Chapter-14
Rohan's POV
Rohan's car came to a screeching halt in front of his office, after he had drove away from Aryan's school; entering his office, and with strict instructions to his Secretary to not Disturb him at any cost, slammed the door shut into the unlit room, and plopped down on his chair with a thud. Pulling down all the blinds of his cabin, shutting himself completely from the outside world. Slipping into his chair into a more comfortable position, leaning his head against the backrest of the chair, he rubbed a careless hand over his face, running his fingers into his hair, combing them carelessly, his mind still numb with the recommendation given by Mrs. Chapman. Because, all the four Adults are unable to give a good environment to both the kids and thus handing them over to the State run Establishments.
Unable to think anything coherent at this very moment, his mind taking him into the memory lanes on their own accord, remembering himself as the only child of his parents, a middle class family boy, who has grown up with the hard earnings of his parents, getting that much only that their meagre income could give, giving him the aspirations to become a rich man one day, standing on his feet. And as and when he had started his little business, luck had its own plays. Like any parents of the traditional Indian Middle class family in some movie, luck was dramatically playing with him, with his father of the death bed, asking him to get married, before he closes his eyes, and like an ideal son, he was forced to get married at a very early age of 21, when he had his own dreams, and fun at hand, he had a family to look after, An extremely ill father, a disoriented mother seeing her husband suffer, and a very-very young wife, merely 18 years of age, Nidhi. A girl with many dreams in her eyes, just like him, studying medicine. But, seeing sick in laws, she started serving for them too, and in between being busy looking after her In-laws and studies, she surely made a strong bond with them, but, still there was an undeveloped relationship, the relationship trusting which had she come to his house, his and her relationship. Considered to be publically said as husband and wife, performing every duty as husband and wife in every sense of the word, yet, they were nothing more than being just friends. Yet, that girl smiled, maybe, because she had the faith in her heart, that someday, things will improve between them and from being just friends, they can emotionally too, be husband and wife.
But, again, life played its next card, when both his parents started losing their health, with a steep downfall. Things were becoming difficult for Nidhi to manage home, studies and looking after her in-laws, with her own tiredness, that day after day was making her unable to work at that pace, and then is when she called her sister-cum-best friend Anji with her to her in-laws home, to help her out with work. As things had to have, everything worked out differently, with Nidhi serving her in-laws in their last times, Anji took up responsibilities of home and Rohan. And probably, that was when, the Sister-in-law seemed to be attractive to him. Not because she was more beautiful than his wife, but because, she gave him the time he needed from his wife. Although Nidhi had more than enough tried and made up the physical intimacies, but, the days went rough, as she remained busy with his parents and studies. But Anji, she gave him the time he needed from his lady love. It started from little appreciation and meek admiration for this girl, Anji, for her work and care, that slowly was turning up into some sort of liking for them mutually. Anji being herself a late-teenage girl, did not understand the outcomes of her flat adoration for her brother-in-law, a smart, handsome, hardworking man, that held that innocence in his eyes that made him all the more attractive. And before things could be verbally expressed between both, is when one after the other Rohan lost both his parents, in a short span, leaving him shuddering under its impact, and then is when he got another support from Anji, while Nidhi herself was coping up from the grave losses she had seen at this early age, and also coping up from the tiredness that she constantly felt.
As all the three had their lives moving at a hurricane speed, next news that blasted the three was, Nidhi being pregnant with Rohan's child. Rohan simply could not believe that to be true, as he and Nidhi had not yet been able to adjust with each other properly, and his mind had already been full with his parent's demise, and his business, and with Anji coming close to him over these months, he was unable to take a proper decision.
Whereas, Anji on getting Nidhi's pregnancy news withdrew from Rohan's house, not to spoil her sister's life any further, making every single effort to avoid Rohan, so that he can concentrate on Nidhi, forgetting her, that made Rohan all the more edgy. He started concentrating on his business more and more, deciding to shift his base to London, and give a new start, kept him busy.
And on the third side was Nidhi, who was unable to take all of this. How to take the news of the baby coming? She was happy actually with the miracles of Mother Nature, yet, she felt tensed with Rohan's behaviour. Trying her best to make better understandings with him, but Rohan's mind played Anji's images whenever Nidhi was around, as he wanted to see her once.
Then is when Rohan was all set to permanently leave to London, as nothing much was left for him here with Nidhi. But as luck would say, seeing Nidhi's state, and her studies there, Nidhi's parents sent Anji too with them to help Nidhi.
London, and a myriad number of things coming their ways, Nidhi's suspicion towards Anji and Rohan's relationship grew slowly, when she finally found out the truth. Nidhi wasn't laced up in tears or grief, but, a silent sadness, that in an unknown town, with a baby in her womb, and she still studying, she has lost one last twig of hope, her husband too. As much as she had tried, Rohan although fulfilled his duties as a husband, did not become one. She never saw the willingness in his eyes towards her, to make some good bonds, but she definitely saw that for Anji.
