by Anamika GK
He had left India at the age of eighteen to pursue under-graduation in London and his mother too shifted base to England so that 'she could be near her son', winning his favor irrevocably. What else do you expect from an eighteen year old kid who always wanted to be loved by his parents, and this was the epitome of concern on her part. Leaving everything behind for her only son. It obviously meant a lot to him and he was putty in her hands after that, cluelessly wedging rifts between himself and his father under her expert manipulation. He thwarted all attempts his father made to reach out to him for two long years. And then one fine day, threads of patience snapped and dams of restrain crashed in blinding rage. Father and son had an ugly spat in his college dormitory room, and both of them said things they shouldn't have. His mother, who now that he looks back was suspiciously always present for all their meetings, had fueled the tempers flaring in the room by her crocodile tears.
But he was, just twenty years of age, and he was hell angry and misguided when he had said that he did not want to see him, ever. And his dad stubbornly complied; he did not come to see him for next four years. He left him with Sujata Mathur when he was not supposed to abandon him, when he knew exactly how manipulating his mother was. It did not help to discover that day that his dad has found a child back home to shower his love on, and so he hated both, his father and that kid for years, till he realized how misdirected his hatred was.
When after her death in a car crash, Avish by chance came upon the proofs that Sujata Mathur had herself documented over the years, of her infidelity, her manipulations, her greed for the Raizada money and property that was in Avish's name, he had felt like a fool. And robbed of a good life with his father. And absolutely cheated. And much more. Some price he paid for trusting his own mother!
His dad was right. He at least never broke his trust. And he cannot be ungrateful for all the support his dad had been lending him since last five years. He had stuck by him and helped him wrap up everything in London and move to New York for a fresh start. Trusted him with a huge project of Raizada Overseas. Agreed, he had excellent academic credentials for the job, but he certainly did not deserve the warm welcome his dad had given him with open arms. Given him space and time to sort his mental mess, patiently waited for him to come around. He'll just have to overlook his dad's outburst and this wedding fiasco, Avish concluded.
“I don't hate you, you know that, right?” Avish spoke up finally.
“I know it since five years when you allowed me to be a part of your life again”, Sumer smiled. It was rare that Avish would express himself, and this was equivalent of peace making in Avish's vocabulary.
“About tonight, I think my going back would be better. I don't think I can fit in here and play second fiddle to that girl in this house”, Avish looked squarely into his father's eyes.
“That girl ... has a name. And if you leave, I come with you this time”, Sumer said with all the conviction he could muster.
“Are you pulling a mom on me by shifting continents for me?”, Avish tried to ignore the sincerity in his father's eyes.
“No. As I said, I don't want to live away from you anymore. I go where you go”. Sumer was learning to get through his strong-willed son, who was still a love starved child from inside.
“Then what about that... I mean Khushi and buaji”, Avish narrowed his eyes.
“They'll understand. I won't live for eternity. Its time I live with my son now”, Sumer said while rubbing his chest, over his heart region.
“Are you okay, dad?' Avish got alarmed.
His dad had had a massive heart attack while visiting him in New York two years back, the main reason he decided to shift back with him, and looks like today's events have started affecting his fragile heart.
“Yeah. Don't worry. I am fine”, Sumer smiled, his hand still over his heart.
“You sure? Cough hard dad” Avish was now standing in front of his dad checking his eyes and tongue for any rolling back, heart attack 101 as doctors had told him.
“Leave all this and tell me that you'll stay here. With me. Please' Sumer said.
'We can talk about that later. Where is your phone? I'll call your doctor”, Avish replied looking for his phone.
“No. I don't want doctor. I want my son here. Say that you'll not leave”, Sumer persisted.
“FINE. I won't leave. Now give me your phone dad”, Avish gave in. He might never accept it aloud, but his dad has become very important to him. His pillar of strength.
“No, that's what all I needed to hear. I am already feeling much better. Don't go back on your word son” Sumer said while standing up to avoid more discussion that could give his stubborn son a leeway to run back to NY. He knew Avish that much that he will not go back on his word, specially to him.
“Sit down, will you? Let me call the doctor” Avish said sternly.
“I should go join jiji outside. My doctor must have come too. I'll talk to him there”, said Sumer, while rushing towards the door, wondering what reason was she giving for wedding being called off. He should call jiji before making an appearance in the gardens, he decided.
“Dad what is all this? What about your pain?” Avish blocked the door. He skeptically looked at his father who was looking alright all of a sudden.
“Oh beta, you have made your old man so happy. All pains of my life vanished with your one promise”.
“WHAT?” he blurted bewilderedly.
“Yeah! You are my medicine, beta. No doctor can treat me the way your presence in my life would” Sumer said while fishing his phone out of his pocket.
Avish frowned, now convinced that his dad was in fact using his heart ailment as an aid to extract a promise out of him “Dad. Just because I don't say it does not mean that I don't notice that you talk and act all filmy sometimes. You were acting right now, weren't you? That hand on your heart was to fluster me, right? Seriously dad. Where did you learn all this kiddishness from?”
Instead of answering, Sumer Singh Raizada gave his son an enigmatic smile, and left the room to take charge of the situation.
