Despair and Joy

There was a couple who lived in downtown area of the beautiful city of Bengaluru. This couple was happily married approximately 9 years ago. They had a very beautiful daughter Aanya, and couple was named as Arjun and Shivani.

Shivani was a post graduate in Mass communication and Arjun was an Insurance surveyor. Their daughter was in third standard. Both of them were working professionals.

Since three years, Shivani quit from her job because she wanted to be a good parent.

Right from the day of Aanya’s birth, Shivani and Arjun were more responsible and caring.

One night Shivani was having conversation with Arjun, “a good parenting is proved when your child has accomplished his/her goals. I want to show that parenthood to Aanya, when she would be successful like me.”

Arjun smiled and said, “thank you darling, and I really appreciate your thought and respect that parenting. I am always with you”.

Shivani took a deep sigh and said, “I Love you Arjun”.

Next morning at 4:30 AM, Arjun woke up by some noise.

“What is this noise? From where is it coming?” Arjun was muttering and he was half awake.

He saw their daughter Aanya “baby, what are you doing on the floor? You woke up so early, its only 4:32 AM.”

Aanya was laughing innocently and cheerfully. She was actually enjoying her company with Barbie doll which was dressed in pink frock. It was dancing and clapping.

When Arjun saw this he was smiling and was happy to see this.

Shivani was in deep sleep and she did not wake up. Arjun lifted Aanya and her doll, and took both of them on the bed.

“It’s time to sleep darling” Arjun talking to Aanya. “Your mom will wake up and I think we should not disturb her. Your doll is also sleeping, so let her sleep.”

He tried making Aanya sleep and she slept after 5 minutes. He kissed Aanya and Shivani, and went for sleep.

Their life was moving happily. All three were enjoying each other’s company.

Aanya was growing up.

Now she is 15 years old. She is in tenth standard. Aanya has started understanding her books, her responsibilities, what is good and what is wrong.

Arjun and Shivani still love her cute smile, and they are trying to keep up that smile on her face.

Aanya is good in studies and also good in helping her mother in daily household chores. She recently learned to cook delicious Dal Makhani from her mother. Everyday she was learning something new from her parents. She was keen, enthusiastic and learnt with excitement.

Arjun was happy and always ready to taste something new, which was cooked by Aanya.

Shivani and Arjun are now getting older, their hair were turning grey. The couple is now almost 45 years.

One night Aanya was working over school project on her laptop. It was 11:30 PM.

Shivani and Arjun were in their bedroom and were about to sleep. Suddenly, she heard her father’s voice, coming from bedroom and was asking for the help. It was loud and clear.

“Shivani, help me honey. I am in pain. I am feeling heaviness on my chest. Help me”. Arjun was crying in pain.

Shivani screamed, “Aanya, come fast. Your dad is not feeling good.”

Aanya rushed towards the bedroom.

Arjun was gasping heavily. Shivani started looking for her mobile phone. She was worried and tensed. She wanted to extract the doctor’s number, but her hands were shivering in worry and could not find her mobile phone.

Aanya pulled out the bedsheets and she discovered the mobile phone wrapped up in the sheets. She took the phone and called her mother, “Mom, here’s your mobile phone. Call for help. Let’s drive him to the hospital.”

Aanya pulled her dad’s head and kept it on her lap. Mother and daughter were tensed and perturbed. Their smiles were gone. The atmosphere of their home was disturbed.

“Hello, Dr. Sinha,” Shivani said. “Arjun is not well, he is feeling heaviness on his chest. He has pain in the chest. He is breathless.” Shivani was explaining the problem of her husband to the doctor in one breath. She was biting her nail in anxiousness.

Aanya shouted, “Mamma, look here. Dad is not responding. His chest is not moving up and down.” Arjun’s head was sliding down from Aanya’s lap.

Shivani screamed, “Arjun, are you alright. Don’t worry and, I shall take you to Dr. Sinha’s clinic right away. Aanya take out the car key from the drawer of the dining table.

Meanwhile Arjun was already dead.

When Shivani tried to lift Arjun, his body was heavy. It was difficult for her to lift him. She checked his pulse, but could not feel anything. There was no flow of air near his nostrils. She was shocked and her eyes were now wet with tears. Both her eyes were wide open.

It was confirm to her now that Arjun left for the heavenly abode, and left them on this planet.

Aanya was still unaware about that bitter truth. She said to Shivani, “Mamma, lift him now, and let’s take him. Why are you not moving? I found the car keys.”

Shivani bursted into tears and cleared the situation to Aanya, “we lost him. He left us on this earth.”

Aanya was in absolute shock.

All the rituals were completed, days passed by.

Both mother and daughter were on their routine life. It’s been almost two years of Arjun’s death. They started working together in kitchen by listening old bollywood songs of Kishore Kumar on Caarvan. Both were smiling, talking and eating together.

Aanya was now 23years, and Shivani was 50 years.

One day, the door bell rang when both mother and daughter were at home.

Aanya was now a graduate in Bio-Technology since one year. She was applying for the jobs.

“Aanya, open the door. Someone is waiting outside.” Shivani yelled from kitchen.

“Who is there”? Aanya asked, “Wait, I am coming.”

Aanya opened the door and there was a postman, who handed over the envelope which was from a well reputed pharmaceutical company in Bengaluru.

Aanya opened the envelope which was addressed in her name.

She screamed so loudly in excitement, “Mamma, come fast. I got it. Come fast, my old mother.”

“What happened, why are you shouting?” Shivani continued, “You know I have got pain in my heel and I cannot walk fast. I am not young like you”.

Aanya had a cheerful smile on her face and she was overjoyed.

“Mamma, I am selected for the job in a pharmaceutical company. It’s here in this city only. Oh Mamma, It’s such a good news.”Aanya said.

“Oh God! Thank you so much and I am really grateful to you, that after so long I am hearing some good news” Shivani said.

That smile was back on Shivani’s face after years, which were lost due to demise of Arjun. She was happy to see the smile on Aanya’s face too. She was also happy to see that Aanya has grown up now and ready to share the shoulder of responsibilities with her.

Shivani had a smile and tears both, and then she walked towards the photo of Arjun with that letter.

“Did you see, that smile is back on Aanya’s face, which she lost since you left us. Arjun, our parenting is successful today. She accomplished her dreams. We Miss you Arjun”.