Hey Dad! Meet My Mom

by Sharma, Sandeep

  The photographer was busy with the posing stuff while I was busy seeing myself walking on the ramp after just a few hours.

  “Ms. Roshni? Ms. Roshni.” The photographer’s voice snapped me out of my day dream and I stood still. Something struck me when I heard that familiar voice.

  “Puneet!!!”

  Chapter 19

  Puneet was never a photographer but he took it up just because he couldn’t see any other guy taking snaps of my poses. He had never told me anything about all this but somehow these things get to your ears anyway.

  After the fashion show was over, the moment of pride arrived when I was to walk with the sponsors. I was still not aware with whom I would be walking in front of hundreds of people who were there waiting for the ‘new’ showstopper. I was standing, still waiting for the sponsors to come on the ramp. My heart beat was getting high with each passing second.

  “And now, the most important moment has arrived, as we wish to thank our sponsors who organized this fashion week. Ladies and gentleman, please put your hands together for a big round of applause, and join us in welcoming Mr. Puneet Shrivastava, the fresh face in the world of glamour.” The host of the fashion show announced while on the other end, the earth under my feet started slipping away.

  He came and put his hands around my waist and kissed me on my cheeks and I was shocked at what was happening, and yet that was not the moment for getting shocked because what mattered was the money that I would be getting from this show, also this would open the doors for me to many other upcoming shows under this fashion house.

  “What the hell, how dare you kiss me in front of all those people?” I was filled with anger.

  “Oh, you wanted me to kiss you in private?” Puneet said with a mischievous smile.

  “Shut up, you idiot! You very well know how much I hate you, I can’t bear to even look at you, I ignored that you did my photo-shoot without my permission when I was in the green-room but what you did on the ramp, I seriously can’t take this shit!” I was fuming and suffocating with every passing second.

  “Relax, love.” Puneet tried to grab me again but I resisted.

  “Don’t you dare me call that.” I was serious this time.

  “Fine, whatever happened I can’t undo, just forget it, it was just a requirement of the show.”

  “Are you serious? “It was the requirement of the show”? Fine, tomorrow some other sponsor will come and say that he has to rape me because it’s the need of the show, would it mean that it is fine?”

  “Roshni, you are just taking this in the wrong direction, kissing you doesn’t mean I raped you.”

  “What is wrong with you Puneet, you always think you are right and I am wrong! I am fed up with you.”

  “I love you, Roshni.”

  “Oh, please! Don’t start all this again; by now you must have come to know the fact that I now don’t love anything or anyone except money. I just love money.”

  “Roshni, don’t be silly, okay, how much money do you need? I will give it to you.”

  “Wow! So Mr. Puneet Shrivastava wants to buy love, I think I should open a shop and sell my love and you very well know what this business is called. Tell me, how much are you ready to pay to buy my love.”

  “My whole life, every breath, every heart beat.”

  “Please keep this philosophy with you; I will listen to it some other day. I will specially arrange a schedule for your philosophical talks, right now I have to rush I have other shows pending, and I hope you are not among the sponsors again.”

  “Gosh! Please stop acting! I know you are very uncomfortable with me but please let me know the reason, I swear I will clear out all your doubts, I will make you comfortable, you can’t run away like this yaar.”

  “Puneet, please let me go, or I will have to call the security.”

  “Call whom so ever you want to call, because today I am not leaving you until you answer my questions.”

  “Are you crazy? Do you think ‘The Super Model Roshni Bhatt’ will answer your questions? Who do you think you are? My fan, friend, relative, etc. etc.? Get a valid relation with me first and only then will I be answerable to you.”

  I knew I was being very cruel to him but I had no other option either. I wanted him to leave the idea of loving me. I wanted to give rise to ‘hate’ for me in his heart. He was a very nice guy but my kids were more important to me than him.

  I didn’t know why but I couldn’t stop myself from thinking about him. I was missing that idiot like crazy. Today my day was normal, but every passing moment I fantasized about him being with me. His kiss was all where I was lost. Maybe everything happened for a reason, but I wanted him to be the reason of my life, the reason for my dreams, the reason for my being alive.

  Back in Puneet’s life...

  It was one of those normal days; Roshni was locked up in the green room, as usual wearing heavy make up for her fashion show.

  I knew the venue of Roshni’s next show, as her best friends were now my friends too. I walked towards the green room and without knocking or anything, I entered the room.

  “What the hell; didn’t your parents teach you that you should always knock before entering someone’s room?”

  “And who is that someone? May I know that, Ms. Roshni Bhatt, the so-called Showstopper?” I said those words with a bit of sarcasm.

  “What do you mean by ‘so-called’, man you don’t know how people die for me; they want me to be their model for fashion shows.”

  “Die for you; you are kidding, right?”

  “What do you want, tell me clearly because I am getting late, and I can call the security and make you get out within seconds.”

  “Hmm attitude... I like it.”

  “Yeah, you have a problem with that?”

