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“It's just a bad day. It's just a bad day, Maya. Please calm down,” Maya kept repeating to herself as she drove home that evening. Life seemed to be settling down after a long time, but after her meeting with Ranveer Malhotra, she saw more darkness ahead. They only knew each other through phone conversation, although she had seen his pictures on the internet. But now, after their face-to-face meeting, he seemed even more dangerous. This fight was going to last for God knows how long.
She parked her car at the building's basement and got out. Her phone rang. It was a call from the clinic.
“Maya, this is Dr. Jyoti, assistant to Dr. Rishikesh. Your mother's reports have arrived, and we have made a positive decision regarding the next therapy. Before we can proceed with the therapy next week, you will need to make a 70% advance payment.”
Maya paused, feeling overwhelmed. How much was 70%? Around 3 - 4 lakh? If only she had received the incentives, she would have been able to manage the payment.
“Yes, of course. I will make the payment. Thank you,” she replied, although she was not being entirely truthful.
“That's great. We will go ahead and register your mother's name for the appointment next week.”
“Yes, please do that.”
She ended the call, her head spinning. She couldn't come up with such a large amount of money in such a short time. While she did have some savings, she also had EMI's to pay. What could she possibly do? Ignoring the therapy would only worsen her mother's condition. If she wanted her mother to regain her normalcy, she had to find a way to make this therapy happen, no matter the cost. Determined to find a solution., she entered the house leaving the bad memories of her day behind.
Chapter 3
Maya checked the newspaper to see if it was still hidden in the same place where she had left it that morning and was glad to find it there. Once her mother slept, she decided to shred that paper.
“Maya,” Garima cheerfully got up from the couch. She had a bouquet of yellow tulips in her hand. “Look what came this morning.” She came ahead and showed the bouquet to her.
Maya took it and sighed in disappointment.
“Ritu, how many times have I told you not to accept such gifts or flowers for me? Just ignore taking them,” Maya warned Ritu.
“It’s not for you,” Garima replied. “It’s for me. Look at the card behind.” She turned the bouquet and made her daughter read the card.
‘To my Loving Garima’
Maya clenched her jaw. She knew who had sent these to her mother. The mere thought of that man irked her, forget accepting his gifts.
“Mom, you shouldn’t have taken it,” she scolded.
“Why? He sent it with so much love.”
“No, Mom. It’s not. Please, I beg you. Do not entertain him again.”
She walked to the kitchen and threw the bouquet in the bin.
“Maya, don’t do this,” Garima shouted, but Maya didn’t listen. She threw the bouquet in the dustbin. “Why did you throw it away? You don’t want me to be happy?” Garima shouted again.
“Mom, calm down,” Maya came to her, but Garima lost her control. She pushed Maya away.
“Don’t touch me. You don’t love me, Maya. If you did, you would have respected my wishes. I hate you. I hate you.” Yelling that, Garima rushed back to her room like an overpampered child. Ritu followed her to calm her down.
Maya ran her fingers through her hair, attempting to alleviate the ache throbbing in her head. Her mother was right; she shouldn’t have done this. She couldn't afford to trigger her mother's anxiety again. Dr. Rishikesh had warned her not to give her mother any major trauma that could make her nervous, and yet she had inadvertently redirected someone else's anger onto her mother. Now, she needed to console her somehow. Suppressing her tears, she entered Garima's bedroom to find her mother lying on the bed, clutching a pillow and weeping while Ritu attempted to comfort her to no avail.
“I will handle this, Ritu. You may go home now,” Maya muttered.
Ritu nodded and left the house. Maya sat on the bed next to her mother.
“Mom, please stop crying. You know I wouldn’t do something like this without a reason.”
“You do. You don’t like him. You always kept him away from me. Don’t fake it like you did this for my benefit. This is not what I want, Maya. I want him back. I love him,” Garima whimpered.
Maya gulped nervously.
“He is not fit to be in your life, Mom.”
