In the kitchen, Mother Kharnal was instructing the maids on what to prepare for lunch when suddenly, her other daughter in law from her second son, and last child, she actually had 3 children, the first was Shoria Kharnal, the second was sister Kharnal and the last was lil bro Kharnal.
Lil bro Kharnal was already 26 years old, he married when he was 22, and has 2 children already, a girl and a boy. He was at work, working in Kharnal ventures, he did not venture into his own business like Shoria who although works with the family business, Kharnal Ventures, he also had a restaurant of his own, White Chillies Restaurant.
The second Daughter inlaw Kharnal rushed into the kitchen all of a sudden, this scared mother Kharnal, and got stares from the maids in the kitchen, the maid wondered while their second young madam was behaving like a mad woman.
What is it daughter in-law? Mother Kharnal asked. Well it's elder daughter in-law, she is...second young madam Kharnal stammered. She is what? Mother Kharnal asked. Well she is about to have a baby, she replied. Yes she is pregnant, and a baby will eventually come out, mother Kharnal responded.
Yes mother, she is having the baby now, her water just broke, I went to get a book from brother in law's study when I heard a scream, I rushed in and saw Ganga in pain, second daughter in-law said. Well daughter-in-law no need to explain anymore, let's hurry over there now. Yes mother, daughter in law replied.
As mother and daughter in-law hurried over to Shoria's study, mother Kharnal instructed the maids to call the ambulance, she also told another set of maids to call the body guards to come assist Ganga to proceed downstairs before the arrival of the ambulance.
As they got to the study, Ganga was on the floor in pains, she had fallen down while trying to make her way out of the study to find help, she had waited for second daughter in-law to come back with help, but she was taking too long.
As soon as mother and second daughter in-law entered the study, the body guards also rushed in, then mother in-law instructed them, quickly help her up, and take her downstairs before the ambulance arrives, yes madam, the body guards replied and quickly helped Ganga up.
As they were taking her downstairs, Ganga faintly told her mother in-law, mother Kharnal to inform Shoria that he should quickly come to the hospital because she was having the baby now. Mother Kharnal was neutral, she was neither for Ganga or against Ganga, so she told her, Ganga dear focus on yourself now, Shoria must be buried in work now but however I will still inform him.
Thanks mother, Ganga replied this time with more difficulty, her water had broke, she has even fallen down earlier, but thank the Almighty that she was not in any danger, and the baby was not in harm's way, this was confirmed by the paramedics when they checked up on Ganga in the ambulance.
Soon the ambulance reached Old Delhi hospital, the stretcher was brought out, Ganga was placed in it and wheeled into the hospital, to the maternity ward, the doctors quickly checked on her while mother Kharnal quickly paid the admittance fees for delivery for her at the hospital.
Although Ganga had registered for antenatal before now, mother Kharnal still had to fill other forms so Ganga could be admitted into the maternity ward. And this would not have been possible if Ganga had not done an initial registration for antenatal as soon as she found out she was pregnant with Shoria's child 8 months back.
Ganga was in labour pains for hours, she was angry aswell, her husband, Shoria was not here yet, she wondered why. When mother Kharnal and second sister in-law came into the delivery room, after they had put on protective hospital clothes that the nurse had handed to them, Ganga asked mother Kharnal in terrible pains why her husband was not here yet.
Mother Kharnal could only pacify her by lying to her that Shoria was on his way, but the truth of the matter was that, Shoria told his mother when she had called him earlier, that he was a very busy man, his company, White Chillies, was expanding into the hotel industry, and that he was also dealing with the progress of the family business.
He told his mum that although he loves his wife, he decided to stay in the family house with her, so she, his sister in-law and his aunties could look after her. He also informed his mum that she should handle everything, that he can't possibly leave work and hand the business to his younger brother, brother Kharnal, in the mean time, because brother Kharnal loves relaxation more than work.
The work would suffer a terribly loss if he suddenly left, so he won't be able to make it to the hospital, that when Ganga has given birth, and has gotten home, he would see her and the baby. He wanted the birth video, so he asked mother Kharnal to tell sister in-law to help film it for him.
As for his aunties, he promised to slash their allowances in half because they decided to stay home while his mum and sis in-law went with Ganga to the hospital. His aunties, his late father's sisters, married and decided to stay in the Kharnal family house with their lazy husbands instead of going to their husbands' family home.
He had 3 aunties, his late father was the only male child of his parents, his grandparents had passed away a long time ago aswell. To help his aunties, he employed their unemployed husbands at Kharnal Ventures.
Mother Kharnal had no choice but to tell her son she would take good care of her first daughter in-law, Ganga. Ganga was still in Labour, it was not time to push the baby out yet, so second sis in-law had not started filming yet.
While Mother Kharnal was pacifying Ganga that her husband will soon be here, the nurse was by the side checking her and the apparatus necessary for her delivery all over again, the doctor came back inside and told both mother and second daughter in-law that only one person is allowed inside with Ganga when the delivery starts, that they should make up their minds who that would be.
