Chapter 9(1)

Goldenflowers

@Goldenflowers

                                                                              PART 9 (1)

          Raizada's these days norm is quiet dinner. That has been replaced by discussions, leg pulling andcracking jokes. It felt so nice for nani to watch the joyous affair after somany days of deep trouble. "Thanks to NK, she thought fondly. Subhadra wouldbe so happy to watch such smiles and joyful mood. For once she has seen Akashand Anjali were also in a playful mood. The only one she doesn't seeenjoying is her Chote.

          Chote is stillsulking on something and not even participating in any conversation. He is always an enigmafor her. Her chote is so different from others. He will give his life for hispeople but don't show it. He will go thru the most difficult period with astern face but cry like a little baby when no one watches him. He loves all hisfamily but never expresses much. He makes sure everything is in order but nevershows he has done that. He has seen her kid has gone through so much in thelast 2 years. Her kid always craved for some love from his parents which henever got. The young chote used to crib every now and then and complain toeveryone that all parents do this and that. Even though Anjali and Akash usedto take care of the young Arnav but he always craved for some love. She neverknew when her chote started becoming so mature that he stop cribbing, hestopped expecting, he stopped questioning and he started understanding thatthey are useless because no one will change here.

              Should she thank God for creating chote sosensible and matured? Should she thank Anjali and Akash for becoming his youngparents? Should she thank Payal for introducing her family where chote alwaysfelt happy? Should she thank Shashi and garima who treated him like their ownson and guided them always? Should she thank Raj who guided him always in youngage? Should she thank the most important person in chote's life Kushi to makehim laugh, smile and do naughty things like other kids do? The Raizada's arealways indebted to Gupta's. This Raizada khandhaan biggies might not understandit but she knows how much they strived to make Arnav, Anjali and Akash into such bigresponsible guys.

             Her thoughtscame to standstill when the activity at the table became so quiet. When sheobserved everyone is watching Anjali and Arnav repeatedly like a tennis match. "Whyare you not answering Chote? When did His Highness think all the things he didfew days back in the office? Did you really think we are behind your wealthChote? NK meet his Highness Arnav Singh Raizada who wants to distribute hisshare to Akash and Anjali? Did you meet this generous guy?

            "AnjaliRaizada, stop there. Can't you see for once this whole family is having littlefun for few days after so many days. You have to spoil even that? I expect youto keep quiet and not to speak a word until tomorrow. Am I clear? Nani said ina harsh tone

            Anjali - "WaahNani, always taking sides, Are we? Arnav is always your favorite grandson...of course he should be because

             "I expecteveryone to go to their rooms and shut their mouths for time being. AvniRaizada has shouted before things got ugly.

               Thatnight no one had a perfect sleep. Arnav is struck to the part his Di was sayingNani, Arnav is your favorite grandson because.. What does his Di mean by that?He wants to know. He bloody wants to know why Di always says his property, hiscompany, his khandhaan and his money. Damn it, this property and everythingbelongs to three of them. Why would anyone want to change that? Why does Dithink he has more rights than them? Why Di did always says you are so generousChote? Why did his father who never thought to see if he is alive or dead haswritten 50% shares on him? Why?

              He isArnav Singh Raizada and he will make sure Nani and his mother India to be away tomorrowmorning along with Mami and Mama. He wants to know from his sister what shemeans by every word? He will make sure tmrw he gets the answer earliest. Hecalled his right hand man Aman to search for a good sat sang which will starttmrw morning at 6 and if there is no such thing arrange something which hisnani would be interested and take his mother india, mama and mami with her.First thing is done and he knows Aman will make sure the elders will leave thehouse by 6 and he will go to his Di room before anyone wakes and question his Di.He knows his Di wakes up at 5 like him and go for a jog, he learnt that fromher only. He wants answers from some questions today. Enough of playing mystery mystery game here and people protecting him from harsh realities. He knows his Di and his bhai has hid some facts of their lives so that he don't get hurt. When he joined Raizada industries he has known few things which not only angered him but also astonished him.

               Anjali - "What alucky morning, the great Arnav singh Raizada visits poor Anjali Raizada roomfirst thing in the morning?

              Arnav "Di let'smake a deal, you explain me what all you said at dinner time yesterday and Iwill make sure you get that deal you were trying for 3 months. All the eldersincluding mother India went for a satsang and you know NK and Khushi doesn'twake up early. Payal and bhai would be in their room. So let's start beforethey wake up. Where do we start? First tell me why you always blame me that Ithink you both are behind property? Show me an incidence where I thought thatDi?"

