FF: New York times Thread 5 Completed 10/03 - Page 11

it was so much fun ! waiting for the guillotine to fall on rishab's neck 😆

Originally posted by: pushpi

Tum mujhe reply dene me itni kanjoos kyu ho :-/

😛

Where is the question for me to respond?


But sure thing, I'm going on a break after I finish NY times...don't worry.

Grr to be continued...
I am pretty P off after my both thread of being blocked because I opened a topic about GC diet grrr
But this made my day.
Thank you thank you and big thank you
You better update soon now
:D
Xxx

Originally posted by: FIRESafiReFIRE

Grr to be continued...
I am pretty P off after my both thread of being blocked because I opened a topic about GC diet grrr
But this made my day.
Thank you thank you and big thank you
You better update soon now
:D
Xxx

Hey Fire Feel better.

Don't thank me...I'm writing to get the thoughts out of my head and only glad you consider it deserving to be read.

Will try and write something up soon (If you know me...You should know I don't commit 😛 anymore)

Hasini

Originally posted by: 6thElement

😛

Where is the question for me to respond?

Smart alec


But sure thing, I'm going on a break after I finish NY times...don't worry.

I just started reading ur FF...its really interesting so far...i cant wait to read more

I loved the updates! I'm all for Maaneet, but I can't wait to read more about R & N! Thanks for the updates!

Congrats for thread five!

Part 106: Revenge of the fallen Update 2

Maan got the door and saw Rishabh hesitant, ready to run back if he hadn't opened the door that very instant. He ushered him in and without a word went back to the living room where the family court was being held.

Given the indirect, yet direct attacks at his sister that morning, he only had to open his mouth to convince his wife to take the next flight, and she'd postponed the trip by a whole day. She appeared more keen and curious than he was to hear what Rishabh had to say. Besides, it was too important a family affair to miss out on the celebration. If anything, this was the first time in years their family would be whole and there was every necessity for her to be a part of it.

Rishabh walked toward the middle of the living room where everyone were scattered on the L shaped section, occupied with either a book, magazine or laptop. Their grim looks told him, he was up for a difficult talk of coaxing them into forgiving their secret act. To his surprise, all of them pretended as if he didn't exist - even Meera and Yash - and were quite determined to give him the cold shoulder. He felt the nerves in his shoulders knot into a tight bundle and he sighed taking in a deep breath.

Despite the agonizing silence that prevailed in the room, he was strangely grateful to fate, that he was facing her family now, rather than the last time when he'd done something of the grave sorts: their elopement. Persuading himself to think, it was far less intimidating than it seemed, he addressed the people in the room.

"Erhm" he cleared his throat, in hope to get their attention. No one moved, let alone look up.

Before he could attempt another time, Geet got up and disappeared into the hallway. In minutes, she was hauling Naini out, whose feet moved with such reluctance that it seemed she was dragging ankle weights. Once in the room, she left Naini by his side. Turning to seat next to Maan, she went back to the magazine she was flipping through.

"We...Um!" He sighed and his eyes closed. A moment passed and he took in a calming breath "Naini and I...We...I mean" Daadima looked up as he struggled with his words. He didn't know what came over him, but by some strange pull he threw his arms over Naini's shoulder and pulled her closer.

"Naini and I are a couple and we want to start afresh with your blessings" His shoulders slumped as if the bearing heaviness had just lifted off of him. Naini tilted her shoulders sideways and his hand fell of her, but as if he was drawing his strength from her, he grabbed the side of her waist and stapled her back to his body. Her eyes fell to the floor from embarrassment or guilt he didn't know.

Still no response. And the only person, who'd shown any interest at all in what he'd had to say, went back to turn on the television to not miss out on her soap re-run.

Had he kept his gaze at Daadima, he would caught the small smile she'd let out upon watching them behave just as same as they would have, had they been given a chance some 10 years ago: trying to hold onto each other as the two of them stood up against everyone with a blind confidence. She thought it was only fair to make them or rather him feel at ease, when he was making the most important speech of his life and thus she had sought to shift her focus onto the television.

"And we apologize for hurting you all into thinking that we were separated when it wasn't necessary" He went on, decidedly to keep speaking until he was going to get a response from anyone. After all he owed them an explanation for everything and it had been long overdue.

"I also want to apologize for taking Naini away from all of you for all these years...I did it.."

"No..." He heard her protest faintly and he went silent. Her hands knotted in her dupatta and not taking her eyes off of him she continued, her voice as solemn as she was taking her vows. "You are not the only one to be blamed Abhi...I came with you on my own will" He smiled at her and her words only reinforced they not just partners in crime. He waited to see if she had anything more to say and when she didn't speak for a while, he took the dais back from her.

"I was bold and impatient and...she was scared that you wouldn't let us be together...And we took the only easy path we thought we had..." He paused again, for now came the difficult part "We are sorry Daadima and we didn't think our decision will change all our lives forever"

Geet's hand reached out to Daadima and rubbed her arms. Naini threw herself on the floor and tightly held her Daadima's frail fingers. Her face was agonized that she'd let those fingers go at some time and tears poured uninhibited. However her lips didn't move to utter anything as the words lay tight in her throat, closing her airway as moments passed, waiting for Daadima to say something...anything.

"Is that all you two are going to apologize for?" She asked, controlling her own emotions, even as the tears stung her eyes. The question puzzled everyone in the room, and they all cast their gazes at her.

