Bird

" Banwara mann dekhne chala ek sapna"...crooned the radio somewhere and I wondered, " Can we ever stop dreaming?".... Smilingly I looked at the picture on the wall , that was my sweet lil angel, my 2 years old daughter with her scooter. I looked at it and smiled.

I remember how when she went to that toy shop, she out rightly went to this scooter and said

"Mom, this is what I want."

I looked at my lil baby, how would she be able to slide a scooter at such a lil age, but she!!, she always knew what she wanted in her life. That day she fell at least thrice off that sliding scooter and hurt herself real bad, but not even once did she weep. I always knew , she wasn't a daughter , she was a clone to me. As determined, as stubborn and as crazy as I 've always been.

If I was the person who chose to go out with a person, I never knew, I knew my daughter would give me no lesser shock. And here I am today. MY DAUGHTER, gosh today she had walked up to me and told me that

"Mom, I m moving into a live-in."

I smiled in her eyes and asked

"Sweetie, are you telling me or asking for permission??"

She said ," I am telling you mum"

then came closer to me and like always, whenever she wanted anything from me, she came and held my hand, sat on the floor in front of me and said

"Mom I know nobody but you could understand me the best today, tomorrow and forever."

I saw that trust in her eyes that I always longed to see in my husband's eyes. Anyways, my daughter knew that I would understand her and

"SHE WAS RIGHT"

I can understand her I can understand her in every thought, probably I m going back to the time when I was her age. I was in love, that was a mature love, I knew what I was stepping into , I knew what decision I was taking and I too went to my mom and had said the same words

"Mom! I m moving into a live-in."

But her response was different..

"Are you crazy??"

"Do you even know what you are saying??"

" These kind of things do not happen in our society."

And all the words that you can ever think of.

Not even once did she bother to ask "Who is he??" Who is the person I trust so much and why a live-in , why not marriage. Not even once did she ask anything about me and him. She was bothered about her "society and family", me--her daughter was not important. I thought of that day and this, she was holding my hand and said.

"Mama, what happened?? Dont you want to ask anything or say anything?"

I smiled at her and said

"I know my BIG doll wants to tell me alot. hmmm I am all ears tell me sweetie... Who is he?? Am I ever going to meet him, what made you decide on this and everything that you want to tell me."

I had that interest and glitter in my eyes. She knew I was really interested.

"Well mom you know him and have already met him."

"Oh-ok, so he is one of your friends? Right".

"Yeah mom."

"Now, can we cut this crap and come to the point." I was sarcastic.

She grinned and said " Yeah yeah , why not." and giggled.

"Kavya!!" I said.

She went on .."Oh-oh mom, thats no one else but Shiv."

I looked at her, I was amazed. I could not believe that Shiv could have asked her for a live in, I knew he was a deep-rooted and emotional person. C'mon I cant be wrong in judging a person. I looked into her eyes again. She said

"Yes Mom that's Shiv and I know your next question, and the answer is NO, he dint ask for a live in, it is me who wants a live-in."

"I dont want a marriage, he wants a marriage. Both of us love each other, we want to live together, but this was the only point of difference, he wanted to marry me and I don't believe in marriages at all."

Gosh!! Was that Kavya talking infront of me or was it me!!.

"I understand that sweetie. Tell me, do you understand the responsibility that this would bring to you??"

"You will have to be like everything to him. Him being emotional, you will have to take care of him in every possible way and then I wont be there any longer , so even for yourself, you will have to take care. Are you sure you will be able to take care??"

She smiled and said.

"Listen mama, I dont know how to cook, he does. I dont know how to manage money, he does. I am a health freak, he isnt. I am a complusive non vegetarian, he is a vegetarian. I mean there are lots of differences and we KNOW we are different so we have decided who does what. I ll take care of cleaning ,diet and workouts for us. He will take care of money, cooking and other arrangements."

"Rest if you talk about emotions, I know how Shiv has to be handled, he is a little kid and needs to be pampered out and out. I think I know how to do that. If you talk about me, uh!! Who else but YOU and Shiv can handle me."

"Rest if there is a problem , my super mom is always there." I smiled and said "Are you sure my child."

"A hundred percent."

"Great!! Now who breaks the news to your dad?? And do we tell him or ask for permission??"

"Mama you know I will tell him, I wont ask for permission. Anyways that doesn't matter. So I m moving the next Sunday, I m gonna look for an accommodation for the two of us, something that is not too far from both our offices. Can you please help me?"

"Oh sure! This friend of mine is in the rent and sale of real estate, you can call him up and check what all he offers and then if you want, we will go there and decide."

"That sounds great!. Thanks mom!"

"I gotto make a call, I ll be right back.'

I heard her say ---" Hey you emotional fool! I spoke to mom, she will help me get the apartment. Hows that??"

"Uh-huh"

"Yeah yeah oh-f-course, do you want to talk to her??"

"See I told you, you are a fattu!!" And she giggled.

"Hey listen up man!!"

"Ummmm nothing..........................."

"Hehe, I love you."

"Nope, that's not true, I love you more."

"Me more, me more, ME MORE, MEEE MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORE!!"

"That's better."

"Hey hon, I gotto go and talk to mom now, you pack your bags."

I could see myself in my daughter. I could not do what I wanted to, in my life, but I want her to live her life the way she wants to. I knew she would be happy and I was happy for her.

Oh! I loved her.

And I also knew she would never come back , whether or not her decision is right, I knew my bird was leaving the nest forever to make one of her own. A drop of tear rolled down my cheek.

I had to be the guiding angel and help her with everything. Today, I wasn't talking with my daughter, I was talking to a girl who is a different individual and I am happy I made my daughter an individual good enough to take care of herself, an individual who could decide and stick to her decisions.

"Hey Varun! Had to tell you something. Your daughter wants to move in a live-in."

"Gosh !! How I knew what you would say. Now, just shut up and listen to me, she is going to TELL you this, not ask for permission, don't get shocked. Understand that you are meeting another Kamini, don't make her do what I had to do in my life. I m sure you understand. And the guy is our own Shiv. Now what's your opinion??"

"Better." I said and turned back just to find Shiv and Kavya together, smiling at me.

"Thanks a lot. I know convincing him wouldn't have been easier." Said Kavya.

"Baby, he loves you and I did not want him to get hurt I care for him."

"I know mom, my pa is not as strong as you are" and she smiled.

I kissed her forehead and smiled at Shiv.

Lets move on...

The heart beat started rising up its pace and she could feel the beat...she quickly rose up and decided to make a phone call...one last phone call.

So finally the D-day has reached today her Varun was going to get married. Get married to some other girl. She would no longer be able to call him her’s.

“Ah! It hurts.” She murmured.

She remembered how one fine evening they met in the office.

Every day she ended up bagging some of his contacts and pulling off business from his desk. Thereby hampering his productivity, and all he would do is… send her a mail asking

“Why Why Why?? Why always me Kamini??”

