Part 2
If Kartar Singh Ahluwalia was the brain of the family, then Daljeet Kaur Ahluwalia was the heart. If he was the strength behind everyone, then she was the determination. If he was the guiding light for his children, then she was the silent support helping them follow this light. Together they had kept this family bounded by love, principles and dignity. And both of them had only one single weak point, Arohi. No matter what happens Arohi could always count on her Daddu and DJ. Whether it was as small as sneaking in the house late at night or as big as confessing about her love for the man who had kidnapped her. Her DJ was the first to know everything regarding her life.
But today when she saw her Aru, DJ could feel the void, the vaccum in her heart and their relationship. She never blamed Arohi for taking Arjuns side, she knew that there was some truth to what she said, because Arohi never lied. But her views were paralysed by one man, who was struggling to stay alive everyday in the hospital. Her sons thought that her opinion was emotionally compromised, but she was not weak to be blinded by the obvious and what her heart told her.
It had been 3 weeks since Arohi was home and trying her best to act as normal as possible. The first week was the most difficult where the Ahluwalia men had taken some time to warm up to her, reminding her of her mistakes at every opportunity they got. The fact that Rajveer himself got her home surprised her, but she knew that they shared a deep bond which was much bigger than any mistake that either of them could ever do.
Everyone was equally wounded as their trust in Arjun, which had built over the two weeks he stayed with them, had been shattered. They were as good as reminding themselves of their mistake, more than reminding Arohi. The man in jeopardy was the point of guidance and reverence to them, and hence they could not easily forgive or forget Arjun.
The night after Arohi came home, she had crept into her bed late at night. DJ had felt a hand going across her stomach and a head resting on her shoulder. She grabbed Arohis hand, caressing it lovingly. "DJ... kya aapko bhi lagta hai ki maine galat kiya? Kya aapko sachme lagta hai ki mein apne Daddu pe goli chalane waale ka saath dungi?"
"Mein jaanti hu tere dil mein kya kashmakash chal rahi hai meri bachhi. Aur mein ye bhi jaanti hu ki tu aisa kuch nahi karegi jisse hamara sar sharm se jhuk jaaye. Lekin kabhi kabhi waqt insaan ka saath nahi deta. Issliye kehte haina kuch cheezein waqt pe chod deni chahiye. Jab insaan ke haalaat badal jaate hain tab usska nazariya bhi apneaap badal jaata hai."
Arohi pondered over these golden words. Time was really not on her side right now. Earlier, she had left behind her family, whom she loved so much. And now she had left Arjun, again the only person whom she can love so much, ever. Why was life making her choose? Why cant she have everything? Why was it so tough? Millions of questions were swimming in her brain, answers to which probably did not exist. She decided to follow her grandmothers advice and leave it to time and destiny... for now. Arohi dug more into the warmth of her DJ's embrace, hiding her self in the cocoon of her love, tightening her hold as sleep came to her instantly.
***
"DAD!!!" Raj screamed at the top of his voice, running around the living room, making his Rashi mom run behind him.
"Raj... please ruk jao! School ke liye der horahi hai beta. Ye tie pehen lo, abhi tumhare baal bhi banane hai warna school bus choot jaayegi"
"Dad" Raj kept calling Arjun while he jumped on the sofa, crawled under the dining table and hid behind the chair, trying to dodge Rashi.
Arjun walked in trying to figure out what the ruckus is all about. Raj went and clung to his legs. "Aaj mujhe mere dad ready karenge, haina dad? Unhone mujhe kal promise bhi kiya tha." Arjun looked at Raj's hopeful eyes and gave a small nod. Taking the tie from Rashi he tied it and began combing Raj's hair.
"Dad... aap pehle jaise kyu nai mujhe ready karte? Jab mom yaha thi'" Raj's voice trailed away as Arjuns head snapped up and glared at his son.
"I miss you dad... Aajkal aapko mere liye bhi time nahi rehta. Hum pehle kaise video games khelte they... Ya mom pe pranks karte they... "Arjun gave up trying to tell his son to not mention his Arohi mom. It seemed that Arohi was not here, but she had left behind a legacy with her son... to defy any rule Arjun sets in this house! Na maa sunti tha aur naa beta sunta hai. Eventually he got tired of glaring and continued combing his hair.
"Raj, tu kahe to mein kardu?" Romit asked him from the breakfast table.
"No thanks chachu... Aapke baal dekhke mujhe nai lagta ki aap mere baal handle kar paaoge."
"Oye... Mere school mein mai 'the guy with the coolest haircut' tha... pata hai!"
