OS: Echoes of the Past

Echoes of the Past - Part 1

Sameer and Naina were well settled in life. They had everything they had wished for - two beautiful daughters, a successful career as writers, and now their next dream was to start a production house together in the future. Naina and Sameer had faced many ups and downs over these past few years but it had only strengthened their love.

Sameer was busy braiding his daughters' hair to get them ready for school while Naina was in the kitchen quickly packing their tiffins. The phone started ringing but they both ignored it. They both had to go to the office and get their daughters ready for school. The phone rang again and Naina yelled from the kitchen, "Sameer, can you please get the phone? It could be someone from the office".

Sameer hesitantly put down the ribbon he was about to tie onto his daughter's hair and irritatedly picked up the phone. Mornings were too busy and he did not have time to chat on the phone. He huffed, "Hello? Sameer and Naina Maheshwari's residence. Who is this speaking?" He heard a deep muffled voice but could not hear clearly as his two daughters had seemed to have gotten into another argument. Their bond was just like Preeti and Naina. The two had immense love for each other and could move mountains for each other but would not go a second without teasing each other. Sameer covered the receiver and hushed his daughters so he could listen properly. The two girls stopped arguing and immediately held one ear apologizing, a habit they picked up from their father. Sameer repeated, "Hello? I'm sorry...can you repeat who this is?"

Naina walked out with the tiffins and saw a pale Sameer standing with the phone in this hand looking dazed. Naina gently touched Sameer's shoulder and asked, "Sameer, are you alright? Who was it?"

Sameer furrowed his eyebrows and stuttered, "It was my uncle...my father's brother".

Naina looked confused and asked, "Papa-ji has a brother? Did we meet him in Delhi?"

Sameer slowly shook his head and replied, "Not Mr. Somani's brother...my biological father's brother. He wants to meet me". Sameer was only five-years-old when his biological father had passed away and since then no one from his paternal side ever kept any relation with him. His mother had remarried and moved to Delhi. Therefore, Sameer was legally adopted by his Nana-ji. Sameer was confused. His father's family had never even bothered to contact him all these years. Then, why did his father's brother want to meet him all of a sudden?

Naina was also confused. She didn't know much about Sameer's real father as Sameer himself didn't know much either. Neither did Vishaka talk about him much as she had moved on in her life and wanted to leave painful memories in the past. Naina and Sameer dropped their girls off at school and started driving towards their office. Naina saw that Sameer was lost in thought and lightly squeezed his hand. "Hey, are you okay? Are you still thinking about that call in the morning?" Sameer nodded. He just couldn't stop thinking....why now? What did they want from him? He had always been curious about his father and always felt sad as he was deprived of fatherly love and care. But, he learned to cope with it and got used to his life without parental care. When his daughters were born, he silently promised that he'll be the best father he can be and make sure they don't have a childhood like his. But sometimes, he would wonder, what if his father had been alive? Would he have taught him cricket? Yelled at him for his mischief? Would he have given him advice at his lowest points in life? Naina squeezed Sameer's hand again bringing him back to reality. "Sameer, will you meet your uncle?"

Sameer shrugged, "I don't know...he never bothered to know how I was doing all these years but at the same time maybe if I meet my uncle, I'll learn something about my father". Naina nodded and gave a sad smile. She and Sameer shared the bond of pain. She too had lost her mother when she was born and was deprived of a mother's love although she was lucky to have Chachi-ji who filled those shoes. But, there were times she would think of her mother. Would she have been strict or kind? Would she have been proud to see Naina's achievements at school? Would she have shielded her from the taunts she received all her life? She didn't know much about her mother either. Her maternal family never reached out to her as maybe they had also blamed her for their daughter's death and considered her as a cursed child. Rakesh never talked about her either. All Naina knew about her mother from Chachi-ji was that she was a strong and determined lady ahead of her times. Naina was beautiful just like her with a small mole on her cheek. Naina knew what it was like growing up without a mother and therefore wanted to be the best mother to her children.

Naina understood Sameer's pain and confusion. She gave him a reassuring smile and said, "I think you should meet him. I don't think I will ever get to learn more about my mother but you have the chance to know more about your father. So don't lose this chance". Sameer nodded and agreed that Naina was right.

That night Sameer had called his Uncle and agreed to meet him. His Uncle said that he would be coming to Mumbai next week and that they will meet then. Afterwards, Sameer called his mother to tell her what had happened. Vishaka was shocked and felt angry. They had abandoned her and her little 5-year-old son after Sameer's father had passed away. All the painful memories rushed back to her. They left her all alone in her most vulnerable time of life and now all of a sudden, they want to talk to Sameer? She sternly said on the phone, "There's no need to meet him, Sameer".

