Chapter-6
Nidhi had been driving the car to Rohan's place, with Aryan beside her. Her mind went back again and again at Rohan's words- "I want to see my son..."...
Why has he a sudden urge to see Aryan... Her and Ashutosh's son... No matter who the biological father is, Ashutosh has loved Aryan as his own son, when No one... Simply no one had given him his name... Not even his biological father Rohan... Now how come, the Aryan Mathur, whom Rohan referred as, as Ashutosh's son and not his, has suddenly called up to know about HIS SON...? No-No... This is not going to happen... This is not something, that when he feels like can call upon him, and on the other times reject him like a piece of his used tissue in the trash bin... Her son is a proper human being, with a heart, with millions of emotions... And Rohan has no right to play with them... Absolutely not... How hard had it been for her and Ashutosh to make and build this new world of theirs... That had the three of them, and nobody else. No matter what Mr. Rohan Malhotra, this has to have a closure... A proper closure... Either this way or that. I'm not going to let my son hanging between the two fathers fortunately and unfortunately he has... Fortunate for the dad he got in Ashutosh, who inspite of no blood connect has loved him more or like his own child, and unfortunately to have Rohan, who being his biological father has nothing to do, and had left him over as an extra baggage over Nidhi. But understand it or not, he is not a baggage... Neither to me nor my husband...'
The storm of thoughts have been hitting Nidhi's mind continuously, making her more and more resolute to have one fine decision once and for all... Unknown to her, her decisiveness was turning into anger, thinking of Rohan, thinking her baby to be a thing... She was brought out of her reverie, by Aryan's shake on her arm and constant "Mumma"... Nidhi immediately looked at his side who yelled- "Mumma... Slow down... Why are you driving so fast? Is it such an urgency to reach Rohan Papa's place?" It was then she realised, how fast has she been driving the car... She immediately slowed down the accelerator she had been pushing hard on, being gentle with it...
Not had it been more than an hour, that they reached Rohan's place... Earlier, whenever she dropped Aryan at her Sister, Anji's place, she made sure; she did not enter the house and meet her husband Rohan... But today, she needed to go inside, no matter what... Nidhi rang the doorbell, and on entering, saw Rohan sitting with an unhappy Anji with him on the couch...
Seeing them come, Rohan got up to the nearby table, and opened the drawer, while Nidhi hugged Anji, followed by Aryan hugging his maasi, with all the love... Soon Aryan ran to the play area in the house, while Rohan returned with some papers in his hand to Nidhi, who had been standing with her arms crossed on her chest...
Ro: Take it...
Ni: What is this?
Ro: Custody papers of Aryan...
Ni: (Shocked) WHAT???
Ro: I want the custody of my son Mrs. Mathur... Don't you get that?
Ni: Have you gone crazy or what? Aryan was, is, and shall always be my son... And shall remain with me only... At the time of divorce, it was pre-decided... Isn't it?
Ro: Oh yes! Coz that time, I had no choice... Aryan was just born then... But now, I want my son back...
Ni: Excuse me? Your son? Whom are you referring to? Anji, you have a son?
Anji looked away, with pain filled eyes, unable to utter a word... Seeing the pain in her eyes, Rohan shot in anger...
Ro: Talk to me, Mrs. Mathur... Not to my wife...
N: Hello!!! She is my sister first, alright? And who is your son?
Ro: Don't try to act... I'm talking about Aryan... My son...
Ni: Where were all these fatherly feelings, when my baby used to wail at nights, needing a father too, where were you?
Ro: Alright... I didn't realise then... But now I realise, that I miss a child, my own child in my life, and because, there exists my child, I want him back...
Ni: So why don't you guys plan a child? Why you want mine and Ashutosh's?
Ro: He is not Ashutosh's child...
Ni: HE IS... Just like pregnancy never defines motherhood, similarly, bloods connect doesn't define fatherhood... He is the father of Aryan, because he became one... He earned being his father. He earned Aryan's love, respect, and trust. He has given him the love a father does, not like you, pyaar mila aur mooh modd liya. You didn't love me, which was fine. No problem... But you left behind an innocent kid that needed his father too... It was Ashutosh, who took care of the both of us, filling those empty pieces of the Jigsaw puzzle of our lives... You get that...?
Ro: How can you say that? Didn't you leave behind Rohan, here at my house, when you were busy treating your patients? Didn't my wife cared for Aryan? Have I ever overlooked it?
