Epilogue

Salaam everyone. Here is the epilogue of Misconceptions.

Happy reading.

~~~~~

'Mummy! Mummy!!' screamed two year old Ayush from the hall.

Radhika groaned and thought, "what now?" She did not begrudge her son having a little bit of fun every now and then but the kid is always having fun and putting her in soup these days.

From the moment he could stand and start talking, he became evil monster master, always having evil spells up his sleeve.

She always berated herself for calling her own son 'evil', but what can a person, who is in her position can do?

She could not figure out from where her son's devil mind has come from. When she asked her family the same thing, they all unanimously said only one answer and pointed their fingers towards her.

She is the person from whom her son got the devil mind!

Her!

An innocent person like her can have devil mind? What a bunch of BS they all are sprouting!!

Of course, she used and uses some devilish ideas to get things in order as per her rules. That does not mean she is the only person who got devilish mind and that will be carried to her son. And also, by the way, she uses devilish ideas only to better her family's position.

Huh! No one understands her, not even her idiot husband or her stupid brothers or her wicked mother.

By the time she reached the hall thinking all these, she got to see why her son had been shouting like a sailor on boat. The boy doused another of his toy cars and himself in muddy water of their garden.

Which one is it now? Is it 34th or 43rd car of this month? She totally forgot the count. Their son is being spoilt rotten by his father, grandmother, a permanent resident uncle and two temporary resident uncles. The boy got toys more than he could ever play. She donated many of the toys to orphanages but still the toys keep coming from sources very well known.

She did not understand what her son gets by taking so many baths in a day. If given a chance, he will happily dunk in his bath tub and never leave it. She wonder where where this habit came from! She should get the information from her husband, whatever it may take to get the information from him.

Before she can give much needed tongue lashing to her son, he hugged her legs tightly and successfully spread the mud on her clothes too.

Radhika groaned. But what can she do when her son's sweet face is looking up at her with such innocence! She lifted him in her arms.

'You know, you are in for a good scolding.'

'Yes, I know, Mummy.' said Ayush with a pout and hanging his head in shame, which he doesn't feel even for a moment according to her.

'There is no need to act at all, Ayush.' huffed Radhika. She knew her son too much to fall for his antics every time.

Ayush turned his head with a brilliant smile on his face, which was smeared with mud, to her. The smile can evaporate any other scoldings she had on her tongue and mind.

The kid got his charm from his father, for sure.

She took Ayush for a much needed bath and made her way to the balcony on the first floor of their house where all her family members sat with peaceful expressions on their faces.

If only she could get a minute of peace for her mind too.

But her devilish mind has already started working and provoked her to spoil their peace too.

'I don't know from where this boy got this habit of spending his whole time in bath tub.' mused Radhika in a high pitched voice that was more than necessary in such peaceful environment.

Ayush turned his head in shock -- the reason being her high pitched voice or her complaint, she does not know and started gaping at the remaining family members in the same shock.

Good! The boy is out of words for once.

"Bacchu! I am your mother." Thought Radhika and smirked inwardly.

'That habit, he must have got it from Nash.' answered her mother. 'Maya told me once that he even took it to extreme measures like jumping into the swimming pool when no one is around so that he can stay in water as long as he can.'

"At least one habit is not mine! Pooh!!" Thought Radhika.

***

From the looks of the situation he was put in, Arjun surely knew that it is his turn to get the leg pulling.

It was always Radhika who got this leg pulling session for the antics played by their son.

Their son is perfect blend of his wife and him. The trouble maker is always knee deep in mischief and mud when everyone is busy with their works.

He remember once he put his toy helicopter, which has a remote above the head of their gardener, who is half blind and thought the helicopter is a giant insect circling his head and started screaming his throat out. By the time, they all reached the garden, the gardener was screaming like a mad man and their son is laughing his heart out. The scoldings he got afterward is altogether another matter.

Sometimes he thinks Ayush has a thick skin and their scoldings did not reach his ears. But no, the kid listens to all, learns everything and do not repeat same mischief twice except, of course, drowning himself in mud and caking himself with it for getting a bath.

