*** CHAPTER 31 ***

‘Phulon ka taaro ka, sabka kehna hai,
Ek hazaro mein, meri behna hai.’

The little Chaitanya has his eyes glued to the television screen as the song plays. Ragini, who has been in a whirl desperately searching for a file that Laksh has asked her to find, tries to ignore the unintentional disturbance but when even after several futile attempts she fails to do so, she finally turns towards her son, trying to give him her best frowning face. The little one completely oblivious of his mother’s complaining gaze has a huge smile on his face as the song still has his undivided attention.

Ragini: Sweetheart, can you please lower the voice? Mumma is trying to do something important.

Chits: Tsk! If I’ll lowel (lower) the voice then how will I listen?

Ragini: I’m not asking you to mute it. Just lower a little bit. Please.

Chaitanya looks at his mother and then at the beautiful song playing and finally decides to lower the voice by one point before focusing back on the song, ignoring the presence of his mother as a whole. Ragini is left shell shocked realizing that her son has just now considered a song over his own mother! This proves… this proves that he has taken over his father! Unbelievable!

Sighing, Ragini turns back to search the file again, knowing it all too well that there is no point arguing with the little devil.

“MUMMAAA!!”

It’s hardly been a few minutes but soon enough Ragini is left dumbstruck with a loud scream, making her drop all the files on the floor. She lets out an exasperated sigh before glaring at his son who by now is standing right in front of her, looking down at the files.

Ragini: Chaitanya Maheshwari! What’s wrong with you today? Why are you bothering me?!

Chits: (pointing downwards) Mumma, you dlopped (dropped) the copies!

Ragini: All thanks to you! Why were you shouting?

Chits: I just want a tini tiny thing!

He says making a pinch like gesture with his thumb and index finger, with both his eyes closed. Ragini looks at the mercilessly scattered files, their pages lying in all possible directions, and then at her son looking at her with extremely hopeful eyes. And then as if taking revenge on him, she brushes off his request.

Ragini: I don’t have time right now. Just go and watch your TV. I have to go down before it’s time for breakfast.

Chits: But Mumma…

Ragini: No ifs and buts. This happened because of you, so, you’re not getting anything.

Chits: But it’s leally (really) a vely (very) small thing!

Ragini takes a deep breath and bends down to pick up the papers. First she hasn’t been able to find the file and now she’ll have to sort the pages out too! Great! Why is everything going wrong today?

Realizing that his mother has ignored him, little Chaitanya eyes well up with tears and his lips quiver as he feels himself on the verge of breaking down. He looks at his mother and then at the television screen. It’s all worth it!

Chits: Mumma!!

Ragini: What?!! Go and ask your Swara Mumma for that thing!

Chits: Bad Mumma! I’ll go and ask Swala (Swara) Mumma fol (for) a little sistel (sister)!

Ragini: Yes, go!

She spurts out in the heat of the moment and Chaitanya sprints down to the dining hall even before Ragini realizes what she has agreed for.

The moment Chaitanya leaves, Laksh comes back into the room and is left shocked seeing the condition of his files and his wife desperately trying to sort everything out.

Laksh: Ragini, w-what happened?!

Ragini: (angrily) Your son happened! What else do you expect?!

Laksh: Okay. Okay. Cool down. Let me help you. Don’t get angry, Ragini. He’s just a kid!

Ragini: No. No. No. He’s not a kid. He’s literally the devil reincarnated! What the hell did you make me eat when I had him?!

Laksh: (chuckles) Seriously, Ragini! Well, why was he running like that a moment ago?!

Ragini: He was going to his Swara Mumma!

Laksh: For what?!

Ragini: To ask for a little sister!

Laksh: WHAT?!!

The look of complete shock on her husband’s face has Ragini’s immediate attention and as it’s always said, realization hits her hard… really hard!

Holy shit!

Her eyes go wide with absolute disbelief. With one look at each other and both of them dash out of the room before their son places his unprecedented request in front of his Swara Mumma!

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Ragini and Laksh hurry down to the dinning hall just in time as Chaitanya reaches Swara who’s coming out of the kitchen with a bowl of curd in her hand. Looking up at her with hopeful eyes, the little one holds the falling drape of her saree.

Chits: Swala (Swara) Mumma!

Swara: (smiles) Yes… What is it?

Chits: I asked Mumma to give me one vely (very) small thing but she is not giving me.

Ragini: Baby, come here. I’ll give it to you.

Laksh: Really?!

Ragini: Shut up! Chaitanya, come here.

Chits: No, bad Mumma! Swala (Swara) Mumma, will you give it to me?!

Swara: Yes, of course. What is it, Champ?!

Chits: I want a li…

And his voice is immediately muffled by his mother’s hand pressed against his mouth. Chaitanya glares at his mother’s heartlessness. How can she be so cruel?! Everyone scrunches their eyebrows on seeing Ragini behaving entirely out of character and Chaitanya wriggling in her hold to set himself free.

Sujata: What are you doing, Ragini? He’s just a kid. What possibly could he be asking?

