FF: Love, Cherish me ~~ Epilogue ~~ - Page 13

Dark Clouds

At long last the lovebirds left their room to go to Ma and set everything straight, holding hands. Ever since their confession they couldn't seem to stop touching each other, it was like they needed physical contact as an assurance it was no illusion. As they drew close, Bihaan saw the doctor talking to Balwinder outside Ma's room; Please god don't let anything happen to Ma... he dropped Thapki's hand and ran.

"It's very good, Balwinderji" the doctor was smiling, " whatever has happened is very good, Vasundharaji seems to find a reason and will to live, keep the atmosphere up its very beneficiary to Vasundharaji's health, she will be back to being strong within few days" He nodded approvingly.

Bihaan expelled a breath of relief and took Thapki's hand again as they entered the room while Balwinder left with Doctor to see him to the door.

A surprising sight welcomed them. Dhruv was holding Vasu's hand in both hands and sitting on a chair beside her bed. Vasu had tears of joy in her eyes. Since the big revelation Dhruv's relation with Vasu was so strained he couldn't even look at his mother while talking to her...Bihaan looked at Thapki who looked equally baffled... looked like mother-son finally patched up.

Vasu saw them and exclaimed, "Bihaan, my sona puttar...come here at once" she extended both her arms at him and Bihaan went to her arms. If she saw them holding hands she didn't give any reaction.

"You have made me so happy beta, you and Thapki both with your decisions"

How does Ma knows we have decided to stay together? Bihaan wondered.

"Woh Balwinderji ne bataya k you agreed with me regarding Dhruv-Thapki marriage..."

Oh she doesn't know about our decision yet, then why is she so happy? A feeling of dread began to creep up Bihaan's spine. He cleared his throat.. "Haan ma I wanted to talk about that---"

"And Dhruv ne bataya Thapki told him she can't wait to marry him..."

WHAT THE...Bihaan looked at Thapki who was vigorously shaking her head.

"Nahi, Nahi, Nahi I didn't say anything such" Thapki vehemently denied.

" Haan Ma, Thapki didn't exactly say she couldn't wait to marry me..in fact she was so shy, she ran away ---Don't worry Thapki... there is no rush...after you get legally separated from Bihaan...you take your time and when you feel it's right only then we will be together..." Dhruv finished shyly with a smile and left the room.

This is bad! Very very bad!Bihaan and Thapki thought in panic.

"Today you have given me the greatest gift of my life. You have returned me my son Dhruv" Vasu kissed Bihaan's forehead...I thought I have no more reason to live then you gave me the greatest reason...and I am indebted to you forever, my child."

"But Ma, there is a misunderstanding, I have to tell you Thapki and I are in--" Bihaan tried to say. But Vasu's hold on Bihaan's hands became vice like, she looked at him with crazed eyes and cut off his words "KOI MISUNDERSTANDING NAHI HAI Bihaan, everything is going perfectly...how it is supposed to be..."

It was like Vasu knew what Bihaan was going to say and purposefully not letting him speak.

Thapki said, "Please Ma listen to Bihaan this once---"

Vasu insisted " Kuch nahi sunna mujhe..."

Bihaan was looking flabbergasted at Vasu...He got it...his motibuddhi finally registered...Ma knew..she knew he loved Thapki but still wanted to separate them...just to make Dhruv happy...as if his feelings were only important...Bihaan and his feelings had no importance.

Ma how can you do this?...Ma why don't you love me?.. How can you be so cruel to me? Bihaan wondered incredulously...he couldn't stop a tear sliding down his cheek.

Thapki looked at her husband looking like a kitten who had just been kicked. She had realised what was going on too...

At that moment Preity and Suman entered with juice for Ma. Vasu continued "I have asked Changu Mangu to help you pack and move to Kiran's room Thapki beta. Now that you are promised to Dhruv it is not appropriate to stay in another man's room. It's not decent beta" She said with a smile.

That 'another man' is my husband you Cruella! Thapki's mind screamed.

Thapki could feel her husband's heart breaking... hear the sound of it getting crushed into pieces... Bihaan quietly got up and left the room.

Preity and Suman Bhabi looked sadly at Thapki and Bihaan both of whom were looking staggered and sad; they were so sure Thapki-Bihaan loved each other ...then what the hell was happening??

Before Thapki could follow him out Vasu detained her saying something unimportant...When she finally got free she ran...she could hear Bihaan's motorcycle...she ran to balcony to see dust flying and her husband disappearing...

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12: 47 A.M Front Corridor, Pandey Nivas

Where is he? Why hasn't he returned home...it's so late...Just let him come I will kill him. Buddhu didn't even take his mobile with him... Uff...Where are you Baby??

Thapki was pacing along the corridor in front of main door and checking the time in her mobile every 1 minute. She was worried for Bihaan when he left in such state, but as time passed worry had turned into frustration and now into anger...

Balwinder couldn't sleep. He was feeling ominous with all what was going on in his family...he got up to drink water and saw the downstairs lights on; he went to investigate.

"Thapki betiya, what are you doing here so late at night?"

"Bauji, Bihaan hasn't come home yet, its almost 1 a.m. " Thapki said fidgeting. The poor girl looked distraught.

"Aa jayega woh...He must have got stuck into some work, just call him betiya"

"Bauji, aapka beta didn't take his m-mobile, he is so irresponsible, b-buddhu kahika. Only god knows where is h-he , what he is doing...He didn't have l-lunch and now it's so late at night---" Thapki said as she checked her mobile again.

Bauji looked at the worried girl in front of him, her feelings for her husband transparent in her face; then why the hell she agreed to marry Dhruv? Even Bihaan... why he agreed to let her go? What was going on? He didn't get these youngsters of nowadays...they were so complicated...he needed to talk to Bihaan about it ASAP. He couldn't talk to the worried girl about it right now. She looked on the verge of collapse...

"Don't worry, he will come home any minute I am sure" saying that he left. Thapki's anger had now turned into fear and alarm...what if her motibuddhi did something silly ?...No she wouldn't think anything like that, it was too soon to panic.... She panicked.

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Chapter - 9 Selfish