OS/SS: Is it just 'Jealousy'? (Part 7 posted)

A strange atmosphere surrounds the Bhalla household as the days to Mihir and Mihika's wedding draw near. Ever since Toshiji has returned from London she has noticed an ever present frown on her elder son's face. He has become even more irritable. She has noticed that her boy has lost his appetite and is keeping mostly to himself. She looks at her busy-in-wedding preparations bahu smiling and explaining things to the workmen and wonders if they have had a fight again. But if they had fought then her bahu wouldn't look so happy. She looks back at her son and sees him looking at Ishita. The look in his eyes scares her. She has seen that look before. Precisely seven years back. Right around the time Shagun was planning on leaving him. She raises her eyes towards Matarani and asks her to not be cruel to her son a second time.

Right then she sees a young man knock on the open door to their apartment. Ishita seems very happy to welcome him in but her son now looks mad. She can clearly make out that the smile on his face while greeting the young man is fake. Ishita then comes to her and introduces her friend.

"Mummyji, this here is my bestest friend Abhimanyu Raghav... haan but I call him Mani. And Mani, this is my lovely Sasuma, Santosh Bhalla. She is just like my mother."

Toshiji smiles at this.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Aunty. Ishita speaks very highly of you."

"Where have you been boy. I have never seen you around before. Why weren't you at Ishita's wedding?"

"I have been really busy aunty. Been in Turkey for the past 7 years or so. And about Ishu's wedding... I had no idea that she was getting married. I would have come."

In the background, Toshi notices Raman leaving the room angrily and striding off to his bedroom. Ishita and Mani are happily chatting with each other. Her intuitions were not wrong. There is definitely a storm coming their way.

Part 2 page 4

Part 3 page 7

Part 4 page 10

Part 5 page 12

Part 6 page 14

Part 7 page 17