FF: ~Crashed~ This is my First: Preview of Chp 26 Pg 76 - Page 50

Chapter Twenty-One (Part A)

"I don't know why you are looking at me like that as I should be the one giving you that look." I said.

Kunal grunted and he moved the towel through his hair that was still wet from his shower.

"You could have done something..." he mumbled.

"What could I have done? I'm stuck in the bed with this IV in my arm." I said chuckling softly.

He pouted and he turned to me and I sucked in my breath and looked away.

He was only wearing sweat pants that hung low on his waist, revealing a hint of his gray underwear that maa ji handed to him.

His chest was bare and dry but I caught myself staring at his nipple and I turned away blushing even more

"But...I thought my mom left after she handed you the tea." He said.

I turned back around and tried to look at his feet instead of his chest.

Funny how you can be sick and half of your body aching and in pain but it seemed as if other parts were up and fully functioning.

"That's an obvious lie. Either way there is nothing to feel embarrassed about. She is your mother, she seen you in more embarrassing situations than that so don't worry too much." I said.

He shifted and I looked up and saw him going into his closet to pull on a long sleeve shirt.

I stared at him and started giggling as he was struggling to put the shirt on passed his damp hair.

"Plus you were eavesdropping which is really impolite." I said while looking at him as he was finally able to plop his head out of his shirt.

He put his hands in the arms of his shirt and shook his head and used his hands to comb through his wet strands of hair before he moved over back to the bed and sat by me.

He swung his legs onto the bed and I looked at him as he grabbed my arm and he leaned forward and kissed my forehead.

"What is this? Trying to distract me?" I said in amusement.

"Yes." He said smiling, his cheeks puffing up slightly with embarrassment.

"No one told you to be nosy...but why were you listening?" I said while twining my hands tighter around his hands that felt so warm.

He didn't say anything for a while but he squeezed his hands against mine and I looked up to see him staring at me with a soft smile lingering on his lips.

"Okay...I will confess I just wanted to hear what you and mom were talking about." He said guiltily.

I smiled and shook my head.

"Nosy. We weren't talking about anything...just about Dhruv." I said sighing.

He squeezed my hand and I looked at him and he gave a soft smile.

"He misses you as well." Kunal said.

I smiled and slowly lost it as a memory came to the surface.

Why of all times but more so I didn't see him...haven't really seen him since I woke up and more so fear came gnawing at the forefront.

An image of Dhruv's body slumped and with blood that was slowly flowing down from his neck, where a large piece of glass was lodged in while his skin was taking on a dangerous bluish-purple discoloration but his chest was still rising, slightly, struggling for breath...

The image caught hold and I felt my hands tightening around Kunal's hand, my breath picking up, and I could feel my stomach twisting into knots.

"Shraddha...are you okay?" Kunal said with concern.

I already knew he would pick up on my discomfort but I couldn't stop the image forming in my head and gripped tighter on his hand.

"Shraddha...what's wrong...say something..." Kunal said worried.

It came and it passed and I felt my vision focus out of the past...or my current future... And focused more so on the present.

I smiled weakly at Kunal and before I could say anything he wrapped me into a hug.

I was shocked for a moment but linked my hands slowly around his back and sinking into his warmth.

"What's wrong Shraddha? Your mood suddenly changed all of a sudden? What are you thinking? Tell me? Please..." He said the last part so softly, so endearingly that it fully tugged on my heart.

Did I ever deserve someone like him?

I never did but somehow...somehow he fell for someone like me.

"I miss Dhruv..I have never been this far from him. I always see him, I always knew if he was okay...but for me not being able to see him...I'm worried." I said softly against his shirt.

I could feel his hands run through my hair and he drew me slowly away and I lowered my eyes to avoid meeting his.

"Don't worry Dhruv sees you before going to sleep." He said.

I looked up at him and he was smiling softly.

"He does?" I said confused.

He nodded.

"I find him creeping on the side of the door in his pajamas when he is suppose to be brushing his teeth, he comes to see you." Kunal said.

