Chapter 36

Chapter 35

 

Naomi looked up from her laptop at Daadi who once again had gone to the window to look for any sign of KT and Rachna's return. She observed the older woman sighing, as she retraced her steps back to the living room, sitting back on the sofa she had vacated moments ago.  Naomi looked at her watch, and then put her laptop aside.

"Daadi, I know you are anxious, but it's not as if they are late in coming back. Plus they will have to collect Aryia from Aunt Shail before they come home anyway."

"I know you are right, beta; I just can't help but worry until they get back with news. I pray that everything is okay. "

Naomi reached over to hold Daadi's hands. "I'm sure everything I, we just have to be patient.  Why don't I make some tea for us while we are waiting?" She smiled when the older woman agreed and stood to head to the kitchen. Mid-way there she turned when she heard the front door open. Eagerly, both women  faced the entry, but it was only Rajeev.

"From your downturned face, Daadi I surmise that I'm not the one you wanted to see now," he remarked wryly. "I gather that Kabir and Rachna have not returned from the doctor yet?"

"No not yet," Daadi lamented.

"I'm sure they will be here soon, Daadi."

"Yes Beta, I know they will, but the wait is unbearable."

"I'm just about to make some tea, would you like a cup, Rajeev?"

Their eyes met and held. Here at least, he thought, was someone who was not disappointed at his arrival. He smiled.

"That would be good. I'll just freshen up, and then come down to join you ladies in the wait."

 

Kabir brought the car to a standstill and looked over in concern to his wife whose tears dampened her face. She had been this way since they had left the doctor's office.  He reached over to still the hand that had reached up to rub her eyes, and held it firmly in his strong grasp.  He shook his head, before raising her hand to tenderly kiss it. "Nay Rachna, please do not stop your tears.  A good cry is sometimes the best thing. Besides," he said smiling finally, "I know these to be the happiest of tears."  He leaned over and brought his forehead to rest on hers. "I am officially the happiest father to be in all of Banaras today, Rachna."

"So what were you two days ago when I told you?"

"Ah well two days ago I was unofficially the happiest father to be, but still apparently not a very smart one, as I should have just taken my wife's word as absolute fact."

"Are you conceding that your wife is that much smarter than you Kabir Tripathi?"

His deep laugh resonated in her ears. "Today my love, I concede all to you."

She pouted. "Just today KT; I would say that  I deserve at least your concession for at least the next seven and half months."

"Accha?" He smiled at her enthusiastic nodding. "We will see, but I warn you that at a minimum of the next six weeks there will be no compromise at all Rachna. I will not risk either your or our unborn child's well-being, and will brook no disagreement from you.  Your health is paramount before all else,  tik hai?"

 

As the discovery of this pregnancy had come much sooner than her first, Rachna was well aware of the potential issues and dangers associated with her first trimester, and was in total agreement with her husband.

Resting her hand tenderly on her abdomen; she thought of the new life growing inside her, baby number two. "Ji KT, I will be exceptionally careful."

"You have no choice my love. You and our children are my worId. I love you so much, Rachna Tripathi."

 

Daadi answered the telephone on the first ring. Quickly agreeing to the caller's request, she hurried off the phone, telling Rajeev and Naomi that Rachna's parents had asked them to come over, where the Garg family were celebrating the good news they had just received from their daughter and son-in-law. While Daadi went to collect her purse, Naomi carried their tea cups back into the kitchen. Bringing his own Rajeev followed.

"So that makes it official, Rachna will soon be the mother of two; amazing."

"It sure is; I'm so happy for them.  Rachna has become such a grown up." Naomi chuckled. "I'll have to give Gunjan some grief over the fact that she is falling behind our over achiever Rachna."

"And you don't consider yourself a participant in this race of sorts?"

"Not at all, but between you and me , I already have my plan ready  to catch up whenever I get to that stage."
"Accha?"

"Honestly I do."

"Do I even want to know Naomi?"

"Probably not."

She finished cleaning the dishes and prepared to leave. He stopped her by holding her hand.  "I think you would be a wonderful mother."

"I'm not sure, but thank you all the same."

Silence fell between the two, each lost in their own thoughts.

"I'm really sorry I won't be here for the last shoot."

It's a non-issue. You needn't apologize.

"How can you say that, Naomi?" He stared at her; in truth he couldn't understand how she could be so nonchalant about it all, while he was ruing the time that they would be losing before she left, due to his need to travel for a few days. That she wasn't as tortured by this fact was disconcerting as hell.

"It's unavoidable, Rajeev, so why waste effort in bemoaning the issue.  You had registered for that seminar well before I was even a factor, so really, what is the point in making it a larger issue than it need be. Besides the shoot will be here at home, so it's not like you will be missing anything exceptional."

It was scaring him, this about face of hers.  He couldn't pin point it exactly, but there was definitely something different. Since the last shoot, it seemed that she had affected an air of resignation.  He wouldn't exactly say she was pulling away from him; it was more of an acceptance, but of what he didn't understand.  All he knew was that he felt like he was losing her before they had made a proper commitment to each other. And worst of all that was that she was fine with this.

