Part 1
Moonlight slid through the cracks of the curtains, shining the room partially as Veena sat rocking in the rocking chair of her late husband, drowned in her thoughts.
To interrupt them, Ramu Kaka, her faithful household help for the last 3 decades walked up to her before retiring to his quarters. It was pretty late at night and the entire day was spent in last minute shopping, cooking and making as well as packing varieties of items.
Too tired, he believed his benefactor might have gone to sleep while on his late master’s favorite chair. He decided to wake her up and called her meekly.
“Bhabhi?” seeing her awake he said further, “Aap aur kitni der intezar karne wali hain? Raat ho chuki hai. Abhi toh khana kha lijiye, dawai ka waqt bhi toh paar ho gaya hai.”
Veena replied with a huge smile, “Haan baba, buss kuch der baad. Ek baar phone aa jaye. Main kha lungi aap fikar mat kijiye.”
Knowing it would be a waste to take the argument even forward, the old man said, “Phir main nikalta hoon. Kal subah jaldi aa jaunga.”
Veena emphasized “Haan 7am se pehle Bajaj mansion jana hai. Aapne sab taiyaari kar rakhi hai na? Sab thik hai na?”
“Aap uski fikar mat kijiye, maine sab samaan ache se pack karke rakha hai. Kal subah aate hi nikal jayenge.” Ramu replied back while Veena just nodded as he left.
Veena again was left to herself, the sounds of the night pleased her mood very well. As the curtains fluttered in the gentle breeze of the night, the moonlight fell on the artifact on the dresser. It was a gold framed photo frame, that held the picture of her heart, and her family; Prerna and her family.
Reminiscence of past came flashing instantly and she felt being transported back into the sands of time. All that happened two years ago when Prerna and Anurag had prepared to get married. Prerna loved Anurag, the filthy rich son of the Basu clan, who went to the same college as hers and she had seen the same love reflected in the young boy's eyes but was love enough for the union of two souls?
Anurag came from the creamy layer of the society and they were just a bit better than the hands to mouth section of the society. The innumerable times the Sharma family was shown and put in their places by the Basus due to their poverty stricken position was unbearable. Veena knew from day one that Prerna wouldn't be happy at all in this marriage, because Anurag simply chose not to see the treatment inflicted to his would-be in-laws nor did he say a word at times when Prerna was insulted for not being born in the same society as theirs. Many times Veena tried explaining it to her daughter but young blood with young love never could see the future that Veena’s experienced eyes could see already.
At times the humiliation went so far that Veena and her family were called thieves and opportunists and they called Prerna with names which Veena couldn’t even think of, just because her crime was to fall in love with a guy who was not from the same society as hers. To Veena, respect was all that they had, even at times they were stripped off from it. They expected lavish and expensive gifts which Veena had obliged by selling her own jewelry.
Nevertheless, the young couple decided to get married against the wishes of both the families and right before the wedding a very unfortunate incident took place; Anurag was involved in a murder case. Though Prerna did everything for Anurag’s freedom which he finally received with her efforts but the marriage was called off with his acquittal, this time his mother stating that the girl, Prerna, was an evil eye to her family and it would be better if the alliance was broken off.
Veena had requested, even begged but it had no effect on the Basus. Veena thought Anurag would convince his mother, but he refused to come out of her shadow. Inevitably something happened that no parent wanted their children, their piece of heart to ever go through; heartbreak and Prerna nursed a very bad one.
Veena tried contacting the Basu family many times but all went futile. They were humiliated more and publicly shamed which broke both their hearts. Overnight, her lovely, as innocent as a flower blooming daughter was turned into a living corpse, the girl who wouldn’t stop speaking for a second didn’t even reply in monosyllables now. The girl who kept on cracking jokes at the drop of an eyelid now refused to even smile. It broke Veena’s heart further but she realized all that happened, happened for the best. She prayed day and night for her daughter asking Almighty to do justice to her innocent daughter, for she deserved nothing but the best.
Several weeks later, Prerna was offered an internship at Bajaj Industries. It was a commendation from one of her family friends, who knew her late father and had talked to Mr Bajaj himself.
