When Push Comes To Shove - An FF . Chapter 36 posted : page 44 - Page 29

CHAPTER 31 - Happy Birthday, Mom

Meanwhile at Sinha House,

"Mom, I forgot to thank you for helping me with the case . I would have been totally lost if not for your clue"
Swadheenta said , following Suhasini into the kitchen. She remembered Adarsh's instructions about not leaving her alone.

"It is me who should thank you. I needed you to fight this case, and be in a position to win it. I just provided you the clues , it was upon you to work on them. I must say that you have done a brilliant job... You may feel that I have used you. I cannot deny that, but this was the most sureshot way to save Manohar. I am sorry to have hurt your feelings, and I won't complain if you don't forgive me. If I were in your place, I too would not."
Suhasini said, looking remorseful.

"But Mom, how did you discover this long forgotten obscure case ?"
Swadheenta thought of learning some tricks and at the same time keep her occupied

"I will tell you, but can I get freshened up before that ? Your room is that way, please get changed and come back"
Suhasini said , pointing towards Swadheenta's room

Swadheenta realised that she had followed Suhasini into her room while talking and now her mother in law was standing impatiently with a towel in her hand , waiting for her to leave.
She bit her tongue in embarassment and left for her room

After she came back Suhasini asked her to sit down on the bed and then she said,
"It was Dr. Nair who told me that Mr Chaudhry had asked for a paternity test report. It was about four years back. Dr. Nair is an old client and he knew about Manohar's closeness with the minister. So he wanted to ask me if he was going to get into any trouble because of it. I assured him but procured all the information that I could regarding the reports. It is important to keep a tab on people you work with. Especially when they are not exactly the right kind of people. From there I came to know that Avinash Chaudhry's reports were being matched with that of a kid. The age of the child could not be known though. Now, I had already heard from Manohar about the problems with Avinash's marriage. I then used my sources in London. It was from one of Kavita's friends that I got to know about her infertility problem. After a few days, I read this news on the internet. Then sent for some information on Reena's family. Rest of it you can yourself guess."

Swadheenta - "So you knew about it long back, but did not help them to get their child back. You kept it as a secret weapon to be used when the time comes"

Suhasini, smiling sadly - "Yes, I am guilty of that. I do fight for justice but only when the victim approaches me with her grievance. I do not take up arms on behalf of the wronged ones on my own. Else I would have been running an ngo and not a successful law firm. I am not defending myself, but ambitions demand compromises. Here too Roshan and Reena never approached me. So I let it be. When the time came I used it for my benefit. I know such manipulations cannot take you very far, but I had to save your Dad somehow. Adarsh is going to hate me even more after knowing this, isn't it? Anyways, is he coming home or has he already decided not to ever cross the threshold of this house ?"

"I think he must be busy in some office work. Shall I get you a cup of green tea ? You are looking very tired"
Swadheenta avoided her question

"Yes, I am having a bad headache, but you don't have to take the trouble. I shall make it by myself"
Saying this she got up and walked towards the door

Swadheenta too followed her

"What is the matter with you today ?"
Suhasini asked her as they were having tea

Swadheenta spilled some tea startled by this query
"Why Mom ?"

"Ever since I came home, you have been following me like a shadow. And now you spilled your tea as well"
Suhasini frowned

"It's nothing Mom. how is your headache now ? Shall I massage your head ?"
Swadheenta fumbled

"No , but you can do me another favour."
Suhasini said

Swadheenta looked at her questioningly.

"Please stop hovering around my head like a helicopter. I think that can provide me quite a bit of relief."
Suhasini pleaded.

"Oh..sure Mom"
Saying this Swadheenta took the empty tea cups and left.She was relieved that Mom still retained her sense of humour.

Suhasini then went to her bed and lay herself down. Sleep would be elusive but she could do with some rest.

"Mom"

A gentle call awakened her. May be she had taken the sleeping pills instead of the ones for headache. Nowadays she had started making many such mistakes. It was already dark outside and the room was half lit by the light coming from the lamp posts along their driveway. She recognised the voice. It was Adarsh's. She sat up on her bed and looked towards the door. A figure was approaching her. Yes, it was Adarsh. But why would he come here ? Was she hallucinating again ?