Chapter 4
Avish got up very late in the morning. After a life changing shift to a different continent, a kaput marriage where you are at the wrong place at the wrong time and verbal spat with a father who you know did not mean what he said but it hurt nonetheless, you are bound to get into thinking mode. And so he was thinking sitting near the pool till wee hours of morning.
Khushi Sharma. He had hated this name for four long years with all his might. He hated this girl for getting what was rightfully his. He hated her for enjoying what he was supposed to enjoy in his life, his father's attention and love. He hated her for keeping his dad away from him, for he thought that if his dad did not have a back-up in form of her, he would have had come back to him sooner. But as it turned out he was wrong. Not completely wrong, but wrong nonetheless. He was the one who was with the wrong person at the wrong place and this girl was with the right person at the right time.
And so he had tried to move on. Move on from negativity towards her too, as she has over the years become important in his dad's life. He knew his father did not talk about her in front of him so that he does not feel bad, and he was grateful for that. There is only so much he can take. His mother for whom he fought his dad tooth and nail for so long had turned out to be a foolish cause, and so now when his dad was trying to mend bridges between them he did not want to hurt him by hating this girl. And he would have slowly succeeded too, had last night not happened. As it is he was awkward in this house after so many years, now with one particular person he will be extra awkward, and add to it not-so-amiable feelings for her deep down in his heart. It is going to be difficult.
But he will manage, and manage fine. He is here to reclaim his life with his dad who also wants the same and had voiced it a thousand times. No Khushi Sharma will make him run away from a normal life that awaits him here. However unintentionally, she had been one reason of a very unpleasant phase in
his life. And yesterday, God knows what happened between her and her fiancé, but it was his equation with his father, his homecoming that came under threat. He nearly blew off his one chance at happiness because of the problems of her life. His dad may like this Laddoo gal, but for him she spells bad news every time. And the best course of action would be to keep away from her.
It’s a big house and he can avoid her without much effort. Talking was never his favorite thing and he decided to particularly not spare any efforts for her. Anyway he has a new team to assemble here for his new project, so he will be busy. And she must be studying or working or doing something too. So as it is their paths should not cross much. He will not let anything stop him from living his fair share of normal family life that he had missed all these years. He is here to live with his dad and he will do just that, fully and happily. His dad had promised him the same and he'll hold him up to it.
Laddoos and barfis can take a hike for all he cares. Yeah!
As Avish entered the living room he saw his dad sitting on the couch talking on the phone. Servants were running all around the house, taking down the decorations that were done for the wedding last night. When Sumer spotted Avish, he smiled and stood up, and started walking towards the dining table motioning Avish to follow him. Both of them took their places on the table as Sumer finished the call.
“Good Morning, beta. I was waiting for you, for breakfast”, Sumer smiled disconnecting the call.
“Good Morning dad”, Avish replied looking around. “Everything under control?” he asked.
“Yeah. Everything under control. It'll take some time for the gossip to die, but then that cannot be helped, so why think over it”, Sumer replied, while Hariprakash served him his breakfast.
“Hmm..”, Avish replied. “Where is buaji?”, he questioned as he noticed the absence of her exuberant presence like yesterday.
“I have sent jiji and Laddoo to Mumbai with Karan early morning today for a few days. Just untill everything goes back to normal here”, Sumer replied.
Did I ask about her? Avish cringed inwardly, but stayed quiet and started eating.
But Sumer did not miss the clenched jaws of his son at the mention of Laddoo. He knew that if Avish was not fond of Laddoo earlier, after his own spectacularly failed attempt to get the two of them married, he might as well hate her now. He himself did not know what had possessed him yesterday, but whatever it was, now he has to make things normal between these two. Just because he has got back his son, it in no way negates Laddoo's value in his life. She has been the sunshine of his sad life for last ten years and Avish will have to learn to co-exist with her. Better still, be a friend and family, if he could help it. And help it he will. For starters he'll have to work on the area where Avish can at least hear about Laddoo without clenching his jaws and shooting daggers at the food in front of him. So he decided to continue talking even without any encouragement from his son.
“You did not meet Karan, did you? I did not get a chance to introduce the two of you yesterday. He is Laddoo's chachu, her father Shashi's younger brother. Karan Sharma. Her only living relative”, Sumer said, and stopped for some reaction from Avish, but when none came he continued. “He is a cardiologist in Mumbai and had flown in for the wedding. He was in the gardens taking care of guests while we were in Laddoo's room”.
Everyone kept out of that room yesterday and I had walked myself in there. Arghhh!! Avish cringed once again in his mind. He tried to stop himself but finally gave up and asked “She has relatives? Then why do you... I mean... why does she stay here?”
Sumer was happy at some reaction from Avish, not the kind of question he wanted but something was better than nothing. But before he could reply his phone rang. He said looking at the caller ID, “I'll have to take this. We will talk in the evening.”
“No its okay. I am really not interested in talking about all this. I should get going. I have been told that traffic has gotten bad in Delhi over the years” Avish mentally slapped himself for asking anything about that girl and made a move.
