Kuch Toh Hai (Completed)

Chapter 17: Kashmir Diaries

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"Sidharth aap bhi na! Hum kuch der aur reh sakte the waha. Aap ko itni bhi kya zaldi thi wapas aane ki?" Said Shehnaaz while returning to the homestay at night.

"Zaldi thi. Main bohut thak gaya hoon. Agar thik se rest nahi mila na toh kaal kahi nahi jaa paaunga. Phir akele hi ghumna tum Kashmir." Said Sidharth to which Shehnaaz made a face.

Soon they entered the homestay. Suddenly Sidharth's eyes fell on an old man who was sitting outside and looking at the entrance continuously.

"Shehnaaz, look at him." Said Sidharth pointing his finger towards the person and Shehnaaz also noticed him.

"Tumne notice kiya? Aaj subah jab hum aaye the, woh Uncle tab bhi idhar hi baithe the." He said.

"Haan. Aur phir jab hum bahar nikle tab bhi. Aise ek jagah pe baith ke gate ki taraf dekh rahe the." Said Shehnaaz.

"Matlab woh subah se yaheen pe baithe hai? Strange!" Said Sidharth looking at the old man.

"Agar puri raat aise hi yaaha baithe rahe toh thaand lag jayegi. Iss umar mein yeh thik nahi hai."

"You are right. Ek kaam karo, tum room mein jaao. Main zara unse baat kar ke aata hoon."

Shehnaaz nodded and went to their room while Sidharth went to the old man and sat beside him on the bench.

"Uncle Ji, bohut raat ho gayi hai. Aap ko idhar aise baithe rehna nahi chahiye. Thaand lag jaayegi. Aap apne room mein kyu nahi chale jaate?" Said Sidharth but the old man kept looking at the gate as if he didn't heard him.

"Uncle Ji main aap se....." Sidharth suddenly paused thinking something and asked, "Aap subah se gate ki taraf kyu dekh rahe hai? Koi aane wala hai kya? Aap kisi ka intezar kar rahe hai?"

Hearing that, the old man finally looked at Sidharth and said, "Haan woh.... Meri Patni.... Main uss hi ka intezar kar raha hoon."

Sidharth made a confused face and asked, "Aap ki Patni aap ke saath nahi aayi?"

"Aayi thi. 30 saal pehle..... hum dono saath mein Kashmir aaye the. Iss hi jagah pe ruke the hum dono. Par main usse.... Wapas nahi le jaa saka. Tab se main har saal iss time pe yaaha aata hoon aur uska intezar karta hoon. Mujhe yakeen hai woh ek na ek din..... Wapas zaroor aayegi."

Sidharth suddenly noticed that the old man had tears in his eyes.

"Aap itna pyaar karte ho apni Patni se?" He asked seeing his tears.

"Pyaar?" Asked the old man and smiled sadly. "Waqt rehte usse woh pyaar hi toh nahi de paaya. Humari arranged marriage hui thi. Gharwalon ki khushi ke liye maine uss se shaadi kiyi jab ki uss waqt main kisi aur se pyaar karta tha. Shaadi ke baad maine usse kabhi apne Patni ki jagah nahi diyi. Woh tarasti rahi mere pyaar ke liye aur main uss se kehta raha ki main uss se kabhi pyaar nahi kar paaunga, isliye woh mujhe chhor de. Sab ke saamne toh hum baki husband-wives jaise hi the lekin asal mein humare bich bohut duriyan thi. Aur maine kabhi bhi unn duriyon ko mita ne ki koshish nahi kiyi. Humari shaadi ko sirf ek zimmedari samajh ke nibhata gaya. Phir hum honeymoon pe Kashmir aaye. Mera utna mann nahi tha lekin phir bhi gharwalon ke kehne pe humein aana padha. Yaaha aane ke baad bhi main uss se dur dur rehta tha. Phir ek raat humara bohut jhagra hua. Woh rote hue iss gate se bahar gayi aur phir kabhi wapas nahi aayi."

Sidharth couldn't understand how to react. He could relate with every single words he was saying. He was also doing the same with Shehnaaz. He was not giving her the love she deserved, hurting her everytime. What if one day she also left him like this old man's wife left him? Sidharth got scared thinking that.