Indu, my friend! 😃 Hope your weekend has been going/has gone well. I read the 3rd installment in the latter part of last week, but wanted to read it again before commenting. You're laying such a great foundation for the heart of the story. So these are the reactions I noted as I read through:
"Payal, it's OK. Mumma only worries for you sweetheart. After all you are her little angel….Right Aarti?" He felt Aarti nod once as she lifted her head and mouthed, "I am fine." She looked at him before turning to hold Payal's frightened face within her palms, as she whispered, "I am sorry I scared you, Payal. I am so sorry." Yash shifted as Aarti wrapped her arms around Payal. "I love you so much…I just can't bear you thinking such negative thoughts. It scares me to see my daughter not giving herself a chance. Don't idolize us so much beta that you start shutting doors when it's time to open them…..Hmm! Papa is my husband. He loves me…yes…but he also loves you and Aayu as well as everyone in the family. He hasn't shut his heart to all the love that surrounds him…then why should you? Why are you judging an emotion that hasn't yet entered your life? By doing that you are only being unfair to yourself…and to that special person who is out there somewhere."
Payal wiped her eyes before snuggling closer to her mother's heart, "It makes sense when you put it that way, mumma. I never thought it from that angle. I do have a one-track mind where you two are concerned. No wonder you got disturbed. I am sorry…I must have freaked you out."
That was intense! I get why Payal has idealized her parents to the point that she feels it's impossible to match the love they have. She doesn't yet realize that every love story is different and full in its own way, and there's so much she still doesn't know. You're always so good at weaving in emotional cues, Indu, that's why I'm sensing that there's more beneath the surface that Aarti finds it either premature or inappropriate to reveal to her teenager. But I love the way Yash and then later Aayu calmed the moment down, with Aayu bringing in his special brand of humor. I love that kid.
The Ramdulare/Aarti reenactment is hilarious and so vividly described. I don't think I've said this before, but if I have I'll say it again, I love the friendship Yash and Aarti have with Prateek and Pari. I say friendship because it's so easy to tell from your writing that they're not just brothers, sisters-in-law, and brothers-in-law to each other, but they're also such great friends.
Tears were threatening to fall down when Aarti stopped them, rubbing her eyes furiously with her palms. No, not tonight….It's Yash's big night. She cannot take away his moment of jubilation by dwelling into the past. That time is gone and has been replaced by the promise of a blissful eternity. All she has to do is not let the scattered remains of the memories of yore affect her present….if not for herself, then for Yash…the man who gathered the broken pieces of her life and remolded them with love and caring….the man who nurtured her identity, and because of whom her character transformed, ripening and blossoming with self-confidence, strength of conviction, awareness, and love. Slowly but surely he had done the impossible….erased the emptiness in which she sought comfort, filling her life with joy and laughter. Now he was her shield against all ills, overly sensitive to her feelings, and completely tuned to her moods. He knew her too well. She couldn't let him see her like this. Aarti took a deep breath and entered the room with a smile.
Ah, so I was right that there's more. The pain that Aarti seems to still hold within her is so evident. But Yash will know. He knows her too well not to know, as you've shown a couple of paragraphs afterward. And, you've got me intrigued about that scar, Indu. But I think I momentarily forgot that with Yash's amorousness and Aarti's desire to have a distraction. ☺️ Nicely written.
His own shone a little as he bent to kiss the scar gently.
OK, I had to lift this part of the paragraph because I love how he's accepted all of her. For me, Yash kissing Aarti's scar just seemed symbolic of his love and full acceptance. Really beautiful touch. ❤️ Then, I like his practicality in the midst of the emotional whirlwind she's going through at the moment, as he considers this resurge of memories as important and good for her healing process. When the natural instinct is to flee, sometimes, for our own healing and growth, we do need to confront what hurts and haunts us most. It's scary, but sometimes necessary. I'm liking this.
He had seen that forlorn look in Aarti's eyes as she had entered the room with a smile….smiling for him just so he didn't get disturbed on his birthday. She never ceased to amaze him with her selfless actions.
He picked up a diary at random. The cover said: Aarti Dubey, Age 10 years. Naanimaasi had diligently chronicled them over the years. He opened a page and read:
I was bad again. I am a very bad girl. I hurt baba again. He hates me…I deserve to be hated
…
.. From your ending, this story is becoming even more intriguing. Compelling background story you're beginning to unveil, Indu. 👏 I'm excited to see how it proceeds.
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