Hi friends ... Sorry ...for the long gap in updating ... was kinda busy with office & home ... đł!
Here's the next part ... hope you will all like it ! đ
"If it concerned only you, I don't need to know anything", replied Prithvi shortly and went his way.
Meera made a face at his retreating back and thought how irritating he could be !
Part 17...
Datha & Meera left the haveli at the crack of dawn. Meera was as excited as a child, she couldn't believe she was taking her father to Delhi, how happy her mother would be!
She linked her hand through her father's and placed her cheek on his shoulder. Datha looked at her and smiled indulgently. Soon she dozed off and Datha covered her with her shawl.
She woke with a start when car stopped with a jerk. They had stopped at a wayside restaurant for breakfast. After a quick breakfast, they resumed their journey.
Datha had so many questions to ask her about their life in Delhi. He wanted to know about their home, their neighbors, and their jobs. He was eager to meet Akash and his parents.
Meera laughingly answered all his questions, she could see most of all he was excited to meet her mother.
"I can't believe the three of us are going to be together from now on", she smiled.
"Only till you get married and leave us" teased her father.
"Well, Prithvi's house is not far off you know, I'd come over to see you two everyday".
"I was talking about your marriage with Akash", said her father looking at her with a slight smile.
Meera looked at her father shocked, what on earth was she thinking?
How could she forget she was going to get married to Akash?
She went red in the face, "I was just joking", she ended lamely.
Datha looked at his daughter keenly, clearly she was uncomfortable. That set him thinking.
"Speaking of Akash, when do you think we should meet his parents?
"I'll talk to Akash first, then we'll fix up a time" she replied evasively.
"Do you think they would have any reservations in meeting us?" asked her father astutely.
"No", she laughed nervously. "Why should they?"
"Right", Datha smiled at her reassuringly.
Meera felt relieved that her father bought her explanation.
But she was worried, how would Akash's parents react? More importantly, how would Akash react? When he spoke to her he didn't seem too convinced that her child marriage would not affect their relationship in any way.
Just then the driver interrupted her to ask some directions. Thankfully she concentrated on directing him to her house.
Finally they parked in from of her house, her heart was racing in anticipation of seeing the joy on her mother's face when she took her father to her.
The door was open and Meera raced inside calling out "Mama ⌠Mama I'm home âŚ. And look who's here ?"
"Miu!" she heard her mother's joyful shout.
Sudha came hurrying out of the kitchen, "You did even let me know âŚ" she stopped in her tracks on seeing Datha in the hall.
Her jaw dropped and she felt the room spinning around her. She swayed and immediately Datha was by her side supporting her.
Sudha clutched his arm and looked at him with tears streaming down her cheeks.
Meera saw that her father was crying too as he hugged her closely.
She quietly tip-toed out of the room so that they could have some privacy. She went into her room and sprawled on her bed, it felt good to back in her room again.
After freshening up, she went into the kitchen and brewed some fresh coffee. Carrying the coffee and some biscuits in a tray she went to the living room.
She stood for a moment taking in the scene in front of her.
Her parents were sitting on the sofa with her father holding her mother closely.
She smiled through her tears and said with mock sternness, "Don't you think you two should behave a little more respectably now?"
Her mother jumped at her voice and tried to move away with embarrassment writ large on her face. But Datha just laughed and hugging her closer signaled Meera join the hug.
A beaming Meera set the tray down and went up to her parents hugging both of them. Datha & Sudha pulled Meera in between them and hugged her.
"Thank you dear, but for you we would not have seen this day", said Datha kissing his daughter on the head.
Her mother kissed her too and with tears in her eyes, "Miu, how can we ever repay you for this ?"
Meera pretended to consider this and said "By baking your fabulous chocolate cake for tea today".
"Of course" laughed Sudha. "Today. I'll make all your favorite dishes"
"No you won't", said Meera seriously, "You are supposed to be resting remember?"
"How are you now Sudha?" asked Datha with concern.
"The doctors are very happy with the progress in my condition, and now that we're all together, I'm sure I'll be well soon "said her beaming mother.
Meera sent up a silent prayer asking God to keep her parents smiling like this always.
"Meera, why don't you call Akash for dinner ? I'm sure he'll love to meet your father ".
"I'll call him after having my coffee", replied Meera evasively.
"Did you two fight over something", asked her mother astutely.
"No !" exclaimed Meera immediately.
"Then call him now", said her mother in her best no-nonsense voice.
Meera sighed and dialed Akash's number. She got the busy tone, "Busy" she said with obvious relief as she cut the call.
"Don't worry, he'll call back" said Sudha confidently.
Meera turned away and got busy collecting the empty tea cups, how could she tell her mother the Akash had not been returning her calls for over three days now ?
The rest of the day sped by as the family caught up with each other's news.
Sudha was happy that finally her name was cleared in Baragaon and that she could go back and live in the haveli. But she was also shocked that Meera's child marriage was taken so seriously in the village.
"This is terrible, how can they compel Meera to live with Prithvi. Neither Meera nor Prithvi are bound by this illegal marriage. They cannot be forced to do something against their will." She finished indignantly.
"Calm yourself dear" said Datha pacified, "You seem to have forgotten how things are back in the village, they are very possessive about some of their traditional practices. We have to deal with this in a very tactful way".
"But surely, we cannot sacrifice our daughter's happiness for some illegal customs practiced in the name of tradition". argued Sudha.
"Please Mom, don't get tensed" pleaded Meera, "Papa has it all planned. He'll return to the village in a couple of days and tell everyone that I'm staying in Delhi for the sake of your treatment. In the meantime we can meet Akash's parents and explain everything. That way I needn't return to the village at all. Papa will come here for the wedding and then take you back with him."
"How will we explain your absence to the villagers after that? " asked Sudha skeptically.
"I will think of something" said Datha soothingly.
At night, after a delicious and fun-filled dinner, they retired to the sitting room.
"Did Akash call? " asked Datha casually.
"No" replied Meera "Maybe he's busy" she went on hurriedly.
"Strange" said Sudha, "he's always prompt in returning your calls. He must be really busy."
Meera let out a sigh of relief; thank God her mother was not pursuing this.
She didn't notice her father looking at her keenly.
She got up and announced, "I'm going to turn in now, Good night Mom, Papa!".
She hurried out before he mother could say anything.
After a few minutes she turned off the lights and snuggled in her bed. She was wide awake. She knew she would not sleep well tonight. She was worried how to contact Akash.
He was not returning her calls nor was he answering her messages. In her heart, she knew something was seriously wrong.
With a groan she sat up and switched on the light.
Her father was standing at her door, "Papa" she exclaimed surprised.
"Something worrying you dear? " asked her father softly. "Don't worry, your mother's already in bed, you can tell me the truth "
He sat next to her and patted her cheek lovingly,
"Oh Papa" she burst out, "Akash has not been answering my calls for over four days now. He knows about my child marriage with Prithvi, someone from our village told one of their servants about it. And Akash was quite upset about it. I thought he would just laugh it off, but he's being so silly about it" she finished breathlessly.
Datha listened impassively. He was very worried, but did not show it for fear of further upsetting his daughter.
"Listen dear, I'll go and meet his parents tomorrow, we won't tell you mother anything about this for the time being. Maybe I can convince them that this child marriage doesn't really mean anything."
She hugged her father with relief, "Thank you Papa", it felt so good to have someone take charge of her worries.
"Good night dear and stop worrying" said Datha as he switched off the light.
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So ... tell me how was it ????
I know no Mithvi ! ... but I need to have some continuity ... so bear with me for a couple of days more ! đł
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