Part~28
Hey guys!
Firstly, my sincere apologies for the extremely late update! I know I'm late but I've just been going through a rough time personally and I was in no state of mind to update, and honestly I didn't want to post an update when I was feeling that way even though they are pre written.
Thank you so much for your patience with me, I honestly really appreciate it!
Hope you like this update...can promise you some extremely gripping upcoming ones :) Please leave your feedback!
Thank you,
Sanjana..
-xxx-
Ram and Priya were in front of a gorgeous, huge independent chocolate brown painted house. It looked like a caring and loveable atmosphere from the the outside, and Priya hoped that it would be the same. Beside the door, were the numbers 6427 printed neatly in bolded font on a name plate. It was the right house then.
'Ring the bell'. Ram urged her.
'I'm scared'. Priya met Ram's eyes nervously, her eyes shaking with almost fear.
'Kuch nahi hoga'. Ram said softly, holding her hand.
'Ram this is crazy'. Priya gushed. 'Shayad mujhe yahan aana nahi chahiye tha'.
'Priya, you have to relax. Kuch nahi hoga, tum apni beti se milne jaa rahi ho. Tumhari zindagi ke sabse accha din hona chahiye yeh'.
'Okay'. Priya finally said. 'This is what I want'.
'Aur mein hoon tumhare saath...kuch nahi hoga'. Ram assured her, squeezing her hand.
Priya rang the bell, and within seconds almost were a middle aged couple, gleaming at Priya and Ram as though they were waiting for their arrival.
'Mr and Mrs Nair?' Priya confirmed.
'Priya, right?' The woman smiled warmly. 'I'm Trisha, and this is my husband Manish'.
'Nice to meet you'. Priya smiled back warmly. 'This is my friend, Ram. He's just come along with me here'.
'Hi Ram, nice to meet you. Andar aayiye naa'. Trisha gestured for them to come in.
The house was gorgeous...Priya could definitely visualize a four year old living in this house. Trisha and Manish seemed really nice as well, so Priya felt a bit at ease.
'Please, sit down'. Manish led them to the living room, gesturing towards the couches.
'You okay?' Ram whispered to Priya.
'Haan'. Priya smiled.
'Paani chahiye aap logon ko?' Trisha offered. 'Juice, anything?'
'Nahi, I'm alright, thanks'. Priya politely replied.
'Same here'. Ram said.
'Must have been one flight, hain na? Aap log direct flight se aaye hue hain?' Manish inquired.
'Haan, it was 27 hours aur bohot thakaan ho raha tha lekin hotel paunchte hi hum log so gaye the toh we're okay now'. Ram replied.
'Khushi apne kamre mein khel rahi hai, she will be very excited to meet you'. Trisha smiled at Priya, who was clearly looking uneasy and uncomfortable.
'Well, I'd like to take this opportunity to thank both of you. Aap logon ne uska khayal rakha, aur saaf nazar aa raha hai ki aap logon ne itna pyaar diya usse. I just wanted what's best for Khushi aur mujhe lagta hai ki usse wahi mila hai'. Priya thanked them. 'Aur mujhe dobaara milne ke liye bhi, thank you so much. I'm really grateful'.
'It's alright, Priya. Jab Manish aur mein adopt karne ki decision liya tha, we knew it would be a big responsibility. Aur jab humne Khushi ko adopt kiya, hum logon ko yahi laga ki aapne jo bhi kiya bilkul sahi kiya. Hum dono se kaha gaya tha ki...that you had your doubts with raising a child, it is very difficult to raise a child without the other parent, aur mein imagine nahi kar sakthi hoon ki aapke dil mein kya beeth rahi thi, aur abhi bhi kya beeth rahi hai. Aur hum log Boston mein iss liye rehte hain kyunki Khushi ko adopt karne ke baad Manish aur mujhe laga ki hume US aana chahiye, this place is great for kids to grow aur hume bas wahi chahiye tha'. Trisha explained. 'Lekin Khushi ko wahi Indian values aur beliefs ke saath hum dono ne paale hain. Uski passport mein shayad woh American ho, lekin dil se woh ek normal Indian chaar saal ki bacchi hai. Pani puri kitna pasand hai usse!'
'Bilkul apni baap ki tarah'. Priya mumbled to herself.
'Khushi ko humne bataaya nahi...ki woh adopted hai. Woh abhi bhi bacchi hai, aur hum usse confuse nahi karna chaahte hain'. Manish explained. 'I hope that's okay with you'.
'Yes, that's okay. Mein bhi usse confuse nahi karna chaahungi kissi bhi tareeke se. Mein bas yahan usse dekhne aayi hoon, mere mann ki shaanti ke liye. Mujhe bas apni aankhon se dekhna hai ki woh theek hai ya nahi, that's all. Usse kuch bhi pata hone ki zaroorat nahi hai'. Priya said, tears forming in her eyes already.