Mr Rishabh Bajaj had come all the way back to Kolkata to extend his empire after successfully making his empire world famous and one of the most successful company by becoming the highest profit making sought after company ever, informed the family friend. He also shared that Mr Bajaj in his formative years had known Veena’s late husband and still spoke highly of him, so he wanted to give his daughter a fair chance, when he came to know about her potential. If she understood business, he would personally train her just like her father had trained him. He might have been ruthless and arrogant as well as an inhumane person, as people said, but was regarded as the biggest SHARK of the business world who could go to any extent for his profit but he was the best to learn business from. The family friend really wanted Prerna to grab the opportunity. He wished if he had any kids, he would have killed for this opportunity. Veena herself knew how much impact Mr Bajaj had already made in a short span of time since he came to Kolkata. Everyday, the front page of the newspapers only featured him.
Prerna had left her studies mid way for the wedding that hadn’t taken place, so Veena asked her to take the opportunity without thinking twice. And she reluctantly did. 3 months down the line, Veena noticed there were subtle changes in her darling Priyu. She showed a new kind of change in her.
Soon she found Prerna talking on the phone in a child-like tone as if talking to a baby. When inquired about, Prerna revealed it was Sneha, a three year old child, who she had one day met at the office and now only latched on to her. She suffered from mutism but could communicate well in gestures. Prerna didn’t reveal anything else apart from that.
Once Prerna wasn’t feeling well and that day, Sneha came to visit her with her nanny. The little child cried to be with Prerna and a flu stricken Prerna had to cradle her in her arms to quieten the child. Veena noticed, though the child had a nanny, she only stayed with Prerna and would eat only from her hands. Veena could see Prerna shared a motherly affection with the child. It worried her more what would the little girl’s parents say about this development.
Soon Sneha started coming to Sharma Nivas frequently. Even Prerna got odd hourly calls from the child’s nanny asking her to pacify the highly agitated child. Veena did like the child very much, even the child liked her. She observed though the child made no sounds, she was very intelligent and sharp. Sneha, with her gestures, would win everyone’s hearts and make them dance to her tiny fingers. Prerna would only smile in her presence and was a better version of her previous self when with her. Motherly feelings and instincts had completely taken over her. When asked about the child’s parents, Prerna only said she lived with Mr Bajaj and didn’t have a mother which is why the child thought her to be her own. When Veena asked her to inquire about the child’s parentage, Prerna refused only because she didn’t want to suffer another heartbreak. Veena noticed Prerna had started to ignore her job and concentrated more on the child but Prerna assured it wasn’t so.
3 months went in bliss with Sneha coming and staying with Prerna as much as she could. She would sleep, eat, drink and play only with her. Without her she would cry her heart out so much that she even fell sick. It was so adorable to see both of them.
One day, in a very lavish and expensive car, came a man at her porch, with at least 4 bodyguards surrounding him. Veena instantly recognized him. It was THE RISHABH BAJAJ.
In fear, she shivered, wondering why this man had turned up at her meager doorstep. He was a business shark, someone who loved destroying people. They had nothing to give him and Veena felt extremely worried.
The man looked more charming and handsome in real than in the pictures she had seen of him; a very chiseled face with extremely sharp features. He oozed royalty and regal. His enigmatic aura was such that it demanded everyone’s attention at him. If there was a synonym for perfection, then it would definitely be him.
He scanned her house once and then her momentarily before taking out his sunglasses and did the most unexpected thing in the planet, making everyone present dumbfounded. Mr Bajaj, folded his hands in a great respectful Namaste.
Saying that Veena Sharma was shocked to the core was an understatement. The man who could buy the entire world was folding his hands in front of her! He looked into her eyes and Veena felt a kind of connection instantly developed with him. Without wasting a second, he, in the most confident voice that Veena had ever heard, said, “I am Bajaj, Rishabh Bajaj. Mujhe aapse kuch baatein karni hai, aapki beti, Ms Sharma ke baare mein. Kya hum andar jakar baat kar sakte hain?”
Prerna?
Was her boss here to complain about her? To fire her? A thousand thoughts roamed around her head but it wasn't the time to discuss all this as he was a guest and she hurriedly invited him inside her modest house, unable to fathom why he had even come. She didn't know if he would even be comfortable in her simple house. He sat down on the sofa where she gestured him to, without making a face which she thought he would. He looked at her and gave her a slight smile.