And she never had an answer to that. Somehow all his contacts preferred business with her.

And then they started chatting over the office communicator. And of course it was always Varun who used to ask her about her how-abouts, being a girl, how could she initiate a conversation. But within a short span of time there was a huge comfort-zone that they shared. They shared a few habits, and differed in some. However, they always knew how to respect the differences. For two years they chatted, despite working in the same building they never met and they didn’t feel it was unusual.

Once Kamini went to cafeteria and placed an order for a café-latte for herself, unlike her daily cappuccino. When she was about to make the payments she realized she had left her pouch at her workstation that was five stories above. Kamini was getting mad at herself. Just then she saw a person who ordered a cappuccino and said

“Ma’am please don’t worry I will pay for your coffee today.”

“But….”

“Please don’t get any ifs or buts here, it’s alright. I will make the payment for you.”

She thought to herself, it would sound rude if she refuses this help and then she didn’t want to feel lowly in front of the coffee vendor. She smiled to him and said.

“Alright, next time around I will pay for your coffee.”

“Oh I thought you will ask for account details and transfer the money to my account.” He giggled.

Kamini just smiled.

“By the way, if just by paying for a coffee for you, I get to have another coffee with you, I don’t think it’s a bad deal.”

This sounded a lil creepy to Kamini. She said

“I think I should leave.” And was on her foot.

He stood up, made the payments and followed her to the elevators.

“By the way, I will get the next break around 4; I will appreciate your company.”

Kamini could not understand how to react just said

“Mr. … Uh I don’t know your name and don’t even want to, just want you to know I do not appreciate your mannerisms.”

And the elevator stopped at the 5^th floor, she got off the elevator without even giving him a second look.

He just smiled to himself.

As soon as she reached her desk, she saw Varun had sent her another case detail with the same question “Why why why??”

This made her forget the recent incident. She quickly sent a smiley to Varun saying

“Hey nothing was intentional.” And he said

“I know I know.”

“You know what…”

“Yeah tell me???”

“I just went to the cafeteria and ordered my coffee; I didn’t realize that I had forgotten my wallet at my desk.”

“Hmmm”

“And there was a person who seemed to be a nice person and offered to pay for my coffee.”

“Hmmm”

“I let him pay and just out of courtesy said I will pay for his coffee the next time and this person he just went on and on flirting. Gosh I was p****d –off!!”

“Oh oh, why do you take things so seriously? Simple fact babes, you are young and unmarried, guys might feel like flirting around. Let them. What’s the concern??”

“I thought you knew me as a person. But anyways…”

“I do know you babes. And I also know men. So I don’t think its any point spoiling your mood now. Just relax. Let him go off your mind.”

“Hmm I guess you are right.”

And then they talked about the customers and their individual managers. They also talked of how some of the customers were a ‘pain in the wrong area’. They talked for over four hours while finishing their jobs.

When they were about to leave Varun said

“By the way Kamini, pink colour really suits you and I think cappuccino is too bitter to be tasted.”

“What??”

“What what????”

“I mean what did that mean?”

“Hmmm and I thought you were a smart women.”

“You are not telling me that it were YOU.”

“:D”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Stupid girl, you have an Id card hanging around you waist with the roller and your name is written in Bold on it.”

“Whatever!!”

“And yeah, you are very beautiful.”

“Umm...”

“I know you are not used to such praises, by the way, would you mind paying for my coffee now? I could not have your cappuccino; it was too strong for me.”

“Sure ... see you in the café in another 20 minutes.”

“Deal”

“Yeah Deal”

“Coolo catch you.”

*********************************************************************************************** Some eighteen minutes later she was in the cafeteria walking towards the Café Coffee Day counter and saw that it was vacant. Even the counter guy was not there. Kamini did not like it. As for her, punctuality was the most important thing. And that’s what she really appreciates in any person.

***********************************************************************************************

She sat down on one of the chairs near the coffee bar and was waiting for him. She said to herself

“Five seconds more, if he doesn’t turn up I will leave.” She started count down. “Five – Four- Three- Two……”

She heard a masculine voice “One.” And saw the same person smiling infront of her. She said “What?”

He smiled and said

“I could see your lips moving and could make out that you are counting down for me.”

And he smiled.

“Ummm no……..” She said hesitatingly.

He smiled again and said-

“You know what I saw you coming from the entrance to the café I came here and asked this guy to get me the pastry, he didn’t have it and he went to the last counter there to get the pastry for me.”

She was astounded.

“You mean…”

“Yes my dear, I was here even before you came.”

She smiled and looked away.

He was looking at her and then said-

“I never thought I will meet you like this.”

“Umm-huh, so what did you think? I mean did you like have a plan or something?”

“Well not really a plan, but yeah I wanted to make it a little special.”

Just then there was this waiter, he came there with the tray, there was something in the tray that she did not pay attention to, and she turned around and looked at the counter boy, and placed an order for

“A cappuccino and ummm…. What would you like Varun?”

“Can I have a tea?”

The counter guy turned around and went to get the orders. She looked at him and said,

“So, you were telling me something.”

“Umm not really. I don’t think I would like to tell that to you.”

“OK as you please.”

She looked around to see what the waiter served. And she was amused to see that there were some yellow roses tied in a bouquet along with a small gift box. It was a small box wrapped in a silver paper and tied with a red ribbon.

She looked at it and then looked back at Varun. Varun saw her looking curiously at that box and smiled.

“What this?”

“Umm you may check, it’s for you baby.” He smiled.

“Oh wow! That sounds great, don’t tell me that you actually planned that you wanted to meet me today.”

“ Umm well, I bought it for you some 7 months ago.”

“I don’t think these are seven month old flowers.” She giggled.

“Well that I ordered just after we met the last time.”

“What ??”

“Yes I did.”

“And you were sure I will come to meet you?”

“I know that you would not have come to meet that guy whom you met today, but I was sure that you won’t refuse me.” And he smiled.

He then picked up the gift box and slid it towards her.

Somewhat reluctantly she picked it and untied the ribbon. The cover went apart, showing a bright red box in it. She looked at Varun, somewhat amazed.

“Open it please I want to see your reaction now!”

She smiled and opened the box only to find a beautiful diamond pendant in there. She smiled and kept it back on Varun’s palm.

“Thanks but I am afraid I can’t accept this.”

“C’mon now don’t behave like a typical girl.” He said, opened the box and took the pendant in his fingers and gave it to Kamini.

“I would love to see it around your neck.” He smiled.

Since then every minute they loved each other, though never said that as they felt there was no need. They met once in a while, had coffee, talked and went home. Once Varun offered to drop her back home, she refused and Varun didn’t ask her ever again. They always respected the other person’s feelings and thoughts.

He was getting ready for the wedding. He put the diamond cuff ling on his right cuff and while putting the other one on the left one, he started staring at it. He remembered the day when his so –called friend gave it to him. She was the most special women in his life so far. Despite the fact that he had Blessy as his beloved, he knew she was more special. The moment she walked into his life, no one else remained important.

