Misaligned Stars

Diverged Paths

Days went by. It was 2 weeks since Karan's accident.

Karan was on medical leave for his recovery.

Monami decided to relocate back to London but she had booked her tickets for a few weeks later as she wanted to complete some commitments she had made at the mandir 🛕 and to make some arrangements for her father and Karan. And she decided to leave after Diwali.

Since she had time, so she met the bank manager to retry for loan, she was still talking to vendor to give the new machines at discounted or previously agreed prices and she also reached out to the MLAs office to request assistance for the factory revival.

"One last try before giving up, before I leave", she thought.

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At Karan's place:

Reena was there every evening to help Yashoda change Karan's dressings , sometimes she would cook Karan's favourite items or help him exercise.

Mr Mahajan had  appointed a physiotherapist who would come regularly from Delhi. Karan's recovery had been on track.

Yashoda: "Karan, Maalik ne tere liye ye imported dawaiyan bheji hain. Bola hai ye jaldi recovery mein madad karengi"

Karan: "Maa unhe mana karo na. Roz kuch na kuch bhejte rehte hain"

Yashoda: "Maine manaa kiya tha Karan, wo nahi maante. Kehne lage Karan jitna jaldi theek hoga, utna padhai achche se kar payega taki MBA admission ho jaye. Exam mein zyada waqt nahi hai na"

Karan: "Wo main kar raha hoon. Padhai, mock tests, sab kar raha hoon. Achanak se mujhse zyada wo obsessed ho gaye hain exam se. Pehle saare form bharwa diye ab roz study material bhejte rehte hain. Wo online class bhi lagwa di."

Reena: "Apni beti ki harkaton ka prayaschit kar rahe hain. Par Karan tum unhe keh dena. Tumhari MBA ke baad hum wapas yahan nahi aayenge. Tum kisi aur sheher mein job karna and hum wahin rahenge. Wo sarfiri Monami madam ki duniya se door jayenge"

Karan was uncomfortable with any discussion with Reena about Monami.

Karan: "Filhaal to tu ghar ja. Der ho gayi hai. "

Reena: "Thode din aur, phir yahi rahoongi, tere paas."
She sounded excited.

Karan smiled at Reena.

Yashoda could feel that his smile was forced and her anger at Monami grew even more.

————-

At Mr Mahajan's place:

Deepak Mahajan: "Tumne phir kuch bhijawaya tha Karan ke liye? Mere naam se bhijawati ho to mujhe bata to diya karo. Yashoda bhabhi ka phone aata hai to mujhe pata to hona chahiye."

Monami: "Sorry dad , kuch medicines thi, Dr Morgan had prescribed from London. Kal kuch additional books and notes bhijwaungi Karan ki MBA entrance preparation ke liye, to abhi se bata rahi hoon"

Deepak: "Itni parwah hai uski, din raat uski treatment aur studies ke baare mein sochti ho par usse shaadi nahi kar sakti"

Monami: "C'mon dad, not the same discussion again. Karan is a friend or at least, was a friend, he has done a lot for me. So I want to help. And now they won't take my help because Yashoda aunty is upset with me. So Karan is upset. All because of this obsession with shaadi."

Monami's message beeped. She had received the daily progress report from Karan's physiotherapist. It looked good. Monami smiled.