An illicit relationship and an illegitimate child

Until now Asha believed that she had chosen to live the life of a non-wife. Asha is happy not being married and having clandestine meetings with Ashish. She is happy that he provides for her, Avni and her mother, Fatima. Not once has it crossed her mind that Ashish should be living with them in the same house or that she and Ashish need to get married.

However, today when she visited Avni's school and had to sign her name - for the first time she hesitated writing her name as Asha Mehta - and scratched off the letters 'Me' midway while writing Mehta. I think it was at that very moment - that for the first time in 12 years - that she truly realized that she was having an illicit relationship with Ashish. True, her mother kept telling her that her relationship was illicit. Avni too kept asking her why she closed the windows and pulled the curtains tight when Ashish was visiting them - but Asha did not seem to take them seriously. But today - the thought that the principal wanted to meet both Avni's mom and dad (Avni had fudged that the principal wanted to meet Ashish too) - and the fact that Asha knew Ashish would never visit Avni's school as her parent made Asha realize that her relationship was illicit and that her daughter was illegitimate.

Until today, for Asha and Ashish - Avni is as legitimate as any other child. But when Ashish heard Neela explain Angie's mental turmoil over her parent and others referring to her as 'najayaz' - it dawned on Ashish - that this is exactly what Avni was experiencing and trying to express with her statements of "closed windows" and "shoes not being taken off". Like Asha - these thoughts of illegitimacy and clandestine relationship did not run through his mind during his conversations with Dayaben. He did not seem to have a problem of having a child without marriage and a mistress for 12 years ---- to him that was his parivaar. A parivaar that he loved very deeply. However, when trying to convince Angie to open the door - he realized how he had cheated Avni.

Avni knows that her parents are hiding something very important to her. And when she heard Ashok say the word Najayaz along with her name - she put 2 and 2 together, went straight to her mother and questioned if she was Najayaz and what najayaz meant!!

Finally the day of reckoning has arrived for ISha and Avni. I had written this earlier and I will write it once more - Ashok appears to be the most sane person. He sees things as they are, goes to the root of the problem and asks that ISha be honest about their relationship to Avni!