By Barshita Das
Aastha, the elder girl of the home was getting married to Karan, the youngest in his house and highly pampered one. Aastha just completed her MSc in philosophy and was looking for a job while Karan was doing internship in a medical college. They met in college from where their love story started to bloom. With much struggle like any other couple having love marriage, they also had a tough time convincing their respective families for their marriage. They never gave up trying and finally by God's grace, both of their families agreed. Today, Aastha had different glow in her face for she was going on shopping with Karan for the engagement. Yes, their engagement date was fixed and it was on the next month. Aastha got up early in the morning, took shower and got ready quickly. Hearing the horn of car from her room, she came out quickly. On this her younger sister teased, "Oho someone is in so much hurry today." She just blushed and ran out to Karan. They drove to the city mall. Karan asked her to go inside while he would be joining her after parking the car. Both of them took a lot of things for their get up. Lastly while coming out, Karan's eyes fell on something and holding Aastha's hands, he took her there. "Look Aastha, it is so beautiful, isn't it?", Karan asked in astonishment pointing at the beautiful pair of earrings. Aastha smiled and replied, "indeed they are." "I am buying this for you, please pack this uncle", he said to the shopkeeper. Taking it, he wanted to make Aastha wear this with his own hands. Aastha gathered her hair and put it at one side of the shoulder making it easier for Karan to put it on her ears. These little gestures of both of them used to reflect their innocent love for each other.
Few days passed and the preparation of engagement was going on in full swing. There were waves of celebration in both the houses. But Aastha's health was not totally okay. From few days she was having severe headache which the painkiller also couldn't take away. She finally visited a doctor to the nearest hospital. Doctor thoroughly checked her up and said something which shook her to her core. She was pregnant. It came as a shock to her and not knowing how to process it, she silently stepped out of the hospital. She called Karan and asked him to meet at the Rainy Cafe shop which was 3 km to her house. Karan got scared hearing about the urgent meeting and rushed to the cafe. He entered and started looking here and there in search of Aastha. Finally he found her. She was sitting at the farthest corner table. He approached closer and found Aastha dived in deep thought. He put his hand on her shoulder when she turned around to see. Karan pulled out the chair and sat opposite to her. He asked her to elaborate nicely what was bothering her. She with a tensed voice started, "Karan, I am going to be the mother of your child, I am pregnant." Hearing this Karan couldn't believe his ears and immediately stood up. "What are you saying? Have you got checked by a clinical expert? No no no this should not happen!", a much tensed voice came from him. Aastha slowly stood up and taking Karan's hands gently she said, "From some days I was having severe headache which didn't even cure with medication. So this morning I went to the hospital and the doctor herself confirmed about my pregnancy. I was equally shocked as you are now but after giving it a lot of thought, I got my closure. This baby is ours and we should cherish this gift of God. We are anyways about to get married in few days. So there will be no problem, isn't it Karan?" Karan maintained silence for few seconds and finally spoke up, "See Aastha, no doubt we are going to get married soon but that will not eliminate the stain from our personality that we had conceived before marriage. This society always looks down upon to such couple. Moreover I can't see disrespect for myself in my family's eyes. For me my reputation is everything. Let's abort this child, we will anyways have one after marriage." Aastha's face got paled hearing this. She froze like a statue but somehow spoke, "What are you saying Karan? This is your child. Your blood runs through his veins. Are you feeling nothing for him? You are thinking about this society who does nothing but lives only on hypocrisy. And coming to family, they love you for who you are and not for any external motive. They will surely understand you if you convince them nicely. Moreover, it's true that we can also have babies after marriage but what about this life Karan? The life which is taking breath inside me now will be gone permanently. We can't kill our own baby. This is murder. Now you are in shock, that's why you are not being able to think rationally, calm down and think slowly." Saying this Aastha comforted him. But Karan remained stick to his decision on which Aastha with frustration said, "If now I go to my family and say I am going to be the mother of your child, you will be forced to marry me with this child. Then you will have no choice than to accept this child. I think this is the only option left with me." "Okay, you can do that, and may be then I will have to accept this child anyhow but this baby will always be remained unwanted throughout the life. Do you want to raise your child in such an environment where nobody wants him? Will this be healthy for your child? He will be suffocated in this negligence", a man of no values revealed his inner image with this. Aastha realised that she can't invite such a toxic atmosphere for her innocent child. She with teary eyes expressed, "I can't recognise the man standing infront of me. I wonder if you are the same man I have fallen in love with. You are right, I can't give my child such a toxic environment because he has no fault in it. Don't worry my baby will never be a burden on you. You keep your so called reputation and I will keep my child. May our paths never cross again, goodbye." Saying this she left the cafe and Karan never bothered to stop her.
