Hey, you all! Thank you so, so much for all your responses, I’m so genuinely grateful. Here’s the next episode, Happy Reading!
PREVIOUSLY, Twinkle and Kunj spend time together, and get to know each other better.
EK TUKDA PYAAR – EPISODE 14
Aarohi had been happy throughout most of the next week. Her mother had informed her the previous weekend that she wouldn’t be visiting her father that week and she’d felt her happiness stutter. After she’d spent an entire week basking in her parent’s affection and pampering, she hadn’t expected that piece of information. She loved spending time in her father’s house, almost as much as she loved staying in her mother’s house – the house she called her own.
But her mother had informed her later, that her father would be visiting them during the weekend. And she’d been delighted at the idea. She loved spending time with both of her parents around. She’d noticed their conversations had increased in the past few weeks, and she couldn’t have been any happier. She’d figured, her parents had been trying to resolve the fights which existed between them and she’d felt ecstasy swarm through her.
She’d heard from all her friends that their parents always tried resolving their fights, and she’d decided, her parents had wanted to, too. And since their fight involved her happiness, too, they’d wanted to involve her. A small smile pulled at the corners of her lips and she stared at the wall, dreamily. She’d wished for her parents’ togetherness in so long.
When the bell rang, Aarohi looked up at the wall-clock and studied the time. It was almost lunch-time, and perhaps, her father waited at the door for her.
Twinkle (from behind; setting the table): Baccha, will you please answer the door?
Aarohi (yelling): Yes, Maa!
She ran away toward the main door and creaked it open. She saw her father tapping his foot on the floor and she smiled up at him. She loosened her grasp and folded her hands. It was a habit she’d found very heart-warming, yet funny. She’d seen her Kunj Uncle do it each time he met her grandmother, and she’d found it very amusing. She knew it was a way of greeting, but she hadn’t seen anyone do it, before.
Aarohi (folding her hands to mimic Kunj): Namaste, Papa!
Yuvraj (walking inside and ruffling her hair): Why, Hello! Where did you learn that from?
Aarohi (slapping her forehead): You were supposed to say ‘Namaste’, Papa.
Yuvraj (unfocusedly; looking at Twinkle): What?
Aarohi (pulling his hand): Papa, where are you lost?
Yuvraj (shaking his head and looking down): Nothing. Tell me. What were you doing before I came?
Aarohi pulled her father to the seating area and sat him down. She began telling him about her school and friends, narrating the same stories she’d told her mother and grandmother.
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Twinkle sat down opposite to Yuvraj – and adjacent to Aarohi – after she’d cleaned the table post-lunch. The temperatures had increased with the change of season and she’d insisted on sitting inside. But Aarohi had insisted to sit outside, under the sun and that was why, her mother had insisted she took a jug of lemonade for all of them. She’d been anxious all through the morning, and as she settled down in her chair, she felt her anxiousness escalate and the nerves within her clenched in tension.
Aarohi (in an excited voice): I’ll pour the lemonade, Maa?
Twinkle: The jug will be heavy; you don’t have to do that. (picking up a glass) I’ll pour you a glass, if you want.
Aarohi: Okay, Maa.
Aarohi held out the glass and Twinkle poured her a glass of lemonade. She’d observed her daughter’s happiness since the morning, but she hadn’t been able to decipher the reason. She hadn’t wanted to spoil her mood, and thus, hadn’t questioned her. She’d figured, the happier she was, the better she’d be able to accept the news.
Twinkle placed the jug on the table and sighed, heavily. She wasn’t sure if she could handle the consequences that awaited her. While she’d hoped and prayed for an affirmative response, she wasn’t sure if her daughter would be that receptive and accepting. She laced her fingers and looked up at Yuvraj, asking him who’d initiate the conversation. Neither of them had wanted the week to pass-by that quickly. It’d almost felt like the weekend had rolled in within the blink of an eye.
Aarohi (sipping her lemonade): Why are you not talking; Maa? Papa? (pausing and looking at their empty glasses) Why aren’t you taking the lemonade? I have to tell Nani that this lemonade is so good, and that she needs to make it more…
Twinkle (interrupting): Aarohi, I and Papa have to talk to you about something important.
Aarohi: Yes, I know. You’ve told me.
Yuvraj: Beta, I and your Maa are…
Aarohi (squeaking): Are we going to stay together? As one whole family?
Yuvraj (taken aback): N…
Twinkle (holding Yuvraj’s hand to stop him): Aarohi, we’ve thought this through, and we’ve realised, you need a family. A family that can love you more than you could ever imagine.
