Crowning Glory- Life's Game

You should read what happened previously. How else will you understand the story? Read it here

Chapter 23-

Jennifer splashed water on Tara’s face and shook her. “Wake up! You can’t be unconscious NOW!” Jennifer yelled at her face. Cyrus untied her hands and they made her lie on the couch. Tara started coming around and finally opened her eyes. “You want to know, don’t you? Want to know what I did? I did everything in my past to make the best of my situation. I had nothing and no one. You have to understand that.” Jennifer did not say a word but stared impassively at her. Tara closed her eyes and recounted her past.

“Tara beta why aren't you opening the door?” her mother asked for the umpteenth time. Tara was in shock, sitting on the bathroom floor with a pregnancy test in one hand. This was the second one taken in two days. She just could not believe that one drunken night could lead to such a big disaster. She knew of people who had been trying for years with no luck and here she was with a positive test in her hands but sans the happiness. ‘I will have to tell my parents’. Her stomach clenched at the thought of the reactions she will receive. Aloud she said, “Nothing mom, I have an upset stomach. I will come out soon”. Her mother said ‘okay’ and Tara heard her walking off. After a few minutes of thinking about particularly nothing, Tara came out and went to the kitchen. She stood at the doorway and saw her mother. Beautiful and still young, she was in charge of the household. She was wearing a saree and Tara knew she had not even met her husband even once before she had gotten married at the age of 19; a year later Tara was born. Tara was aware of the marriage proposals and the pressure she was under herself just at the age of 18. She knew for sure she had no say in the man she was to end up with and that her family would wed her off with all the pomp and show thanks to their wealth. She sighed and stood next to her mother. ‘What did you think of the boy you met two days back?’ her mother’s voice came as if from a great distance. Tara didnt answer. Her mother was growing impatient with her erratic behavior since yesterday. “Mom I have to tell you something”, said Tara with a lot of effort. Her mother replied, “I don’t know what is wrong with you since the past two days. We will talk later. I’m busy” Tara took it as a sign and hurried out of the kitchen.

Later in the night, feeling bad for having rebuked her, her mother came to her room to ask what was bothering her. Tara didn't know what to say because she had shamed her parents and she knew that nothing will save her from their wrath. Gathering courage from absolutely nowhere, she said, “Mom, I, I have made a big mistake.” Her mother, concerned, asked, “What’s the matter? Nothing can be that bad that cannot be resolved. What is it?” Tara ploughed on and plunged before she lost her strength, “I am pregnant”. Her mother asked her to repeat what Tara had just said because surely, her dutiful, straight- A daughter could not be pregnant nor does she have any male friends. Obviously she didn't hear her daughter correctly and this must be some big joke. “I’m pregnant” Tara repeated. The resounding slap came from nowhere and Tara made no move to defend herself. She just sat there, staring numbly into space. Her mother got up and started beating her all the while yelling and screaming at her. Her father came running in to see what the commotion was all about. Her mother told him what Tara had said and she then became the victim of her father’s blows as well. Finally, her father took out a bag, put her clothes in it whatever he could find and dragged her towards the main door. Her mother knowing what was happening begged him to not do it but he was relentless.

He dragged her by her arm, not listening to the mother’s crying or paying attention to Tara and her pleas and threw her out of the main door with the bag landing in front of her. With a last look of disgust, he shut the door and Tara could hear the bolts. She could hear her mother pleading with him to let her in. He yelled at her and dragged her to their room. Tara stood there for a couple of hours willing for the door to open, for her mother to come out and take her inside. But nothing happened. Fearing the worst, she picked up her bag and trudged along the road towards her friend, Reema’s house which she knew was about half an hour away. She reached her place and rang the doorbell. Her friend opened the door and took one look at Tara and the bag and took her inside. Tara wasn't willing to talk and Reema didn't ask. She had a spare room and made Tara sleep. In the morning, Tara woke up and for a minute she wasn't aware where she was and she panicked. Then it all came back to her; the positive test, the sinking feeling, the slaps, her father’s look of disgust and reaching her friend’s place. She got up and saw Reema sitting in the living room with a smoke in her hand. She went and sat next to her and just sobbed. Reema was shocked with this way of morning greeting but comforted her nonetheless. Tara finally told her the story and how she was thrown out of her house and she had nowhere else to go. Reema made her tea and told her to abort the kid. Tara refused saying that she wasn't going to murder an innocent child because of her wrong doings. Reema was well aware of her friend’s slight orthodox thinking and she had known suggesting abortion was a long shot.

