Chapter 9(2)

Goldenflowers

@Goldenflowers

The flashback will continue in this chapter 

PART 9 (2) (continuation)

             Arnav "Isthere anyone who is surviving from my mother's side Di?

             Anjali "Nani

             Arnav "Oh thatis the reason you said I am always her favorite grandson. Did she reallydifferentiate you? "And coming to Avni Raizada...Is that why Ma never loved me,Di? I can understand, I am not her son and took away her place in first place

            Anjali " No,No, chote, don't think for a second that Ma hates you or Ma doesn't like you.Avni Raizada didn't even like her own children. We were always a burden to her.Why do you think she agreed to become a mother to step son. She only lovesherself and property. She was more than happy to come down to Raizada house andhave these riches. She never bothered about us, so don't think you are just anexception. We really never had any nice memories with her chote. The only fewnice memories I had with parents is with our father and strangely with Ratna Maand not with my mother Avni. Strange, weird, sad but true.

            And coming to your question ifthere is one person who gave us motherly love in this Raizada mansion, it isnani only. Nani was super angry when she came to know about Pratap SinghRaizada philandering activities, she never came to this house until Ratna Madeath. When she died, she came here only for you chote. Knowingly andunknowingly she became the missing connection of our family, a mother whom wethree needed. She is that patron which this house needed.

           Arnav "Whatabout Mama and mami?

          Anjali That's again a long story how they started living in this house. Mama isbrother of Avni Raizada.

           "When wewere brought to the mansion after your mother death, we don't know anythingabout Ratna ma and dad relationship. One day Dad brought us here and said youare our brother. We were just 5 and don't even know the meaning of other motherand all. Dad just said Ratna Ma died and chote is our joint responsibility. Wewere more than happy to play with you, we don't even know the meaning ofhalf-brother then. We were happier because we got the chance to live with ourfather 24/7. Do you remember Akash how much excited we were when Dad announcedwe were moving to Raizada house? Pratap Raizada stayed with us every day but henever was the Dad we know anymore. He became alcoholic. And you know worst partchote, neither he could become Dad to us nor to you. He was just our biologicalfather who gave name, money and fame. May be he loved your mother so much thathe couldn't think of anything anymore."

        Arnav -  "Do you? I mean you and bhai, I... what Iwanted to say is that if at all you and bhai

        Anjali Chote cometo the point, hesitating is not you. Come straight to the point.

        Arnav I meant Dithat if you both come to know about me at later stage of life, would that havechanged your love? I mean you would have hated me, don't you? And I don't knowwhat would be my reaction? Did you both get angry after knowing I am yourhalf-brother, I mean you might have known somewhere down the line. Do you hateme bhai and Di?

       Anjali and Akash both said in unison Neverthink of such thing, ever chote. You were, are and will always be our chote. Wedon't even know the meaning of becoming mother and father at that stage but wenurtured you. Our parents never had time for any one of us. Negligence ofPratap Raizada and Avni Raizada numerous parties always have made us feel asorphans if not for Shashi uncle, garima aunty and nani. Nothing will change inour relationship neither our parent's secrets nor the surroundings. We loveyou still and infact even more than what we used to love. There is no chanceyou are not our brother. Let the society think whatever it wants to think. Letavni or Subhadra Raizada think whatever they want to think but we are together.

         Payal Amongthree of you, what am I then? Guptas are nothing for you? You are sibling andwhat about me and khushi then?

           Anjali Khushi and you are always part of this family Payal, you know that. We are mindof this house and you both are heart. And our hearts are in precious hands.

        Arnav Di doI get to see my mom photo? Why there is no photo hanging anywhere?

        Anjali   Thanks to our Dadi chote. Subadhra Raizada isone of the complex characters I have ever met. Do you remember until you turned8, mama and mami never lived in this mansion? Dad became heavy drunkard andstarted spending money on unnecessary. He stopped listening to Shashi uncletoo. Once he had an accident when you were 6 or 7 and frankly he was no evenhappy he survived. And then subhadhra Raizada decided to prepare the will andfrankly she wanted to write everything on you because you are her legalgrandson. Azeeb hi Subhadra RAizada on one side she hided your mother photofrom you because it shouldn't create any animosity between us and she used tothink Ratna Ma is coward that she lost her life for small affair and on theother side she thought of preparing the will on you. I never understood her.She was always an enigma to me

        Arnav Howexactly am I her legal grandson when Dad married Avni Raizada Already?

