Bonds of Love

Renuka Sanyal, Yash's divorced mom, was standing outside Agarwal Mansion with her son Yash and his love Ishita. Ishita was holding Yash's hand tightly, her fingers laced between his, her heart racing. It wasn't only her heart that was racing, Yash's was too, for Yash was just as nervous as she was.

He squeezed her hand with comfort, remembering how he had approached Renuka Sanyal.

—

"Mom, I'm ready to forgive you for leaving me alone for your career when I needed you the most," he had told her, "But... I need one favour from you."

He knew what he was doing wasn't right. He was emotionally blackmailing his mother, but he had to do it for his love, he had to do it for Ishita's happiness. He promised himself that he would start life afresh with his mother and would hold no grudge for the past if she promised to support him.

"I'll do anything son," she whispered, and Yash saw tears fall from her eyes.

He felt his own eyes sting with tears.

"I love her mom," he said to her, falling to his knees, and pressing the palms of his hands together. "I love her more than anything in this world. Please ask for her hand."

She fell to her own knees, held his shoulders before nodding and pulling him in a bone crushing hug.

"I'll do anything for your happiness," she told him, stroking the back of his head.

Yash hugged her back, finally opening up to his mother, finally allowing her access to him.

The purest form of love was the one where you only wished for the other one to be happy - there was no selfishness. Just like Renuka Sanyal loved Yash. And just like Yash loved Ishita.

—

The door opened and Ishita's mother stood there. Upon seeing Ishita, who was holding Yash's hand, wearing new clothes she had bought the day after she had run away (two weeks back), her eyes widened.

"You have no idea how much you shamed this family," her mother yelled, grabbing her arm and pulling her in.

"Mom... please, let me explain," she whispered, tears falling from her eyes.

Yash wanted to say something, but Renuka grabbed his hand, silently telling him that Ishita needed to hear all of this from her mother.

She looked at Yash and Renuka and folded her hands together in front of them. "Thank you for finding her and bringing her home. I know she is a shameless, disgusting creature, but please forgive us... it was our upbringing," she said to them.

Yash felt his heart break when her mother said those words.

"She isn't," he said, just as her mother was about to go inside.

She stopped in her tracks and turned around. "What?"

"She is absolutely beautiful," Yash told her mother, "She regrets what she had done. She loves you truly."

Ishita pulled her arm away from her mom and rushed towards Yash.

"Mom listen, I'm sorry! I know what I did was wrong... but I realized last minute and I couldn't let my life go down the drain. Mom... this is Yash. Yash Shekhawat, Renuka Sanyal's son! You know Renuka, she owns a large chain of international companies!" Ishita said quickly, hoping that her mom would understand.

Ishita's mom's mouth opened when she heard Renuka's name.

"This is even worse," she said, embarrassed. "I'm so sorry you had the misfortune to meet my daughter."

"I like her," Renuka said with a smile towards Ishita's mom. "I actually wanted to speak to you about something if you have a moment. It would be ideal if your husband was here too."

"Yes... yes one minute," Anju, Ishita's mom, said.

She went inside and called Ishita's dad to the living room. The trio followed her.

"Sit... please sit," Anju said.

Yash and Renuka took a seat while Ishita stayed standing.

As soon as her father and brother entered, they both ran towards her immediately. Gulping, she took a step back as her father raised his hand, about to slap her.

"We don't know you anymore!" he bellowed after giving her a tight slap, "We don't have a daughter! You brought shame to this house and only shame! From engineering to Dilip to running away from your marriage, you are a disgrace!"

"Papa, please," she whispered, her tears escaping her eyes.

"This is Renuka Sanyal," Anju intervened, addressing her guests. "And this is her son Yash."

Her father showed shock, her brother's mouth dropping open, clearly awestruck by who had come and visit them.

"Sorry Mrs. Sanyal," Ishita's father replied, clearly ashamed of what was going on. "I'm sorry you had to see everything that has happened here. We are very embarrassed to call this girl our daughter."

"Well Mr. Agarwal," Renuka said curtly, "You don't need to apologize. She is a blessing for me. I wanted to ask for her hand for my son Yash."

Her father's jaw dropped open for the second shock of the day.

"Are you sure?" he asked her, trying to bring himself back to reality. "I mean... you know her history. She might just taint your name too."

Renuka sighed and leaned forward.

"Listen Mr. Agarwal," she told him, "I've gotten to know her well over a short period of time - when she has a passion, she will follow it with all her heart, and that's the most positive trait someone can have. And more importantly, she will keep my son happy... and he will treat her like a queen. I don't think you want anything else from your daughter, do you?"

"What if she runs away from her wedding again?" Anju said, clearly showing no sympathy for her daughter anymore.

"We'll take the chance," Renuka said with a nod.

"Okay then..." Ishita's father said, sounding stunned by what was happening. "We won't say no. If someone on the streets asked for her hand we wouldn't say no now, because she deserves only that, but you are Mrs. Renuka Sanyal, so we are in no position to deny."

Yash felt his heart break as Ishita's father insulted her. He glanced at his mother, who seemed to understand him immediately.

"One more thing, Mr. Agarwal," Renuka said immediately. "I want you to forgive your daughter. I only want positive vibes from this alliance. If I hear that you haven't forgiven her, then I won't be happy."

"Yes, of course we will on your insistence," Ishita's dad replied quickly, "I mean... for you, anything Mrs. Sanyal."

Yash could see Ishita's eyes light up when her father said that and he felt a huge weight being lifted off his heart immediately.

"So you can have your daughter back until the wedding," Renuka said sweetly. "We will meet with the pandit tomorrow for the marriage preparations."

Ishita's parent's looked at Renuka, awe-struck by what was happening, never expecting any of it.

Yash noticed Renuka smile at Ishita warmly and he knew that it wasn't only him who would be getting his mother's love this time, Ishita would receive it equally.