Samarpan
The ability to surrender begins and ends with you.
Part 2
"Kids, come to the kitchen."
He was still in the corridor when the duo came running, with Aarti shouting after them, "Slow down both of you….This house hasn't been tornado-proof in years."
Payal slowed down, "Mumma how much time do we have?"
Yash paused in his stride. He hadn't thought of that.
"Four clues…Forty minutes….The dinner will be laid at 10 sharp. If you can't find it till then, then no gift and…," she walked past them on her way out, deliberately brushing against Yash, looking back to finish tongue in cheek, "certainly no dessert." Yash tightened his jaw at the hidden challenge, but didn't say anything except for giving her a smoldering look, which made her scamper outside. Aayu was right….she did always have the final word.
Aayu was devastated…"No dessert!!!…Papa, Di…hurry up. Find the next clue already." Payal gave him an odd look, causing him to be defensive, "Actually Di…Did you know mumma has made her special Chocolate Mousse? She even put a lot of chocolate chips on it for us." He suddenly wanted to see the pudding as they entered the kitchen and ran toward the fridge.
Payal turned to Yash who was rummaging the drawers, "Papa, what are you looking for? Why are we here?"
"Look for a matchbox, Payal. Badinaani must have one around here."
"Matchbox? Oh yes…match this brilliant idea…Warm that brain, light that flame….Papa, you are a genius!!!"
After five minutes, they still hadn't found one. Seeing papa and Di busy, Aayu had finally taken courage to scoop out a spoonful of the pudding, having planned to fill the gap with more of the choco chips so that no one realizes, and was about to put it in his mouth when Payal turned to him, "Aayu, have you seen a match box around here?"
He immediately ducked behind the fridge door and answered, "Not here Di…but I saw one in the mandir." He hurriedly put the spoon in his mouth and turned to find them gone.
"What does it say Payal?" They had found the second clue inside the match box placed at the feet of Lord Krishna.
I sit silently facing you…..Your eyes gazing at me with tender care
Exactly in that spot is the next clue…..Waiting for you to lay it bare
"The dining chair?"
"No Payal…too obvious."
"Where does she usually sit? The stairs…the lawn…the swing…under the oak tree," Payal started counting off, as she walked out in the backyard. Yash followed slowly. What was he missing? He saw Payal check the swing and then walk toward the tree, as Aayu ran past him to help her. Something Payal had said clicked. He reversed the conversation in his mind. The stairs…the lawn…the swing…. Just like that he knew, as he put his hand behind and took out his wallet and flipped it open. He had this picture of hers for years now….He had clicked it the day after he met her in that snack shop for the first time…Well, not exactly the first time. But then he didn't know who she was and had only spoken with her for a few minutes. Actually he had spoken, and she had just communicated with those expressive eyes of hers. Yash walked toward the front window of the sitting room and saw her sitting exactly on that spot, knees drawn up with arms around them, listening to Prateek who was explaining something. To this day he didn't know what had made him take out his phone and click her as she had silently watched him approach her. She hadn't reacted to his act…Later she had told him that she didn't know phones had cameras, never having had one. As if on cue, she turned her head, and on seeing him flashed a dazzling smile, making his insides constrict into familiar knots.
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Yash slid a finger beneath the picture and pulled out the neatly folded note, at the same moment that the kids came in.
"Papa, it's not there. We even looked under the ston…you found it? Wow!! Where was it papa?"
"In my wallet, Payal, and it says…"
You walked into my life spreading radiance…..Captivating and enchanting my mind
In the walking maze lies the next evidence…...Should not be very hard to find
"Walked into…hmmm…Yes…I know. The gate….Papa, you walked in through the gate and then you never let mumma out of your life after that…right?"
