Chapter 5: ( By Jenny )
After having left the mandir Arnav's mother was distraught. Her own daughter, her own flesh and blood could not understand her. How could it be that the child that she had nurtured inside her for nine whole months now could not understand her?
As she walked along the street towards home deep in thought she did not realise how slowly everything began to get fuzzy. And the next thing she knew everything had gone black.
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Khushi's screams echoed through the room as her contractions came one after the other now only seconds apart. This was sheer torture. The single most agonising thing pain Khushi had ever been through. Nothing in this world could have prepared her for the pain that was shooting through her body at that precise second.
The doctors and midwifes offered her a number of pain reliefs epidural's and such but Khushi needed none of those. All Khushi needed was for her pillar of strength, her rock to be there holding her hand as she bore their child into the world.
Arnav watched Khushi as she screwed her face in pain once more as she clung deeper to his hand to try and ease the pain. Arnav stared at her a look of pure admiration etched on his face. He knew Khushi's history more than all too well. Growing up in a family of all brothers she had been the apple of everyone's eyes. Her brothers and parents would give her all she had wanted even before she could open her mouth to vocalise her wish. She had been spoilt but not in a snotty way. One of the things that had surprised Arnav about her the most was that though she was spoilt she was not at all arrogant or stuck up at all. She was one of the most humble down to earth people that he had ever met.
But the fact that she was the apple of her family's eye meant that she never had to go through any pain at all. So her tolerance level for pain had always been low. Arnav fondly remembered how during their few years of marriage if Khushi would ever get the slightest of a toothache or headache she would take pills straight away and then sleep it off. And here she was today denying all forms of medication and preferring to go through that pain because she wanted their baby safe.
A natural beauty had always adorned Khushi and Arnav thought that she looked effortlessly beautiful always. But right here right now he could not help but realise just how much more beautiful she looked than usual. In fact right here right now as Khushi laid on the bed and was giving birth to their child she had never looked more beautiful.
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Arnav's mother woke up to find herself in a hospital bed. As she sat there wondering to herself how she had gotten there a nurse walked in.
Mrs. Raizada, a man and his wife had found you lying unconscious on the floor near a temple. The couple bought you in and left. We tried our best to contact your family but no one was picking up the calls, so we left messages'
Sister what's wrong with me?'
I am afraid that due to your diabetes your kidneys have stopped functioning so you will need to be coming here regularly for dialysis. We need to get some information from you about who is in your family as your carer' and who will be bringing you to your dialysis sessions. If you are living alone then I am afraid we are going to have to shift you to an old age shelter at which people who suffer the same condition as you have nurses and doctors who can care for you around the clock. I will be back with all the relevant forms after a while. For now you must rest'
And saying that the nurse left. But Arnav's mother did not realise the severity of what the nurse just said. She still believed that he son would come to take her away from the hospital. Little did she know that the outdated belief she held about sons looking after their mothers in old age was too shatter in such a harsh way---
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Twelve hours of labour later a screaming baby was laid into the open arms of Khushi and Arnav. The child was howling trying to adjust to her surroundings. The second she felt two pairs of strong arms around her she quietened down immediately. She felt safe. The small baby then slowly opened her doe shaped eyes and looked up.
All that pain everything Khushi had been so worth it when her bundle of joy had been given to her. And when she opened her doe shaped eyes revealing a pair of molten brown eyes and looked up to her at her it was love at first sight for Khushi.
As her little girl stared at her she knew that she would love and protect that little girl forever. She would fight the whole world for her little girl's happiness if she had too. And she would make sure that her daughter knew just how rare and important girls were. She would never have to grow up believing that girls were a burden.
Arnav watched as their little girl was given to them. After so long their treasure was finally here. He watched as she slowly opened up her doe like eyes. He watched as a pair of molten eyes looked from him to his wife. The shapes of her eyes were just like Khushi's but the colours of her eyes were like his. As he watched the tiny bundle of joy Arnav Singh Raizada fell head over heels in love once more. First time around it had been with his wife Khushi Kumari Gupta and this time around, the second time it was with his child. His daughter---
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Today was visiting hours once more. And just like she had been doing for the past 21 years, Arnav's mother stood gazing longingly at the door hoping her son would finally be coming today to take her away. Every day at this time Arnav's mother would be sitting in the common area with all the other residents waiting for her son to come. It had been 21 long years but even 21 years had not been enough to falter her belief that her son was coming to take her away.
Even after all this time she was still under the same illusion she had been under all those years ago.
A knock on her door pulled Arnav's mother out of her reverie. A girl stood knocking on her door waiting until she was told she could enter. Arnav's mother nodded giving her silent consent to enter.
She had a feeling that she knew the girl from somewhere. As if she were a long lost relative of some sort. Her face. Arnav's mother felt as if she had seen her face before.
