Anchored Tempest - Page 18

Deb’s overtures & DNA

“Both your cases, have all the dox ready and I don’t see any proposal or or any details of what was charged back and why” Sen mumbled flipping through the edge of the sheaf of papers

“Everything has been loaded digitally to your sharepoint folder Sen”

He looked up at her irritated

“So no copies required huh?”

“Didn’t u say last month during the Nigam case we need to do one or the other?”

“But when you had 100s of receipts… not in straight forward cases like this one” he tapped distractedly looking into his phone

“So u want paper dox for straight forward and dox loaded to sharepoint for where the dispute is more than just room billing?”

She was subtly mocking him

There was 500 manuals for every step

Everything was written by lawyers they were just the backroom coolies for disputes

“Umm” he looked up

“We have process documents, I have to pull in legal if you change form”

“U know what? Forget it” he smiled nervously

“OK”

“How is your child?” he bat his eyelid conciliatorily

“Hes umm.. hes OK”

“How do u like the new flat?” he smiled again much to her shock

“Small win Mrunal don’t fight it le le yaar” her mind warned

“Its good” she mumbled inaudibly

She didn’t go into detail of literally running into the father of her child, 10 years since the romp in the hay

“Arey u shud be happy” he chuckled

“Umm..” she looked out the room

She needed to inform him for the housing loan, she had requested him to keep it confidential

She didn’t need any drama from her coworkers

It was a large department of over 100

She couldn’t invite everyone… and who knows who knew Amruta and Sagar

Her phone buzzed as if on cue

She pressed down on it with her fingers

“Is it a new house?” Deb was curious

“Yeah like I can afford a new demolished-reconstructed Chembur penthouse” she thought

There were many all over the city, the price was usually in multiple crores

“No… no” she said shifting uneasily hoping to leave the torture chamber

“Let me know what house warming gift u want” he smiled again

“OK NOW this is creepy” she thought

He was married with two kids

Why all of a sudden such interest in my life?

Did he spot me without contacts someplace?”

“Umm.. he probably saw your original badge picture u idiot”

“I have everything” she lied

This was a rough morning for her, Jai wanted to return to Bandra

She did too

The furniture delivery was going to be delayed

They felt just as terrified with the wind whistling in the toilet like they did the nights before, Friday and Sat

He didn’t want to go to school

CanyonOak wanted more documentation of financial stability

Best of all Aatreya Rao had told her yesterday (in yet another unannounced visit) that he preferred a “no lawyer path”

She had tried to argue as she fought a headache

Sleeping on dhurries and blankets was no fun at all, and fearing for your life was no fun either, …………….. Plus the monster fears

neck hurt brain hurt… Jaidrith knocked out usually around 11 AM or Noon both days, Sat and Sunday. He was asleep when Lynn showed up after her text

Lynn had laughed when she had texted her on Sunday AM “Is there paranormal activity in the flat”

She had stopped by after oiling her hair and told her in person there was no ghosts

She would later mention it to Aatreya and he would be puzzled by it

“Why would she say that?” he questioned

“Who knows man!!” “She always seems jumpy and nervous” “I have never ever seen her smile or laugh”

“How many times have u met her?” he asked amused hiding his irritation

“Chhod na” Mendy signaled his wife to let go

“U want to go see my place?” he invited Lynn

“If its big and beautiful I don’t want to see it” she whined

“Isko aas paas koi jhopar patti dikhaane ka” Mendy suggested

“Its not big but its comfy”

“U sound like the SM influencers in the US who live on 10K sq ft ranches and say its comfy” Lynn accused

“K” “I am not gonna say a word” “Zipp”

He was going to lease a really nice 1,500 sq ft apartment, in Khar West, overlooking the gymkhana and had a wrap around balcony and a pocket terrace

