Scraps of Past - I

12th September 1993

She tightly held the tiny little hand of the child who was clueless about why there was this sudden chaos in his uncle’s house.

Ranta Singh Raizada, Arnav’s paternal aunt who loved Arnav like her own son felt helpless today. The tiny 5 year old was asking him why suddenly everyone in the house – Amar chachu , Akash Bhai, Dadaji , Dadiji seemed so hysterical. 

What could Ratna answer ? How could she answer his innocent queries ? How was she to tell him that his parents, who left him at his uncles’s house and had gone to attend a marriage ceremony were never returning? How could she tell that 5 year old that he was orphaned ? Just how ??

Her husband had left for the police station for body identification.

Just a few minutes back they had received a call from the police and were informed about the crash that took place near RK Puram. Arnav’s parents’ car had crashed with a much bigger and out of control car that was being driven by a drunk man. Both Avinash and Sakshi Singh Raizada had died on the spot due to head injuries along with the driver of the other car.

When the police came, they found three dead bodies. They had traced Amar’s residence number from a diary that was found in Avinash’s pocket and had called him thereafter.

The house had been a wreck after that. Devyani Singh Raizada had broken down, mourning for her beloved son and daughter in law. Her husband, Vishwanath Singh Raizada just sat there on the sofa holding his head in his palm , not uttering a word.

A 12 years old Akash sat beside his dadi trying to calm her down.

All were too busy to look at the 5 year old who was still unsure of the sudden change in the atmosphere of the house. All except Ratna . She looked at the child with glistening eyes and hugged him tightly.

‘What happened Chachi ?’ Why is everyone so sad ?’ Arnav asked.

Ratna didn’t answer the real question , instead she wiped her eyes. A determination glinted in her brown orbs as she spoke – ‘Arnav , I am not chachi , but your Ma from today on wards.’

Everything else would be handled later , but Arnav must know that he hadn’t lost his parents.

xxx

11th June 2000

‘Ma ! Ma ! I won ! I won the first place in science exhibition!’ A 13 year old Arnav spoke excitedly.

Ratna smiled , elated at her son’s success.

‘I’m so proud of you beta! My son is the best.’ She hugged him.

Arnav’s eyes were filled with happiness as he hugged his mother back.

Breaking the hug , Arnav asked . ‘Ma , will Baba be proud of me too? Will he accept me as his son this time and love me like he loves Akash bhai?’ His eyes were brimming with hope.

Ratna’s smile faded as soon as she heard him. But she forced her face to keep the smile intact. ‘Beta he loves you and he’ll also be very proud of you when he gets to know about your success.’

‘Ma you don’t have to lie. I know he doesn’t like me at all. But I hope he someday starts loving me.’ Arnav said, his face etched with sadness.

‘Don’t worry my baccha !! You’re such a nice boy. How can one not love you? I’m sure your chachaji will also come around.’ Ratna tried to reassure the kid.

But Ratna knew whatever she said was a lie. A Big Lie.

After Arnav’s parents’ demise , she had decided that she would be a mother to Arnav forever and had expected the same from Amar, but he had shocked the entire family saying that he didn’t want to take Arnav’s responsibility. Amar had always been a bit cold towards his nephew. He didn’t show it in front of his family but it hadn’t gone unnoticed by Ratna. She also knew the reason.

Amar was extremely jealous of his older brother Avinash.

Avinash was an extremely hard working and intelligent businessman , the reason why their father trusted him more than Amar when it came to business matters.

Amar therefore had somewhat distanced himself from his father and brother and his family.

And after his brother’s death he had cold heartedly denied letting Arnav live in their house and had decided to send him off to a boarding school.

But he was rigorously opposed by his parents, wife and even his son Akash, and he had to give up at last. If nothing , it had turned his attitude towards Arnav colder. And not only that , Amar had then also turned indifferent towards his own family.

Arnav although was just 5 when his parents died , but he had taken his own time to come in terms with the fact. Ratna’s motherly love and his grandparents and brother’s moral support had help him a lot to come out of his misery.

Arnav never understood why Amar behaved so unwelcomingly with him and listening to his Ma , he tried to stay away from him but a part of him always wanted to feel that fatherly love that he witnessed between Amar and Akash.

Arnav worked very hard and always succeeded in everything. He hoped to make Amar proud but he had not once acknowledged the child’s efforts.

The only thing Arnav was grateful to Avinash for was that he had allowed Arnav to call him Baba much to his own dislike and his parents’ insistence.

xxx

Arnav’s childhood and teenage years passed by in the same way.

Always getting a cold shoulder from the person he considered as his father…and unconditional love and support from his mother , brother and grandparents.

AUTHOR'S NOTE -

I can't express how sorry i am being so late in updating. I know i had promised that i would update after 17th and here i am updating 2 weeks later. My apologies for the delay. I'll try not to do this again. Really sorry people. Hope you'll all forgive me for this :(

Anyways , about this update , Okay i have decided that i'll not include the past of Arnav and Khushi in the chapter , and instead i'll keep posting these short 'Scraps of Past' after every 2 or 3 chapter till i come clear with their pasts. 

The next chapter will be updated within the next 2-3 days.

Once again really sorry for all the delay.

Love you all !!

Muahhzz !

Nikita