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Good day,

Swati Sandeep

Dheer sat in the waiting room, his leg bouncing nervously and his eyes darting to the clock every few minutes. His thoughts were a jumbled mess of memories—as he recalled his grandmother's comforting smile, her stories that lulled him to sleep, and the way she held his hand, making him feel like everything would be okay. She was his anchor, his friend, his parent. She was his entire world.

A stray tear escaped his eyes as he could no longer contain his anxiety. He had been waiting for six hours, and the doctors had no update on her health. She was still being monitored, unconscious to the world around her. A gentle arm wrapped around him, pulling him closer. Dheer held on to her warmth, hoping, praying that it was his grandmother instead.

"Kuch nahi hoga unhe. (Nothing will happen to her.)" Akshara whispered softly. Dheer was surprised that she was still by his side. He did not expect a woman like her to stay there and provide support. The women he dated were all frivolous and coy. They would never spare time in the hospital and old ladies.

"Go home, Akshu. It's very late. I will call my driver...."

"It's okay, Dheer. I know what it means to fear losing someone you love." Her eyes softened, "I can't leave you alone. I will wait until your grandfather is back."

Dheer was grateful for her support. His grandfather was in a meeting in Greece when his grandmother came down with a stroke. He was flying back home. Dheer felt immensely grateful that his grandfather had insisted on having a nurse companion by his grandmother's side at all times. If she hadn't been present they would never have known about his grandmother's condition.

"Do you have any other family?" Akshara asked when he fell silent again.

Dheer closed his eyes, willing himself not to think about them. They were not his family. At least not according to them. He meant nothing to them.

"Dheer?"

"I don't have anyone here, it's only me and my grandparents."

Akshara felt sad for him. "Not even cousins?"

Dheer closed his eyes again. He had cousins. Three of them. Whenever he looked at Akshara or Aman he was reminded of them. Dhurv and Dhirti were Aman's age. If they had grown up together he would never have wanted a friend, but they did not want him, and he never needed them.

"It must be hard growing up alone." Akshara shook her head. She could not even imagine a life without Aman. He was her best friend and partner in crime. A single child always had her sympathy. They did not even know what they were missing.

"She made sure I had a great childhood" Dheer's voice filled with honesty. "I know people assume that growing up alone would make you feel lonely. My grandmother compensated for it in leaps. She became my friend, my partner in crime." Dheer's eyes clouded with tears. "She played hide and seek with me when I was five. She was the one who introduced me to the playstation. My girlfriend can beat even the best gamers. She is a pro. The game I am designing is for her. I want her to be there for the game launch, Akshu. I need her to be there for the launch." Dheer's voice broke.

"She will be there." Akshara pulled him closer. "Love is the world's best healer. You have enough of that love to give. She knows she is loved, Dheer. A woman so loved will not let go without a fight. She will wake up soon, once she does tell her how much you love her. That will make her day. She will take better care of herself."

Dheer nodded his head. If she woke up and came back to him he would do everything in his power to keep her happy. For now all he could do was pray.

Dhruv was prepping in the kitchen, getting ready for the day's service. He was a very organized chef and planned everything in advance, but that day his heart was not at work. There was a nagging feeling in his gut that he could not shrug off. He had already called home twice to make sure Dev and Dhriti were doing fine. Dhruv knew his family was safe, but something told him to be careful. 

Last time he had been plagued by such a problem, he lost his mother. That was the worst day in his life. He took a break from work when the restlessness intensified. He was no good in the kitchen when he was looking back every second. He needed to calm his nerves.

Dhruv made his way to the small temple area in the restaurant. When he had the place built, he had the temple constructed first. He did not mind if he lost a little dining place, but he wanted to make a place for his Ganeshji. His mother was a staunch devotee of Ganeshji. Even when their family was falling apart, his mother held on to her faith, refusing to lose hope. In the end it was that faith that saw them through the darkness. Even after they lost her, they held onto her faith.

Dhuv lit the diya in the temple and joined his hands in prayer. "Dheeren ka khayal rakhna, Ganeshji. Us bache ke sir se aapne pehle he maa baap ka saya cheen leya hai. Aab uske saath aur kuch galat maat karna. (Take care of Dheeren. You have already taken away the boy's parents. Don't hurt him more.)" The diya flickered with the wind. Dhruv shielded the diya with his hands. His heart skipped a beat. Omens don't mean anything. Dhruv reminded himself but he still reached for the mauli that he always kept at the god's feet. His mother believed a mauli protected the bearer.

