Aadhira

It has been an hour after breakfast, and I have been waiting for this lady. You guessed it right, it's my oh-so-beloved mother.

After breakfast, she told me to come downstairs when I was ready. It barely took me five minutes to do so. When I came here she was nowhere to be found. It's already 7:30 am and I have been here for an hour, waiting for her to grace me with her presence.

I have to meet him at 8, he'll eat me up if I were to be late.

"Tum tyaar ho gyi?" I turned back to see her, while the others also entered the hall one by one. She was wearing her green embroidered silk saree, Being the queen she was, draped in it. The elegance in the work was enough to make someone realize that she wasn't any commoner. It might have been a customized work because she always wanted everything to be according to her choice. Huh!

The elder three and Mr. Rathore looked ready to go for a meeting. The younger gang was going to college I guess.

I nodded at her, turning back to my phone. I received a text from him that the meeting had been postponed to 10 am. Relief spread over my face, letting out a breath of solace.

Author

"Take care, dear" Dev kissed Sakshi's head affectionately, hugging her. She hugged him back, "You too, and best of luck with your meeting".

Sakshi hugged each of her son's and kissed their foreheads wishing them luck for the day. While on the other hand, Aadhira just stood in the living room with a bored expression as everyone was bidding each other farewell.

"Apna Dhyaan rkhna ma," Shaurya said hugging his mother to his heart. She patted his back, asking him to do the same. "No fights, Shaurya" Sakshi's stern voice instructed him. He nodded.

All this span, Dev's eyes remained fixed on his daughter as if he was reading her every expression. Aadhira got the cue of it and turned to him, with her signature smirk. Dev's eyes widened but he maintained his stoic conduct. He figured out she was very well testing his patience.

Disrespecting elders, back-talking, Defying his rules, and acting cold. She wanted to see if he let her go again or not but what she did not understand was that she was challenging the mafia boss. Before the mafia boss, he was her father. He might have not seen her childhood but he very well knew his child. He knows she needs reassurance that he will never let her go again.

Laksh went outside without even glancing at Aadhira, not that she minded. Shaurya and Neel followed his line. Parth glanced at Aadhira passing her a small smile to which she nodded in acknowledgment, before moving out.

"khayal rkhna Ira" Samarth whispered to her, blinking his eyes at her and passing his toothy smile. He wished that he had the chance to spend a day out with her. Now he has to wait till the weekend.

As Aadhira's eyes met Harshil's softened gaze, she looked away reliving the morning incident. Harshil sighed and moved out. "Chale?" Sakshi asked her daughter.

Aadhira again nodded, not uttering a word in reply. "Kitni pyaari lag rhi meri Bacchi. Kisiki nazar na lage" She swayed her hands in a motion to remove any bad omen.

Aditya looked at his little sister, who didn't even spare a glance at him. He knew he had to take baby steps to rebuild their relationship but his Princess's silence was tough on everyone.

She held her hand while Aadhira just looked at it, surprised. She wanted to resist but the feeling of her mother holding her hand was much more immense. The touch itself held so many buried emotions. During childhood, She had waited for this moment, to hold her mother's hand even if it was for the last time.

She had waited for her acceptance but now her hatred was much more enormous than it.

She composed herself soon, withdrawing her hand from her mother's hold. It was a sign to them that no matter how much they try she isn't gonna forgive them.

"Chaliye Mrs.Rathore" Aadhira spoke making Sakshi's heart break into pieces. She hadn't expected her daughter will anytime soon call her 'Ma' but hearing this felt much harder on all the efforts she made to gain back her lost child.

Sakshi's mood sunken while Aadhira walked beside her with a stoic expression. An expression Aadhira has mastered over the years. Even Dev and Aditya thought that she would at least not be angry with her mother. Only they knew, what amount of damage was Aadhira inducing in them. Their hearts were being shattered by every cold step she took away from them, increasing the distance between them and her.

-×-

The car ride to the destination was silent. Though Sakshi tried to involve Aadhira in a small talk but her answers were short and crisp. To the point.

Aadhira was already in despair due to the morning events. It was more of an inner turmoil that had arrived in her after holding her mother's hand. She had never thought such a small gesture could shake her whole self. She internally blamed the same blood that she shared with them. It was causing the whole havoc in her peaceful self.

The car stopped after almost a 15-minute ride. The guards opened the door for both the mother and daughter.
Aadhira's eyes widened catching a glimpse of the destination. It was her mother's famous boutique. She already hated this day out with her mother and now it was being more loathing for her.

"Hum yahan kyu aaye h?" Aadhira's ice-cold voice gained Sakshi's attention.

"Andar to chalo beta, sab btati hoon" Sakshi forwarded her hand for Aadhira to hold. Her motherly self almost pleaded through her eyes to her daughter. Aadhira quirked a brow and that was enough for Sakshi to understand that she isn't going to do that.

"Tum shyd mujhe maaf na kro, par mai koshish krna nhi chhodungi" Sakshi sighed, she wasn't giving up on her daughter now.

"Toh krti rhiye kyunki mujhe koi farak nhi pdta Mrs. Rathore", Saying this Aadhira went inside alone not even glancing back at her mother.

Sakshi inhaled a deep breath, not letting the threatening tears fall from her eyes. Her words were harsh but Sakshi knew she deserved it. Her daughter had the right to be angry with her mother.

"Mamishri!" Aadhira squealed seeing Nandini's presence, contrasting her previous spirit of gloominess. Nandini too looked back and a wide smile made its way on her face as she wrapped her arms around her little bundle of joy. Embracing her near her heart. Sakshi passed a sad smile to the duo. A part of her felt jealous of the hug Nandini got from Aadhira but she had a big EGO accept that.

