Samarpan (An FF) Part 25 (Thread 2/Page 133) - Page 9

Have read the updates dear, but can't comment long post now.
Me, having a net problem.. 😭

BTW, CONGRATZ for the 2nd thread! 😳


*RESERVED for the moment..
[/QUOTE

Thanks Barbie.

Don't fret my dear...You take your time. I am right here. 😊

When you surrender and release the illusion of control,
you begin to free-fall toward your destiny of a grand reunion with your original self;
a self uncorrupted by the world's false lessons of fear and control;
a self that you seek in your soul mate.

Part 13

"LEAVE HER ALONE." Aarti and Sameer both looked up in surprise…he toward the garden shed, and she toward the house, as the owners of the two voices who spoke those words strode toward them angrily.

As naanimaasi and Yash approached them from the opposite ends of the lawn, Aarti tried to squirm out of Sameer's tight grip, but he held on forcefully. Yash was about to speak up but naanimaasi beat him to it. He looked at the little old lady in surprise as she took the other man to task.

Naanimaasi threw down the handbag she was carrying and stepped up to Sameer in anger, her pretty fair face turning as red as a beetroot, as she put her hands on her hips and looked up at the younger man, "If you don't get your filthy hands off my granddaughter pronto, I'll let loose my hounds on you."

Aarti jerked her head up in astonishment at the mention of hounds, but naanimaasi didn't even look at her, as she continued, "Once the hounds are done with you, I am going to step aside and let the cops come and collect what's remained of you and take you to jail for trespassing on my land. I called them as soon as I saw you."

Sameer immediately took his hand off Aarti and stepped back, "C'mon Granny, you must be joking. In any case what do you have in the name of a hound? A poodle?" He tried to laugh it away.

"If you want to call four Dobermans and two Alsatians that, it's your funeral. You want to meet them? They are back there, awaiting their afternoon meal." Naanimaasi shrugged but didn't lower her glare.

"You are bluffing old lady….You won't do that."

"Try me, young man. You want me to whistle for them? Hmm!!!" She cocked one brow, daring him.

Yash looked on, arms crossed…amused to the core…enjoying the spectacle of the spunky old lady bluffing convincingly and making a fool out of the rascal. Gosh, he loved this nani/dadi of Aarti already. Having been at the back of the house, he knew there were no hounds, or for that matter any other animal. He saw Aarti looking at her grandmother with wonder as she rubbed her hands. He could make out red weals appearing where the scoundrel had held her. His fists clinched at his sides, and he stepped forward between naanimaasi and Sameer.

"You don't have to bother ma'am. Why trouble the hounds when I can do the needful?" Looking straight into Sameer's eyes he spoke quietly, his tone hard and laced with unspoken threat, "YOU...Out…Now. I won't have you troubling these ladies anymore….If you are not out in thirty seconds, you will have to deal with me before the police come." It was naanimaasi's turn to notice the handsome stranger. She was about to ask Aarti who he was when he turned around, smiled, and winked…Naanimaasi's eyes rounded with surprise.

Sameer's cockiness was slowly turning into deep alarm at the perceived threats, "My God, Aarti…you have a mafia family." And then in a much conciliatory tone, "Look, all I wanted was for us to get to know each other better. I know you like me."

"NO, She Does Not." Once again the two voices spoke in unison.

Aarti looked at her saviors in amazement. They hadn't even been introduced to each other, and here they were…talking in chorus! She shook her head in confusion and realized it was time for her to intervene before those two caused some real damage. She went near her grandmother, bent, and picked up the bag. Opening the zipper she took out the jewelry box. Turning around she extended her hand and gave the box to Sameer, saying softly but firmly, "Mr Singhania, it's my fault that I didn't stop you myself earlier from assuming wrong. I am not interested in you or your gifts. Here, take this back. My grandmother was on her way to return it to your parents. Please understand that you are wasting your time on me. Please leave."

"Fine, I am going for now…but only because you ask me to and not because of them. I'll see you soon…very soon." He all but rushed toward the gate, turning to look twice toward the end of the lawn, half expecting the army of hounds to make an appearance.

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"Hounds? Cops?...What was all that naanimaasi? You have been watching too many of those Hollywood movies on TV." Her pain forgotten, Aarti was looking at her grandmother with eyes dancing with mirth, a half smile playing on her lips as she remembered how naanimaasi had bamboozled Sameer.

"Nope…just something Raj taught me…to think on my feet, just so people are not fooled by my size." She smiled and then looked at Aarti worriedly, "Are you alright, my child? Did he hurt you?"

Aarti went and hugged her, "With you around, who'd dare hurt me? I am fine. And you…you were fantastic. Raj nanaji would be proud of you. I love you, naanimaasi….so much."

