New FF: Khoya Hua: Chapter 3 p6 - Page 4

ohu knooo... Dont tell me dat Arjun hates Purvi... Cnt tk it
updt soon

3: Miles and Miles Apart

It was a usual morning, that is—as usual as it has become since that day 15 years ago. I woke up, the first—while Neha followed suit after. Aai wouldn't be up until later, possibly around 7. I would go out and get the water, and by the time I come back, Neha would be in the kitchen setting up for the day's breakfast.
A lot had happened, truth to be told. The year Arjun left with Pari, Aai came out of her coma. She was really hurt after finding out everything, but even so, she convinced Baba to set things right. She asked him, "The past is already messed up, so why ruin the future?" With that, Soham, Onir and I all came back to this house. Onir never got his medical license back, but he soon arranged himself to be a school teacher.
In the 3 years that followed that, we mostly just spent our time adjusting to the entire situation. Teju had finally married Sunny with Aaji's permission the 2^nd year. Sachin went back to Canada with his wife Rashi the 3^rd year. And of course, the 4^th year we got Soham married to Neha. They were a cute couple—really shy and whatnot. They were poles and miles apart, actually. Soham didn't have much of an educational background—but he still wasn't a lazy one. He worked regular times as the head of a garage that Baba owned. Neha, on the other hand had completed her education throughout college, though she never really set her heart out on working. They made it work though.
It was only a year after their marriage when the truth came out though—about Ovi.
Ovi had left a month before Arjun had. No one knew where she went—or where Arjun took Pari for that matter. 5 years after she had left—6 years since she found out that Pari wasn't her child—she made contact with us again. Only to have all ties with her severed. We received a letter from her—a rather terrible one.
"Dear Baba—and everyone else,
I'm really sorry for leaving the way I did. I just couldn't take anything anymore. True, it was all my fault the way everything had played out, but I wasn't alone in this. Still, there is more to my side of the story than you guys think.
True, Pari isn't biologically my daughter, but I shouldn't have treated her the way I did. It wasn't her fault that things happened the way they did. But really, I can't be talking. I have a confession to make, actually. I wasn't pregnant with Arjun's child either—though I blamed Purvi for all of that. I tried so hard to make this marriage work—but it wouldn't. I loved Arjun—or I thought I did. But the truth is—you need two people to fall in love. My story was just a one-sided obsession. I know Arjun tried really hard to make things work too—but even after finding out about Pari, all I can say is that nothing was to put this in clearer words—our marriage was lifeless.
You're still probably reeling over the fact that I just admitted that I wasn't pregnant with Arjun's child. It's true though—my dead baby wasn't his. I realized that after everything—nothing was going to fix this.
Now, I'm in Canada. I'm happy. I can't say anyone else is, and trust me—it's taken me a long time to gather the courage to send this letter to you. I just wanted to say that I've moved on. But your major concern must be this—moved on how? By the time you get this letter, I'd probably already have become a mother. I divorced Arjun a year or so after I left. Don't ask me how I found him—and yes, I know he left too. All I know is that he's not in the same place—and he's not coming back. He's changed everything—I've lost contact with him too. I can't say what you guys think of me, but I hope I can still ask for forgiveness.
Sincerely,
Your Dearest Ovi"
Baba was enraged. He never talked about her again. Even Aai still shows bitterness to the topic. But that isn't how we spent time afterwards. We had to move on—knowing that both Arjun and Pari were okay.
In this sense—Pari was still the oldest of all the grandchildren. Next in line was Teju's oldest son—Krish. Then it was Ovi's child—whoever that is. Then, it was Sachin and Rashi's daughter—Priety. Next was Teju's other son—Aman, followed by Soham's son Sahil the same year.
Onir and I never had any kids of our own—though our marriage was neutral. I had never really moved on after the Ovi-Arjun-Pari fiasco. If it makes you feel any more reassured—I treat Sahil and Diya like my own kids… Diya is Ruchi's daughter by the way. Whatever happened to Punni Tai, I don't know. Ruchi got married to a nice family and shifted to Pune, she's even expecting another child soon! Aniket—well… he's getting there.
This is just the grandchildren in the family. Tragically—Sulochana Aaji had died before getting to see Ruchi's daughter Diya. Savita Aaji didn't even make it to see Teju's second son. Everyone had adjusted though—realizing that these moments weren't easy or avoidable.
You're probably wondering—why was I thinking about everything that had happened all at once? Well today was Pari's birthday—her 14^th to be exact. 14 years ago I held her in my arms just as I had given birth to her—only to give her away shortly after. It wasn't an easy decision, but I have this feeling that maybe—just maybe I made the right decision. Pari would've grown up in a horrible background had she grown up with me. All I can say is that today—somewhere out in the world my Pari was a mature, responsible young woman—with an all the more great father with her.
******
3a: Back The Other Side Over
The sun had set long ago—the darkness now flooding the silent house. To think—exactly 13 years ago I had achieved so much—and maintained that till date. Now my daughter was growing up fast too, and I couldn't do anything about it. To think, in 3 weeks, she would've finished the 9^th standard—only to resume the 10^th a summer after. At this rate, I wouldn't be with her so much but a few years longer.
But this isn't what was hurting me.
It was the fact that she had never even heard or caught glimpse of her family. To her, I was her only family. She knew nothing of the whole Ovi-Purvi fiasco. And to think, she thought so highly of me. For what? All the secrets I've kept from her? I want to tell her so badly—but I can't bring myself to it. It's as though I have to wait for that exact time—when I'll be forced to tell her everything.
What will she think of me then? Will she embrace her roots? Or will she hate everything associated with the word family afterwards?
My biggest fear would be that she think that she wasn't accepted because she was illegitimate. True, that was what had happened with Ovi—but not with Purvi.
I'm torn—lost actually. Should I feel guilty that I still appreciate Purvi? I can't say exactly what I feel about her after so many years, but I can say that I admire her courage.
She gave up her child—the one that she had carried for 9 months to help save my marriage.
But then again, for what? More pain and tears? Either way, my marriage fell apart. I've been divorced from Ovi for 12 years now. God knows where she is or how she's doing. Last I had even wrote to her—12 years ago—she had just given birth to a girl—her name was Alisha. You would think that I would be offended that she had made such a big deal of everything when she herself was no better—I mean the child she was pregnant with at the time we were still married wasn't even mine. But I was still recovering from the other scars.
In the end, I can't say that I hate Ovi or Purvi—but that doesn't mean I can trust them either. My only worry is about Pari. If anything happens to her, I swear, they'll see the side of Arjun that no one ever wants to see.

