Heya all..😛 m back after again.. no excuses.. just couldn't manage time.. I wrote this part a long time ago but just couldn't find a suitable time to post it..
NOTE: I wanted to make this part longer including Ram's return from the trip but however decided to keep it for the next update which I am working on n will be posted soon I promise.. this part has mostly Priya in it.. it was kind of necessary to unfold the story..
anyway here it goes.. plz leave your precious comments and suggestions.. pardon me for typos
RECAP:
"OUR LOVE"??? or was it only mine?? Yes Ram loves me. He loves me more than anything and anyone in the world but what if that incident had never happened?? What if Ram have had never faced that tragedy?? Would he have loved me the way he does now?? The questions I had been asking myself for years but never managed to find a satisfactory answer. No matter how much I get the fact remains unchanged that I, will always be the second woman in Ram's life!!!!!!!!!
Chapter- 4
Priya reached Doctor Broodricks' chamber sharp at 7 in the evening.
"hello Priya.. come on in.." the physician greeted her with a cordial smile.
"I am so sorry doc.. I had been so held up with work in the past few days that I had totally forgotten about the reports..If it wasn't for the reminder text from the hospital I wouldn't made it even today." priya explained apologetically taking a seat in front of him.
"oh no worries Priya.. I understand.. btw what had kept you so busy?? Is Ram back from his trip?" he asked.
"Oh no.. he got held up in Zurich.. apparently some new assignments kicked in.. it's that article thing I am doing for that Swiss magazine.. trust me doc, writing is one hell of a stressful job..!" she exclaimed.
"oh right.. I had completely forgotten about it.. it's Blick isn't it??"
"yeah.."
"whoa..!! congrats.. that's one crazily popular magazine.. even I read it religiously.. it'll be great to know the writer personally now" he chuckled.
"haha.. ya right! Thanks though!" she replied.
"but wait.. that's in German.. do you know German?? Moreover it's a Zurich based magazine if I'm not mistaken" he asked.
"no, you are right.. It is based in Zurich.. I have been offered to do freelance writing, so the location hardly matters.. and they are looking forward to start an English version.. that's where I come in.. having double masters in English Literature bags away the opportunity" she replied.
"hmm.. that's great then.. looking forward to some quality write-up.. anyway coming to our main concern.. all the test reports are back and I'm surprised there's not a single cloud in the sky.."
"pardon..! what do you mean??" a baffled priya asked.
"what I mean is Priya, that there's no physical shortcomings in the child.. she perfectly fit!" the doctor retorted.
"are you sure doc?? I mean why doesn't she remember any of her family members.. or even her own name?? that cannot be normal."
"no, I'm not saying it's normal.. it's just that as per the tests she is fit.. both physically and mentally.. but.."
"but??"
"yes.. there is always a but.. and that is if she had any troubles during birth it is hard to detect by these tests.. for that we need to do some detailed testing which I do not recommend for such a young child.."
"so..?? what now??"
"you need to have patience Priya.. wait for Pihu to say something on her own.. there is no other option."
"she won't doc.. she haven't spoken a word about her family.. I donno what to do.. I am losing hope here.."
"Don't! these things take time.. you go home try and communicate more with her and see if you can figure out anything.."
Priya let out a sigh of disappointment.. "okay doc.. I will.. thanks.. I shall leave now.."
"take care Priya.. and don't stress yourself.. orright?? Bu-bye"
A worn out Priya returned home.. she dropped her bag on the dining table and went upstairs looking for Pihu, who was sitting in her baby-pink desk-set engrossed in making a painting.. Priya stood behind her and peaked over the shoulders to see what she was drawing.. there stood a man holding a little girl in front of a small red slanted-roof cottage.. fleet of blue clouds adorned the sky of the etching and greenery covering the rest of the white sheet.. the little girl in the drawing had waist length black silky hair just like Pihu.. Priya wondered who the man might be.. this could be a clue she thought.. a light if hope twinkled within her heart..
She started off casually.. "Pihu.. baby kya kar rahi ho ap??"
She spun to face Priya and smiled ear-to-ear.. "dekho.. yeh papa hain.." she pointed out at the male figure of the picture..
"accha?? Aur yeh pyari si doll?? Ap ho??" priya asked.
"haan.." an elated pihu answered.. "yeh humara ghar hain.. pata hain humare ghar ke piche ek bada sa jheel hain.. waha main aur papa humesha boating karte the.." she continued with utmost enthusiasm.
"accha..?? wow.. aur apki mumma?? woh nehi karti boating??"
Pihu fell silent.. her bright smiling face became gloomy.
"Pihu.." Priya cupped her face.. "kya hua baby? Ap sad kyun hogaye??"
Taking a brief pause she replied.. "pata nehi mumma kaha hain.. main unko kitna bulati hu lekin woh kabhi nehi aate.." finishing off she started weeping..