Arjun sighed. His family is pulling his history of mischief and comparing it to his son's mischief. It appears as if they are giving the little guy lot of new ideas for causing mischief. Ayush sat on his lap as if he is the Prince of Innocents' land, just like his mother, who got the title of being Queen of the land.

He remembered another incident. He tuned out his family entirely. They are only going to make him sigh more and more reminding him his antics. Ayush was just a baby of eight months and they were still in India finishing off the paper works to settle in London to resume their business. Ayush thought one of his white shirts as a canvas and started colouring on it. The boy got hundreds of colouring books on the shelf but he found his only white shirt interesting and worthy to paint his creation.

When he called Radhika for a explanation, she just shrugged her shoulders and gave him a haughty look that roughly translated to just shut his mouth and wear another shirt. He did just that. Later he got to know that the master of the plan was none other than his wife, who is extracting revenge on him for scolding her the other day. And she debates that she did not get the devilish mind.

Arjun smiled remembering that incident.

God! But how he loves his spitfire in whatever mood she is in!!

After his father's alleged death, which was more of a murder cum suicide, known only to his family, Arjun thought that the people will be unforgiving. To some extent that had happened too. His cabinet of ministers and many media houses started cursing him for being the son of Prithvi Mehra. But the major percentage of the population had their logic intact and got to see that he is not his father. That major percentage helped him get through the remaining tenure as Chief Minister of the state. But unfortunately, that tenure did not last long. There are internal conflicts in his cabinet and two third members started hopping from one party to another and started causing chaos. To resolve these conflicts and put a stop to this chaos, which is also effecting people, he dissolved the government. That action of his lead to by-elections. Many wanted him to participate as an individual candidate in the upcoming elections. But he was done with politics. There are many people who has the zeal to bring changes in the lives of the people and Arjun got to see that he is not an ideal candidate for that post. So, he gave his statement that he will find any political party, which has that enthusiasm to better the conditions of the people. He started making arrangements to move out of the country. His preparations were delayed with the news of Radhika's pregnancy. She being in tenth month of her pregnancy was ordered by the doctor not to travel long distances that may complicate the delivery. And only few days later, they were gifted with a beautiful baby boy, whom they named Ayush, meaning long live. Because he became the reason for their long lived happiness.

By the time Ayush is around his first birthday, Radhika, Sweta ma, Pawan and him had shifted to London along with their one year old son Ayush. The boy became unstoppable from then on. He resumed his mischief and the troubles he gives others were shouldered off with a good nature.

The gardener, after he got to know that it is not any giant insect that haunted him but a toy helicopter had laughed his heart out for his own foolishness and agreed to use his spectacles from then.

Ayush is, of course, a perfect blend of Arjun and Radhika. Mischief and sensibility in perfect quantities.

'It's not as if I am the only one who spoils him rotten, Doll.' said Arjun coming out of his musings. It did not pain him to hear about his mother anymore. He learnt to cherish her memory for the women she was and he will always follow the path she had shown him.

Ayush wriggled in his lap to get his attention, which he got instantly.

'Mumma! It is Aalu Maamu who gave me the toy car and said to spoil it as fast as I can so that he can get me a new one.' said Ayush with as much coherence his speech allows him to relay the message.

Radhika turned her glare to the said Aalu Maamu, who is looking anywhere but at Radhika and Ayush.

His old friend is definitely in for a big trouble from the looks of his wife.

Before Radhika could launch her tirade of words on Pawan, the temporary residents of London and their home came into their den.

Their arrival is announced by their two year old son, who jumped out of his lap squealing, "Cassy Maamu and Sweetoo Maamu."

'Why am I the one who is considered crazy by everyone?' asked Hitesh with a dramatic sigh and bent down to pick up his nephew in his arms and put him on his shoulders.

'Because you are!' came the answer to his question in a chorus of voices present in the balcony.

'Alright, alright! No need to break the ear drums of kids now.' said Hitesh tickling Ayush on his stomach.

'And I am Aalu Maamu. Think about the image I will get in the eyes of my future wife.' continued Pawan with roll of his eyes.

The guy is definitely dating a girl but keeping it under covers.

Talk about being secretive!

'Aalu Maamu! Because it rh-rhy-rhymes.' chimed in Ayush trying to use the word "rhymes", which his mother taught him just yesterday. 'Did I spell the word correct, Mummy?' He asked turning to his mother.

