Part 50
It was almost six months from the fateful day when hell had broken loose for the second time in Geet's life. She had scored really high in GRE and was now going to MIT Strafford in the coming fall for doing her MS. Since finance wasn't an issue for her she had chosen the best university and her overall outstanding result had finally come to her aid.
Yet six months had done nothing to stop the fire in her heart. One side she missed Maan every waking moment and other hand she hated him for hiding so many things. No she was definitely not ready to face Maan right now. She was too angry to have an open mind about things.
However she was ready to meet her father. That's where Teji Veerji and she are going today. They are finally going to confront Mohinder Handa. Strangely, that name was their father's yet it does not any emotions except a bitter feeling at the mouth. But today they wanted to give themselves a chance.
Mohinder Handa watched his son and daughter from his first wife. Sadly he is seeing them after decades. Strange, Tej was his firstborn, one who had first made him shed tears as he had carried the new born... The first feeling of being a father... And now he was all but a stranger. And Geet! His daughter, his only daughter, his pari... Yet now she seemed lost...
They were meeting at Mohinder's Bungalow, the one which had once been a home to the siblings but now just an address where they had lived once.
Mohinder:" Welcome Geet beta, Tej... Have a seat."
Once the initial pleasantries were exchanged and Geet had a bit of small talk with her step-mom and step-brother Tej said," Umm, if you don't mind can we talk with you bit privately Mr. Handa?"
Mohinder was shocked and maybe bit hurt...Mr. Handa... Gone was the adolescent boy of 16 who was always the champ of dad... he has grown up to be a man and they were strangers after a decade.
Once in the safety of his study Mohinder addressed Tej first.
Mohinder:" Tej beta...You could have called me dad at least..."
Tej:" Sorry I didn't know how to call you dad. After all I never had one after I was 15."
Mohinder:" I am sorry beta."
Geet:" You should be. What happened between you and mom was something which was between Husband and wife. But how come a divorce stopped you guys even to become our parents?"
Mohinder:" Geet beta, at least you shouldn't complain. I had always been taking care of your every demand. You had always got the best let it be dresses and toys or education."
Geet:" And is it all what a parent is supposed to be?"
Mohinder:"Huh!"
Tej:" No point talking Geetu. It was a mistake coming here; even today, after years, our so called dad is totally clueless about the definition of a parent?"
Geet:" Teji Veerji, we have nothing to lose anymore. But I need my answers today. I told you I stopped running. I am going to face each skeleton of my closet one after other."
Mohinder:" Tej, Geet what are you talking about?"
Geet:" D...Dad where were you when I was insecure about mom and Veerji suddenly leaving the house? Why did you have to marry so quickly? I am not against you sudden marriage but you could have at least waited a bit. I didn't even have a home to come to for my vacations. If it was not for Meera's parents and my friends I would have been some mental patient by now. And today I want to ask you why? You had divorced mom, it was your right. But why did you stop being our dad as well?"
The study had gone silent suddenly. It was like all the nasty skeletons from the cupboard were out in the open and staring at their faces. Mohinder opened his specs and it seemed like suddenly he had aged ten years or something. When both Geet and Tej were certain that they won't be getting any answers however Mohinder Handa began speaking.
" I ...I won't give excuses today Geet, Tej... I had been a terrible father..I had been selfish. But I love you both and have always wanted the best for you. It's just that... Okay let me start from beginning. Rano and I, we had an arrange marriage and we had been what you can say is...we had learned to love each other like most of the couples. Then Rano became pregnant and Tej you were born. We were happy and I wish we had been content as well. But strangely I always wanted to have a girl, my little princess I can pamper. And then the terrible happened. Rano had a miscarriage. And it I guess was the start of our doom. I ... I had been hurt and she was depressed to the point when she would stop talking. Tej was too young to remember any of this I think. We both tried coping up the loss in our own way. After a year or so, Rano was pregnant again and Geet you were born. I was ecstatic about this. After all finally my little princess was born. You might remember Geet that initial few years after you were born was really blissful. But when you were 6, I met Neeta. She was a colleague. I wasn't a disloyal husband. You have to understand that I tried my best but somehow Neeta and I clicked. The main issue was that I never really loved Rano. Yes, love is not a choice. It just happens. The moment I realized about Neeta I confessed everything to Rano. She did not break down or create fuss. We got divorce and the court decided that Tej would stay with Rano and Geet would stay with me. Rano did not want any alimony, only the education expense for Tej which I happily obliged. Strangely I did not want to meet Tej. He was at the crucial stage of adolescence and I felt that it would be difficult. I can't feed him lies or anything and he was too young for the truth."
Geet:" But what about me? If you were not interested in keeping me at home you could have let me go with mom... Easier that way...you and Neeta aunty wouldn't have had any hurdles."
