Chapter 107

The Raw/Rao wounds

“Why didn’t u tell our parents?” Apurva panicked

“Because I know they might have a different opinion”

“You already did this once Atty”

“I know that”

“Pa hasn’t forgiven you exactly u know”

“I know that”

“Do u like her that much?”

“I wouldn’t be doing it just to spite him would I?”

“This is big… aren’t u afraid?” she panicked

“A lil bit”

“What did Ma say?”

“Ive just given her a hint”

“Do u want ME to talk to her?” shrilly

“Umm.. wud u?

“You are MAD…. Mihir is more brave”

“Will he?”

I don’t know… I was planning to visit you so I could see the lil guy, now Ma will think I was planning this”

“That’s fine, come one over I will be moving ina  week u can tell her u helped me move”

“This is bad Atty… I don’t want to see Pa’s face”

“I cannot forever live in fear”

“But u know what they feel about the whole thing, they accepted the kid because they somewhat knew you wouldn’t be spending your life with the girl” Apurva was blunt

“You think they would have excommunicated me otherwise?”

“I don’t know… they both talk like “Oh Jaidrith is our blood, we have to protect him”

“I cannot lie to them”

“WHEN did u fall for her?”

“Umm.. I don’t know… I went looking for her I told u”

“Dad is not going to buy this sentimental fuzz”

“I don’t want him to, I like her, she is a fantastic mother, she makes me laugh, she doesn’t expect a dime from me, she is self respecting and shy and I continue to be drawn to her”

“Attyyy”

“It’s the truth”

“I don’t want to be in the room when u tell them”

“U don’t have to be” he said calmly

“You are something else… we were just beginning to settle down as a family, u spring this on them”

“I am not doing this to irritate them, I am tired of being alone”

“Amma was beginning to pass ur detail on to her Vedic Samaja friends”

“I cant marry a stranger”

“Atty… u know what Pa will say? “U can have a child with a stranger but not marry her?”

“That’s not the point”

“I am so afraid for u”

“I can tell her not to start sending my proposal out”

“That wont stop her

“Pa never said I have to marry who she finds for me”

“But they also don’t want u to marry the mother of ur child”

“U have to realize it is not a sperm donation I spent a night with her”

Apurva cringed

They did not rib each other or crack off color jokes, they were a bit formal, even though they were siblings

“I can come by and be with you”

He felt a bit emotional

“Will u do that?”

“You know Pa’s moods”

“I do”

“I think he should have let us date and let us sow our wild oats” Apurva was a bit irritated

“We have been there a million times”

“I feel if he hadn’t stifled u so much u would have had Jaidrith like son after marrying someone of their choice”

“He is not going to change”

“But you cannot subject Mrunalini to that behavior of his…. He is way to conservative and rigid Atty”

“She doesn’t have to talk to him”

“If they let you marry her, they will visit u no?”

“Hmm”

“Think through this please” she begged when she suspected he never thought of that

“I have… I have…. Calm down” he was a bit agitated

“Does she know they might move in with you when they retire? Does she know they expect u to have two more kids in case I am unable to have any?” Apurva sounded a bit heart broken

“I haven’t said anything about more kids… she does know she will see them more”

“I want you to be happy Athu” “Our parents should not forever be threatening us in real and in spirit”

“Thanks”

“It was hard enough to grow up with no freedom, at 33, you should be able to live with who you want, make ur mistakes and move on and heal and such”

“I agree”

“You have a freaking MBA from Wharton, you are an SVP and here we are plotting and conspiring how to tell our parents”

“Don’t get worked up” he soothed her

“I am not… I want you to be happy”

“I will be…” he said with conviction

“She is pretty cute” she chuckled

“I agree” he smiled

“She doesn’t… I mean does she even look at you? She seems so obsessed with Jaidrith” she laughed

“I am working on weaning her” he laughed

“How did she react?”

“She broke down and cried” he said somberly

“WHY?”

“She umm.. she… can u keep a secret?”

“For sure” 

“Her parents seem like a piece o work”

“HOW?”

He explained quickly

“That’s terrible!!!!”

“Hmm… she has trust issues”

“This is making everything harder, I am more anxious and stressed right now” she admitted

“Don’t be… she has no control over her parents behavior”

“You cant say that to PAAA… are you mad?”

“I cannot let her take ownership either for Ghatges”

“You do LOVE HER” Apurva was moved

“Ive been with her 2 or 3 nights… umm.. when she had the flu” “She struggles with being alone”

“Atttyyyy what are u saying?” “is she traumatized?”

“Umm.. she is fine… but she carries shame and guilt”

“I hope Pa is kind to her”

“I do too”

Apurva hung up the call and texted her husband Mihir

“I feel terrible for Atty, I don’t know how Pa is going to accept Mrunalini. I feel so helpless and protective. I sometimes hate my parents Mihir”