A new friend
"And what happened later?"
We're in Megha's shop. "The day I got married Avi, I presented myself at home for dinner with a wedding ring and a husband in the arm. My parent was close to have a heart attack ... '
"What have they done?"
"My mother started to cry. Continued to sob, and repeating 'my baby, my baby' ... My father did not say a word for several minutes. He kept looking at me and Avi as if he had a ghost before. "
"I can not blame them ..."
"I do not blame them either. When I look back I wonder what the hell was I thinking? Marry quickly, without saying anything? Yet even after all this time, I would not change anything. The only thing I regret is that I prevented my mother to attend the wedding of her only daughter. "Megha smiled, but his eyes are sad. "I thought she was crying because I disappointed her, however she was crying because I was not able to confide in her. I've never felt so small and superficial as at that moment. "
I know Megha for less than two days, but it is easy to see how important it is for her the family. And from what little I've seen, I do not think is a feeling one way. A part of me is found to be a bit jealous of their union so deep, but another part, I'm grateful to have found such incredible people, and the fact that they want to take care of me . What would have become of me if it were not for them? Megha, uncle ... if it were not for Arjun? If it was not for him to take care of me that night that now seems so far away?
I look at Megha, and I notice that her eyes are bright. I get up, and try to do what she has already done so many times for me. I go close to her.
"Megha, on the wedding day ... it may be important, it is true, but in the end it's just one day. You are now here, live near your family. I think this is worth much more than an hour before the altar, right? "
Megha shakes my hand, and this time her smile reaches the eyes. "You know, Avi said something very similar to my mother to comfort her."
"Wait, let me get this. Your mother was crying, and Avinash, who did not know her until a few minutes before, consoled her? He was not afraid that they could send you away from that house? "
Megha responds with a smile. "Anu. You saw my husband. There is no woman in the world who can resist him, and my mother is no exception. And someone had to do something, I was still paralyzed under the gaze of my father ... "
"You, paralyzed? This I can not even imagine it. "
"I know! And you should have seen the look of my father when my mother emerged from the kitchen into the arms of Avi ... "
"You're kidding me, right?"
"No, absolutely not. Half an hour later my mother was already crazy about him. My father ... well, he's not exactly sensitive masculine appeal. He was worried for me, for my future, for the university. But for me it was never a sacrifice to give up studying. In high school I was always good, but it was more duty rather than aspiration. I have my own shop, a house to run, my husband who is happy. I do not need a degree in order to feel fulfilled. And then ... "Megha's voice, strong and serene, it turns into a whisper. She looks down, and leaves the sentence suspended for several seconds.
"And then?" I urge.
"And then, after seeing the conditions in which we found Arjun ... I knew that we could not leave him again. When we arrived, he was ... off. Empty. It seemed that there was nothing the boy I remembered, but I knew he was still down there. And I knew he needed me. I would never be able to go on, with or without Avi. "
As always, Megha talks about Arjun actually not explaining anything. I wonder if she needs to confide as much as I need to know. Because every time you talk about Arjun, I feel like a little girl of eight years in the midst of adults talking about strange things. I have no idea what you're talking about, but I want to know the absolute certainty. And for that I feel guilty, because inside me I know it's wrong, these are not things that concern me, but I can not help it.
"You know Megha, sometimes I would really like that you to tell me everything." Megha is about to speak, but before she can answer me, I interrupt her. "But I know that you have made a promise to Arjun, so I do not insist."
"Well, the solution is simple. You just have to convince Arjun to tell you everything. "
"Oh, you're right! How did I not think of that? "I wanted my answer was ironic, but the words leave a bad taste in the mouth. The look of Megha makes me realize that I'm not the only one to experience that feeling.
Before either I could say anything, our attention was drawn to the door that opens.
"Come on Anu. You'll start with the joys of business. "
Two hours later, Megha hangs on the door a card that says 'I'll be back' and takes me to a place not far .
"Anu, I am pleased to welcome you in the best-and only-cafe in the island. What would you like? "
"A vanilla latte with a little coffee with no head, thank you." I put a hand to my mouth, her eyes wide with amazement. I'm pretty sure that the expression of Megha is very similar to mine.