For the next 15 minutes, the business tycoon spoke, where he exclaimed that he wanted to marry Prerna, citing the reason why Prerna had said yes to this alliance but he wanted this marriage to take place with her mother’s blessings too. His 3 year old daughter was too attached to her and she refused anyone but Prerna. His daughter wanted her and even Prerna was attached to her in a motherly way.
So when out of the blue he offered her the alliance, she hadn’t thought twice before accepting it few hours ago. He explained truthfully that he was a divorcee, his wife had eloped with another man seven years ago and then just three years ago, he came to know that his ex wife and her new husband met with an accident which caused them their untimely death, leaving behind their one month old daughter who now had nobody but him. He had immediately adopted her, loving her dearly and more than his life. Unfortunately, she suffered from mutism due to the impact of the accident or genetics, the doctors had no clue.
Bajaj accepted that everything was happening very quickly but that was for the best and he promised to take care of Prerna, be her wall and protect her at the cost of his life.
Veena felt her head reel, unable to process so much information at a time. But she saw something in his eyes; truth, honesty and sincerity. He wasn't bluffing nor was he here to make a business deal; instead he was here to ask her daughter's hand in marriage. He, in this short while, had given such immense respect to Veena that the heart of the mother felt that this man was correct for her daughter. He was someone who would value her, know her true worth, respect her and love her for herself.
Veena just asked him two questions to judge if he was the correct man; what he valued the most, beauty or skill. He instantly replied, skill as beauty was subjective to everyone’s opinions but skill was something that remained with one throughout their lifetime and made man immortal if used correctly. Impressed by his answer, she asked him what love was. He had a painful smile reflect on his face but he answered anyway, a life force that either caused destruction or creation.
Veena said she had nothing else to give and Mr Bajaj assured he just wanted her blessings in the marriage as he had nobody in his family. He wouldn't even accept a pin from her. The intensity by which he said so, made Veena feel that he was the right man for her flower like innocent daughter. She still asked Prerna if she really wanted to get married to a man older than her by at least 15yrs or more. She just said yes.
The wedding took place the next day. It was just a simple wedding at the marriage registrars’ office in presence of her mother and Bajaj's best friend, Gupta. Nothing much but just a simple affair. Garlands exchanged, mangalsutra worn with sindoor gracing Prerna’s maang, the lawyer declared them man and wife.
Though the media did mob them right after they stepped out of the office to make their first appearance as husband and wife. Mr Bajaj threw a grand reception party in the evening with celebrities and famous personalities thawing at the function. Even the media was present and the party put any high-profile Bollywood party to shame.
At first, Prerna and her mother were wary of all this attention, but Mr Bajaj made both the ladies, his mother-in-law as well as his newly wedded wife feel comfortable. More than three attendants took care of their needs and Mr Bajaj himself made Veena feel more respected than she ever did in her life, in that party. Mr Bajaj was mysterious but she knew her daughter was in safe hands.
A month from then, Prerna left with Mr Bajaj and Sneha to Amsterdam, Bajaj's permanent residence. In that one month, though Mr Bajaj rarely met her but Sneha and Prerna would meet her almost every day. She knew Prerna hadn’t warmed up to her husband yet but she took the duties of a mother very well. She knew Prerna was still suffering the heartbreak and that tensed her but sometimes rain was necessary for rainbows to shine.
Mr Bajaj, though was one of the richest businessmen in the entire world but he never showed any disrespect to Veena, nor did he ever look down upon Prerna or her family. He never spoke ill or judged her and her class.
Instead, he gave her and Veena immense respect, space and thoughtful gifts. Prerna told her on her birthday the very year, that Mr Bajaj had given her a photo frame, which held a picture of a young Bajaj with her late father. Mr Bajaj had told her how he treasured this but she deserved it more than he did. She said, crying with happiness over Facetime, that it was the best thing she had ever received. Veena was more than happy at this.
Soon she could see so many changes in her daughter, though they didn’t stay in the same country or even shared the same time zones but the everyday video calls revealed them. Prerna was slowly turning into what she was before. She joked, she laughed and had so much fun with the little child Sneha who just remained attached on to her like her skin.The mother and daughter had too much fun and Veena sometimes felt pangs of jealousy before they vanished in seconds.