        Anjali Lol youmake a funny statement here chote frankly I don't know. How weird are ourrelationships chote? If we think Dad married Avni Raizada then we become legalwaaris and you become illegitimate son and if we think you as legal son then webecome illegitimate. Whatever way it is one has to suffer the brunt but franklyyour mother was the legal registered wife of the great Pratap Singh Raizada.

        "And do you knowhow you got 50 percent of shares, me and akash got 20, 20 each and NK got 10percent?

         Arnav "How?

         Anjali "Whenyou were turning 8 Subhadra Dadi and Avni Raizada has an huge fight over willbecause Dadi wanted everything on you and Avni Raizada felt lost. Her main aimwas this richness, not love of our father, not love of our fate, not love forus, not love for you and not love for legal hold. She just wanted money forherself and wanted to be guardian to you, that's it.

          "Shebrought her brother Manohar Raizada and Mami Manorama Raizada to demand forher right on the property. It was quiet a mess chote. This world revolvesaround property. Pathetic thinking but it is truth of this world. Garima Auntfinally suggested 30 percent to each one of us for which both dadi and avniRaizada got riled up and insulted her stating you always have eye for our sonsand Anjali, that's why you want equal share. That shut not only garima auntytheory but also Dad and Shashi uncle suggestions too.

                  "It was Nani who suggested this will whereyou get 50 percent and we get 25 each. But then Manohar mama did somethingwhich we don't know what but NK too got share freely. May be buy for both of usand he got for free.

           Arnav "Nani suggested that. It is bad, don't you think. We are equals and we need toget the right equal. We have to change the will first thing tomorrow. And Iwant to see my mother pic at any cost today. I want to see.

          Anjali "Nochote you are not changing the will.

         Arnav "Do youstill think I am greedy Di? Do you really think I think you are both behind myassets as you taunt me every day.

         Anjali "Yougot me wrong chote. I never think that about you. On the other hand our eldershave played wealth wealth game so much that and I don't want it to come inbetween us

        Arnav "Itcame Di, it came. When I came down from Rishkesh after listening to clienttaunts on your status, you said that I think you are behind my wealth. What ismy wealth Di? Either we three own it or no one owns it.

        Anjali "Youdo not understand chote. Nani was not being partial here. She was just beingfair. Most of the assets we have were brought by Ratna Raizada and it's onlyfair that you get what Ratna ma has should be given to you. That is only fair.

          Arnav "Mymother might have been good. But I don't even know how she is, what it is liketo be with her and who she is. What I know is that you both have considered meas your youngest brother deprived of mothers love and gave all the love so thatI don't feel abandoned or isolated. I don't know what my mother brought andwhat assets Pratap Raizada has, what I know is we all 3 are equal owners of itand we have to be that.

         Akash  "Enough chote. You thinking of it is enoughfor us. Let's not bring money matters anymore. If everything was given to you,100 percent like Dadi thought, and then also we both would have been happy. So let'sstop this WILL discussion here itself.

             Asper Nani, she was just being fair. Do you even understand a woman goes throughseeing her only daughter suffer in the hands of her fate? Don't know if Dadiwas right about Ratna Ma being sensitive but then she loved our father with allher might. Which mother who has given everything to son in law trusting himwould like to see only deceit and daughter's distress? It was never easy tonurture illegitimate son and daughter for any grandmother. Subhadra Dadi stilltaunts us and it is only Nani who is our savior. Our mother never had time forus or for you. She was always happy with her ladies parties and society clubs whichthis positon and money has given. Anju will also agree this it was only Naniwhom we considered as mother figure.

             As peryour mother pic I have one copy which I got it recently from old files, willgive it to you. Sorry we don't have any video of her.  Let me get one thing straight chote we mighthave differences in the way we deal the problem but we are so proud of you.That day when you came back to Rishikesh knowing client taunts on Anji status,I was so proud of you when you thrashed the clients saying Anju is equalpartner of this business. Very proud, even Payal knows it. This Raizada's don'tknow to give equal status to women. If it is not for Nani, Anju would not havegot a share in property. You know that? Such male centric families these are.

