Part 26
Counsellor: Kabir Ananya has discussed her side of the story. She's told us how she came to visit you but was disappointed by what she saw and decided to keep Pia away from you.
But you haven't been speaking much.
Kabir: There's nothing much to say. I have admitted to being ashamed of my actions. I can also understand how she must have hated me when she saw that I had destroyed our son's room. I just think she should have given me a chance. An opportunity to be a part of Pia's life, to start over.
Counsellor: but what happened that day? Kabir you need to let things out.
Kabir; I had fallen into a routine. My days were split between my work and looking for Ananya. It was 8 months since she had left and it was also Kunal's birthday. I was finally beginning to fear that I would never find Ananya.
In the time that Ananya had left, I used to have a hard time sleeping. The only place I managed any sleep was in Kunal's room and I used to come there often. I used to keep it just as Kunal had left it. On the day of Kunal's birthday I had spent the whole day looking for Ananya. I was also plagued by memories of Kunal, how much he loved birthdays. At the end of a long and disappointing day I had come home and hit the bar. The last thing i remember is trying to find Kunal alll over the house.
Kabir stopped to compose himself
Kabir: Next morning I got up to find Kunal's room in a mess. There were alcohol bottles all over, I had broken things, his photographs, toys etc.
I was horrified.
I ran to the washroom and splashed my face with water. I couldn't believe that I had destroyed my son's room. His last memory.
On an impulse I went to my room and took out my revolver. I hated myself so much that I wanted to kill myself. But thankfully better sense prevailed and stopped me from my cowardice.
Over the next 3.5 years i functioned as an alcoholic. The only place where I never drank was in Kunal's room. That became my sacred space.
Then Ananya came back into my life. And then finally Pia...
Counsellor: You quit drinking after you found out about Pia?
Kabir: No. Before that.
Counsellor: Why?
Kabir: Umm... When Ananya came to first meet me was being very indifferent. But when she asked me to go to rehab her mask came off. I could see that she still loved.. I mean cared about me... And thatw as reason enough for me.
Counsellor: Ananya, why did you come back?
Ananya: I didn't want him to kill himself.
Counsellor: Really? And why did you believe that you could stop him.
Ananya: Because I knew that he could never say no to me.. I mean I know that I could convince him.
Counsellor: OK. And you were willing to move your entire life for that. Even risk bringing Pia to the same city? That's surprising.
Ananya: WHy? Any one would have done it.
Counsellor: No. As a matter of fact very few wives would do that for the husbands they were separated from, whom they hated. So why did you come back? Why did it matter to you that his alcoholism was killing him? Didn't he deserve that?
Ananya: NO!!! And I would do the same thing a thousand times over.
Counsellor: Kabir, Ananya you guys have come along way, discussed a lot of events that affected your relationship. But it's time you make peace with your emotions. Accept them. Stop running away from them.
Kabir and Ananya went home in silence, struggling with their thoughts. At home Pia was eagerly waiting for them and the rest of the evening was "Pia" time.
At night Kabir got up to get water. He saw Ananya standing in the balcony. He went up to her and saw her crying.
Kabir: What happened Ananya?
Ananya: I almost killed you.
Kabir: What? Of course not!
Ananya: I did. You admitted that you came this close to killing yourself. You drowned yourself in alcohol. It was all my fault. I shouldn't have taken Pia away from you.
He gently wiped away her tears.
Kabir: Now listen to me. Those wer all my weaknesses. And I deserved to be hated for not being there for Kunal and you. I just wish you had given me a chance. You shouldn't have kept Pia away from. But more importantly you shouldn't have kept yourself away from me.
Ananya was very surprised by his words. And touched. She looked at him questioningly.
He held her hand and nodded.
They stared into each other's eyes. The realization dawned on them that more than anything else, they loved each other and needed each other.
"Mumma! Papa! Whele ale you? Mumma! Mumma! Pappa..."
And of course they needed Pia.
She spotted them and came running into the balcony.
Pia: Mumma Papa, why ale you hele? I wash shcared!
Ananya: Why baby?
Pia: I thought you both went away just like Papa had been away all these years.
Ananya hugged Pia.
Ananya: Of course not baby.
Kabir came and hugged both of them.
Kabir: Pia, baby, you need to stop being scared. Neither your Mumma nor your Papa will ever go away.
We'll always live together. All three of us.
He looked at Ananya meaningfully. Ananya nodded.
Udne Ki Aasha
Kumkum Bhagya