He remembered how, he kind of hated the name Kamini Bhattacharya, as this was the name that pulled business off his desk, but he always knew one has to be really smart to pull his clients. That’s when he first asked her “Why why why?? Why always me Kamini?” And to his astonishment she turned out to be a simple but intelligent girl without any high airs around her. He remembered how he just fell for her innocence and simplicity of thought and her strong mindedness. She will always give the other person enough space though will always make sure they don’t over step her shoes.

He remembered how she got irritated with him the first time they met, just because he was a little flirtatious. Also, the way she turned down his request of dropping her home.

Oh Gosh!! She was just the perfect women for him. He felt it was ridiculous how, despite knowing that she is the best girl for her, he is marrying someone else. He could not understand why is she making him do this.

And as she always said “Blessy deserves you!” And on asking why not you, because I wont understand the worth.”

Oh heavens! This is ridiculous how after knowing everything I am marrying someone else.

“Kamini you are crazy!” murmured Varun. He felt as if he doesn’t want to do this, he knew that Blessy loved him, he too loved her, but that was past, which was until he had met Kamini. She was his perfect match.

He felt it was just a little too much. It was their marriage today.

Then Varun thought, is it because I have never said

“I love you“

to her that she is adamant on getting me married to Blessy. Do I just need to tell her? May be that will work. Alright even if she denies I should at least tell her that I love her. Varun decided and picked his phone up dialed her number “I want to break free….” Went on the phone but was never answered.

He was going mad … for the first time in his life; his own decisions weren’t making sense to him.

Firstly, his getting married to a girl whom he loved, but no longer loves.

Secondly, someone else was deciding on his behalf as to what and when will happen as if he were a puppet.

Thirdly, his parents being a pendulum between a yes and a no. Nothing, absolutely nothing was going on the way he wanted.

And most importantly, the girl who always made sense was talking like his mother today. Oh hell!! What has happened to the entire world, he thought.

After all the drama and epic that went around he really wanted to tell everyone

“Go and do whatever you want to, I m not interested in being a part of anything that’s going on.”

But then again, he knew she will stand by him but won’t promise a future. He was struggling with these thoughts when his patience ran out. He picked up his phone and dialed again.

*************************************************************************************

“Ring ring” went the phone.

This ring brought her back to the present; she checked the number and the name that flashed on the screen made her heart sink all the more as it said “Shona” she just ignored the call. After sometime, she gathered all her strength, composed herself from the pieces that she was turned into and thought of the best best thing to do at this point of time. She decided but her heart was pounding hard against her chest…… the heart –beat rose to the extreme...she quickly got up and decided to make a phone call...one last phone call……

“Hi! Sorry I wasn’t with my phone so could not answer your call. Is it something important you wanted to discuss?”

“Ummm no… not really anything important. Just wanted to remind you I am getting married today. I hope you remember.”

She controlled herself from bursting into tears and said

“Oh I m so sorry I just forgot. I wish you all the very best for your future. Hope your wife will love you as much as you do.”

“Uh.. yeah. Can I expect you here today?”

“No.. I m a little busy. May be I will come around sometime later.”

“Ohk if you say so.”

“Hmm see you. Take care. Have fun.”

“Hello Madam.. I know you will put the phone down, pull the pillow to your face and cry your heart out but won’t let anybody hear you sob.”

“Uh why would I?”

“Hmmm alright lemme tell you, I think all this is going to be a waste…. I love you Kamini.”

“What?”

“And I thought you were an intelligent women.”

“Uh..”

“No uhs to it, I love you.”

“I love you too. Now go and get married. And thanks for knowing me so well. See you in office after you come back.”

“Sure”

That was it. She disconnected. And now she was fine. No heartaches no pains. She was happy and so was he. They loved each other and now they knew it.

Love doesn’t have to end in marriage. Love is complete as soon as it is expressed.

He just turned around and saw Blessy there in her white wedding gown. He smiled, held her hand and said “I do”…..

Roses

“Hi! My name is Shesh. I am calling to discuss about one person whom I’ve been in love with for a long time. Can you please call me back at an appropriate time? I really need your help. “

Being an RJ it was her job to listen to all these kind of messages and help people solve their love lives. As, she was “The Friend” for all her listeners.

She made a note of the phone number and name, and pressed the next button on her console. Having made the notes of the messages, she sat down to prioritize her list. However, this message was still disturbing her. She felt she probably knew who this person was. She tried hard to recognize the voice, but to no avail. She went back to her console, listened to the message…

Her eyes circled to focus on the voice, to recognize who the person is.

“Ah” She said shaking her head.” Despite all my efforts I couldn’t recognize this person. But I m sure I know him. Anyhow, I need to be anonymous, this is just my job.” She was talking to herself..

Sometime later she called him up:

“Hi! Shesh, how are you? This is The Friend from Radio World.”

“Hi Friend! Before we even start talking I want to request you not to air this conversation, please.”

“Sure Shesh. Tell me what is it that you want to talk about. I will try my best to help you out.”

“Well the fact is, I have been in love with a girl for quiet sometime now.”

Uhh!! Another of those teenage touch-me-not lovers… thought Fabia. Though she didn’t react that way to Shesh. Rather said “Oh ok.”

“We were in twelfth standard when I first felt that the feeling I have for her is Love.”

“Hmmm”

“I was just too shy to tell her. I was a bright student and my teachers and parents made me feel that falling in love is bad. Therefore despite being in love I never told her anything.”

“Hmmm, that’s the way our society is.”

“Yeah that’s true. Well now after seven years. I am a successful engineer and successfully placed in my life. And the fact is, I still love her. Now, she too has grown and is working somewhere. I saw her recently with some guys and girls. I don’t know if she is engaged. I don’t even know if she remembers me. I mean I don’t really know If I should even try to talk to her. And if you say, I should. My next question would be… How? And about what?”

“Hmmm I see. Can you tell me when did you speak to her last? What was the kind of relation you shared with her during school times?”

“We were just friends. The last time I spoke to her was when I passed out from the college. She was already working by then.”

“Hmmm, and do you think she remembers you. I mean I want to know what do you think.”

“I m not sure, Friend. I really am not sure.”

“Hmmm, when you say you love her, what exactly do you mean? And what do you want of her?”

“I love her means I love her a lot and want to spend my entire life with her, if she agrees.”

“Hmmm, I hope you realize that she might have someone else by now, since she never knew that you loved her.”

“Yes I do. But I just want to tell her that I love her. I want her to know that I always did. I will certainly respect her decision.”

“That sounds great. SO now what’s the problem?”

“I m not sure how will she react if I tell her about this.”

“Well if she remembers you I m sure her reaction would not upset you since you said you will respect her decision. And, if she doesn’t even remember you, does her reaction even matter?” She smiled.

