They met after four long months in the hospital ward.They had nothing to say to each other. Tears were rolling down Neha’s pale cheeks for her only daughter Esha who was suffering badly inside the ICU after an accident. Esha’s father,Rangan was standing against the wall holding his wife tightly in his arms. He too was in tears.A poignant sense of melancholy pervaded the atmosphere.
Rangan and Neha had broken up and they were planning to get a divorse.Twenty years after their marriage, they got separated and it had a huge impact on their fifteen year old daughter.
Rangan was living in his Ballyguange apartment alone. On the other hand, Neha was living with her daughter in her new flat. They both had failed to realize that their daughter was not happy with their decision. Like every other child, Esha also wished to live with her mom and dad.She was missing her dad and that big apartment.
The adolescent period is the most important phase in a child’s life.During this phase, parents need to shape and mould their ward.In this transition period,parents need to play the most important role in a child’s life as a friend, philosopher and guide. But, a void had been created in Esha’s life after the separation of her parents.
Esha was the sole reason behind her parents’ separation.She was matured enough to realize that her parents were struggling every single day to live under the same roof.She used to feel terrible on witnessing her parents fighting in front of her.Esha’s name often used to come in their conversations during their fights which made her feel guilty. At one point of time,she thought that perhaps she was an unwanted child of her parents. She never wanted to be the reason for her parents’ separation.Every night before going to bed she used to pray to God to fix things.She wanted the issue to end soon.However,things got worse and her parents finally decided to split.Little did they realize that their decision would affect their child.
Esha was craving for her dad after shifting to the new apartment with her mom.She missed her dad every moment.Life turned upside down after her parents got separated.Every night before turning in,she used to flip over the pages of her album which contained pictures of her childhood with her parents.Her mood swung like pendulum and she was unable to focus on her studies.However,her single mother tried her best to pacify her.
Neha used to get gifts for her daughter when she returned home after the day’s work.She tried hard to cope with the situation.It was really tough for her to be a single mother.She did not know anything about the law relating to separation.All that she wanted was a joint custody of her child.
In a flashback,Neha recalled her wedding day.She took the red veil from her cupboard which she had worn on her wedding day and dropped tears.She remembered how happy she was with Rangan in the initial years post marriage.The very next moment she remembered how Rangan had reacted on learning that she was pregnant.
One fine evening,when Rangan returned home from office,Neha hugged her husband and whispered into his ears,"My love,your little angelic baby is in my womb now…." Rangan could not believe his ears and his face grew deadly pale.Neha looked into Rangan’s eyes and uttered,"…It is a serious phase of our lives.I am having your first child in my womb.Are you not happy with the news?"
Rangan said placing his hands on his wife’s shoulder,"I am not ready to raise a kid.The phase from lover to partner to parent is rocky! I am being honest to you.I am sorry dear but I don’t want this child." Neha's eyes were filled with tears.She did not know what to say next.Tears started rolling down her pink cheeks.Neha locked herself in the bedroom and started weeping.She was totally shattered.The news of Neha’s pregnancy ruined their marital life.
As days passed by Neha began to realize that things have changed.It became difficult for her to manage the conflicts. Arguments and fights are normal and they are considered to be healthy part of any relationship.With the right attitude,conflict often becomes a gateway to deeper intimacy but things were not that easy for Neha and Rangan.
Earlier Neha used to fuss over her hair and obsess over the sexiest item to wear to bed.But,post pregnancy she preffered sticking to sweatshirts and old T-shirts.A huge gap had been created between Neha and Rangan.Things changed drastically.
Rangan no longer used to link arms when he used to go to grocery shop with Neha.He no longer used to kiss her good morning. After returning from office,Rangan either used to turn on the television or used to get busy with his phone or laptop.He no longer devoted any time to Neha.
It is true that every marriage has its bumps but what is important is to learn to navigate them smoothly before they send the relationship into a ditch.Unfortunately,even after having a love marriage,Neha and Rangan failed to continue their relationship.Neha had been asked by Rangan to abort her baby many times but she did not.
Neha decided to live with her parents.Rangan did not even urge her to stay back.She took all her belongings and left Rangan’s flat. Few months later, Neha gave birth to a baby girl.When Rangan got this news,he rushed to the nursing home. He felt guilty for being so rude to Neha.When he looked into the innocent pair of eyes of his baby,his eyes turned moist.He appologised to Neha for everything.Finally,after the birth of the little angel,Neha and Rangan got reunited.They started a new life after the birth of Esha.
***
Things were going fine.One Sunday morning,while sipping steaming hot coffee,Neha told Rangan that she had decided to start a boutique.Esha was five then and had started going to school. Neha thought perhaps it was a suitable time for her to start working once again.Rangan was happy with her decision and he encouraged her for her new endeavor.
***
Very soon they again started having fights .This time they had disagreements about parenting styles.When Esha was in her adolescence,her parents used to have disagreements over how to discipline her.After a certain period of time,they both got tired of each other.They often used to talk about divorce in Esha’s presence.Esha could sense that her parents were on the verge of separation and divorce.
She had always been a very sensitive child and the unhealthy atmosphere at her home had a terrible impact upon her.She felt vulnerable when she saw her parents fighting with each other. After the separation of her parents,she got mentally very upset.She used to think if she was going to get a new dad.On the other hand, she desperately wanted to celebrate her sixteenth birthday with both her mom and dad.
On Esha’s sixteenth birthday,her mother had arranged a birthday party at her place.Neha baked her darling daughter’s favourite chocolate cake to bring a smile on her face.But,all her efforts went in vain. All that Esha wanted was her dad.She was dying to meet her dad.Few moments later Esha’s dad called her to wish her on her birthday.When she heard her dad’s voice,her eyes were brimming with tears.She could not hold back her tears any more and replied in a shaky voice,"Papa,I want my birthday hug!I need you…" Rangan promised his daughter that he would come to meet her.
Rangan drove to Neha’s place before going to office to wish his daughter.When Esha perceived the sound of the horn of her dad’s car,she immediately grabbed the keys of the main gate,unlocked the door and while rushing down the stairs,she tumbled to the bottom of the staircase.She had hit her head quite hard.She had such a severe head injury that she had to be admitted in the hospital.Even before Rangan could meet his daughter,she lost her sense.
Esha’s parents immediately took her to the nearby hospital.When the doctor said that she had to be taken to the ICU,both Rangan and Neha trembled out of fear.They felt helpless.There they both realized that it was Esha who had suffered the most because of their separation.Rangan said,"We should had thought about Esha for once.In the heat of the moment,we have taken a decision which has made three of us suffer a lot."Neha held her husband’s hands,smiled and said,"Yes for the sake of our child’s happiness we should give it a try.And,this time we both will put efforts to fix things.Let us forget the bad and focus on the good." Rangan kissed her wife’s hands and said,"Yes,all I know is you should have me and I should have you.We both shall always be there for our princess,Esha."
Finally,after a week Esha started recovering. She was delighted to hear that her parents had reunited once again. After much fights,arguments and conflicts,every thing was all right again.The day when Esha was discharged from the hospital,her parents gave her a surprise by throwing a belated-birthday party at home.Her mom baked her favourite chocolate cake again.And this time Neha was successful in bringing a smile on her daughter’s face.Esha blew the candles and celebrated her best birthday ever with her mom and dad.