BALH Paanch Saal Baad Part 96

Today, as I sit here to write with the blue waters spreading to the horizons, seagulls flying all over remembering me about the new place I am. Though it is not the first time I am away from my family, my husband, but this time has a feeling of separation from them. Those visits to foreign lands, on holidays was joyous. Joy of knowing a new land very closely. Interested in artifacts and history, new lands attracted me and always brought the crazy being out. This time, I am dull. Nothing in this place attracts me. I want to run out of the place, straight to Ram, hug him and realize dream is over. Then I realize this is not a dream but a stark reality invited inevitable by me. For the good fate of my daughter. I don’t want to call it a sacrifice. I don’t want my child to have the burdened feeling of being brought up with parents’ sacrifice. I hide my emotions as much I can, but I am a human, who deeply loves her husband. Away from my country, with a distance more than 9000 kms, I today promise myself to smile, letting the emotions boxed away.  

Priya looked up to the deep blue sky, closing her journal. Just before few hours, less than 4, she along with Pihu and Apeksha has arrived at Melbourne. Pihu, looked never happy to be there leaving the nation and her friends behind, she even expressed the same to Ram, just before a day they were scheduled to leave, hoping for a fruitfully result on her part. But the result turned out to be bitter for her, Ram made her understand about her mother’s decision, and how much he respects the same. That made two things to Pihu, one hate her parents more and promise to be spoil her even more. Australia is a place which is far more advanced than our own Mumbai is, she stated to her father, almost warning him about the future and alarming if they can, they must be stopping her immediately. Ram only referred priya about her sudden outburst and warnings, which might become intolerable as time passes in the foreign land, having said that he showed his extreme confidence over Priya’s insight as a mother.

With everything storming inside her, she walked to Apeksha’s Room, with one knock, she heard “come in’  as a response. Pushing the door open, she found Apeksha looking keenly on the Laptop Screen, as if she was searching for something valuable. “Hi’ Priya voiced, the only word.

“hey” Apeksha, glimpsed back to her, asking her to sit. With her back facing Priya, she didn’t know if she has seated or not, “Just a Minute.” She stretched the words with a rhythmic pause, which indicated the importance of the work she was doing and the hurry within her at the same time, “just with a click…” and “done”

“Ya !” now she faced Priya, still standing with a worry overcastting her appearance. “Is everything ok? Are you fine? Priya” she asked.

“Yes!” the reply came after a pause of almost a minute or two.

“But you don’t look so.” Apeksha sat by Priya , “ Is there anything that is worrying you? Anything about Pihu?”

“There is much about Pihu, Apeksha. I think this time I am wrong. I took a wrong decision by bringing Pihu here away from everyone, her family, and friends. I made her more arrogant I guess.” Priya sounded much worried.

“Priya, this is Australia, she will meet new friends, will have new people around her and most importantly she will be around what she loves most, art. This is the best college we can get for her and she’s here, what can get most important is that. And I know gussa uski bahut baar chuki hai but we can’t move out now.”

“Apeksha, you don’t know but she has clearly warned us about the future, Ram said me.” Priya now stood up, she was shaking in stress.

“Priya stop predicting! Enough. It is not easy to do anything she wants to do here. There is no Ram Kapoor here and she don’t even know what hold do I have here. Most importantly Priya,  Apeksha Kapoor is not soft as you all.” She was firm in her words, “Now leave every worry, take rest and both of you will be having a new start .” this time Apeksha Said with a smile.

“Both of you, means!” surprisingly she asked.

“Yes for Pihu her new day at college, and for you..” Stretching her words, Apeksha surpised Priya when she announced that she will be joining Office from next day.

“Do you think I know anything about business?”

“No one has to, you will pick it up very soon! I trust you.”

With the end of the conversation, Priya thought to look for Pihu, she found her to be sleeping, not peacefully, but with a grimace painted on her face. It didn’t make priya sad but worried. Silently she left for her own room. On arrival she found her phone buzzing up with 7 missed called alerts all from India. Among which 5 from Ram and other two from Kapoor Mansion.

Looking at the time she quickly calculated the time there at her country and decided to call back Ram. She wanted to clear her worry clouding around her cumulonimbusly. By a Ring or two Ram answered.

