Maya kept her reading glasses on the side table closing the book she was reading as she heard a knock at her room's door.
"Maa.."
A smile crept across her lips hearing her son's voice.His sudden visit to home this morning was a pleasant surprise for the whole family.She was getting up from her easy chair when her eyes fell on the wall clock.It was showing 1 of the night.A little confusion as well as worry captured her heart as she wondered why her son was here at this late in night..He should be sleeping peacefully right now..
"What happened beta???" She asked in worried voice as she let Raj enter her room.
"Nothing maa..I wasn't sleepy..Then I saw the light in your room..You were also not asleep yet..Hence I knocked at your door to grab a chance to enjoy our "Mother-son " time.." He spoke entering inside...
"Mother-Son time or Head massage time???" Maya exclaimed with a teasing smile as she gestured towards "Coconut-oil" bottle in Raj's hand.
"Whatever you call it..maa"..Raj said with a wink as he made his mother sit on the bed before settling himself on the floor so she could apply oil in his hair.
Maya's fingers were busy rubbing her son's scalp softly.Soft smile on Raj's lips and his closed and relaxed eyes gave a warm satisfaction to her heart..
"Maa..Can I ask you something???" She heard her son's voice after a while.
"yes.."She said taking more oil on her palm.
"Why don't you like Kiran???
Her fingers halted immediately as Raj's words touched her eardrums..She could feel the hurt in Raj's voice when he raised the question.She never wanted to hurt him that was why she had always kept her "taunting words" in control,whenever he was home.To her surprise,Kiran never complained about her "rudeness" to him.May be her patience was lost finally..
"Did Kiran complain to you???"She asked as she resumed massaging. Raj was able to feel the stiffness in her fingers now...
"No..She did not Maa.."He said with a sigh.."But this is not the answer of my question..Please tell me why don't you like her???
He waited for his mother's answer for next five minutes but no one word escaped her lips.Finally he removed his mother's hand from his hair as he turned around to face her..
"Is she a bad wife,maa???"He asked taking her hands in his.
Maya nodded her head for "No" as she averted her gaze from her son's face.
"Is she a bad mother,maa???
"NO.." She answered meekly.
"Is she a bad daughter in law???"Raj asked further.This time he only got "silence" from his mother in response.
"Tell me maa.."He insisted.
"You tell me Raj,Is she a good daughter in law???"Maya asked looking straight in his eyes this time.
"Yes,she is maa.."He sighed before continuing further.."and you also know it deep down your heart..Its just your anger which is not letting you to accept it.."
"Why are you so sure raj???"
"Because you did not say "Yes" in answer to my question.."He said with a smile.."She is a very good daughter-in-law maa..Its just She chose to be a good sister and daughter too along with a good daughter-in-law at that time.."
"Yes,Raj..She became a good daughter and sister at the cost of my "grand kid".."Maya said with bitterness..
"It was not only you who had lost her grand kid..She had also lost her son or daughter..Moreover,I had lost my son or daughter..Maa,if you think,It was only her mistake then you are wrong..I am equally responsible for this because I was the one who supported her decision of helping her brother and mother..Don't punish her alone for this,punish me too..."
"Do you regret your decision raj???"She asked putting the cap on oil bottle.
"No maa..I don't regret my decision..I don't think she had committed some mistake by helping her brother and mother..Just suppose,if she had to continue her job for supporting "our" family,would you have reacted in same way???"
Maya did not answer this question too but her son was able to see the denial in her eyes.."I know maa..Your answer is "No"..and I also know that my mother is not that bad at heart.Its only her anger which she is venting on her daughter in law. and I really want her to forgive me and my wife ,if she thinks what we did was wrong..."
"It isn't that easy for me raj.."She said getting up from the bed.
"It would be easy for you maa,if you would accept real "reason" behind your anger..You are angry because I disobeyed you for the first time in my life to support my wife's decision..I am really sorry for that maa but I disobeyed you because you were wrong.."
"Ok, I accept i was wrong..May be that was why you and your wife punished me by excluding me from important decisions of your life.."Maya spoke in an angry and hurt voice.."I agree,having a "tubectomy" was your personal decision..I am no one to interfere in it but as a member of this family,I expect you and your wife to share your decisions with me atleast.."
