Part 5: His real child
"Roohi, why are we being punished?" Shivu asked as he saw the crowd.
"It is not a punishment... This is make our mood better... What better way to cheer up than visiting fair..."
They were in the 'mela' about which Roohi heard from one of the waitress in the hotel.
"And... Well.. no matter what the reason, we are all in Nainital.. shouldn't we buy some authentic souvenirs?"
Shivu looked unimpressed. "Roohi... You know I am not giving anything to anyone...what about you Abhir?"
Abhir was looking at the fair. Was it because that man, or was this fair really nostalgic? The sweets.. the cotton candy stores..the clothes stores... Why does it feel like he have seen them before? Did he actually have these memories from he was less than 6?
He did not have many memories of Kasauli. It was because it was traumatic for him..but he just forgot certain things.. first he couldn't remember his ukg teacher's name...then he slowly realised that he forgot if it Golu or Monty who bullied him. He was only 6, when he left kasauli..No wonder he couldn't remember certain things...he did not think about it much.. that was just a natural thing kids go through... No one remembers things when they were six years old...
But one day, he couldn't properly remember Neelamma's face. He was 11 years old at that time. He could remember Neelamma's voice.. but couldn't exactly remember her face. He could remember that she wore a scarf over her head. And she was quite fat. But he couldn't remember her face ... It looked amalgamation of many pictures he saw of her. Not her face. Was it because He never saw Neelamma after Muskaan bua 's marriage. Well, she did not exactly have much of a nice connection with his family even before her marriage to Dr Rohan. She and Dr Rohan shifted to US after that.
One day he heard that Neelamma was being taken to US for treatment and then a month later he heard of her death. It was during the 'shok' sabha that Mom organized when he found out that he couldn't properly remember her.
With this realization, he was haunted by one thought.
Abhir was scared that he would forget his papa one day. So he tried to remember a single thing about Abhinav. He was never able to forget his papa..but he could not recollect some things as he grew up. The more he tried, the more he felt that he could not remember every single detail Bits and pieces, but not the whole parts. He was disappointed with himself. He loved his Papa but was his love only this deep. He broke down emotionally. And the worst part was he could not share it with anyone in the family then. Mom and Dad were stressed about the whole surrogacy process. And besides, the whole point was so that Abhir does not remember Kasauli much. His nostalgia for Kasauli created strain in every relationship in Birla house. So he shared everything with Krish and then later with Shivu and Roohi. writing journals.. trying to paint his memories even though he had no talent.
But now, that hard work feels so stupid, All he had to was see his Papa, All the memories resurfaced just by seeing him alive. It was as if his life had a twisted sense of humor.
"Abhir?" Abhir heard Shivu's voice as though from far away.
Abhir looked. How long was he thinking? Shivu and Roohi looked worried.
"You Ok, Abhir?" Roohi asked slowly
"Not exactly" Abhir replied honestly.
"But I'll be..."
Roohi looked at Shivu as if to ask for their next move. Shivu just shrugged. Abhir smiled at his cousins' reactions. He couldn't blame them. How were they supposed to calm him down? Roohi was trying her best to distract him. Shivu looked like he have a plan but would not share it with anyone. Krish decided to give Abhir some space.
"Hey Abhir, Help me select a gift for Yash uncle" Roohi tried to be cheerful.
"Yeah... And let's find something with a tortoise on.. for Naira" Abhir decided to cooperate.
The 3 of them shopped for a long time. Roohi had great energy when it comes to shopping. Abhir and Shivu were way too entertained when Roohi was bargaining with a salesperson for a bag. Roohi can show her demoness avatar when she is bargaining. The poor shopkeeper had to accept his defeat in the end.
"Well, Your Yash uncle would be proud of your argument skills" Abhir teased as they left the shop.
"Yeah, he would finally get his successor" Shivu joined. Teasing Roohi was their favorite pass time.
"Imagine the court when her name gets announced "
"Adv. Roohi Birla. Defense counsel"
"Shut up... Both of you!!"
"Shivu, In the end, she will prove that the dead person was guilty of murder."
"Ha ha ha!! very funny you guys" Roohi rolled her eyes.
