Polemic Jackanapes#3: Complete [NOTE + BLOG LINK Pg69]3rd Jan - Page 41

Originally posted by: 1chilly

Twiggs, how much longer do we have to wait for the epilogue?

Originally posted by: vgedin

Thoda aur intezaar, Charu. I am yet to start writing it. This month has been terribly hectic for me... Sorry 😔

Epilogue:

Few months later:

"Garima, Khushi! Come here, it's Payal!" Shashi called them as he received the call on the phone. His eyes twinkled with excitement, just like they did every time he saw Payal's number flash on the caller ID.

She had left for the US two months back, and to nobody's surprise, had taken little time to settle down. And to everybody's surprise, it was Shashi who had taken the most time to cope with the absence of his daughter. He beat Garima in the waterworks that took place at the airport; the tears hadn't stopped even after they had returned home. He suddenly felt like he hadn't spent enough time with her; a feeling of inadequacy overwhelmed him. Payal understood that and took efforts to reassure him; he was the best father anyone could hope for, that was something she truly believed. It took time, but Shashi was now able to miss his daughter, but without the accompanying burden of guilt. While he did miss her dearly, he was not... worried. He knew his daughter - her immense strength of character, the rationality of her mind, the honour in her conduct, her finesse at her work. She didn't need reassurances from others to keep going; her unwavering faith in herself and her family was enough to take her through any challenge. She would be fine - he didn't doubt that for a second. He hoped he would be too - he really missed his daughter.

It was evident that Payal's schedule was packed, yet she made it a point to call them every night before she went to bed. It was a good time, because it was morning time for them, and hence there was a better chance of speaking to all of them together. Garima secretly hoped that she was also keeping in touch with Aakash; he had come with them to see her off at the airport, and everybody had sensed the difference in the relationship they shared now; it was more comfortable but less intimate. Shashi seemed unperturbed by it, but Garima was concerned. But that could be tackled later, and she was confident of Payal's ability to take care of herself.

"Papa!" he heard Payal exclaim over the phone, making him smile. "You are screaming, you know that right? They are probably in the next room!" she said, referring to the way he had called Garima and Khushi.

"I was just happy to see your call." he admitted.

"I call you everyday!"

"Its not - wait, let me put you on speaker. Your mother and Khushi are here." he said when he saw the two of them walk in to the room. He put the receiver pack in its place after the "ping" indicated that the speaker mode was turned on.

"Jiji!" said Khushi. "How was your day? You were supposed to have a meeting with your supervisor, right?"

"I'm good, Khushi. The meeting is postponed for tomorrow, which is sad because I was planning to take a trip down to Chapel Hill and meet one of my friends. You tell me.. oh wait, isn't Anjali Di supposed to leave for her tour today?"

"Yes she is! Arnav is going drop her this afternoon. You know, she called all of us over for dinner last night; wanted to meet us before she left. Isn't that sweet? I mean, despite all the things one needs to do before a long international travel, she still took time out. You know, she made moong dal ka halwa especially for-"

"Please don't talk about food, Khushi." Payal didn't let her finish. "I'm dying for some decent food here and I am aware just how well Anjali Di cooks. Spare me the torture." she sighed.

"Do you want me to send something for you?" Garima asked immediately. "I think Madhu Bua's neighbour is flying to the States next week. I'll ask him where exactly. I can send something through him! Just tell me what you want."

"Amma...I'm you would have made that offer even if Madhu Bua's neighbour's niece's daughter was coming here!" Payal chuckled. "Don't bother Maa.. I hardly get time to eat at home, and my timings aren't fixed. Let it be. When I come there in December, do feed me to your heart's content, okay?"

"But how will you -"

"I'll manage just fine. Do you not trust the month long rigorous training you gave me before I came here? My dal had my flatmates licking their fingers. No joke."

"She's right Garima." said Shashi. "But try and avoid eating out", he turned his attention back to Payal. "I know its difficult given your schedule, still."

"Don't worry Papa. Khushi, that reminds me. I tried this new cereal today... Cinnamon something. I'll send you a pic. It's delicious; see if it is available there. I'm sure you'll love it. I think of you every time I eat this, given your weird love for all things cinnamon. Also, what happened to that crossword you were trying to solve? You've been stuck with it for three days!"

