Epi 143 Ch 73 Love demands space; PP's mother refuses Meghna's alliance

Advay turned from his unconscious reverie as the door opened…. a world of emotion in his eyes..... His heart eager with the sound that it could be Chandu, at last agreeing to accompany him; but alas, it wasn’t... Pooja walked in her expressions fast changing from happy to concern , noticing the gloom on his face.

Pooja, the kindest soul that she was, completely forgot what she came for and walked to him, cupping his face in her palms, “What happened, Bhaiyya?” love overflowing from her voice....

All the pain stuck in his heart suddenly flew to his eyes, much against his own will. He was not the kind of person to open out his grief easily; but Naani and Pooja were those special people with whom he could open his heart……but that too, not easily.

“Nothing” He turned away from her.

Though he was denying the pain in his heart, Pooja understood the depth of his hurt with Chandni’s refusal to accompany him. She had known from childhood, whenever Bhaiyya hurt the most, he would deny it to the whole world, even to himself perhaps..... his pain came out only as angry indifference to all. She moved away and sat on the bed; while Advay resumed his packing.

“You remember, Bhaiyya? Whenever you were angry in childhood, what Ammi said?”

For Pooja, Darsh’s mother, whom they all called Ammi, was most beautiful……. in her entire being including her soul. 

In Ammi's last days, she had known about her ill health and had managed to hide from all, keeping herself smiling and happy always...... It was Pooja, who had had that female sensitivity to know the sadness in her eyes in her lone moments, when caught unaware...... But even Pooja had not been able to put finger on what was happening? It had been too late when all had known of her short days left.

They all liked her so much; so even God liked her and took her away. Pooja had firmly believed that and shared many times with Darsh to help him come to terms with the grief of her death.Her memory and her teachings had become an everlasting treasure.

Advay halted jerkily from what he was doing, his stance suddenly tightening, a wary shadow creeping in his eyes as swirling memories rushed in...... Of course, he remembered Ammi! Every word of hers!.... She was that one and only person where his parched heart found solace of motherly love. Her smile had had that mischief to bring smile to his angry lips.

Naani had constantly refrained him from hatred , Maasi had fueled his anger but Ammi..... Ammi had been different.... full of life and full of wisdom.... Understanding the struggle of a young boy in an abyss.....struggling to come to terms with the ferocious play of events blighting him irrevocably...

Though the pain of losing his entire family never left his heart, but still...... She had taught him to deal with it!..... To be able to focus on tasks at hand rather than anger in heart!.... It was that ability which had helped him to become the man he was.....The ASR!!

When she hugged him to her bosom, somehow she managed to crack the dark wall around his heart and then she had gone and embraced every ounce of his anger, his pain, his turmoil....everything! It was only Ammi with whom he felt like his original self......That smiling young lad happy with his mother!......only a memory now.

 “What?” He feigned aloofness.

Pooja looked outside, her eyes getting a distant faraway look. “When everything else fails, try patience...Always! It does work and then when everything turns out good, it becomes worth the waiting....”She paused and looked in Advay's eyes, “And Bhaiyya, patience comes with trust, right?”

At that instant, a stunning thought struck Advay with more force than a bolt of lightning could have done. Pooja was physically different than Ammi; but she had the same kind heart, the same honest soul.......things that made Ammi! As a young girl, she had closely observed Ammi and absorbed all her qualities. As a young woman now, they shaped her entire persona. Without volition, he came and sat next to her.

She put her hand on his heart touching his very soul, “You trust Chandni, right?” Advay nodded. “You trust that she loves you, right?” Advay nodded again.

“Then allow her the space she needs now!”

Advay jerked, “space?”

“Yes Bhaiyya, just let her be by herself..... come to terms to whatever she's holding in her heart..... she'll come round..... She loves you!”

Advay rubbed his brow. A darkness fell over his face but then disappeared. Pooja waited patiently.

“Where is she now?” His words were a desperate whisper.

“Putting Aadi to sleep.” Pooja spoke quietly, “She said, she'll sleep with us in our room tonight!”

“No!” Advay jerked upright ready to lope and fetch his wife.

“Bhaiyya?” Pooja's voice rose in exasperation as she pleaded,“Did I not tell you just now to give her whatever space she wants?.... Don't spoil your row further.....unnecessarily you'll argue more and then something unwanted happens.... you know that!”