  “Fine, leave all this Rosh. I can call you that, right? So ‘Rosh’, how did you feel when I held you during the ‘ramp kiss’.”

  “What crap are you talking about?”

  “How are you hiding those tears which rolled down just because you miss me?”

  “Stop, or I will call the security.”

  “You do miss me and that make-up can’t hide what your eyes want to say to me.”

  “Puneet, come to the point.”

  “I have made my point clear ages back.” I was firm.

  “Then why you are repeating it again?” She was weak.

  “I am not repeating it, I am making you realize.” We both melted for a moment and that reflected in the silence between us.

  “See, I told you that it can never happen, I never felt the way you felt for me, and this is the thousandth time I am telling you that, by now even donkeys would have understood, where they are not respected they don’t show their face, and I don’t know which breed you are.” She must have managed a heart of iron to say that.

  “You can abuse me, I won’t mind.”

  “For minding, people need a mind.”

  “Roshni, by the way how are Kiara, Riya and Adi doing?” That question took her breath away but she covered it up quickly.

  “How would I know, I don’t know these people. All college friends, and you can’t expect me to remember each and every person from college.” She tried to keep away from direct eye contact.

  “Why don’t you try out your luck with acting? You are already a model; the film industry is open for you. I must say, you are a good actress.” I said, though I felt a lump in my throat.

  “Talk to you later, my show has started.” She looked at herself in the mirror for the last time before leaving and then continued, “Hmm, 7:30 my home, right now I can’t miss the show, if you have read my diary, you must be aware how important these shows are for me.”

  “I’ll be there before 7:30, sweetheart.”

  The room was decorated with crystals, the fragrance of flowers surrounded me and the lights were shining as if it lit after ages, the walls were painted purple and pink, the couches were as soft as cotton, it was all just awesome.
<
br />   “Please make yourself comfortable, I’ll bring you a glass of water.”

  “Yeah.”

  “So, here you are.” She brought a glass of water from the kitchen and sat next to me.

  “Thanks.”

  A deep silence was reflected on Roshni’s face while I was eager to hear those three words from her mouth.

  “So...... ” I was in no mood to waste a single moment.

  “So, what?”

  “You invited me.”

  “Yeah, because you were not allowing me to go to my show.”

  “Oh is it, I stopped you and you agreed?” I brought the smile back on my face.

  “No, I didn’t mean that. Roshni Bhatt lives her life with her decisions.” She was not getting any softer.

  “Yaar, leave Roshni Bhatt aside for this evening, and become Rosh, just for me, I know you too are living with this burden.” “Hmm” She showed no reaction over my words.

  “Look yaar, I don’t want to force you, it’s your decision to love me or not, but on the other hand you can’t stop yourself from living your own life.” I waited for her response but nothing came. “Where is that Roshu, who lived her life without limits and ego? Look at you today, your attitude is more than your height.”

  She said nothing, again.

  “I read your diary and I want to know about those three kids. I never saw you in that condition then how can you possibly have three kids and that too, 10 years and 5 years of age? You are just 22 right now, right?”

  “Haahaha” She kept on laughing for a while, I just loved the sight but felt awkward too.

  “Do you think I am joking?”

  “Yes, I do think you are joking because if you know my age then you should know some facts too, anyway I am not justifying myself to you or to anyone else.”

  “Rosh, please babes, confess that you love me too.”

  “No, I don’t, well dinner is ready and you must be hungry, lucky guy, you are going to dine at a super model’s home.”

  “Fuck the super model, for me you are just my Rosh.” I was furious now, there was no path left for me to convince her to accept her love for me.

  “What do you want, Puneet? I can’t love you. These kids, they are my love and life; I want to spend the rest of my life with them only, am I clear to you?” She was stubborn with her decision.

  “What about you then?”

  “What about me? I am just happy.” Her words were not matching with the look in her eyes.

  “Yeah, your diary did tell me that you are ‘just’ happy. But I don’t want my Rosh to be ‘just’ happy. I know you feel happy when I am with you.” I took a break to control my emotions but I failed and continued, “Fool, have you ever read your own diary? Every page has only one name, Puneet, even more than your kids’ names, you have penned down every single day when we met, what we talk, what we ate, each and every thing is there.”

  I saw those priceless emotions getting dropped from her eyes. I caught them before they could get wasted. For the first time, she showed the inner Roshni to me.

  The night has fallen to witness the grandeur of love

  You and I are the only two souls and doves.

  His arms are my palanquin and I am his queen

  His warm breath over my shoulders

  Whisper in my ears

  Can he take a step further?

  Lift me up, like my dad with all love and care

  I wrap my legs around his waist, fold my hands over his neck

  He leads me to the destiny where making love is all we need,

  Are you scared? He asks.

  A tear rolls down my eye,

  He licks it is as if it were wine.

  Taking off the attire, a blissful sigh with very swirled emotions

  Listen! “Hmm”

  You are the best thing that ever happened to me,

  Can we talk later about this?

  Getting deeper and deeper until the desires meet

  Sweating hard, but a special treat.

