Thanks for the comments guys. Shruti I hope you like the convo between Meera and Ganga.
Part 7 Part 8 Meera ka Mohan Part 9
Truth is the breath of life to human society. It is the food of the immortal spirit. Yet a single word of it may kill a man as suddenly as a drop of prussic acid. ~Oliver Wendell Holmes It was another Saturday and Ganga wanted to go over to Walia house to play with Vidya. Bani refused saying she didn't have time to drop and pick her up as she had an evening function to cover.
"Mom but Daksh masu can drop and pick me up. He said he would." Ganga pouted.
"No!" Bani shouted. She didn't like Ganga turning to Daksh everytime she told her no. Today she was feeling good and knew she couldn't ask for time off. At least if she knew Ganga was safe at home, she would have a peace of mind.
Bani went off to work, telling masi she will be late and not to wait up for her.
It was in the afternoon, Vidya phoned and asked Ganga when she was coming over. When Ganga told her she couldn't come Vidya called Meera and asked to talk to Ganga's masi and see if they could send a car over to pick Ganga up. Vidya was bored. Jaimama was having one his boring adult party and she knew she would have to keep out of way. Veer and Varun had gone out to club with Adi. Ganga had refused to go with the boys.
Meera persuaded masi to let Ganga come over to their house, promising to get her home early. And Ganga and Vidya both got their wish.
At six Bani found herself standing in front of the Walia house. This was her assignment for this evening...to be part of bar staff at the party. She took a deep breath and went around to the side entrance she had been told to use. Her stomach tightened into hard knot as she stepped in. Tony surprised to see her, greeted her in a friendly voice. Bani smiled and found the manager and set about organizing for the evening.
A trickle of people started entering the house around seven. By eight Bani was busy running backwards and forward. Jai Walia smirked to see her waiting him on his family. Meera surprised to see Bani was the only one who dared to speak to her, ignoring Jai's dark looks cast her way. Vidya who's curiosity took better of her persuaded Ganga to sneak in and have a peek. She told her she did it all the time and Ganga followed her in. It was Vidya who saw Bani and told Ganga, "Look Ganga your mother. She is working as a waitress."
Ganga horrified pulled at Vidya, "Let's go. If my mom saw me her I will get into trouble."
Vidya being stubborn, "No you won't. Come let's go and say hello." She pulled a protesting Bani as she was went to get more drinks. Just near the door Vidya called out loudly, "Bani aunty!" Jai who happened walking by looked in there direction. Vidya's next word made his blood boil. "Bani aunty look Ganga."
Ganga scared barely managed to say, "Mom."
Jai strode up and bored his eyes into the scared face of Ganga, "What did you just call her?" he asked pointing to Bani.
"Uncle yeh meri mom hai." Ganga cowered at the anger in his face and the look of distraught on her mother's.
Jai turned and roared at Bani, "Kisna kahaa apne bachi ko yahaan lane. Yeh koi dharamsala nahi hai. Sharam nehi ayee meri hi ghar mei kisi aur ki aulad lane se. Get out. Both of you."
Meera rushed up and tried, "Jai please don't make a tamasha. Mei Ganga ko yahaan laye. Vidya ki saath khelne. Issme Bani ki galati nahi. Dantana hai toh mujhe lekin yeh bachi ke samne tamash nehi kijiye."
A slap hit Meera's face. Vidya and Ganga screamed and tears rolled down Bani's face. She grabbed Ganga's hand and walked away. Jai stormed after her screaming. "Don't you dare bring your lover's child in my house again. Tujhe, Daksh aur teri yeh beti se mujhe nafraat hai. Abhi bhi meri liye tu ek vaisya hai. Aur yeh tera paap ko yahaan dobaraa nahi lana. Hamara rishta paanch saal phele toot chooka tha aur mujhe woh rishta kabhi nahi joodhna dobaraa." Ganga half understood what was said. She petrified and pulled her hand out of Bani's and ran blindly out. Through the tears Ganga did not watch the steps properly and fell down the few marble steps and lay unconcious.
Bani and Meera who had ran after her watched in horror at Ganga's still figure. Bani picked her up and rushed out the gate at screaming for a taxi. Meera pulled her car out and stopped by Bani asking her to get in. Bani screamed back, "Mujhe nahi chahiye aapki ahsaan. Sunaa nahi apke pati ne kya kahaa. Chood do mujhe meri kismet pe." A taxi pulled up and Bani got in and asked the driver to take them to the nearest hospital. Meera followed them.
At the hospital Ganga was rushed in to emergency, her face covered with blood from the cut on her head. Bani tried to fill the form out but could hardly bring herself to write. She ran off towards the emergency room. Meera quietly came in and filled the form out explaining to the receptionist the fees to be covered by the Walia account and tell Bani the fees were covered by the hospital's charitable trust.
