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"Yeah love is found in everything. In friendships, in family, in food, in nature so actually love is the whole point and you can die mad about it........... <33"
Manjiri's steps faltered as she neared the veranda in search of Ved.
"Please don't cry, Aunty. You need to be strong."
Ved was on a phone call. Intrigued with his words, Manjiri went still as she stressed her ears to hear his conversation.
"Yes, I've talked to Dr Arora. He's a renowned hepatologist. We can surely trust him with Uncle."
On hearing that, Manjiri took no time in guesstimating with whom her brother-in-law might be speaking.
"Definitely! I'll be there whenever you'll need me."
Manjiri knew that it was a bad thing to eavesdrop someone's conversation but at then she couldn't help. It was wrong to say that she was being curious. Regardless of anything, she was just being concerned for someone whom she considered as her family. Even though they never considered her their family.
"Yes please, do inform him. After all he's the son, he has to know." Ved finished, "Take care!"
A slight frown etched on Ved's face as he turned around,
"Miru?"
"Umm... I'm requiring your signature on this consent letter for college excursion."
Manjiri managed to utter despite an unsettling feeling was creeping within her minute by minute. Ved peered at the papers which appeared to be a form,
"Alright, pass it."
"Is he fine, Jiju?"
She asked lowering her gaze. Effortlessly dodging away any sort of eye contact with her, Ved nonchalantly questioned, acting very normal,
"Who?"
"You very well know who. Please don't hide anything from me."
She pleaded looking at him expectantly. Ved couldn't help but look at her subdued.
"No, he isn't fine. He's facing several difficulties. But you don't worry, I've discussed his medical condition and reports with a good liver specialist. God willing his condition will improve soon."
"Does Dii know about all this? I mean is she ok with you speaking to them?"
Manjiri asked concerned. She had to be concerned as topics relating to Rao family, were very sensitive topics at Mohan Villa. Ved was aware of it too.
"No. I don't want to stress her. Moreover, she hasn't forgotten anything. She'll hardly welcome their involvement in our lives."
"It means you've forgotten everything..."
Interrupting Manjiri's words in between, Ved attempted to explain her.
"No. Absolutely not. I'm just maintaining the dignity of my profession, Miru. On being a medical practitioner, I'm ought to ensure best medical care for every ailing person."
"Dii just can't stand any of them. She doesn't even like talking about them." Her words came out as cautionary indications. It was quite obvious that she didn't want her sister to get hurt. And especially when she was in such a delicate condition. "Not that I want you to stop helping them. But, Jiju, it's just that Dii will certainly not embrace your association to them. Cause perhaps she can never forgive them..."
"Look, Miru, your sister's annoyance is justified over here. But if truth be told then I've left that matter on the supreme being. Cause he is the only one who'll give better justice while we humans can only play our part fairly." Passing a weak smile at her, Ved put an arm around Manjiri's shoulders to lead her inside telling, "Don't be worried now. Everything's fine and under control."
At then, Manjiri couldn't help but compare Shaurya's attitude with Ved's attitude. Despite belonging to the same family, their understanding and notions were poles apart.
But then who was she to judge them and their brotherly bond on those aspects, when Adishri and her thoughts were almost like chalk and cheese on a certain few points. They were sisters too.
"Jiju!"
"Yes?"
"Can relations be ever broken completely?"
She asked raising her head and stopping in the midway. Ved stopped too and eyed her with a faint smile enunciating,
"Relations aren't business, Miru. That if it goes well, keep it going. And if it doesn't work then back off. But yeah, even if they're then one is required to invest his or her emotions in a very balanced way."
"What others believe is not my concern, unless they attempt to force it on me................."
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"I wanna be a source of comfort to you................."
Before the incoming call could turn into a missed call, Manjiri reached her phone with a quick stride.
"Hello!"
"Hello! What is it Silly Head? No calls and texts since morning, what's wrong? Where are you?"
From his tone it was quite evident for Manjiri that he was hell tired. Even though it seemed that he was irked but his pitch was low, very low. The similar kind of low whenever he had a long day at work. She answered seating on the swing of their room's balcony.
"Where would I be? But obviously, home."
"Just retrieved the phone from the bag and was a little astonished to not even find your single missed call since morning. Didn't you get worried about me today?"
He grumbled, his voice came heavy. Hence, making Manjiri sure that he had finally hit his bed and would drift off to sleep at any moment. She replied as he yawned,
"What to worry about? You had already sent me messages last night telling that you would be trained to perform several complex surgical procedures the next day."
"But still you..."
"What?"
