BALH Paanch Saal Baad Part 100

Just after Priya left , Ram settled himself on the chesterfield chair just by the glass wall window in the room. The sight of the night is just a piece of beauty from the serene beauty of Mellbourne, but it pinched his eyes that time. While Pihu makes him more vulnerable, he has no certain idea to save her, and then there comes Priya, everything goes numb as he thinks. Whether she is to be blamed or not? Trains of thoughts halted suddenly, when his phone rang. It was late to get a call from India, is everything alright? Did Apeksha informed them about his safe arrival or did she forgotten? Ram stopped anticipating and took the call.

“Ram.” The familiar voice of his mother soothed him for moment, even her regular familiar conversation calmed him down a little.

“Maa, you want to tell me something important right?” Ram interrupted his mother. The silence from both the ends permitted one of them to start the conversation.

“Yes Ram, It is very important. But I don’t know how you will react to the same; when already there is lot of troubles around.”

“Maa, just tell it. As Pihu is important to me, so are you.”

“Beta, this time for the first time, I thought you and Priya will be away from each other in Karva Chauth, but ..” Ram interrupted his mother and expressed that he has completely forgotten about the same, and also expressed that Priya might have forgotten the same.

“Nahi Beta aisa ho hi ni sakta, jitna bhi pareshan ya busy kyun na ho Priya she will never forgot the same.” Krishna Kapoor assured, “So beta this year I nor your dadi will be there to give her Sargi, so we thought to get the same done by you and Apeksha will do the other ritual, which I have already detailed to her. Tum karoge na beta hum dono ka itna sa kaam.?” The anxious mother asked.

The conversation stalled for about a minute, after a deep sigh Ram said yes to his mother. The elderly ladies back at India was very happy and relieved, they urged Ram to call them on the same day of Karva Chauth. Agreeing to them Ram disconnected the call, excusing himself for taking rest.

“Do Priya really remember the same?” Ram asked himself. He lied down while trying to sleep, only thing that was crossing his mind is Priya, the way she left the room, was pretty much unacceptable for him. Feeling relentless he sat up and decided to talk to Priya. He rushed down to the guest room. Before he could enter the room, his feet froze at its place, when he over heard Priya talking to someone over the phone. The clock was pointing to 12:40 am then. Hurt, Ram knocked at the door.

“Okay! I see you in the morning. Please be there.” Priya disconnected the call in hurry. “Mr. Kapoor you don’t need to knock, I am your wife, not an outsider.”

Ram entered and pretended that he has no idea about the call that Priya ended just then.

“Please Priya, room mein chalo.” Ram started the conversation.

“No, I am comfortable here only Mr. Kapoor. Please be comfortable there.” Priya lied down on the bed.

“So you will not come?” Ram asked and waited for Priya to reply, but there was no reply from her end. This irked Ram pretty much, “Okay then fine. I will also sleep here only.” Ram paced up to the bed.

“Wait!” Priya almost jumped to sit, “Why? Why you will sleep here Mr.Kapoor? Just go to the room.”

“I will stay back here because my wife is here.” Ram removed the duvet in anger, almost throwing it on the ground.

“Who’s wife? What wife?” Priya laughed.

“Priya!” Ram almost yelled.

“Please stop all these, meri biwi and all these non sense. What you said to me few minutes ago, I have had enough Mr Kapoor. I can’t share the same room with you, and if you are going to stay here, I will move out.”

Ram, was furious at that time, he paced up and walked away from the room.

The pain was visible in her eyes, she sat on the bed. As she closed her eyes, tears rolled down her cheeks, “I can never forget what you said Ram, a wife can forget a mother can never. This time I can’t I just can’t. When I needed you the most, you threw me out like an intruder. I can’t forget your those words.” She wept alone all night like a baby searching for it’s mother lap.

