Two days later, he was gone. pia had so much on her mind that she really couldn't feel sorry for him or miss him, anjali was doing well, the doctors were happy with her, and pia herself was recovering well from her c section. armaan though, was missing her terrible and every day he phoned in floods of tears, but she knew that other than a few quick visits, he needed to be out of this environment. He loved being with mom and her Dad, but she knew he wanted to be home too.
As she sat feeding and urging her baby to grow, be healthy and get home, she did have some time to contemplate life, her life though, not abhay's. She knew she needed to move out of the flat they'd been in the past seven months, it was too small, and armaan needed a garden to play in, and the stairs would be a killer with the two children. So when she had a few moments to herself she called kabir, he'd not been to visit until abhay had left, the man had tact! She spelled out a budget and what she was looking for, and he called his latest flame, carly working as agent . With abhay committing to a more than reasonable monthly income, she had enough to rent a nice home. She wasn't keen to buy anywhere as yet.
She left hospital after ten days, and the doctors were optimistic that anjali would be home in a week or so.
The next week was hectic, but pia did manage to identify a few properties that were suitable for her. So between playgroup, hospital visits, viewing homes, and being unable to drive for a few more weeks, she didn't really have a moment to contemplate life without abhay, and the implications that brought.
"Surely one of these homes is suitable?" kabir rolled his eyes. "This is the forth one this afternoon."
pia smiled, "it's a family home kabir! I can't just move into anything." She batted his arm, "and anyway, you just love the fact that cutie carly is showing us around!"
He smirked like a naughty child, "she is rather cute, isn't she?"
Laughing, she directed him to the next address, a large house overlooking a smaller adjacent bay to the one the restaurant sat above. There was a large garden, decent living space, and it wasn't too shabbily decorated.
"The best yet!" She announced coming down from the loft ladder. "I like it!"
Carly stood beside kabir beaming, the commission on this house pushing pound signs in front of her eyes, "well that's just great pia. If you're interested we can get the paperwork completed, and you could be in..." she rustled through the documents attached to her clipboard, "within a week? This one's good to go immediately. They do however, require references."
She shrugged, "I presume the bank would be good? And kabir? I rent from our business!"
Grinning he agreed immediately and she could tell he was glad to finally be able to call it a day!
A few days later in a ridiculously fast schedule, she got the keys to the house. It was a case of all hands on decks as all her belongings were dragged from the flat to the large and ridiculously sparsely furnished home.
"I need to go shopping!" she announced as her father and kabir flopped onto the sofa, after unloading the final van full. Heading to the kitchen she took a few beers from the fridge and handed them to the men, "Thank you so much!"
They both nodded, "not as issue darling daughter, just don't so it again in a hurry!"
Five days later, at a day over three weeks old, anjali came home!
armaan found it hard to deal with a new attention grabbing bundle in his house, but both sets of grandparents, were brilliant, despite hardly seeing anjali when she was on SCBU due to the restricted visiting, they all fussed the new big brother.
For pia it was all surreal too. After weeks of being driven back and forth to the hospital, juggling everything, now she had nothing to do but relax.
Once the grandparents...the welcome home party had left and anjali slept, armaan sat on her lap and they watched his new Thomas the Tank Engine DVD, a 'Big Brother' present.
"So do you like your new sister?"
He shrugged, "I'd like a dog!"
pia chuckled and ruffled his hair, "typical man, always wanting more!"
The next day a huge parcel arrived filled with nappies, wipes, as well as a ridiculous amount of clothes, and three things she had on her 'to buy' list, a bouncer chair, baby bath and a car seat. The invoice was addressed to abhay.
Once armaan was awake she called him to thank him. She'd emailed him photos and anecdotes about both children every day since he'd left, but he'd not responded to them nor any phone calls or text messages.
He answered on the third ring.
"Hey abhay! I wanted to thank you for all the gifts."
His response was a grunt.
"So will you talk to armaan?"
Another grunt, but as soon as armaan grabbed the phone, she could hear abhay talking and laughing with him.
pia knew she'd hurt him when she rejected him, but that was the way it had to be. And now she'd made her bed, and was happy to lie in it. She still missed him, in everything that she did. She had hoped that her standing up for herself, for her family might spur him to actually want to fight for them, for her, but it seemed that he had just dropped in to his old ways, drinking...and possibly worse.
