tha unse, baaki sab theek hai. Aap tension mat lijiye"

Onkar (Daksh's father) gives her his number. She thanks him and cuts the line.

Dimple called Daksh multiple times, but no one answered. Then finally someone picks up the call,

Dimple:- Daksh tum call kyun nhi utha rahe the. Kitni der se mila rahi hoon. Jaan nikalne waali thi meri. Tum theek ho na. Kahan ho.

Other side:- Madam, me Daksh nahi hoon. Ye phone to yahan sadak par pada hua tha. Bahur afra tafri machi hui hai. Landslide hui hai yahan. Dekhiye aap police ko details de dijiye aakar. Wo shayad dhoond paaye unhe.

The call is cut.

Dimple ki saansen upar ki upar aur niche ki niche. She starts crying loudly. She feels choked.

Ram and Meenakshi aunty comes running to her room.

Ram:- Dimple, Dimple kya hua. Tum ro kyu rahi ho aese. Lambi saans lo, doctor ke paas chalen.

Meenakshi aunty:- Guddu kya hua hai. Ram aesa to isko tab bhi hua tha na jab tum seedhiyo se gir gaye the. Guddu, lambi saans lo. Batao kya hua.

Dimple:- Wo.... Wo... Usko kuch ho gaya hai jaan. Please mujhe wahan le chalo. Uska phone kisi aur ne uthaya tha. Usko kuch ho to nhi gaya. She says while crying.

Ram:- Kisko kya ho gaya. Kahan jaana hai tumhe. Kiski baat kar rahi ho.

Dimple:- Daksh.... Daksh wahan landslide me fansa hua hai, Ram. Please mujhe wahan le chalo. Jaldi karo, me ja rahi hoon. Time nahi hai itna.

Ram:- Daksh.....landslide waali jagah par hai. (He shows fake concern for Daksh) Tum pagal ho, landslide hui hai wahan. Tum nhi jaaogi. Me jaata hoon.

Meenakshi aunty:- Me bhi chalungi saath. Guddu, Daksh ko kuch nahi hoga. Bhagwaan hain na, wo sab theek karenge. Chalo Ram.

Dimple:- Aap kahin nahi jaaoge mamma. Bas mene keh diya na. Me ja rahi hoon Ram ke saath.

Ram and Dimple left.

Both reach at the site where landslide has occurred. It is heavily barricaded by police as nobody is allowed in due to fear of bolsters falling off the cliff.

Dimple:- Sir, sir please aap hame andar jaane dijiye na. Mera... I mean hamara koi apna wahan fansa hua hai. Dekhiye wo DIMT ke chairperson hain. Please aap hame jaane dijiye.

Officer:- Madam aapko dikh nahi raha hai rescue team apna kaam kar rahi hai na. Bahut casualties hui hain. Aur bhi patthar upar se gir sakte hain. Aapki safety ke liye hi mana kar rahe hain. Koi andar nahi jaayega. Aap photo dikhaayiye unki. Ham dekhte hain.

Dimple to Ram:- Please Ram kuch karo na. Big B ko call karo please. Unko kaho hame andar jaane ki permission dilwa den.

Ram:- Tum theek keh rahi ho. Me abhi dad ko call karta hoon.

Ram calls his father. Mr. Avinash asks him to bring the officer on call. Ram hands over his phone to the police officer. As they are all immersed in conversation and are distracted, dimple escapes and crosses the barricade.
She reached the main site.

Dimple:- (Shouting) Daksh.... Daksh..... Daksh kahan ho tum. Please saamne aao na. Ab me kabhi tumse ladaai nahi karungi, please Daksh (she is crying and running here and there).

Suddenly she saw Daksh's car. It has rammed into other side of the road towards the hill. There is nobody in the car and the airbags are open.

She again runs here and there shouting his name. She hits her foot on a rock and was about to fell, but somebody caught her hand and pulled her towards him. It was Daksh.

Daksh:- (Shouts at her) Dimple tum yahan kya kar rahi ho. Ye kya haal bana rakha hai tumne. Abhi gir jaati to chaut lag jaati na.

Dimple hugs him tightly and starts crying.

Dimple:- Daksh t.....tum....tum theek ho na. Meri to jaan hi nikal gyi thi. Pata hai kitna darr gayi thi me. Tumhara phone bhi kisi aur ne uthaya tha. Bahut bure bure khayal aa rahe the. Tumhe sir pe bhi chot lagi hai. Bahut dard ho raha hoga tumhe.

Daksh:- (He holds her face with his hands) To finally meri Dimple ne mujhe pehchaan hi liya, haan. Mujhe to laga tha madam kayi janam ka time lagayengi. Dard to bahut ho raha hai yaar, par chot ki wajah se nahi.

Dimple:- Kya... Chaut ki wajah se dard nahi ho raha, to....to... Fir kyun ho raha hai. Kahin aur bhi chaut lagi hai. Abhi hospital chalte hain, she holds his hand to take him to the hospital.

Daksh pulls her towards him. He hugs her tightly.

Daksh:- Ho raha hai na dard. Pehla to tumhe rote dekhkar. Aur aaj laga ki tumse fir kabhi nahi mil paunga. Tumhe kho dene ke dard se zyada dard kya hoga mujhe. I love you Dimple. I love you so much. Tumse bichhad kar zinda kahan tha me. Har roz chaand se tumhaare naam ki sifaarish ki hai. Mujhe dobara chhod kar to nahi jaaogi na.
(He too starts crying, itne saalon ka dard aansoo bann kar dono ki aankhon se beh raha tha)

Dimple looks at him and holds his face in her hands.

Dimple:- Tum kyun ro rahe ho, I hate tears in your eyes. Tum kabse rone lage. Rotdu to me thi na. (She wipes his tears) I love you Daksh. I love you, love you, so so so much.

It starts to rain. Both hug each other again. Both are drenched in rain but are not willing to leave each other.


" The wheel of fate has turned
In your warm embrace
Bonds of soul do last
No amount of time can outpace
You were always there
And I was always here
Moon and stars were same
Same was the sky we shared
You would talk through the stars
Sending your whispers far
My diary has got your name
The feelings never changed
Destiny pulled us apart
But our hearts could never part
Let's start all over again
A promise, witnessed by rain..... "

#DakshDimple


© Gauri_68