BALH Panch Saal Baad Part 108

Part 108 

And it was the day when everyone including Priya and Ram were scheduled to be proved wrong by their daughter. Though Pihu didn't come in top three, she made a place in the special mentions. As a first year student, she has managed to impress the panel of jury and got her name registered in the first place, among the special mentions. When her name was taken by the emcee, Pihu got a warm welcome muffled in huge round of applause. Her first international accolade made Pihu little nervous, but she knew she has to do this for her own and family. With baby steps trying to absorb the moment within her Pihu stepped to the dais. Greeted by the jury member and after collecting her souvenir her eye’s meet the gesture of the emcee, who held the microphone towards her with a pleasant smile.

That moment belongs to her only. A moment that will remain with her all life long. Happiness suffuse across her face. Filling her lung with fresh air, Pihu started her speech.

“Hello everyone. Good afternoon to the jury members, seniors and fellow participants. When I saw the notice in my university notice board, I never knew that I could make it to the final round all the way to Sydney. But when I got the chance to showcase my work to the bigger world, I took my best part along with, Maa, my mother. The sculpture you all saw today is of my mother, it's a birthday present from me to her. A surprise birthday gift. She never knew what is my subject for this particular event. For a child her or his mother’s image remains engraved within heart forever, I was not an exception either. For me she was all over me, my heart. So I never needed a photograph or her in physical to craft this art. I just want to say, what ever I do or will become in my life or not I will remain always that daughter who will keep on nagging, keep on barging for nothing to you. Mum dedicating this little achievement to you I would not like to make you feel like I have got the world, Mum I just wanna say, Mum you are the reason and the world that made me, make me and will continue to push me further in search of excellence from here to there and there to there. Mom thank you for bringing me to this world thank you for being with me, when I was not there. Thank you for being my mom. Thank you.” Her voice started to get muffled under the echo of the applaud that she received. As the youngest student she made her feet blotted with an exceptional speech and artistic work among the jury and signified people from the art fraternity all over the world. Pihu smiled as the emcee announced the name of a renowned artist who stepped to accolade Pihu. Shaking her hand with Pihu firmly the elderly Spanish Lady looked towards the flash lights with Pihu while handing the Token Prize to her.

After receiving an array of good wishes for future Pihu at last made her way to the table where her family was seated. Before doing the never done act, Pihu scratched the bridge of her nose. Suddenly she dropped along her mother's length and touched her feet. With the unexpected action Priya jumped at her place before it gets late. She could feel her daughter's hands gripping around her ankle.

“Pihu what are you doing bacche?” Priya hurried and tried to pull back Pihu. She could heard her daughter's blabbering under the deep sobs but nothing could be clearly heard. “Pihu get up baby.” Lovingly Priya tried to calm and tame her daughter. Instead of being getting an answer, Priya felt the grip to get tighten against her ankle. “Pihu beta get up. Please.” She said under her smile. Priya helped her daughter to stand. Wiping away Pihu’s tears Priya held her face up by chin.

“Meri Pihu kab itni badi ho gayi tu!” Priya asked caressing Pihu’s head slowly. “Pihu do know a thing clearly your place is in my heart!” Pulling her closer Priya enveloped her daughter closest to heart. Snuggling closer Pihu felt back home. “I was, is and will always be with you.” Priya kissed Pihu’s head. “Now stop crying, your father is also waiting for you.”

While Pihu was busy with her father. Natasha held Priya’s hand gesturing her to know the status of the other fight that intensified few hours back.

~~

Natasha Suite. Sydney.

Conquering the couch Ram sat there conserved with his mobiles, juggling between two. In intervals he looked and exchanged smile with his sisters who were busy in discussing vacations after one month and half which will mark a short visit of Priya and Pihu then to India.

“Mr. Kapoor”called out Priya loud before entering the room. “Oh! You guys are also here look who’s here.” After her came in Dev with a beaming smile to enlighten up by his presence. Averting his eyes to Dev, Ram sat straight against the couch.

“Pihu Khush please excuse us. We have something important to discuss.” Priya ordered her children to leave. Obeying their mother, they left without any further conversation.

