AWTBL-Someday!Chp12(A). pg75. Jan28. - Page 23

If u have time please give us a short update

Mini, the year is 'slipping away' ! Please do update ,even if a short one! Thanks.

Update plzz. ...Waiting 4 sin long time

hi folks!

Originally posted by: Illuminatus.

hi folks!

Miss this forum. Wanna be back too. Looking for inspiration. 😊

Originally posted by: Illuminatus.

hi folks!

Miss this forum. Wanna be back too. Looking for inspiration.😊

Hii dear u changed ur user name i sent u pm but u did not reply
welcome back dear dying to read it please come back sooon

Hi dear, welcome back..nice to c u after such a long time!! :)

Hey mini. Welcome back dear. Eagerly waiting for u and your story sweetie.

Chapter 5

It is month of feb... Kalpi/paakhi/palaash are in class 12th. Paakhi is in touch with Raaghav and Prem through emails and she loves to talk about both of them with Kalpi.

Although, Raaghav never inquires about Kalpi, he knows most of the important happenings of her tiny life because Paakhi loves to write to him about their little escapades around the school and neighborhood to him. So he send his best wishes for Kalpi. In the same letter he had sent a pic of him with his friend to Paakhi. So during the study hour, Paakhi shows Kalpi the pic of him and his friends. It showed a carefree laughing group of teenage boys on a weekend trip with beautiful green meadows as the backdrop. But Kalpi gives the picture a cursory glance as if she is not really interested. She buries her head into the notebook in front of her as she fears even an eye contact with Paakhi lest she hears the loud flutterings in her heart. This always happened whenever she hears Raghav's name.

It has been difficult to ignore and not think about Rags. Paakhi isn't the only one where she hears Raghav's name. Twice every week Kalpi goes to meet Raghav's daadi and she loves to talk about her grandson with Kalpi. She loves to talk about Raghav. For Daadi her two Raghavs are her favorite topics. Her grandson Raghav and the one after whom she had named her grandson, Her lord Shree Raam. And that barely gives her a chance to forget thinking about him.

____

Kalpi, remember to start the sprinklers on time and check the water for the calves and chickens before you sit down to study. I had prepared some Aloo paratha and chaas that is kept in the fridge so remember to give that to your brother. Also have some yourself before you sit down to study. It is not good to sit for studies with an empty stomache.'

Haan ma, I will remember to do it. But I don't feel like eating right now. I had some mathri and nibu achaar just now.'

Accha and ask your brother if he wants to have chaas or milk I don't want him to waste anything. Food should always be respected.' Her mother chided.

Accha, ma please get the jelly when you come back the bottle is finished.'

No, At this time we have limited inventory and high demand for the jelly so you will have to make do with whatever is at home. One bottle is Rs.75. I don't want business to suffer.'

Kalpi decided to keep quiet.

I am keeping the phone now. If your brother is feeling cold only then switch on the heater. Electricity bills are running very high this year.'

Yes, Ma.'

She heard the static sound which meant her mother had kept the phone without saying bye.

But that did not disturb Kalpi. Instead she smiled because her mother had care enough to ask her to eat.

In the last 4 yrs her mother was keeping very happy these days, she had become more open, happier, and easier on the household the fights had also stopped and she was now more tolerant of Kalpi.

In the last 4 years the fortunes of the Jadav household had taken a turn for the better. Kamla was the real force behind the whole business. She had always been proud of her husbands heritage and family business and she wanted to revive it to her best ability. And with her culinary skills, sheer grit and business mind she was building brick by brick towards the lost glory. Her perseverance was showing and she was able to establish a semblance of the lost business.

When she had stopped the water connections and the gas for cooking it had come as a shock to the family but she argued that annual water taxes would have costed then 48,000 and the gas costed them 18,000 together they would be saving close to 60,000 which would be saved to pay for the shop salami.

That's 60,000 in 4 years and it means almost 2 and half lacs.' she had put up her argument. This will be only for a while let us try this once.'

Nirmal was awestruck at his wife's money management skills. He had always known that Kamla was a very smart and sure woman. She seems harsh to outsiders but she was even more hard on own herself. Nirmal saw Kamla work for his family business and respect and as time passed he respected his wife even more. His loved her but now his respect for her grew in multi folds for what she was doing her his family.

In the last 4 years not only had she managed to start the jamming and pickling business.. but she had expanded into packaging small snack items like matri, kasta, papad, lacchas, murkis. These were now such a hit that they got orders to cater for weddings around Rishikesh- Haridwar areas.

She had soon ventures into making speciality jams from guavas, figs, apples, peaches and plums from their own orchards. Initially she did her own marketing and free sampling but she did not have to do it for long, soon through word of mouth and good friends at right places Kamla was able to make her jams a good business.

With ethe first installments of the loan complete, immediately she restored the water in her house and appointed a horticulture specialist who would come and check on the fruit orchard on a regular basis. She did not want to repeat the mistakes of the past. The gas and electrical around the house had also been restored because they were also needed for the purpose of making the jams and jellies. The unused section of the house was used as the kitchen to wash, cut, clean the fruits and preserves.

