Here's the 50th chapter.
Enjoy reading.
A tear drop fell on the photograph she was holding in front of her eyes and looking at with deep love.
She closed her eyes in agony, realizing what an unfortunate mother she was for having to be away from her beloved child for the past thirty years.
It was the most memorable day of her life; "the day he was born".
The day he came into existence in this world.
That day, when she entered motherhood.
That day, she had made a promise to herself to protect and care for her child until the end of her days.
But alas !
She failed.
She was unable to fulfil her role as a mother.
She failed to lavish love on her child.
She wasn't a part of his upbringing.
She failed to fulfil the most beautiful responsibility of her life.
And she failed to be a mother to "him" here.
That precious day is approaching, and she is reminiscing the memories she cherished with him.
"SHAURYA...", a gasp left her lips with another tear drop escaping her eyes.
Her eyes brimmed more as she tenderly caressed the photo with her thumb, realizing that, like every year, she would have to spend the special day without him this year as well.
He, too, would have to go through the day without her.
"Koi baat nhi..."
"Main nhi... Sh... Shaan to haina uske saath..."
"Uska poora parivaar hai..."
"Vo zaroor use khush rakhenge...", her voice weakened.
She had no idea that this year, he would have to spend the day without his father as well, because he was no longer living with him in his home.
Just then, her phone rang and she was startled out of her reminiscence. She wiped her tears away quickly and reached for her phone.
The phone number was unknown.
She took a deep breath and pressed the button to receive the call.
"Hello...", she tried to sound normal.
And there was silence on both sides of the call, and it didn't take long for her to realize who it was.
She didn't want to go ahead with it.
She didn't want to get weak.
She was about to hang up despite her desiring the opposite, when the caller finally spoke up.
"Please phone mat kaatna NOOR...", came the shaking voice.
And her heart surrendered its tenacity.
She couldn't stop herself from continuing the call when she heard "NOOR".
She yearned for it, and it was too tough for her to turn away from it on purpose.
"Please Noor... Phone mat kaatna..."
"Aa... Aaj ek... baar..."
"Ek baar mujhe tumse baat karne do..."
"Please...", came his broken voice.
More tears streamed down her cheeks, but she remained silent.
"Noor...", his voice trembled.
"K... Kuch bologi nhi..."
"Mujhse baat nhi karogi..."
"Y... Yaad nhi aayi tumhe itne din meri...", he cried out.
"Shaan...", she let her tears flow.
"Shaan... tum... tumne phone kyu kiya mujhe..."
"Agar kisiko pta chal gaya... toh pta haina tumhe...", she began to cry again.
"Aaj bhi auro ke baare mein sochogi Noor..."
Few moments of silence prevailed on both the sides thereafter.
"Shaan..."
"K... Kaise... ho... tum..."
"Sh... Shauyra... Shaurya kai... sa hai...", she sobbed.
30 years of separation, and the longingness pricked both their hearts.
"Tumhaare bina kaise ho sakte hai Noor...", he sounded sarcastic.
"Jis din tum chali gayi... Us din hum teeno bikhar gaye..."
"Bikhre hue tukde kaise theek reh sakte hai...", his voice was whimpering.
Tears were pouring down the faces of both people on the phone.
They were speaking to each other after a 30-year hiatus.
This separation had damaged them, but after hearing each other's voices, something had flourished in them.
Shaan tried to speak normally after wiping away his tears, "Noor..."
"Parso..."
"Parso yaad hai tumhe kya hai...", he asked, though he knew the answer.
"Kaise bhool sakti hoon main...", she broke down in tears.
When Shaan heard her wailing, guilt washed over him, and he sobbed, "Noor... I... I'm... Mujhe maaf kardo Noor..."
"I'm sorry..."
"Please mujhe maaf kardo..."
Aastha was reminded of reality when she saw the situation spiral out of their emotional control.
In between hiccups, she quickly wiped her tears and said to him, "Sh... Shaan..."
