by Anamika GK
“Don't you think that if I am to pity someone for medical issues then I should start with myself? I am a diabetic for crying out loud”, Avish answered pointedly, effectively quietening his dad.
“That scoundrel Suraj, he said yes knowing all about her condition and at the end moment rascal ran away”, Sumer cursed and sighed after a few moments.
“Let’s not talk about that night dad”.
“Why not? When you want to know the whole deal then you should also know that it not just because of her limp that he ran away, though she refuses to believe otherwise. She told him that she is not going to accept my holdings of Jha Chemicals as dowry. That she will not accept the bungalow I was planning to gift her. So the useless son of Jha decided that a limping girl without monetary benefits is not worth the trouble. Good riddance though. I would have killed him myself otherwise someday”.
“About that. You said she has a chachu. Why isn't he marrying her off? Why does she live here?”, Avish came to his next doubt.
“Karan? Arre, he is a kid himself. Just 3 years elder to you. A bachelor. How would he find her a life partner when he has no knowledge about marriage stuff?” Sumer replied.
“And her parents?” Avish prodded.
“They died in a car accident ten years back”.
“And since then she is here? How did you know them?”, Avish looked at his dad.
“Her father Shashi Sharma was my close college friend. Her mother Garima was an orphan and theirs was a love marriage. Khushi, their only child, Shashi's younger brother Karan and they were a small happy family. Shashi and Garima had come from Lucknow to attend their business client's wedding in Delhi with Laddoo, and were staying here in Raizada Mansion on my insistence. On the day of the wedding, Laddoo was running a slight fever, so I suggested them to leave her behind with me and jiji. And I am glad that they did, because they met with a fatal accident on their way to the marriage venue that night, which took their lives. Kids were beyond devastated. Both were young, Laddoo was just 11 and Karan was around 23. He was in his last year of MBBS in Mumbai then”, Sumer stopped and looked at Avish who he found was listening intently.
So he decided to tell him everything at once and hence continued, “While Karan agreed to let Laddoo stay with us until she totally recovered from shock, he himself left his studies to take care of his brother's business. But Shashi's business partner got greedy and tried to overtake the business from an inexperienced Karan. Poor boy fought tooth and nail in court, but he did not even know B of business. So after four months when he came to take Laddoo back with him, he discussed his problem with me asking for help. By then, my cute little Laddoo who eagerly waited for me to come back from office so that I tell her stories about huge buildings I made in office, while she bobbed her two pigtails nodding her head in wide-eyed wonder, had won my heart. And after seeing Karan's sincerity, I decided to take both the children under my wings permanently. It was just after our fight in London, and so in a way I needed them as well in my life. I used my contacts to settle the court case back in Lucknow and persuaded Karan to sell everything off and resume his studies, and meanwhile, let me take care of Laddoo. After some thinking he agreed and I got him to divide the money he got in his and Laddoo's name equally. Karan refused to take money from me for his further studies and used his share for it, and I invested Laddoo's share in her name. Karan came back three years later, after his MD in cardiology, very determined to not 'trouble me anymore' and take Laddoo back with him. But it was not possible for me or jiji to let our sunshine go by then, and even she did not want to leave us. Finally Karan had to relent and since then Laddoo is living here with us, bringing joy in our life and smile on our lips daily.”
“So, she came for a visit and never left”, Avish concluded.
“She came for a visit, and me and jiji never let her go would be more correct. Our bland lonely lives, this silent house. We needed her more. She would have been as happy with Karan for she is really like her name, happy everywhere. But by staying here she gave jiji the child she never had, and to me she gave her innocent unconditional love, that helped me come out from the mess that my life was then”, Sumer did not want to downplay Laddoo's importance in his life before his son, not today.
After a while Sumer stood up to leave, but not before saying, “Beta, there will be no good time to say this to you. But if you are my right eye, then she is my left. Hope you did not say anything very rude to her today”.
Later that night, while recalling his dad's words, Avish for the first time did not feel his usual bitterness towards Khushi. He just felt sad. For himself. For his dad. For things that could have been. For not being the kid whom his dad told stories about huge buildings he made in his office. For the time and love they had missed out on. But it’s his mother's fault that she used him as a pawn in her game. And it’s his dad's fault that he gave up on him. How long can he go on blaming ‘her’ for things his parents did to him, he questioned himself. Especially when her life has not been a bed of roses either, though, far better than his. But whatever the case be, he'll have to accept her in his dad's life. His father had clearly hinted that he would have it no other way, and Avish was tired of the blame game as well. He cannot start liking her right away but how difficult could it be to be civil with her? And a little cordial like dad wants? Anyway after knowing about her parents, her role in his dad's life and reason of her broken wedding, his resentment towards her looked quite childish to even himself now. And to think of it, he will turn 30 next month. Shouldn't he start the new decade of his life on a new slate? Maybe it’s time to let go.
