Shruti And Anuj

6 - Birthday (5)

It was 10:00 p.m. at night and Shruti had a pounding headache. She had cooked packaged noodles for dinner and left a pot for Aadhya and Anuj, if they wished to eat. Shruti had offered to order takeout for Anna but she had refused, having noodles with Shruti instead. Shruti had her medicines and then insisted to Anna that she retire to her own room.
'Look, I have my buzzer with me. A hint of a problem and I will press it immediately, promise'.
Anna looked shaken up by the day's events.
'I am okay, Miss Shruti. You can.. pay me extra'.
'Anna, you and I both know you are not doing this for money alone. You check my stats again and if they are normal, go to rest'.
Anna did as Shruti said, 'Everything's normal. But you need to sleep, Miss. The body recovers through sleep. Should I give you sleep medicines?'.
Shruti's face twisted in bitterness. The sheer number of medicines she had consumed in the past one month alone was more than she had in her entire lifetime before.
'No, Anna. Atleast sleep should come naturally to a person. Don't worry. I will meditate and calm myself down'.
'Miss Shruti, anger and stress at this point are extremely harmful to you. Please be careful'.
Shruti nodded in reassurance.

When Anna left the room, Shruti fell into a quiet despair. How many dreams she had seen for this day! The celebrations, the fun, the laughter, the happiness, the memories.. All of them ugly and bitter now. Shruti waited for the tears to come or the anger to burn her but she stayed numb. The pain, the hurt, everything had vanished, leaving fatigue in its place. Yet sleep remained elusive for her.

Shruti entered her mobile pincode to listen to some guided meditation when the time flashed on the screen. 11:00 p.m. Just an hour left for Aadhya's birthday to get over. Aadhya. Her big day. After so long, she had consented to let them give her a birthday celebration. And then..
I should check up on her once. Life is filled with moments of choice - let me choose Aadhya over my anger today.

Aadhya's bedroom door was open and Shruti entered hurriedly without knocking. Her door was never unlocked. She saw Aadhya sitting on the floor, numb, her table clock besides her.
'Aadhya!'.
'Shru, Pops said he will come in some time. Are 3 hours 'some time'? Or is 'some time' 5 years?'.
Aadhya spoke like a robot, her face blank. Shruti knew that look and it meant..nothing good. Shruti quickly caught Aadhya by her elbow and pulled her with as much strength as she possessed.
'Get up, Aadhya'.

Shruti stood up a little and kicked the wheelchair behind. Aadhya caught her, shocked.
'What are you doing, Shru?'.
'Take me to the kitchen'.
Shruti made Aadhya come into her room first and took her walker.
She hobbled into the kitchen with Aadhya's help and placed a steaming bowl of noodles in front of her.
'Eat! Aadhya, I didn't want to be doing this today but.. everything's gone downhill anyway. Don't cry. Eat. The time for crying is over and strength will be required to deal with what is coming..
In the meanwhile, tell me why are you so insecure about Anuj's love for you? I mean, he left his country, his everything, behind for you. Isn't that sign enough that he loves you above all?'.

'Shru', said Aadhya, unshed tears still audible in her voice, 'Pops didn't ask Anupama Joshi to leave. Inspite of her love for Pari endangering my life. Miss Joshi left on her own wish. Infact, Pops searched for her like crazy for a year and when he couldn't, he came here with me. And now, she is back and Pops keeps shouting at me for her sake and he will hate me after today and he will leave me forever...'.
Aadhya broke down into tears and pushed away the bowl, covering her face with her hands.

'Aadhya, since the time Anuj found you in the orphanage, has he ever left you? Didn't he complete the paperwork to become your Pops on his honeymoon?'.
Aadhya slowly uncovered her face, a little hope rising in her eyes.
'Yes but.. but..'.
'You want to make Anuj chose between you and Anupama ji. You want him to choose you. He lost his parents, his sister can't stay with him, G.K. Kaka is with Mukku on his instructions, his.. love', Shruti waited for some kind of pain to make an appearance but there was nothing but emptiness,'..of 26 years was lost and lost once more and now you want him to willingly give it up so that you will remain a part of his life'.