Love is a spontaneous emotion

Chapter1 Memories Raghunandan I am returning home after 4 years from Massachusetts. I can't believe how fast the time flies. It felt like I had just left to US and I am back already. It was not easy for me to stay away from my family especially my Naani ( maternal grandmother) and my little sister, Naav. However, Naani , Dad and Naav kept visiting me from time to time but I never came here to visit them because I did'nt want to come to Delhi because of those memories which will probably haunt me for the rest of my life. I dread those feelings, the memories of those unforgettable moments. Every place here reminded me of Bhavana. It's been 5 years since I saw her last. Bhavana broke my heart mercilessly, I can never forgive her nor can I forget her. She still she lives in my heart . Heart is indeed so illogical and stupid ,it always clings to things that it is supposed to let go of. After completing medicine and Masters in General Surgery at AIIMS, Delhi I went to Harvard where I did fellowship in Surgical oncology. My studies and work came as distraction which kept me away from those haunting memories. Now I am here where everything keeps reminding me of her,I have no idea how am I going deal with it. I was riding home with my driver, Bahaddur. He has been working for Dad for 20 plus years now.I have great childhood memories with him. He used to drive us to school and back and also took us to many places like amusement parks and tennis club, to our favorite restaurants because most of the time Dad was busy and he couldn't accompany us. So Bahaddur always took us out .He is a father figure for me and my sister. I tried to strike a conversation with him to distract myself from my thoughts of her which were now clawing at my heart relentlessly. I said, "Bahaddur Chacha, how are Prahalad, Pavani and Chachi ?" He smiled and said ," Raghubaba, they all are doing well . Prahalad finished his engineering and will be leaving to US for his masters by the end of this month and Pavani got married last year and is living with her husband here in Delhi and her husband works for your Dad's company as technical lead engineer. " I was impressed knowing how well his children were faring in their lives.He is an amazing Father and great husband and a perfect son. I still remember how he doted on his Mother. How much he took care of her along side his wife during her last days. He fulfilled his role as husband so perfectly towards his wife and yet was the best son ever to his mother .He struck a perfect balance in maintaining his relationship with both the women in his life without disappointing the other.When we were children, I used to envy his kids because they had such a loving Father who was always there for them. I hold Bahaddur with very high respect. Soon we were home. Naani and our cook ,Savithri Maa came beaming with happiness and they did arthi ( lighted lamps placed in a plate with little water, vermillion and turmeric and they wave the plate around the face in clockwise direction which is believed to ward off evil eyes) and applied Tilak to my forehead and welcomed me inside the house.I touched Nani's feet and Savithi Maa's feet to seek their blessings and entered the house.My Naani was ecstatic to have me back home after such a long time. She kissed my forehead with happy tears in her eyes and fed me laddu (dessert). I hugged her and asked how had she been and she was all tears now bitterly crying cupping my face in both her hands .She said , " Raghu , mere Lal ( my child ) how would I be with my Grandson away. I missed you my child . I lived all these years after your Mother,Subhadra's death just for you children. It has been 10 years since Subhadra left us but I could never heal. The pain only alleviates when I am with my grandchildren. Now tell me how can I being away from you for years?" I felt so bad for my Naani. She had put up a brave front in front of us but I know how broken she was losing her only child that is my Mother.Her daughter's death robbed her of all her happiness and her will to live . I said,"Naani, now I am here , come on cheer up"and hugged her.She smiled wiping her tears away and said,"Raghu go freshen up and come down and we'll have lunch together. I have prepared your favorite dessert , Rasmalai and all of your other favorites are cooked by your Savithi Maa." ******************** Neerav Kashyap ( Raghunandan's and Navneeta's (aka Naav) father) I am so happy my Son is returning home today but also very sad that I am not there to receive him. I had put everything on hold to be there in Delhi the day he arrives but luck was not on my side. Because of bad weather and unfavorable flying conditions my flight got canceled. I was in Calgary on business and now got stuck here. I tried calling Raghu but the call was not going through. I just sat down with coffee and looking at the snow Strom outside thinking how am I going to persuade him into marrying Maithili given my relationship with my son which was not so good due to various reasons and now if I demand him to do something that I am sure he would not want to do was driving me nuts. I have had some disagreements with Raghu in the past and I am sure he has some hard feelings towards me, which he has evey reason to be. I admit I was wrong, but he has never demanded an explanation and I never gave one. I want to talk to him about it someday to clear the air.I hope he will forgive me. I heard my phone blaring snapping me our of my thoughts. I was overwhelmed to see Raghu 's name flashing on the screen. Picking up the call I said,"Raghu beta, finally I am able to talk to you. How are you ,Beta?" Raghu answered in a cheerful voice, "Papa,I am doing good. Reached home safely but missed you, I know you tried your best but that is ok .Hope the weather gets better soon there." Then there was a stretch of silence . Raghu spoke, " Papa, how are you holding up there ? I am just worried that you are alone there and the weather conditions are not good and please let me know if you need anything ?I have a couple friends in Calgary . I can ask them to help you." I felt so much peace and a rush of happiness sensing the concern in his voice for me. I said, "Beta, I have no problem at all .I am perfectly fine . I just hope the weather clears soon so that I can be with you all. Naav is flyingback to Delh tomorrow." Raghu said, " yes Papa, talked her, looks like she had a great time on her Europe trip ,she has shared a lot of pictures.I just talked to her before calling you . I will go to pick her up." I was happy hearing his voice and about my daughter and everything put me in a better mood.Just then I heard a knock on my door......