Chapter 8

Chapter 8

The only source of noise in the room was the sound of rain pattering against the windows. The two occupants of the room, otherwise, maintained complete silence. Few more minutes ticked by and Birendra Singh Malik’s patience ran out first.

“Please, Baba. Say something” His voice was raw and desperate.

The other Malik in the room, Surendra Singh Malik, merely stared at his young son.

“Get me some poison” the man spoke after a long minute.

Birendra’s eyes shot up to meet his father’s hard gaze.

“The news you have brought me is no less than death for me. At least poison will make this an easier, quicker death”

Birendra tried his best to remain unaffected by the harsh words but they cut through his defenses. He felt an insurmountable amount of guilt and pain.

“Please don’t say that, Baba. I will do anything that you ask me to do but this. I cannot marry Sujata. I love another” Birendra Singh Malik repeated his request before the unflinching face of his father. The man merely turned his face to appear disgusted.

“Love? It’s not love, you fool. It’s insanity. It’s a black mark on the centuries of unblemished Malik legacy. I do not want to hear another second of this. Either you will marry the Raizada girl or you will light my funeral pyre. The choice is yours, Birendra” The words clanged through Birendra Singh Malik’s heart, agonizing him.

“She will never be happy with me. I will never be happy with her, Baba. This..this marriage will ruin..”

 “You will marry her and you will keep her happy. You will love her. You will give me an heir” The words were a command.

One that Birendra Singh Raizada obeyed.

A week later, he was married in the grandest wedding the city had seen in decades.

Sujata Singh Raizada became Sujata Birendra Singh Malik.

Her happiness was boundless.

And Birendra Singh Malik had made sure he shattered that happiness the very night.

He had pushed his newly married wife out of his bedroom and locked her in the open, cold balcony.

Birendra Singh Malik stood in the same balcony and peered down. His eyes were dim and weary. He had just finished talking to his lawyer and had ordered the new will papers to be prepared. Akash had gone with the lawyer to escort him outside.

Birendra Singh Malik waited. He knew Akash will return to him in ten minutes. His son wanted answers. Answers that Birendra Singh Malik was ashamed to give.

For a second, he rested his hands on the balcony railings and looked down. He was on the third floor again. In his room. He had asked the lawyer to come upstairs because he had wanted privacy while discussing the matters.

But, now as Malik peered down the height, he thought for a second what it would feel like to hurl himself down. It will be so much easier than waiting days and weeks for death to come to him. This will save him from facing everything.

But, no!

He was not a coward any more. He will face Akash. He will face Arnav. And only then he will allow death to take him.

“What are you doing, Baba?” Akash’s voice was wary as he noticed his father bent against the railing, looking down.

“Nothing. Just admiring the view, son” Malik replied and turned towards Akash.

“Come inside, Baba. Sit. You look tired” Akash said and Malik stepped into the room.

“Mr. Siddiqui left?” Malik asked once he was seated on the plush sofa.

“Yes” Akash replied, taking the usual seat at his father’s feet.

Malik looked down at his son. The son who had spent his life loving him, caring for him. Akash never doubted him. Never questioned him! He owed the truth to him.

“Ask me” He said to Akash.

“Tell me, Baba” Akash said, placing his head on his father’s knees.

~~**~~

Arnav wiped his face with his fingers under the scorching sunlight. He was at the site they had selected for the school and the builder was explaining to him what will be constructed where. The architectural layout looked exactly like Arnav had wanted it and despite the harsh weather, he felt the excitement buzzing through him.

“We are ready to begin construction at your earliest order, sir. The contractor of building materials has said that he can unload the trucks by tomorrow” The builder said to Arnav.

“Have you talked to him about the quality? We will need everything in the best quality. This school has to last for several coming years” Arnav said. The builder reaffirmed that all quality standards will be taken care of.

After that, Arnav spent another half an hour discussing the construction schedule and it was decided that they will start in next two days.

Once he was assured that everything was in order for the next two days, he finally looked at his watch.

It was about to be afternoon, and he felt himself getting hungry. He had left early in the morning with only a light breakfast.

