Mausam
After Armaan left ,
I stayed in my room,
And then took lunch with Aruhi and Aarav.
Without Armaan they were so wary of me,
They were quite and we all did not have any idea , how to behave with each other.
" Aarav , vo uniform change kar lo , Verna Ganda ho jayega." I told him .
He just grumbled and stood with the plate ," ruhi , let's go , let's eat in my room , we don't need your help."
And he stormed away .
I did not have heart or energy to scold him or fight with him , so I just sat there with my hurt , the food looked so unappetizing now.
I stared at the food for a minute ,
When my mother in law's voice startled me out of it.
" Kuch sharam nahi he kya tumme?
Bichare mere dono bachche ab thoda hi khayege , yaha bethe the tumhe koi problem thi."
" Sorry ma." I apologised , it was my mistake that they went away, now they won't be back for more food.
" Kya sorry , agar tum ek achchhi maa hoti na to khud chali jati or unhe khana khilati. Pata nahi kyun iss Ghar me tum abhi tak ho? Nahi rehna to chali kyun nahi jati apne maike."
" Kuch bologi bhi , tumhe to kisi chiz ki koi responsibility hi nahi he."
" Jane dijiye bhabhi , only if Radhika was our daughter in law."
At chachi's words my face turned to her sharply.
Why was she taking her name?
Why now?
I am not getting divorced so why is she being mentioned at all.
" Chachi ji please , Radhika Aarva , Ruhi ki maa nahi he." I said sharply.
The jealousy and envy of years that had been boiling and hidden was bubbling again.
" Iss ka to dukh he Hume , kash vo hamari Bahu hoti , he na bhabhi."
Without listening to their words ,
I left .
My lunch forgotten.
~~~~
In the evening ,
Armaan called me.
" Hello" I said.
" Mausam." He had such a way of saying my name , my breath itches in my throat. He says it as if the world has stilled and he only sees me.
" Ha?"
" I was thinking of having dinner together , all four of us , there is this new restaurant, what do you say?"
Oh , my stomach grumbled at the thought of dinner.
The kids are likely angry with me,
But if Armaan is there , I could spend good time with them.
But ..
" It's fine by me , but I think you should Aarav and Ruhi?" I hoped he had already asked and they had said yes.
" Hmm , I will ask them and tell you." Oh , I felt disappointed.
~~~
I wore a simple kurta and jeans ,
With my husband and children,
With my clothes I felt odd one out.
They all were good looking and confident , while I was shy and tried to not make any eye contact with anyone.
Aarav looked very annoyed.
He had this air of impatient all around him.
Aruhi was happily chatting with her father.
I looked and wondered if I was not here , Aarva would be talking too.
" What do you want to eat?"
They all ordered some fancy sounding stuff,
And I was still looking at the menu.
What was all this?
I had never eaten such things!
What's a Bruschetta , dauphinoise potato , spaghetti , fondue .
" Would you like some vegan options ma'am?" The waiter asked me.
" No " I replied , I was actually looking for non veg or maybe south Indian , but maybe it was a vegetarian restaurant.
" This is it. Thank you." Armaan made the waiter leave.
I flushed and looked down.
" Did you not like anything on it ? Their Biriyani is really tasty , and so it chicken tikka if you want. It's Aarav's favourite." Armaan said.
I looked at Aarav , really , it was also my favourite.
If I say that would he get upset?
" Umm , sure , I will try it." I said , feeling grateful that they did not figure it out that I had no idea what was on the menu at all.
Me thehri dal khichadi khane wali ladki , ye me kaha exotic foreign me pohach gayi !!
" I won't share it with her , tell her to order something else." Aarav spat.
Aruhi stoped and looked at her papa.
" Aarav , calm down , this is not the polite way , it is just sharing food ." Armaan implored him , he was trying to look very calm and carefree.
His patience with children was commendable.
" Bhaiya had a fight today." Ruhi said looking at Aarva.
My eyebrows furrowed , what ? Why?
Is he the kind who gets into trouble , he does look moody , but not angry or hot tempered who would fly his fists , I have never seen him shouting , his anger is like his father , cold and scary , but no loud shouts or physical assaults.
I looked at Armaam.
His lips thinned and his expression changed for a moment , but again in a second he looked like his patience self , like he is with kids, if I had not been looking at him so intently I would have missed it.
I wanted to ask about it , but Arav would not feel comfortable with it, I could not just start meddling in all their intimate things. I had to be patient.
So I gave Armaan a nod , and excused myself to go to bathroom.
When I came back , the shock of the century awaited me.
They all were laughing.
And Radhika was sitting on the table , on my chair.
And it jarred me how much of a happy family they looked.
21/10/24