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"Baldev Singh ka blood sample ..." the voice echoed around the courtroom.
Baldev noticed Satrupa's wrists clench out of nervousness. He felt a pang of pity.He had never EVER in his life seen his wife be so nervous and scared of something. For a moment ,he half wished that his blood samples matched with Anami ...just so he could see his wife's ever proud smirk go back up on her face. He shook himself out of it and waited for the final straw that'd prove that he wasn't Anami's father. How could it be possible? HOW?
She was all those things that his vatsalya wasn't. Vatsalya didn't have that attitude. Vatsalya had so much of humility and modesty that the slightest of interactions with Vatsalya would leave him wondering what made Vatsalya the human being he was ...the human that nobody in the Laal Mahal was. Baldev straightened his posture and folded his arms as the voice continued, "Anami Singh ki blood sample se..."
Baldev looked at Satrupa once again. She was swallowing hard now. He shrugged it off and awaited the words "Match nahi hotha" to be uttered.
But on the contrary the words "Match hotha hai" echoed around.
A silence succeeded the statement.
Baldev went numb. He didn't know if he wanted to be angry with Anami for promising him that the result would be negative or if he wanted to go hug her...his daughter.
He didn't know if he wanted to be mad at Satrupa for having proved that she was right yet another time or if he wanted to be mad at her for keeping him away from his daughter.
He didn't know how to feel.
Baldev noticed Satrupa's wrists clench out of nervousness. He felt a pang of pity.He had never EVER in his life seen his wife be so nervous and scared of something. For a moment ,he half wished that his blood samples matched with Anami ...just so he could see his wife's ever proud smirk go back up on her face. He shook himself out of it and waited for the final straw that'd prove that he wasn't Anami's father. How could it be possible? HOW?
She was all those things that his vatsalya wasn't. Vatsalya didn't have that attitude. Vatsalya had so much of humility and modesty that the slightest of interactions with Vatsalya would leave him wondering what made Vatsalya the human being he was ...the human that nobody in the Laal Mahal was. Baldev straightened his posture and folded his arms as the voice continued, "Anami Singh ki blood sample se..."
Baldev looked at Satrupa once again. She was swallowing hard now. He shrugged it off and awaited the words "Match nahi hotha" to be uttered.
But on the contrary the words "Match hotha hai" echoed around.
A silence succeeded the statement.
Baldev went numb. He didn't know if he wanted to be angry with Anami for promising him that the result would be negative or if he wanted to go hug her...his daughter.
He didn't know if he wanted to be mad at Satrupa for having proved that she was right yet another time or if he wanted to be mad at her for keeping him away from his daughter.
He didn't know how to feel.
All his senses blacked out and he sat there staring at the distance.
***
Satrupa let all the breath that she had been holding back for the past five minutes. She let a beautiful, proud, and relieved smile crawl across her face. She didn't give two hoots to what the judge was saying about her own blood sample. She quickly turned and looked at Baldev, who sat behind her. She couldn't determine what he was looking at...but she knew that he was mad. She didn't have a problem with that ...because this time, she knew that, he was angry for the right reasons.
***
Anami's smile vanished. She stood up- shocked, confused and outraged. HOW was it possible ? Had she not changed the samples ? The memory of her colliding with a woman adorned in a burkha flashed back. Was it possible ? could she have ...or was it a she at all ?
All Anami felt was ...hatred. She hated her mother and her silly clever brain. It was definitely one of her stupid maids. She stormed out of the room only to be followed by a confused adhiraj.
Anami ran headlong into someone. It was Adhiraj, she noticed.
"So," he said, folding his arms,"tum Satrupa Singh ji ki beti hi ho".
All Anami felt was ...hatred. She hated her mother and her silly clever brain. It was definitely one of her stupid maids. She stormed out of the room only to be followed by a confused adhiraj.
Anami ran headlong into someone. It was Adhiraj, she noticed.
"So," he said, folding his arms,"tum Satrupa Singh ji ki beti hi ho".
