The proud Mathur Residence glowed softly in the morning sun.
The day was special and was filled with gleam joy and the happiness radiated through the white washed building that appeared with golden hues under the bright sun shine.
It was the twentieth birthday of their only daughter... Bansi Mathur.
The preparations for the evening function were in full force. Decorations were being made. Guest list was finalized. Return gifts were already packed and labeled. The vast gardens were being watered.
Though the party was in a lavish banquet in a well known hotel of the town, nothing could stop the enthusiasm in the huge villa.
The door burst open as Samrat walked in after his morning exercise. He had been personally looking in the preparations of the evening function. Though he was exhausted, he made sure to talk to the party planners and warned them that nothing should be out of place. It was not everyday that his cousin turned twenty.
After a quick refreshing shower, he was all set to go to his cousin's room and gift her the set of gold that he had purchased the previous night.
Bansi was engrossed in her books when she heard the knock. She sighed, knowing very well who could it be at such an early morning. She sprinted to the door and opened it wide with an equally wide smile.
"Hey Princess! Happy Birthday." Samrat exclaimed engulfing her in a bear hug.
She wrapped her arms around his torso and mumbled a small thanks. Samrat furrowed his brows and pulled away. He looked at her and found her looking back at him.
"You are not happy? What's wrong?" He asked.
She smiled wide.
"Off course I am happy. Why wouldn't I be?"
Samrat pursed his lips.
"What is it, Bansi?"
She huffed annoyed.
"Nothing, Bhai. You are worried for no reason."
He shook his head in defeat. He knew what made her sad, but he did not wish to address the issue. Placing a warm kiss on her forehead, he walked out after lovingly asking her to come for breakfast. Bansi gently pushed the door and resumed her studies now that her exams were approaching.
She was again distracted when she was called for the breakfast, where her entire family was waiting.
Naren, elder brother of Samrat and her eldest cousin, along with his wife Richa Bhabhi, gifted her a new scooty that she could drive to her college. While her parents, Mr. Aniket Mathur and Mrs. Sapna Mathur, gave her the keys of a new apartment.
Bansi bent down to touch the feet of all the elders but everyone could see a sheen of sadness behind her smiles. While the family was trying to lighten up her mood, all the attention was stolen when a charming voice was heard.
"Happy Birthday, beautiful!" Veena rushed inside and pulled Bansi in a bone crashing hug.
While everyone laughed at the duo, Samrat was over the moon to see the woman who was almost his heartbeat.
"Veena! When did you come?" He asked pulling her away from his cousin.
"How can I not come, when it was Bansi's birthday? I will not miss it for anything." She replied and was immediately pulled in his embrace.
Veena found the warmth weirdly soothing.
Samrat and Veena had instantly clicked and he found a sister in her that he never had. She was closer to him than Bansi. Veena being more outgoing and social, she had beautifully filled in the void of a daughter for the Mathur siblings. She was an important part of the family for Samrat and Bansi was slowly sidelined. Though Bansi was equally loved, she was too young and naive. She was the child of the family and nothing more. Veena on the other hand, very quickly took over the hearts and minds of the Mathur family and treated Bansi as a child that she was.
Bansi never got the chance to outgrow from the role of being a kid.
Bansi was always a loved and pampered, yet well behaved child. But the role of being a sister was skillfully snatched by Veena Shukla.
"Here, I brought the chocolates you love. Tell me what else you want for your birthday." Veena asked extending the packet of chocolate.
Bansi accepted the gift with a small smile.
"I am fine with this. And I have almost everything."
Veena chuckled at her words.
"There is a difference between everything and almost everything, Bansi. What is it that stops you from making it everything?"
Bansi looked at her and her eyes suddenly welled up. She blinked rapidly and looked at her father for a mere moment and blinking off her tears. She shook her head lightly.
"Mom, I am hungry. Can I have my breakfast? I need to study too." She said trying to keep her voice from cracking.