Sameer's face fell and he asked, "But why? What's the harm in it?"

Vishaka responded with a painful voice, "I said no. If you truly love me, you will not meet that man".

Sameer sighed and tried reasoning with his mother, "Please Mom...try to understand...this might be my only chance to learn something about Papa. Don't I deserve to know something about my real father?"

Vishaka softened understanding Sameer's emotions. She had avoided talking about her first husband as his death brought back traumatic memories and now she had moved on in life with Vivek. She sighed, "What do you want to know about Sandeep?"

Sameer smiled, "What was Papa like? How did you two meet?"

Vishaka chuckled and spoke fondly, "Sandeep Maheshwari...I had an arranged marriage with him as we were from the same caste and status. He was your Nanu's friend's son. All my cousins were so jealous that I was getting married to such a handsome man...everyone said he looked like Dharmendra. You know actually, you look very much like Sandeep. Handsome, charismatic, and thoughtful. He would always stand like a shield for those he cared about. He was a very good man. Whenever I look at you, I get reminded of him. But, he was very calm compared to you. He rarely ever got angry".

Sameer had a satisfied smile on his face knowing he was very much like his father. He laughed and said, "So I'm Salman Khan and he was Dharamendra?"

Vishaka laughed, "Yes...that's where you get your good looks from in case you were wondering. I may not have been his Dream Girl but I'm no less than Hema Malini, right?"

Sameer laughed and then stopped as he became confused. "What do you mean you were not his Dream Girl? Did you two not love each other?"

Vishaka stopped laughing and realized what she had accidentally revealed in front of Sameer. She sighed sadly, "We shared a nice bond and were fond of each other. He was a gentleman and always treated me with the utmost respect and care but...he didn't love me".

Sameer became curious and slowly asked, "Did he tell you that? If so, why did he marry you? Did he love someone else?"

Vishaka's eyes became misty as she replied, "No...he never said anything but I could tell...he could never love me because he had already given his heart away to someone else. He never spoke about her but he would often stare off into space with a small smile on his face as if he was recalling something...or someone special. He never smiled like that at me. For the longest time, I envied whoever that girl must have stolen my Sandeep's heart before I met him. But, when I got married to Vivek, I felt something different...something I had never felt for your father. Yes, Sandeep and I got along well but there was no love. Then, I felt sad for Sandeep and the girl he loved...imagine finding the love of your life and losing it in that same lifetime. I don't know why he married me instead of her...we were never close enough to talk about our past".

Sameer became silent and thought to himself what if he and Naina had not ended up together despite loving each other? What if Naina had gotten married to Sharad and he had married someone else? What if they had also had to separate like Swati and Munna? He shuddered and shook his head. He could not imagine his life without his Naina. She was his everything.

Sameer and Naina carried on with their lives until the day had finally arrived that Sameer's uncle would visit. Sameer suggested that they meet at his hotel as he knew his mother was already upset about this meeting and didn't want to further offend her. Sameer wanted Naina and his daughters to accompany him but the girls had exams that day and Naina had to meet with a producer for their upcoming project.

Sameer arrived at the hotel and walked to the reception area. "Hi I'm Sameer Maheshwari, I'm here to meet Mr. Sanskaar Maheshwari". The receptionist smiled and informed him that his uncle was waiting for him in the garden. He started walking towards the garden and felt excited yet nervous. He saw an older man with his back towards him reading a newspaper. That must be him...his uncle. What should he call him as? Technically, he should call him Chacha-ji but they didn't share that sort of relationship. Sameer took a deep breath and said, "Umm...excuse me?

His uncle got up and smiled, "Sameer?" He looked similar to Sameer - sharp jaw and a fair complexion. Anyone could tell that they belonged from the same kin. He stood there for a while just staring at Sameer with a small smile on his face. Sameer looked around awkwardly and cleared his throat. The man's eyes brimmed with tears, "You were just a little boy when I last saw you. Look at you now...so tall and handsome..a replica of Sandeep". Sameer instinctively smiled hearing again how he was like his father.

His uncle motioned Sameer to sit down and offered some coffee as he apologized that he preferred coffee over tea. Sameer smiled to himself upon this similarity...well they were family after all. They hesitantly chatted as his Uncle wanted to know about him. "So, you are a writer?" Sameer nodded and told him about his and Naina's partnership and the struggle they went through to reach this stage. His uncle chuckled, "Another similarity between you and your father. Sandeep was also a writer. He ran our Press that was started by our father...your grandfather, Shailendra Maheshwari. I guess you are carrying on the family tradition".

