White Rose of Winter
Chapter one
Now reading a novel by Anne Mather and felt as if reading another version of Humsafar . Story is quite similar but its more interesting. Its written in 1973 . So here goes the story , If wants me to continue then i will go . Have to write the whole novel.
London airport seemed drab and miserable after the color and vitality of Kuala Lumpur , it was covered with mist of fine rain . It was as cold and alien as Malaysia had seemed six years ago , thought Maya unhappily . And yet London no longer looked like home ,her life in London merely the hopefully forgotten past .But now she was back in UK again and somehow she has to accept that it was up to her to adapt to her changed circumstances quickly so that Emma should not find it all too painfully . Emma with her straight black hair had certain something that singled her out from the ordinary . In the beginning this knowledge has caused Maya some anxiety but as time went by she realized it was simply a family resemblance not something that exclusively belonged to Emma,s father .
Their luggage was cleared, passports checked, everyone was so friendly and polite to the attractive woman who was traveling with her only five year old daughter. Somehow she wanted to delay the moment when was going to meet Mike's family again and then Emma tugged her hand and asked excitedly: "Where is Grandma ? Can you see her Mummy? " Maya murmured gently , glancing around to a certain that their cases were all together ,Most of their heavy luggage had gone by sea. Emma asked again " But you did say that Grandma was coming to meet us ? " Sara heaved a deep breath " I expect so , darling . " Come along. We will go and see. Maya picked up a case in each hand , telling Emma to carry her airline bag , they entered the reception area. Lucy Pamberton , Mike's mother had said that she would meet them at the airport but she was notoriously unreliable and she was not surprised to find no sign of her . She sighed. She was feeling hollow already, Lucy has not met her for the last six years and last three months had been so traumatic for her that she felt almost empty of emotions . Only Emma,s face dropped with disappointment . A thought struck her .What if Lucy had forgotten altogether? It was not impossible And after all she never liked Maya .She had shown that quite plainly. The very last thing she had wanted for her to marry one of her beloved sons and when that happened Mike had made things easier by taking the appointment in Rahtoon. Three years ago when Mike had brought Emma to England , Mike told her that his mother had doted on the child Perhaps things will be different now as Mike is dead ...
" Maya !'
The hard masculine tones brought Maya up short and she turned reluctantly to face the man who had spoken . Even before she turned she knew exactly who it was and her nerves jerked with exhaustion. Now was not the moment to confront Asher Pemberton ,not when she was tired and uneasy and absurdly vulnerable , even after all this time .Tall and lean , with hair as dark and straight as Emma,s brushing the collar of his expensively casual cream suede suit , he looked sleek and powerful and compellingly sure of himself . He did not seem to have changed at all and his expressions did nothing to help her failing confidence ,indeed , if anything he was regarding her with faint contempt and his lips twisted wryly as she held out a rather unsteady hand .
" Hello Asher; she managed . " How are you ? He shook her hand briefly , his own cool and detached , his gaze flickering over her with painful appraisal . He had always had the knack of being able to reduce her to embarrassment by the directness of his stare , but this time she tried to hide her confusion , forcing herself to remember that she no longer was a girl , she was married woman and widowed with five years old daughter . She must not think of the past . She must live for the present and think of future, Emma,s future . Now Asher dropped her hand and said coolly " I am fine . Thank you . And you ?' It was just formality. Maya composed herself and she knew that to an outsider , she must appear cold and indifferent when this was definitely was not the case. Asher regarded her broodingly for a long time , and she thought he was about to mention Mike , but then , he dropped to his hunches beside the child ." Hello Emma, " He said , " Remember me ? " Emma stared at him considering. "No "she replied honestly, " But you look like Daddy a little , so I suppose you must be uncle Asher ." " Thats right " Asher smiled and the coldness which was evident in his manner when he was speaking to Maya , disappeared beneath Emma,s innocent charm . " Who told you I looked like daddy ?" " Mummy told me " Emma glanced up at Maya for a moment . " Didn't you? " Maya made an involuntary gesture but Asher,s eyes never left Emma,s face and asked her to give him a kiss. Emma hesitated and then she leaned forward and kissed his cheek with her soft lips . Then she asked him why he was so late ? and where is grandma? Mummy said that she was coming to meet us . Where she was ? Asher stood up , signalled a porter to take their cases . Then he looked at Emma and told her that grandma could not come as she was not feeling well . He had supreme self confidence that comes from always being used to giving orders and Maya felt irritation that he should so arrogantly take charge of the situation without offering ant explanations , without even telling her where his mother was or why she should not be feeling well .