"I am sorry maa..I know you wanted a brother for aarav.."Raj tried to say but he was intervened by her mother..
"Yes,I wanted a brother for him but do you think I am that orthodox to interfere in such personal decisions of my son.Only you and your wife can decide how many kids you want because you are the one who are going to raise them,who are going to take care of their needs,who are going to bear their future expenses..I would not have opposed your decision,if you had told me earlier about it.."Maya ended with tears in her eyes..
Raj was really hurt seeing his mother's teary eyes..He made her sit on the bed once again as he knelt down near her feet.
"I am really very sorry maa..It was completely my and Kiran's mistake but why are you punishing aarvi for this??Why are you refraining her from her grand ma's love..Do you think,your discrimination between Aarav and aaravi is right???Moreover,maa..you tried to garner this "hatred" in aarav's mind too.."
"No Raj,I didn't do anything like that.."Maya denied.
"Ok,you did not do so directly but didn't you support aarav's insecurities when he shared them with you..Was that right maa???You have no idea waht he tried to do under his misconception..He could have suffocated aaravi with the cushion.."Raj's voice trembled at the end..
"What???" Maya exclaimed in astonishment."Believe me Raj,,I had no idea that he would take such a step.."She said in a regretting voice.
"I know maa but your anger could have make me lose my daughter unknowingly.."Raj spoke putting his head in Maya's lap.."Please maa..Don't let your "anger" harm my family anymore..and my family includes "You" too..More than anyone else,this anger is harming you most..Please forgive us maa.." He pleaded.
"We both need to forgive each other,raj.,,I think my mistakes are more grave than yours."Maya said as she let the tears escape her eyes finally..Each tear drop that escaped her eyes,lighten the weight and washed the bitterness in her heart..Raj did try to wipe her tears or stop her..He just hugged her around her waist.
"I am your son maa..I am no one to forgive you.."He spoke after a while.
"So you want me to apologize to my daughter in law..I am not going to do that even in my dreams." Maya said with a mock anger.
"Do you think,she would let you do that???"Raj asked looking in her eyes to which he got a smile in a response.."You trust her alot since the day you got married,right raj???"She asked caressing his cheek.
"Yes maa..I trust her alot..Remember the day you had made me meet her for the first time,I had told her that my mother is not like "her mother"..She is like a "coconut" with hard exterior and soft interior..She would find it little difficult to adjust with my mother..."
"Really???" Maya asked raising her eyebrows.."and what did she say in response??"
"Kiran said,She would always behave with you just the way she wanted Maan's wife to behave with her mother.." He answered as he saw genuine "regret" in her mother's eyes hearing his words.."Maa I am here to take you all with me..I want to live with my family now.."He spoke further.
"You can trust me with your wife now,Raj..I promise,I won't trouble her anymore..You don't have to keep an eye on me for this.."
"I am not doing this to keep an eye on you maa...I am doing this because I want to reduce the distance between my wife and my mother and I am the only string who can bond them again..Please maa..Don't say no.."Raj requested..
"What did Kiran say about this??"
"I have not told her yet but I know she would leave the final decision on you..."
"Hmm.."Maya spoke nodding her head..Before she could say something,both of them heard aaravi's faint wails..
"Oho..Aaravi is up and now she would disturb her mother's sleep too..Kiran is already having mild fever.."Raj spoke as his feet moved towards door but before he could go outside,his wife came inside with aaravi in her arms..
"What happened Raj???Is maa alright?? Hope her sciatica pain is not back..."She said in worried voice..
Maya looked at pale and tired face of her daughter in law, etched with worry for her.Despite hard effort,she could not keep her heart oblivious to her "care" at that moment..
"I am completely fine.."Maya answered maintaining the strictness in her voice.."Both of you go and rest..I am too sleepy.."She ordered further adjusting the pillows on her bed.Raj picked the oil bottle from the table as he moved towards the door with his wife and daughter..
"Listen.." He heard his mother's voice.
"Yes maa.."Kiran exclaimed turning around.
"Give aaravi to me..She would sleep here.."Maya said making everyone around her astonished..
"But maa..she would trouble you..You won't be able to make her sleep.."Kiran tried to deny after recovering from the shock..