Dhruv untangled the mauli and wrapped it around the idol's hand. "Us bachche ki rakha karna. (Protect the kid.)"

He prayed for his family's safety and grabbed the other mauli's from the idol's feet. He needed to be with his family.

Dev emerged from his room, his complexion pale and drawn. His usual cheerful demeanor was replaced by a haunted look. He needed to talk to his sister before he drove himself crazy with worry. Dhriti was getting ready for her shift and in a hurry, but when she saw his face, she rushed to his side immediately.

"Kya ho gaya, bachacha? (What happened, bachcha?)"

"I got through." His voice was barely a whisper.

"You got through what?"

Dev gazed into her eyes. Dhriti gasped in shock. "They selected you in the auditions?"

Dev nodded his head and passed on his phone. The Voice Of The Nation (VON) was an annual talent hunt competition organized across the country. Every year thousands of aspirants apply for the competition, from all around the country. After vigorous training only 1% of the aspirants were shortlisted for the central auditions. They had to go through an exclusive training program under an assigned mentor for six months, after which they were sent in for the central auction. Once selected, the candidates would proceed to compete against 20 other participants in the next stage of the competition. The competition would be aired on national television for 16 weeks. At the end of the 16th week, a winner would be decided based on public vote. Dev had applied for the competition on Dhriti's insistence. He never dreamed that he would qualify.

9876 aspirants had auditioned from Delhi. He was one among the 90 shortlisted candidates. The mail provided complete details of the training programme. If interested the aspirants had to pay the required security deposit for the training session. The deposit made Dev's head roll. Even if Dhruv agreed to the competition, there was no way he could afford that kind of money.

Dhruv's business was thriving but he had taken a huge loan for their new home. Dhriti was still repaying her student loan. They were not rich under any definition. Dev had no hopes.

"That is such happy news, Dev. Why the long face?" Dhriti gently cupped his face.

"Bhaiya kabhi nahi manege. (Bhaiya will never agree.)"

Dhriti tensed. "If he realizes you were shortlisted from so many candidates, he will have to change his thinking, bachacha. Let me talk to him."

Dev held her hand and made her sit. "First read the entire mail."

Dhriti read the mail, and then her eyes widened in shock. "20 lakhs? Are they serious?"

Dev nodded his head. "They give the candidates access to industries best, di. This is a fail safe way to ensure that only interested candidates get through. They will refund the money after six months."

"20 lakhs is still a huge amount, Dev. We don't have such funds."

"I know, di." Dev let out a deep sigh. "That is why I will drop out. We cannot afford this."

"Afford what?" Dhruv's voice startled them both.

Dev lost all color from his face. He was not expecting his Bhaiya home so soon. Dhurv usually came in after 11 in the night. It was only 7 in the evening. He did not know how much Dhruv overheard, but he did not want his Bhaiya finding out the truth that way. Dev held Dhirti's hand in fear.

"Kya hua, bachcha. (What happened, bachcha?) What were you talking about?"

Dev looked down and shook his head. Each lie was a strike against him. He could no longer meet his brother's eyes.

Dhruv gently cupped his face and lifted it up. "Aab bol, kya hua? (Now tell me what happened.)"

Dev's eyes filled up. His heart screamed to confess. Dev was about to tell Dhruv everything when Dhriti stopped him by squeezing his hand.

"Dev got accepted into a mentorship program." She said the first thing that came to her mind.

"What mentorship program?" Dhruv looked confused.

"A management course that will give the students direct access to industry's mentors. A chance to get trained under the Industries best businessmen."

Dhruv's face boomed with a smile. "That's good news. It must be a great opportunity."

"It is the best opportunity." Dhriti wrapped her arms around Dev's shoulders. She knew he was hurt. There was no one they could help him with.

"Unfortunately we cannot afford it."

"Why? How much does it cost?"

"20 lakhs" Dhriti could not hide her frustration. The one opportunity that could change her siblings' life forever was not something they could give him.

"20 lakhs?" Dhruv's eyes widened in disbelief. "That's huge."

Dhriti nodded her head. That was the fee she paid for Master of Chirurgiae (MCh).

"The money is some kind of security deposit, they would return it at the end of six months. I wish we had the savings" Dhriti shook her head, feeling the weight of helplessness. "Maybe we can think about it next year?" She gave Dev an apologetic look. Dev bobbed his head. He did not wish to burden his siblings with demands. His Bhaiya had already paid 10 lakhs for his admission. There was no more money to spare. He knew that better than anyone else.