“Hello! I thought you were sleeping !” Ram said.

“No actually was with Apeksha.”

“Worried, why? Priya is there anything that is worrying you?” Ram asked.

“Yes, is this the correct decision I took. Can we get Pihu back?” This time she was concerned.

“We will. I trust you Priya. Don’t loosen up!” With his words Priya felt the loneliness around herself. The words from few thousand miles away grounded her to the reality. She wanted to scream ran straight to him, but she has grilled herself. “Are you there Priya!” Ram asked again.

“Yes!” Priya’s stiffness in voice alerted Ram.

“You are not! I thought Pihu will be broken, though she is very much broken, in anger, but never thought to find you like this in such a state in my rarest thought even. Collect yourself darling. We are apart for good reason! For our love, remember what you said, Pihu, our love we can’t let her drown, we can’t let her lose. I can’t let you lose. Be head strong like you used to be always.”

“ I am trying.”

“Buck up! Go and join office tomorrow with Apeksha. I know you will learn the busy-ness of our trade in few days and will stop complaining about my absence from time to time, in important dates, which you made in past” ram tried to light up the moment, but there was no such response in return. “Priya! I am here at India, I know. But there is something I can do even sitting over here, to be with you. You remember what you said once to me. “In-Separable in a sphere” I remember. We are indeed. Darling, I want to see you smiling, even though I cant see you all the time, but your words can light up me anytime. I want to see that confident Priya who smiled and waved to me through the terminus few hours ago.”

“I just want everything to be right!” Priya said as she sighed. “I don’t feel Pihu is going to co-operate.”

“Where’s She?” Asked the father.

“Sleeping, may be not, faked to me .. I don’t know really, just checked her and found her sleeping likely.” Priya stopped for a while and added that she wants to relax and if he could excuse. Ram understood the dilemma in his wife and hung up asking her to take time before she start the next day.

That night at Australia went sleepless for Priya, only when it was dusk, her eyes gave up and she slept till Apeksha came there and woke her up. When Priya joined them at Breakfast, Pihu has almost completed her meal, without looking at anyone or anywhere. Her Good Morning wishes went unanswered.

“When we are leaving?” Pihu asked as she stood up pushing the plate little away from herself.

“In half an hour or a quarter. Why?” Apeksha asked

“Is there any supermarket or city market around. Need to pick up something for me. Daily needs” She clarified, “Mom if you have some bucks in spare”

“Pihu!’ she almost shouted.

“Ok! I will not ask for it again” Pihu shrugged ignoring the tension created.

“Priya let me handle this!” Apeksha Stood up, “there is nothing like having spare bucks for you. Here you go!’ She extended her hand with 200 Australian Dollars, it’s about 10k in INR. This is enough or may I take the chance to correct myself, more than enough for you, other than this a mobile already you have the same, and other necessary things for you study is already being provided.” She waited for a response, “So I take it as a good response, isn’t it ?”

As Pihu left, Apeksha turned to Priya to record her reactions, “Anything you want to correct.”

“No! is is 1/20 th of her card limit, that she used to have.” Priya sighed and sat down, “She will ask for more in few days.”

“We will see if she does!” Apeksha sat back too, “now take some food and lets start the day.”

While Apeksha drove to the university there was a ghostly silence prevailing. Even they walked in silence till the Dean’s chamber. Only the dean spoke in the introduction. The girl who seemed to be over enthusiastic, in skype chat, looked dull and not even interested in the words he uttered. “Okay! Let me call in the student administrator and he will guide you through. Though I feel there will be no difficulties either.”

Within a minute or two, after he called someone over the telephone, a tall, unrealistically, boy seeked permission. They have to look up, paining their spine.

“This is Kunal” the dean Introduced. “And Kunal will you please pardon us by taking off the Blades and allow us to get a relieving look of you.”

“Excuse me for a moment!” Kunal went off and came back within a short span of time. Now he looked real. The Boy with Black hair, hazel eyes and not so almost good physique a bearable height stood there, introducing himself to the guests and student.

“So you are the new entrant Right!, Kunal here” He shook firmly.

