Anchored Tempest - Page 14

Created

Last reply

Replies

1.1k

Views

147.3k

Users

26

Likes

7.6k

Frequent Posters

hatelove2012 thumbnail
13th Anniversary Thumbnail Visit Streak 180 Thumbnail + 5
Posted: 4 years ago

Aww. The kid is funny. Why do you look like me? Let’s see how they tackle this.

Nisha0604 thumbnail
11th Anniversary Thumbnail Sparkler Thumbnail Engager Level 1 Thumbnail
Posted: 4 years ago

Something to do with him

“I don’t want to do it any way” she mumbled nervously shoving her hands in her pockets, her high ponytail bobbed as she tried to stand still but her jumpiness was apparent

“Care to explain why he looks like me”

“Who?” she said flippantly”

“Your son” he said with a sigh

“No he doesn’t… he is mine”

“I am not disputing that”

“Then please leave”

“If you have nothing to hide you should not lock him inside” he said reasonably

Something crashed inside

She opened the door panicking

JAIDRITH” she yelled as she did whenever she was angry as she sprinted to the kitchen

Mrs Gomes had worked on the house over the years, the kitchen looked brand new

Jaidrith stood on the counter, his head almost up to the ceiling as he reached for a tin of cookies Sai had brought, while a big plastic container of cookies Mrs Gomes had baked sat in in the far corner within distance

“JAIIII” “Ata Ujavikade Ja” “Tu kay karat aahes?” she hissed

He tried to hold on to the tin of cookies but it slipped off his hands as she yanked him off the counter

There was bowls and containers of the house warming pooja food covered up, one lid slipped and clattered noisily

Within seconds the neighbor downstairs banged a broom or a stick up on their ceiling to warn Mrunal

Aatreya grabbed the tin and shut the lid as a few cookies flew off the opening

“I got it” he grabbed the tin before it flipped over

She hoisted her son and set him down

She noticed he actually came up to Aatreya’s waist

“JAI” she hissed holding his face in her hands

“I want cookies”

“U knew you couldn’t have Mrs Gomes’?” she looked at him sadly

He nodded

He was a mature child

Her throat clogged up

The tin she had bought, cookies were made of besan flour, like naan khatai with oil

“Is he allergic?” Aatreya asked curiously

“To most things” she nodded

“Where do u live?” Jaidrith was back to his worry

“Around the block

“Play ur video game”

“NOW?” Jai was elated

She nodded

Aatreya watched him fly to the bedroom

He looked around at the kitchen

“He is mine”

“Do you want to know my name?” he asked

“You told me… at the hotel lobby”

“Aatreya Rao” he said

She nodded

Mendy texted him

“OK?”

“Yep” he texted back

“He clearly looks like me Mrunalini, if you don’t think so I think we have to get a test”

She looked at him stunned

“Don’t you think so?”

“WHY? Why are you insisting”

“On knowing my child?” he asked baffled

“I am not expecting anything from you” she said shaking

She took the tin, opened it and set a few on a paper plate and proceeded to leave the kitchen, she gave her kid the plate and opened the front door

“I didn’t know you had a child… did you even tell me?”

“I went to Lonavala two weekends in a row”

“So he is mine then?”

She didn’t answer

“jaidrith Ghatge is my child” she whispered thru dry lips

“He could be, but he looks like me” “I might have something to do with him as well”

“I… I want you to know, I don’t need anything from you, I am capable of caring for him and raising him” she whispered

“You already said that once” he was irritated

“I don’t want to do a paternity test”

He sighed

“I know this is all happening crazy fast” he said quietly

This was a new house, she hated it already, she felt like the house had no walls or roof, she was exposed and vulnerable

She had spent 9 ½ years raising him in Mumbai and all of it went uneventfully

Cutting herself off from her Dada was a good thing

Why was she being punished

This man appears out of nowhere

Where was he all these years?

Did Sagar Ghatge arrange this?”

Her face took on a even more panicked look

He was waiting for her to speak, watching the expressions change

“You have been with him 10 years, I have not met him before, can you imagine my shock?” he asked slowly

She didn’t want to think about that at all

She knew in some remote corner of her brain that she owed him, she owed informing him of the birth, but he was nowhere to be found

“We” she began “I have been living my life” she said

“We did not make any pact to stay in touch it was a weekend fling, I agree (nodding)

She was hot and bothered, she sighed stepping back and leaning on the wall by the front door

“I went off to grad school and lived in the States, married and divorced in that time”

She stared dumbfounded

“Is there a husband in the picture?” he asked

“I don’t want to answer that Q” she said evasively

He began walking toward the open door

“You don’t have any furniture?” he turned and paused

“I ordered some” she nodded “Thanks”

“U recently moved to town?” he asked confused, his brows furrowing

“Umm.. mm”

Jaidrith peeked “Aai” “Oh good” he nodded, stopping midway from pulling out his headset

She smiled at him nervously and waved

She had no place to run and hide

She did not know what to do

What if he takes the kid disappears

That thought knocked her breath out, she stifled a gasp, Jaidrith retreated back into the bedroom

“Do u need bedding?” he asked softly

“Umm… mm.. no… umm. Mm” she nodded and shook her head terrified as her mind was processing a whole different thought

He looked at her confused

“No?”

“I am OK” she shrugged

“Don’t come back” she whispered “Please” she begged

He was angry on hearing the demand

His heart was thudding

Within the last hour he had discovered that he was a Dad

Boom!!

He needed to hold on to something

What the….

This was insane…

He thought of his parents… his Pa was going to butcher him

Amma, was going to be elated

His heart rate changed from thudding to squishing beats when he thought of his mother

“I don’t know if I can do that” he said nervously

“I don’t need any help”

Mendy was coming up the steps, afraid there was an explosion

He waved from the landing, “Rahul Mendonza” he waved

“Are you Lynn’s husband?” she asked nervously

He flew up the stairs and extended a hand “Yeah, welcome, Mrs Gomes was our babies caregiver” “It’s a beautiful flat, Mrs Gomes spent a ton of money renovating over the years”

“You have a baby?” “Thanks it’s a neat kitchen”

“Two girls, Ira and Iris” “5 and 3”

“Oh”

“I will ask Lynn to invite you” Mendy nodded, he was shorter than Mrunal, balding, we=ore glasses, heavy set

“Chal?” he nudged Aatreya

“U can call me Mendy, he calls me Mendy”

“Then she definitely wont call you Mendy” Aatreya thought cynically

“I heard you have a son” Mendy interjected

Mrunal smiled nervously

“I will send Lynn when she comes home from work”

Mrunal was staring at Aatreya hoping to extract a promise that he will not return

“I will see you soon” he said

Sinking her heart instantly

PriteeMisra thumbnail
Visit Streak 500 Thumbnail Visit Streak 365 Thumbnail + 5
Posted: 4 years ago

Nisha, do we get any bonus during the weekend ?

PriteeMisra thumbnail
Visit Streak 500 Thumbnail Visit Streak 365 Thumbnail + 5
Posted: 4 years ago

My heart is thudding as well.

kalavathi5 thumbnail
19th Anniversary Thumbnail Visit Streak 30 Thumbnail Navigator Thumbnail
Posted: 4 years ago

What an update!!!!👏

Mrunalini has spent most of her adult life being cut off from Relationships and Aatreya is looking to hold on as tight as he can….how did she think his finding out would go? Probably didn’t expect this even in her dreams.

More please Nisha


SushSathisha thumbnail
Posted: 4 years ago

Damn! My heart’s thudding too! No doubt it’s far from over!

PriteeMisra thumbnail
Visit Streak 500 Thumbnail Visit Streak 365 Thumbnail + 5
Posted: 4 years ago

Choosing side in this one is damn difficult.

I feel for Mrunalini as well as Atty.

Mrunalini never has felt loved and her only hope of family is Jai.

Atty has no background of Mrunalini as well his son. he might just want to do right thing by being part of his sons life not knowing of Mrunalini’s insecurities and the reason thereof.
interesting plot.
Waiting for more Nisha.

Also waiting for them to blow some heat and get back together themselves again. How long can the man resist ?

He got back for for her. Son is compound interest.

coderlady thumbnail
Posted: 4 years ago

She never expected a father to show up at her door. She is trying desperately to hold on to the one person in her life that she can count on. Her fear is understandable.

coderlady thumbnail
Posted: 4 years ago

Atty is also in unexpected territory. He had no idea what he would find. But now that he knows, he would naturally want to know the kid.

Nisha0604 thumbnail
11th Anniversary Thumbnail Sparkler Thumbnail Engager Level 1 Thumbnail
Posted: 4 years ago

Dread & Peace

She stayed up the whole night with the lights on, radiating her anxiety to Jaidrith who stayed up too, they both were afraid to use the toilet at night when the wind whipped the glass slats on the high window.

Jai annoyed her by asking for the 100th time WHEN they were returning to their “house”

She told him they will be here for now

He cried and argued and cried

She cried secretly, as he watched a movie.

What have I done? She feared

Zahra and Sameena and Zainab showed up an hour after Mendy and Aatreya left bearing many things Jaidrith could eat and, and some really lovely furnishings for the house

She expressed her terror to Sameena as she made chai

as Zahra and Zainab hung out in the bedroom

“You cannot move from here, you don’t know what he wants so don’t jump to conclusions” Sameena spoke sagely

“You don’t know… what if he steals Jaidrith”

“WHY would he do that?” Sameena was shocked

“I kept him out of Jaidrith’s life for 10 years no” Mrunalini wept

“No no, that’s not true, there was no agreement to raise him jointly”

“He didn’t even know Dru looked like him, he was shocked when he met him”

Sameena closed her eyes cringing

“How much?”

