Aarush
It has been three whole days Yuvaani had been discharged from the hospital and she had been staying with her parents. Whereas I'm at my place currently, feeding both of my little ones.
"Kha lo na baccha" I requested Priyansh in my soft tone.
[ Eat it, baby ]
"Mum-mum-mumma!" He ranted
"Mumma! Mumma!" This time it was his twin sister. Both the babies were literally difficult to handle. Not because of their baby-ish behavior, but because they were asking for Yuvaani, and she couldn't meet them as she wasn't here. And obviously I can't even ask her to come here again! It would be like- so selfish! I want her to come to me by her own will. But to my babies' banter, I have absolutely no response for this.
They've grown accustomed to her, as they've been around her all the time. She was there for them whenever I went to the office. She took care of them.
They miss her presence, and so do I. Her presence just gives an unknown contentment to my heart, that yes, someone is there for me. In a good way. Her flowery scent always kept lingering in the house, which was now missing. The times she slept next to me made me believe that she trusted me enough that I won't do anything wrong to her, even in sleep.
My phone rang and I just peeked as it was next to me. My boss' PA.
He has no other work than to trouble me or what?
"Hello Aarush?"
"Yes sir?"
"Sir needs you here today at any cost"
"But-"
"Sorry, I can't help you this time. You need to be here by an hour"
"Okay, I'll be there" I confirmed and kept the phone.
"Jaldhi kha lo baccho, papa ko bahar jana hai '' I said, taking a spoonful of food in front of their mouth.
[ Eat fast babies, Papa needs to go ]
But Priyansh has some other plans! He jumped on me, spilling the bowl of khichadi all over me and the bed.
"Ansh!!!"
He raised his head from my shoulder to look directly in my eyes as I called his name. His doe eyes and toothy smile just melts my heart but they can't undo the thing he did.
"Maaa" I called my mother out. She came in no time and gasped seeing our state.
"I need to go to the office urgently. Please feed them. I'll clean this once I get back" I blurted out and rushed towards my wardrobe not after giving Priyansh to her.
I quickly got ready in my formals and emerged out of the room and I saw Papa picking Priyansh and Maa picking Pihu and they were moving out of my room, but as I was going out of Pihu's sight she began crying.
God!
I quickly took her from Maa, and cooed her pacing around the room. I glanced at the watch to see the time left.
36 minutes!
"Baby, Papa will be back soon! promise" I don't know if she could understand this but she hugged me instead. Wrapping her small baby arms around my neck.
"Just let me go, otherwise boss' uncle will throw papa out of the company, you know? Then what will we do? Hm?" I asked her and she nuzzled more in my neck but I managed to wear socks and went to the living room to wear my shoes, of course having her in my arms.
I quickly wore them and gave Pihu to Maa. Before she could cry, I dashed from her eyesight and drove off to the office. I reached the office and glanced at my watch.
12 minutes.
I sighed in relief! But I quickly made my way towards the cabin of my boss and knocked. I waited outside until I heard a 'come-in' and then went in.
"Aarush, you're here" My boss said
"Yes sir,"
"Thank you for coming on short notice. Actually, I want to let you know a few things. Those are important"
"Sir?"
"Have a seat first" He gestured and I made my way and sat on the chair opposite to him.
"Aarush, you've always been a responsible employee and a hard worker. But, the number of leaves you take are not acceptable on professional front-"
"But sir-" I interrupted him, but he gestured to me to wait and he continued.
"I know. I know the things you've been through. I understand. You have two kids, and you have to look after them on your own. But Aarush, from the past six months, you've been leaving the office as per your needs. Your children fell sick, you had a marriage, then you told again medical emergencies showed up. But that's not how professional life works, right?"
"Yes sir" I muttered.
"From now on, I want you to be a full time worker Aarush, like others. No leaves on workdays, and if you're in office, you can't leave until your shift is done"
"But sir, I have two little-"
"Yes, I know. Others have too. Yet they manage. I've spared you for six months, but that is causing loss to my company. You should handle your work-"
"Sir, I understand your concerns regarding this company but-"
"Aarush, this kind of lenient behavior towards the work is not acceptable. You need to give your full time"
"Sir, I understand. I truly understand. But sir, my babies were and are my first priority. If this is the case, I think I should quit this. I resign"
"Aarush, you're a good employee. Just because it's getting difficult to manage you're quitting?"
"Sir, it's not difficult to manage. My priorities are clear. My family first. My wife has been fighting for her life recently. Still, I managed to do my office work by evening shift. Whereas, I needed to be there for her. I didn't get a full day off. Okay, I know that I had taken many leaves in the past, but they were necessary. Now too, my family needs me. I need to look after them, they need my attention. And this time, I quit sir" I spoke.
How should I tell him that my family needs me?
He looked at me bewildered. Maybe because I'm leaving a good paying job. But I really cared less.
"I'll email my resignation letter to you in a few minutes'" I said and began typing there itself and I sent it. His phone pinged with a notification and it was most probably my email.