"Haan Arohi mom ne bataya tha... Sirf mom ne school nahi 'zoo' kaha tha" This time Arjun did not glare or frown on Arohis name. The corner of his mouth lifted to display his traditional smirk. He stopped himself before it became a full fledged smile, but he was not quick enough to evade getting noticed by Rashi. Dadi was hiding behind her roti, trying to suppress her laughter.
Romit stuck his tongue out at Raj as Raj waved goodbye to everyone and sprinted off to catch his school bus. Rashi shut the door and walked back to the breakfast table. Only Raj had dared to repeatedly talk about Arohi despite of getting screamed and yelled at by Arjun. His innocent mind refused to let Arohi's presence diminish from his life, it was as if he knew that everyone around was missing her too but they kept quiet because of Arohi's Akroo Monster. Of course, everyone did not include mom, Mikhail or her dad.
"Pata nahi hum ye bachha bardasht kyu karrahe hai?" Mikhail complained to his mother standing near the bar. "Hai to yeh Jignesh aur Priyanka ka beta, lekin saari buri aadate uss badtameez ladki ki li hain. Jor jor se chillana... Badon se badtameezi... Poore ghar ko apne sar pe utha lena..."
"I can understand what you mean beta. But kya karey. Im tolerating him only for Rashis sake. Warna ussne ek aur baar mujhe chottey dadaji bulaaya na to mein..." Kumuds hands were in front of her, curling into wrists, imagining them around Raj's neck.
A small smile crept up Rashis face as she saw them walk away. Well maybe her mom and Mikhail remember Arohi too... only for not the same reasons!
"Di, mein office ja raha hu. Waha meri ek breakfast meeting hai. Usske baad dad ne mujhe free rehne ko kaha hai. So lunch bhi mein shayad bahar hi karunga. Aap mera wait mat kijiyega. Raj aajeyaga to usse kahiye ill meet him for dinner and play video games with him too." Rashi smiled in approval as Dadi nudged her elbow in a much obvious way.
"Arjun..." Rashi called him and looked at Dadi. Dadi pushed her to speak. "Wo mein soch rahi thi ki... Kal Saturday hai to kya tum ghar pe rahoge?"
"Kuch kaam tha Di? Aapko kahi jana hai? I can cancel my meetings and stay back if you want..."
"Nahi nahi... mein to issliye pooch rahi thi ki bohat din hogaye hum kahi baahar nahi gaye. So I was thinking I will take Raj to the park to play." Arjun started to say something when Rashi added. "Don't worry, mein dadi ko bhi saath le jaaungi."
Arjun looked at her thinking something, and said "Ok"
"Bro mujhe please on the way college chod dijiye na" Romit rushed behind Arjun to catch up with his long strides.
Rashi sat down smiling from ear-to-ear. Suddenly the smile slipped and she turned to dadi. "Are you sure this is a good idea dadi? I mean Arjun se jhooth bolke hum..."
"Arre koi nai puttar.. Agar wo ziddi hai to mein bhi usski dadi hoon. Aur hum kuch galat nahi karrahe. Ussne jo rule banaya hai who ISS ghar ke liye laagoo hai, baahar nahi."
"Aap sahi keh rahi hai dadi, lekin aise chupke se, Arjun ko bina bataye, agar hum Raj ko Arohi se milaane le gaye aur Arjun ko pata chal gaya toh?"
"Toh tujhe kya lagta hai? Tu sharafat se usse permission maangegi aur wo tujhe de dega?? Hum ek bachhe ko apni maa se milaane jaarahe hain, iss mein koi galat baat nahi hai. Sirf Raj ko samjhaa dena ki apna mooh band rakhe, warna khushi ke maare wo sab kuch bak dega." Rashi nodded her head when she heard dadi mutter "Bilkul apni maa pe gaya hai khota... koi baat pet mein hazam hi nahi hoti."
"Aap bhi Arohi ko bohat miss karti haina dadi?"
"Beta karneko to iss ghar ki deewarein bhi Arohi ko miss karti hai. Lekin bezuban hai issliye bayan nahi kar sakti, aur baaki sabki zuban tere bhai ne band kar rakhi hai. Wo bachhi hai hi aisi... Do minute usske saath gujaaro to usski aadat pad jaati hai." Dadi smiled fondly as memories flashed in front of her eyes. Memory of Arohis first day in the house, of her muh dikhayi, of her sending them both on a honeymoon, of their fight on valentines day morning, or the day of the photoshoot, the deal for "becoming a mom". She smiled to herself nodding her head at the time that was.
This is for all you guys who want a regular update. It is still longer than what i might be able to give in the future 😔 Need your honest opinions on how this track is moving ahead or if you want to move it in a certain direction 😊
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