After spending some sleepless nights and tension filled days, she came up to them, and set them free. Agreeing for the divorce that Rohan had asked her to give. As a compulsory alimony Rohan promised to support Nidhi's studies that she politely refused, as her merit in her studies provided her with a scholarship until her Specialisation. And so, alimony was fixed for the financial support to Nidhi and her baby, until she is herself capable to earn.
Nidhi never begrudged Anji, but an undeniable distance that she had made was palpable. Nidhi never seeked her help whenever she needed with her baby or her. She did all of them either on her own, or hired someone for the help, until on the 2nd birthday of Aryan that Nidhi celebrated, when Anji with all the apologies in her heart, came and apologised with a pure heart to Nidhi.
Nidhi forgave her. Only to an extent that she met her occasionally, as she was too much fed up keeping differences in her heart. And that had set the small meets between the sisters, once in a few months.
It was Nidhi's Convocation ceremony that day, when she had to leave her Three and a Half year old Son Aryan, to go there, and on Anji's strong insistence, did she very hesitantly left her son there for the 1st time, but made sure, to take him asap away from there.
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Rohan's memories took a small pause, when he felt some clogging up in his throat. Taking down a big gulp of water from the glass on his table, he again went back to his memory lane, where he found his own buried emotions. As a man, he surely and certainly felt Nidhi's pain. Under the facade of a ruthless and emotionless business man, he had a soft heart. Had his heart not given away to Anji, he would have definitely tried to somehow come to a compromise, living a life with Nidhi, maybe even fallen in love later, but how to explain to that unruly heart of his, that he is already in love with Anji. So, even putting down Nidhi, and his child, he moved on with Anji. It was definitely a selfish act, but a person in love seeks the best idiom- Everything is fair in love and war, and this is love. And he's absolutely right going with his heart, coz love can never be wrong' was all the ruby studded rosy glasses showed him.
Things were perfect, Nidhi never interjected in his personal life with Anji during the initial days of his marriage, and then later only his son came a few times, that made his heart feel good seeing his flesh and blood, but never made him stick to him, because he knew, Nidhi would need him, and someday or the other he'll have his flesh and blood with Anji, and they'll all leave a happy life ever after.
Things seemed to look that way too; Nidhi got her man, after 5 long years of Separation from him... Dr. Ashutosh, seems a gentleman, as Anji had told him. One thing that he had made sure all these years was, he never came in front of Nidhi, unnecessarily pricking her heart seeing her ex-husband with her sister. She met Anji, but never him. And things went on smoothly. She was happy with her family, and Rohan with his, until the fateful result of nature on him and Anji that she can never conceive. Anji was shattered. Regarded it to be a curse on her, that she had spoiled her sister's life, and now, destiny had spoiled her life. She shall be motherless forever, because, she can't give him his flesh and blood. A totally, depressed and distressed Anji...
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An unknown tear seeped out of Rohan's eyes, as images of a totally distraught Anji kept swimming infront of his mind. Anji, who was losing health day after day, in the sadness of not being able to give Rohan his own baby. Some nearly muted sniffles came out of him, who kept a reclined face, weeping silently. He wasn't crying because he could not have his own baby, but for his beloved wife, who was dying small deaths each day.
Then the decision to take Aryan with him and Anji, was a hard step he had to take. He knew, Nidhi would not agree, but somehow, he needs to take it. And then is when he saw Nidhi after such a long time. She has definitely grown mature, her looks clearly told that. After all, she no longer was a 19 year old girl but, a fully matured woman. And then as soon as he gave his decision, a furious Nidhi was what he had expected, surely she has learnt to protest, unlike the time when she gave him away to Anji easily without any hullabaloo, but she wasn't ready for this sacrifice this time. Rohan understood her feelings, and it wasn't easy making her agree being harsh this way, and then is when he went soft, pleaded her, her sister's pain made her soft too, but the tears that she saw in her son's eyes were enough for her to have her steely resolve, not to sacrifice her son and give them her only child.
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Rohan opened his eyes to have a blurred vision, wiping his eyes, clearing those tears he mumbled to himself- "Nidhi, main tumse tumhare bachhe ko cheenna nahi chaahta tha, but koi iss baat ko nahi samajh raha hai ki agar mujhe koi bhi bachha adopt karna hota, toh main tumko kabhi takleef deta hee nahi. Tumhe pehle hi kya koi kam takleef di thi jo ab tumse tumhara bachha cheen ke karta, lekin mujhe Anji ki khwaahish puri karni thi, bas isliye. Kisi bure intention se nahi, lekin sirf shayad tum log raazi ho jaao isliye Wendy ko maanga, par tum logon ne Aryan ko bhej diya humaare yahan. Maine kya koi koshish nahi ki Aryan ko apne mein dhaalne ke liye, but unfortunately main bhool gaya, ki guardian banne ka matlab parent banna nahi hota."
But then again keeping that steely and ruthless facade, he wiped his tears off- "Main Aryan ko state run establishments mein jaane nahi dunga... chaahe job hi ho jaaye... main Anji ko uski khushiyaan deke rahunga... Aryan kabhi na kabhi samajh jaayega, aur phir humari family bhi puri ho jaayegi... main Anji ki khushi ke liye kuch bhi karunga..."
