THE SEEDS OF UPHEAVAL
-9. Aditi Meets Her Father

Aditi also found that while, in the story, at the time of the tragedy both Balaveera and Nirmala had finished five years of their education under reputed sages, the same was the period which both she and Paramjeet had now completed of their learning!  She also began to have suspicions about King Dhuranjaya’s presence while Bhupendra was telling the story to her.  Also, why did the King want her to think from Nirmala’s point of view and answer his questions?  Although Bhupendra had provided an explanation for this, Aditi was no longer convinced about it.  What did all this indicate, Aditi wondered?    It did not take a long time for her to realise that this story was not a mere imagination of King Bhupendra but could be true facts based on her life!  That meant the character of Nirmala represented her in the story!  This further indicated that King Bhupendra and Queen Chandraki were not her real parents!  The realisation of this factor stung the tender heart of Aditi and glistened her eyes with tears.  She now knew who her real parents were!  She also realised another factor which compounded her sorrow and made her restless!  It was the fact that Balaveera was none other than Paramjeet!  If this was true, then her beloved brother was now lying unconscious, fighting between life and death!   Unable to bear her sorrow, the child wept for some time and then went to meet her adopted parents.   

Meanwhile, Bhupendra and his Queen sat in a pensive mood in the former’s chambers.  They were worried as to how Aditi would react to the story on the morrow.  If her response was found to be unfavourable, how would she be acquainted with the truth?  Even if her replies were on the positive side, it was not going to be easy for them to tell her that she was their adopted child.  Also, there was a possibility of a stark contrast in Aditi’s response to the story and reality.  Besides, the uncertainty over what would happen after Aditi learnt the truth filled them with consternation.   They certainly did not want to give back Aditi to her parents but then they could not think of any way to convince Dhuranjaya regarding this matter. As these fears crossed the mind of the couple, suddenly they were bewildered to see Aditi standing before them!  Her eyes brimming over with tears, she came near them and asked in a quivering voice, “I am not your daughter, isn’t it?” 

The hearts of the King and the Queen ached to hear this question of Aditi.  They realised that the truth had dawned on their child.  Not knowing how to respond, they looked at each other with distraught faces.  Aditi held their hands and implored in an emotion choked voice, “Please tell me, parents!  I need to know!  Please tell me!”  The King held Aditi close to his heart, even as the Queen placed her hand on the child’s head.  “You were not born to us, my child!” was all that the King managed to say as he tried hard to hold back his sentiments.  Chandraki wept silently. 

“Chandraveera is my brother, Paramjeet, in the story, right?”  Aditi further asked her father.

“Yes!” the King spoke softly as his throat began to hurt him owing to his suppressed emotions.    

“I want to see him!” Aditi stated. 

“You will see him, my child!  After all, your father has come to take you over to his place permanently!” the King mourned. 

“No, father!  That will not happen!  I am your daughter and will remain so forever!”  Aditi declared with her eyes still raining tears. 

“Thank you, dear!”  the Queen spoke up for the first time.  Hearing these words of Aditi, the King kissed her forehead.  “But what about your father, my child?”  he asked her. 

“I will talk to him!  I am sure that he will understand!”   Aditi spoke with reliance.  “You will talk to him?” The King asked astonished. 

“Yes, father!  Please allow me to do so!  I want to go and meet him right away!”  Aditi insisted. 

Seeing that the little Princess had made up her mind, both Bhupendra and Chandraki consented.  After she had left, the King turned to his Queen, “See!  I told you that Aditi would never agree to go with Dhuranjaya!” 

Chandraki agreed wiping her tears, “Yes, my lord!  I also knew it but still had a fear in my heart about her reaction.  Even now the problem is far from over!  Dhuranjaya has to be convinced!  I wonder what Aditi is going to tell him!” 

“Let’s see!” the King exclaimed and shook his head in disgust, “I regret this day where I had to see tears in my child’s eyes!  Oh God!  May the atmosphere of peace, love and friendship prevail upon this hour of grief and uncertainty which has besieged us!”  the King prayed.

Dhuranjaya lay on the bed in his chambers, although he could not get any sleep.  He, too, was worried as to how would Aditi respond to the questions put before her the next day.  He did not tell this fact to his friend but in his mind, he appreciated the manner in which Bhupendra was trying to make Aditi aware of the facts in her life in the form of a story.  Just then, from the corner of his eye he found someone near him.  Startled, he looked at the person only to find Aditi standing beside him.  From her sullen face, the King could make out that she had been crying for a while.  He made her sit near him and asked her, “Aditi!  What happened?  You seem so sad!”    Looking at her father, Aditi began, “I have realised the truth!  Pondering over the story, I found that there were many similarities in it relating to my life that raised my suspicions.  I met my father who confirmed my doubts.”  As Dhuranjaya looked at his daughter taken aback at these developments, his daughter continued, “I feel sad to learn that I am only an adopted daughter of my parents.  However, my sorrow does not undermine the great sacrifice you made for the sake of your friend’s happiness.  Let me also state that this fact has only made me hold my parents in greater respect and honour.  They never made me feel that I am not their child!  Such is the love and affection which they have given me!    What now fills me with sorrow is the thought which you are now allowing to enter your mind that your move of handing me over to your friend is responsible for the tragedy which my brother has now met with…..”