Closing the door behind, Priya looked at Apeksha then to Dev. Under a deep sigh she started after addressing her husband to concentrate on the discussion. “They want to get married.” Priya ended after briefing the sequence of events narrated to her by the couple.

“Apeksha are you aware of his past?” Said Ram walking towards his sister. “He has a daughter elder than Pihu and you two have an odd age difference too.”

“From when do you started to emphasize on the age?” Priya rebuked. “As far I remember we also share the same!”

“That’s a reason of unwanted mood swings.” Ram whispered under his sigh.

“What did you say?” Priya asked him to repeat. Next moment she felt the importance of the earlier discussion and averted her back to the main discussion. “His past should not be taken into consideration to judge his present Mr. Kapoor. What we  should consider is his present.”

“What is going on? Excuse me. First you tell me Priya why we are being dragged into all these?” Ram turned to his wife asking for an explanation.

“Can we fight a little later.” Priya grimaced. “Point is do you accept their relationship?”

“No. I am not. Professionally he is the best I have but personally his character is questionable! And Priya Ma will never accept him as her husband. Maa has a complete record of him.”

“Mr. Kapoor can't a man change?”

“May be not.”

“I know his past. He has not claimed anything from his estranged wife, but he funds his so established wife every month for the daughter who has not seen her father for almost a decade. Now isn't it a sign he is a good person.” Priya encountered.

“Priya that doesn't make him....” Ram stopped looking at his wife. “Dev come to India with my family and Apeksha. If Maa agrees, I will re-think. Right now I will take your leave. I need to take some rest before I leave for India day after tomorrow.” Ram shocked Priya with the revelation.

“Bhai you said that you are going to stay back with Priya. I mean to say you came with that planning only, to return with Priya and Pihu during her vacations” Natasha asked equally shocked at the same time.

“Choti  plans do change. I have work pending back at India. I cannot waste my time here ignoring the needs back at home. Good night.” Ram ignored an eye contact with Priya and left. And behind him he left a surprised family and kids in the hall way to his room.

~~

“Mom.” Pihu called when Priya came out of the room. “Mom is everything fine between you and papa?” She asked with great concern.

“Pihu, few things need to be between husband and wife only.” Priya advised.

“Mom today is your birthday and Papa can't ruin it.”

“Yes Maa. Pihu is right.” Khush chorused with her.

“Pihu this is the best birthday I have and Khush your father is not ruining my birthday. He has already made it special by surprising me yesterday. There is no need to put a blame on his shoulder. And as I said it is completely between me and him, so excuse me.” Priya replied and walked towards the elevator.

Natasha stopped the kids from further curious intervention.

~~

Finding the door locked, Priya pressed the calling bell twice. She had to wait for few minutes before Ram opened the door for her. In between few minutes, Ram has changed into his kurta pajama, behind him Priya stood perplexed and confused for few seconds before reacting. “Have you ordered dinner?” she asked.

“No. Please do it. I am very tired. I need rest.” Ram said occupying the couch placed infront of the large screen television.

“Natasha was planning for a family dinner.”

“You carry on with them. If I don't take rest, surely I will land to hospital.” Ram said juggling through the array of channels.

“I thought you were joining.”

“Is it expected ?” Ram asked. “After what you did to me do you expect me to behave normal with you only because it is your birthday?”

“I am not asking you for anything. You don't owe me anything. I was just thinking about Pihu, she might get hurt again.” Priya fetched her night gown from the bag.

“I said you to carry on with them.” Ram said pointing to the night gown clutched in his wife’s hand. “You don't need to stay back. I will order something for me. You may leave.”

“I am not feeling so.” Saying Priya called the room service and ordered dinner for both before going to the wash room.

Almost in ghostly silence Priya and Ram waited for the dinner and had it in the same demeanour too.

“Good night Priya.” Ram wished Priya who was standing by the window then.

“Raam.” She called with a heavy voice. It ached Ram to find him crying but his ego conquered him that moment. Love was defeated. “Can't you stay back as scheduled by you?”

“No. Because you don't need me anymore. You are self sufficient to handle our daughter.” Ram sat on the bed with his back facing to her.

“Are we only our daughter's parents?”

There came no reply to the query.

