When Angel Meddles in Human Affairs

oh nakhrewaali

@oh_nakhrewaali

Beta read by the super amazing Sejal (shahsb_26) 

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When Angel Meddles in Human Affairs

Amarnath was a kind and patient man. But he was also a businessman, who always thought of himself as intelligent, however, after his death, he started pondering over his decision of marrying Nandini and wondered how he hadn't seen the way she discriminated between Ram and her own kids while he was alive. 

Don't get him wrong, he loved Shivina and Shubham, just as much as Ram, if not less. But they always paled in comparison to Ram. His Shivi was a spoilt kid, and when he was alive, even Amarnaath spoilt her, and now Ram did the same. Despite her flaws, Amarnath was proud of her. And then there was Shubham. Amarnaath knew that Shubham always had an inferiority complex because of his siblings, so he had looked away as Nandini pampered him the most, but now he regretted it. He should have been more careful while raising Shubham and kept him out of Nandini's control.

"What is it?" Amarnath jumped as Angel 22's squeaky voice asked from his shoulder. He smiled at the Angel sitting on his shoulder. Angel 22 was notoriously famous in heaven for being the most mischievous and disobedient out of all the Angels. They would use their powers to cause troubles for all the spirits and angels in heaven. But Amarnath liked them. They were like a kid who just craved some attention, just like his Shivi.

"My son, Ram, I miss him," Amarnath watched sadly as his son sadly looked at Priya, Amarnath's daughter-in-law. 

"So go meet him," Angel 22 shrugged. 

Amarnath knew angels had power to let spirits visit Earth. However, he did not wish to use option for two reasons: first, it would be against law of nature; second, it was cause pain to Ram to meet his father and see him leave again.

"No, I just wish he would be honest to others and himself," Amarnath responded.

"By others, you mean his wife?" 22 asked, almost innocently, but Amarnath could hear the gears turning in their head. 

"Yes," He sighed. "Please don't prank them," he said immediately. 

"The last time you pranked Vedika, she turned into this gold digging, blood-sucking psycho, and now my son has to deal with it. And more than him, it's Priya, who is suffering, with no fault of hers,"

"Hey, you were the one who said that Vedika should have been more financially independent. How is it my fault? When other angels made her, they might have forgotten to add independence in her core features?" 22 defended themselves but didn't show no sign of remorse at thier past tricks.

"Let me make it up to you. From the next sunrise to the next sunset, everyone in the Kapoor Mansion will be compelled to speak the truth. They cannot lie at all. Even if they try to, the truth will be out," they looked at Amarnath, expectantly. Irrespective of whether Amarnath allowed them or not, they would cast the spell. It was something they wanted to try since ages, but God had warned him not to do it on a massive population. The Kapoors seemed ideal scapegoats.

You see, humans are stupid and fun to play with. 22 had spent eons watching humans destroy each other and the planet but had also interacted with them when their spirits came to heaven, so they loved playing such pranks on them. 

Amarnath looked at them, considering their offer, and then nodded. 

"Yes, ok. I know Ram and Shivina will be heartbroken by their mother's actions, but they need to open their eyes and start seeing the reality," He shrugged, and 22 smirked," Oh, this is going to be so much fun."

~*~

Ram woke up and saw that Priya was out of the bathroom, her long tresses were wet after a bath. She looked beautiful, and Ram couldn't take his eyes off her. 

"Beautiful," He whispered. 

"Did you say something?"

"Dang it!"

'Awful,' His mind supplied, 'Just say how awful it is to wake up so early'

"I said, you look beautiful," Ram said, his lips working on their own accord. When he realized what he said, his eyes went huge, and he looked at his wife, whose ears were a delicate shade of red, and definitely not because of the hot bath. 

She cleared her throat awkwardly and went to the closet, giving Ram some breathing space. 

"Tarun! Tarun!" He started yelling, finding an opening to get away from the situation. 

The stout servant arrived in a few minutes and looked at him as he massaged his head. 

"What is with you? Did you get hurt? Why are you making that face?"

"Because I am upset. You keep calling me Tarun when my name is Punnu! And yes, I hit one of those abysmal showpieces that your Maamiji got, while I was running to get here," the miffed servant replied. He bit his tongue as he realized what he just blurted out.

"Is everything ok?" Priya asked him gently. She was surprised by the man's outburst too, but did a better job at hiding her surprise than Ram, who was gawking at Punnu as if he was a ghost. 

"No, mam. Nothing is ok. Everyone in this house is a bloody psycho and make the working environment toxic. Then you came and gave us hope, but your in-laws here doesn't seem to understand the basic fact that we are humans too and would like a thank you or sorry,"

"I am sorry," Ram said, without thinking. Punnu looked at him and blinked. 

"I am sorry, I didn't want to yell at you. Please don't fire me," Punnu added the last bit, almost begging, and Priya shook her head. 

"Why don't you take the day off, Punnu. It seems like you need some rest," She said and smiled. Ram nodded at the suggestion. He thanked her and ran out of the room so fast that it was as if he vanished in thin air. 

"What is up with him?" Ram asked, in confusion, but he was feeling guilty about his behaviour and did not attempt to hide it.

"He wasn't wrong though, you all sometimes overlook other people's feelings," Priya said and covered her mouth. 'What is wrong with you, he is already pissed at you, and you are adding to his guilt and anger?'

"When did I overlook your feelings? You are the inconsiderate one!" Ram snapped. 

"Oh really? Am I the one who hid Anjali in her farmhouse or wouldn't listen to what my spouse has to say about transferring my share in a company?" Priya crossed her arms around her chest, and Ram blinked. 

