"Mom I was thinking how it would be if I work outside, you know I get bored sitting at just one place the whole day", I replied in an appealing voice to mom who was watching the old albums. I waited for her to respond but she kept gazing at one particular picture. I sat beside her on the bed eyeing the picture curiously to see what made her so lost from her surroundings and drown into the pool of memories. It was a picture of a childish boy swinging a boot with the lace in his hand and his clothes covered with mud. I kept staring at the picture to figure out who it was- whether Viren or Virat. I tried to look at it closer when she suddenly closed the album in a thud. I looked alarmingly at her whilst she made her head sideways to avoid eye contact.
"Who was that? The boy looks really rebellious", I remarked looking at her strange posture of trying to avoid to look into my eyes. She turned around keeping the album safely in her wardrobe under her clothes, closing the door with a soft clink. She then looked puzzled at me, raising her eyebrows and adorning a pleasant smile.
"What's the matter Manvi, you here...? She asked fairly surprised at my appearance in the room. I laughed lightly at the fact how much she was lost in the old memories that she didn't take notice of my entering the room and even sitting beside her. She elevated her eyebrows questioning the reason behind my laugh.
"Mom you seem to be lost", I replied gently at her to which she bent her head leading me to one of the balconies of the mansion. She sat along with me in the minimal chairs arranged around a small table. I looked at the fair weather taking in a breath of fresh air.
"Manvi sometimes I feel I have spoiled the life of my two daughter-in-laws by marrying them off to my sons", she spoke in a thick voice staring at the clear sky. I gazed at her, confusion drawing up. She looked at my side and placed her hand on mine and tenderly caressed it.
"Mom did anything happen"? I questioned the uncertain happening. She nodded her head and moved her hand away from mine.
"Lately there's a lot happening which I expected long back to take place, there was just some delay in those matters", I looked at her with curious eyes. What was she referring to? Her words seemed to me like a puzzle.
"Do you think Jeevika's sudden missing from this house would not create any suspicion, you could be able to handle matters well off? I struggled not to make an eye contact with her. She looked straight into my eye questioning me while I kept looking at everything in the balcony except her face and eyes.
"I knew this would happen; my children breaking apart, I didn't teach my children what relationships are. I failed miserably as a mom. They grew looking at me and their dad always indulged in business meetings, rarely talking to anyone nor having food with each other. They only learnt that after marriage, every day is like any other day, leading their lives as it was before and not taking notice of the additional responsibilities that come with the new relationship.", she looked away from me opening up the biggest regret of her life.
I transfixed my eyes on her motionless; telling her that things would get better would be a terrible lie. I didn't want to assure her that I will take care of everything. "Your beeji made a bad choice for you Manvi, I should have known this earlier", she flipped her face as a lone tear escaped her left eye.
"I don't know if things would be alright but beeji never made a mistake in my case, your family, moreover now my family gave me the reason to survive when I had nothing to live for. That is the reason I love you all so much and even Virat", I blurted out and then immediately looked away catching my forehead.
"Manvi..." she dragged glancing at me unbelievably.
"I had come here to ask you something", I tried hard to change the topic which she instantly acknowledged sensing the unnerving situation I'm in.
"I want to work", I replied meekly, emotions running on a roller coaster within me.
"You don't need my permission", she answered a smile playing on her lips. I wasn't sure if it was because of my unexpected confession or my decision to work. I immediately got up cursing myself and being thankful to mom for not interrogating anymore.
"I don't see Virat anywhere", I stopped in my tracks clutching the hem of my top closer.
"Uh, yeah...He, I think", I tried to find an excuse which had no effect on her.
"Please don't lie to me, unless you're absolutely sure I'll never find out the truth..." She replied calmly.
"I smiled at her words, "He had gone to bring two broken hearts together", and I answered winking at her.
---
I walked down the stairs hurriedly to spot Viren somewhere. I halted at the end of the stairs and glanced at the entire hall. Just then I saw him coming rather emancipated to the hall with a straight-face in search of something. I intentionally crossed him. "Manvi", he called out, I stopped immediately in my tracks and turned around to see an impassive face.
"Yeah..." I looked at him with uncertain eyes though I knew what he would be asking me about. He became quiet and took a low breath looking at me.
"Have you seen Jeevika anywhere?" he asked his eyes deep with concern for her. I smiled inwardly for successfully getting to know his feelings towards Jeevika. His eyes spoke how much he cared for her, how much is he afraid of losing her, but he failed to express any of these things. I left deep sigh and scanned the whole room.
"I saw her here with the bags; don't know where she must have gone..." I spoke flatly confused. His eyes which held concern before suddenly turned into unknown fear. He shook his head understandingly and strode away disappointed. I walked satisfied with my new discovery. Just then my phone started ringing making my triumph die down soon than I had expected.
"Did any insect bite you today or are you really nuts from the day you were born", a voice spoke startling me all over. I clutched the phone more closely ready to pounce back.
"Whatever, did anything happen?" I asked carelessly as I strode in the room.
"Divorce? Seriously? Are you planning to separate them", he asked this time more loudly.
"You're still a green pea in these matters", I replied mocking at him.
"May be. But I still got some sense which you lack", he countered back.
"Oh shut up, will you", I spoke waspishly sitting on the bed.
"Yes your highness, but tell me how exactly sending divorce papers to bhai as if sent from bhabi will help?", he asked confusion reflecting in his voice. I caught my forehead with my palm at his intelligence.
"Told you, you're a green pea! The more distance you keep from your loved ones, the more would their love increase and finally the whole lot of love wouldn't be fit enough to keep in the heart so it would burst like a volcano. I want your bhai's love for my Jeevika to be felt by the volcanic eruption of love. You wouldn't know what precious thing you've lost until it gets far away from you. Simple logic." I replied rising up my imaginary collar.
"Wah from when did my friend turn into a love guru", he asked amused at my plan.
"From the day when you promoted me from "just friend" to "a friend", I smiled as he smiled too.
"Are you sure this would work"? He asked again raising up his apprehensions.
"Of course, you would know that better if you'd fall in love with someone, apparently not yet", I replied casually then immediately regretted my own words. I paused at mid sentence, halted at my words. I waited for few seconds for the voice to come from other side deeply regretting what I said.
"H-h-elo..." I breathed into the phone tremulously.
"Yeah, will tell you how bhabi and everything is here after sometime", he kept away the phone without waiting for me to reply back. I remained in the same place sliding into the dilemma slowly, whether to call him or just silence it all. Sometimes I get carried away so much with my words that I don't feel what impact the other person might have because of me. I stared at the phone to dial his number then immediately I put the phone aside distressed. I felt the distance which had lessened from the first day to now between him and me raise again with my one sentence.
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Indian Mythology
Sampoorna
CID
Current Affairs
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