Shivu and Abhir continued their trolling for some more time. There was a folk dance happening in the center of the ground. The ladies were wearing colorful dresses and dancing in a circle. The steps were somewhat complex but it was really enjoyable.
Roohi went to join them on the stage leaving Abhir and Shivu with all the shopping bags.
"Great! Standing here with all these kinda makes us look like idiots." Shivu said a little bit irritated.
Abhir nodded. He also wanted to complain that his bags looked much heavier than Shivu's... Only if Krish had come with them, then the load could have been equally distributed. "Why didn't Krish come?"
"Don't know... Roohi said he furiously refused when she asked him.."
"What? Is he scared of Melas?"
"No idea... But let's go and sit there" Abhir and Shivu sat under a tent. They joked about Krish's Mela phobia for some time. There were few people in the tent. A lady came and served them lemonade. Abhir felt that the lemonade tasted familiar but could not place it.
"Look at her.." Shivu pointed at Roohi bringing Abhir back to the present.
Roohi did her best to get used to all the steps. A lady was helping her with the steps. She was graceful, the brothers had to agree on that. Well, what did they expect from the famous Kathak dancer Rajashri Bundela's student-turned-granddaughter? She did not win the two National level championships just like that.
They both silently enjoyed the dance. Then there was some disturbance on the stage. They could not properly see but then out of nowhere, Roohi fell off the stage.
"ROOHI!!" Both the brothers shouted and ran towards the stage.
"Are you all right?" Shivu asked as he reached there.
"Yeah.. oww" She cried as she tried to stand up. "I think I twisted my ankle.."
Abhir and Shivu supported her to walk toward the tent.
"I told these people that the stage should have been much bigger... But no one listens to me... Show me your leg beta..." The woman who was helping Roohi with her steps came and started looking at Roohi's ankle.
"At least they didn't make the stage that high... Chauhan wanted the stage to be high... but thank god no one listened to him.. or maybe they ran out of budget... Oh, this feels more like a muscle sprain.. beta... I had all these experiences and no one asks me... I would have helped them plan properly... Yeah.. thank you for bringing the ice.." The woman who served the lemonade just now gave her some ice wrapped in a handkerchief. She looked really worried.
The other woman continued to talk to no one in particular."Ask her, she is my best friend since childhood. I was always good at planning stuff we were both the unofficial wedding planners of Rishikesh. Well, we both were born and brought up in Rishikesh... That is the problem, We shifted from Rishikesh to Nainital with our families.. after that flood 4 years ago. But see... Nainital people still see us as outsiders. Beta... I'll move your leg a little bit... Tell me if it is paining. It is good.. that she did not fall head first.. otherwise it would have been dangerous... Just the other day... gopalji.. the milkman.. said that one of the tourists slipped from the hotel's stairs and died instantly. He said that there would be a court case...."
Abhir did not hear more. He could see a 7-year-old Roohi covered in blood at the bottom of the stairs.
"Abhir... What did you do?"
"If anything happens to Roohi then I will not spare you all..."
"Arohi... The kids were just fighting... It was an accident"
"Roohi lost too much blood.. we need to wait till the operation.."
"Abhir... What did you do?"
"What do you expect from the upbringing of a driver... He became a ruffian just like him"
"Abhir... What did you do?"
"Roohi's operation was successful.. but she may not be able to walk again..."
"Abhir... What did you do?"
"Abhir, Why couldn't you behave? Why do you create problems for your Mama like this?"
"Abhir... What did you do?"
"Abhir... What did you do?"
"Abhir... What did you do?"
"Abhir... What did you do?"
He could hear his Mom screaming at him, "Abhir... What did you do?" As if on a loop. The lemonade lady looked at him with concern. He avoided her gaze. Roohi was still being tended by the talkative woman who now started talking about her love story. His throat felt dry. He wanted to cry. That day, He didn't want to hurt Roohi. It was Roohi who came to him to say that his Papa died and he would not call on the phone anymore. They were just 7-year-old kids who were ready to fight any time they met. One thing led to another and Abhir pushed Roohi when she broke his phone in anger. He didn't know that there was a staircase there. It just happened. He never wanted to endanger her. It was just an accident.
