Varun P.O.V.
'Alia, chill, it was a joke.' I tried to placate my extremely angry wife, following her as she walked away from the cameras. We were on set and we'd had to bring Kavya with us. Anjali was at school and it was almost time for her to be picked up. Alia had just been about to leave to pick her up when she'd overheard my conversation.
'A joke? Somebody asks you if your kids are adopted and you take it as a joke?' she snapped.
'Alu, you heard it out of context. He was only saying it because Kavya was being so calm and that's the complete opposite of Anjali. And me for that matter.' I explained.
'It doesn't matter, it's not something to laugh about.'
'If all you want to do is argue with me, I don't want to speak to you.' I told her, taking Kavya from her arms so that I could calm myself down.
'Fine. I'm going to pick Anjali up.' I didn't say anything as she stormed off in the direction of the car park.
'Your mother is a handful, you know that?' I asked my daughter. Of course, being a six month old who could only recognise a few words, she didn't give me an answer, just babbled happily and gave me a toothless grin. I smiled back at her and walked back to set.
***
It was about two hours later and Alia still hadn't come back. I was starting to get worried when the phone call came. 'Hello.' I answered, a little distractedly, trying to feed Kavya while holding my phone between my shoulder and my ear.
'Varun, this is Dr. Shah speaking.' I was momentarily confused, the only doctor I heard from on a regular basis was Dr. Patel, but then I realised he was one of the on call doctors at Central hospital.
My mind went to Anjali and then to Alia, wondering why she hadn't called me if something had happened to Anjali. Surely she couldn't be that angry at me. 'Varun, are you still there?' the doctor asked me.
'Yeah, I'm here.' I answered.
'You need to come to the hospital.'
'Is there something wrong with Anjali?' I queried.
'Actually it's Alia and Anjali. They got into an accident.' My heart stopped beating and I dropped the spoon I had been holding, covering Kavya in mushed peas. She started giggling and trying to eat the vegetables off of her arm but I didn't stop her like I usually would, couldn't think of anything but the fact that that the last thing I had said to my wife was that I didn't want to speak to her.
'Are they - are they okay?' I questioned, barely able to get the words out.
'Anjali is fine, a little shaken up and slightly bruised from where the seat belt restrained her but Alia took the full impact. She's conscious but she's got a broken arm, a bruised rib and possibly a concussion. Honestly, she's lucky to be alive.' I couldn't speak, didn't know what to say. 'We need you to come down to the hospital so that Anjali can be discharged.'
'Yeah, I'll be there as soon as I can.'
Alia P.O.V.
I hate hospitals. Actually, I completely despise them. Usually, when I'm in the hospital, it means there's something wrong with my daughter so it's not a place I'm fond of. This time, it was me that had to stay and not Anjali so that was a slight bright side but I hate the sterile smell and the bright artificial lights and the way everyone treats you like an invalid.
I'd been in the hospital for over three hours when Varun showed up. He was pushing a sleeping Kavya's pram with one hand and the other was being firmly held by Anjali. I relaxed a little as I saw that the doctors hadn't been lying and that Anjali was actually completely fine. She looked at me for a second before turning back to Varun. 'Papa, what happened to mummy's arm?' she asked.
'It's broken, angel, so it's got to stay in a cast for a while.' he explained.
'Your arms broken? Does that mean it's going to have to go in the bin like my old toys?' she questioned, turning back to me, eyes wide. Me and Varun both laughed and I shook my head.
'No baby. My arm will get better but I have to keep very still so that it can fix itself properly.'
'Ohhhhh. So do you have to stay in the hospital while it gets fixed?'
'No, but I can't use my arm until it's fixed.' I told her.
'You can't hold Kavya then?' I hadn't realised that.
'I guess not. But it's only for a little while, just till the cast comes off.' I assured.
'Oh, that's okay then.' I laughed at the way she sounded like she was giving me her approval.
'Anju, we're going to have to leave soon. It's getting late, you and Kavya haven't had dinner yet and mummy needs some sleep.' Varun said, making me aware of the time.
'No! I want to stay with mummy!' Anjali exclaimed, talking back to Varun for the first time in her life.
'Anju, you can't stay with mummy. Mummy has to stay at the hospital tonight.' Varun told her, staying calm despite the fact that there was a seven year old throwing a tantrum.
'But I want to stay with mummy.' she whined.
'Anjali, listen to Papa.' I said.
'It's not fair mummy! You always stay with me!'
'I know, Anju, but I need you to go home with Papa and help him look after Kavya. Can you do that for me?' I asked her. Her face lit up and she nodded excitedly. 'Okay. Now give me a hug and then go home.' She came and gave me a quick hug and then ran back to Varun, tugging his hand to try and get him to leave.
'Hold on angel.' he laughed. 'Let me say bye to mummy as well.' Anjali gave a slightly annoyed look and sighed but let go of his hand and stood by the door, already covering her eyes with her hands because, to us Shraddha's words, even Anjali knows that we're a very affectionate peoples. 'Alright, I'll see you tomorrow jaan.' he told me, giving me a quick kiss before leaving.
Varun P.O.V.
Anjali and Kavya were both complete angels all evening. They both ate without complaint and Kavya even took her bath without throwing a tantrum for once. By half eight, they were both fast asleep in their own beds.
The house was quiet, my two girls were sleeping but sleep evaded me. I stayed awake all night thinking about the fact that I had been told that Alia might have died today and the last thing I had told her was that I didn't want to talk to her. She could've died thinking I was still mad at her, the last words I would have said to her wouldn't have been 'I love you' or even something similar. Plus the bed felt way too big without Alia next to me.
