Love- Will destiny bring them closer
Chapter 1
The first ray of sun entered the room through the windows. A middle aged woman got up from her queen sized bed. After praying to the god, she looked at the bedside table. Taking the photo frame kept in the drawer, she looked at the photo of the man in it. Placing a soft kiss on the photo, she kept it back.
After getting ready, she went downstairs. First she made the house temple ready for morning arti. After that she went to kitchen to make beverages and breakfast. After sometime she was joined by two other women. One was middle aged like, another was a young woman in late twenties.
The middle woman turned to the young woman and said, "Kavya, I have made coffee and tea. You make the dough for Roti."
Kavya looked at the woman and said with a small smile, "OK Aastha Chachi."
Turning to the other woman, Kavya said, "Aai, You make the curry. By the time, I will make the Roti."
After sometime, Aastha came out of the kitchen taking tea and coffee for all. First she went to her father in law Niranjan's room. After giving his tea and giving his medicines, Aastha went to Varad and Sojal's room. She gave his tea to Varad, then she went to Shantanu and Kavya's room.
Shantanu was getting ready for office. Seeing her, he smiled. Taking the coffee from the tray, he placed it on the small tes table. Then he said, " Aastha Ma, why did you bring the coffee. I was coming downstairs na. Why are you straining yourself. "
Aastha smiled and patted his head lovingly. Then she went to Mishti and her husband's room. Like that she gave the beverages to Mishti's in laws also. Then she came to Vinayak's room (Niranjan's younger brother).
Finally after giving tea and coffee to everyone, Aastha reached the last room. Opening the door, she entered. She sighed looking at the figure sleeping on the bed. Keeping the tray and the last cup of tea on the bedside table, Aastha sat at the corner of the bed. She gently removed the blanket covering the face of the person sleeping.
The face of a young girl came into view. She wined at the disturbance. Gently shaking her, Aastha called her in soft voice, "Shreya, Beta wake up. Today's your interview right. Get up Beta. Otherwise you'll be late."
Hearing interview she sprang up from the bed. Looking at the clock, her eyes widened. Throwing her blanket, she stood up, "Oh no, it is already 8 o'clock. I am dead today. I have interview at ten."
Aastha shook her head at Shreya. Getting up from the bed she said, "Beta, relax. It is only eight. You have enough time to get ready."
Shreya: But Mom.
Aastha: Shreya... I told you na there is enough time. Now relax. Don't panic. Go and get ready.
After pushing Shreya towards the washroom, Aastha exited the room. She came back to kitchen.
Seeing her entering the kitchen, Kavya asked, "So you gave tea and coffee to everyone."
Aastha looked at her and then looking away, she away, she said, "Yes. I gave tea and coffee to everyone except... except... him."
Kavya knew who this him was. She looked at her mother with worried expression. Taking a deep breath, Kavya took a cup of tea in a tray and went out. Reaching her destination, she gently knocked the door. After getting permission she entered the room.
A middle aged man stood facing his back to Kavya.
Kavya: Papaji, Tea.
Indrajit Sarkar looked back at his daughter in law. He gave a small smile to her.
Indrajit: Keep it. Is Shantanu ready.
Kavya: Yes, Papaji. Shaan is ready. He is downstairs.
Indrajit: OK.
Kavya came back down. She saw everyone gathered at the temple for morning arti. Keeping the tray at the dining table, she too joined them.
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After getting ready, everyone came downstairs for breakfast. Niranjan Agnihotri sat in the middle as the head of the family. Others sat at their respective places. The breakfast was a silent affair. In the middle of the breakfast, Shreya came running to the table. Sitting beside Indrajit, she started having her breakfast.
Indrajit(looking at Shreya): So today is your interview right.
Shreya (smiling at him): Yes Papa.
Indrajit: All the best.
Shreya: Thank you Papa.
Soon everyone wished her. After finishing breakfast, Shreya came to Aastha. Aastha fed her sugar and curd ( I don't know the actual translation, its dahi- Shakkar).
Aastha: All the best.
Shreya: Thank you Mom.
Shreya went to her interview. Aastha sighed looking at her departing figure. Soon getting ready, Aastha also went to her NGO, Anjali Sadhan.
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After a hectic day at work, Aastha came back home. As soon as she entered, Shreya came running and happily hugged her. Coming out of the hug, Shreya started spinning Aastha along with her. Stopping after sometime, both started breathing heavily.
Aastha: Now tell me what happened. Why are you so happy.
Shreya: Guess what
Aastha: What?
Shreya (wining): Mumma... OK. You know what I got the job. Now I am the executive fashion designer of Angel Fashion House.
Aastha: Wow. Congratulations.
Aastha hugged Shreya.
Shreya: Thank you.
With that both went to celebrate.
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At night. Aastha was sitting in her bed with a diary in her hand.
"...Do you know Shlok what happened Today. Today Shreya got job. She was so happy."
Aastha kept the diary after writing her day's events in the diary.
Taking the photo from the bedside drawer, Aastha looked at it.
Aastha: Where are you Shlok. It had been 20 years since you left. I can't take it anymore Shlok. Please come back. I miss you, Shlok. I miss you. Please come back.
Crying, she placed a soft kiss on the photo. Keeping the photo close to her heart, she silently cried.
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Hours later. In another part of the world. A young 20 year old girl got up from her bed in her apartment. Her name was Khushi. But unlike her name, there was no happiness in her face. Her face looked pale, sick. There was no brightness in her face. There were dark circles under her eyes. Her eyes were baggy clearly indicating her sleepless nights.
Getting up, she quickly got ready. Coming down she saw her friends at the dining table. A man was having breakfast while reading newspaper while Muskaan was serving the dishes in plates. After serving she too sat down to have breakfast. Khushi joined them silently. Taking her seat beside Muskaan, she started having breakfast silently.
Muskaan and Aman exchanged worried glances at each other.
Aman(looking at Khushi): Choti, You know what this Muskaan did last night. She put shower gel on my towel. Today morning, when I was wiping my body with towel, all the shower gel started making foam and then I had to bath once again.
Muskaan: No Anu. Don't believe him. He is telling lies. I didn't do anything like that. In fact he had added powder in my cream. When I asked him, he said that it happened accidentally. Now you only say how it will happen accidentally. I am telling you Anu, this man did it on purpose. He did it on purpose to trouble me.
Aman: No choti. You don't believe her. She is telling lies. In fact I think she did it herself on her foolishness.
Muskaan: What did you say I am fool. You. How dare you. See this Anu. What he is saying, he is calling me a fool. Me. Your best friend a fool, Anu.Why are you not saying anything. Tell him something. Give him some nice scolding.
Aman: Scolding, Na. She would never scold me. She is my sister. She would never scold me. In fact she will take my side.
Muskaan: She will take your side. Ha. Dream on Mr Mathur. She will never take your side. She will take my side.
Aman: Now I think you are dreaming. She and going to take you side. Na. It will never happen. I am her brother and she will take my side.
Muskaan: Oh hello. Don't you think you are dreaming too much. She is just your namesake sister (Much boli Behan). But I am her best friend. So obviously she will take my side.
Aman: What did you say namesake brother. Every year she ties Rakhi to me. I am her brother. So just shut up.
Like that they continued arguing. But Khushi sat eating her breakfast without giving any reaction. It was as if there was no emotion left in her. She was completely numb. After finishing her breakfast, she stood.
Khushi: I will be in the car parking. We have to leave for the office early today. Singapore Clients are coming to finalize the deal.
Saying that she went out without listening anything. Aman and Muskaan looked at each other. Both their eyes welled up seeing the plight of their loved one. Muskaan started crying hugging her husband.
Muskaan: Why Aman. Why all this is happening. Why her. Why she had to endure all these. Did you see her Aman. How she had become. It was as if there is no life left in her. I can't see her like this Aman. Make her fine Aman. Bring back my Anu. I want my Anu back Aman. I want my Anu back.
Aman also could do anything except to console his wife crying her heart out for his innocent sister. His eyes were also not dry. After composing themselves both went out.
They saw Khushi standing near the car looking at her mobile. Both silently came near. After getting in the car, they drove off to office.
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After dinner, Khushi came into her room. Taking the small album kept in the cupboard. She started going through it. It was her daily routine from sometime. Sleep deprived her. She didn't had any tears left to cry. She lost everything. She lost everyone. Now only memories left. Sweet memories. She wished she could go back in time and stay there itself.
Reaching one particular photo, her eyes stung with tears once again. Tears started running down her pale cheeks. Closing the album, she kept it close to her heart. She didn't knew when she started crying her heart out.
In another room a couple silently cried feeling the pain of the innocent soul. They knew that if they went to her. She wouldn't show her pain to them but instead would bottle up inside her. They were helpless. Rather than silently crying for her, they couldn't do anything.
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Two men sat in the business class seat of the flight from London to Mumbai. One was in his middle age, Shlok and another one was young, Arnav. They were discussing about business. But the atmosphere around them was thick. There was an unsaid distance between them.
Shlok looked at the young man beside him. Arnav. Arnav Singh Raizada. The son of his best friend cum business partner Arjun's son. He had know him from 20 years. But never had been the atmosphere around them so thick. He knew the reason behind the distance but couldn't do anything about it. He felt himself sighing. The atmosphere felt suffocating all of a sudden. Loosening the collar buttons of his Armani suit, he looked away.
Arnav also couldn't help but feel the tension between them. He had known Shlok from his childhood. He was a person whom he loved and respected close to his parents. They always had a good Rapport between them. Always free with each other. He was one of the person whom he admired and looked upon as a role model. But now he is feeling awkward with the same man. The relation between them had reached such a point that it had nothing left but a taste of bitterness. It wasn't their fault but the circumstances had played such a game that they couldn't help but feel the bitterness in the relationship.
OK this is the first chapter. Please read the Note below.
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