Chapter 6
Another morning from busy city life.
A 6 years old little girl is sitting tensed on the breakfast table. Her mum has kept cereals in front of her but she doesn't want to eat it all. Who can convince mommy? Elders are so stubborn! Phew! she's afraid to tell her mom. Landline phone starts ringing. She goes near the phone sighing & picks it up.
: hello! Chahat is speaking, from Malhotra Mansion! Whom do u want to talk?
: Ms. Chahat jee, definitely I want to talk to you!
: popsss!! - she shouts happily,excited.
: hey little princess!
: pops when will u come back? I & mumma are missing u lot. I am more. You know she again got me those yuck cereals. I want to eat paratha.
: Haha is that so? Wait I'll tell momma not to give those things to my princess. And I am late because I am searching for the doll you told me to bring, The Barbie doll which have a pink hairclip on black hair!
: I don't need doll! You just come back, pops.
: Pakka? You don't need the doll? - he says, from behind.
Chahat turns back. Her pops, Pushkar Malhotra is standing there. She runs & jumps into his arms happily.He kisses on her cheek lovingly, she giggles. She's so happy! He gives her the barbie doll for which she demanded.
: here's the Barbie doll for my doll! Oh wait, doesn't it look exactly like you?
: No! Its so pretty!
: And you're the prettiest!
: No mumma is the prettiest!
Her mom, Suman Malhotra comes there.
: Chahat, baby why haven't you eat yet?
She stops seeing Pushkar, smiles.
: oh! You're home! You should've call us, we would go to the airport then!
: Then how would I be able to surprise my princess!
Pushkar says happily twirling Chahat in arm which makes her giggle. Suman sighs and smiles. Her baby is the happiest when she's with her pops. None or nothing can make her more happier than him,even her mom can't.
: pops, what have you brought for mumma?
: as you said, a red saree!
: then give that to her, naaa...
Pushkar takes out a red saree & gives it to Suman. Chahat laughs happily.
: mumma, please wear it.
: no baby, I'm busy now! Will wear later.
: mumma please...
Suman looks at Chahat and she gets it. She knows her mom, she won't wear it. Why her mumma doesn't like red? She's damn sure her mommy with look great in red.
: why haven't you finished your breakfast yet? - Suman asks, sounding more like a strict mom.
Chahat looks at Pushkar for help, pouting. Pushkar smiles & signals Suman that he'll manage. Suman sighs & leaves. Pushkar tells a fairy tale & feeds Chahat breakfast. Suman sees from distance. She wears looks at the saree brought by Pushkar & sighs.
~~~
At noon.
Suman is sitting in front the mirror, brushing her hair. Pushkar enters. He places a hand on her shoulder.
: what happened, Sumo!
: nothing!
: look, u can't hide anything from me!
: no seriously! Nothing happened!
: you sure?
Suman puts a fake smile just to end the topic. He has returned home just now,she doesn't want to upset him.
: yup! Sure.
Pushkar gets busy with his laptop. Suddenly a voice comes from laptop taking Suman's name addressing as di. Suman is surprised & runs to see, she sees Daboo on Skype chat. She gets happy, with teary eyes. Pushkar leaves bro-sis duo alone to talk.
: hi Di!
: Daboo, Happy Birthday!!
: thank you, di.
: I was just thinking about you just now.
: I know di! And as every year, Pushkar bhaiya has managed to make us talk! He is the best.
Suman smiles at Pushkar as he enters the room, mouthing a silent 'thank u' to him, he smiles back.
: How's Chahat?
: Well. How's your studies going in America? How is Divya?
Daboo blushes. Suman gets awestruck. How time flies! Her baby bro, getting shy as mentioned his crush's name.
: She's doing well - Daboo murmurs.
Suman laughs at his cuteness. She hesitates to ask about mama-mami & Preeti. Pushkar gets it & he ownself asks Daboo about them. Daboo says all are fine. Suman smiles sadly. They end the call bidding bye.
: Still I understand each and every words that left unspoken by you, Sumo!
Suman looks on & sighs.
: Thanks, Pushkar!
Chahat enters with a landline phone on hand.
: Pops, dadi on phone!
: Baby have you greeted pranam to dadi and aked about her health? - asks Suman.
Chahat smiles sweetly & nods yes. Suman smiles a bit. Pushkar takes the phone, kissing on Chahat's baby cheek.
: My baby is the cutest! - Pushkar says happily.
~~~
At night.
Suman comes back home from office. She enters the house & hears a noise "Surprise..."
Pushkar is standing there wearing chef's apron, little Chahat holding his hand, she's looking cute in chef's cap, which her pops brought for her. Suman smiles. Chahat goes to Suman & makes her sit on a chair, Pushkar serves pasta to her. Suman is surprised.
: Wow! It smells good - Suman praises.
: It tastes good too! - Chahat says proudly.