I smiled but then I turned into worry.

"That is bad...maa ji said that he can catch what I'm having...its not good..." I trailed off until Kunal kissed my lips, catching me by surprise.

He smirked as he drew away.

"Don't worry. He just says goodnight, he doesn't actually come into the room." Kunal said smiling.

I hit him.

"I said don't do that or you can get sick." I said scolding him.

He chuckled softly and gone was the serious side and out was the playful side as he wrapped his arms around my shoulders.

"Oh come on Shraddha...meet me half way. I haven't been able to touch you in such a long time." He said while leaning in to whisper against my ear.

I blushed.

"You are always touching me or hugging me so I don't know what you're talking about." I said.

"I mean another type of touching." He whispered and his lips grazed across my cheek.

I shivered and I bit my lip.

I don't know why but my eyes looked down and saw that the area surrounding the lower half of his pants were supporting a bulge and I blushed even more in astonishment.

"I'm sick and I look awful and you're...you are just freaking..." I trailed off trying to deflect his hands off of me.

He chuckled even deeper but never let go and instead tried to link his hands even tighter around my shoulders.

"I can't help it, you look so sexy." He said while rubbing his nose against my cheek.

"Sheesh you are like a dog." I groaned but stopped trying to move him off of me as the warmth coming from his skin and from his body was intoxicating.

Plus the, his smell that was wafting from his body was almost husky and smelled like fluffiness and sweetness at the same time.

If that made any sense at all...

Another knock on the door and I groaned but drew away.

It was Ramdeen and he had an apologetic expression on his face.

"Sorry sir but ma'am is calling you for dinner." He said.

I looked at Kunal and he pouted and was grumbling and I smiled at the cute little frown on his face.

I couldn't help it and I reached up and grabbed his cheeks and started tugging on it and squealing.

"You're so cute like this. Stop complaining and go eat already." I said while lightly scolding him.

He gripped my hand from his cheeks and kissed it.

"Will be back." He said smiling.

"Please don't, I want to rest." I said smiling at him despite my words.

"They are bringing up your dinner." He said.

"Not hunger." I said.

"You have to eat...you need to keep hydrated." He said.

I lifted my other hand that was attached to the IV drip.

"This is keeping me plenty hydrated so please don't worry so much." I said while waving my arm around.

"Your stomach hurts." He said more as a statement and less as a question.

How does he seems to always know...

"A little." I said sheepishly.

"But you have to eat something." He said.

"I don't know..." I trailed on.

"I will tell mom not to give you too much. I will be back. I will finish as fast as I can and come back up here." He said while getting off the bed.

I smiled and nodded as he smiled and waved goodbye before he left the room and Ramdeen following suit behind him and he closed the door before he left.

"He's mad." I said while laughing to myself.

"Not mad, but he is concerned." A cheerful voice said.

I shook my head and turned to see a pair of brown eyes staring at me.

"How long have you been here?" I sighed while readjusting myself on the bed and leaning back against the headboard.

"I have been around since you fallen sick. You weren't conscious so..." she trailed off.

She sat down next to me on the bed and she followed my same movements.

I smiled.

"Sorry Jin I am not effective in sleuthing for evidence right now." I said.

"Just get better." She said.

I looked at her and she had a frown on her face and before I could say anything she spoke again.

"It's because he pissed me off so I threw it at him." She said.

I arched my eyebrow.

"But I thought you said you never said you didn't like him?" I said teasing her.

"I like him alright and he is too freaking smart for his own good. Him being a smart a** had me throw it back at him." She said annoyed.

I turned to her.

"Language young lady." I scolded.

She turned to look at me with a questioning expression and smirked.

"Young lady...wow Shraddha you make me feel so young." She said sarcastically.

"Sorry...but you look..." I trailed on as I saw the expression on her face and instead decided to change the conversation.

"Do you wish to actually look older...like a woman?" I said to her curiously.