"I have raised her father bahu..I know very well how to make kids sleep..Moreover you are having fever..She would keep on disturbing you whole night..Go and rest now.."
Kiran kept on looking at Maya in disbelief for next few minutes.."Now what are you waiting for,bahu..Give her to me.."Maya ordered..
Kiran's hand trembled as she kept aaravi in Maya's lap.Raj was able to see the dampness in Kiran's eyes as both of them left the room..He knew,his mother would not change in a minute but he was happy because "change" had begun just a moment ago...
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"Maan..You know,what did i miss most in last ten days..??" Geet asked from the bathroom.She was there to change her clothes,whereas maan was putting on his night clothes in the room.
Mamta had taken total twenty minutes to make lemonade for herself in kitchen.Maan and geet had to spend those twenty minutes under the table only.Finally when Mamta was back to her bedroom,they came out and reached their room upstairs stealthily..
"What???" Maan asked settling himself on the bed.
"My pillow.."Geet answered coming out of the bathroom..
"Your pillow was missing you equally hemamalini..."Maan exclaimed opening his arms for his wife.He was amused watching geet running in a slow motion towards him next moment...
"la...dd...ddduuu..."She exclaimed in a "low voice" as she came in to his open arms.
"What was that???" Maan asked with a smile as both of them lay down on the bed..
"Retro drama..."Geet answered with a stupid grin,adjusting her head on her "custom made" pillow.."hmm..so only my pillow missed me..what about my husband???"She asked further.
"Nooo..he did not miss you..He was busy with "Divya".."Maan answered with a wicked smile.
"Divya who???" Geet asked immediately with her angry eyes boring into his now..
"She is the girl with a sweet voice..She was my partner when you were not her with me..wait let me make you meet her.."Maan answered enjoying geet's reaction.
"What???She is here???" Geet asked incredulously.
"Yes..She is here.."Maan answered as he turn on the "FM" with the remote,,Soon the room was filled with "RJ Divya's" voice..
hello my lovely listeners..Mujhe pata hai,clock ki tick tock ab sone ka ishara kar rahi hai..meri tarah aap logo ko bhi bahut neend aa rahi hogi...Isiliye apki divya ka ab aap sabko bye bolne ka time aa gaya hai...
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Maya was patting Aaravi's head but sleep was long gone from naughty girl's eyes..She was in mood of making her grandma sleep rather than get asleep herself as she started patting Maya's cheek with her tiny hand..Maya was astonished as well as amused as she had witnessed her grand daughter's naughtiness for first time..
"From where did you learn all this???I am sure your naughty mami has taught you all this.."Maya said with smile pinching her chubby cheek slightly..Aaravi responded with cute giggles and throwing her legs in the air..
"hmm..so you are not going to sleep now.."Maya spoke touching aaravi's chin."You know how I used to make your father sleep?? By playing old melodies on Radio..." She said further as she turn on her "classic Philips transistor" kept on the table..It took some time for her to tune the radio on a FM channel with the help of knob..She gave a satisfied smile as "RJ Divya's " voice became audible to her..
...but jate jate mein aapke liye aisa song play karungi jo aapko apni sapno ki duniya mein le jayega..It is the bestest "lullaby" I have ever heard..So here comes the "Surmayi aankhiyon mein" in the soothing voice of "Yesudas" from movie "Sadma"..aap log song enjoy kijiye..Divya apko kal yahin milegi at 9 pm in chandani ratein on Radio city 91.1..till then sweet dreams...
SONG{ click here to listen the song..}
Very soon ,soothing music filled the room..Maya turned around only to find Aaravi licking her "Pooja mala"..Strangely,She did not feel any anger at that moment..She just pulled out the praying beads from her mouth and took the little girl in her lap.."Listen.. even radio girl is playing lullaby for you ..Atleast sleep now, lado.." She spoke after a while.
Music as well as soft pats did their job perfectly as aaravi started rubbing her eyes with her tiny fists.."Sleep" was slowly making its way to her eyelids..She yawned cutely before closing her eyelids softly..Maya was about to make Aaravi lay on the bed when she found her face snuggling more close to her bosom as her tiny fingers clutched the "Tulsi mala" in her neck unconsciously..