“Why are you pushing yourself back from me?” Priya asked which remained unanswered.

“Please answer me.” She pleaded.

“Priya, you behaved like an insane and thought I took you as granted.” He stood up this time. “But no. Neither I am here travelling non stop for few hours and days for sake of my daughter or as father to our child. I travelled for you. Only you. Neither Pihu nor her contest mattered to me. What mattered is you, my love for you!” he came closer to her. “I never wanted to end your birthday like this. I had a perfect plan. Everything was set. Do you think Natasha arranged that dinner, I arranged it for them so that we can have some lone time together. Because I missed you like hell all these days. I wanted to hold you, say you, make you feel again that how special you mean to me, how deep my love is for you. But no, you kept on nagging. How long I can take it? I had no option to but had to leave then, you pressured me not to leave, but you could have said me to come back soon. You can't be right all the time. I thought to mend everything today, but you thrashed everything right under your feet mercilessly. You could have shown some mercy to my feelings, but no it was thrashed. And you want me to behave normal? Like nothing really happened! I am a human, who loves his wife dearly and with all his heart not to get thrashed everytime. This time I am and will not be neither pacify you nor call you back to me. You can have your privacy and I can have mine. You proved that I feel us to be individuals not a unit.” Ram could see the tears tickling down her cheeks spoiling her seamless beauty but his ego was larger than anything. “Good Night.” He utttered wiping the tears away with his firm hand. “Good Night” he repeated holding her head between his hands. “Good Night.” He repeated again coming closer to her this time. His warm breathes spoiled her emotions further more.  He stepped close and placed a soft kiss on her forehead. “Happy Birthday.” Looking into her gazing eyes he stood in silence for a moment before walking back to the bed. Skidding inside the  duvet he closed his after realising them to be moist. A lone tear escaped his eyes.

Natasha’s Room

“What is going on? Why Mom and Dad are behaving awkward?” Khush asked hurryingly.

“All because of me.” Pihu answered with her  eyes traced to nothingness. “All because me. If I hadn't behaved and did all those in past, Mom Dad would have been together and nothing like this have happened today. I spoiled mamma’s birthday.” She wept covering her face under her clasped hands.

“Pihu.” Natasha said caressing Pihu’s  head. “Your mom dad are like this only. This is their normal behaviour, acting opposite to eachother. Blocking one another.”

“Nutz bua. I want to do something for them. If I have messed up their relationship I will amend it. Apeksha Bua...” Pihu looked towards her. “Can you lend me some money?”

“Pihu this is all yours, but why you need money?” Apeksha asked.

“My work has been auctioned in 800 dollars and I have reveived a prize money of 300 dollars. Total I have 1100 can you lend me another 900, I will refund you in instalments.” Pihu requested.

“Wait wait.” Apeksha sat by Pihu. “I will give you. But why you need so much money. 2000 dollars?”

“Around 100000 INR I will have after conversion into INR and tax deductions. I want to gift them a holiday.” Pihu hurried her reply. “To some where beautiful place in India. Nutz bua you will help me in finding a beautiful place there.”

“Pihu we will but now you also need to sleep and Priya said that you have medicines to take, so comeon be a good girl have dinner and medicines and sleep. I will try to make Bhai stay back here with you and Priya.” Natasha replied with a smile.

~~

Natasha failed to convince Ram to stay back in Australia and he returned to India directly from Sydney and Priya with Pihu accompanied by Apeksha and Dev returned to Melbourne. Advik had few sessions with Pihu after which he happily declared the positive symptoms and progressiveness in her status. In spur how a month went by in a flick no one had an account. In this one month Ram and Priya had conversations which were strictly limited in discussing about either health and family or Pihu. There was no mention about them in their conversation. Between regular college routines and sessions with Advik that kept Pihu busy; one day just two days before they were scheduled to leave for Mumbai, Pihu decided to pour her heart to her mother. Her restlessness after she spotted Advik with a girl in a cafe and finding him happier than ever reached the threshold. If it remained unattended she will certainly go mad and as promised to Priya, Pihu decided to take her advise to calm the emotional turmoil those were going inside her.

“Mom.” Pihu called Priya from the door when the latter was packing her bag for the vacation.

