Next day: Morning time.
Viraj walked to the dinning hall, where his mother and daughter were having breakfast in the peaceful environment. As daily, he greeted his mother before taking his seat. While the maid was serving the breakfast, he saw his daughter who was already ready for her play school, peeking at him from time to time as she took sips of her milk.
"Princess, come here!" He straightened his hand in her direction as he gestures her to come.
As soon as she heard her fathers words, her face lit up up like bulb and she jump from her seat, running for his arm. He also easily scooped her in arms and made her sit on his laps.
"Princess, you know what you had done wrong yesterday?"
Hearing his words, his mother also paused as she looked in his direction. She was out yesterday, thus, completely unaware of that incident. However, by his words, she can roughly guess that this child has done something naughty. The small girl saw the gaze of her grandma and knew she may be punished by this but her father was the one who could protect her from anything.
"Solly daddy!" she pouted, he didn't had heart to scold the little girl yet he needed to teach her what is right and wrong. Thus, he asked, "Why did you lay down there?"
She quickly glanced and then looked away from the direction of her grandmother, even though she was still small she clearly knew what people think by their words. Her grandmother always scolded her whenever she took name of her mother, but her teacher had also taught that good children didn't complain about elders. So she never told her father about anything and now also contemplated whether she can speak about her mother to father infront of Grandma.
Children learn more by watching and that happened with her. Grandma took her to a big temple last week and there she watched the idol and paintings of Gods, when she asked about this to Grandma, her Grandma told her that God lived in these idols and paintings. She wondered if she draw painting of her mother, then would her mother also live in the painting. Even though she would not be able to talk to her mother, it would be good if she could sleep with mother. Initially, she wanted to paint her mother on her bed, so that she and her mother can sleep on her favourite Princess bed but in order to not get caught by Grandma, she went upstairs and picked a place where anyone rarely visits.
She wanted to sleep with her mother in order to check and feel what her teacher had taught her. Her teacher recited a poem in the class in which children gets the loving warmth in the embrace of their mothers. She only wanted to experience that feeling just for once and nothing else.
Noticing the child not speaking even after waiting for few minutes, he changed the topic and asked an obvious question, which no child would ever deny "Do you want a mother?"
Hearing his question, her face lightened up, and she beamed "yeay...momma" but within seconds her face again became dull and pale as she thought of not making her Grandmother angry. The child wanted a mother but she would never sacrifice her Grandma for the sake of an unknown feeling.
She looked down as she put her right hand thumb in her mouth and start sucking it. He immediately caught her wrist pulling her thumb out and gave a serious glare. He loved her without boundaries yet he would never let her have bad habits. She again pouted, like she was wronged and said "P-Plin-cess do-not need momma!"
"Why?" he asked, he clearly understood that she needed mother but was unable to grasp why was she declining it now. He wanted to tell her about her, that he was soon going to brought a mother for her, but was unable to bring that topic when she declines her thought.
"Did you really decided to get married this time?" his mother asked, her clean eyes fill with anticipation. She loved this child, but it was in no way greater than her love for her own children. She always wanted her son to marry a good girl and have his complete family.
He nodded while he continued feeding his daughter from his plate, hearing his Grandma question she quickly munched her food and asked her father "Daddy...will you ma-lly like aunt and- bl-ing -new Uncle?"
"haha" Both Viraj and his mother laughed at her words, Viraj lovingly looked at his daughter, who was staring him in curiosity, he pinched her chubby cheek lightly and said "no Princess...daddy will marry and bring you a mother but only if you want?"
Before she could say anything, her grandmother said "ofcourse, she wants a mother!"
Hearing her grandma words, she beamed with happiness, it looks like her grandma was not angry with this, so she needlessly nodded her head and shouted "Plin-cess wants momma! P-plin-cess wants momma!"
The child was too innocent to realize the real intentions of elders whereas her grandma was thinking of matchmaking her son with a high society girl, her dad had his own plans.
-----------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------
Meanwhile, unaware of the upcoming storms, Divya in her house was getting ready for school. Well, when she was grown up, why was getting ready for school? Dumb question, right? Obviously, She was teacher by profession! In her home, the role and duty of every family member was clearly divided. Today, being Tuesday, she was expected to prepare extra food as her mother would visit the Hanuman temple for the prayer and give food to the beggars outside the temple.
After packing the food in the boxes and changing her clothes, she took her purse and thought to quickly run outside the house in order to not get late for the school. However, as always her brother-in-law, who was standing outside the door stopped her "My dear Divya, why are you in hurry to catch the taxi when I am here to drop you off?"
Divya looked disgustedly at the man who from outside gives vibes of a perfect gentleman but from inside was complete pervert. She took a deep breath and smiled before speaking "Jija jee (brother-in-law), I don't want you to waste your precious time for me. Infact, instead of wasting your time on me, why don't go and visit Vanu?"
Aryan smile froze when he heard her last words and because of irritation he forget the place as he holded her wrist and said lowly yet dangerously "Your tongue is running too fast so let's check how it runs on my little buddy!"
"How dare you!" Instantly she pushed him hard and BAM, a slap was received by his thick cheek.
"DIVYA!" Her father who just came out of his room and saw her raising her hand on his elder son-in-law, was fuming in anger shouted. This girl was really going out of control. He walked near them and without thinking and asking anything raised his hand on her, giving her a tight slap. The sound was enough to be heard from any corner of the house.
She never expected her father to do this, although this type of thing happened earlier also, she looked at him in dissapointment as tears welled up in her eyes. She wondered did he even know what type of man he always favours.
Aryan saw both father and daughter, even the slap Divya recieved provided a cool sensation to his ego, he wanted more and thus making a pitiful face said "Dad, you shouldn't raise your hand on a grown up child!"
Mr. Mehta looked at his son-in-law guiltly, it was not only because of Divya action but he felt somewhat owning him due to his eldest daughter. Thus, no where to release the pent up frustration he directed it to Divya, "Beta(son) you are too nice but she need to learn manners or she will be like..." He stopped, how can he criticize her infront of his son-in-law. Even though he don't have any affection for this girl, for everyone she was his own daughter.
Aryan understood where the old man thought was moving, so taking it in advantage he said "Oh, Uncle I forget! I came here to talk you about mother...!"
Mr. Mehta interrupted him "let's talk about in my room" he turned to Divya "What are you waiting for?"
She bite her lower lip controlling the emotions and with her head lowered turned towards the outside door but was again stopped "No need to go outside..."
She meekly said "but da-".
He didn't let her speak as he literally roared "Go back to your room and reflect on your actions!"
Mr. Mehta was brought up in a small village in typical patriarchal society. Gaining or having money can't change the thinking of person completely and that happened with him. In recent years, his small business got settled, giving him good profit but not the rational thinking. He was the head of the entire family yet he was easily influenced by others. And Aryan was one of the people who most influenced him.
In Mr. Mehta room, despite of the large age gap, Mr. Mehta was giving too much of respect to Aryan because of his poor thinking that he was the father of daughter and Aryan was his son-in-law, he was bound to give him respect. So he needed to fulfil the demands of his son-in-law, but this time the demand was too much. How can he play with his one daughter life for the sake of another?
"Dad, my Mother knew you may not agree with this, and hence, she had said to tell you that if you want she can also accept her in our family!" hearing his words, Mr. Mehta body became stiff, how could this happen?
"Please Aryan, just last time for me talk to your mother....I will be always grateful to you!" Mr. Mehta pleaded falling on his knee.
"Sorry dad.....I tried but now you had 3 ways...and please make a quick decision because this matter can't be stretched more longer!" He stated before leaving Mr. Mehta in a devastated state.