CHP 5 :- Kadvi Yaade

"Let's wait for others in the dining room." Father said and stood up and started to walk and I followed him back.

Father was walking ahead of me with his hands behind his back like always. He has a habit of walking like that from the very start.

I remember I used to walk behind him with my drawing paper ,test paper, toys, etc when I was a little girl to show him everything I had.

I halted on my steps as I stared at his back with clenched jaws.

But he never turned around to see any of them and just kept walking like today.

Why didn't he hear his little girl's voice ? who was calling him desperately to have a bit of his attention for her but he never gave none to her.

Flashback - 1

"Papa..dekhiye maine aaj kya draw kiya hai." My 5 year old self said while running behind him with wobbly steps.

(Papa..see what I drew today)

Flashback -2

"Papa..aaj muje teacher ne theen stars diye hai." My 6 year old self said while walking behind him holding her test paper.

(Papa..today my teacher give me 3 stars)

Flashback - 3

"Papa..mumma ne new toys dilaya hai..chalo uske saath khelte hai." My 7 year old self excitedly said while holding her toys in her hands."

(Papa..mumma bought me new toys. Let's play with them)

But my legs stopped & hands fell to my sides when my father said.

"Anamika don't disturb me. Go to your mother. I am busy right now."

Flashback Ends

"Anamika ? Tum yaha aise kyu khadi ho ?" I blinked and went back to my blank face.

(Anamika ? Why are you standing here ?)

"Call pe baath kar rahe thee isliye." I made up an excuse.

(I was talking on a call that's why)

"Acha. Nekin abh chalo tumare papa wait kar rahe hoge tumara." Kaki said and started to walk ahead.

(Okay but let's go now. Your father must be waiting for you)

Kaki your words are far away from the truth. Father will never wait for me like I used to do when I was a kid. Just so I can tell him about my whole day, him listening to me, having at least one meal together.

But he won't spare me a single glance while going to his room.

"I already had dinner. I am tired. Go to your room Anamika and sleep.We will talk tomorrow." He used to say this every time and I used to believe this until I turned 11 years old and stopped waiting for him.

Reaching the dinning hall I spotted Prithviraj Chauhan sitting on his head chair.

"Come take a seat." He uttered and I nodded before taking a seat i.e.three seats from him to the left side.

"How is your law firm going ?" Padre suddenly asked. I am a bit surprised to see him asking about my profession.

"It is going good..padre." I replied in a monotone and he hummed in return and didn't speak a word after that.

Savita kaki already brought the food and served it on the dining table. I looked around those dishes and around the dinning hall.

Flashback

"Anna..stop running and sit down." Mumma said while running behind my 6 year old self meanwhile I giggled loudly and replied.

"First catch me...mumma."

"Wait..you brat." Saying this she caught me in her arms and tickled me and I laughed loudly.

"M-mumma..please s-stop..I can't breathe." My 6 year old self said between her laughs.

"Fine my baby." She said and made me sit on my chair. "Okay now no masti Anna ! Chalo complete your breakfast." Mumma said while filling my plate with upma.

(Okay now no funny thing Anna ! Fastly complete your breakfast)

(Upma - An Indian breakfast dish)

"Mumma..yuck I don't like these veggies." My 6 year old self muttered as she tried to remove the veggies from her upma.

But my hand was slapped away and I looked up to see mumma glaring at me.

"Not even a single veggie should be remaining on your plate. Am I clare Anna ?" Mumma said sternly.

"Okay mumma." 6 year old me replied with a pout.

Flashback Ends

I blinked and came out of the sweet memory with my mumma when I heard multiple footsteps approaching the dining hall.

I stared at the entrance and there comes the woman who had made my childhood miserable as possible as she can.

'Sushila Devi' aka my so-called grandmother.

Her old black eyes look at me and her face switched and a small smirk played on my lips.

Lagta hai budi ki yaade taza horahe hai mujhe itne saalo ke baad dekh kar.

