Maa

“You want the child or not.”

“You are not angry.”

“You want it or not.”

“It’s not so simple. Single mother in India is still a big taboo.”

“No issues I will shift to Greece with you. You got a job offer there. We will have a new starting.”

“It’s very difficult to talk to you. How will raise a child alone.”

“How difficult would be to raise a child. Plus you have me.”

17 years later,

“Here she is my best landscape architect, Vallini Saxena. Vallini, this is Mr. Ripu Bose.” Said Atiksh Ray as he hugged the girl who came inside. She was wearing very fitting dress of red colour with that she wore huge earrings and high heel shoes and her hand were full of bohemian bangles while other she wore a big wrist watch of shiny red leather belt. Whereas he was dressed in formal wear of reddish brown colour. Turning to Ripu, “She is the girl with whom I am in relationship with and she is your new boss in new building project. Vallini I take a leave or else pretzel will enter any moment.”  Just as they turned entered a girl who like tornado hugged Atiksh. “Missed You. Come fast we need to go for gelato with Kady” The girl of 16 years she was wearing a short checked skirt and white shirt like some school uniform. The skirt was probably the shortest possible school skirt. With that she was having long nails with punky green colour and stars drawn in it. She had her black hairs tied in hap hazard manner. She was wearing long knee length or thigh length socks with ribbons, and typical school shoes. With that she was having a sling bag it had lots of weird quotes painted on it. And he saw Vidya wearing a simple butterfly shirt and jeans. Looking as slim as always. “Atom you promised to pick me from school but leave all this Paddy told you had meeting. So this is the new guy. Hi I’m Piya Ray Saxena Atom’s daughter. So sorry actually I am Atiksh’s and Vallini’s daughter.” Just then entered a guy of college going age who was wearing a punky t shirt and torn jeans “Pretzel done, or left with anything. I will not wait whole day. By the way, myself Kabir, Kabir Ray Saxena, another child in the happy Ray Saxena family, their son.” As he shook hands with Ripu. “Sorry, guys you go with Vidya. Is it ok Vidya? Or do you have something?” Atiksh replied apologically.

“It’s ok.” Vidya smiled and they left. Atiksh turning to Ripu “Sorry, you know how kids are? The best would be why you don’t come to our place for dinner………..and you are new also to this place. Plus we will celebrate the takeover. Ahh!!!! Its time also, Vallini let’s go. Ripu a car is waiting for you to take you to our house. We now take a leave”

Ripu found himself in front a huge beach mansion with perfect picture sequence. In front was a fountain many sports standing showing that Atiksh loves sports cars. He found himself in a homely place. There were a lot of staff coming and by. Just then came Atiksh and Vallini, dressed in proper formals, Atiksh was wearing a perfect business suit of charcoal grey colour with Vallini in thigh slit white cocktail dress cum gown.

He had known that Mr. Atiksh Ray is one of the biggest businessman and was settled in Greece with his family. He was in his 40s and had a life partner in a something 37 yeared woman. Atiksh was a family man who was seen most of the time with his family in every function. Though not very media comfortable there was only few of his single shots that go in circulation as he very particular about their privacy of his family life. So photos of his lady or kids never went on air except few exceptions.      

Atiksh came forward and hugged this man and said “Good to see you man. As you have met her, but yet again she is my long term partner Vallini.” And as entered three young people from back door looking ready for some kind of disco party and then he called them, they all came smilingly Ripu could clearly feel that it’s an easy flowing relation they shared. Group hugging them, he said “These are my kids .You met my doll, Piya. My younger son Kabir and he is elder-most child Palash. I would have liked if they could join us for dinner but all have plans today.”

Ripu saw them leaving in their own sports cars respectively. Atiksh said “These all cars are for my children as they love them. My parents and her mother are out for a fund raiser, will join us later. That’s all my family my parents, her mother we both, 3 kids. Big happy family” .Vallini said “Atiksh so great weather lets settle outside and then talk.”

They were sitting in a paved porch outside the mansion facing the sea when he saw Atiksh and Vallini share love moments and felt a twinge of jealousy. He could not forget he was here for business and they just completed with a champagne pouring in their glass they sat sipping it with some starters. Vallini was totally ignoring him and was occupied with Atiksh.  Later that night while having a bath she was lost in the thoughts…….  

“Hume toh yahi sikhaya gaya ki joh aapko pasand ho apnaa loun aur joh aapko napasand ho woh hamesha ke liye chod doun”

“You have your own life. I am in a relationship with you not bought as slave so you have all the rights like all human beings have and respect as a partner deserves.”

