Arnav was standing outside his mother's room. He slowly knocked the door & a woman in her early 40's opened it with a warm smile.

Good morning Meera aunty greeted Arnav to which she reciprocated with the same & then left the room after patting his shoulder lightly.

Arnav entered the room & moved towards his mother's bed where she is laying in the same condition since 12 years.

Yes, since 12 years his mother Shalini Raizada is in coma.

Arnav went & sat near his mother on the bed. He slowly held her hand & kissed it lightly & greeted her, Good morning mumma. How are you today? Hope you slept well. Me too had a nice sleep except that dream haunted me again.

Its Arnav's daily routine to start his day with meeting his mumma, spending some time with her, telling her about his schedule & sharing his daily routine & then again spending some time with her before going to bed.

For the world his mother being in coma is like almost dead. But for him she is as much alive as she was before. He feels that she listens to whatever he talks, whatever he shares with her. So what if she doesn't respond. But her heart does. That's enough for him. He has faith in his love for his mumma that one day it will bring her back from coma.

Although doctors had lost all hopes but he hadn't & that was proved when after being on life support system for 10 years she is able to breathe on her own without medical help since 2 years.

So she will definitely recover completely for her Chhote. He is dying to hear her calling him that.

Actually his dii had given him this name Chhote. He was a premature baby, born in the seventh month, very small & underweight.

So when 4 year old Anjali saw him for the first time, she had said, Hamare chhote bhai to sach mein bohot chhote hai to aaj se hum inhe Chhote hi bulayenge. ( My small brother is literally small. So from now onwards I will call him Chhote only) But then along with his dii almost everybody except a few members started calling him Chhote only.

But he liked the most when his mother used to call him the same. He is ready to wait his whole life to hear it again from her mouth but not ready to loose hope.

Also he has his whole family & his dii to support him, who are equally waiting for his mother to come back to life.

Not to forget Meera aunty. His mumma's childhood friend. But fate was cruel with her. She was caught in a terrible marriage, full of domestic violence & nobody to support from her maternal side. But when she got pregnant she couldn't let her child suffer the same. So she asked his mumma for help & his mumma helped her to get rid of that cursed marriage.

Meera aunty didn't want to become a burden on anybody & wanted to become emotionally & financially independent for her baby & herself. She was interested in nursing course. So his mumma helped her to enroll her for the same & after completing her course & deleivering her baby boy she started her job in a government hospital where his mumma was admitted initially.

Though Meera aunty herself was shattered seeing her friend & saviour in that terrible condition, she took complete care of her & when Arnav was financially capable enough to shift his mother at home with all the medical facilities he requested Meera aunty to become his mother's full time nurse as she is well aware of her case & treatment, also he trusts her completely with his mumma.

Meera aunty happily accepted as she got a chance to return the favour of her & her son's settled life due to his mumma. Her son Rahul is doing his masters in photogaphy in a reputed university in Mumbai.

Although Meera aunty denied but he deposits a fix amount every month in her account alongwith taking care of Rahul's educational expenses too.

With Meera aunty taking care of his mumma & staying with her 24/7 he can take care of his business without worrying much for his mumma as he has full faith in Meera aunty.

After being financially strong he consulted the best of doctors in & out of country for his mumma but all gave similar answer, WAIT.

So he is waiting & now its been 12 years since that fateful day his mumma is in this condition.

He doesn't need anybody to remind him or any nightmare to remember that horrific scene when his scoundrel father Ayush Singh Raizada had pushed his mumma from the top stair.

He has witnessed it with his own eyes & that scene is crafted in his mind forever. He can never forget it even if he looses his memory.

She had come tumbling down all the stairs till the bottom one & had laid in the pool of blood which was flowing freely from her head & she had taken his name Chhote before closing her eyes & that was the last he had heard his mother calling his name.

The scene was as if literally happening infront of him right now. He was burning with rage, hatred & anger for his wastrel father.

Good for him that he died, otherwise Arnav wouldn't have given a second thought before killing him with his bare hands.

Gulping his anger he tried to control his rage. He doesn't want any negative energy around his mother which could hinder her recovery.

A hand on his shoulder calmed him completely. He looked up to see Meera aunty back & was smiling lovingly at him.

Did you have your breakfast aunty?? He asked her.

Yes beta. I did. Now you too go & have yours. Everyone is waiting for you at the dining table. She replied.

Nodding his head, he stood up. Moving forward towards his mother's head he bent down & kissed her forhead.

Bye mumma. See you in the evening. He said.

Take care of mumma & yourself too aunty. He requested.

I will beta. You don't worry. She replied with a smile.

Hearing that, giving a last look to his mumma he moved out of her room.

The family members were seated on their customary seats for breakfast.