But he was very good in communicating with armaan, he phoned him frequently and spoke to him for longer than a four-year old could tolerate, and the one day she didn't send an email with anjali's updates, he emailed her with a simple, "how is she today?"
In those little snippets of time she saw the man she knew, the man she married, but with a flash it was gone, back to hostility and anger. He was like an overindulged child.
They settled into a routine quite quickly, and pia was glad of the start of the school term to have time with the ever growing and increasingly healthy anjali. Two children were difficult to manage, even though anjali was an angel child, it was hard to give them each of them the time they deserved. So the times when armaan was at school were anjali times, and in the evening whilst she slept, pia spent time painting and playing with armaan. It was a routine of some description, which meant that she had the late hours of the day to catch up on the running of the restaurant.
kabir called around one evening once the children were in bed and gasped, "pia! What are you doing? I thought we were going to employ a manager?"
She nodded as she looked at the dining table strewn with a variety of papers and books, "you're right, this is all getting a little much for me!"
He froze, a hand dramatically lifted to his forehead, "pia raichand? Finally admits when she's had enough? I do NOT believe it!"
She laughed, "I'm not that bad..."
"You just keep yourself to yourself?"
She shrugged, "I just don't think that other people are that interested in my problems."
kabir ruffled her hair, "pia you are a law unto yourself!" he announced. "Why don't you come out with us on Saturday night? It's t's birthday, a few of us are going out, it's been a long time since we've had a few beers."
Drifting off into contemplation, he thought for a moment that she hadn't heard him, but she suddenly burst into a beautiful smile, "that would be wonderful. I'm sure my father will have the children."
A few days later, her father and mom came to collect the kids. armaan was more than excited at the thought of a night with Grampy.
As mom helped him collect his toys, and pajamas, her father asked her, "so are you ever going to tell me why abhay's gone?"
pia was packing a bag for anjali and froze. Eventually she turned to see her Dad sat on the sofa eyes expectantly watching her.
"What do you mean?"
He sighed sitting back, "he was devastated when you were in surgery, he admitted he was wrong...I just thought...?"
She laughed out loud, "Dad! It took anjali for him to realize he might want me back? I'm more than a mother! He doesn't deserve me, you know, after all that's happened he thought that 'I'm sorry' would be enough."
"So you pushed him away?"
She thought for a long moment, then added, "I thought if I was firm, told him I needed more, then he'd fight for me, change for me...make some sort of bloody effort." She took a deep breath then broke into a fake smile, "but instead he got pissed off and is back to his old ways of drinking...so if it was a bluff I don't know who won?"
"Oh pia." He stood and hugged her, "You've got two lovely kids, this lovely home. You're right; you don't NEED him, but if you want him, then don't be too proud to fight for him too." I've obviously had the best out of him...I wouldn't change the kids, but I really, REALLY have to move on!"
Half an hour later she was looking at herself in the mirror, her hair was glossy and dark...a definite benefit of pregnancy, her light make up looked good. She wore a loose dress, it was a humid evening, so she wanted to dress light, but her body was still shaped by her recent baby, the dress she'd chosen was quite flattering, short, strappy, but floaty, covering all her bumps and lumps. She purposely chose flat sandals, she looked 'nice' but was comfortable first and foremost, and confident as she stepped out for some well deserved 'me time'. She couldn't remember the last time she'd felt so relaxed.
kabir cut a formidable figure stood at the bar, he was well over six foot, dark, and what her mother would've called swarthy. A rugged jaw, almost permanent stubble, but warm friendly eyes. At twenty five he was a year older than her, and t the petite yet buxom blond on his hand was just twenty one, they made an impressive couple.
As soon as kabir spotted her, he called her over introducing her to t's friends as he ordered her a large glass of wine. Smiling pia nodded as she met the group then settled back to observe the mechanics.
After an hour she realized that t had a twin brother neel, and a best friend ryan. But it was neel's friend jey that sidled up to her and started to chat.
"So how do you know t?" he asked as he leaned against the bar next to her.
