Chapter 2:" A Familiar Name"

4 years ago

Juanita

@BlurredLines

" DurgaPrasad Maheshwari "the familiar name starred at her from the computer screen as Lavanya tried to find the person who dropped her at the Orphanage, after hours of waiting for Dida to leave the room they had their chance when she went to meet someone who came for a visit and to show them the premises.                  

 Even then she made sure her cousins stand outside the room to keep watch while she and Gauri decided to check the list of people who contributed to the orphanage fund over the years especially around her stay in the orphanage . One name stood out because of it's periodical inflow of cash every single month. And the name belonged to her father's uncle.   

Once she found the name, she was too numb to react, when she began her search she never expected that the person would be someone she knew not personally since he died before Lavanya was adopted but she had seen his pictures.            

 Durgaprasad Maheshwari was her father's uncle, and she couldn't understand or come to terms with the news. She began to wonder if she was related to her dad since his uncle did mention her as a distant relative but her thoughts came to a halt when Arnav Bhai rushed inside to let her know Dida was on her way .           

 Lavanya quickly closed the files and walked away from the computer. Yet her mind couldn't forget what she unearthed as they drove back home, Gauri was dropped off first and since Lavanya wanted some time alone she asked Arnav Bhai to drive her back to his house as well .       

She hoped few hours in her cousin's house will provide the clarity she needed about what she found out. After greeting her aunt and her grandparents , Lavanya stayed most of the night in Kavya room until her aunt called them out for dinner. Lavanya greeted her uncle who had just arrived and found herself relaxing and trying to forget everything when her cousin decided to search for answers of her own.         

 " Dad, do you know Laksh uncle's father?  " Kavya asked her father, Laksh being her father's cousin. At the mention of him, her uncle's eyes drifted towards her and it was like he knew that he was the one who abandoned her at the orphanage.            

" I don't know him much Kavya, only met him a few times while I went to visit Sanskar " her uncle answered back but once the question was out, she couldn't hold back her curiosity either.              

" He was a lawyer like my dad right, dad stayed with them after his parents death right , is he a good person ?" Lavanya kept asking him several questions until the adults at the table looked at her in concern.                

" Why are you asking about him all of a sudden beta " Rekha aunty asked her and Lavanya had no answer to it until Kavya rushed in with an excuse, making it further complicated .                 

" We went to the orphanage right and we found he was one of the people who donated for years and Lavanya was wondering if it was because of him, Sanskar uncle found out about the orphanage "Kavya's answer had been clever but it also gave away her curiosity to an extent.                    

 "  You can ask them " Arnav Bhai whispered to her when he realized they were not finding the answers. Since she hit a dead wall in her quest, Her cousin's parents felt like a safe bet not only Arjun's uncle was her mother's brother but also her dad's best friend from childhood which meant he would know more than anyone else.                        

" Why did my dad's uncle drop me off at the orphanage when I was a baby " She spoke up in just a whisper but the shocked gasp around the table made it clear everyone heard her, but what came as a surprise was the shocked gasp that came from her behind as she turned to look at her parents standing behind her stunned by what they overheard.                             

Lavanya saw the moment her words registered in her mother's face and the moment she hurt her parents irrevocably, will they believe her if she said she only did it for them. She didn't know awhile she looked at her mother, she refused to look at her father.                      

 He was her superhero, the person she looks up to the most and she can't handle if he was disappointed in her . Fortunately this time her grandparents came to her rescue by greeting her parents and pretending like just moments ago Lavanya broke her parents' heart. 

" Lavanya didn't tell me you were coming as well. We would have waited for you" Lekha aunty spoke up as she greeted our parents next. 

"  We had to pick up Yuv from Laksh house and thought to pick princess as well  " her father answered back and even then she kept her eyes away from her father, she didn't know what she will find when she looked disappointed or hurt    

 Somehow the adults kept talking with each other, still, Lavanya noticed her cousins lost their voice as well.  She knew they adored her parents and they were upset by the turn of events as well.           

When the time came for them to leave, Lavanya was suddenly scared because once they were alone she needs to tell them everything and she wasn't ready to answer for her actions yet.          

" Can I stay with Kavya tonight " She spoke up without looking at them and wondered if she was making a mistake but she couldn't find the courage to meet their eyes much less talk with them. 

She asked to stay the night because she wanted to delay the inevitable for as long as she could yet she hadn't expected her father to close the gap between them either, she never wanted to hurt him and she finally found a hint of courage as she lifted up her face to see him.            

" Good Night Princess " her father's words felt like daggers in her heart as he walked away with her mom who looked too distraught to even say a word. The moment she heard the car speed away, she ran inside Kavya's room and broke down.            

 Everyone tried to comfort her throughout the night but she couldn't get past the fact she hurt her parents and she didn't want them to think they weren't enough because everyone guessed she was out in search of the truth about her parents but they didn't know the reason behind her actions.            

She thought sleep would elude her but somehow she had slept at some time during the night, that she woke up by the sound of her phone indicating she got a caller, she froze when she saw it was from her father but she knew that it was fruitless to avoid them any longer so she made herself answer.                                    

But she was surprised to find her brother Yuvraj's voice on the other end. Yuvraj hadn't been adopted like her, but it never gave her a reason for her to feel that her parents favored him over her. When she first found out that her parents were going to have another child ,she freaked out thinking they would no longer want her and it had been her father who assured her younger self that she was loved .            

And now she failed them by her actions and the feeling grew worse when Yuv asked her to come home because their parents have been fighting and mom was crying because of it, Lavanya had never seen their parents fight, and yet because of her actions they were hurt and she knew it was time to mend the rift she caused and it wasn't fair to continue hiding from her actions.            

So she went back home and was thankful that her uncle decided to give her a ride back,  she had been too nervous as she stepped inside the house and was taken back when her brother greeted her with a huge smile . 

"  Dad told me they are not fighting, mom is not crying anymore  " her little brother Yuvraj chattered on relieved to know his parents are not fighting . But Lavanya didn't think her 9-year-old brother would understand everything even if she told him, so simply patted his head in an affectionate gesture as he continued to ramble about his day               

 And then she saw her father appearing from the kitchen and her heart broke all over again to see him and remember that she hurt him. She wanted to say something but remained tongue-tied. 

" Good Morning Princess, Why don't you go freshen up while I cook breakfast for all of us, You like pancake right  " her father's voice spoke up and Lavanya waited to see if he would say anything else but he just smiled at her as if nothing was wrong.

His smile might fool his son but it didn't fool her as she saw the sadness hidden behind his eyes , at that moment she didn't care about anything else then to take away his pain . 

" I will help dad cook. Why don't you go and play in your room Yuv " she spoke to her little brother leaving her alone with her father for the first time since yesterday .         

She wanted to apologize. Say she was sorry that she lied. She wanted to go back to the 6-year-old who would race into his arms without hesitation instead she stood there starring at him willing herself to find the right words. 

" Come here, princess. Won't you give your dad a hug ? " he called out to her as if knowing exactly what she needed to bridge the distance between them. 

It was all she needed to hear before finding herself in his embrace and at the moment she felt safe.  He was her superhero and she knew he will make it alright and her worries ceased to exist for the time being. 

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