~~

On the other hand, in his room, Ram sat on the chesterfield chair, he understood what has hurt his wife the most. The words that are said are said, hurt is hurt, but even if he wants to rectify the same, Priya needs to give him a chance. At the same time, Pihu crossed his mind. She is also in pain, and whom to blame for? As he closed his eyes, Priya’s face came across. He could not associate any other person to blame for, other than Priya. “Fuck!!” He almost shouted, “What is happening to me? Why I am blaming Priya? If not her who is to blame, for what happened to Pihu?” He sat there with his hands clasped against eyes. While he saw his love after so long time, and unknowingly he landed there just before Karva Chauth, which none of them missed in all these years, even if he had to manage the most important work to get delayed diplomatically. He wanted Priya in his arms, he wanted to tell her how much he missed her every moment, and he wanted to embrace her in a never ending love. All has been faded off. His long tiring journey, agony, pain, grief, made him numb. Leaning back, he closed his eyes tight. A strong man, with a golden heart stood fragile lost today, grinding himself amongst the two ladies of his life, Priya and Pihu. The not much left night and the breeze, welcomed much needed sleep.

~~

It was 6 in the morning when Priya entered the bedroom, to her surprise the bed was neatly done, from the last day it lays as it was. She turned around, as the morning breeze puffed her hairs. Now she could see her husband, not him really but his bare feet which lay crossed on the mattress. She picked up the pillow and walked up to see him. After a long time, though what so ever the situation prevails, it was, is and will be the best morning gift for her, looking at her husband sleeping calm peacefully. This time she was wrong. To her wildest dream, she was witnessing something, for the second time in her life. The dried up tears left their marks on his face. This is something she hates to see, her lower lips trembled, tears stung her eyes. She wanted to hug him tight and shed out the pain she is bearing in her and let him do the same. But her ego stopped as those words from him echoed inside her head. Wiping off her tears, she bent closer to Ram, it was the most painful sight for her to see her love in pain. She softly caressed his cheeks, with the chances of him to get awaken by her touch, she withdrew controlling her emotions. Walking to the changing room, she halted at the entrance and looked back, not letting her go weak, she walked inside.

While Priya thought of the encounter was with her sleeping husband, Ram’s sleep broke at that very moment, Priya’s soft touch acted as the stimuli to the sensory organs. With the bolting sound of the changing room door, he sat straight. He wanted to pull Priya into him and tell her how much he missed her, how much he is longing for her, but again the trains of thoughts and unanswered questions stalled and blocked the path.

“Good Morning.” Ram said as Priya attired in her yellow suit, walked to the dressing mirror, coming out of the changing room. She responded back. After setting her hairs and looks for the day to simple yet perfect notch, she turned towards Ram, “Mr. Kapoor, Pihu’s college starts from 9:30 am, be there with her, you have not meet anyone of the professors or the student conseller, do meet them.”

“Why I have to do that alone? Aren’t you coming along?” Ram was curious to know the answer.

“No. I have already seen the campus, and all the formalities I have already done. And Pihu will be there, and she is not liking my company from last few days. I irk her most of the time. So, I would request you to excuse me.” Priya was reluctant delivering her response. “anything you want to ask?” she turned to Ram adjusting her bindi.

“I have something else to say.” Ram inspected her body language.

“What!” Priya checked herself turning around to the mirror. “Is there something wrong, with me or with this outfit.” With Ram’s gaze still fixed on her, Priya looked towards the mirror for her bindi, “What!! Mr Kapoor?”

Ram felt the awkwardness growing, he corrected the situation, at least tried with a wild guess, which did two things one got him out of the situation and secondly made him more mad over Priya. “No, I was thinking, Are you going somewhere?”

“Yes. I am. I have some personal engagements today.” She replied, “And I want you to grant leave to Dev for today. I would like to take him as a company.”

Ram sat spellbound for some moment, trying to understand, what his wife is trying to do, making him jealous or what. The anger raged through the blood, with a fake smile, noticed, “ Yeah! Okay.”

“Don’t get upset Mr.Kapoor.” She caught her, “ Apeksha is busy with some clients otherwise I would have taken her with me and …” She stretched the last word, “ and nothing is really good amongst us and moreover I want you to accompany Pihu to college, So only option left with me is Dev.”

“I didn’t ask for an explanation Priya.” Ram smirked in satisfaction.

“Huh! Okay, I gave it for maintaining this peace amongst us.” Priya walked out of the room, when Ram still had something to tell for, about the Karva Chauth.

~~

Priya met Apeksha just outside Pihu’s room, greeting each other, Priya wanted to know if Pihu woke up or not.

“Yes Priya. I am here to do that only, But tis everything alright between you and bhai?” Apeksha asked.

“Yes Apeksha. Everything is fine between us.” Priya answered.