"I know kabir, we're business partners!"
jey raised his eyebrow, "I see...that sounds intriguing! What can a beautiful woman like you possibly be doing in the construction industry?"
She laughed, trying not to blush at the veiled compliment "no, it's a restaurant, The Beech Tree, up on the cliff, do you know it?
He shrugged, "a bit out of my league!"
She studied him, he was nice but she guessed his baby faced looks made him look even nice than he actually was. He had collar length scruffy dark hair, he was tall but very lean, the epitome of a surfer, with an almost perfect complexion.
"So what brings you here to this little town? I presume you're not local?"
He shook his head, "I came for the surf, I work in a cafe in town most nights, I surf by day..."
"Could life get any easier?" she asked with a chuckle.
When he slowly looked her up and down and replied, "oh it may not get easier but it could get a hell of a lot better", she did blush, ridiculously. It had been months since anyone had paid her a compliment, and they may have been empty, drunk offerings, but they were well received. She felt special for the first time in ages. JEY WAS handsome, but he seemed to be really interested in her...and it felt nice for a change.
Later that evening after dancing, talking and the odd drink, she felt human again, more than just a mother. As the taxi dropped her off, she could barely stop smiling.
As she unlocked the door to her house, a voice cut through the dark night.
"I told you I was coming...I emailed. Where the hell have you been?"
Her heart raced at the shock, and with a groan she turned to confront abhay once again.
abhay was leaning against the closed door of his car, his arms folded and a scowl on his face.
"When did you email? I haven't received any email from you." pia turned on him, "in fact I've had NO communication from you since you walked out of the hospital."
He shrugged, "you made your intentions very clear that night."
Raising her eyebrows she bit back a sarcastic response, "and this is how you cope with rejection...but then we've already experienced that haven't we?"
"I came to see armaan and anjali, not to get embroiled in all this with you." He had the audacity to look down his nose at her.
pia shook her head, "this is all too much abhay. You have no control over me; you gave up any right to that a long time ago. I will not answer to you, and you cannot turn up here making demands!"
He laughed, "Yet you're happy to live off my money!"
"Is that what this comes down to?" She shook her head sadly, "I gave up everything for you, my friends, my job, and then my independence when I had armaan. I have NEVER asked for anything until now. My lawyer says I'm not pushing for half as much as I could get with our divorce...but I've never been greedy, I just want enough to be able to live until anjali's old enough that I can work." She snarled at him, "and I WILL work, and when I do any money you give me will go into the children's bank account. I can guarantee you that. Now, I'm picking the children up at 8 am, if you'd like to meet us back here in the morning they would love to see you. It's your choice."
As she entered the house she slammed the door behind her in a confidence that disappeared as soon as he was out of view. She crumpled hurt all over again. How could he STILL hurt her after all this time? Why hadn't she hardened herself to his nasty side she'd witnessed to many times already?
They were all waiting for him the next morning. anjali had been really well behaved at her father's, well, as well behaved as an eight week old baby can be; armaan was more excited than she'd seen him for ages. He missed his father, and she was devastated looking at him that their marriage was ending imminently. She'd not married as a temporary decision; she really believed that it was for life. He laughed to herself, she'd probably love him forever, she just loved the children and herself more, that was what she had to keep reminding herself.
The screech of tires on the drive was accompanied by a screech from armaan of "DAAAD!" He'd been stood watching out of the window for too long but was rewarded by the presence of the large four wheel drive with blacked out windows.
She opened the front door and armaan ran to meet abhay who was pulling large packages out of the back of the car. Nodding at him in acknowledgement, she made her way back to the house, as she entered the door she could hear anjali start to stir. Upstairs the little girl was staring up through a veil of tears.
"Hey chicken!" she scooped her daughter up and held her close, nuzzling at her hair, breathing in the delicious smell that is baby. "Are you hungry?"
She changed anjali adeptly, and then settled into the rocking chair. Unbuttoning her shirt, she let the baby start to feed and silence replaced the hungry grizzle. Leaning back she closed her eyes, and sighed.
