Chapter 9 - The Truth - Kukki Bajaj

4 years ago

Tvfanatic85

@Tvfanatic85

“Woh nahin kha sakti kyunki isme peanuts hain aur Kukki ko allergy hain peanuts se (She cannot have this as she is allergic to peanuts)” Mr bajaj said and in a swift movement got her out of the table and rushed her towards the hospital leaving a stunned Prerna.

“Take out the car.” Mr Bajaj kept shouting and Maasi and Tanvi followed him.  

Prerna was transfixed in her position and didn't know or understand what was going on. All she heard was shouting and noises.

“Ek car lane main itna time lagta hain.(How much time it takes to get a car)” Mr Bajaj said

“Bechari bachi Kukki kya ho gaya beta hosh main aao. Please(Poor girl, Kukki wake up Please)” Maasi and Tanvi frantically run after Mr Bajaj.

“Reception main peanuts order kisne kiye aap sab logo ko pata hain ki ise allergy hain to ise menu main include kisne kiya. Kisne?(Who the hell ordered peanuts in reception. We all know she is allergic to peanuts who put it on the menu. Who??)” Mr Bajaj was shouting. 

“Kukki!!! Kukki !!” Prerna remembered each and every moment the mall the mandir the road where she saved her and then she remembered the video calls and the game where he told her that he had married her for someone he loved and the head band  which ended with her remembering how she had met her today and how happy she looked and hoping that somehow she was wrong and there was a mistake and this was not right. Prerna kept thinking confused when she suddenly realized that she was actually sick and then she ran towards the path to the main gate where Mr Bajaj was about to sit in the car and she sat with him from the other end and started rubbing her hands and took off her shoes. Mr Bajaj took off his jacket and covered her with it while she was rushed to the hospital. They reached the hospital and Kukki was admitted in emergency. Mr Bajaj kept pacing in the corridors as the doctors were checking her while Prerna sat on the chair.

“How did this happen, how the hell did this happen when he has always been so careful. What was taking so much of time. It was just an allergic reaction right?? Nothing more than that then why was it taking so much time.” Mr bajaj suddenly turned around and saw Kukki standing next to him laughing in the mirror and he smiled. She was showing him how much she had grown just like this morning and just as he was about to hug her she disappeared. Not able to take the tension anymore he was about to bust into the examination room when the door suddenly opened. 

“She is fine Mr bajaj. It was just an allergic reaction, we are shifting her to the upper floor room don't you worry. She will wake up in a few hours” the doctor said and Mr Bajaj sighed in relief. 

“Thank you” Mr Bajaj said and as soon as he left Kukki was wheeled out in a stretcher and was shifted to a room followed by Mr Bajaj and Prerna. They waited and waited. Mr bajaj had not shifted an inch while Kukki slept and he kept looking directly at her. Prerna kept looking directly at Mr bajaj there were so many questions but she couldn't she didn't have the heart to ask now. The man that she had always seen scaring people seemed scared to her for the first time and that scared her. After sometime Kukki suddenly moved her hand and Mr Bajaj shifted on the bed and took her quickly in his arms. He then kissed her head and then kissed both her hands.

“Aap theek ho? Pata hain aapne papa ko kitna dara diya tha?(Are you okay? Do you know how much you scared me?)” Mr Bajaj hugged the little girl. Kukki caught her ears saying sorry and Mr Bajaj gave a constricted smile and Prerna's eyes dropped a lone tear. It literally shook her to look at him like that. 

“Aap party main aai kyun aapko pata hain na you are now allowed. Papa ko nahin pasand aapka aana aise sabke samne kyun aai aap?(Why did you come to the party. You know papa doesn't like you exposed to people like this.)” Mr bajaj said 

Kukki did the action that she wanted to meet her new friend and Mr Bajaj shook his head and hugged her tightly. Prerna couldn’t understand what she said. Kukki then looked directly at her and moved forward her hand for Prerna and she reluctantly took it and came and sat on the bed. Mr Bajaj moved his face away. 

“Are you okay?” Prerna asked.

To which Kukki flexed her muscles and replied in sign language “I got both my special friend and papa with me. I am so happy” but Prerna couldn't understand.

“Main samjhi nahi(I can’t understand)” Prerna said and Kukki, frustrated, did it again. But she still couldn't understand.

“She is saying my friend and papa.. are with me  I am happy” Mr Bajaj said looking straight at Prerna.

“Papa !!!!!?????” Prerna saaid 

“Papa” Mr Bajaj said and Prerna again looked at him confused. 