Taking out his cell phone, he stared at it undecidedly.

To call or not to call?

~~**~~

Once Birendra Singh Malik stopped speaking, Akash allowed his tears to fall.

He had long stood up from his father’ side and walked to the windows, staring outside.

Each word that Birendra Singh Malik had spoken had only shocked Akash.

And when he finished in the end, Akash didn’t know what to say or do. The truth was huge. The truth was ugly. But, it was the truth.

Akash wondered how he had failed to predict it. It seemed so simple now that he knew it.

His father never loved Sujata Singh Malik. Yet, he married her. He lived with her for years before he allowed himself to break. Before he finally stopped caring about life and living!

And when his father sank to his lowest, he took down Arnav with him.

Akash wondered what his brother would say once he learns the entire truth. Will he believe it? Will he forgive his father? Will he still hate him?

Akash trembled with unspoken words. He heard his father’s rasped breathing. The man who was waiting for him to speak! To judge him, condemn him! Like he had condemned himself.

But Akash will not do that.

He turned towards his father.

“You are not wrong, Baba!” He said.

“What you did, the decisions you made, the steps you took..all of it proves one thing! That you’re just a man. A man who is allowed to love, to live and to make mistakes in the process.  I can never understand the depth of what you went through, but I can understand that it was hard for you, Baba. You are not wrong. You never were. You’re still my father who I love and respect” Akash finished with tears running down his face. Just like the tears that ran down Birendra Singh Malik’s face.

“My son!” was all Malik could say before Akash covered the distance and hugged his father.

“I promise you, Baba, that Arnav Bhai will come and see you. I promise that he will sit with you and listen to you. I will make sure of that. That’s my promise to you” Akash said and the sob that left Birendra Singh Malik’s throat was a happy one.

~~**~~

Khushi’s smile was big when she opened the door and Arnav walked into the house. She had been preparing lunch when Arnav had called her to ask where she was. She had told him that she was at her house and will come to the Mahal in the evening.

In return, he had told her that he was in the area and was looking forward to a lunch treat, this time from her side.

She had been pleasantly surprised at his light tone and to see that his good spirits hadn’t dimmed yet.

“What’s in lunch? I am famished” He said to her as way of greeting.

“Bhindi, Rice, Chapati, Raita, Salad, and daal. Everything is already on the table” She replied, motioning him towards the wash basin where he could wash himself.

She went ahead and sat at the table.

Arnav joined her after two minutes and then looked around.

“Where’s your father?” He asked her, sitting down opposite to her.

“I packed his lunch in the morning. He normally eats at the shop” She answered.

“Hmm” He said and began uncovering the dishes.

Khushi just watched as he served the food in his plate and then in hers.

She wondered where the man she met on the first day went! Not that she was complaining. She couldn’t help but also note that he looked more relaxed and settled today.

 “What were you doing in this area?” She asked him once he began eating.

“I plan to build a school nearby. So, there were things to do” He replied.

“A school? That’s really wonderful, Arnav” She exclaimed in happy surprise.

“I think so too” He answered.

“Where is it?” She enquired, placing another Chapati in his plate.

“About a kilometer from here. At the end of the market” He replied, and Khushi looked at him confused.

“But, that area is next to the purani Basti. A school there? Would it be profitable?” She asked him. The place was largely next to the slum. The reason why it had been left untouched by a lot of larger parties. And finally a school being built there by Arnav Singh Raizada. She could imagine its scale and structure. The locals will hardly be able to afford it.

“The school would be for the children there. And others who want to join it” He replied.

It took Khushi a moment to register that he meant to open a charitable school. For the children who could not afford fancy schools in other parts of the city.

“That’s a really great step” She said with a soft smile.

Arnav only nodded.

“So, tell me. What do you do when you’re not in the Mahal? You said your final year exams are done with. What do you plan to do next?” Arnav asked her.

“I have already applied at some places to work as a counselor. I am still waiting to hear from them” Khushi replied. She had already told Arnav in their previous meeting that the results of her Masters were out and she had scored well.

“That’s good” Arnav said and continued eating.

