Trust 2 Love

Padma and Lakshmi have been friends from their school days, both shared the same birthday and they were very close friends, that people call them “Padma-Lakshmi”, frequently  people have got confused that, it may be the name of one person.

They have been in school together from Grade two, Padma’s both the parents were doctors, with a busy and unpredictable schedule managing and taking care of Padma at home with the help of a Maid had become difficult, so they  decided to join her in a hostel.

Lakshmi on the other hand was a daughter of a businessman and had a stepmother, and she was not keen on taking care of Lakshmi with her kids, so she was admitted in a hostel by her father, they were from Mumbai.

Padma and Lakshmi struck a beautiful cod from the day one itself, They both shared almost everything among themselves, when Christmas vacation came, All children went back to their houses, Padma’s parents  came to take her home, but Lakshmi’s father had not come yet as he had some meetings in China and would take a day or more to come.

Padma went back to Bangalore with her parents, on the way they had a stop at Kandla, They all had a wonderful time, while her parents were getting her a gift, she also requested if she can have for Lakshmi too….parents were surprised, but thought it is nice that Padma has a good friend.

After the holidays when Padma was back, she found Lakshmi in the room, Sad and quit looking out of the window as if her eyes were waiting for someone. As Padma called Lakshmi she came running and hugged her and started sobbing saying, my father didn’t come to pick me up for holidays, I was here itself all alone.

Looking at Lakshmi crying, Padma’s father said, you don’t worry, next holiday you come with us and spend the holidays with us…Padma gave the gift she had brought for  Lakshmi, she was very happy, and further  to make the kid a little more cheerful Padma’s father took them out for an Ice-cream.

As days passed Lakshmi  would get fewer calls from her father, occasionally, he would parcel some gift for her, Whenever he used to come, he would take her out, pamper her with loads of gifts and dresses… Padma used to be with her all the time and Lakshmi’s father was happy that she found a good friend in her.

After the annual exam was over, Lakshmi wanted to go to Padma’s house and reminded Padma’s father about his promise, he was not sure how Lakshmi’s parents would react, so he said, you should ask your parents permission, before coming with us, that’s when Lakshmi’s father also walked in and got introduced to Padma’s parents.

Lakshmi was insisting on going with Padma, after a lot of persuasions Lakshmi agreed to go with her father on the promise that if she is not comfortable at home, he will let her  at  Padma’s house. Both fathers smiled and exchanged numbers and said, it is nice they have found a true friend in each other.

After a month or so, Lakshmi’s father calls up Padma’s father to ask if it was okay with them if Lakshmi could spend the rest of the holidays with them and then to Hostel, He said it won’t be a problem, Lakshmi was happy to go to Padma’s house, Padma’s father asked Lakshmi father about Lakshmi’s mother? “Has she not come to drop her?” He said, “the problem is Lakshmi has a stepmother and the relationship between both of them is not too cordial.”

As time went by, Lakshmi would spend most of the time with Padma and her house had become Lakshmi's home and Padma’s parents also were happy with Lakshmi as she was very nice, well behaved, very loving and good at studies.

Lakshmi's relation with her step Mom was going bad as days passed, neither she had a good relationship with her half siblings, Lakshmi was developing an attitude issue, She wouldn’t allow anyone into her inner circle, she had a lot of difficulty in believing anyone, she would be arrogant with most of them, only people she would be good was Padma’s family and she was like the elder sister to Padma; always supportive.

One day Lakshmi’s father met with an accident and was paralyzed and was on bed for a couple of years, at that time the relationship of Lakshmi and her stepmom become the worst before he passed away, Lakshmi’s share of the property in the will was written to her and Padma’s father was made the Guardian, which was a shock to all the family members and to Padma’s parents as well.

Keeping the faith shown by Lakshmi’s Dad, they had seen her like their own, but bitterness in her towards the society and her family were always there in Lakshmi's heart.

As they grew up, they joined the same college and both passed out to be IAS officers, they were posted in different cities, but would meet regularly.

Padma and Lakshmi got married and were happy with the way life was taking shape. Padma had to put a lot of effort to adjust with a joint family, learning how to act in a situations, when a big joint family was there, she had to understand on how festivals and functions were conducted, as she was not a part of the same in her childhood. From how to dress up to how to conduct herself was a challenge for her, from her very independent life to a conservative lifestyle. She was putting a great effort and with her nature, she was a very accommodative and friendly person. In the most difficult situation also she would look at the brighter side of life and always have a smile on her face.

Lakshmi on the other side was too independent, she had an arrogance in her behaviour, she always wanted people to do their work with perfection, in office, and at home. She was more of no-nonsense person, had no sense of Humour and it would be months before you could find a smile on her face.

As time passed Padma was blessed with two kids and she requested her positing to less demanding role, she knew taking a step like that would hamper her growth prospects, but she was okay with that as she never wanted her kids to grow up in a hostel. She hated the life of hostel away from the house, she wanted to be with the kids when they needed her.

