Here is the update:::::::::::::::::::::::
"Maa, did you speak to Rajat Sir? I hope he did not get angry and he gave the permission to let me stay at home", Ruhi tells me as soon as I reach home.
"Ruhi please give me some time, I just returned home, didn't I? I went to meet him and he said it is fine but you need to continue to do all the revision and all your homework as you used to do at school. Okay?"
"Yes maa. I definitely will. By the way, will you stay at home with me during this week, I will get so bored alone and especially with the plastered foot. Please maa?"
"Ruhi, you know very well how busy I get during the holiday seasons. I have a lot of appointments to attend to this week Ruhi, but I will see if I can take a day off by next week."
She dejectedly nods. I also feel guilty, but I am compelled because I already have a tight schedule because of the two month of holidays of the other dentist at my clinic.
In a few days, Ruhi seems to be finally better. She tells me that her leg is hurting less and even tries to take baby steps around the room.
On Tuesday, I enter to find a house full of noise and shouting of children.
I enter Ruhi's room to see a group of her friends in to see her and Ruhi was sitting on the bed and someone was making her drink her soup.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Rajat. It's a pleasure to see you here", I hesitantly tell him.
"Oh hello, Purvi. I am sorry but Ruhi insisted that I feed her myself. Her friends really wanted to meet Ruhi so I brought them to your place, with the help of some students who knew where she stayed. I hope you don't mind. By the way Ruhi, I will have to leave you for some time while you chat with your friends, I need to borrow your mother for some time."
I wonder what he has to tell me. It is somewhat strange to find him at my place and feeding my daughter with his hands, but I think about the time when he helped Ruhi so much and smile," oh no, I do not mind at all. Ruhi was getting bored and I'm glad you brought her friends along. She is very happy."
He smiles.
"By the way you wanted to speak to me? Is there anything serious, why don't we go in the kitchen?", I tell him already a little worried about what will he tell me about.
He silently walks behind me as I lead him towards the kitchen. I tell Sheela to prepare something to drink for us, while he starts to take something out of his bag.
"Purvi, actually I don't think you remember but today was Ruhi's reports day."
I think about today's date. Ruhi had reminded me some days earlier about it, but I completely forgot about it. After the appointments, I had to rush to Dr. Maya's to ask her about Ruhi's recovery and it completely slipped off my mind.
"It's okay if you could not attend, I thought you might have been busy with Ruhi and all, so I brought the reports for you here. Mrs. Purvi, I am pleased to tell you that Ruhi came first in her class this year. She worked brilliantly in all her subjects and she only needs to do a little more effort on History, otherwise it is an excellent result."
A wide smile forms on my lips. This was the first time that Ruhi came first, previously she was always stuck in the second or third position. I feel so proud of my little angel, and unconsciously a drop of tear falls off my eye. I quickly wipe the tear off, slightly embarrassed by having to cry twice in front of her teacher.
"Thank you so much Mr. Rajat. Ruhi undoubtedly worked hard, but you also have a great role in her results. By the way have you already told her about it?"
"Her results come from great love and an even greater upbringing from you Mrs. Purvi. And I don't think her academic result is her most praiseworthy achievement to be honest, her character is even more beautiful than that. I have not informed her about her results yet. I was waiting for you to come back. Why don't we both go and reveal that to her, purvi?"
"Sure Mr. Rajat. Why don't you go first and I'll join you in some time?"
He nods and proceeds upstairs to Ruhi's room. I remain seated on the chair and contemplate on what he just told me. 'It is all a result of my love and my upbringing' , but how do I tell him that I find myself incapable of giving love and a great upbringing to my daughter that I love so much. How do I tell him how much I have kept Ruhi away from myself for so long? How do I tell him how I have deprived my Ruhi of her maa's real love for so long. The daughter that is making me proud at every step, is the one that I am keeping away from myself the most. How do I tell him that I am not the type of mother that he thinks I am? I am not a good mother at all. Not at all.
Warm tears start streaming down my face and I go in the bathroom to wash my face before heading to Ruhi's room.
In the bathroom mirror, I catch a glimpse of my face. How perfectly I camouflaged myself behind the mask of a strict and a nonchalant mother, and how no one knows how big of a secret I hold behind that mask of mine.
Ruhi almost jumps with happiness when Mr. Rajat tell her about her results.
Before he leaves, he tells Ruhi, "Ruhi, I am sure you will get absolutely fit in two weeks' time. The school has organized a fun day after two weeks. There are many activities and even a parent-child cooking competition, which I want you and your mother to attend to, and I am hopeful that you will excel in that in the same way you have excelled in your results."
