by P. G. Van
Dear Nandini,
If you are reading this letter, you have made me very a very happy father. The happiness is because if you were anything like your mother, you would have torn the letter to pieces before reading it. I am glad that you have some of my traits unlike your sister who was just like your mother.
It is very unfortunate your sister did not get to know you. I am sure you are very kindhearted and fun loving just like your sister.
The day of the accident was Nandana’s 21st birthday. We never celebrated her birthday because it was a harsh reminder that we lost you the same day, but I had taken her out for her first official drink. I told her that night that you were not a stillborn and asked her to find you. You sister did not believe me at first and thought she was hallucinating with just one drink. When I told her that you were somewhere in the United States of America, she looked me in the eyes and said, “Papa, I will find my sister.”
I knew deep in my heart that your sister would find you and your mother would forgive me, but things turned out to be very different.
I told your mother about you, and I have not seen her in two days and everyone tells me she is running around trying to find you. She is angry with me for not telling her about you, but she knows I want to see you and meet you before I go.
Your mother was the best thing that ever happened to me and yet, I have been lying to her for the past twenty-one years. I know she will never forgive me for giving you away, and I don’t expect her to either.
I want you to know that I gave you to Raj and Beena to protect you and your sister. Raj and I went to the same college, and he was the only one I could trust with you. Just like your mother and me, they were childless for a very long time and when they had a beautiful baby like you that could be theirs, they did what their heart asked them to do. They left because they wanted you forever and probably did not want to go through the pain of losing you when you turned sixteen.
You were probably ten years old when I got information about Raj and Beena living in San Francisco, but before I could react, they had covered their tracks. I knew I was alone in your search but did not have the courage to ask anyone else for help. I didn’t know if I could withstand your mother’s anger.
I want you to live life to the fullest and not let anything stop you. I want you to fight for what you want and the people you love just like your sister fought her way through every obstacle that her disability threw her way. Nothing stopped her and nothing should ever stop you. You are a Singhal woman and are a born winner.
I hope you can forgive me for not knowing you and not letting you know your wonderful sister. Please take care of your mother for your sister and me.
As a father, my last wish is for you to take on the family responsibility and lead the families that are dependent on us to prosper. It will make me very proud if the president of Singhal Group of Companies is my daughter. I know you have it in you to take it to the next level.
With love,
Papa
(Jaideep Singhal)
P.S. There is a thirty-five year old whiskey hidden behind my Shakespeare collection in my study. I want you to give it to the man you love.
Tears trickled down my cheeks as I laughed reading the postscript. I read the letter, and my heart glowed with the love that oozed from one letter of a father who wanted to pass on a simple message to a daughter he lost.
On my third time reading the letter, I stopped at the part when he mentioned something about Nandana’s disabilities. I had no idea what he was talking about, and I knew she was on her way here for her higher education.
I folded the letter carefully and put it back in the envelope unable to figure out what he meant by her disabilities.
I dialed Reyan’s phone number with my sweaty fingers.
“Miss me already?” he chuckled.
“Reyan, what was wrong with Nandana?”
“What do you mean?”
“The letter…the letter my father wrote to me, he talks about her disability.”
“Hmm...”
“What is it Reyan?” My heart was thudding hard in my chest.
“I don’t remember anything odd about her when we met,” he said softly.
I looked at the picture of my twin closely, and I knew what my father was talking about. I saw the bright red nail polish on her right hand and a very natural looking prosthetic palm that she used to support the base of the trophy.
“Reyan, Nandi had a prosthetic arm, and it explains everything!! Everything about my father and my mother and why my family wanted to look at my left arm. They are good people. I misunderstood them.” I sobbed on the phone.
“Vinnie, you are freaking me out now. Why does it matter that Nandi had a prosthetic arm?”
“It does Reyan. If the family had a history of the twins killing each other or one of the two, Nandana would stand no chance with me growing up in the same house. My father gave me away to protect her.”
“You are upset, baby. Stay put, I am on my way.”
“Reyan, I am livid. I am pissed off at myself because I misunderstood my mother and my father. My father gave up a healthy baby and kept the baby with a malformed hand. That can be the only reason why he gave me up instead of Nandi.”
“Sweetheart, I am so sorry.”
“If my father had not mentioned this in the letter he wrote or if I had chosen to shred the letter, I would have spent the rest of my life hating him for choosing Nandana over me.”
“Baby, please calm down.”
“Oh shit…Reyan what time does my mother’s flight leave to India?”
“She is at the airport now. I can take you there.”
