Chapter 36

Panic & Heroic

“Arey apna ladka ke saath CHEEPAKKK rehta hai who” Lynn whispered to Mendy

“Chup kar na yaar” Mendy shook his head

“Why wont she let him hang with the kids”

“Uska haath toot rela hai na”

Mendy don’t support her foolishly” Lynn gossiped

“Shut up yaar” Mendy was irritated “Who Ira ki friend, Misha ki mummy pooch raha tha tujhe, ja rey” Mendy tried to brush her off

Lynn looked at Mrunalini from across the room

Jaidrith played on her phone as she watched the people nervously

Lynn approached Aatreya as he left a group of men

“Tell her no? Man? Why wont she let the boy mingle?”

“Ha”

“Usko koi problem hai?”

“No I don’t think so” he shrugged looking at Mrunalini

“She is a bit odd huh?”

“U think so?” Aatreya was more amused than angry

“DUDE, she acts like I need to leave her house ASAP” 

Lynn piled it on

“Next time you should just sit down and not leave” Aatreya teased

“Arey she has ZERO furniture, she is ODD man” Lynn gestured a circle with her fingers to indicate zero

“Well, she has furniture now” he shrugged disarmingly with a smile

“She is HOT I don’t deny that, but usko samjha nahi shaayad”

“Huh”

“She is obsessed over the kid… tu kuch kar rey baba”

“Well she is a single parent”

“Abhi tu hei na rey?”

“I guess” Aatreya was not upset at all

Mendy had watche the interaction and came charging for her

“Tujhe bola na mei?”

“Dude I am saying go bring ur kid, why cant she give you YOUR kid” Lynn continued to criticize

“Tera bacha hei kya? Tu guest ko sambhal, go dude” Mendy was gentle but Lynn was going to hear it from him later

“Congrats dude” Mendy shook Atty’s hand

“U said so already” Aatty laughed

“I did?” Anyway, she is just afraid yaar, abhi tu pelle pelle time laaya raha usko, she is afraid” Mendy explained

Aatreya and mendy were real close

Atty realized WHY

“Ja uske paas we don’t want her to feel left out”

“Itna jhaar raha that u uske waste gluten free pizza order kara?” Mendy accused his wife soon after

Over in the other corner

“They are going to smash the pinata do u want Jai to try?”

“He is hurt no?” she explained not letting go of him

Jai looked forlorn as if he wanted in on the fun

“Just let him go walk around

“What if they push him?”

They did that in his school, the bullies did, multiple times in Grades 2 and 3”

“I can watch him or trail him” Aatty promised

“There are too many kids” she said unconvinced

“May I hold his hand?” he asked politely 

She looked up at him

In the chaos and noise and chatter, for a brief second she was reminded of the same chaos poolside 10 years ago

He had pretty eyes

“I can walk with him

Jai tried to pry his hand free

She gently let go whispering him to stay with her as they weaved through the crowd of face painting artist, juggler and magician

Lyn caught up to them

“What can he eat? I will order” she put her phone on hold and plugged her right ear

“Oh.. I have to be specific so don’t worry” Mrunal smiled fearfully

“You cant be afraid every time na? U have to tell me” Lynn turned bossy

“I can eat” Mrunal made peace

Lynn turned to Atty and gave him a meaningful look

“Tu kuch bol rey” she stage whispered

“Umm” Atty was cautious, he didn’t want to gang up on Mrunal

“I usually carry a besan sweet in my purse, I have dinner at home for him its Saturday so I made lots”

“OK” Lynn left in a huff

“Aai… face painting?” Jai pulled her arm and whispered in her ear

She asked the man about the dye and finally let him get Avatar the last airbender arrow in his forehead

He was really happy

Ira giggled when she saw him

“Wish her Happy Birthday Dhruuu” Mrunal urged

He just waved instead

“When is his birthday?” Aatreya asked

“August 1” she said quietly

“thanks” Aatreya looked at Jai’s face intensely

Mrunal let Jai watch the balloon animal maker and stepped back from the crowd and lingered by a wall

“Did u have a normal delivery?” he asked

“No, C section” she said reluctantly

It was too personal

But he was the father… now

“You don’t have kids?”

“None beside him” he repeated

“Hmm”

“Do u really have a snack with you?” he asked

She was carrying her phone with her driver’s license and a credit card on its back

“He just had oat milk” she insisted

“Do u have any allergies?” he asked softly

They had spent the whole entire night feasting on each other to worry about silly things like food

“NO” she said vehemently afraid he was trying to blame her

After a long pause she turned to him and asked him the same Q

“Just sesame and peanuts” he said with a  smile

“OHHHH”

MADE SENSE

MY Jai got it all from YOU

“That’s not something I wanted to give him Mrunalini” he said with a smile

As if he read her thoughts

“He is a sweet boy, its OK” she said haughtily in a “oh u don’t have to worry I AM taking care of him”

“Do we want to talk about care schedule tomorrow?”

She felt the bile rise up slowly

She knew she was going to get a panic attack

“To YOUR house?” she asked horrified

“I think so”

There was a good 20 minute of silence where both watched the chaos

“I haven’t told you are the Dad” she argued

“Yeah you can let him know of course” he nudged gently with words

“You have established parenthood, WHY do you want him NOW” she asked the most stupid question with the most innocent face looking into his eyes earnestly

“You proved nah? Then why do u need him?” she asked

He didn’t know whether to laugh or to be livid

“Because I want to be part of his life” he said calmly trying not to smile

“Can I ask for your back ground check?” she challenged

“Sure” he nodded amused by her naivete

“Everything police check and all” she nodded

“Sure”

Her face was flush with color as she fought her panic while trying to be heroic

“You cannot be alone with him” she said

“Hmm”

“He is very innocent, he doesn’t know anything” she lamented, hugely distressed

“I understand”

“… I never hit him or shout” she turned to him fully took a step forward and spoke into his eyes

“I promise I will not… either” he whispered

Those large blue pools looked like shimmering topaz to him, the air between them charged and electric…. they stood inches from each other, he was seconds from being aroused,

 She on the other hand could be talking to a bank or store clerk… there was absolutely no awareness in her eyes