Chapter-17 They sat by the side of the beautiful masterd field.

Maira was looking down holding tight her baby and tears still rolling out of her eyes.Manav asked her "Shaadi kab ki Maira?" "Do saal ho gaye." "Mujhe nahin bulaya?" "Tumne bhi to nahin bulaya mujhe" Manav was silent for a moment and then he brusted to tears and hugged her"Tum zinda ho Mairu tum Zinda ho Maine to socha ki ki.........................mujhe yakin nahin ho raha hai Mairu yakin nahin ho raha" "Zinda matlab mujhe kya hua tha?" "Maira sab zante hain ki tumhe aur Rehan ko partition ki jung mein.....Rehan Rehan thik hai na?" "Rehan ko maar diya gaya mujhe kuch nahhin hua main thik hun",a drop of tear fell on her cheek. Manav wished he could rub it but he was helpless now,"Maira tumne mujhe khabar kyun nahin di Maira itne din main yahi sochta raha ke ke.................maine shaadi bhi kar li,kyun kyun maine yeh kyun kiya",then he realised what was he speaking,he married because he was helpless but she seemed happy in her new world with her baby andso he stopped. Maira couldnt control her tears,her blood ran boiling inside her,she feared if Manav worsened his married life for her she felt for him so deeply she wanted to hug him but could not so she made the moment light willingly and asked "Tumhari biwi kaisi hai Manav?" "Thik hai usi ke bhai ki shaadi pe aaya hun yahan" "Aur bacche?" "Abhi tak to nahin",he said that giving a smile so that she would get a false indication that he was happy in his married life. He then looked at her baby and said,"Tumhari beti kitni pyari hai Maira bilkul tumhari tarah hai" "Nahin yeh apni papa ki tarah hai" Manav was silent and just smiled and said"Kya main tumhri beti ko apne god mein le sakta hun" Maira heart leaped up that moment why was this happening why is destiny playing such a game with them she handed him Payal and her hands were trembling,his hands caught touch of hers while taking payal,Maira wished that this moment was captured somewhere it was

such a beautiful and precious moment for her a moment which she always dreamt of.She just observed him carefully with Payal.As soon as he looked at her and smiled at her Payal started gigling and he kissed her a drop of tear fell on payals cheeks.These beautiful moments Maira just couldnt resist it gave her pain inside her heart,how much she wanted to tell him that it was his baby,it was their baby,their last sign of love.Manav hugged her close to her heart.He didnt know just the fact that it was Mairas baby his Mairus baby gave him a sense of inner satisfaction inside his heart.His all depressions were removed in a second it seemed likehe got a new life now,for him she was divine just like Maira herself,she got that delicate and pure smie of her mother,she just meant the sign of life for him,he knew that it was her husbands daughter but still it seemed like she was a part of his own,that feeling that feeling was priceless.He giggled for the first time he giggled in these two years with her,he played with her tickled her and made her laugh,she was so happy being with Manav. Manav then handed her over to Maira and she caught hold of his pen in his pocket,she didnt want to leave it,Manav then handed her the pen to her and tuch it on her frock and it made Payal so happy that she was hopping out of joy and wanted to go to Manav again and Manav opened his arms to take her again but Maira said,"Uncle ko tang nahin karte beta" Manav interrupted"Are main kyun bhala tang honga kitni masoom aur pyari hai tumhari gudiya and streched his arma agin to hold her but Maira said"Hume der ho rahi hai Manav main chalti hun",she said keeping a stone inside her heart.Hearing those words manav realised that she has her own life now who was he to interrupt them now,his heart leaped with pain,he said nothing"Thik hai Maira jao" and Maira turned aside hiding her tears but they rolled uncontrollably when she turned away from him just then he said from behind"Shaadi ke baad aur bhi pyari lagti ho tum Maira sindoor me"Maira didnt say anything tears came out from her eyes more fast now all this she had been putting in his name onle for him only,she didnt say anything just slowly walked away with lots of undescribeable pain inside her and Manav kept on staring at them with a sense of pain and beautiful satisfaction inside him till her glimpse dissapeared. Manav was so peaceful inside now yes it pained to see Maira being setlled with someone else but at the same time itmade him happy that she was happy,she has a baby and she seemed so happy with her.he recalled wacthing her play with her baby in the fields it was so