“No time, I am taking a cab.”
“Baby, wait…” I didn’t let him complete.
“Bill, I got to go. I will call you later. It’s an emergency,” I called out to my assistant manager as I dashed out of the door.
I sat impatiently in the cab and gripped the envelope tightly. I pulled up the flight information my mother had sent to me on my phone and gave the cab driver the terminal and waited to get to the airport. I knew it would have been faster on Reyan’s motorcycle, but I could not wait.
Twenty minutes later, I hopped out of the cab and dashed into the departures terminal. I looked around frantically for the airline counter and ran towards the one where I hoped to see my mother.
I stopped gasping for air when I saw her at the airline counter checking into her flight. I stood looking at the woman who had lost a husband and child and was strong enough to leave behind a child to keep her promise to the families that depended on the businesses running smoothly.
Tears flooded to my eyes when she turned to look straight at me and said, “Nandi?”
I ran into her open arms crying uncontrollably and held on to her not wanting her to go.
“I am sorry I am not going with you.”
“Nandi, stop being a baby. What happened and why are you here?” she asked, her voice starting to comfort me.
“I read Papa’s letter.”
“Papa?” my mother grumbled.
“Yes, the letter that you gave me.”
“That man needs to write one letter for you to refer to him as ‘papa’, and I can’t get you to call me ‘mamma’?”
I laughed wiping off my tears and said, “I just didn’t know what you wanted me to call you, Mamma.”
“Thank you baby, thank you for coming.”
“Your daughter is one bullhead,” Reyan’s voice cut through my sniffles.
I turned around and put my arms around him and said, “I am sorry. I couldn’t wait.”
“Do not freak out like that ever again,” he warned, wrapping his arms around me.
“What happened?” my mother asked curiously.
“Vinnie didn’t know about Nandi’s hand, and she found out that her dad gave her away because she was hale and health.”
“My love for your father grew when I found out why he gave you away instead of Nandana, and he made the rig
ht decision. A couple that are taking care of someone’s child will not be able to take care of a child with special needs like her own parents.” She ran her palm down my left arm.
“I am so glad I read the letter before you left, Mamma.”
“I am glad you came to the airport. I wanted to see you before I left.”
“Reyan, Mamma…” I said and paused when the two of them looked at me, “Papa wants me to take over the family-owned companies, and I want you to know that I intend to take over the responsibilities.”
“Wow, that’s great Nandi,” my mother hugged me.
“I am not ready yet, and I need some time to figure out things but I will go to India soon.”
“That’s awesome love,” Reyan put his arm around me.
“Oh Mamma, do not touch anything in Papa’s study until I am in India.”
My mother laughed rolling her eyes and asked, “What did he hide in the study?”
I rested my head on Reyan’s shoulder and said, “Something that Papa said I should give to the man I love.”
Epilogue
Three Years Later...
“I am so jetlagged, it’s not funny,” Annie said gently shaking her head. I put my arms around her as she walked into the living area all dressed up for Reyan’s surprise birthday party.
Annie moved to India a year ago after accepting a position with the Singhal Group of Companies to be their Chief Operating Officer and to be with the love of her life who happened to be my cousin. Nihaal and Annie met at Reyan’s brother’s wedding, and they never looked back.
“It’s so good to see you, but why are you here so early?”
“I am here to help with the party.”
“I am actually good. The biggest help was Nihaal taking him sailing so we can prep for the party.”
“You know how difficult it is for Nihaal to go sailing,” she teased.
“Who else is coming tonight?”
“Oh, I invited the usual suspects. Neel maybe bringing his special friend who he can’t stop talking about,” I laughed.
“What does Reyan think we are doing? Do you think he suspects you are up to something?” Annie asked munching on a baby carrot.
“I hope not. He thinks you are here for our company meeting, and I am hoping he is convinced.”
“Oh, by the way, you are one demanding boss, Vinnie. It’s too bad I can’t bitch about you to you.”
“Oh, c’mon you can always bitch about your boss with me. I want you to,” I teased. I took on the position of being the President of the company only after Annie accepted my offer. Reyan was initially pissed that Annie left his company to work in India, but he knew she wanted to be with Nihaal.
“So, is my cousin ready to pick a wedding date yet?” I teased pointing to the flashing solitaire ring on her finger.
“You know he is ready, I am not ready.” Annie scrunched her nose.
“Why aren’t you ready?”
“I want to prove to my boss that I can do my job well before I can run away and get married.”
“Very funny!!” I mocked.
