Dedicated to florinedsilva and IshRaLover1011

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Meri Maa

Shot#1 (b)

5 years later

There are two categories of people in the world with regard to birthdays. Some, who look forward to their birthdays with full of enthusiasm and others who do not even consider it worth a celebration.

Shagun definitely fell in the first category but over the years she had come to fall into the second category, unwillingly though.

For the last 5 years her birthdays had come and gone without being noticed and celebrated by the people around her. Now gradually she had begun to accept that this day is not worth a celebration, so much that she even forgot that it was her birthday today.

For a school assignment, Pihu had to mention the birthdays of her family members, through which she got to know that Shagun's birthday was soon approaching. On top of that the daily soaps freak Pihu had seen the kids planning a surprise for their moms in her favourite shows and since then she had started planning a surprise for Shagun.

Although she had great ideas on her mind she was too young to execute it all on her own. So she had sought her partner-in-crime, Adi bhaiyya's help in setting it up.

Adi was amazed that little Pihu was doing something to make his mother happy which he as an elder son had never done for her. He felt guilty for not even remembering her birthday.

It was quite strange that he shared a bond with Ishita greater than that he shared with his own biological mom and on the other hand Pihu shared a bond with Shagun greater than that she shared with her own biological mother.

Although Pihu and Adi's situation appeared similar there was a huge difference between the two. Pihu had never known that Ishita was her biological mother nor had she ever seen her. But as far as Adi is concerned, he lived under the shade of his mother for 12 years and hardly for 2 years he lived with Ishita. Yet those 2 years of growing up with Ishita had such a great impact on him that even after 5 years of Ishita's departure and inspite of living with Shagun again, he considered Ishita his mother, his IshiMaa.

Sharp at 12 am, Pihu and Adi sneaked into Shagun's room and wished her happy birthday completely surprising her.

"OMG! This is such a pleasant surprise. Thank you so much bachhon" she said overwhlemed.

"Don't thank me. The entire credit goes to our little crime master Pihu" said Adi.

Pihu raised her imaginary collar. Shagun took her in a tight hug and Adi captured the moment.

Adi placed in front of her a cake he had ordered in advance as he did not know how to bake one. On top of the cake was written 'Happy Birthday Shagun Mumma'.

"Come on cut the cake Mumma" said Pihu.

"Haan ye lijiye. Par usse pehle you will have to ask for a wish from God, Shagun Mumma" said Adi handing her the knife.

"Kya ye wish mai God se nahi, apne bete se maang sakti hoon?" She asked surprising Adi.

He was confused what she meant yet he gave an approving nod.

"Kya tum mujhe sirf Mumma bulaoge?" She asked expectantly.

Adi did not know why she asked for this wish. He stared blankly at her.

Seeing his reaction, Shagun explained the reason "Jab bhi tum Shagun Mumma kehte ho toh lagta hai ke tumne mujhe paraya kar diya hai. Tum mere bete ho Adi, maine tumhe janam diya hai. Maine apni zindagi me chahe kitni hi galtiyaan ki ho, mujhe itna toh haq hai hi ke mera beta mujhe Mumma bulaye."

Adi froze completely. He had never realised in these 5 years that when and why he had begun to call his own mother as Shagun Mumma. It never appeared to him that it was due to the distance that had been created between them during her absence in his life.

He had loved Shagun more than his dear life. So blindly that everything she spoke was a truth for him and everything she decided was the final law.

He had even distanced himself from his own father believing all the cooked up stories by Shagun.

And when it came to Ishita, he hated her with all his might and had wanted to make her life a living hell.

The fire incident, followed by the earthquake, had changed his equations with these 3 important figures in his life completely.

He had started to hate the same Shagun whom he had loved more than his ownself.

He had begun to come closer to his father whom he had been pushing away so far.

And now he loved Ishita so much that he could give his life for her.

It was overwhelming to see himself with so much love for a woman whose existence he once denied.

[Words in italics copied from Florine's comment on Shot#1 (a). Thank you florine❤]

"Shayad tum mujhe aaj tak maaf nahi kar paaye ho" Shagun said on seeing him deep in thoughts.

"Nahi aisi baat nahi hai...Mumma" he addressed her as Mumma only, after about 7 years.

Shagun smiled with happy tears pouring from her eyes and hugged him "Thank you Adi. This is my best birthday ever"

Adi hugged her back and thought if he had been wronging his mother by giving Ishita the place above her in his life.

It was not that he did not love Shagun, nor did he doubt his love for her.

May be she loved him as much as Ishita loved him or may be more.

But if he thinks deeply Shagun jad a reason to love him. She loved him because she had given birth to him and as she claimed as a mother it was her duty to love him.