"Who would want to be stuck in the body of an eight year old forever?" she said while sighing.

"Sorry..." I said while touching my hand against hers.

She was startled and she looked down at my hands and she looked back up and she smiled, making her cheeks puff up.

"Is that why you are arguing with him because you are in a body of an eight year old?" I asked.

She scoffed.

"I wish. He seems to enjoy it as my expense. But there are times when I wished or imagined if I was older would they still respect me? Would they take me seriously? Would he still like me like he does now? Would she have..." She suddenly stopped her thought and became tensed.

Instead I answered her earlier question and ignored where she left off as that wasn't going to be answered.

"Why think about why or what-ifs just live in the moment." I said.

"You can say that because your life span is relatively short...mine is continuous and is never-ending." She said.

"Ouch! Sorry if I'm such a human." I said in mock hurt.

She squeezed my hand and I looked at her expression which was blank this time around.

"I meant that as a compliment. You have something that is really endearing and valuable." She said.

"Would you mind telling me about your family?" I quickly rushed out.

She tensed incredibly so and she looked at me and I smiled but she looked away.

"I can't do that Shraddha." She said.

"Its against the rule book or code or whatever?" I said.

She shook her head.

"Painful." She said.

I looked at her and her expression was blank and but there was pain...real intense pain in them that I never seen before that I didn't even want her to tell me.

Instead before she could say anything I enveloped her into a tight hug.

Despite how she was a mind-reader she gasped out in shock.

I patted her back softly.

"Sorry Jin. I shouldn't have asked...don't worry about it. I won't ask again." I said.

Her pain was evident and I never saw anyone make that expression before nor did I want to see her make it.

It was too crushing and too mind-numbing to know someone could actually make an expression that seemed as if they were being crushed and having their organs ripped out in the inside while at the same time suffocating under the lack of air or oxygen.

I embraced her even tighter and murmured soft ears into her ears to have that pain erased from her eyes.

It shouldn't ever been there but the fact she was relieving whatever made that expression made it even unbearable to understand.

She didn't struggle but instead was stiff and didn't move since I hugged her.

"Sun Mi." she said softly.

I thought my mind was betraying into believing I heard something but I know she spoke so I drew myself away from her and she stared at me with a blank expression that she was trying to maintain but it slipped from time to time to reveal an expression of stark sadness.

"Sun Mi was my sister. You remind me of her sometimes...you guys are totally different but there are times...you remind me of her." She said smiling.

"She was really, really, really beautiful. In comparison I'm a weak imitation compared to her." She said sadly.

I shook my head.

"There is no way! You are cute as a button, beautiful, really pretty don't say that." I said while shaking my head at her statement.

She was really pretty and if she did age she would be absolutely beautiful.

"No. You are nice Shraddha but I'm not comparable to her. Sun Mi had long jet-black hair, large brown eyes that were honest and couldn't hide any lies, cute dimples, and a very soft-spoken yet kind and strong-hearted nature." Jin said fondly.

"She was my best friend, my very best friend, and I was too young and made so many mistakes and did so many bad things that I always got scolded. She always scolded me but she always forgives me. She was never disappointed in me." She said and she stopped suddenly became sad again.

"I don't know how I could compare. You see my hair is not black, my hair is dark brown. I don't have large eyes...I would say a little bit medium size. I can lie and my eyes can't reveal anything. I don't have dimples but my smile..." I paused and smiled. "Is brilliant but not comparable to Kunal's you should see his smile...I thought I would melt every time he looks at me, especially when he flashed a million watt smile..." I started to fade away when I first met him and he smiled but clued myself back into the present situation. "I'm not soft-spoken I tell you my brothers tell me time and time again that I'm sometimes too loud. Out of everything...I'm not as strong-hearted as I should be or I wouldn't be in this mess now would I be?" I said.

Jin blinked and she smiled and busted out in laughter.

She gripped her hands around her stomach and she was laughing even more.