I took a print out of it from a corner of the office where printing and xerox machines were placed and submitted it to him. He signed and I said "Thank you for considering my condition for six months, sir. If someone else was at your place, they wouldn't be doing the same."
"You're a family man, Aarush. I'm glad I came across you once in my lifetime. I know things have been difficult for you since last year, but- you are a strong man" He praised me and I shook hands with him and I asked for leave.
I have known my boss for many years now. I guess it's been seven years now, I started working here. I met Priya here itself. He even came to our wedding. He was friendly outside the workspace. We knew each other a bit, and we were on friendly terms. One of the reasons he was linenant on me. He was my friend's friend. And a senior of course. He is truly a good man.
I drove myself to my house and got in. My princess crawled to me when I settled myself in the living room after washing my hands.
"Sorry baby, Papa left you crying na! From now on, Papa's whole time is yours. Papa will be with you only." I picked her up and snuggled on her face. She simply hugged me and said some words, which obviously I didn't get.
Priyansh too came and I picked him up. He came near my face and slapped me. When I looked at him he snuggled me and kissed my cheek where he just slapped! The thing only babies can do! Slap, snuggle and kiss all in two minutes of span, hehe!
"You slapping me, little man?" I said it in a heavy voice and went to him and blew my lips on his tummy to give him a heartfelt laugh.
"You came?" Maa asked, emerging from the kitchen.
"Yes"
"What happened there?"
"Where?" I asked knowingly.
"Office, Aaru. You never return this early whenever you go to the office" This time it was papa.
I sighed.
"I resigned, Papa," I muttered slowly. I have absolute zero regrets doing that. But I was a little worried about how my parents would react.
"What?? WHY?" Maa shouted.
Expected.
"I'm tired, Maa.. I want a break. I want to focus on my babies" I lied. I closed my eyes as Pihu touched my face with her baby palm.
"Then what are you planning?" Papa asked me
"I'll figure it out" I lied again and walked out the room with my kids.
"Are you both sleepy? Hm?" They squirked in response.
"Don't worry, Papa will start something new. Your father has the potential okay? He can't be employed for long. He won't keep you starving. You trust your Papa, don't you? Hm?" I asked both of my baby twins as if they would really understand me!
Pihu just grabbed my cheek and began chewing it! Whereas Ansh attempted to push her from my hold.
Kids!
Ansh?
Priyansh.
Have you heard of Yuvaani? In your absence too, you are being missed. What have you done to me? The way you just make things easy, the way you just cherish the present moment, the way you respect elders, the way you hide your pain, the way you endure, the way you seek comfort in uncomfortable things, the way your eyes speak-
Her eyes.
Her eyes-
They are the utmost sincere thing. The way she looks at things and finds good in the worst thing is her speciality. I felt like talking to her. I grabbed my phone and gave her a call. I waited and waited but the call didn't seem to be received.
This has been happening for the past few days. I texted her like three times a day, but she just left my texts on the scene. She didn't even reply to one single message that I did. She didn't pick up the calls either. I get updates from her parents, every time I ask them about her.
Soon time passed and it was time for my therapy. I quickly went to the place. In the past few days, the therapist made me feel comfortable. He made me believe that things happen for a reason. It's because of him, I can speak a bit more clearly about my thoughts. May it be a five percent improvement, but there is an improvement.
"Hello, good evening Aarush"
"Good evening sir"
"So, what were you thinking today? Anything caught your attention?"
"Yes sir, I-I left my job today." I uttered.
The man opposite me smiled. And it wasn't a wicked smile, but a genuine one. "What makes you smile?" I asked him.
"By our past few interactions, I guess this is not your major field of interest, isn't it?"
"Ye-yeah"
"Why are you hesitating? Don't you feel good?"
"I do. I have zero regrets, sir. It's just very uncertain-"
"What is uncertain?"
"Lack of a job?"
"Technically it is. But, by looking at you it doesn't seem that way. You are not sure about the reactions that others will give, when you'll tell them this. But, you aren't sad about it."
"Yeah. You can say that." I spoke.
"On that note, you should look forward to the things that you feel are right for you. Career-wise" I nodded at his statement.
"How's your wife?" he added.
"Better, I guess. She isn't picking my calls nor replying to my texts. I got to know about her from my in-laws. I hope she's fine"
A small smile emerged on his lips.
"You miss her don't you?"
"I do," I muttered.
It continued with a short session. But it reminded her of her. I so deeply want to share the resignation news with her, and I want to tell her that I'm happy doing this. There is an unknown and unfamiliar feeling of freedom I am sensing. That no one has control over me. I am my own boss now. I knew she would understand me in this.
But what matters currently is, she needs to be understood. She needs to be treated right. I promise you, whenever I'll come to you, I'll be yours. Your husband, Yuvaani.
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Next update :Â Any day In between 8 Feb to 11 Feb.
I'm sorry for this late post. I wanted to give an double update, but I'm currently occupied by college stuff. I'll update as soon as I get time. Prologue chapter is next, stay tuned <3