Her heart broke just a little saying this. She wanted to hear the word mom from her child's mouth...she wanted her child to hug her and ask for chocolate cake. She wanted her child to run up to her and ask help over a subtraction question. She wanted her child to...just be with her.
'Mein usse bulaati hoon'. Trisha said and went to get her.
Ram looked at Priya, who's tears were ready to pour out any minute now. He squeezed her hand tight.
'I'm scared, Ram'. Priya whispered, although Manish had heard her.
'Priya, you are very brave and I am certain your love for Khushi is nothing less than our love for her'. Manish smiled pleasantly. 'Aap please fikar mat kijiye, darne ki koi baat nahi hai. Khushi aapko bohot pasand karegi, aur aaj...Khushi is all yours'.
Interrupting Priya from replying was a chubby tiny girl running up to Priya, her pigtails sweeping side to side with her cute flower added clips. Khushi was wearing a jean shorts that were till her thigh, and a yellow shirt with butterflies designed all around it.
'Hi aunty, I'm Khushi!' She smiled innocently at Priya, talking with her clear American accent and also a very cute baby voice.
Priya couldn't really stop behind the tears from pouring down her face. She started sobbing, like any mother would, and just looked at Khushi's face staring back at her with a rather confused look.
'Kya hua?' Khushi asked, in her triple cute voice while talking in Hindi.
'Kuch nahi'. Ram covered up for Priya. 'Bohot cute ho aap!'
'Who are you?' Khushi snapped.
'Ram uncle'. Ram smiled.
'Uncle, yeh ro kyun rahi hai?' Khushi asked, pointing at Priya.
'Woh...umm', Ram stalled awkwardly. 'Uncle ne naa, usse bohot zor se daanta aur ab aunty ko bohot bura laga, iss liye woh ro rahi hain'.
'Hawww!' Khushi frowned. 'Aap sorry bolo inhe!'
'Khushi, be nice beta'. Trisha said.
'I am being nice mumma!' Khushi defended herself.
Hearing Khushi call another woman 'maa' made Priya feel even more lonely and rejected. This was her child, and she had only been an aunty that the child barely even knows.
'Priya, you okay?' Trisha asked.
'Haan'. Priya sniffled.
'Priya, sambhaalo apne aapko. Khushi ke saamne tumhe himmat rakhna hi hoga'. Ram quietly said.
'Aap bolo naa sorry!' Khushi urged Ram. 'Aapne aunty ko rula diya!'
'Accha mein bolta hoon. I'm sorry!' Ram held his ears tight and chuckled at Priya.
'Aap inhe maaf kar do. Dekho, kitne funny lag rahe hain!' Khushi giggled.
'It's okay'. Priya managed to choke.
'Ab aap mat rona. Agar uncle ne phir se aapko daant diya naa toh mein daant dungi, jaise mumma mujhe daanthti hai!' Khushi promised.
'T-thank you'. Priya stuttered.
'Khushi, tell them about school and your friends'. Trisha suggested. 'Tumhe yeh sab bataana accha lagta hai na!'
'Haan!' Khushi's face lit up instantly.
'Haan, batao'. Priya wiped her tears and tried to smiled pleasantly.
'Mein Kindergarten 1 mein hoon, aur mere school ka naam hai Sunshine Smiles. My teacher's name is Ms. Gray, and she is the best teacher in the world!' Khushi grinned. 'My two best friends are Nancy and Maria, and we play during recess all the time!'
'Khushi, kitni baar samjhaaya hai tumhe! Hindi mein baat karo ghar pe'. Manish said.
'It's okay'. Priya politely replied.
'Nahi, Priya, hum chaahte hain ki ghar pe Khushi Hindi mein hi baat karein. Badi ho jaayegi toh kabhi Hindi mein baat nahi kar paayegi'. Trisha said.
'Uffo'. Khushi sighed. 'Accha mein Hindi mein hi baat karti hoon'.
'Aapko school acchi lagti hai?' Priya asked.
'Bohot bohot bohot zyaada! Mujhe school bohot pasand hai'. Khushi enthusiastically replied.
'Very good, yeh toh bohot acchi baat hui. Pata hai, aap jaise chote bacchon ko school bilkul bhi pasand nahi hai, lekin aapko pasand hai toh bohot hi acchi baat hai. Aap bade hokar kya banna chaahte ho?' Priya asked.
'Iss baare mein soch rahi hoon mein, lekin mujhe sochne ke liye aur time chahiye'. Khushi replied cutely like an adult.
Priya could not help but chuckle. Khushi was so innocent, so cute, and for a second Priya just wanted to take her home with her. On the other hand though, she was happy that Khushi was brought up with immense care and handled very smartly.
'Aap toh bohot hi smart ho!' Priya complimented.
'Haan, mein normal 4 year olds se kaafi smart hoon'. Khushi proudly replied.
'Bohot cute bhi ho aap'. Priya beamed.