"I tell you I'm friends with my brothers and I love them terribly...but if you put us in a room together we will tear one another's head off. I'm sorry there is so much testosterone that will be in there I probably will be the only left standing." I said continuing on and she continued to laugh to the point she fell down on the bed and was rolling around it.

I smiled at her and gone was the painful expression and in its remains was a carefree expression that was straining with laughter.

"What's so funny? I was saying the truth?" I said while pouting but smiling.

She continued to laugh until she actually fell off the bed and began rolling on the floor in even more mirth.

*****************

Chapter Twenty-One (Part B)

(Next morning...)

"Okay we can remove the IV until you wash up." The doctor said.

I pouted.

"Is it necessary for me to still have the IV? I can eat on my own?" I said.

The doctor looked at me as she wiped the needle with something that was previously in the middle of my arm.

"Although you are fully conscious and are awake, we don't know when your fever might spark up again. Plus you are not moving around. Plus this will be used just to make sure." She said turning back to whatever she was doing.

I pouted and Kunal came close to me and I wrapped my arms around his neck as he hefted me off the bed.

He made sure I was settled in his arms before he walked me over to the bathroom and he gently plopped me down on the toilet sit and I looked down.

He didn't say anything as he quickly went out the room to fetch whatever and I stared at the bathroom tiles until he came back and locked the door.

I didn't say anything as I followed the daily schedule that I was getting used to where he would help me brush my teeth and take a shower.

He placed whatever he brought inside somewhere and in less than few seconds he was in front of me.

"Time to brush your teeth." He said cutely while closing his eyes and clapping his hands.

I pouted but I took my toothbrush from the toothbrush holder and he helped put on the water in the sink.

He opened the cabinet that was behind the mirror and pulled out the toothpaste.

He took my toothbrush out from my hands, washed it, and then placed some toothpaste on the brush and he handed it to me.

"You're having too much fun with this." I said.

"Just a little." He said while smirking. "Can you do it and do you want me to help?" he said while changing into a serious expression.

I shook my head.

"No need." And I put the toothbrush in my mouth and began scrubbing my teeth with the paste, gently spreading it side to side, flipping the brush so the bristles could clean inside of my teeth, and continued until my mouth filled with spit.

I signaled that I needed to spit and Kunal helped me as I got up and gripped the sink and spit out.

I continued until I finished and Kunal took over and rinsed out my brush and placed everything back into place.

He handed me the mouthwash and I took some, gargled and swish it around for a few minutes before I spit it out into the sink.

Kunal handed me a small cup filled with water and I took some before I handed it back to him; gargled and swished it around in my mouth, and spit it out into the sink.

When I was done Kunal helped me back onto the cover seat of the toilet and I felt as if all the strength in my body was knocked the heck out of me.

Being sick wasn't any fun...despite some of the quirks.

"Stretch out your legs." He said.

I groaned but I did as he directed and he hooked his hands on my waist and slowly pulled down my pants or his pants that I was wearing and it pooled on the floor.

"Arms up." He said in a authoritative voice.

"Yes sir." I joked but I felt myself start to blush, knowing I was sporting solo underneath without any bra but I wanted to take a bath.

Plus you have been naked in front of him so many times that you can't even count...

But still it was embarrassing.

I raised my hands slowly and he pulled the shirt over my head and soon I felt a rush of cool air against my exposed skin and despite my hair falling down to cover some, it didn't cover my breasts so I instinctively crossed my hands across my chest.

"I'm going to pull of your underwear." He said.

I nodded and blushing even more which was really ridiculous.

He gripped his hands at the base of my underwear and he purposely took his time, well it felt like he did, to pull the underwear down my thighs to my legs where it also pooled on the floor.

He picked up the bundle of the clothes and put it in the laundry hamper before he placed his hands around my back and lifted me against his body and I lowered my head.

He chuckled.

"Why do you still have your hands around your chest?" he said with amusement.

"Embarrassing..." I said.