By the time the girls woke up, I'd had eight cups of tea and three cups of coffee. I was wired but emotionally exhausted. After dropping Anjali off to school, I called bhaiya to see if he'd be able to keep Kavya for the day. He asked me half a million questions but eventually agreed so I took Kavya to my brother's house then headed to the hospital.
Alia had just woken up when I got there. She smiled brightly at me though she looked slightly confused. 'Hey, you're here early. The nurse just said I can't leave till this afternoon.'
'I know but I needed to see you, make sure you're actually okay.' I told her.
'Okay, what's wrong? Why do you sound so down?' she questioned.
'It's nothing I just...'
'Just what?'
'Yesterday, when I got the call from the hospital, the doctor said you were lucky to be alive. Since then I can't stop thinking that the last thing I would've said to you would be that I didn't want to talk to you.' I explained.
'Why are you thinking about that? I'm fine, just a little beat up.'
'I know that, but you could have died and the last conversation we would have had would have had would've been an argument.' She smiled at me like I was being ridiculous.
'Come here.' she told me, patting the small space on the bed by her leg. I did as instructed and sat down.
'We argue all the time, over the most ridiculous things, but that's just how we are. In some weird way, that's how we say I love you. It doesn't have to be said aloud for it to be heard or understood, Varun.' she said, taking a hold of my hand. 'I love you, you know that right?'
'Of course I do. That's not what the problem is.'
'Then what is?' she queried.
'I feel like I don't say it enough. I mean, I'm always saying it to Anju and Kavya but I don't tell you that I love you enough. You know I do though right? You know I love you?'
'Didn't I just tell you that I don't need you to say it?' she asked exasperatedly. 'I know you do, Varun and, quite frankly, I'm glad you're not the type of person who feels he has to constantly tell me he loves me. That just makes you seem like you're clingy and you need the reassurance that I love you. Unless you suddenly feel like you've got something to prove, I don't understand why this is bothering you so much.'
'I know I don't need to prove anything! It's just sometimes I feel like we argue so much, and that's not really a problem because we wouldn't be us if we just agreed all the time and life would be so boring, but maybe some of our fights might make it feel like... well, you know what I mean.'
'Maybe sometimes our fights go a little too far and we both say stupid things that we don't mean but that doesn't change anything between us. It might be nice to have some reassurance after the worst arguments but I know how you feel and you know how I feel.' she told me.
'You're right. I'm being stupid. I should know better by now.'
'Yeah, you probably should, but that's okay. You may be a bit of an idiot sometimes but you're my idiot and I love you.' She grinned at me and I wasn't sure if she had meant it to be an insult or not.
'I love you too. And please don't ever, ever scare me like this again. You have no idea how scared I was when I got that call.'
'Well, I can't promise anything but I'll try my best.' I sighed but nodded, knowing that's the best I would get. 'Are you planning on smiling today or are you gonna be moody all day?' I shrugged and she rolled her eyes. 'Stop acting like a two year old. Even Kavya doesn't throw tantrums like you do.' I can't hold back the smile that comes at that.
'Kavya isn't even one yet. Anjali on the other hand, can be one very grumpy kid.'
'Well, look at who her parents are. We aren't always the cheeriest people on the planet.' Alia justified. 'Do you remember everyone warning us about the terrible two's when Anjali was younger?'
'God, I don't even want to imagine what Kavya's terrible two's will be like.' I groaned. 'Anjali's one of the most sweet tempered kids I've ever met and hers were hell.'
'Hold up a second. She's six months old, we don't need to talk about terrible two's yet. You're making me feel old.' I chuckled and decided not to change the subject, just because I like to freak Alia out sometimes.
'Yeah, but Anju's going to be eight soon and we've been married for over seven years. Can you believe that?' She covered her ears and shook her head, blocking out my voice. 'It's been twelve years since our first movie came out. That means we've known each other for like, fourteen years.' I continued, knowing she was still able to hear me.
'Stop it! This is not funny!'
'Yeah it is.'
'Is not. You're making me feel ancient.'
'You do realise I'm older than you right?' I asked.
'I may have forgotten that.' she admitted.
'You're crazy.' I told her, shaking my head but smiling fondly at her.
'Thank you.' she replied with a wide smile.
'Only you would think that's a compliment.'
'Hey, I'm crazy and proud of it.'
'Alright, well, I'm going to leave you to your craziness and go take a nap before I have to pick our daughter up. I'll see you later.'
'You're going already?' she whined.
'Haan, I'm going. I didn't get much sleep last night.'
'If you weren't sleeping what were you doing?' she joked.
'Thinking about you. Bed's not as comfy without you.'
'You say the sweetest things sometimes.'
'Alu, how many times? I'm not sweet.'
'You've been saying that as long as I've known you and it's always been a lie.' she laughed.
'I'm never going to win this one am I?' I asked.
'Nope. Just stop fighting it.'
'I should probably have learnt that lesson by now.'
'Probably.' She agreed. I yawned in the middle of my laugh. 'Okay, you go get some sleep. I'll see you this evening.'
'Alright.' I gave her a quick kiss and left, thinking of finally getting some sleep. Though it would probably have to be on the sofa, but still it would be better than the zero hours of sleep I'd had last night.
A/N: YJHD_NainaBunny thanks for that idea. Hope you enjoyed that.
Just so you guys know, I should be updating this weekend but no promises.
Anyways, hope you enjoyed and see you soon.