Dhriti ruffled his hair and whispered a quite sorry.

"It's okay di" Dev gave her  a sweet smile. "Don't worry about it. I am not upset. Aap hospital jao. (Go to the hospital.) You will get late for the shift."

Dhruv looked into his brother's eyes. He could read the disappointment. He was 19 when he had to drop out of college to support Dhriti to finish her college. His mother could not afford college fees for both of them. Driti had got into the best medical college and he into the best culinary school. They had to make a choice and he chose to step down. He could learn to cook anywhere. Dhriti needed medical training. His mother was left feeling guilty. Dhruv now understood what his mother must have gone through. A child's disappointment hit hard. He had tried to be brave for his mother. He had told her that he did not mind, but she was his mother and she understood his pain. Just as he could feel Dev's.

The difference was his mother did not have the means, but he had it.

"When do you have to make the payment?" Dhruv gently lifted Dev's chin.

"I don't need the training, bhaiya..."

"If it is something that could give your career a boost, then you definitely need it. The world outside is always in a race, Dev. We need to be at the top of the game. If this training programme will give you an edge. You should take it. Tell me when is the last date."

"We don't have the funds, Dhruv" Dhriti looked at him in disbelief. She was well aware of their financial resources. All the money they had was locked into Dhruv's restaurant. There were no spare funds. The only emergency fund they had was limited to eight lacks. She knew Dhruv would never dip into it. He always believed in being prepared.

"Don't worry about it, Dhriti. Tune he kaha na ki yeh golden opportunity hai. (You are the one who believes that this is a golden opportunity.) You would know about such things better than me." Dhruv never had the opportunity to pursue a formal degree. All he learned was from hard work and restaurant kitchens. He trusted Dhriti to make the right call about Dev's education.  "If this is what Dev wants, we can make it happen. I will arrange for the funds. Since it's only a security deposit, we would only have to rebudget for a few months. It won't be so hard."

Dhriti could not muster a word. Dev held Dhruv's hand and shook his head. He did not wish for the deception to prolong. The security deposit was an eye opener. It showed him that he could not continue to deceive Dhruv. The man who was shelling out lacks for his education deserved to know where the money was going.

"I don't need the training, Bhaiya. I really don't. Aapne pehle he mere padhai pe bohot kharch keya hai, aur nahi. (You have already invested too much into my education. I can't burden you this way.)"

"Chup kar, bohot bade bade batey karne laga hai. (Quite, kiddo. Don't be dramatic.) You are still a kid, behave like one. Let us do responsible thinking."

"Bhaiya...."

"Dekh Dev main apne padhai poore nahi kar paya. Woh humare majboore the, Tere aise koi majboori nahi hai. (I could not finish my education, Dev. We did not have the means then. Things are very different now.) Concentrate on your studies. If this is something that will help you shine then take the opportunity."

Dev shook his head again. If Dhruv knew the real reason behind the training he would have a completely different reaction. Dev felt suffocated. "Bhaiya the training is about...."

"Your future" Dhriti silenced him with a sharp glare. "This is something for your future, Dev. If you become successful it will make Dhruv proud. You want to make him proud, don't you?"

"Riti, don't put that on the kid." Dhruv warned. "Kuch bolna chata hai, bolne dey use. (He wants to say something, let him speak.)"

Dhriti fell silent. Dhruv looked back at Dev. "What were you saying, Dev?"

Dev shook his head. He felt tongue tied again. Dhriti's words make him rethink. He really wanted to make his Bhaiya proud. Once again he was caught at a crossroads.

"Do you want to take part in this training?"

Dev did not answer.

"Yes or no, beta?" Dhruv coaxed him gently. "If this is too much for you, we don't have to think about it, but if this is what you want, stop thinking about funds. That is not your headache. Tell me, do you want it?"

Dhriti gave Dev a gentle nudge. He needed to open his mouth and speak. Dhruv was not a god to understand his silent wishes.

"Dhruv kuch pooch raha hai. (Dhruv is asking you something)" She hissed under her breath.

Dev could only nod his head. This is deception. His heart screamed in protest, but he did not have the courage to confess to his bhaiya that he had been deceiving him for six months. His own lies shackled him into silence.

"Okay." Dhruv gave his back a gentle pat. "I will get the funds. Make sure they have your name enrolled. I need to go back  to the restaurant. Don't wait for me. Have your dinner. I left it on the table. All you have to do is reheat it."

Dev nodded his head again.