"I am all right.." Roohi said looking at Abhir. Maybe she sensed what was going through his heart. "Really... I am all right... I am not much hurt.." She tried to assure him. Abhir nodded to show her that he was assured but they both knew it was not real. Shivu held his shoulder. What was he doing? He should get hold of himself. It was no time to dwell in the past. He took a deep breath.
"Aww look at that... Your brothers love you so much beta.." The talkative lady said as she saw the brother's actions. "They can't even see you hurt. I never had any brothers. But even if I had any I wonder if they will love me like your brothers love you. My.. my... look at that one.. he is already crying... Isn't it cute? Well, you should get pain sometime.. only then you could be strong... Give me some more ice.." She asked the lemonade lady. The lady nodded and went away. "Look at me... I was hurt all this time.. but all that pain made me more brave. Whenever my daughter comes home crying about some scratch, then I make her apply the medicine on her own... She needs to be independent.. yeah this much ice would be sufficient... Show your leg beta... My husband on the other hand.."
The lemonade lady came closer to Abhir and smiled. Then she slowly wiped the tears from the edge of his eyes. He felt this even before. This lady felt his inner turmoil. He didn't know how, but even before he could think about it, the lady hugged him. He didn't even know why he was hugging her back... but he wanted to remove everything from his heart. If possible he wanted to give her all the weight in his heart to her... He did not care anymore.. he just wanted to remove this pain... Please take it away.. he pleaded to the lady in his mind...Please take this pain away.. which is making him mad... This confusion... The storm inside his heart.. his past his present his future.. everything was swirling around him.. please take this away.
***
"Mamma? Why are we not going to Lonawala?" Naira asked as she reached home from school.
"We have to meet an Uncle..." Akshara replied
"Who is he?" Naira asked as she got onto the bed.
"He is a special person. For Mamma, Papa, and more importantly for your Abhir Bhaiyya.."
"He is that special.."
"Yes, he met you... When you were really small... He called you Choti Aksharaji..."
"He met me? But I do not remember him?"
"Yes, But you were so small right? But I am sure He would remember you... He loves kids."
Naira wanted to meet the special uncle. She then thought she need to give the special person a gift. OH!! she did not have much time. She ran out of the room to make a present. She passed Manjiri as she hurried toward her room.
"Arre!! What happened to her? She ran without even greeting me..." Manjiri asked smilingly.
" Maybe she went to pack her things... Maa.." Akshara answered. She didn't know how to tell the truth to Manjiri.
"You guys are already packed? That is good.. Anyways... I have come to tell you guys that Roohi and Shivu will be here for the summer."
"But Roohi is going with the Bundelas to Dubai.." Akshara asked. Manjiri's face soured.
"I have talked to that woman... She was not ready to agree to send Roohi... But somehow... I convinced her."
"Maa... She is also Roohi's grandmother now..."
"But she is my 'real' granddaughter... Akshara... I don't want to talk about it... " Manjiri stopped Akshara from saying anything further.
Akshara sighed. Manjiri was still angry that Roohi's full custody went to Bundelas. Both families had good relations for some time till one-day Rajashri Bundela disagreed with Manjiri's upbringing. Since then, Both the grandmothers do not talk cordially if not forced by the situation.
"When is the flight to Lonawala?" Manjiri asked as she tried to change the topic.
"Maa.. we are going to Uttarakhand, Nainital," Akshara said, braving herself for the confrontation.
"Oh! You have changed your plans... But why... You did not tell me anything?"
"Maa... We are going to meet Abhinav... Abhir knows about him."
Whatever reaction Akshara expected of Manjiri, she did not expect Manjiri to lose balance.
"Maa... Are you all right?" Akshara tried to support her. Manjiri did not even recognize her help. She looked pale. She started muttering by herself
"How did he get the letters.. or did he see the gifts? "
"What are you saying Maa?" Akshara was confused and worried.
"But I hid them... I checked the mail every day.."
"Maa What?"
"No... He did not see them.."
"What?"
"If Abhir knew that I hid them... then..."
It was as if something hit Akshara's face.