The kids ran out as Yash turned to look at the picture again, his thumb caressing it. Whenever he picked up his wallet to go somewhere, he beheld the eyes in the picture for a brief minute, a ritual he never failed to keep wherever he was. Aarti had even pulled his leg at times, teasing him about loving his girlfriend of the picture more than his wife. The fact was that the pull of those large, hauntingly sad eyes had never left him….the hypnotic, heartrending pull that had drawn him to her from the very first moment. He had sworn once that he would never let that look back into those eyes…and by God's grace he had been able to so far maintain that. "This picture is a reminder my love…It never makes me forget the promise I made to myself," he whispered.
"Are you alright Yash?" He felt naanimaasi's hand on his shoulder. He nodded, taking the hand and then shifting in order to hold her by the shoulders as he turned the picture for her to see. She touched it and leaned her head against his chest.
"Those eyes, Yash…those eyes."
"I was thinking the same naanimaasi….so many years have passed but I can never forget that look. And to think I hurt…"
"No beta…I have told you many times…it was not your fault. You yourself were a misguided soul. You both were destined to come together and save each other….Anyways, on this happy occasion why are we remembering those unhappy days…hmmm? Now tell me how many more clues are left before you get your surprise?"
"Oho…we are almost there my darling (touching her dimples). Did you think your one and only boyfriend will let go of his birthday gift? How can I lose when I have your love?" The old lady blushed to the roots, as Yash gave her a squeeze, laughing.
"Papa, we couldn't find anything?" The kids came in with low faces.
"Try the shoe rack."
"Shoe rack? But…(she brightened up as light dawned on her)….of course…the walking maze," Payal looked at Yash who winked and nodded. She gave him a quick hug and hurried after her brother who already had the shoe cabinet open and had thrown down a couple of shoes. Naanimaasi giggled as she walked out to give the others the progress report.
"Uffo Aayu, not the shoes…mumma would never keep it there. Look into that blue shoe box. It wasn't there in the morning."
And so they found the final clue.
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The dreams that I dream all involve you…..Each day begins and ends with you
How you finish the puzzle that gives my heart a lift…..Is where you will find the all-important gift
"Aww papa…that's so sweet."
"Hurry up and solve it Di, otherwise we'll miss our sweet. We have only ten minutes left." Aayu's heart was stuck at the mousse in the fridge. Having tasted it, there was no way he was letting it go. Although he was sure mumma would not deprive him, but what if she stuck by the rules and didn't take it out today?...No, no, no…he couldn't take that risk. Why are they just standing doing nothing? And why does papa have that weird smile on his face?
"Papa…Di…do something. Think…think. Where do we look?"
"OK…this one is simple. I'll let you two handle it. I am going to my room. Just remembered something I have to do urgently."
"You are joking…right papa?"
"No Aayu…use those brain cells and you will know….," saying Yash walked away. He wanted to see what Aarti had got for him, in private. Somewhere in the past half hour he had realized that it was something very dear to her as well. She could be very secretive when she wanted to be….even now. That attribute was inherent in her trait. It might be many years more before she completely let him in. The fear of losing him because of what was drilled into her about her own self had still not gone away. It surfaced now and then.
Leaving the kids wondering about word puzzles that connected dreams and days, Yash went to the bedroom and walked straight to their bed. He smiled as he recalled the clue…The dreams that I dream all involve you…..Each day begins and ends with you. Words were her friends for as long as she knew what they signified. He scanned the bed and noticed the bulge between two pillows toward the bedstead. He flicked aside the bedspread….There it was. On a small heart made of rose petals lay his gift wrapped up in red satin cloth and tied with a gold cord.