'Woh bhi mein normal 4 year olds se hoon'. Khushi giggled. 'Aapka naam kya hai, waise?'
Priya's heart broke a little more. Her own daughter didn't know her name. Ram glanced at her, silently conveying through his eyes to stay calm. 'Priya...Priya a-aunty'.
'Mujhe aapka naam bohot accha laga. Priya'. Khushi repeated. 'Priya'.
'Aise sirf Priya nahi bolte. Priya aunty'. Trisha corrected.
'Pata hai mujhe mumma'. Khushi sang.
'Bohot pyaari hai...aapki beti'. Priya smiled at Trisha.
Trisha looked back uneasily at Priya. This was hard for her too. She had been living the past four years of her life trying to believe Khushi was hers...but in front of her was Khushi's birth mother.
'Mujhe apne dost ke saath khelne jaana hai. Mein jaaun?' Khushi asked.
'Khushi, aunty aur uncle tumhi se milne aaye hain aur tum aise hi jaa rahi ho? Aise nahi karte beta'. Manish said.
'Papa please, jaane do na mujhe! Pleaaaseee!' Khushi pleaded.
'Khushi, this is not right'. Trisha said.
'Bacchi hai, ab nahi khelegi toh kab? It's okay, koi baat nahi'. Priya told Trisha and Manish.
'Lekin Priya-', Trisha began.
'Trust me Trisha, it's okay. Khushi ko khelne jaana hai toh mujhe aur Ram ko koi problem nahi hai'. Priya promised.
'Aap log itni door aaye hain sirf Khushi se milne lekin!' Manish pointed out.
'Mujhe bas apni aankhon se yeh dekhna tha ki Khushi theek hai ya nahi, aur ab mujhe bhi ehsaas ho gaya hai. It's okay, really'. Priya said.
Khushi looked confused at Priya. 'Matlab?'
'Kuch nahi'. Priya quickly covered up. 'Aapko khelne jaana hai toh aap jaao beta, no problem'.
Khushi looked pleadingly at Trisha and Manish. 'Pleasee?'
'Okay'. Trisha sighed, and reluctantly agreed.
Khushi squealed in happiness and ran out to the frontyard of the house.
'Bohot smart hai apni age ke liye, very very very bright child'. Priya told Trisha.
Trisha just smiled back in response, not knowing how to answer to that.
'Once again, thank you so much. Mujhe nahi lagta ki aap dono se zyaada koi bhi Khushi ko itna pyaar de paate, ya itna khayal rakh paate. And that's not just it, thank you so much mujhe usse milwaane ke liye. I was truly touched today. I'll never forget this feeling. Thank you so much. Mujhe poora yakeen hai ki Khushi bade hokar bohot bohot aage jaayegi, aur woh sab kuch sirf aap dono ke wajah se hoga'.
'Priya, aisa nahi hai. Hum dono ne sirf Khushi ko bada kiya, tum uski sagi maa ho. I cannot imagine tumpar kya beeth rahi hai iss wakt, and to be honest kissi bhi maa ko yeh feeling kabhi bhi mehsoos nahi karni chahiye. Pata nahi tum mein yeh himmat kahan se aati hai, because this takes a lot of guts. Tumhare liye yeh kitna mushkil raha hoga, it's unimaginable. Lekin I promise you, jaise hi Khushi badi ho jaayegi hum usse zaroor bataayenge ki sach kya hai, we will tell her'. Trisha promised.
'Nahi, please don't do that. Mein kabhi Khushi ko face nahi kar paaungi agar aisa ho gaya toh. Mujhse nafrat karne lagegi, aap dono se nafrat karne lagegi, aur shayad apne aap se bhi nafrat karne lagegi. Mujhe aisa kuch nahi karna hai jisse usko takleef dein'. Priya sighed. 'Anyway, Ram, I think we should leave now'.
Ram looked surprised at Priya. It had been tops a half hour only, and Priya was ready to go back now? 'Umm..are you sure?'
'Haan'. Priya forced a smile. 'Khushi se bhi mil li meine'.
'Priya agar tum aur wakt bitaana chaahti ho Khushi ke saath, then by all means go ahead'. Trisha permitted.
'Nahi Trisha, thank you so much though. Let her play, chaar saal ki hai'. Priya said.
'Priya, yahan aane ke liye thank you. Being a part of Khushi's life, matlab...bohot hi adventurous safar raha hai hum dono ke liye. Aur aapko yahan dekhkar, Khushi ke saath, we felt very nice'. Manish smiled warmly.
'Khushi ka khayal rakhiyega aap dono, bohot pyaari bacchi hai. Chaar saalon tak aapne itna pyaar aur itna kuch diya usse, mein kabhi nahi de paati Khushi ko yeh sab. You are wonderful parents'. Priya said.
'Thank you'. Trisha smiled at Priya, holding her arm.
And that...was the first (after she was born), and according to Priya, the very last time she ever saw Khushi...
-xxx-
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