"Many wives often get insecure when their husbands don't call them for long. So you should also try having some insecurities."
Manjiri couldn't resist chuckling softly at his words. He instantly probed,
"What was there to laugh about? Isn't that what typical wives do?"
"Well, one can't just tell and frame an idea. It depends. Few might be like that but I trust you."
She whispered her last few words very softly, but they were loud enough to reach him.
"Really? I'm glad." He replied excited, as if her words had flicked some switch within him and all his liveliness got revived. He added, "Still would like to suggest that change this habit of yours."
"Which habit?"
"Of trusting people limitlessly and blindly. Cause if one day if your trust on someone would break, then not just only you'll fall to bits but also the people who care for you."
It wasn't hard for Manjiri to understand to whom and where her husband's words were indirectly targeting.
Since the day when they both last had a heated argument over that topic, Shaurya literally avoided bringing out such things in his talks. Even though he really couldn't help in obliquely hinting at that from time to time.
"Firstly, trusting people and trusting you are two different things." She finished with a sigh. Resuming her say, she spoke, "And secondly, I'm kind of certain that nothing unfavourable will happen. And God forbid even if it happens then I'll deal with that then and there. I don't fear about anything anymore."
Shaurya had a lot to say in return. But something within him yelled at him and inspired him to instantly deflect the point of talk.
"So where were you messing around all day?"
"Nowhere. Had a long day at college and then accompanied Dii to the clinic for check-up. And then same house chores and talks..."
"What did her doctor say? All ok?"
"Yeah, so far all ok. Just some back pain and sleeping problems is affecting her these days."
"Last week you had told that Bhabhi was complaining about shortness of breath, did you or she inform the doctor about it?"
"Yeah."
"I wanna be the one who makes your bad days better..................."
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"Dev, you're impossible. I sympathise with Sam here."
Adishri spoke out laughing. She was sitting on the bed as her one hand rested upon her very evident baby bump. Dev, who was half-sitting and half-leaning on the same bed near her legs instantly muttered in response,
"Oh come on, Shri Bhabhi, she's no less. You should sympathise with me. Sam already has enough support systems."
"Where were you, Miru? You took too long."
Adishri flashed a soft smile as Manjiri ushered inside with a few of her needed belongings in her hands.
Ved had gone out of station, so consequently, Manjiri was on duty. Both the sisters were supposed to keep each other company for that night.
"Shri Bhabhi, wrong question! You should have asked like this - 'With whom were you so busy that you lost the track of time?"
Before Manjiri could even answer, Dev remarked in response to Adishri's question.
Both Adishri and Dev giggled while Manjiri wordlessly stared at both of them, a little lost about the context.
"Bhaiya, Dadi told that you would leave for somewhere tomorrow."
Manjiri mumbled as she put her phone on charging against the headrest of the bed.
Sitting upright, Dev spoke up,
"Yes, got to attend a Dental Interns Conference. Would you like to accompany?"
"Me?" She turned around confused, "What will I do there?"
"It would be fun. Trust me..."
Before Dev could finish speaking, Manjiri suggested,
"Take Sam then. Why are you after me?"
"But obviously, Sam is accompanying. But we both want you to join us..." Dev muttered and then he winked at Adishri when Manjiri's gaze was not on them, "Shri Bhabhi, tell her no."
"Leave her alone, Dev. If she isn't interested in going to Chandigarh then we can't force her."
Adishri responded solemnly, faking a sheer sedate look and tone and not meeting Manjiri's eyes.
"Wait, what? I mean where?"
Manjiri asked dubiously. To which Dev replied in sheer nonchalance showing as if he was very busy in his phone.
"Nowhere."
"Your conference is in Chandigarh?"
As Manjiri got seated beside Dev and queried, an amusement wrote itself on his face. Although he didn't let it be shown to her.
"Yeah, but now let it be. I understand. You must have got a lot to do. So, no worries. Be at home."
"No, I'm free tomorrow. I can come along."
No sooner did Manjiri finished, both Adishri and Dev directly looked up at her looking thoroughly entertained. Taking a note of those looks, Manjiri's cheeks instantly lit up with embarrassment.
"What?"
Manjiri asked trying to save herself from that embarrassing situation but much to her dismay, none of them said anything. She never felt that stupid which she was feeling at then. Whereas the other two seemed that they were indeed enjoying that way too much.
"Can I come along?"
She probed looking at Dev, all through wondering if she should make another attempt or not. However, hardly had those words escaped from her mouth when Dev and Adishri's fits of laughter started echoing in the room.
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"There's something disturbing about recalling a warm memory and feeling utterly cold....................."