Kamla was also the one to think of marketing the speciality preserves more aggressively to the confectioners, bakers and hotels. And her product was an instant hit. The local fresh products were well received and loved and soon she had regular and stable income from the corporate bulk consignments. It took them 4 years and finally Kamla was able to have her own shop, with a separate kitchen and their jam business was able to move away from the home location and had their own office.

It was such a proud moment.

Nirmal had although given most of the decision making and corporate deals to Kamla. He did not like to worry too much. He had lost his confidence with the failures of this projects and this time he had left most of the decisions to Kamla. But what that did was that his zeal had also gone down. He kept to his orchards, his animals and behind the scene jobs that were too menial for Kamla. like packaging of the products, shipping of the consignments, loads and security etc. And even there it was all under the precise direction of Kamla and her small team. With the expansion and success also came the task of security and safety and Nirmal was happy to do those laborious chores.

The success of the business had made Kamla a happier person and she had also started taking care of herself and the house. Kalpi and Kamla had also started bonding as mother and daughter. Although it was still not the usual comfortable camaraderie that could be called normal it was still a better situation than before. Kalpi still yearned for a hug from her mother but a touch of her hand and concern whether she had eaten food was also enough. Kamla had also allowed Kalpi to come and help her in the shop and that had helped in both of them spending time in each others company. It was more than what Kalpi could have asked for and it was a promising start.

But Nirmal's elusive behavior had been a concern to Kalpi.

Baba, should I make chai for you?' Kalpi asked.

Haan beta, that would be really nice.' as he went inside his bedroom.

Kalpi was surprised to see her father return from his rounds early but it had been like this for almost a week now.

Baba are you in pain? aap theek to hai?' Her father did look bit frail.

Kalpi handed the cup of adrak chai to her father. She had also put his favorite digestive biscuits on the saucer.

Yes, beta I am doing fine. Just need a bit of rest.'

Baba, I have to go to see daadi. Are you going to be alright alone? Keshav should be back in a while. He is around the neighborhood playing. Should I call amma and let her know you are home?'

No beta, I will be fine. Don't have to tell your mother. Kamla is busy enough.'

But Kalpi had a feeling that she should and so she called her mother.

****

Daadi this is called an ipad. You don't like using the computer in dad's study so this is the next best option I could come up with. Its simple. Every time you want to talk to me you just have to push at that icon. It will automatically send me a message.' Raghav could be seen talking through the scree.

Arre! Raghuveer, I love this thing. What did you say, iPad? its small and light and I can take it anywhere... wah!' Daadi exclaimed in sheer excitement.

Haan! daadi you can sit on the bed, or veranda, or the kitchen, wherever you want.'

Well, right now I am sitting at the Mandir since it is almost aarthi time. Accha hai, aaj tum bhi mere swath puja mein baitho.'

Daadi, puja mein to tabhi baitunga jab, prasaad mien ladoo milega. How will you manage that?' Raghav teased.

"""

Daadi, Namaste..

arre aaja beta. did you get the jasmine and genda phool from the garden?'

Yes, Daadi.' Kalpi proceeded towards the Mandir to place the flowers on the puja platter.

Very nice. Thank you beta.'

Jee daadi, anything else you want me to do?'

Hmmm... beta can you grind some sandalwood and keep in aside in the silver bowl?'

"Yes, Daadi, and you know I have learnt the bhajan you asked me to learn.' added Kalpi.

Thats wonderful Kalpi. Then why don't you sing the Bhajan first.'

Jee daadi...' And Kalpi sat down near the threshold of the mandir and started singing.

Thumak chalat Raam Chandra, Baajat paijaniya...

As she sang, the Singania household came to a still. Everyone came and sat around the mandir. The melody and the purity of Kalpi's voice left no one untouched who heard her recital. She simply closed her eyes and continued singing.

tulasidas ati aanand

dekh ke mukharvind

raghuvar chhabi ke samaan

raghubar chhavi baniya

Jai raam, Jai Krishna' said Daadi. This is your prasaad Raghuveer.' She smiled.

Kalpi's head shot up.

What did daadi just say. Is he here? Did he listen to her song. Why can't she see him', Kalpi's eyes shot around.

Daadi, is that Kalpi?' Just then she heard his voice. She sings this beautifully?'

Aajaa beta come here.' Daadi called Kalpi near her. See Raghav is here with me.' As she came to face the ipad.

Hi Kalpi, I cant wait to here you sing when I get back,' smiled Raghav as his eyes soften upon seeing Kalpi.

Kalpi looked at the screen all shy at the sudden intrude.

Hi Raghav sir, How are you?' she asked shyly.

Raghav looked at the extremely pretty dusky girl in front of him.

Looks like I have no option left but to be back as soon as possible if only to hear you sing. Kyon Daadi?' teased Ragav.

Daadi looked at Kapli who stood mute blushing and refusing to look at the iPad screen.

"Bilkul, you never listen to me when I ask you to come back... Shayad yeh upaye hi kaam kar jaye?' Daadi replied.

"Ajaa beta. Come back to your homeland once. Ab tabiyat theek bhi nahi rehti... kab kya ho jaye.' handing the iPad to Kalpi daadi said, I will be back from my room in a minute."

Saying so Daadi moved out of the Mandir towards her room leaving Kalpi all flustered and blushing.

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