And Ishita had no reason to love him, they were not bonded by birth nor by blood. Yet she loved him like it was her duty.

That's what made the difference.

Shagun was a woman who brought him into this world and gave him a family which for namesake was his.

Ishita was a woman who taught him to love and gifted him a family which he could call as his.

[Once again thanks to Florine for this beautiful line]

From the day he had realised this difference between the two women in his life, his biological mother had become Shagun Mumma for him and his step mother had become IshiMaa.

"Saare step moms evil hote hain. Woh kabhi real mom ki tarah nahi ho sakte" he had told her once.

'Right! Step mom kabhi real mom ki tarah nahi ho sakti. Kyunki meri step mom meri real mom se bhi badhkar hai. Meri Maa, IshiMaa' he thought.

Meri Maa..Meri Maa....
Maa..Meri Maa..Meri Maa..Maa...

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6 years later

Adi had been working really hard to get through the campus interviews.

Next day the selections would be made and he was hell nervous about it.

Before going to bed he made sure that he had done all the preparations, had the clothes set asids for it and all required documents were properly arranged.

"Perfect" he said after checking on all the requirements.

He then decided to go to bed early and catch some good sleep so that he could appear fresh and lively during his interview.

Unfortunately when he hit the bed sleep completely evaded him. He tried hard to get some sleep, tried all the possible measures that would push him to sleep but sadly none worked as his nervousness and fear overpowered him.

In that moment he missed his IshiMaa so much. Whenever he was worried or not able to sleep, she would make him lie on her lap and stroke his hairs so lovingly that all his worries would disappear in thin air and sleep would come embrace him happily.

Kone Ko Thaame
Tere Aanchal Ke
Be-Fikra Main
So Jaata Tha

"Kaash aap aaj yahan hoti IshiMaa. I miss you so much" he wished.

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7 years later

"Jiyonda reh puttar" Mr.Bhalla blessed Adi when he came back with the results of his final semester.

"Haaye mera Adi university topper hai. Good good" Mrs.Bhalla celebrated as she hugged Adi tightly.

"Congrats Beta. Mumma is very proud of you" Shagun kissed his forehead.

"Neelu mithayi le aa. Sabka moo meetha kardoon. Mera puttar inna changa khabar laaya hai" said Mrs.Bhalla.

She fed him sweets and he fed her back. She was distributing sweets to everyone present in the Bhalla house when Raman walked into the living room.

"Raman tu bhi moo meetha karle. Tere bete ne university top kiya hai" Mrs.Bhalla extended a peda towards his mouth to feed him. He held her hand midway and took it in his hands.

Adi came forward to take his father's blessings.

"It's ok" Raman said stopping him in between.

His heart swelled with pride for his son's achievement but in all these years he had forgotten to express his emotions. The only emotion he ever showed was anger.

"Congrats" he said emotionlessly.

Adi felt bad that his father showed no excitement on his achievement but he had learnt to live with it. He gave his father a weak smile in response.

"Kal se office join karlena" Raman began to walk away passing his verdict.

Adi was heartbroken that his father had decided for his career even without consulting him. He had obeyed every command of his father without any argument and may be that was the reason his father thought he could impose all his decisions over him.

So this time Adi decided to speak for himself.

"Papa mai aapka office nahi join kar sakta" he said building in some courage.

"Kya matlab hai tumhara?" Raman turned back to him.

"Kyun beta? Koi problem hai?" Shagun intervened.

"Kyunki meri job ek event managment firm me final hogayi hai" he said boldly.

"Job final hogayi hai matlab? Tum ab business chodke job karoge?" Raman glared.

"Haan mai filhaal sirf job karna chahta hoon. When I am confident me mai business sambhal paaoonga tab mai aapko join karunga" he explained.

"Wow! What an explanation! Log hasenge ye sunke ke Business Tycoon Raman Bhalla ka beta apni khud ki company chodke kisi aire gaire firm me job kar raha hai" Raman mocked.

"Woh company meri nahi aapki hai Papa" Adi stated.

"Oh! Toh theek hai. Agar job karni hi hai toh mujhe bata deta. Mai tujhe Tata Birla jaisi badi badi companies me job dila deta. Sirf Raman Bhalla ka naam sunkar hi tujhe log job de dete" Raman said.

"Yahi toh mai nahi chahta ke mujhe apke naam ki wajah se ya aapki sifarish ki wajah se koi job de. Mujhe meri kabiliyat sabith jarni hai aur mai apni khud ki ek pehchan banana chahta hoon" Adi countered.