"Bohot der ho chuki hai..."
"Phone rakh do please..."
"Mere liye it... itna... itna hi kaafi hai..."
"Tum please... ph... phone kaat... do... ple... ease...", she sobbed.
"Noor..."
"Tum bhi kaat sakti ho phone..."
"Kaat do...", he said with teary eyes knowing that this time, she won't.
"Shaan..."
"Please... mere liye mushkil mat bnaao..."
"Tum... tumhe kisine mujhse baat karte hue dekh liya toh firse..."
"Koi nhi dekhne vaala hai Noor...", he responded.
The somberness of his voice caught Aastha off guard for a moment.
"K... Koi nhi dekhega... Matlab ?..."
"Vo... mera matlab... Main abhi baahar hoon Noor... Kisiko kuch pta nhi chalega..."
"Tum... Tum mujhse kuch chhupa rhe ho Shaan...", she said in cracking voice.
"Kuch nhi chhupa rha Noor..."
Once again, silence reigned supreme on both sides.
Shaan finally spoke up after a while.
"Noor..."
"Tumhe pta hai..."
"Tumhaari beti Anokhi ne mujhe tumhaare baare mein bohot saari baatein btaayi..."
"An... Anokhi ?...", she said, terrified.
"Haan Noor..."
"Jis din maine use pehli baar dekha tha... Us din pta nhi kyu pehli nazar mein hi mujhe tum yaad aa gayi thi..."
"Bilkul tumhaari jaisi hai vo... "
"Aur sabse badi baat jisse main hairaan reh gaya tha... Vo hai uski beti Mimi..."
Aastha was taken aback.
"Shaan tum... tumhe Mimi ke baare mein kaise ? ..."
"Bohot lambi kahani hai Noor..."
"Lekin main bas itna kahoonga ki bohot pyaar karti hai tumse Anokhi..."
"Jab bhi tumhaare baare mein kuch btaati hain... Toh uski aankhein chamak uthti hai..."
"Muj... mujhe... mujhe khushi hai... Koi toh tumhe Maa banne ka sukh de paaya Noor...", his voice broke.
Aastha put her pallu in her mouth to prevent the sobs from escaping.
"Noor..."
"Ek... ek baat kehna chaahta hoon tumse..."
"Anokhi ko..."
"Use..."
"Use ab pta chal chuka hai ki tum Shauyra ki Maa ho..."
"SHAAN...", a shocking gasp left her lips.
"Vo... vo darasal Noor..."
"Shaurya ko bhi ye baat pta hai ki vo tumhaari student hai... Aur isliye un dono mein takraav..."
"Shaan... Yeh... yeh tum kya keh rhe ho..."
"Shaurya meri vajah se kahi use galat to nhi samajh rha..."
"Yeh kya ho gaya Shaan..."
"Meri vajah se vo bachchi ko kyu kuch sehna pade... Main aisa bilkul bhi nhi chaahti..."
"Aur usne toh mujhe ek baar bhi is baare mein kuch nhi btaaya..."
"Ab... ab main... Ab main Anokhi se kya kahungi..."
"Maine kabhi use is baare mein btaaya nhi... Aur ab meri vajah se use Shaurya ka gussa bhi-..."
"Baat karlo usse...", Shaan cut in.
"Anokhi se baat karlo Noor..."
"Aur mujhe vishvaas hai vo tumhe galat nhi samjhegi..."
"Lekin tum apne man ko tasalli dene ke liye ek baar phone kar ke dekh lo..."
"Tumhaari beti tumhe zaroor samjhegi..."
Aastha's eyes welled up, but she kept her cool.
"Shaan..."
"Main... main pho... phone rakh rhi hoon..."
"Tum apna khyaal rakhna... Aur Shaurya ka bhi..."
"Mere liye aaj ki ye baatcheet hi kaafi hai..."
"Tum... dobaara..."
