Chapter 12 - Battling Prejudices
A few days had passed without any acknowledgement of the significance of that day in their lives. Other than Arnav, no-one remembered that this was the day Khushi had left two years ago. Days had passed unforgivably, one merging into the other in these past two years, and each day without her was just as dry and suffocating as the previous one. But this day, today, was one of significance to Anjali. Arnav had left early for the office, with instructions to Anjali to not wait up for him. Aarav was at school, while Payal and Aakash had gone to Lucknow to visit Shashi and Garima. Anjali, Mami, Nani and NK were having breakfast in the dining room. Anjali was visibly agitated and fidgety, dropping utensils and getting startled at the drop of a hat. Naniji looked at her and smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry Anjali Bitiya, everything will be OK." Anjali did not look reassured. "Nani, the past two years Arnav was not here, so we managed. This year, if something happens..." she trailed off uncertainly. NK patted her on the hand and sought to comfort her. "Nanav is at the office, you know he'll be there all day, probably all night too. And I'll pick Aarav up from school and take him out if need be. Don't worry." But Anjali couldn't shake off her anxiety. She looked up to notice Hari Prakash came running into the dining room, but before he could warn them, the foreboding figure of Subhadra Malik strode into the room.
"Hello Hi Bye Bye," tittered Mamiji nervously. "Dadiji, naashta, I just get naashta." Saying so, she ran and took refuge in the kitchen, leaving the rest to deal with their annual visitor. Devyani stood up, and with another reassuring glance at her grand-daughter, went forward to greet her childhood friend. "Sumi, you came early this time." Subhadra glared at them all before replying. "I came to see Arnav. I heard he is in town this time?" Anjali sighed. "Come Dadi, let us sit," she said leading both the elder women to the living room. NK said nothing, but hovered around Anjali, silently offering his support.
Dadi was a sore subject with everyone in the family. Anjali and Nani, the most patient and understanding members of the family, had also reached the end of their line. But yet, propriety and an age-old respect for familial bonds would not allow them to disrespect Subhadra Malik, Arnav and Anjali's paternal grandmother. She was not an evil person, but extremely deluded, prejudiced and arrogant, which in a way was worse than being intentionally evil. She genuinely believed that she knew the best for all, and did not hesitate to act on her warped beliefs. Years ago, her son and daughter-in-law committed suicide the day of Anjali's wedding. Driven by guilt, denial and an inability to recognize the fault of her elder son, she abandoned her family, leaving them at the mercy of her younger son who threw the siblings out of their family home. And four years ago, she re-entered their lives with a furor, instigated by Shyam, believing that Khushi was the cause of all misfortunes that her beloved Anjali had to forbear. Although Anjali was initially glad to have her grandmother's support, she did not stop her brother when he asked their grandmother to either accept Khushi, or else leave them be. In-spite of benefiting from Dadi's support in bringing her husband back to the house, Anjali could not keep on turning a blind eye to the injustice that Khushi was suffering due to Dadi's prejudice. And so, she said nothing, choosing to silently support Khushi. After Shyam's deceit had been revealed to her, she was too devastated to remember Dadi's role in bringing him back to her life. So she forgot, until Dadi returned two years later.
As Anjali sat on the couch opposite her two grandmothers, she struggled to keep her anger at bay, forcing instead a calmness she did not feel. She glanced at her Dadi from under her lashes, and quickly looked down again, before Subhadra Devi could see the animosity that flashed through her eyes. That was what Anjali called her in her mind. Subhadra Devi. She looked at her hands, neatly folded in her lap, and hotly remembered the confrontation with her grandmother two years ago.
