Mom... I love someone.....

Days were passing as if they were just few moments. Khushi was very lonely without Sparsh. She was extremely tensed. Her instincts were telling her that something is going to be very wrong and she was extremely worried. He was also very helpless. He was at such a place where network coverage was very poor. Sparsh tried his level best to call her whenever he got a chance. He loved her a lot but his mother was ill and it was his duty to be there. Khushi understood his problem that's why she never forced him for anything. She was thinking to finish her internship in her hometown. She applied in one or two hospitals but still the joining letter hadn’t come.

Sparsh was nowhere. Khushi had no contact with him. Last time he had called 5 days back and told her that his mom is very ill, so he might not be able to contact her for few more days. He was already too worried. Khushi understood his problems so she dint say anything as usual. As the days were progressing it was becoming harder for her to stay quiet. She was under silent pressure from every side. Everyone was expecting something or other from her, whether it was her parents, Rohit, Sparsh, and even her heart. She felt guilty whenever she saw her parents looking at her with hope filled eyes, just for her one unsaid answer. She understood their silent wish, but for the first time she did not want to fulfil that wish. Everything was storming her head and as a result next morning she woke up with a heavy and badly aching head.

“What happened? Are you alright? Do you have any tension? I feel you are having something in your heart which you are not telling anyone of us. Wont you even tell you mother?” Her mother asked combing her hairs by her fingers.

So finally this was the limit, Khushi thought. She was unable to control more. She will have to speak up, she cannot stay quiet for everything. It’s about her whole life. Thinking this Khushi finally gathered all her courage and said “Mom…I love someone. And I want to marry him only. I cannot marry Rohit. Please mom…” She finally uttered and waited for her mom’s response.

Mrs. Sharma’s hands instantaneously dropped from Khushi's head. She was shocked.
“Khushi are you out of your mind? What the hell are you saying”. Mrs Sharma almost screamed.
“Yes Mom. I know what I'm saying.” And she told about Sparsh and his background.
Mrs Sharma stood up from her bed. She was shocked. Mrs Sharma always believed that her daughter will do whatever she will say and it was something which she had never thought of. She always believed that her daughter never hides a single thing from her and there is no guy in her life. This is what had always made Mrs Sharma proud of. She came out to living room where her husband and son were sitting. She went and sat on the couch.
Anuj felt something unusual.
“Mom what happened? You alright?” By that time Khushi came out me her room.
“Mom!!! She said and looked at her mother’s pale face.
“What is going on here? Khushi what happened?” Finally Dr Sharma said.

Khushi again gathered courage and told the whole matter.
“Khushi... This can’t happen. How can u do this? And since how long you have been doing this. Dont you have any shame? What about our teachings and our values? You made everything waste. I never expected this from you. I always thought you are my pride. But today you made me realize that I was wrong.” Dr Sharma was red in anger and simultaneously he was hurt too. Tears were falling from Khushi's face.
“Papa...please papa. Just meet Sparsh once... He is very good. You will like him. And...
“KHUSHI...!!!!!!!!!!!!!” Her father slapped her hard....
“I don't want to meet anyone. Whoever he is and whatever he is, i don't want to listen anything about him. I know what is right and what is wrong for you. Dont you dare teach me that...”
“Papa... at least once meet him.” Anuj also tried to help her helpless sister. He was feeling pity on her. She was crying but no one bothered about it.
“Anuj... You stay out of it.” Dr Sharma scolded him too.

“This marriage is almost final. Brij and I have already decided so many things. We gave time to them for knowing each other. Not to search another useless fellow...everything is final. Nothing can change now. Brij is like my own brother. He has helped me in so many tough situations. Remember the day when me and your mom were on death bed. It was him who came running to save your dying parents. If he would not have come, you both would have been orphan. Khushi... I thought my daughter is very mature. I never expected this from you...At least don't make us ashamed in front of whole society and in my friend circle Khushi.” His final words touched Khushi heart very deeply. Dr Sharma walked out of room and Mrs Sharma followed her husband silently.

Khushi sat on ground. Everything was lost, all her hopes. Now nothing could be done...Tears were falling from her eyes. Anuj came and hugged her sister.

“Di. Give them time to think. They will understand. Don't lose hope. I am with you di.” And he hugged her. Khushi broke her control on her tears and hugged her bro tightly. He took her to her room and made her sleep somehow. He dint knew what to do. He wanted to help his sister but dint knew how...
Sleep was far away from Khushi's eyes. She just wanted Anuj to go to his room. So she pretended to be in sleep.

