Viraj 3S: ISSUES ~Part 3, 4th post~|28/4| -complete-

-3-

Roshni did not own a cell phone, nor did she use the internet. Her only means of communication was an old-fashioned landline. Very reluctantly had she agreed to give her son a cellphone. Cellphones, especially the newer ones, could be tracked. It was one of Roshni's worst fears that she and her son would be tracked. All she wanted, all that she had wanted for nearly 20 years now was to remain hidden.

Sometimes she felt ashamed of herself. What would her husband have thought of her? "Never run from your fears. The more you run, the more they'll chase you." He'd say. Wasn't that what she had taught her children? She couldn't deny this in principle.

Yet she compromised. Everyday, she wanted to live by her principles. Everyday, she wished to be assured that her courage wouldn't cost her sons' lives. Everyday, Roshni wished to be Vasundhara again.

Skeletons In the Closet:
Vikram Singh Rathore Forced daughter in Law to flee

The Rathore family has been known to champion
social causes. However, a recent leaked journal,
that of Mr. Shyam Singh(butler) has revealed how
two-faced the head of the family is.

To quote the journal- 'I wonder how Hukum has
the heart to separate a mother from her child.
Chhote Hukum yearns for her everyday. Is this the
way love should be punished? Will Chhote Hukum
be able to recover? Will I be able to forgive myself
for following Hukum's orders? Is duty really above
all else?'

Evidently, Vasundhara Singh Rathore(then widowed)
had an affair that Vikram Singh Rathore found
unpalatable. We wonder what justification he has
for separating a child from his mother.

"Thank you Daadji." Viraj whispered to himslef.

Just as he reached up to knock again, the door was opened by an irritated lady. "Are you planning to break my door down?" Her eyes widened. "Arju-, no, that can't be... Viraj?" Suddenly she pulled him inside and locked the door.

Nearly all his life he had imagined this day. Each time he imagined hugging her, weeping, blaming. He hadn't anticipated the silence the filled the room or the fear in his mother's eyes. Why is she scared? Doesn't she know? It was all over the news... Oh local news...

They stood staring at each other, wondering how to justify the other's conduct. Neither realised their own silence. Suddenly the scent of carrots cooking in dense milk wafted through. Vasundhara ran to attend to her "gajar ka halwa". Viraj followed her into the kitchen. He smiled at the familiarity. The same order of spices, in similar containers and the scent of Gajar ka halwa... It struck him exactly how homesick he'd been.

"You've grown so much." Vasundhara placed her hand at the level of Viraj's head, indicating his height. He bent his head a little, urging her to place her hand upon his head. She hesitated and then she pulled him into a bear hug. "Do you know how scary this is? All my life I've stayed away so Sasurji would let you live... and now... what if... " tears flooded her eyes. " He said you are his family's scion. He wouldn't let my impure shadow fall upon... If I try to... He'll kill all of us... Both my sons... Anhad..." Suddenly she drew back shaking her head wildly. "You shouldn't be here. GO!" Viraj pulled her into an embrace again, holding her tight till she stopped shaking. "Forgive me. I couldn't be there..." she wailed. "Nobody is going to die, Ma. I promise." She pulled back. She caressed his cheeks a little. "You've lost your chubby cheeks." She remarked. "Do you have to remind me?"

They laughed together. This was the day, Vasundhara had been waiting for.

"She's not after your property. I am now a fully grown adult, so no custody issues. What's your problem with her, Dadaji?"

"She couldn't mourn my son."

"The son you nearly disowned for his radical ideas."

"He was my blood!"

"I am your blood, not she."

"Yes, you are. That is why I was trying to protect you. They're commoners... We have a reputation.

"Your daughter was not a commoner. She hacked accounts, murdered our loyal butler, embezzled funds... we do have a reputation... of crime. plus that article about you..."

"Loyal, my foot! Why was he keeping journals then? That too of our secrets? Sick of answering questions about Vasundhara... She's alive isn't she? Why should I let my daughter in law marry some random guy?"

"Why not? You championed widow remarriage, right? She's not your blood, I repeat. In fact, getting her married could actually save your reputation, Dadaji."

"What's your plan?"

Vikram Singh Rathore comes clean, Viraj lauds courage

"He had ensured that my mother and the man she loved were weeded. the society wasn't this accepting back then. I was only a child. They did everything possible to provide me with a childhood free of social stigma. I am happy that dadaji has decided to get my mother remarried with full splendour. I hope this will clear all doubts. "

Viraj sniggered as he read the snippet. That's right- weeded.