“ Yes you are right. Can you also tell me how would I know if she remembers me or not. By the way, I forgot to mention, my friends say , while I was away for my studies just after twelfth she kept enquiring about how I was and where I was. Though she never asked my parents about me. Do you think she loves me?”

“ Shesh darling. Understand the fact that nobody else but she knows the answer to your question the best. So lets ask her about it. What do you say?”

“ Yes I agree. And how should I go about it?”

“ Do you know where does she live?”

“Yes she lives alone in my neighborhood. Comes back home usually late in the night. Oh ! I love her.”

JHmm I realize that.

“I would suggest if you cannot meet her, write a message and send some roses over to her. Make sure she receives her when she comes back from work. If she remembers you, you would get to know.”

“Thanks a lot you are a true friend.”

“The pleasure is all mine. This is not just my job I m a friend to you.”

“Thanks. If I need any more help.”

“Hmmm , feel free to write in.”

“Thanks a lot.”

“You are welcome. Take care. God bless you. Bye”

She put the phone back on the cradle and felt… How I wish I had the same courage in my own life. To tell Anumeh that I loved him. Tell him that I have loved him ever since I knew him.

“Well I guess I got to call someone else since I need a conversation to air tonight.” She thought and started scrolling thru the list that she had prepared. Then she chose a name and dialed the number.

“Hi Abhiman, How are you? This is The Friend calling from Radio World.”

“Hi Friend! I am fine thank you. How are you? I was waiting for your call and was wondering if you would ever call me. I really love your voice.”

“Thanks Abhiman, I am fine too. So, tell me what is it that you wanted to talk about and what help would you want from me?”

“Friend, this is regarding one of my sisters. She isn’t my real sister, not even a relative. We know each other since our childhood and she calls me a brother. I too love her like a little kid. She is cute, adorable and a wonderful person. She is a very strong and independent person. I respect her for that.”

“Hmmm, so what is the concern?”

“Well I accidentally happened to wander in the inbox of one of her email Id’s and I read some of her conversations with some guys that was ………………….. uh………………. I don’t know how to phrase it. In simple words I think whatever I read was inacceptable to me. Honestly speaking, had it been my real sister, I would have killed her. I would really have killed her for that. But here I don’t know what to do. Can you please help?”

“Hmmm I see. So what you are telling me is you entered her inbox. You invaded her privacy and you think she is wrong? What makes you think you were right in reading anything there? I feel you invaded the privacy of that girl and that is not something I can ever appreciate.”

“Ummm I don’t know if I was wrong or what but I really did not understand how could she? And now I just want to know what should I do? I know she is going wrong. I know its wrong for her. She is going to spoil her own life. I don’t want her to do that.”

“Hmmm and you happen to be the guardian of a grown up girl? I believe she is an individual and an independent person. What I would suggest is you should not do anything. Keep out of all this. It’s her personal life and all you need to do is do nothing.”

“But friend…..”

“Dear Abhiman! There are no if-but to it. If you love her as a brother and respect her as an individual, all you need to do is… Please keep out of this. And remember to respect her personal space. Always.”

“Do you think it’s alright for her to do what she is doing?”

“Well I think it’s not right for you to interfere in her life and her personal space. There are things that should not be talked about. And this is one of those things. I do not think I can tell you anything else on this.”

“Hmmm I think I should agree to you now.”

“Hope this is not just a verbal agreement and you go by your words.”

“Yes I will, my dear friend.”

“Great! I am happy that I have made a difference to your life.”

“Alright then, take care. Have a nice time and take care of your sister.”

“Ba-bye. Take care.”

“Thank you my dear friend. You have been a great help.”

“Pleasure is all mine friend.”

She disconnected the call and finished the recording.

Great so I have found the topic of conversation as well. And I can also talk to the psychiatrist about this.

She packed her bag and made a move to the parking. There she went driving all the way to her home. She parked her car and looked for the house keys. She went to the door and was surprised to see a bunch of red roses there with a note.

She picked up the bouquet and started reading the note.

“Hi Fabia! Saat saal zindagi thehri hui thi, kal jab tumhe dekha toh laga zindagi wapas aai hai mere paas. Mai tumhe hamesha batana chahta tha par darta tha shayad tum mujhe galat samjho. Par aaj apne ek dost se jab baat ki toh laga ek baar tumhe batana chahiye.

My dear Fabia I love you, I want to hold your hand till the earth goes round the sun fifty times, will you let me hold your hands by then please?

Fabia I love you, and want to ask you for your decision. I am okay with whatever your decision is… I love you and will always do…… Your decision will effect your life for sure but my feelings for you would not change. Ever…. “

She read it and realized it was her friend Anumeh she spoke to over the phone. Tears rolled down her cheeks. She pulled the note close to her breast and closed her eyes to allow the tear drops roll down to her lips. When she opened her eyes, she found Anu right infront of her eyes.

“Uh You here???”

She just didn’t know how to react.

He went on his knees looked at her , stretched his right hand and asked her

“Can I hold your hand till the earth goes round the sun fifty times “

She smiled and put her hands on his…. And, she just nodded in affirmation her throat was choked.

He wiped her tears and said “I am sorry”

“Being in love means, never having to say that you are sorry”

“Thanks Fab I love you….”

“I love you too Anu…….”

The Wait........................

Anne was sitting on that bench in the park, busy in her own thoughts, thinking of how her life is going and despite everything being right, how all of a sudden the entire world became wrong. The sun started rising from west and setting in east. How stars started staring at the moon in the sun studded sky. How everything, everything in the entire universe became so wrong all of a sudden.

Everything was just so right a few days ago.

She had all dreams in her thoughts she knew what she wanted from her life and Kay was ready to get all that for her. She used to think I m so fortunate......... so blessed.

And just two days later, today, her entire world is turned to pieces. She is turned to pieces and she cant even let a drop of tear roll down her cheeks.She has to smile, smile for him, cause she knows, if Kay sees even one tear drop in her eyes he would back-off. She was sitting and wandering over her spilled life, she is broken to peices, if this must be said, she is in shatters, a single touch and she would be floored. But outwardly she looked so calm, composed and concise. Nobody can even guess what a huge torment is going on in her mind.

She shook her head as if to shake the thought off her mind.

Anne was sitting at her favorite place, this park always made her feel so peaceful and calm. She was thinking of how Kay came to her office that evening to pick her up, the way that cute smile was glued to his face and the way he was so overwhelmed that he couldnt speak at all. She started smiling but a second later, she couldnt smile again. She felt as if her throat would choak and she would burst into tears.

To divert her thoughts, she started looking towards the gate of the park.

She saw an elderly couple. The man parked the bike infront of the gate and held the lady's hand and helped her off the bike. The lady smilingly looked at him, even from such a great distance Anne could figure out the amount of love that was overflowing from the lady's eyes for the man.

Anne smiled as she always did whenever she saw any couple deeply in love. She closed her eyes for a second, prayed for them and then said

"Amen!! " and looked at the sky.