"Dobaara phone naa hi karo to behetar rahega...", saying this she cut the call immediately not able to hold the plethora of emotions anymore.
On the other side, Shaan sat there with a sarcastic smile on his face, and the next thing he knew, he was raising his hand, holding the bottle up to his mouth taking a gulp of alcohol.
Classes were over and Reema and Anokhi were on their way downstairs.
"Tujhe pta hai Anokhi... Shaurya Sir ka birthday aane vaala hai..."
"Sabhi students ne surprise party plan ki hai..."
"Shaurya Sir ka birthday...", thought Anokhi.
"Anokhi..."
"Bada maza aayega pta hai !...", exclaimed Reema with delight.
"Bebo aur Kitty bhi bohot excited hai..."
"Aur plan ye bna hai ki subah – subah aakar sabhi students decorations ka arrangement kar lenge... Aur fir jab vo aayenge tab milega unhe bada sa surprise !!..."
Anokhi smiled as she saw her ecstatic friend.
They soon parted ways, with Reema leaving for her hostel.
Anokhi, as usual, went to the canteen to get Mimi. But on reaching there, she was taken aback on seeing her daughter.
She was wearing a bandage on her knee !
She can't bear even a single scratch on her baby girl's body, and something had happened to her little daughter that she was completely unaware of.
"Mimi !...", she hastily rushed towards her.
"Anumaa...", Mimi, who had been sitting on the chair silently until now after her Laddoo had dropped her there, spread her arms to indicate she needed a hug from her Anumaa.
"Mumma... Mumma..."
"Mimi...", she said as she reached for her.
She snagged her up and caressed her face, saying, "Kya hua Mimi Shona... Aapke pair mein kya hua..."
With her other hand, she attempted to peer into the wound.
Pammi spoke up from behind.
"Anokhi puttar... Mainu maaf kar de..."
"Vo Mimi ka pair galti se ek keel par baj gaya tha aur mera dhyaan nhi gaya..."
"Keel ???...", she exclaimed, horrified.
With misty eyes, she turned to embrace Mimi.
"Mimi... Mimi zyaada dard toh nhi ho rha naa..."
Mimi cupped her face and said, "Mumma..."
"Muje dald nayi ho laha Mumma... Kyunki Laddoo ne muje davaai lga di thi...", she said.
"Unhone bi aapki talah jadoo chhe mele chot ko theek kal diya..."
"Ab main bilkul theek hoon Mumma...", she said, caressing her mother's face to reassure her that she was fine.
"Sorry Mimi...", Anokhi kissed Mimi's hair and said to her.
"Mumma aapke paas pehle nhi aa paayi..."
"Koi baat nhi Mumma..."
Following that, the mother and daughter duo left for their home.
Anokhi and Mimi had arrived home, and Anokhi was wondering who "Laddoo" was.
She was thankful to Laddoo, whoever he was, for aiding her beloved Mimi.
Her attention was then drawn to her baby daughter, who was busy coloring with crayons.
She approached her with curiosity and noticed she was drawing a person.
Mimi looked excitedly at her Anumaa who sat beside the bed.
"Mumma Mumma..."
"Yeh dekho..."
"Main Laddoo ki dlawing bna lahi hoon...", she said, showing off her white pearls.
Anokhi caressed her face with a smile.
"Wow Mimi..."
"Yeh to bohot achcha bna hai..."
Mimi became elated and said, "Mumma..."
"Main unko thank you bolna chaahti hoon... Unhone meli madad ki..."
"Vo bohot achche hai..."
"Vo mele pyaale Laddoo hai..."
Anokhi cupped her face in her hands and admired her adorability.
"Yeh toh bohot achchi baat hai Mimi..."
"Aap unko thank you bolna chaahte ho... Very good Shona..."
"Aapk unko Anumaa ki taraf se bhi thank you bolna... Theek hai ?...", she said with a smile.
"Theek hai Mumma...", she said sweetly, nodding.
It was late at night, and Anokhi had finished her college work.
