Into the Life of Hadji 2 Part 8

	Later on that evening, Benton brought a box by Miana's room and
handed it to Hadji. 
	"What is this?" 
	"Sukinder sent it for you.  He said it has a lot of important
papers and pictures in it." 
	Hadji opened the box, and on top was an old family picture. 
	"My God!  Hadji, your family was huge!  What happened to
everybody?  Who is that girl next to your father?  It isn't Neela..." 
	Hadji turned the picture over. 
	"Hasrani Singh." 
	Hadji got a feeling and kept digging. 
	"Father's birth papers... Hasrani's birth papers!" 
	Hadji's mouth dropped open as he compared them. 
	"They are siblings!  I never knew..." 
	"No wonder Sukinder sent these... I wonder what happened to her?" 
	"I intend to find out.  Please excuse me, love.  I need to go to
the compound." 
	"No problem.  Stay as long as you need to." 
	Hadji spent days researching the whereabouts and history of his
long-lost family member.  After much time and research, Hadji found out
that the teenage girl in the picture next to Haresh was his much younger
sister, who left home right before her eighteenth birthday, shortly
before Hadji's birth.  Hasrani was supposedly an adventurer with no taste
for royal life who disappeared, and was never heard from again.  However,
Hadji's resourcefulness tracked her down to a small town in Vermont where
she ran a bed and breakfast with her son, Sharad.  Hasrani had married and
divorced young, and decided that she wanted a simpler life for her and her
then young child.  So, she kept her maiden name after her divorce, gave
birth to Sharad, and bought the B & B with money she was awarded in the
divorce settlement.  Hasrani was now forty-five, and her son was nineteen. 
Hadji was excited to find out he had family, especially in the United
States, and decided it was time to welcome her back.  It was that day that
Hadji came into Miana's room with a huge smile on his face. 
	"Love, you look so happy! What's up?" smiled Miana. 
	Hadji explained what he had learned to Miana. 
	"That's great!  So what are you going to do with this
information?" 
	"I am going out of town for a few days.  I am going to Vermont,
and ask her to re-join the family." 
	"Do you think she will after all these years?" 
	"I do not know, but I must find out." 
	The next day, Hadji was in Vermont on the doorstep of the Golden
Lotus B & B.  Hadji stepped through, and saw an Indian boy wearing a
turban behind the desk. 
	"May I help you?" 
	"I do not have a reservation.  Are there any vacancies?" 
	"Yes, we have some rooms open.  Name, please?" 
	"Hadji Singh." 
	The boy's mouth dropped, and the pen he had in his hand hit the
floor.
	"Excuse me please." 
	The boy left, and came back out with a middle-aged Indian woman in
traditional dress.  She had tears in her eyes. 
	"Hadji?  Son of Haresh Singh?" 
	"Yes." 
	"I never expected to see any of my family again.  I kept tabs on
the family, at least until Vikram took over Bangalore.  After that, I did
not think there was any hope.  My heart was broken when Haresh died. 
Please, come sit." 
	"Why did you not return?" 
	"Because I was young and foolish, and I did not think that I would
have been accepted back into the family." 
	"It is probably best that you did not, because there is no telling
what would have come of you under Vikram's rule." 
	"You are Sultan now, correct?" 
	"Yes, however, I spend much time in Maine." 
	"Maine?  That is so close... and all this time..." 
	"I have a wife, and a new born son, Rajan Haresh.  My mother just
passed away, and we will be returning to India permanently.  I know you
have a life here, but I would love to have my family together, if
possible." 
	Tears were streaming down the prodigal princess's face. 
	"I am so sorry about Neela..." she cried.  "You want us to return
to Bangalore?  After all these years?" 
	"Yes, I do." 
	Sharad was listening in the doorway. 
	"Sharad, what do you think?" 
	"I have never been to India.  I would love to go." 
	"It would mean leaving everything we know here." 
	"Mother, we are members of the royal family, are we not?  If the
Sultan asks things of us, should we not oblige him?" 
	Hasrani smiled. 
	"My son is very wise for his age.  A positive trait of the Singh
male line.  But please, stay here a few days first." 
	"I can stay the night, but I must return, as my wife and son are
in the hospital." 
	"Still?" 
	"It is a long story.  Let me tell it to you." 