His fingers trembled a little as he opened the knot of the cord. He had guessed what it was by the shape of it, even though he was made to understand that it was still a couple of months away. He let the cloth slip from his hands, as he stared at the book…his Aarti's first book, "Samarpan." It had taken him almost a decade to convince her to write one, given her talent with the written communication…and, most importantly, because he wanted her to succeed and hold her own. Tears welled up threatening to fall down as he stroked the cover, before the cover itself registered. He swayed a little as he gazed at the picture of a painting on the cover….A crowd of people, painted only as dark shapes, walking on a road and facing the other way. Among the dark heads is the face of one man who dares to go against the direction others had taken and face the onlooker. His is the only face in color, which is brightened by the virgin sun rays that fall on him. He is smiling encouragingly and holding out his hand, the index finger slightly away from the other three, as a woman's hand reaches out to touch the index finger; the sun is just rising in the far horizon.
He opened the book to the Dedications page, and that's when the tears rolled down, as he read it:
To my husband Yash
I am because you are.
He knew she was there…had been there from the moment he had bent down to pick up the book. She walked up to him and put her arms around him from behind as he clutched the book to him.
"Happy Birthday, darling." She whispered softly pressing her lips on the back of his neck. "Shhssh!! Don't cry…please. You made this happen, Yash. You believed in me all the time I didn't."
Yash turned slowly and gathered her in his arms. There was no need for words. They held each other for awhile…just savoring the precious moment of success. He then sat down on the bed, pulling her into his lap and kissed her slowly, absorbing her very essence into his cells. With great reluctance he pulled away and stared at the woman without whom he couldn't imagine his life, as she lovingly wiped away the tears from his face. They smiled at each other and then looked at the book.
"Congratulations Aarti…you did it."
"No Yash…we did it…together. This was impossible without you."
There was silence for awhile….both serenely content in each other's arms. She knew he had waited for this day much more than she had and wanted a few quiet moments for the knowledge to sink in. Ever since she had started writing the book, he was on a mission…making calls, meeting people, settling for the best publishing house, arranging for her to meet the content editor, who passed the book for publication after reading the first chapter itself; in short doing everything personally so that there was no compromise where matters related to the book were concerned.
He was running his fingers over the book…reverentially. She placed a hand on his cheek and turned his face to her, "Yash…what is it love?"
"This painting…when…where…" He looked at her in wonder.
"You remember, at our Anniversary party last year you spoke with Mr Swami for the first time regarding the publishing details of this book?"
Yash nodded, "Yes."
"Mr Swami had asked whether I had any other hidden talents, and I overheard you telling him that you wished I picked up my brushes again. (She paused to plant a kiss on his forehead) So I did; Pari helped me set up a small studio in the attic side room…You knew about the book, but the painting is your surprise. It's hung up in our room at home. Prateek bhaiya got it mounted after he came back. He and Pari got the book with them."
"But the book was to be out after two months…right?"
"Yes, but I requested Mr Swami if it could be preponed, as I wanted this to come out on your birthday. He very graciously agreed…This is the first copy, Yash. He wanted us back home today for the official release, but babuji spoke with him and scheduled it for this weekend. I am dying to know how you find it."
"I can tell that now only sweetheart…I am going to love it, though I admit I am a little bit curious as to how you have tackled our part."
"It's not an autobiography, Yash….Only you will know where I have included us."
There was a sudden knocking at the door, followed by Aayu's voice, "Papa..open up..I know…I know."
And then Payal's subdued voice came through, "Hush…Aayu…wait, will you. Mumma is in there with papa."
"But Di…the gift…Papa…papa!!!"
"Hold your horses, champ…I am coming!!"
Aarti jumped up in a bid to rush to the door but not before Yash held her by the waist, turning her, "I hope you haven't forgotten that I won the game…"
"So?"
"So Mrs Scindia, I want you back in this room at 11:15 sharp…otherwise…"
"Otherwise what Mr Scindia…hmm?"
"I'll put you over my shoulders and carry you."
"You wouldn't?"
"Try me."
"In front of everyone?"
"Yes. So don't you dare me…."
She burst out laughing, "You are incorrigible…If you have forgotten Mr Scindia, we have a teenage daughter and an overly inquisitive son. (Shaking her head amusedly as she walked toward the door)…At times you behave like the newly married Yash."
