Hackneyed Love

Mahim was an outstanding scholar. Be it English literature or Maths. His basic fundamentals were very clear. Other subjects were also in his command but these two he had definite mastery. He did his Masters in Mathematics and did Honours graduation in English literature through distance learning and he had excelled in both. 

After completing his education, Mahim did an office job in an insurance company for a couple of years. There due to his mathematical prowess, he was considered a darling of his seniors in the actuaries department where premium calculations are done. His fellow employees also looked up to him as some sort of a saviour due to his crystal-clear fundamentals. 

But, Mahim didn't like to be tied down to a nine-to-five job. He wanted to do some independent thinking of his own. So he needed lots of time for himself. He chucked his secure job and decided to explore his world his way. The primary aim he harboured was to be of some valuable help to the society where he belonged. In short to give back from where he had received so much. What mattered to him was that he shouldn't be dependent on someone else for his economic needs. 

So after much deliberations, he hit upon the idea that he would do the teaching. He felt this was the best way he could help his fellow human beings. To be financially sound he joined an educational coaching tutorial which tutored candidates for various competitive exams. Because English was his forte and students needed a lot of grooming to appear before interview boards and face group discussions. These were time-dedicated package-based classes for which the teachers were highly paid. This allowed him both financial independence and much free time which he utilised by enrolling himself as a mentor in Maths classes for Engineering entrance exams. The students benefited from Mahim's guidance in Maths. 

Even after this, he found some time devoted to students who came to his house for specific guidance. Till now, Mahim's life was mostly peaceful, with a little bit of struggle here and there but overall he was free from any mental trauma. But now began his real story. 

Mahim was in the habit of helping students with their studies in his off time at his house. He, therefore, had helped many students to find their road to success. Once, a girl named Garima came to him for help. She was preparing for the Civil services exam but had no means to go to him through the tutorials because of money as she came from a financially compromised background. Mahim was always on the lookout for such opportunities to help the deprived. With his help, Garima came out successful. Garima was ecstatic with this success and knew that the reason for her success was only Mahim 'sir'. She could do anything to repay his debt. And she was very vocal about it and was overflowing with gratitude. '' Sir, I want to give you Guru Dakshina, please ask what you want from me, '' cried the grateful Garima. Mahim, her teacher, was more rational and sedate and with a calm mind just let it pass. But Garima would have none of it. She was adamant about fulfilling her desire. '' I will ask for the Guru Dakshina when the need arises, '' said Mahim with his natural cool confidence. 

However, the need came earlier than expected. Difficult times came for Garima. Due to her outstanding performance and the rank she achieved, she was offered Indian Foreign Services. Her family was not happy about this development and wanted her to opt out of it and get married and lead a homemaker's life. Garima tried to reason out with her family but they were stubborn people with a very conservative mindset. Seeing the end of the road for her future, Garima ran away crying to her beloved teacher Mahim Sir. It was a dilemma situation for Mahim and he was in a fix unknowing how to help his bright student. Then Garima came up with an outlandish idea as her back was pushed against the wall. She pleaded with Mahim to marry her so that she gets a legal status of a married woman and as a result, she could pursue her ambition as an independent woman. After her marriage to Mahim, Garima would move straight to her new assignment as a foreign office diplomat. And she would not demand any other rights of a married woman from Mahim' being his wife. This was a challenging situation for Mahim. For he wanted genuinely to help Garima as he loved her as his brightest student and wanted her to progress in her life in future. He didn't want her family to crush her dreams. But on the other hand, there was another problem in marriage to Garima. If this proposal had come a couple of months ago it wouldn't have posed any problem for Mahim. Because just a few days ago before this problem of Garima had cropped up, Mahim had accepted a proposal of marriage to his other student Alia. Mahim was in courtship with Alia for the past six months. Though Alia had proposed marriage to him earlier Mahim had kept it in abeyance thinking that the time had not arrived. Mahim explained his embarrassing situation to Garima. But, Garima cut a very sorry figure and pleaded again to Mahim to rescue her from this life-threatening situation for now. She promised that later on she would not pose any problem for him as his legal wife and he could marry any suitable woman of his desire. But Mahim wasn't convinced. But simultaneously he wanted to help Garima so that she get out of this tight situation. Garima, then suggested that they meet a lady lawyer friend of hers, Miss Karishma. The consultation with the lawyer went on for hours. Finally, the lawyer took them to a marriage registrar and there Garima and Mahim were married and their marriage registered. 

