Part 14

Once he let her go by breaking the eye lock, she had quickly moved as far away from him as possible and made sure she couldn’t catch even a glimpse of him. She used Gaurav Uncle as her shield. But once she couldn’t see him, she was restless, she wanted to move so that she could at least get a glimpse of him.

 “Ooh god!! Sanka Devi decide on one thing.” She reprimanded herself. As a habit she picked up the ends of her dupatta and started twirling it.

Irritated at not being able to control her feelings she snapped at bauji who was saying something about her marriage and stuff. Then she heard her heart beat pick up pace as she registered his movement and she knew he was looking at her.

She should share this with Jiji who says that her womanly sensibilities have not kicked in yet. But does this mean he is first man looking at her? Why has she never felt this way before, just then she heard a vaguely familiar voice say something.

Khushi looked up to find the Raizada’s there. Her brain had not even registered the people who were gathered there after…. Mmm … seeing him. Her heart had not stopped thudding unnecessarily. “May be she could borrow some BP medication from Auntyji(Nani).” she thought .

She joined her palms in greeting to all, “Auntyji, Anjaliji, Aakashji how are you all?” she enquired the ones she knew.

“I am doing great bitiya, especially after watching your performance. It was beautiful.” Nani replied.

“yes Khushiji, it was wonderful, it brought tears to my eyes.” Anjali joined in

“I am glad I got my camera Khushiji.” Said Aakash stunning his family again

Khushi nodded her head obligingly and smiled wide and thanked them all. When Nani continued “How long did you learn Kathak, bitiya?”

 Khushi looked surprised and said “No Auntyji I didn’t learn any classical dance, I just learnt the steps for this show and practiced for a few weeks. But I used to dance to bollywood numbers since when I was a kid. This is the first time I performed for a classical song.”

“Wah bitiya, some students can learn Kathak for years and never learn to move or emote like you did. You are a natural at it bitiya, it is a gift. You should think about pursuing it more seriously.” Nani said in awe.

But before Khushi could reply they heard a clang of things falling down and everyone looked to find a lady with a pained happy surprised look on her face and things scattered around her feet.

Before Khushi could say anything Nani said “Garima?” and everybody just stood there confused as to what was happening.

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Tears started running down their faces, it was hard to tell if they were of pain or happiness. So nobody moved waiting for the air to clear so they could react appropriately. Khushi tried to get to her mom but Gaurav held her in place, experience told him the two ladies needed no disturbances now.

Garima slowly moved to Nani and smiled a small smile through her tears and bent to touch her feet and Nani stopped her midway and hugged her tight and the intensity of tears grew more but they were punctuated by smiles. This had the others relaxing.

“It’s been 14 years Garima.” Nani said “Did you never feel like seeing me?”

Immediately Arnav stiffened, he looked at the ladies face hard and tried to dig his memory, he hoped she was not related to that dreadful event that happened 14 years back in anyway. He turned to look at his Di, who was now being supported by Aakash and as a reflex he reached her other side. Tears were streaming down her face too.

Garima shook her head as an answer to Nani’s words but was unable to speak yet.

“Both of you friends left me at the same time.” Nani said with controlled emotion, her tone quivering.

Garima held both of Nani’s hands in hers and said “Maaji, I wanted to see you, every time we visited lucknow, I would walk by the gates of your house, but couldn’t gather enough courage to see you. I didn’t want to remind you of her memories and cause more pain to you.” Garima said between sobs

Nani shook her head and said with a smile on her lips “You thought wrong bitiya, you were her closest friend, she shared everything with you, you knew her hearts desires, fears, joy better than any of us. That means you are her strongest link to this world, Garima. I would have seen her in you and your happiness and rejoiced in it.” concluded Nani gently but effectively.

Garima broke down a little more and joined her hands in the form of a Namaste and said “Forgive me Maaji.”

Nani just hugged her and said “There is no need for a daughter to ask her mother for forgiveness, Garima.”

By now everybody’s eyes had gotten moist. Even the person’s eyes, who portrayed himself to the world as a heartless businessman.

This is just not a good day for me, thought ASR; he was not programmed to handle so many emotions in one evening.

Just then Nani looked around and pulled back from the hug and said “Come Anjali, you must remember Garima.”

Garima looked around and spotted Anjali and her eyes stayed fixed on Anjali’s face. Anjali smiled through her tears and limped her first step towards Garima. Immediately Garima was by her side holding her hand, then she looked at Anjali lovingly and ran her palm on Anjali’s cheek and said “You look so much like her.” and gave her a motherly hug.

Anjali’s eyes filled with some more tears she remembered Garima aunty quite clearly.  Sometimes when they would go to their Nani’s house with mom for holidays, Garima aunty would visit them. Whenever Aunty visited her mom they used to be inseparable for the duration of her stay. Anjali remembered them talking away into the night sitting on their terrace. She remembered her father… mmm no she didn’t want to remember him now.

Garima pulled back and said “Bitiya, do you still love glass bangles?” and Anjali laughed through her tears and nodded.

Arnav had noticed how Garima had moved to his sister’s side when Anjali had tried to walk to her and the first thought that hit him was “mom.” His mom used to do the very same thing; she would never let his Di take a single unnecessary step.

ASR looked at the woman with eyes filled with affection. Unknowingly, Garima had started becoming an important feature in life.

Garima caught his eye and looked at him with doubt in her eyes for a split second before Anjali could introduce them she said “Chotey?”

The other Raizadas thought “ooh no, she called him Chotey.” and prepared themselves to defend Garima.

ASR had just nodded and walked closer to her and bent to take her blessings, making the Raizada’s jaws drop and hit the floor, ASR taking blessing on top of not throwing a chotey tantrum?

Garima stopped him midway and “live long and stay happy.” Held his face in her palms and said “You have grown up.” Smiled and continued “You have grown up to be exactly what she wanted.”

He gave her a small smile and looked at her questioning what she meant; Garima looked at him and said “She wanted you to grow up to be so strong and handsome. So that she could fill her retirement years going through the huge lists of girls who wanted to marry you. And finally give you away to that one girl who will not cross a line drawn by your mother and who would worship your mother like a goddess.”

As Garima finished her sentence with a laugh ASR chuckled. Nani found strange peace; she hadn’t seen her Grandson laugh out like that in a long long time. Good times were coming she could feel it again.

Anjali captured the scene in her heart. She wanted to see that look in her brother’s eyes every day. She wanted that smile to stay on his lips even when he was sleeping. She prayed to God to grant just this one wish.

Aakash silently pulled out his camera and clicked away noiselessly. He thanked the person who had invented the technology to keep the camera quite and he thanked the extra brightly lit corridor so that his flash didn’t kick in and spoil the mood. His eyes were moist, he couldn’t see clearly, but what use was his expertise if he didn’t capture this moment to perfection.

Mama and mami wiped their eyes and smiled and mama said “How are you Garima?” Garima smiled and “I am fine, Bhaisaab. How are you and bhabhi? How is … your son” Garima asked trying to remember what the boy’s name was.

Mama beckoned Aakash forward and said “We are all fine Garima. Here this is Aakash.”

“Stay happy and healthy.” Blessed Garima as Aakash touched her feet and said “Bitua, you have grown taller than Chotey. Hope you are no longer scared of him?” 

All the Raizada’s broke into whole hearted laughter at that and when Garima looked at Arnav for clarification. His face broke into a wide mischievous grin and he shrugged his shoulders as if to say I don’t know why they are laughing.

Nani caught the childish grin on her Chotey’s face and then looked lovingly at Khushi who was crying, smiling and hiccupping all at the same time.

Nani was sure Khushi was here to bring khushiya for her family…