"A web of lies, deceit, and shame,
All woven in a tangled game.
The truth lies hidden, out of sight,
A mystery unsolved, a chilling plight.
Who knows the secrets, where they're kept,
The truth so twisted, thoughts bereft.
So seek and search, the answers find,
The truth revealed, the web unwind."
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SHAURYA KHANNA PHOTOGRAPH WORKSHOP.
He read the sign again while making his entry , another day at work ,another day of Fighting with his beloved wife. Sometimes he wondered how different life would have been if he hadn't gotten married at all. Snorting to himself,he relished their cute fight over his choice of wellbeing and hygiene ,while she was a perfectionist which he believed wasn't possible. He was the nonchallant one, although he is a middle class man who held his self respect in high esteem . As he took his seat in the small studio , His business wasn't going quite well this days and he was trying to console himself that although having a wealthy father in law he couldn't reach out to the old patriarch to seek help. His wife had tried once and her father had given her a earful about how he had warned her against marrying a “middle-class photographer" like he always called him , he never seized to show that he had only married his precious daughter off to him because he wanted her happiness and because she was pregnant with his child at the time , she had refused to raise her child with another man and on her insistence he had married her off to him in a small gathering as he didn't want his business partners to witness his “Shame" like he always called it. He laughed at himself his father in law always had the best reply for every word and he looked up to him ever since he was a little boy.
Stirring in his deep thought he hadn't noticed the person that walked into his shop , unwilling , the fellow banged his table hard and he jerked in fear and Revelled in Anger also . After catching his breathe ,he looked up at the person before him behold his little sister “Imlie"
Wanting to yell at her for the intrusion his anger rose to concern when he saw her shivering and sweating , it was then he realised she has been running in order to reach him in time , “ what's wrong imlie??" He directed and stood up abruptly at her reply “ Sister in law is in labour and she won't deliver the baby until you arrive " She said while panting in fear. That's true his wife is due this month and how didn't he think about it since, he picked up his phone and followed his sister as they ran along together , Their child was coming to the world and he won't miss it for the world maybe now his father in law would see him in a different light . The shop wasnt far from their home so they reached in haste , on entering the house there were a few women around and imlie explained their mother had called them when his wife got into labour , in haste he ran towards their room where their child was being delivered he could hear his wife's Screams and groans and his mother's concerned voice as she held her hand and her voice sounded like she was crying while chanting repeatedly “ Mehek please try and do this for the baby please" . His mind was beating miles per hour when he entered their room , his mother who noticed his entry gestured him to come closer and assure her that he is also there while the old delivery woman was helping her by instructing her to push. On noticing his entry ,Mehek looked up at him with teary eyes. She turned her head left to right and kept chanting “ I'm tired please Shaurya tell them I want to rest Abit I am tired ", As if on cue Shaurya plead with the old nurse “ Can my wife rest a bit please ??" He plead . “I'm sorry but she can't " The nurse told .
After hours of pushing and screams ,The cry of a new baby was heard in the house and the women cheered In Joy and Shaurya hugged his mother and was shedding tears of Joy while she kept congratulating him , in reflex he moved to his tired wife and showered her face with Kisses , “ We did it Shaurya " Mehek said while drifting into slumber and a scared Shaurya looked up at the nurse gesturing to his wife and understanding the old nurse explained that it was due to the stress from delivery that she just need sleep , he looked on to his wife , Because of his financial problems she couldn't go to the hospital to deliver their baby . Taking his seat on the bed next to his wife ,the nurse brought their baby “ congratulations she is a girl" she said while gesturing him to take the baby , with shaky hands he carried their baby and for a moment he stood frozen staring at their bundle of Joy “she was looking beautiful having her mother's color of hair and nose ,one could undoubtedly say she was his exact replica" holding her there and then he made a promise in his mind that he would do anything to make her happy.
“ won't you tell her father "...... Shaurya heard his mother direct the question at him and he turned facing her “ won't he snob me??" He asked his mother and she sighed before proceeding to encourage him“im sure he won't infact he would be happy to find out his daughter had just delivered his granddaughter" ........... Okay mom I will call him now .
The phone rang continuously and after a while Raj Patel sharma picked up and rolled his eyes when he realized who was on the other side of the line . “ How may I help you??" His broad voice echoed through Shaurya's ears and for.a moment he cowers and thought to hang up but developed courage to continue .
“ Err, Father I just wanted to inform you that Mehek just delivered our baby" . The silence that followed was deafening and after a while. “Congratulations" Raj's voice echoed and before Shaurya could reply the beeping sound from the phone gave way to realization that his father in law had hung up on him.