After the two were done, Khushi collected the dishes and carried them to the kitchen.

“You can watch the TV. I’ll take just ten minutes to clean these” She said from the kitchen while Arnav sat in the living room.

She was still doing the dishes when she felt him walk up to her.

“Not watching the TV?” She asked him and Arnav shook his head.

“What’s up?” She asked him again when she noticed he looked thoughtful.

“I have a question” He said, as he watched her work.

Khushi felt strange when he stepped up to her and started helping her.

“Arnav, you don’t have to..” She said when he lifted a soaped plate from the pile in the sink and started washing it under the tap.

“Why didn’t you ever tell Akash that you confronted me?” He ignored her words and continued what he was doing.

Khushi looked at him but he was not looking her. He continued cleaning one dish after another, placing them in the plastic basket next to the sink.

She thought over his question. She knew he was asking about the time when she had called him a rakshas for hurting Akash.

“I don’t know why I didn’t tell him” She replied, handing him another plate.

This time he looked at her and Khushi was struck by the intensity of his gaze.

“You tell him everything” He stated.

She does. But she hadn’t told him about this.

“I wanted him to think that you accepted him as your brother because he deserved it. Not because I told you to. But the main reason, I think, was that I didn’t know how much impact my words had on your decision of accepting him. I didn’t want to take credit for something I didn’t know I had any role in” She said, realizing the second reason was closer to the truth than the first one.

Arnav only nodded and continued working. The dishes were almost done when Khushi asked him.

“Why didn’t you tell him?”

He stayed quiet long enough that she thought he wouldn’t answer.

“I was ashamed” He finally said.

“Of accepting him?” She asked, confused.

“No, never!” He turned to her.

“That was the best decision I ever took in my life. Akash..has shown me that one does not have to share the same blood to be family. All we need is love and trust. He has given me both” Arnav replied and Khushi could swear she saw his eyes turn glassy for a second.

“I was ashamed of the fact that I had sentenced him guilty without even giving him a chance. And, you..you who were so young…you knew better than I did. You had more sense than I did” He answered.

“So, you were jealous of my wisdom?” Khushi asked him and Arnav noticed the laughter in her eyes.

“You can say so” He admitted, smiling a little himself.

“That’s good to hear, Mr. Raizada” She said, peering at him with barely contained glee.

“You should thank me for showing you the way, you know?” She continued as he washed his hands and dried them on the towel she handed to him.

Arnav gave her a raised eyebrow look.

“How should I thank you, Ms. Khushi Kumari Gupta?” He asked her.

“Umm..Forget it” She quickly answered, turning away from him.

“Forget what? You haven’t even told me yet” He stepped before her.

Khushi looked at him and then at her feet.

Okay. There was something on her mind. Arnav could see that.

“Maybe later. I will tell you later” She said, looking up and smiling brightly. Too brightly!

“Alright!”He answered.

“But, for now, you can do this for me” She continued and extended a hand before him.

“This is..?” Arnav looked at her hand.

“Friends?” She said.

“Oh” Arnav said.

“I want to be your friend” She continued, looking at him expectantly.

Arnav stared at her hand and then at her face. She was offering him her friendship. He wondered what it would entail. Or was it what he wanted? Last night, lying on his bed after talking to Akash, he had realized that there was a possibility for him to have her in his life.

He has wanted her friendship for a long time now. And now that he knew what lay in Akash’s mind, he found himself wishing for more. But, this can be a start.

So, he reached for her hand and held it. Her palm was warm and felt small in his hand.

“Better late than never” He said to her, smirking.

Khushi grinned and shook his hand.

“I shall get going now” He said, letting her hand go.

“Alright! I’ll see you in the evening in the Mahal” She said.

Arnav nodded and then walked himself out.

Khushi followed him till the door and waved goodbye.

Once he was out of sight, she allowed herself to fall into the chair and sighed loudly.

She was proud of herself the way she had successfully dodged Arnav’s question.

He was just beginning to get comfortable around her. She was just beginning to understand him.  It was too early to ask anything of him.