All her friends greet Ruhi before they go and Ruhi hugs Mr. Rajat tightly before he leaves. He only nods and smiles at me before he proceeds outside.
"Please maa, do not forget the date. I really want to win this competition."
"Okay Ruhi. I'll keep the date in mind. Good bye now."
Maa goes to work and I start contemplating on ways of how me and maa might win the competition, considering that maa is already a very good cook.
The day finally arrives. Maa had a night shift today and she is not back yet. I get ready and the school van comes to pick me up. I see all my friends standing in the auditorium with either their mother or father and impatiently waiting for the competition to start.
As I stand alone, Jay approaches me and tell me, "So Ruhi, welcome to the competition. By the way, do you know that this is a parent-child competition right? How come you are alone, where are your imaginary parents? Won't they be here even today? Today's judges are not Rajat Sir who will get easily impressed by your tears and a boring composition. By the way, look over there, the man talking to Richa aunty, he is my father. He is a very famous businessman, Mr. Sagar Singhal. What is your father's name?"
I start to feel very angry and want to scream at him, but then I remember Rajat Sir's words that people will always have something to say to you, and you cannot spoil your mood because of the useless comments of someone else. I decide to silently go away from where I was standing.
Time for the competition to start was already close, but maa was not here yet. Has she forgotten today's date? Has she forgotten about the competition? What will I do now?
My friends and their parents get ready to take their position in front of their cooking counters. My friends and the teachers start gesturing me to take my place, but how can I do so when my mother is not even here. I hesitantly go and stand near the counter where my name is written.
"Ruhi, where is your parent? Only your parent is left for the competition to start", the judge Sir asks me.
"Actually, Sir..."
"Oh sorry, sorry I am late. Actually I got caught up in something."
"Are you her father Mr. Kumar?"
"Actually no, but I am her uncle, her mother got caught up in something, and she told me to participate next to her. I am sure you will understand."
The judges agree on the nice gesture of Rajat Sir. And I am beyond elated that he decided to do this for me, even if I didn't even tell him that maa is not here yet. But does Rajat Sir know how to cook, how are we going to manage?
Astonishingly Rajat Sir turns out to be an even better cook that maa. He started chopping the vegetables very quickly and precisely. I was swiftly helping him by bringing everything that he wanted and helping him to clean our counters quickly. In less than two hours we had prepared an extremely delicious chole bhature dish, and it tasted even better than it looked. It was beautifully decorated on a white plate with a special chutney sauce that Rajat Sir managed to make in less than fifteen minutes.
At the end of the competition, the faces of the judges seemed very pleased when they tasted our dish. I knew there was going to be a tough competition between me, Jai and my friend Riya, because the judges also liked their dishes.
And when the winners were announced, me and Rajat Sir's names were not even heard! Jay who won the first prize started teasing me when suddenly someone started announcing on the mike:
"I am sure you must all be shocked that how come Ruhi and her uncle's name are not in the winners list. Let me tell you something, today's best dish was that of Ruhi and Mr. Kumar."
Everyone in the room started clapping loudly. Jai who was standing next to me started boiling with anger.
"But as you all know that today's competition was that of a parent and child, so it might seem unfair if they won this competition, but we want to give a special prize to Ruhi and her uncle. Please clap for them."
We were presented by a trophy which was even bigger than what Jai got. We also got numerous gifts from the judges. As everyone started congratulating us, I saw Jai asking his father to leave immediately.
After half an hour, me and Rajat Sir went outside. I completely forgot about Maa's absence when we suddenly saw her getting out of the car and running towards us.
"I am so sorry Ruh..."
"Stop maa, you always do that with me. You never attend any of my functions. I know you are busy with clinic and all, but maa, I am your daughter aren't I? Why do you always run so far from me maa. I try to understand and pacify myself everyday, but you always do that. I wish I could have stayed with Rajat Sir, he is always here for me. Why can't I stay with you Rajat Sir?"
I was really really angry today. Maa always does this to me. Every year all my friends win the different competitions but I never win only because she is never present! She never remembers anything about me, she never does!
"Maa, I wish I could live with Rajat Sir and not you. Why aren't you my father Rajat Sir?", I turn around Rajat Sir and ask him.
And then, I see maa for the first time raising her arms in the air to slap me. I already closed my eyes and get ready to feel her hands on my cheeks, but she stops mid-way and instead runs to her car.
"Rajat Sir, could you drop me home, please?", I tell him, shaking with fear.
He drives me home in silence and he agrees to stay with me until maa arrives home
So guys that's all for today.. I hope u guys liked it.. Stay tuned for further.