Shruti And Anuj

5 - Birthday (4)

'Miss ANUPAMA JOSHI!', screamed Aadhya in rage. Anna and a guest took Shruti's weight on themselves and made her sit on the wheelchair. Aadhya had been too angry to even notice that Shruti had been about to fall. Shruti was grateful and embarrassed and the guests understood and left, giving Shruti and Aadhya privacy.
The servers left as well and Derek entered.
'Sorry, just give me some time..'.
'Take all the time you want, Ms. Shruti. I just wanted you to know that I am here if you need assistance in any way'.
'I am very grateful'.
Derek nodded and went into the manager's office, closing the glass door behind him.

Shruti gestured for Anna to sit some distance away, so that Aadhya could vent freely.
Aadhya was shaking with rage, unable to find further words, her fingers crumbling the latest photo.
'Aadhya', said Shruti, tentatively, 'please just listen to me. Your Pops..'
'The time for talking is over. Words are not enough for that shameless Anupama Joshi. I will snatch my Pops away from her and my birthday present will be showing Joshi Ben her true place in this World'.
Aadhya rushed out of the restaurant just like her dad.
'Aadhya! Aadhya!'.

Anna moved towards Shruti having witnessed Aadhya go out but it took her some time.
'Anna, I know this is beyond your job requirements. You have every right to refuse but will you please take me to SnC restaurant as fast as you can? It is around the block..', Shruti joined her hands, '..please do this favour on me'.
'Yes, Miss Shruti. You all are like family'.
Anna pushed the wheelchair out and Derek who has been silently observing, came out to help Anna.
Shruti kept calling Anuj and Aadhya from her mobile but no one answered.

In a short time, they reached SnC but no one was there.
'Aadhya! Aadhya! Oh God, Anna! No one is here. I thought Aadhya will be here. What should I do? No one is picking up my call and I don't want to report to the police. I don't know what is happening and I don't want to land Aadhya or Anuj in trouble..'.
'Miss, please relax. You will fall ill. I will take you home. Mr. Anuj and Ms. Aadhya will come there'.
Derek agreed, 'Anna is right. No sense running all around this big city and falling sick. Wait for them at home. Better yet, rest. It isn't as if they are bothered enough to pick up your calls. Why do you care?'.
'Derek, please, you don't understand. It may seem that I am compromising on my self respect but you haven't seen Aadhya's panic attacks and how Anuj struggles to manage them. I have to try for my family.
Aadhya thinks that she can make everything okay because of the determination and courage she gets when she becomes angry and everyone else sees that anger too but underneath that anger, there is a lot of pain, which is hardly visible to Aadhya herself, forget anyone else. She is more of a danger to herself than anybody. My daughter might be in trouble, Derek!
Is there any way by which I can locate them?'.

Derek reluctantly made a few phone calls.
'Superstar Chef Anupama? Yes, cockroach chef.. Where? Passed 12th Street? On foot? Are you sure? Thanks, mate!'.
Derek made a call again and turned to Shruti. 'Anupama Joshi was seen running on the 12th street. She couldn't have gone far on foot. I have arranged for a wheelchair friendly cab for you. Keep a lookout for Aadhya from the cab and if you don't find her, for Heaven's sake, take the same cab back home'.
'I can never repay you back, Derek. Thank you so much!'.
'Take Care!'.
Derek left for the Pizza Palace.

The cab came and the driver and Anna settled Shruti in comfortably.
'Keep an eye out for Aadhya or Anuj, okay, Anna?'.
'Yes'.
Worry was eating Shruti from inside, sweat rolling from her forehead.
Please God, let Aadhya be safe. Anuj, **** it, will you please pick up my phone call? Our daughter is angry and missing!..
What will I tell Anuj? That I couldn't take care of Aadhya? That I have failed as a mother!..
God, any blame will do, anything will do, as long as Aadhya is safe.

'There!', pointed out Anna, excitedly. Shruti had noticed them too - Aadhya, Anuj and Anupama near a lion's fountain.
Aadhya looks fine. Many, many thanks, God!
Some heated argument was going on. Anna paid the driver and after Shruti had been securely moved from the car to the wheelchair, Anna pushed the wheelchair to the trio and moved a respectful distance away.