Vallini was simple girl who was born in a simple girl born in an super orthodox family and married to another. She was married only after 12^th completion, she was in college first year but never got chance and when married Ripu Bose it was more of the starting of slavery. She had to live a life where she was considered a free maid and free item for sex item. After 1 year of marriage she had lost all her vilour and presence in life plus was living corpse she came to know that she was pregnant, but she was pressurized to get a pre natal sex determination test. But things this time took a u turn she refused she was thrown out of house and divorce was done, she was alone in the world, that’s the time Atiksh came and swept her off her feet.

He was everything a girl would want plus he was her boss there to take care of his sons at that time one was 7 other was 2. Atiksh and his parents were very nice to her and accomadated her with them. And took her total care as she was pregnant. With the birth of her daughter, she was now unofficially Atiksh’s daughter as he gave his name in father and also named her Piya, means beloved.

After Piya was born, she shared her troubled past with Atiksh and was shocked by his reply.   “Whatever was with Ripu ended with him only.  I am Atiksh, Atiksh Ray, so it’s obvious that I will behave the way I am so does my parents. Actually Dad work leads us to many foreign trips plus when I did my double honours from Paris. So I am brought up in a very liberal philosophy. So for me it doesn’t matter what colour of clothes you wear or design of your clothes”

She was encouraged by Atiksh to complete her education and his parents were also supportive even after knowing that the child is not progeny, she was loved as much as the boys or more than them. Actually he pushed her to fulfil all her dreams, he gave her total freedom from clothes to parties. He provided her with a car too to travel when she likes. In last 17 years she had completed a complete sphere of emotions…..she now is a successful landscape architect, loving mother to her three kids, spicy and independent partner to Atiksh, but most importantly a satisfied and happy soul.

The relationship between Atiksh and her was complicated to understood as they were not married yet they were a couple…….actually they were engaged and were also legally recorded as a couple when they sought to change the boys’ surname to theirs and during Piya’s school admission too. So all the three kids wrote Ray Saxena as their surname.

 Actually the boys were also not Atiksh’s children she came to know in a later phrase they were kids of her x girl 

friend, who died leaving him their guardian but now the three kids were their kids, Atiksh and Vallini.

Atiksh said while cuddling her in bed, “Don’t you think you took a super long bath today. What happened? Is something bothering you?” he said in his caring voice. She turned towards him and said “You knew that Ripu is my x husband or not? Tell me the truth or else why the Atiksh Ray was so interested that small company.”

“Vallini you are doubting me, how rude” he said showing a fake sadness. “That’s the reason I’ saying that. Because I know a lot more than that what these media people say about you as simple and straight. I know you are a prankster.” “Ok, I accept defeat so now let me enjoy his weird reactions.” Atiksh said with mirth as they slept that night.

The next day as Ripu entered, he saw Vallini was there wearing smoking floral trousers with a short knot shirt. She was standing there tall and poised beside her was kept a blue leather Hermes box purse. And Vidya was also there sipping the tea. Seeing them, broke his dam of feelings.

“This girl is your’s and mine. In any case I would like to her and tell her that I am the father and your husband. No Maa”   

 “The name is Piya Ray Saxena; Mr. Bose .My name is Vallini Saxena. This is my mother Vidya Saxena. And as her name says she is a Ray Saxena not Bose and you would have heard my fiancée saying she is our doll. And about the dynamics of DNA, she knows and is no concerned about all this stuff. And by just lending our bloody sperm doesn’t makes you the father.”

“Maa, at least you come with me, she has everything my mother and my daughter.”

“I think you didn’t heard, Mr. Bose, I am Vidya Saxena not you mother Vidya Bose. I died the day you and your father decided that you both get to decide what behaviour should be done with this innocent girl and you didn’t accept your responsibility. And don’t shed tears over here, I know you are now married and have children too, two sons Krishendu and Purendu. But you strive for a girl child because her luck will bring you lost fortune is what you believe and that’s the reason you are here. But forget everything and just leave.

We never created any problem in your life. And we tend want to do that. Please leave from here. You as free as you were always.

My daughter may have being gracious enough to not to throw you out this house but I may not be. For Piya she has a father’s name and she decided to continue with that only. She will always remain Ms. Piya Ray Saxena. And she is Ms. Vallini Saxena, Mr. Atiksh's Ray fiancee and you would like to mess up with him."