MRMRW Season 4 - A new begining

Chapter 1

"Radha! Welcome back! Things have not been the same without you. I trust the kids are well now!" "Yes, thank you. I am sorry I didn't mean to drop everything and take leave like this." "No my dear girl. You have hardly taken any time off in the last three years. Your children needed you and having four kids with mumps and being a single parent is not easy." "No, it isn't. But by God's grace the children are well." "Radha, I know it is none of my business but don't you want to be reconciled with your husband? The children are growing and it is important for them to have a father figure in their lives." "Sir, please let us not talk about this."

"Okay. By the way I have some good news. We have managed to fill the Security Manager post." "Really? That is good news." "Well we have not exactly filled the post. We have a candidate who is coming over for a year as a volunteer." "As a volunteer? For such an important post? Is that a good idea?" "I had no choice. You know that security was one of the concerns that the accreditation body mentioned in their report. We have been looking for a person ever since the previous manager resigned after being indicted in the report. We are due to submit our progress report and so I hired him. Who knows? He may decide to stay."

"Where is he from?" "Australia. He is an Indian, and his company's head office is in Mumbai but he is currently operating out of Australia. He is actually the managing director of his company. But he wants a break and had applied for the position but only on a voluntary basis. We couldn't afford to pay him otherwise. Anyway, he is on his way. Sameer has gone to meet him at the Heavenly Resorts." "The Heavenly Resorts? Is he staying there. No he is using their helipad. He has his own helicopter. He is going to keep the helicopter there in case he has to fly out at short notice. Radha, I need to go and meet a couple of difficult parents. The boys came to blows yesterday and both sets of parents think the other kid is at fault and should be expelled. Sameer made all the arrangements for the new manager. I hope you don't mind." "Not at all. And there wouldn't have been much paper work since he is only a volunteer."

Radha goes to her office. She had tried to keep up with her work while the children were at sleep but when all four of them had picked up the infection from each other she had given up. Every minute one or the other child was cranky and demanded to be attended to. The twins were growing fast and would join the play school next semester. Charu was in Kindergarten. Varun was the one who remembered his Papa. More now, when the children of other staff members came to events with both parents. But he never said anything. He was her main support system. Proudly helping his sister on to the school bus and keeping an eye on her.

Radha was immersed in her work when she is called by the head of the primary school. "I am sorry to bother you on your first day back at work but this is important." "What happened Clara?" "Varun got into a fight and now he is inconsolable. We need you here."

Sighing, Radha locked up the office and went over to the Primary School. Varun was in the Head's office. On seeing Radha, he burst into tears. "Varun, what happened Beta? Why did you get into a fight?" "Atheesh said you are not my mummy. That you picked me up from the garbage. He said you are Charu's mummy because you have the same last name and that my last name is different." "Varun, you are my son in every way that matters. You are more special because, you were given to me to look after. And I fought for the right to look after you, Beta. I can't think of my life without you. Now say sorry to Atheesh please." "I'm sorry Atheesh." "I'm sorry Varun. Your mummy really loves you. She came as soon as you cried. Mine never comes."

"Now run along boys." "I want to talk to my mummy please." "What do you need Beta?" "Mummy, when are we going to be with Papa again? I miss him a lot." Radha hugs Varun. "I don't know Beta. Now go to your class and we will have jelabi rabri for desert today."

Radha goes back to her office but is too disturbed to work. Sameer is back. "Radha, the new security manager is here. The Principal asked for him to be put in the annex apartment next to your house since he is by himself and his family won't be joining him. He is really something. Imagine having your own helicopter." "I am glad he has impressed you." "It seems his company provides security to some Bollywood stars including Zareena." "Really?" asks Radha, uninterestedly, as she gets up to fill a glass of water. "Yeah and he is so nonchalant about it. I asked him if Zareena was really as hot as the media portrayed her to be and he replied that hot' should be used only for tea and coffee and not women."

Radha drops her glass and it shatters on the floor.