Arnav had gone England for business, and Khushi took that opportunity to go and stay with Buaji for a while. At-least that's what she told the family. It was only after Arnav returned three days later that he found the note in their room, telling him that she had left. Anjali felt a sharp tug of pain as she remembered how devastated and desperate her brother had been. He immediately started looking for her, starting first in Delhi, moving his search then to Lucknow, and then tracking down every possible lead to find her. NK accompanied him in those initial days, leaving just Anjali, Nani and Aarav at home alone when Dadi returned. The rest of the family was still residing in the States. She had welcomed her grandmother with tears of joy and open arms. She had wept with relief, happy to have her back, thinking that she had come to be their courage, in their time of sorrow. She cried like a baby, every tear a prayer for the girl she loved like a sister. Anjali, still looking down at her hands, was transported to the past, hearing Dadi's voice in her ears, her hand on her head, comforting her.
"It's ok Anjali bitiya. Don't cry. See? I am back. I have already talked to the lawyer. Everything will be ok." Anjali stilled in her arms, her tears suddenly drying up. She withdrew herself from Dadi's arms and looked at her, curiosity alight on her face. Dadi smiled at her fondly and cupper her cheeks. "We will have Damadji back with you before you know it. I know it's been two long years, but I have been trying all this time, with Damadji to prove his innocence. But that...characterless girl has made it impossible. But now, you will see. I will take care of it all." A stillness descended upon both Nani and Anjali at that moment. Anjali stepped back, and looked at Dadi, seeing her anew, as though she had never seen her before. She felt her blood gushing to her head, a sudden wave of dizziness hit her, and she would have fallen to the ground, had it not been for Nani's strong grip that held her up. "Dadi," she whispered. Dadi looked back at her, a smile on her face. "He cheated me Dadi. He cheated all of us," she whispered softly. Dadi's smile wavered, but she quickly plastered it back on. "No beta. It was all a misunderstanding. I should never have left. See, again, Khushi did her magic and kicked him out." Anjali felt as though she had been kicked in the gut, and without warning a desperate rage took over her. "HE KILLED MY CHILD," she yelled. "There was NO misunderstanding. I WAS WRONG," she sobbed in her Nani's arms. "And YOU let it happen. YOU brought him back into our lives." Dadi looked stunned for a second, but soon the hardness regained dominance. She turned around and sat herself on the couch, and then addressed the two women still standing. "Anjali, I know what is best for you. You think I abandoned you but I did not. I have been in touch with Damadji this whole time, and he loves you still. He understands that you have been influenced. He is willing still to forget all of that. I know that you were forced to sign the divorce papers, but I have already talked to the lawyers. They will try prove that the papers are fake, and that you were coerced into signing. In the meantime, Khushi is gone. Good riddance I say. Now everything can come back to normal." Both Anjali and Nani were overwhelmed by the pure hatred that Subhadra unleashed on Khushi, and both prepared to defend Khushi. But before either could say anything, the front door opened, and Aarav walked into the house, having returned from school. Anjali looked at him, a sudden irrational fear seizing her. Aarav still didn't know that his mother was missing. He thought that she was in Lucknow with Arnav, and Anjali did not want him to find out this way. More than that though, she wanted him nowhere near Subhadra Malik. Before she could say anything though, Dadi struck again.
"Ah, Khushi's illegitimate child. Now there is no need to keep him here. Send him back to where he came from." Anjali whipped her head back and stared at Dadi incredulously. Targeting Khushi was one thing, but insulting an innocent child? "Aarav is not illegitimate. He is Arnav and Khushi's son. They both adopted him, legally, and he is the son of this house," she said, trying hard not to yell. Aarav stood still at the door, surveying the scene in front of him. He quietly walked towards Anjali, and looked up at her. She grabbed his hand and stood stock-still, staring at Dadi, who continued sitting on the couch. "He is your first great grandson, Dadi," Anjali said, her voice laced with sarcasm. "Won't you bless him?" Saying so, she walked forward with Aarav and motioned to him to touch Dadi's feet. Dadi sprung up from the couch in surprise, and stepped back. "Yes Sumi," pitched in Nani. "You are the elder of this house, he is entitled to your blessing." Both women looked at Dadi, who resolutely refused to look at Aarav. She lifted her hand as to ward him away, and walked away from the trio. Aarav straightened himself up, and turned to look at Dadi, his hand still firmly clasped in Anjali's. Dadi turned back at the three of them and said, "I will come back later Anjali. We still have much to talk about." Anjali turned around to face Dadi, and said with a vehemence and force that shocked even her. "No Dadi. Come if you wish, but we will not discuss anymore what was already discussed earlier. Shyam Manohar Jha is an excuse of a human being, and I am ashamed to have ever loved and trusted him. The divorce was my choice, and I will not be revoking it. Khushi is more than a sister to me, and I will not stand for ANYONE insulting her. And Aarav is as good as my son." Dadi was surprised to see Anjali so resolute. She wondered what had come over her grand-daughter. "I promise you Dadi, if you try discuss anything related to those three topics again, I will hurt myself. I have done it before, and I will do it again." Dadi vividly remembered Anjali refusing to eat, insisting on her husband returning to the house. They had almost lost her then, and Shyam had been brought back by Khushi in the nick of time. "Don't think I am bluffing, Dadi, because I am not," continued Anjali. "You are my Dadi, you can come and go as you please, but you will remember my conditions." Dadi knew Anjali was serious. She jerked her head to indicate that she had heard what Anjali had to say, and strode away.
