Anchored Tempest-Final Thread - Page 9

Poor Mru. She is afraid to even be happy.

She freaks herself out imagining possible failure scenarios.

She had no idea what happiness even is until Atty walked into her life.

Owner of the oven

“Do u want to ask her what all I have cried about?” she chuckled before making his appointment with Sameena

He drove to office thinking about how open and honest she was in sharing about her struggles. He could not help admire the trust she was beginning to have in him, to make an appointment with Sameena for him even though she might not be able to make it that evening

He was not going to be snoopy actually

He was going to ask Sameena for how he should change, how could he help her more. While he reassured her openly, he didn’t have any professional knowledge.

He wanted to understand how to help someone in pain. He realized she was always going to be guarded and mysterious, that was who she was now. She had perfected it to such an art many in her workplace had been shocked when she revealed her blue eyes.

He was dealing with multiple things right now, Apoorva and Mihir was heading out to Mumbai for artificial insemination soon, his Mum wanted to be home with Apoorva after the procedure as well, so she was planning to travel

He wanted to go to Bangalore during that time to chip away at his Dad. He felt he didn’t have much hope on that front to be honest

His parents were not flexible sadly they rarely revised their opinion. He had to then ask himself would he be OK having a falling out with them for years? As he had for almost a year after marrying Mitra

It was ironic, he was the exact opposite of his parents, he just went with the flow, he made his decisions quick he chose pleasure over discipline

Mitra hated that… he wondered what Mrunalini would feel when they get married

He realized he wasn’t this focused and single minded about anything since he went to Wharton. Marrying Mrunalini was his life’s mission now

She owned her troubles, and sadly she also owned her parents’ misdeeds.

Mendy didn’t see him involved so deeply with Mrunalini, he realized. Mendy assumed he would strictly coparent and begin dating someone he worked with or was from his social circle

He was sure shocked to realized Mrunalini was way above his social circle and would have not even given him a second look had he not been at Lonavala those two weekends. She lived a low key invisible life in Chembur now with her kid.

He texted Apoorva as he waited at a stop light “What do u think of this idea? When Amma is here with you I want to go ambush Pa in Bangalore, call it a biz trip”

“Are you serious?”

“Yes”

“Its not Amma that’s the problem u see”

“I know that… its only him”

“He is going to call her the minute you start talking about Mrunalini”

“I guess”

He heard a honk and started to drive again

“I need to see him when he is alone, I am not really sure who is feeding off of who” he texted her when he got to work and walked inside the lobby

“They both do it alternatively”

“I think u are right”

“The other day the thing I told u about how Amma lost it when Mihir told her we need to chill with the special pooja in Udipi” (Pramila wanted to book a special pooja even before they knew if the invitro thing was going to work)

“Mum must have given him a earful” Aatreya sighed

“No, just gave ME a earful for not being ritualistic enough”

“See there is no winning with them on that topic, I mean championing for a woman that eats meat and drinks alcohol I don’t think u will ever be able to convince them” Aatreya said

“That’s why you are going to do it and not I” Apoorva chuckled

“Yes I am”

“Don’t worry about waiting until the procedure is over, just go as soon as Amma arrives in Versova”

“No I want to get him at a time when everyone is happy”

“No pressure on me huh?” (laughing) “U are assuming its going to work this time?”

“I want it to work” he said somberly

They were not warm and fuzzy as brother sister, they had always kept a polite distance and been quite unemotional, too much open display of affection was not appreciated in the Rao home

Apoorva’s voice broke as she fought tears “U have no idea how much I want babies”

“You will have some then” he said firmly

“I wish they would let me adopt mann!!”

“I wish so too”

“Would you guys be willing to be surrogates? Will Mrunalini be willing?”

“Umm.. I don’t know” he was shocked he had no idea

“Forget I asked that… umm.. never mind”

“No no.. don’t I mean I will ask her”

“Don’t… not until u get married” she chuckled weakly

“I really hope this time works out for you”

“So I wont bother your woman with an oven?” Apoorva joked

“Stop it”

“U always say that… do u say that to her?”

“I DO… When we fight… which almost daily”

“U are such a treat to live with I bet”

“That’s the problem she wont… LIVE WITH me I mean” he laughed

Nodded to his admin and entered his office and made his reservations to Banglore

And called Sharan Mhatre to tell him he can take care of any Bangalore business he might want him to while he is there so he could make it look like biz travel to his Dad

Atty is going to see Sameena. Thats a lot of trust Mru is putting in him.

Affection was not allowed in their home? No wonder they are so stunted emotionally.

Hope Apoorva gets her wish and has a baby. Its hard dealing with infertility.

Atty is on his way to convince his dad. He may not ne totally successful this time but a little melting might happen.

Life gave her Atreya to heal the wounds which it caused through her parents.... ❤️

Real and unreal expectations

“You cant do much about her greatest fears Aatreya, except maybe be by her side” Sameena sipped her coffee bending her head down. They were meeting at a coffee shop near his office

“there should be something out there shouldn’t there?”