Life wasn’t so pleasant though. People did talk behind their backs, especially questioning her darling daughter’s character. As a woman, she chose not to pay any heed to these filthy mouths but then as a mother it hurt her to hear such accusations.
Prerna would often come to India as Mr Bajaj had frequent visits to the country for his business deals and she didn’t leave any chance to meet her mother. It also meant that she had to attend many parties that Mr & Mrs Bajaj were invited to. Most of the time, Rishabh, as Prerna would call him now with his first name finally, would ask they need not to but sometimes they really had to, especially when they were the hosts themselves.
Though people remained to the creamy layer but their mouths were so much worse than the ill-mannered slum dwelling people, that they would try to shame Prerna, calling her an opportunist middle class girl. Mr Bajaj would often give it back in style, putting them in their place, exposing their shortcomings but it broke Prerna’s heart most of the time.
Veena tried to make her understand that all that mattered was her husband and his thoughts about her but she nevertheless felt down. In those moments, Veena saw how much it pained Mr Bajaj to see his wife in pain. He would at first pacify her and comfort her, though giving her as much space as she had needed. Veena could see Prerna cling to him, demanding his attention, as if his words were balm to her open wounds. Then Mr Bajaj would pamper her enough and that would do the trick.
Pampering her didn’t mean buying her expensive gifts or huge rocks to wear, but instead he would rather take her out for fuchka, or hot steaming biryani or just watch a jatra (play) show, just like the common people. The next day’s newspaper would often tell Veena that though Mr Bajaj looked calm and composed in front of Prerna, but his fury brought doom to all those who tried to shame her and made them penniless by bringing them on the roads overnight. Veena felt strangely proud of her son-in-law. Though he didn’t have to do so but as a husband he couldn’t stand a drop of tear roll down his wife’s cheek and made everyone cry who were responsible for it.
Veena saw his fury reached the top when in one of the parties the Basu matriarch had tried shaming Prerna. Prerna’s ex spilled venom, this time daring to spill them onto Mr Bajaj. “With due respect Mr Bajaj she at first had me roped well around her fingers, now she has you.”
The next moment the entire hall echoed with the sound of a deafening slap. Mr Bajaj had hit the Jr Basu so hard that his face looked disfigured. It took Prerna’s howling requests on the top of her voice to stop Mr Bajaj from beating the Jr Basu to death. Veena witnessed a new phase between the couple, which changed the dynamics of their relationship overnight.
The next day’s news only flashed how the ruthless Bajaj had unleashed his fury on the Basu family, reducing them to dust in a moment’s time. Prerna demanded answers from Mr Bajaj for such an act and he only said if he could then he would had killed the bloodline itself for insulting his wife. No one dared to say anything to his family, especially her and if had him to kill anyone he would happily do it. He could go to any extent to keep both her and their daughter safe.
Right after that day, Veena noticed there was a drastic change in her daughter. There was admiration from her side and her daughter was now growing much closer to her husband than before. But did love spark yet? It was still a no.
Mr Bajaj took his family on holidays, sometimes to Switzerland, sometimes to England and Scotland and many other exotic places and Veena found her phone filled with pictures of her Priyu and Sneha having fun and very soon they also had Mr Bajaj with them.
A few trips later there were more intimate yet funny selfies of the husband and wife than images of others. Prerna now spoke highly of her husband and it delighted Veena that she had resumed her studies on insistence of Mr Bajaj.
Veena was amazed how easily her innocent Priyu handled her studies and the duties of being both a mother and a wife. When Sneha, after intense therapy made her first sound, her Priyu had cried the entire day in happiness. Mr Bajaj had been away to the States for some business deals but he cancelled all to be with them and came off in just a matter of a few hours.
Veena could see how much these two now behaved like man and wife, sharing pain and happiness together. Was her daughter happy? More than she had even thought. Another milestone in their life had to be the day when Prerna graduated. It was a huge day for the entire Sharma as well as the Bajaj family. Though Mr Bajaj wanted Veena to be present with them on this huge occasion but Veena subtly refused. She wanted the two enjoy the very first achievement of theirs together. She very well knew such occasions brought hearts closer and she prayed that it did too. A year had passed since the, and Veena couldn't contain her happiness at all because she was going to meet her heart, her reason for being alive after almost a year and also her husband, the most righteous one.
WaqtZaya2020-05-19 10:21:05
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