Anjali waited until the front door closed behind Dadi. Once the thud of the door closing came, she sank to the ground and enveloped Aarav in a motherly embrace. Between Nani and Anjali, they told Aarav that his mother was missing, and that Arnav was out looking for him. They told him that he was the light of their lives, and told him to trust always, if in nothing else, but in the fact that Khushi loved him with her full heart. Aarav said nothing, allowing himself to be pampered with love, and instead sough to comfort the two women whose tears seemed to never end.
Dadi had returned the next day. But it seemed like she had understood the seriousness of Anjali's threat, and made no more mentions of Shyam, Khushi or Aarav. After an awkward half an hour, she left. Apparently she no longer lived at the ashram, but was staying at Sheesh Mahal, in the staff quarters with her daughter-in-law and her daughter, Sharmilee. Her son came intermittently to visit them. What exactly he was doing was unclear. Anjali refrained from asking any questions about her Chachaji, Chachiji and cousin. She no longer considered those people family. After receiving no response from Anjali or Devyani, Subhadra left. She returned, around the same time the following year, this time insisting to Anjali to talk to Arnav to return Sheesh Mahal to his Chacha, her younger son Satish Malik, since it was an ancestral property, and Satish Chacha had come on hard times financially. Anjali remembered struggling to not lose her temper. She reminded Dadi of how her younger son had treated them, but Dadi insisted that there was a misunderstanding, he had not thrown them out, they must not have understood his intentions. Peace was made when Anjali agreed to cover the cost of Sharmilee's wedding. No, they would not attend, but there would be no expense spared. Anjali justified that it was not fair to punish their cousin for her father's faults. And so, making sure that Arnav did not find out, Anjali, Akash and Nani covered the costs from their personal accounts. But Anjali stayed far away and refused to even accept an invitation to the wedding. And yet, one more time, Dadi had returned.
Returning to the present, Anjali stole another glance at Dadi, who was calmly sipping her tea. What does she want now, thought Anajli. It seems like she's determined to wait for Arnav to arrive, her thoughts continued. Finally, Dadi put the empty cup of tea down and looked up. "This time I am not leaving without talking to Arnav. This has gone on long enough. Khushi has been gone two years, Arnav needs to move on." Anjali felt a flash of irritation. What makes her think she knows what's best for Arnav, thought Anjali. Nani looked nervously between the two. She knew that Anjali was hanging on to her anger by a thread, and as much as she would love to see Subhadra silenced, Devyani knew she had to handle the situation and keep the peace. "I have brought a rishta for Arnav. The girl is from a good family. I recommend we get them married as soon as possible." Anjali finally looked up and snapped at Dadi. "Arnav is still married. To Khushi," she stated, her eyes throwing daggers. "And where is this Khushi of yours? She got what she wanted, stole all the peace from this house, and left when it suited her. Have you heard even once from her since she left? And on top of that, she has left that boy here. He will be the heir of the Raizada-Malik khandaan? Not as long as I am alive." Anjali stood up in a flash, and only NK's hand holding her back prevented her from lunging at Dadi. "Anjali bitiya, no," said Nani, turning to restrain Anjali, and in the process, spotting Arnav, standing in the foyer, briefcase in hand, and a blank look on his face. Anjali noticed her grandmother tense up, and turned around to see Arnav standing there, the blank look replaced by one of cold fury. She noticed the vein in his neck twitching. That was never a good sign.