Emma slipped her hand into Maya,s again , drawing her attention to herself " Is it alright ?" she whispered . And Asher heard her whisper. "I expect so "replied Maya , with a slight smile . " Come on , your eyes look very tired , young lady " Emma was excited and asked her if grandma will be better by tomorrow ? " Maya told her she has no idea and was conscious of the reaction from the man ahead of them. He seemed to hesitate as though he was about to say something more but then he went on and reached the car . He held open the passenger door for Maya to get in and Emma climbed into the back , bouncing up and down on the seat . He sat beside her and with that came back a flood of memories , she had thought of forgotten .Was it really forgotten ? she asked herself . it not more accurate to say that the mind could shed veils over things ,one wanted to forget and until those veils were torn aside one could delude oneself into believing anything ?
Emma was super excited watching the outside and was on her questions spree . Asher was amused listening to her and answering her . Emma asked Asher where he was taking them ? and this was the question Maya wanted to ask him . Asher answered that they are going into the city as he lives there and has an apartment there .Maya Looking at him asked where his mother was ? Asher,s expressions hardened , " Do not alarm yourself , Maya . She will be there waiting for us . " Asher tone was different whenever he talked to Emma . Maya thought dryly, she could hardly expect Asher to welcome her warmly after everything that had happened . She asked him if his mother is living with him ,then ? Asher shook his head and told her that mother has apartment in town also . Asher was not making easier by behaving as though she should be content to wait and see what was happen to them . And he still has not talked about Mike , was it due to Emma , s presence ? Or for some other reasons? Asher was winning Emma,s affection and Maya could not bear the realization that unless she was careful Asher would succeed in winning Emma's affection . She did not want that . It might be selfish thought but that was something she could not accept. Not now that Mike was dead . Asher was turning into quite square of blocks and brought the car to a halt . Maya took Emma,s hand climbed the shallow steps and was seething with anger when came to know that she was going to stay with Asher where as Lucy has written in her letters to Maya that they will stay with her in her house as Robert has shifted to his own apartment . Needless to say Maya had her doubts as she knew her mother in law quite well to believe that she should have changed her attitude towards her . Maya asked Asher why they are to stay with him ? His mother, s letters indicated that they were to stay with her . Asher ignored her question and talked to Emma while going up in the lift. Lift opened in the Hall ,Asher lifted the cases but as they reached the door it opened and a man , dressed in all black stood waiting for them . Asher introduced them to his servant Hailbird . Asher told Emma to come inside as grandma is waiting for her . Maya thought bitterly that she could not come to greet them ,then chided herself for being so petty . She was allowing situation to upset her . She told Asher t to lead the way as its your apartment. .Asher,s eyes were hard as they met her defensive eyes for a moment and then without a word took Emma,s hand , went inside the in the lounge where his mother was sitting .
Maya followed slowly, her heels sinking into soft carpet of the hall .He had priceless collections from his various trips . Asher did not give them time to remove their coats Maya heard her mother in law ,s exclamation of delight when she saw Emma . Maya,s eyes focused on the woman reclining gracefully on a low couch near the window , embracing Emma , exclaiming at how tall and grown up she seemed from the toddler she remembered .
Maya stood hesitantly, feeling ridiculously youthful and vulnerable as she had always been in this woman presence . She could remember clearly the first time Asher had introduced them . she had known from that moment that no girl would ever live up to the standard Lucy expected for her sons . Now July seemed to remember her daughter in law , and holding Emma,s close to her , extended a hand to Maya " Maya darling " she exclaimed . " Forgive me ! But its so enchanting to see Emma again , and after - after everything that,s happened ..."
Maya responded warmly , hurrying forward to bend and kiss her mother in law,s cheek , " Its good to see you again, too " and then she realized that Lucy had not exactly said it was good to see her . But she waived these thoughts aside and sat beside the Lucy . Lucy apologized to Maya for not meeting them at the airport as she was having cold and Asher insisted that i stay here . Maya said its ok . Lucy was hugging Emma close to her then Emma asked that does she live here ? Lucy told her that she does not , she has her own apartment not far from here . Maya was getting impatient suddenly . Surely someone should tell her why was she here ? why she was not staying with Lucy as arranged ? When they all are going to talk about the things that really mattered , like Mike,s death ?
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon
