Mother's machinations
Teeku did not get many hugs during the goodbyes Monday morning at 5 AM as Harit took her to the airport in Pant Nagar. It was hard enough with Chandu adjusting to life in Bareilly and being less needy, she even gave up spending Sunday evening with Harit to hang with him. He was inseparable from Keya.
They still did things together with Teeku being the 5th wheel. A new feeling for her since Hemant and Srishti's passing. It was like there was only room for one person, with Harit being there, Chandu was gone
He still hugged and kissed her and was polite to her but the magic they had together was fading.
As he slept in her arms in their back bedroom in Bareilly on Sunday night she scrolled through their selfies in Delhi
Simpler times
Now she was married, and was attracted to her husband, and married into a joint family where her MIL and her love affair had lasted less than 6 months
At dinner Lakshmi was polite too. Explaining what all she had packed, and when she should eat it and how
She told her about the special religious moortis she had gotten for her from Haridwar through a cousin, for the Delhi apartment
"Aap yaha nahi ho ab, wahin kar lena pooja she said with a sigh
Teeku knew ONE prayer
She had a thick stack of books of hymns too
"Jaldi lauten beta... Chandu sabse chhotey hain ab, akele pad jaayenge "Ek bitiya honi chahiye jaroor she mumbled
"Ma, kaam se Dilli ja rahin hai, aap aise baat kar rahin hain jaise USA ya Australia saalon ke liye ja rahin ho Harit chuckled
"Hari beta Sita Ram was not amused
"Sorry
The next morning at 4:30 AM the arti and teeka was somewhat clinical
Alka had a 7 AM appointment at the Emergency, so she was up too
"Harit Pant Nagar se bhaag nahi jaayen aap, yahan, parde tangaane ke dheron kaam hain naye Kamron mein
Harit prided himself at being the tallest so he got to be the handyman too
"Jee, parde tanga dete hain abhi, phir flight pakadne mein guilt nahi rahega
Lakshmi looked stunned
"Ma... mazaak kar rahe hain, yeh Dilli pahunchkar hamey ek second nahi poochhengi. Yeh utra mooh bus Jet Airways taq lekar jaayengi he teased his sad wife
"Phir aap Dilli kyon jaayenge? "Yahin rahen Lakshmi reiterated her stance firmly
Harit got a dj vu feeling
His Mom's gentle yet manipulative tactics seemed familiar, like how she convinced Hemant "Vaidyas were more important, Vaidya name should remain untarnished and untainted
She was older and weaker now but possessed the same power he realized
How awkward it was at that moment in the portico only Alka would know
"Aap aayengi Dilli? Teeku asked softly
A momentary feeling of joy took over Lakshmi's expression
"Jee beta, zaroor, Bauji ko dein rishwat, hum unke bagair kahin nahi jaate she smiled patting Teeku's cheek
"Da... Bauji? she turned
"Dad keh lein beta he patted her cheek
No hugging in Vaidyas
"Harin ko chhodkar sabko bulawa?
"Hari to busy hain she whispered
He was pissed to see her go
He secretly wished his mother had taken to the relocation idea kindly
It was going to hurt him to come home from work each night and not find her
They had spent most of the night feeling each other emotionally and physically
Switching to Chandu's bed at 2 AM smiling at his mumbling and blabbering, holding his tiny fist in her palm, closing her fingers on it
Maasi ko EK SECOND ke liye miss karna, pehle ki tarah she promised choking up
He had told her ONCE "Maasi will you take me to Delhi
None of the usual tantrumy, fits, and scowling and demands they go RIGHT NOW
When she walked into the airport, he paused by the open doors, as usual. She walked back to him
"Come next weekend... please Hari? she whispered softly
"Hum jaakar Ma se baat karenge he exhaled audibly as if having made up his mind
Hindi TV Shows
Bindi
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Jodha Akbar
