Author's Note: In my defense, this was written in early January before the horrible horrible news had come out.
The death of a marriage only destroys one thing, the fruits the marriage bore, the children. Whether it's divorce, separation or still together to make each other miserable regularly; the children sense the discord. A loving home is necessary for a child to grow but sometimes that entails decisions harder than divorce or separation. A decision to disconnect from your life for another life can only be made by a mother, the one that nurtures life within her. One hit wonder of Bollywood, Madhubala Rishabh Kundra made one such decision for herself. After the initial happiness of becoming a father had worn off and the supposed consequences of a pregnant lead heroine could have on a film; RK insisted Madhu get an abortion. He couldn't afford his first home production in which he was launching his wife be a failure; his title of Superstar meant more to him than the title of father. For the first film, his first born had to be sacrificed. Madhu had completely avoided RK after he asked her to murder their child. Once the movie had finished filming, he informed her he had made an appointment with a doctor; Madhu simply nodded and walked away. That night she packed her things and walked out of the house she considered her home. As she took a final glance around, she noticed Radhaji standing there with her bags packed. The shock on Madhu's face was enough to prompt an explanation from Radhaji.
"I overheard your conversation with Rishu today. I refuse to stay with a person who is willing to kill his own child for fame. I am coming with you, Madhu," Radhaji stated matter of factly.
The two walked out of RK Mansion and disappeared never to be seen or heard from again.
Eight months later, RK was told the news about the birth of his son by Bittuji. He demanded to meet his son, unfortunately for him, Bittuji had a custody agreement in hand and unless he was willing to abide by every letter of the agreement; he would never see his son. RK had begrudgingly signed the papers. And thus began the saga that would continue on for nearly 15 years.
Bittuji became the middle man and a guardian angel. He knew exactly where Madhu and Radhaji were but refused to disclose the information to anyone. On the scheduled days, Bittuji would pick up Arjun and bring him to RK Mansion. RK was never taken to Arjun except right after his birth. Bittuji had taken RK to the hospital blind folded and bought him back the same so he wouldn't know the location of the hospital. RK, of course had tried his all to follow Bittuji but all had failed since Bittuji knew every trick he would use. Arjun's life with his father was luxurious; he was lavished with gifts and toys but they all remained at RK Mansion. For a child, Arjun was wise, he understood what his life was; a tale of survival. Arjun lived in the lap of luxury, only the best was allowed for RK's son; he lived like a Superstar's son but when he went back home to his mother and grandmother; he was the happiest; life was normal again. He didn't feel suffocated like he did at RK Mansion. Time flew by as a child lived two lives that he should have never had to live.
On one of the scheduled visits to his father, a 15 year old Arjun and Bittuji walked in wearing white kurta pajamas looking broken.
"Welcome son! Why are you late? Everything okay? And what's with the funeral attire?" RK asked taking in his son's attire.
"Someone very close to me, someone I love the most in the world died today," Arjun answered solemnly.
"I am sorry to hear that," RK said not registering the hurt in his son's eyes or the pained expression on his face. "I have a big day planned for us. I just finished a movie, I want to screen it for you and see what you think," RK finished.
RK escorted Arjun to the entertainment room and began the movie. While watching a scene from the movie, the hero asks the heroine to choose between him and her disabled sister, whose only support is her.
Arjun silently asks, "Is that what you asked her to do? Is that how you repeatedly made her cry for nearly two years she was with you?"
Arjun's questions shocked RK. He rarely spoke on his own; he always had to goad him into a conversation.
In these past 15 years neither had mentioned the woman that connected them/tied them together. Even when Arjun was younger, he never mentioned Madhu and RK never asked either; so for him to demand answers, was groundbreaking. Before RK could even formulate a thought or an answer, Arjun erupted like a volcano.
"I HATE YOU. I have always hated you. I came for her because that's what she wanted. How could I ever love a man who chose his fame over his family? I may not have been born with a silver spoon but I have gotten everything I asked for and more. The money you have been giving for me gets donated to an orphanage, yet in spite of that I'm enrolled in the best school in the city. I have everything a rich spoiled brat would have but do you know what my most prized possession is? My mother and grandmother. My grammy spoils me rotten, loves me so much I can't even put it into words. I do sometimes wonder if I get a son's and a grandson's love since her own son has ignored her existence for most of his life. Then there is my mother, my champion, my hero. Not once did she let me feel unwanted or poor or the millions of other things people in my situation should or would feel. She never let grammy work but she worked 3 jobs plus took care of the whole house. Not once did she complain about her swollen feet from walking or the calluses on her hands from manual labor. Her once beautiful face now marred with dark circles from lack of sleep. Not once did she let us go to sleep hungry but she always had an excuse for not eating when there wasn't enough food. Grammy hasn't been keeping well the past year, so my mother took up another job so we could get a full time nurse."
"Arjun, who died today?" RK interrupted as fear settled deep within his bones.
"No one you know, Mr. Kundra. But today will be our last meeting. You were nearly my age when you disowned your janam dene wali aurat but today I disown the man who sired me for my janam dene wali aurat. Good luck with your life; be happy and may your fame always be with you. I know that was her wish so I won't curse you to suffer because that will only bring tears to her in the afterlife. I have seen both my mother and grandmother have shed enough tears crying themselves to sleep over you enough in this life. But remember this, my name may be Arjun Rishabh Kundra but I will be Madhubala's legacy.