“Sparsh. I can’t live without you. Where are you? I'm so lonely without you. Please Sparsh come back. I need you. I need you so much.” And again she broke in tears.
She felt a hand on her forehead. She turned back and was scared to see her father again. She never felt scared of him. But he never behaved like this earlier. Closing her eyes tightly, she turned on her sides making her back on her father's side, she was angry, she dint want to talk to her parents.

“Khushi...”Dr Sharma said softly and kissed her forehead.
“I'm sorry beta. I should not have done what I did. But Khushi I got very hurt, and I lost my temper. Try to understand your parents. We both love you so much. But we have some limitations dear. We live in a society. Even a small mistake can ruin my whole image in society. You are our pride and I don't want people to say wrong about you and us.” He sighed.

“Khushi. I don't know who he is. And how much good is he. But its too late dear. What will I say to Brij and his family. Please Khushi. Don't make us embarrassed in front of everyone. But Khushi if you still want to marry that guy only I'll do that for you. I'll bear every ones taunts for you. I'll do every possible thing to make you happy. Don't worry. I love you a lot.” Dr Sharma said and was about to go seeing no response from Khushi's side. But she turned back and hugged her papa.

She cried and cried hugging her father. “I love you too papa. I love you both.”
“I know my dear. Now sleep. We will discuss about it calmly tomorrow. Ok?” And he kissed her goodnight.
She was about to sleep. She thought a lot on this topic. But her head was now not in position to think more. So she decided it’s better to sleep. It was already 1am. She closed her eyes. After about half an hour she heard some noise in her house. There was noise coming from living room. She heard her father shouting Anuj's name. She immediately ran to living room.
She saw Anuj searching something very hurriedly.
“Anuj what happened? ”She asked.

“Di. Mom got an attack. We are taking her to hospital. Have you seen car keys?”
But she couldn't hear anything after that attack word. She was numb. She saw her father taking her mom to car. She couldn't gather courage to go to see her mother. Not because she was scared but she was feeling guilty. She felt she is responsible for it.

“Di. You stay at home. I'm going with dad. Ok?” Anuj waited for response but there was no response from her side.
“Di...”He shook her. “You ok?” Anuj panicked.
“Um...Hmmm. I'm... Fine....” she said.
“Ok. Take care of yourself. I'll inform you.” And he went.

Khushi sat for there for the entire night, thinking what she has done to the two most loved people in her life. She started hating herself for the thing which she did. She felt shame for being so selfish.
“No...I can’t do this. I can’t let my parents die due to my one decision. I can’t. I can’t see them like this. I have myself. Its all because of me. Few hours back everyone was so happy and just my one stupid act changed everything. I can’t be selfish. I’ll have to make up for it. I’ll have to make everything alright. I’ll make everyone smile once again.”

Two days passed like that. There was tension at home. Everyone did their work silently. Khushi's father was talking and behaving with her normally, But Mrs Sharma was not talking to Khushi. She was not at all looking at her and it was hurting Khushi like hell. Khushi tried a lot to make the environment normal but her mother was not at all responding to her. Even Khushi was also suffering from fever but her mother dint even ask once about her health. Her mother’s rude behaviour always brought tears in her eyes. Her mother had always been over protective for her, but now everything was totally different.

It was so difficult for her to show everyone that nothing is going on inside her heart while from inside it was hurting so much. Rohit’s family kept visiting her mother. Finally everything came to normal.
Khushi got appointed for internship in the same hospital where Rohit was working. Mainly it was due to Khushi's academics but somewhere Rohit also played an important role in getting the approval. That day Rohit felt a huge happiness. He was not able to control his feelings. He wanted to tell Khushi that he loves her and he was ready to marry her. There was no obstacle in his way to marry her but he wanted Khushi also to feel the same way.
She wrapped a thin shawl around her arms and came to her favourite place on terrace.There was that old antique swing with metallic chains and seat made up of beautifully crafted teak wood. This was her favourite place in the entire house. Her mom had brought that on her 10th birthday and Khushi had decorated it with bells and other fancy items. Her father opposed as it was just a useless thing and occupies much space but her mother knew that Khushi loved swings a lot that's why she fought with her father and brought it one day. She was so happy that day when she saw that swing on the terrace when she returned from school.

Cool breeze were making her shiver. She wrapped her arms around herself and closed her eyes, everything from her childhood days to the present day flashed in her mind. From the loving faces of her parents to the adorable face of Sparsh. She felt she is standing on a crossing which leads to two separate paths. One of them leads to only Sparsh, Her happiness, her love and whole bunch of beautiful Dreams; but he was standing alone there. There was no one else there with him. Rather everyone else was standing on the other path along with Rohit, there was satisfaction and a heartbreak on the same path. Everyone was smiling on that path, her parents were happy, the society was happy and she was satisfied on that path yet not happy.