Arjun thought about all that Meera had just told him, as he fazed into oblivion, his hand still on Aakash's shoulder, sitting outside Aakash's room for the check up to finish. She wasn't wrong, in fact she was right in every possible way, there could be a possibility that he had undermined her, Arjun wondered. He was guilty, guilty of thing deteriorating that night, first his father and then Divya.
The door unlatched and a middle aged woman came out, while walking with Arvind. Arjun heard their faint voices
"You're a doctor Arvind, not a Gynaec but a doctor, you know how unsuitable it is to cause any stress to a pregnant woman and that to in the initial months! I have given her a pill for now but I recommend complete bed rest for a week, you're lucky she fainted on her back, if it would be on the stomach, then" The woman said pursing her lips in the last part and nodding at Arvind
"Thanks Radhika, thanks for coming even at this hour at the night, I just thought it would be better to take the opinion of a Gynaec" Arvind explained as he pushed his glasses to his nose.
"she is hormonal right now Arvind, it's normal" Radhika explained
Aakash briskly walked to them, Radhika put her hand over his shoulder and reassured him that the mother and the baby were fine but care and attention was necessary.
"I presume there has been a disagreement between the two of you, and if for tonight she doesn't want to see you, don't pester her and get her hyper, sleep over it tonight, she needs rest and then you can start afresh" Radhika had added after explaining to him when they were due to see her next.
Aakash entered the room followed by Arjun, Divya lay there in the comforter and Meera was on her bedside. Meera quickly rose to make Space for Aakash to sit, but before Aakash could even put his hand on the bed Divya in a very low tone added, "Meera, please tell everyone to leave, I want to sleep"
"Yeah darling, Aman's just getting the pills, till then why don't we talk" Aakash said trying to diffuse the situation to which Divya immediately screamed
"I don't want to talk to you, just leave!" it was loud, louder than any one had ever heard her be, Aakash and Arjun were almost frightened as Meera closed her eyes and placed a hand on her ear. Meera went to Divya's side trying to placate her as streams of tears continued flowing down Divya's eyes. Aakash stood there helplessly, trying not to aggravate Divya's aggression but also wanting to assuage her.
"Di, Di, it's okay, calm down, it's fine, think about champ, come on, it's okay" Meera said taking Divya's hand in hers. Meera quickly turned around and mouthed to Aakash to leave, assuring him with her eyes that she'd take care of Divya.
-
Arjun tossed on the bed, again and again, he wasn't able to sleep. The couch opposite his was empty. Somehow the day felt hotter than usual as soon as he'd put his blanket on but the minute he removed it, he felt like a lonely popsicle.
His throat felt dry and he got up, looking around the room for a jug,e spotting one in his vicinity, he was disappointed to see that it was empty.
Walking down the stairs to fill up the jug, he saw Aakash sitting on the sofa,his hands stuck to his face in frustration.
Aakash felt a hand on his shoulder and he turned his face, taking a glance at Arjun, he looked in the front.
"Hey" Arjun began, to which he got no response. "I am sorry" Arjun added, placing the jug on the table and sitting next to Aakash. He really was Sorry, all these years no matter what, aakash had stood by him like a rock!
Aakash turned to him, his one hand holding his forehead and cheek muscle, "It's not your fault, I should have seen it coming, I should have told her the truth without caring about anything else, she is right, I just ruined two lives, yours and Meeras"
"Don't say that! You didn't ruin my life, you just wanted the best for me! you have been more of an elder brother to me that I have, to you!" Arjun said as he rubbed Aakash's back
"I am sorry, about swati and the child, I had no idea or I never would have-" Aakash said, after a long pause and sigh in the end
"I won't blame you, I didn't have any idea myself, but now all of it seems like a hoax to me, like was there any love in that relationship ever? Besides now when I think of it,would I really be happy sharing this joy with someone who wasn't there with my when I needed her"
"Insightful, where did you get this insight from" Aakash asked plainly, observing Arjun sudden take of logic on emotions, he knew very well that when Arjun was emotional about something, there was no rationality exhibited anywhere, especially as seen that night
"I read it somewhere" Arjun lied as Meera's voice rung in his head
"Dont worry Divya will forgive you, she loves you a lot!" Arjun said as he ruffled Aakash's hair
"You shouldn't have dragged Meera into it like this, you know there is no fault of her" Aakash reasoned, Arjun looked at the ground and nodded.
-
It had been almost 3 days, Meera had been home taking care of Divya who was still very mad at Aakash refusing to even see his face even after Meera's deliberate attempts to pacify her and to explain to her that she was okay.
"Excuse me, I have to talk to you" Meera said sternly as she entered the room without making any eye contact, while Arjun was tying his shoes
"Why, is there any more insight on 'life' that you need to tell me about?" Arjun said saltily. He had managed to make peace with his mother, aunt, uncle and siblings, but his father was still low around him and he hadn't touched Divya or Meera. He was still mad at Meera, she had pretty much bruised his ego by calling him a dickhead and jerk!
