Chapter 29
The time between that day and Palak's birthday were hectic, there were so many last minute preparations; after school Palak choose to stay close with her Aarti mama when Aarti was in the kitchen cooking with Ishita Palak will sit quietly with her coloring books, she helped to set the table for dinner this made her feel important.
The morning of Palaks birthday Aarti, Yash, and the kids woke Palak up singing happy birthday, then a shower of rose petals fell on her. The birthday girl was kissed, tickled by her family laughing and enjoying then they were joined by Radha, holding a chocolate cake, Akash holding his daughter, and Ishita with a gift box in her hand, they each kissed Palak wished her a happy birthday and then the little lady cut her cake giving her mama the first piece then her papa followed by her siblings. Radha, Akash, Pryia, and Ishita all got a piece from their little lady. Palak opened her gifts and said thank you to all with a hug and kiss this was the best birthday so far.
The kids went to school very happy Aarti sent sweets for their classmates and teachers. After school the family visited the orphanage distributed gifts and sweets to the children, and staff. Then it was back home for the party Yash made sure all the decorations were in place just as his princess wanted under large tents set up in the gardens. It was a fairy princess theme Radha stood at the entrance with Aarti and Palak to welcome the guest and gave the girls their wands, cute wings and tiara shaped hats. The boys got swords and crowns, Ansh thought that the wing for the boys will look to girly so he came up with the idea that the boys will be the soldiers the protectors of the fairies.
There were actually two parties going on one for the kids and the other for the adults, Palak wanted a magician to perform, Payal suggested a clown so AarYa got both. Ansh was more interested in the bouncy castle and they played rescuing the princess fron the evil queen. All Palaks favourite snacks, and party foods were served. The adults had their own food and drinks together with dancing, Akash and Ishita acted as host, and hostess for the adults, the Scindhias arrived late to the party because they had to convince G3 to attend, and Paridhi was doing another one of her adult tantrum with Prateek. They were introduced to Akash, Iashita, and Radha. Whom all pretended that they did not know each other for their own personal reasons, they greeted the Dubeys G3 and Maya was as usual showing attitude with them. Aripta's parents came and they together with Maya, and G3 had to find fault in everything especially since the girl's payed little attention to them and spent more time with Radha, and the Dubeys who were supervising the kids party.
AarYa tried to get the kids to spend time with their grand parents but they were more interested on having fun with their friends, and enjoying the show.
When Palak cut her cake Aarti got the first piece then Yash, Ansh, and then Payal then she give to her relatives. G3 and Aripta's mother were annoyed at this because they saw the love and trust Palak showed Aarti and Ansh. When they heard Palak calling Aarti mama and hugging her for pictures, and saw Yash having fun taking pictures with his family, the kids insisted that they also do some silly poses; and when the time came to open the gifts Palak sat on Aarti lap for her to help open the boxes, they [The two evil grandmothers] were annoyed and disgusted. How dare that nobody of an orphan take their precious Aripta's place in the girl's and Yash's lives?
After the party and all the guest left leaving the relatives "Yash beta will you perform the death anniversary prays for Aripta tomorrow as you do each year?" asked Aripta's father
"No papa I will not but you can do it after all she was your only child."
"But she is your wife the mother of your children"
"Papa she was my wife and yes she is the biological mother of my girls, but Aarti is my wife and the mother of my children. Now is the time for me to celebrate life with the living not dwell in sorrows of the past"
While Yash was having this conversation with Aripta's father the ladies were trying to influence the two innocent girls against their mama but they were in for a surprise because Palak said "That my Aarti mama is the best, she made sure I had all that I wanted for my birthday."
"But your real mama Aripta did not come your step mama stopped her and she so wanted to be here" said her nanai ji
Nani ji did Aripta mama come in your dreams while sleeping and told you so??' asked an innocent Payal
"No beta she spoke to me on the phone and said so."
"Do they have phone with god nani ji?" asked Payal
"Payal there are no phones in heaven only here on earth." Said Palak
"So how did Aripta mama speak to nani ji
"Payal you are too silly of course nani ji dreamt Aripta mama when she was sleeping, Aripta mama can't speak, or touch us she is in heaven with god looking down on us. Aarti mama is here to love and take care of us for all our lives"
"Palak don't be so rude to your elder your Aripta mama won't like it" said her nani ji
"Nani ji Aripta mama is dead and can never come back to us but our Aarti mama is here to love us. Why don't you like Aarti mama she is very nice and the best mama to us"
G3 shouted "Yash what is this? Is this how that woman is bringing up my grand daughters to be rude to her elders?"
AarYa came forward "Palak were you being rude?"
"No papa."
"No papa" chorus Payal
"Ma what did Palak say?"
"She has forgotten her nani ji, and her mama, prasing another woman who can never love her as much as her own blood."
Before Yash could answer SP said "G3 you have started youe foolishness again I have had enough can't you be happy for your son and his family, cant you one day out of your life be grateful to Aarti for bring back the sunlight in our childrens lives, celebrate with the living and stop prasing the dead."
"It is easy for you to forget my daughter Suraj ji" said Aripta's mother "Give her place to this woman"
Yash said "This woman as you call her is my wife and the mother of my three children, and yes I love her and she loves me, and we both love our three children. If you or anybody have a problem with that too bad you will just have to live with that knowledge. You daughter was my first wife she gave Palak, and Payal and yes I believed that she was the love of my life but I was wrong, she was my first adult romantic experience, I was infatuated with her, I convinced that she was my soulmate but I was wrong because I was immature and followed the traditions taught to me. Now I know what true love is and Aarti is my soulmate I don't have to think or be convinced by anyone I knew it the moment I first looked into her beautiful eyes that she is the one, my heart, not my brains tells me this. Aripta will always be a part of my life through Palak, and Payal. I lived with her for four years she will be a part of my history, she is associated to my memories both good and bad; but don't expect me to be the old Yash always willing to please you by keeping her alive. Living in the past allowing my life to slip by just to keep a misguided promise I made to her, and keep you people happy."
"Well I have never been so insulted in all my life, clearly you don't want us to be a part of our grand daughters life and for that we will see you in court!" shouted Aripta's father and he and his wife left
G3 shouted "look what you did you humiliated two good people for this trash" looking directly at Aarti
They all heard the sound of a slap it was SP "G3 apologize to Aarti bahu now! You have no right to call her names!"
"Just like I have no rights to call that woman, and her illegitimate son thrash, your lover, and your son!!" looking straight at Radha and Akash
You could have heard a pin drop in the silence then Shoba said kids come with me she took them inside to get ready for bed leaving the shocked adults to talk.
Pankaj "Bauji what is ma saying, do you know these people from before?"
"Pankaj what will he say he can't deny it when I know the truth. That man over there is your half brother."
"MBKK Bhabhi how can you say that about bhayia he will never do such a thing."
"Maya shut up you don't know everything about our personal lives!"
"MBKK Bhabhi no need to shout at me I am stating a fact my bhayia will not stoop so low and disrespect his family"
"Well Maya jiji let me inform you that yes he did and that man there is the living proof" pointing to Akash.
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