Ragini: (laughs nervously) Nothing, Maa. It’s nothing!

With much difficulty, Chaitanya removes a few fingers of his mother from in front of his mouth and his muffled voice becomes clearer.

Chits: Bad Mumma!

The anger seems quite evident from the young guy’s voice. Ragini finds it totally adorable but the sign of grave danger at the same time. With both her hands on her waist, she glares down at her son demanding what he means by that. But grabbing it as a golden opportunity, Chaitanya runs back to Swara and hides behind her.

Ragini: Chaitanya Maheshwari, get back here this instant!

Terrified with his mother’s angry voice, Chaitanya hugs Swara’s legs tightly. Sanskaar, who has been witnessing everything silently until now, gets up from his seat as he makes his way towards Swara.

Sanskaar: Ragini, relax! He’s just a kid. What do you want, Champ?

Laksh: Bhai, it’s nothing important!

Sanskaar: Just a minute, Lucky. Main baat kar raha hoon naa! It seems something important to him.

And that immediately shuts everyone up, as for the first time in a while they are witnessing this behavior of their eldest son. It doesn’t take Laksh even a moment to realize that Sanskaar has called him ‘Lucky’ for the first time. The aura he’s carrying at present and the way he’s treating Chaitanya right now, it’s exactly the way Shlok used to treat him. They say that twins are so different, yet so alike at the same time, and the entire Maheshwari family gets to witness that.

Sanskaar bends down towards Chaitanya and caresses his head lovingly. Great! His Sanky Papa loves him the most.

Chits: S-Sanky papa!

Sanskaar: What do you want, Champ?

Swara: Yes… What is it that my dear son wants from me?

Swara asks scooting down to her knees to bring herself to Chaitanya’s level. Realizing that finally everyone will listen to him, he wraps his arms around his Swara Mumma’s neck and sobs.

Chits: Will you give it to me?

Swara: Of course!

Chits: Plomise (promise)…

Swara: Uh! Okay, promise!

Chits: Swala (Swara) Mumma, I want a little sistel (sister).

Laksh and Ragini sigh helplessly and that comes as a shock to everyone else leaving them absolutely speechless. And for Swara, no sooner she hears this, even without realizing her eyes look up towards Sanskaar… only to find out that he has already been looking at her. Sanskaar finds himself choking at his own breath as soon as their eyes meet. He quickly averts his gaze, leaving Swara absolutely flustered.

Ragini: I’m… I’m sorry, Swara! I…

Swara: (smiles weakly) It’s okay, Ragini. You don’t need to apologize. He’s just a child. It’s natural for him to yearn for a companion.

Annapurna: It’s fine, Ragini. Let’s have breakfast!

Chaitanya: But what about my sistel (sister)?

Why does it feel that he’s the one being wronged the most?! That’s not fair!

Ragini immediately picks her son up in her arms and takes him to the dining table. Making him sit on the chair, she glares at him.

Ragini: If you want a sister, then you have to behave like a good boy for a very long time. You’ll have to listen to whatever I say, then we’ll get you a sister.

Chaitanya: Plomise (promise)?

Ragini: Promise! Now be quiet and eat your breakfast!

Grumpily, Chaitanya curls up on his chair as his mother makes him drink the milk.

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Sighing with helplessness, Annapurna sits on her bed with a thump. Few tear drops lingering at the corner of her eyes roll down her cheeks as she caresses Shlok’s photograph. Can a mother be anymore helpless? Her son has left the world before her and she hasn’t been able to see him even for the last time.

How good would it have been to have him as well with them? But, destiny knows it very well how to play those merciless games.

With her palm against her mouth she tries to muffle her sobs, when she feels a hand on her shoulder. Wiping off her tears hastily, she looks up at her husband who sits down beside her taking a deep breath.

Annapurna: What was our fault? Just where did the things go wrong? I miss him so much!

Durga Prasad finds himself speechless with the obdurate feeling crumbling his heart. He hasn’t just lost his son, but his pride, his honor. Will the world judge if he cries?

Wrapping his arms around his wife’s shoulders he tries to calm down not only her but even his own self.

Durga Prasad: I miss him too. I miss him too.

Annapurna: I can’t even imagine Swara’s condition right now. Chaitanya wasn’t wrong in any way but Swara… What wrong has she done to deserve all this?!

Durga Prasad: It will all be alright. She’ll be fine.

Annapurna: Can’t we get her married again?

Durga Prasad: Of course, we can. I was also thinking the same. I’ll look for some…

Annapurna: Why do you want to look for someone outside?

She asks immediately lifting her head up from his shoulder.

Durga Prasad: What?

Annapurna: (wiping off her tears) I was thinking of getting Swara married to Sanskaar.

Durga Prasad: What? But… Will they agree?

Annapurna: Haven’t you seen? They like each other. I have seen how much they love being together. There can’t be anything better than this.

Durga Prasad: I know. If they both agree to this, then I have no problem.