“Don’t lie to me. If everything’s is fine, then why you were in guest room?” Apeksha interrogated.

“Apeksha, kuch baatien pati patni ke beech hi rehne do.Please.”

“Okay. I understand, but Priya for Pihu don’t let this be worst, that only I can suggest.”

“I hope so” Priya smiled back to Apeksha, “ I am getting the breakfast ready, and make sure that Mr. Kapoor gets every details of Pihu’s college and the incidents from recent past. I am trusting you on this mostly.”

Apeksha firmly held Priya’s hand and affirmed her about execution of what she wanted. Priya walked downstairs.

~~

Around about 8 am both father and daughter joined Priya and Apeksha in the dine. Pihu smiled, almost fake to her mother and settled down, where Priya was supposed to sit by Ram, on the other side where Apeksha sits regularly noticed the same and wanted to vacant the seat for Priya. She gracefully denied the same and settled down at the furthest side, opposite to Ram.

“Pihu, I know you are an adult now, but It’s my morale duty to tell you about what I & your papa planned for today.” Priya looked up to record Pihu’s reaction, “Your papa wants to visit your college. He wants to make sure that if his daughter is getting everything best or not. I think you are okay with it.”

Ram was taken aback, when Priya used the word “your papa”, when he has planned to visit mall to purchase gift for Priya on the occasion of Karva Chauth, Priya wanted him to go along with Pihu, but his astonishment, stalled the next moment.

“Yes. Even if Papa hadn’t planned the same, I would have asked him to do so.” Pihu’s reply remained sharp as always, “So Thanks but no Thanks.”

“Oh!” Priya said having a bite from the freshly cut apple. “As I said, you are an adult you can take your own decision. Who the hell am I to interrupt.”

“You have interrupted and did what you wanted to.” Pihu replied.

“Aha Pihu, Mr. Kapoor is here, and if you want he can shift you to Mumbai back. After all for what he has earned all these money. Some 9-10 lakhs is just a matter of joke for him. Hain na!” Priya teased.

“Priya what..” Apeksha was disallowed to continue knowingly by Priya. She continued, “ Apeksha, that is nothing wrong in it, if Pihu doesn’t want to continue her studies, I am sure of the fact that my husband can get my daughter a degree from one of the best college of the world.”

“Mom enough!” Pihu banged on the table and stood up, “See Papa, she has already ruined my life at Mumbai, now she wants me to leave Australia too.” She was fuming, looking straight at Priya, Pihu shouted, “I will go nowhere mom, do you understand. If you want to leave you can, I will manage alone, even in hostel. But I will leave after being the best student of the university. Not for me, not for papa not for you, but to show you that I am not a loser, who lives on her father’s wealth and with Father’s name.”

“Pihu.” Ram tried to make her sit and complete her food, but she left letting her father know that she is will be waiting for him in car. Priya left unmoved and unaffected by her daughter’s reactions and actions, while Ram and Apeksha sat shell shocked. In a minute Pihu was back there at the dine space, with her college essentials and while she was dashing towards the lobby, Priya smiled and letting Pihu hear, she pretended to talk to herself, “Nowhere, within a month or two my daughter will plead to Mr Kapoor to take her back.”

“What? What did you say?” Pihu stepped back to Priya.

“What??” Priya looked up.

“Right now mom. What I will plead to Papa? To take me back.” Pihu narrowed her eyes, without letting Priya to defend she continued, “ It’s an open challenge to you Mom, neither I will go Back nor I will plead to dad to do so, even If I stay in immense pain to…” Pihu stopped.

“To .. what? Pihu complete it.. To see me every day ?” Priya added teasingly.

“Yes!” Pihu Snapped, “Yes to see you every day. But mom I will not go back, it was dream to become a good artist and I will compete with everyone including me to become one. But that day when I will achieve it, unfortunately you will not be the part of it.” Pihu walked away to the lobby, and within a minute next she is vanished.

“Priya what were you doing?” Ram sounded very disappointed.

“Firming my daughters stay over here.” Priya stood up, “and..”. Priya saw Dev walking inside, neglecting Ram she shifted her focus to him, “hey! Good Morning Dev.”

“Good Morning. Mrs. Kapoor.” Dev greeted back, “Good morning Ram.” He added.

“Mrs. Kapoor!!” Exclaimed Priya looking at Dev, she smiled looking at Ram, “Dev I have had already made this clear to you, it’s Priya not Mrs. Kapoor. So please.”