"Well, I see that you are very clear ..."
"I ... I have no idea ... I do not know where it came out. When you asked me what I wanted, I replied without thinking. "
"Hey, baby calm down. We do not know where you come from, but at least we know how you like your coffee. "
I smile so forced and Megha does not escape my mood changes. She walks over to me and shakes my hand. "Anu, do not do that. My father told you that you need time. I'm sure you'll remember everything, do not worry. "
"What kind of brain defect I have? Why should I remember the way I take my coffee and do not remember my name? " My eyes fill with tears of frustration. Megha is quick to take our order before following me out of the room.
The air is really cold, despite the heavy jacket. I shake hands around the glass of cardboard in an attempt to warm them, and I take a sip of my milk. The sweet aroma of vanilla fills my mouth, and I feel better immediately.
"At least I know I have good taste," I say to Megha trying to lighten the mood. She rushes to take in hand, smiling warmly.
"It'll be okay Anu, you have to trust." And I do not know why, but at that time it is easy to believe.
I cling to my jacket. "But it's always so cold in here?"
"We are in the middle of winter Anu it is normal that there is cold."
For the first time I have the realization of not having the slightest idea of ??what day it is.
"What day is it?"
"Twelve January. I'm sorry to tell you, but the cold will last for quite a while. '"
Twelve January. This means that ...
"I lost parties. Christmas, I lost everything. " I said.
"You have not lost, you have simply forgotten for a while. You'll see, you will remember those days. "
Part of me wants to be angry with Megha for her optimism without bases. Sometimes her way of saying "quiet, everything will be fine" rather than reassure get me nervous, because it seems like she's trying not to give it too much importance. Then I stop to think more than a second, and I feel like a horrible person, because Megha has done nothing but help me and make me feel important.
Maybe she really believe that everything will be fine. Maybe I should start to believe it too.
When we get to the store, a familiar figure waiting for us at the door. Before I had time to wonder why it is familiar, Megha goes to meet him, greeting him affectionately.
"Karthik, hello, what are you doing here?"
That's why it was familiar. Karthik. Agent Malhotra, in fact.
The obnoxious policeman yesterday.
"I went to your father ... well, ask him something, but he advised me to come here and see that he was right." Karthik's gaze goes from Megha to me, and I understand that's probably he wants to talk with me .
"You were looking for me? Did you find anything? "
Karthik shakes his head, and hope, came quickly, it disappears just as quickly. Before I could even feel disappointed, Megha calls my attention turned to Karthik.
"Do you know Anu?"
"Oh, you've discovered what her name? Why was not I informed, I have to add the information to file ... "
"No, we did not find anything, but she needed a name, and we opted for Anu. So, why do you know her? "
"Yesterday morning I was there at the station, I was involved in preparing the file. That's why I'm here, I would like to have a word with ... Anu. If it's good, of course, "he added, turning to me.
The idea is not too keen, but Megha responds to my place. "Oh, go ahead. A walk will be great for Anu. "
Megha disappears inside the store before I can replicate, leaving me alone with Karthik.
Perfect.
"So, what did you say?" Before we close the talk, the sooner I can get back in there.
Karthik starts walking. It's a way different from the one I rode yesterday with Uncle, and soon we find ourselves in a small garden. We find a free bench that gives to the street and sit.
"Well, I wanted to apologize for how I acted yesterday."
Uh?
"Karthik, I do not understand what you're talking about. You were just doing your job. "
Karthik holds in large sweatshirt. Without uniform and without the hair heavy with gelatin, he looks much younger. Even sitting, his height and his physical overlook me, making me feel tiny, but for some reason it did not put me in trouble, indeed. It is, in a certain way, reassuring.
"You're right, I was doing my job. And I did it wrong. I was really rude, be with you and with Ranveer uncle, and neither he nor you have done something to deserve it. It's just ... sometimes it's hard. "
I bring my knees close to my chest, wrapping my legs with my arms, and I turn to him.
"What do you mean difficult?"
