章節 20: Stay calm and deals with the fathers

The next day, both Sanchit and Myra woke up with a new resolution and new determination.

"You know what to do, don't you?" - Sanchit said to Myra over the breakfast.

"It's Father's Day, today." Myra was looking at her phone.

"Right, we need to stay calm and deal with our fathers, today." he was amused.

"No, I mean it is Father's Day today." She showed him her phone calendar.

"Good." Sanchit nodded his head. His eyes sparkled and he whispered, "Let's blackmail them."

Myra called up her home. Her mother received the call.

Myra hesitated a moment, and then with a fluttering heart, she said - "How are you, mother?"

"I am well. Is there something important?" her mother replied in a stern tone.

"It's Father's Day today; I called for him and also …" Myra said meekly. Her voice trailed as courage seeped out of her hands and feet.

"Also? Don't even think of coming here again. Your father does not want to see you. Don't come back home." her mother said sharply,

Her mother's words hurt her deeply. She did not want to fall in her mother's esteem, therefore she collected the last remnants of her pride and said, "No… it's not that. We are moving to London."

"We? who?" the mother asked suspiciously

"Sanchit and I. He has a project going on there, he is taking me along."

Tears rolled down her mother's eyes and her heart melted. "God bless him! Go with him, child. Make this marriage work. Forget about Aryaman."

Myra thought it best not to reply or argue. Instead, she said - "Will father talk to me now?"

"I will put him on speaker." The mother replied. "He is listening..."

Sanchit had his doubts about Myra being able to communicate with her family well. After all, the situation was very delicate and emotions were raw and painful on both sides. He decided to take over from her.

"Pranam, Happy Father's Day!" He said.

"Bless you." – came the mother's voice. "How are you son?"

He was not surprised to hear Myra's mother's voice. "Very well mother; I hope you all are doing well."

"Yes, we are. Thank You." She replied.

"Actually, we are leaving for London very soon. And, Myra hasn't met you all for a long time now. I was thinking of bringing her to Adamgarh, before we fly to London. If it is ok with you all."

"It's your home, you may come anytime you like. I have been missing Myra too."

"Thank You. I am looking forward to the trip. I will send the details to Viraj once everything is arranged."

"We'll be waiting for you," she replied.

Myra was looking at him in surprise. She waited for him to disconnect the phone before asking – "When did we decide that?"

"Just now." He replied with a chuckle. "I realized that this was a good opportunity to show them how unsuited we are for each other."

"Why?"

"This will be their first glimpse into our marriage. In the course of one year, they will have many such glimpses which will convince them that not me but Aryaman is the right person for you."

Myra considered her options and found this one most suited to the situation. Sanchit looked at his watch, "Time for the next target." Myra was puzzled. "Give me the divorce papers he sent you."

Myra pulled out a set of papers from her writing desk drawer and handed them to Sanchit. I am going to the library. "If I don't return in an hour's time; call the police and the ambulance."

Myra laughed and he left. It was a wonder to her, how calm Sanchit was as if none of this impacted him at all. Even though she knew his reasons for hating his father, but she did not like it. She and her brother had so much love and respect for their own father, that it irked her when Sanchit made so light of them.

Sanchit found his father going through certain papers, "Father, do you five minutes to spare?"

"Yes. What is it about?"

Sanchit walked in calmly and took a seat on the opposite chair, crossed his legs, straightened his jacket folded his hands on his lap and very quietly said – "Just wanted to spend some time with you."

Mr Raichand was surprised, "What's up son?"

"Happy Father's Day!"

"Father's day! Where did you pick that up from?"

"Myra. She overheard our last conversation and was really upset with the way I spoke to you. She has been admonishing me ever since and tells me to be nice to you. So, I came to apologize to you and as a penance, I will spend the entire day with you."

Mr Raichand was confused, "Myra asked you to be nice to me?"

"Yes"

"After I sent the divorce papers?"

"Ah, about that, of course, I understand it was in a fit of rage and you did not mean it. Anyways, I shoved it in the shredder. By the way, the London project has got all the approvals from the govt. and it is ready to roll. This is our chance to enter the EU. I am planning to oversee the project myself."

Now, it was characteristic of the Raichand DNA that they forget everything else in the light of profits. Words like project approval – European Union – profits, were music to his ears. Hence the Raichand mind did not capture the 'small' detail that his son had actually shredded the divorce papers he had sent to Myra.

Sanchit was well aware of this defect in his father. He had often used it to his advantage. But he was not the deceiving kind. He always played his cards straight and with confidence. "I am taking Myra along." – he said boldly.

What was this? What jarring notes are these – "Taking Myra with you?" The Raichand sensibility had been rudely stirred out of stupefaction. "What nonsense?" - the father roared.

"Dad, we need the project to go well. Viraj has contacts in the ministry - his best friend is the housing development minister in the new government. He has promised to use his contacts to help me in the business. I can't hazard the business for personal reasons."

"No of course not."

"Also, my sources tell me that Viraj is going to be felicitated in the United Nations for turning the sluggish Adamgarh into a model state. He will be invited to address the general assembly." Mr Raichand's heart softened towards the royal family. It was indeed a matter of honour and pride. "We must capitalize on this." – he said.

"Of course, I am going to Adamgarh soon to discuss this with Viraj. I am going to use his growing popularity both within the country and outside to gain more visibility and win contracts."

"Hmm" the father nodded, "Well said"

"But I am afraid of hurting you. You see I can't divorce Myra just yet."

"Of course not. That's preposterous." The father bellowed.

"But the rumours and the dent in our family name…" his voice trailed

"Oh, that's nonsense." – Mr Raichand dismissed the whole discord with one gesture of his hand. "We can't let that get to us. I will personally speak with Avagya. She needs to be shown her place."

"Then, I will take Myra with me to London. It will be a good break for her as well."

"Of course."

In the Raichand dictionary, money and success were synonyms of Love.

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