Serendipity

64

Anu picked up a spoon to feed Kinjal the semolina kheer she'd specially made for her. Kinjal had said yes. It seemed odd that Anu was celebrating this momentous occasion because just an hour ago, she'd believed everything to have been lost. 

When Anupama returned home, GK and Kinjal were sitting in the living room playing chess. GK had started teaching Kinjal how to play the game and was so far extremely pleased with the progress and dedication of the girl.

"Come on, Kinjal, you cannot take forever," GK had nudged her as she continued to scratch her hair wondering how she could block the bishop that directly threatened to kill her queen. Anu had interrupted the play, moving the horse in between, successfully calling a check to GK's king.

"Thank you, Ma'am," Kinjal had gotten up jumping to hug her.

"Not Ma'am, Mom."

The pin-drop silence that followed momentarily made her question Anuj's advice. Kinjal was 16. She was definitely attached to her parents. She had memories of her life with them - both good and bad. While owing to her father's death, had made it easier for her to accept Anuj as a father figure, her mother, Rakhi, was still alive.

And although Kinjal had transitioned quite willingly from calling Anuj Sir to Uncle, she'd still stuck with Ma'am for Anupama. And Anu had never pushed the girl otherwise. Would she happily and willingly give the place Rakhi held in her life to Anupama?

"Kinjal..." GK gently prodded the girl. He'd grown fond of her. If Anuj had married younger, he would probably have a granddaughter Kinjal's age.

The girl looked up, tears glistening in her eyes.

"Beta, what happened?" GK moved closer to her, wiping her eyes with his fingers. "You can speak your mind. No one will say anything to you."

Anu's heart was slowly turning to lead. One part of her mind was irrationally angry at Anuj for having brought this about. Another part of her mind reasoned, better now than later. This wasn't the first time she was dealing with dejection. That feeling had made a permanent space in her life. And she'd often nursed her wounds in the tranquility of loneliness. 

Wanting to spend some alone time to come to terms with yet another quashed wish, Anu began walking away when Kinjal extended her arms - one holding onto GK and the other, Anu and began weeping profusely.

Moved by the girl's grief, Anu kneeled next to her and hugged her, gently patting her head as she cried her heart out. When the sobs begin to subside, she got up to put some much-needed distance.

"Ma..." Kinjal called out to her as Anu turned to make her way to her room. She turned again to look at the girl surprised.

"After my mother's remarriage, the first day I went missing, no one came to look for me. The next day when I came home, I heard from my cousins that grandma had told them that there was no need to waste time. That I would eventually find my way home. I did Ma. I did find my way home. I found my way to my family. You, Anuj Uncle, and GK Kaka are my family."

Anu walked back to Kinjal and hugged her, her happiness knowing no bounds. She held Kinjal's head and gently kissed her forehead. Anuj was right, as always.

"Papa and Dadaji," Anu told her.

When Kinjal looked at her quizzically, she smiled. "Start calling Anuj Papa and GK Kaka Dadaji. That's how you address family."

Kinjal nodded, and hugged Anu again, fresh tears flowing through her eyes. GK's eyes too had turned moist. He pulled his glasses off and wiped the tears that were beginning to collect within them.