"I solved it."

Payal could imagine the smug grin on Khushi's face.

"And it was hard! Vighnesh gave me a copy of The Guardian, they have some of the toughest puzzles. And this was a higher difficultly level even in their standards. It was awesome. Oh and you wouldn't believe the word I was stuck at, it was.."

"Would you two stop with the crossword? Three days and this is all I've been hearing. This girl has just one more week left before she starts her job, and all she can talk about is a puzzle." Garima whined.

"Amma, I hadn't even looked at a puzzle for over two months. First I had to write my thesis and then the manuscript kept me busy. Now I am done. I am finally free. I join SunEdison next week - let me enjoy now. I deserve puzzle time." Khushi insisted.

"Oh did Karthik get back to you on the manuscript?" asked Payal.

"Not really. Just that one text last week that said Good job'. I am thinking that's a good sign and for now I am going to bask in the joy of those two words - literally, TWO words of encouragement."

"Do that. And don't worry. I'm sure he will love it. I mean, even Arnav loved it." Payal teased.

"Jiji please! But... it is true. Every time I made him read it in the past, his response was, even at its best, lukewarm. Kept talking about a lack of perspective, and I never did understand what he meant. But as I was writing this time around, it just clicked. I think I finally got what he was trying to say, and the words came to me so effortlessly! You should have seen his face when he read it this time - he seemed positively elated. Finally! After all these years!" Khushi could hardly keep the excitement from her voice.

And Payal felt like she was right next to her sister, holding her hand, sharing that moment of joy. She missed home, but she didn't really feel like she was too far away from her family. She felt their presence throughout the day, their support whenever she had to make a decision - even the most mundane ones. She felt enveloped in love and warmth even when she was thousands of miles away. She felt strong.

"Are you two done talking?" Garima fussed, yet again. "Your parents are also here, you know."

"Oh... I am so sorry Amma. You tell me about your day."

* * *

"All packed?" Arnav asked as he knocked and stood at the entrance of Anjali's bedroom.

Locking her suitcase, she turned around and smiled at her brother. "Come in, Chote." She sat down on the bed, and patted the spot next to her, silently asking him to come and sit next to her.

He did so, and bent to place his head on her shoulder; she raised her hand to place her palm on his cheek. "I'm going to miss you Di."

"I'll miss you too, Chote! But I'll be back before you know it! Oh and Aakash called sometime back. His meeting isn't going to end any time soon, so he won't be able to make it to the airport."

"God save his employees, this is going to spoil his mood. He is also going to miss his beloved TV show. Also, Di, two months is a long time... But it's okay. I am so glad you decided to take this up. I would have hated to see you give up such a wonderful chance. You're going to go and live your ultimate dream - do you know how happy that makes me?"

She bit her lip; a naughty glint in her eyes, "As happy as I was when I found you hiding the blue velvet box in your jacket?", she asked.

It took him a second to register what she had just said; the half-embarrassed half-stunned look on his face made her burst into peals of laughter. "God, look at you! Your face is red. Mera bhai sharma raha hai!"

"When did you..", he was too surprised to even form a single coherent sentence.

"At dinner last night. You kept checking the pockets every now and then. And you panicked when it almost fell this one time. Why did you chicken out?"

"I didn't chicken out!" he defended himself. "I just wanted to show it to you, and ask if you think it was a good idea. But I didn't get any time alone with you at all... so I thought, maybe later. Or after you came back."

"You don't have to wait for me. And I am happy about this as long as you two are certain about this. Khushi is very young, have you two ever discussed marriage?"

"Not marriage', but we have discussed spending our lives together." he admitted with a smile. "We don't need to get married right now... I plan to leave that up to her. Neither of us is in a hurry, and I know that she is just about to start her career. But, as silly as it sounds, I want to seal the deal with a ring. Not as a formality to announce our relationship to the world; I just really want to do something special. Let her know what she means to me, and that I really do want a life with her. I have nothing to prove here, Di. This is just a way that found myself comfortable with, to express what I feel. And I am sure... well, almost sure that it will make her happy."

