~Chapter 3: The Old That Is Strong~

4 years ago

TiaMaaaaa

@TianaWrites

...Chapter 3...

...The Old That Is Strong...

Aakash was getting ready to leave for work when he heard a knock at his door.

“Khushi?”

“Uh… Yes Aakashji… Can I ask you for a favor?”

“Of course.”

“Kalpi is new to Delhi and she needs a job. You know lot of companies here right? Uh… can you.. uh.. can you please help her out?”

“Of course I can and I will…”

“Just don’t tell her I asked you to help her out.”

“I won’t…”

“Thanks Aakashji.”

Khushi turned to leave when Aakash called her.

“Khushi… I need some favours too.”

“Favours?”

“Yes… Firstly, I want you to help me convince Payal start playing again…”

“Me? But we… you know.. things are not,,, you know…”

“I do know. Trust me Khushi I know much more than you think you do. She has done so much for you and maybe it’s time you start thinking about her?”

“Done so much? Done what? She wasn’t there when I most needed her. I know you love her but currently I cannot understand her at all.”

“Khushi… you need to trust me… Okay I get it if you don’t want to do anything for her now. You can do it at least for old times sake?”

Khushi closed her eyes and remembered the days she had spent with Payal before Shyam entered their lives. She remembered the times Payal had stood up for her, slowly she nodded her head.

“Okay… What do you want me to do?”

“I will tell that to you soon. I need another favour. This is the last I am asking of you.”

“Another one?”

“Yes… I saw the dress you gave baby yesterday. It was exquisite. I want you to come work for me.”

“Work for you?”

“Yes… We can launch a line of designer baby clothes from AR Designs. You will be my chief designer.”

“Designer? I know nothing about designing…”

“Your talent is more than enough.”

“But… Arnavji?”

“Bhai doesn’t have to know about this. You will work for me, moreover Bhai is never involved nowadays in the designing part. He looks after promotions, finances amd such things.”

“I am not sure…”

“Come on, Khushi…”

“It’s all so sudden….”

Aakash had been so engrossed in his excellent idea that he had completely forgotten Khushi’s emotions. Seeing her trying to process everything at once, he gently smiled at her

“It’s okay, Khushi. Take your time. Think over it. We can discuss once you have descided.”

****

Kalpi looked at the table loaded with food and gave a small sigh. She wished she could somehow earn enough to one day fill a table full of good things. She had not wanted to join the family at breakfast but Khushi had persuaded her.

“Kalpana?”

“Uh.. yes, Mr. Raizada.”

“You can call me Aakash. Any friend of Khushi is a friend of mine.”

He gave her a warm smile and she smiled back. Arnav glared at both of them. He didn’t understand why Aakash was sucking up to the strange girl.

“So, Kalpi, I heard you are new to Delhi and you are looking for a job. Exactly what kind of job are you looking for?”

Arnav snorted.

“Maybe some housekeeping job… what else?”

Before Aakash could reply to this cutting remark, Khushi answered in a cold voice.

“I didn’t know you hired a BBA graduate from IIM for housekeeping at AR.”

A sudden silence filled the room and Arnav looked completely taken aback. He hadn’t known that this friend of Khushi was educated. He had almost always thought that Khushi belonged with illiterate people and had often thought disdainfully about it. He had often felt that Khushi would never be able to get along with his educated friends hence he had always avoided any mention of her in public. Hearing that she was friends with an IIM graduate came as a big shock and he started doubting himself if he actually knew her.

Trying to break the silence, Kalpi looked directly at Aakash

“I was working in a private construction firm as a financial assistant prior to shifting to Delhi. I would like to continue gaining some experience in that field and once we have settled I would like to do part-time MBA.”

“Perfect. You know we are planning some renovations in our company and the financial work is pending. It would be great if you could help us out. We will pay you of course. You can work with us till you get another job. And of course you can stay here till then.”

“But… I…”

Gauri butted in.

“Thank You, Aakash. I am sure, Kalpi would work hard and be an asset to you. Do you know if there are any openings for event management job? I am good at organizing and have experience. I would like to earn too.”

“Of course, we have an office party next week and we were looking for an event manager.”

“Perfect. You don’t have to pay me. The pay will do for our lodgings and food as long as we stay here.”

Both Aakash and Kalpi protested at this.

“You don’t have to pay…”

“Ma… I can earn for both of us…”

“Aakash, you have been kind enough to offer us jobs and Khushi has been kind enough to let us stay. I have my dignity and I don’t want to exploit your kindness. Kalpi, my dear, an idle mind is a devil’s workshop. I’d rather work and be busy than simply sit and worry about my future. I am still completely able to work and I will continue to keep busy. Your father did so much for me and if I was thankful enough I would always take care of his daughter.”

****

As was his usual routine before leaving office, Aakash went to the kitchen to pack his lunch. To his surprise, he found his lunchbox all ready and packed. A not was stuck on the top of his lunch bag and it read,

“Thank You… I know you did it for Khushi but I consider this kindness as something you did for me.”

A wide smile spread on his face. The day would go so much better now and he knew it. He knew now that his Payal was not completely lost.

****

Anjali was exhausted, she had not known it would be this hard to take care of the baby. It seemed as if she just laid her head on the pillow and the baby started screaming again. She was seriously reconsidering her decision of bringing the baby home for the hundredth time when her phone rang.

“Hello…”

“Mrs. Jha?”

“Dr. Sam… what is it? Is there anything I missed yesterday?”

“No, No, Mrs. Jha… I was just ringing up to check if the baby was doing fine…”

“Oh yes she is sleeping right now…”

“And you?”