"Then what about the time you stole 1000 rupees and lied to me about some school excursion, when there was none and you were gone for two whole days" She strained to keep her voice stern even as it threatened to crack. When nothing helped, she began to twist Naini's ear and her bitterly sobbing granddaughter let out a whining yelp. Naini felt as if the mere chiding was a sign of forgiveness, which by no means was in proportion to the hurt she'd given her elder and yet she couldn't help welcome the catharsis the simple intimate gesture brought in her.

"Yes...that too" She said, nodding back at her Daadima. Soon she found Rishabh kneeling by her side and Daadima's focus shifted to him.

"And you for..." Daadima rolled her eyes then "I don't know how many times you jumped the back wall and sneaked into the mansion" In no time he gave out a sharp cry as Daadima's other hand was turning his ear and everyone began laughing.

"That and for the times I also ate up your paratha's daadima whenever I got hungry in the night" He said crackling with an aching laugh as the pain continued to shoot from his ears. "Ouch! Daadima"

"You two were always thick as thieves..." She stopped fondly punishing them and placed her hands on their heads "And keep this Daadi happy by staying that way forever"

Her hands slipped down to the sides of their faces and hugged them as relief washed over the elder woman.

Just then Maan tipped his head sideways and caught Geet's attention, silently mouthing her to join him. He stood up and shot to the kitchen with Geet following him closely. Yash and Meera's gaze flew around noticing the other couple's absence only to sight Maan and Geet before rounding the hallway corner and Maan managed to pull them into the kitchen as well. Meera's forehead puckered and Maan instantly jumped to answer her question "Hush!" He said in a whisper "They still haven't told us she is pregnant. I hope they don't plan to keep that a secret any longer".

Meera's face lit up with a disbelieving joy and her hands rushed to quiet her bubbling laugh. Yash joined in with a mix of surprise and excitement at the splendid news. It had only been the previous evening that they were knocked off their feet by getting to know of Naini and Rishabh's games. And if that hadn't done it, Maan's words had certainly blown them away, dredging them with awe of their shrewd ability to maintain a clandestine affair right under their noses.

They scattered once they heard shuffling noises in the adjacent room.

Within no time, Naini and Rishabh had come seeking the others along with Daadima in the close. Maan appeared diligent helping Geet dry the dishes, while Meera poured a glass of juice and handed it to Yash.

"We are all good now?" Rishabh asked, unsure why the two couples had moved out without so much as a smile. It wasn't funny anymore to Rishabh and Naini when they all seemed to be going at whatever they were doing as if they were invisible. He waited for them to respond.

"Hey common guys! I apologized, even Naini did..." His threw his hands down with a sliver of frustration.

Geet ran the towel down on the plate Maan handed her and spoke in an air of cold indifference.

"Daadima, are we absolutely sure they have come clean of every tiny thing..." She said, putting an extra stress on the word 'tiny'.

That had given all the hint the guilty couple needed and they looked at each other with a knowing smile.

"All right!...All right!" she said pressing the flat of her palms to her cheeks like she was awaiting the piercing of icy taunts to hit her in that moment of stillness. "I'm pregnant too" She croaked, as the anticipation of her family, that had felt as tangible as it ever could be, dissolve away.

Geet abandoned the dishes and flung herself upon Naini for a hug. Hoots of cheer and laughter erupted with Rishabh hugging Daadima first and then at the same time being dragged into another one by Meera and Yash. Geet let Naini go and she fell into a tight hug with Daadima. Pulling herself away after minutes passed and the crowd had quieted, she felt a deep pull inside her as Daadima didn't let go of her cheek. The feeling tugged on her harder as she realized the person she loved an equal share as Daadima hadn't hugged her yet, let alone utter a sound.

She swiveled around and saw him leaning on the far counter, his palms bracing the edges by his sides. Almost placid, he seemed like he'd waited too long for the moment that was to follow. She hurried, although controlling her pace at a few times like knowing she might mess up the timing of it all if she hastened any less carefully. She stopped just in front of him and awaited, her eyes glimmering with rapture and restlessness. His arm went over her shoulder and drew her into a brotherly bear hug. She broke down in a way she'd never had.

It didn't surprise Geet, but it was indeed a rare sight seeing Maan holding his sister without any trace of guardedness. His lips were set in a line, with the ends tipping up into a smile and an impression that he was living all lost time in that sibling embrace in a naked vulnerability he seldom let anyone see. It had her smiling as she watched them hoping one day he would let the bulwark fall with her too.

Rishabh moved closer and rubbed her shoulders even as she continued to remain in her brother's hold. She turned into her husband's arms while she still had tears streaming down her eyes.

"Oh! baby" He took her in an embrace "Did I tell you?...You look terrible when you cry" She sniveled and whacked him gently.

Just like that everything in their family had fallen in place, Naini thought. It was broken and whole in a way dysfunctional families healed. This was all she'd wanted; not a fancy ceremonial wedding with a loud affair of bustling people she wouldn't identify with. Though she regretted not having a small formal wedding - not having her Abhi propose marriage to her, not even going through a few rituals to have the black beads symbolizing their union to others - she pushed herself to believe she'd only wanted her family's acceptance before they could start living as a couple once again for everyone to see. She smiled and resigned the yearning as a secret of her heart. What were women, if not a living mummy of secrets and untold desires...

She thanked the heavens, the lords of every particle of the universe and the nascent beginnings that was growing inside her - as if its mere presence had made it all possible - to be able to carry the togetherness she felt in her...forever; the revenge of the fallen turning out to be as anticlimactic as ever.

THANK YOU for such lovely comments. And do let me know if Naini and Rishabh got the closure in the story. Keep writing to me...