She reached home when her younger sister came running to her and said, "Di, where have you been from so long? Do you even know from how long I am waiting for you? I want to show you something. See the lehenga which I ordered to wear in your engagement has arrived. How's it? Nice na?" Aastha without answering anything for this asked about the whereabouts of mother and father. She started calling them loudly. Hearing her voice, they came down from the first floor immediately. She started saying, "Maa, Papa I want to say something. I don't know how to start...but this morning I got to know that I am pregnant with Karan's child. But Karan is not ready to accept this child in the fear of society's insult as we conceived before marriage." She wanted to say more but broke down in tears. Her sister got close to her and wrapped her shoulder with her hands to show support. "You will have to abode this child otherwise what will be our image infront of the society? We didn't raise you to see this day", her father furiously said, to which Aastha aaded, "No papa, I can't kill my own child. I can't do this heinous crime." "Okay then let me talk to Karan, what do you mean he will not accept his child, is this a game or what? I will show him his place. He will have to accept both of you. If you don't want to abort, then this is the only way left to save our image", Aastha's father angrily shouted and started stepping outside to catch Karan. But Aastha stopped him by holding his hands from behind and said, "No papa, all these are futile, even if you forcefully convince him to accept the responsibility of this baby, he will never consider this as his own with affinity and my baby will be left in an environment where he will always be made feel unwanted. I don't want such a future for my baby. So yes, as mother of this child, my decision should be final for him and I have decided not to marry Karan. I have that much strength in me. I will raise my child alone." Everyone present there went in shock listening the words of Aastha. Her mother came to her and enquired if she was in her senses as every preparation was done and even cards were also distributed for the wedding. Aastha's father lost control and slapped her. He asked her to get out of the house as this was no more her home and she had no room in here now. Ordering this, he left the place. Aastha cried her eyes out but didn't give up on her decision to have this baby. She decided to leave the house. She packed her clothes in a single suitcase and started heading towards the gate when a voice from the back reached her ears. Her mother came running to her and hugged her tightly. She handed an envelope of cash to her and insisted to take care of herself. Aastha's mother was continuously flowing her tears and wanted to go with her. But Aastha stopped her saying that Shruti, her sister was still young and she would be needing her mother. She wiped the tears from her mother's eyes and promised to take care of herself. Taking the blessings of her mother, she left. She was roaming from streets to streets in search of shelter and finally she managed to take a one bhk room at rent far away from her city. She settled in the appartment but her hustle didn't stop. She was running from office to office for job but unable to grab any. One day while she was returning from a job interview, she started feeling dizzy and was about to get unconscious. She somehow managed to push herself to the nearest hospital. A nurse noticed from far away that a woman was not walking properly and would fall soon. She ran towards her and put her on the stretcher. The next moment when Aastha opened her eyes, she found herself lying in a hospital bed. She saw a nurse standing next to her. "How are you feeling now?" , she asked. Aastha replied with confusion, "I am feeling better but who brought me here?" "You were about to fall on the hospital ground and I saw you from inside. So I brought you in when you got unconscious. You should take care of yourself in this condition. Now take rest.", the nurse added in a sweet voice. In the meantime, another nurse stepped inside and told her, "do you know, our receptionist has resigned for her personal problems but now we immediately need one receptionist to run the hospital smoothly. Sir (the owner of the hospital), is very tensed about it." Hearing this Aastha suddenly spoke up, "I can do this job. I really need it, I was searching for a job from many days, I am a master degree holder too, so I think there will be no problem." The nurse who was interacting with her said, "I am Preeti but if you don't mind me asking aren't you over qualified for this job? I mean you will get better job with this qualification, by the way what is your name?" "I am Aastha. I may get a better job later but now I am not getting any, I really need one job for my baby, to keep him healthy", she replied politely. Preeti took Aastha's CV and assured her that she would talk to her boss about it. That day when Aastha got discharged and reached home, her phone beeped with a message. It was from Preeti which read, "Congratulations, boss has hired you. You can come from tomorrow if you feel okay." She replied with okay to her. Finally after so many days, she saw a hope in her life.
