Chapter 2

Part #2

Absolutely, under no circumstances would she participate in the fast.

Shaurya had been firm in his straight and to the point proclamation. And of course the contrary, persistent - the infuriating woman he had married had chosen to completely disregard the commonsense edict, not a day later.  Further to make matters worse, now with only 72 hours remaining to bring her to his way of thinking: the correct way, Mehek had had the gall to move their disagreement to the medium that had been a retreat for the two of them: the one place where from the start, they had always been their honest selves from the very beginning; where they could share their truths without fear of ridicule. It was tantamount to sacrilege as far as he was concerned.  Now, that he had initially sent the online article detailing the dangers of fasting while pregnant via FB messenger was not the point. In fact, had Mehek not been so stubborn, she should have viewed the link simply as an expression of the level of his concern. And yes, also of his love, for both her and their unborn child. She wasn't unintelligent; therefore she should have been able to understand his intent. Neither was she a child that he should have to spell things out for, and  reiterate that things were different now. Instead, her reply, at last sent at the end of his work day:  a day that he had spent restless as he distractedly waited for her response, had been unacceptable.  That she would choose to forward a link to an article relaying advices for the pregnant wife who wished to fast for Karva Chauth was neither the reply he had needed, but also in his view had belittled his wisdom in understanding what was best for her.

 

His eyes narrowed, as he re-read the tome his wife had decided would circumvent his well-meaning advice. "Fine," Shaurya muttered, unaware how fierce he looked when he spoke from the back of the car. 

 

In the driver's seat, the chauffer shuddered. He had happened to look up and in the rearview mirror at the precise moment Shaurya Sir had spoken, and had caught the expression on his employer's face. He had seen it before: the sneer that those who knew the man, understood did not bode well for whoever had triggered the response.   Shaurya Sir was steeling himself for a major confrontation, and heaven help his opponent or anyone else who may get in his way. They would definitely need a sure battle plan if they intended to oppose the incensed young man.

 

*********

 "Mother you need to talk some sense into..."

"Namaste, beta, how are you?"

 

Chastened by his mother's subtle admonition, Shaurya stopped in his tracks to greet his parent with the respect she deserved.

 

Smiling patiently she waited for her son to calmly speak of the concerns he knew him to have.

 

"She cannot fast: I will not allow it." Shaurya brusquely announced.  He frowned when his mother merely turned away from him to attend to a pan on the range top.

 

Away from his view, she smiled, as she stirred the gravy. "Beta, women: wives and mothers have done this for ages. It is tradition and believe it or not there are accommodations made for such situations."

 

This was not the response he expected or wanted from the one he had anticipated to ally with him in this matter.  And anyway, who cared what women had done in the past; none of them had been his, nor had any of these nameless females been carrying his child, Shaurya thought.

 

"She is your bahu, Mother and carrying your first grandchild: the heir of this family. To even contemplate such tomfoolery ..."

"Haan beta, but you have to realize that she is also a wife, one who has seen the evidences of her husband's delicate constitution with her own eyes. How can you expect her not to want to succor the welfare of her husband: the father of her child, no less?"

 

 It was a low blow to bring up his fainting spell, and evidence that he would find no support here. Thik hai, if the women of the house wanted to play hard-ball then so would he. He would just call the doctor to dispel the lunacy wrought by the upcoming festival.

 

"I'm afraid I am with your mother on this one, Shaurya beta...and frankly you should be grateful that your wife wishes to fast for the day. In fact, you should encourage it...one can just imagine the size she will grow to in the coming months. And it is not as if she cannot afford to miss a meal or two"

 

Shaurya rotated to glare at his aunt, who with her usual wine glass, had entered at the kitchen.

 

"Congratulations Beta, you have done well by the family. And far sooner than I expected you, especially since my new niece doesn't exactly meet the standards of our class. I honestly thought it would take you longer to warm up to the task," Svetlana slurred, clearly under the influence of the intoxicants she had been imbibing. "Bhabhi you have done well in the selection of the family broodmare, but without doubt this particular one derives from "hearty" stock," she continued derisively.  "Listen to your mother beta, a fast will hardly affect your wife, in fact you should insist on it. Aacha perhaps even a schedule throughout her pregnancy would benefit... "

 

Svetlana stopped when Shaurya advanced on her, fire in his eyes. But then he suddenly stopped. She rotated to follow the direction of the angry man's new focus.

 

Shaurya watched as Mehek backed out of the room she had entered; the abject pain unmistakable in her doe eyes. In reaction, he closed his own: he would surely kill his Aunt today.

 

********* 

When Shaurya entered their bedroom, Mehek was standing at her vanity mirror; lost in her reflection as she studied her profile for any change as a result of the new life developing deep within her. At least that's what he hoped for, and not that she was dwelling on mami ji's insult. He would not be dissuaded  a second time in dealing with his aunt, should  Mehek be truly distressed.   

 

"Mom asked me to bring this to you; that it would hold you over until dinner is ready."