Days turned into weeks and Tara started growing bigger. She had tried contacting the guy who is the father, but he had refused to have done anything and had insulted her in front of all his friends. Reema had helped Tara get a job through some contacts in the media world and she was working for a TV channel as an assistant receptionist. Reema was a travel writer and used to be away for most of the times and Tara used to be alone. On an off day, there was a knock on her door. She was wondering if Reema was to be back that day and she went and opened the door. She was shocked to see her mother standing in front of her, looking unsure about herself. For six months, Tara had gone everyday to her parent’s house, begged and pleaded to be taken back, threatened them with suicide, called them everyday till her father had changed the numbers. She was aware of the whispering and the glances which people shared every time she walked towards her father’s house, bigger than the previous day. Her mother just stared at Tara and to her astonishment just hugged and cried. Tara got her inside and both of them wept and sat in silence. Her mother broke it and told her bluntly that it was too late for abortion and it was too late for her to say anything to her daughter about it. She announced she was going to be with Tara till the day she gave birth but she was not sure what will she do after as her father was not at all happy with this decision. Tara was glad of having her mother around for the next three months. Reema and her mother got along well so there was no problem of the three of them staying together. With her mother’s support, Tara started doing well at work and was slowly taking on more responsibility and was trying to get into PR.

In the meanwhile she had received a job opportunity for the new company Lucky One Media as the PR Manager and a wedding invite with a return ticket to Delhi from her close friend Roopa, who was getting married soon. Tara had told her that her mother was unwell and that’s why she was so out of touch. Her friend had been relentless and had convinced her to come for the wedding. Luckily the wedding was a couple of months after the due date. Finally her water broke when she was at home and Reema and her mother rushed her to the hospital. She had a healthy baby girl after the grueling 16 hour of labour.

She knew her father would not come to meet her but she had really wanted him to. She knew she was dead to him and she was completely cut off from her family and the possessions. A week after getting discharged she sat in those rare moments when her baby daughter was asleep thinking about what she was going to do. Her mother was going back to her house in a couple of days and Tara knew she had to choose between her career, as that was the only thing that had helped her cope in the past nine months, and her daughter.

Being an unmarried single mother was going to prove a challenge and Tara was not sure about her capabilities. After days of pondering, with a heavy heart she decided on giving up the baby in an orphanage for an adoption. She researched and came across a good one called ‘Aashakiran Anathalay’ which was on the outskirts of the city. She went and met the main lady Mrs. Nayyar and took the papers from her to fill them up and get the process rolling. Then one day, when she was travelling back from work in a particularly crowded local train compartment, she overheard two women talking about one of their friends who had given up her baby to this group from Kolkatta and she had received a lot of money which she had desperately needed. They weren't sure what the group was into but it could not have been good. This piqued Tara’s interest and to her delight she found that one of them was getting off at her stop. She followed the woman and finally caught up to her. “Hi. I am sorry I couldn't help over hearing but I wanted to know the details of the Kolkatta group”. The woman looked at Tara suspiciously and asked her whether Tara was a cop. Tara said no but she was looking for a friend who wanted to give up a baby because of an unwanted pregnancy and she was thrown out of her house. After a couple of minutes the woman relented and helped Tara with a phone number after speaking to someone. She informed Tara that they went by no name and she should not think about giving the number to anybody because the group will disappear without a trace and it was anyway a onetime use number and she better call them tonight. Tara took the number and hurried home. She relieved the baby sitter and contemplated. She called the number and a male voice with a thick Bengali accent greeted her. With his broken Hindi she got to know that they will come and pick up her baby for their orphanage and give her INR 5 lacs. If she agreed to it then the deal could be done and dusted by the next day but she had only 24 hours to confirm and he gave her another phone number to speak to when she made up her mind.

Tara had spent nearly a year in the media industry to know the dirty picture. It was either money or sex that could propel her to the top. Thanks to her pregnancy she had been at the receiving end of quite a few lewd jokes but she had become stronger and there was no way was she going to sleep with any of those men. She needed the money and because she had built a wall around herself she wanted a growth in her career as soon as possible. The idea of having a family no longer appealed to her though she did have her vulnerable moments. She had decided. She needed the money rather than a daughter who reminded her of the tough times. The next day she called up the number and just said a ‘Yes’. She agreed to meet them at a hotel. She met a woman whose name she doesn't know and… and….

At this point Tara could not speak anymore and dissolved into sobs. Jennifer looked at her with so much hatred she surprised herself. “How could you? How could you trade your daughter for money? You are such a cold hearted bitch. I knew it from day one you have no love for anyone in your life. Not even yourself. What kind of a mother are you? You adopted Roohi for what then? To sell her off eventually? Where is she? You don’t deserve her or her love” Jennifer continued to yell at her. Seeing her in that state Cyrus tried calming her down but she shut him up. It took all of her strength to not kill Tara Dutta, CEO and Page 3 regular, right there and then.

Intrigued? You obviously want to know what happens next. Read it here. 

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Crowning Glory: Life's Game

Chapter 7: 

Read Chapter 6 here

Sunday dawned bright and sunny. After a hectic and an emotionally stressful week, Tara decided to laze around in bed for slightly longer than usual. She looked at her bedside clock and realized she just had an hour before the Marie Claire photographer showed up. Thinking of Jennifer, Tara remembered the tattoo and a feeling of foreboding returned. She forced herself to take her mind of it and realized Shekhar was already up and about, with the sounds coming from the kitchen. She could hear her darling daughter’s squeals as she dropped yet another magnet on the floor.

