An Ominous Woman

Aarati suddenly met Aaryan at CCD. That too after a decade long hiatus!! By the way, the long separation of this ten year did not matter much for Aarati because in all these years she could never get out of his memories --- every time, every moment she kept herself absorbed in the thoughts of Aryan. She never spent a single moment without the thoughts of Aryan in her mind.

The thought of his growth and happiness were always included in her routine - Aaryan must be doing this now, Aaryan must be laughing pressing his lips now. Right now he must be reprimanding someone with anger, or Aaryan will be playing one of his favorite tunes on guitar this time! She used to be lost in all these fantasies smiling from within.

All people around called her crazy, but it never made any difference to Aarati. Desperately they got busy in finding the source of her happiness. But it was not easy to find Aarati's mind because she was an out and out introvert. She never opened her heart to the people. She liked to spend time only with her feelings.

There was none so energetic like Aarati in the office. Therefore, the chances of complaint against her were very less. Whatever work was given to her, she completed them very fast. Everyone had always seen her smiling. Therefore, all her colleagues were a little jealous of her being not being in a position to point at her shortcomings. Whatever may be the situation, she used to come to the CCD every Saturday evening to drink a cup of coffee. Today she met Aaryan here.

This is all about Aarati.

She had learned to be happy from Aaryan, but today Aaryan himself did not look so happy. He was alone, immersed in his thoughts, and constantly looking at the coffee cup bending his head. It looked as though he was not aware of his surrounding. His hairs were not well set and looked clumsy.He had enough growth of hairs to show that he had not shaved for week.The ever-shining eyes now seemed to be dull and tired. It looked as though he was immersed in some serious problem!

Aarati suddenly appears at his table without giving any notice. (Why is her Aaryan so sad that she wanted to know? Although she had vowed not to meet any of Mehtas again still the situation was different now.) She sat down in front of him without any introduction. Aryan then looks at her, lifts his eyes, and is able to say only this.

"Hey Aarti ,you?"

And that too, as if Aarti’s presence there was not a big deal! She was there since ages. She did not go anywhere! Only his presence at CCD was being awaited.While Aarati was sad by seeing Aryan’s anxious face, he asked instead the reason for her sadness.

Now it is necessary to give a little introduction of Aaryan here.

Aarati and Aaryan grew up playing together. They used to study in the same class and lived in the same locality. They used play the role of a husband and wife while playing house to house. Aarthi did not know herself as to when she started considering Aaryan’s happiness as hers.

The only son Chirag Aaryan of the Mehta family was an energetic man, ever smiling and ever gentle. Tales of the prank of the hero had spread everywhere. Hardly anyone had no trouble due to his antics. Aarati was the only one who used to cover his mischief. If at all anyone could manage him, it was only Aarati. Mother and the elder sister-in-law had failed to correct him long back. Always Aaryan's mother used to tell Aarati, “ Look Aarati,This mischievous fellow cannot be managed by anyone other than you. You have to take the responsibility for him through out your life."

Everyone used to say that she was lying.

Aarti thought, “It is easy to say so”.

But when the time comes , everyone shows one’s real passion. With how much compassion Aarati begged Aunty Ji that day. But her heart was not moved by Aarati’s pleadings.

Today Aaryan's wife could not become a mother. There is some deficiency in her uterus from which she could not conceive herself. A lot of money was spent in his treatment, but the solution was not in his interest

The doctor had suggested as a last resort today that if a woman was ready to bear the child of both of them in her womb for nine months then it is possible for Isha to become a mother. Such woman becomes a surrogate mother. Women are available who rent their womb for nine months in exchange for money.

Aaryan and Isha had met many such women, but after knowing their rates, they backtracked themselves. The disheartened Aaryan could no longer see any ray of hope. His parents wanted an heir.

Aaryan tells his problem to Aarati with the hope that she may have some solutions.

Aarati does not give an answer. However, she takes him to her home. She cooks delicious dishes with her hands and compels him to eat. She knew that Aaryan was a foodie. He used to forget all his griefs after seeing delicious food.

Aarati consoles Aaryan and says that everything will be all right. She tells him that she would need a day or two. In the mean time, she would definitely find a solution. There were many women known to her and she would definitely be able to convince someone.

Then with great love, she dropped Aaryan at his home.After leaving Aaryan she became pensive and sat in her car for a while.

It was the same threshold, where one day she stood attired as a bride ! Instead of getting reception, she got insult in return. It is not known as to how the same Aaryan with whom both the mothers used to dream of his marriage suddenly changed their mind on that day !

Suddenly, between Aarati and Aaryan, a wall of caste ,religion ,rituals sprung up that day from where is not known. On the day of the registry, when both of them reached the house of Aryan ,as a couple, instead of getting the welcome at the house, Aryan's mother abused Aarti and drove her out of the house in the darkness of the night.

The sad news of Aarti's marriage had spread among friends and relatives by then. The doors of his parents' house were also closed to her. No one thought for a moment that at such a dark night where poor Aarati would go. Everyone was concerned more about the dignity and respect of one’s own family at that time. All the blames were put on Aarati because of the century old belief that only women commit mistakes and they should be ready for punishment. However, the truth is that both the parties were equally involved in giving consent to their marriage. But still Aarati alone was left homeless.

A year later, Aaryan was married to Isha! Yes, this time daughter-in-law came from a family of Aryan's father's choice. Today the same daughter-in-law was unable to give an heir to their family.

Aarati would shed tears thinking about her past.

She had to spend that night in a working women’s hostel. After a few years of tireless hard work she was able to buy this one room flat for herself. Today she has also a car. But the loneliness which was in her life since that day is still present in the same form.

She was not divorced with Aaryan. They already got Aaryan and Isha married before the divorce. Therefore, even today, she was Aryan's wife. Apart from Aarati perhaps this was not a matter of concern for anybody in her family.

Isha and Aryan found a surrogate mother who was ready to conceive their children for free. Even after pleading with the doctor many times, both of them could not meet that great woman as laid down in their legal contract.

The rule of surrogacy is also that the surrogate mother and the child's family are never allowed to meet.

Aryan went to Aarati’s house to deliver this good news. But he did not find her there.

Today, Mehta Bhavan is well illuminated from all four sides of the house, which were once mortgaged to get an heir. Today that house got an heir and a big party was organized there. There was an atmosphere of happiness all around. The sound of the joyful talks among participants reverberated from all directions.

Isha was sitting at the centre of the hall with her son on a large bed. The splendor and radiance of Rajmata was visible in her eyes.

Just then amidst the clamor, a black Maruti Ritz comes and stops in front of that Mehta Bhavan. A woman driving the car, was covered in black clothes from head to heel.. She kept looking at the beauty of Mehta Bhavan for a while in a calm posture. Then she moved her  hands to the place where there were sutures of the Caesarean section. And she had a loud and hearty laugh to ridicule ! Suddenly a woman came out of Mehta Bhavan with a plate of worship and her steps stopped in front of that Maruti. It was Aaryan's mother.

Pooja had come to put some fruits near the tree as per the ritual. She was able to recognize the woman sitting in the car with some effort .

That woman was none else but Aarati!

"We should not take any favor ,You Ominous Woman." This was the last sentence of her mother in law before her removal from home.

“Can an ominous woman(Kulachchani) produce a successor (Kuldeepak) for a family.I never thought of it even in my dream!”

THE END

परेशानकदमहाथ

THE END

कुलच्छनी 

★★★★★ 

Drama

© Moumita Bagchi

https://storymirror.com/read/story/hindi/qtf1j9jm/kulcchnii/detail