An AarYa SS The Family part 2C page 11updated 12/26/17 - Page 7

Chapter 2 A

Aarya and their kids together with Maya left for the village; Aarti was excited to she was going back to the place of her birth, filed with the hope of meeting her mother's relatives. Sonia buaji had provided her with the address of her elder brothers and she had written to them introducing and informing them about her life and kids, but had not received a reply as yet.

They travelled by train and the two youngest boys were excited by the adventure dadaji was kept active answering all their queries. When they passed the village where the Scindhias are originally from the excited boys begun pestering Maya dadiji and their parents about visiting there. The family had visited when Aayan was a baby and Aayu too young to remember everything that happened on holiday there. It was Maya who said that the Scindhia family will be visiting there in a couple of weeks and they could join them then.

At the train station the family was met by Dolly Aarti youngest bua and her husband they came to spend a few days with the family also wanting to know Aarti and her family; also present was Harsh dadaji widowed nephew his younger sister's son he is the same age as Maya and they knew each other in the past in fact he was the only member of the family who took the time to befriend her.

After the greetings and introductions were made all left for the farmhouse which turned out to be just as large as the SM; there was a pool out back and a large garden with flowers and fruit trees; adjacent the large plantation comprising of different vegetables, a huge dairy farm all these products were sold in their chain of supermarkets.

Harsh managed the farm/plantation and the food processing plant; he lived there in the farmhouse his two sons and their family also lived there.

For Maya it was a bitter sweet home coming this was her marital home the place where she should have lived a happy life with her own family instead it was a place where she suffered so much mental torture.

"Betas welcome I hope you all will enjoy your stay here Aarti we have a large garden I understand you love the outdoors said Dolly

"Yes buaji and so does my kids

Harsh eldest son Mohit said "Yash bhayia there is a romantic trail that leads to the river passing at the back of the property there is a boat man in the area and for a small fee he can take you down the river for a romantic ride. the local couples use the river bank at moonlight night to have their dance and romance all couples are invited since we have to take the bus to go to the nearest movie hall the river bank is our place to socialize and romance.

Yash give Aarti a romantic look and wink then he said "Of course we will visit after all it is the local couple's hangout dancing under the moonlight and stars will be a treat no kids to interrupt

The family settled in and all had evening tea and snacks Dolly questioned Aarti about her life, then she turned her attention to Yash it was clear she wanted to know what was their intention if they intended to take over the business and property, then what will be her cousin position and those of her nephews and sons.

It was clear she did not like Aarti's mother family because they are poor Dolly bua was a snob and she spoke to the servants rudely. Aarya's kids made a mental note to avoid her but strange enough she liked the kids especially the boys and she set out to spoil them.

Before dinner Aarya met dadaji in the garden "I love to sit out here and take in the fresh air before dinner sometimes I take a short walk you can join me if you want and we can talk

"Sure dadaji answered Aarti

"Betas don't mind Dolly to much she can't help herself she is still stuck in the old ways of class and caste despite being educated and well-travelled to other countries. Maya was accepted because she is of our class from another rich family and practices our traditions and now she is your bua saas. But strange enough that is a plus for you betie because you are married into the Scindhia family and had Maya in your life for the last many years so you will know about our traditions and so will the boys.

"Dadaji only the boys I also have two daughters

"Aarti beta I will not lie boys are loved more than girls in this family but your daughters will also be loved by us, they are beautiful young girls, well brought up it is expected that they will marry and move into their own homes while the boys I hope will also work with their uncles and cousins in my family business. I know Yash and his family wants them in the Scindhia business but I want our business to merge hence I asked for Pankaj's daughter for my great grandson.

Maya came out looking for them she too admired the ambience of the large back garden with its fruit trees, benches lit pathways and birdbaths.

Maya said that out here used to hold a special meaning to her when she wanted to be alone or was missing her home she would come out here and sit until someone called her back inside the house.

Joining them for dinner was Harsh and his family. He turned out to be a pleasant man happy to have Aarya and their kids there he was pleased to meet Maya again after all these years and the two of them spoke to each other catching up on their lives. Aarya's kids were happy to have Harsh's grand kids to roam around the farm and village with.

After dinner the family relaxed in the lounge the adults with tea and coffee the kids with their fruit drink and snacks. Dolly came straight to the point she wanted Aarya to visit the family business and have some idea how it works, her husband clearly agreed to all her suggestions. Where as dadiji intervened that Aarya should spend some time alone exploring the village and all that it had to offer plus Aarti wanted to meet her mother's relatives.

