contd from Tring-Tring, the phone rang..-Part 27
Tring-Tring, the phone rang…
Radha almost skipped a beat or two. She half expected it to be Shikhar with his fairytale plan. Who would have thought someone’s fairytale could be another’s nightmare?
She quietly picked up the phone.
“Madam, are you interested in a credit card from our bank,” a very peaky woman’s voice met Radha from the other side.
Radha without speaking a word cut the phone and slumped into the chair. She realised what a huge scare that had been for her. But then nothing was over as of now, Arti’s expectant face was still staring at her with a strange expression.
Radha looked up, her heart lost all its anger and she felt like any mother would, to see her daughter disappointed and depressed.
“Arti, come to mumma,” Radha called out to her softly.
Arti got up and with small steps came close to Radha.
“You realise mumma loves you? You do, right?” Radha spoke, caressing her cheeks.
Arti nodded slightly in affirmative.
“Will you please do mumma a favor? Go unpack your clothes and call daddy saying everything is fine. You would be happy to share your time between him and mumma. Will my princess do that?” Radha continued in a lilting voice.
Arti for a moment looked to rebel but then all of a sudden something changed about her. She slowly went upstairs and began unpacking.
After a few moments, Radha heard her speaking to Shikhar on the phone, “No Papa I love you, but I realise it was not a great idea. No Papa please don’t come here. No Papa, promise me you won’t.”
Radha felt her eyes get welled up with tears, she knew her actions were hurting many. Arti with her emotions and now Shikhar with his hopes.
* * *
“I always wanted to be the first one to say ‘I don’t care’ ” Radha was taking animatedly while sitting on the lunch table.
But strangely she could see that her enthusiasm was not equally matched with Sangeeta. She was not participating in the conversation as much.
“Is something wrong?” Radha finally asked.
“No, no. You were telling me about that boat trip you took,” Sangeeta spoke casually.
“I told you that fifteen minutes ago. Where is your mind today?” Radha looked suspicious.
Sangeeta didn’t reply instantly. She remained quiet, shuffled her gaze around, she could see many were staring at them. She knew the college was abuzz with rumours. They had an idea as to what was going on.
“Its Kavita, she hasn’t even called since. I mean I know she is angry but she could at least inform me as to where she is,” Sangeeta spoke softly, but her eyes gave in to the trouble inside.
Radha cringed, not that it was seen physically but her insides took a turn so to say. Kavita, this name always did something to her. Why can she not disappear in person and in thought? She wondered out loud in her head.
“She will come back, give her time. Why, its just been a couple of days, no?”Radha spoke flawlessly, hiding all her discomfort behind pale expressions.
Sangeeta nodded vigorously but still the awkwardness of expression didn’t quite leave her face.
* * *
“Mumma, I am going to call daddy again. I miss him. Its nothing serious. I only want to talk to him,” Arti suddenly spoke this after the dinner got over.
Radha again found herself staring at the child. She was finding it impossible to handle her it seems.
Radha nodded to sort of show her acceptance.
“Hello Papa, I miss you,” and with these words she started to cry.
to be contd. at Perhaps it was all destined-Part 29
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Oh My! Poor baby!! I feel for Arti!
We all did no?
Oh the poor child π Sangeeta n Radha need to decide!! It’s high time!
Yes they need to…
I really feel bad for Ari now π
Lets see ahead then..
Oh the poor baby missing her daddy.
yes.. always a sad moment..
So u managed to hold the grip till the last knot… lovelyyy which way will it turn…love or responsibility, what you want or what yours want…can wait to read the end
I wish it was love and responsibility..
Life can be so complicated!!!
It always is Smita…
oh! Poor Arti!! π
cant wait to see how it all ends!! π
But then sometime it will get fine (and it does….)
she handled the child very well… in spite of the complex emotions the kid is facing, she has chosen to deal with her patiently, giving her room to accept things..nice!
Thanks a lot π
That kid. She acts beyond her age at times. I really feel bad for her.
Sometimes such incidents makes you act beyond your years…
Ok so I finally managed to read all of it till now. I must applaud you for the idea and way you have handled complex emotions and various shades in each character. It is as if I can feel the characters in reality. I look forward to reading more of it, but I also want it to come to a conclusion.
Having said that I also realize that you have a penchant for handling complex characters but sometimes I felt this storyline is not my cup of tea, too much emotions poured in, too much complicated (speaking for myself). I am better handling death scenes and time altering plots than this. Please give it a happy ending!!
haha we discussed what kind of stories you like, next time a space trilogy π π what say?
U know Richa, mark of a good writer is when readers feel and have different emotions towards each of the characters.. One of these days I would Slap Kavita, who thinks the world has to drop everyone else like a hot potato to accommodate her.. I applaud ur skills Richa!!!!
Thats the point, when readers start to feel the pain of characters as in your case you feel the aggression against Kavita..
I kind of feel for the poor kid now π
Even I do…