"But this was not my Miru."
"What has gotten into you all of a sudden?" Manjiri quizzed Adishri. Pouring some warm water from the thermos flask, she forwarded it to her instructing, "Stop giggling now. Quickly take your multivitamins, I know you're going to forget about it later on."
"Satisfied?"
Adishri asked putting the empty glass on the night stand.
"For now." Manjiri smiled helping her sister with the blanket. "Text Jiju - 'good night' and immediately go to sleep. Remember doctor instructed you to take sound sleep for at least 8 hours."
"I'm not texting him anything."
"Well, that's really surprising. What happened?"
"Ved is being very moody these days so I deliberately try to avoid him." Adishri sighed. She added when she saw Manjiri getting rid off her slippers and climbing the bed, "I should be the who should behave weirdly due to the misbalance of hormones, but at times he literally behaves that way. Take today's example only. I still wonder in what hurry he was. I mean, a person can inform if he has to leave for somewhere. But no, what's the need?"
"Actually, he informed everyone about it when you were taking a nap. Everything got planned at last minute, that's why he couldn't get a chance to tell you. Don't worry! He'll be here by tomorrow noon."
Manjiri informed her sister as she slipped inside the same blanket beside her.
"And you people be at Chandigarh by that time."
Adishri replied angling her face towards Manjiri. A soft smile automatically made it to Manjiri's lips with the mention of his place and before it could turn into a blush, she immediately switched off the lights of the room.
However, Adishri turned on the lamp of her side and looked at her little sister demanding an answer.
"You're happy, right? I mean with him?"
"What kind of a question is this, Dii? Don't you wish to sleep?"
Manjiri tried to overlook and covered her face with the blanket. She had enough of being a laughing-stock for Dev and her elder sister, so not anymore.
"No, please answer me first."
Adishri kind of whined pulling the blanket off Manjiri's face.
Manjiri wasn't willing to come out but then she had to come out when she heard Adishri voicing in a low voice,
"I agree that I'd made several mistakes in the past. And I'm sincerely very sorry for each and every mistake of mine, whether it was deliberate or undeliberate but..."
"Dii!"
Manjiri intervened, rolling over on her stomach to offer her assuring smile to Adishri, whose mood had gone from jovial to downhearted at the rate of ice melts in the summer heat.
Could we just blame her hormones for that? Or her constant nagging guilt?
"Miru, I sure can make mistake but our Dadi can never. If she had chosen him for you then just trust her."
"There is absolutely no need of telling me this, Dii. I trust Dadi and so her choices. So please breath a sigh of relief and set your mind at rest. There's absolutely nothing to worry about."
Manjiri smiled covering Adishri properly. While Adishri kept on staring at her little sister with tears in her eyes.
"You still didn't believe my words?"
Manjiri quizzed when she received nothing but silent stares in response from her sister's side. Taking a deep sigh, Adishri wiped her tears with the back of her hands and softly mumbled,
"What should I do, Miru? At times, I feel so sorry for what all happened. But I was helpless..."
Manjiri cut off her sister's say by vocalising,
"Shh! Compose yourself, Dii. Everything's fine. Look at me, I'm all ok. Don't be so worried please." She added lowering her gaze, "I cannot get back what I've lost, but it's also true, Dii, that there is nothing better than what I've gained. Genuinely!"
"He's important to you, isn't he?"
Adishri inquired directly eyeing Manjiri. Too stumped at that straight question, Manjiri couldn't know how to find a suitable reply for it.
"Very. But not more than you."
Anyhow, Manjiri managed to speak with a grin and then leaned in to kiss Adishri's chubby soft cheek.
"I love you, Miru. That too a lot."
Adishri replied as Manjiri pulled back.
"Love you more. Even more than Jiju."
A soft chuckle escaped through Adishri's mouth hearing Manjiri's words. Putting off the lamp, Adishri laid straight.
Manjiri scooted and carefully hugged her sister beneath the blanket.
"Dii, it's been so long since we both slept like this, no?"
"Hmm. But at present, we're three people. Not just only we both."
Adishri smiled hugging back Manjiri's arm.
"You know I just can't wait for him or her to come out." Caressing Adishri's baby bump, Manjiri whinged, "Why isn't it February already, Dii?"
"There must be those among whom we can sit down and weep and still be counted as warriors..................."
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"Finally, Shaurya Bhai graced us with his presence."
Sameeksha exclaimed making Dev to spare a glance at the elevator as Shaurya stepped out of it.
"Why so early, Bhai? You should have taken some more time."