"Arey haan."
"Agar pehle hi bata tha tho itna sure kaise thi ki result negative ayega ? Aur tumhari itne sure hone ki baawajood ..results positive aaye. Kaise?"
"Arey vohi tho ..humne tho samples badle-" She bit her tongue.
Adhiraj gave her a disapproving look.
"Agar pehle hi bata tha tho itna sure kaise thi ki result negative ayega ? Aur tumhari itne sure hone ki baawajood ..results positive aaye. Kaise?"
"Arey vohi tho ..humne tho samples badle-" She bit her tongue.
Adhiraj gave her a disapproving look.
"Jao...apni maa-baap se mil lo. Aur haan ...dobaara aise legal kaamom me apni fraud harkatein mat karna" He said, and walked away.
Was it possible that it was one of his men under the burkha ?
A heavy wave of frustration hit her. She held her head to ease her headache. She wanted to shout, hit something, break something.
This couldn't be happening. She couldn't have lost her only chance.
All her senses blacked out and she stood there, staring at a distance.
Was it possible that it was one of his men under the burkha ?
A heavy wave of frustration hit her. She held her head to ease her headache. She wanted to shout, hit something, break something.
This couldn't be happening. She couldn't have lost her only chance.
All her senses blacked out and she stood there, staring at a distance.
***
The family walked inside the hall way of the Laal Mahal.
Gayathri, being someone who had developed a soft corner for Anami already...gave Anami a caring smile before climbing up the stairs that led to her room. Poojan, his wife and his son were still in shock. They were confused too. How the hell ...?
The trio walked their way up to their respective rooms, glaring at Baldev, Satrupa and Anami on their way.
Baldev was about to leave the place when Satrupa caught hold of his elbow.
"Baldev baath kajiye humse. Kuch tho boliye !" Satrupa pleaded.
He freed his elbow from her grip and made and attempt to walk away. Satrupa blocked his way. She gave Dhamo, Mira Singh and Poonam a look that said 'walk away or be dead'.
They complied.
"Baldev-" she began once again when he spoke.
Gayathri, being someone who had developed a soft corner for Anami already...gave Anami a caring smile before climbing up the stairs that led to her room. Poojan, his wife and his son were still in shock. They were confused too. How the hell ...?
The trio walked their way up to their respective rooms, glaring at Baldev, Satrupa and Anami on their way.
Baldev was about to leave the place when Satrupa caught hold of his elbow.
"Baldev baath kajiye humse. Kuch tho boliye !" Satrupa pleaded.
He freed his elbow from her grip and made and attempt to walk away. Satrupa blocked his way. She gave Dhamo, Mira Singh and Poonam a look that said 'walk away or be dead'.
They complied.
"Baldev-" she began once again when he spoke.
"Kya bole hum ?" His sounded so vulnerable.
"Hume apni beti se 17 saalon tak dhoor rakha gaya hai aur tum chahthi ho ki hum tumse baath kare?" He continued.
Satrupa looked straight into his eyes.
"aapko jo bhi bolna hai, aap bol dijiye. Par boliye. Ab tho ye saaf ho chuka haina ? ki Anami aap ki hi beti hai?"
"Satrupa humare liye humara beta sab kuch tha.Iss ghar me vohi ek tha jo humare chehre pe hasi le aa saktha tha. Uske marne se jo ghum humne mehsoos kiye, jo sab kuch se hume guzarna pada...uske baad ye saari sach bardaasht karna humare liye bahoth mushkil hai. BAHOTH." He gripped hold of Satrupa's shoulders and shook her as he shouted "TUM KYUN NAHI SAMAJTHI HO ?".
He left her.
Satrupa had had enough of this. She had had enough of people talking to her like Vatsalya meant nothing to her. Anami, for the first time saw her mother's eyes tear up and her mother shouting.