With her request, everyone went silent and was back at the table to have the first meal of the day.
The family was unusually silent and Veena did not try to interrupt anyone.
While they were still eating, a maid came knocking at the door of the dining room and that made everyone look up.
She walked to Bansi's father and handed an envelope.
"This is received for Bansi Ma'am."
Bansi looked up at her father and then at the envelope longingly. Mr. Aniket Mathur clenched his jaw and pushed the envelope towards Bansi. Bansi's eyes welled up. She excused herself and walked out of the room with the envelope in her hands. Once out of the dining room, she rushed towards her own room and closed the door behind her.
With tears brimming in her eyes, she looked at the envelope and the messy scribbling of her name and the address of the house. The white and pink envelope made her cry profusely in no time. She carefully tore opened the paper of the envelope and pulled out the card that had a image of a girl sitting in the meadows, with a hat on her head. She was surrounded by lot of healthy cows as she sat looking happy and content. A shade of purple was prominent in the picture a the flowers in the meadows covered the entire frame. The girl wore a light purple gown and carried a purple hat on her head.
On her every birthday, she looked forward for a morphed image that she would get. It was always the same picture of her eleven-year-old self with a different background and a simple 'Happy Birthday' scribbling at the back.
Bansi walked to her bed and lied down as the memories clouded her young mind.
She looked at the only frame that was kept on the side table. She had rebelled and protested for the photo in the frame. She picked it up and held it close to her heart.
Bansi was startled from her restless sleep when the frame was gently pulled away from her hold. She blinked and looked at Veena, who was now intently looking at the frame. Bansi sat up and pulled that frame back.
Veena looked at her and back at the frame that Bansi was trying to hide.
"Who is that?" Veena could not help but ask.
"No one." Bansi replied with a straight face.
"Won't you show it to me?" Veena asked gently.
Bansi could not deny the gentleness in her voice. Veena had always been a good friend. She had been nothing but considerate always. Bansi sighed and extended the frame. Veena looked at the frame.
Dark brooding eyes, gentle smile and wheatish coloured 17 year old boy stared at her from the photo frame.
"Is this..?" Veena was at loss of words.
Bansi hummed softly.
"He is so young." Veena whispered in shock.
Bansi looked down.
"That was when he stayed with us. Now I don't know how he looks. This is the only photo I have... Or this is the only one available in this house."
Veena looked back at the photo.
"What exactly happened? I mean, no one ever talks about him. What did he do?"
Bansi shook her head.
"I was very young. But they say, he molested and murdered a girl. No one goes into the details. He was found guilty."
Veena looked at the gentle smile. It was hard to believe that a boy with such an innocent smile could do this damage. But they say, smiling faces can hide demons within.
The party was a mood changer for Bansi. She enjoyed to her heart's content. She could see the efforts put in by her parents. She did not want the efforts to go down the drain. Her parents were doing their bast to see their only child happy. Bansi made sure, she looked happy.
That night, when everyone was back home, Bansi could hold herself no more. She walked to her parents room.
Her mother responded to her knocks.
"I want to talk to Dad."
"Bansi? Come in Bachcha." Her father replied.
Bansi wrapped her arms around him and gave out the way to her uncontrolled sobs. Her parents were taken aback.
"Hey, what's wrong? Did anyone hurt you? What is it? You are scaring me, Bansi." Her father asked worried.
Bansi looked at him with tearful eyes.
"Dad, will you give me something if I ask for?"
Aniket clenched his jaw, knowing very well what his daughter might ask.
He gently pushed her away.
"Go back to your room and sleep. We already had a long day."
Bansi held his hand and gave out another sob.
"Dad, please. Just once. I want to meet him. I really miss him. Please, Dad."
Her father pushed her hand away.
"Get out." He harshly commanded.
Bansi gasped and took a step back.
She could not make herself stand there any longer and rushed out with a heavy heart.
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