by Sidharth
Her dad had been happy she had decided to talk to her mom. He told her that Mom was going to tell her something that she had to believe.
`Your mom will tell you something and it's true. I swear on you and you know I would never lie on my daughter's swear. Please listen to her and believe her. If you find it in your heart to forgive her, and forgive me, we will be thankful. We love you. Please don't hate us,' her dad had said.
Natasha was lost in those words which made no sense to her.
`I'm glad you decided to come,' she heard her mother say from behind. She turned.
`You said you wanted to talk?'
`Yes. Yes, please sit. Do you want anything to eat or-?'
`No, I'm good. Please just get to the point,' Natasha said.
Her mother took a deep breath and started to talk.
`I wanted to apologize for what I did to you. I know it was the worst thing a mother can ever do to her child, and I realize how deeply I hurt you. No wonder you do not trust me at all anymore. But I would appreciate a little consideration. Beta, I am sorry for what I did. And I want to set it right,' her mother said.
`You think it can be set right, do you? It cannot be undone.'
`But can't we forget about it and move on? All I am asking for is a chance ...'
`Dad said you wanted to tell me something? What was that?'
`I don't think I should tell you that.'
`I need to know,' Natasha said, with tears threatening in her eyes. She was scared. But she needed to know
Her mother started to narrate.
She started from the time they were a perfect family. Amitabh, her husband, was an up and rising businessman and she was supportive of his dreams. Natasha was loved and Natasha loved her parents. When Natasha was in seventh grade, Amitabh had an affair with a colleague's wife. He started to spend a lot of time on tours and outside home. Natasha's mom didn't notice anything wrong until very long. Things started to get worse and her mom finally started to suspect Amitabh.
Things got messy and Natasha's mother got to know about it all. No matter how much Amitabh tried to convince Natasha's mom, he couldn't. Broken and betrayed, she left both of them. She knew Natasha loved her father more, so she never told Natasha what happened. She made Amitabh swear that he wouldn't, too.
Natasha had tears in her eyes. So did her mother.
It started to make sense. Natasha felt her heart crushing as the blood drained out. All this time she had hated her mom. She had no idea what she had gone through.
`Come home,' Natasha said simply. She couldn't bear to look at her mom.
Are you ... are you serious? Do you mean it?'
`More than anything. I have one question, Mom,' she said. Her heart was a whirlpool of memories. Good and bad ones.
`What is it?' her mother asked. Her face was a mixture of emotions. Hope, fear, happiness, sadness, confusion.
`Did you not think once what would happen to me if you went?' Natasha asked.
`I did. But I couldn't imagine living with your dad any longer. I didn't want to separate you from him. You were a good daughter. Have always been. I've always been so proud of you ... you loved him more than you loved me.'
`But I loved you, too, Mom,' she said. The word `Mom' sounded good on her tongue. She wanted to say it over and over again.
`I am sorry ...' her mother said.
`I understand,' she said.
She had another question to ask, though. `Did you ever think about me? After you left?'
`Everyday! I regretted it every single day and I thought about you all the time. I missed you. And then, one day, it was too much for me to take. I had to come back. It is hard ... living without family ...'
That was all. She did not need any more explanations. She did not have any more questions. Except ... `What is this? It looks like a portfolio of my entire life in here. So many pictures. What are they? One from every month of my life?' she asked, looking around the room at her pictures.
Her mom laughed. `It was your dad's idea. He thought that would break the ice between us.'
`Oh, right. I should have known.' Natasha shook her head.
`I did not expect you to forgive me. It really means the world to me. You mean the world to me. I have let you down before, but I promise that it will never happen again. You are a good daughter ... and I will try to be a good mother.'
`Don't ever say that again, Mom. I love you and I know it's not your fault. I am going to love you so much now. No more loving Dad,' she said and cried out.
`Don't do that to your dad. He is good man. Everyone makes mistakes.'
`But he tore away the most beautiful girl in my life. My MOM.
`Girl?'
`Look at you, Mom. You're one hottie. Next time, I am going to flaunt you at my Parents Teachers Meeting. Everyone is so going to be bowled over.'
`You're the best daughter one can ever have!' her mom said.
They hugged and hugged and didn't stop hugging.
For the next few hours, they talked. They made up-or at least tried their best to make up-for all the talking they'd missed. Natasha realized that the root of all her problems was her mother's absence. She told her mom everything . . . things that she could have never shared with her dad. Her mother listened and never judged her. She didn't scold her when she said she'd gotten drunk. Her mother didn't reprimand her when she said she had kissed someone. She just nodded and listened. With every minute that passed by, she saw her worries melt away. She felt the feelings of revenge, anger and frustration melt away. Instantly, she forgave everybody in her head. She had a smile on her face even though she was telling her mom what she had gone through and how she had lost everything.
`Mom,' she said, `I should go now.'
`Now? I want you to stay.'
`No, I am going because I want to kick Dad's ass,' she said angrily.
`Don't say that. He has been through a lot. Don't give him a hard time,' she said.
`I will not. But I am leaving so that you can pack and come home.'
Her mother hugged her. A little later Natasha left with tears in her eyes.
