Aarush
I felt her gaze on me while sipping our evening tea. I know she's tensed due to Sanskar, sheâs really a good friend. She felt concerned for him. I looked at her, and the moment our gaze matched she looked away.
Maybe this is the first time I'm observing her to closely. Her brown locks which she bunched up in a bun, tied with a scrunchie, her eyes-
Her eyes.
They're beautiful. Fully grown lashes and slim face with a good jawline. She's beautiful. She went through so much because of me, and I'm ready to fix it now.
I don't feel good that we're not on good terms. But hopefully, one day we will. I may not love her, but I'll respect her and will try to give her everything that she deserves. She's a wise woman, and too innocent for this world. I promised myself, I won't treat her wrong.
If there was Priya instead of Yuvaani, without a question I won't treat her wrong. Maybe because I love her, but that doesn't mean I should treat her wrong.
Her gaze met mine. And it held hurt. Tremendous amount of hurt. They're not joyful as they should be. Being my wife I should give her happiness, like I did to Priya.
Priya!
I can never forget you. But I feel comfortable around Yuvaani. And once one of my cousin told me that for moving on doesn't mean to forget the past. It just meant to accept the changes and embrace it.
I know what's gone is gone, and I had accepted it. I just need some more time to lighten my heart and follow it. She wanted me to be lively, as I was when we were together. That Aarush just went somewhere- I don't know. I also want to be that again, who was happy. I don't know if I can be like that again.
I sighed, and I saw she had gone. I placed my cup in the kitchen sink and washed my hands. She sat on the sofa around the babies on the floor, and they were crawling and playing randomly.
"Mami!!!" I saw Vihaan running to Vaani, with tears in his eyes. I went and sat on sofa next to Yuvaani, maintaining a respectable distance between us.
"Kya hua baccha?" She asked him. I saw Di and Jiju emerging from their rooms with suitcase bags and their luggage.
"Mujhe nahi Jana ghar! Yaha pe sab log hai! Pihu, Priyansh, Aap, Mamu, Nani, Nanu" he said in his baby voice refusing to leave for USA.
"Your school is re-opening Vihu" Dii made him understand but he got up to Yuvaani's lap and hugged her, engrossing his face in her neck. And she too, held him tightly, caressing his back and placing her cheek on his head, along with randomly kissing his hair.
His cries grew louder and louder, Pihu came to me crawling and I picked her up. Whereas Priyansh went to Yuvaani crawling, and tried to climb the sofa helding her feet.
I helped him to get her, and he tried to separate Vihaan and Yuvaani!
"Mumma!" He said and scratched Vihaan's cheek and pulled his hair! Yuvaani adjusted Priyansh on her lap, giving him a bit of space.
They began to fight and she eyed me to take Priyansh. I tried to take him from her but he was adamant. Maybe because he was seeing her after so long. She pacified Vihaan, and made him understand.
"But you all are here!" Vihaan whined
"You want all of us there? At your place?" Yuvaani asked being cheeky
"Yes!" Our little boy replied
"Okay, so for that, you have to go to your place na, then we will follow you, hm?" She said
"You'll come here?" He asked her with expectant eyes
"Yes of course! My Vihu is calling me so how can I not be there hm? I have to be there, " she smiled at him and he seemed content now, he just hugged her not wanting to go to anyone else.
She has a magical effect on babies. They just want to be around her.
"So you, mama, Pihu and this small devil will come, right?" He asked again, and this time she looked at me.
"Yes Vihu, we will. Very soon" I assured him and he jumped on my lap from hers.
"We have to leave, time's ticking" Dii said to Vihu.
"Comeâon champ, we have to go to the airport" I said and picked him up and kissed him.
An emotional moment sustained as my mother cried when Dii was leaving. Few teary hugs and words were exchanged within us, and we bid her bye. I dropped Diiâs family to the airport and hugged Di, Vihu and lastly Jiju. He's a good man, I'm glad that she's with him. He manages everything so well.
I drove back home and we got done with dinner soon. The home felt more silent as Vihaan wasn't there to roam around and do mischief! My little man!
We went to our respective bedrooms when she was in my bedroom still looking after kids changing their diapers and placing them to sleep.
"Are you okay?" I heard her ask
"Yeah, why?" I asked her spreading my comforter over the bed and removed my slippers.
"Dii went home so.."
"Umm, yeah I mean- this was the nth time she came here after her marriage. It just feels empty for a day or two, then it's all back to normal" I remarked
"Hmm"
"Are you okay?" I asked her
"Yeah, I mean, why did you ask that?" she asked me back
"You're a little lost since you came home, mind sharing with me?" I asked
"Hmm, you got such a good family Aarush. Your sister loves you so much, she's always concerned about you. Jiju too wants the best for you, you're a lucky guy" she said a bit lost sitting over the edge of the bed, looking at the tiles.
"Yeah, that's true. She was always protective about me since childhood. She is one of the people who taught me to look at the brighter side of any situation" I mentioned remembering our childhood memories, which were a pure bliss.
"That's why I said, you're a lucky guy" she said and smiled at me a bit looking at me, and then looked away.
She looks beautiful with her cute smile!
"But clearly, this isn't the thing you're bothered about right? There's something else that is eating up your mind" he gaze shot up at me registering my words.