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	The next evening, Hadji returned to Maine with Hasrani and Sharad,
who had managed to sell the bed and breakfast to a buyer who had been
interested in it for a long time.  They all went to the hospital, and
Hadji came into Miana's room, again with a huge smile on his face. 
	"Things went well?" 
	"I have someone for you to meet." smiled Hadji. 
	Hasrani and Sharad stepped into the room. 
	"Hasrani and Sharad Singh." Hadji looked at Hasrani.  "My wife, Miana
Singh." 
	"Now, I have something to show you!" beamed Miana. 
	Miana spun out of bed, and stood up.  She stumbled to catch her
balance, but regained it and took four steps before falling into Hadji's
arms. 
	"Miana..." Hadji cried. 
	Tears welled up in Miana's eyes. 
	"It's just a matter of time.  And that's not all!  Rajan is up to
four pounds.  Two more pounds, and he can go home." 
	Miana wiped the tears from her eyes and then knitted her brows as
a thought occurred to her. 
	"Speaking of home, where are we going?" 
	"To Bangalore." answered Hadji, then looked over at his
re-discovered family.  "All of us." 
	
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	It wasn't long before Rajan had reached six pounds, and Miana was
walking on a cane.  Everyone returned to the compound, and were going to
stay there until Miana was fully recovered.  The entire Singh family was
welcomed with open arms, as Miana was the first through the door, as a
surprise to the Quests. 
	"Miana!" screamed Jessie as she ran up and embraced her.  "You're
walking!  I never knew..." 
	"We kept my progress as a secret to surprise you guys!  We have
other surprises, too!" 
	Hadji walked in with a very healthy and happy Rajan, followed by
Hasrani and Sharad.  Introductions were initiated, followed by long
conversations about recent events.  After all was said and done, the
family decided to retire early for the evening.  The only ones up were
Jessie and Miana.  Jessie was in tears. 
	"Jessie, what's wrong?  I thought you were doing well..." 
	"I am.  My meds have been cut back, and I'm back to work... but it
just occurred to me!  You're going to be leaving... for good!" 
	"I know.  It's going to be sad for me, too.  But you won't be
alone-- Moniri will be staying here as she found a teaching job here in
Rockport, and Dr. Quest insisted that she live here!  I think the two of
you will be good friends, and her romance with Bobby should make for
interesting in-house soaps as well!" smiled Miana. 
	"I know, but it's like losing half the family!" 
	"Jessie, think about it!  Hadji may be taking over, but with
Hasrani in the picture now, sooner or later, he'll probably have her help
out!  Face it-- Hadji's life is here.  It always will be." 
	Just then, they heard footfalls coming down the steps.  It was
Jonny. 
	"Can't sleep?" asked Jessie. 
	"Hadji and I just got through talking.  I can't believe he's
leaving!" 
	"Miana and I just had the same conversation." 
	Jonny looked at Miana. 
	"I wish you the best of luck." 
	"Geez, Jonny!  We're not gone yet!  It'll be another month before
I'm off this damn cane!" 
	Just then, a baby's cry was heard all over the house. 
	"Oops!  Time for Rajan's 2:00 a.m. feeding!  I gotta go before
Hadji comes for me.  Good night!" 
	"Good night, Miana." said Jessie. 

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	A month passed, and Miana was walking completely on her own, and
Rajan was chubby, healthy, and happy.  Jessie was doing well, and was off
of medication and attended her support group once a week.  Moniri had
moved in and her life was in full swing.  Benton and Race were glad to
have a happy ending to their recent ordeal, although they were sad to see
Hadji and his family leave.  The Quests saw them off, and they were all in
tears when it came time for them to leave.  No one was big on long
good-byes, so they left after some quick hugs and a lot of tears.  The Quest compound
was strangely quiet with the Singh family gone, but they were slowly
adjusting to their new companions Bobby and Moniri. 
	A week had passed when they got a letter that Benton read to the
family.  They were all misty as Benton read Hadji's words: 
	
	"Dear Dr. Quest and family,
	It has been a week now since Miana and I took full responsibility
here in Bangalore.  Things are very different now, especially with Mother
gone, and Rajan, Hasrani, and Sharad in the family. 
	Mother's belated memorial service was a sad event, but even with
her passing, my new family has made this place lively again.  Rajan is
beautiful, and Hasrani loves him.  Hasrani and Sharad have adjusted
wonderfully to life here, and I believe that one day soon she will be able
to assist me in ruling.  I often feel the presence of my parents here
smiling upon the happiness that has sprung from our recent tragedy.  This
does my heart good, as my mother is in peace, and she is rejoicing in
ours.  May your lives be as pleasant. 
 					With deepest love,
						Hadji"