(It seems that the old lady's memories are refreshing by seeing me after so many years)

Sushila devi glared at me before taking a seat. I scoffed, does she thinks I will be afraid of her glares ? Come on, the 12 year old Anamika will be scared by her but not the 27 years old Anamika which is sitting right in front of her now.

This Anamika is the woman who makes people cry in the courtroom just by using her mouth.

My eyes then looked up at the other two person who entered with her as well. One being my mumma's so-called best friend aka 'Rashmi Jaiswal' and her other being her daughter 'Tara Jaiswal'

Both are gold digging bitches and my father is the gold here I may add.

Tara walked towards padre and side hugged him while saying in her cringe voice.

"Papa..aapne apni davae li ki nhi ?"

(Dad..did you take your medicine or not ?)

"Leni hai par khana khane ke baad..bacche." Padre replied with a smile and patted her cheek lovingly.

(I have to take the medicine but after eating my food..child)

When did he behave like these with me last time ? I don't remember maybe because there wasn't anything to remember at the first place.

"Good papa." Saying this Tara sat beside her mother who was staring at me. I looked at her in the eye and she immediately looked away.

Was she also seeing her best friend aka my mumma in me ? If yes, then it's freaking good.

I smirked slightly then my eyes caught her daughter looking at me up & down with not so good face.

Bitch was fucking judging me.

That's so Tara Jaiswal thing. I have seen that face from my childhood and the only difference was that, she was wearing a tons of makeup on her botox filled face which now comes to my notice.

[Note :- No offence to those who does botox. It's a story remember everyone.]

I just stared at her while raising my eyebrow and she looked away. I rolled my eyes does she thinks I will give a fuck to her judgemental face ?

I don't give a flying fuck to her existence. Period !

"Chalo sabh khana shuru karte ha--" Padre was cut off by Tara.

(Let's start eati--)

"Ek min papa..Rahul bhee aane wala hai." Tara said while glancing at the entrance of the dinning hall.

(One min dad..Rahul is also coming)

Who is this Rahul ? I wondered.

Father nodded and just then a guy entered while saying.

"I am sorry for coming late everyone. I was attending a important business call."

"It's okay Rahul.. business comes first." Padre replied nodding.

For him, definitely his business comes first but I wasn't even his second or third.

"Baby I miss you." Tara said in her over cringe voice trying to sound cute as she hug that Rahul guy but I want to puke hearing her.

A dying duck sounds better than her.

"I miss you too..baby." Rahul said while hugging her back but his eyes were fixed on me.

They pulled away and Rahul sit beside Tara still not moving his eyes away from me.

I guess he has never seen a beautiful women before. How can he after all what he sees everyday is a tons of makeup patch up face.

Unlucky him.

"Abh sabh agaye hai toh khana shuru karte hai." Father said but Rahul spoke.

(If everyone has come let's start the dinner)

"Uncle ji..if you don't mind before eating can I know who is this beautiful lady ?" Rahul said as he looked at Padre before looking at me.

I can see Tara rolling her eyes when she heard her boyfriend called me 'beautiful lady'

I assume he is her boyfriend because they weren't wearing any couple rings so he must be her boyfriend only.

I am sure the day Tara Jaiswal gets engaged she will announce it to the whole world.

Bitch likes to flaunt very much from her childhood. I remember once, Padre got her a dress and she literally roamed around me wearing that same dress for straight 2 weeks.

"She is Anamika Chauhan." Padre replied shortly.

"You mean your only daughter ?" Rahul prompted as he looked at me with raised eyebrows.

Padre just hummed. Was that hard for him to introduce me as his daughter ?

I fisted my palms. Control Anamika. I remind myself.

"What do you mean by 'only daughter' ? I am his daughter as well. Right papa ?" Tara scowled at her boyfriend before asking Padre while showing her puppy eyes to him.

A dog makes better puppy eyes than her.

"Yes baccha. Tum maire beti ho." Prithviraj Chauhan said while patting her head with a smile.