The man helped the lady in the park, after walking for a short distance the lady stood there looking at the man and he had a naughty grin on his face. They were behaving like teenage
lovers and they looked really "cute". By this time she was so interested in this "teenage couple" that she forgot her own "troubles". Now, the lady was standing there and the man was kneeling down, he had something in his hands that wasnt very clearly visible but it was clear that he was "proposing" the lady. Out of curiosity, Anne walked towards the couple, the couple was just not bothered about the entire world. The lady was standing and the man was still kneeling down. Anne saw there were some tear drops in the eyes of the man, the lady bent down, kissed the man's forehead and said.

"Yes, I will." She wiped off the tears from his eyes.

Anne smiled and once again said "Amen!".

The man then asked the lady...

"So should I get you some chocolates??"

She said "Yes, you owe me a dozen." He reached into his pocket and took two chocolates out, said

"As of now I just have two, and as you know I don't carry a wallet or plastic money so cant buy more."

She smiled and took them.

"I wont share these," She said and giggled.

Anne listened to it, by no means was this couple behaving their age. She was just mesmerized.

A minute later, the couple were talking, Anne was looking , or should I say staring, at them and smiling. The lady said

"I still have that teddy bear, those cd's and the "Love story" with me."

He was just looking at her admiringly, just like a teenage-lover looks at his new beloved. He looked at her and said

"And I still see the same pendant hanging in your chain." She smiled and said,

" Take another look, now, this pendant shows the twenty-four years of love that I ve shared with it, when you weren't here."

She bend her head down and stared at the grass for a while, lifted her head up and said

" I love you."

The man held her hand and kissed the palm. She just sat there looking at him. Then the man said

"Hey we will be late, lets start off."

Both of them stood up, the man tried to hold the woman by her elbow, but she didn't let him rather asked him

"Do you still think you can lift me??"


Anne was surprised, she just looked at the man, he was some fifty-five-ish and the lady some fifty-ish though she had a well maintained body, but it would still be difficult for this old man to lift her, thought Anne. He said

"No...............!!!"

and like a lil boy rushed towards the gate. But the lady didn't even budge an inch, she was standing there like a lil kid asking for a candy.

The man returned with a defeated look, looked at her again, put one of his arms near her knees and the other near her nape, but she turned towards him, hugged him and giggled.

That was a real long hug. It appeared to Anne as if they just didn't want to let go off the hug. Anne felt as if she was in some paradise watching Venus play one of her love-jingles. After quiet a while, they started walking towards the gate, the lady on the man's left arm. They looked just so perfect.

Reaching the gate, the women walked towards the bike, the man said

"Not there my love!! its a long journey, lets take a car."

She looked puzzled. The man looked at a brand new car standing there with the chauffeur. There was another man standing there. The old man handed the bike keys to this person and opened the car door for the lady and helped her get into the car. He then went to the other side and sat in the car there.

Anne just could not resist the temptation of following them. She picked up her car and followed them. The car drove out of the city. Anne continued to follow. She could figure out the two lovers in the back seat, the lady's head on the man's shoulder and the car was running.

The two cars continued to run for over two hours, that's when Anne realized it was almost dawn that she followed them for, now they were in the nearby city. The love-birds were still in their car. The car stopped at one place which, Anne figured out, was a temple. The man got off the cab, opened the door for the lady and helped her out of the car very carefully. He was treating her so delicately as if she were some princess or may be a newly-wed wife. And the lady too was really graceful and elegant.

This was the first time Anne noticed them from such a short distance. The pair looked like an ultimate pair.

"One in a million"

Anne thought. The pair walked towards the temple. The lady was wearing a blue denim jeans with a sleeveless , collared white T-shirt. The man was wearing a loose T-shirt and khakis. Noway were they dressed like an old couple. Anne was admiring them. She too stopped and parked her car and got off to see what they were doing.

The couple went into the temple. The lady took off her ring, handed it to the man and told

"My ring is for five gran."

The man did the same and said

"Ten"

handed his ring to the lady. Two of them went into the temple. The man took her hand in his and said

"This is the gath-bandh...."

The lady took out the ring, held the man's left hand and put the ring on his ring finger. The man did the same and kissed her hand too. The temple priest was astonished and so was Anne. The Man then said

" So Ms Kamini Bannerji Do u take Mr Varun Bhatia as your wedded husband and promise to comfort him in good health and bad and thru all the thick and thin in life" The lady said

"I do.."

The man smiled "Me too".....

And then said "So I declare the two of you as Man and lady. You may kiss now."

The lady stared at him and said "No!!".

He smiled and said "C'mon I m your husband now."

She said " You always were."

The two of them smiled and started to move towards the car.

Now, Anne could not stand this any longer. She walked upto them and said

" Hi! I am sorry I have been following you since last evening. I don't know how you would take it but I just wanted to know something, was... all that you did here 'your marriage'??"

The man smiled and said

"Yes My child"

"So you weren't married last evening."Both of them looked at each other, smiled and said in a chorus

"No".

Anne was confused she said

"Please don't mind me asking , but I m really really confused. I know I shouldn't be asking this, its too personal but I want to know about the two of you. The way I saw you last evening and till now, I was under the impression that you are husband and wife."

The man smiled

" She is my long time beloved. I loved her when I was some 27-28 and she was 24-25. We wanted to get married she is the only child of her parents and knew that they would never be ready for an inter-caste marriage so she made me get married to a girl who happened to love me since her childhood though I never loved her."

And he looked at her, the lady had a smile on her face and looked down at the floor.

" However she herself could never accept a marriage, under her parents pressure, she did get married to a person but could not sustain the marriage and separated from her husband within three years of her marriage. And surprisingly I was never informed about this. We lived in two different cities now. We talked once in a while over the phone and she always said she was happy. And my wife, happened to die within 4 years of my marriage. I too had the impression that she was happy, kept telling her that I too was happy and everything is fine."

The man paused for another minute, admiringly looked at the lady and continued "Yesterday, I came to her , asked her out for a movie and while we were sitting in the park, we realized that we were lying to each other for past twenty years just to keep the other person's happiness intact though none of us was happy. That's when we thought of coming to this place, the place where we went during our courtship. And now we are married. She is mine forever for this life and for lots to come. She is my wife."

The lady went closer to the man and held his hand. She said

"I was always yours".

Anne smiled to them, hugged both of them said

"Congratulations for your marriage and I wish you have a wonderful life forever."

Anne turned around and started moving. Suddenly she stopped, came back to them and said

"I want to tell you something, I too was about to take the same decision, I have asked my lover to marry the girl whom he loved before I entered his life, she had dumped him and went

on for her career. Now she realized how much he loved her so she had come back and since I know my parents would never agree for our marriage I was trying to talk him into this marriage."

Anne said all of this in one go. Then she heaved a sigh.....

"Ah!!"

"But now, I m going back to get him into my life, I know I love him and he loves me too. I don't want to wait twenty years to tell him that I cannot love anybody else but him."