"BAS ! BAHOTH HO CHUKA HAI. Vatsalya sirf aapka beta nahi tha Baldev. Agar iss ghar me uske jaane ki sabse zyada dhukh kisiko hui thi na ...vo hume hui thi. Hum tho apna jaan de dene waale the ... baba ki pistol se goli chalaane waalie the khudh pe. Vo Dhamo thi jisne humare haath se pistol cheenli. Varna hum aaj yahan aapke saamne zinda nahi khade hothe."
Baldev lost all his anger for a moment. Hug her is all that he wanted to do at that moment. He couldn't imagine how he'd have felt if she too had died along with his son. It was true that all traces of a happy relationship between them had vanished long ago...but that didn't mean he stopped caring for her. She was the mother of his children after all. They had been through a very traumatizing death of three of their children including Vatsalya together.
He understood Satrupa now. If he was in her place he'd have done the same. If giving away one of his children would save their lives ...he'd have done that without thinking twice. And if that didn't prove of any use ..he'd definitely want the child that was alive to be under his sight.
He wanted to wrap both Anami and Satrupa into a tight hug and let his tears out ...but he was far from doing that. He chose to storm out of there to his room, leaving Anami an Satrupa to stare at the place he was standing few seconds back.
"Hume apni beti se 17 saalon tak dhoor rakha gaya hai aur tum chahthi ho ki hum tumse baath kare?" He continued.
Satrupa looked straight into his eyes.
"aapko jo bhi bolna hai, aap bol dijiye. Par boliye. Ab tho ye saaf ho chuka haina ? ki Anami aap ki hi beti hai?"
"Satrupa humare liye humara beta sab kuch tha.Iss ghar me vohi ek tha jo humare chehre pe hasi le aa saktha tha. Uske marne se jo ghum humne mehsoos kiye, jo sab kuch se hume guzarna pada...uske baad ye saari sach bardaasht karna humare liye bahoth mushkil hai. BAHOTH." He gripped hold of Satrupa's shoulders and shook her as he shouted "TUM KYUN NAHI SAMAJTHI HO ?".
He left her.
Satrupa had had enough of this. She had had enough of people talking to her like Vatsalya meant nothing to her. Anami, for the first time saw her mother's eyes tear up and her mother shouting.
"BAS ! BAHOTH HO CHUKA HAI. Vatsalya sirf aapka beta nahi tha Baldev. Agar iss ghar me uske jaane ki sabse zyada dhukh kisiko hui thi na ...vo hume hui thi. Hum tho apna jaan de dene waale the ... baba ki pistol se goli chalaane waalie the khudh pe. Vo Dhamo thi jisne humare haath se pistol cheenli. Varna hum aaj yahan aapke saamne zinda nahi khade hothe."
Baldev lost all his anger for a moment. Hug her is all that he wanted to do at that moment. He couldn't imagine how he'd have felt if she too had died along with his son. It was true that all traces of a happy relationship between them had vanished long ago...but that didn't mean he stopped caring for her. She was the mother of his children after all. They had been through a very traumatizing death of three of their children including Vatsalya together.
He understood Satrupa now. If he was in her place he'd have done the same. If giving away one of his children would save their lives ...he'd have done that without thinking twice. And if that didn't prove of any use ..he'd definitely want the child that was alive to be under his sight.
He wanted to wrap both Anami and Satrupa into a tight hug and let his tears out ...but he was far from doing that. He chose to storm out of there to his room, leaving Anami an Satrupa to stare at the place he was standing few seconds back.
***
Though Anami was shook from what had happened downstairs in the hall...she wanted to leave lal mahal as soon as possible.
"Didi hum sorry se shuru karte hain..." Poonam began to speak. Anami cut her halfway through.
"HUM sorry se shuru karthe hain Poonam ...par thodi der keliye chup raho"
"Didi hum sorry se shuru karte hain..." Poonam began to speak. Anami cut her halfway through.
"HUM sorry se shuru karthe hain Poonam ...par thodi der keliye chup raho"
'Mujhe yahan se bhagna chahiye' she thought to herself. 'Shraath pandit kehte hain ki bhaagna sabse aakri option hai. Aur ab tho meri paas yahi ek tareeka bacha hai ...iss jagah se chootne ki.'
