I just want to have a normal life.
Doing normal things. Feeling like others. Going to college in the morning. Back in the afternoon, welcomed by a warm hug from mom, eating dinner after dad came back from work. Keep repeating that every day.
The problem will be solved easily. Mom and dad love each other.
Laughing when dad throws some dad jokes. Crying when I feel tired. In peace when mom hugs me. Falling asleep on her lap with dad reading fairy tales.
Without being separated. Without having to leave the house just to talk to Maa. Without having to miss her. Without having to explain to my friends why my parents names are always on the top trending list on social media.
I know I can't choose my parents. I am grateful to have a father like you. But not this one. I miss my old Papa.
Aryan closed his eyes for a moment then took a deep breath. His vision started to blur but he quickly wiped it away. He continued his writing.
My Papa loves my Maa very much. He always felt worried when she came home late. He always hugs her anytime, anywhere, for no particular reason. He always cared about her. But why is it different now?
Please bring back my father. Tell him his family is in need of him. Ask him to save his family. I want my life back. I want my mother back. I want my family back.
Please, bring back my father.
"Aryan bhaiyya, I'm finish."
Aryan turned his head. Suhana shows the letter she had written to him. He rubbed his eyes and read them briefly.
"Wow, it's great! You drew dad's face too." he praised with a smile.
Suhana smiles happily. Her eyes sparkled at Aryan. "Will dad like it?"
"Of course. It's beautiful. I'm sure he'll like it. You can be a very talented artist."
"What is that... ar... artist?" Suhana asked while furrowing her eyebrows.
Aryan smiled again. "Artists are people who produce art. What you just did, writing, drawing, it's art. My mom and dad are artists. I want to be like them too."
Suhana was silent for a while. She digested every word Aryan said. "Are all artists going to be on tv like your mom and dad?"
"Not all." Aryan chuckled as she ruffled her hair playfully. "They produce different kind of art. People loves the art they create. They're always on tv because people like to see them."
"Then, you'll become like them too?"
Aryan nodded. "But I don't like being on television. Just them, not me."
"Okay... Have you finished your letter? May I have a look?" Suhana poked her head at the piece of paper in front of Aryan.
Aryan hastily covered it with his elbow. He's looking for an excuse so that Suhana doesn't read it. The sentences he wrote wouldn't be understood by a ten year old kid.
The goddess of luck was on his side. When he couldn't find the reason, Gauri came to them. He could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
"Suhana, it's time for dance class."
Suhana pursed her lips but still obeyed her mother. She packed up all her things and went to change. Meanwhile, Aryan immediately folded his writing paper and stored it in his jacket.
"Then I'll just go home." Aryan said. He saw his mother holding a little boy in her arms. They looked at each other and smiled. The boy waved his hand at him.
"Are you sure?" Gauri asked. His son just nodded.
"Okay. Oh, can you take Suhana to the studio? I have to take Yuva to the hospital for check-up. I'll pick her up when we're finished."
Aryan looks back at Yuvraj and smiles. "No problem. I'll take her."
Gauri smiles then hugs her son. Aryan returned the warm hug. It had been a long time since he had felt a mother's hug.
"May God always strengthen your heart, son. You're great and you should know that."
For years Aryan tried to heal the wounds inside him because of his parents divorce. Now he has come to terms with the pain. But he doesn't know if he will be ready to accept the pain of another divorce.
Gauri let go of him and kissed his forehead gently. She smiled once more then left to prepare Suhana's needs. While waiting for Suhana to get ready Aryan plays with Yuvraj, his 3 year old half-brother.
**
"Well, the twins seem to be growing really well, Kajol. They look healthy." Riya said happily.
Kajol turned her head. Through an ultrasound screen she could see the two babies moving slowly. Riya shows their faces, eyes, nose, lips. She smiled ear-to-ear. For the first time in months her heart felt so happy. Finally the opportunity really came to her. She will become a mother. Nothing made her happier than that.
"You want to hear their heartbeats?" Riya asked.
Kajol just nodded without taking her eyes off the screen. Then she heard the most beautiful sound she had ever heard. The sound of their heartbeats filled the room. Her heart melted and her eyes filled with tears. This time it wasn't a dream. She really heard it. She had been waiting for this day all her life. One day that would change her whole life.
"Ah, never thought I would be this happy because of a patient." Riya said while rubbing her eyes.
Kajol straightened her clothes back and laughed. "Really?"
"Yeah. I mean, I know how hard you went to get them. I know the ups and downs you went through. Two miscarriages wasn't easy but you got to this point. You're going to give birth to healthy twins. Finally, after so many years. I'm very happy about that."
"You know this wouldn't have happened without your help, Riya. You've helped me a lot over the years."
Riya smiles. She helped Kajol off the bed and they sat back down at her desk.
"I don't want to ruin your mood but I have to tell you this. A few days ago Shahrukh came to see me." Riya said while writing something on a paper.
"What did he wanted?"
"He asked about your pregnancy. I didn't say much. I just gave him the report, like you asked me to do."
Kajol took a deep breath. "At least it can make him believe that they are his."
"I hope things will get better."
Kajol nodded. She also expected the same.
After all her business was done, she said goodbye to Riya. She walked out of the room with an uncertain feeling. She was sure Shahrukh already knew everything. That's why he came to see her that day. But she can no longer be like before. She has already taken steps for her life. It was too late for them.
