AWTBL-Someday!Chp12(A). pg75. Jan28. - Page 26

Chapter 7

It was almost end of March and almost 3 weeks since her exams had started. Kalpi's papers had gone pretty good. She was happy with her progress. In 5 more days her exams would be over and then it would be Holi time. It was one of her favorite festivals. Right from the wee hours everybody seemed in a more robust and happy mood. Every creature seems more elated every color brighter. The aroma of food floated in the air making everyone naughty as well as hungry. Especially her little brother. Shr wrinkled her nose as she thought about the mischivious imp.

Her last paper was home science practicals. And then she would be done. She had chosen economics, Home science and geography as her electives along with the compulsory 2 languages. She has very consciously chosen her subjects that when the time came she would be able to help her Mother in the business.

SHe also planned to take these subjects for graduation to learn more about accountancy, business and economics. SHe knew with all the talent and hard work that her mother was putting into she was still lacking someplace. Kalpi could sense that her mother was struggling. She could read the stress stamped on her mother's face and she wanted to help her. With her father's flailing health she was he mother's only support.

Talking to Daadi had really helped. Sitting near daadi's feet and listening to her explain the pravachans from the holy scriptures brought peace to her mind. Those verses were able to ease the fears that often surrounded her.

And the last 3 weeks had not been any easier on her or her family. Her father was now completely bedridden for 24 hours due to his terrible pain and weakness and all his work was done by her. She still wondered how her father managed when she had gone to take the exams.

Kamla had gone completely in shock during this time. Kalpi sensed that it was not just her father's detoriating health that has shaken her mother. It was also something related to the business but she was too scared to ask her mother any questions lest she provoked her. But it had also been extremely difficult to manage Kamla. She would shout and scream at the slightest of provocation. She had stopped cooking in the house and all the house scores fell of Kalpi's shoulders. Her mother would prepare the morning breakfast and medicine pouches for her father to be taken for the day and then rush to her office and sometimes was not back till late evenings. Kalpi's was so confused the first two days that both the children ate just jam and roti the whole day. Finally Kalpi's realized that her mother had once again forgotten them in her anguish. And so she took the control in her hands. She cooked for the family, cleaned her father daily before sending her brother to school and then sat down to revise for the upcoming exams.

Thankfully there was not much for her to study except practice and revise and she never felt any bit of reassure or exhaustion.

It was late afternoon and Kalpi's sat down after drying the lunch utensils. There were three more chapters of Nutrition and health that she wanted to finish before she could start with budget and household section. Just then the phone started, thinking that it could be from her mother or from the school Kalpi's jumped to pick it up.

'Hey Ms. Greycells what are you doing?'

'Oh! Paakhi it is you', Kalpi took a sigh of relief.

'Yes! It is me who else would call a boring girl like you?' Paakhi mock sneered on the phone and then chuckled.

'Listen, come over let us study together. Will you come over?'

'Paakhi, I am not very sure. Baba, is sleeping right now and he may wake up or need me anytime. Keshav is not home yet so...'

'Blah, blah... You have now lost me. Just say you want to come to my house or not. It's always better to do the last minute preparations together. Moreover I took this subject specially for you.'

'I want to. yes.'

'who are you talking to on the phone for so long?? With whose permission did you pick up the phone? Do you have how much money it needs to make a call? Who is going to pay for your useless expenditure? This girl has been a headache since the day she has been born... What will I do now. Where will I get so much money for you to waste?

'Ma, Paakhi called to asked if we can study together. I have a exams in 4 days.'

'What exams? No more exams for you. You are done with your studies. That's it take care of your father and then come join me in the fields. We need more laborers to finish the work ion the factory. Be of some help to your mother.' Kamla Screamed.

'Haan Ma, I will help you. But I have just one more exam left. And then I will join you.'

But Kamla was just not ready to listen.

'I have said no and that is final. You want to defy me? Do you? Like father like daughter. Dark and ugly. I wish I could just go far away from all of you.'

'Ma please, don't day like that. I will do what ever you want me to do. Just don't curse baba. And please don't go. Ma.'

Kalpi was just glad that her brother was not there to hear all this again and she hoped that her father was still asleep.

Although in her distress she had completely forgotten that Paakhi was on the phone and she had heard every word that Kamla had said to Kalpi. More importantly, she had also heard what Kalpi had promised to Kamla.

____________________

Mummy, Mummy' Paakhi howled for her mother. 'You have no idea what just happened... ,' She started and then she repeated the whole conversation that she had heard on the phone. Needs listen to it for a while and then tried to calm her daughter.

'Beta, Mera Pyaraa Princess... Please don't cry. If you cry so much then you will have swollen eyes and dark circles. Beta, you don't want your daddy to see you like this right. You know that he will be heartbroken to see you like that. So please baby stop crying.'

The truth is that Neetu and Kamla could never be friends. Kamla belonged to the lowere middle class or maybe even lower who knows. Inspite of all that Neetu did try to be nice to Kamla but Kamla had shown her such attitude initially that any kind of close relations was impossible. But Neetu genuine liked Kalpi. Kalpi was much like her father calm and friendly. She was always a sweet child and her company had also helped Paakhi particularly in her studies. but did she really care whether Kamla's daughter finished school to not. She shrugged her shoulders. But then she remembered that Saahil would probably be concerned more because they were the trustees and Kalpi was their on a scholarship she reminded herself.

