Hi gals!
Thank you all for your lovely comments, feedback and love which motivates me to do better.🤗 Hope this chapter meets expectations.
Muah!
Cheers!❤️
Chapter 6
Lucknow: present day
"Chandini; my maiden name is Chandini Yash Narayan Vasisht. She corrected him.
"Maiden name? he probed gently.
"Yes, until I got married and became Chandini Advay Singh Raizada, she replied, flinching a little as she did so.
She stared off into space and started recounting the horrific and painful incidents of her past. Some kept her awake during nights bringing acute grief, some gave her nightmares and some she feared if acknowledged would push her into depression.
Arjun squeezed her hand across the table, encouraging her to continue. And it was like floodgates opened and she poured everything out. She was unaware that Dev was recollecting it with remorse too on the other side of the country.
Her voice wobbled a bit as she began sharing her life history starting with her deep friendship and love for Dev, her desperate attempt to find him after her baba's accident, her step mother's constant rejection, her maasi's taunts, her kidnapping and PTSD, her attempts at overcoming it, her good times with her step sisters Meghu and Shikha and her mama, until the time that one Mr. Advay Singh Raizada inserted himself in her life and wreaked havoc.
She noticed Arjun frown a bit and doubted if she did the right thing by deciding to share all this with him. But the way he waited patiently for her to carry on, laid her doubts to rest permanently.
"He wasn't in love with me, in fact far from it. He hated me with passion and I could see that in his eyes, but tried persuading me into marrying him anyway, when he knew very well that I was betrothed to someone else. And when I rejected his proposal, he tried ways and means of getting me married to him stating that all was fair in love and war. And finally he did win, by playing his cards right and brought such a proposal that I couldn't refuse even if I wished to. she paused, her lips sporting a sad smile.
"What kind of proposal? Arjun enquired, anger written all over his face.
"He assumed that I had a baby out of wedlock. He promised that he would keep it a secret, provided I marry him She responded with unshed tears swirling in her eyes.
"But it wasn't yours, I know you and the morals you hold dear. Arjun stated it with confidence. "There must have been a strong reason for you to have succumbed to his intimidation; to protect someone perhaps? He enquired.
His words overwhelmed her and tears stared running down her cheeks; tears of relief that this friend would not turn his back, would not judge her and knew her nature enough to trust her words. How she wished Dev trusted her words that day when he rejected her without hearing her side of things. She smiled bitterly.
"Thank you! Thank you for your trust and confidence in me, Arjun! I was worried that you would judge me based on our first meeting in the hospital Her voice cracked with gratitude.
"Who am I to judge anyone, Radh sorry Chandini. I have plenty of flaws myself. He expressed humbly. "What or who were you protecting, if I may ask?
She inhaled deeply before continuing, "My sisters and I visited my Mama in Varanasi quite frequently. After my kidnapping, my mother sent me there for me to get over my anxiety and fear. My sisters accompanied me as they normally did. Only this time I was in for a shock and had a major decision that I chose to make. She paused briefly.
"It was a difficult phase for me, Arjun. It took me a month to gather the confidence to step out of my room. She paused, recollecting painfully.
"One night, when I stepped out, I heard silent sobs coming from Meghu's room down the corridor.
"Meghu, is that you? Chandini asked nudging the door open and noticed Meghu scrambling around trying to wipe the tears off her face. Chandini walked into the room, sat beside her on the cot and cupped her cheek and asked worriedly, "What happened, Meghu? Why are you crying so much?
Meghana suddenly hugged her tight and sobbed further, "Sorry jiji. I'm so very sorry jiji. I've done something that I'm not so very proud of. And I don't think I can share it anyone let alone you. She spoke, sniffling.
Chandini pulled her away from her embrace and looked her in the eye, "If you don't, then you never truly loved me as a sister. She warned.
"Jiji, this is the last thing that you need right now. Meghana decided, wiping her tears.
"Let me be the judge of it. Tell me what's bothering you so much. urged Chandini.
"Jiji, please! She pleaded and Chandini glared in response. Her head bowed in shame, she whispered brokenly, "I'm pregnant, jiji.
Chandini was taken aback, shock written all over her face. "What? When? How? She exclaimed, completely at a loss for words
"Some guy whom I foolishly believed loved me, jiji. She expressed bitterly. "I met him last time we visited varanasi.
Chandini was still trying to come out of her shock and absorb everything. "Did you contact him? She enquired.
"Yeah jiji, I did try to reach him; only to realise that his number is disconnected and he has fled the country. I feel so ashamed, jiji She admitted dejectedly, tears pouring endlessly down her cheeks.
It took Chandini a few seconds before she got into her jiji mode. "Okay, first things first, it is he who should be ashamed, not you, for having broken your trust in him. Got it? Chandini said firmly, at which meghana nodded her head. "We need to visit the doctor. Do you want to go ahead with the pregnancy, Meghu? She enquired earnestly.