Lakshmi had problems with her marriage from the day one…She was not able to adjust with her new family as well, after a few years of marriage and two kids she decided to move out of the marriage and the separation was not very pleasant. As her husband wanted the custody of the kids, she was not willing to give it to him, everyone including Padma told her that she being alone wouldn’t be able to handle office and kids, but she was adamant as she didn’t want her kids to have a stepmother like her.

As days passed, it had become highly difficult for her to handle both the kids at home and her professional life, as it demands a lot from her. She decided to put both the kids into a Hostel, her elder kid was only in third grade and younger was in his first grade. Both were put in the best school, as holidays came, they used to go to their Padma Aunty’s house and she would take care of them very well. Lakshmi loved her kids very much but was not sure how to express them. She would get them all things they required, but would not be able to sit with them and listen to the nonsense what they had to say, She couldn’t spend time reading a story for them or just sit gazing at stars with them, it is not that she didn’t want, but not sure how it has to be done, for her that was all time waste, in the meantime they all can do something productive and her big ego come her way.

As days went by, things become bad for Lakshmi, she was lonely but was very successful professional, she was given as an example in the circle of power, her work was appreciated by all, but no one would like to have a longer association with her.

Her teams also only would interact with her only to the extent of work, if anyone tries to go beyond, she would be very unhappy and keep them at a distance, she has couple of relationship post her divorce, but none could sustain for long.

Padma was, on the other hand, was very well received and was considered a very cordial and content person. Padma’s husband died after he became ill and was detected with cancer in a very later stage and now she was shouldering the responsibility of home all alone…

Padma’s both the kids were in the US and she saw that Lakshmi’s kids also got admission into good universities and all four kids stayed together.

Lakshmi retired and her farewell was a low-key affair and she came back to Padma’s house to stay with her and decide what to do next. Padma had her retirement just a month later and to her surprise she had a huge farewell organised by her staff, all the people of the department from the Janitor to her boss were all present, People from her previous posting also had come to wish her, she was further surprised when she saw lot of old officers and staff coming and taking her blessings and found family members of her in laws had also come.

By the time they were winding up Lakshmi was amazed to see all the four kids of them walking in, and all ran to Padma and gave a huge hug and she was shocked to find her ex-husband walking in and greeting Padma and say all the kids talking to him.

She was holding on to her anger as she didn’t want to spoil a nice function of her childhood friend, Kids were picked up at the airport by her Ex-husband and so they insisted him to have a cup of coffee at home, He had a nice time with kids and had a long chat with Padma….As he left…Lakshmi couldn’t hold on any further, she had a series of questions for Padma and Kids, She asked,” how are you guys in touch with him?”, “ How come he knows you children are coming, wherein you have not kept me in the loop?”

She was not ready to listen, she was going on shouting at top of her voice….everyone tried to calm her down, as usual she was not willing to listen to anyone, kids got up went into their room, Padma was looking at Lakshmi and staying quite, she asked,” why are you not saying anything”…. Padma said, “have a glass of water and stay calm for some time, I know you are angry but give me five minutes to explain and in-between you will not speak.”

As Lakshmi became calm and lay on the couch, Padma sat next to her and said, “your husband was always in touch with the kids from their childhood”, Lakshmi interrupted and said,” you my close friend cheated me.” Padma looked in her eyes and said,” Never, I never wanted kids to grow up without the shadow of their father, You had a problem with him, kids never had and your biggest fear of he will marry again and have stepmother was also wrong, he never married and as you were busy with your work, he was there for kids on all the important event in their life, he has been a wonderful father and he would always ask about you as well.”

Lakshmi said, “it is easy for you to say, as everyone likes you, look at you retirement function and check out mine, I have more awards then you, I have retired at two grades higher than you, still I had less people who came and I had only you in my function as mine whereas for you all grade of people from professional and personal sphere had come.

Padma looked at Lakshmi, and putting an arm around her said, “you have never allowed anyone to come to be in your personal space, the fear in you of people coming to know about your true self of a timid and fearful girl kept them at distance, they only looked at your outer mask what you put on for them of a hard, tough and rude woman kept them away from you, You couldn’t even remove that mask in front of your kids, the lack of trust you had with every person, because of your childhood experience. I I have seen you very closely and I know you are a wonderful soul”.

Lakshmi cried her heart out and said, “you should have told me this long back”, Padma said, “you never accepted, I had informed many times, Morning children find both their mother’s sleeping on the couch, They brought a coffee for “Padma-Lakshmi”, and screamed their name out, all sat around them had coffee and Lakshmi taking a lead on cracking jokes and creating a fun environment… As Padma stood up and said, “let me plan to make some breakfast, Lakshmi said, “wait…maybe I will have a person to join, let me ask”, and she picked up her mobile to call her ex-husband to join them for breakfast….All four kids were flabbergasted…

 

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