Days passed and Aastha's delivery date was drawing closer. Now Aastha and Preeti had become best friends. Preeti used to take care of Aastha like her own sister. She made sure about Aastha's comfortability at work in every possible way. She often visited Aastha's appartment and used to spend time together. Aastha shared everything about her past with Preeti and she without judging anything accepted Aastha with open arms. Sometimes Aastha used to cry infront of Preeti remembering her family but the presence of the baby inside her gave her support to keep moving forward. Finally the day arrived, Aastha's water broke when she was at work. She was immediately admitted to that hospital only. Few hours later, when Aastha opened her eyes, she found the doctor holding her baby in the lap. "Congratulations, it's a baby boy", a voice came from the doctor. The sense of achievement that Aastha felt at that moment was beyond words to explain. Finally, after a lot of struggle she was successful to bring her baby in this world. The doctor placed the baby beside her when Preeti came running and entered the room. She was holding a box of sweets. She was equally happy. She fed the sweet to the doctor and then came to Aastha. She said, "I am so happy for you. He is like a prince. I will be his maasi. By the way, have you thought what you will name him?" Aastha shed tears of happiness and confessed, "since the day I conceived him, everyone was saying that he is a curse in my life. He destroyed my life completely but I believe otherwise for he gave me the happiness of being a mother. He completed my womanhood. He is indeed God's blessing for me. So I will name him Vardaan."
Few years passed like this and Vardaan was ready to take admission in school. He was admitted in the St. Joseph school. Years rolled on and Vardaan started growing and understanding things. People in his school started questioning him about his father. Some even didn't leave behind to bully him. Aastha was also not saved from society's taunts either. Her neighbours, her colleagues used to see her with a disgraced eye. Some used to say on her face while some used to backbite that she became mother without marriage, who could be the father of her child, probably she had relationship with many, that was why she also didn't know who the actual father was and thus ultimately left alone. All these comments used to crippled her from inside but she endured everything just to keep Vardaan strong.
But Vardaan was in his tender age. He more often than not came to his mother with lots of questions about who his father is, where he is right now, why he is not there with them. But Aastha never revealed anything about his father as she didn't want to cast even the shadow of that dark man in Vardaan's life. One day, Vardaan went on strike and told his mother that he would not eat untill she speak anything about his father. Unable to convince Vardaan, Aastha spoke up, "Your father may be was a nice man in other aspects, he was a good son too. But he was not good with your mother and didn't want to be good with you too. That's all I can tell you." While saying this, tears rolled down of Aastha's eyes. Seeing her crying, Vardaan immediately hugged her and apologized for his stubbornness. He promised to never ask about this again.
They decided to find happiness in their small world with each other. They were contented in each other's company. Aastha put good values in Vardaan as he was emerging as good human being. His mother was the star of his eyes and he respected her the most.
Preeti often came to their apartment to visit Vardaan. Preeti and Vardaan was the only family Aastha had.
Some more years passed like this and finally the little Vardaan became so big that he was appointed as the university professor in physics. Today is the first of his service, Aastha brought dahi chini to sweeten his mouth before he leaves. She wished him good luck for his new journey and then he left for the university. That day, the weather was getting very heavy. Strong winds started to blow indicating that a storm was about to start. And it started pouring with utmost velocity. Aastha was eagerly waiting for Vardaan to return as the condition outside was getting worse. Finally he returned a little before the evening. He was fully drenched from head to toe and lost in deep thought. Seeing Vardaan like this, she immediately grabbed the towel and started brushing the water off from his head. She was doing that only when Vardaan broke into tears and hugged her tightly. He started saying, "Maa, I thought I am going to start a new life from today leaving everything behind but probably my fate won't allow it. I was encountered with the same thing today which I was facing since childhood. And to add more to it, someone called me as the illegitimate child. Why they are so mean maa? What wrong I have done to them that they come after me like this?" Hearing all this, Aastha's eyes filled with tears but she portrayed herself strongly and said, "Let them say what they want to. You prove yourself with your talent. Rise so much high in your life that they will need to look above to talk to you. Then they will understand you. Sooner or later, the quality comes to light inevitably. Now stop crying beta, see how is the weather outside. Thank God you have reached home in time. I have made your favourite dish. Let's have lunch together." Saying this she went to bring the lunch. Coming back she saw Vardaan was not there. She looked here and there and found that the gate was open. It scared the hell out of her. Her sixth sense signalled that something bad was going to happen. It was pouring outside along with thunder and lightning. The storm worsened the weather more. In this condition without any second thought, she ran outside and asked every person in her path if they had seen Vardaan. After covering some distance, she noticed him standing on the railing of the river bridge. Her heart skipped a