Naanimaasi closed her eyes in bliss as tears fell…This was the first time Aarti had said those words. She quickly wiped her eyes and turned toward Yash, who had missed nothing, "Aarti, who is this?"

"Oho…I am sorry. He is Mr Yash Scindia, naanimaasi. He is repairing the swing for us." Yash looked at Aarti, waiting, but she wouldn't say more than that.

He folded his hands in Namaste and greeted the old lady, "Namaste, ma'am!! Miss Aarti here omitted to mention that she very kindly fed me last night when I didn't have any money on me. And today she refused to take the dues, but offered me a job so that I don't feel offended."

"Yes, that's very much like my Aarti. Well, Mr Scindia, thank you very much for coming to our help. That was very chivalrous of you."

"Entirely my pleasure, Ma'am…and may I say I thoroughly enjoyed the dressing down you gave that rogue. I salute you." Yash touched his index and middle fingers to his temple in a saluting gesture. "Now if you will excuse me I shall go and finish my job…." Turning to Aarti he said gently, "Please put some ice on your arm. It's red and must be hurting a lot." With that he strode away.

Naanimaasi looked at his back reflectively, "Hmm! A gentleman…very rare to come across one these days. I wonder!! I certainly do wonder!!"

"What naanimaasi?"

"Nothing child…come, let me attend to your hand."

Aarti put an icepack on her hand and sat on the dining table to finish her work. After giving her the icepack, naanimaasi had disappeared. It was almost lunchtime when she heard laughter and then saw naanimaasi enter the kitchen through the back door along with Yash Scindia. He bent down and whispered something and her grandmother giggled merrily. Aarti stood up in mystification at such ease between the two people who had just met. Naanimaasi breezed into the room and announced, "Aarti, what a wonderful person Yash is. He also mended that gap in the fence …and he has promised to come back tomorrow and look at the attic staircase and see what to do about that branch that's almost entering through your room window. And now…(she rubbed her hands in happy satisfaction) we are going to have lunch…together. You know Aarti, he wasn't coming in; it's only when I said you would also wish the same as it is already lunch time that he agreed. Yash, the washroom is at the end of the corridor. Why don't you go and wash your hands?"

Yash smiled and nodded, mouthing a thank you. Naanimaasi went into the kitchen calling out for Garima. Aarti began collecting her papers as Yash started for the door behind her. Just then a sheet escaped her hands and fell down. As both bent to pick up the paper, their heads banged against each other.

"Ouch," they exclaimed. Yash's hand immediately lifted to check on Aarti's forehead. "Are you alright? I am sorry." She jerked her head away from his hand and stood up, stepping back a couple of steps. She didn't say a word, but her hands trying to gather the files were trembling. Yash stood up slowly, wanting to say something, but thought better of it as he sensed her withdrawal. He was almost at the door when he heard her low voice, "Excuse me!" he turned around to see her approach him tentatively. He waited as she nervously twisted the fingers of both hands around each other, looking at a point on his left and chewing on her lip, and then asked gently, "You wanted to say something ma'am?"

She nodded, "Yes…I…actually, Maltidi says…I mean they say that if heads get banged accidentally, one should always nullify the bang with another one, otherwise…."

"Otherwise?" Yash knew what the otherwise was, having got it many a times from Payal, but he wanted her to speak out. He was finding her discomfort at trying to make the childish request very cute.

"Otherwise we'll grow horns," She looked at him wide eyed, very sure he must think her insane. She couldn't understand the look he had on, so she backed away, lifting her hand in a stop sign, "On second thoughts, forget it. That was stupid."

"Oh no, it wasn't," Yash said as he stepped forward, "My dadima says the same thing."

As she tilted her head sideways, he brought his forehead and touched her. Her hair smelt of strawberries. He breathed in with closed eyes…her fragrance lingering on as she withdrew and walked away.

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Aarti was quiet through the meal. Naanimaasi and Yash kept the conversation going, as the former questioned him about his family and home.

"So, who all are there in your family Yash?

"Everyone….babuji, ma, a younger brother, and my dadi…but they live far away…in Bhopal. I have a three-year-old daughter." He looked at Aarti and saw that that bit of news had piqued her curiosity as her hand stilled while breaking the chapati, and she finally looked toward them…waiting.

"Really? What's her name?"

"Payal….she is with my parents at the moment."

"Why? Where is her mother?"

"Payal and I have only each other….She lost her mother when she was born."

They heard a clutter and looked toward Aarti to see she had dropped her spoon on the plate, knocking the bowl of dal over onto the table. Her soft apology came immediately, "I…I am sorry. I wasn't…I…" Naanimaasi had crossed over to her in no time, grabbing a paper napkin as she went. "It's OK Aarti….Don't fret child. In any case, I intended to wash the cover tomorrow. You have the meeting on your mind…Such things happen when one's mind is preoccupied." As naanimaasi continued to gently pacify Aarti while cleaning the spot, Yash looked at Aarti. She had gone all white. What had happened? They were talking…and she was listening. Was it something he said? Yash was at a total loss as to what had caused her this much distress?