"Mera baccha kaisa h?", Nandini kissed the crown of Aadhira's head reciprocating her love and affection. Aadhira smirked and winked at her, "As sassy as ever, Mamishri"

Nandini passed a wholehearted smile to her angel. "Your bhaiya will be so happy hearing this. He's so impatient to meet you."

"Wo wapas aa rhe?"Aadhira's eyes glistened with joy. Nandini nodded eagerly making Sakshi make a scrunched face at the thought of her daughter meeting those brats. She knows Aadhira's blunt attitude was a gift of all the pampering she got from them.

She never liked Nandini's children because they were proper brats, pampered and spoiled by their parents according to her. She never wanted her children to be near Nandini's. The boys always hated Nandini's children and met them rarely. This was also a reason she didn't wanted to hand her daughter to Nandini but her husband thought the other way.

Now the brothers have another reason to hate them more, Aadhira. Nandini's children were significantly close to their 'Ira' which the brothers loathed the most.

Sakshi thought to herself and sighed.

"Ye kaisa h?" Nandini showed her Aadhira a dress. Aadhira whined," Mamishri aapko pta h mai kitni acchi hoon ye sab me. Meri choice ka pehn ke jaengi toh aapko Mrs.Nandini Chauhan ki sasti copy keh krrr bahar nikal denge"

Nandini and Sakshi chuckled at Aadhira's childish reply. Aadhira sat on a stool beside the billing counter. "Good morning bhabhi, aap yahan?" Nandini passed a tight-lipped smile to Sakshi, gaining the same in return.

"Aadhira is having a day out with her mother"

"So-called mother" Aadhira muttered, under her breath narrowing her eyes. Sakshi's heart felt a pang of hurt, which it had become familiar with since Aadhira's arrival. Nandini too passed a concerned look to her bhabhi who looked on the verge of tears.

"Bhabhi, aapne Aadhira ke liye Jo dress design ki thi wo nhi dikhayengi usse?" She tried to lighten the tense air," Iru, I know you will love it. Bhabhi ne khud apne haathon se design ki h tumhare liye."

"Itna time aa gya inke pass" Aadhira rolled her eyes, she knew what Nandini was up to but her plan of hurting the Rathores wouldn't go in scrap. Hurling insults was just a part of it.

"Shruti, bring the dresses" Sakshi spoke containing her tears. Aadhira again huffed while Nandini was looking at the mother and daughter with concern. She remembers how beautiful their relationship used to be.

The said girl brought the dresses. Aadhira looked at them with curiosity and remembered a flashback.

Flashback

An 8-year-old Aadhira was going through a magazine where she saw ladies wearing beautiful dresses. It was that one month she came back to her house for the first time in her life.

She peeked at her mother who was going through some emails on her phone, she immediately lunged herself at her mother"Mumma, aap mere liye bhi aisi dresses bana doge?"

Sakshi turned her attention toward the magazine to see actually what had piqued her daughter's interest. "Par beta yeh toh bade logo ki dresses h. Aap bade hoge toh aapke liye bana dungi"

Aadhira's smile disappeared as she snuggled more into her mother's stomach, "Par mumma mai toh badi ho gyi hoon na", She showcased her 7 fingers, "See mai 7 years ki ho gyi hoon"

Sakshi smiled at her innocent daughter, held her chin softly, and kissed her nose "Par aapko aur bada hona pdega baby"
Aadhira huffed pouting and crossed her arms to her chest.

"Aur kitna wait mumma?"

"Jab aap 17 ya 18 years ke ho jaoge na toh mai dila dungi" Aadhira's face lightened up with the mere thought of her wearing such dresses.

"Sacchi mumma?" Sakshi nodded to her, kissing her forehead.

"Mumma wala promise"

Aadhira hugged her mother tightly while Sakshi tickled her a bit causing Aadhira to fall in a fit of laughter.

Flashback ends

Aadhira took a sharp breath at the invasion of the buried memory. They were the same dresses that she had seen in those magazines.

She remembered everything that happened in that one month, and this memory was nothing new. She had always craved to wear dresses her mother had designed but waited because she thought her mother would send her some.

"Ira" Sakshi's voice was laced with concern seeing her daughter's distraught state.

"It's Aadhira for you, Mrs. Rathore"

Aadhira composed herself yet her anger took a toll on her," Kyu krrr rhi h aap yeh sab?"

"Huh" Sakshi was startled yet Nandini knew what was on the way. Aadhira's outburst. Nandini knew about the magazine incident because Aadhira had told her before. But before Nandini could calm the situation, it was too late.

"Mujhe apne se dur krke apka mann nhi bhara tha kya? Jo ab mere emotions ke saath bhi khelna shuru Krrr diya aapne." Aadhira's tone was cold, eyes fixed on the set of clothes, "Isss umar me aapko yeh sab suit nhi krta Mrs. Rathore" Aadhira's sarcastic self left its touch.

This was enough for Sakshi to break into tears, she sobbed while Nandini side-hugged her, "Nhi bhabhi, roiye mat. Bacchi h woh toh" Nandini glared at Aadhira, " Aadhira say sorry to your mother, immediately"

"Seriously mamishri, aapko abhi bhi lgta h ki mujhe apologise krna chahiye?", Aadhira had enough by now.

"Tell her to apologize to the 8-year-old girl she hurt years ago. Tell her to apologize to the blood she abandoned" Aadhira's words were firm yet to the point.

Aadhira marched towards the door, held the handle, and turned back at Sakshi "Mujhe aapki banayi koi cheez nhi chahiye Mrs. Rathore. Agar aapko lgta h ki yeh sab aapke kaam aayega mujhe firse jaal me phasane ke liye toh aap galat h."

Aadhira left the place ignoring the ladies screaming her name.

-×-