"Yashu..."
He stopped in midway when he heard his name was taken. He turned around but couldn't really understand who called him in that crowded temple. He still stood there for a moment then started to climb up the stairs again.
"Yashu I said stop there.." This time the voice was stronger, and now when he turned he could guess who was calling him. She was standing down the stairs. But did he know her? He tried to recall but...
"How dare you to climb the stairs alone? I said come down.."
Now its his turn to be double surprise, How can the girl talk to him like this when he doesn't even know her. He again tried to remember if anyhow she is connected to him.
"Yashu.. I am talking to you.. I said get down... Her hands were on her waist. She was fire, though he was clueless but he couldn't help but smile getting her expression.. Anyway he needed to know about the mystery.
"Do I know you?" he asked as he came down in front of her
"No...
"Do you know me?"
"No", She looked puzzled
"Then why are you calling me and threatening me?"
"When did I?" she asked with surprise as she hold the baby's hand beside her.
Then only he noticed the baby girl with her, was she there all the while? "You were continuously asking me to get down from stairs He said.
"Excuse me, why should I when I don't even know you?"
Now she was getting on his nerves, "Didn't you call me Yashu and asked me to come down?"
"Yes I did as she said she understood what must have happened, "What? You mean your name is Yashu?"
He nodded his head in confusion and she burst in laughter.. He smiled looking at her laughing figure and the next moment he felt like an idiot, "May I know the reason? I mean what is so funny in my name?"
She was embarrassed by her own behavior but then still it was hard to control, "Actually I was calling her she picked up the little girl, "She is small and naughty too, what if she fell down from stairs so I was threatening her, not you.. I am extremely sorry"
"And her name is Yashu? I didn't know this can be a girl's name too"
"Yashita.. My name is Yashita Sharma The girl spoke, "I said you mimi don't call me Yashu, my friend's tease me that it's a boy name she pouted
"Hello Yashita, nice to meet my female version". He pressed her cheek
Both the girls laughed, "And your name is Yashu? the elder girl asked..
He itched his head "Actually mom call me that, I don't think anyone else know this name expect my family and now you and Yashita."
"Okay, sorry for wasting your time" she said
"No, its fine, I really didn't mind to meet this little one," he looked back at her after Yashita. Something he found in her, indescribable.
"Should we go for the visit?"
"Oh, sure.."
"Mimi, put me down, I can go alone." Yashita said. As she was down she started to run again
"Yashu", don't run They said together and then both laughed out..
"By the way, my original name is Yash.."He said as they were walking down from the temple.
"So your mother gave you a nice nickname."
"Yeah, and you are Mimi? I heard Yashita to call you"
She giggled, "Absolutely not, actually she is my elder sister's daughter, when she started talking it was hard for her to call Mousi so she started calling MImi.."
"Okay, so??"
"I am Aarti, Aarti sharma.."
**************
He sat beside his mother, who was knitting a sweater.
"Yashu, anything happened?" she asked putting her hand on his shoulder. She can actually guess if anything goes wrong with her son.
"Mom, do you have Meenakshi's contact number?" His mother looked at him with shock.
"Meenakshi? But why? Did anything...? " She couldn't complete her sentence as one unknown hope covered her mind.
"I don't know mom, I just don't know but after years I felt something and I cant give up now."
After one month
Aarti sat in her room looking at the mirror. Everyone says she is beautiful, but now she doesn't know how many time she was rejected for the alliance. She knew she is the reason. She was disgusted with herself, she doesn't want to go in front of anyone like a doll, she doesn't want people to judge her with her dark past but then its happening. Now even her parents are annoyed with her. Her parents changed their places just because of her, so that they can fix her marriage and get rid of the shame which their daughter caused her. They definitely want her to live a better life leaving her past behind but all the insult and dishonor they faced those made them irritated.
"Aarti, someone here to meet you." she heard her mother to call her.
She wiped her face before going downstairs and she was surprised to see the temple person there at her drawing room. He stood up looking at her, "Hello Aarti, how are you?"
"I am good, but you are here?" she couldn't hide her curiosity.
"Actually I am here to talk to your parents." He then looked at her parents, "Uncle, Aunt I met her in temple one month back, I liked her. We are from Mumbai, came to Ooty just for a change. There is my mother in my house as my guardian. Will you allow me to marry your daughter? You can meet my mother and take other information." He said in one go making everyone in the room surprised..
"Excuse me, who are you to take any decision without talking to me." Aarti raised her voice.
