Chapter 48
Smriti could not take it anymore. These were good people around her and all were being nice to her. But she just kept getting more and more uncomfortable in their presence. It was the look of expectancy she saw in their faces that scared her the most. What were they hoping for...a miracle...something?...something that would make her remember her past. Smriti continued chopping the vegetables furiously her inner turmoil surfacing in her actions.
"Aar...I mean Smriti are you alright?" questioned Vidhi who had just stepped into the kitchen.
Smriti was out of her reverie in a blink and adjusted her cutting method so as to not alarm anyone.
"Of course Vidhiji...I am alright. I was just thinking that's all" Smriti answered back.
"About what?" Vidhi probed sensing the tension in Smriti.
"You know just this and that nothing important" Smriti tried to evade giving vague answers.
"You were never a good liar you know. If you do not want to speak about it, then fine, I won't press you for it. Anyway...how did your appointment with the doctor go?" Vidhi asked though Yash had told her but still she wanted to know from Smriti's prospective.
"It was...Ok I guess. He asked me a few questions. Then I had undergone some scans the reports of which are awaited" Smriti gave a jist of what happened.
"I see. When is the next appointment? I just pray to god that something positive comes out of this. Yash bhaiya really has suffered enough if you ask me"
That made Smriti react strongly.
"What if nothing happens and I never regain my memory? Will Yashji keep waiting and waiting for that day to happen. And I do not think waiting is his strong point. He did seem in a hurry to get remarried. Had I not come here that day I am sure he would have been happily enjoying his honeymoon right now with his third wife right now"
"What? What non sense are you talking Aarti? You got it all wrong. Who told you Yash bhaiya was willingly going through with the wedding? He was forced into it. Your bauji threatened to go to court to get Ansh's custody if Yash bhaiya did not comply to his wishes. Yash bhaiya had not choice but to bow down under the pressure. Only we know how much he missed you during the 10 months of your absence. He went nearly insane, he cut himself away, even from the kids, he almost tried to kill himself...how could you not see the love he has for you in his eyes. His sun sets and rises with you.You are so lucky to have such a loving husband. The least you could do now is pray that you get your memories back and realize this fact" Vidhi concluded and stormed out of the kitchen leaving behind a totally aghast Smriti behind.
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"We must go to see Smriti tonight Aakash. I am very worried about her. I just hope by tying this talisman we got from the dargah all her worries would end" said Radha.
"Ok Maa the after I return from work today I will take you to their house"
"I know you must be feeling awkward to go to your previous workplace..."
"Nahi Maa its nothing. Its their loss not mine. Anyway I am over it. Let's just not talk about it OK?" Aakash said and bid good bye to his mother.
That night as planned Aakash took Radha to Scindia Mansion. But for some inexplicable reason anxiety had gripped her as she kept nearing the building. She could not understand why all of a sudden she was feeling restless and scared. She prayed that all was well with Smriti.
Just as both of them had reached the front yard they heard a strong commanding voice.
"You have some nerve to come back here" Pankaj said in a haughty voice with a angry scowl on his face.
"Bhaiya I have brought my mother with me to meet Smriti" Aakash said not getting intimidated but resenting the tone being used by Pankaj.
"Of course you would bring your mother next. You just want to slander our name and reputation do you not. I saw how Smriti rushed to you the other day during the wedding. I guessed she must have been with you all this while. And you...nasty you took advantage of the fact that she had lost her memory, kept her with you. I have no idea how my brother could spare you but do not think I am that generous" Pankaj threatened.
"Bhaiya...if you could just call Smriti , we would just talk to her and be out of your way in 5 minutes" Aakash said trying his best not to react to the accusations and keeping a leash on his anger. Radha was taken aback by this attack and was left reeling she could sense her son's fight to stay calm.
"You just do not get it do you? We do not want you to have any further contact with our Aarti. Not now or in future. Why do you think I fired you? What more will it take for you to understand that you are not welcome here. And if you do not disappear with your mother I will be forced to call police and have you arrested for trespassing"
"There is no need for that bhaiya we may be poor but we are no criminals. We just have to talk to Smrit and go on our way" Aakash stepped forward and was immediately grabbed by the collar by Pankaj, who forcibly turned Aakash around and punched him in the face.
"Oh my god...please do not hurt my son. We will go away from here. Please...please leave him" Radha was on her knees pleading with tears rolling from her eyes.