(Yes child. You are my daughter)

My father is ready to call another girl his daughter without any hesitation but when it was time to introduce me to a stranger. He didn't address me as his daughter.

I closed my eyes to calm myself or else I will ended up breaking every little thing in this dinning hall.

"Hello Anamika. Myself, Rahul Patel. Nice to meet you finally." Rahul introduced himself as he forwarded his hand for a handshake while plastering a wide smile on his face.

"Rahul Patel..my boyfriend as well." Tara added while passing me tight smile.

Bitch don't be so scared I ain't interested in your boyfriend. I have slept with men who looks better than your boyfriend.

I look at his hand then at him and blanky said with a nod. "Hello, Myself Anamika."

Rahul retreated his hand as he scoffed awakardly. Did I made him embarassed ? I guess I did but I ain't sorry for that.

Kaki served the food to everyone and we all started to eat. I took a bite of the food and it tastes the same as it did 15 years ago. At least Kaki's handmade food didn't change like everything did in "Chauhan Mansion."

"Kaisa laga tumhe khana Anamika beti ?" Savita kaki asked as she filled my glass with water.

(How is the food Anamika daughter ?)

"Acha laga..Kaki." I replied with a small smile before going back to my blank face. I can't be rude to Kaki but I can't bring myself to smile in front of the people who are responsible for making my smile disappear as well.

(I like it..Kaki)

"Sirf uski he saewah karti rahogi ki hume bhee pani dogi..Savita." Budiya said while mixing dal-chawal with her fingers.

(Will you only serve her or give me water as well..Savita)

(Dal-rice - Indian food)

"Ji..a-abhe aapko bhee deti hu paani B-Badi-sa." Kaki stuttered as she poured water as well for that budiya.

(Yes..n-now I give you water as well B-Badi-sa)

"Kaise ho tum Anamika ?" My hands stilled before I replied not looking at Rashmi Jaiswal.

(How are you Anamika ?)

"Theek hu."

(I am okay)

I am not fine at all after seeing your face.

"Italy..mai tumhe kohi pareshani toh nhi huee na ?" Rashmi Jaiswal continue to ask me.

(You have no problems while staying in Italy..right ?)

Don't know if I want to banged her head on the table or laugh at her for asking me such question.

I looked at her up and stared straight in her eyes.

"You tell me..ek ladki jo sirf 12 saal ki thee usse kisi anjaan sher mai chodh diya jaye toh usse kya problems ka face karna hoga ?" I inquired calmly.

(You tell me..What problems will a girl who is only 12 years old face if she is left in an unknown country ?)

She break the eye contact with me and start looking here & there. I scoffed then look down at my plate when I heard budiya saying.

"Bilkul badli nhi hai yeh ladki. Aaj bhe ulta jawab dena chodha nhi hai."

(This girl hasn't changed at all. Even today she hasn't stopped giving rude replies)

I humorlessly chuckle as I leaned back and mix my rice with the dal.

"Aur aap bhee kaha badli hai. Aaj bhee tana marna aapne chodha nhi hai." I said.

(And you too have not changed. Even today you have not stopped taunting)

The budiya visibly taken a back from my reply. Why wouldn't she ? She didn't expect me to talk back at least this time I really did what she have been telling to others all these years.

Flashback

"Prithviraj !!" Sushila devi shouted and my 7 years old self flinched badly as she took a step back from her own dadi-sa.

Papa came rushing in the living hall where a broken vase shattered on the floor.

"Kya hua maa aap aise kyu chila rahe hai ? Aur Anamika kyu roh rahe hai ?"

(Why are you shouting like these mother ? and why Anamika is crying like that ?)

"Apni beti se puch. Woh he tujhe batha yeh gi."

(Ask your daughter. She will tell you only)

"Anamika why happened here ?" Papa asked looking at me. My 7 year old looked at him with my tear stained face as I tried to speak.

"P-Papa I---" Sushila Devi cut me off and said.