She had put Mimi to bed and was about to join her when her phone rang. When she picked up her phone, she noticed that it was flashing her Aastha Mam's name.
She mentally prepared herself because it was the first time she was going to talk to her after that revelation.
Taking a deep breath, she picked up the call.
"Aastha Mam..."
"Anokhi...", her motherly voice came.
"Kaisi hai Aastha Mam aap..."
"M... Main theek hoon Anokhi..."
"Tum aur Mimi theek hona... Vha koi pareshaani toh nhi aa rhi haina..."
"Jee Mam... Hum dono bilkul theek hai..."
"Lekin aap... Mam aap... aap udaas hain ?...", she could tell by the tone of her voice that she was upset.
"Nh... nhi Anokhi beta... Main theek hoon..."
A deafening silence descended on both sides.
Anokhi was feeling as if she wanted to say something but was hesitant.
"Aastha Mam..."
"Aap... aap kuch kuch kehna chaahti hai... Boliye naa Mam..."
"Vo... Ano... khi..."
"Maine tumse Shaan ke saath apne rishte ke baare mein baat chhupayi... Tum... tum mujhse naaraaz toh nhi hona...", she said nervously.
For a brief moment, Anokhi was taken aback, but she reasoned that perhaps Shaan had spoken to Aastha.
"Aastha Man...", she said calmly.
"Main naaraaz kyu houngi... Yeh aap dono ke beech ki baat hai... Mera koi adhikaar nhi hai yeh baat jaanne ka...", she politely replied.
"Lekin beta... Meri vajah se Shaurya tumhaare saath...", her voice had reduced to low.
By this, Anokhi got reminded of his rash behavior towards her.
"Aastha Mam..."
"Iss baat ko lekar aap chinta mat keejiye..."
"Meri unse baat ho chuki hain... "
"Shaurya se baat ho gayi hai matlab ?...", she was baffled.
"Asal mein Aastha Mam..."
"Shaurya Sir ko shaayd koi galatfaimi hai ki main yaha Delhi mein aapke kehne par aayi hoon..."
"Unka manna hai ki aapne apne kisi kaam ke liye mujhe yaha bheja hai..."
"Lekin maine bhi unhe bohot achche se samjha diya hai ki main kaun hoon aur yaha Delhi mein kis kaam se aayi hoon..."
"Mujhe maaf kardo Anokhi... Meri vajah se tumhe yeh sab-..."
"Nhi Mam... Aapki koi galti nhi hai in sab mein... Galti unki hai kyunki bina soche samjhe unhone kisike baare mein aise dhaarna bna li..."
"Aastha Mam... aap yeh sab chodhiye..."
"Aap... aap mujhe btaaiye... Aap sach mein theek haina... Aapko pta haina main Aastha Maa ko udaas nhi dekh sakti...", she tried to divert her.
"Anokhi..."
"Tumhaari Aastha Maa bilkul theek hai... Lekin main samajh rhi hoon tum baat ghumaane ki koshish kar rhi ho..."
Anokhi fell silent at this point.
"Anokhi..."
"Tum hurt hui hona uske bartaav se... Beta main uski taraf se tumse maafi-..."
"Aastha Mam !... Yeh aap kya keh rhi hai...", she sounded hurt.
"Aap... aap agar aise bolengi toh main aapse naaraaz ho jaaungi... Main aapse baat nhi karungi Aastha Maa...", she said, upset.
"Nhi Anokhi !... Please... Aisa mat karna..."
"Mera ek bachcha toh mujhse naaraaz hai hi... agar tum bhi ho jaaogi toh main nhi reh paaungi..."
Anokhi felt a little guilty the next moment.
"Sorry Aastha Maa... Mera vo matlab nhi tha..."
"Tumhaara jo bhi matlab ho... Bas apni iss doosri maa se kabhi roothna mat please...", she had got teary eyes.
"Kabhi nhi Mam...", Anokhi assured.
