Page 82 of One Hellish Desire

“Long-distance marriage?” she groans. “I am not saying it won’t work, but it’s too early for you two. How much time have you both spent with each other? Hardly anything, Maahi. And before even knowing in and out of your partner, you took this decision to marry, which we all supported. And now you want me to believe that you both are going to stay in two different countries and make this marriage work?”

I look down in guilt. I knew these questions would arise, but all I took into consideration at the time of proposing to Vikram was Devki Estate’s custody. And now, even that seems to be shattering. Vikram technically owns fifty percent of Devki Estate because he married me.

Ignoring all those thoughts for now, I press Daadi’s hands in mine.

“I don’t know how this marriage will work, Daadi. But I do know that I’m never leaving you alone here. I would have never got a house and a family in you if you hadn't adopted me. I owe you my life. How can I abandon you at this stage of life when you need me the most?”

DEVKI GROVER (Daadi)

Maahi’s words transport me back to the days when I brought her in this house and my life.

I remember that Diwali day as if it were yesterday. The orphanage was a stark contrast to my lavish Ratna Mahal, but I had made it a point to visit every year, determined to bring some joy to these children's lives. As I handed out sweets, my eyes fell upon a young girl, no more than twelve. There was something in her eyes - a mix of hope and resignation - that tugged at my heart.

When I gave her two laddoos instead of one, her face lit up with a smile that warmed my very soul. But there was also a yearning in those eyes, a longing for something else, or rather someone. In that moment, I saw a reflection of my myself - full of hopes but constrained by circumstances.

I immediately talked to the authorities to know more about the girl- - Maahi, I learned her name was – and they told me about her tragedy. She was hardly ten when her parents died in a car crash. Having no one to claim or take her responsibility she was sent to this orphanage and this became her home. Although Maahi had accepted her parent’s death, she still waited for someone from her far relatives to come and take her along, away from here. Each day, her eyes would drift to the orphanage gates, silently willing them to open and reveal a long-lost relative come to reclaim her. This tiny spark of hope, this dream of reconnection, had become her lifeline, sustaining her through the lonely days and nights in this place.

As I drove back to Ratna Mahal that evening, her face lingered in my thoughts. The grand mansion loomed before me, its opulence a stark reminder of my loneliness. My son Vanraj, daughter-in-law Meera, and grandson Vikram lived their own lives in the US, visiting only once a year out of obligation rather than love.

I wandered through the empty halls, my footsteps echoing in the silence. Family portraits adorned the walls, frozen smiles that no longer brought me comfort. I paused before a photograph of my family, realizing how I yearned for them to stay with me forever, how I craved for my lost family similar to Maahi at that orphanage.

That night, as I lay in my oversized bed, I made a decision. I had spent years filling the void in my life with material possessions and social obligations, but what I truly yearned for was genuine connection. Maahi had sparked something in me that I thought long extinguished: hope.

The next morning, I called my lawyer. “I want to adopt a child,” I said, my voice firm with resolve. He was surprised, to say the least, but I was determined. Over the next few weeks, I navigated the complex process of adoption, my thoughts always returning to Maahi's bright smile.

When I finally returned to the orphanage to finalize the adoption, Maahi's eyes widened in disbelief. “You... are my family?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Yes, my dear,” I replied, feeling tears well up in my eyes. “If you'll have me, I'd like you to become a part of my family. Will you come and live with me?”

As Maahi threw her arms around me, I felt a warmth I hadn't experienced in years. I knew then that this decision wasn't just about giving Maahi a home - it was about giving myself a second chance at love and family.

That day, as we drove back to Ratna Mahal together, I realized that sometimes, the family we choose can be more precious than the one we're born into. Maahi's presence would fill not just the empty halls of my home, but the empty spaces in my heart as well. And for the first time in years, I looked forward to the future with genuine excitement.

MAAHI

Daadi didn't just give me a roof over my head; she gave me love, security, and a sense of belonging. She filled the void left by my parents' death, becoming not just a grandmother but a mother figure in my life.

How can I abandon her now? How can I leave her alone in this grand mansion, surrounded by empty rooms and silent halls? The thought of her spending her twilight years in solitude, after she so generously opened her heart and home to me, is almost unbearable.

Tears well up in my eyes as I whisper to her, breaking Daadi’s reverie.

“How can I leave you, Daadi? You gave me everything when I had nothing. You are my family, my home.”

“Maahi, this is not right,” Daadi continues to argue.

Before I can debate further, my phone rings. It’s Shuklaji. I don’t know why he wants to talk to me at this hour. He knew I was marrying Vikram today. Maybe he wants to congratulate me.

“I need to take this call,” I say to Daadi, who grips my arm again.

“Pack your bags. You are going to the USA with Vikram, Vanraj, and Meera the day after tomorrow. That’s it.”

I am about to argue, but she doesn’t give me a chance and walks out of my room. I am so confused right now. I feel lost, but I have no time to grieve. The phone call keeps ringing. I finally answer it.

“Jee, Shuklaji,” I rub my aching forehead.

“Maahi, why is Vikram here at Devki Estate?”

“What?” I gulp. “Vikram is there?”

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