"Aree yeh kya batha yeh gi. Mai batha thee hu tujhe. Yeh ladki ne pehle toh yeh vase todh diya khelte huae aur jabh maine isse data toh kehne lagi ki maine nhi todha hai aur ulta jawab dena shuru kardi."

(What will she tell ? I will tell you. This girl first broke this vase while playing and when I scold her she said that I had not broken it and started giving the back answer)

"What ?! Anamika did you really talk back to your grandmother ?!" Papa asked as he glaring at me and my 7 year old self shook her head vigorously as tears poured down from her already red eyes.

"N-No Papa..I-I d-di--"

My grandmother again cut me off.

"Arey yeh toh sirf jhoot bolegi Prithivi. Yeh tere samne bhooli banti hai par ek number ki badmaash ladki ban chuki hai."

(Hey, she will only lie Prithvi. She pretends to be innocent in front of you but has become a number one bad girl)

"N-No P-Papa..I-I am n-not a bad g-girl." My 7 years old self said stuttering and my little feets walked towards her father while sobbing badly.

But instead I got a tight slap across my face and I fell down on the ground with a thud.

My right cheek felt the stinging pain of the hard slap as I looked up to my father with blurred vision due to the never ending tears in my eyes.

"Shut up. Just shut up. Anamika I have enough of your mischiefs. I don't say anything to you that doesn't mean you will do whatever you want."

My father screamed at me loudly and I crawled back in fear. He was looking so scary that time to my 7 years old self.

"Go to your room RIGHT NOW." Papa said and glared at me. I shivered and tried to speak but he didn't let me.

"I SAID GO TO YOUR ROOM. DAMN IT." Papa screamed at me and I got up and run towards my room but my little self didn't saw the broken pieces of vase and stepped on it and my little feets bleed but no one noticed it or no one cared about it.

Flashback Ends

Lies. All lies Sushila Devi said to my father that day. Not just that day but every time she lied to him.

She was the one who used to broke the vase or any other things and put the blame on me. Then she used to fill my father's ears about my mischiefs which I never did in the first place.

I had never back answered Sushila Devi until now.

But my father..he never listened to my side of story. Heck he didn't even care if I got hurt or not that day even after seeing blood stains on the floor.

I remember after mumma return she cried seeing my bloody feets and after she got to know what happened which was basically a whole damn lie made by my so-called grandmother.

"I believe in my daughter and I had taught my daughter to accept her mistakes instead of hiding them." My mumma said to my father.

That night mumma slept in my room after having a fight with padre.

Itne saalo ke baad..maine jo Kadvi Yaade apne bejan Dil mai dafna diya thae..Aaj woh ek-ek kar ke taza hote ja rahe hai.

(After so many years, the bitter memories that I had buried in my lifeless heart...today they are getting refreshed one by one)

"Hum sabh log shaanti se khana kha sakte hai." Prithviraj Chauhan's stern voice roamed in the dinning room.

(We all can have a peaceful dinner)

Peaceful dinner ? Definitely not for me. Not with the people who have snatched my peace.

The suffocated dinner finally came to an end and we all moved towards the living room and sat on the couches.

"Well..you told me you want to say something important. So what is it Padre ?" I asked the asked the question for which I was here at the first place.

I damn sure my father will never call me and tell me to come to his house and have a dinner with him just because I return back after so many years.

If he wanted to have a dinner with me..he would have done that a long time ago with me when I was in Italy. But he never did.

The thing he wanted to tell must be damn important that's why I am sitting here in front of him, in his house.

"Right. So I will directly come to the point." Padre stated.

"Maine faisala kara hai ki mai dosari Shaadi karuga..."

"Rashmi ke saath..."

(I have decided that I will get married again...)

(With Rashmi...)

My father said as he hold Rashmi Jaiswal's aka my late mother's best friend hand in his.

•°*°•°*°•°*°•°*°•°*°•°*°•°*°•°*°•

Y'all these chapter was just the trailer of the bitter memories of Anamika.

Brace up yourself for the next chapter as well.