Chapter 106

Less fearful fear

He found her sleeping peacefully when he returned with their tea, she stayed sleeping until after 11 AM despite the Happy Birthday singing and phone calls and video chats with Ajji and Thatha and Apurva Athya

The ring still lay by her on a low table

She woke to find the flat empty, she got on the phone and texted Sameena

“He wants me to marry him!!”

Sameena sent a shock emoji

Mrunalini wished HNY

“OMG” “What are u going to do?”

“I don’t know… I asked him if he is doing it to steal Dhru”

“OMG Mrunalll”

“I have to know that”

“HOW can u ask him?

“How will I know”

“I am so so happy for you… what more do u want? U should marry him”

“How can you say that?”

“Because…”

“I am not sure his family even knows Sameena”

“Oh no… really?”

“He said he is afraid of his father and he has given his Mum a hint”

“Aise kaise unhone propose kiya?”

“I don’t know”

“I feel he is a good guy”

“Now u are changing the topic”

Mrunal panicked

Sanity had returned on NY morning

There was nobody backing her up or telling her what to do

There was no one asking the right questions

Her paranoia, anxiety and fear induced questions were her only insurance

“His family is going to whole heartedly reject me”

“Do you like him?”

No answer

“Mrunal?”

“He is almost unreal” (choking) “that’s why I keep going back to “Are u going to steal my baby?”

“Not every one is mean”

“But what incentive he has to be nice to me”

“Umm.. he could LIKE YOU?”

“Why?”

“Mrunal aap please aise mat socho”

“I don’t think it can be love at first sight, I am not a movie star”

“He could genuinely like the mother of his child”

“He told me he went searching for me”

“KAB?”

“When he first returned to India, do u think he knew I had a child?”

“Don’t let ur paranoia swallow u Mrunal”

She heard footsteps

She panted and heaved and ran to the kitchen and then to the bathroom and shut the door

“I say yes, his parents hate me and then he apologizes?” Mrunal texted with trembling hands

“U have to decide if u want to live a life of constant doubt and fear of something happening to Dhru or take the hand that’s being offered”

Mrunalini stared at that text for the longest time

Leaned on the bathroom door and cried

“I love u Mrunal, you deserve happiness, u need to live ur life. You are terrified of strangers harming Dhru, but this is the DAD”

An hour later after she showered and lit the lamp and made sheera, and a rice kheer for Dhru

Dad and son returned

They looked sunburned and tired

“Happy Birthday shakkara” she hugged him going down

They curled up on the living room floor cuddling

“Where did u go?”

“We went to Atty’s house then to swim them to tennis” he smiled

Aatreya sat on the floor by her

“Good morning”

“Sorry I didn’t drink the chai”

“Or wear the ring” he tilted his head with a smile