Aarohi nodded her head and looked at her parents, her gaze alternating between the two of them.
Twinkle: But I and your Papa can’t be together. We’ve thought of it before, but (sighing and holding Aarohi’s hand) we don’t want to do this. We don’t want to do something where you’ll be unhappy, Baccha.
Aarohi (furrowing her brows): But why will I be unhappy, Maa? That is what I want. I’ve always wanted you and Papa to be together. I’ve always wanted a family. And if you and Papa can’t be together, then how can I have a family?
Yuvraj: Beta, you know, some kids are very special. And they’re very fortunate to have more than two parents. (pausing) And you should be happy, that you’re going to get more than two parents.
Aarohi (frowning): But I don’t want to be special. I want to be normal, and have the two of you together around me all the time. When I return from school, I want to return to you and Maa. No one else! I want to return to MY family.
Twinkle (in a soft voice): But even this would be your family, Aarohi. It’s just that, you need to accept them.
Aarohi (shaking her head): No, Maa. I want the two of you to be together. I want nothing else.
Yuvraj: But that can’t happen, Aarohi. I and Maa have thought this through, and this is the best we can provide you. We don’t want you to cry and yearn for a family all your life.
Aarohi (in a loud voice; with teary eyes): I want my OWN family. A family which would have the two of you. (yelling) Why can’t the two of you solve your fight?
Twinkle (sternly): What is this way of talking, Aarohi? Say sorry to Papa.
Aarohi (slamming the glass on the table): No, Maa. This is not my fault. All I want is, the two of you to be together. My parents to be together and there’s nothing wrong in it. All my friends’ parents stay together.
Twinkle (sighing to control herself): Can you please listen to us? (pausing shortly) If we’re telling you something, you need to listen and understand. No one is your enemy here. Both of us want to do what’s better for you.
Aarohi: But this is not what I want.
Yuvraj: Aarohi…
Twinkle (interrupting): You don’t always get what you want. This isn’t a fairy-tale happening, that you’ll get all that you want, and as per how you want.
Yuvraj (looking up at Twinkle and shaking his head): Look, Aarohi. We know, we’re putting you through a lot. But trust us, we will not do anything that isn’t good for you. (pausing and sitting up straight) I and your Maa have tried to resolve our issues for you, but it didn’t work. And we don’t want to throw you into something that won’t be good for you, in the long run.
Aarohi: You both can resolve your fight. It is that easy. It is just a fight.
Twinkle (in an exasperated voice): It is not just a fight for a pencil, Aarohi. I’ve told you this before, too. I and your Papa have other issues that you won’t understand. But what we need you to understand is, that if we’re taking a decision for you, it’d be for the good. We want you to know, that your happiness will always be our priority.
Aarohi (looking down at the grass; in a soft voice): And my happiness lies with the two of you.
Twinkle (sitting down on the grass): But our happiness doesn’t lie with each other, Baccha. You’ve to understand that.
Aarohi (in a choked voice): That means this is about your happiness, Maa. About your and Papa’s happiness. This isn’t about me – or, for me. (pausing for a long minute) Who’s happiness is this about, Maa? Yours or Papa’s?
Twinkle (embracing her daughter): This isn’t about our happiness, Aarohi. This was always, and will always be about you. I decided to move on because you need a family. This is going to be nothing more than that.
Aarohi (sniffing): I don’t want anything, Maa. If it means losing the two of you, I don’t even want a family. If you and Papa can’t be together, it’s fine. We’ll continue with what exists now. I will be here with you and Nani for most of the week, and in the weekends, I’ll go and visit Papa.
Twinkle (inhaling deeply): Is that what you want?
Aarohi: I don’t want another father in my life, Maa. I love Papa.
Yuvraj caressed her hair and looked at Twinkle. The small part of her that had known she wouldn’t be able to convince her daughter had been right all this time. She knew, it wouldn’t be easy for her daughter to accept someone else. But she felt her heart had broken into two fragments as she saw the entirety of that thought she’d wanted to extinguish, unravel in reality.
Twinkle (patting her back): No one will take your Papa’s position in your life, ever. I promise!
Aarohi nuzzled into the crook of her neck and shook her head, again. Twinkle enveloped her daughter tighter when she felt her tears wet the neckline of her blouse.
Twinkle: Okay, nothing will happen if you don’t want it. We will not talk about this. (pulling back) Do you want to take a quick nap and forget all the conversation we had?