“Like the same except for my blue eyes and the height because he is not even 10”

“Oh wow”

Mrunal nodded fighting the lump in her throat

“I wish Mrs Gomes had told me even one time she knew him, I would have gifted her Rs.10 lakhs earnest money and backed off the deal Sameena”

“Why would she tell you Mrunal, she doesn’t even know you had Aatreya’s child”

Sh--! Sh--! Sh--! Mrunal cursed

“I hate this house…. I don’t like anything here, Jai got on the counter, the downstairs neighbor, pounded with a broom

Sameena looked shocked

“I don’t know the crime rate or anything”

“U just have buyer’s remorse” Sameena gave her a hug

“I cant go back to my Baba’s apartment, the custodian will not give me the keys…. Baba and Amruta probably took the keys already”

“Sshhhh shhhhh”

“I can look for a place to rent, but I have to pay the instalment here no”

“Do u want me to stay the night?”

“Can you be here for a few months?” Mrunal asked earnestly

“I am sorry, I have an internship in Bangalore in August” Sameena was distressed

“I really want someone to stay here”

“You did great in Bandra”

“I have lived there 10 years, its BIG, there is security in the lobby always, there is security on every floor” “I know my neighbor”

She did but the truth was the kid across the hallway was a giant bully who referred to Jaidrith as Moron or a Dork

“U are going to love this place, the roads are so busy and bustling, the street vendors are everywhere”

“I don’t think I planned this right, what if Aatreya kidnaps him?”

“You are going back to that?” Sameena squeezed her hand

“I know that’s why he left so calmly, I told him never to come back”

“You DID?”

“Yes… Dru is MINE” she bit her lower lip until it hurt but tears came anyway

“You never know he might not want anything to do with him Mru”

“He said he was married and divorced”

“What if he has kids already?”

“Oh yeah… I never asked” She calmed down for a second

“He could have kids… aaj kal log apne bache nahi paalte, doosre ka bacha ka kisko time hai Mru” She hated it when they left

Jai cried wanting to go with Zainab

Zahra was fine with it

Mrunal was terrified to be in the flat alone at night

Jai begged Zahra to take him

After they left he begged her “Aai amala ghari parat jaau dya” “Ghari parat jaaoo dya”

She didn’t have the heart to tell him they will never go back over there

“Tey durusta karat aahet” (They are conducting repairs)

“Mala dakhava” (show me)

He was a smart kid

He wanted pictures, he pushed her ipad toward her

Lynn Mendonza texted her asking if she needed bedding and if she wanted to come over for dinner

She flatly refused and declined

Lynn apologized and promised to stop by tomorrow as Saturday was a day off for her

Mrunal wanted to say “I don’t want to see any of you”

Mother and son played video games together, she ate the leftover house warming food, and fed him too.

He was so gorgeous, “How did I have such a beautiful cute sweet kid” she comforted herself repeatedly

Unloved and uncared for Jaidrith made her whole

She was afraid she hadn’t paid any attention to him during the day

He could eat rice freely, so she made that a lot, wish he could eat more things

She grieved over what was reality for Jai’s food choices

She grieved at least 5 times a day

They curled up on the rugs in the living room and watched on their devices with the AC in full blast

Around 3 AM Jai threw up multiple times

She asked him a 100 questions about what he ate and when he ate

She went through the kitchen to read labels of snacks her work friends had given her as gifts

“Why did they not give me pots and pans?” she cursed along the way

No peanuts, no tree nuts, no milk products, no wheat

Phew!!

She felt his forehead multiple times

She went online and looked for places to rent in Bandra

The rent was going to swallow her whole paycheck not to mention borrow from her retirement

She questioned her life choices, her relationships and her common sense

She sat by Jai worrying if he was going to leap to the bathroom one more time.

Around 5 AM they both crashed on top of each other, clutching each other

11:47 AM there was a knock on the door

Lynn Mendonza stood with Aatreya outside

Still groggy, Mrunal had no idea she had moved to Chembur

She opened the door and stared blankly

“Hey I am Lynn” a woman with curly hair and glasses, curvaceous, dusky, fashionable… wearing her Saturday best, a sleeveless mini dress

Carrying a picnic basket

Aatreya in shorts and a tee scruffy unshaven but piercing eyes

Carrying a basket of what looked like fruits and veggies

“Lynn?” she mumbled

“Mrs Goates’ adopted daughter” Lynn laughed easily

“This is Atty”

The second the name was said Jaidrith surged to the grill door

“Heyyyyy I KNOW YOU” he said with a smile

Mother and son were starved for comfort after a terrifying night

“I do too” Aatreya nodded back with a smile

Related Topics

Top

Stay Connected with IndiaForums!

Be the first to know about the latest news, updates, and exclusive content.

Add to Home Screen!

Install this web app on your iPhone for the best experience. It's easy, just tap and then "Add to Home Screen".