Radhika nodded her approval with a smile and turned to her brothers.

'Our son got three uncles and he needs to distinguish them according to their behavior. Only so he gave you those names.' said Radhika in her explanation of why their son keeps giving nicknames to them.

'More like learned those names from his mother.' countered Pawan and got a pillow to his face.

Some things never change.

Radhika throwing cushions when she is angry and Pawan unable to shut his mouth when required.

'But why am I crazy?' screeched Hitesh again. That guy is as bad as a dog who got his bone and pound of flesh.

'Because you act all cassy when you are with us.' answered Ayush.

That should have shut Hitesh up but the guy does not know to shut his mouth when required too.

'Why is Vikas sweetttoooo maamu, then?' asked Hitesh narrowing his eyes, brought Ayush down his shoulders and looking straight into Ayush's eyes.

'Sweetoo maamu talks sweetly with everyone and Mummy said he is sweet too.'

'Ah! Here comes the truth!! Now, Pawan, we know who is Radhika's favourite brother. We only have each other now. Don't worry, okay buddy?' said Hitesh earning an eye roll from Pawan.

Hitesh and Pawan are always at odds but when it comes to gang up against Vilas, they both are as thick as thieves.

'That's why you are named Crazy by our nephew here.' said Vikas.

'Ayush! Beta!! I told you to call your mummy with a very good name, did you remember that?' asked Pawan. On Ayush's nod, he asked to call Radhika to call with the good name he gave and taught Ayush earlier.

'Miks Mummy!' came the shout right after finishing of Pawan's dialogue.

'What!!!' sputtered Radhika.

All started laughing out loud hearing the word and comprehending it to Minx, given to Radhika by none other than Pawan.

Pawan truly got his revenge this time.

'I am not anything but only Mummy to you, Ayush.' Said Radhika.

Ayush nodded his head in understanding and said "only mummy" increasing the volume of laughter in the balcony.

His son seems to be confused of why they all are laughing for what he said. Arjun brought his son to his lap and sat him down.

'Did I say something wrong, Papa?'

'No beta, it is inside joke for all of us and you will understand once you get of an age.' consoled Arjun.

'Okay.'

'See! I got my husband to support me.' said Radhika with a boast.

'Dream on!' chimed in Hitesh again.

Radhika chased the guys around balcony but they are out of her reach every time.

'Agree that you are becoming old, sister.' said Vikas earning a smack on the back of his head.

'Never.' said Radhika huffing.

'Alright everyone! Leave my grandson out of all your schemes, you idiots. He is innocent.' said Sweta Ma.

That brought everyone to a halt and all of them present there are gaping at her as if she is eighth and ninth wonder of the world.

'Close your mouths, you all. My grandson is innocent and he is hungry with all the exercise he did in mud. We are leaving now.' said Sweta Ma taking her grandson's hand in hers and started walking away with a huff. 'And also, see you all at dinner as my grandson and I have a lunch date.' she threw those words reaching the main door.

The "date" of grandmother and grandson usually comprises of life lessons that she teaches using simple examples and day-to-day activities of the people. After the date, Ayush is more than cheerful on learning something new. Their kid is always craving for new information and lessons.

While coming down to the dining hall and amidst the chatter of the other four people, Arjun realised how his life has changed from a lonely, scary stranger to a beautiful garden.

He got friends who will not leave his hand for their lives. A wife, who loves him more than her life. A mother, who has been everything his own mother had been and a son who makes his every day a new lesson. There is always something new to learn when he is around.

Radhika caught his eye and winked at him, which made his heart soar to new heights of happiness. Their companionship is most rewarding after what they both had gone through.

Arjun Mehra, son of Prithvi Mehra and Maya Mehra, will never be like his father and will always walk the path his mother had shown him.

Radhika Mishra - Mehra, daughter of Chandra Mishra and Sweta Mishra, will forever remember the lesson taught by her father in his last moments. Walk the path of righteousness and it will never your side.

~~~~~

Thank you so much for joining the journey of Misconceptions. This story took so much time to finish. It was a vague idea when I thought to write it and I got to learn more and more as the story progressed.

You readers have lot of patience to put up with my irregularities. Without you the success of this book would have not been possible.

A special mention and special thanks to Ronianna 007rossy gowri_madhuri20 sreeemu for being pillars of my life and anchoring me while I go off in different direction.

And thanks to those all who have voted and commented. List is so long and I was unable to include all of you, so accept my sincere gratitude.

I found some inconsistencies while reading this book again. I will edit them once I am free from other obligations.

Till next time, Sayonara.