She got up and went to the kitchen and an adorable mess greeted her sight. Shekhar was on the floor with Roohi on his back, saying, ‘horsey, move’. Hating herself for it, Tara asked both of them firmly to please clean up the mess and to get ready for the photographer. Everything had to be perfect. Shekhar tried imitating a neigh which resulted in Roohi dissolving in a fit of giggles.

An hour later the doorbell rang and Tara greeted Jennifer. Jennifer was awed by the meticulous house. She realized that the house was far bigger than she had imagined it to be and to have such an apartment, overlooking the sea has to quite an expenditure. The front door opened to the entry hallway which was decorated with a Venetian mirror and a vintage wooden table underneath it. Beyond the hallway was a huge living room where there was a set of beige leather couches and a glass coffee table and the entrance to the balcony. Next to the area was the TV section where Tara had put up a pair of lazy boys. Ah! What wouldn't Jennifer give to sit on one of them. She saw the eight seater dining table with high backed chairs. To the left of the dining area, Jennifer could see a bit of the guest room which was converted into a study and to the right she could see two bedrooms. Behind it were the kitchen and a small prayer room.

The house was perfect just like the woman standing in front of her with not even a hair strand out of place. Jennifer realized this is what she wanted to achieve in her life and imagined Tara to be her mentor and helping her through the tough times. But little did Jennifer know, Tara had a hard exterior and she had never let anyone come close to her. Except, maybe, Shekhar.

Tara in the meanwhile had followed Jennifer into the living room and could not help but discreetly look at the tattoo trying to confirm that it was the same one. She didn't want to. Tara forced a smile as Jennifer turned to her and asked her if she could please get a glass of water and if it was okay for her to start assembling her equipment. Tara said, ‘Right away’ as she walked towards the kitchen hoping she didn't give away too much by glancing at her wrist again.

Shekhar and Roohi were trying to make a cake amidst laughter and Roohi was content just licking the batter off the spatula. Anger suddenly boiled inside her and Tara surprised herself by snapping at them, ‘Can you guys stop it? There is a guest in this house. I feel I have two children instead of one’. A stunned silence greeted her and she busied herself with water. Jennifer’s voice came floating in saying, ‘It is completely fine ma’am. A little laughter has never hurt anybody and God knows I need it after staying alone.’

The photo session finally began with Tara sitting in the study and in the balcony. Jennifer then instructed her to go change into something a little more casual for the rest of the photographs. Alone, Jennifer started to look at the framed pictures hanging on a wall in an artistic collage. She saw Tara during her graduation ceremony, young and beautiful, sharing a laugh with her friends, saw a picture of her and Shekhar when they had just started dating, saw the wedding and engagement photos. Jenny was brought back from her reverie when she heard a voice behind her. ‘Hi I am Shekhar. Tara’s husband’. Jennifer saw a short balding (premature?) man with the smile as in the photo on the wall. ‘Hi I am Jennifer Joseph. Photographer from Marie Claire. I am here to do get an interview with successful women and your wife is one of them. Sorry to spoil your Sunday. But tell me, how do you live with such a beautiful and a successful lady? The men I know would get intimidated. Don’t you?’ Shekhar smiled and replied, ‘If you were given this project a few years back, then Tara’s name would have not featured in your list.’ ‘Why?’ a perplexed Jennifer asked. Shekhar replied, ‘when we got married, she was just a small medial professional running some errands. Now with her rise to the top, I am extremely proud of her, not that I wasn't back then as well. I hope nothing jinxes her career path’. Even though she knew Shekhar meant it in a good way, Jennifer could not help but feel slightly confused and out of sorts with his statement.

Tara finally returned to the room dressed in skinny jeans and peach coloured top with her daughter in tow who was looking adorable with her hair done up in a ponytail and a sleeveless dress with red strawberries. Jennifer then instructed them for the poses and started taking the family photos.

An hour later, they were finally done and sat down for coffee and Jennifer started asking questions about her background, ‘So your husband tells me that you have risen to the top thanks to your hard work. How does a successful woman like you juggle home and work life?’ Tara replied, ‘When I was lowly media personnel, I used to do a lot of administration and miscellaneous work which the big wigs couldn’t be bothered with. It was then I had decided to work as hard as I possibly could and did not let, and I still don’t, let anything come between me and my career. Yes, handling work and home is difficult at times but I try my best to be successful at both.’ They heard a snort come in from Shekhar’s direction which he immediately turned into a cough. After a couple of more questions, Jennifer got up and thanked the couple. She bid farewell to Roohi clicking a snap of her trying to sit on the lazy boy. As Jennifer turned to shut the door she saw Roohi hanging on to her father’s leg asking for ice cream (‘little brat’, Jennifer smiled to herself) and looked over at Tara who was quiet and staring into space.

Curious about Chapter 8, aren't ya? Read it here!

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