“Are done with your packing Pihu?” Priya asked.

“Mom I can't concentrate on anything. I need your help.” Pihu said after running into her mother’s embrace.

“What happened baby, is everything fine?” concernly Priya asked her daughter trying to pull her out of the hug, in which Priya was failing horribly. “Baby if you will not look at me and tell me what is bothering you, how can I help you?”

“Mom. I can't see Advik with anyone else.” Pihu said while sobbing.

“What??” Priya said under her smile. “What did you say?” Surprised with her mother's casual approach Pihu was shocked and startled in the same time. “Beta Advik is your doctor he cares for you he spends his time with you because you are his patient. Nothing more than it.”

“It is easy for you to say. But I feel for him. The way he speaks to me. The way he talks to me...” Pihu smiled looking into nothingness.

“Don't you think speaking and talking is the same thing?” Priya said. After Pihu looked towards her mother she found Priya smiling.

“Are you angry with me Mom?” Pihu asked.

“Nah!” Keeping her lips arched into smile Priya shifted her close to Pihu. “I am not angry with you nor shocked to know that you think that you love Advik.”

“I don't think mom. I love him.” Pihu reacted. “Like you love Papa.”

“Okay. Like I do love your papa. Good.” Priya couldn't stop grinning. “Now tell me one thing, why you feel you love Advik?”

“I love spending time with him. He loves to spend time with me. I love talking to him. He does like the same. What else is needed to know that you are in love?” Pihu asked.  

“Hmmm...” Priya sighed. “How do you know that you are in love? How do you know?” After smiling for a while she  looked towards her daughter. “Pihu can you do something if Advik wants but it will make you uncomfortable? Can you adjust or will you compromise?”

“You are confusing me maa.”

“Pihu you are attracted towards Advik, what in him fascinated you? The way he talked or the  way he presents? What if someone better than him comes into your life?”  

“I don't see anyone else than him mom.” Pihu looked away from her mother.

“Tell me what made you feel that you are in love with Advik and why you fell for him?” Priya asked seriously.

“I love the way he looks he smiles... but there is something I will like to change in him.” Pihu replied.

“You are just relishing the moment that you are in love and you have already chalked out the traits that he needs to correct to be yours. Isn't it?” Priya asked.

“We need to change us to be perfect. So what if it may start with him. I will also if he wants but after treatment I don't think I have anything to change.” Pihu replied.  

“Pihu there is a lot in me and a lot in your father that irritates us the most. But we don't want those to change you know why?” she smiled. “Because we fell in love with each other perfectly with our imperfections and those little little moments and imperfections makes us special to one another. That is love. When you are ready to accept the other person with what they have, the all of them and rahi baat Advik ki we are not running away anywhere after vacations we will be back here only and you have a long time to think about your love and the alterations you want to make in him.”

“Alterations? He is not a cut piece.”

“Changing partner’s imperfections to accept is like altering the clothes to get it perfectly fit into our curves.” Priya said under her laugh.

“Mom come on. But I think I do love him...” Pihu said again.

“Okay even if I consider your feelings as love, tell me have you ever tried to know what he thinks about you?” Priya asked.

“No.”

“Let know and if he feels the same for you; trust me I will convince your father for your wedding.” Priya smiled.

“We...we.... wedding?” Pihu stammered.

“Why you want a live in relationship?”

“I was thinking about an open relationship Mom.”

“Open relationship?” Priya asked. “Pihu open relationships are considered when you are not confirm about someone but you want to be with him or her for some benefits. Open relationship itself a response to your heart. Look into it and feel that what you really have for him, attraction or love? And again I will say if this is love you will find your mother along with you on every step. Entrust me beta.” Priya said.

“I will think maa. Like always I will not jump into a conclusion. But promise me if we find that we are in love you will be with me.” Pihu looked at Priya for an answer eagerly.

“Always.” Priya said under her smile before hugging her daughter.

Though Pihu never felt the swirls and twirls that went inside her mother's heart, Priya again felt a fear to loose her daughter sensing the turmoil Pihu will face once she will find this either to be a one sided love or infatuation. She decided to talk to her husband about this after landing in India.

Until we meet

Love

NB