Advay sat back down in despair.....There was hurt on his face....Of course, he knew it.... Last time, Chandni had walked out of the house.....In her impulsiveness, she could not be perhaps trusted.

“I will be leaving very early...” He was almost whimpering, though there was storm in his voice....because the calm had not yet arrived... “Would you tell everybody that I left? I won't wake anyone up.”

Pooja rose to leave.....There wasn't much she could do to relieve this sad hurt resident in their love....Both needed their own time and Pooja knew patience. She smiled at Advay.

“Take care, Bhaiyya. Have a safe flight. All your stuff will be taken care by them, right? Or should I pack something for you?” She looked at his bag.

“They will! Don't worry.” Advay rose and softly kissed her brow.

Night wasn't kind to Advay. His mind refused to rest.... “You need space, Chandni?.... Space from me?” His mind refused to accept the idea. Did your life take space from the body ever?

 “What has affected her so much? Why is she refusing to reconcile? She knows my anger....It's not going to go away so easily....Why can't she accept me with my anger?.... Aren't we supposed to be the mirrors that reflect each others most private wounds?”

Crazy feelings crowded in his heart..... anger, helplessness, fear,terror.....everything wanting to crash out from his heart!!

“No!No! Pooja was right. Whatever it is, let Chandni have it....I need to focus on tomorrow's tasks.”The day was not going to be easy tomorrow. The ASR took hold on a lamenting Dev.

Across the oceans, Mamaji, Meghna and PP were entering PP's mansion. It was a grandiose place....Meghna herself lived in big haveli, she had seen Jiju's big mansion in Mumbai; but this place still surprised her. Everything was flamboyant here...the air smelled pompous .....Meghna's shoulder tensed and she looked down.

She kept looking down as PP made them seated. “Be comfortable. Apna hi ghar samjho!” (Consider this as your own place)

“You have informed your Mom about our arrival, right?” Meghna asked in a worrying tone.

“Oh don't worry about that. It's my own place. And I can always bring anybody home.”

“We aren't anybody. How could you not inform her in advance?” Meghna whined, shaking her head in incredulity as PP laughed sympathetically at her.

“Why are you scared? My mother has never ever denied me anything in life. Everything is going to be ok.”

Meghna was awed by his unshakable arrogance; but she felt all the more nervous with this knowledge.

Mamaji did not like the idea of arriving for a marriage proposal discussion without prior intimation; but he refrained from commenting. He didn't want Meghna to worry further.

“Beta, shrug off your coat.”

“What coat, Mamaji?” Meghna was surprised.

“The one of worry weighing down your shoulders.” Mamaji smiled kindly and Meghna smiled back, looking dreamy with stars in her eyes. 

PP went towards the labyrinthine hallways seen through the palatial sitting room. Mamaji looked around while Meghna was lost in her own dreams.

This house seems awkward now; but soon it will be our house. He and I will live happily with our son. My baby will have a family.

Mamaji caught the look on Meghna's face. It was longing. Emotions lodged in his throat making him swallow. The poor girl really needed this alliance. Advay could provide everything but every woman needed a man in her life, a sense of belonging. And Meghna all the more....to restore her motherhood.

Meghna stood up suddenly and folded her arms making Mamaji turn. Mrs. Prajapati was entering not looking very pleased. Maamaji stood up folding his hands in respectful greeting.

“Namaste, Maa jee” Meghna spoke politely. Her heart wondered whether it would be right to touch her feet; since the alliance was not yet fixed.

There was a short, stark silence. Meghna braced herself for an icy set-down.

Mrs. Prajapati sat in a regal looking chair opposite them but did not indicate Mamaji and Meghna to sit down. Mamaji wondered if she knew about the children's love.

“Mummy, you know Meghna and Mamaji already......” PP's voice tapered off, as the mother put her hand up to shut him.

“Yes, you had something to say to me?” She addressed Mamaji.

Whatever she felt or she already knew, she was certainly smug about it. Her supercilious cadence made Mamaji cringe.

“Madamji, it's a pleasure to see you again. Please forgive us for coming unannounced. Actually, it's about our children..... I had hoped Pratham beta would have informed you about him and Meghna .....” Mamaji spoke tentatively.

She looked askance at her son and he replied giving the clarification, “Mummy, I want to marry Meghna.”

