Chapter 1
The Wealth of Chaudhary Handa
(1980...)
A single bulb illuminated the dark workshop. The workers had left but the place was not isolated. A solitary man sitting in his cabin was lost in deep but disturbing thoughts.
It has been two years alreadyand still no luck. People have started whispering nasty rumors, ridiculing behind our backs. And it's not about me. But my family is bearing the burnt of it. How can I stand passively and let it pass bye.
Rano jee was right. I should have been more diligent. Once again I am at the threshold of failing my duties as a father. Every passing day is becoming dreadful for me, my wife and my daughters.
My daughrers, he smiled. No, I will not loose hope. They are not my weakness. They are my strength. My wealth. My beautiful gems.
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*flashback begins*
(Two years before'.)
"Chalo jee...saare puttar uth jao jee, 1...2..." a hearty and loud voice boomed in the bedroom.
"Good morning papaji!!"
Mohinder Lal Handa beamed with joy and pride as his youngest daughter bounced off the bed and came forward to envelop him in a huge hug.
He took in her sweet smile and angelic face, a sight that set off his every morning to a brilliant start. "My kakku is always first, everyday without fail," he cupped her face and tenderly kissed her forehead.
Geet grinned widely at her father's praise. To hear him speak to her so, was what made her wake up at his first call every day. No amount of exhaustion, no amount of sleep, could ever tempt her to stay in bed when she could see all the love in this world in the eyes of her father every morning. This simple happiness was all she wanted forever in her life.
"Now let us get your sisters up," Mohinder spoke to her conspiratorially. And Geet knew exactly what he had in mind.
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"Mere saare baal gille kar diye," Meera cutely complained to her mother as she sat getting her hair oiled, "...aur mera pink wala pillow bhi," she added softly.
"One more time I hear about your 'pink pillow' I will burn it right in front of your eyes and cease its very existence!!" Sameera threatened in a dangerous tone. "I am the one who had to put all the mattresses out in the sun and you did not even raise a finger to help me!! All you can do is complain and whine." She rubbed her back that was strained after all the load she carried.
"But what did I do? It was papaji and Geet as usual. They always do this. Geet gets up before us and then helps papaji in his pranks. And today was so horrible. Spilling ice cold on us. Mera pink pilll..." She shut quiet as Sameera gave her a warning glare. "Then Miss Kumbhkaran, why don't you get up first in the morning and avoid the pranks?"
"I just wanted five minutes more Di..."
"Kyun? Geet helps me and Ma in all the household work, goes to school, helps you in your work, babysits Lucky and still manages to wake up at time. You don't even yawn without her help."
"Di..."
"Lazy lizard!!"
"Sameera!" Mohinder entered the living room catching on with the argument that was on. More like a lecture, he chuckled. No one could get a word past Sameera when she was in a mood to shred someone to pieces, Meera often being her favorite victim. "Don't scold your sister like this, I was the one who played the prank and hence guilty of your aching back."
"Nahi papaji, I am not angry at you or the prank. It was fun and made for an awesome morning. Its just that this bundle of puppy fat..."
"Sammy puttar, not one word against my Meera," he opened his arms for Meera to settle herself in his embrace. "My Golden Spoon. She was born a princess. She need never work in her life if she wishes so."
Meera threw her arms around his neck leaned in to kiss his cheeks. Rolling her eyes, Sameera started to walk towards the kitchen.
"Captain sa'ab, aj kee bana rahe ho?" he called after her. Sameera grinned back at her father and his term of endearment for her. To be acknowledged as his right hand made her life worthwhile. And every step she took in her life was only to make sure that she made his life worthwhile.
"Shaan-e-Amritsar Aloo paranthas with butter and lassi!!" she replied happily knowing that it was her papaji's favorite breakfast. "I am going to put the potatoes to boil and till then will give a bath to Lucky and get him ready."
"Shabaash puttar!!"
Hearing her father praising Sameera, Meera tried getting his attention back to herself. "Papaji, I am going to wear my new suit today." She beamed at him. "And you will look very pretty my princess, but puttar-jee you should help your Di a little too. Now go take a bath too so that we can eat the delicious paranthas that your Di makes."
"Jee papaji," she kissed his other cheek and went off at her own leisure pace, day-dreaming and humming a song to herself. Mohinder smiled at her cuteness. She was adorable beyond words.