"What about the gifts.. and letters.. did you not give them to him.."
Maybe because she was in such an emotional situation. She did not register Abhinav's words then. Abhinav sent letters, He sent gifts... He did not just wait... He did not just wait and do nothing... He sent his love to Abhir. And here she thought... no... she hoped Abhinav to forget about Abhir in some years.
But Abhinav waited for Abhir. He tried to connect with Abhir.
"Maa... did you hide Abhnav's letters and gifts?" Akshara's voice was just a little louder than a whisper but it stopped Manjiri's muttering. She looked at Akshara with a horrified face.
"Akshara... I was just helping you both..."
"Did you hide them Maa?"
"Akshara... you both first decided to hide it from Abhir... I was just..."
"Maa.. please answer"
"Akshara.. calm down..."
"Maa... Please..."
"Akshara..."
"MAA!!" Akshara shouted
"Yes!!! I hid them." Manjiri reacted with equal force.
"What was I supposed to do? Abhir and Abhi were just beginning to bond like normal father and son.. and this Man comes back after all this time... When you guys decided to wait for some time to tell Abhir.."
"You both were the ones who decided to wait for some time... I was just helping you both in this..."
"At first, I thought he will stop sending them if he didn't get any reply... he remained stubborn... Sent Abhir Letter after letter.. then started to send gifts... "
Akshara stayed silent. Now she felt disgusted by herself. She thought Abhinav will forget about Abhir. Why did she think that? Did she think that would happen because Abhinav had his child now? Did she think that Abhir will not be his priority anymore? Just because they did not share a blood relation? But how did she forget the bond between them? no, she did not forget the bond.. she just ignored it... for her selfish reasons.
"Where are they?" Akshara asked. Her throat pained with strain. It was an effort to talk. Manjiri gulped.
"Why?"
"Maa... please...."
"In the store room"
Akshara ran towards the store room.
****
"Abhinav" Lakhan Singh called from behind.
"What happened Papaji"
"They want your taxi now... Some tourist kid fell down from the stage"
"The stage was really small" Chandan said who was behind Abhinav.
"But Papaji... I promised Meethi ji that I will be with her today"
Anchal looked sad but then she shook her head to remove all sadness.
"No problem Papa... We have to help people in need right?"
Abhinav was proud of his daughter.
"Do you want to come with me Meethi ji? We won't be seeing the Mela but we will go for a ride after dropping them off? What do you say? Is that a good plan?"
"That is a great plan!" Anchal jumped with joy
"You guys go then... I'll tell Chanchal about your plans... She is with those kids.. I'll send those kids to entrance.."
"Do they need any wheel chair? I can bring that from chunnilal's medical centre... He has one for emergencies" Abhinav asked.
"Oh! I don't think that it will be necessary... When Shanta called me she just told me about a muscle sprain... You just go to entrance and get ready... If we want anything, I'll call you" Lakhan said as he went towards the centre stage. Chandan also accompanied him.
"To think that Chaubey wanted the stage to be higher" Chandan shook his head.
"But why did they spend this much money on the entrance gate decoration... That's why the stage was not that big"
"I am telling you Pandey is definitely pocketing some of the fund money"
"No.. Pandey is cheap but he is not that much cheat... It is that stupid decorations"
"But Lakhan chacha... The decorations were necessary to attract the tourists... Just look around the Mela is crowded"
"Nonsense!!"
Lakhan and Chandan debated till they reach the centre stage.
"Taxi is ready..." Lakhan shouted
A boy of late teens came forward.
"Where is it"
"You are kid who fell?"
"No, it's my sister " he pointed towards a small girl. Lakhan assumed that she was around 14.
He went near the girl and crouched to reach her height.
"You are such a cute child... But why are you so thin... Kids these days... You really need to eat healthy stuff"
Another teenage boy beside her sniggered.
"And who is he?"
"My brother" the girl said in middle of glaring at the same brother. "They both enjoy making fun of me"
"Well.. uncle she really doesn't eat much... My dadi really force feeds her things like laddu... She is very figure concious.."
This kid.. Lakhan thought.. he looks like he cried a lot... Look at him acting all strong in front of his sister...
