Epilogue
7 years later,
"You don't have to do this if you don't want to, Khushi. I am sure Maa would understand if you did not," said Arnav, as concerned as ever for his wife.
Khushi Gupta Raizada read the name of the prison over and over again as her newborn, Abiksha lay innocently and peacefully in her father's arms. She alternated between the sight of the infant and the prison pondering about one of her blood, residing in the dark chambers of the prison.
Sumitra told her that Suhasini had earned the right to look at her grandchild by ensuring the death of the one who could have posed danger to her and by accepting her crimes and the punishment which it brought.
But as they say, there are no principles in life, there are only circumstances. Although by morals, Khushi should allow her newborn to meet her grandmother, she wondered if her mother would be able to celebrate her arrival or would curse the life of her child. Though she did not believe in the authenticity of curses, she did not want anyone to wish bad for a part of her. At the same time, the quote which she reminisced also reminded her that she had let go of her principles to go along with the circumstances.
Her upbringing, her weak will and her blind devotion were her culprits as much as they were hers and she had been their victim as much as them. As she glanced at her sincere and loving husband, she questioned herself if her mother had loved her father in the same way as she loved Arnav, albeit in a blind way. Just as she chose to forsake the world, even Suhasini forsake the world but she chose to forsake even her daughter and that's where she went wrong. And Khushi decided that she would not repeat the same mistake as she walked into the premises of the prison to seek permission to meet her mother.
After all, to err was human and to forgive, divine. And love was exactly that - divine.
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Suhasini appeared more worn off than ever as she walked in with surprise written all over her face which was soon replaced with joy seeing the child in Arnav's arms.
" Is that..?" She was unable to even complete her question as happiness took over her.
"Yes. This is Abiksha, our daughter," said Arnav, with a cordial smile playing on his lips. He might not share a healthy relationship with his mother-in-law but he was ready to keep his feelings aside for the sake of Khushi's happiness.
"I am so happy for the two of you! May god bless the three of you," said Suhasini. Her hair had turned completely grey and she had lost most of her teeth. Wrinkles adorned the once-beautiful face of hers and her form shivered with myriads of emotions and physical trauma.
"I never thought that you would come here but I am so happy today. How is everyone else? Sumitra? Aur Munna? Maa? How is she?" she asked eagerly, waiting for her daughter to utter a word.
"Maa is fine and so is Saale Sahab. Unfortunately, Nani Ji is no more. I am sorry," answered Arnav, wondering what had gone wrong with his wife. She was standing beside him like a statue who forgot how to speak and react.
"Nani told me on her death bed that she is sorry that she threw you out of her house. She also added that she is proud and glad that you finally stood up against injustice. She asked me to convey her love to you," said Khushi finally.
The mention of her loving maternal grandmother brought the memories of the promise she took from her granddaughter on her death-bed, just before she asked her to convey the message to her daughter.
"I know what my daughter did is unforgivable and unacceptable, Beta. Trust me, it is my fault more than hers. I was brought up with the mentality which I instilled in her. While I knew where to draw the line in devotion, she completely blurred the lines and grew ignorant of their existence. What she did is shameful for a mother and I regret my upbringing," sighed Devyani, clutching Khushi's hand in hers while Khushi's face turned emotionless at the mention of her mother.
"Can we please not waste our time talking about her, Nani? She tried to kill me and my husband and never showed any compassion to me. She did everything which is against the very definition of mother," lashed Khushi, her evil smile making her insides churn with disgust.
"She might be a let down as a mother , Beta but I cannot be one. Whatever she maybe, she is my daughter and I beg of you, visit her, at least once in the prison. Let her earn her redemption. She might have never shown her love to you but she surely loved you a lot. Although overshadowed, it was the same love for you which drove her to kill her husband whom she once worshiped. Once, Beta. Fulfill the last wish of your grandmother. Please.."
"Oh," exclaimed Suhasini. Tears filled in her eyes but she wiped them away immediately, thinking that lamenting the loss of her mother would waste the time she got with her daughter after a period of seven years. Setting aside the unbearable pain of the loss of her mother, she turned to speak to her daughter.
"Have YOU forgiven me, Beta? That is all that matters to me," she questioned Khushi.
"I did but I cannot still accept what you did. You had a right to see your granddaughter and that brought me here," she answered, her voice devoid of any affectionate emotion. It certainly hurt Suhasini to not hear her daughter addressing her as 'Mumma'. How would she? She had herself lost the right to be addressed as someone's mother. She would only be someone's wife but not someone's mother.
"You taught me what not to do as a mother and that would surely make me a better mother. Thank you for that...Mumma," said Khushi, just as she walked away from there without waiting for her mother's reaction, knowing that she would not be able to hold her emotions any more.
Suhasini appeared astounded and benumbed but was pulled out of the daze when Khushi walked out. Just as Arnav was about to follow her suit, Suhasini stopped him.
"Take care of her, yourself and my granddaughter. Let the three of you get my share of life, happiness and good luck," she blessed, her eyes misty with tears and voice quivering with pain.
Arnav nodded slightly at her while following Khushi out into the fresh air where she stared at nothing in particular. Without uttering a word, Arnav circled his arm around her and rested her head over his heart as she held him close with one arm and the other held her daughter.
That moment she realized that love was not pure because it makes one do all the right things, it was pure because it makes one commit sins with a pure mind and that was why, it is
Gunaahon Ka Devta...
Love Friendship Dating and Relationships
Bindi