Annapurna: (nods her head) I’ll talk to them about this then. Swara needs to move on. She has entire life in front of her right now and our Sanskaar will surely be the best partner for her. They deserve to be happy after all those things they have gone through.

Durga Prasad: That way I’ll be able to fulfill my promise, my words that I had given to my late friend. I’ll make sure that he never regrets his decision of giving his daughter’s responsibility to us.

Annapurna: He won’t regret it. Not even when he’s in the heavens above. We’ll make sure of it.

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Annapurna knocks the door and waits impatiently for him to open it up. Knowing that it’s not going to be an easy topic for either for them, she’s all jittery. But she knows it all too well that it’s for the best for all. And maybe… maybe she’ll be able to compensate for all the wrongs she has done to him, both knowingly and unknowingly. That’s the least she can do for him.

Sanskaar: (opens the door) Maa? Do you need something?

Just a word and it still never fails to make Annapurna feel special. Maa! A simple word of acknowledgement from her son sounds like the most mellifluous music to her ears. Annapurna smiles looking up at him and he smiles back.

Annapurna: I hope I haven’t disturbed you! I just wanted to talk to you about something.

Sanskaar: Obviously not. You can come to me whenever you want. You don’t have to ask. Please come inside.

Walking inside Annapurna sits on a chair kept next to the bed. Sanskaar sits on the bed facing his mother and scrunches her eyebrows on noticing the uncertainty in her eyes.

Sanskaar: What is it that’s bothering you?

Annapurna: How did you… Um… I just wanted to ask you something!

Sanskaar: What is it?

Annapurna: Um… How… How do you feel about Swara?

And the question catches him off-guard. Has he done something again… something that he’s not supposed to do? Maybe she has seen them looking at each other back there in the dining hall!

Sanskaar: Ah! Maa, it’s… it’s nothing like what you are thinking. We were just…

Annapurna: You still love her right?

Sanskaar: N-No. I… I don’t!

Annapurna raises her hand and Sanskaar, himself doesn’t know why, closes his eyes expecting something unexpected. But hardly a moment later all he feels is a tender caress across his cheek. He instantly opens his eyes and Annapurna smiles.

Annapurna: I know I haven’t been able to see your childhood, that how you grew up, that how you looked when you smiled for the first time, that how you cried when you fell for the first time… and I’m really very sorry for that. No matter what I do, I’ll never be able to give you back what all you have lost. But it still doesn’t change the fact that I’m your mother. Tumhare dil ka haal samajhti hoon main! And you don’t need to hide it from me.

Sanskaar: Maa, what are you saying? I…

Annapurna: Your father and I are planning to get Swara married again.

What?! That comes as a heavy blow for Sanskaar and he involuntarily finches back. Has he lost her even without trying?

Sanskaar: I… I… What? Who is it?

Annapurna: That completely depends on your answer.

Sanskaar: What?

Annapurna: (smiles) Yes, after all the affirmation from the groom is equally important!

Sanskaar: I know that but… wait… what?!!

Annapurna: Sanskaar, will you marry Swara?

No. No. No. This is not happening! He’s definitely hallucinating! Has his ears started ringing now? Or is it a dream?

‘Wake up, Sanskaar. Wake up”, his mind reprimands.

Sanskaar: Are… Are you sure you’re asking the right person?

Annapurna rolls her eyes. Why are the young people so full of uncertainty now a days?! Who does he want her to ask then? That Sahil?

Annapurna: Is there anyone else over here?

Sanskaar: N-No!

Annapurna: (smiles holding his hands) You don’t need to hide it anymore, son. If you love her then show her. She deserves that. And I’m… I’m sorry for whatever I did earlier.

Sanskaar: Don’t apologize, Maa. It was all in the past. Let’s just forget it all.

Annapurna: So, do you agree?

Sanskaar: Yes! I-I mean… Has Swara agreed?

Annapurna: (takes a deep breath) I still need to ask her. I just wanted to ask you first.

Sanskaar: Um… Maa! How about if I ask her?

Annapurna: Do you want to?

Sanskaar: (nods his head) Yes!

Annapurna smiles and stands up. Holding his face in both her palms, she places a kiss on his forehead. Sanskaar smiles as the tender feeling seeps inside of him, reaching out to his heart. This motherly feeling is still too overwhelming for him. He still can’t believe that he has his mother back with him. Sometimes, it all feels like nothing but a serene dream.

Annapurna: Then go ahead and let her know how much you love her! I’ll go and let your father know of your approval.

Annapurna leaves with yet another smile. Grinning like a Cheshire cat, Sanskaar stands in front of the mirror gazing at his own reflection. His eyes shine with an unforeseen determination. Swara Maheshwari… She’s going to be his forever! And there’s no force in this world that can take her away from him again!

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A/N

Hello everyone! Finally another update. I hope you all liked the chapter. I know there weren’t any Swasan scenes in here but get ready as there are going to be many in the upcoming chapters.

Sautan (Lovely_Rhythm) Le aa gya tera hot wala teacher. Enjoy!! 😜😜

See you all soon. Till then, stay blessed and happy reading!

With love,
Stella ❤️