Unless God wills.
She stood on the hospital door nervously. She looked around looking for the driver who picked her up. She had been standing there for twenty minutes. She started to panic and tried to call the driver. No answer. She tried again but the result was the same.
From a distance she could see a car moving towards her. There was no one nearby so she was sure the car would surely come to her. Sure enough, the black car stopped right in front of her. She stared in surprise at the car. Who is this?
The window began to roll down. Her eyes widened in shock when she saw the person who "picked her up". Her body instantly froze in where she stood.
"Hi. Need a ride?"
Kajol flinched at the voice. She quickly walked away. She didn't want the trauma to come back. She had a hard time trying to forget the incident.
Suddenly someone grabbed her hand and turned her. She was sure it was the man in the car. Ajay glared at her with an evil smile on his lips. She looked away, not wanting to see those eyes again.
"Hey, why are you avoiding me? Why are you alone?"
"None of your business." Kajol answered quickly while trying to release the grip on her arm.
Ajay smiled as he looked at her stomach. "Let's take you home. It's not safe for you to go home alone."
You are that unsafeness, Mr Devgan.
Kajol shook her head. "No thanks. I can get a cab."
"The news of your divorce is all over the place. Why be afraid? You're free now. Come on." Ajay keeps his grip on Kajol's arm and gets stronger. He pulled her to her car.
Kajol continued to wriggle. His strength was definitely much stronger than hers. She cried, hoping that God would be kind to her and help her to get away from him.
**
"Thank you, bhaiyya. When are you coming to our house again?" Suhana asked when she and Aryan had reached the studio.
"Soon. I'll tell mom when I come." Aryan replied.
Suhana smiles and gives Aryan a farewell hug. She got out of the car and waved her hand. Aryan watched Suhana until she entered the studio. After that, he started the car again and rushed towards Ahaan's house. His best friend asked him to come after he is done at his mother's house.
The streets of Mumbai that afternoon were crowded, as usual. He stucked in traffic. Aryan drove the car slowly following the queue of other cars. To relieve his boredom, he turns on his car stereo and plays his favorite song. His head bobbed to the music and his fingers tapped the steering wheel.
He glanced around. The sky was starting to get dark even though it was only 4 pm. Then he looked the other way and saw something. On the sidewalk, just a few meters from him, a woman seemed to be arguing with a man. He wanted to ignore it but his little heart said otherwise. It was as if he knew the woman. He squinted his eyes, trying to clear his vision.
It's Kajol! Without much thinking he immediately pulled the car over and approached them. Now he could clearly see the man who was with his mother. He couldn't bear to see his mother sobbing like that. Many people saw them but no one helped her.
Aryan let go of Ajay's grip and glared at the man. Kajol breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Aryan and immediately hugged him.
"Let's go home, Maa." Aryan said while taking his mother away from there.
"Don't meddle in my business." Ajay doesn't accept that. He pulled Aryan's jacket roughly.
Aryan's reflexes made him catch Ajay's hand quickly and twist it. He didn't care anymore about the people watching them. "Stay. away. from. my mother. Or I'll break your hand."
The middle aged man almost fell when Aryan pushed him. He immediately took her to his car. Kajol still very shocked by what just happened. Aryan gave her some tissues and a bottle of water. He watched her and waited for her to calm down.
"I know you have a lot of questions in your head but could you take me home first? I'll tell you everything later." Kajol asked.
Aryan just nodded and obeyed. She is right. He has many questions in his head. Her mother's unknown pregnancy, Ajay's sudden arrival in her life, and all the sudden of her leaving home.
The questions in his head hasn't answered but Kajol again created a new question for him.
"I don't live at my mother's house anymore. Just follow this road and I'll tell you later."
Again Aryan just obeyed her. He extended his patience because he knew that soon he would find all the answers.
**
Shahrukh ruffled his hair in frustration then rested his head on the table. He's so messed up. Since he found out about his wife's pregnancy he sent his bodyguards all over town to look for her. Every day they walked through every corner of the city. But no one could send a good report to him. Their searches were always to no avail.
Not to mention the news in the media about his abusive treatment of Tanuja's house guards a few days ago. The video went viral on social media. People are flocking to drop his name. His films were boycotted and declared a failure by some critics. It made him even more depressed.
He doesn't know how many million tears he has shed just to cry over his regret. He regrets what he had done to his wife. If only he could be more patient and willing to listen to Kajol things wouldn't have turned out this way. He regrets being selfish. He regrets letting her leave the house. He regrets everything. And like other people with regrets, he wished he could turn back time and make things right.
"Shahrukh, your film verdict is out. We can't get to 100 crore." Pooja said who was sitting next to him.
Shehnaz who was also in the room heard that and patted his shoulder. "It's okay. You can try again later."
Even though his lips didn't say anything but the words managed to enter his mind. Makes him even more stressed.
In the midst of the chaos, Ravi came into the room. He placed a letter on the table.
"A letter for you, sir."
"Please read that to me, Pooja." Shahrukh said with a heavy sigh.
Pooja glanced at the letter. "But I think it's for your eyes only. It's from the court."
Shahrukh immediately raised his head. He hastily opened the letter and read its contents quickly. His heart stopped beating as he read the first sentence.
"Divorce lawsuit?"
~ TO BE CONTINUED ~