Avish was not the only one thinking that night, Khushi was thinking too. After being angry and sad, which bade papa's strong girl always found difficult to be for long, she decided to cheer up. She was taught to count her blessings by buaji and she decided to do exactly that for cheering up after her horrendous encounter with that mean man. She started with her bade papa, who if she complains will definitely scold his son for all things he said to her, but she won't hurt her bade papa by telling him all that. However, she already feels bad for him as he has some real high hopes from his son, and with this attitude she has serious doubts that ‘Sadu Singh Raizada’ can live up to any of her bade papa's expectations. Then she has buaji, who is her second mother, while Avishji looks so awkward around her. And he does not chant, ‘my buaji, my buaji’, like ‘my dad, my dad’ either, so that area is still free of his attack. Thank God for that. Then she has Karan chachu, who although annoys the crap out of her with his irritating sense of humor, she know loves her deeply. He flies down to Delhi leaving everything if she as much has fever. He is her chachu and big bro rolled in one, who remembers and tells her all the stories of her maa and papa whenever she wants. Then, her maa papa of course! She knows that they are taking care of her from up above, else how did she land up in bade papa and buaji's life? They made sure that she is loved, after them too. Please God, keep them comfortable and happy and tell them that their daughter loves them a lot too.
Also she has two best friends in the world. Rishabh is so nice and caring, and she is glad that he was away that day, else God knows what bade papa would have done to their friendship. Then, her sweet Riya di, the sister she never had. And how can she forget her college. She is studying exactly what she wanted to, Fine Arts. Bade papa also agrees that his idea to make her study Business Management was wrong now that he looks at her creativity. He even gave her a free reign to supervise the decorations of that Sadu Singh Raizada's room, which was very important for bade papa that it comes out right. And since she had not heard that rude man cribbing about it, guess he liked it too. And last but not the least everyone around the house likes her. Yeah!
Did you unleash your sharp tongue on him, Oh let me, guess, you cheated on the poor fellow, she mimicked him with distorted lips. Poor fellow, my foot. How can Avishji say all those mean things about Suraj running away when he did not even know about her limp? Did bade papa never mention that
to him? Maybe. They only meet for a month every year in New York where they must have a lot of catching up of their own to do, she reasoned. Anyway, ‘Sadu Singhji’ can say whatever he wants, she is not going to let that affect her. Like she will not let that ... that Suraj affect her. YES!
It's good that she did not get married to Suraj Jha. Though the jilted label has stuck with her, but at least she does not have to be with a man who tried to walk ahead or behind of her so that people do not notice that he was the one with the girl who limps, her resolution to cheer up faltered a little. But bade papa says that he was greedy for dowry too, she reminded herself. What if his family had burnt her alive for money? GOD NO. Cases like that are not that unheard of. She has buaji's Nandkishore to thank for saving her from that misery. As for her leg, if she does not have a problem with her limp, then no one else has the right to have it either. If Avishji will show his pity tomorrow, she is going to give him a real piece of her mind. On second thoughts, she should show him what 'staying out of the way' actually means. Hmmph… She does not want his friendship nor his pity. He can keep everything safe in his locker along with his scary temper. Her life, her leg and her broken wedding. Who the hell is he to interfere?
“Calm down Khushi, calm down”, she told herself.
She had decided on that blasted wedding night that she will never marry. And she will not let buaji or bade papa talk her into it again either. She is going to live her life, complete her studies and then join Riya di in her NGO work. Her life was set, but now she'll have to find a solution to this new found issue called Avishji in her life for bade papa's sake. But once that is settled, she plans to live forever with the person who loves her the most in the whole world. Her bade papa of course.
Who else can love me more than him, she yawned oblivious to what future held for her, as sleep took over.
Chapter 7
Khushi opened her huge wardrobe and stood deciding what she should wear today. She wanted to dress-up a little just for some extra confidence sake, as her one and a half month long sabbatical from college, that she took for her supposed wedding was ending today, and she was rejoining to complete her last semester of Bachelor of Fine arts. Also she wanted to show Avishji, that other than her limp, she has everything else going great in her life. She does not need his pity, in case he pities her after last night’s revelation, as she knew that pity was generally the first reaction of people after knowing that it is not an ankle sprain but a permanent limp that she is sporting, she sighed. Khushi took a deep breath and started scanning her wardrobe again.
She had a huge collection of long ankle length skirts, which were the only thing she wore on her lower body, for it camouflaged her limp to a great extent. The fashionista in her took special care to make up for her lack of options in lower body clothes by going stylish on the upper body. She had a wonderful collection of spaghetti strap tops, short sleeveless kurtis and some with short net cap sleeves. She loved bright and pastel colors alike, it should just look good on her. And teaming this ensemble with lovely scarves was her favorite thing. She had scarves in all colors, all fabrics and all prints from all over the world in her wardrobe, courtesy bade papa and Karan chachu. Sleek bracelet and huge earrings were her favorite accessories. And with her stylishly layer-cut hair that reached below her shoulder blades, Khushi Sharma could give at least a few models a run for their money.
