Chapter 14

Goldenflowers

@Goldenflowers

Part 14

To an outsider Shantivan looks so calm, peaceful and serene but the inmates know shantivan is anything but peaceful. They lost serene and peace long back. Their calmness is altered to a major extent due to recent revelations in all forms

When the ground floor North wing which belongs to dadi and nani is occupied with worry of how their grandsons and grand daughters were exposedto such crude realities and somehow, they thought they are failure to protect them from this nasty world. The grief of a grandmother who lost her daughter because of bigamy of her son-in-law, and the guilt of other grandmother that she couldn’t do justice to her daughter in law or grandsons and granddaughter. The East wing which belongs to Manohar/Manorama and Avni raizada is occupied by the worry if Akash and Anjali will give away their property share to arnav or Nandkishore would give away his share and what will happen to their future and their prestige? They are neither bothered about their daughterAnjali suffering nor concerned about the elder Raizada mental stress at his last stage of life due to threats of Shyam

The North wing of first floor which is occupied by Anjali and akash witnessed a diff kind of reunion between the twins. They were once partners in crime, partners in sharing responsibility of their chote, partners in sharing their miseries/problems, partners in sharing happiness and partners in keeping each other secrets. They were so attached to each other that people truly said they are the best twins. It happened this way until Akash went to Harvard and he kind of got detached with the family. Maybe he found solace and was happy to be away from his problems that he ignored his responsibilities and his siblings. Akash knows he was wrong to leave Anjali behind because he knows his mother doesn’t care about the business, his father takes care of business but always used to be drunkard and only used to just sign and do things suggested by Shashi Gupta Uncle, his Manohar mama was just good in fighting but he never has that business acumen, his chote Arnav was too young when he left to Harvard to take care of the responsibilities. He was proud of Anjali how the20-year-old held her head high and has garnered her niche in her company-Raizada interiors and fashion designing. She had zero knowledge in construction business but as Akash was out of station and Arnav being young, she used to take care a little bit with the help of Sashi Uncle. How can they thank enough Gupta family? They did everything in their capacity to protect their wealth and now he comes to know Raj bhaiyaa has taken punishment for a crime he never committed. How much this house is indebted to them? 

And the lady in front of him (Anjali) happens to be her twin and has gone thru so much and he don’t even know anything about her problems. He knows she has changed drastically from being sarcastic to cynical and downright hurting. Anjali always has the trait of sarcasm which all of their gang used to love and he still used to remember how payal and Kushi used to take tips from her how to answer anyone who used to mess with them. He was aware of her drastic change in personality and have thought that marrying Shyam like person has changed her but he never thought behind that tough exterior there is a heartbroken girl who lost her love to legal punishment and has to show to the world someone as her husband who she never loved or will never love, How can he forgive himself? He couldn’t be a good brother to both Anjali and Arnav. In growing years Arnav never had anyone to share things and he is partially responsible to his grumpy behavior. He couldn’t be a good lover to Payal because when he left to Harvard it was a fact that he wanted to be away from everything and for those years he was happy being away that he left his lover behind. He was not a good brother to Kushi too – she always came to him for any problems she had with Arnav and she used to proudly say Akash bhaiyaa is always on my side and Arnav will get punishment from him. He never bothered if they both had any issues and she was just 10 years old and in that adolescent age he wasn’t there when she needed him

Anjali he just whispered

Akku don’teven start.

I am sorry Anju. Will my sins be lessened if I say a sorry?