Anne went near the lady held her hand kissed it and gave a peck to the man as well

" Thank you so much Sire and madame. You don't know what you have given me."

She turned around moved out of the temple picked up her fone dialled a number and said

"I am coming. Please wait."

"Nothing, all I can tell you is I love you and cannot live without you and I know you too want to live only with me."

She disconnected the call , looked back at the two "love-angels" waved at them and walked to her car. Now Anne was driving her car back to the city.She no longer had a blue mood,

The sun was rising from east , the stars were smiling at the moon and she was happy.......

Can U kill the one you love.........

It was a gloomy day outside. She was still struggling to come out of the bed. Twice by now had Martha come to wake her up and evrytime she would just turn sides and doze off again--" Two minutes Martha please" she said without even raising her eyelids. Martha would just smile and go back. Now after half an hour her phone rings and she drags herself out of the warm quilt to pick the call. "Hey Rachel! We are ready. The plot is set. I m sure now even Peabody senior wont be able to touch our case, its all ours." Said Da'silva. Rachel now had her eyes open, glittering with hope. Ah! she has been waiting for this news for ages, she felt. Being an attorney and a person who worked only for blessings Rachel had not much to pay with. All she had was services of people she served at some point of time in the past....

Here she was..... Martha's only daughter had tried to prove she was insane and the certificate they got was from her family doctor, who treated her for past thirty years. Rachel could get no proofs to confirm Martha's sanity. All Rachel knew was, Martha was a nice women. There was nothing insane about her. She knew her for only three months but she could touch her heart and say that Martha was not just sane, she was a caring mother and a very nice person. Rachel saw no reason why Rosemary wanted to prove her insane. She, anyways, was Martha's only daughter, her only heir for all the property, there was nothing she had to worry about. Just no reason at all to try and prove this. Rachel had also met Rosemary and she too appeared to be a sane person. Rachel's mind gave her no reasons why she would do it. "I know for a fact Rose loves her mother, then what is it......"thought Rachel. By then Da'silva was there with the reports, he handed over some sheets to her. She just looked up at him, loads of questions in her eyes. "You might wanna read this first before I start any explanation." She started reading, it was just an eight page document but Rachel felt as if it was a thousand pages.

Her eyes widened with fear. She couldn't beleive what she had jus finished reading. She looked up at Da'silva with a raised eyebrow."Right! Now first things first, we need some security for Martha till we get the decision." She nodded in affirmation, picked up her phone n dialled a number " Hi ! Will it be okay if one of my frnds stays with you for a few days?............ Thanks a lot." , "Done" she said. "Alright!" " Now we need to meet Judge waldman, we cannot even think of an out of court settlement". She nodded again. Unable to say anything, unable to accept what she had just read.

"Rachel!! Please come out of this shock sweetie. I know you loved your parents a lot and you cannot beleive this as you couldnt even think of doing this, but the world is not as good as you are." She nodded again. Da'silva smiled,kissed her hair and blessed her. " Go thru this, I will meet you in the evening." And handed her a file. She smiled-"Thanks Chris". The following day was the D-day for them. Rachel, Da'silva and Martha as well. Rachel could not be in this shock, she told herself, she had to fight for martha, she had to fight for the truth. She closed her eyes and thought of Mr. John Adams, her father, and felt she had a huge responsibilty to cater to. She lifted the file, took out the evidences, placed the disk in her cd-man, listened to it, making notes of all the minute details. She just thought of Martha and heaved a deep sigh. Now she was confident, she knew what was coming her way. She couldnt wait for the court room drama the next day. That night she couldnot sleep. She didnt sleep even a wink.Neither could Martha .....................and Da'silva... ah how could he when Rachel was awake.

The following day, court was set, Rachel arrived in the courtroom sharp at 9:30 hrs, followed by Da'silva and a few of her associates. She took her place and was looking thru the case papers, by then Mr. Peabody Senior was there, Da'silva lifted his head. "Dont bother Chris" Said rachel and smiled. Da'silva smiled at her. "Hello Miss Adams" said Peabody senior, with a smile rachel reverted " Hi! How r u Mr Peabody??" "I am good but your friend needs help" He looked at Martha and said. Rachel didnt like it but just threw another smile athim saying "Thats exactly what I m here for." Her confident smile made Peabody ponder. He rested on her desk then. By then Rose entered the courtroom closely followed by Mr. Baldman. A weird man in his mid fifties, Rachel always wondered how could Rose have such a bad taste. "Anyhow", she thought, "thats none of my concerns".


Judge Waldman entered the courtroom, Rachel was on her feet, so was evrybody else, barring Baldman. "How I hate this man....." thought Rachel

"The district attorney may present his case." said Waldman. "My lord!! Its a simple case of a poor lady who because of her growing age has lost the conscience and hence, we want her daughter, her only heir, to be declared as the owner of the property. I see no reason why this case is even being discussed here. Its a simple fact that Mrs. Martha Wiltson is not capable of managing the property hence being her legal heir Ms Rosemary Wiltson is to be declared the owner. Thats all my lord."

"Whats your objection to this Ms. Defence attorney?" Enquired Judge Waldman.
"Nothing, nothing at all your honour." " I have no objections to a simple story or to a simple logic." " My objection is to the fact that Mrs Martha Wiltson is not mentally challenged. She is not just capable of managing her property, instead her experience in all these years gives her an upper hand in managing the property. Secondly, I further wish to clarify the ownership transfer as well." Rachel looked at Da'silva.

Da'silva raised on foot and handed over an envelop to the court attendant, the envelope was handed over to Judge waldman. "My lord! If we look into these documents.... it is evident that this property that we are talking about is solely Mrs Wiltson's possession, no one else holds any rights on it, since its not the hereditary property." ....."Further, for your notice Mr. Peabody, have a look at this too." Rachel handed over some peices of paper to him." Your honour, if we look at the page number 4 of the specimen, we have a clear agreement between Ms. Rosemary Wiltson and Mr. Richard Baldman, that states Ms Wiltson hold no property and any property that was transferred to Ms. Wiltson eventually happened to Mr Baldman's ownership." Rachel finished her statement. Mr Peabody's face turned pale, he looked at Mr Baldman, couldnot think of what next could he say. Mr Baldman took his fone which wasnt even ringing and walked off the courtroom. Rose was still there, Rachel felt she could see her eyes moist. And there she saw a mom who despite all this had the care and concern for her darling daughter. Martha stood up and walked close to Rose to comfort her. Rose was in shatters. She knew she wasnt worth any trust or emotions. She just sobbed once or twice and then cleaning her eyes said " Your honour, If I may , I want to say something to the court......" Judge Waldman nodded in agreement and pointed towards the witness box. Rose was on her foot and moved to the witness box....................