Meera got one of the nurse to come and let her know news of Ganga as she waited in one of the private rooms. Her mind was still reeling from what Jai had shouted at Bani...he had called Bani's child a bas***d...how could he call an innocent child such vile words...he who had lost his own children...who still grieved his children could be so cruel. She had always heard Ganga call Daksh as uncle, why would Jai think Ganga was Daksh's...she could be his for all he knows. Silent tears ran in her soul at the thought of a mother hearing a man call her child a sin. Bani's faces swam before her...the warm smile...the love on face for Ganga and masi...how could this woman be a prostitute like her husband claimed.
It was two hours later, the nurse told Meera Ganga's cut had been stitched up but she was still unconscious. Meera strolled quietly down to see Bani sitting next to Ganga's bed with masi and Daksh also in the room. She watched few minutes through the window and then waited further down. She wanted to go in and hold Ganga, to talk to her but she knew while Bani was there it was not going to be possible.
On the bench Daksh noticed Meera sleeping, her head resting on one of her head. He gently shook her, "Meera." Meera opened her eyes slowly, "Daksh. How is Ganga?"
"She is still sleeping. Meera you should go home. There is no need for you to upset Jai over Bani and Ganga."
Meera smiled, "Daksh don't worry. I will handle Jai. But I really want to see Ganga. I want to make sure she will be ok. Aur Daksh just tell Bani you took care of the fees. She shouldn't have any more stress while Ganga is sick."
Meera stood up, "I am going to cafeteria. Do you think you can get me when I can see Ganga alone. Do me this favour please."
Daksh nodded. He returned back to room. Bani was resting her head on the bed. Daksh laid his hand on her shoulder, "Bani why don't you go and rest in the room down the hall. I will come and get you when Ganga wakes up. Get some rest please." After an hour or so Daksh led Bani to the private room where she could rest.
Daksh made his way to cafeteria where Meera was waiting. He told her she could go and see Ganga. Meera hurried off down to the room. She held Ganga's limp hand and caressed it and said softly, "Ganga I hope you are not upset with your father. I know he said mean things. But he was very angry...but beta he wasn't angry at you. He is really angry at himself."
Ganga fluttered her eyes and opened them slowly. Seeing Meera, "Meera aunty mummy kahaan hai." And then looking at the unfamiliar room, "Aur yeh jagaah..." She tried sitting up but Meera stopped her, "Ganga you are in hospital. Lie down. You fell down, do you remember? Don't worry your mom is near by. She is just resting."
Tears rolled down Ganga's face, "Meera aunty. Uncle ne kyun mujhe gandha khun kaha...woh aisa kyun bole. Aur mom ko kyun dante rahe the."
Meera held Ganga's hand and brought it to her cheek, "Beta uncle aapki mom se naraaz hai. Uncle apke papa hai. Tere janam se pehle unki koi jagraa huwa aur mom ne ghar chodna pada. Who abhi bhi naraaz hai. Par dekhna beta woh tujhe khud milne ayega."
Ganga shaking her head, "Mujhe nahi milna unse. Mera mama ko kitna dantaa inhe...aur Daksh masu ko bhi. Meera aunty who lover kya hota hai? Uncle ne Daksh masu ko aisa naam se kyun pukara. Masu toh hamesha kehte hai ki mom unki choti didi hai." Ganga's body shook as she cried. Meera hugging her, "Ganga rona maat. Saab theek hojayega." Ganga pushing away slightly, "nehi...I hate uncle. Bahut bure hai woh...mere papa nehi ho sakte...mera pap hote toh mujhe paap nehi samahjte."
Meera's heart broke at the Ganga's distraught. She hated Jai for uttering those words to the innocent girl. Did not matter how much hatred he had for Bani, why take it out on the child...a child who had no idea what there quarrel was. A child who grew up not knowing who here father was...a child who was brought up never to think ill of her father. Yes Bani had never said one bad word about Jai to Ganga, that was obvious otherwise the girl would not love her father so much.
Meera turned Ganga's face towards her and wiped her tears, "Dekho Ganga, sun beta bache Bhagwan ke roop kehte jaate hai...aur tujhe kabhi apne bare mei aisa kuch galat nahi sochna. Teri mama aur masi ne kitne pyaar se paala tujhe. Mei bhi tujhe kitna pyaar karti hoon aur teri Daksh masu. Kabhi kabhi hume kuch bura sunana parta hai...log hume bure samajte hai bina koi karan. Lekin hume isse naraaz nahi hona, khair yeh samajna ke Bhagawan hamari kasauti kaar rahi hai aur hume himmat badhake aage chalna."
Ganga gave a weak smile, "Meera aunty, aap toh humse aur mom se naraaz nahi haina. Aap toh hamesha hamari dost rahegi na."
Kissing her forehead Meera whispered softly, "Haan tum aur tuhmari mama ki mei achi dost banke rahungi."
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