My My! I am so happy that you posted this! Eagerly waiting for LD's entry!

Chapter 2

"He must be a Kabir Kapoor fan. That one line was almost like a signature line in his last movie." Radha relaxes and starts to clear up. "Ouch!" cries Radha as a shard of glass cuts her hand. "Oh Radha, let me take care of this for you. Run down to the dispensary and get that bandaged." "It's only a small cut. I have plaster here. Since he is by himself, have you arranged for a maid to help him." "No, he doesn't want one. Seems he looks after himself. He said his wife trained him like that." "Clever woman." "He is having dinner at the Principal's house tonight. I am sure the boss put him in the house next to yours thinking you would give him dinner once in a while. He is quite dashing, you know." "Sameer!" warned Radha. "Ok. I'll shut up."

"Why don't you pick up the kids and go home? I'll finish up here." Radha picked up the twins from the crche. Normally, the twins stayed at home but she had given the maid the week off. "These fellows are going to be great footballers. They can't seem to stop kicking." Radha smiles and takes their hands and walks to the parking lot where the school bus would bring the primary school children to the main campus. Settling the kids in the car seats, she waits for Varun and Charu. She is relieved to see that Varun is back to normal. "Mummy, what happened to your hand?" "I was careless and cut it on a piece of glass." The four children gather around her and kiss her wounded hand. On the way home at the residential campus, Radha stops at a sweet store and buys the jelabies and rabri that she promised Varun.

LD is in his new office wondering what he was doing there. After Radha left him, he waited for six months for her to come back. Then under the advice of Johnson, he floated Suraksha Solutions International Ltd. A year later, he moved to Australia and managed the company from there. Ranjeet and his family lived in the servants' quarters of the house in case Radha ever came back. But now he had given up contacting them to check.

He used to check Radha's Facebook page now and again but apart from sharing from pages, she never really put up any personal pictures. He yearned for them all but he had only himself to blame. He had given too much importance to Uncle's outburst.

When Johnson requested him this favour, he was hesitant. Johnson's uncle was the head of this boarding school in India. They were struggling with some accreditation issues that had pointed out severe deficiencies in their security and safety systems. "Please mate. My uncle needs help. You know the country and how to get things done. He is like a father to me and he is afraid that the school will shut down." Then he got the news that Dadaji was critically ill. He went home to see him but Dadaji refused to see him without Radha. He then called up Johnson and agreed to help his uncle. But now seeing children bustle about, he wasn't so sure. They reminded him of what he had lost.

He goes over the files in his office. He understands why the accreditation body was so concerned. The school was an old, established one but relied heavily on trust. There was no employee vetting process in place not even for the guards. Access control was minimal and evacuations plans non-existent. He hears some children calling out to each other. They were so happy and relaxed. No. he had to stay and help the school. If he ensured that these children were safe God would ensure that his own would be safe.

He starts reviewing the building plans and layouts. He is so immersed in his work that he doesn't realise the time flying. He gets a call on the official phone that he has been given. "Mr C, O'Brien here. I hope you haven't forgotten that you are having dinner with us."

"I am sorry, Sir. I just got engrossed in my work and didn't notice the time. I'll be there is half an hour." "Oh our HR manager will love you. She keeps complaining that I am too soft on my staff and most of them don't carry the load they should. What to do? By the way she is your neighbour and a fantastic cook, so make friends with her soon."

Over dinner LD shares his preliminary observations with the Principal. "We are very lucky to have you here. Tell me, I heard from Johnson that you were separated from your wife. Are you working towards a reconciliation?" "Sir, I treated her horribly and she left me. But one day she will come back. It may take years or decades but she will be back." "I hope so too. Don't let it be known, but I am a hopeless romantic at heart." "Sir, I'll take leave now." "Sure, Mr C. I hope you don't mind me calling you Mr C. It just stuck in my head. Your names are a little difficult for me to manage."