As he came and sat down on the bed infront of her , Suhasini extended her hand to touch him and see if he was real. The moment her fingers touched his hair, she pulled them back. It was indeed Adarsh. She was afraid she might hurt him even by her touch. Has he come to blast her again ? Has Swadheenta told him already ? But he did not seem angry. She then asked him hesitantly,

"Do you need anything ? Manohar is not at home"

"I know, can't I come to you ?"
Adarsh asked

"I thought you didn't want to have anything to do with me. I know that you have decided to go away from this house. Have you already applied for a transfer ? Your Dad is very angry with me and rightly so. I am responsible for breaking up this family...Adarsh, your father cannot live without you. Is it possible that you postpone your plan? You know he has not been keeping well."
Suhasini was genuinely worried for Manohar. She knew he had gone to Shimla because the empty Sinha House was becoming intolerable for him.

"What about you? Can you live without me?
Adarsh asked

Suhasini had asked the same question to herself hundreds of times, but did not dare to think of the answer,
"I don't know. I will try to. You are not just my son. We used to be best friends also, but I broke your trust. I have let you down. I have lost the right to ask anything from you. Believe me, I am not trying to force you or manipulate you this time. It's a sincere request. If you could consider it for your Dad's sake. Just for a few days, till he recovers."
She looked anticipatingly at him.

Adarsh looked away, he was finding it difficult to speak.

Suhasini took it as his reluctance. She then said apologetically,
"If you don't want to stay, it's fine. I will make Manohar understand. We both need to pay the price for our wrongdoings. Don't worry, your happiness matters the most to us. I won't bother you..."
She stopped midway through her sentence when Adarsh suddenly did something she had never expected. He hugged her and whispered in her ears ,

"Happy Birthday Mom"

Suhasini was too shocked to react. Suddenly she felt a wet sensation on her shoulder.

Adarsh was crying.

Note: I am going out of station so will not be able to update for a week. Please bear with me. Till then enjoy this chapter and do chip in your comments.😳

Thanks for the update dear will miss ur update a lot please come back soon and do update soon

👏 helicopter 😆
👏 suhasini-Swadheenta convo.
And then Adarsh-suhasini convo was emotional 😭 .🤗

Awww.. how cute is that? Brilliant!

Originally posted by: Aimsha

Thanks for the update dear will miss ur update a lot please come back soon and do update soon

You r welcum. Will post an update asap

Originally posted by: MysticRiver

well written..

Thanks. Glad you liked it

Originally posted by: Sana_Jannat

👏 helicopter 😆
👏 suhasini-Swadheenta convo.
And then Adarsh-suhasini convo was emotional 😭 .🤗

Thanks .
Am happy you liked it. Worked on this chapter for a long time

Originally posted by: Soapoperasrfun

Awww.. how cute is that? Brilliant!

So happy that you enjoyed it.I love the Mom and Son bond.

CHAPTER 32 - Off Balance

Suhasini was taken aback by Adarsh's reaction. She pulled away from him and was about to ask what happened when the door opened and Swadheenta entered with a cake. Behind her the entire family was there. Manohar , Jaidev, Jaya , Simmi and the baby.

"Happy Birthday to you"
Everyone sang in chorus

Then Simmi came forward and put the baby in her lap and said,
"Only you can make this brat behave. She has turned me mad within a week"

Jaidev went and sat beside her,
"Don't you know that you are the best Mom in the universe? How could you even think that we will ever leave you? We may get angry with you for a while, but we will never stop loving you Mom."

Suhasini looked around at their faces. She lifted the baby in her arms and gave her back to Simmi. And before anyone could understand what was happening, she rushed to the bathroom and locked the door from inside.

Everyone looked at each other, totally clueless. Manohar went near the bathroom door and knocked,
"Suhasini, is everything alright ?"

"Manohar, please ask them to leave"
Her quivering voice was heard from inside

"I think you all should leave now. Maybe this surprise was too much for her to handle"
Manohar instructed his children

"I think you are right Dad. We will wait downstairs. You please take care of her"
Jaidev said and left with the others.

After coming out Adarsh excused himself and hurriedly went towards his room. Swadheenta also followed him.

When they were gone Manohar locked the doors from inside and went to his wife. She opened the bathroom door and came out. The tormented expression on her face was enough to give him an idea of the storm raging inside her. Why had he not seen it earlier ? Why was she alone even when he was there? The kids , they had the right to be angry. But why was he punishing her? He should have known better. He knew that she not only held him responsible for Abhay's death but herself too. He knew she was burning in that guilt, but he had never imagined the scars would run so deep. The growing distance from the rest of the children had pushed her deeper into the pit.

