Celebration of Fates: RagNa FF, Part-23, Pg-147, 30/07 - Page 2

CREDIT FOR BANNER: Raz (AWriteratHeart)

PART-1

Early morning sunrays washed the window panes of a bedroom of Two-Bedroom House in a locality in Mumbai. A twenty-four years old girl struggled to open her eyes slowly as the sunlight filtered from lace curtains and fell on her eyes. Not ready to open her eyes yet she jumped and changed her position to the other side, keeping a pillow on her face to obstruct any path sunrays may have founded to wake her up from her sweet dream. Just then a voice from the door started calling her name, ordering her to get p else she'll be late. "Kalpi...Kalpi, wake up beta."

Kalpi: "Aai, aai please sone de na. Main kitna sundar sapna dekh rahi hoon, please dekhne de. Abhi mat jaga". (Aai please let me sleep. I am watching such a beautiful dream, please let me watch it. Don't wake me up yet)

The lady- Kamla Vitthal Jadhav refused to listen to her plea. "Beta aur kitna sone doon. Dekh subah k Aath (8A.M.) baj gaye hain. Aur sone doongi toh tooh late ho jayegi, aaj pata hai na tere liye kitna zaruri din hai? Aur mujh pata hai hafte mei2-3 baar toh tu ye sapna dekh hi leti hai, ki Award Function mei tujhe Award mil raha hai, aur tere liye fans ki lambi line bahar wait kar rahi hai.Sapno mei hi Award jeetna hai, ya usk liye mehnat bhi karni hai?" (Child how long can I allow you to sleep?Look it's already 8A.M.. If I let you sleep more then you'll get late. You know it's an important day for you right?And I know you watch this dream at least 2-3 times in one week that you are receiving an Award in an Award Function and your fans are waiting in a long queue for you outside. You want to win the Award in dreams only, or want to work hard also for it?) By this time Kamla had come to sit beside Kalpana/Kalpi on her bed and was lovingly caressing her head.

On hearing from Kamla that it was already 8A.M., Kalpi immediately opened her eyes, gave one look to the Chart on the wall in front of her bed,and in one jump was out of the bed. "Kya Aai tune mujhe pehle nahi uthaya, ab main late ho jaungi. Waha subah Sadhe Nau' (9.30AM) tak pahuchna tha mujhe aur report karna hai." (What Aai you didn't wake me up earlier, now I'll get late. I have to be there till 9.30 A.M. to report on time)

Kamla laughed at her daughter's antics. Kalpi was still an innocent child from heart, and that's what scared Kamla that her daughter believed any one very easily. Though she was glad that the hardships they had faced, and what all Kalpi had to see right through her childhood was unable to snatch away her daughter's innocence and positivity. She also knew that if time demands her daughter can be and is very strong from inside, a strong human being & a fighter who had reached here after working hard.

Kamla's husband "Vitthal Jadhav" didn't live with them. She didn't know where he was now; years ago he was a successful businessman. But once his business plans failed miserably or should she say Kapoors cheated him. As a result Vitthal became bankrupt; his entire property was auctioned to pay the loans to investors, bank and others. Even after the auction there was hardly any money left to be given back to them, but whatever was left after paying off every debt and loan. It was enough to sustain them for 6-7months. They came to live in a chawl as their big mansion was also auctioned amongst other properties. Vitthal was too embarrassed and in depression for almost 2 months, as he could not face the same chawl people many of whom either used to work in his factories/company; or used to come as maids and helpers at home. They used to laugh at Jadhavs. Pakhya elder brother of Kalpi and Kalpi had no one to play at home and at school. Children at school used to tease them and in chawl every one refused to play with them. It had taken 6 months of relationship building for Kamla to make their lives better than before.

Vitthal was unable to find a good job anywhere, and the ones he did found he didn't took up due to his ego. He couldn't forget that once he was the boss of thousands of employees and now he'll be under someone else. Once he did join a job after much requests by Kamala, but the fourth day he had resigned from the job, as he was scolded by his boss. He could not take it; they'd had to pay some more damages for leaving the job. After two months one day when Kamala woke up she found a letter beside her on Vitthal's bed. He'd written that he is leaving for good, he'll return one day. But he needs to build what is lost first and since he didn't know where his fate would take him he is going alone. He'll return one day and give his family all the happiness. Kamla had cried for the first and last time in front of her children and world that day. She knew that she has to show her strong side to the world, if she and her children have to survive. Thankfully before bankruptcy Kalpi and Pakhya's one year fees was already paid for, so she didn't need to worry about the fee part for another 7-8months. But she had to work now to sustain herself and her children. She was a simple graduate and after two children she didn't know if she'd be able to find a job or not.

But Kamla did every effort, she kept on applying for jobs which suited her qualification; and started giving tuition classes in Maths and Science to some children. The relationships she'd managed to made with Chawl ladies came to her rescue, the ladies talked about her in the homes they used to go for work. Some people got convinced and kept her on trial basis for one month for teaching their children. She also collaborated with some Tiffin Box delivery-men and started sending home-made food for offices, etc. She started earning a decent salary and after sometime she'd also managed to find a part-time job for herself. She worked day and night, started saving money and after years of hardship and toiling, now was a successful owner of her own Caf. In fact her Caf had two branches now in the city, both hugely successful. It was almost fifteen years now and she hadn't seen her husband's face. But she was happy seeing the happiness on her children's face. She never compromised on Kalpi and Pakhya's studies. Though for sometime they'd studied in a Government school after that one year. But soon enough both children had managed to earn scholarships for themselves and always managed to study in good schools on their own merit. They had seen their mother work hard and all they could do was make their future secure for her sake.

Growing up Pakhya was an Architect now and Kalpi despite being an MBA pass out and a topper throughout had chosen glamour world as her career. It was her dream and with studies she'd always taken time out for this one happiness of hers. Kamla had not stopped Kalpi from pursuing her dreams; instead she was always with her as a strong support.

"Aai, Aai, kaha khi gayi, mujhe nashta de na...der ho rahi hai" (Aai, Aai, where are you lost? Please give me breakfast, I am getting late). Kalpi was waving hand in front of her mother's eyes, who though by now had cleaned up everything in Kalpi's bedroom, but was lost somewhere.

"Oh, sorry beta, wo main kuchh bhoolgayi thi. Wo hi yaad kar rahi thi ki kya bhooli" (Oh, I am sorry child, I had forgotten something and was trying to remember what was it which I'd forgotten).

Kalpi in her mind "I know Aai, tu kuchh bhooli nahi, kuchh yaad kar rahi thi" (I know Aai you'd not forgotten anything, you were lost in memories). Outside she said "Chal chhod, baad me yaad kar lena, abhi mujhe nashta de. Mai nikalti hoon" (Ok you remember that later on. For now please give me breakfast. I'll leave now). This was Kalpi's every second day's acting, as she knew the moment Kamla is alone. She'd drift back to old memories. Otherwise she was fully capable of taking her breakfast herself. Taking her mother by her hand she went to the kitchen to start for breakfast, to start her important day with a new energy.

Note: This was a kind of introductory chapter, sorry if anyone found it boring.

Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction using characters from the show 'Ek Mutthi Aasmaan" on 'Zee TV". The characters are owned by creators and owners of the show.

PART-2