"Rano jee, inne chup-chup kyun ho jee?"
Ranjeeta Handa, or Rano as fondly nicknamed by her husband, turned her attention at him coming out of her thoughts.
"Where are you lost today Rano jee? You were quite throughout when Sameera and Meera were arguing, is something wrong?"
"Nahi jee, nothing as such," Rano let out with a sigh. Mohinder still looked on worried at her. His Rano was a strong woman, his support, his lifeline. His each daughter was a gem and it was all because of his Rano jee. She had raised their daughters and son with utmost care and devotion. She was the one who instilled a sense of discipline in them, good principles and high morals. And it was out of character for her when she stayed quite all through rather than trying to stop them as usual.
"Bolo na jee. If not me then who will you oblige with your sweet voice?"
"Chaddo jee," she blushed profusely at his flirtatious comment. Not that she expected anything less. He was a very loving man. Hardworking, self-made and adored his family to limits. His handicap was his strength, never an obstacle. Every moment with him was filled with happiness and laughter. With him around she was always sure that her family will only prosper. With him around she need never worry about anything at all. Looking at him she began to pour her thoughts out, "These days I don't feel like asking them to stop arguing or fighting at all, as long as I can hear their voices. Once they get married, this big house will get lost in silence."
"Bas Rano jee, that is all? I know what you mean. As much as I look forward to the day when they would take the next important step in their life, I dread that I would not be able to face the loss. And this comes from a man who has already experienced the marriage of his elder two daughters. But why are you getting so worried? There is still time for those occasions to come."
"Sameera is 21 now..."
"Rano jee, you know I have seen bigger dreams for them. Being educated is a big thing for girls these days, but I want them to be self-independent too. Minimum that they could qualify for a job'."
"Chaudhary jee, Sameera is almost about to complete her graduation now. And only if we start now we will be able to find a suitable groom for her. You remember the problems we faced when we had to get Nandini and Anwesha married. The life that Nandini had to accept, the circumstances in which Anwesha was married. I don't want the same to happen again," she sighed.
"Your concerns are valid Rano jee. I will start spreading the word around." After a moment of contemplation he spoke up again, "You were right earlier. Let them speak as much as they want, whatever they want. Such liberties can only be taken in maayka..." Mohinder gets interrupted with a loud clanking noise and a scream.
"Geeettt!!!"
"There goes another glass..."
"Rano jee, the morning has officially begun now," he let out a loud laugh.
*flashback ends*
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(1980...)
Mohinder fondly looked at his family as he entered the house. For man who came back home after eight years of war with an amputated leg and no property of his own, a wife to feed and shelter, he was proud of the life he had made today for himself.
People called daughters a burden but he felt five times blessed with each gem of his. His Nandini was a spitting image of her mother in looks and spirit. She could be the only one to make best of the situation she was in. Anwesha was a little aloof but an obedient daughter. More interested in fashion, movies...show-sha as Rano jee called it...but she never gave a reason to complain. Sameera was his right hand in all respects. He never missed his absent limb because he had her to lean on. His princess Meera was sweet and simple. A dreamer and always lost in her own world. Innocence at its best. Lucky, the unexpected addition to family, the gift that God bestowed on them.
And Geet, the apple of his eyes. She only knew how to spread happiness. Never demands, never complains. She only knows how to give.
A loving family, a prospering business, a home to call his own, aloo paranthas with butter. What more does a man want?
"Worthy son-in-laws," he muttered.
"Papaji? What are you muttering about? Son-in-laws? Daman jiju? Or has that Arjun jiju done something again?" Sameera asked visibly irked.
"Shaant Sammy puttar. I was only thinking of the lucky men who will get married to my gems." He chuckled looking at every one of his girls and their respective reactions. Sameera rolled her eyes, Meera blushed, while Geet stood up and came upto him.
She hugged him tight and spoke with all the conviction in her heart, "I will not get married. I will stay with you forever papaji."
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*During those days girls clearing matric or higher secondary was considered enough. "Kudi 12th pass hai jee" was a matter of pride.
Another fact that many of you may not know is that whereas graduation took three years to complete just like today, Masters was for two years and B.Ed. took just one year for completion.
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Edited by jazzerette - 13 years ago
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