"You are always embarrassed? Why? I have seen you naked more than once and I know your body perfectly so it makes no difference whether you shield it from me." He whispered against my ear.

"You must have been a playboy when you were single." I mumbled.

He chuckled.

"Maybe." He said.

I shook my head and I felt as soon as the warm water touched my skin and I sighed as he submerged me into the water and gently laid me back until my back touched the end of the tub.

I sighed and felt myself slowly submerged into the water.

*****************

She was busy playing with the sponge like a child that found their favorite toy.

I chuckled and shook my head at her and I grabbed the bottle of shampoo and poured some more into my hand, placed it back on the edge of the tub, and continued to lather it through her hair.

I fully ran my hands through her hair, enjoying feeling the silky strands of her hair, and enjoying the scent that was coming from the shampoo that was some type of tropical fruit. I continued and then rinsed it off and then used a conditioner and continue to lather it in her hair and rinsed it off as well.

I drained the water from the tub and poured more water into the tub, making sure the temperature was not too hot or cold but instead warm.

I then began washing her body and she kept on trying to intervene but I stopped her from doing it.

"Shraddha..." I warned.

She pouted.

"I'm not a baby. I'm weak not handicap." She said.

"I know that but you shouldn't waste your energy. Concentrate on getting better." I said and continued in washing her for another ten minutes until I rinsed her off and made sure all the soap was off of her.

I tried as much as I could to concentrate on the task at hand and not to look at her, not to look, not to look, or I was going to respond...

Going to? I was already responding, the pain in my pants was not from pressing against the tub.

I grunted and tried to concentrate but it was hard to ignore her breasts that were bobbing against the surface of the water, her eyes that were bright, and the self-conscious way she kept on biting her lips were making it even harder both literally and figuratively.

I finished and took one of the towels I got for her and wrapped it around her hair to wring it out and carefully wrapping it around her hair so it wouldn't fall down or spill out.

I then took the other and motioned for her to get up and she nodded.

But she was having problems hefting and lifting herself up so instead I drained some of the water, wrapped the towel around her waist and lifted her out of the tub and wrapped the towel securely against her.

I made sure she was secure in my arms before I lifted myself to my full height and walked out to the room and the doctor saw me.

She understood the situation and she nodded and she walked out the room before she closed the door.

I placed Shraddha on the bed and went to get the clothing I placed in the bathroom and brought it out and Shraddha was busy wringing her hair out with the towel and she saw what I was carrying and she scrunched up her expression.

"No." she said.

"Shraddha." I said.

"No...no way. I want to wear my own clothes." She said.

"Shraddha just wear this...this is..."

"No Kunal. I want to wear my own clothes." She said.

"No Shraddha. I gave you my clothes as my clothes are baggier against you. It will give you more room to breathe. You were having problems breathing and your clothing wasn't making it easier for you." I said with concern.

She paused and she pouted.

"You think you're so smart." She said.

I chuckled.

"I don't think Shraddha, I am. How on Earth is my company this successful?" I said while folding my hands across my chest.

She looked up at me and sighed but smiled.

She tossed the towel at me and I caught it and she wrung out her hair that was still damp but she slumped her hands down against her thigh, causing the towel wrapped around her chest to loosen.

"Help me...please...I think I underestimate how much I could do and feel too tired." She said with a weary expression.

I noticed the change immediately and proceeded to get her blow dryer, comb, and brush.

"I will make you look fabulous." I said while winking at her.

She laughed and shook her head.

"You're mad!" she said grinning.

*****************

I put my tie around my neck and lowered it down some and fixed it against my shirt while staring at myself in the mirror.

I then pulled my dress jacket up on my arms and adjusted my tie and shirt, gave a quick look-see in the mirror, smiled and turned back around towards Shraddha.

She was busy sitting on the middle of the bed, sipping on a glass of orange juice while on her iPad as she was looking at whatever.

I smiled even more knowing she was wearing one of my tee shirts along with one of my pants that sagged against her body but it couldn't miss the outline of her body.