Aarohi (nodding her head; with a soft stare): Yes. Can you please tuck me to bed?
Twinkle nodded her head and stood up, lacing her fingers with Aarohi’s. She looked at Yuvraj and smiled, sadly.
Twinkle: Give me some time. I’ll put her to sleep and return.
Yuvraj (nodding his head): Alright! I’ll be in the driveway. (looking at Aarohi) Bye, Aarohi!
Aarohi nodded and walked inside the house, sniffing softly. Twinkle didn’t know, if her daughter would ever be able to accept the future she foresaw, but she didn’t want to force it on her. Perhaps, if she gave her some time, she’d accept it. Perhaps.
Aarohi (turning around): Will I be staying with you next week, Papa?
Yuvraj (smiling): Yes. I’ll come and drive you home, like any other weekend.
The corners of her lips stretched into a small, soft smile and she followed Twinkle inside, closely. As they walked inside the house and the calmness and serenity of the house began enveloping them, Twinkle’s phone rang and she looked at the flashing screen of her phone.
Aarohi: Who’s calling, Maa?
Twinkle (hesitantly): Kunj Uncle.
Aarohi: Can I talk to him?
Twinkle: Now? He might be calling me for something important.
Aarohi (wiping the corners of her eyes): Can we video call him?
Twinkle: Can we get you to bed, first? We’ll call him after you clean your face. (scrunching her nose) You look so ugly, right now.
Aarohi (with a glint of mischief in her voice): Can I call him like this and tell him, that you troubled me?
Twinkle (widening her eyes in disbelief): What is this conspiracy you and your Uncle are doing against me?
Aarohi giggled softly and walked inside the washroom to clean herself. Twinkle stared at her retreating figure and sighed, inwardly. After several instances, she knew Kunj would be a guardian Aarohi would require. But maybe, if she’d mentioned his name, she’d have had begun hating him.
She swiped through her screen and pressed on Kunj’s contact to video-call him. After the happenings of the afternoon, she didn’t have the energy to dissuade a simple request of her daughter. He picked up the call after several rings and smiled at her.
Kunj: Well, that was a surprise! I was just calling.
Twinkle: Yes, but Aarohi wanted to video-call you, that’s why.
Kunj: Did you talk to her?
Twinkle (in a disappointed voice): I kind of knew she wouldn’t agree, Kunj. I kept on telling you and Maa, too. But we tried, and she didn’t receive it quite well.
Kunj (furrowing his brows): She still wants to talk to me?
Twinkle: We never got to mentioning whom I’ll be marrying, so she doesn’t know. Please take care, she doesn’t…
Aarohi (interrupting): Maa, is that Uncle you’re talking to?
Twinkle (sitting down on the bed): Yes, come here. (patting on the place next to her) Uncle wants to talk to you.
Aarohi (sitting next to her mother): Hello, Uncle!
Kunj: Hello! Where is my ‘namaste’ today?
Aarohi: I already greeted Papa that way, so I won’t be using it anymore.
Kunj (looking closely): Acha. But what is this disaster that has made you cry?
Aarohi (in a mischievous voice): Maa, of course. She’s the one who makes me cry.
Twinkle (surprised): Arey?
Kunj (in a teasing voice): Partner, we’ve to punish your Maa. I can’t let her disturb my partner so much.
Aarohi: Really?
Kunj nodded his head and looked at Twinkle, stifling a laugh. She looked at him with scrutinizing eyes. She couldn’t believe how he teamed up with her daughter each time, against her. When Aarohi nudged Twinkle, she tilted her head and shook her head.
Twinkle: Fine, I’m leaving. But make sure you sleep for some time, Aarohi.
Aarohi: Okay, Maa. Bye, Maa!
When Twinkle stepped out of the room, she laughed and hurried downstairs to talk to Yuvraj. Kunj possessed a congeniality, she’d never seen anyone have. It wasn’t only her, after all, who felt at home around him. He made her daughter feel at home, too, and she couldn’t have felt better. Her daughter would definitely accept Kunj, regardless of the time she needed. She wrapped her arms around herself and smiled in solitude. After so long, she’d felt optimism fill within her, and she couldn’t wait for her thoughts and beliefs to unravel before her. She could foresee such a peaceful future ahead, despite the rocky and bumpy present they were in, currently.
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Alright, that’d be it for this episode, I’d love to know your thoughts. It’ll take some time, but Aarohi would, definitely, accept Twinkle’s decision and Kunj. Thank you!