She wondered how Malik Uncle would react when she will tell him about her friendship with Arnav. He would most certainly be happy.

She was!

~~**~~

Dr. Kumar had spent the day attending one patient after another, barely taking a break. A break meant free time and free time meant thinking about what was going on at the Mahal.

So, he hadn’t allowed himself a break. By the time the day was over, he felt extremely tired.

Getting down from the car and carrying his briefcase, he began the short walk from the garage to the main door.

He had barely taken three steps when Akash’s car entered into the garage.

Dr. Kumar wondered if he should stop or walk away. What if Malik has already told Akash everything?

Dr. Kumar didn’t have to worry too much because it wasn’t Akash who stepped out of the car. It was Arnav.

Arnav noticed him too and his entire demeanor changed. Dr. Kumar knew he shouldn’t, yet he did. He needed the distraction.

“Hello, Arnav!” He said to him.

Arnav didn’t even acknowledge his presence and walked past him.

“I guess you weren’t taught manners back in Delhi” Dr. Kumar said and got the desired result as Arnav stopped walking and slowly turned towards him.

“What did you say?” Arnav couldn’t believe the nerve of the man before him. He was just coming back after meeting the doctor he knew was treating his father. After Akash had told him last night about the improving health of his father, Arnav wanted to take stock of the situation first hand! And he had learnt from the doctor that the information was indeed right. There was a chance his father might get to live a few more years instead of a few more weeks. That was if the surgery went right.

The information hadn’t sat too well with Arnav. He had left there feeling thwarted. And now this!

He stared down at the man before him but there was unruliness in the doctor’s face that Arnav hadn’t seen before.

“I said that you weren’t taught manners in Delhi. Apparently, Devyani Singh Raizada was too busy infecting your mind to teach you anything worthwhile” The doctor said. Arnav’s hands clenched in anger.

Dr. Kumar noticed the tightening expression on Arnav’s face and smiled the kind of smile one gives when looking down upon someone.

“What? Don’t like my words? Well, the truth is bitter, Mr. Malik” The doctor continued.

“I am not Malik” The words were ground out, dripping with revulsion.

“You can change your surname. But, you cannot change the blood that flows in your veins. You cannot change the face which is the splitting reflection of your father’s. Can you?” Dr. Kumar delivered the words with a careful amount of smugness.

It was not hard for him to do that. He was out of practice but not out of habit. There was a time when he was just as boisterous as the man before him. But, all that had changed once Sujata Singh Malik had decided to take her own life.

Dr. Kumar watched Arnav take a step towards him. He did not back off.

Arnav leaned towards him.

“My Nani has taught me never to hit an old man. So, you should be grateful for that! And, blood means nothing if the father lets his ten-year-old son sit alone with his dying mother while he is passed out drunk. Blood means nothing when the son spends the night hugging his mother’s dead body, hoping for her to wake up. Blood means nothing to the son who overhears his father confessing that his mother took the poison because she saw him sleeping with someone else”

Arnav’s words rang into Dr. Kumar’s ears who did his best not to look away. But, he had to.

But, after a second he looked again at Arnav’s searing eyes.

“Your father did not ruin your mother’s life. She ruined his”

That was all it took for Arnav to swing.

But before his hand could reach its mark, he felt an iron grip holding it.

Both Arnav and Dr. Kumar stared at the wrinkled hand holding Arnav’s arm.

“Not this! I will tolerate everything, Arnav, but this!” Birendra Singh Malik came into Arnav’s view, his voice hard.

It was similar to the voice he remembered so well from his memories. The expression on his father’s face was similar to the ones he remembered.

The touch burned him. The words burned him.

The hate in his eyes grew, and he jerked his hand away.

He turned and noticed Akash standing in the doorway. The expression on his brother’s face was of disapproval and that was what pricked Arnav the most.

For the first time since his arrival in the Mahal, he felt desolate and truly alone. Even Akash was forsaking him.

He did not stop as he passed by his brother.

Neither did Akash ask him to.

_________________________________________________

your reaction

92

nice

2

awesome!

2

loved

0

lol

0

omg

0

cry