Next time...
"Dont tell a word to Amma" Bala grumbled on the way home
"We are doing this for Ishita da" Akka spoke sadly
"Tan's parents are not at all like him" "did u see how angry his Dad look the whole time?" Bala asked shocked
Vandu nodded
"I mean if she has a problem with Sam she shud talk to her. Or she should have told Tanmay" Bala looked distraught
"Do u want to call Tan?" Akka asked
"No dee... what use sollu? He cant defend us, he cant defend her" Bala grunted
"Shes coming back in a day or two any way" Vandu reassured herself
"Aval varale di, only II is coming" Bala was a bit irritated
He lowered the window on the car and yelled at a bicyclist
"Tch tch" Vandu chided him
"Meri gaadi ke neeche aake mar jaata to?" Bala shouted at his wife
"Please da" Vandu coaxed
"Yaar I am not sure about Tan any more, you think he would have told his Mom he was unhappy?" Bala started speculating
"We are doing this for II. Hamey kya pata Bala... he seems to be a well behaved boy" Vandu said
"Yaar mujhe tu roz 50 dollar ka snack laake de... Shravu eats idli for breakfast dee. That kid only eats STROO-DILL? " Bala looked embarrassed
"They have money no... but he has been polite to Appa and Amma"
"If he had been polite to his own family he wouldnt be here" Bala was disgusted
"Seri vidu da... please"
"Raat ko kya bana rahi hai?" he asked gruffly
"Amma is making adai, Shravu asked for avial, so" Vandu muttered
"We shud go out to Taj Man Singh aur kabhi aish karte hain" Bala said as he stared out the smog filled RK Puram ring rd
"Give me the money I will get my heater fixed in my car" Vandu chuckled
"We dont know how to enjoy life di... Anna and Manni are going to Mediterranean" Bala said annoyed
"Ek beta fauj mein hai doosra bhi fauj mein jaayega" Vandu looked out her window
"Agar Ishita ki ek aur SIL hoti to Mukund ne usko phasa dena tha" Bala cracked himself up
"Chhheee dont talk like that" she said
Internally she was overjoyed
Bala rarely roasted his own family
It was a good feeling for her to be sharing such emotional intimacy
Since I got married Bala was openly insecure and hurting
Statements like this were delightful to her
"Makarand has landed a heiress, Mukund might have too.. they have enough to be spread over a dozen girls" Bala said
Lowered his window and yelled at a auto wala
"they sit in the back seat and read papers on the 4G ipad.." he muttered
"Did u read today's paper that lil strip on teh biz page? Ranjan Bhalla is worth some 200 crores?" Vandu gasped
Bala just shook his head
"Ennadi prayojanam, le to apni raha hai uska damaad"
"tan didnt do anything pa..." Vandu said
"Same di" he muttered
"He brought the kid we watched him, now they dont was, we shud nod and agree" he muttered
"They wont ask us next time" Vandu agreed
"Even before they ask i will refuse" Bala said hurting...
~~~~
II snoozed on the bed curled up, she had promised Bally she will be at work by 2 PM
It was barely 10:30
Mahavir was overjoyed to see Nivi, he showed a bunch of things he had done in the backyard
They both dug up a bunch of onions from II's veggie patch and he showed Nivi how to pick tomatoes even
Ranjan showered ate his brunch and went to work
"Shaammi saath laut te hain puttarjee" he said
"I might go see Amma" she said yawning
"Chaliye... behtar" he nodded
"Oopar aa ja agar kaam kam hai tey" he offered
"Mrs Sagar ko kahiye mere liye chocolate chip cokies mangwayengi" she smiled
"Imad to kahanga" he said
"Mrs Sagar nahi hain?" she asked
"Hafte se chhutthi par hain" he said quietly
She rolled over
And felt her lower belly
Her next cycle was due any day
It was almost as if nothing had happened
Her heart thudded painful beats as she worried if she will ever get pregnant again
WHAT IF I DO
AND THEN LOSE THE BABY AGAIN?
She sat up in bed and picked up her ipad and scrolled through pictures of her pregnancy, god bharai... and Nivi
The post partum depression pics were disheartening to watch
He called
"U are bad at keeping promises" he said
"I came home showered and snoozed" she said defensively
"Where is Nivi?" he asked
"Keezha" (neeche) she said
"Huh" he chuckled
"She is happy wandering the lawn... haath mein ek plastic shovel and rake" II giggled
"Good deal" he smiled
"How are u feeling?" he asked
She nodded
"i was looking at my pregnancy pics..." she began to cry
He grunted and she sniffled
"It was unexpected and random... dont agonize over it" he ordered
"I shudnt have gotten on the plane" she said
"Well ... next time if its closer to ur cycle we wont travel" he said logically
"What if there isnt a next time?" she asked
"Whoaaa?" he was thunderstruck