Vasundhara re-inaugurates Lakshya

Reminisces about ASR

"Arjun did not see women as mere dolls. He taught me how to shoot despite raised eyebrows. I am happy that Viraj has been making efforts in this direction. Hopefully, now that he isn't alone. Lakshya will scale new heights. I hope he gets time to focus on his own career too."

Lakshya bags 3 GOLDS, VSR and students shine

______________________

Wedding bells for Vasundhara:

Feels good to be accepted'

_______________________________

Vikram to do Kanyadaan

______________________

Not all love stories are destined to be, some need a Godson's blessing': Anhad

***-The Wedding Day, Arjun Singh Rathore palace-***

"Kirti! Ma had gifted me this lehenga so lovingly. This odhni..." Nisha whined examining the torn odhni.

"How blah Nishu! I didn't do it on purpose."The Kirti paused. "But your Mom-in-Law looks strict. Am I in trouble?" "No yaar, I'll handle."

There was a knock on the door. All set Nisha?" Vasundhara asked. "Y-yes, Ma." Nisha answered. then mustering up her courage, she said, "Ma, can i wear a sari instead? I'm not that comfortable in lehengas..."

"Pity!" vasundhara replied. "I had chosen a few odhnis for your lehenga... Are you sure?" "New odhnis? I guess, I'll try a lehenga, Ma."

Vasundhara smiled. She turned to leave, then without turning, she said, "Nisha when the real problem is known, we can find a real solution." Nisha blushed a deep red.

"You called me, Ma?" Viraj stopped short. His mother looked like an apsara in red and gold. He pinched himself. Vasundhara pulled his cheek. "Yes, come sit. I want to talk."

"Viraj, I know people say that opposites attract... maybe it's true but similar people tend to make better life partners, I think.

Viraj narrowed his eyes. What's she getting at?

"At least they should have similar core beliefs. Arjun and I connected on so many levels... Even Anhad, though he seems different, we value the same things..."

"Ma, what's the poi-?"

"For the last two decades, I have been tense, paranoid. Perhaps that is why Kabir took to hiding things from me. For him, white lies are a habit. His definition of white lies varies, too..."

So, I'm your favourite son?

Vasundhara sensed that she couldn't be very diplomatic about this without straying from the truth. She turned away. "I think Nisha and Kabir are perfect for each other."

So, I'm not your favourite son. "The baraat has arrived." Viraj remarked before leaving. Vasundhara sighed. Tact was never her forte.

*During the wedding*

Viraj kept to the sidelines trying to avoid the Gangwals. As luck would have it, he bumped into the Gangwal. Dressed in a peacock blue lehenga with a rich mirrorwork odhni, she looked like an angel. Of course, rub it in. My brother's wife. Viraj picked up a plate of chaat to distract himself.

"I'm sorry," Nisha said. Viraj raised a single eyebrow. "I lied about being pregnant," she continued. You don't say. He checked himself from ogling at her flat stomach. Four months since our last meet.

"How are Aman and the baby? The supplement was for her, right?" he asked, trying to change the topic. " "They're good. Actually, I thought saying that would keep you away..." Nisha said sheepishly. You thought... The fact that you never loved me was enough.

He stared blankly, wishing for the conversation to end. "And it's not true that I never loved you... I just said..." Nisha trailed off. How convincing. Am I expected to be happy? Then it struck him. What Ma said... Core beliefs... white lies... Nisha and Kabir... perfect. Viraj's eyes widened with the sudden epiphany.

"Are you alright?' Nisha enquired. "Yes, the chaat is excellent." Viraj replied.

He turned towards the mandap and smiled at his mother. She nodded slightly.

-Viraj's diary-

I wandered through the desert with just a

little water on my person. So engrossed

was I in the journey that the thirst never

registered.

And then I saw it-The ripples.

Was it an oasis? Thirst became my whole

being. I ran towards it. Desperately.

When I reached, I realised it was a mirage.

Thirst tugged at the strings of my very

sanity. I had exhausted my own reserves

of water in my haste. Thirst was all I had.

Sleep evaded me.

The journey seemed impossible.

Death wouldn't come to me. An impasse.

Then I saw it.

Up ahead there was a crack.

Oh, so slight. I started to dig.

A fountain surfaced.

So invigorating that I hadn't dreamt

of it in my wildest dreams. I survived, I thrive.

Perhaps if it hadn't been for the mirage,

I would never dig out the fountain.

The mirage had a purpose.

But I still resent mirages.

Who am I kidding?

Mirages just exist.

Even if there wasn't an observer

they'd continue pretending to be oases.

P.S.-I never was good at metaphors.

Crux of the matter- There was no

oasis until I started to dig.

P.P.S.-Thank God it's over.