*******
So how was it?
Just to clear things up a bit:
- Ovi left, and got married again. First she divorced Arjun and also admitted that the child wasn't his. As far as anyone knows, Ovi now has a daughter named Alisha and they live in Canada. Alisha is about 11 years old now. (She really isn't a part of this FF, though references are made to her often.)
- Teju married Sunny and now they have two kids—a 12 year old Krish and a 8 year old Aman. Teju and Sunny still live in Mumbai, though Teju isn't as attached to her parent's home. (Teju plays a major part in this FF, though Sunny and the kids are more of minor characters.)
- Sachin married a girl named Rashi and then moved to Canada. He is currently still there. He has a 10 year old daughter named Priety. (Sachin is a minor character in the FF, while there is little to no focus on Rashi and Priety.)
- Soham married Neha, and they have one 8 year old son, Sahil. Soham is the only one still living in the Deshmukh household—alongside Purvi and Onir. (All 3—Soham, Neha, and Sahil play a major role in the FF.)
- Purvi and Onir are still married and live in the Deshmukh home. They don't have any biological kids of their own. (Of course Purvi and Onir play major part in the FF.)
- Punni is lost—no one really pays attention to her anymore. Ruchi however got married and moved to Pune—she has a 5 year old daughter, Diya and is currently expecting another child. Manju and Vinod live with Vaishali, Aniket, and Varsha in the old Karanjkar Chawl. (Manju, Punni, Vinod, Aniket, Varsha and Vaishali have little to no importance in the FF, while Ruchi and Diya are moderate characters.)
- Sulo and Savita both died—Sulochana from an illness and Savita from old age. Sundari went back to her home.
- Of course, Arjun and Pari are in London. DK is still in India—working alongside Manav and Purvi. Archana just stays home with Neha. (DK, Manav and Archana are all major characters in the story, and Arjun and Pari of course.)
Overall, the main focus of this FF is Arjun, Pari, Purvi and Onir and how they accept realizations.
****Characters are bold.
Thanks,
Esha : )

Nice job! Now we see both sides of the story..

Love it Esha

nice job😊

really nice update dear
thanks for pm

i have to say it was really good to read in one what all happend in the years..
this a great story..

thanks for pm

Vey nice esha...loved it...continue soon👍🏼

Excellent! Waiting for the next update!!

It will be great to read about the new generation!!

Amazing update.
The way story is moving is really nice. U r really an amazing writer.👍🏼
Now I can't wait for the next chapter. Update soon.
And thanx fr the pm.