“Yes,” Mr Bajaj said. Kukki suddenly hugged Prerna but Prerna kept looking at Mr Bajaj and then Kukki turned her face towards her and did action wanting to sleep in her lap. Prerna tried to smile but she was so confused and hurt that she didn't understand or couldn't understand or she didn't want to understand and shaking her head she ran towards the door leaving a startled Kukki and Mr bajaj. Kukki looked questioning at Mr Bajaj who just smiled and made an excuse that maybe she didn't want to cry in front of you. Prerna came back to Bajaj mansion. Maasi and Tanvi kept asking about Kukki but she ran towards the room and locked herself in it. She looked around the room and somehow she felt suffocated so she went to the balcony and tried to breathe. After sometime she slept there only crying. Mr Bajaj came home in the first morning hours from the hospital and took Kukki to the room and settled her. Once she was asleep he secured her with blankets and caressed her face. He was stunned to see the reaction of Prerna. Had he made a mistake by doing this to Prerna and getting her in Kukki’s life this way. If she doesn’t accept Kukki instead of making Kukki better it could push her back more into the darkness. He took one last look on her daughter and then moved towards his room. 

“Kukki kaise hain(Hows Kukki??)” Maasi asked whom he met on the way and he just nodded and smiled. He wanted to ask about Prerna but he didn't want any awkward questions.  He knocked on the door for a longtime but she didn't open. Scared that she might have done something, he used a spare key that he used to have and opened the door But still couldn't find her. He was starting to get scared when he went to the balcony and found her sleeping in the same clothes as last night. He wanted to wake her up but didn't want to touch her and he didn't want to call Maasi or Tanvi so he took out his phone and dialed her number and with the sound of the ring she woke up startled.

“Aap theek hain?(Are you okay?)” Mr. Bajaj asked. Prerna tidied herself up and moved back a bit and then she suddenly remembered Kukki.

“Kukki!!! Kukki!!!” Perena asked

“Ab theek hain(She is okay now)” Mr bajaj said

“Yeh sab kya hain aapki ek beti hain. More than 1 month, we have lived together and you failed to tell me that you have a daughter and not just anyone. I have met her before. Main milli thi usse mall me aur phir(What is all this.More than 1 month, we have lived together and you failed to tell me that you have a daughter and not just anyone.I have met her before.First in the mall and then)” Prerna said 

“Mandir main aur phir road pe jaha aapne uski jaan bachayi(In the temple and then you saved her from an accident on the road.)” Mrbajaj added

“Aap aap jante the. Kya chal raha hain Mr Bajaj?(You know everything. Mr bajaj seriously what is going on?)” Prerna asked holding her head and confused,

“Main aapko sab bataonga pehle aap please uthiye aur apni halat theek kar lijiye.(I will tell you everything but first please go and tidy yourself up and then we'll talk.) “Mr Bajaj said

“Nahin mujhe abhi janna hain.(No I want to know right now)” Prerna said and Mr bajaj didn't say anything but just continued towards the study.

“Mr Bajaj ?” Prerna asked following him.

“Aapne mujhse pucha tha ki maine aapse shaadi kyunki aur maine aapse hamesha yahin bola ki samay aane par bataonga. Kukki maine kukki ki wajah se aap se shadi ki. 2 saal ki thi Kukki jab ek incident ki wajah se Kukki ki awaaz chali gayi it is not a physical issue woh woh bol nahi sakti…. Bahut sare doctors ko dekhaya maine treatment karwaya par kuch nahin. Lekin jabse woh aapse mili hain things changed. Pata nahin kyun par woh aapke saath khush rehti hain uski special friend jo use har muskil se bacha leti hain jo use hasa deti hain jo use bahut pyari lagti hain. Main bas use woh hapiness dena chahta tha use theek karna chahta tha aur kuch nahin. 

(You had asked me why I married you and I always said that I will tell you when the time is right. Kukki Kukki is the reason why I married you. She was 2 years old when an incident happened and she lost her voice. Its not a physical illness she just she just can't or doesn't speak. I got her checked from numerous doctors but no treatment works. But I dont now why when she is with you she is happy. Her special friend that saves her all the time, who makes her smile and who she likes a lot. I just wanted her happiness I just wanted her to get better nothing else)

Jab woh pehli baar aapse mili maine socha ok agar kabhi mujhe milegi to aapko thank you bolunga lekin us din aapko usne mandir main dekha and she just ran. Woh mere bina kahin nahin jaati dar jaati hain. I know how I send her to school. Unknown surroundings people she gets scared. Lekin she just ran without thinking about anything. She was so happy. Aur us din mujhe yeh bhi pata chala ki aapki shaadi Mr basu se honewali hain and maine apne caretaker to instructions de diye the ki kuch bhi ho jaye woh aapke paas nahin jayegi.

(When she met you for the first time then I was like ok and If I ever meet you again I will be very happy for you and Thank you. BUt then she saw you in the temple and she just ran.She never goes anywhere without me she gets scared. I know how I send her to school. But she just ran to you without thinking about anything. She was happy. And the same day I also find out that you are about to marry Mr Anurag basu and I told the caretaker to make sure she never meets you again.)

