Broken hearts

Broken hearts 

(Continued from rules are to be broken ) 

There was no explanation that could suffice.  Rishabhs eyes just glared angrily at the three of them.

Prerna was the most alert trying to keep her heart from racing into panic even with her husbands stern eyes judging from a far. Mahesh was a drunken slur and Masi well a little on the hysterical side.

“Rishabh don’t be so serious”she commented and mahesh couldn’t help but giggle along with his Masi.”

Prerna was the only one who could see the calm before the storm. Rishabh Bajaj was counting each sin in silence. 

Ushering them both away was the best thing to do and she managed it. 

..

Mahesh was kept steady by prerna as they waited for Masi to step into her room. Mahesh gave a wave and a funny goodnight.

After which prerna steered her brother in law to his room. He took a wobbly seat on the edge of his bed whilst prerna looked for painkillers and water on the side table.

“He hates me” mumbled Mahesh 

“That’s not true” Prerna answered casually

“ I know ...He hates me” insisted mahesh in a slur.

“I’m the baa..d  penny!, Never good enough

 bad Mahesh ,Doesn’t play by the rules 

Gets it wrong ...always gets it wrong”

When Perna heard Maheshs conversion continue she began to wonder if it was more than just drunk speak. She took a seat next to him. There was silence for second until Prerna realised Mahesh was crying. 

“He still punishes me every single day for the one mistake I made all those years ago.”

She saw a vulnerable little brother pleading for understanding. For help & affection. She’d seen the same void in Rishabhs eyes as she did in Maheshs today only Mahesh seemed more innocent.

Especially around their mother. 

“He listens to you .. Can you tell him , tell him it hurts” with pleading eyes he looked at her. She somehow recognised the little brother whos heart was in the right place but couldn’t control his ways within Mahesh.

Seeing Mahesh crying made prerna realise he was much more lonely much more hurt then he let on. She wanted to help and so nodded a ‘yes’. She’d speak to Mr Bajaj when the time was right how could she not.

Coaxing him into taking rest Prerna stepped out of the room with tears of her own to wipe away. Taking a deep breath to settle her heart and mind. 

...

Having seen how hurt Mahesh seemed to be at heart Prerna could hardly think anything else and so when she finally entered her room and saw Rishabh stood in the porch with his phone, sending a business email no doubt she knew he had probably set his mind on punishing the three of them and most likely made his moves. 

She cared not for herself but she certainly cared for Rishabh and Maheshs relationship. 

Walking into the porch from a place where she could see only the side profile of Mr Bajaj in his night robe she approached quietly. 

Steadying her heartbeat that was pounding every second she said her piece 

“It was my idea, they’re not to be blame”.

She received only silence, not even a glance as she stood their for a second hoping to get some of his time but all she’d  let herself in for  was his anger.  

“I don’t want to hear from you, nor see you, goodnight Mrs Bajaj.” He ordered bluntly.

...

When Rishabh opened his eyes the next morning Prernas side of the bed was vacant. The situation had bled into their married life but his disappointment remained unmoved especially at Mrs Bajaj. 

...

Sneha wanted to eat breakfast from her das  plate. That meant sitting on his lap and dipping her fingers into bits of jam on crispy toast swirling them around on the plate before putting them into her mouth. A sugary Sweet mess  whilst Rishabh spoke to Mr Mehra on his hands free of his mobile phone at the breakfast table.

He’d just seen the morning paper. His family’s mischiefs centre stage.  

“Strike them from the company and suspend them” he was certain about his wishes.

“He can’t Close 18.1”

Spoke a voice at the other end of the table. A fresh looking mahesh arrived at the table to get his morning breakfast. He only remembered a little from last last night. He tried not to add fuel to fire just point out some facts.

“Employees mustn’t arrange, or part take  In social events that may hurt the company’s  reputation but it says nothing about ‘friends’ socialising. Just a small distinction maybe you ought to check.” 

Rishabh glared across the table. He chose not to reply. Snehas jam covered fingers and mouth were now climbing the collar of his shirt. He needed to clean up. 

...