But what could she do on her own. She was sure that Kamla would never give an ear to anything that she would have to say. She wondered if the Singhania's could help in this matter since even they were co trustees.

Neetu and Paakhi left for Delhi at the break of dawn. Neither of them had a wink of sleep. Paakhi could not eat anything at dinner. Even when Neetu tried to feed her a few morsels she threw up in sometime. finally Neetu gave her some milk and medicines to calm her down and put her to sleep. But only after promising that they would go to pick Saahil from the Delhi airport. He was coming back after more than 2 weeks of extended business trip and he generally drove back on his own. But this seemed like a good break for Paakhi to take her mind off Kalpi. It also meant that Paakhi would be happy to see her father and be able to smile and be back to her normal self. So they drove together towards Delhi.

_____________

'So all this happened under our very nose and we had no idea all this while?' Saahil was surprised. As they sat in Delhi's posh Dum Phukt restaurant no one around could guess that this moronic incident was what they were discussing.

'But it is beyond me to understand why no one told me about Nirmalbhai's illness. Aree, Princess even you never mentioned it... It is only now that I am privy to such information.' Saahil munched on some of the rest I kabab.

'Well, now what's done is done. We leave tomorrow early morning and as soon as we reach we will have to go and talk to the Singhanias. This isn't something that I can handle alone.'

Neetu nodded at Saahil with some relief. SHe was Thankful that they will not be the only one to bear any brunt if things went south with Kamla.

_________________________

And that is how that evening. Kamla found Daadi standing at her doorstep along with son Madhav Singhania standing next to her. Just behind them stood Saahil Kapoor with his daughter Paakhi.

Kamla looked surprised to see all of them at her doorstep but recovered quickly.

'Aree, MaaJee. Please come. You have come to my humble dirty place. You could have asked me and I would have come to you. Why did you take so much of trouble?' She mumbled and touched Daadi's feet.

Daadi looked at Kalpi standing at the threshold of the entrance and smiled at her. Then she turned her attention to Kamla and said, 'The matter was of such importance that I had to come. What is this that I hear that Kalpi will not take her last exam?'

Kamla was surprised to see all of them and wondered how they had come to know about it all. She took a few seconds then answered. 'No MaaJee there is nothing like that. It was her own decision. Her father is very ill and also she has not really prepared for the exams. She hardly sits down to study.' She turned to look at Kalpi with fire in her eyes which did not go unnoticed by everyone present.

'Kamla you are a daughter to me. I have seen you and Nirmal get married and this precious gem come into your lives. Kalpi is very dear to me and any kind of harm to her will be a direct insult to me.' She paused for some breath and continued...'please take care of this young child. She is your own blood.'

Madhav Singhania then continued, 'Kamla you do know that she is studying on a scholarship. The trustees would not have approved her case if she was not a brilliant student. And in spite of this if you want to keep you daughter away from all the opportunities that life presents to her then remember the board of trustees will not be happy. You will have to return their money that they have spent on Kalpi's education till now. '

SInghania's forceful discourse left Kamla speechless. And just as she stood yet to decide her next action, Paakhi screamed, ' if Kalpi does not sit for the exams I will also not sit for my papers. She is my sister and I will not leave the side of my sister.' And with that she threw herself in her fathers comforting arms and started brawling as Daadi and Saahil came to pet and stroke her head.

Kamla's shock was an understatement. For a few seconds she just stood in her place with her mouth open. But then answered. But instead of looking at the Singhania or Kapoor's she directly addressed Daadi, ' MaaJee there is nothing like that. she will take her exams who has told you such stories.' She turned to look at Kalpi with traces of anger and frustration spewing.

Daadi came forward and called Kalpi to her side. 'There is nothing to be afraid of my child. I know you did not tell me anything because you love your mother. But even I love you a lot and so somehow I came to know everything. ' Kissing her forehead she said, 'please tell me whenever you need me, Mera baccha. I am your Daadi.'

Kalpi hugged her Daadi as the taps of tears refused to shut down.

____________________________________

Kalpi and Paakhi rushed out of their exams rooms they hugged each other and jumped around.

'Kalpi, OMG OMG!!! School over. We are done with uniforms, school bags and this obsessive school bell. College calling.'

Kalpi suddenly stopped jumping although she continued smiling at Paakhi's craziness. SHe already knew that Paakhi would soon join Prem and Raghav in London. But it wasn't something she wanted her mind to dwell upon.

'Come one the whole class is planning to go and celebrate in the Mall.'

'You know Paakhi it is not possible for me to go. Baba, must be waiting for me.'

'Oh! Well then I will see you in the evening. You will come right?'

SHe nodded and started her walk towards home. Her eyes were blurred by the Tears as she thought about the whole era that was now her past. Most of the students had already thought about what they would do next, which college they will go for,. Entrance exams that they have taken coaching for. But she was the one who had no idea what the future had in store for her. Will she be able to pursue her studies... What will happen next she had no idea.

SHe helped her father cleanup, then she dusted and straightened his bed and gave him lunch. After Keshav and she finished with their lunch she decided to go and meet Daadi before her mother came back from the office. As she entered the Singhania mansion she felt a weird tingling behind her back. She silently tiptoed in the late afternoon sun towards Daadi's room.