            Whether it is 100 percent or 50 percent or 30 percent the discussionends here. Anju is younger to me by 2 mins and you are younger by 5 years. Asthe eldest family member of this family I decide that the discussion is over.We still continue to be in the same positons. I am still CEO of RaizadaIndustries and you the managing director and anju would always the head ofRaizada fashion and interiors. If NK or Khushi wants to join Anju or our CompanyIn Future just like Payal who is helping us they will always be welcome. And asper Shyam he is nonexistent to us, never was. If Raju bhaiyya comes back hewill head along with anju  Raizadafashion and interiors. And no more discussions on whose mother is what or whosefather is what. On one hand we might have been unlucky about our parents but weare also lucky to have nani and gupta family altogether with us. Just end thetopic, will we? And when Akash Raizada decides it is final in this house. It isfinal.

Arnav POV

           "Chote you look like your mother, a 7 yearold never understood what his father means by that.

           "Chote you sometimes remind me of myrebel daughter at young age, his Nani always used to tell him at his young age.

        "Of course you decide what is right and whatis wrong in this house, Of course you are the one who dictates this house youare maximum power holder an irritated Mami once rebuked him for something hesaid in haste.

        "Chote you should understand that youare still the youngest of all in the house, I agree you love to control and youhave the authority too but until I am alive let's make things go in the way Iwant until you get your proper authority of handling things Avni Raizadadistant irritation for his constant involvement of their business at an youngage of 19. He knows Avni Raizada disliked him from the start. Don't know if shehates him but she certainly doesn't like. How much his bhai and Di confirmsthat she doesn't like them too he has grown with Avni Raizada dislike for him. Aspromised his bhai has given his mother picture. She looked like a retro blackand white movie heroine. Does he feel anything for her? He felt he is just replicaof his mother. She was a beautiful lady and as per Di and bhai she had abeautiful heart. Would it have been different life if she was with him now orshe was still alive?

          "Someone isjust enjoying pool water alone? Is it so good to sit here and think anything?May I sit here and decide? His musings has come to stand still with Khushi'squestions.

         "Are youtaking permission or telling me Khushi? an amused Arnav asked

          "I think Iam just saying. Answered Khushi

           Arnav "Thoughtso. What exactly made Khushi Kumari gupta to walk in to this stupid Arnav singhraizada room at a late hour?

           "I have afew list of shopping from Mumbai and as you missed today flight, you would begoing tomorrow morning and this is the list. Khushi said it one go and handledthe list

          Arnav - "Doyou know this is called as a bundle not a list? And I don't have that much timein Mumbai to buy such idiotic things. You can get them in Delhi too and I amgoing there for a meetings and office work not for a vacation Khushi.

        Khushi "Whosaid you to shop? Was I not supposed to come with you and then few things whichI can only get in Mumbai and anji Di also some of the fabric from there. Howcan you know the different kind of fabrics as you were much involved in cement,soil, sand, bricks and building?

       Arnav "Andsomeone said they are not coming with me because their best friend is here.

      Khushi "He isalso coming with us. What do you think, we will leave a chance to irritate youand leave a chance to spend your money?

       "If you aretrying to distract my mind, it is really working and thank you Khushi for beingthere for me in times of need and your way of conveying everything is fineamuses me but you should understand I don't need sympathy from anyone and Iwant to be alone. Said Arnav

       Khushi "Sympathy?Where does that come from? And as per staying alone, did you listen to me allthese days when I said I want to be alone, think this as tit for tat.

       With that shegot up from the place and started walking away after saying a quick good bye

       Arnav "I getthat you have listened everything. Do anything but don't pity or get sympathyon me. I can't handle that Khushi.

      Khushi - Pity and sympathy, we are past that Arnav and you have to handle my tantrums all through your life even if you don't like as you have no choice.

In other room at the same time

        NK "Di I maylook funny and I may look idiotic but I am not a selfish money hunger person.This is my share which I signed long ago to be transferred to you. If you thinkI am giving you this because of today's discussion then you are wrong, you cancheck the date of promissory note and signature date, I have decided long back.I have been loved all the time in this family but I know when it comes tofamily and unity you three are inseparable. I had made myself clear that no onecan love me as you all love each other but that doesn't take away my love foryou all. I am not selfish like my mom or dad to take away something which doesn'tbelong to me initially.        

            Sayingthat without listening to what Anjali wanted to say Nk left the room

           That dayRaizda mansion Nani witnessed not only her matured Arnav, Akash and Anjaliaccepting the facts graceful but also the sensible and naughty Khushi and Nkbecoming selfless in their love. She should only thank god to get suchwonderful grandsons and granddaughters. She might be unfortunate in terms ofher daughter's fate but she is so lucky that her grandson has the best and mostsensible family and people surrounding him.

Goldenflowers2018-05-13 07:52:32