"My father was a cop. He worked on this for forty years, and he has always been a point of reference for all. As a child I wanted to be like him, so as soon as I graduated, I joined the police academy. I came home, excited to finally work with my father. At the beginning everything was perfect, but a few months later my father died. "
"Karthik, I'm so sorry." And it's true. At this time, despite its impressive Karthik seems just a guy who misses his father. I find myself shaking his arm with my hand, but unlike yesterday, the physical contact doesn't bothers me.
"Thanks Anu. Now it's been a long time, but I still miss him. At first, when I took over from my father at the station, no one took me seriously. All had seen me grow, and considered me a kid. Cop or not, I was only the son of Punit Malhotra, and I would never be like him. At that point I realized that I needed to be fulfilled to change, to no longer be the kid that everyone knew. I have been training relentlessly, hoping that my body would be enough to scare people. When it was not enough, I stopped to give confidence to the people. I stopped being polite, I stopped being Karthik and I became the agent Malhotra. It was difficult, continues to be, but if that's what I need to be a good cop, I will continue to do so. I just want my father to be proud of me, wherever he is. "
"It is, I'm sure." Karthik's smile is sincere and kind, and manages to convince me that yesterday he was just carrying a mask.
"Yesterday I was very rude, and Ranveer uncle is the last person in the world to deserve such treatment from me. Just that sometimes habits are hard to give up. "
We are a few minutes in silence, watching the road ahead of us. Few cars, many bikes and lots of passers-by. Across the street there is an oven, and sometimes the wind carries the smell of bread and cakes to us.
I turn around, look at him, and the guy in front of me seems so different from what yesterday did me the wink that way exaggerated. By the way ...
"Karthik, I think I understand why you behaved in a somewhat hard, but what was all that the history of the card and eye candy?"
He looks away immediately, but even if he hide his eyes, he is unable to hide his face fast enough, and I can see he is blushing.
"Did you noticed, eh?"
"How could I not notice? You were shameless! Even uncle has noticed, "I laugh, amused by his embarrassment.
"Oh, great. Complete picture, then. "
I keep looking at him, waiting for an explanation. I know I should let go, but his embarrassment amuses me, and it's nice to feel so carefree, even for a few minutes.
"Okay, okay. I was hoping that I could be, say, struck by the charm of the policeman, that is. "
"Oh, you're really trying with me then!"
"Come on, can you blame me?"
"Sure I can! I do not know my name, and you try to date with me. They didn't teach you that the damsels in distress need to be saved, not corrupt? "For a second, I'm afraid of offending him, but the laughter letting go frees me from my fears.
Karthik stood up, holding out a hand. "Come on, you've earned a cake."
Five minutes later, we're coming out of the oven I looked before. By the way, I have a chocolate muffin in my hand.
"I'll never finish it!"
"Don't worry, I'll help you to eat it," he says with his mouth full. His muffin is with blueberry, and I think it's even bigger than mine. I look at it, and it is impossible not to laugh.
"What is it? I'm so much tall, I need to eat a lot. "
"Sure, sure ..."
When we get to the store, as provided, half of my muffin is still intact, while Karthik has long since disappeared.
"So, Anu, do you think that sometimes I can come and see you?"
"Only if you promise not to try it with me anymore and you does not make any wink."
"It is a condition really too hard. Sure you can not make an exception? That wink was not so bad. "
"Take it or leave it, Karthik. That wink was terrible. "
"All right, all right. Can I have your muffins at least? "
I burst out laughing again, and pass what is left of mine. I clean my hands with a handkerchief before opening the door of the shop.
"Bye Karthink. And thank you. "
"See you soon Anu," he says before turning and leaving.
The entry is free, but I hear voices coming from the back of the room.
"Megha?" I cal her.
She is now running to meet me. "Here, you're back! Are you okay? "
"Yes. Karthik seems like a good guy. "
"It is indeed. I would never let you go with him if I did not trust him, but I know him well. "
" Thanks Megha "I say hugging her. Expressions of affection between the two of us are becoming more frequent and spontaneous, and I'm not going to deny me their comfort.
"Come, you must meet a person."