Dhruv turned to leave, but then remembered the mauli. His brother was given a golden opportunity, the restlessness he felt a few hours ago seemed meaningless. Still he grabbed Dev's hand and gently tied the mauli. Dev gave him a questioning look. "For my peace of mind" Dhruv ruffled his hair. It felt foolish to voice out his feelings. Both Dev and Dhriti were very practical and well educated. They did not believe in such things. He did not wish to burden them with his old fashioned beliefs.

"Haat dey apna (Give me your hand)" Dhruv looked at Dhriti. She was the one who cribbed the most, lecturing him about his blind beliefs. He was surprised when she offered him her hand without protest. Dhruv tied the mauli around her hand. "If you cannot have this on duty, remove it after you reach the hospital."

She nodded her head but did not say anything.

"Chal aab mughe rastey me drop kar dey. (Drop me on the way.) I will take the metro to the restaurant."

Dhriti nodded her head. They only had one car. Dhruv insisted on using it as she often had late night shifts. He did not want her taking a cab at such odd hours. They often fought about it. Dhriti wanted Dhruv to have it because he too worked late hours, but Dhruv never listened. In the end she gave up on the useless arguments.

Together they made their way outside. They almost reached the car when Dev came outside and hugged Dhruv. Dhriti could see the tears he was trying hard to control. The lie was taking a toll on the kid. She thought Dev would be happy to have his dream, but he was the one who suffered the most.

"Kya hogaya? (What happened?)" Dhruv ran his fingers through Dev's hair. His touch was as gentle as the soothing breeze.

Dev looked at Dhriti, pleading with her to tell Dhruv the truth. He could not stand the deception any longer. Dhriti could no longer remain silent. "Dhruv...."

As if on cue the neighbors cranked up the music. The wedding party was arriving, they wanted to welcome the guests in style. Dhruv's eyes glinted. "Do they realize that kids have to study in the same neighborhood?"

Dhriti closed her eyes in frustration. It was as if fate itself was whispering caution.

"Rukh abhi jake baat karke ata hoon. (Give me a second, I will go have a word with them.)"

Dev did not let him go. Dhruv could be very harsh without meaning to. He did not want a fight with neighbors. He did not want anyone misunderstanding his Bhaiya. The world only saw his aversion to music, he knew the truth behind that dislike.

"Let me go, Dev."

"Why so that you can start a fight?" Dhriti grabbed his hand. "We need more people hating us, Dhruv. Let them do what they want. They have the society's permission. Let them be. Chal. (Let's go) I am getting late for work."

Dhruv still looked worked up but she forced him to sit in the car. Dev leaned down to look at Dhruv. "Don't forget to have water." He whispered softly so only Dhruv could hear. Dhruv was burning with rage but he nodded his head in agreement. Even when he was upset he could not bear to trouble his siblings.

The car zoomed away. Dhriti knew that the best way to calm Dhruv was to get him away from the music. Like she thought Dhruv relaxed after they gained a little distance. She grabbed a bottle from the car and handed it to him. She waited until he finished the bottle and then broached the topic gently.

"Can we talk?"

Dhruv nodded his head. He wished he had beetle control over his temper, but every time he heard his father's voice something in him snapped. Resentment was the hardest to control.

"Where will you get the money from?"

Dhruv took a deep breath, he could not let his father ruin his day. The mad had done nothing but ruin everything he touched. He could not let him ruin the life they had rebuilt for themselves.

"Dhruv" Driti gave him a gentle nudge. "Kaha se ayenge paise? (Where will you get the money from?"

"I will mortgage the restaurant."

Dhriti's eyes widened in shock. She pulled the car to an abrupt halt and looked at Dhruv. "Have you lost it? You struggled for four years to repay the loan on that restaurant. Now you want to mortgage it again?"

"It's only for six months, Driti. The bank will easily give me a personal loan against the asset. The interest is also not much. We can afford it. Once we get the money back we can repay the loan and get the documents back. Dev will get his opportunity and we will lose nothing, A win win for everyone."

"You already are repaying the loan on our home...."

"We can afford it, Dhriti. You know we can. The business is in profit. You wanted me to get another car. This is much better."

"You  refused to invest in a car that we need, Dhruv and you are ready to take an additional loan?"

"Car, is a depreciating assets. That training program is an appreciating asset for Dev. A true businessman knows where to invest. Now drive before you become late for work. I don't want to miss my train."

Dhriti shook her head, but drove on. Dhruv calculated everything. It was hard to argue with him. She wished she was able to help in any way, but until her study loan was cleaned her hands were tied. She had no option but to agree to Dhruv's decisions.