beat seeing him in that position and she rushed towards him invading every storm that came towards her path. She hold his hand and pulled him down instantly. She put a tight slap on his face when her eyes were filled with anger and disappointment. For the first time, she raised hands on Vardaan. They were standing near the border of the wooden bridge when she was panting heavily. After staring for a few seconds at his face, she started speaking, "What do you think of yourself? Is your life only yours? Have I raised you overcoming so many struggle only to witness this day? Never in my nightmare even have I imagined that one day you will want to leave me alone like this? How can you be so much selfish Vardaan? I sacrificed my family, my love only to bring you in this world and you were leaving like this? You didn't even value your life this much? You always wanted to know about your father no, then listen. Your father and I were in love for many years and we were about to get married but before that, the news of my pregnancy came. He did not want to accept you because it will hamper his reputation in his family and in the society as we conceived before marriage. He was ready to marry me if I would have aborted you. My family didn't support me in my decision to keep you as it will ruin their image. I was asked to get out of my own house by my father for this. Without giving any second thought, I left everything, I left my love, I left my family, I left my home. Over everything, I chose you. What do you think? This society didn't curse me? I didn't wish to finish my life to put an end to my pain permanently? But I never let you know what I was going through so that you don't feel the pain. I never took any such step because everytime anything like that came to my mind, my heart stopped me thinking that someone is there to wait for me at the end of every day, how can I shatter his world like this. This thought never allowed me to harm myself. I saved myself for you. And this is the kind of reward I am getting in return? Now I am feeling like I have failed as a mother. I couldn't keep you happy. When your life matters to me so much, then why shouldn't it matter to you? Start living for yourself. People will automatically respect you. Promise me, you will never do or even think of doing anything like this ever in your life again." Vardaan was stunt to hear everything his mother said and was very much ashamed of his deed. He putting his head low, took her hand and was about to say something when a strong thunder roared in the entire place. The rain was about to wash down everything at that time. Suddenly Aastha noticed that the bridge started breaking and in no time she pushed Vardaan out of the bridge and he fell on the ground. Before he could realise anything, he witnessed Aastha falling into the river with the broken pieces of the bridge. It shook the ground beneath his feet as neither she nor Vardaan knew how to swim. He immediately called the neighbours and some of them who knew swimming went to the river. They recovered her but found her unconscious. Instantly she was taken to the hospital. It was the same hospital where Aastha worked, where Vardaan was born. She was admitted to the ICU. Vardaan while waiting outside the ICU informed Preeti who joined him in few minutes as she was present in the hospital itself. After few hours, when Aastha regained her sense, she couldn't believe what she was seeing. It was Karan standing right infront of him with flooded eyes of tears. She realised that Karan was treating him. Karan came closer to her with folded hands and started sobbing when he said, "Aastha you have no idea in how many places I looked for you..I was repenting everyday from the moment I realised what sin I have committed. I am dying for your forgiveness. I want to meet my child. I am such an unfortunate father who doesn't even know if he has a boy or girl child. Please Aastha can you forgive me and let me meet my child once?" Aastha didn't even want to look at his face and turning the face at other side, she started speaking, "where were you when I was struggling with my pregnancy? When I was suffering from labour pain at the time of delivery? What were your thoughts when you left me alone to raise our child? What were you doing when my child was bullied everyday for being fatherless. Now after all these years when I made my son capable enough to stand on his own feet, you came to apologise? He may have your genes too but he is ornamented with my culture completely. You have no right over him now. Please go away, I have taught my son very well how to live without the father." Karan silently stood there listening to all her emotions and with a trembling voice added, "I deserve to hear all this. I know I have no right over him but still can you allow me to have his one glimpse atleast for old times sake? You know my life completely changed after you left. I married a girl named Jiya but in every moment with her, I used to get flashbacks of you. I was not being able to move on from you. Slowly I dived myself into the world of alcohol to release my pain. This increased my distance with Jiya more. We even tried for baby but we failed to have one. May be it was the punishment I was getting to reject God's blessings once so He never offered me another one again. Days passed and the chaos between me and Jiya started getting so high, when finally one day, we both mutually decided to get separated. After getting divorced with her, I immediately rushed to your home. But see my fate, you were not there and your family had no idea about your whereabouts. From that day, only I know how much I have searched you but everytime I faced the failure. See the plan of God, today I have been called in this hospital to perform a special surgery of a child and out of no where I met you. But I met you only when you are leaving me, leaving all of us. I wish I could freeze the time to stop you. Don't leave me