But phir main uske doctor ke paas gaya and she said she is showing improvement. Main confused tha as to what to do. Basus….. Lekin phir us raat jab aap mujhse milne aa rahi thi aapne phir use bachaya. Main gaadi main tha I got down to save her but you were already there and on that night for the first time she tried to speak and tell me about you. Maybe introduce me to you.  She tried to say ‘pa’. Woh aapki zindagi ka worst day tha but meri life ka best tha and there was no confusion. None at all. Kukki se badhkar mere liye kuch nahin hain. Kuch bhi nhain. Basus ke saath mera past ya meri hatred bhi nahin. Maine aapko sirf aur sirf apni beti ki maa ke roop man dekha uski special friend uski sabse bade khushi uski awaaz”

(But then I went to the doctor and she told me that she is showing improvement. I was confused as to what to do. Basus… But then the night you were coming to meet me you saved her on the road. I was in the car and I was about to save her when you were there and for the first time that night she tried to call me “pa”. That was the worst day of your life but it was the best day for me and there was no confusion. NOne at all. Nothing is more important than Kukki. Nothing Not even my past with Basus. I just brought you in my life as my daughter’s mother her special friend her happiness and maybe her voice)” Mr Bajaj said

“Bas kijiye bas kijye. Kitne bade manipulator hain aap? Agar aisa tha to mujhse baat karte hum koi common ground choose kar lete. Main aise bhi Kukki ka khayal rakh sakti thi(That's enough. What a manipulator you are? If that was the case you could have talked to me.We could have found a common ground. I could have taken care of her without marriage)” Prerna replied

“Aur Kab rakhti aap jab aapki Mrbasu ke saath shaadi ho jati ya phir tab jab apni family sambhal rahi hoti. Mer beti kisi ke time ke liye wait nahin karegi. Uske time ke liye log wait karenge (When when where you going to take care of her when you were married to Mr basu or when you had your own family to take care of . My daughter will not be on someone else beck and call)” Mr bajaj said

“Mr Bajaj can you hear yourself you are you are…” Prerna said 

“What sick disgusting manipulative bad evil name what you may I dont give a damn acha bura jo bhi tarika maine use kiya I don't care jo hoga mere saath because of that I don't care. I DON'T CARE. I just want my daughter’s happiness.(What sick disgusting manipulative bad evil name what you may I dont give a damn Good bad no matter what ways I used I dont care jo hoga dekh lunga. I DON'T CARE. I just want my daughter’s happiness.)” Mr bajaj replied

“AUR MERI HAPPINESS KA KYA???(AND WHAT ABOUT MY HAPPINESS??)” Prerna shouted, grabbing his collar. “Mera kya mera kya meri kya galti thi jo apne mera sab kuch cheen liya. This is not fair, this is not fair(What about me? What is my fault that you snatched everything from me? This is not fair, this is not fair).” Prerna said

“Life is never fair,” Mr Bajaj said and Prerna dropped to her knees. Mr bajaj didn't like this he knew that one day this will happen when the truth will come out but seeing her like that made him …. Combined with the sleeplessness and the headache that he was already having it made everything worse. And he moved over to make himself a drink even if it was early morning and finished all in one shot so that he can have some relief.

“Meri har khushi cheen li apne har khushi... (Everything you stole everything from me...)” Mr bajaj heard Prerna as she kept repeating this and he had had enough. He made himself another drink and went towards her.

“I thought aap ki sabse badi khushi Mr basu hain (I thought your biggest happiness is Mr Basu)' Mr Bajaj said and went near her kneeled down so that he was facing her and said “unki aur Basus ki happiness matters the most to you. Nahin, Unki khushi se badh kar kuch nahin hain aapke liye.(His and Basus' happiness matters the most too. Right Nothing is more important than their happiness)” Mr Bajaj said and Prerna who was looking sideways looked at her with rage in her eyes. 

“To maine aapse kuch nahin cheena right balki aapko aapki zindagi ki sabse badi khushi di haan but yes I am a businessman aur main ghate ka sauda nahin karta to uski jo keemat mujhe sahi lagi maine maang li.(Then I haven't snatched anything from you. In fact I gave you your biggest happiness but yes I am a businessman and I don't incur losses. Whatever price I felt correct for deal I asked it from you.)” Mr bajaj said. Prerna in her anger took the glass, broke it on the floor and was about to hit him with it and in reflex to save himself Mr Bajaj moved forward his hand and the glass pierced through it.

“Mrs BAJAJ” Mr Bajaj spat while the blood kept oozing down from his hands to Prerna clothes and hands and she ran out of the room scared and shocked at what she had done.