Anchored Tempest-Final Thread - Page 17

A possible dinner invite for Mru. The parents finally showing signs of melting.

Atty should give Mru keys to his place too. Hopefully it will be one place for all of them soon.

Riled by a Rao

“Its Pramila, Aatreya’s Amma” Pramila was hesitant, there was a lot of back ground noise, as if she was in the market or something

“Hmm.. aunty?” Mrunalini felt bile rise up

She didn’t know what was going to be asked

“How are you?”

“I am good aunty, busy and bored…” Mrunalini laughed nervously

“Oh? Why?”

“Busy because my boss gives me a lot of work, bore dbecause my Dhru is not there in the evening” Mrunalini found herself tearing up

“Tch tch… paapa (u poor thing)” Pramila was moved

“I didn’t expect to ever reconnect with the father of my child” Mrunalini exclaimed frantically “You know I always thought I will have him forever, you can even ask Sai, or another friend Sameena”

“My son told me you have a good nature and many friends”

In what planet? Mrunalini wondered

Did Aatreya talk about the bikini wearing Mrunalini Ghatge from 2011?

I doubt you will like the people I hung out with Mrunalini cringed, or the person I WAS

“I… umm.. I have not a lot but not many friends” she corrected

“My son speaks very highly of you” Pramila said in a resigned tone

Months and months of brainwashing hadn’t worked on Aatreya he still seemed smitten

What power did this girl have? Pramila wondered

“Sorry aunty I am sure you didn’t call to talk about how my day is”

“No I have to talk more to you. I have been busy, I only know what it is to have grandchild NOW…” she laughed

“Is he bothering you?”

“No no… neverrr” Pramila was vehement

“Oh? Thanks”

“Taking care of a child’s needs is not easy, I have two” “A lot of housework”

“Especially mine who has 100 allergies”

“Aatreya knows everything” Pramila was stunned

“Oh?” Mrunalini reddened in embarrassment

She had often bragged about how good she was and how no one could be better than her

“Yes… he knows everything, there is a full cupboard of his food items, spices, everything, even cooking utensils” Pramila was shocked

Mrunalini switched to airpods and Texted him

“Your mother is just gushing about you” smiley

“Why?”

“Umm.. never mind”

“How? Where are you?”

“I said never mind? How come u always answer my texts promptly”

“THAT’S a problem?”

“U cud be busy no?”

“I could prioritize you over other people”

“OK”

He sent a smiley

She hadn’t paid much attention to what his mother was saying about how she makes certain recipes

Busy flirting with the woman’s son

“Do u drop everything and answer MY texts?”

“Sometimes”

“Thanks”

“I am not as busy as you”

“U are digging a hole for urself” he warned

“Oh.. oops! Yes… I mean… I meant I am very busy”

“Too late”

“I wanted to talk to you” Pramila sighed after narrating all her kitchen calamity stories

Panic set in

“I wanted to know if you can come to our house for “

More fear… as the background sounds of autos and honking intensified. Mrunalini wondered why Pramila made it a habit to always call her or come over with nobody’s knowledge

Like she had the last time

That set off another wave of fear

She wondered if this time Pramila is going to ask for permanent legal custody of Dhru

Pramila got a call from Apurva, from home.

“Is Apurva OK?”

“Yes yes, resting really good”

“Oh great”

“Come tomorrow if you can around 4 PM, it’s a Friday”

“Oh?”

“Yes? Then?”

“Umm..”

“Its only ladies” Pramila chuckled

Now Mrunalini was really terrified

“I don’t know” “I have so much work”

As if avoiding one meeting will be enough to ward off Pramila

She feared they would leave with Dhru without telling her

“Dhru will be home?”

“Yes” “U can see him one time” Pramila said casually

One LAST TIME?”

“Are they planning to leave town with my kid?” she texted Aatreya

“WHO?”

“Your Mum and Dad”

“No?... why”

“U will tell me right”

“U are crazy…” he typed angrily and erased it “I am not going to encourage your outrageous fears”

“I am not going to encourage your outrageous fears”

Is the fear absolutely misplaced Atty? No. So i do understand that Mru does worry too much but step in her shoes you might know.

Though your heart is in right place but be careful with Mru.

How come u always answer my texts promptly”

“THAT’S a problem?”

What a problem to have 😉

Ignoring the mom and texting the son on the sly. Defense mechanism in place.

Last time Pramila invited Mru over, she asked her to never marry her son. Mru's fears are not unfounded.

This time Apoorva will be there too. Plus Mru has no idea about the changing tides.