             Anjali " Oh sothe great Arnav singh raizada came up with a plan and sent all the people whocan stop both of them. Quiet planner I see. If you are Arnav Singh Raizada, Iam your elder sister Anjali Singh Raizada, I will only do when and how I wantto do it"

            Arnav "Di youtoo know and me knows we both don't have a fight and we are fightingunnecessarily. You know this chote is the first one who has encouraged you toset up Raizada Fashion and interiors when our main business is intoconstruction and building material. Tell me for the sake of the times youthought me to be your first son Di? For once tell me why you became like thisand for once tell me what you wanted to say yesterday?"

            The word first son has melted Anjali heart;this guy doesn't know what it makes her. He will be always her favorite son even if she gets children in future.That looks daisy for now but still he will always be chote who never used toleave her hand and made her a mother at the age of 5.

            Anjali "Chote,not today...I am not in a mood.

            Arnav "PleaseDi relieve from this tension at least. I am struck, at least solve this anangry Arnav shouted.

            By thenPayal and Akash were in Anjali room hearing the commotion. They want to stopthe discussion but today Arnav wants to know by hook or crook. "Di aap ko merikasam (promise on myself please do tell) tell me what exactly you wants to say.Arnav requested for which none of the other three has an heart to stop any more

           Anjali "Ourfather Pratap Singh Raizada was a rich zaamindar man from Lucknow. Like allrich people then he has been in association with so many bad qualities ranging from drinking, clubs, and parties to affairs. The only good thing therich man did was make friendship with Shashi uncle without giving any importanceto status. Shashi uncle's father used to work as driver to our grandfather. We used to havenumerous Raizada owned properties in lucknow and nearby places. Frankly we lostalmost all of them, thanks to our father and our chacha. If not for Shashi unclewe might have ended up being in bankruptcy.  With Shashi uncle assistance he hasestablished this empire of construction business. But do you know chote ourmain income not used to be from construction business back then; it was fromexport import business which was given to our chacha now. Avni , mother Indiaused to be a mere employee in this export business and our father just like anyrich person has so many affairs to his credit had an affair with mother india.The result she was pregnant with twins me and akash out of wedlock.

           Our motherwith the help of Chacha has threatened our dad that they will make public knowhis affairs and illegal twins. Dad agreed for a marriage but chacha hasdemanded export import business. As dad didn't find any way to go, so he hasmarried mother india and then gave away the company to chacha. Until we turned3 years everything was fine chote, everyday father used to come and spend sometime with me and Akash but then dad thought Avni doesn't suit as Raizada bahuand so he married your mother Ratna.

              Ifsomeone has poured dead ice cold 5 buckets of water on Arnav head also it wouldbe less shocking and less painful than what he heard. Avni Raizada whom hecalls his mother is not his mother and his biological mother was Ratna. Whathappened to her? Is that why Avni Raizada never liked to talk to him? Is thatwhy how much he craved for mother love, Avni Raizada didn't care a bit?

            "ChoteAnjali shouting has made him realize he has collapsed.

            "Chote,this is the reason we all saved you from this harsh truth all these years. Thisis the reason we never shared because this rich people stories are harsh on usChote. Let's stop here. Anjali pleaded

            "No Di Iwant you to continue. Is my biological mother alive? Does she know I am here?Arnav requested with his hopeful eyes

             Anjali - "PratapSingh Raizada married your mother when we were 3 because she comes from a richand nice khandhani family. Everything was fine until we turned 4. Our fatherused to be so happy with your mother Ratna. You know Ratna aunty is very nicelady. She is a single daughter of one of the richest persons back then. She haswritten and given all her properties to our father when she got married to ourfather.

             He used to take us to the mansion some timeswhere he introduced us as his friend's kids. And frankly Arnav your mother isgem of a person. She used to feed us, take care of everyone. Sometimes I seeher in you. We never understood why our father introduced us as friend's kidsback then and why he loved your mother so deeply. Pratap Singh Raizada neverloved Avni Raizada. He never loved. She was just a beautiful lady with whom hekept an affair and used her.

               Whenyour mother was pregnant with you, she came to know about us being his kids.She couldn't take it Chote. She lost her life while giving birth to you. Withyour mother, our father is lost. HE never returned to that joyful fatheranymore.

               Youwere just born and our father couldn't handle you and Nani came to his rescue.How much Nani tried you were just a baby. Every one suggested another marriageto your father but he was deeply in love with your mother and never wanted toassociate with any other lady. His last resort was Avni Raizada whom he hasinvited to the mansion to be a mother of us three."

The flashback will continue in next chapter