"Insight! No, no more 'insight', I don't know if you care but since I do care about my pregnant sister and my aloof jiju, we are going to have this conversation, you do know they're not on talking terms because of our marriage!" Meera said, being sarcastic wherever she could
"Yes, I know, I, am, aware, of, it!" Arjun said, tilting his head on a different side at every pause between the words
"Oh really? then I suppose, you, have, a, solution" Meera said imitating him, "And don't say divorce, I don't want my dying grandfather to become DEAD" she added in all seriousness
"Oh wow everybody thinks I don't want this marriage, but they don't know that you don't want it either!" Arjun said pointing his index finger towards her
"See that's the difference, you are a rebel without cause and I am a revolutionary" she quipped
"Revolution or just aafat ka toofan" He mumbled, he hadn't said that phrase in quite a long time
"Anyways, I propose that we continue the show of our marriage, just as we had successfully pulled off in the last few weeks, to avert the misgivings between Jiju and Di, this time, only we'll know it and till then keep outta each other's hair" Meera said very diplomatically, averting eye contact as soon as she was done speaking
"Accepted, I should go inform Divya then of these recent development, under the guise of me giving this marriage a chance" Arjun said equally formally
"Very well then, it's settled"
"It is" Arjun said almost immediately
_
Arjun entered Divya's room, who immediately looked away on seeing him, Aakash was seated opposite, still pleading for her forgiveness, Arjun sat on his knee and took Divya's hands in his hands.
"You know what Divya, the day you guys got married I wondered what good deeds had let this dumbass get a wonderful girl like you, and what good deeds I had done to get another sister, like yourself" He began as Meera standing over there rolled her eyes.
"I know I've hurt you and I am so so so so sorry, you don't wanna forgive me, dont! but don't punish Aakash for it! Remember what you told me that day I got married, that all a woman wants is love and I am willing to give your sister that, right darling" Arjun said as he turned around to Meera who cringed at the usage of 'darling' yet she gave everyone a botox smile. The room had almost all the members of the family who were there up there to check on Meera, include Shantanu.
"Yes Di, I wanna give this a chance" Meera said as she moved forward and bent to take the Divya's other hand in her hand
Divya suddenly melted and gave the widest smile, "Really? Awe, I am so sorry Meera i blamed you for not giving it a chance but well I am glad that you you guys are giving it a chance now" She said giving up to give Meera and Arjun a quick hug. While the others looked on radiantly, rejoicing at the fact that Arjun had decided to give the marriage a chance, Aakash gaped at that wondering how his brother had managed to pacify his wife at once even though he had been trying for a few days now. Meera noticing Aakash's expression, whispered to him discreetly, "It's the stars!" making him chuckle.
Divya then quickly moved to Aakash and hugged him, he whispered sorries while she repeated them, leaving the inseparable couple to their antics, Arjun moved to his dad, touching his feet,
"I know you are disappointed dad, I know I have disappointed you and no matter how much I apologize, it won't be enough, but if you could give me another chance-" Arjun said folding his hands in front of his father and being immediately enveloped into a hug
"You don't know how much joy you have given me just by agreeing to give this marriage a chance, Meera is a wonderful girl Arjun, and mark my words, the only one alive to be your match" His father said as the both of them looked at her, laughing with Aman on something
"Yes father!" he nodded his head and went on to hug his mother
-
Pratibha hugged Meera.
"Meera, I always knew that you were the right one for my Arjun and I'm glad even he realized it" she started
"Beta, I know that you are mad at him, and just because you have decided to give this a chance; I dont expect you to concede, but beta, know that Arjun is different beta, he can't show his affections and can't control his temper either"
"All of these habits are derived from his father and yet this father and son fail to see eye to eye on most occassions" Pratibha chuckled
"He was broken at one point beta, now I see it healed but sometimes he ends up hurting that same wound again, finally he has his closure and now I can fulfill my dream of seeing my son happy" pratibha added, raising Meera's chin even though Meera was taller than her, she then held Meera's head and kissed her on the forehead.
"Whatever it is maa, remind her that you love me more, after all I am your first Bahu, why jethaniji" Divya said playfully as she put her Arms around Pratibha
Pratibha chuckled.
"Oho divya, technically i am jiji's first bahu,so she loves me more" Sudha pointed out,putting an arm around Meera
Pratibha chuckled again, "yes yes, that is right, sudha is my most loved" she said playfully
"Aah see!" Sudha said chuckling
"But when this little one comes out, he will be the most beloved, dont you guys expect any love from me!" Pratibha warned them, as the ladies in the room burst out laughing
Pratibha looked to Divya and Divya smiled to her, handing Pratibha over a bunch of keys. Pratibha took those keys to Meera.
"Meera, these are the keys of the locker, Divya used to keep them but since you are the badI bahu of this house, you can have them" pratibha said holding out the keys for Meera
"What! No ma, I cant take it" Meera shook her head and waved her hand
"But it's your right beta"
"Ma, this is the right of the eldest bahu of this family and that is still Di, she is elder to me in every way, I could never impose myself this way" Meera softly explained
"Meera; i have taken care of this responsibility enough, now it's your turn" Divya said trying to assuage her
"Didi, thats because this is your responsibility and your right, please I can't take it, don't let this sister become a sister-in-law"Meera smiled to Divya
Pratibha looked on, "Sudha, I hadn't thought even in my dreams that I'd get such cultured girls as my daughters" she said pulling Meera and Divya into an embrace
"I dont know about who I love the most,but I know I love my girls more than my boys" Pratibha exclaimed
"Jiji, your boys shouldn't hear this, they just got over the fights with their wives!" Sudha chuckled
-
it would be nice to get a few meaningful comments, more along the lines of feedback, and of course the votes
get them pouring guys!
Till then, eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee