Posted:
chapter 9
"Gauri…Gauri…" a masculine voice kept calling her name but she couldn't see a face, it was so dark. "Gauri…" the voice called out again, only this time it was louder, more insistent. She felt a hand touch her shoulder and gently shake her. "Arre yaar you could seriously give kumbhkaran a run for his money. Wake up Ms. Sarkar we have reached home." Gauri finally opened her eyes and saw a smiling Tarun stare down at her. "I have been yelling and screaming for hours…Madam we are home…come on let's go everyone is waiting for you."
Gauri got out of the car and looked around. The view that greeted her transported her back to that night so many years ago. It was a similar, dark, moonless night. The winds were fierce as if foreshadowing a feral storm, yet to come. The gardens around her were the same, perfectly manicured and unusually green. And the house, the handsome, white house still stood unwavering against the dark night, serving as a tempting haven from the wild weather outside.
"Hello…Gauri…don't tell me you learnt how to fall asleep with your eyes open in Bombay?" teased an amused Tarun.
Gauri turned to her childhood friend and smilingly said, "I see the past few years haven't changed you much. I thought becoming a professor might have mellowed you down a bit but I guess that was asking for too much huh?"
Tarun laughed, "Me and mellow? Yah right…I figure the only way I will ever get mellow is when I finally marry the girl of my dreams."
Gauri gave him a surprised look and said, "You have a girl of your dreams and you hid it from me? How could you? Who is she? Do I know her?"
Tarun shook his head and grinned, "Not yet…I can't tell you all my secrets yet. You have to stick around to find out."
Gauri smiled and replied, "Don't worry Tarun this time I am here to stay. But listen, why don't you go in? Let me freshen up and then I'll come join the party."
Gauri began walking away when Tarun caught her arm and pulled her close. For a moment he just stared at her, her beauty overwhelming him. Finally he quietly whispered, "Please sing tonight." Gently he pushed her away and teased, "We are all curious whether you really have a talent for music or you just used it as an excuse to get away from us." With those words Tarun headed back into the house, leaving behind a bewildered Gauri.
"Mayaji…where is Gauri? I thought you said she was also coming tonight. I was looking forward to hearing her sing again." Kavi smilingly inquired of his wife's friend. Maya looked up at the handsome man by her side. Kavi was everything any woman would ever want in a man. He was handsome, accomplished, kind and above all he was a loving husband and father, who wholeheartedly doted on his family. Maya smiled at him and replied, "She is coming, she just got back so I think Tarun said that she was just freshening up. Now that I think about it, she should have been here by now. I'll go and check in on her. Excuse me." Maya nodded at him politely and began heading to the door in search of her older daughter when a strong voice called out from behind, "Maya one minute…" making her stop in her tracks.
Maya turned to the owner of the voice, the man who she had loved and lost many decades ago, a man who still had a strange hold over her. "Maya I am really sorry about earlier today. Poonam shouldn't have behaved that way please accept my apology on her behalf."
*FLASHBACK*
"Ma…" Shiv had called out from the door. Hearing those words, both Maya and Poonam had looked up with tears in their eyes. "Mayama…" Shiv called out again running straight into Maya's open arms and engulfing her in a warm, bear hug. Poonam seethed with anger from the stairway. She had never felt so hurt or humiliated. She wiped an errant tear and slowly began descending the stairs, her presence unnoticed and ignored as always.
"Shiv, beta you can't just enter the house like that. You should let me do your aarti first. And you left Bahu at the door, that's just not done Shiv." Maya scolded the handsome young man. She turned to the beautiful young woman at the door and said, "I apologize on his behalf Mehar."
Mehar smiled gently said, "Seriously Mayama look at your son, we have barely been married a month and already he is leaving me for another woman!" Everyone laughed at that and a sheepish looking Shiv quickly ran up to stand beside his lovely wife. He looked at her apologetically and turning to Maya he said, "It's just that I missed you so much Mayama, I couldn't help myself any longer."
Those words brought a fresh round of tears to Maya's eyes. She silently took the thali from Lali and began walking towards her son and Bahu, to do their aarti when a voice loudly rang out, "Stop!"
Everyone turned to see who had yelled out those words and that's when Poonam slowly made her presence felt. "Maya, you are an employee of this house, not the children's mother. Only a mother has the right to do her son and Bahu's aarti." With those words, Poonam rudely snatched the thali out of Maya's hands and did the aarti.
*END FLASHBACK*
Maya nodded as if physically accepting the apology and said, "No apology necessary Ajit, it is her right, I am the one who overstepped my bounds."
Ajit shook his head and gently replied, "Maya you have all the rights. You have been more than a mother to those children. I cannot thank you enough for all that you have done for my family."
Maya teared up at his formal tone and in an icy cold voice she replied, "I don't need your gratitude Mr. Singhania, the children's love is more than enough for me." Ajit immediately regretted the tone he had used with her and was about to apologize but at that very moment a pair soft, feminine hands covered Maya's eyes and a melodic voice whispered in her ears, "I missed you so much."
Maya pulled away the hands and turned around to hug the owner of the beautiful voice. With tears in her eyes Maya kissed the face that she had not seen in so many years, "Gauri my bacha, I missed you more bacha…I missed you more." The women clung to each other lovingly, laughing and crying all at once. Ajit smiled, his eyes swimming with unshed tears at the joyous reunion. He was about to quietly step away and allow them to have their moment, when Gauri lovingly called out, "Ajit uncle…" Ajit turned to the girl who had changed his life in so many wonderful ways and held out his arms to her. Without thinking Gauri launched herself in his arms and as always was transported to a place where she felt nothing but safety and love.
Ajit uncle and she had always shared a unique bond that no one else, not even her mother understood. To everyone else he was Ajit Singhania, business tycoon but she was the only one who had seen the more vulnerable, the gentle Ajit Singhania. They were so similar they couldn't help but be bonded. They were both tortured souls with dark secrets that both were too scared to face.
"Uncle you have finally gotten some gray hair I see. I must say that the salt and pepper look suits you well." Ajit smiled indulgently and replied, "And the mature woman look suits you well my dear." Gauri smiled in reply and suddenly felt herself be lifted right off the ground and spun around in a dizzying circle. When her feet finally touched the ground, Gauri came face to face with Rishi, who looked at her with a wolfish smile and said, "Kyon gungi…you have come to your senses I see. So you finally ready to marry me or what?"
"What do you mean marry you? Gauridi has promised to marry me." Garv replied indignantly from behind her.
"Ha, marry you!!! Have you seen yourself in the mirror lately? You look like a chimpanzee. I seriously pity the girl who marries you." Rishi replied teasingly. The boys continued their little fight, while Gauri watched amused from a distance.
"Well I guess you can see that some things never change," Mehar's voice brought Gauri out of her reverie. Gauri turned to her childhood best friend and giving her hug she said, "Except you that is. Wow, Mrs. Shiv Singhania, you couldn't wait till I got back. Had to get married in a rush?"
Mehar gave her an apologetic look and said, "I am so sorry its just you know pundits and their auspicious dates."
Gauri smiled at her friend and said, "Mehar don't be silly I could forgive you anything, you know that. I am so happy for you."
Mehar looked at Gauri suspiciously and said, "Are you really?" Gauri frowned at her friend's tone and said, "Of course I am, why would you even question that?" Mehar laughingly shook her head and said, "Because if you truly are so happy for me then how come you haven't sung for me yet?" Gauri smiled and was about to protest when a familiar voice from behind her said, "Mehar is right Gauri. You must sing for us, make it your wedding gift to us."
"Gauri…Gauri…" a masculine voice kept calling her name but she couldn't see a face, it was so dark. "Gauri…" the voice called out again, only this time it was louder, more insistent. She felt a hand touch her shoulder and gently shake her. "Arre yaar you could seriously give kumbhkaran a run for his money. Wake up Ms. Sarkar we have reached home." Gauri finally opened her eyes and saw a smiling Tarun stare down at her. "I have been yelling and screaming for hours…Madam we are home…come on let's go everyone is waiting for you."
Gauri got out of the car and looked around. The view that greeted her transported her back to that night so many years ago. It was a similar, dark, moonless night. The winds were fierce as if foreshadowing a feral storm, yet to come. The gardens around her were the same, perfectly manicured and unusually green. And the house, the handsome, white house still stood unwavering against the dark night, serving as a tempting haven from the wild weather outside.
"Hello…Gauri…don't tell me you learnt how to fall asleep with your eyes open in Bombay?" teased an amused Tarun.
Gauri turned to her childhood friend and smilingly said, "I see the past few years haven't changed you much. I thought becoming a professor might have mellowed you down a bit but I guess that was asking for too much huh?"
Tarun laughed, "Me and mellow? Yah right…I figure the only way I will ever get mellow is when I finally marry the girl of my dreams."
Gauri gave him a surprised look and said, "You have a girl of your dreams and you hid it from me? How could you? Who is she? Do I know her?"
Tarun shook his head and grinned, "Not yet…I can't tell you all my secrets yet. You have to stick around to find out."
Gauri smiled and replied, "Don't worry Tarun this time I am here to stay. But listen, why don't you go in? Let me freshen up and then I'll come join the party."
Gauri began walking away when Tarun caught her arm and pulled her close. For a moment he just stared at her, her beauty overwhelming him. Finally he quietly whispered, "Please sing tonight." Gently he pushed her away and teased, "We are all curious whether you really have a talent for music or you just used it as an excuse to get away from us." With those words Tarun headed back into the house, leaving behind a bewildered Gauri.
"Mayaji…where is Gauri? I thought you said she was also coming tonight. I was looking forward to hearing her sing again." Kavi smilingly inquired of his wife's friend. Maya looked up at the handsome man by her side. Kavi was everything any woman would ever want in a man. He was handsome, accomplished, kind and above all he was a loving husband and father, who wholeheartedly doted on his family. Maya smiled at him and replied, "She is coming, she just got back so I think Tarun said that she was just freshening up. Now that I think about it, she should have been here by now. I'll go and check in on her. Excuse me." Maya nodded at him politely and began heading to the door in search of her older daughter when a strong voice called out from behind, "Maya one minute…" making her stop in her tracks.
Maya turned to the owner of the voice, the man who she had loved and lost many decades ago, a man who still had a strange hold over her. "Maya I am really sorry about earlier today. Poonam shouldn't have behaved that way please accept my apology on her behalf."
*FLASHBACK*
"Ma…" Shiv had called out from the door. Hearing those words, both Maya and Poonam had looked up with tears in their eyes. "Mayama…" Shiv called out again running straight into Maya's open arms and engulfing her in a warm, bear hug. Poonam seethed with anger from the stairway. She had never felt so hurt or humiliated. She wiped an errant tear and slowly began descending the stairs, her presence unnoticed and ignored as always.
"Shiv, beta you can't just enter the house like that. You should let me do your aarti first. And you left Bahu at the door, that's just not done Shiv." Maya scolded the handsome young man. She turned to the beautiful young woman at the door and said, "I apologize on his behalf Mehar."
Mehar smiled gently said, "Seriously Mayama look at your son, we have barely been married a month and already he is leaving me for another woman!" Everyone laughed at that and a sheepish looking Shiv quickly ran up to stand beside his lovely wife. He looked at her apologetically and turning to Maya he said, "It's just that I missed you so much Mayama, I couldn't help myself any longer."
Those words brought a fresh round of tears to Maya's eyes. She silently took the thali from Lali and began walking towards her son and Bahu, to do their aarti when a voice loudly rang out, "Stop!"
Everyone turned to see who had yelled out those words and that's when Poonam slowly made her presence felt. "Maya, you are an employee of this house, not the children's mother. Only a mother has the right to do her son and Bahu's aarti." With those words, Poonam rudely snatched the thali out of Maya's hands and did the aarti.
*END FLASHBACK*
Maya nodded as if physically accepting the apology and said, "No apology necessary Ajit, it is her right, I am the one who overstepped my bounds."
Ajit shook his head and gently replied, "Maya you have all the rights. You have been more than a mother to those children. I cannot thank you enough for all that you have done for my family."
Maya teared up at his formal tone and in an icy cold voice she replied, "I don't need your gratitude Mr. Singhania, the children's love is more than enough for me." Ajit immediately regretted the tone he had used with her and was about to apologize but at that very moment a pair soft, feminine hands covered Maya's eyes and a melodic voice whispered in her ears, "I missed you so much."
Maya pulled away the hands and turned around to hug the owner of the beautiful voice. With tears in her eyes Maya kissed the face that she had not seen in so many years, "Gauri my bacha, I missed you more bacha…I missed you more." The women clung to each other lovingly, laughing and crying all at once. Ajit smiled, his eyes swimming with unshed tears at the joyous reunion. He was about to quietly step away and allow them to have their moment, when Gauri lovingly called out, "Ajit uncle…" Ajit turned to the girl who had changed his life in so many wonderful ways and held out his arms to her. Without thinking Gauri launched herself in his arms and as always was transported to a place where she felt nothing but safety and love.
Ajit uncle and she had always shared a unique bond that no one else, not even her mother understood. To everyone else he was Ajit Singhania, business tycoon but she was the only one who had seen the more vulnerable, the gentle Ajit Singhania. They were so similar they couldn't help but be bonded. They were both tortured souls with dark secrets that both were too scared to face.
"Uncle you have finally gotten some gray hair I see. I must say that the salt and pepper look suits you well." Ajit smiled indulgently and replied, "And the mature woman look suits you well my dear." Gauri smiled in reply and suddenly felt herself be lifted right off the ground and spun around in a dizzying circle. When her feet finally touched the ground, Gauri came face to face with Rishi, who looked at her with a wolfish smile and said, "Kyon gungi…you have come to your senses I see. So you finally ready to marry me or what?"
"What do you mean marry you? Gauridi has promised to marry me." Garv replied indignantly from behind her.
"Ha, marry you!!! Have you seen yourself in the mirror lately? You look like a chimpanzee. I seriously pity the girl who marries you." Rishi replied teasingly. The boys continued their little fight, while Gauri watched amused from a distance.
"Well I guess you can see that some things never change," Mehar's voice brought Gauri out of her reverie. Gauri turned to her childhood best friend and giving her hug she said, "Except you that is. Wow, Mrs. Shiv Singhania, you couldn't wait till I got back. Had to get married in a rush?"
Mehar gave her an apologetic look and said, "I am so sorry its just you know pundits and their auspicious dates."
Gauri smiled at her friend and said, "Mehar don't be silly I could forgive you anything, you know that. I am so happy for you."
Mehar looked at Gauri suspiciously and said, "Are you really?" Gauri frowned at her friend's tone and said, "Of course I am, why would you even question that?" Mehar laughingly shook her head and said, "Because if you truly are so happy for me then how come you haven't sung for me yet?" Gauri smiled and was about to protest when a familiar voice from behind her said, "Mehar is right Gauri. You must sing for us, make it your wedding gift to us."
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