Her hair, that I helped her blow dry and comb, was hanging down the front of her shirt while some was behind her back.

She must have heard me move because she looked up from what she was doing and she cracked a smile.

"You look really handsome." She said while blushing.

I smiled.

"Sorry I wanted to stay but Asha is blowing a gasket. She is going to kill me if I don't come into the office as there is an important meeting today that I cannot reschedule. I will try to get home as soon as I can." I said while picking up my briefcase from the couch.

"Take your time. I will still be here...where am I heading off to?" she said begrudgingly.

I shook my head and made sure my phone was fully charged, took it off the charger and put it on loud, and plopped it into my briefcase.

"I'm dropping off Dhruv on my way to school as well." I said while walking towards the bed.

She nodded and I bent down to kiss her on the forehead before I drew away.

I was going to walk away but the look in her eyes had me bend down even lower and placed my lips over her lips and began kissing her..

I slid my lips against hers, soft and gentle, and she pressed her lips against mine drawing out even more of a response from me.

She continued to kiss me and I continued to do so vice versa; feeling my hands grip the base of her head to maintain leverage.

She moaned and I gripped her head even more and she placed her hands on my shoulder and pressed her lips even more against mine.

I could feel my tongue slipped into her mouth and she quickly stroked her tongue against mine and in another second this would not end well.

More so for her than for me...

I drew away from her lips, cutting the kiss just when it was getting more heated.

I got up away from the bed and tried to take a few deep breaths to maintain my sanity and level my breathing and making sure I was a more sane and rationale person that wasn't going to start off where I stopped.

My pants became even tighter and I groaned in frustration and unmet relief.

I sighed.

I stared down at Shraddha and she met my gaze while her face was turning a full bright red.

"Goodbye Shraddha.." I said softly while staring into her eyes.

"Goodbye Kunal..." she said just as softly.

I pulled away before we did something that either was going to cause her more pain and have me completely late for work and Asha completely down my back.

*****************

"Shraddha!" I heard a voice scream.

I was puzzled as I saw my mother, Kittu, and Jaya standing in the doorway.

Both Kittu and mama's faces were drawn in concern while Jaya was looking around for something.

I smiled.

After Kunal left and after maa ji came to give me breakfast and I smiled and thanked her and she nodded.

She told me she had to visit one of her friends as there were an emergency she was needed for but she insisted for me to call for help if needed.

But more so it seems she probably called my family to help.

I smiled even more so.

Maa ji was a complete mystery on whether she really liked me, hated me, or was just in between.

Whatever it was, it was obvious she had a soft spot for me more than she realized.

I smiled at that.

Never thought I could slowly win maa ji but it was working.

"Shraddha..." Kittu said with worry as she rushed towards my bed.

Mama came as well while Jaya slowly took her time before she entered the room.

My mother came on the other side where my arm was attached to the IV drip, Kittu sitting on the other side by my right hand, while Jaya kept a good distance from my bed.

"Dear..." my mother said while cupping my face with both of her hands.

I smiled at her and gripped my hands on hers.

"How...why...when did you know?" I said.

"Mom called when you were unconscious and papa ji was upset she didn't tell us when you initial had fallen sick." Kittu said.

"Where is papa?" I said while looking around.

"Downstairs." Mama said smiling.

I looked at her puzzled.

"Why?" I said.

Mama laughed.

"He is insisting on trying to warm up something he made at home...I don't know something that he used to make for you when you used to get sick." Mama said laughing.

I smiled and it eventually turned into a frown.

"Sorry...I didn't tell you mama, Kittu, or even papa, or anyone else. I just didn't want to concern you guys since you have to worry about Malika right now..." I trailed on.

Before I could finished Kittu grabbed my hand and I turned to her as a frown came across her features.

"That isn't right Shraddha. So you're saying just because you aren't in the same home with us that we aren't going to worry about you just as equally?" Kittu said.

I looked at her and there was disappointment and hurt in her expression and I grabbed her hand and shook my head.