 

Mehek looked up and caught Shaurya's reflection in the mirror and nodded. She expected that this mission had been assigned to him, more or less just to get him away from Mami ji.  Of all days, when she knew Shaurya was bound to already be upset by her determination to fast, Svetlana Aunty's hurtful comments would surely be met with Shaurya's anger, which by right Mehek deserved as she had caused it with her unrelenting stance. Honestly Mami ji's words, while unkind were merely indicative of the unhappiness in the older woman's life. Needless to say, Mehek would prefer not to be the cause of any further discord in the already dysfunctional household. After all they were her family now.

 

He motioned her to sit on the nearby settee, and then brought over the small tray holding the snack and the glass of milk and took a seat beside her. When she reached for the glass he held out, he retained his grip on it, compelling her to look at him. When she raised her head, Shaurya searched her eyes for the pain he had seen beforehand.  It was easily recognizable; after all he had been the cause of it himself many times in the past, but now it was intolerable to him.

"Mami Ji had no right ...she is..."

 

Mehek shook her head slightly and smiled tenderly at her husband.

" Nahi Shaurya," she implored,  refusing to let him debase his relative.  "Svetlana Auntie is troubled; we mustn't take her words to heart..."

"Troubled: nahi Mehek, the fact is that she's a bit.."

 

"Shaurya the baby is hungry." Mehek complained.

She saw his eyes immediately lose their caustic mien; the cutting expression replaced by the gentleness that had won her over months ago, when she had finally had begun to understand the real man behind the enigma that was Shaurya Khanna.

 

He watched Mehek gulp down the contents of the glass, and then after taking the vessel from her, selected one of the tea sandwiches that his mother had readied for her, holding it aloft so that she could partake of it directly from his hand. His breath caught in his throat when she held on to his wrist and closed her eyes as she took a bite of the morsel. She sighed in contentment as she chewed, and then smiled when she saw him waiting with the remaining half. They continued in this manner until she had finished the contents of the plate. All the while he questioned her about her day, listening as she detailed how, working from home, she had reviewed a couple of new menus for the upcoming show schedule.

"Did you rest," he queried now understanding the reason behind her constant lethargy of late.

"Haan Shaurya."

"And your eating..."

She sought to placate him, figuring that now that he was aware of her condition; that this was to be a daily interrogation for the foreseeable future. She detailed it all from breakfast through to the nibbles he had just fed her. "And nahi Shaurya: nothing heavy or too oily at all."

 

He smiled, and took the opportunity to check the time. "Dinner will be ready in about an hour or so, Mom said. Will you be okay until then, Mehek,"  he asked gently.

"Haan; my in-between snacks are undoubtedly coming in handy, abating the worst of my hunger, and maintaining my sugar levels. The doctor says that it's the best to do this and that it will help alleviate or avoid a lot of the ill effects one can suffer during pregnancy:  acidity, and fainting especially. I will do everything to keep our child happy and safe, Shaurya."

 

"Aacha, Sweetheart?" he queried reaching for her, lovingly caressing her cheek.  He smiled when she nodded, serious in her intentions. "Then love our baby more than you do his father for just one day...please Mehek."

 

"Oh Shaurya, that's not fair..."

"Nahi Mehek," he countered sternly, his temper and voice abruptly rising again with her persistent obstinacy, "The unfair thing is for you to expect me to be okay with the woman I love risking both her and our child's health for something so pointless. You're not leaving me any choice but do what I have to do now."

 

Mehek closed her eyes to hide the influx of emotions that struck her. Finally he had said the words; but how...only her khadoos Shaurya would roar his love for his woman, and If not for the fact that she had finally received the affirmation from the outrageous man who had captured her heart, she would have understood what else he was referring to.

 

"You really love me, Shaurya," she asked tearfully.

 

" What...JI, of course I do and that's why..."

"Are you sure Shaurya? I mean this isn't just some excuse to get me to change my..."

 

He pulled her to him , pressing her close to him, and lowered his head to hers. Gently, he gave his answer with his kiss, savoring when her trembling mouth opened under the sweetest of assaults. He knew the affect his kisses had on her, and was not above using them to give him the edge he needed now.

 

When he raised his head, the starry-eyed condition he left her in had her in a better state to hear him out without talking.

 

"I adore you Mehek. You're my love; my partner; my match in all ways. We are equals in this relationship. What is yours is mine: your joy is my joy, your challenge: my challenge, and if it must be, any burden should be mine too. If a fast is required then one shall be done.  However, Mrs. Mehek Khanna, if you can insist on fasting for the very imperfect man you have married, that I reserve the right to do the same for the goddess who has graced my life."

 

Overwhelmed by his gesture, Mehek bit her lip, before the sob building up in her escaped, but she shook her head.

"It doesn't work that way, Shaurya," she whimpered.

 

 He sighed. "Aacha, we will visit the doctor, and only if she agrees, then can you do a modified fast."

 

 He placed a finger to her lips to halt any further response. God she was stubborn.

 

But, Mrs. Mehek Khanna for this year at least: the true Karva Chauth fast is my yoke to bear."

 Part#3

[NOCOPY]