Putting Sneha down gently onto the bed Rishabh walks to his wardrobe loosening his tie, unhooking his shirt. Prernas absence didn’t go un noticed. 

Catching Masi passing by in the corridor he takes the liberty of asking about her. 

“Aap ne Prerna ko dekha?”

“Hmm (yes) but better not tell you as you’d rather not be around her. “ she replied upset, not backing down in difference with him today. 

Leaving Rishabh to reflect on his words to Prerna last night.

As he took a change of shirt and replaced his tie, Sneha hovered the bed and not much later Kuki stood at the door. 

She was dressed in In her little school uniform smiling at her Pa.

“Good morning” she gleamed noticing her Pa looking a bit preoccupied with thought. 

Maybe even knowing he needed cheering up and Kukis smile did just that. The lines of distress on his face began to fall and eventually smile. Watching her run over and hop onto the bed to kiss her baby sister good morning. Later taking off her little backpack and unzipping it  to reach into it to give Sneha a tiny bite of cookie.
Cookies she’d apparently baked with her ma last night. A sign Rishabh may have been quick to judge Mrs Bajaj. Certainly as he thought about her attempt to speak to him last night, Signs of regret began to stir in his mind amongst the his anger. A difficult mix even for Rishabh Bajaj. 

...

Elsewhere Prerna knew her heart well, it craved for Mr Baja. She non the less  feared that harsh side of his particularly as she’d hidden some of the truth last night. She’d  had chosen the tough route but had decided to endure as it was the right thing to do in the long run. 

Lost in her thoughts at the checkout in store Veena waves her hand in front of her daughters face to get her attention. 

When she gets no reaction she decides to step in and answer the clerk in store later insisting  Prerna tell her what was really on her mind. 

The rest of the day was much of a pattern. 

Prerna spent her day away from the house as per Rishabhs wishes on keeping out of sight whilst Mr Bajaj went about his day.  The unsettled nature of things looming over them both.

...

Later on that evening as Prerna and her mother by virue of the layout of the lounge walk past Rishabh in his chair.

“Try and Answer your Phone Mrs Bajaj, you’re-safety is my responsibility,  argument or no argument” he speaks in his distinct tone of voice from a distance.

Veena takes this as her queue to leave the pair of them in privacy. 

“I’m sorry” replies Prerna a answer to all her husbands dissatisfactions around her. Seeing the dinner  table for two set, a clue he’d being waiting for her Prerna looks to towards the kitchen. 

“Mrs Bajaj” she hears him summon 

“Ji” she reacts like it just rolled off the tip of her tongue.  

“Come here”

With a little hesitancy did she walk towards his chair. Choosing not to look at him missing his eyes as they display a finally found ease beneath  the seriousness. Rising from his chair he steps that little closer. A proximity that affected them both in their own ways. Softened Mr Bajajs tough exterior reminded him of his heart and triggered Prernas nervousness. 

“Look at me”  he asked of her watching her ovoid him and obey his words to this very moment. Catching intimacy within one and others eyes before prerna again broke away her eyes. 

“I’m sorry” he confessed. His words weighed in a way that were meaningful and his eyes showing he regretted his ways.  He displayed his heart and mind to her. 

“Just no white lies,  no going behind my back” he said more firmly yet softened by his eyes.  

Prerna who knew her husbands heart and mind, his expectations and his love agreed. 

...

There was silence on the dinner table. A relief between them that might have been better served by something like eating together, talking about the girls. 

“My credit card was declined today” Prerna mentioned as they ate 

“I’ll get Mehra to replace it” replied Rishabh who had the three accounts stuck off in a whim this morning. 

After a little time Prerna decided to confide in him “..I did it for Mahesh”

...

That night after spending time thinking in Prernas words Rishabh decided to walk past the guest room. Mahesh’s room.

His little brother slept with his door wide open, flung over the side of his bed messily. 

Rishabh stepped into his room quietly and sighed. Looking at the picture on Maheshs bedside, a portrait of them when they were younger Rishabh pulled the stray bed cover over Mahesh.  Committing to give Mahesh the attention and time he needed. 

Note:

Thanks all hope you enjoyed reading this  these last two go after betrayal, I’ll move them to their place.

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