Ni: Sorry to tell you Mr. Malhotra. I had simply no connections with you since you divorced with me... I left behind my child at my sister's place, not yours. That's neither of our faults, that you happen to be her husband... So, better do not over estimate yourself.
Ro: Stop lecturing me... I want my son... That's it...
Ni: I will not...
Ro: You have to.
Ni: NO...
The argument in the room became so hot, that if one could measure, it would reach heights... Finally, it was Anji's yell that made them look at her...
An: STOP!!! STOP THE BOTH OF YOU... Nidhi, I'm really sorry, I never wanted to snatch you baby from you... It was me... Who was unable to have a child ever, and that emptiness was bugging me... You used to leave Aryan sometimes and on weekends, but ever since Ashutosh ji had taken over, Aryan visited here seldomly, and I wanted a child permanently... It was then Rohan suggested... I wasn't in favour of it, because I know how much you love him...
Now Nidhi softened a bit, seeing those tears in her sister's eyes... Rohan too pleadingly looked at her...
Ro: Please Nidhi... You can have another child with your husband... But I can't... Please... I promise, I'll make him meet you on weekends... Please...
Nidhi was really on a cliff hanger... She can never leave her son forever, especially in the hands of her ex-husband. However she trusts Anji, but giving away her child was out of question... But, how to deny her only sister, who had rarely asked anything from her in return... What shall she do? She won't be able to answer Ashutosh why she had to give away her son... Nidhi was in wave of endless questions when her eyes fell on her son, standing in the alley with a Toy car in hand, with tears in his eyes... He must have heard all the conversations... That tiny tot understood only that much, that he had to leave his mother forever... And that was really difficult, however cranky and a brat he becomes for his mother. He immediately ran to Nidhi, and hugged her to her waist, hiding his face in her tummy-
Ar: Mumma, main good boy banke rahunga, soke bhi jaldi se uthoonga, homework bhi kar loonga, and food bhi apne hands se khaaunga... Par mumma, main aapke aur Papa ke saath hee rahunga... Mujhe maasi aur Rohan papa ke saath nahi rehna... Please mumma...
The tears and cries in her son's voice cleared every second doubt in her mind, and she lovingly patted his head, and wiped her own tears, and with a determined face said-
Ni: Main apna beta nahi doongi kisi ko bhi nahi doongi... Full and final. He can come and meet here as and when he wants, nothing more than that...
Rohan was furious at the denial... so with an angry face he said-
Ro: Alright, now the court will decide.. I want my son, and I will have him...
Ni: Let's see, how you snatch my son from me and my husband... Goodbye Mr. Malhotra...
Holding her son's hand, Nidhi stormed out of the house, and loaded in the car and dashed back to her home...
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There Ashutosh reached Oxford, to see Wendy, where he found out, that her grandmother, who had been looking after her has been extremely unwell, and had almost no call of return... And being disturbed seeing her Granny in such a state, Wendy was unable to concentrate in her studies thus was deteriorating day after day... And finally the Principal of her school had to call upon the guardian, Ashutosh to take a look...
Ashutosh went in the room where the granny laid, and sat beside her... The old lady smiled at him with the little strength she had... knowing how much this man cared for her granddaughter, she was very thankful to him. With the slow and tired breaths, that she had, spoke in a low voice-
Granny: Mr. Mathur, how much ever, do the doctors pretend, a dying man's 6th sense tells, its near... And I too know it... I'm just worried for my little child. Who is going to look after her, after me? She has none of her parents...
Ashutosh took her hand in his, and cupped it between his palms. "You really do not need to worry, I'm always there beside her. Only you have to keep your blessings upon her. You will be absolutely alright... ok?"
Ashutosh's humble words gave a soothing relax to the old lady, who tiredly closed her eyes shut... Never to open... For her heavenly abode...
Later, after the necessary rituals and burial, Ashutosh paced Wendy's belongings from her Home, loaded them all in his car, and held Wendy's hand...
Ashu: Wendy, baby, ready to go back to Clapham? The city of your childhood? The place you love the most? My home, our home?
The little bright girl shook her head in positive, ready to go back, where her loving Uncle was taking... Ashutosh made her sit in the car, and turned the ignition on to drive back to Clapham, to his home, taking another loving member to his family, whom Nidhi also loved, as he had loved Aryan.
But what he did not know was, what storm is waiting for them in Clapham, with the news of Aryan's custody case ahead...
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