“Three bedroom Mendyyy” Lynn scowled longingly

“Chal tujhe le deta hai, next month” Mendy laughed

He worked for some Retail Consumer Research company, did not make much

The flat was left to him by his parents when they moved to South Maharashtra

Lynn sighed audibly

“I could switch with you” Aatreya offered

“Yeh to kar lega bheedu” Mendy waved the spatula as he stirred the chicken gravy

“Did u prove u are the Dad?” Lynn accused

“Umm.. no… I read a lot about it” Aaatreya nodded

“Sunday lunch ke baad main aur atty lawyer search mein jaayega” Mendy laughed

“Tell her no” Lynn urged

“She is right don’t spring a lawyer notice on her mannn”

Aatreya nodded thoughtfully

He walked over to Mrunalini Ghatge’s apartment

She was in the shower, Jai had learned how to open the door and he did and invited Aatreya in and Aatreya was showing him how to do a smiley face with darts on the wall and a frowny face

Mrunalini was scared out of her wits when she saw him sprawled on the floor having a dart gun fight with Jaidrith

“DHRUUU” she jumped

Aatreya sat up his eyes roving over her fully clad form

A towel wrapped snugly around her head

“You should ring the bell”

“U think I broke in?” he got up

“Aai

Tyānē malā FACES kasē banavāyacē tē dākhavalē” (He showed me how to make faces)

“OK… can u go finish homework” she ordered

“Aaaiii”

“Tō anōḷakhī āhē” she whispered in his ear (he is a stranger) Punhā kadhīhī dwāra ughaḍū nakā (never ever open the door again)

She gently guided him to the bedroom

She looked fearful and agitated when she came out

“Was the door open?” she panicked

“He opened it”

“Unbolted it?” she was almost in tears

“He has seen me yesterday”

“Why are you here”

“To tell you I am NOT going to seek legal help, we need to talk” he said with a sigh

He looked great she noticed in his Sunday “casuals” jeans and some striped cotton shirt folded at the elbows

“I have to change… I don’t want to talk about it”

“I can wait outside u can shut the door, but we need to talk when I come back in later” he said reasonably

This was just too much for her

“I don’t know who you are, I don’t know if you are legit, I am not going to accept you are the Dad because you are saying so” she said in spurts

“That’s exactly what I wanted to talk about… there are 100s of DNA labs in Mumbai we can… I can volunteer for a paternity test”

She stared blankly

“We need Jaidrith… for it” he continued

Then saw the jolt of terror in her eyes

“WHYYY?” she demanded

“To prove he is mine”

“Not expecting financial compensation should make you happy, why do you need…”

“You shouldn’t decide what makes me happy” he said trying not to lose his cool

“He is MINE” “I will” she stood her ground

Oh oh……Mrunal is flipping out🤗 I don’t blame her. She was never looking for Atty, only he couldn’t forget her❤️

I hope she is able to deal w her emotions and general resistance to change. All that’s missing to make a bigger mess would be her dad showing up.

I think Mrinal would reconcile that Atty is Dad only when she analyses situation from Dhruv’s perspective.

Until then she will shield everything.

He insecurities run deep.

Wish there was way atty could figure this out.

Originally posted by: kalavathi5

Oh oh……Mrunal is flipping out🤗 I don’t blame her. She was never looking for Atty, only he couldn’t forget her❤️

I hope she is able to deal w her emotions and general resistance to change. All that’s missing to make a bigger mess would be her dad showing up.

Oh my! This is POETIC!! 👏👏

A paternity test will be hard to avoid now. Mrunal just has to accept that and go along. She is skittish but Atty does need to do this.

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“What should I say?” she begged Sameena

Pacing the room like a mad woman

“You think he could be his?”

Mrunalini did not answer

She had made use of Deb’s sudden niceness to check out a couple hours early Monday afternoon and ran over to Sameena’s

“I don’t want to share him… he must have a wife and kids and such right? Why does he need MY kid?”

Sameena swallowed awkwardly

There was an innocence in Mrunalini that was almost scary

“He has amazing friends, why does he need MY kid?”

Mrunal looked for reassurance as if Sameena would wave a wand and make Aatreya magically disappear

“If you prove Jaidrith is not his, he will just go away na?” Sameena offered

Mrunal hated the idea

Her gut told her Aatreya is never going away

“Can I offer him money?”