Dev taunted, impatiently waiting for Shaurya to fetch out the keys of his allotted room from his bag. In response, Shaurya hissed opening the door.
"Shut up, ok? Who the hell on earth inform one about their arrival like that? Was at Kajheri Village. Had to come leaving the medical camp and it's research work in the middle..."
"Heaven will not fall if you'll take a half day leave for us." Sameeksha muttered and then Dev added, "You don't respect anybody's emotions, Bhai. We have come from so far just to see you."
"Saw me properly?" Shaurya asked as the other two stepped inside the room. But when none of them acknowledged his question, he added, "Now just deposit your luggage, freshen up and leave for your Conference as fast as you both can."
"I just come."
Rolling her eyes, Sameeksha excused herself to use the washroom after pulling out a hand towel from her handbag.
Whereas Dev sprawled on the bed and got busy with his phone.
"Bhai, I think Sam left one bag outside."
"So?"
Shaurya probed uninterested whilst getting rid of his shoes and placing them at place.
"What so? Bring that in. She'll be really mad if it gets stolen, till then I just take a short nap." Dev faked a yawn to silently persuade Shaurya to do the needful, "Oh! I feel so tired."
Shaurya huffed ambling towards the door. He was supposed to be on the field but here, he was displaying his hospitality to his two uninvited annoying guests.
"There is no bag out here, Dev."
Shaurya yelled looking everywhere in the corridor. All of a sudden, a very familiar faint fragrance reached his olfactory sense. Without much ado, he turned around and his eyes instantly met the well acquainted pair of eyes, wherein he had been craving to sink in from so long.
Shaurya wondered if he was hallucinating. Or was she actually in front of him?
Before he could dare to touch her to confirm if she was real or not, Dev and Sam exclaimed with excitement from behind,
"Surprise!"
"Eye contact with same feelings >>>...................."
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"When they show their softer side only to you>>>>................."
Shaurya had never disliked Dev and Sameeksha's presence as much as he was doing at then. Whether intentionally or unintentionally, they weren't allowing Manjiri to move away from them. Each time they used to bring out something or the other to get her involved with them.
If truth be told then Shaurya was desperately waiting for Dev and Sameeksha to leave from there. They had gotten fresh, had coffee, even got dressed according to their event... Still it didn't seem to him that they were in a mood to leave from there.
Looking at the trinity still busy chatting and giggling, Shaurya silently made his way to the balcony.
"Now, Dev, I think we should get going." Sameeksha announced loudly and then winking at Dev, she added, "We shall get late if we didn't leave now."
"Bhai..."
Dev called Shaurya. And added when Shaurya stepped back inside the room.
"Shall we leave?"
"Yeah! Please." That came out as rude, so Shaurya immediately rephrased, "I mean it's time. You both should leave."
"Take care of her. No going anywhere leaving her alone, ok?"
Dev instructed gesturing towards Manjiri. Shaurya rolled his eyes in response.
He was really fed up his wife's annoying Nanny, for sure.
"We'll retrieve our luggage and her in the evening. Bye!"
Sameeksha waved her hand and pulled Dev out of the room with her. Though it was unrequired, still Shaurya felt obliged to help them with the directions as they both were completely new to the city. So he went with them instructing about the routes till the elevator's door.
"Hello, Maa?" Manjiri tried calling her mother-in-law multiple times since the time she reached Chandigarh, but each time the call either does not get connected or get disconnected the very next moment of being received. "Hello..."
Her voice dies off as she sensed him standing behind her. He stood way too close to her as she could feel the heat pouring off his body.
"Hello!"
He answered her greeting in a whisper as he leaned in and grasped her hand which was holding the phone against her ear. He placed that aside, away from them. And with his another hand, he took a hold of the windowsill in front. Thus, caging her in between him and the window.
"Shaurya."
She murmured closing her eyes as he placed his head on her shoulder and buried his face inside the warm skin of her neck.
"Yes, Silly Head."
"I'm needed to inform Maa that we three reached here safely. If not then she'll be worried."
She answered tipping her head to his side to glance at him. But she froze when she found his eyes already on her.
"And what about me and my worries? You didn't even bother to ask how I'm? Just simply went aside and got busy with your phone."
She grinned at that. Then began muttering as she twirled to face him, still encaged in between him and the window,
"We care and be worried more for the people who are far."
"And what about the ones who are close?"
He breathed out leaning in further. More closer than he already was. His hands skated up her arms while she closed her eyes feeling his breath all over her face.
He unhurriedly ran his fingers over her entire frame just to remind himself that he could, and that she was real and there and his. Only his.
