Little Red Flower -Thread One- Chapter 1 to 8 - Page 14

Little Red Flower

Chapter Two

Destined

Lavanya patted Cammy's cheeks and got inside the room which was been allotted for her. They were at an Ayurvedic Massage Spa at Karoor. Khushi had an urgent meeting of seniors and since she could not pick Cammy at time, Lavanya whole-heartedly accepted her request and took Cammy with her after the school.

They went straight to the Spa were Lavanya had an appointment with for her backpain. Cammy looked at the numerous coloring books and comics in front of her and picked "Adventures of Tintin" from among those.

The receptionist smiled fondly at her as she asked if she needed anything to drink while she waited. Cammy politely denied and drank from her water bottle instead, when she felt thirsty.

She was been done reading the book in a moment and was getting bored inside the spa. She kept looking around and found few girls playing snakes n ladders in the corridor. They seemed like foreigners probably their parents might be inside the Spa getting a massage or something Cammy thought walking towards them.

She stopped on her tracks as she found a man bending right next to them, as he hugged one of the girls for winning the game while the other one pouted. Her heart smiled at the vision in front of her, ohh how badly she wanted to have such relation with her father, if only!! She trailed off and walked back to the seat she was been sitting from last 30mins.

The door got opened in a whoosh and a man in three piece suit entered the main office walking briskly towards the reception. Cammy looked up at him as he asked for the receptionist for assistance. Cammy looked at the seat and found it empty. May be she is off to the loo or something..? She thought leaning back onto the seat.

The man was looking tired and exhausted as he rubbed a palm over his eyes.

"She was here few minutes back, may be gone for a coffee or something?" Cammy said politely while the man looked at the little girl in front of him with a mischievous glint in his eyes. The girl felt very familiar to him, especially her eyes. He walked towards her and sat on the next chair.

"Thank you...Ms..?" he asked smiling at her while Cammy stood up and extended her hands towards him.

"Chaahat Gupta... And you are?" She asked in a business like tone that he totally appreciated.

"Arnav Singh Raizada"

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Cammy was shocked would be an understatement as she stood rooted to the spot. Was not the name? She trailed off looking at him with her huge almond eyes turning into saucers. She checked him out; he was wearing everything black except his white shirt. His hair was gelled back and his features were hard, devoid of any smile.

It's not possible? He is not the only Arnav Singh Raizada right?! Mumma said there is 6more people just like us in the whole world, but she did not say they would have the same name too? Her little 6-year-old brain was in a war with her heart.

Arnav looked at the girl curiously, the Gupta word still ringing inside his head. He was about to ask her about her parents as why was she sitting all alone at the place when the receptionist called him from behind. Cammy leaned back onto her seat, lost in her own thoughts while Lavanya came outside after finishing with her treatment.

"Shall we go honey pie? Your mumma just called, the meeting is over and she will meet us at the diner...next to Marine Drive.." Lavanya said excitedly extending her both hands in front of Cammy to hold her. Cammy clutched onto her extended hands her eyes fixed elsewhere and they left the Spa leaving a confused Arnav Singh Raizada behind.

"Excuse me, Do you have any idea who's that little girl is?" Arnav asked to the receptionist his eyes still fixed on Cammy's retreating form. The receptionist looked up from her desk and nodded her head in negative.

"Lavanya Mam is a regular customer, the girl is her friend's daughter.. I think, but I am not sure Mr. Raizada.." she said adjusting her glasses. Arnav sighed and walked towards his allotted room for the massage. He was a patient there from last couple of years for his migraine. His sister Anjali was adamant to make him try Ayurveda for once as he had tried all possible medications for his migraine in the past.

It was a monthly process and he reached Kochi for the same every month and left after spending few good days at the beautiful place.

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Khushi looked at Cammy's face as she drank her milk without any pushing from Khushi's side and slipped inside the duvet, wiping her face with the back of her hand. Khushi picked her favorite bedtime story, Alice In Wonderland from the nightstand and started reading it from the first page. Cammy watched her mother closely and thought about that night when she had shared everything about Arnav Singh Raizada. She clasped and unclasped her hands nervously, confused if she should break the news to her mother or not. What if, he is not the one? Her heart sored at the thought, somewhere in the corner of her heart, she had started pairing him and her mother. And the picture indeed looked perfect.

She was not hearing the story that Khushi was reading carefully. She smiled at her mother who was constantly yawning as she read the book.

"Mumma... I am not listening..." she admitted grinning widely while Khushi frowned placing the book back onto the night stand. She knew something was wrong with Cammy., she was abnormally silent when she had came back from the spa with Lavanya.

"Whats wrong? Something happened in the school or at the Spa?" Khushi asked massaging her tensed muscles as she tied her long hair in a messy bun. Cammy watched her mother's long hair and sighed. Her hair was too short and Khushi never let it grew longer than her shoulders.