  “Puneet, I love you.” She said lying next to me on the bed, with nothing over her svelte figure.

  “Hmmm.... ” I said nothing; I was still enjoying the hangover.

  “Puneet, I am serious.”

  “Even I am serious, I confessed my love ages back.” I replied a little rudely, I was still in some kind of a hangover and that hurt her.

  “Fine, all you needed was a one night stand with me, right?”

  “What the hell? Are you mad Rosh, I love you.” I got up instantly.

  “Okay, now you can leave, you made love, it’s enough, your wish is fulfilled, now don’t try to contact me.”

  “What happened, Rosh?”

  “Yaar, I love my kids, I can’t love you, it’s as simple as that.” Oh! So the reason was different. She was still thinking the same thing.

  “They are my kids too.”

  “And when did they become your kids?”

  “If you are their mother then I am their father, that’s the rule of the universe.”

  “I am not joking.” She had a strange magnetic look in her eyes, which pulled me into the depth of what she was saying.

  “Even I am not joking, see I’ll love them and treat them the way you do. If your happiness is tied with them, trust me I can do anything for your happiness.” I assured her.

  “Thanks, Puneet.” She cried, again.

  “What, why the ‘thanks’?”

  “I love you.”

  So, finally she confessed her love.

  “You know what, all those kids are adopted.” She said.

  “I don’t have any problem if they are adopted or they are your own blood, all I know is I am the dad to those three little kids.”

  Finally love made its way, and fate gave me yet another good news.

  “Hey Rosh! What are you doing here and that too at 3 am, are you okay?”

  “Nothing Puneet, I was feeling suffocated so I just came outside to get some fresh air.” Roshni whispered. Both of us looked down from the fifth floor of our balcony. The whole world was sleeping deep, lost in their dreams. I was the only one who was awake, holding the hand of my dream.

  “Happy Birthday, Puneet.” She whispered in my ears once again and planted a kiss on my lips. She handed me a present too.

  “Thank you darling. What’s in this?” I asked her.

  “Take a look yourself.” Then I started to open the wrapping. It was a watch.

  “Keep this bound to your wrist; it will remind you of our love and the ‘time’ we are spending right now.”

  I took her along with me to the room and huddled her into my arms just to show my love and care for her. We were both having the best time of our lives without the slightest hint that everything was about to end very soon.

  We were both immensely in love with each other and we decided to get married in the presence and with the blessings of our parents. Yes, indeed it was going to be a love marriage and it wasn’t going to be easy for us to confess our relationship to our families but somehow we managed to do so. We informed our respective families about each other and from that day onwards, the story of our separation had started to be written.

  One fine Monday morning, while preparing breakfast, Roshni rushed to the basin and started puking. It was unexpected and yet quite obvious.

  Somewhere along the way, she had an idea of what was happening to her yet she wanted to be sure. And the two red lines on the pregnancy kit too confirmed it. Now her mind started planning, how to break out the joyous news to me.

  Post dinner, when we were back in our bedroom, Roshni finally decided to blurt out the golden news but waited until I came beside her on the bed.

  “Honey, you haven’t slept as yet. I thought you must be snoring by now.” And then I winked at her as she sat on the right side of the bed.

  ‘’Can you feel something?’’ asked Roshni sitting beside me, placing my palm on her stomach.

  I immediately got her point. I leaped up like a
spring on the bed filled with immeasurable joy and impetuously called up my mom saying that a baby was coming soon. I was closer to my mother. The news of the baby reached my father and that damaged everything.

  “If it’s a girl, then we will name her Ritika and if it’s a boy, we will name him Rishi.” This was instantly decided by Roshni herself. She was very excited. She called her dad too. They told her that they would reach the following morning itself and that gave Roshni more happiness because it would be the first time that she would be having her parents in her new home.

  We were both ready to welcome our parents. My father came rushing to me, leaving all his campaigning for the upcoming election and that was totally unexpected. I was happy that he still cared for me.

  We had no clue what they were all up to. They came, showered us with love and then betrayed us. They stabbed us on our backs. One night, her mother mixed mifepristone in her milk which caused a chemical abortion. The pain arose, tearing out of the blood cells, killing her baby inside. Roshni was clueless about this unfortunate mishap.

  After murdering our child they tried to murder our relation too. First they tried cheap tactics like arousing hate between us by telling us false stories about each other but when nothing helped, they showed their real face. Roshni and I were both devastated to know about our child’s death. It was as if nothing was left for us to feel happy about. All we had left were her three children. The day her father came to know about them, he left them in some orphanage at a remote city without even informing Roshni. That blow on our souls shattered everything inside us.

  Roshni left food and water, she got hospitalized. The same thing happened with me. Our parents’ pride took away the life of their children. I was taken back to Delhi, my father thought that time would heal everything but nothing helped. Then I was referred to my uncle who erased my memory with treatment and drugs.

  He erased everything about Roshni from my mind but forgot to erase Rishi, my ‘dead’ son.

  Chapter 20