What has purvi done so bad that her parents do not even want to meet her? Why have they not tried to find her and why don't they even know about Ruhi yet?
I do not believe that a woman like Purvi must have done something so atrocious that even her parents cannot forgive her, I am sure there is definitely some misunderstanding that must have cropped up.
...
"Hey Ruhi, you stay with daadi today okay. I have to go out for some work and I will be back as soon as possible. Be a good girl, I will miss you."
"Okay Rajat Uncle. Please take care of yourself. I will miss you so so much", and she throws herself in my arms and leaves a soft kiss on my cheeks.
I leave for the bus stop and mount the first bus to Pune. It is the address that I found on Purvi's birth certificate. I am not sure if her family still lives there or has shifted. I don't even know how easy or difficult it will be to look for them in this big city. I don't even know what I am going to tell them, I did not even think about the consequences before coming here.
After a long trip, the rickshaw driver leaves me in front of a house of the address I told him. I hope they might still live here and I knock on the door.
A girl opens it. "Oh hello, I am sorry to be disturbing you at this time, but, umm are Mr. and Mrs. Iyer here?"
"Hello, no it is okay. Well they are not back from the temple yet, I am their daughter Tarika. I am sorry, I don't recognize you, are you looking for them, do you want me to call appa and tell him that you're here?"
Their daughter, Tarika. Is this the right house or is she... her sister?
"Please don't bother. I shall wait for them. Actually, I do not know how I should be asking you this, but... are you... related to... Purvi Iyer?"
"... Pur... Purvi..."
I look at her and feel that she is about to faint and I immediately hold her until she finally stabilizes after some time.
"I am sorry Tarika. I did not mean to. Are you feeling better?"
"No, no. I am fine. It's just that... well please come in. By the way, how do you know Purvi, well... my aka?"
"Oh, she is your sister. I am her friend...and I was passing through here and I just thought I dropped by to meet you. She keeps talking about you so much and I just felt like I can come and meet you all."
"Does she? Well she could have at least texted or called us even once then. If she misses us so much, maybe she should not have left in the first place."
Tears fill her eyes and I tell her, "Tarika, I know I should not be interfering in your lives, but could you please tell me what actually happened? What made her leave? She never opens up about these things."
"Well actually, I do not know if she has already told you about Akshat. Both of them were very much in love. Both of the families were equally happy with their relationship and wanted them to get married as soon as possible. Aka also wanted to settle down with him soon but he kept ignoring all her pleas and requests. Some days before their engagement and the day the wedding dates were going to be fixed, he called off the engagement and the marriage. Aka was heartbroken. She went to persuade him, but in vain.
Our parents and even her in-laws supported aka. But suddenly, a week later, she left. She just left, without saying anything, without informing anyone. She left and never came back ever since. Never came... "
Tarika starts sobbing in front of me. I try to understand what Tarika just told me, but I do not still know what compelled her to leave in the first place.
"Oh I am so crazy", Tarika interrupts me after some time, "I even forgot to offer you something to drink, Mr...?"
"Mr. Rajat Kumar. Oh please do not bother. By the way Tarika, do you know what made her leave?"
"Well, to be honest, this question has tormented me for a long time too. I even tried contacting Akshat, but it was of no use. I heard that he left from here. It was so painful for everyone here. She was our life, our support system. Amma and appa spent their whole time looking for her. I can tell you that neither of them have ever slept peacefully even a night since she left. Even until today, they still go to the temple everyday to pray that aka is safe and happy wherever she is. And despite being so close to us, aka has not bothered about us even for one day. By the way, where is she now?... How is she?"
"She is in Mumbai right now. She has a dental clinic there. Unfortunately since a few days, she has not been too well and that is why I wanted to come and meet you."
"Who is not well Tarika?"
We both turn around towards the door. There was an elderly woman in a saree standing by the door. From her striking resemblance to Purvi, I can already tell that she is her mother.
"Vanakam Amma. Come in. This is Mr. Rajat. He has come all the way from Mumbai to meet us."
"Good morning son. What brings you here? Has Tarika offered you something to drink yet?"
"I am fine aunty. Actually I...came here...to meet you for...", I look at Tarika, hoping that she can complete my words.
"Actually Amma, he is a friend of...Purvi aka."
The expression on her face changes immediately. I see anger, fear, pain, sadness, everything etched on her face and in her eyes. It takes a long time before she speaks again, "Is she not well, how is she?"
When I tell her that she is fine and is in Mumbai, I hear a scream leave her throat before she falls in Tarika's lap and starts crying. I excuse myself and head outside.
Oh my God, I didn't even know there was so much underlying Purvi . I don't even know how she manages to keep herself so strong despite all the things she's been through and all the pain that she has buried in her heart. My respect and adoration for her have heightened. My thought process suddenly breaks when I hear Tarika calling my name.
"Can you take us to meet her, please?", her mother tells me as soon as I enter the house.
I nod. Some hours later, I have three more bus tickets with me. Her father still seems to be in a state of shock when her wife told her about Purvi. As soon as we get off the Mumbai bus stop, my body starts shaking and I start to sweat heavily. Have I made a good decision by bringing them here? How will Purvi react and what about Ruhi?
Hey readers, Here is the next part. Hope you guys like it.