Pushkar lightly pinches his baby's nose, making her pout cutely.
~~~
At late night.
Suman gets thirsty, she goes to kitchen for drinking water, she stops in front of the door of living room, where Chahat & Pushkar are watching cartoon movie & laughing. Suman smiles. She thanks God for everything she has. She looks at Pushkar, he is watching & enjoying cartoon like a kid. Suman desires to sit with them & watch, but she knows there is a separate world of Pushkar & Chahat without her. Almost for a year, she was mentally broken & depressed after Shravan left. Pushkar supported her, when none else was. He supported her as a friend, as a partner as everything. Shravan's family wanted them two to get married as they always wanted but she knows thats not possible.
Suman's eyes get stuck on a family picture, which was clicked in her pre wedding party, the happy malhotras...
She & Pushkar are standing happily together...her eyes rolled on the pic & stopped on the guy beside her, Shravan.. he seemed sad behind his fake smile. Suman inhales a deep breath. She keeps her hand on his picture & removes the dust on it. A lone tear escapes from her eye.
: You took away myself from me, Shravan! You killed the old "Sumo". You took away everything.
~~~
Suman is at her room. She is sitting sadly on sofa.
(Flashback)
Wedding mandap, which was decorated beautifully to get Suman & Pushkar married. There is sadness everywhere around. Why they won't be? The would be bride Suman Tiwari has returned, being Suman Malhotra, marrying Shravan. Nanu got a heart attack & has been taken to hospital. Pushkar is heartbroken. Kamini is crying cursing the newly wedded couple, lalaji consoles her.
Suman is silently crying. Shravan inhales a deep breath holding her hand.
(Flashback ends)
Suman sighs. Pushkar comes with two cups of coffee.
: here's your coffee!
: thanks.
: you're most welcome, pretty lady!
: Stop flirting, creepo! I'm your bhab... - Suman stops realising her mistake and changes the topic.
: so, how's your trip?
: quite good, but I missed Chahat a lot.
: you love her a lot, don't you?
: obviously! After all she's my daughter!
Suman smiles.
: What do you two talk about almost all the day? I mean she doesn't like silly baby talks and I don't think you've something interesting topics to talk about beside case!?
: Not at all. We've so many important topics to talk about, like global warming, water pollution...
: yeah right!
: Kidding! Chahat talks about her friends, school. Like there is a boy who troubles her so much, he often hides her notebook and annoys her.
: Hahaha really? Do you remember how much we used to fight in our childhood? And Shravan always made us stop. Silly we were!
Suman stops at mid sentence & gets irked by mentioning his name unknowingly. Pushkar smiles & says,
: Still silly.. you are!
He pulls her cheek in a childish way & leaves. She looks at the moon.
~~~
Next morning.
Suman wakes up. She looks at the clock. its late hour of morning. She freshens up & goes to breakfast table. Pushkar is already there.
: Good morning!
: Good morning! Its quite late, actually I'm not feeling well.
Pushkar gets worried & places a hand on her forhead. He is surprised as she got high fever. He holds her hand & takes her to the room & tells Kamal jee to call the doctor. He makes her eat breakfast. Chahat comes there. Pushkar tells her to be with mommy, he'll go and check whther the doctor has arrived or not. Chahat nods & sits beside her mom. Suman opens her eyes slowly and finds her daughter silently praying to God, placing her tiny palm over her mommy's forhead. Suman smiles & touches her daughter's cheek. Chahat opens her eyes and Suman moves her hand away, hesitantly as if she committed mistake. Chahat kisses on her mom's eyes.
: Kissing eyes reduces fever, you know, mumma?
: Chahat! Why aren't you yet ready for school?
: Mumma you're ill, if I leave then who'll take care of you? Pops has to go office naa?
Suman's lips form a amused smile involuntarily. Her 6 year daughter thinks she can manage her ill mom & everything around her. When she became such adorable? Honestly she never took care of her thoughts like other mothers do. After Shravan left, Suman has stopped believing in anything called "love". She loves her daughter undoubtedly but there's something which can't let her get close to her, as if a barrier or something. She takes care of her health, study, extracurricular activities - everything like every mom do but still she's not like other mom who opens up to their child. Chahat doesn't know how her mom actually is, how she was. She always tries to ask her about her, but Suman always changes the topic, like why she didn't finish the milk, if she had finished her homework etc. Suman sighs. He took away the REAL SUMO with him. This emotionless, quiet Suman is not that Sumo. She's someone else.
~~~
Doctor checks Suman, prescribes some medicines for her advising her to take rest properly. Chahat listens yo every word of doctor, as if she's the only one who has to take care of her mom. Pushkar cancels all the appointments he had for the day. Suman tries to interrupt but he doesn't listen to her. He makes her eat medicines, she feels sleepy & takes nap.
At evening.
