FF-Tum Kaun Ho (Epilogue) - Page 6

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Tum Kaun Ho?

A Maaneet Fan Fic

Chapter 72
June 12, 2011 9:34 am

"Arjun, the whole family is going to the zoo today, and I wondered if maybe you'd like to come along. It's been a while since you've seen Dev and the children. Also, Dadi invited you to have dinner with us afterwords."

"Naintara, I'm afraid I'll have to decline. I'm very busy, and you know I have to fly back to London on Tuesday, so I won't have time to amuse myself. Anyway, it's good that you called. I've been talking with the psychologist and the lawyer. I want you to meet them with me on Monday, as well as spend some time with Chachi. She's being very resistant, and they think you may be of some help."

Naintara blanched at that idea, almost dropping the phone. "No, Arjun, I can't. I have to help with the wedding preparations, and there are the children to look after. With Geet so busy, I need to help keep an eye on JD, also. I just can't get away."

"Naintara, this is your mother. I need you to help me deal with her. Dev is here now. I'm sure he can handle the kids for a few hours. And despite what you may think, I'm positive that the wedding preparations are not going to suffer if you take some time out for yourself. I'm counting on you to come."

"I...Alright. I'll talk with Dev figure out a time I can meet you."

Naintara ended the call and thought about the short conversation. Arjun had refused to stay at the mansion, and now he had refused an invitation to spend the day with them. It was very odd. And Naintara did not want to meet her mother or the lawyer. She couldn't handle the stress of both the wedding and her mother's issues. That was why she had asked Arjun to come and help.

June 13, 2011 1:00 pm

"Mrs. Khurana, thank you for taking time to speak with me. As Mr. Rathore has explained, I am conducting a mental health evaluation of your mother. I've already asked him many of the question I will ask you, but as her nearest relative and someone who has spent a good deal of time with her, you input is very important."

June 13, 2011 1:30 pm

"Mrs. Khurana, how would you describe your mother's behavior after the death of your father?"

"She cried for weeks. It was difficult for her to even get out of bed. My son was very small and it was impossible to care for them both, so my aunt and Arjun stayed with us for about three months. I remember, Arjun used to come home after work and talk with her about his day. Maa would say how much Arjun reminded her of my father and how she felt like he was keeping Daddy's memory alive."

June 13, 2011 1:50 pm

"Mrs. Khurana, your mother was upset over Mr. Rathore's choice of bride. What can you tell me about her behavior at that time?"

"Nothing much, other than she was very angry. She refused to have anything to do with the wedding, Arjun and Annie, my Aunt and Uncle. She even stopped speaking to me for a few months. She went to stay with our relatives in Bihar for quite a while."

"When she came back, did you notice any change in your mother's behavior?"

"I don't know. It was just after Vicky and Meera died and...Oh God! She..."

"Mrs. Khurana, please remain calm. Try not to think about anything other than the answer to my question. When your mother returned home, did you notice anything different about her?"

"Well, I guess she seemed more normal to me. More like her old self from before Daddy's death. The only thing I noticed was that she would often talk to me about Dev getting a better paying job. He works for the government and while his salary is fine, Maa thought he could make a lot more in the private sector. She just wouldn't stop talking about it, no matter what I said to her."

June 13, 2011 2:35 pm

"Arjun, I'm tired and I'd like to go home now."

"I know, Naintara, and I'm sorry the questioning took so long, but I need you to do one more thing."

Naintara sighed, bracing herself for the request. She could tell from Arjun's tone, that he expected to have to persuade her. That was why, when her mother's lawyer began talking instead of Arjun, she was surprised.

"Mrs. Khurana, as you know, your mother has some issues regarding Mr. Rathore. He has attempted to encourage her to cooperate with me, but so far she has been extremely resistant. As of this moment, she has not refused council, or stated that she wished a different lawyer. However, I am concerned about how to handle her defense if she keeps refusing my assistance."

"What do you want me to do, Mr. Taguchi?"

"I would like you to speak with your mother. Try to persuade her to cooperate as much as she can. Please, Mrs. Khurana."

June 13, 2011 3:35 pm

When Armita Rathore was brought into the interview room and saw Arjun, her reaction was immediate. "We don't want that boy here. He is nothing to us."

Naintara tried to respond, but Arjun stopped her. He voluntarily left the room, to keep his Chachi from being disturbed by his presence. Naintara really didn't want to be there, but she did say she would try to talk with her mother.

"Maa, I want to talk to you."

"Well, I don't know if I want to talk to you. I can understand if you are upset with me. You have been enough in the past. But I don't like you treating your father this way. He has always done everything for you and you used to appreciate his efforts. I don't know what has happened to you. Now apologize to your father!"

Naintara closed her eyes and took a deep breath to try and stay calm. "Maa, I'm not here to talk about Daddy. I want to talk to you about Mr. Taguchi."

"Who is that?"

"Maa, he's this man, your lawyer." Naintara pointed to Mr. Taguchi and her mother peered at the man as if she saw him for the first time.

"Oh, he's that fellow who comes with that boy. I won't talk to him."

"Maa, I want you to talk to him. He's your lawyer, he's here to help you. Please stop being stubborn and cooperate with him."

Armita frowned, looking from Naintara to the lawyer and back again. "He wants to help us? Will he explain why we did what we did? Will he tell the police that we were just looking out for our daughter's interest. That we had no choice? Will he get me and your father out of here?"

Naintara found it difficult to keep her composure when her mother spoke as if her father was still alive. Choking out, "Just talk with him, Maa," before living the room, she left as quickly as possible. She couldn't stop the tears from rolling down her cheeks, or the whimpers that forced their way out of her throat.

"Naintara, what happened? Are you alright?" asked Arjun in concern.

"I never wanted to come here! I can't stand being in the same room with her. Don't you dare ask me to come back!"

Naintara rushed down the hall, away from Arjun's exclamations and into the nearest women's restroom she could find. There she broke down completely. The pain she felt in her heart when her mother spoke about her father was unbearable. She felt sick when she heard the crazy delusions Armita Rathore continued to spout. How she wished that it was her mother who had died six years ago, and not her father.

After having a good cry, Naintara took out her phone and called a taxi. When she was finished a text from Arjun came, asking her to meet him. Naintara quickly replied back, telling him to leave her alone. She intended to go back to the mansion and forget the entire day had even happened.

June 13, 2011 5:08 pm

"Hey, Jaan, when did you get back?"

"Just a little while ago."

"How did things go with Arjun and the lawyer?"

"Fine."

Dev looked a bit closer at Naintara after that one word answer. "Naintara is everything alright? You seem a little upset, maybe."

"No, everything is fine." At Dev's skeptical look, she amended, "Well, as fine as it can be in the circumstances."

Not giving her husband a chance to continue questioning her, she said, "Forget all that. We should talk about what we're going to do for the Sangeet. I think it would be a great idea if you and I did some kind of skit."