That line was surely one of the best dialogues ever! The children are so cute and I feel so bad for them. Hope LD meets Radha soon. I love intense tracks.

Chapter 3

LD reaches his assigned quarters. The lights in his neighbour's house are off. She must be an early bird. He hopes she is not the partying type. He looks around. He had gone straight to the office but the HR assistant had sent his luggage here. He was too tired to unpack now. He will do this in the morning. He pulls out his favourite pair of pyjamas. The pair that Radha used when they went for their honeymoon' at the beach resort. He takes out the locket that he wears next to his heart and kisses the picture of Radha that is enamelled on it before turning the lights out.

It's morning. LD is disoriented. Then he remembers. He is in Coonoor. In a school. Today was Saturday and so he would go in a little later. He would catch up with his emails first. He makes himself a cup of coffee and settles himself on the veranda steps. He works intently and forgets his coffee - until a ball lands on the mug, knocking it over.

"What the ..." LD starts and stops. A toddler comes towards him with a worried look on his face. He holds his ears and looks anxiously. LD's heart melts. How could anyone be angry with such a sweet child? "Hey, come here." The boy goes to LD. "What's your name?" "Viv. Ball please." "Here. Do you live next door?" Viv nods and takes the ball. "Thank you," he mumbles and runs away. LD smiles and goes in. His pyjamas are stained with the coffee. If he washes it out quickly, he might get it out.

After he is showered and changed, he sets a small table outside so that he can work from the veranda when the weather permits. He starts typing away on his laptop and doesn't notice Viv climbing up the steps and getting on to the veranda. Viv tugs at his pants. LD looks down and sees Viv. "Hi, again." Little Viv holds out the katori in his hand. "What do you have there?" "For you." "For me? What is it?" "Suji Halva. Mummy made." "No Beta, you eat it." Viv's face crumples. "Ok, baby, we will eat it together." LD lifts Viv onto his lap and eats a spoonful. It was the same taste as the halva Radha used to make. He feeds the rest of the halva to Viv.

"Viv, where are you?" Viv climbs down and heads towards the voice. He comes back and takes the katori and runs back. LD will work on his presentation that he is going to make at the staff meeting on Monday. Now he needs to join the Principal at the golf course and there was some sort of staff get together in the evening.

"So Mr C, did you get to meet your neighbour and persuade her to invite you for dinner?" "No. But I did meet her son. Such a charmer." "Oh, which one did you meet." "Vivian." "Not Vivian, Vivaan." He is definitely a charmer but so well behaved. They all are. She is bringing them up well although she is a single parent. If you weren't so attached to your estranged wife, I would be match-making now."

At the staff get together, the boss introduced LD to all the staff as "the Mr C who will solve our accreditation problems." "Mr O'Brien is making me to be bigger than I am. I will try my best. I will be making a small presentation at the Monday staff meeting. Security in schools is a big concern now and I need you all to be on board with me."

"Sameer, where is your boss? I was hoping to introduce her to Mr C." "Sir, you know she doesn't come for the evening get-togethers. Her evenings are only for her children." "Yeah, and they have been so unwell. I'll introduce you to one of our local parents and she worms her way into staff events also. But be careful, she is on the lookout for a wealthy husband." "Sir!!!" "Shhh!"

"Mr C, I heard you are the managing director of an international company and you came here in your own helicopter." "Yes, Ma'am. I don't think spending two hours coming up 50 kms is the best use of my time." "Please come home sometime. We have a large indoor swimming pool, well heated." "Ma'am, unfortunately my wife and four children are not here and I couldn't enjoy a swimming pool without them. When they join me, I'll make sure we come over," LD says as he removes her hand from his arm. Ms Balan turns away in embarrassment.

When will I get the milan? I am getting anxious! How didn't this guy recognize the voice of his love of life? -_- Ms.Balan seems to be such an irritating lady. I hope she doesn't come back. And Principal Ji, please start match-making. That is all we need to unite these two now.

