PUNARVIVAAH - ARRANGED TO LOVE (L&M #3)

SHOT 24

Vaiga's pov!

The next few weeks passed by in a blur. Things went smoothly after that unfortunate day when we got stranded during the political riot.

Dev ji had pretty much ignored my presence after that and I was very thankful for that. I lived the last few weeks in the fear that he was going to come and snatch baby Kriti from me and scream at me to stay away.

But much to my relief, he behaved as if I didn't even exist.

The last few weeks, I have prepared well for my exams. Baby Kriti would simply sit and play with her toys while I study. But she would in between turn and look at me to confirm I was there only.

That day, not finding me around had scared her. She doesn't let me out of her sight ever. If she doesn't find me near her when she wakes up after a nap, she would scream down the house, making sure that I reach her wherever I am.

A smile made its way to my mouth when I thought about her. A deep bond had developed between us. Two people who are in no way connected to each other. What magic is this?

"Vaiga, are you ready?" Anjana Maa asked, coming to my room.

"Yes, Anjana Maa. I am ready to leave." I said. It was my last exam today.

"Come for breakfast then. Let me go and see why Siddhu hasn't come down yet." Anjana Maa said and left my room.

I took baby Kriti in one arm and my bag on the shoulder and walked towards the dining area. I made Kriti sit on the high chair.

"Don't delay yourself by feeding her, Vaiga. You have your breakfast. I will give her food after you leave. Let me just go and check on Siddhu." Anjana Maa said and hurriedly climbed up the stairs.

I sat on the chair and took a plate and served two dosas and some chutney to it. I tore some dosa and gave it to Kriti, who started slowly nibbling on it herself.

I quickly had my breakfast, while Kriti who got bored of nibbling on the dosa piece threw it on to the dining table and reached out to get the table cloth.

"No, baby. Eat this." I gave her a slice of the apple Anjana Maa had sliced and kept on the table.

"Vaiga, it's your last exam today, right?" Niranjan uncle asked, as he sat across from me to have breakfast.

"Yes, uncle." I said with a smile.

"Great. Let's all go out to have dinner tonight." Niranjan uncle said.

"Oh no! That's not needed, uncle." I said, not wanting to bother them.

"Come on, let me have a break from Anjana's food, please." Niranjan uncle said with a chuckle.

"Then go and have breakfast from your office canteen." Anjana Maa said and took Niranjan uncle's plate away.

"I was kidding, Anjana." Niranjan uncle said with a sweet smile and Anjana Maa rolled her eyes and kept the plate back.

"Niranjan, you have to drop Vaiga today." Anjana Maa said.

"Where is Siddhu?" Niranjan uncle asked and I looked at Anjana Maa to know that. It was Siddhu who dropped me at the college for exams all these days.

"He is having a terrible headache. He was watching some series till four in the morning. He ought to get a headache." Anjana Maa cribbed in the usual mother tone.

"Oh! I have an early meeting today. The office and the college are in the opposite directions." Niranjan uncle said thoughtfully.

"I will tell Abhay then.." Anjana Maa said and I choked on the food and started coughing.

"Vaiga, there is no hurry, beta. You have time. Eat slowly." Anjana Maa said as she handed me a glass of water.

I quickly gulped down the water and looked at her.

"Uh! I will go by bus, Anjana Maa." I said softly.

"What? No way! You don't know the place well." Niranjan uncle said.

"It's okay, uncle. Back at home, I used to go to college by bus." I said.

"That's your hometown. This is an unknown place for you. Do you even know where the bus stop is?" Niranjan uncle asked.

"Yes, I do. Siddhu had showed me around while dropping and picking me from the college. It is only a five minutes walk from here to the bus stop. And there is a bus stop in front of the college. So, it wouldn't be an issue. I can manage. Please uncle." I pleaded. I cannot even think about sharing a space with Dev ji.

"You don't have to be scared about Abhay, Vaiga." Anjana Maa said softly and I smiled at her.

"I am not scared, Anjana Maa. I just don't want to bother him. When you ask Siddhu to drop me, I never deny, because I know he considers me a friend and it doesn't bother him to pick and drop me. But it is different with Dev ji. Please understand, Anjana Maa." I said softly yet adamantly and heard her sigh.

"If you are so adamant on this, then what can I say? Hurry up, if you are going by bus. You have no idea about the bus timings, so it is better to have some buffer time to compensate in case any delays happen." Anjana Maa said and I nodded and hurried up.

"Niranjan, maybe we should hire a driver. If all three of you are unavailable, we need someone to drive us around." Anjana Maa said.

"I will. Meanwhile, Vaiga should take driving classes." Niranjan uncle said and I shot a sheepish smile at him.

"What?"

"I have a driving licence, uncle. I took it when I turned eighteen. And I can drive two wheelers smoothly too. But I am not confident driving a car." I said.

"You should brush up your driving skills then. I will ask Siddhu to help you out when he is free." Niranjan uncle said.

"What is the need of all that uncle? Appa doesn't have a car. There will be no need for driving." I said.

And also, as per what Dev ji had said, I should leave once my exams are over.

But will I be able to leave Kriti and go?

A/N

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