"Well," said Anjali, "If that is the case, I am thrilled! My Chote is about to propose! This is a wonderful day! Don't bother waiting for me - do it as soon as you think the time is right. Don't push it just because I or somebody else isn't there, okay? This is about you two. Also, I am sure she is going to say yes."

"Fingers crossed!" they both spoke at the same time.

"Bhai-Behen session?" asked Shyam as he stood in front of the door to the room, smiling at the siblings.

"Session over, Jijaji." said Arnav, as he got up from his place and walked to stand next to Shyam, who was now to Anjali's left. "Now she is all yours."

"For the time being, neither yours nor mine. For the next few weeks, she belongs to the music. And I will belong to my mother, God save me." he sighed.

"I am so sorry, Shyam.", said Anjali. "But this was-"

"I know, I know", he said. "This was important to you and you should go. I am sorry I was so difficult in the beginning... you handle my mother much better than I do, and the prospect of spending all this time with her, without you around was terrifying to say the least. But that was petty and I apologise."

Tearing up, Anjali moved to wrap her arms around her husband. He placed a kiss on her temple, "Furthermore, my saale saab would have me on the noose if you weren't going. Isn't it, Arnav?", he asked, trying to lighten the mood.

"Never, Jijaji. Di would never talk to me if I did that. I just hoped you would never let her give up her dream."

To this, Shyam lowered his eyes, refusing to say anything. He knew he had done something shameful, and it was not his support that had helped Anjali take this decision. In the many years of their marriage, he had allowed himself to take his marriage for granted, coming to depend on Anjali for anything and everything, expecting her to do the needful regardless of anything else.

He didn't share a great relationship with his mother, and had conveniently used Anjali as a shield to dodge any disturbance she caused him. It was selfish and cowardly, he knew that - but had refused to give it much thought. Anjali would be there.

Until she decided otherwise. He felt ashamed now; when he thought about the way he had initially resented her for wanting to go. But it had also made him face the truth - that he had taken her presence in his life for granted, expecting her to always make the compromise. She had been his wife in every sense - his true companion, his ally. He, on the other hand, had failed to be a good husband. Despite the usual justification he gave him self - that he truly loved her - his actions, or rather his inaction, was unpardonable. Not any more.

"Never again, saale saab", he said, his timbre reflecting the depth of his words. "Never again. I promise you that."

"Alright, you two!", Anjali interjected. "We should get moving, or I'm going to miss the flight. And I also want to meet Nani before I leave."

- -

Shyam quietly requested Arnav to let him drive the car; he held Anjali's hand throughout the way to the airport. It was his way of telling her that she would be missed.

"All the best, Anju."

"All the best, Di."

Her husband and her brother spoke at the same time as she took hold of the trolley to walk into the airport. She smiled brighter than she had in a long time - she had felt warmth return to her marriage; her heart throbbed with excitement as she imagined her brother dressed as a groom. Her grandmother would spend the rest of her life in peace and contentment. She also felt the exhilaration finally sink into her being - her dream was about to come true. Time was transient, that she knew. But she was grateful for this moment - this moment, of pure joy.

Author's Note:

Dear Friends,

I have said this before, and I will say it again. Thank you all SO, so, much! This story is for you, and because of you. One and a half years is a long time, and without your encouragement and feedback, I'm certain I would have given up somewhere along the way.

But you were all there - with your comments, your enthusiasm, your love for the characters, your opinions on the issues the story delved into. This story is yours as much as it is mine. Really. THANK YOU!

I remember there was a time when it saddened me to see that the story didn't have many readers, unlike a lot of other stories on the Forum. Over time, it didn't matter. Because while I had only a few readers - they were loyal to the story and invested in it as much as I was. You had things to say, things to agree with and some to object. There is nothing more I could have asked for. When I look back now, there is nothing I would like to change about this journey.

Now, I shall bore you with some trivia about the story. Bear with me, please?