Naanimaasi saved the situation by talking nonstop and arranging for another plate for Aarti, seating her next to Yash, as they continued their meal. She knew what she had to ask of Yash and only pray that she had judged him right…His answer…the right one… was imperative to put Aarti at ease. Very casually she asked, while passing him a chapati, "So, Yash…do you miss your daughter?"

Yash instinctively sensed that he was being judged here….He didn't know why he felt that, but he did. Maybe because of naanimaasi's pointed gaze while putting the query…or maybe because he felt rather than saw Aarti becoming still as she waited for his answer, the glass of water in her hand.

"I miss her very much Ma'am. I love her a lot. We can't live without each other. She is always on my mind wherever I go. Unfortunately, I had to leave her back when I came here for work. Things haven't gone well in my life…but my luck seems to have changed, now that I have met you." Aarti glanced sideways to see he was looking at her…She immediately reverted her glance, but not before he noticed that the distressed look was replaced by relief.

Naanimaasi looked at him with genuine concern, "You said you have a job now, so why don't you get her here?"

"I plan to, as soon as I get a place to stay. I have been asked to vacate the room I was staying in within two days."

Yash had just passed the last bit of remark offhandedly, just to stay within the image…although why he was still carrying the charade he wasn't sure. There was a transparency in the two souls who sat there that could not be denied, yet he wasn't able to completely let go off his bitter past…especially his wrong choices. He hadn't met such genuineness in a long time….absolutely no pretense, and certainly no duplicity, although he was pretty sure by now that Aarti's life hid some grave misery. Yash was finding it unable to justify his actions to himself….Was he expecting her to falter? Or, was he just apprehensive that she will distance herself more if she knew he wasn't who she thought he was? He saw how straightforward she was with that Singhania guy. He was brought out of his reverie as he heard a sudden gasp come from his side. He looked at Aarti, who was looking at her grandmother as if she had said something that was totally unexpected. He realized that naanimaasi in fact had said something to him.

"I beg your pardon, what did you say ma'am?"

"You heard what I said Yash…You can shift into our outhouse till you are able to make arrangements of your own. I showed it to you when you were working on the fence. It just needs a little bit of cleaning up and will be as good as new. I'll have someone look into it tomorrow morning itself. What do you say?"

"I don't know ma'am. Are you sure? You don't know me at all. Also, the rent…."

"Ah balderdash! I know a good person when I see one…As for the rent, you don't have to pay me in money. On your off days you can help me with the repair works…God knows, there's always something going wrong in this place. Plus, your presence will give me a sense of security. I don't trust that cad Sameer to give up on Aarti so easily."

He looked at Aarti, waiting for her to say something. She took a deep breath and turned toward him, "Please say Yes, Mr Scindia. Naanimaasi is right. This arrangement will solve your problem as well. You haven't yet begun your new job. You won't get your salary before next month. You shouldn't be staying without your daughter for that long. She needs you."

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In the end Yash had agreed. He had to. How could he say no to those earnest, kind, trusting eyes? She was clearly worried about Payal. He had no idea where this was going. Twenty-four hours back he was not even aware of the existence of Aarti…and now, as he sat sipping a cup of coffee in the hotel balcony, he accepted that he cannot let her go, not even if….No, he shook his head; he will not think negative. This time it felt right in a different way…in a very personal way. It was as if all his life he was waiting for her to show herself. Isn't this what dadima also told him on Payal's birthday? He still recalled her words clearly: "You will find her…when the time is right. She is waiting for you." He closed his eyes and felt this peace surge through him in a long, long time. Even though he knew next to nothing about her, yet he was profoundly aware of her essence. This awareness was warming him from within…inspiring him to break out of his shell.

Yash suddenly remembered something and wanted to read it again. He got up and went inside, keeping the cup on the center table and picking up the journal lying there. He knew where the poem was as he flicked through the pages. She had written it…but it could have been for him. He sat on the bed and read it for the nth time:

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To be continued...

Awesome update

wow..beautiful indu di..especially those poetic lines..they are brilliant..waiting for the next update

beautiful update. loved naanimaasi and yash's interaction, their bonding was very natural. so now yash is going to stay with them. would love to see payal joining them and payal-arthi interaction. wonderful poem there, waiting for more to come.

That was so beautiful and fulfilling...loved it...waiting eagerlyfor the next update...want to see payal and how she interacts with arti...have a feeling arti will open up to her

Beautiful update Indu 👏