'..why do you use this disrespectful tone and cruel words to express your anger? I understand that you hate Anupama but she is your MAA. NEVER forget that..'.
Anupama was trying to calm Anuj down and was the only one who noticed Shruti.
'Anuj, it's okay. She is a child. Look, Shrut..'
'It is not okay, Anu! Stop prioritising everyone except yourself! Child? We just celebrated her 13th birthday! She is not a kid anymore. I always forgave every mistake of yours, Aadhya, thinking that it is childhood immaturity, juvenility but not anymore. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, MISS AADHYA KAPADIA!'.

Aadhya shaked both in anger and fear. Her Pops had never screamed at her like that.
'Sorry, sorry, sorry, Cho..Aadhya.. No, Anuj, you won't say a word more. I am sorry, Aadhya beta, for ruining your special day..'.
Aadhya clinged to Anuj's arm as if worried that Anupama would snatch Anuj from her right then and there. Shruti saw pain flash in Anupama's eyes. Anuj looked around, angry, weary and worried when he noticed Shruti and Anna.

'Shruti! What are you doing here?'.
Shruti kept quiet. She was having a hard time controlling anger herself. She was in a lot of physical and emotional pain thanks to the Kapadias.
Some realisation darkened Anuj's eyes and he spoke his next words filled with cold anger, 'Aadhya, you didn't inform Shruti where you were going, did you?'.
Fear overtook every other emotion on Aadhya's face and her grip on Anuj tightened. Her Pops may have started to hate her and she couldn't allow it to happen. Never.

'Just look, Aadhya Kapadia, see the condition to which you have brought me, Anupama, Shruti to! We are the people who love you.. can't you love us enough TO STOP GIVING US PAIN!'.
Anuj stared at Aadhya, who had eyes only for him, and said slowly, 'Leave my hand and go home. I will come in sometime'.
Shruti watched numb. Inspite of her fear, Aadhya shook her head, unwilling to let go.
'I said, leave me Aadhya and go home. Now'.
Aadhya let go of his hand with a sob and turned to leave.

She seemed to realise only then that Shruti and Anna were present as well.
'Shru, look at what is happening..'
Shruti wheeled herself forward, ignoring both Aadhya and Anuj.
'Anupama ji, I am sorry you had to face this. I realise it was very important for you to get the American Star and I am truly sorry for your loss'.
Anupama nodded, hearing the sincerity in Shruti's voice.
'Such is life, Shruti ji. Ups and downs and downs and downs.. Sigh.. No problem. Kanha ji got me so far, I won't give up hope'.
Shruti turned to leave.
'Shruti ji, you seem in pain. Sorry, if I am intruding, but may I help you?'.
'Anupama ji, you saw my pain while crossing an ocean of pain yourself. Thank you for your kindness! I do need a favour actually. Can you please call a wheelchair friendly cab for me for hom.. Aadhya's home? My phone battery is almost over'.
'Shruti, I will do it..'.
Shruti spoke over Anuj.
'Can you book the cab just now, Anupama ji?'.
'Certainly, Shruti ji... I have booked. The cab will be here in a minute'.

'Thanks again, Anupama ji. Come there whenever you can. I promise there will be no reference to this incident from me'.
'Shruti ji, I will be staying with Kinjal for a while. I need some answers from Mr. Paritosh Shah. Police bhi uske aage fail hai. He is a tough nut to crack, so I won't be able to live with you all for sometime. Sorry, I am failing in my duty there also'.
Anuj shook his head in complete rejection to Anupama's last statement.
'My cab is here. Inspite of all our disagreements, which I think will still continue, I never wanted for you to not succeed in your career. I will pray that you overcome all this'.
'Thank you, Shruti ji. You take care, too'.

Anna moved Shruti to the cab and Aadhya was helping Shruti get in when Shruti held out her hand in refusal. The driver and Anna helped Shruti inside.
'Aadhya, sit in the car and let's go. I am exhausted and I need to rest. Just sit', said Shruti, sternly.
Aadhya got in, tears escaping her eyes and without a backward glance at Anuj, the passengers of the car moved towards their destination.