Seeing his mother in that condition got to Aakash, who finally gave back as good as he got and freed himself pushing off Pankaj and then punching him in return.
"No Aakash...don't fight, let us go away from here..."Radha yelled trying to stop the ugly scene happening in front of her.
With the ruckus and sound Suraj Pratap who was in the study finally got out to see what was happening. Upon seeing his ex-driver trying to hit his eldest son SP was shocked.
"Aakash don't you dare lay a hand again on my son" he issused an ultimatum.
And Aakash stopped midway and let go of Pankaj not wanting to go against the older man's words..
"Bauji...see I told you this ruffian was no good. He is a typical goon and has come to blackmail us" Pankaj said making his own assumptions.
Radha who had turned to stone on hearing SP's voice slowly turned to face him and saw instant recognition followed closely by a look of contempt play on SP's face.
"No please do not bad mouth my son...he is nothing of that sort. We will just go away on our way. We are not here to cause any trouble" she said coming out of her shock.
"Oh! so he is your son is it? Why does that not surprise me? If he has a mother like you no wonder he turned out the way he did" SP spoke his words filled with hatred.
"Hold your tongue Suraj Pratap Scindia...its my mother you are talking about" Aakash said his voice rising with his anger.
"Ah! outrage coming from the likes of you is laughable. If you have even 1/10th of your mother in you then you will have no clue about what pride means. Neither does she know what loyalty and respect means so no wonder she would not have taught you those things"
"Enough...one more word against my mother and I will not tolerate it"
"What are you going to do...I speak nothing but the truth about your mother. It seems she has hidden what sort of characterless woman she is or maybe you are just like her in that respect"
"How dare you..."an out of control and enraged Aakash charged towards SP and tried to hit him but Radha rushed and held his hand.
"No Aakash...no matter what you cannot hit him" she told strongly.
"Leave me Maa you saw how crudely he spoke off you. Leave me..."
"No...don't you dare hit him he...he...he is your father...Uh!" Radha blurted a life long secret out just like that and the regret she felt was like no other. Oh! how she wished she could have taken her words back. The look of shock and disbelief on Aakash face was like a slap on her face. She just lowered her head in shame unable to meet her son's questioning eyes.
"Dear God! The two of you...what a pair. Son tries to con the daughter in law of this house while the mother is trying to throw mud on the patriarch. Are you two not ashamed of yourself? What sort of woman are you coming all this way to make such baseless accusations" Pankaj spoke up his anger towards the woman increasing with each passing second.
When Aakash tried to silence Pankaj, Radha again held him back and the tears in her eyes made him stop in his tracks.
"We are sorry we ever came here. Just let us go away in peace we will make sure never to bother you again" Radha joined her hands and pleaded the Scindia men.
The scorn on SP's face spoke of what he thought about the statement and paternity claim made by Radha.
Radha dragged a dazed Aakash out of the place. She did not dare look back. She just wanted to be out of here as soon as possible and forget this ever happened to her. But she knew the can of worms she had inadvertently opened would not be shut quietly by Aakash. She was now answerable to him...she just prayed Aakash would understand her and forgive the choices she made in her life.
A stunned Aakash kept looking back at the two men who had successfully turned his world up side down. He reluctantly followed his mother out not knowing what else to do at that precise time. Was Suraj Pratap Scindia really his father? Why did his mother hide this from him till now? What sort of relationship did the two have? It was obvious that SP knew his mother...why did he hold such a low opinion of his mother? What was happening ...it was all so confusing and utterly painful.
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Gayatri who had seen the entire scene take place from the window of the house stood where she was as she saw her husband and her son make their way back into the house totally unaware that she had been a witness to the events that took place outside.
Her worst nightmare had just come true. Radha and her husband had come face to face. She was just lucky that her husband did not know the truth that happened all those years ago. What would happen if he were to ever know what she had done? Would all the hatred now directed towards Radha shift towards her? No...that should not happen. She would never let it happen. Oh no no no...would she always be selfish forever. Where was the mother in her? Any doubt she had regarding Aakash's identity was cleared just now when Radha openly acknowledged him to be her husband's son. Yes...he was her son and he had already suffered enough in his life to be deprived further of his rightful place. Yes...she had to do something about this matter. No matter what the cost and who ended up being hurt...before she lost her mind she had to set things as they were meant to be.
TO BE CONTINUED...
PS: Sorry for the delay will get back to earlier comments soon.
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