Over the next fortnight, Avish started assembling a team in their Delhi office for their latest acquired project of restoration of historical buildings. His trusted assistant Aman Saxena had also shifted from USA to join him in his Delhi office. He and his dad had established a sort of routine of their own as well. He either jogged in the vast lawns of Raizada mansion or exercised in the in-house gym first thing in the morning. Then he used to join his dad at the breakfast table to discuss their day and other stuff. Afterwards they used to leave for office in their separate cars as one or the other had to make a stop at some site or some office on the way. Sumer had bought a latest model SUV for Avish, with bullet proof glasses and state of art interiors which was due to be delivered soon. So right now Avish was using one of the existing car and driver of Raizada Mansion, while his own driver was to be appointed, for he was not used to driving in crazy traffic of the capital. In the evenings, Avish and Sumer used to dine together and retire to the study to spend time with each other. Discussing everything under the sun and business or sometimes watching Television together.
Everything was great, just like Avish had hoped it would be after shifting to India, except for one thing. Even if he dodged all attempts of his father to steer the conversation towards his Laddoo, Khushi babyji refused to leave his life. First thing in the morning when they used to arrive on breakfast table, Hariprakash and his brother Omprakash would inquire about babyji's well-being from bade sahab. And so did the security guard and gardener and sweeper and everyone who spotted him or bade sahab at any time of the day. And as if that wasn't enough, his temporary driver Mohan was actually her permanent driver. So, initially he not only religiously asked Avish about babyji's news, but also tried to interest him into the song collection babyji had in the car, on what routes he drives babyji and babyji's favorite destinations. But he was an intelligent man and sensed chote sahab's reluctance to respond to his chattering and then on started driving him in complete silence. Though Avish could sense his gloom and grumpiness, he could not care less.
On his sixteenth day in Raizada Mansion, when Avish approached the breakfast table, buaji's ‘Hai re! Nandkishore’ was echoing in the house. He stopped. It meant SHE was back too. And then he saw her sitting with his dad. His dad was indulgently listening to something she was saying, but much to Avish's happiness he had not started his breakfast without him yet. He went ahead and wished his dad good morning and sat down, treating the third person on the table as invisible and asking Hariprakash to get him his breakfast
Sumer awkwardly smiled at Laddoo at his son's blunt behavior. He hasn’t even acknowledge her presence. So he cleared his throat and started “Avish, you guys did not meet properly. This is Laddoo, I mean Khushi. And Laddoo this is Avish”.
Guarded honey-brown and vulnerable olive-green orbs met. A small smile from her and a tight nod from him was all that passed between them. Next moment Khushi was intently studying the fruit basket kept on the table and Avish being Avish, was looking squarely into Sumer's eyes, making him squirm as he understood that look. It silently screamed, Did you not remember we have not met properly before the marriage proposal?
“Trust my son to make me feel guilty without saying a single word” grumbled Sumer.
All three people concentrated on their respective breakfast after that, with buaji hovering over Avish, delivering her promise of 'feeding him well'. Sumer changed the topic and started talking about business with Avish, leaving him no option but to reply. Soon they were engrossed in their discussion, giving the third person on the table a chance to look up from her plate.
There sat the second man who had rejected her that evening, she wryly thought. And the weird thing was that she totally understood his refusal, for she might have done the exact same thing herself if encountered with such a situation. Only that she would have not yelled at her bade papa. But then did bade papa not tell that he has a bad temper, so that was justified too,
she sighed. And looking at his behavior towards her moments ago, she had a very uneasy feeling that she will be doing a lot of justification in her heart for his temper in future.
In the few seconds that she got to inspect the two men on table she deduced a few things. Having seen quite a few photos of Avishji on bade papa's laptop, she decided that in person he was way more handsome. Brown eyes, raven short cropped hair, fair complexion, handsome sharp features and lithe 6 foot frame, with a slight British accent when he spoke in English. His Hindi was quite good too in spite of staying abroad for so long. And bade papa had such a content smile on his face while talking to him that his eyes sparkled.
She was so happy for bade papa when he had told her that Avishji had decided to shift back to India, for good, two months back. She had planned to befriend him first and take their equation from there, friends or brotherly figure or anything that would suit them. But all aspirations are now down in the dumps due to that marriage proposal of bade papa, specially the brotherly figure one. And plan of being friends had dashed too, a few minutes back in her opinion. She would consider herself lucky if he does not hold a grudge against her and let the matter go. But she was from the bottom of her heart happy that Avishji did not go back, for she would have not been able to forgive herself for it. God, she loves her bade papa to death but this time he did screw up real bad. She, however, had collected herself considerably in last two weeks with the help of bade papa, buaji and Karan chachu.
Khushi decided that she'll have to talk to Avishji. She will just apologize for the inconvenience caused to him on her account and then she will leave it up to him whether he wants to talk to her or not. In general, she believed that people liked her, enjoyed talking to her and wanted to be friends with her; but lately that confidence had shaken up from its very roots. She can only hope to be on good terms with her beloved bade papa's son. But if he stays as aloof as he is right now then it's going be hell awkward with him in the same house.