She was still in that repose when she heard the door crash open. Slowly she opened her eyes and saw abhay stood in the doorway, he was poised, anger still evident on his face, but the sight of her feeding his daughter had wrong footed him. She knew that he had found her feeding armaan innocent and beautiful. He'd loved to watch her, but felt guilty for doing it too. She could only imagine his discomfort, his despair at finding her like this.
Half an hour later, anjali was finished and already heading back to sleep, but abhay had barely seen her. So pia jiggled her gently trying to keep her awake as she searched for the two males. As usual they were up to no good, scooping large spoonfuls of ice cream into glasses of coke.
"I used to have these ALL the time when I was a kid!" they chuckled in a conspiratorial manner as the drinks foamed over the top of the glasses. "Sshh. Don't tell your mother!"
pia sighed, ignoring the fact that a four-year old was eating more additives and sugar in one hit than was really helpful, she was just pleased that the two were spending quality time together.
"Well that looks lovely armaan!" she smiled at her happy son sipping the cloudy mess through a straw. abhay was staring at anjali with a wistful look on his face. "She's tired, but I think she'd like a cuddle."
He took her eagerly, wrapping the baby in his arms, stooping to kiss her forehead, "so beautiful, aren't you darling?" Smiling he couldn't contain the pleasure at seeing his daughter, his first proper cuddle, and the first time he'd seen her outside the hospital environment. "You say she sleeps well?"
pia nodded, she'd sent him daily emails and the detail in each one had been ridiculous, but it was nice to see that he'd digested the information, she hadn't wasted her time. "She sleeps most of the time; she's even sleeping for six hours at night...already!" Reaching for the kettle, she filled it from the cold tap, "coffee?"
He nodded but his eyes didn't leave anjali who stared up at him with her rich blue eyes, the look of innocence was commanding every inch of his attention. Other than the odd smile at armaan, he was completely absorbed with singing and talking to his daughter.
She fell asleep in his arms, and she encouraged him to take her up to the nursery to sleep.
pia was preparing lunch for armaan when she felt abhay's presence back in the kitchen.
"He's fallen asleep too, in front of the DVD. Do you want me to put him up to bed?"
Nodding she turned to him, "this is what happens when grandparents get involved! Do you want some lunch?"
"Why are you being so nice to me?"
pia laughed, "I'm never anything but nice...and honest. We are parents to these pair for the rest of our lives. We can hate each other or make things as easy for them possible."
He nodded, "I suppose that's an insinuation that I'm neither?"
They ate huge triple decker sandwiches with more coffee, and abhay laughed at her hearty appetite.
"I need energy!" she protested. "You have no idea how hard it is to feed a child"
He grimaced at the sudden awkwardness of the topic change, "I'll take your word for it. Just nice to see someone eating well."
"I doubt alina eats much!"
Shrugging he reached for another sandwich, "she has her moments, it's more of an erratic pattern than not eating." He finished chewing then sat back in his seat, "I suppose we should discuss the divorce pia. I don't want to fight in court over everything."
"I don't want anything."
He laughed, "It's not an option, though is it? The kids get it if not you. I presume you don't want the house."
She shook her head defensively, "not after seeing you..." her mind shook back to the vision of him . "Urgh, no chance."
"Well there's the London flat..." he spotted her shake her head. "The villa in Spain?" He jumped on her hesitation as agreement. "You take that, and the allowance I'm paying now?"
It was so difficult trading their life together in such a businesslike manner. "I know that my solicitor will be gutted, he was seeing pound signs just looking at you."
"If you want anything you can just ask!"
"Ha! Whilst you're still being nice to me! It'll be all change tomorrow."
He groaned, "I don't know, I..."
"I know, you don't really mean it!"
Reaching for her hand he stared at her, "I wish I had treated you better."
And then as his mobile phone rang, the moment passed and the distance and animosity returned.
A few days later a large envelope arrived, containing the details of the deal she'd made with abhay, as well as the document that signaled the end of her marriage. Her decree absolute.
Were you supposed to be pleased? Were you supposed to celebrate? As she looked at the document she just wanted to cry. It wasn't meant to be like this. He was her forever lover, her one and only, now she was just another one in a long list of statistics of poor judgment and heart over mind decisions.
She had to start again...from scratch...alone.
precap... jey coming pia s life but he gave pia hapiness or pain.
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