Mothers & Marriages
She got better went back to work the next week, did not call him everyday like most engaged people do. He might have been busy too, Over the weekend he checked on how she was doing and if he could come see her
She told him she had family visiting, Anil Chachu and Garima Bhabhi showed up to check on Dadu and Dadi
They found out from Bua that Viveka is betrothed so to speak and fought with Anil as to why they were not told, why Anil was not Akash's favorite, and why Akash pushed Anil away so cruelly
Dadi added fuel to the fire as usual
“Bohot paise waale hain, us din hamari Biveka ke liye kam se kam 10, 20 hajaar ka samaan ek tokri mein bheja raha ladka”
“Kahan se pakda Bhabhi? Garmia asked enviously
“Pakda nahi Garima, Savi Bua ke ghar dekha usne isko aur shaayad propose kar diya”
It could have been left at that
But nope
Dadi had ti butt in
“Us din khaane pe bulaaya isne unko Ma to AAYI NAHI, bas bada ladka aur pita.. baat to bade karenge ki nahi?”
If she was not related to Dadi Anu could have done something bad
But she grit her teeth and just continued to spread clothes to dry in the balcony off the twins’ room
“Love marriage hai kya bhabhi?” Garima was nosy
“Umm.. love to pata nahi”
“Arey Anu… Garima devraani hai, kehti kyon nahi” Dadi was suddenly all about Rishta parivar and such
“Garima hamey Harshu bataye raha ki aisa bhi kuch hai”
“Of course” Anu turned away exasperated
“OHHHH LOVE MARRIAGE hai Bhabhi” Garima was suddenly satisfied with the math of it
“Theek hai devrani jethani mein muqabla theek hai koi koi baat mein, par jab bachon ke maamle mein” Dadi explained rules of conduct
“Ma GARIMA se kya muqabla?” Anu laughed
Garima worked as a private school teacher
“Haan aap sahi keh rahe ho” Garima mumbled
“Chhoti hai, iske to dono bete hain,” Anu stacked all of Garima’s advantages
But of course MIL made everything toxic
Garima some how felt she was less
“Aap bas yeh keh rahe ho main aapke barabar kin ahi na” she began to cry
Anu was absolutely shocked
“Arey kya keh rahi ho?”
“Bhabhi aapka makaan yaha dilli mein itna bada hai, aap bahar desh jaate rehte ho, bache aapke sab English bolte hain”
“Garima”
Dadi hugged Garima and led her to Naina’s room
“what the hell just happened?” she looked at Akash who stopped by asking her where his car keys were
Akash chased after his mother angrily
She grabbed him and pulled him into the master bedroom
Viveka was drying her hair in the master bath
She heard everything that was being narrated
She stepped out with a smile
“I am happy this thing is bringing out the best in all of us” she mumbled sneezing again because of the wet hair
Anu was ashamed
“You know how it is” she chuckled feeling Viveka’s forehead
“See what one hottie does to all of us?” she smiled hugging her mother
Akash sat in bed and leaned back with a sigh
“Main Monday ki chhutthi kar leta hoon, tum jao office”
“Arey nahi I haven’t taken much time off this year” Anu responded
“Do it after everyone leaves” he griped
“Iski shaadi ke baad hoga” Anu handed her a hair brush
“Kab karni hai beta batao” he teased bringing up the calendar on his ipad and turning it around to show
She got butterflies and fireflies in her stomach..
Physically emotionally he shook her each time “Theres this boy” the insta quote came to mind
“I have 4 classes tomorrow, then I will go to the DU Library and then be home by 8 ish”
“Gaadi finally theek ho chuki hai, lekar jaaogi?” Akash shook the keys
“No Papa, Metro le loongi
“Are you wearing one of those hand crafted sarees?”