She stood up as if the soft chair had suddenly grown thorns, her face twisted with the anger sharply rising and she screeched at the top of her voice.

“Are you out of your mind? These people you want to relate to? Haven’t their family insulted us time and again?....... We paid two crores to be married to her sister and what did you get? A beating to almost death and no marriage!..... Have you forgotten how that Advay fellow had beaten you to a pulp?”

“All that is old stuff, Mummy. Advay is not bad. I met him some time back. He was nice to me.”

“Madamji, why dig those old things? For children's sake, please let us make our heart big and accept their love.” Mamaji was almost pleading.

“How dare you talk to me! When my poor child was getting beaten, you had cotton in your mouth. Your sister looted me for two crores.”

“But mummy, I love meghna. I cannot live without her.” PP whined to his mom.

Angrily she pointed out an accusing finger to Meghna, “Thissss girl? ..... it was good that you didn’t marry her sister who had borne a child before marriage!." She crunched her nose in disdain. "And now this girl's mother is rotting in jail. After all we have respect in the society. These are shameless people, the most shameless being her sister, who was ek raat ki dulhan, ditched by that Advay in one single night.” Her voice rose in an angry octave with every accusation.

Her dangerous mood stunned all; but in a mercurial second, Meghna straightened her shoulders. Her blood was boiling and her first instinct was to yell at PP’s Mom. 

She spoke continuing to look down but steel in her voice, “Please do not speak anything against my Chandni Jiji. She has been innocent and Advay Jijaji has accepted her completely as his wife. Advay Jiju would never raise his hand if Chandni Jiji had not been hurt."

“Really?” Mrs. Prajapati raised voice further taking Meghna’s explanation as her way of thwarting, “And may I know whose baby was that brought in the reception party as I heard?”

There was tense silence for a short minute, making Mrs. Prajapati laugh disdainfully, “Paap karate hai aur phir kehate hai mera nahi!”

(Commit sin and then you disown saying not mine.)

“Mera hi hai, lekin paap nahi!” Meghna spoke through clenched teeth. 

(It’s mine; but nota sin)

“Yours? You mean you have been mother before marriage and now you want to disown the child and marry my innocent son?” Mrs. Prajapati couldn’t fathom the idea at all.

“I will never disown my baby.” Meghna’s voice controlled but decisive cut through the air.

“Mumma, what is all this you’re saying to Meghna?" PP crunched his brows in defiance. But then he tried a different way of appealing to her,  "I am telling you, I love her. Isn’t that enough? You are always ready to grant every pleasure of mine.”

“Yes! And because of that you have no respect for our family pride. So this time, I will not let you burn your hands again. You will not marry this girl and that’s final.”

“But Mumma….” PP was exasperated.

Mrs. Prajapati cut him harshly “Just see.....How shameless and rude she is! One sis, single night bride and the other calling herself mother of illegitimate child .... motherhood without marriage ..... and you are asking me to accept some gandi naali ka kichad in my family?" 

She turned to Meghna and yelled, "“Aur tum, kaun see gandi naali ka paap mere bête ke sar madhne aaye ho yahaan? Pehale tumhari behan ne humein sataya hai aur ab tum, ek bin byaahi maa, mere bête ko jeete jee maar daalne aayee ho….. Tumhari jurrat kaise hui mere bête ko apne jaal mein faansne ki, kulakshana kahi ki!”

(Whose illegitimate child from gutter are you trying to burden up on our head? First, your sister harassed us and now you, an unwed mother, have come to make my son suffer disgrace. How dare you trap my innocent son , you ominous evil!)

All of you are bloody prostitutes trapping rich guys with your body!” ( gutter mud)

“ENOUGH!” Mamaji's patience had reached its tether. Perhaps first time, anybody had heard this soft spoken man raise his voice like that. But there was so much command in it, that even PP's mother was stunned. Mamaji looked dead in her eyes, “Please do not say a word against my daughters. They are innocent. It wasn’t my Banno coming to your son; rather your son came to her. If you do not approve the alliance, that's your choice. But you do not have any right to malign my daughters.”

“Then why are you here? Get out from my house and don't ever show me your faces!” The devil screeched again, pointing her forefinger to the door insultingly..

“But Mummy I love her. Mumma, can we not forget all past incidents altogether. Meghna is my love now. And you have never ever refused me anything! ” PP pleaded as Mamaji and Meghna turned to leave.