As the first light of dawn hit the sky, Sheetal opened her eyes. For a fleeting second she had seen her children's smiling faces. A smile formed on her lips. She opened her mouth to call out Abhi and Dev and then realized they were gone forever. Helpless tears rushed to her eyes. No mother deserved to outlive her children. She faced the greatest curse of motherhood.

"Mrs. Randhava." A gentle voice greeted her. The nurse held her wrist to take her pulse. "How are you feeling now?"

Sheetal nodded her head, blinking off tears.

"Your BP is normal." The nurse gave her a warm smile. "Everything looks good. I will call in your family."

Sheetal gave a tired nod. She needed to see Dheer. He was the only happiness she was left with. The nurse walked out, and Dheer rushed inside almost immediately. She gave him a warm smile but Dheer pulled her to his chest and buried his face into her hair. Sheetal could feel the sobs wrecking his body. Her boy never cried.

She ran a gentle hand through his hair, offering all the love she could. "Main theek hoon, bachcha. (I am fine, bachcha.)  Don't cry."

Dheer did not say anything, but held on to her. He had not let himself cry until he was in her arms. He could not pretend before her.

"You scared me, girlfriend." Dheer pulled back, once he felt better. Sheetal wiped away the remnants of the tears. She wanted to see the smile, not the tears.

"Don't cry" She sounded tired. Dheer gently laid her back. The doctors told him that she needed rest. Her heart was very fragile. She was under a lot of stress. That was the reason for the heart attack. Dheer knew his grandmother had any reason for stress. She was Yash Singh Randhawa's wife. There was nothing she would want and his grandfather could not get it for her. Dheer was desperate to know what troubled his grandmother.

He gently held her and placed a warm kiss on her fingertips.

"How are you feeling now?"

Sheetal gave a tired nod. She could feel her energy draining away. The zeal to live was quietly fading. She wanted to join her sons in the afterlife but was worried of leaving Dheer alone. Once the boy settled down with a good woman she would stop fighting. Until then she would hold on.

"You don't look happy" Dheer's voice shook, but he did not cry again.

"You are my happiness, bachcha."

Dheer nodded his head but he knew she wanted something more.

"You know I love you right?" Dheer kissed her hand again. Sheetal nodded her head.

"We have always been friends?"

Sheetal nodded again.

"If I ask you something, will you be honest with me?"

"You can ask me anything, beta. I will never lie to you."

"Then tell me what made you so worried? Tell me why you are unhappy. Please, dadi. I need to know. You collapsed today, I could have lost you." Dheer's voice closed off. "I can't lose you, girlfriend. Tell me what is troubling you."

Sheetal shook her head, but Dheer grabbed her hand and placed it on his head. "Now tell me what is hurting you. Why are you so unhappy? What can I do to make you happy?"

Sheetal pulled her hand away. "We cannot have everything we want, bachcha. I have made peace with it."

"So there is something you want?"

Sheetal looked away.

"Can't you trust me dadi? Ek baar batey ke to dekho yaar. (Trust me with your secret wish.) Maybe I can get it for you."

Sheetal looked back at him. "Only a genie can fulfil my wish" She tried for a teasing smile, but failed.

"Then let me be your genie. Tell me your heart's desire, Dadi. Please."

"Tujhse nahi ho payega, beta. (You can't do it, beta) Don't ask."

"Do you trust me, dadi?"

"More than anything in the world."

"Then please tell me. What do you want that we cannot give you? Please tell me."

Sheetal's eyes filled up. Dheer gently wiped the tears away. They were ripping his soul apart.

"Dadi."

"I want to see them once before I close my eyes." Sheetal whispered, unable to contain her pain. If Dheer was not sitting so close he would not have heard her at all.

"See who?"

Sheetal looked into Dheer's eyes. At that minute he knew who she was talking about. Sheetal held his hand, her eyes once again blurring with tears. "I want my family complete, Dheer. I want to spend at least one day with all my children under my roof. I want to embrace them once. I want to feel my Abhi's blood. I want..." Her voice choked up with tears. She struggled hard to control them. "Bol kar payega mera sapna poora? (Can you fulfill my dream?) Can you give me that one day that I desire?"

Dhreer pulled his hand away. She was asking the impossible. Sheetal buried her face into the pillows and let the tears fall. Dhruv rushed outside. He could not stand there and watch her shed tears. If she had asked for the moon he would have found a way to get it for her, how could he give her the unattainable?

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