“Pihu Kapoor.” She said from her place.

“Nervous! Not to worry I will handle.” Kunal Smiled.

Showing the campus and studios around, Kunal asked Pihu if she liked to be around. He also mentioned about her Skype interview she had. He had a look over it. “This must have thrilled you even more, Isn’t it?”

“Where’s the class, is there any?” The Bluntness in her reflected

“Oh!” there was a set back in the environment. ‘I will show it you, and from here she has to go alone.” He smiled to the elders. They reciprocated. While Pihu walked through the corridors, there were many occasions that should have attracted that crazy girl, but nothing really happened. She almost ignored the person , her student counselor.” Pihu” Kunal called from behind.

“Here you go. Your Class. The studios and other places you will know more prominently, progressively.” Kunal Smiled, “I take a leave.” As Kunal walked away, once he turned to see if the girl is standing there or walked in, but there was none. The bluntness in Pihu has distracted Kunal, only thing he uttered was “Spoiled Rich Kid” and walked away.

Inside the class, Pihu looked around, it was a beauty but she suppressed the excitement under her arrogance. Walking up with the staircase, of the lecture hall, she chose to seat as much as back she could. While other students were introducing themselves, she took out her laptop and started hovering around. It showed a Wlan available to connect, but password protected. So her motive to chat with her friends went in mundane. That reflected in the introduction session also. Her voice could hardly be heard. She kept on murmuring as much she could. While she was doing it forcibly, the professor took it as shyness. She then called one by one, by name and handed over a file to each one present at the class. Even Pihu got one. Looking done she found a name scribbled over ,”Mia” and a note “Don’t open till further instruction.”

The Professor then continued. “So everyone has a folder in their hands right!” She continued as she walked through the lecture hall. Now what you have to do has been written firmly in the instruction sheet of the assignment tucked inside, as you open the folder.  All of you have already found that this is not your file, someone other’s, who is sitting right here inside the classroom, and if everyone of you has concentrated in the introduction session, you could figure out who’s folder you have got, and if you have missed it, Student’s photograph is there also, for help. So, as you are clear now this is your first assignment. With this we will try to break the ice amongst. You have two days time to submit it back, you will be scored accordingly.” Now she turned to the class again from where she started to walk, “ That’s all for today in the classroom, now I would ask you all to follow me, I will take you around through the campus, extensively.”

Suppressing her enthusiasm as much as she can, Pihu followed the clan.

Back at Office, Priya walked along with Apeksha, who took her straight to the conference hall. The top management staff were already waiting there for them, with warm greeting they welcomed the duo.

“There need no introduction, for her, as Mrs.Kapoor, but today there is something new about her, Mrs. Kapoor is joining us as the Head of Event Management Section from today, which Mr Kapoor has already enlighten you all about in recent past. So the team which we have already decided to be the part of it will report to her directly. And..” now she turned to Priya, “Ma’am” She addressed, “if you need any help, our GM, will help you in every means. Meet, Mr. Devaam Singhal.” The man shook firmly, a gentleman’s gesture, like a confident man.

“Hello! Mrs. Kapoor Welcome to the family, which was always yours.” He smiled.

“Priya! My name, please don’t call me Mrs. Kapoor. I have a lot to learn.” Priya Sighed.

“Don’t worry Ma’am you will learn.” Devaam Smiled.

“Dev, would you please brief the same to her about the projects and plan we are looking forward to execute.” Apeksha haven’t completed yet, her phone buzzed, “ Good Morning” She greeted, “Yes She is here only.” Turning to Priya she said, “ OK.. we are coming.”

“Where’s your Phone?” Apeksha asked Priya, without allowing her to answer she continued, “ Pardon us, we will catch you later. Dev we will be meeting you in a while.”

As Apeksha and Priya walked by, she informed her about Ram’s call, “where is your phone?”

“must be here!’ She checked her clutch and found it dead, “ Battery exhausted!”

“And it exhausted someone else. Don’t react if he reacts.” Apeksha said holding the door open for her, “he wants to talk with you” Apeksha put on the video calling in the office conference and within a moment it connected to India, to Ram’s Study at Kapoor Mansion.

