The Birlas' - IKSHANA

PROLOGUE

Abhimanyu Birla, the man of the house, wakes up before the sun rises and prefers to enjoy the sunrise at his favourite sunrise spot, 4km away from Birla House. On his way back, he picks the flowers for his mother and coconut water for Roohi who refuses to wake up until woken up with a glass of fresh coconut water because Abhimanyu has restricted any sort of beverage consumption which might pose a threat of unhealthy addiction. So he is forced to ensure that she has her fresh coconut water ready on time. As they say, as you sow so you reap. He is reaping the after effects of him being a strict Docman. 

As soon as he reaches home, he sees Manjari waiting for the flowers all dressed up in her linen saree, ready to start her pooja. Abhimanyu just like always takes her blessings, gives her the flowers and a peck on the cheek before he woke his children up from their sleep.

Manjari just looks at Abhimanyu going to his kids and sheds a tear. Her heart pains to look at her middle aged son, doing everything for his kids and not crave for anything in life, not even a companion. Abhimanyu has a happy family and he is happy with his family but she alone understands the walls Abhimanyu has erected. He is happy because he forced himself to not look beyond his work and family. He is the most integral part of his family but he doesn't have a life of his own. He doesn't allow himself to feel, to want or need anything that has nothing to do with his family. 

She often gets nightmares where she sees Abhimanyu all alone and lost as the kids grow up, Neil settling down and she is no longer there for him. As a mother she can't bring herself to ignore her son's situation and his impending future kind of haunts her. She has tried every trick in the book to convince him to move on but he would always say there is nothing to move on from or move on to for him. All she can do now is pray for a miracle.

Harsh who just came there asking for his green tea, rushed to wipe her tears. He just came back from his walking when he saw the sight that wasn't new to him. It happened daily, almost daily. He pulled his emotional wife into a gentle hug and tried comforting her fears which were not entirely uncalled for. She was worried for her son and her family, so was he. But there is only so much they could do. 

Abhimanyu fought too many battles already that they didn't have it in them to ask anything more of him. Harsh chuckled sadly at that thought as it pricked his heart to realise that he has no standing in his son's life as a father. He is his wife's husband and a lovable grandparent to Abhimanyu's kids and nothing more. That's the line Abhimanyu drew when he finally decided to have him as a part of his family after Harsh's two year long attempt at redemption. He approved him as a part of his family for his mother but never really accepted him as a father.

He doesn't let it show in front of his kids and relents a lot in front of his mother but nothing beyond that. But Harsh decided not to give up on his son ever again and he is slowly forging a bond of being an adviser and guide to Abhimanyu in business related stuff. He is content with that and also super proud of the fact that his son decided to establish a chain of Birla Hospitals apart from being a reputed surgeon. He learnt to value things he has and he silently promised to do anything to protect them with Manjari still in his embrace. He gently nudged her to carry on with her pooja and pursue her Kanhaji to do her bidding.

Abhimanyu went to Abhir and woke him up with a peck on his forehead. The light sleeper that Abhir Birla is, he woke up and snuggled into Abhimanyu's embrace without which he can't fathom having a good day. Abhimanyu's schedule during his childhood always left him cranky but he was thankful that his father has reached a position in his life where he can maneuver his schedule to his liking. His father's embrace always filled him with positive thoughts and energy and he couldn't help a smile on his face.