“Mrunal I am telling you prove it to him”

“I could even sell the flat u know”

“Mrunal…. Shhhh shhhh” she stood up walked over and gave hera hug

“U are shaking just sit for a bit”

Zaira peeked “Kuch laaoon?”

“Ammi Chai and paani”

“Sure beta”

“He could take the whole goddamn flat” Mrunal mumbled

“U don’t even have to give that to him if he is not Aatreya’s child”

“It was a stupid summer fling, u know I was different back then” Mrunal smiled wistfully, letting her mind free roll images from the past

“I can tell” Sameena chuckled sitting by her

“I partied like the world was ending”

“Nice”

“Yeah Amruta Hemang, Manas, Neelesh, Shaurya, his GF Rashi” “Every elite party in town we were there, I wore a bralet for a blouse even before it was famous” Mrunal loosened up laughing out loud

“I was skinny… and what guys would say HOT” Mrunall did air quotes

“You are not 80 now… or 50… or 40” Sameena comforted her

“I wear SAREE to office” Mrunal was suddenly very ashamed

“Ammi wears too”

“Exactly” Mrunal cracked up again

“I met him 3 weekends in a row in Lonavala” Mrunal stared out the window

“Hmm”

“Ive told u this before”

“Hmm”

“I was wearing a leafy blue-green bikini.. I mean IMAGINE going to a party just wearing that”

Sameena realized she did have incredibly low self esteem if she did these antics in her early 20s

“My eyes popped I think, with the color”

“Hmm”

“He said something memorable… I cannot remember” she sighed

Sameena held her breath and waited for the admission

“The se—l chemistry was stratospheric” Mrunal lowered her gaze self consciously

Sameena urged her to agree for the test, explaining how it would be cheaper and safer, and how it automatically doesn’t mean the kid would be abducted

She realized she was not making a dent with Mrunal

She left to go pick up Jaidrith after the tea

The furniture was delayed

They approached the flat with trepidation

Night time was scary

She changed the light bulb in the toilet to a 120W or something and left it on and the door open

Made besan sheera for Jai

He had a terrible day at school

Didn’t want to go back he said

Strangely the nurse had not called her

He had broken out into hives on his left arm after accidentally putting his elbows on a unclean lunch table that might have had kaju burfi crumbs

His arm was still full of welts

She realized the school had texted her about giving Benadryl

When she didn’t respond they had called an left a message and eventually given him a smaller dose

She gave him his prescription allergy meds

She was afraid Aatreya would show up any minute without announcement

Mother and son took showers and she ate whatever she could from the housewarming leftovers and went to the pillow mountain they had in the living room

Around midnight when they both could not sleep due to the toilet light being on they shifted to the bedroom and shut and bolted the door

And crashed… unaware and unafraid of monsters

The alarm went off at 6 AM

They both were jolted out of their wits, scrambled to get ready to head out

Endless arguing about what to eat and how much

This kid drove her insane

But he looked really cute in the uniform she realized

“Why cant I wear contacts?” he yelled

“Because they require skills to wear and remove you will pull ur eyeball out”

“I get mocked for being a GIRL” he shouted

“They are stupid” Mrunal knotted his real tie, not the fake pin ones at his school

“If I wear black contacts no one will know

“Like mother like son… run and hide, run and hide” she mumbled under her breath

“I am NOT running OK” he shouted

“DHRU… shhhh” “Mee tujhee aai aahe” (I am your mother)

“Its NO for everything”

He had asked her if he can learn how to make a smiley face from Lynn’s “husband” LOL!

Jaidrith assumed he was Lynn’s husband

She had told him she would teach him instead

“Yes to protect you” she said

As Aatreya walked up the steps, checking his phone messages…

She had tied her wet hair in a high ponytail as she slapped lipstick

Jaidrith read his anime without the sense of urgency, he did this thing where he traced his thumbnail with his index finger when he concentrated

Yep… that’s what he was doing

Hadnt packed his lunch, hadn’t done anything

“DHRU… tu tayar ka hot naahees? (why are u not getting ready?)