"No, I didn't mean it like that Kittu its just that Malika is in a critical stage right now and everyone is stress. She needs you guys around...with me I have Kunal, maa ji, and papa ji so I'm fine. But without you guys...you know where Malika comes from." I said silently.

Kittu nodded.

"I understand Shraddha but you are still my didi, my best friend, so I won't allow you to ever hide anything from me and more importantly from mama or papa ji...promise?" she said with a small smile.

I smiled and I could hear mama chuckle.

I looked at mama and she was smiling and she nodded along with Kittu and I smiled and I looped my hands in either hands of mama and Kittu.

"Ugh...why did I have to come along..." Jaya murmured.

The momement between Kittu, mama, and I was broken as soon as Jaya made the statement and I sighed.

"Mama ji I don't want to get sick. Why did I have to come here? There was no purpose." Jaya complained.

"What are you complaining for, its not like you do much at home either way." A deep voice said.

We looked up and saw papa and a servant carrying a small bowl of something while his face was etched in concern and worry until he saw me.

The servant spread a folding bed table in front of me and placed the bowl of something that was hot and steaming.

The next handed me a spoon and a glass of water before excusing himself out of the room.

I smiled at the food bought and inwardly shuddered and groan.

It was suppose to be chicken soup...or some type of soup???

This was the one thing I never told papa about.

I loved how he always used to dote on me after my real mother passed away, especially when I was sick and he tried to make the same soup my real mother used to make...

But he couldn't cook.

At all.

Not even a little bit.

I could never break his heart and tell him that it was absolutely horrible and I could get even more sick from eating it but I just prayed to God for me not to die, swallow down my fear, and just eat it all while smiling and praising the similarity of the meal towards my real mother's soup.

It was the one thing he was proud he could cook.

It was the only thing he convinced himself that HE COULD COOK!

"Papa..." I said smiling despite my thoughts and the fear that was starting to bubble in my stomach.

Kittu released my hands and I looked at her and she nodded towards papa for him to sit by me and he smiled at Kittu before he settled himself on the bed next to me.

"How is my princess doing? Are you okay?" papa said.

I smiled and nodded.

Papa placed his hands in mine and he shook his head at something.

"Can't believe that woman didn't even tell us you were sick." He said with disappointment.

Mama chuckled next to me.

"Colonel, please put aside the past and focus on Shraddha." Mama said.

My father looked past me towards mama.

"Madam, I am putting aside the past, I'm trying the hardest to keep the image I dance with that woman out my mind. I think she hid my daughter being sick just to get back at me because of that incident." Papa said.

"There is no way colonel; you are thinking way too much that incident." Mama said while trying to contain her laughter.

I smiled.

"But papa ji, what sense does it makes for you guys to know? Shraddha is married now and her role is in her in-laws. What purpose does it make for her to keep coming back home with her problems?" Jaya suddenly said.

"Jaya, papa and mama ji have right to worry. Just because a child gets set to their in-laws doesn't mean the connection gets erased. Its still connected so there is no worries about whether she is going back to her maayka with her problems. What's wrong with that?" Kittu said.

I smiled at Kittu as she said so in a more leveled and understanding voice than a scolding or argumentative tone.

"But didi...they were attacking auntie's decision on not telling them. Its not right. Plus she is your mother and you're not defending her? It's not right." Jaya said while shaking her head.

"Jaya we are not attacking Kamini, we just wished that we knew what was wrong with Shraddha that is all. Of course Shraddha's no longer just a daughter, she is a mother, wife, and a daughter-in-law but it doesn't matter what her role changes into...she is always foremost our daughter." Mama said smiling.

I smiled as I stared at mama.

"Are you going to just sit there and just smile and stare or are you going to eat your soup. I kind of skipped breakfast this morning and currently, really, really hungry." Kittu said while rubbing her stomach and trying to dispel the tensed atmosphere.

"No way." I said but inside I wanted to just give it to her so I could avoid it.

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