“Because u are not married”❤️

It was surreal for Mrunalini she would consult her watch multiple times to record the date and time in memory. There were 4 other women, 5 including Apurva

Mrunalini was ceremonially seated in a wooden plank seating on the floor and the chanting began.

Pramila had asked her to quickly shower and change, no questions asked about the change of underclothes and how she had clean under clothes in Aatreya’s flat

Dhru was amused by what Ajji was making his Aai do

“Why do you need me to sit in a pooja? Isnt Apurva pregnant?” Mrunalini quizzed

“Tumhaare mooh mein shakkara” Pramila beamed with pride “U accidentally referred to her as pregnant I hope it comes true. Another 3 weeks “ Pramila joined hands in prayer and nodded at the ceiling

“It will be no, she is young and healthy”

“she has had many procedures before” Pramila teared up

“So you must conduct pooja for her”

“She is married already” Pramila winked, gently pushing her towards the bathroom

Mrunalini showered in Aatreya’s bathroom, confused

When she stepped out Pramila gave her a gorgeous ikat silk in dark pink, with a ready made blouse that was quite snug for Mrunalini

“You can get stitched when you take saree”

“where is uncle?”

“He went to Aatreya’s cousin’s house, Mr Rao’s brother’s son lives in Worli now.

“isn’t his wife here?”

“Yes”

“Dhru said you took all their phones for a game?”

“Yes yes” she smiled

Apurva stepped out of her room also dressed in what looked like a new saree

“I am so happy to see you”

“I am too, Dhru told me you like playing video games”

“I am learning” she smiled

“U didn’t tie ur underskirt too tight no?” Pramila was nosy

“Ammmaaaa” Apurva was embarrassed, as Pramila flit out of the room

“U are lucky, she cares” Mrunalini smiled

“Too much sometimes,” “As if tight saree will cause me to have a mi (scarriage)”

“No don’t say it” Mrunalini squeezed her hand

“Sometimes I think for all the drama I cause I should just be u know there are millions of women”

“Who are mothers, you will be too” Mrunalini squeezed her hand fondly

“U are dreamin too I see” Apurva winked

They all had the same smiles… including hers… Dhru

Yes he was hers

“Why doesn’t your mother do this ceremony with you”

“Because I am married” Apurva winked

The chanting the praying and singing followed the women began to be antsy wanting their phones back

Pramila pretended to host a religious prayer quiz, most of the women bombed

Finally she draped Mrunalini with yet another new saree a exquisite dark blue and pink one, put flowers in her hair and a teeka and handed her a bunch of fruits and veggies in her godh

Mrunalini was shocked

“I am not pregnant” she whispered to Pramila

“Yes yes” Pramila nodded with a chubby smile

In between attending to Dhru and feeding everyone the food Pramila had made, the evening was over

When the women took their phones back and the goody bags and left, Pramila spilled the beans

“I have accepted you as my bahu” she said tearfully

Mrunalini was stunned, bile rising up to her throat, panic setting in, wanting to run away

“Whyy? What?”

“I didn’t have courage to tell Mr Rao, so I sent him away, Mihir and Apurva know” she cried softly

Apurva nodded tearfully

“I think she has finally come around” she patted Mrunalini’s hand on the arm rest, Mrunalini was afraid and jittery, this was totally unexpected. Sameena hadn’t given her any advice about this one

Dhru happily read a anime comic sprawled on the bed

Mrunalini could feel her heart racing. Her mouth dry, in confusion and fear, she stood up

“But… I have not talked to Aatreya”

“He told me you are afraid we will not accept you” Pramila sat by her and gently rubbed her back

“I haven’t said anything to him”

“You can say yes now” Pramila beamed

There was a knock on the door and Aatreya, Somesh Rao and Mihir Bhatt returned

Aatreya was beyond shocked to see Mrunalini decked up

Somesh stared open mouthed too

Pramila quickly elaborated a ruse in rapid fire Kannada about how its important to fete and celebrate a mother. She didn’t know how she was going to convince Somesh. She didn’t know if he would even agree… ever. But she had done it on an impulse.

Put her thoughts into action… Krishna!! She prayed out loud

“Huh” Aatreya nodded still staring at a gorgeous Mrunalini

Somesh muttered something going into the room he shared with his wife, Pramila followed

“She asked me to marry you” she blurted beginning to cry

“WHO?” Atreya was shocked

“Your MUM”

Mrunalini pointed to the Raos’ bedroom, afraid Somesh was come charging at her and clock her face with an object

Nishhhaaaaaa i loveeeee uuuuu🥳

So happy to see mrunalini being cared like this❤️❤️