On her way back home, Natasha was in some other world. She had a mother again. Her family was not broken. She wanted her mom to shift back to their place at the earliest. Her excitement about it was almost embarrassing. To think that it was the same woman she had pledged to hate for life until the previous day.
She had done what Shreya would have wanted . . . forgiven and forgotten. After she got back home, she was too excited to sit still and do nothing. Her mom was coming back home! She was jumping with happiness. She called Shreya.
`I am coming to pick you up in twenty!' she shouted as soon as Shreya took her call.
`Pick up? Where are we going?'
`Shopping! Be ready! I'm coming!'
`Why are you shouting so much? What happened?' Shreya asked.
`The best thing ever. Mom is coming back home. And I need to get something awesome for her!'
`Umm ... are you serious, or is it just that you are in trauma or something?'
`I'm serious. It's the best thing ever. I got my mom back. I have a complete family,' Natasha said excitedly.
`Okay. And how did it happen?' Shreya sounded a little unsure.
`I will tell you when we meet ...'
`You forgave her?'
`Yes, I did. It's not that simple. We need to meet,' Natasha said happily before lowering her voice and saying, `Please come ...'
`Wow. You do look happy.. .'
`Shut up! Get ready. See you twenty.'
Natasha was still jumping around the room when she heard the bell ring. The maid shouted at her that there was someone to meet her. Natasha didn't know who would come to meet her. She thought it was the courier guy and went for a shower. She lit up some aromatic candles, put in some bath salts and soaked herself in.
She lay back and felt good. The water against her skin gently swayed as she made plans about what she and her mom would do together. Th
ey could go to day-long spas together. They could do shopping together. She could tell her about her guys and her mom would ask her to stay away from them. After the long rejuvenating bath, she got ready. There were a few missed calls from Shreya who said she would be a little late. She went down to the shouts of her maid. The person was still waiting for her. It had been over an hour.
Near the door, she saw him.
Rana.
`Hi Natasha,' he said casually. It was as if they were on the best of terms ... as if nothing bad had ever happened between them. It angered Natasha.
`What are you doing here?' she asked.
`I came here to apologize. What I did was really horrible. I never should have done that. But I was angry. And it happened.'
`I understand ...'
`I got to know about how it affected your image at your school. And I felt really bad for having done that to you. I am sorry,' he said.
`It's okay,' Natasha said with a smile. She was too happy to remember what Rana's betrayal had done to her. She had forgotten how she tried to kill herself ... And also, the whole forgiving and forgetting thing had started to feel good. She had figured out a long time back that she really did not love Rana. So she did not feel anything at all, seeing him on her doorstep.
`What?' Rana asked.
`I said it's okay. It's fine. I forgive you.'
`I knew you would forgive me.'
Excuse me?' she asked. He was grinning like an idiot. And she had no idea what was so funny about the whole situation.
`I mean-'
'Actually, never mind. I need to rush now. Catch you later?'
Are you playing hard to get?' Rana asked, innocently.
Natasha's brow wrinkled. What was with him?
`What are you ... ? Are you okay?' she asked. She was getting irritated. She just wanted to get rid of him quickly and rush to go for shopping with Shreya.
`I know that you love me. And I love you. What I did was bad, but I am sorry about it. I have been meaning to come to you and tell you how sorry I am. I am sorry, my love.'
`My love . . . ?' Natasha mouthed, unable to speak anymore. She was totally and completely dumbstruck.
`Yes, your love,' he smiled and came forward to hug her. She jerked back.
`Stay. Don't you take another step towards me. Leave. Now,' she gritted her teeth and said. She was suddenly furious.
`Don't do this me. I really love you,' Rana said.
Are you like, totally dumb or something?'Natasha shouted. `You come here, very conveniently assuming that I am all head over heels in love with you, and act like you are my knight in a shining armour? With that apology speech rehearsed ... What did you expect? That I would jump in excitement at the thought of getting back together? With you?'
`Natasha, I said I am sorry-'
`Because if that is so, then all I can say is you ve got to be kidding me. After what you did to me, you should be thanking your stars that you are still alive. You disgust me. That's what I feel for you. Not love, you jackass. Now get out of here before I have to throw you out.'
He looked at her gobsmacked. Natasha could make guys shit their pants, and Rana was a living proof of the fact. ExhibitA. He looked at her, confused. For all she knew, he might still have been expecting her to crack up any time, saying that she had been kidding. He waited for a few seconds, like a helpless little rabbit in a tigress' cage. His eyes were wide in fear, before he turned around and stumbled out of the room in haste.
As soon as he was out of the door, Natasha burst out laughing. Yes, the way Rana had assumed everything had pissed her off. But when he was not in front of her anymore, she simply could not control her laughter at the whole situation. She rushed to Shreya's place, dying to tell her what happened. She wasn't even looking for revenge, but she got hers anyway ... and it was oh so sweet.
That was a story they would laugh at for a long time to come.
he next morning, when she woke up, the euphoria had still not left her. Her mom was coming home. That was all Natasha could think about. Nothing else mattered to her. No matter how much Shreya tried to force her to prepare a little for the quiz, Natasha did not agree. Nothing could touch her. She was in her own cocoon of happiness, separated from the rest of the world.