Riya di had made her buy kohl pencil and lip gloss saying that they are a must have in a girl's purse. And today she applied dark brown kohl to her huge eyes, baby pink lip gloss and a little dab of perfume as well. After putting on her soft flat beige ballerina footwear, Khushi checked herself again in the mirror. A grin escaped her lips thinking about buaji's inevitable reaction to her deep-maroon spaghetti strap top which she had teamed with a beige long skirt & maroon scarf. She generally wore her spaghetti tops when buaji was away visiting her in laws in Vrindavan, for she gets a fit seeing her in these. Buaji can write a novel on how obscene and vulgar today's generation has become, and she did everything in her power to not let her Titaliya join the bandwagon. However, today she will ask bade papa to not let buaji lecture her, she decided.
This was her favorite top and today she needed to feel good in order to face her classmates, her teachers, and queries and sympathetic looks were bound to come her way. Time to go and face the nosy world, Khushi, she thought, opening the door of her bedroom.
Two rooms down, across the corridor, Avish was getting ready for office as well. But he had been already awake since last two hours, unlike Khushi. Had already been to the gym, had had his morning coffee with his dad and buaji. That girl had made a fixture of herself on dining table yesterday when he wanted to avoid her, and today she was nowhere to be seen when he wanted to talk. But from buaji's consistent ramblings he got to know that she is a late riser, much to buaji's displeasure, specially today when she was supposed to rejoin college for her remaining course. So Avish had made his way to his room to do some work and then get ready for office and talk to Khushi on breakfast. He would have preferred it without an audience but chances for that looked slim now.
Avish had given a lot of thought to what he wanted to say to Khushi and he had not yet come up with a proper line of thought. He did not pity her. He just thought that it is an unfortunate thing that she has this handicap. Period. And why would he pity a girl for whom everybody was volunteering left right & center to be the parents that she had lost. From his own dad and buaji to probably her own uncle. In spite of being an orphan she grew up in a family where everyone showered love on her, while he rotted away alone in hostels all his life even after having parents who were very much alive. Her mother loved her in spite of her limp, while he had succumbed to Type 2 diabetes due to cruel stress levels after his mother's truth was out. Pity her? Really? As for her runaway groom and broken wedding, instead of condolences it would be probably better to congratulate her for getting rid of such a guy and family at the end moment, before any substantial damage. And about what he said to her last night, it was totally unintentional on his part. Now how was he supposed to know about her limp when he did not even know her surname until his conversation with dad. So he finally concluded that he felt bad for saying what all he said to her, just bad, nothing else. And he should let her know the same, that if he had hurt her it was not intentional and he feels bad about it. If only she makes an appearance now, he grumbled pushing the knot of his tie in place. He collected his coat and laptop, and opened the door of his bedroom to proceed to breakfast table.
Khushi's time to face the world prematurely arrived when she opened her bedroom door and found Avish passing from there, who obviously stopped when he saw the girl he was searching for since morning, step out and who was looking extraordinarily beautiful this morning, he made a side note. But the look of grimace and caught unawares that passed her face did not escape Avish's notice either. And, on Khushi's part it took recalling of all her good manners in order to not dive back inside her room and shut the door behind her. If Avish was eager to talk to her up until now, it converted to mild irritation seeing Khushi's reaction to his presence. But he decided to get done and over with it right now, sans audience.
“Khushi”, he started, forcing her to look at him albeit with a blank face. She had instantly decided to stay cool in front of him, or at least that's what she thought she was doing.
“Good Morning”, he said, but instead of replying Khushi kept on staring at him without any reaction.
Just say it and leave, his mind advised, trying to ignore that ridiculous stare. “Listen. I should have not said what I said last night. But it was totally unintentional as I did not know about... about your leg. I really feel bad about it”. There he said it, he exhaled.
But much to Avish's discomfort she still refused to avert her stony stare from his face. Arghh. Is she the same girl from last night? She was sure a spitfire while arguing with him, so has she turned dumb overnight?
After a few seconds he collected hims
elf and tried to get some answer, any answer actually other than the freaky stare, “Are we good? I mean.. ummm.. you know…"
If Khushi was worried about pity from him, she thoroughly wasted her time and energy. It was clearly not on his agenda, just like a proper apology was not there.
“I said I did not know about you. What do you expect to hear when you go on stumbling on a properly leveled floor other than can't you walk properly? It was a normal reaction, nothing specific against you”. Avish was losing his cool now, which he did not have much to begin with in any case.
“Are you trying to apologize?”, she finally spoke.
Expressions of disbelief dawned on Avish's handsome face. “Why would I apologize? It was not intentional”.
“You said other things too. How about apologizing for them?” Khushi folded her hands on her chest.
'What other things?' Avish asked trying to control his annoyance.
“Listen girl! Why did your fiancé run away? Did you unleash your sharp tongue on him? Did you cheat on him?” She had mimicked that line so many times since last night that it came out quite authentic now.
“Ummm... oh…” Avish fumbled. He had completely forgotten that little part of conversation amid the overload of new information last night.
“So, now will you apologize?” Khushi questioned.