"Will it not get awkward if I tell you that? You don't like that thing in the first place" she worried.
"No, you can share. Go on" I encouraged her and tried making her comfortable.
"I really don't prefer- I mean, blood and all that- you know- and he was wrapped by bandages, I don't liked those on him! It scared me for a moment. His hand- that bood Aarush- I don't know how to explain-"
"Hey hey! Relax relax!!" I quickly took the glass near my hand table and reached her in no time.
"It's alright, have this, we'll meet him tomorrow hm? You don't need to worry about that. We'll see him early in the morning" I reassured her.
Her eyes lifted at me as if they really need reassurance, I nodded at her once again. She thanked me and wished me night and went to her room.
Next morning
It was six am, and I got up for a jog. Brushing my teeth and washing my face, I took up an outfit for me and went in the hall. Not before checking my babies, obviously.
I heard some utensils' noises coming from kitchen.
At six am?
I went up to see Vaani there. She was making- I don't know!
"Hey, good morning! You're in the kitchen this early?" I asked
"Morning, yeah! Making breakfast and lunch" she replied
"Itne jaldhi?" I asked
[This soon?]
"Haan, wo- hospital jana hai toh-" She stammered in middle maybe because this thing was about Sanskar. I know. It's not that I hate him or so. I just don't appreciate his feelings for my wife. He should back off himself, knowing she's married.
"Okay, I'll jog and return" to which she nodded and I left.
Soon it was six forty, I returned and checked my kids and they were still sleeping, thankfully. I took a quick bath and got ready in my officials. I smoothly kissed my muchkins and moved to kitchen, knowing she would be there.
"Hey, how much time will you take to get ready?"
"Hm?" She asked in confusion.
"We're going to hospital, aren't we?"
"Now? At seven?" She asked
"Yeah, I told you early morning last night"
"I thought it meant eight or nine something" she said incoherently.
"Um.. it'll take that long?" I asked. Actually I want to go office too, so I'll visit Sanskar with her and then drop her back home, and then leave for office.
"Wait, I'll just pack this food for him, just give me few minutes, and I'll get ready" she said and began hurrying.
"Take it easy, we have time"Â I tried to relax her but it was so far to be done, soon she packed everything and kept the tiffin on table and went to get ready.
Minutes passed, I read newspaper till then and she appeared calling my name, dressed in a beautiful casual outfit. It was just jeans and tee with a shrug, but it looked elegant on her.
"Chale?" She asked.
[ Shall we go? ]
"Ek min" I said and rushed towards my room checking on kids again. They were sleeping. I called dad and told him I'm leaving so please look after them. He must be awakened by now, and I was right. He assured me about the same and we left for the hospital.
[One minute]
I ignited the engine, and we buckled our seatbelts and I turned on soft music to fill the silence, plus opening the windows of car.
It was comforting, and peaceful. Soon, we got there and I followed Yuvaani to his respective room. He was sleeping. But he opened his eyes, maybe because he heard a sound.
Light sleeper.
"Hey!" Yuvaani greeted him.
"Hey! You're here" he tried to sir but his expressions pained.
"Easy easy-" I went to support him, and lay him back on his bed.
"Thank you" he showed his gratitude towards me as I made him sit, to which I smiled normally.
"See, I promised you my handmade home-made food na, here it is!" She flaunted the bag in front of his eyes.
"You're impossible" he giggled slowly.
"How are you man? How did you get into this?" I asked casually. His injuried really seemed terrible.
"Ah! Let's not get into that, I'm okay now. It was just a minor inconvenience-"
"Minor?" She cut him off, raising an eyebrow in suspection.
"Okay okay, not so minor but- guys please I'll tell you later, first tell me how are you guys? How are your kids?" He asked me
"They're good" I replied.
I saw Vaani unpacking the tiffin and arranging the contents in the plate.
"Ah- wo- Aarush- he can't eat himself" she hesitated at me, being embarrassed?
âUh- yeah-â I said.
"Relax guys, you keep it here, I'll ask the nurse to do that" he said.
Hmm. This man had common sense.
"What? Sankar, I know you'll not have it then. You'll just eat less than half of your appetite" she mentioned.
Her care for him is so-
Much.
I felt like- you know- awkward.
Like I'm the third wheel here.
"But you will be having a morning dose na, before that you should eat something. I insist, have it. She literally woke up so early just to cook for you, don't deny her efforts." I unheartedly said that, so that Vaani shouldn't be awkward.
"You feed him, you guys talk. I'm outside" I said and excused myself.
Whyyy!? It felt so heavy seeing them like that! Like someone had kicked on my gut! After around good twenty minutes Vaani came out of the room and stood by my side.
"Thank you" she muttered slow and clear as if meaning each word. I just looked at her in confused gaze.
"Despite you don't like him, you cared for him. Thank you. You're a good human, Aarush" she chirped and I smiled.
Before I could say something she added "Will you wait with him for few minutes? I'll wash my hands and come"
"Yeah" I assured her and she went on the other side somewhere. And I went in.
"Would you mind, if I ask you something?" I initiated, not being sure if he would say yes.
"Yeah, sure" he affirmed and encouraged me to continue.
"You like Yuvaani, don't you?" I questioned my heart out.
â
Next update - 18.12.2023