"Umm... I met a person at the spa today; he was nice to me...do you want to know what his name was?" She asked nodding her head at Khushi while Khushi nodded back with puppy eyes.

"Arnav Singh Raizada"

Cammy watched her mother's face losing the whole color at the mention of the name, which held so much importance in both their lives. She down casted her eyes instantly and joined her on the bed. Switching off the lights was the best option Khushi came up with to hide her emotions from her daughter.

"Mumma...do you think that..He...he might be...?" Cammy said her head resting on Khushi's bosom while Khushi wounded an arm around her daughter dragging her closer to her form.

"Mumma does not know beta... go to sleep now...you have got school tomorrow.." She said dropping a kiss on her forehead and patted the small of her back lulling her into sleep.

She heard Cammy's labored breathing after few minutes and slowly removed her hands from her hold and placed her favorite soft toy "piglet" right next to her. Khushi saw her snuggling closer to the same as she watched her daughter with teary eyes.

Her heart was beating like crazy as if she had run a marathon. She could not just believe that he might be here; somewhere in the dark corner of her heart, she wanted it to be true. She had longed to see him, all these years, when she was the one who left him whole-heartedly.

Her legs carried her towards the cupboard where she had hid a small bag, the bag that held her secrets. A weak smile spread across her pale face as she opened the same and took out the things.

"A pearl necklace, a beautiful poster of Salman Khan, a red sari that Arnav had gifted her on her birthday and finally his scribbled note, which had written "Laad Governor" on the same in his unbelievable handwriting..Which Khushi used to tease him as "Keede Makkodon Ki Baarat"

She felt her lips stretching into a sad smile as she caressed that shaggy piece of paper and those letters. A tear fall down onto the paper, spreading the ink everywhere as Khushi carefully wiped the same with her dupatta.

Devi Maiyya, why now?

She asked looking upwards tears finally made its way down, wetting her cheeks.

________

Arnav stared at the calm Arabian Sea in front of him as he strolled through the balcony, his phone pressed to his ears. Anjali was absent-mindedly talking to herself while she read the profile of some girl on a matrimonial site. It was a daily routine to Arnav and he was quite used to the same.

"What do you think?" She asked from the other side making Arnav almost jump in the air at the sudden question thrown at him. He was not listening to her, as usual his thoughts were disturbed by the only person who made his heart go dhak dhak. He stared at the phone for few seconds and bid a good night like always and walked inside the bedroom, leaving the balcony door open so the cool wind of the sea wafted across him while he tried to get some sleep.

He closed his eyes finally, relaxing onto his bed. He felt abnormally calm that night as if something good was going to happen, something he yearned for from years. He fluttered opened his eyes and sat straight, as a pair of eyes flashed in front of him.

The little girl, she had eyes very similar to Khushi... who was she? He thought scratching his head and fell onto the bed deep in thoughts.

He had to find out.

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The PTA meeting has been already started and kids were been sitting on their respective chairs next to their parents. Khushi stood at the door looking at Cammy who was busy drawing something on her notepad, the seat next to her empty. Khushi's heart constricted at the sight as she entered inside after taking permission from Ms. Samuels and saw Cammy looking up at her with horrified eyes. Khushi smiled at her daughter affectionately taking the seat next to her. Cammy was surprised to see her mother at the hall and she looked up at Ms. Samuels who was smiling at her from the stage.

"Mumma... you took an off?" She whispered leaning sideways onto her mother's chair. Khushi nodded smiling and then looked towards the stage as teacher's went on with the meeting. The upcoming events, cultural activities, sports and quiz concerts that had to take place in the coming month.

Every other parent was donating huge amounts for the welfare of the school, and Khushi looked helplessly at them, as they submitted their paying slips before leaving the meeting. Ms. Samuels reached for Khushi's sides while Cammy stood up from her seat immediately. She held her mother's hands possessively before looking at her Principal Mam with a determined glint in her eyes.

"Ms. Samuels, will you please excuse us for a minute?" Cammy asked smiling widely at the woman and she nodded her head. Cammy dragged her mother to a corner while Khushi was little surprised by her daughter's behavior.

"Mumma, I know what you are thinking.. it is not necessary to donate... I will talk to Principal Mam..." Cammy said thoughtfully her almond eyes, showing pure concern for her mother. Khushi cupped her cheeks and kissed her forehead before walking towards Ms. Samuels who was waiting for her at the door.

Khushi sighed, looking at Cammy's curious face and then removed a thousand rupee note from her purse, and placed the same on Ms. Samuel's hands. She looked up at Khushi who was smiling at her as she submitted the money.

