The blooming Magnolia

Chapter : 18

Anika stood before the once her own, now almost unrecognisable narrow lanes, with so many feelings in her heart. She was still not sure if she was happy about it--coming back to the neighborhood that she had left about six years ago. As she scanned through the fleet of bunglows on either side of the clean and paved lane, nostalgia flushed through her veins. Nothing had changed except the paint colors of the houses. She noticed the walls on either side adorned with impressive mural paintings throughout that locality.

Memories-- both good and bad splashed through her skin as she looked on. It was only when a pair of little hands tugged on her dupatta that she came back to reality. She was not sure about how long she had been standing there,still not finding the courage to move forward.

"Mumma, why are we standing? You forgot the address?" Ahana asked innocently, still munching on her ice cream-cone.

"No,Hunie. Let's go." She took her daughter's hand and braved her way through that lane.

Had she ever dreamt in her life that she would be back here someday? Never.

Destiny plays its part quite well. No matter how much she tried to stay away from her past, it has been haunting her since she had returned to this country. But she did have a choice this time. She could have straight away denied to come here today. But she couldn't. The old lady, almost in her sixties was pleading to her over the phone last night. All she wanted was to meet her grand-daughter.

Her in-laws were unaware about Ahana's birth until her accident two weeks ago. Vansh, unaware of his relationship with her, had informed his family about Ahana's accident. Since then, she had been receiving calls from her in-laws. Mr and Mrs Arora called every single day to ask about Ahana's recovery. They wanted to meet her but Anika had asked them not to, as that would only make things complex. No one was aware of her marriage with Vansh except his family in Bangalore. But it was becoming increasingly difficult for Anika to refuse them every time and the last day it was impossible.

Now that Ahana was much better and with Vansh being out of the city for some work Anika finally gave in to their wishes. Anika herself knew that it was unfair to keep two old people from meeting their grand-daughter. She had kept Ahana from them for five long years. They were already decent enough not to lodge a legal case against her.

A slow shuddering breath left her body, when she stood by the massive iron gate. A security guard opened the automated gates when she told them her name. The loud noise formed as the door opened seemed lesser in front of her throbbing heartbeat.

Everything had changed. Her favorite pebbled path, the seating area in the garden, her favorite roses... nothing was there. The pebbled path was replaced by cemented pavement, the garden was replaced by a huge garage that had three sedans lined up one after another. The house itself was renovated into a duplex house. She felt like a complete stranger in the house she once lived for two long years.

One thing felt the same- the smell. The rich yet sweet scent, the scent she was so used to, the scent which was long etched in her mind even after leaving her in-laws' house-- The magnolias. A recognisable warmth engulfed her as she breathed that scent in. Walking a few yards when she reached the door, she spotted two people standing by the door with smiling faces.

The familiar faces, a bit more wrinkly now, had the warmest of smiles to greet her. Offering respect to her ex-in laws whom she once considered her own parents , she bowed down to touch their feet. Mrs Arora, breaking down into tears embraced Anika in her arms instead. Mr Arora stood by them trying to hide his own tears behind his glasses.

"Oh, Anika, you don't know how happy I am to see you." a weak wailing voice came out of the woman's mouth hugging her tightly. She pulled back from her hug and cupped Anika's face with one hand and said, "How are you?"