In Arnav's defense, he was actively trying to control his anger. He hadn't seen Dadi in over four years, and now here she stood in front of him, insulting his wife and son. If it wasn't for the respect he had for his Nani's teachings to respect his elders, he would have erupted a long time ago. Taking a deep breath, he strode further into the house, and came to stand next to Anjali. Dadi, to her credit, remained passive as she watched the Raizadas band together against her. "Arnav," she started, but stopped as Arnav held his hand out, a gesture mockingly similar to her own. "Aarav is my son, Dadi. He is MY SON. And Khushi is my wife. You insult either of them, and I will take great offense." Dadi's eyes glinted behind her calm face. "I am only saying Arnav, that it is time to move on." She didn't get a chance to say more, since Arnav interjected again. "YOU don't get to decide that." His hands fisted by his side, and he closed his eyes willing himself to stay calm. He felt Anjali stroking his arm, trying to get him to calm down. He looked at Dadi again, who stood still and rigid. He shrugged off Anjali and walked up to Dadi. "You tried to break off my marriage to Khushi four years ago, so I have no doubt that you must be happy she's not here. But I know my wife. She might leave me, but she would NEVER leave her son without good reason. So we will keep looking for her. And I will say the same thing to you that I did before I married her. If you can't accept her, as my wife, as the daughter-in-law of this house, then you can leave." Saying so, he pointed at the door. Subhadra looked at her grandson, and said "I see that you are still blinded. Still making wrong decisions." Arnav cursed under his breath in exasperation, and answered. "Maybe, but it is no longer your business what I do or don't do. I trust you have had your tea? Now you may leave." Saying so, he strode away from the living room. As he reached the staircase, he turned around and saw everyone standing still, exactly as he left them. "I guess you didn't hear me," he addressed Dadi. "You have had your tea, said what you have to, and now you may leave." No-one budged an inch. "Fine, SECURITY," he yelled. A burly black man appeared at the door. "Please escort my dadi out, Samuel. Ensure she gets to wherever she needs to. After all, us Raizadas are hospitable people." He then climbed up the stairs, two at a time, and disappeared in his room without a second look back.
Subhadra Devi, as though coming out a trance, walked towards the security officer, head held high, expression set rigid, while the remaining family members stepped aside to allow her to leave. At the doorway, she turned around and stared at them all. "Is this what you've taught our children, Devyani? Is this how our children treat elders? You may have given up on them, but I will not." Saying so, she turned around, and marched out, closely followed by the security guard. Once she was gone, Nani slumped into the nearest chair, while Anjali looked up at her brother's room, a faint smile on her lips. NK was dying to crack some 'hospitable' jokes, but noticing her tender look, held himself back, and let Anjali savor the return of her brother.
________________________________________So a quick note about this chapter, it was really annoying to write. Dadi's character in the show was one I just did not like. See, people like Shyam are just pure evil. So when they do bad things, I get it. But Dadi is not evil. She actually loves her grandkids. But her sense of reality and importance is so warped up, she just cannot make rational decisions. Although I was happy to see her leave in the show, I felt the lack of a resolution, and I really wanted to see things come to a proper head with her. And so I had to bring her in this FF. Her, and the Maliks, require their due space. But man was it frustrating to write about her.
Regarding my request to all of you from last week, it seems like the majority of you are content to let things just flow, instead of bringing Khushi in prematurely. Thanks for the confidence in the story guys. So I'll just let it remain a surprise then, but there's going to be alot of clues coming up on what may have happened, and alot more on Saakshi's role too!
Anyhoo, as always, please share your thoughts. 😊
With Love, Shy
Chapter 13 here
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