"Naomi, we really need to talk."

She smiled up at him, her eyes crinkling in mirth. "But I thought that is what we were doing all this time?"

 

"Come Betas, let's get a move on; we are wasting celebration time."  The pair turned on hearing Daadi's voice. Naomi's eyes widened; not only had she grabbed her purse, but she had changed into a more festive saree for the occasion. "Naomi please collect that box of sweets, and Rajeev beta, your arm please. I may be about to be a great-grandmother to three now, but I will still expect to be escorted by a handsome young man when one is available." She raised her eyebrows naughtily at Rajeev.  "That is, of course, unless Naomi takes exception to my request."

"Oh Daadi I'm sure that Rajeev no longer realizes that I even exist. You far surpass me in every way right now."

 

When they finally returned from next door, Kabir and Rajeev watched as Naomi, carrying Aryia, and Rachna left the room to go upstairs, presumably to the nursery to get the toddler settled, after a prolonged celebration with Rachna's family.  Kabir suspected that his wife would also take the opportunity to corner her friend for an overdue conversation on her love life, and he smiled. Poor Naomi she wouldn't be in a position to refuse her friend anything in deference to her condition, and knowing his wife she would use any advantage at hand to discover all she wished to.

"Rajeev, I hope you weren't holding any hopes of speaking to Naomi this evening. I can pretty much say for certain that this will be near to impossible now that she is with my wife."

"I'm not surprised. It seems that I'm destined not to have the opportunity to speak to her, now that I must."

The comment got Kabir's attention and he turned to other man. "I take the topic to one of some urgency, Rajeev?"

"Just a matter requiring clarification between the two of us, Kabir."

"I see. Anyway I am actually glad that we have the opportunity to speak. I'm hoping that you can assist with a matter."

"Tell me."

" First, I understand that you've made just about all of the furniture purchases for your flat and will be soon be ready to leave us and move in."

Rajeev nodded. "Yes, Naomi has coordinated the bulk of the furniture deliveries for one day next week, and after that it will be just a few odds and ends to take care of, but you are correct; my moving day will be here shortly."

"She has proven to be quite the organizer, has she?"

"And then some. I feel grateful that she didn't have her heart in it from the very beginning. I would have been long gone by now.  But I'm sure that you really aren't interested in the intricacies of me furnishing my flat, so what is it you need from me Kabir?"

"Peace of mind if you must know."  Letting the man see the depth of his concern, Kabir continued. "My family is all to me Rajeev. I will move heaven and earth to ensure their safety and security, especially now. There is truly no greater knowledge than that of knowing that your wife is carrying your child, and I must confess that this is making the prospect of travelling for the campaign launch a little more difficult than a few days ago. I'm not certain if your intention was to move out before, but I would be in your debt if you would consider staying here until my return. I realize her family is just next door..."

He was halted by Rajeev's hand on his shoulder.

"Say no more Kabir, I understand.  It's the very least that I can do after everything you have done on my behalf."

"Thank you."

"Besides, to a lesser degree you do realize that I will ask the same of you? It's definitely reassuring that you will be with Naomi, and I would ask that you just make sure she comes back home to me."

Kabir studied Rajeev intently wondering how he might have got wind of the situation. "You believe this to be a real concern?"

"It's more of a feeling than anything, but I can't shake the suspicion that something is wrong."

Rajeev looked squarely into Kabir's face.  That the other man said nothing only gave credence to the notion that Kabir knew exactly what he was speaking of.

 

"Naomi, you do realize that pregnancy tears can work miracles right? I'll not only have Rajeev confessing that he's in love with you, but I can probably wring out a marriage proposal out of him while we are at it, if you really want."

Cuddling a sleepy Aryia in her arms, Naomi giggled. "Ra you are so funny, but really it's not necessary. I think I can handle it without reinforcements. I think it best to hold those tears in reserve for when I'm in real trouble."

"What I don't understand though Naomi is this sense of calmness now. Two days ago you looked ready to fall apart and now..."

"The fault lies with KT, Rachna.  I really thought about what he had asked me, if it would make a difference if I didn't have any indication from Rajeev one way or another before we left, and I realize that it wouldn't. I would still be in love with him, and still have to convince my parents to allow me to come back. It would be wonderful to have some definitive answer, but I don't want to force him into declaring something he may not be feeling or not be ready to admit to either."

"Naomi, I truly don't know what to say."

She cast a sideways glance to her friend. "Just wish me luck Ra."

"Luck?"

"Yes, just because he isn't ready to tell me, doesn't mean that I'm not ready to tell him. Actually let's rephrase that, I'm scared to death to do it, but nothing is going to stop me from telling him that I am in love with him.  And I know exactly how I'm going to do it."

[NOCOPY]

crtkelly2016-05-25 01:03:13