Hello all. Thank you for your lovely comments. Here is the next chapter. Hope you like it.
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Chapter 5: Ranbir
Two souls, one heart.
~French Proverb
Ranbir...
Ranbir?
Uh... Yes... he has the habit of breaking things when he gets upset.
What? Well all I can tell is that I can be pretty sure that I am not the one from whom he got that habit.
Very funny, now, it will be nice if we could go and find out what's wrong with him instead of standing here.
Haan...
...
Ranbir... Beta...
Dad?
Yes... What happened?
Nothing.
Beta, I know that you won't break anything for no reason.
What is the matter, Beta?
I don't want to talk to you. Don't come between me and my dad.
Ranbir, she is your MOTHER. I won't let you talk to her rudely.
She may have been your wife, but she'll never be MY MOTHER.
RANBIR...
Nachiket, wait... Ranbir, I know you hate me, and I am not here to make YOU like me because whether you like it or not, I will NOT stop loving you. Now if you have got that fact into your mind, would you care to tell us why you are upset?
Dad... is it true that Aarav is coming back?
Yes... he'll be back next week.
Then I am leaving. I cannot stay here.
Why do you hate Aarav so much Ranbir? He is your brother.
Dad, please tell her that only Aagham is my brother and no one else.
Ranbir... how many times must I remind you to behave properly?
Nachiket, I am used to his rude behavior. Now, Ranbir, you can taunt me as much as you want to but I am not leaving until I know why you hate Aarav so much.
Do you really want to know? Fine... I'll tell you. I hate Aarav because of YOU.
Because of me?
Yes, YOU. You were the one who left us and went.
Ranbir... I have told you plenty of times that it's not just Ragini's fault. We were both wrong.
You may be right Dad, but she was the one who didn't want me.
Didn't want you? What nonsense you are talking? You are my son, my firstborn. I loved you from the moment I set my eyes on you... Heck, I loved you from the moment I knew that you were there inside my womb. You are a part of me, how can I not want you?
Then WHY did you choose Aarav over me?
Huh?
You think I don't know? That day when you guys were discussing about separating us, I was there. You didn't see me because I was hiding under the table. I still remember how you said that you will take Aarav and Nishi and leave me and Aagham with Papa. Do you think that after hearing all this I will still listen to you and believe that you love me? Who are you kidding?
But, Ranbir...
Please don't tell anything... I don't want to listen to your lies.
Ranbir, your mother NEVER lies.
Oh really? Ok... then tell me why did you choose Aarav? Was I that bad that you couldn't bear me? Or was it because you simply got bored having me around always?
Ranbir, you have no rights to talk like that to her. I already told you that it was also my fault...
One moment, Nachiket... you want to know the truth? Okay I'll tell you. I chose Aarav because he was small and very weak. The doctors told me that Aarav needed a mother's care for a minimum of 2 years. If I leave him, he would become very weak and may remain a weakling all his life. THAT was the reason I chose him and not because I hated you, got bored of you, couldn't bear you or any of the reasons you think. Do you know how much it hurt to be separated from you? Do you know how much I missed you?
How can I trust you?
Ragini looked at her son. He was exactly like her. He could never trust anyone easily. She looked at him with tears in her eyes and left the room. She came back with a big bag in her hand.
You want me to prove that I missed you right? Look here... all these are the gifts that I bought for your birthday. This is the exact replica of the teddy bear you loved as a kid. Whenever I missed you I used to hug this and this is the dress you left behind, you'll never know how many times I have caressed it. This is your photograph taken on your 5th birthday and I never slept without kissing it good night. Do you want any more proofs? Ranbir, I really loved you and never ever wanted to be separated from you. The situation made me take such decisions. I still love you and I don't want you to go. Please, Beta... please don't go.
Ragini said the last line partly to herself. She really hoped her son would see how much she loved him. She had lost him once; she didn't want to lose him again. She closed her eyes and whispered a prayer.
Ma...
Ragini opened her eyes and saw Ranbir looking at her with tears in his eyes. She opened her arms and Ranbir ran to her just as he had often done when he was a kid.
Ma... I missed you so much, Ma. You know Pam Mom didn't know the lullaby that you used to sing to me. I couldn't sleep for so many days. And I couldn't eat because you were not there to feed me. I stopped eating chocolate cakes because they reminded me of you. I started to hate you and Aarav as it helped me not to miss you so much. I tried to hate Nishi, but I couldn't because we were very close before you separated us. I am sorry for behaving rudely all this time but I loved you so much Ma and missed you. Ma, please don't leave me again.
Its okay, Beta... I love you and will never leave you.
You may leave me after you know what I did... Ma, Dad... Aarav is innocent... it was Babu Bhai who shot Shilpa not Aarav. I was there and I know he is innocent. I should have told this in the court but Dr. Aman told me that you hated me already and will hate me more and care for Aarav if he comes out. I couldn't afford to lose you again to Aarav... I am sorry... I...
What sorry? Are you mad, Ranbir? Aarav is suffering in jail just because of your insecurities, you...
Nachiket... he made a mistake and he is sorry... I still remember what you told Nishi that day, Brave people are not the ones who do not make any mistakes but are the ones who have the courage to face their mistakes and rectify them.' Ranbir was wrong but at least he has the courage to face them. And it is our fault that he became so insecure. So, I cannot accuse him fully and neither can you. Now, Ranbir will you rectify your mistakes?
Yes, Ma... I'll do anything... Just, please don't hate me.
I can never hate you, Beta... Now I want you to apologize to Aarav. Here let me call him.
Hello, may I speak to Aarav? I am his mother... yes, sir, not more than 10 minutes... hello, Aarav Beta there is someone who wants to talk to you.
Hello... uh... Aarav this is Ranbir.
Why did you call me?
Because I wanted to apologize for being such a hard hearted fool. I am sorry. I'll tell the truth and make the judge clear all your charges.
Why do you want to? I am coming home next week. If you tell the truth, people may hate you.
Yes... But I don't care because I know that Ma and Dad will love me always... besides you are my BROTHER and I can't let you suffer when I know I can make things better for you.
...
Ragini sat in her room thinking over everything that had happened today. She was happy that finally Ranbir understood her but part of her was sad that she was the one who had pushed him this far.
What are you thinking, Ragini?
You were right, Nachiket. We should never have split the kids.
Hmmm... but why did you Ragini?
I didn't want you to be alone Nachiket. I knew you will not marry again and will be lonely. I didn't want you to feel lonely and spoil your health.
Nachiket had tears in his eyes. His Ragini always knew him, even when she was angry at him. She will not let him suffer even if it meant suffering for her. He pulled her into a hug.
You understand me so well, Ragini. We may be different people but our hearts are one. And I don't want it to be separated again.
It will always be one. I promise.
...
Cricket
Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki
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