Har Jeet

“Happy birthday Krish!”, Jhanvi gently kisses the forehead of her five-year-old wrapped under the blanket with a cute smile, maybe a fallout of a pleasant dream. Krish gently stirs under the covers. Holding him tightly and spraying him with more kisses and hugs, Jhanvi cuddles the little one.

“It’s your birthday today beta, let’s get up and get ready. We will go out and have lots of fun…” Jhanvi whispers into his ears as she adoringly ruffles his silky curls.

“Thank you, Mama, where will we go today?” Krish mumbles with his eyes still closed, trying to complete the last remnants of his dream, maybe.

“Well, we will first go to the mandir with Nani. She is waiting for you; she has prepared your favourite sweet dish…”

“Kheer?” Krish now pops up on the bed.

“Yes, and then we will go to Rishabh’s place…”

“Mama, can we go to the park and play, pleasssssssse…” the little one pleads.

“Let me talk to Roopam Aunty, but first you get ready, else we will be late,” Jhanvi gently cajoles her son.

Thrilled by the excitement awaiting him during the day, Krish now attempts to move out of bed. Jhanvi remains vigilant as he moves to the washroom.

After about an hour, the mother-son duo is comfortably seated in the car, Krish appearing fresh and sunny donning the new pair of T-shirt and Jeans Jhanvi recently bought for him. Looking at him emotions well up within her - almost sending her to tears, but she quickly controls herself by pecking Krish with a quick kiss and starts the car.

Within an hour, they are in the mandir. They have been coming here every year on Krish’s birthday, distributing sweets, chocolates, clothes, and everything that Krish loves. He enjoys meeting them but cringes the moment anyone wants to get close to him. Not to embarrass him any further, Jhanvi gets over the distribution soon and they head to her mother’s place for a sumptuous breakfast.

Krish never stops smiling as he has his favourite food items, under the watchful supervision of his mother. Just then the doorbell rings and his attention drifts to the toy car he has received as a birthday gift from Nanu.

“Mama is this a gift from Papa?”, suddenly he shouts out.

Taken aback, Jhanvi struggles for an apt response. “Nahi…beta, this is a gift from Nanu”

“Where is Papa, where is his gift?” Krish turns to his mother.

Unable to withstand the innocence of his gaze, Jhanvi hides her emotions. Papa will come beta…” she consoles the child, knowing perfectly well he will never turn up.

It has been three years now since Atul separated from them, just two months after the doctor confirmed that Krish was an autistic child. While Jhanvi struggled to come to terms with this revelation, Atul put the entire blame on her and announced his decision to leave. Jhanvi was devastated but with the support of her parents, the God-sent doctor and her community of parents going thro

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ugh a similar ordeal, she survived. While she ached to spend every waking moment with Krish during the gruelling years, Atul’s decision to distance himself from the family has been even more painful. What made the journey tougher was her attempt to be a father as well as a mother to Krish.

By God’s grace, Krish has been responding very well to the treatment – even the doctor is extremely pleased by his progress but there are moments when he feels the father’s absence. These are times when Jhanvi strives to divert his attention, just as she does now…

“He will come later beta, we will go to Rishabh's house now. You wanted to play with him in the park; let’s go…”

Gathering the young one in her arms, she trots back to the car and drives off, chattering endlessly and mindlessly, less to divert him, more to divert her thoughts...

Soon Krish is busy playing with Rishabh, who is also suffering from autism. Roopam, however, is supported by her husband Jayesh in rearing the child. As the kids connect in their way over toys, shouts, and laughter, the mothers bond - drawing solace and strength from each other. Roopam has been prodding Jhanvi for more than a year now to seek divorce from Atul and start afresh. “Krish needs a father, don’t deprive him…” she advises yet again. Sharing the trials and triumphs of mothering these special kids, Jhanvi and Roopam get carried away…

It must not have been more than a few minutes when they hear a loud cry from Rishabh. As they rush out to meet him, they learn that Krish had moved out towards the road in his wheelchair and had been hit by a car.

Shell shocked, Jhanvi looks on blankly. Roopam is quick to react, She races back home with Rishabh, scoops up the unconscious child along with Jhanvi and dashes towards the hospital in her car. The resident doctor examines the child and soon instructs the staff to wheel him to the emergency room for further tests and treatment. By now, Jhanvi realizes she needs to take charge of the situation. And, after a long time since Atul left her, she feels his absence.

“I can’t believe this; how can I be so callous? It is entirely my fault…can’t pardon myself…” she sobs, holding on to Roopam for strength.

“It happens dear, please don’t feel guilty, let’s pray for his recovery…” Roopam comforts.

“He has lost blood, we need to do a small surgery, need to arrange blood. Where is the father? He needs to give consent for the surgery…” the doctor enquires as he walks up to them.

“He doesn’t have a father…” Jhanvi replies softly, trying to control her emotions.

“He has a father, here I am, tell me where I need to sign…”

Stunned, Jhanvi wheels around to find Atul standing at a distance - nervousness written large on his face.

“Please thank Jayesh for informing me” he mutters to Roopam as he accompanies the doctor.

‘Should I thank God for the accident?’, Jhanvi looks on through a teary mist at Atul’s receding silhouette.