"Dear, I was not waiting for this... I just wanted to talk to you about something else..." Ms. Samuels said shoving the money back into Khushi's hands. Khushi frowned and followed her to her cabin, holding a equally curious Cammy's hands.

__________

"Sister Claire was here yesterday, she was visiting St. Alphonsa's..." Ms. Samuels said smiling at Khushi and Cammy and found their faces lighting up instantly at the mention of the name.

Khushi and Cammy exchanged a look holding each other's hands while Ms. Samuels pushed a paper cover and a small packet towards Khushi. She picked up the same and found few inland letters inside the same. She knew, who the sender was as that person was the only one who had still contacts with her, after all these years of separation.

"Thank you..." Khushi smiled shoving the same inside her bag while she handed over the small packet to Cammy who was grinning looking at the same. Cammy did not waste a second as she pulled the glitter paper away and opened the small box only to find a violin inside the same.

"Mumma...look... Clay sends me a violin..." Cammy exclaimed leaving her seat as she held onto her gift like her life depended on it. Khushi patted her cheeks as she ran outside holding onto the same. Ms. Samuels held Khushi's free hand on the table, and Khushi looked up at her instantly.

"Claire, she told me everything about you and Cammy... You can ask me anything, any help any time.. don't hesitate... okay?" She said squeezing Khushi's hands while she nodded her head, not meeting her eyes. Her eyes were already teary as she remembered her days at Bhopal, St. Antony's Cathedral and Orphanage. The place she spent four important years of her life. Sister Claire, who took care of her and Cammy like her own, and she was like a motherly figure to her, who supported her when she was in the verge of a break down.

"You are a strong woman Khushi, and a perfect mother to Cammy. I can see her growing into a person just like you, strong and independent...it does not matter if her father is not with you..." Khushi withdrew her hand from the hold and stood up instantly.

Ms. Samuels knew Khushi was not comfortable talking about Cammy's father. It was reflecting in her eyes.

"I am sorry... I was just..." She trailed away and looked at Khushi's teary face. She wiped her face vigorously and flashed a smile at her.

"Its fine... We shall leave now... we have loads of shopping to do.. its my salary day.. you know..." Khushi said sniffling and shook hands with her.

"Khushi...I want to see you in every meeting..dont back yourself down.. she needs those grace marks.. I know Cammy was hiding about the same from you..just because you don't feel bad attending the same.. you don't have to worry about anything... I am here, right?"

She smiled patting Khushi's shoulder and she smiled back at the sweet woman.

"Thanks Ms. Samuels, can I hug you?" Khushi asked down casting her eyes.

"Of course dear.. come here..." Ms. Samuels exclaimed pulling Khushi into a hug while Khushi rested her head onto her shoulders. Cammy was watching everything from the door and she turned away instantly as she found her mother hugging her Principal Mam.

"Cammy is very brilliant and she has a very clean view of her future...I can see the determination in her eyes. She will really make you proud one day..." Ms. Samuels said as Khushi left from there a sweet smile on her face as she looked at her daughter waiting outside the room, her back to the door.

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Aman was looking at his laptop screen when Arnav's face flashed indicating his video message. He waited as his voice came to his ears, and he knew he had some doubts, of course regarding Khushi.

"Aman.. do you think Khushi might be here, at Kochi?"

He said rubbing his forehead while Aman was thinking hard, trying to connect the possibilities.

"ASR, I tried really hard to get the details, where she was been transferred, but the company is not willing to share the same with us. They said its confidential and their employee had personally asked them to keep her identity safe, because of some safety reasons..." Aman sighed while Arnav leaned back onto his chair.

"Did not you offer them with money?"

"They said their employee's safety comes first for them...and she being the one of the best performers, make them bound to her and her demands..."

"Fine... Just keep trying with other resources... I will be back next week..."

He said shutting off his laptop and closed his eyes.

Safety reasons?!!

Is she in some kind of trouble?

Alternatively, she never want me to reach her.

He groaned throwing his head back onto the couch while his outstretched leg touched the panel of the glass table, making the laptop skid away from there. His heart was in his throat as he caught the same, before it hit the ground.

He smiled drawing in a relieved sigh, as Khushi's face flashed as the screensaver. It was a picture of their Henna Ceremony and she looked ethereal in that yellow lehenga and that red flimsy blouse, which left nothing to imagination. She was dancing and he was standing at a corner, watching her. she was a vision when she smiled and that too at him, her eyes twinkling with something more than love, just for him.

He felt his eyes moistening at the mere thought and he walked away from there, his hands in his pant pockets, caressing those white pearls. Which held so much importance in both their lives!!

"I love you... Please come back to me..."

He whispered staring at the horizon as birds chirped and flew back to their nests.

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Hope it was not that bad...

Note :

Thank You for the beautiful comments for the first chapter of "Little Red Flower"

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