Anjali sighed she really wanted to give up and ask the doctor to take away the baby from her. She knew no one would question her, in fact her troubles would be over, she could start going back to work and things could go back to the way it was before but a look at the baby’s face changed her mind.

“I am fine, Dr. Sam. Thank you for checking on us.”

“That’s great, so we will meet in two days for her vaccination?”

“Yes, Dr. Sam… we will.”

Dr. Sam hung up. He didn’t mention that he was standing outside her house right below her window. He had seen her struggle while coming alone to the hospital when Shyam was ‘too busy’ to come with her. He had seen her at her worst when she had lost her baby early on and had stood just outside his room trembling with no one to support her. It was then that he had understood that having riches and a having a famous brother were of no use when they couldn’t hold you up at your lowest. When he had handed the baby to her, he had seen a faint twinkle in her eyes, the twinkle she lost when she married that betrayer. The twinkle had told him that no matter what happened the baby always had Anjali to hold and support her. He wished that one day, maybe she would give him the chance to hold and support her too but for now, he turned and left as he usually did.

Anjali closed the curtains as he left. She had known he would come. He always did. Whenever she felt tired and sick, he had come. She had grown used to seeing him beneath her window every time something wrong happened. 

And just like every time, she felt a new hope flood her.

****

Khushi read what was written on the paper for maybe the twentieth time.

‘PREGNANT’

Her blood work confirmed what she already knew and her visit to the doctor had shown a tiny life growing inside her. She knew exactly when it had happened. Arnav had come home drunk that night.

“Arnavji?”

“Khushi… you are really beautiful… do you know that?”

“Arnavji… you are drunk… Come why don’t you rest? I guess you had a hard day at work…”

“Rest? Ooh no no… I am not tired…”

He pulled her close to him, their lips almost touching.

“I want you Khushi… so much… You are ravishing, exquisite…”

“But… you are drunk Arnavji… you are not in your senses…”

“I am perfectly in my senses… If I am not, I wouldn’t want you…”

“But…”

“Stop thinking Khushi… let’s just live… together…”

Khushi had given in that day hoping things would change between them now that she had given everything to him. That was her biggest mistake. Nothing changed, for the next day he had gone back to how he was before and had pretended as if nothing happened between them Once when she had dared to mention it to him, he had laughed it off saying that it was just a one night thing for him. He had even had the audacity to mock her asking if she really took it seriously. That was the last she had mentioned about it.

Today she finally understood the gravity of the situation. She understood that it was not about her anymore. It was about the child growing inside her. As she pondered over these things, a knock interrupted her thoughts, gathering herself she opened the door

“Jiji?”

“Khushi, I am sorry I interrupted you. I heard you didn’t have lunch and here I prepared a meal for you.”

Leaving the tray at Khushi’s bedside table, Payal turned to leave when Khushi stopped her.

“Jiji, can I ask you something personal?”

Payal turned around and faced her. This was perhaps the first time since she got married that Khushi had initiated a conversation with her.

“Yes Khushi?”

“Why did you marry Aakashji?”

Payal looked taken aback.

“I mean you knew very well what his brother did to me, to our family… still you married him. Don’t tell me you LOVE him. I know you don’t. I still remember you kicking Balwant back in school because he dared to call me an orphan. Knowing you, you would never be able to forgive the man who actually dared to spoil my life. Then why did you marry Aakashji knowing how much he respects and loves his brother?”

Payal knew every word she said was true. So Khushi had already figured it out. Slowly she mumbled.

“That was the only way I could get close to you and maybe help you.”

“How? By spoiling an innocent man’s life? Come on, Jiji, I didn’t think you would be so stupid and what good do you think has it done to me? You are no different than Arnavji.”

“Khushi… seriously you are comparing me to that monster who reduced you to nothing?”

“Yes. Look at yourself in the mirror then you will understand.”

“But, Khushi. I did it all for you…”

“Don’t… please don’t make me feel that I am also part of this stupidity… And please stop doing anything for me. I am capable of handling myself.”

Saying so Khushi marched outside her room. Her encounter with Payal had made her realize what she had to do. She picked up her phone.

“Hello?”

“Hello Aakashji? Does the offer of me joining AR still stand?”

“Yes, yes Khushi…”

“Great. I have a few conditions…”

“What are they?”

“Number one is that Arnavji does not interfere in my work.”

“I can see to that.”

“Then the designs I make will be mine. My name should be present in every design of mine. I am allowing AR to use my designs but they are mine. Someday if I want to start my own personal line. I will want to use it.”

“Done… anything else?”

“Yes, finally with the profits we make I go to fashion school.”

“Sure. Thanks for taking up the offer Khushi… When do you want to join?”

“Tomorrow. I don’t believe in delaying. We can discuss in detail later. Thanks for trusting me Aakashji.”

As Khushi hung up the phone, she decided that she was done with the word ‘sacrifice’. She was determined that no one would ever have the opportunity of ‘sacrificing’ for her child. She was not to be pitied, never again.

****

Author’s Note:

Dignity is something that we forget to carry when challenges come. Sometimes by keeping on ‘sacrificing’ for the sake of others, we sacrifice ourselves too. This is when we start to wither. Khushi and Payal did that. They had started to wither with the lack of self-dignity. Anjali with the help of friendly Dr. Sam and maybe her old habit of courage had kept her dignity intact. Gauri did not allow Kalpi to lose hers. Dignity is not something new. It’s something present deep within us from the time we are born. If it is strong, we do not wither.