“And when did you get this one installed?” Priya directly jumped into Ram.

“Gussa mujhe aa rahi hain, and interrogation has started from that end. Wow!” Ram Exclaimed with sleepy eyes.

“I will excuse myself!” Apeksha stood up and left.

“So, where is your phone!” Ram asked, “now it’s my turn to interrogate you.”

“It’s Dead! Sorry I didn’t noticed.”

“And How’s your first day with daughter and office in a new place?”

“First one bad, I wish to make it good but I see myself failing, second why it is necessary to put me into all these.” Priya looked up to the screen,

“Look priya” Ram continued, “ first one, I am confident will get better with time!, second one I want you to join me in business now too. Start with this and will grow more in future. Don’t get nervous, if you don’t want to take it in this way, take it as a hobby, it will keep you busy.”

There was response from other side, she sighed only.

“Priya, trust me. Everything will fall at it’s place, I trust you. Everything will be fine.”

“I trust you too Mr. Kapoor. That’s why I am here. Else I would have never been here. But what worries me is Pihu. “ there was something Priya wanted to add, but she was cut in by her better Half.

“Priya!” He voiced, “Why you are so negative this time. What is worrying you, bothering you. I am really upset!”

“it’s you what bothers me Ram.” Priya almost shouted and then controlled herself, “ It’s you who is bothering me. It’s depressing me that both the parts of me are away from me. One geographically and other emotionally. Do you want me to think positive even after? Tell me Ram, even now you want me to be positive, strong?”

Ram could see her tear apart. “Yes I want you to be strong. I am geographically apart and she is there with you. Naraz hain, bachhi hain priya, hume manana padega. Ho kya gaya hain tumhe? Please collect yourself. And be head strong, as I am right now. I want my daughter back, and you will bring her back. You have to!” Priya Looked up to the screen, “I trust you Priya, You will bring our daughter back to us. Promise me.” Waiting for a moment or two, he again asked, “Promise me Priya! Now.”

“I Will …” there was something she wanted to add, but she firmed next, “I will Ram. I will get her back! I promise you.”

“Good Now Smile!” Priya smiled back briefly. “Priya now get yourself out of this Pihu Matter too. Let her settle down. Let her collect herself. And introduce yourself to Bansals, I will ask Apeksha to do the same. He is our Partner in the Chain of Shopping complex. Meet with his family. Actually Mrs. Bansal is taking care of the same like you will be taking care now on behalf of the Kapoors. You will actually like them. You will feel like at home and introduce Pihu to them.”

“I will Ram.” Checking the time she asked the time at India.

“6.12 am”

“have some sleep. I catch you up later.”

“Yes sweetheart and before I go, get yourself out of this saree business, get something new.” Ram winked.

It was hard for them to disconnect by they did.

As priya walked out of room and found Apeksha at few steps distance, taking over phone. She stood silently till she disconnected. “So, ho gaya ladai.?” She asked smiling.

“What ladai? We were talking only.”

“Ok . Ok come Dev is waiting for us. Just go around for a visit with him, and meet Vinita too. Just had a talk with bhai, he briefed me everything, that I need to know from the video calling.” She smiled  naughtily now.

“shut up!” Priya sighed as they walked around.

Back at Home.

Pihu came back quick from the Orientations. Least bothered about the folder jacketed with the name “MIA” she threw it right at the couch lying in the living room. The car was ready at the university, to take her back. She didn’t have to take any public transport, like what she thought after the class got dismissed. She came to know about the car and driver appointed for her personally. Walking up to the kitchen she saw the note, which read, “FOOD ID IN THE MICROWAVE, JUST HEAT IT AND EAT.” Though she was not in the mood to eat, by her empty stomach gave up. After eating in silence, she connected her mac book to the available. There was no friend available online. Closing the flap she dialed her mother’s number.. disconnected it without allowing the line to get connected. Then to her father’s number she did the same this time too. One after another she dialed the numbers and did the same like she did in the first attempt. Getting frustrated, she threw her phone so hard that it broke into pieces and fell apart. Panting in anger, pain she curled up to the couch and wailed the prolonged pain broke out.

~~~~~~~