“Then this time, I refuse you. Don't ever see or talk to this kulata again. ” She refused to budge.

The words ripped at Meghna's heart. She was a very sensitive girl. With no barriers to protect herself, tears threatened, and she looped her arms around herself to contain her heaving chest.

PP was totally harassed. He hadn't expected things to go in this way. His plan of surprising his mom with happiness was falling apart.

“Meghna, Mamaji, please wait. Nobody listens to me. Nobody thinks about what I want.”

“Pratham beta, it's time for you to sit down and think yourself what you want.” Mamaji turned quietly back to the exit.

Mamaji put his arm around a sobbing Meghna and walked out with his head held high. He had feared something like this and had forewarned Pratham but in vain. 

On the way back, Mamaji was quiet lost in thoughts; while constant tears flowed through Meghna's eyes. She remembered the day Chandni jiji had been accused about this same topic. She had enrolled the baby in her name just to save Meghna. But now it was Meghna's turn to bear the brunt of her motherhood. With this alliance failing, it was not only about lost love. It was also about legitimizing her baby or having the courage to raise a child as single unwed mother. In orthodox village like hers, it would be impossible.

When they entered the haveli, she rushed to her room bursting out in tears. Mamaji understood her pain, her anguish and frustration. But it wasn't feasible to console the poor girl at this moment. He chose to let her be with herself and come to terms with her pain. The only thing, Mamaji could think of was to consult Advay. Of course! He was on his honeymoon with Chandni Banno and it wouldn't be right to trouble him. But Mamaji could see no other alternative. Advay was the one and only man who could bring some solution to this imbroglio. 

Advay exited from the Airport security quietly without much fuss. The crux was to keep his arrival incognito and he had accordingly dressed keeping glasses on to hide his face further. As soon as he came out, a man dressed in simple clothes walked towards him.

 “Good morning Sir. Hope you had a safe flight. Please proceed to the black car. It will take you to your hotel. I will wait here for Madam and bring her as soon as she arrives.”

Advay had made arrangements that he and Chandni would travel separately for safety reason and meet only in the hotel room. He knew this question would be asked by everybody who knew of her arrival.

“She won't be coming. So we can leave.”

“What happened, sir?” The man looked concerned naturally. An entire tour and lots of arrangements were made to make madam's trip pleasurable.

“Something urgent came up” Advay kept his pain well hidden. “Now, shall we?” His voice was curt and formal.

The hotel was for the world's ultra rich group of people. The moment Advay entered the hotel, a strong desire crept in his mind to have Chandni experience all this grandeur. Money was naturally not an issue at all with the five richest families. It looked like the families had sanctioned Mr. Gomez to go beyond the regular and accommodated Advay the way the families lived. Advay relaxed in the lobby with the welcome drink provided. It was a nice tangy drink, the kind that Chandni would have enjoyed. It seemed like he had been allotted the honeymoon suite. It was a very huge beautiful room with a central round bed covered in rich satin and a fireplace with fire crackling nearby. There was immediate stirring in Advay's veins with his mind picturing his wife in bed and then next to fireplace. It was impossible for him to live here without Chandni by his side. The room looked empty and bereft screaming Chandni's name everywhere. What could have been one of the most romantic and pleasure filled trip, was now going to be painful trip with her constant memory biting at the back of his mind. He couldn't possibly lie in that bed without her by his side.

He called up Gomez and requested for a room change to a simpler single suit. Naturally, Mr. Gomez was disappointed that his wife had chosen not to come. She was a fine lady and Mr. Gomez had liked her. It was getting difficult for Advay to keep his smile on while apologising for her absence. Since she was not there, Advay opted for a simple breakfast in the hotel itself instead of the original lavish arrangements made. He also refused on all touring and dinner arrangements made for the couple. Mr. Gomez promised to meet him for breakfast at hotel to discuss schedule further; so Advay proceeded to his new allotted single room.

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Pooja has been mediator between Advay and Chandni right from start. A new dimension comes in with Darsh’s mother being introduced. After all Darsh has a family, too. And this will bring further twists in Darsh Pooja tale.

Conflict is inherent in every love story. If Chandni was not spared why would destiny spare Meghna. Where will the story lead now further 🤔 ...

Keep reading. 

Wise readers would immediately guess that every time Chandni and Advay are apart something very significant happens. So what's coming up in next few episodes, any guesses?

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