It was past seven when Reyan called me to tell me that Nihaal and he were ten minutes away from home.
“I am still out shopping with Annie. I’ll see you around eight?” I winked at the group of people who had gathered for Reyan’s birthday party.
“Chloe, how do we keep this cute minion to be quiet for a few minutes?”
“Oh, she’ll shut up if you turn off the lights, and she will think it’s her sleep time.”
“That’s not fair…I’ll take her upstairs and play with her,” Meg objected.
“Are you sure, Meg?” I asked as Meg picked up cute toddler dressed in pink for the party and headed upstairs.
Meg was no longer a whiny teenager and after the scary incident a few years ago, I told her everything; she handled the rough past like a champ. The incident only made her stronger and determined to succeed. Her dedication paid off with her acceptance into Stanford University. Reyan and Annie were there for her every step of the way and were a big part of her getting accepted to one of the most prestigious universities. My aunt and I could not be more proud of Meg.
I smiled, looking at my aunt who also happened to be looking at me at the same time. I blew her a kiss before she looked away to make sure the food was being set out for the party.
“Okay guys, I am going to get the lights in a few minutes so grab your drinks.”
I stood in the darkness by the staircase waiting for Reyan to walk through the elevator doors. Annie stood by the kitchen counter with her finger on the light switch waiting for my signal.
I took a deep breath remembering how we got to that day after I promised my mother I would take over the responsibilities from her. The first thing I did was to go to college. I put a hold on my creative writing training and went to a local university for my degree in Business Administration.
I had one more quarter before I graduate and was ready to take over the family-owned group of companies. Reyan and Annie were my pillars of strength as they encouraged me and helped me get through an aggressive schedule for my coursework.
The first trip I made to India was the most amazing experience, and I could remember every single experience to date. I took Reyan to the study and looked for the directions my father had given me in the letter and found the thirty-five-year-old whiskey.
"Are you sure I am the man you love?" Reyan teased when I handed him the bottle.
I took my lips to his and teased, "I will decide based on this kiss."
I smiled remembering how a simple act of compassion turned out to be life altering. I found the love of my life, my soul sister, and a family. A family I never knew existed many thousand miles away. I heard the dull thud of the elevator as it stopped, bringing me back from memory lane.
“Now, Annie,” I whispered asking her to turn on the lights. The lights did come on but, instead of the entire room flooding with light, a single spotlight shone above me illuminating a small area around me.
I stared in the direction of the elevator when I heard the doors open, but I did not see any light streaming from the elevator as I had expected. I stood frozen to my spot and gasped when another light turned on shining directly over the man that swept me off my feet years ago.
Reyan was wearing a dark silk suit and was wearing a magenta tie that matched perfectly with the dress I had on for the night. My lips curved up as he walked towards me with the spotlight moving with him.
He stopped a foot away and smiled at me.
“What is going on?” I asked, smiling at him.
“Vinitha Raj alias Nandini Singhal, will you marry me?” he asked going down on one knee and presenting a beautiful ring that glittered under the spotlight.
I covered my mouth with my palm as he reached for my left hand and slipped the ring on my finger and kissed it.
“Sweetheart, I am still waiting.”
“Yes, yes, Reyan. I will marry you,” I said, tears of joy blurring my vision as he stood up to bring his lips to mine. His lips were soft on mine as he kissed me with utmost tenderness.
“I love you, Reyan Bhatia,” I said against his lips.
“It took me three years and eight months to get you to say ‘I love you’.”
I had completely forgotten about the twenty odd people gathered for Reyan’s birthday party until Chloe’s daughter mumbled something in the background. The lights turned on at that point, and I buried my face in Reyan’s chest as our friends filled the room with clamoring applause.
I turned around to look at my friends who were gathered for Reyan’s birthday party and teased, “This is a room is full of double agents.”
“He had a better plan so we all jumped ship,” Annie declared hugging me and added, “Now, I am ready to pick a wedding date.”
“Are you ready to pick a wedding date love?” Reyan asked planting a kiss on my forehead.
“Can’t wait for you to be mine,” I teased.
“I am yours and will be yours forever baby.”
“Me too,” I said knowing what it meant to love someone endlessly to eternity.
About the Author:
P. G. Van lives in San Francisco, and she published her first novel, Destiny Decides, in October 2015 and cannot stop writing. She loves to spend time with family and is a strong believer of retail therapy (mostly shops for boots and purses!!). She enjoys giving her readers an escape to the world of love and romance.
http://www.amazon.com/author/pgvan
Contact P. G. Van at [email protected]
