CHAPTER 42 #3
Tears sting my eyes as I miss my dad. I wish he were alive today to see his little princess married to the man who loves her.
I know he and Raghav had been sworn enemies in the past, but I’m sure if Dad had seen the man Raghav has become for me and everything he has done to make me happy...
he would have placed my hand in Raghav’s himself and blessed us with all his heart.
Before I can fully recover from the emotions of that hug, Baba suddenly bends down and reaches for a few beautifully wrapped boxes. I hadn’t even noticed them earlier.
Raghav looks just as confused as I am as Baba lifts the boxes one by one before placing them in my hands. They’re heavier than they look. I glance at the boxes and then at him.
“What is all this?”
His expressions changes, as if a hundred memories are passing through his mind at once.
“These belonged to my wife, Sarika.” Baba’s fingers brush over one of the boxes, almost lovingly. “Life took her away from me too soon.” Baba smiles sadly. “After she passed away, I kept all her jewellery safely with me.”
His gaze moves to both of us.
“I always thought that one day, I’d give it to my daughters-in-law. When Meher became a part of our family, I gave her half. And I kept the rest for the woman who would one day become Raghav’s wife.”
I immediately shake my head. “Baba, but...”
“No.” The answer comes firmly. “This belongs to you now. Sarika would have wanted that too. And now, you and Meher will carry it forward.”
My fingers tighten around the boxes as tears spill from my eyes before I can stop them. I carefully place the boxes aside before stepping forward and wrapping my arms around Baba again, hugging him just as tightly as I used to hug Dad.
When I pull away, I notice Raghav standing unusually quiet, his eyes fixed at Baba. Then he steps forward too, and without a word, hugs him, holding him just as tightly. Baba’s arms immediately come around him, and for a few moments, they remain that way.
When they finally pull apart, Raghav and I take Baba’s blessings before turning towards Mom. As we bend down to touch her feet, she quickly pulls us both back up. Her eyes are already brimming with tears, and she’s clearly struggling to control her emotions.
“I never thought that one day I would feel this happy and this emotional at the same time. The first time I watched you get married, it broke my heart.” She looks at Raghav and smiles.
“But today, Raghav has fulfilled every wish I had buried deep in my heart for you. Every dream I thought you’d lost, every happiness I feared you would never experience...
he brought all of it back into your life. ”
Then, she reaches forward and affectionately caresses Raghav’s cheek, catching him off guard. “No matter how you married Siya the first time, you were still my son-in-law. But from today,” She gently places her palm against his cheek. “You are my son.”
Raghav freezes. Mom claiming him as her own, that simple acceptance has shaken him to the core.
But she doesn’t stop there. She steps forward and pulls him into a tight hug.
For a brief second, Raghav remains completely still, almost as though he doesn’t know how to respond.
Then, very slowly, his arms come around her, and he hugs her just as tightly.
Baba looks emotional as he wipes his eyes and smiles. Mom pulls away and kisses Raghav’s forehead just as she has kissed mine since childhood.
“I pray that you both live the happiest life together,” she says.
“I want to see the home you build together, the family you create together, and the children who will one day carry a piece of both of you. And if God is kind enough, I want to be there through it all... watching, blessing, and loving every moment of your journey.”
Just when I think Mom is done, she reaches into the small velvet pouch and removes a bracelet. It’s Dad’s. Nothing extravagant, just a black braided leather band threaded with matte onyx beads and brushed silver detailing. Time has dulled its shine, but not its significance.
Raghav looks confused when Mom gently takes his hand and fastens the bracelet around his wrist. The sight alone makes my throat tighten.
“This is Shamsher’s. He wore it every single day, through every business deal, every victory, every loss... everything.”
Raghav looks down at the bracelet and then at Mom. For a moment, she runs her fingers over the old beads before looking up at him.
“When he first bought it years ago, he used to joke that one day he would pass it on to the son who had earned the right to wear it. And if Shamsher were alive today, after seeing everything you’ve done for Siya...
and for me, he would have given it to you himself.
” She smiles through her tears and cups his face.
“You truly deserve to wear it, Raghav. No one else.”
I watch his fingers slowly close around the bracelet.
Then his other hand instinctively brushes against the chain hidden beneath his shirt.
His mother’s pendant. And suddenly, I understand what he must be feeling right now.
One mother gave him that pendant. Another mother has just given him this bracelet.
Two pieces of two different worlds. Both belonging to him now.
Raghav looks visibly overwhelmed. I can see him struggling to find the right words. Then he slowly steps towards her.