Chapter 3. Her life and His nightmares.

"Mommy, why is your tummy so big"?

"Your little sister is in there, she is going to come soon to meet his darsh bro"

Dad replied smiling to my curiosity

"You have to take care of her, love her and protect her from bad things, my darsh will be a good baby brother na".

"Yes mom, don't worry I will always take care of her".

After listening to him both of them kissed his cheeks and started walking on the opposite side, they were going in a dark valley and then they vanished from my sight completely. 

"Please mom, don't leave me alone "

"Please dad, stay with me "

"Please, please "

He woke up with a jolt, covered by his sweat. Again the same nightmare, same things, same words again and again. Every night he woke up with the same feeling, feeling of losing his dear parents, feelings of loneliness. He reached to the bedside table and drank the water in one go but his uneasiness didn't seem to settle down.

He knows very well that there is no use in laying in bed now because no matter how much he tries, sleep is not coming back to him. so he walked to the washroom to start his daily routine. After finishing his morning routine, he started jogging to his nearby park from his house.

After spending five years in New York, he started liking this city. When he left for New York five years ago he was not sure about living here for more than six months. But the family business here required some supervision from a Singhania member.

So his grandfather suggested he live there for some more time. Anyways he has to visit Mumbai's home whenever the family or their business needs him. 

      

   It was a very hard time for his family, staying away from him. His Dadi and Choti ma was hell worried about him. Both of them started cursing the New York branch employees, as because of their fault he had to leave them. He has to assure them about his eating timetable, health and promised that he will never bring a firangi bahu for them. Typical dadi and choti ma style. But he makes sure that he will visit them at least twice a year. Sometimes they also visit New york.

Once a year he visits any hill station in India or abroad, he calls it a desertion period for him which lasts for a maximum of ten days. At that time he didn't like discussing, talking or thinking about business affairs. Better he calls it ME time.,this small break gives him peace of mind and soul. so that he can start work with double determination and positive thoughts.

 His Dadaji says that he took this habit from his parents,  they also used to go on such trips.

At present, he was busy throughout the day in meetings after meetings. It's late in the evening when finally he winds up the work and leaves for his home. singhania's has properties all over the world, in New York also they have a lavish bungalow with proper security and efficient staff who take care of his food and home.

Darsh entered the house and immediately got under the shower to relax his nerves with hot soothing water.

After having dinner, he was doing some leftover work on a laptop, his phone ringed flashing his best friend's name. He was Kabir Rawat, his childhood friend in Hindi 'langotiya yaar'. 

"Haan, bol"

"Na hi na hello seedha bol, Kaisa yaar hai tu, at least halchal to pucch.Jaa Katti"

(No hello, no hii what kind of friend are u at least ask my well being)

"Ok, my drama queen, Kaisa hai tu "(how are u).?

"Fine, I am good ., still in search of your bhabhi(.sister in law). I called you to inform you that your booking for Dehradun is done.pl check the details in an email"

"This time I chose Dehradun for your so-called desertion period.As we are going to open some branches of Singhania's there also. Your uncle is thinking of shifting some branches there ."

"Before you begin shouting at me that you will not do or think about business in your' me time'.I must tell you that you just have to visit some lands and give your opinion about the properties to your uncle. Visit them just like doing sight seen"

"After your desertion period, you are coming home sweet home in Mumbai. Where my two sweethearts are waiting for their prince. "The prince of Singhania's, the great darsh Singhania".

Dadu and uncle are eagerly waiting to hug you, buddy. At last, I'm wishing you the best of the journey."

"Jaa darsh Jaa jee le apni Zindagi ".

(  a famous Hindi movie dialogue).

"OH my God, you speak so much at such a fast speed. Thank you for your wishes .good night to u "

After listening to his friend's non-stop blabbering, a small smile appeared on his lips, Kabir knows very well how to uplift darsh's mood. Darsh is not a talkative person, nor is he a good listener. But for his family and friends, he was an exception to this.

Darsh closed his laptop after completing the pending work as he doesn't want to go with the burden of leftover work. He moved to the balcony attached to his room for some fresh air. 

    After the Dehradun trip, I have to again handle the ranting of Choti ma for my marriage but I am not interested in marriage anymore, I left the thought long before. But I know my family knows my condition and they will understand and support me. I hope I will discover a relaxed outing in Dehradun.

Darsh was ready to go in the lap of nature to find some peace. God knows what he is going to find there.

Sanjana's pov.

 We came out of the college premises, the car was already waiting for me. Nanima never forgot my college timings.  It was the last year of college for me. It's not that I don't want to study further but my nanaji may not approve of that...

 "  Kritika and Sunita, my childhood pals or, the only girls I can say as my friends. They both knew my condition and were always helpful to me.

     Sunita chimed in-between " Sanju why don't you come to go my place tonight we will watch some movie " 

   Kritika teased her ' are you kidding, did she ever come to our home except at our birthday parties that too along with her nani they will never allow her to stay out of the house that too at night"

  "   Shii yaar, really how do you bear all things haan. You never came to the movies with us nor did you go clubbing.  You just love staying at home and bearing that witch. ."

"Shut up Sunita she is my Mami ( aunt) she is strict but…"

"No baby accept the truth she hated you and always plan to torture you more, hmmm."

' Yes, I agree with kritika, last weekend how she made you cook all the delicacies for her high tea party and later what she told her friends that she made. Did she even know how to make simple food? liar."

 "   How do you know about it? "

"   Arey! My aunt is also a kitty member, so she was present there. she told me how your aunt was taking all the credit for the food."

Yaar she is too wicked to see how she planned her kitty party haan, she knows that your nani is out of town for two days to attend some relatives wedding. So she grabbed the golden opportunity and made you work. why don't you complain to your nani haan?

  " Yes, Sanju why are you so quiet yaar that Nandini aunty is doing all this ill behaviour with you for years. Stop being so passive to her and at least tell your nani about this " kritika suggested.

  Sanjana was listening to her friends silently, she was feeling so blessed to have friends like them who cared for her..she smiled at them and started in her usual calm and soft tone." It doesn't make any sense to complain, I know what my mami was doing to me but l never mind her actions or better say I am used to it. It was a matter of cooking for her kitty party so I enjoyed it as I love cooking different delicacies. , so we should leave for home now. Ok bye.

  Bidding bye to her friends she got settled in her car, after she left kritika murmured " I just hope that someday, somebody will treat her like a queen and will give her all the love  that  she truly deserves."

 "   Amen," Sunita murmured back they both smiled at each other and left for their respective houses.