The young helpers didn’t care
She turned and started stacking again in the box
The door rang, she didn’t immediately turn to see whoit was, the hairs on the back of her neck stood up though as a familiar scentwafted through
“Ek second” she said as she pulled two large books fromthe top shelf
It was Pradyut!!!!
“Pradyut!!!!” she gasped
Dressed in khakhi shorts and a navy rock concert tee ofsome sort which had clearly seen better days, he looked smashing
She dropped the books as soon as she noticed his eyeswere on her belly
“Pradyut, the store is allyours, please let me keep my baby” she blurted, begging frantically
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The big reveal
“You had no intention of returning home did you?” he was stunned
“I am giving you this store. That should be a win for you” she said with outward calm
“YOU have decided what should be a win for me?”
“I mean you wanted it from December didn’t you”
“I am not talking about the store. I want to know why you hid the pregnancy?”
“I didn’t, you SEE IT don’t you?” she taunted
“That doesn’t look like you ran a test this morning, your bump is at least 10 weeks old, when did you test? Why was I not told?”
“I don’t know I cant recall”
“I am not satisfied with that answer, how about you try again” he rocked on the balls of his feet
“This is business hours I cant talk”
“You CAN talk, you are emptying the shelves Taara”
“You can have the store”
“I want to know why you hid the pregnancy”
“I didn’t… I just didn’t announce it”
“In that case……” he sighed
“You can have the store, I want nothing” she whispered,shaking in anxiety
“And make it easy on you?” he smiled humorlessly
“U can make it painful, I love the store this is all Ihave that belongs to my Dad”
“I doubt that!” he cackled
“You think I don’t care for it”
“Nope, you are willing to give it up”
She colored furiously
“I am done fighting Pradyut, take it… keep it, raze it”
“Oh no” he whispered softly
“You don’t want it?”
“I want you, and I want the baby, Towers will continueto build around the store as before”
“Don’t do this” her eyes filled up
“You stopped construction, you’ve been out looking forviolations so you can damage the company, now do you want mercy Taara?”
“I wouldn’t be if you hadn’t asked me to marry you inexchange for letting me have the store”
“Fair!”
“Let me go please”
“You are devious and sneaky Taara”
“I want my baby”
“MY?”
“Please Pradyut”
“I am calling my Mum right now”
“Don’t” she put a hand on his stopping him
He freed it and dialed
“We might have some news for you”
“Are you back?”
“Hmm”
“Kidhar ho?” Sumedha was excited
“Hang on, I will let Taara speak” he smiled
Taaruni was leaning on a book case sobbing
“Oh how could she have hid this from the beautifulsoul?
It crushed her
“Umm” she sniffled and wiped her tears
“Taara beta?”
“U want to share?” he coaxed softly
“Umm… hi…”
“Kya hua beta?”
“Oh nothing…”
“Oh its something” Pradyut chuckled into the speakerphone call
“Whyyy?” Tara begged
“She is having our baby Ma”
“Whattt???!!!” “NO, No way… NO”
“Its true” Taara whispered weakly
“KAB maloom chala?”
“Umm..” Pradyut was emotionless
“Ive known a couple weeks” Taara stuttered
“DO HAFTE?”
Taara wiped her tears
“DO hafte?” “Beta WHY did u travel?” “First trimesteris… you should be careful
“Shes great” Pradyut helped her as he gazed at herpiercingly
“Come back home right now” “I am soooo happy… I willhave to call Dad”
“Sure do that” Pradyut laughed
“I want to see you both for dinner”
“Got it”
Taara leaned weakly on the glass case and lookeddistraught
“The only way to get rid of Gaurav is for me to be gone”she goaded him
“You think I fear him?” Pradyut was furious
“Pradyut, please samajh jao”
“Where are your store clerks, I will be back at 3, weleave at 4”
“I could leave you again and you wouldn’t know it”
“Try it” he said sighing…
Book Talk
37