Mohinder:" Geet, things weren't that easy. In the beginning I thought to wait and give you some time before marrying Neeta but her family was forcing her to marry somewhere else and I finally had to marry her sooner than expected. You were not prepared for a stepmom or such. You were getting a bad temper and it was affecting your childhood. You were too young for us to explain you things. We couldn't think of anything except maybe giving you a different environment. I searched for the best and safest residential school there is and I got you enrolled. In the beginning you were the same but you soon got your very own group of friends and you started changing back to the chirpy bubbly little girl that you had been before the divorce. In the initial years we brought you back home Geet but presence of Neeta always used to irk you. Somehow you could never accept my second marriage then. I was worried but then Meera's family stepped in. You were always welcomed there with open arms and I somehow felt that maybe growing up with them would be better than growing up with me here... I had always visited you there Geet...you shouldn't deny that. I even paid for your stay so nobody can ever question you but then Meera's parents were really nice people and had always treated you as a daughter. Over the years however I grew selfish. I thought that if you are hapy with the arrangement then why bother. I won't make excuses or even plead my side. I had wronged you both as a father but I do love you both. My other son Neeraj had always grown up knowing he has two elder brother and sister."
Tej:"Hmm. Maybe dad you were right in sending Geetu to hostel or even to Meer's place initially but you could have been more than just a monthly cheque in Geetu's life. You would have known then that she had been through hell and back."
Mohinder:" What do you mean Tej?"
Tej:" Sadly your need to question proves that you don't deserve the answer. Biologically you are our father and we can do nothing about it. But just like that you can't be privy to our issues. You need to earn that place and sadly you had never made an effort."
Geet:" Dad, today we are not here because we need you or your money. We needed our closure. For years I and Veerji had been questioning ourselves that why we are treated like shits by our parents and why didn't they ever bother about us. We needed this one confrontation. Your answers wouldn't change or mend a thing but finally I and veerji can put our questions to rest. We had our closure. "
Mohinder:" What do you mean by closure?"
Tej:" You had done fine without your eldest son and daughter for past decade or so. I am sure you would be fine in future to. As Geetu had pointed out, nothing changes between us and we are still strangers. Just, now I and Geetu can move on knowing that you had been selfish, it had nothing to do with us."
Mohinder did not speak. Being father is not about donating a sperm or paying the fees. It's much more and it needs to be earned.
Geet:" Still dad, I can't thank you enough for sending me to hostel. At least I got my family there, a family I can count on to be there for me not only during bright summers but also frosty winters. And for that thing alone I forgive you for being such a lousy father."
Tej looked at Geet and saw the truth of her statement in her eyes. Geetu meant her words. She truly forgave their father. He was proud of his sister to be such a strong person. Looking back at their father's bent head Tej said," I forgive you to father. But that's all. Don't expect me to be a son to you when you have never really been a father to me. Thank you for your time. We will get going now."
Mohinder was stunned. His son and daughter had grown up to be much stronger and better human beings than him and the heart of a father couldn't help but be proud about it. Sighing loudly he asked one last question just out of curiosity," What made you both come here? I mean why now, why not years before?"
Geet smiled. Strangely she was reminded of Maan. He had been the one to put this thought in her head on her birthday. Unknowingly he had helped her and even Teji Veerji. They had needed this confrontation, this closure to move on so that their past won't haunt them anymore.
Right now Maan's memory didn't irritate her. It made her feel secure and stronger in a strange way.
Tej:" It was Geetu's idea. Over the years my baby sister had grown up to be a strong woman and I am proud to be her brother."
Geet:" Thanks Veerji for always being my support. However the idea wasn't mine. It was Maan's idea, he said we needed this closure and I understand he was right. He truly had been a right friend for me and dad, we came because of that... We needed a third person's perspective to help us give our parents a chance to explain their stance and maybe even forgive them for their mistakes. It's not easy to hate your parents... We are doing this for our peace of mind."
Neeta or Neeta aunty as Geet used to call forced them to stay for lunch and they obliged out of courtesy. Neeraj, their half sibling was a fun chap and they even exchanged their phone numbers to be in touch. Whatever their father had done, Neeraj or Neeta aunty was not at fault. In fact Neeta aunty had always been patient with Geet's temper tantrums from her early childhood. Geet did not want to hold any grudges against them for no fault of their own. She was done holding on to silly grudges... It was time to let go...it would take some time but she was sure she would be able to do it...
*****
The Beautiful city of Shillong...It was the capital city of Meghalaya, the home of clouds. Nature had bestowed its generous gift on the city. The beautiful pine trees, the open meadows, the mighty range of Himalayas, the soft white clouds and the vivid colors of orchids... everything beautified the city.
However Geet and Tej did not have pay any hid to the beauty surrounding them. They had come here to meet their mother who had shifted here to teach at a convent after the death of their step-father.
Rano had been shocked when a day ago when Tej had called her up informing about their impending visit. She knew someday she would have to come face to face with her children but it came too soon... Too soon her children had grown up enough to demand an answer from her...
She had last seen Geet when Geet was just a little kid of 8 years or so and now she had turned into a stunningly beautiful lady. Her motherhood felt proud looking at Geet. She couldn't hold herself back anymore. Rano's heart had been deprived of her children for too long and now she didn't hold back herself and hugged both her kids and cried out.
When Geet and Tej had come to Shillong they had wanted to be harsh and just demand their answer from Rano but the way Rano broke down holding them in her embrace... their eyes teared up and soon they were hugging her. Questions were put to rest.
Arjun
Cricket
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