Arms of protection
"I am in a good place right now Mom. I am not dragging Dadu's baggage of hatred resentment and disappointment with me. Ive lugged it too long" he said emotionally
Mandira wanted to jump up and give him a hug
She approached him
"Hang on a minute" he pushed back, walking away
"Ashvin..."
"I dont know if I can make everyone happy, but for now I am going to make MYSELF happy" he said firmly
She was back to being unhappy about him
"How can you be happy with someone you hardly know Ashvin?" she let out a guttural whimper
"I know her enough She is working on her Ph D thesis, she is the daughter of the man I hurt deeply, and she is an awful cook and a great kitchen helper" he smiled at the end of the line
"I mean... come on... beta"
"For a change focus on Lee... I dont need guidance" he said haltingly
"Uhh..."
"Mom.. let me finish"
He kneeled down by her held her hands
She cried a river... he squeezed her hands lovingly
"We both have been swept away by our feelings of payback" he whispered
"Dont try to be all mature with me" she sniffled, furious
"I am not... I am just tired of dealing with the old man" he said his head hung
"We have to think of the end game"
"There is no end game with him Mom... he is trying to hook Rachit up with Trisha" Ashvin's tone was one of outrage and bitterness
"Oh good... to theek hai na..." Mandira wanted the girl off her son's back
"You are not serious!!" he was upset
"Ek baat par main Dadu se sehmat hoon... is baat par"
"Whoaa"
"He thinks if she and him get along, then she can torment us" "Let him play his game Ashvin. He cannot dangle that incident or anyone from that family anymore" Mandira was calculating again
"Mom... stop... Mommm stopp... you are going down that path again" "I will ask you... I will tell you... if I need help... I dont" "Relax" "Mommm" he groaned agonized
"We have to Ashvin... do you even have the faintest idea what the net worth of Narang Inc is?"
"I dont care Ma" he said heaving and sighing, sitting down cross legged in front of her"
"Aur TUM... kabse din mein chashma pehanne lag gaye?" "Us ladki ka asar hai? She looks like a nerd, tum bhi?"
"You live in Delhi, I dont wear contacts during weekends"
"Ashvin... you are so sensitive and are not ashamed to admit you have feelings... like your Dad" she choked again
"I dont want you to ever get hurt" she waved a finger warningly
He smiled softly, his eyes glistening
"Phir kya karengi aap?"
"Bataooon tumhe?" "Shoul I tell you?"she smiled through teary eyes kissing his forehead
She bend down and hugged him, inhaling the top of his head
"I love your hair, like Daddy's"
He squeezed her arm
"She thought it was a wig" he chuckled
"Not nice" Mandira slowly turned her attention and began applying her mental energies towards her DIL now..