Jay Prakash & Hari Prakash, both brothers are loyal servants of the family & their third brother Om Prakash works as a peon in Arnav's company. Serving this family since years they have also become a part of this family & are nick named as JP, HP & OP respectively.

JP & HP had set the table with different variety of breakfast for the big family.

Arnav arrived there & greeted everybody. As he got seated, the Prakash brothers started serving.

Everyone started having their breakfast when Devyani Rathore, Arnav's nani asked him, Chhote its 5th anniversary of our Shalini shelter home for women & children. Have you decided how are we going to celebrate it this year??

You don't worry nani. Me, dii & Akash are thinking over it. We want to do something different this time along with our usual donation of clothes, money & sweets. He answered while applying butter on his toast.

Yes nani. It's 5th anniversary. We want to make it grand & memorable for the recipients of the shelter home. Anjali secconded Arnav sipping her juice.

Maa, you don't worry. I have full faith on our children. They will definitely celebrate this event the way Shalu jiji would like. After all its her birthday too on the same day. Mahendra Singh Rathore, Arnav's mama & Devyani's son told his mother, enjoying his tea.

Yes maaji & I have also planned a puja & hawan that morning in the shelter home for Shalu jiji's birthday, where all its recipients & all we family members will participate & pray for Shalu jiji's recovery & long & healthy life. Every year we held it here in Shantivan but this year we will perform it in the shelter home itself. Madhavi Rathore, Mahendra's wife informed her mother in law Devyani, serving herself hot patatha.

Devyani's face adorned a wide smiling hearing to her daughter in law. But couldn't stop tears forming in her eyes.

This shelter home was the first one Arnav had opened in his mother's, name. After that he had opened two more, Shalini old age home & Shalini orphanage. But the first shelter home is like first baby & its more close to Devyani's heart.

He has also started school & hospital in his mother's name for the poor & needy.

Arnav never backs out from doing charity work. He doesn't believe in worshipping God everyday. He believes doing good work is equal to worshipping God.

The world praises him for doing such selfless & kind work. But he says that he does all this for his own selfish motive.

He wants more & more prayers & wishes for his mother. So he believes that when he helps the poor & needy, they heartily pray for his mother which will help her come out of coma soon.

Her breathing without medical help since two years assures him that he is on the right track.

Devyani knows how much lonely her Chhote is even amidst such a big family. Since childhood he was more close only to his dadaji Samarsingh Raizada & his mumma.

After his dadaji's death his mumma had become his centre of the world. But when she also left him alone & slipped into coma he became very reserved & aloof to the world.

But his dii's & his own responsibility made him mature earlier then his age & he had to expose himself to this world, shedding his reservations & aloofness. But Devyani knows still how much lonely her Chhote is from within.

She just wishes her daughter, his mother to come back to her Chhote & give him the love & warmth he misses & deserves.

Akash Rathore, Mahendra & Madhavi's elder son & Devyani's grandson noticed his dadi's moist eyes & at once stood up from his chair & went to his dadi, knealed down near her chair & said side hugging her, Dadi please don't upset yourself. Shalu bua will definitely come out of coma soon. Your DM can't overlook our so many kind & selfless gestures.

Devyani nodded her head with an understanding smile.

So no tears, only smiles. He said wiping his dadi's tears & dadi kissed his forehead lovingly.

Understanding the reason behind his nani's tears Arnav's throat got heavy. Anjali held his hand above the table lending her support.

I'm okay di. He assured her with a forced smile.

Then he said looking towards his nani, Nani you didn't ask me about my this year's gift to mumma for her birthday?

Nani raised her eyebrows in response, asking him to tell her. Everybody's attention was also on him as they all were equally enthusiastic to know.

We are opening shelter home for stray dogs.

Everybody accept three people squealed with happiness because they all know how much Shalini used to love & care for stray dogs.

Whenever & wherever she used to see any injured or hurt dog, she used to bring it home. Cure it, feed it, take care of it until it's completely well & then only she used to let it go. She used to take it to a vet too if needed.

Anjali stood up in excitement & went & hugged her brother. Too good Chhote. Just perfect gift. When mumma will be alright & she will come to know about this then she is definitely gonna love it. Why don't I get such mindblowing ideas? She pouted.

That's because I love mumma more then you do. He said teasing her & she pouted more but then again hugged him happily. Arnav hugged her back smilingly.

What is the need to open a shelter home for dirty, cheap stray dogs? Why unnecessarily waste our money for such nasty creatures?? Already you are wasting crores every year behind those useless people in shelter homes & also in the name of charity. You need to stop wasting money Arnav. Interrupted the voice which was quiet till now, having breakfast calmly.

Arnav clenched his fists, anger surfaced on his face making his nostrils flair knowing very well who it it is.

Anjali at once held his shoulder trying to calm him down.