Originally posted by: .MereRangMein.

When will I get the milan? I am getting anxious! How didn't this guy recognize the voice of his love of life? -_- Ms.Balan seems to be such an irritating lady. I hope she doesn't come back. And Principal Ji, please start match-making. That is all we need to unite these two now.

Originally posted by: sgc68

How could he recognise the voice since it was that of the maid?

Oh! I thought it was Radha!

Chapter 4

Monday morning, LD is ready with the presentation. Viv had come by on Sunday evening with his ball and a copy of him. "Who is this now?" he had asked Viv. "Sid. Play ball please." LD couldn't refuse them and played a soft version of football with them. Half an hour later a maid came to collect them. "I am sorry they were bothering you. Their mother has been nursing the four of them for the better part of two weeks and she needed to rest and I was busy with the housework and they seemed to have slipped out." "No they weren't a bother. They have made me feel truly welcome." "I am surprised they came to play with you. They never go near anyone they don't know.

Radha is rushing for the meeting when she receives a call. "What? Oh no. Okay. I'll get that done." She calls the Principal. "I am sorry but the education department has just called and they require some details of our faculty. I will have to pull that together now. I can't make it to the meeting." "Okay dear. But see if you can make it for a part of the meeting at least."

LD is almost at the end of his presentation when Radha slips in through the back door. She needs the signature of the principal on the documents. She sees that the security manager has just finished his presentation and has his back towards her as he packs his materials and laptop.

Radha gets the signatures and is about to slip out of the room. "Radha wait. Let me introduce you to Mr C." LD turns on hearing O'Brien calling Radha's name. "Radha, this is Mr C, Managing Director of SS International Ltd. I can't pronounce either his first name or his last name. Mr C, this is our HR manager and your neighbour, Radha. Both Radha and LD stare at each other. Radha was his neighbour which meant Viv and Sid were his sons. And where were Varun and Charu? And why did they need to be nursed? His head was in a whirlwind.

"Mr C? I know she is impressive, but Radha probably wants her hand back now." Her bare hand. She was neither wearing his ring nor his mangalsutras. But she was wearing Sindoor.

LD goes back to his office shaken. Radha was here. With the children. And he played with his sons yesterday without knowing who they were. The maid had said that they never went near strangers. But they had had no hesitation in playing with him. Had they felt a connection to him? And Varun and Charu they must have grown so much. If he went through the class pictures he may see their pictures.

Radha is pale as she reaches her office. LD. How did she not pick up that Mr C was Mr Chaturvedi? She should have gone through his file when she came back to work but she hadn't placed too much importance to him since he was a volunteer. And when had he moved to Australia and what happened to Suraksha? She pulls out his file.

LD's thoughts are interrupted when the intercom rings. He answers. It's the Principal. He wants to see him right away. He seemed quite tense. LD walks quickly to the main building and tells the secretary that the boss had asked him to come. "Please go in."

"Mr C, what have you done to upset Radha." "Me? Upset her? I didn't even meet her until this morning. I played football with her sons yesterday evening. But they went back home happy and safe." "She has requested for an immediate change in accommodation. It's very strange. I never liked her being in that far end of the campus all by herself but she loved the house and wanted to stay there. I felt it wasn't safe for her since she was by herself. I mean the kids are there but they couldn't do anything against an intruder. I've tried putting other staff there but it was so secluded that they would request a change immediately. But this is the first time since she moved there that she has wanted to move."

"If you want me to move, I can do that. I haven't unpacked as yet so it is not too difficult." "No I am happy you are there. It means I don't have to worry about Radha's safety for a year. Mr C, you have the same last name as Radha. Is it a common name or a community thing?"

"It's ... it's..."

"Oh my God! You are her husband aren't you?" LD nods bleakly.

That same last name thing. I faced it once at school. They randomly thought we were brother and sister and some thought something too awkward! But glad that that Principal realized the reality. Maybe we can expect him to unite LeeRa? And I want them to talk!