I came here to invite you to my wedding Dadiji'
Why would I come to your wedding? I am sorry but I don't even know you'
Of no you do know me Dadiji you do indeed. Do you remember 21 years ago your son and daughter- in-law were expecting a baby? A baby which you threatened to kill if it was not a boy? You remember something Dadiji? I am the daughter of that son and that daughter-in-law. Laxshmi, Laxshmi Singh Raizada'
And with that she gently placed the wedding invitation on the table next to where her Grams sat and softly walked away leaving behind a startled Grandmother---
Part 6 ( By Myself )
As Laxshmi Singh Raizada walked away leaving her Dadi's world reeling, she knew her Dadi would come for her, for her parents, for their family. God had given her everything a girl could ask for, loving parents, an adoring younger brother and sister, caring relatives, her family was perfect yet she had never known the love and care that only grandparents can give.
Her Bua's in laws, her mother-in-law had always treated her like her own granddaughter, never a comparison between Laxshmi and Anjali's daughter Naina, yet she yearned for her own and as she grew up, she had slowly discovered the circumstances of her birth and an elder sibling that she had lost because her Dadi loathed girl children. She had heard of the pain her mother had been subjected to, the trauma that her father underwent when he learnt of the horrible truth and how her parents and her Bua had moved away to live separately because her Dadi couldn't accept her or her mother!
Laxshmi was deeply hurt and heartbroken that her Dadi wished for her death. She had initially decided that she didn't want to meet her but later on, a faint glimmer of hope took shape inside her heart, constant thoughts haunted her.
What if her Dadi had changed?
What if she was living in repentance?
Whatever happened, it had been years now and maybe her Dadi too had changed with time!
She knew her parents missed their mother figure so then why not make a fresh attempt?
And that is how Laxshmi Singh Raizada who had inherited her mother's strong will power and innate sense of goodness and her father's sharp brains embarked on her personal hunt for her Dadi , retracing the past, travelling through the same paths through which her Dadi had once treaded on, she had eventually managed to locate her.
And now it was up to her Dadi to decide what she wanted.
Meanwhile, Laxshmi's Dadi was lost in her own world. It has been decades now since she had heard of either of her children. Neither of them had ever bothered to reach out to her, and they didn't seem to miss her either. For decades now she had lived a lonely life , a life uncared of whilst she had a family who were duty bound to be with her in her old age, yet here she was, all alone. And it was all because her son loved his wife and daughter more than his own mother.
The rage that she had bottled up inside her in all these years of her lonely existence, rose to the surface again, Laxshmi's arrival fuelling it, the life who even before it was born had snatched a son away from its mother and her she was today inviting her Dadi to attend her wedding as though unaware of the misery she had caused her.
She picked up the card and scanned the dates as she thought to herself, you wished for my presence and so shall it be Laxmi Singh Raizada, sooner you will be wishing that you had never invited me!
The day of the wedding arrived; Arnav and Khushi looked at the blushing bride who was their little princess, wondering how the time had flown by so quickly. Khushi felt her tears threatening to flow when she felt Arnav squeezing her hands in his, his eyes reflecting her happiness, he pulled her close as she laid her head over his heart, hugging each other tight as they watched their daughter being teased and loved by her friends and family, whilst she had eyes only for her soon to be husband, Raghav who was sitting right beside her.
To Arnav and Khushi it seemed like just yesterday that they were sitting on a similar mandap, waiting to be married so that they could start their odyssey of life together and here they were now, getting their first born married while her siblings fussed over her!
All of a sudden they saw Laxshmi's eyes zoning in on somebody who seemed to have just arrived and as they followed her line of sight, they felt the tremors of the past jolting them, the person who stood before them was the symbol of all the darkness that had taken over their lives a long time back.
Even now, after all these years, Khushi could remember a traumatised Arnav who used to weep in her arms over the pain of his lost child. Arnav could still remember that terrible night when Khushi had revealed his mother's true colors for him to see. He could still remember her agony and fear and now after all these years, the bane had returned on the most important day of their daughter's life...
Arnav was the first one to find his voice You! Who invited you here?! How dare you enter our lives after all you have done? Aren't you satisfied with all the pain you gave us years back?' spat out Arnav while his mother flinched in the face of her son's hatred, even after all these years Arnav had still not forgiven his mother and that much was clear.
But never one to back down without a fight, she retaliated Hold your tongue Arnav, I am not an uninvited guest here, before you lash out, ask your daughter why I am here and you will know!'
Now it was Arnav's turn to be shocked, Khushi turned towards their daughter who was coming towards them, What are we hearing Laxshmi? Did you invite your Dadi to your shaadi?" asked Khushi looking at her daughter for an explanation to the bizarre turn of events.
Laxshmi nodded her head apologetically as she spoke, Mama, Papa, please forgive me for not telling you beforehand, but Dadi is here because I requested her to attend my wedding. I didn't tell anyone anything because I knew you all would be upset and I didn't want that, I wanted this to be a surprise for everyone here'.
Arnav for a minute forgot that his daughter was getting married; he forgot everything but the pain that his mother had given him and Khushi!
Surprised?'
