Chapter 22

Dread & Peace

She stayed up the whole night with the lights on, radiating her anxiety to Jaidrith who stayed up too, they both were afraid to use the toilet at night when the wind whipped the glass slats on the high window.

Jai annoyed her by asking for the 100th time WHEN they were returning to their “house”

She told him they will be here for now

He cried and argued and cried

She cried secretly, as he watched a movie.

What have I done? She feared

Zahra and Sameena and Zainab showed up an hour after Mendy and Aatreya left bearing many things Jaidrith could eat and, and some really lovely furnishings for the house

She expressed her terror to Sameena as she made chai

as Zahra and Zainab hung out in the bedroom

“You cannot move from here, you don’t know what he wants so don’t jump to conclusions” Sameena spoke sagely

“You don’t know… what if he steals Jaidrith”

“WHY would he do that?” Sameena was shocked

“I kept him out of Jaidrith’s life for 10 years no” Mrunalini wept

“No no, that’s not true, there was no agreement to raise him jointly”

“He didn’t even know Dru looked like him, he was shocked when he met him”

Sameena closed her eyes cringing

“How much?”

“Like the same except for my blue eyes and the height because he is not even 10”

“Oh wow”

Mrunal nodded fighting the lump in her throat

“I wish Mrs Gomes had told me even one time she knew him, I would have gifted her Rs.10 lakhs earnest money and backed off the deal Sameena”

“Why would she tell you Mrunal, she doesn’t even know you had Aatreya’s child”

Sh--! Sh--! Sh--! Mrunal cursed

“I hate this house…. I don’t like anything here, Jai got on the counter, the downstairs neighbor, pounded with a broom

Sameena looked shocked

“I don’t know the crime rate or anything”

“U just have buyer’s remorse” Sameena gave her a hug

“I cant go back to my Baba’s apartment, the custodian will not give me the keys…. Baba and Amruta probably took the keys already”

“Sshhhh shhhhh”

“I can look for a place to rent, but I have to pay the instalment here no”

“Do u want me to stay the night?”

“Can you be here for a few months?” Mrunal asked earnestly

“I am sorry, I have an internship in Bangalore in August” Sameena was distressed

“I really want someone to stay here”

“You did great in Bandra”

“I have lived there 10 years, its BIG, there is security in the lobby always, there is security on every floor” “I know my neighbor”

She did but the truth was the kid across the hallway was a giant bully who referred to Jaidrith as  Moron or a Dork

“U are going to love this place, the roads are so busy and bustling, the street vendors are everywhere”

“I don’t think I planned this right,  what if Aatreya kidnaps him?”

“You are going back to that?” Sameena squeezed her hand

“I know that’s why he left so calmly, I told him never to come back”

“You DID?”

“Yes… Dru is MINE” she bit her lower lip until it hurt but tears came anyway

“You never know he might not want anything to do with him Mru”

“He said he was married and divorced”

“What if he has kids already?”

“Oh yeah… I never asked” She calmed down for a second

“He could have kids… aaj kal log apne bache nahi paalte, doosre ka bacha ka kisko time hai Mru” She hated it when they left

Jai cried wanting to go with Zainab

Zahra was fine with it

Mrunal was terrified to be in the flat alone at night

Jai begged Zahra to take him

After they left he begged her “Aai amala ghari parat jaau dya” “Ghari parat jaaoo dya” 

She didn’t have the heart to tell him they will never go back over there

“Tey durusta karat aahet” (They are conducting repairs)

“Mala dakhava” (show me)

He was a smart kid

He wanted pictures, he pushed her ipad toward her

Lynn Mendonza texted her asking if she needed bedding and if she wanted to come over for dinner

She flatly refused and declined

Lynn apologized and promised to stop by tomorrow as Saturday was a day off for her

Mrunal wanted to say “I don’t want to see any of you”

Mother and son played video games together, she ate the leftover house warming food, and fed him too.

He was so gorgeous, “How did I have such a beautiful cute sweet kid” she comforted herself repeatedly

Unloved and uncared for Jaidrith made her whole

She was afraid she hadn’t paid any attention to him during the day

He could eat rice freely, so she made that a lot, wish he could eat more things

She grieved over what was reality for Jai’s food choices

She grieved at least 5 times a day

They curled up on the rugs in the living room and watched on their devices with the AC in full blast

Around 3 AM Jai threw up multiple times

She asked him a 100 questions about what he ate and when he ate

She went through the kitchen to read labels of snacks her work friends had given her as gifts

“Why did they not give me pots and pans?” she cursed along the way

No peanuts, no tree nuts, no milk products, no wheat

Phew!!

She felt his forehead multiple times

She went online and looked for places to rent in Bandra

The rent was going to swallow her whole paycheck not to mention borrow from her retirement

She questioned her life choices, her relationships and her common sense

She sat by Jai worrying if he was going to leap to the bathroom one more time.

Around 5 AM they both crashed on top of each other, clutching each other

11:47 AM there was a knock on the door

Lynn Mendonza stood with Aatreya outside

Still groggy, Mrunal had no idea she had moved to Chembur

She opened the door and stared blankly

“Hey I am Lynn” a woman with curly hair and glasses, curvaceous, dusky, fashionable… wearing her Saturday best, a sleeveless mini dress

Carrying a picnic basket

Aatreya in shorts and a tee scruffy unshaven but piercing eyes

Carrying a basket of what looked like fruits and veggies

“Lynn?” she mumbled

“Mrs Goates’ adopted daughter” Lynn laughed easily

“This is Atty”

The second the name was said Jaidrith surged to the grill door

“Heyyyyy I KNOW YOU” he said with a smile

Mother and son were starved for comfort after a terrifying night

“I do too” Aatreya nodded back with a smile