"We simply care and be worried for them less." She slowly responded to his question. Her eyes already drifting shut as his mouth started sweeping the shell of her ear and the skin of her jaw very tenderly while his icy palms teased the skin of her neck, "But on seeing your mood now I'm seriously getting worried about you."
Hardly had a few words had escaped through her lips when her phone's ringtone started chiming, making both of them sigh inaudibly against each other.
"For a change, this time it's your phone."
Shaurya informed pulling back. Both of their eyes travelled to read the name displaying on her handset's screen - 'Chhoti Maa'. Aware of the fact that the call might take long to finish up, he apprised,
"Give me five minutes to get changed and then I'll take you out. So be ready."
Manjiri nodded with a sly smile and picked up the call. Gosh! She wanted to be in his hold for some more time. Maybe fatigue from the day had made her thoughts go increasingly fuzzy and clingy.
No sooner did she finish speaking to her mother-in-law on the phone, then she heard a knock at the door. She walked towards the door and secretly looked outside through the peephole.
Her eyebrows got furrowed on noticing a familiar face. To tell the truth, she wasn't happy with that sudden visitation of that unasked visitor. But when the tiniest of her sociability instinct encouraged her to open the door, she did. So what if she did that unwillingly.
"Hey!"
"Oh hi! You're here... how come?"
Priyal responded. The colour of her face immediately fade away as she sank in the information that in place of Shaurya, she had been greeted by Manjiri at his door. And that swift change in Priyal's facial expressions and body language didn't go unnoticed by Manjiri though.
"Well, I should be the one asking this, no?"
"No, no, that's not what I meant. I mean I'm surprised to see you here."
Priyal pulled her lips to form a sweet smile as she voiced her true thoughts. Manjiri exchanged the smile by requesting her to get in.
"Please, come inside."
"Shaurya didn't tell me anything of your arrival."
Priyal informed walking inside. She placing her laptop bag and handbag on the centre table and started looking around. Manjiri felt weird at that.
"He himself didn't know. Actually, it was a surprise." Although it was not needed still Manjiri notified the other lady and gestured towards the couch, "Please sit."
"Oh these are here." Manjiri noticed Priyal getting up and fetching earphones from the desk placed near the couch, "I had forgotten these here yesterday."
On not understanding the context, Manjiri quizzed confused,
"Yesterday?"
"Actually, my allotted room is around the corner of this room. So everyday after work, Shaurya, Dr Aarif and I prepare and email our concerned department's day-to-day progress report of the camps and research work together. Basically we all work together. So, had mistakenly left these here yesterday."
Finding it necessary, Priyal filled Manjiri in on the portion of information that had might create some misconception if not cleared. Although, Manjiri doesn't seem much impressed with that clarification still she didn't let it show.
"Silly Head, ready?" Shaurya walked out of the washroom dressed in casual jeans and hoodie. But when his gaze fell on Priyal, he exclaimed with surprise, "Priyal you?"
"Hi!"
"You're supposed to be on the field, isn't it?
He asked soon after Priyal greeted him.
"Yes, but wasn't feeling well so came back early." Priyal informed and then added with a slight smile, "I'm sorry to disturb you guys, but you had said that today you would help me with..."
"Oh, I'm so sorry. I completely forgot."
Shaurya recollected displaying his sheepish grin. To which Priyal reflected back the same grin whilst notifying him,
"It's ok cause tomorrow is the deadline."
"So this is a crisis now." Shaurya muttered and then chanced a glance towards Manjiri, "But we're going out right now."
"I can see that. It's so good to see you without your white coat and surgical scrub suit at times" Priyal spurted eyeing Shaurya's appearance properly. And then spoke out in urgency tapping her fingers on a few folders in her hands, "But this is important..."
Shaurya cut Priyal's say whilst peering at Manjiri, as if trying to figure out what she was wanting him to do.
"But..."
"It's alright. She seems worried. Help her out. We can go out after some time."
Manjiri finally opened her mouth to speak flashing an artificial smile. But in actuality, she wasn't wishing to say so but anyhow she eventually did.
"See, Manjiri has said it as well now. I wouldn't have ruined your plan if this was not so important."
Priyal passed a tight lipped smile to Manjiri as she got involved in some work with Shaurya. However, for the first time, Manjiri didn't feel like smiling back at her. In fact, her frown grew deeper when the other two laughed hard, after cracking some inside joke which was obviously concerning to their work place.
Manjiri kept on looking at the other two unblinking and minutes passed by. Then some more minutes. Then half an hour and at last, a whole hour passed by.
"You, please just you, only you forever................... No one in between, before and after!"
~~~
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