Misty Hills, Loud Families, aur Ek Unexpected Team

Lina ne script pe ek detail point ki. “Yahan grandfather ne ‘river’ bola tha, na? Tumne ‘forest’ likh diya.”

Jaden ka face tight ho gaya. “Maine nahi likha.”

“Then who did?”

“Maybe you touched it.”

Lina gasped. “Meri handwriting itni bhi ugly nahi hai.”

“Ugly ka koi mention nahi tha.”

“Tumhara tone hi ugly hai.”

Bas. Wahi moment tha jab rehearsal explode ho gayi. Jaden ne script ko thoda zyada force se fold kiya, aur Lina ne ek step forward le liya.

“Tumhe problem kya hai?” she snapped. “Function mein aana hai toh aao, warna mat karo. But don’t act like I’m ruining your precious peace.”

Jaden ki aankhon mein kuch hard sa flash hua. “Meri peace? Tumhe lagta hai mujhe bas apni image ki padi hai? Tum hi ho jo har cheez ko control karna chahti ho.”

Lina ka jaw tense ho gaya. “At least I care enough to show up.”

“Attention chahiye na tumhe?” Jaden bol gaya, aur bolte hi usne realize kar liya ki line kitni bhari thi.

Hall mein ek second ke liye silence gir gaya. Lina ki face expression change hua—anger ke neeche kuch aur, kuch vulnerable sa, jo usne jaldi se hide kar liya. Usne lip press ki aur bol padi, “Wow. Great. Tum ab bhi wahi childish person ho.”

Jaden ne bhi waise hi hurt ki line throw ki, “And you’re still trying too hard.”

Rento ne mic off kar diya. Auntie Meba ne “oh no” wali expression bana li. Rehearsal wahin ruk gayi.

Us raat function hall ke bahar fog aur halke rain mist ke beech Jaden akela khada tha. Uske haath mein grandfather ki purani photo thi, jo uski grandma ne usko diya tha. Woh photo usko usually ghar ke drawer mein hi rakhi hui milti thi, par aaj usne khud nikaali thi. Uske late grandfather ki stories uske liye sirf stories nahi thi—unmein village, survival, aur belonging ka ek aisa sense tha jo Jaden kabhi openly admit nahi karta tha.

Lina thodi der baad corridor se aayi. Uske steps fast the, but face pe woh usual confidence nahi thi. Shayad anger thanda ho chuka tha, ya shayad uske andar ka pressure finally thoda crack hua tha.

“Tum yahan ho,” she said softly, almost surprised.

Jaden ne photo pocket mein daal di. “Haan.”

Lina ne thoda hesitate kiya. “Maine overreact kiya.”

Jaden ne uski taraf dekha. “Main bhi.”

Woh dono kuch seconds tak chup rahe. Phir Grandma Laitum ki voice sunayi di, jo hall ke side room se aa rahi thi. “Aao, tum dono. Baithe bina kahani nahi samjhe jaati.”

Grandma Laitum waise bhi aisi thi—warm, witty, aur soft strictness wali. Log sochte the woh stories sirf bacchon ko entertain karne ke liye sunati hain, but asal mein woh family history ko fade hone se bachaa rahi thi. Us raat unhone Jaden aur Lina ko ek chhoti si room mein bithaya, jahan old photos, woven shawls, aur ek faded wooden stool tha.

Grandpa Banshai bhi wahan the, apne usual slightly grumpy expression ke saath. Forest department se retired the, aur community mein unka respect alag level ka tha. Woh zyada bolte nahi the, par jab bolte the, seedha point pe bolte the.

Grandma Laitum ne pehle Lina ko dekha. “Tumhari nani ne ek baar mujhe bola tha, ‘Ye bacchi ghar ka pressure bhi dance step ki tarah sambhaalti hai.’”

Lina blinked. “Meri nani ne?”

“Hmm. Aur tum,” Grandma turned to Jaden, “tumhare dada ne kaha tha, ‘Ye ladka chup rehta hai, par jab kisi cheez ko apna samajh le, toh usko koi hata nahi sakta.’”

Jaden ka throat dry ho gaya. Usne apni eyes down kar li.

Grandpa Banshai ne ek short grunt diya. “Tum dono behas karte karte itna bhool gaye ki story ka point kya tha.”

Dono ne ek saath unki taraf dekha.

Grandpa continued, “Yeh function performance nahi, yaad rakhne ka tareeka hai. Tum log stage pe apni family ko carry kar rahe ho, apni ego ko nahi.”

Room mein ek aur silence. Iss baar hurt wala nahi, uncomfortable truth wala.

Grandma Laitum ne ek old tale sunani shuru ki—kaise Jaden ke grandfather aur Lina ki grandmother same community festival ke time pe ek dusre ke liye messages le jaate the, kaise families ek dusre ki help karti thi, aur kaise stories sirf sunane ke liye nahi, aage pass karne ke liye hoti hain. Jaden ko pehli baar realize hua ki uske family ke “boring old stories” actually uske roots ka map the. Lina ko bhi samajh aaya ki uska pressure sirf uska personal burden nahi tha; uski family usko strong isliye nahi bolti thi kyunki woh perfect thi, balki kyunki woh unki memory ka part thi.

Lina ki voice thodi low ho gayi. “Mujhe laga agar main sab control nahi karungi, toh log sochenge I’m not enough.”

Jaden ne uski taraf dekha. “Mujhe lagta tha agar main involved ho gaya, toh sab expect karenge ki main bhi unki tarah ho jaun. Family drama, community thing, everything. So I just… step back karta raha.”

Lina ke face pe pehli baar irritation ke bina expression tha. “But you do care.”

Jaden ne half-smile ki, almost invisible. “Unfortunately.”

Lina ne huff karke chhoti si smile chhodi. “Same.”

Next day function hall full tha. Elders front rows mein, college students peeche, aunties side mein, and Auntie Meba sabko seating se lekar snacks tak manage kar rahi thi. “No pushing, please. Aur haan, phone flash band rakho. Ye shaadi nahi hai.”

Rento sound desk pe ready tha aur Jaden ko dekh ke thumbs up diya. Jaden ne bas ek tiny nod diya. Lina stage ke side pe standing thi, shawl adjust karte hue. Usne Jaden ko dekha.

“Ready?” she asked.

Jaden ne deep breath li. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

“Good. Don’t mess up.”

“You too.”

“Main?”

“Obviously.”

Lina rolled her eyes, but this time the motion felt almost affectionate.