"And why shouldn't I…when my blushing bride is as lovely as ever."
"Papa!!!!!"
"You better open the damned door before he breaks it and hurts himself."
The moment Aarti opened the door, Aayu rushed past her and jumped on the bed, going for the pillows, before Yash halted the hurricane hunter.
"Stop Aayu!!! I have found it."
"You have? Where is it? We won, didn't we? (and as Yash nodded) Mumma, we won….I solved the last one, papa…we dream on a bed, right? So it had to be the bed." He looked proudly at his parents who patted him with a laugh.
Payal noticed the book and picked it up. She saw the cover…Samarpan…Aarti Scindia…She gave a squeal of delight and hugged her mother tightly, as Aayu joined in after his father told him about the book. Yash too stepped forward and engulfed his family in a bear hug.
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They were all rolling in laughter as Pari narrated Prateek's frantic antics and facial expressions as he tried to explain a thoroughly amused German policeman in broken French that they needed a conveyance as they had lost their way and had missed their tour bus…and his reactions when after five minutes of the agitation-filled performance, the policeman answered in perfect English as to what they should do. Aayu came out with the bowl containing the remnants of the mousse as he sat down between Yash's legs who sat on a piece of log. They had finished dinner a few minutes back and now sat around the fire. Aarti sat on the other side of Yash and Aayu with Payal resting her head on her lap, her fingers combing through her daughter's wavy, lush hair. As she saw Yash throw his head back in laughter and Aayu joining him, Aarti smiled. Aayu had taken after his father in every which way…..He was taller than boys of his age, slim and wiry, and had the same soul-stirring eyes as Yash, the same jawline, and the same lopsided smile. At ten he was already facing girl attention. Just a few days back Aarti had found the sweetest letter in his diary by his classmate Kavya….Obviously, the lost case had no clue how it got there and was as furious as he could get when Aarti queried him, till she made him sit down and explained how he should conduct himself in such cases.
Yash noticed Aarti's reflecting look and questioned with the slightest lift of his head. Aarti shook her head lightly, once, and smiled. She looked down to find Payal giving her a knowing look.
"What?"
"Nothing ma…It's just that you and papa are so special to one another. The way you two look at each other is goosebumpish. You know, most of my friends have lamented some time or the other about how their parents fought and argued and how ugly it became. They don't believe me when I tell them that I have never seen you guys fight…ever." Payal sat up holding Aarti's hands.
"That's not true Payal…we have our share of arguments."
"Yeah right…and two minutes later you are having a competition as to who can apologize the most. (Sighing) You are so much into each other mumma, even after so many years…it's amazing and it's beautiful."
Aarti lifted a hand and caressed her daughter's cheek, "One day you too will have someone of your own to love…someone who will love you more than he loved anyone….someone who will become so much a part of you that you won't know where you ended and he began."
"No mumma…I don't think so." Payal said with a finality, shaking her head and smiling, "Yours and papa's love affair cannot be replicated. I think the kind of complete and surrendered love papa has for you is one of a kind. No man can ever love me as completely and as reverently as papa loves you. Ma, you are.…"
"DON'T!! DON'T you ever say that or even think that…do you hear me Payal? Do you?" Aarti had caught Payal by the shoulders and was quivering as tears rolled down her eyes.
"Mumma???"
To be continued……..
NOTE:
Angel suggested that I should specify the relations for the readers' benefit. Here is the list of characters mentioned so far:
YASH: SP & Gayatri: Parents (Yash's kids call them dadaji/dadima); Prateek: Brother; Pari: Prateek's wife; Ansh: Prateek/Pari's son; Payal & Aayu: Yash/Aarti's kids.
AARTI: Satyendra Dubey (name not yet mentioned) & Shobha: Parents; Naanimaasi/badinaani: Shobha's maasi (Shobha's mother's sister)
Edited by InduG64 - 12 years ago
Bade Achhe Lagte Hain