“Ya! I know but..” Dev’s hesitation elevated as Ram had his gaze fixed on him.

“Mr. Kapoor stop paralyzing him with your terrifying gaze.” Priya Snapped. Ram looked aside to avoid Priya.

“Good. See Dev, how sweet my husband is.” Priya was irritating Ram constantly, “And I have already informed Mr Kapoor that you are on duty with me for me and had your breakfast?”

Dev smiled and gestured letting her know that he has done with his morning food.

“Great then. Mr. Kapoor I am leaving, Take care of yourself and Pihu and Apeksha I will have my lunch outside ok.” Priya didn’t wait or correctly to say, Didn’t allow any of them to reply back. She straight walked to Dev’s car, and settled herself on the front seat. Dev walked behind her, he wanted to ask her something before igniting the car, but Priya requested him not to ask for anything but to drive her off from there. Accepting, Dev did exactly the same. Pihu who was strolling in the lawn, noticed everything and walked inside.

~~

“What was Priya trying to prove Apeksha?” Ram was raging.

“I don’t know Bhai . I really don’t have an idea what she was speaking.” Apeksha stopped noticing Pihu.

“Where did Mom go with him, papa?” Pihu asked.

“I don’t know.” Ram snapped out, pushing the plate from himself, “Pihu please be ready, we must be leaving soon.” Ram walked upstairs.

“Bua! What is happening? What does Mom trying to do?” Pihu looked surprised.

“Pihu, please whatever is happening between you and your mom don’t put yourself between your mom and dad, that’s their matter, a husband and wife’s matter, let them handle it! Take is as advice or warning whatever.” Apeksha was also taken aback by Priya’s sudden attitude and behavioral change.

~~

“Priya! Do want me to resign from Kapoor Industries or you want me to get fired by your husband?” Dev asked Priya while in the car.

“Relax Dev! Nothing is going to happen like you are thinking.” Priya looked straight.

“We had some other plans and that was with Pihu isn’t it? I think Advik and we had that thing discussed yesterday night! Right?” Dev looked little surprised.

“Ya, but I need your help with some marketing, I don’t know any good place over here, specially where I can get Indian Traditional things.” Priya replied.

“Okay, but you had some other expression in front of your husband.” Dev looked at priya, “I am sorry Priya for asking this, but Is everything all right?”

“Yes! Everything is fine!” Priya looked other side.

“If you don’t want to I will not ask you, but …” Dev stopped for a while, with a deep breath he added, “I know it is ridiculous of me to give anyone relationship advice and specially to you, but Priya I know child is the inseparable part of a couple but don’t burry your relationship.”

Priya didn’t reply back, she froze at her place completely.

“ Ok. Where should I take you?” Dev asked.

“Actually Dev, Kal Karva Chauth hain, and this is the first time I am away from India. I mean to say, Is there any Indian Society over here?” Priya asked.

“Come on Priya your husband owns a company here and many Indians are working, we itself have an Indian Society and many more are there, Apeksha is the whole and soul of the Indian Society of our company and she is in touch with others also, every culture is celebrated with much enthusiasm and openness and as I can guess now you need to buy the things needed for the pooja?” Dev informed and asked.

“Yeah! And after that to Pihu’s college. We have to find out what the daughter dad duo is doing, as Advick asked us to do.” Priya smiled.

“Yes Ma’am at your service.” Dev tried to make the moment little light for Priya.

~~

On the way to College, Ram tried to communicate with Pihu, but every time he tried to do so, he failed. Priya came across his mind, her attitude towards Pihu-him, the sudden change perplexed him. He raged when Dev crossed his mind.

“Papa, are you ok?” Pihu asked out of her concern.

“Ya!” at first Ram wanted to keep Pihu out of it, but his anger compelled him to drag her in between, “Pihu, do Dev visits often?”

“Often, I don’t think so Papa, but he used to drop back Mom at the end of the day. Otherwise I don’t know any further. Apeksha bua must know, because three of them spent time together.” Pihu was casual in her reply.

“Okay!” Ram controlled himself.

“Papa.” Pihu was little nervous while asking, “Why are you thinking about him and why are you asking about he and Mamma?”

“Pihu, I am sorry beta, but let it be. Tum kaho what you want now?” Ram asked.