“Mmmm” that’s it

Doorbell

“DHRUUU Dwaar ghya” (get the door)

“Mmmm”

He sat

She opened it huffing

Aatreya stood reading an email running his index finger over his thumbnail

Please don’t stop here Nisha ….. oru bonus today

Imagining Imaginary

He was dressed for “success” she realized like the people that buzzed in and out of the resort hotel she worked at. In navy pants and a white and red bold stripe shirt

His damp hair was parted to the left side

“Hi” he muttered tentatively

The lady across the hall had her wood door open she stood behind the gate and watched with interest

“We are late for school” she whispered trying to be inaudible

“I understand… this will only take a minute” he whispered back he felt the eyes on his back

“Are you going to show me smiley faces?” Jaidrith was up like a rocket ship flying to the door

“Hi!” he nodded

“Aai… tu rahanara aahes ka?” (are u going to stay?) he asked his Mom instead

“Mala ase vaatat nahi” (I do not think so) Mrunal whispered

“’Just one time… one time?” he begged

Mrunal unlocked the creaky gate bolt in frustration

And stepped far back and shut the door when she felt the woman still standing

“Yes?”

Aatreya noticed she looked a little more composed and rested today

“I have a card of the place not too far from here, they will have the results in 3 days”

“Don’t you have your own family?” “U are so eager why?” she quizzed not taking the card

“I don’t” he said after a pause “If u have a husband you can let him know”

“Umm. “

“Or ur parents?”

She panicked the look of terror coming upon her face instantaneously

“I don’t want to go anywhere” she peeked at the card with a side eye

The flat smelled like him, fresh and clean, overpowering the feminine soap scent that wafted through the bathroom door and the astringent odor when she tried to kill a pimple under her left earlobe

“I have to keep coming back for this then” he said firmly but in a whisper again

Jaidrith appeared with two massive dart guns and a bag of about 100 darts

“Now?”

Aatreya went on his knees and took those from him

“I have to go to work… how about we do this in the evening?” he whispered feeling the boy’s cheek

“Today? Huh? Today? Aaai Malā śhaāḷētūna lavakara ucalatā yē'īla kā? (pick me up from school early?)

“Dhru… nakko Āpalyākaḍē vijñānāta dākhavā āṇi sāṅgā” (u have show and tell in science) SCIENCE she repeated that word in English

“I HATE school” his eyes immediately filled up with tears

“Can we do this in the weekend?” she begged

“Playdate or appointment?” he asked looking up at her

She swallowed “Neither”

“You… tumhala mulam aahet ka?” (do u have kids?) he asked in chaste Marathi to the stranger

Aatreya looked up at her again

“Can I play with your kids?” jaidrith explained cutely

“U can” Aatreya nodded happily

“They are my best friends?” Jaidrith wanted reassurance

He had zero friends. He wanted to be best friends with kids that did not exist

“I think so too” Aatreya held his tiny hands and squeezed them

Mrunal was on the verge of losing it

Aatreya was baffled how in the world such an adorable blue eyed boy… literally blue eyed boy had no friends?

Crazy!!

“Dhruuuu… apala nashta poorna kara (eat ur brkfast)

Mrunal broke the love fest

Jaidrith’s shoulders slumped as he ambled back to the bedroom to bring his plate

“The clinic is open Saturdays… u can bring ur parents or sibling” he said in a whisper

“Hmm” she reluctantly accepted the card

“I can give you my number” he waited

This was going to be yet another battle

He could have easily gotten it from Lynn but he played by the rules always

“Does your wife and kids know?” she asked earnestly

He tried not to smile, she didn’t remember anything… she didn’t relax she didn’t smile… she was never trusting

He had to remind himself so he didn’t get angry about it

“I am not married” he repeated

“Must be like me” she realized wondering how many half siblings Jaidrith was going to get

“Hope its two” “I bet they have no allergies and they are all well behaved and not naughty or mischievous and not socially awkward”

As she imagined his imaginary kids he let himself out

I just posted Jas... sorry I took a loong afternoon nap

One of my personal bests 🤣

Thank you for early morning update Nisha.