You were wrong Akku to leave me alone when I needed you the most to fight with Dad to take up my education at the place I wanted, you were not there. When you went to Harvard, I was thinking you will come back in 2 years or maximum 3 years after completing some projects and training there. You took exactly 5 years to return and that too when you returned Shyam fiasco happened, you didn’t even bother to ask me – Am I ok with the marriage Akku? You just did all the work as if it was your responsibility. We were supposed to be sharing everything with eachother. Suddenly you left me when I was just studying my fashion designing course and you appeared for my marriage. Chote was more responsible and he kept on questioning me why are you marrying that idiot? I expected the friend with whom I shared everything Akku, I expected the brother with whom I shared that I got my first periods even before approaching mom. Yes, Raj was there with me and Shashi uncle also used to take care of my responsibilities. Chote, payal and Kushi used to take care of me, no doubt in it but they don’t know me as you know me Akku. I was expecting a simple call from you to know whether I was fairing well? Just a call Akku

I may not tell you this often but Anju I was proud of the way you carried the business. I was proud of the way you have completed your studies and then also has taken care of business with the help of Shashi uncle.I was proud of the way you accepted Raj bhaiyaa arrest. I was proud of the way you took care of a man like Shyam and I was proud of the way you took care of Chote, payal and Kushi. I was always proud of you anji. I don’t know what will make my sins to be lessen but Anju you have to know that I was always proud of you

What will we get being proud Akku? I wanted a person to share. I was angry, frustrated that you were given freedom to go out of country and I was not even given freedom to go to another city in India to do my masters. I was angry when Dad didn’t like me attending business meetings, it was mom who insisted I can attend. And you know her, mom ultimate motive is to get grip of financial independence, its not that she cared. I was frustrated when I couldn’t start a business and you don’t know how big fight I have to do with dad for that start of the company. It was Chote who was adamant and dad couldn’t say no to him.

When you came back Akku – Chote left just like that because he was angry that I married Shyam and he was angry that Kushi has supported my decision and he was angry that Kushi insisted him to take up Harvard study. Kushi did all that because she gave a promise to Dad that she will make Arnav do all the things. I was happy in my little world with Chote, Kushi and Payal. Chote left me all of asudden and you came back but you were never the same. With this Shyam fiasco Kushi used to be in different world and Payal was always pre occupied with you or her job. Once again I lost someone to share

I can only say sorry Anju. Except Sorry I cannot do anything. Neither I can rewind and correct my past mistakes nor I can accept that whatever I did was correct. If you can please accept my sincere apologizes I would do anything to earn that forgiveness from you. And I will promise you one thing, from here on you will have your twin brother for everything  

On the first floor east wing which is occupied by guests, Nk is fulfilling a promise to share each other whatever they know. It’s a childhood pact between Kushi and him that they would share whatever they know. NK was fulfilling his share of promise reciting everything he heard from Anjali Di to a sleeping Kushi. He couldn’t stop telling her and he can’t risk telling her when she is awake. Kushi as it is in delicate condition and he never wants her to be in more risk. The girl who is lying before him is not only his friend but also his only friend. He was a loner all the time. Akshay bhaiyaa and Anjali Di used to be in separable and Arnav always used to be either with Payal or Kushi. Raj bhaiyaa being the eldest used to be very strict to everyone because he has the responsibility of all the kids. It was always Kushi who used to come to him, laugh, chat and play with him when all used to forget. His parents were always behind wealth and making conspiracy theories with Avni Raizada. His companion in mischiefs and naughtiness was, is and will always be Kushi. He never got any scolding because Kushi used to protect him. Once he thought he had a chance to get this angel for himself but he knows that Kushi always loved Arnav and will always love Arnav. He was and is always a third person in their love story and he knows his limitations. Amidst of his feeling she is his greatest friend till date and he will never forgo her friendship just because he likes her and she doesn't reciprocate his feelings. He never shared that with anyone but he knows Arnav sensed that and that's why Arnav doesn't like him being around Kushi. And Kushi being Kushi never understood Arnav jealousy and she thought that he was just in his protective and possessive self. He told so many times to Arnav indirectly that he has no chance in Kushi life but Arnav also indirectly hints that he doesn’t doubt Kushi but he doubts him because he has those feelings. He was not wrong though but still his friendship and togetherness are much more to him than anything else. He has promised himself that he will always be there for Kushi.