Because Second daughter in-law was going to film the delivery, she had to be the one to stay back in the end. But at this time, because Ganga was still in labour, her cervix was not fully dilated yet, both mother and daughter in-law went outside to wait back at the lobby.
Meanwhile at The Military Base...
The intense drill continued until it was dawn and dark outside, usually they end before dark, but because the soon to be selected troops will be heading with all the combined military troops across India to Africa, specifically Sudan, in North Africa, the drill had to be very intense for longer hours.
After the drill, most of the soldiers retired to their camps, only a few headed to the military lounge this time around. Prakash, Ajay, Sagar and Pulkit were among those who retired to their camps. After a long shower, Prakash and his friends stayed back in their rooms.
While inside, Ajay randomly asked Prakash if he finally knew about the soldier he was assigned with to head back into Town, at Old Delhi. Initially when Prakash informed his friends on their way back from the drill about his uncle demise, silent tears flowed down their cheeks as they comforted Prakash, Prakash tears rolled down again aswell.
For a soldier at their caliber, silent tears were accompanied with more pain than tears that came with wailing and crying as frequently seen among woman and children. But the women soldiers were different, they cried silently if need be, it's only when they get to their camps that some of them sobs with little sounds.
Prakash replied Ajay, I would on the morrow. Alright Prakash, say me well to Jasmine, I hope she should be better now, Ajay responded. Okay Ajay, I will do that, and don't worry about that Scum Rohit, our plans to deal with him will materialize, let's come back from Africa then we begin activation of the plan.
Alright Prakash, thanks buddy, send my condolences to your entire family, the guys and especially myself would have loved to accompany you, we really in delicate times, and you know the major general is on a tight schedule, his troops has to join the others this coming weekend, so all hands are on deck.
Am sure there is a clause somewhere stating atleast 10 soldiers can accompany a soldier who lost someone, but when the situation is as what we find ourselves today, only one soldier is permitted to go with you, Ajay completed his statement.
Yes buddy that is true, even the major general Gevan was less strict, I was even allowed to sit at his office while he delivered the sad news to me, as Prakash said this, tears rolled down his eyes again, but he quickly wiped it, then he braced up, arranged his light back pack, then he informed Ajay that he would like to go to sleep to rest well for the trip back home to Old Delhi the next day.
The next day at the Ritz Mansion...
Father Ritz although was still angry, his anger had subsided, and this was even more so when he was informed by mother Ritz that Natasha did not get pregnant out of wedlock, she was indeed married to Yuvi, they had gotten married secretly at the temple some weeks ago.
Nisha showed them her marriage certificates including the photos that Yuvi and herself had taken on their wedding day, when father Ritz looked at them, he immediately threw them at her, he called her shameless and stupid.
He then asked a rhetorical question, how can she hold a wedding without her parents' blessings, forget about Yuvi's parents he said but her parents were not in her wedding photos, madam Ritz alos chipped in, scolded and reminded her that a wedding done when it was inauspicious would bring bad luck to her and Yuvi.
Nisha had apologized to her mum earlier in tears, she had explained to her mum the previous day that she got married because she loved Yuvi so much and that they couldn't wait to be husband and wife. She continued to apologize to her mum now and to her dad, her dad in particular when he returned home the previous day, decided not to speak to her right away until he knew his anger has reduced a great deal.
Meanwhile at Delhi University....
It was the weekend again, it has been a week since Desha last saw and spoke to Shamu, although she had decided to forget about him, she still misses him, because of this fact, she buried herself in her studies, she didn't even bother with the graduation planning committee anymore.
Her and her team has submitted a draft of their plans to the outgoing Student Chair, since then, she got her team to just lay low and wait until they are called for the graduation planning committee meetings, ever since Professor Singh traveled to Saudi Arabia, they had not had reasonable meeting sessions with the outgoing student chair and his team.
After reading for a while, Desha packed up a few of her bags, her friends and room mates all wondered why Desha packed all of a sudden, they also mentioned that when exams are fast approaching, Desha usually stayed back in the university even during weekends until their exams especially promotional exams were over. This was their final semester before they enter final year next session.
Desha acknowledge their comments but with a sad face and tears in her eyes, she reminded them about the demise of her Uncle in America. Yes we remembered, they chorused the response. Well, Desha continued, his body will be cremated and his ashes spread over the sacred Water 💦 on Monday.
So I would be heading home and would be back on Wednesday, it's a good thing that the final test week had been over weeks ago. Please you all should listen better in class this time around, I would be needing your tutoring on the lectures am going to miss.
Well Desha you sound as if you don't know it's a revision week before the final exams starts next week, one of her friends said. It's a class after all, Desha replied her playfully, the others then cheered her up, and sent their regards to her family members again for the loss of their son, brother, step brother, father and uncle. Desha finished packing and left campus with the Mehra Driver in tow.