Arnav looked towards the source of that voice which was of his chacha Vikramsingh Raizada.

Keep your suggestions to yourself chachaji. I don't need them. He replied him in a menacing tone.

Watch your tone Arnav. I am your chachaji. Vikram shouted.

That doesn't give you any say in my matters. Arnav retorted with equal anger.

Karansingh Raizada, Vikram's one & only son who was sitting near his father couldn't hold back his anger when his cousin Arnav defied his father & shouted on him, you can't talk to my father in this way Arnav.

Then ask him to stay in his limits & not to interfere in my decisions. Arnav warned him.

We have all the rights to interfere Arnav. Don't forget me & dad also hold position in Board of Directors & are share holders too in the company. Karan tried to show his upper hand.

Oh, I could never forget that even if I want that badly to do. But you too need to remember that I am the damn CEO & MD of RRF (Raizada & Rathore Fashions) & not to forget the major share holder too. My word is the law in the company. Arnav countered back giving a sarcastic look to his dadi Subhadra Raizada who was listening to all the matter calmly.

But one look from Arnav & she had to open her mouth in her son Vikram & grandson Karan's favour.

Arnav try to understand what your chachaji & brother are trying to say. It's good you are doing charity work but now you are going excess in it. Instead of wasting our money behind such people why not invest in our new projects & deals? Subhadra tried to put her useless two cents in the talk.

Subhadra why are you saying that? Helping needy people, doing charity work is not useless thing. If DM has made us capable of so then we should never pull our hands back. Devyani tried to explain to her daughter's mother in law Subhadra.

Yes dadi, nani is right. Few years back how much helpless & needy we ourselves were!! What all hardships we have faced. How much Chhote has worked hard to reach to this position, sacrificing all his wishes. So who else then us can understand the pain of those homeless & needy people & if we are capable to help them then we should do it. Anjali favoured her Chhote.

I don't understand what problem you have chachaji that you & Karan always stand against bhai's decisions? Akash asked Vikram, not liking him opposing his bhai.

That's because he alone can't take decision regarding such big financial use. We equally have our share & being one of the BOD Arnav has to listen to us. Me & my son are voting against this decision of Arnav. Now we won't let him waste company's money like this. Vikram said with finality looking towards Arnav.

Arnav let out a sarcastic chuckle. Let me remind you chachaji. Its my company, made from my blood & sweat. You & your son got to step in it & in this house only because of dadi. Otherwise you are nobody to even breathe in here. Arnav didn't mince his words & gave back with double anger.

Arnav, why do you everytime raise this issue? He is your chachaji, your blood relative. Dadi retorted glaring towards Mahendra & Madhavi.

Yes, blood relatives who fleed away at first given opportunity leaving me & dii to struggle for our survival. Arnav replied raising his eyebrows in sarcasm.

Arnav if you are thinking that you will change the topic & we will forget our decision then you are wrong. Me & dad are against opening your so called dog's shelter home or any kind of more charity work. I am sure other members of BOD will agree to us & you will not get maximum votes. So drop your idea. Karan said in over confidence.

But this was more then enough to raise Arnav's anger to heights & he stood up angrily banging the dining table, causing the glasses & cups of juice & tea to spill some of its content.

Don't challenge me Karan. You will loose as always. You are counting votes right. Then lets do it properly. Maximum members of BOD including the Chairman my mamaji, are present right here, right now. Lets do it.

Mamaji, mami, nani, dii, Akash & me we six directors vote in the favour. He declared even without asking them because he already knows their answers.

Subhadra, Vikram & Karan looked towards each of them who nodded their heads in affirmation & they let out a frustrated sigh.

Arnav couldn't help but chuckle looking towards their defeated faces. We six say yes & you two say no. Even if the rest three directors favour you, you still loose as you will have only five votes. So the decision is done & henceforth I won't entertain any rubbish regarding this matter. Arnav concluded with finality.

Vikram & his son walked out from there defeated.

You are not doing right with your chachaji & brother Arnav. They are your nearest family before anybody else. Snorted Subhadra & went away from there to her room.

Arnav clenched his fist & jaw & was about to reply his dadi but Anjali stopped him pressing his shoulder, stopping him.

Let it be Chhote. Please calm down. Requested Anjali.

I am bearing them just because of you & nani, dii. He said trying to calm himself.

Chhote they are family. We have to let go such issues for peace & harmony in the family. Nani tried to explain her Chhote.

Whatever. Just tell them to stay away from my matters. Arnav replied.

I will talk to Subhadra. Nani assured him.

Dii, I am leaving for office. You come with Akash. I have meeting with the investors within half an hour.

Anjali nodded & Arnav left the place picking his coat from around the chair.

To be continued....

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Love - Kavita 💝