Prologue
India - Mumbai
Standing in the last row of the church... hand in hand... fifteen year old Kalpi and nineteen year old Ragav watch their sports teacher, Mr Edwards marry their English teacher, Miss Mehta.
Lost in the world filled with only their love...
Ragav looks towards Kalpi... his gaze filled with love... repeats after the groom... I DO...
Eyes shining with love... filled with trust as she meets his gaze... Kalpi and the bride say... I DO... at the same time...
Both couples making their vows to one another... dreaming of a future together...
Chapter 1
India - a small town
"Push... push... more more time Kalpi," Kamla says encouragingly, "one more", as she dabs her daughter's forehead with a towel... wiping the beads of sweat that had formed.
Exhausted, sixteen year old Kalpi says weakly, "I... can't... anymore... mummy... it
... hurts."
"You can do it... one more," Kamla says. Smiling weakly, Kalpi gives one last push with all her might... fainting with exhaustion as her daughter is welcomed into the world.
************
Kalpi wakes up slightly disoriented. Her heart races happily as she mentally tells herself, afraid to voice her thoughts aloud... she had fought with her family to keep her child... "Ragav... I am going to hold our baby... our baby girl." Her heart automatically continues with anguish, unable to ignore the pain that was her constant friend... even during such a happy moment... "where are you? Have you forgotten me? Have you stopped loving me?"
Noticing some movement on the bed, Kamla walks over, her voice anxious, asking, "Kalpi have you woken up?" Kalpi turns towards her mother, smiles and says, "yes." Excited she says, "mummy where is my baby... I can't wait to hold her."
Her expression filled with sadness, Kamla sits by her daughter's side... Kalpi's heart starts racing... this time not with excitement... but dread... instinct warning her of what she does not know... her voice grave, Kamla says, "Kalpi... she was still born..." tears fall down her cheeks... automatically holding her breath as her heart pierces with pain... "my baby... my baby... oh no what will I tell Ragav..."
*****************
Seeing the small grave in front of her, Kalpi had no choice but to accept that her daughter was no longer in this world. She collapses in front of the grave and says in a broken voice, "I never got to hold you... I never got to tell you that mummy and daddy love you very much," she continues as she caresses the grave lovingly.
Behind her, Kamla looks on guiltily, thinking sadly, "you need to move forward in life... the child would I held you back... I will never let you find out that I gave her up for adoption... I hope you can forgive me for this pain..."
Kalpi turns around to her mum, her gaze unclear, her eyes filled with tears, says, "mummy I wish you had waited for me before burying her... I don't even know what she looks like."
Turning back to her daughter's grave, Kalpi cries out silently, "Ragav where are you... I need you... our baby... our baby is no more... I need you... do you no longer love me..."
************
3 months later
UK
Twenty seven year old Maya Raizada walks into her father's home in Northwood, Middlesex carrying a three month old baby girl in her arms. Her husband, Samar Raizada not far behind.
Dressed in her night dress, sipping her morning tea, Neetu Singhania stares at her daughter... her eyes fixed on the bundle of joy in her daughter's arms... says, "what's that?" Her mind refusing to believe what it sees... nah! Maya was not pregnant!
Chuckling, maya walks towards her mother, places the baby in her arms... Neetu takes the baby reluctantly as she tries to comprehend what is going on.
Maya smiles at the baby... her finger lightly caressing her cheek... trying to make her croon... says, "say hello to grandma... sweety... grandma, say hello to your first granddaughter..."
Neetu looks up to Maya, shocked, exclaims, "what... when... how..."
Turning away from her mother, not wanting to meet her eyes when she lies, she busies herself by pouring some tea from the thermos and says, "Sammy and I have been trying for a while... we decided to adopt."
Aghast for not realising that her daughter has been suffering quietly, Neetu says, "I did not realise you were trying... I did not realise there were any complications..."
Maya quickly gulps down some hot tea... avoiding her mothers gaze... yelps in pain..."owe... owe... hot... hot..."
Standing by the door, her husband glares at his pregnant, his eyes silently saying, "you deserve this pain... shame on you for lying..."
Clearing her throat, needing to divert the conversation, Maya says excitedly, "mummy, I have some good news... I am pregnant...
*********************
With the baby in her arms, Maya climbs the stairs carefully. Stopping in front of her brother's bedroom door, she takes a deep breath, mustering all her courage, she knocks on the door. Not waiting for a response she walks in.
Ragav glares angrily towards the door, thinking, "who dare intrude his privacy." Seeing his sister smiling at him prettily, his anger rises.
He yells...
You promised to find her...
You promised to call me back to India...
You promised to help...
You promised to be on our side...
You promised...
Why are you here? Why did you not keep your promises? You promised... he ends, his voice hoarse with all the yelling... his gaze blurry with tears.
Maya looks on with a heavy heart, thinking silently, "I was too late... when I found her, she had abandoned you... she wanted no reminder of you... I could not bring her to you... but look what I brought back... your daughter."
Chocking back her tears, she says, "I am sorry I could not keep my promises... I am sorry for the false hope I gave you... but look what I brought with me..."
She raises her arms, holding out the baby... saying, "your niece... you are an uncle now."
Ragav stares at her... he had been too angry earlier to notice the baby in her arms, he mumbles, "... niece... uncle..." He thinks, "was I so involved in my own misery that I didn't realise that my sister was pregnant!"
Placing her carefully in his arms, Ragav says nervously, "I don't want... what if she breaks." Smiling Maya says, "don't worry, my arms will be below yours... helping you support her."
His voice filled with awe, says, "she is tiny."
Nodding, Maya says, "she is yours. You will have to look after her."
Lifting his gaze from the baby, confused, he asks, "what do you mean? Where are you going? Why are you leaving her behind?"
Smiling, Maya says, "I am pregnant... so you need to help me raise her." Raising his eyebrow in surprise, he thinks, "what! Again!"
Watching father and daughter bond, Maya chocks out, "I haven't named her yet... would you like to name her?"
"Kalpana... Kalpi in short," he says, "can we name her that... please..." he adds imploringly. Maya hesitates momentarily.
Ragav smiles at the baby in his arms and says softly, "Kalpana... will you ask God to reunite me with my Kalpana soon... my Kalpi", he continues in a bribing voice, "come on... God always listens to children... and I am your favourite uncle... and you are my favourite niece..."
Edited by angelpureness - 8 years ago
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