"Vaise Aastha Mam... E... ek baat kahu...", Anokhi was hesitant.
"Haan bolo Anokhi..."
"Vo... darasal... maine aaj college mein suna tha... Shaurya Sir ka birthday aane vaala hai..."
Aastha got silent at this.
"H... Haan... sahi suna tumne Anokhi... Shaurya ka... birthday aane vaala hai..."
"Aur har saal ki tarah mujhe yeh din apne bachche ke bina... Aur use apni Maa ke bina hi bitaana padega...", she struggled to keep her tears at bay.
"Aastha Mam..."
"Mujhe iss baare mein kuch bolne ka hak toh nhi hai..."
"Lekin fir bhi... Main kuch kehna chaahti thi..."
"Aapki aawaaz se main samajh sakti hoon ki aap unhe kitna miss karti hai...", she was sorry.
"Jha tak mujhe pta hai Mam... Aap pehle bhi yaha Delhi aa chuki haina..."
"Agar aap chaahti hai toh unke liye-..."
"Vo aur udaas ho jaayega Anokhi...", Aastha spoke cutting her in middle.
"Lekin Aastha Mam... Agar aap chaahti hain ek baar try toh kar sakti hain..."
"Aap toh unki Maa hain... Unhe toh khushi hogi..."
"Nhi Anokhi..."
"Baat... Baat aur bigad jaayegi...", she wiped her tears accepting her defeat.
"Aastha Mam..."
"Agar aap chaahti hain... toh main aapki madad kar sakti hoon...", even though she didn't want to intervene in it, she couldn't stop herself from saying this because she couldn't bear the thought of her Aastha Maa being sad.
"Bilkul nhi Anokhi !..."
"Tum kuch karogi toh Shaurya ko jo galatfaimi hai vo aur badh jaayegi... Main nhi chaahti ki meri vajah se-..."
"Kuch nhi hoga Mam...", Anokhi interrupted.
"Aap iss baare mein mat sochiye..."
"Aap hi ne mujhe sikhaaya haina... Kisiko khush karne ka mauka mile toh chodhna nhi chaahiye... Toh bas aisa hi kuch samajh leejiye..."
"Nhi Anokhi... Tum meri baat nhi samajh rhi... Yeh alag baat hai..."
"Please Aastha Mam..."
"Mujhe aapke liye kuch karne ka mauka mil rha hai... Please mujhe karne deejiye..."
"Ho sakta hai shaayad vo thoda naaraaz ho mujhpar... Lekin vo yeh bhi toh samajh paayenge ki aap unse kitna pyaar karti hai..."
"Oh Anokhi...", Aastha got too emotional realizing Anokhi's love for her.
"Aastha Mam... Ab aap so jaaiye... Bohot raat ho chuki hai..."
"Lekin Anokhi..."
"Tum... tum meri taraf se kya karne vaali ho Anokhi...", she was reluctant to allow Anokhi.
"Abhi kuch socha nhi hai Mam... Lekin bohot jald soch loongi..."
"Aap tension mat leejiye... Good Night..."
"Anokhi... Meri pyaari bachchi... Apni Mam ko itna pyaar karti ho ki kisi aur ki daant sunne ko bhi raazi ho...", she smiled through tears.
"Aap ke liye sab kuch kar sakti hoon main Mam...", she said smiling.
Aastha smiled wiping away her tears.
"Good Night beta..."
They both hung up the phone after an emotional conversation.
Anokhi took a deep breath after setting her phone down on the table and thinking about the task at hand.
Though she was literally hesitating to take this risk because it seemed odd to her that she was getting involved in his matter, but, she still took on that task because she believed that her act would help rekindle a mother-son bond.
She had no intention of interfering in his private life and has nothing to do with it.
It's just she looked at it as a humanely behavior for someone's happiness.
And, after all, she can definitely do this much for her Aastha Mam...
How was it ?
Do tell me in comments 😊