"I know, and I am sorry for this Aarti, but it is important."
"You don't know anything about me Mr. Yash."
"Just shut up Aarti Her mother shut her up in midway, "Come with me
She almost dragged her up to her room, "What you want him to know Aarti?"
"Everything maa, and I said before also I cant keep anyone in dark to start a relation"
"Just stop here with your honesty Aarti.. Its been 3 years now. At first you didn't listen to us and misused your freedom given by us. Then after all the dirty things. when we want to move ahead, we want you to start a new life but you want to stuck there. You did share your past with everyone whomever we called for your marriage proposal. What happened? Did they accept you? No but they insulted us even more. Not anymore Aarti, I will not allow you to play with our honor anymore. Now someone himself came for you, if we find him suitable then you have to listen us otherwise you will see the worse"
She went out and Aarti could clearly listen that her mother announced that they have no problem to go ahead with the alliance. She sat there clueless. Her mother was right. Whatever happened with her it was just because then she didn't listen to her parents.
College, the feeling of freedom. She started to feel she can do anything she wanted but she really never misused the freedom given by her parents until she met Nirvaan. She was like princess of the little family, even if her elder sister was there but Aarti was pampered always.
Nirvaan's entry in her life was like a storm. She was smitten by his one speech and she didn't know how she decided she wanted to be close to him. College politics, he was the leader of one of the party. She who hated politics but just for him joined the party. She didn't know what to do, but wanted to do what he told. Soon with time she became important member of the party and obviously closer to him. Time flew by and they were more than friends.
Her behavior in her house changed. Nirvaan's magic was at the top. It was not unknown to her family, they said her to be careful, they said her to control before flying high but she really didn't care. All she wanted Nirvaan. She really never cared to cross her limits just for him.
And then one day her world came to an end when he called her just to finish everything..
"But Nirvaan why? She asked in teary voice.
"Because you are becoming serious Aarti.. This love is not my cup of tea, It was okay till we are dating, it is like fashion nowadays but I never knew you will start dreaming about lifetime commitment. Please let it finish now.."
She didn't say a word when he went back. She had nothing to say when her parents found out about her pregnancy. One mistake at the young age still making her life miserable.
"Do you want to say anything?" Yash asked her in the coffee shop.
Her whole body screamed to say the truth. He deserves to know. They have been meeting since few days though in presence of family or someone, but he is indeed a nice person, how can she keep him in dark? But then the thoughts about her parents stopped her to do so. They really have been suffering a lot for her. Even they deserve some peace.
"Nothing.. But why do you want to marry me only after seeing once?"
He said nothing but smiled..
All the ceremonies were completed. She stood in the decorated room. She was ready to start a new life on the base of lie. She had nothing left for Nirvaan after what he did but she can't deny how deep impact he kept in her life.
"Are you feeling tired Aarti?" Yash asked while entering
"Not really.."
"Aarti before you start your life here I want to say you something.. I have a son.."
"What??" she was shocked.
"Not really my, but my brother's. I adopted him after my brother passed away. He is three years old now.."
Aarti looked puzzled as he continued saying, " Almost 4 years back when my brother was in his deathbed after fighting with cancer, he revealed that he loved a girl but at some point he deceived her when he came to know about his destroying disease. But he never knew the girl was pregnant, when he come to know it was too late. I still remembered what he said when he was dying, "Bhiaya promise me that you will bring her and my baby to this house, you will give her the honor and respect she deserves"
"And he left us. I started searching for the girl but came to know that they left Mumbai for the insults they received from society and family. I came to know she gave birth to a baby boy but her family left him to an orphanage. I think the girl was helpless as well. With so much difficulty I found out the orphanage and the baby, and I adopted him. Do you want to see him Aarti?"
Aarti said nothing but stood like statue as her tears running down.
She saw a little boy entered with Yash holding his hand with his little hand.
"Ansh, Go, see your Maa is there."
Aarti couldn't hear anything as Ansh started coming to her, "Yes those eyes are familiar.. She started crying when Ansh hugged her.
"I am sorry Aarti, I couldn't tell you before. I searched a lot for you but didn't get. I didn't recognize you in temple also as only once I saw your picture to Meenakshi, that's also years back. Only when you said your name I became conscious. I could say you later also but I didn't know if you can accept Nirvaan's child after what he did."
"Thank You Yash, Thank you very much." she held Ansh close to her heart after placing kisses over his face.
He went and held both of them, witnessing the union of mother and son, "I kept my promise bhai" He spoke in heart..
Ishaani