The following day Aarya went in search of Aarti's relatives she found them living a simply life in two small houses alongside each other her nanaji. naniji. two Mamajis their wives and children, and grand kids. They had a common yard where the food was cooked on the wooden stove by both families and benches and cot placed outside the houses for guests and the family to eat. Most of the homes in that part of the village were like this.

When Aarya and their kids arrived, it was almost lunch time. The family was shocked to see an expensive car belonging to the rich Thakur stop at their doorstep. There was immediate movement to make sure their homes and yard was clean.

Aarti approached first followed by Yash and the kids "Namaste I am Aarti Yash Scindhia and this is my Husband Yash SP Scindhia and our children I was told by my dadaji that you all are my relatives on my mother's side her name was Radha

"Radha said the old man in his eighties "My daughter her name was Radha and yes she had a daughter for Thakur ji's son. you are her?

Another man Aarti guess to be a mamaji said "Yes my sister had a daughter but she was placed in an orphanage. You are her? Badi Thakur ji did not accept her and we could not off have kept her another mouth to feed was just too much for us.

Yash self talk "But they could manage to have more kids of their own not keep their sister's child

"Come in said the old man "Our home is humble but do come and join us Bahu get water for them chote bahu arrange more food to be cooked for lunch my grand daughter and her family are here

"Nanaji don't take the trouble "said Yash

"No trouble beta you are our guest you can't leave without having lunch with us

In a room in one of the housed the ladies of the family gathered "What is wrong with bauji it is seven of the them that equals to to meals for us if we give them lunch and that man he looks rich and may be don't want to eat here with us he looks and look at the children they way they are watching our home they are not accustom to this.

"Nanaji we would love to have lunch with you and get to know your family but I have gifts for you all I did not know how many people in the family and if there are kids so I just brought many gifts naniji and my mamiji can share them amoung you all.

Yash and the Kids made a few trips to the range rover and give the gifts to the family.

The ladies of the family took them and placed them inside but the envy and greed could be seen on their faces.

Aarti "Naniji tell me about my mother

Aarti mamji he was the younger one brought out two albums and showed Aarya's family the photos of their family with Radha, Aarti's two brothers Aarti as a very young baby and a picture of her dad. There was also a picture of Aarti's parents on their wedding day both were dressed simply and they looked happy in love with each other.

"Aarti betie our family has worked in Thakur ji house and land for generations you mother and your two mamijis worked there they continues long after your parent's death until your brothers went aboard to study then your cousin bhabhis also worked their until last year now they work part time in the factory. We the men worked in the farm land and factory, your cousins still work there. Your two brothers by the grace of god send us money a few times per year also other gifts for the children.This small piece of land is owned by us Thakur ji legally give us this when he took your brothers to live with him

Aayan wanted to use the washroom and he told his ma Aarti asked them if they had anywhere where he could use and the old man said yes we have a toilet and running water also electricity and mobile things are not that bad betie if the children want to watch tv we have one also.

The elder mamaji said "we are lucky we don't have to walk to the fields at the end of the village to do our business anymore like a few years ago your brothers visited us and they built the toilets and bathrooms for us bought those large water tanks and a large tv for us. They together with other NRI even helped the villagers get electricity and a water supply when Thakur ji and his people were against us the villagers from going forward.

Aarti watched the ladies prepare the meal and offered to help Palak and Payel also offered "No beta you are our guest and I am sure you are not accustomed to cooking like this and getting this much heat said her naniji

"Naniji when there is heavy rains how do you cook asked Aarti

"We have two double burner kerosene stoves inside our houses that we use when the weather is bad answered the elder mami ji

When the meal was completed they spread large cloth on the ground and invited Aarya and the kids to sit "Sorry betie we don't have fancy tables and chairs here or dishes and spoons

"It is okay nanaji answered Yash "Our kids are used to occasionally sitting on the ground and having their meals using their fingers to eat

The meal was served by the young bahus of the family it was a simple tasty meal of rice dahl, roti and two curries veg. with cold water to drink.

After lunch the family told Aarti some more about her mother and what they knew about her father. They told her how proud they were of her brothers that despite spending time in thakur ji house they are humble men who respect all and try to help them and the villagers through NGO like repair the old school building and get the government to expand the size of the school provide school books and pens/pencils for the village children.

While Aarti was visiting with her relatives Maya was spending time with Dolly her husband and Harsh they were discussing Aarti and her kids. Dolly was in favour of the Scindhias joining with her bauji business incorporating it into one business so the business would stay in the family. She heard that Pankaj son was marriageable age and suggested her eldest grand daughter she was one year younger than Vedant and a collage graduate in business management.