delightful to see Maira,the childlike innocent Maira become a mother and play so innocently with her baby.Mairas eyes were flashing infront of his eyes he just couldnt take it off from his mind and heart.He reached Jaspreets place she asked him,"kahaan the aap Manav itn der tak main kabse dhund rahi thi aapko" "Kahin nahin bas kheton mein thoda ghum raha tha khubsoorat hai yahan sab kuch,sab kuch" "Yeh to mujhe dekhke hi pata cha jata hai na,she winked at him" Manav didnt say anything he just smiled and went away and that gave Jaspreet some wrong indication.She was running some evil plans inside her mind today to do something at night since they were staying at the same room in this house for now. Payal was asleep in the jhula,and Maira sat on the floor caressing her forehead and crying silently.She saw her face,Payal was just another Manav,her feautures her complexion,eyes,nose lips everything like him.She was a fathers daughter.She still couldnt forget how purely he hugged her today that hug had like filled her with a new life for a moment.She realised now why he married Jaspreet and how much pain he must be going through inside,she atleast had Payal by her side but he had none.How much might it have pained him that she was a mother of someone elses child but still she could sense a pure fatherly love in his eyes for Payal.She kissed her small tiny soft hands and said"Mujhe maaf kar do Manav maaf kar do".Suddenly her Abbu got noticed of it and he came to her,put his hands on her forehead.She looked up and rubbed her tears and he said"Meri bacchi apne abbu se kuch mat chupa bol de main tujhe is tarah nahin dekh sakta".She hugged him and sobbed.He caressed her head and said "pata hai beta tumhari ma ko maine bohot koshish ki bachane par bacha na saka,maine socha tha ki tumhe aur Rehan ko main dukh se saye se bhi dur rakhunga par aisa ho nahin paya.Aaj tum mere paas ho,tumhe pata nahin beta tumhe main apne ankhon se samne dekhkar kitna sukun mehsoos karta hun ki meri bacchi sahi salamat hai,ek hi to bacchi hai meri aur duniya me kaun hai tere siwa beta agar tu is tarahchup chup kar roti rehegi toh kya teri ma aur tere chota bhai upar se tujhe dekhkar khush rahege".Maira looked at him and holded his hands and said"Abbu main kya karun Abbu mere zindgi ke sabse khoobsoorat pal jo maine socha tha ke aap Rehan aur Manav mein baat lungi woh kyun is tarah khatam ho gaya abbu.Aur aaj woh saaya phir se mere saamne aaya aur phir se woh duniya meri yaad dila di " Kya hua beta bata mujhe"

Maira told her aabu everything and told how much sorry hefelt for him that she just couldnt forget their moment forever.And he said hugging her"Meri bacchi tu bohot badi ho gayi hai main samajh sakta hun tujh par kya bit rahi hai par tune jo kiya bilkul sahi kiya beta isime sabki bhalayi hai.Manav apne zindgi me aage barhne ko koshish karega par tu beta tu bhi isi meinkhush raha kar ki sab thik tarah se aage badhenge abhi,hum apni Payal ko bohot acchi tarah palenge beta hum isi mein khush rahenge Manav khush rahega tu chinta mat kar,aur tere liya maine tution thik ki hai.Mere school ke kuch bacchon ko english ki tution chahiye thi to maine aaj unko bulaya hai bas kuch pyare char paanch bacche hain,mujhe pata hai tu bohot lagan se padhayagi aur tera man bhi laga rahega isiliye maine tujhe tution teacher bana diya thik hai beta" Maira smiled and hugged her abbu again "Aap mere liye khuda se bhi barhkar ho abbu,abbu aap kabhi mujhe chod kar mat jana"He kissed her forehead"Kabhi nahinmeri bacchi".Just then the calling bell rang.Maira went to open it.The door opened and a dhoti glad young mad stood there stunned by her beauty,he wore big round glass spectacles,with his hair neatly combed over,he had an adorable built almost of her height and big round eyes,hespoke his voice shaken for a moment"Ji ji Mashter babumoshai hai main kolkata se aaya hun unke school ke kuch kaam ke liye".