"hey..it's okay baby.. plz tum ro maat.. I'm sorry.. phir kabhi nehi poochungi.. plz stop crying.." priya enveloped pihu within her embrace, caressing her, yielding her with the affection she had long deserved.
The following afternoon Priya was busy sorting out some bills of the orphanage when Mrs. Gomez came, she knocked lightly on the cabin door..
"yeah.." Priya replied with her eyes still glued on the papers.
"Ma'am.. there's a lady here to see you.." she informed.
"yeah send her in.." she was so occupied with her work that didn't even bother to ask the name of the uncalled guest.
A tall slender figured woman, dressed in a pair of grey slacks, grey leopard-print top and a turquoise cardigan entered the cabin. Her short bob-cut hair neatly combed with a pair of blue aviators pulled up on her head..
"Mrs. Priya Ram Kapoor.. the famous socialite..!! how have you been??" the lady smirked making her way inside.
The sudden encounter caught Priya off guard.. for the first time in hours she took her eyes off the papers to see who the person was..
"Oh my god! Sonia.. what the hell are you doing here??" she took her reading glasses off and exclaimed in utmost surprise..!
"bas agayi.." the replied smiling.
Priya literally ran and gave her a tight hug.. Sonia had been her neighbor back in India after her marriage with Ram.. though not a long friendship but they had been really close to each other till she and Ram moved to Versoix.. keeping in touch became a little demanding from then onwards.
"ap toh humein bhool hi gayi madam.. kyun?? Pardes mein ake ekdum pardesi hogayi ho.. na koi call.. na koi message.. ek e-mail hi kar deti.."
"I am so sorry yaar.. life had been hard here.. tum aao na.. baitho yaha.. I'm so glad to see you it's been like what?? 4-5 years.. seems like ages.."
"han yaar.. bohot saal hogaya hain.. I have missed you so much.. ki saat samundar par mein tere piche piche agayi.."
Both of them threw their head back laughing..
"actually Sameer is here on a business trip.. jab maine suna ki one of his meetings is in Versoix I insisted on coming.."
"oh that's great yaar.. I'm so happy to see you.. lekin tumhe mera address kaha se mila?"
"oh madam.. get a reality check.. you have no idea how famous you are back in India.. har dusre din tumhare bare mein ya toh iss orphanage ke bare mein kuch na kuch article aahi jaati hain paper mein.. you have made us all so proud Priya.. sach mein.. being an outsider in this foreign country you have established a new image of our home country.. really I am so happy for you"
"areh yaar.. ab bas kar.. bohot hogaya.." priya shied off.. "yeh batao Sameer kaisa hain?? And chotu?? How is he?? Abhi toh kafi bada hogaya hoga na?? ussko leke nehi ayi kya sath mein?" she asked.
"sab thik hain.. Sameer accha hain.. kaam mein kafi busy rehta hain.. aur chotu bhi accha hain.. cchey saal ka hogaya hain.. aj Sameer ka meeting khatam hogaya jaldi toh papa ke ladle ko chod ayi hoon papa ke sath.." she chuckled.
"accha kiya... tumse dher saari baatein karni hain.. kya legi bata?? Chay ya coffee??"
"teri special adrak wali chay hojaye??" she suggested.
"neki aur pooch pooch.. chal.. tujhe dorm ki sair bhi karati hu.. mere baccho se bhi milwati hu"
Priya showed her all around.. They walked along the front porch to the backyard then went into the kitchen.. "pehle tujhe chay pilati hu.. phir sab baccho se bhi milwaungi.."
"done.. aur bata Ram kaisa hain?? Business kaisa chal raha hain"
"acche hain.. Zurich gaye huye hain kaam ke silsile mein.. ek do din mein ajayenge.."
"chalo that's good.. aur?? Abhi tak hum?? Yaa agey badh gaye??"
a cloud of sadness covered Priya's face.. "bohotsi aise baatein hain yaar.. jo mujhe batani hain tujhe.. things have been really hard here.." one by one priya disclosed about all the hurdles in her life.. about her medical condition.. about Ram's frantic reaction towards adoption.. "ever since that incidence ram has a weird perception that adopting a child might just bring the same..." Priya sighed.
Sonia squeezed Priya's arms gently and said "hey.. tu upset maat ho.. itna kuch hogaya tuney ek bar mujhe batana zaruri nehi samjha.. I know the conditions Ram had gone through.. but yeh toh koi baat nehi hui na.. it's past.. over!! What is he scared of?? Aisa kuch nehi hone wala.. you have to make him understand.. bring out his fear.."
"you think I haven't tried enough.. every time the same reaction.. the same reply.. thak chuki hu koshish karte karte.. ab toh socha hain ki koshish hi nehi karungi.. you don't get everything life.. yeh sochke khud ko dilasa deti rehti hu"
Both fell silent..
TO BE CONTINUED...