***
Anami crept into Satrupa's room that night. She smirked at her parents' sleeping selves.
"Hume aap sothe hue jyaada acche lagte hain" she murmured and slowly fished Satrupa's bunch of keys from the table next to the bed.
Ten minutes later, Anami found herself waiting for Poonam to unlock the main gates standing beside her. Poonam gave the keys to Anami.
"Ye hume kyun de rahi ho bhai. Kaise bhi karke matlabi mataji ki kamre me inhe tumhi ko pahunchane hai." She said.
When Poonam was about to take the keys back Anami pulled her hand back.
"ek kaam adhoora reh gaya hai" she said and began to ran towards the mahal once again.
Five minutes later she found herself unlocking the doors of Satrupa's mystery room. The one that she never lets anyone go into.
"Hume aap sothe hue jyaada acche lagte hain" she murmured and slowly fished Satrupa's bunch of keys from the table next to the bed.
Ten minutes later, Anami found herself waiting for Poonam to unlock the main gates standing beside her. Poonam gave the keys to Anami.
"Ye hume kyun de rahi ho bhai. Kaise bhi karke matlabi mataji ki kamre me inhe tumhi ko pahunchane hai." She said.
When Poonam was about to take the keys back Anami pulled her hand back.
"ek kaam adhoora reh gaya hai" she said and began to ran towards the mahal once again.
Five minutes later she found herself unlocking the doors of Satrupa's mystery room. The one that she never lets anyone go into.
She pushed the door open and found what she never would've thought that she;d find there. A picture of the guy who had come to Banaras.
His words played repeatedly in her mind.
'Agara humari koi behen hothi tho tumhari jaisi hi hothi'
She gripped his Raksha bracelet that now lay bound in her wrist. She remembered the day it had broken. She wanted to scream. She had met him. She had met her brother. HE was vatsalya.
She wanted to wail. She silently sobbed, covering her mouth with both hands.
"Anami" A voice called out to he from behind her.
His words played repeatedly in her mind.
'Agara humari koi behen hothi tho tumhari jaisi hi hothi'
She gripped his Raksha bracelet that now lay bound in her wrist. She remembered the day it had broken. She wanted to scream. She had met him. She had met her brother. HE was vatsalya.
She wanted to wail. She silently sobbed, covering her mouth with both hands.
"Anami" A voice called out to he from behind her.
She swirled in her spot to find Satrupa standing there. She couldn't quiet figure out the expression that Satrupa wore on her face. Neither could Satrupa figure out why Anami was sobbing like she had known Vatsalya.
That's when her eyes fell on anami's wrists. She saw Anami gripping the Raksha bracelet that resembled the one that she had tied on Vatsalya's wrist once.
Satrupa couldn't believe what that seemed to mean.
Satrupa couldn't believe what that seemed to mean.
Had they known each other ? Had they met ? Could that be possible ?
She physically shuddered and leaned back against the wall.
Both Anami and Satrupa stood there ...staring at each other as tears slid down their cheeks.
What sort of a game was fate playing with them ?
Fifteen minutes later they were found in the same position by a very startled Baldev. He shook both of them demanding answers.
"Kya hua?" He would ask Satrupa.
"Tum to kuch bolo" He'd shake Anami. Neither would say anything as both were lost in their own strings of thought.
She physically shuddered and leaned back against the wall.
Both Anami and Satrupa stood there ...staring at each other as tears slid down their cheeks.
What sort of a game was fate playing with them ?
Fifteen minutes later they were found in the same position by a very startled Baldev. He shook both of them demanding answers.
"Kya hua?" He would ask Satrupa.
"Tum to kuch bolo" He'd shake Anami. Neither would say anything as both were lost in their own strings of thought.
Baldev himself couldn't keep his tears from falling down for a long time as he saw Vatsalya's pictures all around them.
That night was when all three of them mourned for that souls death without which their family would never be complete.
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