"What is your name?" Lakhan asked the girl.
"Roohi"
"That is a sweet name... Do you want to take revenge from your brother?" He asked the last one in a whisper.
Roohi looked interested and nodded.
"Hey! Roohi 's brother... Carry her on your back... My son is waiting for you all near the entrance"
"Why me?" The boy protested immediately. "Shivu is definitely better built than me"
"She is your sister and you can't do that"
"Yes, bhaiyya... I am your behana" Roohi said totally enjoying it.
"Ewww.. Roohi... Why are you suddenly calling me bhaiyya? I will do it "
Then the brother smirked and crouched infront of her.
"Hop on"
Roohi climed onto her brother's back.
The brother carefully got up. "Gosh!! Roohi if you were one kg heavier... I would have dropped you ... You know"
"Shut up"
The boy looked at Lakhan and said, "thanks for arranging the taxi"
The other brother who now took all the shopping bags also thanked him.
Lakhan Singh nodded.
The 3 left towards the entrance... While walking the brothers started singing 'Ek hazaaron mein meri behna Hain ' song.. the sister looked irritated.
Lakhan chuckled, "what a bunch of nice siblings"
*****
"phoolon ka taaron ka sabka kehna ha
Ek hazaaron mein meri behna Hain
Saari Umar Hume sang rehna hai
Phoolon ka taaron ka sabka kehna hai "
Abhir and Shivu were mercilessly teasing Roohi by constantly singing this song till entrance.
Abhir didn't know how... It actually seemed crying in front of a random stranger worked. His heart was comparatively light. He had many questions but he could wait for them. It's as if he could understand his heart better now. He wanted to meet his Papa and tell him clearly what he felt. Not the confused ramblings he shouted last time.
He smiled. Well, He knew what he would do tomorrow. He would find his Papa and talk to him. Even listen to him. Listen to his side of story. He didn't know what to expect from Papa's story. He didn't know if he would be more hurt or happy by his story. But without hearing that.. he would not be able to move forward. And he had to move forward. Staying in Birla house had taught him only that one good point.
"Just stop singing this stupid song both off you!!" Roohi had enough after the upteenth time they sang this song
"Why Behena? You don't like it" Abhir sniggered.
Roohi pulled his hair as an answer. "Oww!! Stop It Roohi!! I'll drop you."
"Is that our taxi?"
Abhir stopped as he saw the Taxi service board. It was such a familiar board. 'Humrahi'
He saw Anchal and Abhinav came out of the front seat.
"Oh My god!" Roohi exclaimed as she saw him.
"God! You did not change a bit!!" Shivu remarked.
"Papa!! Look its Abhir Bhaiyya" Anchal said to her dumbfounder father.
Anchal did not understand why everyone stood like statues. Papa and Abhir Bhaiyya were looking at each other. And then Abhir bahiyya shook his head and said, "Seriously... I should have expected it..." He smiled in a way that Anchal did not like. It was as if he was angry. She stood in front of her father and spread her hands as if protecting him.
Abhir saw the little girl shielding Papa from him. He smiled at the irony. There was a time when he was in that position and now he was the villain.
"Don't worry.. Anchal... I won't push him today.." He said straight to the kid with all the seriousness. The kid had the same eyes as her father. That made him slightly more angry.
"Abhinavji..." He was pleased by the pain he saw in Papa. But why was he getting more angry.
"Abhinavji..." He repeated. "Can you open the back door. My sister, Roohi needs to rest"
Abhinav was a little shaken but then he did something that made Abhir more angry. He smiled. He smiled like a father to his son. He smiled as though he was accepting his punishment. His smile was calming as well as infuriating. It's as if telling Abhir that he will not be able to hurt him.
Abhinav opened the door without any comment. Ruhi felt the atmosphere change drastically, so she did not talk as she sat in the back seat . Shivu put all the shopping bags in the car's trunk.
Shivu was about to sit in the front as usual but Abhir stopped him.
"Abhir..."
"I want to sit with him..."
Shivu knew that trying to stop him. They were Birlas. And Birlas always always do what they want.
to be continued
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