AMBAR

Chapter 24

Mira's POV

I came home from hospital. It was around 10:30. I don't know why but I felt really anxious. Worry for my children was lingering in me. I kept my bag on table. I was almost running towards Arush's door. It was locked. I knocked on it. "Arush." I called him. After few seconds he opened the door. He was holding a book and a pen was almost in his mouth. He looked shocked when he looked at me. "What happened Mom? "Why are you sweating?" He asked.
"Is everything fine with you?" I asked. He looked at me as if I am turning mad. "Yes. I am fine." He said.
"Really?" I asked again.
"Yes Mom." He said. I know Arush. He shares his problems with me but yet I felt I should talk with him. If only I could talk with Ambar too. If I could get to know if she is fine or not. I just hope she stays healthy and happy wherever she may be.
"Did you had dinner?" I asked him.
"No Mom. Neelu didi has cooked Spinach again. It's like she can only cook that." I smiled at his fussiness. "Don't skip meals. Go and set the table  we will have dinner." I said to him. He kept his book and pen and did as I said. I went back in my room and changed my clothes. I was still worried. I served food for Arush and myself. We had our dinner when Arush's phone rang. He looked at his phone and raised an eyebrow. He picked up his phone. "Hello" he said.
"Ambar. You are now. Are you alright." I wanted to talk with her but I couldn't. I snapped in front of Arush to draw his attention. "Put it on speaker." He did as I said.
"Yeah I am fine." Ambar said. Her voice was low. "Did I disturbed you?" She asked.
"No." Arush said. "What happened is everything alright there?" He asked.
There was silence for a few minutes.
"Yes." She said. She again kept quiet. "I met my birth mother's family today." She said. I could almost feel weird. Armaan is sick. He is making her meet people who wanted her dead on the very first place.
"Oh." Arush said. "How did it go?" He asked.
"The old lady was quite remorseful of my birth mother's death. She kept crying. Her son Satbir made Armaan to let me meet them." She said. "They seemed to be quite decent people. I was all charged up. I wanted to tell them so many things. I wanted to call her so many names but the moment I saw her fragile and old body I couldn't."
"Did they said anything to you?" Arush asked. "Anything that hurt you?"
"Not particularly. But somehow the old lady was trying to imply that if my birth mother would have listened to her she would have been alive. It was truth anyway." She said. I couldn't stop tears from rolling down.
"And Arush, I saw my birth mother's photograph." She said. "She really used to look like me. Except for the nose and eyes." She said. "Mom was right she was really beautiful."
Then Ambar sighed heavily. "I really think I am like Armaan in some manners. I am terrified now. I am sadist just like him. You know few days ago I made Armaan call Dad and apologies. It felt good. But when I saw my mother's family ashamed I was happy. It made me feel so good. As if I attained salvation." I was shocked to hear all this. I couldn't process it at all.
"Every one thinks that because Armaan is my biological father I must forgive him. Accept him. Why should I? My mother didn't and I am not going to forgive him in this life time. I never imagined that someday I am going to be this unhappy and nobody could help me. I have decided that I am not going to marry." She said.
"Are you serious?" Arush said.
"Yes. Don't take this personally but men are assholes." She said. I wasn't proud of her language but I couldn't agree more.
"They fuck up, they blame it on others and then rant like Armaan. None of my mothers had a peaceful married life. I don't want to die like my birth mother alone and in the most helpless and painful manner." Ambar said in one breath. Her voice was firm. Disappointment was clearly visible in her voice. 
"I.....I am..... I am sorry Ambar." Arush said with a heavy heart. 
"Why?" She asked. "You don't need to be sorry for me. I'll be fine." She sniffed. "This cold is another dementor of my life." She laughed. 
"OK. What's up with you?" She asked. "How are Mom and Dad?" She asked. They further talked about Arush's life in med school and then hanged up. I covered my face with my hands. 
"Don't worry Mom." Arush said. "She'll be fine." He said consoling me. I wiped my tear and then left for my room. At least I know now what is going on in my children's life. 

Armaan's POV 

After Ambar returned from Satbir's house she had locked herself in her room. I had to go to office for urgent work. I returned home with Rina because there were some papers that we needed to asses. It was nearly midnight when we were done with our work. "Have dinner with me today Rina." I said. It was really late by now. She looked at her watch. "OK." She said. The staff might have been asleep by now and they would have kept dinner in refrigerator. "Come with me in the kitchen." I said. Rina laughed. "At least you didn't said 'Go back to the kitchen'." She said. I laughed. We went into the kitchen and I reheated the dinner. Rina has been here a lot of time to work with me during late nights. She removed the plates and spoons. We had dinner in silence. "So how are things with Ambar?" Rina asked. 
"I don't know. She never talks with me. If she needs anything she will ask from my mother. When I try to talk with her she mocks me." I said. "She has got a bad cold and never eats properly." I said. She kept her hand on mine. "Hey it'll be fine." She said. She rubbed my hand. 
"Rina, I know she hates me very much. I now everyone thinks that what an idiot I am to bring a girl here who hates me to death but she is my daughter, as a father I need to make sure that she gets her rights, her future is secured. Everything I have earned, everything that I inherited will be Ambar's. I don't want her to face difficulties or do mistakes that I did. She is a really good kid." I had no idea that while talking with Rina I was holding her hand all the while. Rina was looking at me and then suddenly she pulled her hands away. "Ambar." Rina said. I turned back and saw that Ambar was standing behind me. She looked perplexed. "I .....uh......I just wanted something to eat." She said. 
"Dinner is on the table." I said. "Come sit." I said.
"No. I don't want to intervene." She said. "I'll take a glass of milk and something else." She said and headed into the kitchen. She poured herself a glass of milk and took a jar of cookies and left. She misunderstood. I thought. I removed a plate and served food for Ambar in that. Mother had informed me that she is not eating properly. "I'll be back soon." I said to Rina. I went to Ambar's room and knocked on it. She opened the door. "Look I don't want to talk about what ever was happening in the kitchen." She said. I kept the plate on her study table. "Eat it and please don't skip your meals. A glass of milk and cookies is not a substitute to the dinner." I said. Damn she got it all wrong. "Rina is my friend and a very loyal employee. That's it." I said. She was looking towards the floor and then she shook her head in a yes. "OK." She said. She didn't demanded any explanation and I left from her room. I came back into the kitchen and dropped Rina at her place. When I came back I went to check on kids. All the three children were sleeping peacefully.