“Nothing, just want to prove I am not a loser Papa.” Tears almost trickled down.

“Who said you are a loser? Mamma?” Pihu didn’t responded to her father. “You didn’t reply me Pihu”

“No one.” Pihu stammered

“Any friend here at the university? Anyone ? I will give him/her peace of mind.” Ram assured Pihu, “ And no one is going to tell you anything! You are a Kapoor my daughter.”

“No one Papa. I feel so.” Pihu poured her heart, “ I feel blocked, sometimes I can’t breathe. I can’t see, I can’t hear. All of a sudden there is only darkness. It.it …it engulfs me.” Pihu kept on saying, Ram who is observing her, embraced her in a tight hug, Pihu wept like a kid who’s world is almost turned around head, losing everything.”

“Papa, why Mamma forced me to come here and continue my studies? Why can’t she see me happy around my friends. Why she forced me to follow what she thinks to be right? Koi aur sahi ho ni sakta hain?” Pihu wept very badly.

“Pihu, listen to me, we will work this out together, but right now let’s don’t go to classed today.” Ram tried to consol her.

“No.” Pihu wiped out her tears, Grabbing tissues she cleaned up her face, “I will attend the classes. I am fine, app bhi dekh lo mera college.”

“Are you sure?” Ram asked. Pihu smiled and assured him of her decision.

Ram asked the driver to be around, he will be leaving for office soon. While Ram was giving instructions to the chauffer, Pihu noticed Advick smiling awkwardly to her.

“You!” she almost shouted grabbing Ram’s attention.

“Yes Miss Kapoor, I loved those Potato wedges from your college canteen I came to have that!” Advick teased Pihu.

“My father is here!” Pihu warned.

“Oh! So Miss Kapoor is actually warning me. Wow!” he teased again.

“Advick!” Ram was surprised to see him there, he quickly hugged him.

“I am fine uncle, How are you?”

“Good, but you know Pihu?” Ram is surprised.

“Ya, I love that Potato wedges…”he was interrupted by Pihu , “Papa, I am late for the classes already. Bye.” She left.

“I will love to have those wedges again!” Advick teased her again. Pihu cursed him as she left.

“aye, mere samne mere hi beti ko ched raha hain?” Ram tapped on Advick’s shoulder, “ Itni himmat?”

“ No No uncle, meri itni himmat, but I need to talk to you.” Advick waited for the reply, “About Pihu, I am her doctor.”

“Doctor??” Ram stood shell shocked. “Wait a minute do you want to tell that my daughter needs medical help.”

“Unfortunately Yes!” Advick replied.

“Ridiculous!” he shouted almost, “I am not listening to you; I need to talk to Priya right now.” Ram furiously left.

As soon as Ram left, Advick called Priya to give that bad news to her. That news surfaced when Priya was in the middle of her shopping. She looked tensed, “Dev we need to go back, before Ram losses his senses in anger.”

“Why what happened?” Dev looked nervous too.

“Our plan failed, he denied to speak to Advick, as he thinks his daughter don’t need any help.” Priya said.

“Okay lets complete this marketing and ...” Dev tried to understand the situation, “I can tell him something.. Convince him.”

“No, let me handle this and I know him well, he is hurt, he is in anger, he is raging over me.” Priya sighed as she added, “He is mad with me. No one can handle him.”

“I understand, you want to keep it as a personal affair. I completely okay with it and if … If you need any help, please call me.” He smiled.

“I will, chalo let complete this and head back home.”

Priya completed her shopping quickly and headed back towards the home. Dev drove within the speed limits through the routes that will take the minimum time to head back to their destination.

Dev helped Priya with the shopping bags, on entering they found Ram pacing in the room restless, as he turned back, he found Priya there. “I will take leave.” Dev left without uttering a single word. Priya walked inside, waited for Ram to react, failing to get any response from him, she walked to the guest room with the shopping bags. Ram tried to control his anger and behave normal, so that he could speak to his wife about their daughter peacefully, but the trains of unfavorable and unlikable incident raged his anger more as the time elope. The rage, anger, stubbornness, ego, hurt, jealousness was put together made him impatient, edgy and upset. He stormed to the guest room. Priya turned as Ram bolted the door with a bang.

“I need an explanation Priya! What you are trying to do?” He snapped straight.

~~~~