“Or maybe something simple until the cough goes away?” she laughed
“Kab karogi shaadi?” Akash smiled
“I DON’T KNOW… I have to talk to him” she found herself blushing
Anything about him sent her heart rate soaring
“Kis baare mein?” Akash teased
“We never really got to… umm.. talking about some things” she mumbled not saying Naina
Akash noticed the sudden severity in expression
“Sometimes you don’t want the MIL in the picture beta, see what my mother is doing?” he laughed hysterically
He assumed Viveka was worried about Smrita
“You are so awful Papa”
“Akash… DOOSRE kamre mein hain Anil aur Garima”
“Sorry yaar I had to get it out of my system”
Monday came and went, she had an awkward meeting with Abhishek to get the article
He didn’t insist on chai she didn’t either
Tuesday Raanav asked if she would be willing to meet for lunch, she told him she was teaching
He met her outside the camus as she was about to take an auto to the Metro station
They went to the nearest coffee shop in Saket
“How many paperbacks have you read?” he asked with a big grin
He always looked good enough to eat she realized
Better than any fudge brownie or gulabjamun
Dressed in slate blue pants and a whitish cotton shirt with almost faded navy sprinkles
He was not happy her voice was only back 30% ish
“Not one” she smiled
“Ah” he nodded
“Just don’t bring it on the honeymoon” he watched her color climb
“U are just afraid I might compare notes”
“I will give you the real deal for that” he muttered silkily talking about the Ka---tra
“I like words” she whispered
“Thanks” he took it as a compliment since he was a lawyer
“Nobody knows what we are upto” she whispered staring around
“I don’t care” he leaned, his elbows on the table his chin resting on the back hands
“Do you think we can be happy long term?” she asked softly with her signature composure
His eyes registered the shock of the change in topic
“I do” he said firmly
“Tumhe kaise lagta hai yeh baat?” she asked looking into his big brown eyes
“Gut?” she asked trying to not look too deep into his eyes
“I try not to be swept away by cognitive illusions Viveka” “Gut can betray you, (so I usually rely on) material support, gathering data”
“A lawyer and a statistician” she chuckled
“Laugh at me” he goaded her his nostrils flaring with mischief
“Mujhe lagta hai…” she lowered her gaze
He reached out and tried to grab her hand
She trembled with a “Uffff” and allowed it after a quick struggle
“You are very bad on my emotional and physical health” she chuckled
“Is this about Naina?” he asked grimly
She looked up at him startled
“I see how you struggle to afford her any compassion Raanav I cannot squeeze it out of you”
“so it is about Naina” he leaned back with her held hand
“I don’t know a clear thorn free path”
“If I apologize to you will it help”
“Pata nahi” she groaned
“is there something else on your mind?”
“My parents are afraid to approach the topic with your parents, they feel your mom is not on board, I am part of a close knit almost joint family Raanav” “I know its our life, we shouldn’t be worried about who loves us and who hates us, but for my parents its important I go to a family, or marry a man who mother doesn’t hate me”
“she doesn’t hate you” he bristled defensively
“You can be generous” she nodded matter of fact
He expression stiffened
She gently pulled her hand away
“I don’t know how I can imagine a life with you and visualize a situation where I don’t even talk to her”
Their coffee arrived
“We should get married and she will eventually come around” he said firmly
“that’s a bad way to start”
“It’s the only way”
“Does she think I will leave you alone in a year or two?”
His face colored
“Oh” “I I cant… I wont be able to do that” she stuttered
“thanks” he nodded overcome with emotion, his stormy eyes conveying what he thought about a meaningless quick marriage
“the longer we talk about this the more pointless it will be, lets get married, things will fall into place” he enticed her
How can she say no to those eyes
“When I argued with you in Bua’s library I wondered what you would look like if you went after something passionately”
“Now you know” he whispered flashing his perfect smile
“Is the deal called off if we don’t have my Mom’s approval?” he asked intently
“Would you be able to do get married with out her?” she tossed it back to him
“I would” he said firmly
Edited by Nisha0604 - 3 years ago
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