“Umm.. there are drugs and therapies… but she is afraid she will lose herself, she is too protective of Dhru”

“Hmm” he nodded

“Her mother was not good to her, I think that hurts her the most” Sameena tried not to choke up. She was not a veteran psycho therapist, she was just starting out so she found it hard to keep it under control

Aatreya nodded slowly

“I don’t think she deserved even 1% of the poor treatment” Sameena let her eyes fill up with tears

“I agree too”

“I think not getting closure, not hearing from her mother “Mrunal I treated you poorly for no fault of yours” breaks her bit by bit”

“I met her Mum actually”

“Tell me more”

“I work at a bank and I saw her and her husband for some lending issue”

“Oh? Did she know umm.. about… you?” “At first?”

“Nope… now she does I bet Mrunal told u?” he told her how it all played out

“Umm.. some..”

“I didn’t get a good vibe”

“She is my first client… I graduated only last last year, I know someone that works with her in Guest Disputes at the resort”

“You’ve done a great job” he smiled

“Thanks… sometimes I have to go back to my Professor with issues”

“It can get very complicated I know”

“Will.. you… umm.. really.. seriously marry her?” Sameena was tentative

“I hope to”

“I don’t think she will be able to deal with more messy stuff… or maybe she will pull through but I don’t think she deserves it” Sameena subtly but fiercely defended Mrunal

“Umm.. we would be married actually if she accepted my proposal” Aatreya bristled, he felt defensive though Sameena was fair in asking the question

“U do know why she is unable to commit?”

“Umm.. yes… Ive promised to deal with that”

“Its not like paying off debt correct? Ur parents will want to be involved with you and with Dhru… you have more kids they would want to see those… she might be terrified.. that’s all”

“I am going to be right there” “Ive promised her that”

“Her mother hated her for the mere fact that she looks like her cheating father. I don’t think her fear is misplaced about being hated by your parents. Your parents will never forgive her, they will belive she manipulated you into marrying her”

“Its ME who wants to marry her”

“You know how it works right… parents usually love to blame the partner”

“I understand her trepidation completely, I am struggling to resolve it”

“The fact that she is willing to let you into her life is huuuuge for her, she has not allowed that for anyone except me and Saiji (Sai Holkar her nurse friend)

She doesn’t talk much about her other friends”

“Yeah she didn’t have a falling out but doesn’t hang out much feels a separation”

“Well… thank u for meeting with me I already went over by almost 30 minutes I am so sorry”

“No problem, she is lucky to have you in her life… you want to stay and you want to care for her, she hasn’t gotten either” Sameena nodded thoughtfully

“I do.. I do” he affirmed somberly

“She sounds so much more relaxed and happy these days, its unmistakable” Sameena smiled genuinely

“She is quite easy to make happy”

“She tells me how she gets to sleep in and not do anything at all when she is at your place”

“Because I am trying to catch up for being gone 10 years from Jaidrith’s life”

“Its not going unnoticed, she thinks you are amazing… as a Dad I mean” Sameena lowered her gaze self consciously

“Don’t worry I will not read more into that” he laughed, his eyes twinkling

“I am sure she feels you are great too, but you should hear that from her… when the time is right, she will be upset if I pass on speculation”

“Understood” he nodded getting up to see her off

“She told me you get up whenever she is about to leave, and get the door for her and turn on the lights in a room, very courteous” Sameena joked

“Chivalry praise huh?” he laughed

“She is not used to having anyone do that… I am not making you out to be some savior, I know she could have dated whoever she chose, but you are.. umm.. what can I say… u are shockingly unreal” Sameena stared him thoughtfully

“Thanks” he sighed

“I am helping her see things clearly, I don’t convince her to do things one way or other, though she wants me to, she panics easily. I just listen and encourage, I hope you will not think I am manipulating her” she shook hand

“I wont… I don’t” he nodded

His mother called him in the evening

“I will get to Versova a day before Apoorva, I want to make some things she likes powders and chutneys” Amma began in Kannada

“That’s fine, you can come by a week early” he was sincere

“I want to have a pooja in your house for the wellbeing of the foetus”

“She wants us to wait for the celebration Amma”

“Its not a celebration, it’s a prayer”

“Lets wait… until the Doc says, he can hear a heart beat, or until 12 weeks”

“I want the prayers to reach the baby… he has to be healthy”

“Amma the baby could be a girl”

“yes yes, of course”

He realized parents instinctively wished for boys

“If Jaidrith is with you, it will be good”

“I don’t know if I can have him for two weeks Amma, or three”

“Talk to her”

“She will not agree, she already agreed reluctantly for a week”

“You are the father”

“Amma that’s my thing to sort with her, please…”

“Don’t be angry, Pa is saying a child brings good energy, so its important”

“Pa doesn’t like her but loves the child she birthed” he was stinging in his criticism

“He is our family’s child”

“No Ma… his last name is Jaidrith Ghatge”

Amma was stunned and irritated

“He is a RAO, he looks like you, he has “our” family features”

“And blue eyes, and lustrous hair like Mrunalini”

“Please ask her”

Amma hung up