A tear drop escaped Maya's eye and traveled down her cheek feeling the soft touch of her granddaughter's cheeks near her heart..She removed Aaravi's fingers from her "tulsi mala" as she kissed her tiny palm softly..Her son was absolutely right..Her anger had harmed her most..She understood what she had lost in her anger as she hugged her granddaughter closer to her heart and lay down on the bed for the most peaceful sleep in her life...
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"You would listen to "Parsar Bharti"only from tonight.."Geet instructed her husband with a pout.
Maan gave a slight smile in response before giving a slight peck on geet's head.."As you wish madam...But Divya has a very good taste of old songs..She used to play my favorite songs.."
"Ok..You can listen to songs only but you won't listen her "sweet" voice anymore..You would mute the radio when she would speak..""Geet spoke increasing the volume of radio little.
"Ok.."Maan answered biting his cheek to control his laugh..
"Geet..How did you find your "cure"???He asked after a while.
"Mumma helped me maan.."Geet answered coming into sitting position now."She said,You slapped me because I am yours,not because you think me as an outsider.."
Maan responded with "hmm" to her statement..
"She said "right" maan???"She questioned..Maan was able to feel the slightest doubt still present in her eyes and words..
"Mumma was absolutely right geet..." He answered kissing her lips softly..Geet gave a satisfactory smile laying her head on her pillow again..
"You know geet..That day I had seen Madhulika slapping Aarav,that too for a pity reason..I was hell angry..I had forcefully swallowed by anger but I could not raise my hand at her..Today Mumma's words have made me understand Why I could not slap Madhulika that day.." Geet heard him say as her eyes turned teary.She actually regretted to leave him for ten days.
"I could not slap her because she is noone to me.." He said with a sigh.."Remember geet you have asked me whether I would have slapped Kiran di too in such a situation.."
Geet nodded her head for yes swallowing the lump in her throat as her fingers clutched his tshirt unknowingly.
" I had said "No" in answer but you did not let me complete..I wouldn't have slapped her because she is elder to me..I had slapped her too if she was my younger sister..." He spoke.He was confused feeling the wetness near his heart."Geet..are you crying???"He asked lifting her face from his chest only to see her tear stained cheeks..
" I am sorry laddu..I did not let you speak that day..." She said amid hiccups..
"Its ok geet.."Maan said wiping her cheeks with his thumbs.."Its me who should apologize,not you.."
Very soon,Geet was engulfed in his strong arms..He kept on patting her head till her sobs died..
"Sleep now hamamalini..You are very tired because of journey..."He said making her lay down on the bed..
"Maan.." Geet said sniffing her nose..
"Hmm???"
"How did maa know that you actually taste like laddu???"
"She did not know geet.." Maan said controlling his laugh.
"Then why did she name you "Laddu".." Geet asked..She was genuinely confused.
"She named me "Laddu" because I was a "chubby" baby..and I tasted like laddu to you because I have taken a bite of that "laddu" before coming downstairs.." Maan explained gesturing towards the plate of "laddus" kept on side table..
"ohhh..." Finally realization dawned on geet .She felt little embarrassed on her stupidity but her "embarrassment" increased exponentially as she remembered the cuisines she had enjoyed at "Dhaba" for the dinner..Where as Maan tasted of laddu,she might have tasted of "Garlic" and "Vinegar onions"..Her good habit of brushing her teeth "twice" in a day did no good when it was needed..
Maan was able to read her face.He knew what his hemamalini was thinking right now..That was why he did not want to tell her about "laddus"..
"Garlic Naans are my favorite geet..." He exclaimed with a wink,kissing her cheek which was pink due to immense embarrassment..She did not reply but hid her face in his chest..
Maan too closed his eyes with a content smile playing on his lips as the "beautiful" song on the radio reached its end...With in next one hour,Blanket was thrown on the floor..He was about to pick it when he heard his wife mumbling in her sleep.."I would make you eat "Kheer" before kissing you next time..laddu..."!!!!
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PS-This is the longest chapter I have ever written,though it did not turn out as good as i want it to be..Please try to enjoy it and please please ignore the silly mistakes..Its not proof read..😊
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