Ram & Priya walked up the stairs to their room, both busy in their own thoughts. Priya was embarrassed on hearing Daadi's dialogue : That Krishnaji had been pregnant with Ram only 3 months after her marriage and here it was already 6 months post their marriage.
Thank God only she and Ram were there in the room with Daadi and Rishabh wasn't there.
She turned to share her thoughts with Ram as they entered their room. But she was shocked when she saw his face ! Ram's face was total ashen; he looked as if he'd just been delivered the greatest blow of his life.
Priya : Kya hua Mr. Kapoor ?
Ram : Yeh Daadi ko kya ho gaya achanak se?
Priya : Matlab ?
Ram : Kya matlab? You were also there ' you didn't hear her ?
Priya, still unable to comprehend : But why are you so worried ' so tensedi ?
Ram : Yeh zaroori hai kya, ki shaadi ke baad bachche ho ?
Priya : Nahin, woh zaroori toh nahin hai par ..
Ram : I don't want to talk about this at all. I have quite a bit of unfinished work as I rushed back home. And for this ! Anyways, I will talk to Vikram and ask his help as to how to deal with Daadi.
Priya nodded
her head. Ram settled down on one side of the bed with his laptop. Priya roamed around
the room wondering
what to do. Ram continued
talking to her once in a while,
in the midst of his work. On any other day, Priya would have been overjoyed
to have her husband back from his office so early and get to spend so much time with him. She blushed
when she remembered
Daadi's words to her earlier
in the day. Apparently their new found love was visible to everyone. Neha had been right when she'd said "Ishq aur mushq chupaya
nahin jaata".
But her peace of mind was now shattered
by Ram's reaction
to Daadi words.
She had thought
Ram would love the thought
of having a baby of his own. He had been so excited to hear of Natasha's baby. Then what was wrong now? Was it Daadi's
mention of Krishnaji
which had put Ram off?
She knew how Ram lost his temper
whenever there was any mention
of his real mother. Could that be it? She mused for a while.
No, that also did not sound plausible. He might have been angry with Daadi for the comment but why would he react so negatively
to having babies
of their own? That night on the boat in Australia, he had seemed
to regret the fact that there was apparently no possibility of his own kids in his life.
Ram did not bring up the topic again.
They finished with their dinner
and Bansi Kaka came in and cleared
the table. Ram had finished
with his work before dinner
and so they now had time to chat, to watch television
and to spend time together.
IPL had just started and there was a Mumbai
vs Pune match that day. Sachin was injured and would not be playing
but still it was expected
that the Mumbai
Indians would thrash
the relatively new Pune team.
Ram switched
on the AC and the television simultaneously and leaned against
the pillows. Priya took time
braiding her hair into a plait, applying
cream on her face and was finally
ready to relax.
She smiled when noticed that Ram had used up both the pillows as support behind
him. She turned
to go to the closet
for another pillow
when Ram pulled
her back into the bed, close to him, so that she ended up sitting very close to him, resting
against him. The need for another pillow
was eliminated.
Both of them knew that they were probably behaving like teenagers but they had spent so many years alone waiting for the right person to come into their life '. and to fall in love.
Ram : Priya..
Priya : ji..?
Ram : Kaun "ji" ?
Priya smiled : Kuch nahin. Kahiye?
Ram : Tum soch rahi ho na .. ki main Daadi ki baat sunke itna pareshaan kyon hoon?
Priya looked into his eyes and did not reply.
Ram : Priya. I'm selfish. Very selfish. All my life I have been alone, craving
for a little
bit of love. Finally when I understood
that love was not there in the basket of treasures God had otherwise
gifted me with, I learned
to live without
it. I thought
love in my life would take on the meaning
of making my family happy,
giving in to all their demands. And their happiness
would bring happiness
to me. But you've changed
everything in my life Priya.
You've turned all my theories
upside down. Now I want to live for myself.
Do you remember,
on the morning
when I was going to collect your cancer report,
you said ' I'm afraid
to get a positive report
now. .because in the last 7 days I've learnt
what happiness is '.? Its the same with me Priya.
Priya : Ram, it's the same with me too. ..
At hearing
her say "Ram" so spontaneously, Ram interrupted her and gave her a hug. Priya blushed.
Ram : Haan, continue.
Priya : I agee with everything you're saying and you know that I feel the same way too. But I cannot understand why you're so against a child coming into our lives .. ?
Ram takes a deep breadth : Priya, before I came into your life, you loved your family wholeheartedly. Right?
Priya : Haan
Ram : I know I'm being dramatic .. but if required, you would also be willing to die for them, right?
Priya smiles : Haan
Ram : And now? Mujhe pata hai, Priya,
now you will never leave me for your family
ever again. Even if it is a case of a simple
dinner, you'll choose
to have it with me rather than with them. Leave aside all big issues where you'll definitely
be there for me. You'll
choose me over all of them put together. Hai na?
Priya nodded.
Ram : I know Priya. I know this doesn't mean that you love them any less. But you love me more. And I'll do the same for you.
They sat quietly, engulfed in each others' arms. Content.
Ram, softly
: Main selfish
hoon Priya. Bahut selfish hoon. Main janta hoon that
you'll make a very good mother. Par main yeh nahin chahta
ki bachche hone ke baad, tum usse mere se zyaada pyaar karo. I'm not saying
that's wrong. Motherwood
is probably the most fulfilling
experience in any woman's life. But I want to remain the priority in your life Priya. I want to be your whole life. Like you are for me. Mujhe galat mat samjho Priya.
This is why I don't want even my own baby to come into our lives.
Please.
Priya cradled
him in her arms. She was overwhelmed
with what he just said and could understand his apprehension, his fear, his anxiety. This was not a simple
fear, like a fear of injections which she could talk and soothe away. This was a deep rooted fear of being abandoned and '. unloved.
Would she ever be able to help him overcome this?
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