In the back of the room, I see beautiful woman with black hair and brown eyes. A look shows that she is thirty years, so I think it is a friend of Megha, maybe a bit older.
The strange thing though is that this woman, as soon as she sees me, smiles at me as if she knew me for years before I affectionately embrace.
"Anu, this is my mother, Poonam."
Her mother? Her mother?
"Honey, it's nice to finally meet you. I had been the only family that has not had the pleasure to meet you. "
Taking advantage of the proximity I look better, and I feel a bit stupid not to have noticed the similarity first. Alice's eyes are undoubtedly one of uncle, but the perfect features and expression are all kind of the mother. Looking for a sign, a wrinkle, something that gives me the certainty that the woman in front of me has more than forty years, but I can not find anything. Even an insignificant stain the skin.
Nature has strange ways of showing.
"It's a real pleasure to meet you Mrs. Punj."
"Please, call me Poonam aunty dear. So, how do you feel? My husband had come to visit you, but I offered to take his place. I hope that is not a problem for you. "
I shake my head, smiling gently. "No, absolutely not."
Aunty sit in the chair next to us, before taking a case very similar to that of uncle. She check reflections, measure the pressure, heart rate monitors and breathing.
"It seems all right. How's the head? You still have quite a bump" she says checking my forehead.
"Better. It hurts when I touch is that point, or when I make sudden movements too. But I feel much better. "
"Perfect. Another few days and you'll get back in shape. "
"Thank you for everything you are doing for me. Before her husband and her daughter, now you too ... I have the feeling of being a major hindrance to the entire family. "
Aunty takes my face in her hands, and her maternal gaze warms my heart. "Listen carefully. I'm sure I speak on behalf of the rest of my family when I say that for no reason, and in no time you have to feel a nuisance. We can help you, and we do it with joy. From what I'm told you're a wonderful girl, and I can not wait to know you better. "
"Not much to know, unfortunately."
"The fact that you do not remember what happened to you does not change who you are. Your whole life is still here" she says gently tapping a finger on my forehead," you just have to give your brain time to recover. If you had a broken leg not you didn't pretend to walk the next day, right? "
I shake my head, touched by her words and by her kindness.
"Exactly. In the meantime, be yourself, be spontaneous. There are things that can not be forgotten. "
This whole family is amazing, and Poonam aunty is no exception it seems. I'm seriously considering the possibility to hug her when we are interrupted by the voice of Megha.
"Mom, tonight we are at home?"
Aunty nods, and Megha responds to my questioning look.
"Every Thursday we have a family dinner. A week in my house, a week with my parents and the lighthouse. By the way, I was thinking of going to take Arjun, because his car is still in the shop. "
"Honey, Arjun called me first to tell me that tonight he will not come."
Megha get nervous immediately. "What? But why? It is the only night we spend together, he can not miss! "
"It's my fault."
Megha and aunty turn to me, surprised by my speech. I'm surprised too, because the words come out of my mouth before I have the time to think about it. But no matter, because as soon as I say, I feel that it is so. And the sorrow in the eyes of aunty does nothing but confirm it.
"Honey, do not say that, you did not do anything."
"But Arjun is missing the family dinner because I'm here. How can not it be my fault? It's better that I stay at home. "
Megha intervenes. "No, Anu. My cousin is a stubborn, and this is not the first time he does something stupid because his brain works in strange ways. I'm not going to leave you at home alone. "
"But ..."
"No, my daughter is right. Arjun is behaving in a childlish way, and I'm going to give him a nice speech. I want to see you at dinner tonight, okay? "
I nodded without saying a word. I feel horrible.
"Well, now I come to the clinic. See you later, girls. " Aunty wear a black coat, scarf and gloves and evaporates in seconds, leaving me and Megha alone.
"Anu, look at me. It's the fault of Arjun if tonight he will not be at home, it is not your fault. "
Do not tell her. If only I could open my mouth, I know it'll come out only sob, and I do not want Megha to worry about me.
I let myself be tortured by the image of Arjun, alone and away from his family.
With the certainty that it is my fault. Edited by DUGGUlicious - 12 years ago
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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