"Khud ki pehchan bullshit. Tum sirf itna jatana chahte ho ke tum ab itne bade hogaye ho ke apne hi baap ke faislon ke khilaf jaane ki himmat kar sakte ho. Tum bas mujhe neecha dikhana chahte ho aur kuch nahi" Raman accused him.

Adi was devastated. He never had any intentions to hurt his father or demean him. All he wanted was to have an individual identity. He did not want to be recognised as the son of Raman Bhalla, he wanted to be identified as Aditya Bhalla. He had assumed his father would be proud to know that his son was following his footsteps and building a name on his own. Sadly his father thought the opposite.

"Papa mera aisa koi irada nahi tha. Mujhe nahi pata ke mai apne man ki baat apko kaise samjhaoon. Kaash IshiMaa yahan hoti toh woh samjhaa pati ke mai kya chahta hoon" he blurted in a flow.

Mere Dil Mein Kya
Hai Tere Bina Maa
Koi Samjhaa Hi
Naa Pata Tha

"Adi! Tumhari himmat kaise hui us aurat ka naam lene ki" Raman roared at him.

"Yahi toh problem hai na Papa. Aaj aapki wajah se mujhe apni hi Maa ka naam lene keliye himmat ki zarurat hai. Apko toh ye bhi nahi dikhta ke mai kitna akela pad gaya hoon IshiMaa ke jaane ke baad. IshiMaa ne itna oyar kiya mujhse ke aaj aap sabka pyar bhi unke pyar ke saamne kam pad raha hai. Aur mai itna bebas hoon ke chahte hue bhi unka naam apne zabaan pe nahi laa sakta" Adi lost control on his tongue deeply pained by his father's words.

Jo Ho Sang Tu Na
Lage Jag Suna
Pyar Itna Jatati Ho Tum

"

Adi tumhe samajh me nahi araha ke mai us aurat ka naam nahi sunna chahta? Aur ye mera akhri faisla hai ke tum kal se meri office join karoge" Raman gritted his teeth angrily.

"Akhri faisla! Huhhh....sirf faisla hi toh lena hai apko, chahe woh galat hi kyon na ho. Aap bas faisla sunake chal dete ho. Aapko toh is baat ka bhi andaza nahi ke aapke faislon ne hum sabko ek uljhan me baandh rakha hai" Adi confronted.

"Bahut zuban chalne lagi hai teri. Bahut bada hogaya hai na. Ab tu mujhe sikhayega ke kya galat hai aur kya sahi? Maine baandha hua hai na sabko? Toh theek hai, mai tujhe azaad chodta hoon. Jahan jaana hai jaa, jahan job karna hai kar. Mera naam nahi chahye, meri business nahi chahye toh mere business se kamayi hui koi cheez bhi tujhe nahi milegi. Ab karke dikha jo tu karna chahta hai" Raman scoffed in a fit of rage and walked away.

"Adi! Aise baat karta hai kya koi apne baap se. Jaao aur abhi ke abhi mafi maango papa se" Shagun chided him.

"Mumma aap ko bhi lagta hai ke mai galat hoon? Mujhe laga tha kam se kam aap toh mera saath dogi" he said.

"Adi mai ye nahi keh rahi hoon ke tum galat ho. Par Raman bhi toh galat nahi hai. Agar woh ye chahte hain me tum unka business join karo toh isme kya burayi hai?" Shagun said softening a bit.

"Haan puttar. Ye sara kuch tera hi toh hai. Raman ne akhir kiske liye khada kiya hai itna bada business? Tujhe hi toh sambhalna hai ye sab. Tu thande dimag se soch aur Raman ko samajhne ki koshish kar" Mrs.Bhalla explained.

Adi could clearly see that none in the house was willing to go against Raman which meant he was all alone in this battle for his identity. He did not want to stand amidst the people and try explaining them when he very well knew that it was not going to have any effect on them.

He did not speak a word and left the house. He went to the bench where he and his IshiMaa would spend hours discussing his problems and finding solutions to it.

Only if she was here to support him in this huge decision he had made.

Aaj Bhi Koi
Saath Na De To
Yaad Aati Ho
Yaad Aati Ho Tum

He shed tears silently missing her concern, her advices, her pampering, her motivating words, her gentle caresses, her understanding, her support. He missed her in every walk of his life.

Aaj Bhi Meri
Aankh Bhare To..
Yaad Aati Ho
Yaad Aati Ho Tum..

"IshiMaa...Wapas aa jaao please" he cried.

Maa..O Meri Maa..Meri Maa...
Meri Maa..Meri Maa..Meri Maa

Unknown to him the God above had decided to grant him his wish. He was not aware that the very path he had chosen for his life would lead him towards the woman who had taught him to live.