"Suhasini..."

She looked up at him. It seemed as if she was struggling to hold herself together. She held his hand and said,

"I am sorry Manohar. I know I should not have reacted that way. I don't know what had come upon me. It must be Swadheenta who convinced you all to come here. This girl is impossible. What was the need? I didn't even remember it was my birthday. And now I have once again ruined everything."
She was disappointed with herself

Manohar could not take it anymore. He held her hands between his and said,
"No, you have not ruined anything. The children are all fine. But you could have atleast told me. You have always supported me in whatever I did , whether it was right or wrong. Then why are you so reluctant to ask for my support? Why didn't you tell me what you were going through? You know how much you mean to me. If anything happens to you I will..."

"How do you know it ?"
Suhasini asked

"Swadheenta called me this morning and described how you were blabbering to yourself. And then when we came here , Adarsh told that you had sought the help of a psychiatrist."

Before he could even finish, she sat down on the bed and covered her face with her hands. She then uttered anxiously,
"Oh no , this can't be true!"

"What happened Adarsh ? Why did you leave all of a sudden ?
Swadheenta asked him gently.

"You know Swadheenta, the night before Mom confessed before the family, I went to have a talk with her. Not exactly a talk, but to pull her up for her crimes. I had lost all my patience and spewed all the venom at her, not realizing that my words were pushing her closer to the edge."

"Don't blame yourself. You had no idea that she was already drowning in her own guilt. You just said what you felt."
Swadheenta gave him a gentle shoulder squeeze

"But I should have known. She is my mother. I had always been the first one to understand her state of mind. How did I miss it this time?"
Adarsh was inconsolable.

"Relax Adarsh. Your words might have hurt her but they also helped her come clean with everyone. The reason she owned up the next morning itself is because she did not want to let you down once again."
Swadheenta tried to calm him down. Then she added,
"Now it is more important to help her come out of this condition. We should arrange for her therapy"

"Mom was not even willing to meet the psychiatrist in person. I don't think she will agree to therapy"
Adarsh pointed out

"But we can't let her suffer any longer. We have to convince her for treatment"
Swadheenta reasoned

Adarsh nodded. He wondered how would that be possible though.

That night at the dinner table,
Suhasini had not wanted to come down but had to give in to Manohar's repeated requests. She did not want to face her children. Their strong and proud mother was now a broken woman on the verge of insanity. As she sat down on her chair , her eyes tried to gauge everyone's expressions. Were they feeling pity for her? Were they disappointed with her? Were they considering her a liability now ?
Everyone greeted her with a smile. Their eyes showed nothing other than concern.

"Mom, I have a good news to share with all of you. Another little one is coming in this family to get on your nerves. Yes, Jaya and me are going to have a baby"
Jaidev announced

Everyone congratulated the couple. Suhasini was happy for them but she could not feel as excited as she did when Simmi's pregnancy was announced.
"Congratulations ..take good care of yourself"
She said hesitantly.

"Mom, now you will have to take care of her. From next month I am going have a very busy schedule and I won't be able to look after her."
Jaidev said to his mother

"But you will have to get well before that. I shall ask Doctor Khare to ..."
Adarsh was stopped midway by Suhasini

"Adarsh enough. I know what I have to do. I have not yet lost it completely. So please don't worry about my treatment. One more thing, you don't need to be nice to me just because I am sick. I know you all cannot forgive me for what I have done to you and I will learn to live with that. Don't trouble yourself with my problems."
Saying this she got up and left

"But Mom..."
Adarsh was about to go behind her

"Adarsh, leave it there. Give her some time"
Manohar stopped his son.

"Why are you pushing everyone away? They are seriously concerned for you. Please Suhasini, let them help you, let them do their duty towards their mother."
Manohar urged his wife who was sitting quietly in the balcony.

Suhasini did not answer. She did not feel like talking to anyone. She was still trying to understand what exactly she felt about these sudden turn of events. They have completely thrown her off balance and she was grappling to find hard ground.

Manohar waited for some time for her answer and then held her hand and said,
"Suhasini, I had a request to make"

She turned to look at him questioningly.

Manohar continued
"I don't know what you are planning to tell the inquiry committee but please don't do anything that will in any way prove harmful to you. I can't see you suffer any more"

Suhasini smiled and patted his hand with her other hand
"I will try my best. I promise"

Thanks for the update dear it was a nice update really enjoyed it will wait for the update dear eagerly