Inception: Early last year, many of my friends on the forum had been encouraging me to write an FF. I didn't listen, because a)I thought I didn't have the time, and b)I am a very lazy person. But then, around June, I was so frustrated with the job I had at the time, that I wanted to invest my time and energy into something productive - just to get myself out of that dreary mood. I knew I couldn't write romance, so I took some time trying to come up with ideas. Some inspiration from Meera30's A Word's Worth, and some brainstorming with RockBarbie later: I had PJ in my mind.

The story - especially the ending - was clear in my head right from the beginning. And I have pretty much stuck to it, barring a few tweaks along the way based on feedback.

Title: I was discussing possible titles with RockBarbie - and she linked me a poem by Sylvia Plath titled Love is a Parallex. The phrase "Polemic Jackanapes" was borrowed from that poem. It fit well.

However, many readers have told me that the title is a bit complex, and perhaps a simpler title would have attracted more readers. I am open to suggestions now: if we were to rename this story, what title would you suggest?

Arnav: The fact that I so loved Arnav from IPK often surprised me, and also left me worried. The man was rude, arrogant, (often) cruel - and never did pay for his sins. Why then did I like him? There was very little about him that was truly admirable. Surely, women are not programmed to only like men who are broody and rakish and rude and borderline-sociopathic?

I wanted to experiment and see if people would love a man who is pretty much the opposite of "ASR". My Arnav was not confident (in the beginning), definitely not arrogant - he had his flaws and didn't think it was a terrible idea to show his vulnerable side to the woman he loved. He wasn't "masculine" in the traditional sense of the word, but he was an honourable man worthy of love.

Thank you for loving him as much as you did, my friends. That is the one thing that makes me most happy about this story and the experience of sharing it.

Khushi: Khushi is an amalgamation of several things. Part me, part Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada from our show. But mostly, she is the person who has inspired me the most, and to whom this story is dedicated. But more about that later 😃

Payal: My inspiration for Payal was always very clear: Cristina Yang from Grey's Anatomy. I loathe that show, but I loved her character. It left a mark on me like no other fictional character ever had. Her strength of character, and her overall attitude towards life was inspiring. One of the finest characters ever created: that was Cristina Yang. And my Payal is inspired from her. Brilliant, driven, loving - on one hand. One the other - brutally honest, tactless, and frequently insensitive. Most importantly, she never needed anybody else to "complete" her. She was always her own person, and didn't regret that.

Yang's character made me wonder if there really are people in the world who are simply not meant for traditional relationships or marriage? With Payal, I wanted to explore that a bit. I still don't have any answers - I don't think I ever will. However, I have come to accept that if that were really to happen, there is nothing wrong in it. It is fine, and it is possible to live a full live even without a constant companion - as long as one has faith in oneself.

Aakash: Two things here. 1)Again, I wanted to turn around the image of Aakash the show had created for us. No timid, shy underdog this one. He too is a Raizada, afterall! And 2) I wanted to give him the due I felt the show had failed to. He had so much potential that was wasted. I wanted to make him a rounded character - and see to it that he was as important in the scheme of events as the others.

Nani: I love grandmothers. Bas. Meera and Sandhya will vouch for this 😃

Dedications:

This story is for all my readers, for being with me!

For my friends on the forum who believed I could write and pushed me to do the same: Meera, Naach Basanti, Rasgulla (Saiyyu), Shree10 and Arasi. Thank you so much; I owe this to you!

For dreamymaya, for entrusting me with something important to her, letting me know what the story meant to her. And for always being there, making this journey even more special. Thanks for all the love, Maya!

For Meera, my Sheera. For everything.

For Saiyyu Rani. For everything.

For my mother, the most inspiring person I have ever known. Who has shown me - in her actions more than her words - that life gives everybody a chance to do something big, to do something for the better good. It's up to you to take that opportunity and make a difference. Science, facts, language, technology: these are powerful tools. Powerful enough to truly end all the pointless suffering and misery. All you need is the will to do what it takes.

Thank you for everything, Amma. I love you.

PS - Haven't forgotten you, Dad. Or this story would have resembled a mixture of Mills and Boons and a Greenpeace document 😃 I love you too. But I will never let you read this story!