Love and Longing

Episode No 9: Shadows

Albert stopped his car in front of Aenna's home. Aenna waved her hand before closing the main gate. Albert waved his hand too. As, Aenna entered the main corridor, her mother was in rage, it's 9 p.m Aenna, you never went out alone at night. Where and with whom you was? I will not bear any lie, as , Lila and Julia have already confirmed me, you're not with them.

Aenna was anxious, as, she never lied in front of her mother, replied:

Mummie I was with Albert, he is my neighbor friend, we met months ago, he lives in palace in our neighborhood.

Mrs. Marvel: Don't lie, is he only your friend, or there are some other intentions behind this so cold friendship?

Aenna remained silent.

Mrs.Marvel: "Your silence is telling the whole tale. Now, go inside your room because my rage will increase if you will stay in front of my eyes".

Aenna without giving any explanation went inside her room and started crying, as, her mother never talked to her in this tone.

In the morning, Aenna woke up and sat on the breakfast table. Aenna took some sips from her coffee cup.

Mrs.Marvel: Aenna, I am calling Jack at home, he is the best match for you.

Aenna stood up.

"Mother, how can you do this to me? I am an adult and I have the freedom to choose with whom I want to live. You can't seize hold of this right from me. I have already told you that Jack is not my choice. I can't spend my whole life with him".

Mrs.Marvel: "Now, I realized ; blood speaks extremely loud".

Aenna : What you mean by this?

Mrs.Marvel: I think, time has arrived to reveal the hidden secrets.

Aenna: Hidden secrets.. why are creating unsolved puzzles?

Mrs. Marvel: "You started behaving like your mother, she also fell in love, as you are falling for someone. I stopped her, advised her, but she was mad in love, she did , what she wanted to do, and then she paid the heavy debt for it".

Aenna felt like some shock waves ran through her whole body, she was shakened up by the words uttered by Mrs.Marvel.

Aenna: "You are telling me that you are not my mother?"

Mrs.Marvel: Yes, you are right.

Aenna: But how's this possible. Since childhood you brought me up, you always loved me like a true mother, how can I believe in your words?

Mrs.Marvel gave Aenna a glass of water, Aenna sit down, and listen carefully, yes this is true that I always loved you but you attain someone else's blood in your veins. I think you need to know to whom you belong.

Aenna was silently listening.

Your mother Eleena belonged to a middle class family, she was my best friend from school to college. At college, the unfortunate love story of Eleena and Stephen started. Stephen belonged to rich aristocrats. While Eleena was just an average middle class girl. I told her that try to stay away from Stephen, as, there is a difference of status between both of them. But, she never listened to me. She blindly trusted on Stephen's love. She used to tell that Stephen is mad for her, he promised her never to leave her in any situation.

Time passed and college ended. Stephen and Eleena married each other secretly in a court. Only a few friends knew this secret, one of them was I. Stephen was extremely rich and he gifted Eleena a farm house as a marriage gift. Stephen asked Eleena to keep the marriage a secret for few years, till he made his parents agree for their marriage. Eleena's family was unaware of this fact that she is married secretly with her college fellow.

Stephen was forcing Eleena that now they are officially married, they should live their dreamy life together, he asked her to shift to their own home in between the mountains and lakes.Eleena told her that she can't do this until he marries her openly. Stephen keep on insisting until Eleena asked her parents that she wants to continue her studies in nearby town of Massachusetts. And she took admission in the university near Stephen's farm house and told her parents that she will live there in a hostel. At first, Eleena was so happy that she will live a fairy tale life with Stephen, leaving every one behind her. They both started living together.

After 8 months of living, Stephen told Eleena that he has to meet his parents in England, so he is going there for one and a half month. Eleena trusted him blindly, she hasn't a minor thought of deceitfulness in her mind. Eleena waited for him for months, in this time, she get to know that she is expecting. She was extremely fearful of facing her family. She switched off her all contact numbers, so that no one can contact her. On the otherhand, her family after finding her for months, started believing that Eleena ran away with a guy, they considered her dead, and never tried to find her again.

The only possession Eleena has was farm house that Stephen gifted her and it was on her name. She asked his friends that Stephen has no contact with her. They laughed and told her that Stephen is a spoiled play boy, and he might have some other wife also left behind.Why did you believe him? He will never come back, or if he comes back, he will refuse to own you.

Eleena called me at the farm house and she cried so much.

She said to me: "This is my punishment, I betrayed my family by marrying him, I left behind everything for him and now he leave me behind with his bloody child. I could never believe that in the name of love he used me and decieved, when she was telling me her condition worsen, I took her to the hospital, doctors take her to the operation theatre, she gave birth to a girl and died at the spot I took the girl in my arms, at that time I was single, I decided to took care of an innocent child, later on I married Marvel, who was also our college friend, he already knew the whole story, he allowed me to take the girl with me at his home. Unfortunately, after some years, Marvel died in a road accident and I decided that I wil treat Aenna, as my own child for my whole life".

Mrs.Marvel went inside her room and took some papers from the cupboard and give them to Aenna.

Mrs Marvel: Aenna these are the papers of that farm house that Stephen gifted Eleena. Now, you are the owner of that farm house, I kept these papers as a holding promise left by your mother.

She also gave Aenna some pictures of Stephen and Eleena.