"Since I have been given this chance to speak here I want to tell you a lot of things, since the time I remember, I have been Ms. Rosemary Wiltson, Mrs Wiltson's beloved daughter, she has been great as a mother and today I think she is a greater human, and maybe I don't even deserve being called a human being........" Rose was looking into infinity and speaking as if she were mesmerized by something." Mrs. Wiltson, my mother, was always the best of a person, even as a single parent she brought me up well enough for me to be a nice person. I was happy in my life regarding her as my goddess and my life was going on really good. After high -school I decided I no longer wanted to study , I wanted to travel and have fun. And this FUN of mine brought me closer to people who had an all-together different meaning of life, by this time, My mother and her teachings had taken a backseat in my life and I was governed by their ideas, their values, and gradually I ended up becoming an addict, there is nothing that I haven't tried, you name it and I can tell you how that makes you feel. I was getting closer to these things and farther from my mom. Mama tried her best to help me, But I always felt she was trying to possess me and I flew away. And My dear Mr. Baldman, was my dearest person cuz he always knew what I needed and he also knew where to procure it from. I had a blind faith on him. And this agreement that Ms. Defense attorney just talked about, I don't remember having signed it. But I know why I never had to pay for my dosages. I know why my mama was twice thrown off infront of big trucks but destiny saved her. I know why in past three months my mama had to change five houses. I know if I don't get rid of this my mama will suffer , she will suffer till she dies or I die. And today I was told we were coming here to get a settlement with my mama to make her life easier. I don't know what to say here.

Just a few things. First, I don't intend to file a suite against my mother, secondly I know for a fact my mother is perfectly sane, I know Rachel as person, she is trying to help us both, mama and me. I don't have much to say. But I am sure YOU CAN NEVER KILL THE ONE YOU LOVE." And Rose broke down. She bent over the table and she felt a gentle brush of a hand on her shoulders, she didn't have to raise an eyelid, she knew this touch so well, she just turned around and put her arms around her mother's waist."I m sorry mum" she said sobbing. Martha was smiling a content smile on her face, she knew she had got her daughter back.

"Now since this has been clarified by the filer that the suite was wrongly filed in her name, the court disbands the case and advises Mr Baldman to be summoned to waste court's time and for forgery. Court refuses any judgments on the case." Said judge Waldman. He looked towards the jury and asks " Do we have something to say." Jury nods in negation. Rachel smiles, stands up and takes a bow."Thank you My lord!" She takes a leave Martha is standing holding her daughter in her arms watching the angel walk towards the sunset to get some more stars to some more lives.

Lots more than love........

"Hey!! Where were you all this while??" Queried Shanaya...

Robert thought "I was around here you never seemed to notice.........."

"Nowhere I just thought you were busy with your music launch and life and I felt you didnt really have much time to talk."

Shanaya said "C'mon rob!! I have always had time for you and talking to you is the best I can do......."Rob didnt seem to hear what she said. Maybe all he heard was "Rob lemme go... I dont think we were meant to be......"
But from nowhere could he have an idea what Shanaya was thinking..

They ve known each other for over three years now.... and how "shan never understood me" thought Rob. Shan was busy thinking and planning about their first video album. For her, he was the one she knew the most and knew as her dual soul. She always felt that her soul wandered outside her body in the form of rob and saved her from evrything that came along her way... or may be stopped her path. She remembers now, she was one of the three kids her parents had, being the eldest she was the closest to her parents and always knew how her mom hated her father but stayed with him just because she couldnt support herself and the kids. Then she grew up and saw her father wanted to give her mom evrything she ever wished for. She remembers him saying.. "I wish I had more than one life to love her, she is the best I could ve ever got. Do I even deserve her".

"Hey Shan " Rob's voice brought her back to the present "temme do ya think this model is good with you or should we get someone else??

"Well..........." looking at him in the mirror she said "I know someone who will suit better than him". Rob didnt notice her looking at him and thought again .... "I wish you thought working with me would be fun." They were always this types, Shanaya would say things and assume Robert understood that and robert.... would never say a word but wanted to feel pampered that Shanaya never understood.

This was a strange relationship, both of them were together, they worked together, lived together, they loved each other but never understood each other. Shanaya was happy thinking they understood each other and were the best pals around. She remembers how, when after her father's demise her mother chose to marry someone whom she could not stand and chose to leave her house. She came to this big city where she knew nobody all she had was a few pounds to get some food n beer for herself and a vocal cord that was an asset to her since childhood. Then she met this guy,Robert Mitchell, he had huge money, was some 21-ish and was a total loser in his life, someone who wasnt even half as courageous as she was. One person who could not stand up for himself even if he wanted to. He was convent educated, a back bencher there and later a high-school drop-out. Parents had no faith in him and chose to give him his share of money and disowned him any further rights. There they were, two people out of there families, looking towards a future where they had no clues where to go. But Shan, thanks to her Dad, always knew how to be greatful to people.

Now after three months, they were anxious, Shan's first-ever music album was about to be released the next day. They have had sleepless nights for past a fortnight. Now Shan was ready with her master peice, sponsored by Mr. Mitchell. Both there lives were at stake, Shan's career and Rob's money.

Music was released and within first week Shan was topping all the music charts. Shan was happy and felt she saw the same happiness in Rob's eyes as well. She finally planned to take Rob out to tell him how she felt for him,but to no avail, later that evening Rob came to her and said I wanna ask you one question if you have time......I think I have fallen in love with you. Will you marry me?? Shan never thought on these lines. All she felt was, they were the greatest pals, they were always there to support the other person, they just wanted to be together till they can be. She just could not answer. Had no idea what she should say. All she knew was...... today she had lost the person who was with her thru all thick and thin. Shan and rob were no longer shan and rob. She was shanaya Parker and he was Robert MItchell. And now she knew how the best things in life were never free. She wanted to stay with him and she wanted to break free. She wanted to be his best pal but never a lover. It was a strange feeling she had. She knew life was running out of her hands...... like sand. She knew it was either a great option to get Robert Mitchell as her husband or a huge loss to lose Rob-the sweetheart as her best pal.

Picture Perfect Family

Kavya is giggling her way to glory while talking over the phone and Kamini shouts from the other room-
"Kavya!! Put the phone down. NOW!!"
Kavya, unwillingly obeys the orders. Kamini feels it that she has never been like this, she never stepped into anyone's personal space. She remembers when she was in love for the first time, she was only 22 yet she wasn’t as possessive as she is today about Kavya. Kamini can just not stand her talking to Varun. Kamini is a single parent, she got Kavya home when Kavya was only 3 days old. Kamini can still visualize exactly how the cute-lil-creature looked. She got her home after a huge torment, a huge tussle with hubby, Murli. Murli and Kamini were together just for the heck of living together. She doesn’t remember even one day when she loved him, not even once did his looks brighten her day, not even once did she feel that she was his "wife"--the life partner. She accepted the decision that her parents took for her. Now, when she looks back, she cannot take it anymore. She decides she needs a reason to live. She had already deserted her parents for having messed up her life. She can never love this so-called husband of hers. And there was no one else who could be a reason enough for her to live. Kamini thought for over a year and decided to get home a reason to live. She goes ahead and adopts a child from CRY. Oh Gosh!! How difficult was it for her to convince that she will be able to take care of the three day old. Now, she had a three day old in her lap. They say her mother died on the operation table and no one had even the slightest of an idea as to who the father was, so the poor child was sent to this orphanage. At the same time Kamini visited the orphanage. She just could not take her eyes off the child and decided to adopt her. After all the legal hassles she happens to become the girls legal "MOTHER". The girl is named Kavya and she becomes Kamini reason to live. In these four years Kamini's life has changed a lot, now she is a divorcee, a successful entrepreneur and a darling mother of a sweetheart angel. Kavya is the world to her. Kamini and Kavya are the best buddies, partners in all mischief, each other's parent........... everything that we can think of. "Ring-ring" The phone rings again, Kamini picks it,
“Hello!" she says with a smile.
"Namaskar"...."Can I talk to Kavya please? If you don’t mind?" "No you cannot!! You are my friend, better talk to me."
Kavya held her hand and kissed it...
”Mama please lemme talk, please please please."
Kamini passed the phone over, she sits on the couch watching the TV."Yippee!!' She hears Kavya and smiles. The first time when Kavya met Varun, she told Kamini
"Mama I didn’t like this friend of yours, he just doesn’t let me talk."
Kamini smiled. She always felt there was something peculiar about the two of them. Kavya had the same eyes as Varun, the looks penetrated right into your heart and the innocence was so visible. She too will always mess up when talking about technical things however when talking about creativity, this chit of a girl had a collection of 384 paintings and 23 poems to her name.And always Kamini felt her poems always had a tragic end like Varun's stories. Once when Varun visited Delhi and stayed with them for a few days, the entire day both of them were together and didn’t even care for her. For the first time, Kamini was jealous. Three days he stayed there and Kavya only talks of Varun thereafter. Varun's seventh visit at her place, within three months time, and Kamini decided. She went into Varun's room looked for the comb and got a strand of his hair and then along with Kavya's hair took it to the forensic experts.
"Two days" said the forensic expert.
It was really difficult for Kamini to wait for 48 hours. She somehow manages to wait. After two days, she had the reports in her hands and yes her doubt was right. Kavya and Varun shared the same gene pool. Kamini smiled in dismay, “How I knew it." she thought. That day Kamini was insecure, how could she let Kavya go, she was her world, her only reason to live, the only reason for her to smile. When she reached home, she saw Varun and Kavya sitting on the couch, watching "The tom and Jerry show" and laughing. Somehow, Kamini did not like that. She snatched the remote from Kavya, switched the TV off, picked Kavya up from Varun's lap and locked her up in her bedroom. Varun was astonished, spell bound he had no idea of what to say.
"What happened....."
He couldn’t even complete his statement and saw Kamini staring at him. He got the message. He stood up, walked into his room, changed his dress, packed his bag, called up his travel agent and flew to Bangalore by the very next flight.
Four hours later, Kavya gets up from the armchair, goes to Kavya's room only to find her in high fever. Kamini was scared. The doctor said
“It’s nothing physical; she has had an emotional shock. She needs affection and not medicines. Medicines might not help."
In despair, she picks up her phone, "Hello! I m sorry Varun. I was really selfish and behaved in a real bad manner. Can you please come back?". "Yes I definitely can and I want too as well. I can do anything for Kavya. But I think I shouldn’t. And that’s it. End of discussion babes."
Kamini hates herself for the way she behaved.
"IT HURTS TO SEE THE PERSON YOU LOVE HAPPY WITH SOMEONE ELSE, BUT IT KILLS YOU IF THE PERSON YOU LOVE IS UNHAPPY WITH YOU"
Kamini saw the saying on the wall, "how true" she said to herself. She could not stand it any further. She picked up her phone and dialed a number.
"Hi! I need two tickets for Bangalore, yes Kamini age 35 and Kavya aged 4. ............. As soon as possible, when is the next flight...... oh great!! Thanks. Yes I ll pay it online give me two minutes the money will be in your account."
Kamini rushed to her room.
"Geeta can you please come here and help me with packing."
The mistress comes and helps Kamini in packing. Three hours later Kamini and Kavya are in air, Kavya still has a 103 degrees Celsius temperature. At 6:30 am the flight landed in Bangalore.
"Hi! Can you meet me at the Bangalore central in about an hour from now??" Asked Kamini.
"Thanks."
She said and took a cab. In the cab she saw Kavya's weak face, dark circles around her eyes, the pale weak face. How she hated herself for being so mean. She touches her forehead. She is not sleepy but too weak to even open her eyelid. She bends down and kisses her forehead. Tear rolled down the cheeks of our strong women. Now she is at Bangalore Central waiting for him to come. Today she has come here to hand over all her property to someone else. She is going to lose her life to someone today, her heart is pounding. She is going to hand over this property to someone who doesn’t even know the treasure is his. She saw Varun's bike stopping there at the entrance.
"How I wish time comes to a standstill" she thought.
She wanted to scream "I cannot part with her, she is my life, she is MY daughter." He walked closer, she is shivering. She might just fall. He held her hand."Hi Kamini! You… here what a pleasant surprise."
Without saying anything Kamini feels she can’t take it any longer.
She says “I want to tell you something...".
"Yeah! I am all ears, tell me".
"You and Kavya share the same gene-pool, she is YOUR daughter." Her throat choked, her eyes blurred, she could not talk further. He said “Do you think I didn’t know that??” He paused for a second and said, “I can’t talk in scientific terms like you…… share gene pool and all. I am an emotional person. What I can tell you is I always felt there was a strong bond between me and Kavya, I felt she was MINE!!. My heart told me that.”
She could not reply.
He said “But I m not so mean to take Kavya off her mother, her best friend.”
He added- “I am sure she cannot live without you. She needs you on every step of her life. And you need her too.”
Both of them kept quiet couldn’t say a word. Kavya looked at them and came running. She stretched her arms and put her arms around both their legs. Both of them bend down and hugged her.
Kamini knew what she had to do.
“Hey baby! How are you?” Asked Varun.
“I m good, you know my mama loves me so much” and she winked at Kamini.
Kamini smiled. “Varun I don’t think I need a husband or you need a wife but I know for sure Kavya needs a father and a mother.”
Varun looked at her. He was surprised.
She explained. ‘ Don’t worry we will just live in the same house for this girl. No commitments for each other. I am sure she will be happy. And I can do anything for her happiness.”
Varun smiled and said “And I can do everything for your happiness. You have always been an ideal human being I always looked up to.”
“Will you give me one chance to prove my worth to you as well?”
“Again, no commitments, we won’t be man and lady, but we will be her parents.” He smiled.
Three hours later, they were in a plane on their journey back home. Kavya had her head in Kamini’s lap and was holding Varun’s hands. A picture perfect family.