`Please. I beg you. I've searched some questions and mailed them to you. Just go through them once?' Shreya said.
`No way! You know it will be of no use, don't you? What are the chances that we would be asked any question from all that we read now?' Natasha reasoned.
`Even if one question matches, it will be worth it.'
Are you mad? It will be a total waste! Just like the last two times.'
`Still. Just read it once. Browse through it ... you might remember something, if asked,' Shreya said.
`Oh, please. You know I won't, don't you? Then why are you even trying?'
`Because I can't do this alone. I need you,' Shreya said in a low voice.
`Shit. You just had to blackmail me emotionally,' Natasha sighed. She knew she had lost the battle.
So that's how Natasha started to study. And once she started, it began to feel good. It was impossible not to be excited about something Shreya was so excited about. Once again, Shreya's enthusiasm was contagious. Natasha found herself awake the whole night. She completed the material Shreya had sent her. Then, she turned to Google. She read whatever she found.
In her head, she thought of a million possibilities. Whenever she read something, she imagined being asked about it in the quiz the next day. She would know the answer. In fact, she would know all the answers. They would totally take it away! And everyone would be so proud of her. Mom would be so proud of her ... Her daydreams had no bounds.
When she finally decided to call it a day, it was already morning. She caught up with an hour's sleep before rushing to school. Her dad offered to drop her. She said yes. She had not broached the topic with her father. She didn't want to. It was all in the past and everyone was over it. She didn't want to bring it up again and ruin everything.
All prepared?' he asked.
'As prepared as I will ever be,' she smiled at him.
All the best, kiddo.'
`Thanks, Dad. And yes, I need some money. I need to get another gift for Mom. We don't have much time till she comes here to stay ...'
He smiled. She knew that he was happy with her decision. She was happy that he was happy. And she was happy otherwise too. She had a mother again!
She hopped out of the car and immediately started looking around for Shreya. When she could not find her anywhere, she tried her phone.
`Where are you? I have been looking for you everywhere,' Natasha said into the phone.
`I'm at home. You're at school? Already?' Shreya asked.
`Yes. What are you still doing at home? Come quickly. I'm waiting for you!'
`But the quiz starts at 1 PM. We will leave from school for IIT at 11 AM. What are you doing at school this early? It's still seven thirty!'
`I came at regular school time. I did not know about the whole schedule. And you were too busy to talk to me,' Natasha said. Shreya had taken the quiz very seriously. She had devoted every waking second preparing for it.
Aww! I'm sorry. I'm leaving home right now. I'll come there as soon as possible, okay?'
Alright.' They hung up.
Great, Natasha thought. She could have easily slept for a couple of hours more. She looked around and spotted Ananya at a distance. She thought of going to her and blackmailing her some more, but she was done playing with her. As the saying goes, you should not play with your food.
She turned away and found herself face to face with Yuvraj. She immediately turned away. She didn't want her day to go downhill. Her mood was too precious to be ruined.
`Natasha!' Yuvraj called out.
`Yes?' she paused and turned towards him, unwillingly.
`Can I talk to you for a minute?'
`I thought you said we had nothing to talk about?'
`Now we do. Will you please just listen?' he asked.
Alright. What is it?'
`What is going on between you and Ananya? What were you talking about that day in the canteen? And that day in the parking lot?'
`She did not tell you? You seriously do not know?' Natasha asked. She was trying to gauge whether Yuvraj was serious. DidAnanya really not tell him? She simply did not think that it could be possible. The video was a big deal. It could have ruined the both of them for life.
`No, I do not know. She is not telling anyone. But it is bothering her. I can tell.'
`Good. That was the intention.'
`But why? What do you have against her? She didn't do anything to you,' he said.
`Oh yes? Then how did it all happen? Why was I suddenly not the Head Girl anymore? Why was I thrown out of the Debating Club? How did the school authorities come to know that I sent some guys to beat you up?'
'Ananya did not do all that! None of it was her plan. In fact, she did not even know about it until later.'
`Then whose plan was it?' Natasha asked.
`I cannot tell you that. All I can tell you is that Ananya had nothing to do with it.'
`Not good enough. Tell me who was behind it.'
`I was. It was all my plan, okay?' Yuvraj said.
`Not okay. I know you are lying. And I need the truth.'
`It was not my plan, but I was also involved in it. I cannot tell you whose it was. He is a friend. I cannot betray-'
`Was it Rana?' Natasha cut him off midway. `It was Rana, wasn't it?'
Yuvraj hesitated for a brief second. `I cannot tell you . .
`I knew it. I knew it. When I first asked him to get you beaten up, he was totally against it, but suddenly, he started to love the idea.'
`He just wanted to see if getting me beaten up was the reason why you were with him,' Yuvraj explained.
`So he played his silly game with me? To test me whether I loved him or was using him.'
`Yes.'
`That bastard,' Natasha said and smiled. She almost felt sorry for Rana. She was glad now about what happened the day before when she humiliated Rana. He deserved every bit of it.