Part 10
" what else could I have done ,Maya?", said Kalpi." I waited ,for his love to gain the upper hand ,his mother to soften,but there seems to be no sign of it. I always thought love conquers all. If he truly loves me, why is he not able to put aside those negative emotions ? With so much ill will in our mind ,how can one love? How can we move on if we do not bury the past? How can I build a future ,with him in a dilemma? It is tough ,but he has to choose. It cannot go on. Paakhi may not be my favourite, but how can I see a woman being abused for no fault of hers? At the end of a year, how are the crimes absolved? It was very difficult to tell him this. But I thought somebody needed to talk hard. I saw the pain he underwent as my words sliced through him..i knew it hurt, but for the greater good it had to be done"
Maya squeezed her hands. " you know ,kalpi we first met Raghav as a morose,serious guy in college. Despite this, we three struck a chord . The first time I saw Raghav smile , behaving like a goofy teenager was when he confessed his love for you. When you accepted it, he was in seventh heaven. Sammyand I were thankful that the happiness which had always eluded him was finally his. But at the nth hour, he went and dug his grave. Raghav will always be special to me, but over these months ,I have developed such a liking for you ,itsurprises me. I want to see the two of you happy. But also remember, in whatever decision you take , you are not alone. I 'm with you. You do not even have to tell me what it is. Cos i know my Kalpi can do no wrong. Im your family and friend,Kalpi ,now and always. And she hugged her.
Kalpi was shocked to see Kamala standing at the doorstep.
" aayi"
" i have come on behalf of my daughter Paakhi. In fact, if it wasn't for her, i would not even have known where you are. Since her happiness is paramount to me, I have put aside my principles to talk to you. Despite everything, you have shamelessly been meeting Raghav over the last few months...who knows what else? You are a slur on our family name. A blemish that I can never erase. But I came to tell you this. Give up Raghav for Paakhi and I will take you back into the family, no questions asked. Promise me that you will forget Raghav and you can come back to stay with us. I will try to forget all your black deeds. I will forgive you for shattering my dreams, if you help Paakhi achieve hers"
Kalpi closed her eyes. The last vestige of hope was lost. Her mother had never trusted her. In any matter concerning her,she had never bothered to get into the heart of it, never asked her side of the story...it was always presumed that Paakhi's version was right. Today she had cast aspersions on her character. Though she had not said it in so many words,. Kalpi recognised a hopeless situation. Today she realised she was really alone. They who thought ill of you, how could they be family? Was not family the first to support yiu? Even now, her aayi had not asked her about herself. It had been her and Paakhi's dreams.
" many years ago Paakhi wanted a pen that you made me give up. During the ring ceremony , you slapped me ,not for loving R aghav ,but because Paakhi loved him. You did not see the love between the two of us...you were more interested in safeguarding Paakhi and heartbreak. What was an easy decision, you complicated it. It needed Shail aunty to make you see sense. What if bappa had not chosen me? Yet despite all this, when Raghav betrayed me, i was worried about you, about your reputation. You never asked me what happened that night at the temple but threw me aside. You presumed just as you are presuming now. Never for your claims of loving me ,have you asked me my side of the story,my wishes my dreams...
Anyway that is water under the bridge. Raghav is not a commodity like a pen for me to take or give. He is a man with a free will to do what he wants. I cannot dictate his actions. But yes, let me assure you that I have told him he has no right to spoil Paakhi's life."
Kamala presumed that Kalpi had told Raghav to patch up with Paakhi. Her face was all smiles. She knew her daughter would not do anything wrong. In her happiness for Paakhi, she did an about turn in her behaviour with Kalpi.
Kalpi just asked her to leave. Turning ,she walked away sadly. Much as it hurt her, she knew that this was a chapter in her life which was closed. It could never be rewritten or read again.
Debate Mansion