She wakes up & sits on the bed, she's surprised to see Pushkar sleeping on a sofa near her. Its so cold here, cold wind is blowing from the window & Pushkar is even shivering. Suman gets down from the bed & puts a blanket on him. He is sleeping like a child.
After a while Pushkar wakes up, checks Suman's fever. she's quite well now. He goes to Chahat's room, she is studying. He makes her sit on his lap.
: Hey doll, Whats up?
Chahat smiles pressing her lips. Pushkar smiles back, isn't she the carbon copy of Sumo's childhood? The adorable, caring Sumo but Sumo was not calm & quiet like Chahat is. Obviously she got this nature from her dad. Calmness with a strong, loving nature - the perfect combination.
: Baby, did you eat milkshake in the breakfast?
: Yes.
: Vegetables in lunch?
: Yup!
: Thats like my good girl. Now princess Chahat & pops will go and have some kulfis.
: Okay. But first I've to check mumma.
: Sure!
Chahat gets down from his lap & goes to kitchen. She comes back with Bahadur jee with a tray, decorated with lunch for Pushkar. She gently thanks Bahadur jee, he smiles & leaves.
: pops, have some food, you haven't eat anything from the morning.
: hahh!?? How do u know!?
: its simple. When someone we love, gets ill we don't feel like eating. Thats why you didn't eat. I also didn't want to eat but then I thought mumma and you'll be upset if I don't eat. Now, you eat or I'll be upset.
Pushkar is simply surprised with her answer. Beauty with brain, just like her mom?
Pushkar smiles.
: Baby, I seriously don't want to eat, but as you brought this so I'll have one bite.
: No no no. You have to finish the whole till then I'll go and check mumma. If you don't, you won't have kulfi for next one month.
Pushkar laughs & pulls her chubby chicks. He starts eating.
: Thats like a good boy! - she says happily.
~~~
Pushkar comes to Suman's room after having lunch. He stands at the door, adoring the mom-daughter duo. aren't they the happiest people living in the earth? Yes, Sumo has her own emptiness in her life but who's doesn't have? Chahat, their lovely daughter fills up each and everyday of their life with love & happiness. He smiles again.
~~~
London.
5pm.
There's a grand party in somewhere where all the rich and successful lawyers, businessmen all celebrities got together.
: hello Mr. Malhotra! Hope you're enjoying.
: yeah sure! - He smiles gently.
: I must say you're not only successful & rich, but also very handsome!
He smiles politely.
: so where's your family? I want to meet the lucky girl who got you for lifetime.
Shravan looks up, quiet. Eric clears his throat, changes the topic clearly.
After the party, Shravan & Eric are returning own home.
: You should call...
: Eric plz!
: No Shravan, you miss your family
: Eric, its almost 7 years! They have moved on without me! I Don't want to interfere in their lives.
: but Shravan..
: Hey, ice cream...you want? I toh want.
Eric sighs. Each time he changes the topic but he knows how much Shravan misses his family.
Shravan parks the car and walks to the ice cream parlour.
: Two Chocolate Marshmallow please! - Shravan says, smiling.
~~~
: Then I'll have two Chocolate Marshmallow! - Chahat speaks up between having her pops's favourite "India Gate's Kulfi"
: Okay my lady! But what if your mumma come to know about our this adventure?
Chahat looks up, fear is evident in her face. Pushkar tries to control his laughter. She's so much afraid of her mother. He assures her & they go to Delhi's famous ice cream parloure which now knows what this little beautiful girl wants, every time, her favourite Chocolate Marshmallow!!
~~~
Next morning, Suman wakes up & sees Chahat is sleeping on Pushkar's lap, both on the sofa beside her bed. She smiles. She freshens up & goes to kitchen. She brings breakfast made herself for all.
She enters in her room. She calls Pushkar to wake up. He asks her to take rest. She says she's completely fine now. He thanks God. Suman touches Chahat's arm to wake her up, she wakes up with a smile.
Pushkar & Chahat are taking bites from each other's plate. Suman stares at them adoring.
: Chahat, why aren't you eating baby?
: Actually mumma, I got sore throat!
: What?
Suman gets up & checks her temperature.
: Chahat, what have you eaten yesterday that you got sore throat?
: Mumma...actually. ..
: Chahat, speak up! - Suman nearly yells.
: Sumo, relax. We had ice creams yesterday. And...
: Chahat go to your room, I'll get medicines for you.
: Mumma...please don't scold pops.
: Chahat, I said go.
Chahat looks at Pushkar, he signals her to go. She leaves.
: Sumo, you shouldn't yell at her for this silly matter.
: And who're you to tell me that?
: Sumo...I am her...
: Pushkar, I am her mother I'll decide what'll she eat, what is good for her and what is not. You please don't interfere.
: Sumo, what are you saying?
: Pushkar, she's not your daughter.
Pushkar looks at the lady in front of her, Is she Sumo? Who always used to say he's her family?
Suman looks away & leaves.
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