"I am not sure, jiji, to be honest. On one hand I want to have the baby even though I am worried how I would raise it in our society and on the other I want to choose the easier way out, but how can I eliminate an innocent being?! She stated wringing her hands in worry and confusion.
"Whatever you decide, I will support you, Meghu. Don't worry. Chandini touched her hair.
"Love you, jiji. Meghana hugged her sister tightly.
Chandini rubbed her back and said, "Okay, calm down. Did you eat anything at all?
"Yes jiji.
"Then sleep. We will fix an appointment with the doctor first thing in the morning and figure out how to deal with the situation at hand. She spoke soothingly and pushed her shoulder gently making her lie on the cot.
"Thank you, Jiji. Meghana said softly, burrowing her head into the pillow.
"But I do have to say that I am disappointed that you broke maa's trust in you. Chandini stated before leaving the room; and came face to face with her mama who overheard the entire conversation.
Next day
"What did the doctor say? Chandini asked anxiously as soon as she saw meghu enter the house with mama. She missed talking with meghu before her doctor's appointment and felt horrible for not accompanying her. She still feared stepping out; the only time she did to travel to Varanasi was a nightmare in itself.
"After you left my room last night, I decided that I would terminate the pregnancy, jiji. she confessed. "But god has other plans, you see. The doctor assessed that it's too late for it. I have no other option but to carry it to term. She stated evenly and grabbed chandini's hands. "What do I do now, jiji? She asked worry and distress etched on her face.
"I am only thinking about maa right now. She stated worriedly.
"No jiji, no, Maa cannot know about this. Please promise me that you wouldn't reveal anything to her; please jiji and mama. I know how furious she will get and how disappointed she will be. Please jiji, I know that I am asking too much of both of you. Please help me out of this situation somehow. Meghana begged her profusely.
"Too much stress is not good for the baby. Go to your room and rest, I will bring food along. And we will find a solution, don't worry. Chandini nudged her.
"What should we do, mama? chandini enquired, looking at her mama for solution, once meghana left. "Maa can't know about this. Imagine the heartache she will face and the taunts from the society. Her head will bow down in shame and I cannot see it, mama. She exclaimed.
"All your worry for a lady who cares two hoots about you, banno? her mama said, his voice laced with anger for his sibling.
"She is my mother, mama. I don't care if she hasn't accepted me, but I have and I would do anything to keep her out of harm's way. She replied determinedly.
"She doesn't deserve you as her daughter, banno. He stated bitterly.
"Forget about me, mama. Let us focus on the issue at hand. Maa should be protected from this and so should meghu! She expressed determinedly.
She prepared food, her mind pondering on a solution. And suddenly an idea popped into her head. She took meghu's lunch to her room and found mama seated there already, reading a book.
She placed the lunch on the side table, while her mama shook meghu awake.
"I have an idea. She stated to the two of them. They waited expectantly for her to continue, "I will tell maa that the you and Shikha have taken a course in sanskrit for a year. I can even tell her that I too have taken a long distance course and having you both around is helping me overcome my fears, stress and anxiety. And staying away from where it happened is a bonus. It will appear believable. We will somehow manage to avoid her and everyone for a year with mama's help, until the baby is born. What say? She asked
When they didn't respond, she continued, "Once the baby is born, I will register my name as the baby's mother.
"No jiji, I cannot allow you to do that. Why should you suffer for my actions? she stated stubbornly, shaking her head sideways.
"Think about it, silly girl. It will appear believable. If at all the truth comes out, people will consider that it was a result of the kidnapping and assault. They call me characterless anyway; one more taunt is nothing if it ensures that you and maa escape unscathed. She stated her face void of expression.
"I can't ask you to sacrifice your dignity, jiji. I won't allow it.
"You are not asking, meghu; I am volunteering. Moreover, this is only in case of a what if' scenario. Let us hope it doesn't come to it. Chandini prayed.
"Why, jiji? Why are you so good? I don't deserve your kindness. And I don't know if I will ever be able to repay you for this. She sobbed silently.
"I want you happy, meghu. My happiness lies in yours. She hugged her and placed a kiss on her forehead.
"And we somehow managed the next year until the baby was born; a cute little baby boy with meghu's eyes and hair she smiled warmly reminiscing. "Meghu proposed we look into adoption and that we register him in an orphanage the moment he was born. Parting would be too difficult if she got attached to him, she told. By then maa was also getting impatient for us to come back to lucknow. So we brought him with us and registered him in the local orphanage, so that we could keep an eye on him. I would visit him discreetly, desperate to know his wellbeing. She paused, before adding, "That's how Advay came to know about the baby; and proposed that if I agreed to marry him, he wouldn't reveal that I had an affair, staged my kidnapping and had a baby out of wedlock, which would bring shame to my family, she laughed bitterly.
"Oh my god! He left you with no option, that monster! Arjun expressed, his voice laced with fury.
"And went right ahead and broke the promise the day after our marriage, humiliating me and my family in the process. And dumped me with a vengeance. She confessed brokenly.
TBC
Edited by wupa - 7 years ago
Jhanak