Laxshmi how did you have the audacity to invite this woman to our home? Do you even know what she is capable off? Do you know what she did to your parents? I thought you already knew. She killed our first child Laxshmi, only because it was a girl, she forced your mother to kill her own child!' And if Khushi hadn't decided to open up to me, then even you would have been killed off in your mother's womb!
And yet you call the same woman to be a part of the most important day of your life?! I need an explanation and it better be a good one'
Laxshmi struggled to contain her tears as she heard her father speak. All her life she had never seen her father this angry and hurt because of her, she wanted to explain it to him that she had done it with purely good intentions. She reached to place her hand on Arnav's shoulder but he shook her off,
Papa, I know what Dadi did. I know she hated me even before I was born, I know everything Papa and yet I went looking for her. Papa there is nothing that time can't change or heal and I was merely pinning my hopes on that. What if Dadi had changed after all these years? She is your mother after all. What if she was missing her children? I know you and mama can't live without knowing about Raj , Sweta or me even if it's for a day, Anjali Bua can't live without hearing about Naina & Alok either so in that case how can Dadi live without her 2 children? What if she wished to be with her grandchildren?' Laxshmi silently wept as she stated her reasons while Raghav held her in his arms.
Arnav couldn't stand his daughter's tears, he looked at Khushi who was equally in pain over everything that was happening, and they also understood Laxshmi's reasons. But, to forgive the woman standing before them, and that too, when not even a single iota of change seemed to have touched her heart. Even today, they wondered how the day could get worse but just then Alok and Raj stood up, they had been silent all through the entire ordeal, and they were also well acquainted with their grandmother's cruel acts.
They went and stood in front of her, Raj looked at her, his eyes distant and cold, So you are the one who was ready to kill my Di, you are the one who killed my parent's baby once already and all because you wanted a grandson to carry your family name? Do you know who I am? I am Raj Singh Raizada, Arnav Singh Raizada's second child, if you had been around while I was born am sure you would have loved me but you know what? I hate you! I hate your very existence as much as my dad does. It's better to die rather than be related to a heartless woman like you! How I wish my father had a mother who knew to love her children like how my mother loves us! My Di is innocent, she can only see the goodness in every soul, she is pure and untouched by evil and that's why she couldn't understand the evil in you even after all these years but I can! You haven't changed a bit even after all these years and I want you to leave right now!' spat out Raj , rage coursing through his veins but his Dadi wasn't done yet , she leaned forward to touch him but he pulled away , she looked at him with adoring eyes.
Your words can't hurt me Raj, you are my Arnav's son after all and how can I hate you? You are just like your father, he was also very protective about his sister and so are you, like father like son! Why do you hate me Raj? It's only your sisters I don't care about but I do care about you. If I had known earlier that I have a grandson like you then I would have come earlier. Laxshmi as she is about to leave us all for good, did one right thing in her otherwise useless life, it's because of her today that am able to meet you and soon you will realise why your Dadi loves her grandson more than her granddaughter'
Alok had enough of his Nani's nonsense and he decided to put an end to it,
Oh really? So then how come you cared so much for my mother at one time ? Your daughter Anjali? You hate girl child yet you still loved my mother, why? Isn't she a girl too? Yet you loved her and you hated Khushi Maasi. Why?
So if it's your own blood then there is no difference between a girl and a boy, your own daughter you can love her as much as you love your son, but you can't accept your son's daughter or her mother! You are such a hypocrite! A bane for all women around the world!' screamed Alok, shaking in pure uncontrollable rage while their families , relatives and friends watched him shocked.
Naina and Sweta intervened, That's enough Alok and Raj, do you even know who you are talking to? She is matriarch of your family Raj and Alok she is your Nani' said Naina as she admonished her 2 brothers for their reckless words while Sweta looked at her Dadi whom she was meeting for the first time.
Dadi please accept our apologies on behalf of our brothers, it's only their love for us that's making them act so, please don't hold any grudge, Laxshmi Di wished for your blessings on her shaadi , please don't deny her this wish of hers!' begged Sweta, tears in her eyes.
Just then Anjali who was silent all this while came forward, Sweta whom are you asking for blessings for your sister? Don't waste your time and don't let evil fall upon Laxmi! This woman here can only curse your sister, she can never learn to love! If she did then Laxmi would have had an elder sister as well, a sister whom this woman brutally killed off in your mother's womb'
Arnav came forward; looking straight at his mother I will tell this for the last time, leave from my home right now and never return. Anjali and I don't have a mother anymore, our mother died decades ago and we have moved on. So leave right now before I call the police and have you arrested for disorderly behaviour!'
Arnav's words were the last blow to their mother's otherwise impassioned sensitivity, his words sent her world reeling and for the first time since being separated from her children , she fully accepted the crushing reality that her children hated her, that she was a dead memory to them. And this reality was more than what she could handle. Her body staggered and she heard Khushi's scream. The last thing she saw was Khushi's tear stained face before everything went dark---
Awesome Story....
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