please, after so many years I got you. Although I don't deserve to be forgiven, but you have a very soft heart, can you please accept my apology? And will you please let me meet my son?" Hearing all this, Aastha's heart melted with tears even more and she thought that Vardaan would get a support when she won't be there anymore. For Vardaan she forgave him and said, "the one who would be standing outside my room is our son Vardaan. Bring him in." Karan stepped outside to look for Vardaan when he found a boy rushing towards him and asked in a quavering voice, "How is the patient? Is she okay? Nothing will happen to her right?" Karan with a regret in his face replied, "Sorry, we won't be able to save her as her lungs got filled with excess amount of water due to drowning. It's not possible to remove all of it so quickly and by the time we will drain out all water from her lungs, her other organs would already be affected. She has little time left with her, you can come and meet her. Accompany her during the last hours of her life." Saying this, he patted Vardaan's back in consolation and hold his hand to take him in. Vardaan couldn't process what he just heard. He glued to the situation . Preeti couldn't control her tears either but she insisted him to go to Aastha. Seeing them on the door, Aastha gestured with her hand and called them in. They entered and Vardaan sat beside her on the bed while Preeti was standing next to him. But Karan took a place silently far away from them in the corner of the room. Aastha realised that her time was drawing closer, still she put a smile on her face and wiped Vardaan's tears. Vardaan in a shattered voice started saying, "Why maa why? Once again you saved my life without thinking of yourself? How can you be so selfless? I am so sorry maa for letting you down. I promise I will never ever repeat this type of activity again but please don't leave me, please. You are all I have, you mean the world to me." Saying this, he broke into uncontrollable tears in a devastated way. Aastha in a very calm voice replied, "Do you know you were born in this hospital, and when doctor brought you to me, they placed you beside me in the bed where I was lying in the same way as now you are sitting beside me in the bed where I am lying like before. And your Preeti maasi was still there standing by the side of my bed, still she is here. Strange! same people same place, the only difference being that you have grown up now. You want to know what is the biggest prayer of a mother? That her young one always remain healthy and in a good condition. A mother and a child's relation is the purest thing in this world as it is purified with selflessness and unconditional love. A mother can sacrifice her whole world just to bring a smile on her child's face. Don't worry for me Vardaan, I was already old. I have completed more than half of my life and I am happy that I spent my most of the time with you. But your life has just started. You have so many things to experience and so much to explore. That's why your life was more important to save. Make sure to make the best out of everything. I am glad I am going after seeing you established. Preeti please take care of him okay. And you too take care of Preeti maasi. She supported me when no one was there for me. Maasi is like maa, so take of her like you used to take care of me because she is also aging." Aastha saying all this took a pause to think and started saying again, "I have something more to show you." Hearing this both Preeti and Vardaan were turned into confusing mind. Aastha called the doctor to come closure. She started lightening her heart when she began to express, "This is your father Vardaan, today when I opened my eyes, I found him next to me. He has realised all his mistakes and repenting to see you from ages. You always wanted to know your father in person right? I am glad I will breath my last fulfilling your biggest wish. I believe he will take care of you now in my absence. He will fill you with the father's love which you were deprived of since birth. Sort out every difference and start a new life beta. Never mourn for me as I will always be guiding you someway or the other no matter how far I go and my blessings is always with you my child."
6 years later (Present)
Wondering who is the one narrating the entire story to you? I am Naina, Vardaan's wife and mother of his beautiful three year old daughter, Aradhya. Today is the death anniversary of Aastha maa and in her tribute, we arranged a havan. You must be curious to know that how I know so much about Aastha maa's life. It's Preeti maasi. She told us each and everything in detail about the sacrifices Aastha maa made for Vardaan. Hearing about her life enhanced my respect for her to such an extent that I couldn't stop myself from sharing her story. Even in her absence, her values guide me on how to become a good mother for Aradhya.
Sometime later, guests start coming and everyone is greeted to come inside. But both Vardaan and mine, our eyes are searching for that one person only. After a wait of few minutes, here comes that one person who holds a very important place in Vardaan's life now, Preeti maasi. We both have touched her feet and teken her blessings. Everyone has sat and Pandit Ji asked, "Who will be performing the rituals of the puja?" Vardaan has pointed with his hands when everybody turns around to look in the direction he gestured. It is Karan papa. He has arrived wearing a white Kurta and pant and said, "I will be doing the puja for Aastha because my son also wants this." Both papa and Vardaan looked at each other and gave a smile. The havan has started. Pandit ji has insisted everyone to pray for Aastha maa. While everyone is praying for the peace of her soul, Vardaan has prayed, "May I get you as my mother in every coming life."
Moral of the story: A mother can move mountains for her child.
By Barshita Das
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