Sameer's face fell upon hearing himself being a part of his father's family. Wounds buried deep had resurfaced. He couldn't hold himself back and finally asked, "You or your family never even called. I didn't even know anything about Papa or his family. Why did you contact me after all these years?"

His uncle looked down and sighed, "I-I'm sorry. I know I have wronged you...and that's why I want to fix my mistake. We shouldn't have abandoned you and Bhabhi after Bhaiyya's death. You are his son...a part of him. I became selfish at that time...I didn't want to share our family wealth but now I realize my mistake and how it must have affected you".

Sameer tightened his jaw, "It's too late now...I grew up in a hostel without a family or home to call my own. If it weren't for Nana-ji, I don't know what would have happened to me. But, you still haven't answered my question. Why did you call me here?"

His Uncle sighed and took out an old brown leather diary from his bag. He handed it to Sameer and said, "To give you this...It's Bhaiyya's Diary. I'm sure you must have some curiosity about what your father must have been like...I found it when I was cleaning our old house. I wanted to read it as Bhaiyya was a very reserved person but something stopped me and said that you are the person who deserves to have this last symbol of my brother".

Sameer was holding back his tears and had a lump in his throat as he held the diary. He smoothly ran his hand over the leather cover instantly feeling a connection with his father that he longed for. He opened the first page and found a black-and-white picture of a handsome man with a soft smile and silky hair. Sameer was taken aback as he finally understood why his uncle and mother kept mentioning the similarity between him and his father. He truly was a replica of his father. The resemblance was uncanny. Sameer looked up at his uncle with teary eyes and said, "Thank you...so much for this. You have no idea what this means to me. I've always imagined what Papa must have been like and now to have the chance to read about his life, his thoughts...this means everything to me". His uncle nodded but Sameer sensed that he wanted to ask him something.

His uncle hesitantly asked, "You mentioned that you have a wife. Do you have any children?"

Sameer nodded, "Yes, two daughters - Suman and Sakshi".

His uncle chuckled, "Ahh...unknowingly you carried on the "S" tradition of the Maheshwari family. Shailendra, Sandeep, Sanksaar, Sameer, and now Suman and Sakshi". Sameer awkwardly smiled as his Uncle continued, "If you don't mind sharing...can I see a picture of your family? My brother's granddaughters?"

Sameer gave a soft smile and pulled out his family picture from his wallet. He pointed, "This is Suman and that is Sakshi". His finger slid over as a warm smile spread across his face, "..and this is my Naina".

He looked up to see his confused uncle who had gone pale and uttered, "Nandini?"

Sameer shook his head and corrected, "No, her name is Naina. She's my wife".

His uncle sat back in his seat as his eyebrows knit together in confusion. He muttered to himself, "How is this possible?" Sameer was very confused by his reaction. Why was he acting so odd after seeing Naina's picture. Did he know her from somewhere? His uncle looked up seeing Sameer just as confused. He took a deep breath and instructed Sameer to open his father's diary and turn to the last page.

Sameer confusion turned into shock as he turned the page. There was a picture of a simple girl with innocent eyes...and a mole on her cheek. Sameer looked up angrily, "Is this some kind of joke? Where did you get this picture of Naina?"

His uncle shook his head, "That is not Naina...That is Nandini. Even I'm confused how this is possible".

Sameer stared at the picture trying to absorb all the new information. He slowly asked, "Who is Nandini? And why is her picture in Papa's diary?"

His uncle was at a loss of word. He himself didn't know how to explain everything to Sameer as he didn't expect to have this conversation about his brother's past in their first meeting. He wanted Sameer to read the diary first and perhaps find the answers himself. "She was a writer in our press...they were...their relationship didn't have a name but she meant a lot to your father. He loved her so much that he was ready to leave everything behind to be with her but...life doesn't always work out the way we want it to. I don't know much myself as Bhaiyya was very reserved but the answers to your question lie in that diary".

Sameer looked at the picture of the girl who resembled his Naina. He slowly brought out the picture of his father, a splitting image of Sameer. What game was life playing with him? Could this be a mere coincidence? How will he tell Naina about this?

A/N: The story will alternate between 1960 and 1990. This is an absurd imagination of mine if the producers came back with a Season 2 of the show as a prequel with the same cast:

- Sandeep Maheshwari and Sameer Maheshwari as Randeep Rai

- Naina "Agarwal" Maheshwari and Nandini as Ashi Singh

- Other characters will be introduced or rather "re-introduced" later

Please give some feedback and whether I should continue!

I recently started watching YUDKBH and decided to write a little something on it! 😊 I see this forum isn't very buzzing would love to meet some people here.