Then upon the lawyer's advice, the newlyweds took a flight out of the city to a hill station for a week-long honeymoon. The lawyer advised Mahim to message his girlfriend Alia that due to pressing business needs he was going outstation for a week and not to worry for his well-being. 

At the hill station, surprisingly, both the newlyweds forgot all their present life worries and enjoyed the seven days and nights to their life's fullest. Garima was very happy and satisfied with her Mahim sir and Mahim was very pleased to have given a meaning full life to Garima. After the end of the honeymoon period as advised by the lawyer, Garima reported to the Civil Servant's Academy as a new recruit and Mahim returned to his place and Alia. So Mahim and Garima parted with a tight embrace and a light kiss promising to keep in touch always. Garima was now on strong grounds being a wife and that too registered so her family couldn't create any obstacles for her as they had disowned her. Mahim, now a registered married husband faced a tricky situation for Alia. Because one day Alia would come to know then she could pose a big problem for Mahim. The lawyer Miss Karishma had assured Mahim of her services if any untoward situation arose. 

Garima completed her induction and then moved to her new assignment as a foreign office diplomat in her new role at the Czech capital city Prague. Reaching there, she sent a loving message to hubby Mahim. 

After two months, Garima sent a good news message to Mahim that she had conceived and was feeling proud to be a would-be mother to his child. She even showed him her slight baby bump on a video call. They ended the call exchanging flying kisses. Mahim had shown his concerns about her health but Garima assured him that there are many single mothers here and there are world-class facilities for expecting mothers. 

But for Mahim, the situation had to worsen as Alia came to know of his marriage to Garima. She raised a huge hue and cry over the incident. Even the marriage registration was known to her. Mahim tried to reason with her but Alia was in no mood to reconcile. She felt cheated. Mahim promised her that he would remain forever by her side and the chapter with Garima was over. He tried to convince Alia that had he not married Garima in the first place, her dreams of an independent life would have been smashed. Because her family was hell-bent on giving her away in marriage and leaving Garima at the mercy of her in-laws to decide about her future she definitely would not have supported her. But Alia hardly could be convinced and felt cheated and insecure and felt her rights being now secondary. 

So after having a one-sided fight with Mahim, she went to the Police and lodged a complaint against him for cheating for not keeping his promise of marriage and just kept short of the word rape because Mahim hadn't been physical with her. Later she regretted not having mentioned the word rape as her lawyer said made the case weak. 

Mahim was called to the Police station and was about to be taken into custody. When Miss Karishma, the lawyer employed by Garima came to his help. Mahim, fearing his impending arrest had sounded out Miss Karishma. Garima's lawyer moved a bail application and freed Mahim. Then this lawyer sat down for an out-of-court settlement with Alia and her lawyer. Finally, Alia withdrew the case. 

Alia and Mahim settled for a social marriage as per law registration could not be done due to an earlier valid registration and without it being vacated by a divorce. This was done as per the lawyer's advice. 

Meanwhile, Garima gave birth to a baby girl in the Austrian city of Vienna. She sent video grabs of her proud moments and Mahim sent her congratulatory messages. By virtue of birth in Austria, this newborn had the right to citizenship leading to countless benefits and rights. 

Garima came to India after one year of the birth of her baby and stayed with Mahim and surprisingly Alia was not jealous at all and facilitated their stay. As long as Garima stayed in India, Alia let Mahim stay with Garima and their daughter. 

Though the situation for Mahim was awkward being a husband to two women and now Alia expecting his second child, the first one for Alia the word Love was now a much hackneyed one for Mahim.