Bonds For Life

Nanu

Kaushal walked downstairs with the laptop, his head low and his face full of concern. I knew what was bothering him; I knew all things that were bothering him but sometimes even a dad doesn't have answers to the questions. "Kaushal," he looked up at me, "Beta, in my eighty years, I've seen many ups and downs, it is a low phase of life," a cough escaping my dry lips, "the good time will come too."

He nodded and looked at the laptop, "Bapu Ji, Meenu ben shouldn't have done this."

"You're right. A family is complete when the elders and the children live together. Our family has split because of Meenu." I looked around the empty Rajvansh Sadan, the hall looked larger than usual, cold and deserted, "This house used to be filled with children, I hear their laughter sometimes,  remember when Ketki was born, the three brothers used to fight who would get to play with their baby sister first." A memory so blurred, yet for my age, it was fresh, it was barely some twenty years ago.

"I was talking about Atul." he looked up from the laptop. That is what a father was concerned about now. Just a week ago, he was busy worrying about Ketki and now that he knew Ketki was fine and happy, he was concerned about Atul.  "He has his dreams. Do you know he wants to do modeling and become an actor?" I asked him. Did Nidhi and he know the aspirations of their kids?

Nidhi walked in and exclaimed, "But he should work with Ben Baa! I give full support to Ben Baa's decision." She waved her hands, "Acting is a hobby, Bapu Ji.  But working with Ben baa, he'll learn to manage a company and then take over the business and earn lots of money. "

"Nidhi, you let Ketki go for her dreams. You don't want Atul..." 

She scoffed, "Bapu Ji, please don't brain me, but..."

"Huh?" I frowned at her, her English has been the same since Kuhu left, at least Kuhu was trying to teach her and Ketki was encouraging her to learn. I was hoping by the end of the year, she will know the right words to place in a sentence.

"My dear wife, it is don't mind me," he corrected and then turned to me, "She means don't mind her."

"Same same, different different," she annoyingly replied, "I need my Kuhu teacher, she knows English best." Then putting her finger on her lips dramatically, "oops, I wish Kuhu was here." Sighing loudly, "What I  mean to say is  Atul is the son of this family, the legitimate son of Rajvansh family," she emphasized, she had been going on about this for some time now, she didn't want to belittle anyone, just wanted to show her sympathy towards Meenu. I shrugged my shoulders and listened to her speak, " he should work like Kunal and if Abir doesn't want the company, Atul is the rightful next owner, don't you think?"

Kaushal was fast to reply to his life, "I agree with you Nidhi, but Kunal was passionate about the work, about this company. Atul is least interested. The company only works when the boss knows how to manage it, but the boss needs that passion and dedication. If Atul doesn't love the work he does, the company will fail." She crossed her arms in disapproval.   Kaushal stood up and looked at her, "and we will fail as parents."  

The house bell rang and Nidhi walked away, a little angry with her husband.  Kaushal spoke, "Bapuji, I'll just ask Gunni to pack my lunch and then we'll head out. Do you need anything from your room?"

I shook my head, "Did you put the box that I asked you to last night?"

"That's in the trunk." 

Driving out of the house with Kaushal had become a routine now. What an old man like me does in an empty house? Listening to old classics, Kaushal and I drove inside the Maheshwari House. 

They were not expecting us, but they weren't shocked either.  "Namaste Bapuji!" "Please come in," Rajshri Ji welcomed, " It is so nice that you came." 

As we settled on the couches, "I thought I should come to visit. What Meenu did has hurt both the families, but our relationship remains and I won't step away from it."

"Thank you Yash Pal Ji," Vishambharnath folded his hands, "we are happy that you are the elder family member and we think alike on these matters."

"To be honest with  you, it has been six months, but we," she looked at Varsha, "have accepted the truth and just want our children to be happy."

"Kuhu is happy in London. Parul Ji and Kuhu have bonded," Varsha informed, "Kuhu told me last night that things are falling in place. "

"Yes, Varsha beta. I'm happy for them too. They are bonding in a healthier environment," I was ashamed of how Meenu had reacted to the whole situation. She never had accepted Kuhu as her daughter-in-law. What could  I expect from her? She let her maternal instincts die when Kunal came to inform her that he was leaving, she let him leave. She didn't speak even once when Parul left the house, she let that happen too. 

Mishti walked down the stairs. She was wearing a yellow suit, very different from her casual dresses. Her hair in a bun and her eyes sparkling through her glasses. Recently, a few additions to her look had transformed her look.  "Nanu!" she smiled broadly and came towards me. 

 I blessed her, "someone is looking very beautiful."

She smiled shyly, "how are you, Nanu?" She gestured me to sit while she sat down next to her Bade Maa, placing a blue folder on her lap.

 Showing my arms, "I'm fit and healthy!" I laughed, remembering one thing I wanted a reply for, "Abir has been rather too quiet, what is up with him? Is he...."

"He is busy with work Nanu, work at NGO has increased a lot in the last couple of days. He spends most of his time working." She wiped her glasses and put them back on. 

It had become bothersome, he kept saying the same, but now with the ease that Mishti spoke, I was convinced, "I'm relieved that you are working with him."

Vishambhar looked at me, "I'm happy that all the kids are happy and comfortable in the lives they are in. What more do parents want?"

Varsha spoke softly, "I just wish Kuhu was in front of my eyes."

"Don't worry aunty! When Kuhu returns, she will bring with herself, all the months worth of Kuhuness!" Misti assured her, while Jasmeet hugged Varsha and stopped her from getting too teary. She checked her watch, "I'm running late for the NGO,  we have loads of work before the exhibition."  

"Beta, did you find the documents you were looking for?" her bade papa asked, eyeing the folder in her hand.

She stood up, "Yes bade papa!" Looking at her folder in her hand, she grinned and looked at me, "And nanu, don't worry about Abir! After the exhibition, we have planned a Bro's night!" she announced, super elated.

"Really?Bro's night?" Bro's night had always been one of the most memorable times I have spent with my grandsons, perhaps the best memories I have made in the last few years. Long nights under the sky, speaking our hearts out, camping with the bonfire, remembering the old days and singing the classic songs. It would rejuvenate us. But now that Kunal was not here, I didn't think Bro's night would happen again. The last one was a few days before Kunal left, it was so blissful. For an old man like me, loneliness is the worst enemy, but Abir and Kunal never let me feel lonely and when they weren't there, Parul and Jugnu would always be. With tears in my eyes, I asked her, "So is it...?"

"In the gardens of Misbhir House," she smiled widely, "with Mrs. Mishti Agarwal Rajvansh as a guest and Kunal, Ketu and Kuhu with us through skype," laughing a little, "or like Kuhu had put it, hashtag the skype bros.