"How did you know where Anjali is?"

"I got Sandy to contact her agent and some paparazzi, and they gave me the address," Priya replied and then facepalmed. 'Why would you do that? Now he'll be upset at Sandy, too'

"So you go behind my back for the second time in a week?"

"Yeah, when you don't give me answers, I am forced to pull off such stunts!" Priya almost shouted. 

"Then why did you return the 5%?"

"Because I wanted to help Shubham. He feels insecure and thinks that you don't trust him. He thinks you gave me the shares so that I keep a tab on him and Sid. So, I decided that if I promise him the shares back and get him to focus on his shares, he would start working hard and stop being such a lazy bag. He has to live up to you and your father's legacy, and I was doing my bit of pushing him,"

Ram looked at her in surprise. Damn it, that made so much sense. It was such a smart move. And the guilt of hurting Shubhu started crawling in his stomach, but mostly, he was surprised by Priya's quick thinking. 

"I am sorry, and thank you," He whispered. 

"Never mind," She said, breathing heavily after her outburst

"Maybe I should say sorry to Tarun... I mean Punnu, and start learning their names too, isn't it?"

"Yes," Priya chuckled softly. 

"You know Priya, you make me a better person." He said and held her hand. Priya looked at him and blushed. Ram was surprised that he confessed but was glad he did. 

"I... I should get going. I have an early lecture."

"Can I drop you?"

Priya looked at him for a few seconds. 

"Sure," She smiled.

Ram couldn't help but feel happy. He knew how much it took Priya to accept someone else's help, and he was happy that she was giving him a chance.

~*~

"Good morning," Ram wished his mother and brother, who looked like he had just woken up. 

"Morning, Ram," Nandini smiled. She loved Ram. Sure, not like she loved her own children, and he was her money bank, but he was an adorable person, and no one could deny it. He was adorable until the day he married that vile... 

"Good morning" Priya smiled, but Nandini didn't reply and simply nodded. 

"Let's go have breakfast." She nudged at Shubhu, who looked at them, his eyes heavy from last night's lack of sleep. 

"Sorry, Mom, but Priya has an early lecture, so we'll just grab something from take-out. You guys can please continue," Ram smiled and looked at his wife, who nodded. The two left, and Nandini seethed in anger. Ram never missed breakfast time. After all, his schedule was so busy that breakfast was the only meal he could be present for. 

Nandini just hated the influence Priya was having on her son!

~*~

The day went on as usual. In the evening, Ram picked Priya from the office and dropped her at the bakery, where he spent time being smothered by Meera Maa and Sara, who had noticed that Priya and Ram looked at peace. 

"Did you tell him about Shubhu?" Sara asked Priya when she entered the kitchen. 

"Yes, and I feel so much better. I should never do anything my natural instinct. I wanted to tell Mr. Kapoor the whole thing since day one but hadn't because of Mom, but I guess it makes sense to keep him in the loop about the decisions I make about his business and his family,"

"Thank God you had the sense to realize that," Sara hit Priya's head gently. 

"But you know, something strange happened today at his place. I couldn't lie to him. I wouldn't have told him about the 5% or about us finding Anjali, but it just happened. It was as if my brain had stopped functioning and my mouth was working on its own accord,"

"Priya, everyone needs someone with whom they can share their darkest thoughts and deepest desires, without any second thought, and you have found your someone," Sara assured.

Priya looked at her, slightly agitated at the cheesy line, but Priya knew that whatever had happened in the morning wasn't that. She opened her mouth to tell Sara that she was wrong when Meera entered the kitchen and asked her to go home so that they don't get late. She wanted to argue but didn't have the energy, so she just dropped her apron in the apron stand and left with her husband. 

~*~

"Ram, I have been calling you," Vedika rushed to them as soon as Ram entered with Priya. 

"Is everything ok?" Priya asked in concern. 

"Oh no, I was just missing Ram," Vedika said and batted her eyelashes. 

"Maybe you should miss your husband just as much you miss my husband, Vedika. Isn't it high time you spoke to him...about your situation?" Priya snapped, and Vedika, Nandini, and Shubhu looked at her in shock, but Ram couldn't help but smirk. Trust this woman to go in Chandi mode even after a long day. 

"We'll just freshen up and be back," He said and excused himself and his wife. But his nagging guilt of hiding the truth from Priya came back to him. He wasn't still sure why Vedika lived with them. But seeing her share the roof with Priya was nauseating because it just made him guilty and Vedika... She just seemed weird. She was more touchy these days and kept flirting with him as if they were still in college, as if Priya didn't exist.

 ~*~

"Isn't she acting weird?" Ram asked as soon as he closed the door. 

"How would I know? She is your friend," Priya shrugged. 

"She wasn't like this. It's like she is throwing herself at me," 

"Just because you are good-looking doesn't mean every woman likes you," Priya said and scoffed. 

"You think I look good?" Ram said and smirked. He walked closer to her, and the pink blush on her cheeks made him weak in his knees. Ram was very close to her. He could see that her breathing was ragged. He wanted to tease her more, but he let her go. 

"Priya, why is Vedika here?"

"His husband hit her, so I asked her to stay with us till she talked with him. But I feel she didn't even try. I had told her to divorce him, but she said she loved him, and he loved her, but if so, why would he hurt her?"

Ram was shocked. He never knew that Shashi hurts her. 

"But they looked so in love,"

"Never fall for appearance," Priya shrugged. 

"I... I always thought they were happy together, so I tried to find my happiness in her happiness." Ram said, feeling the guilt of not being there for his friend. 

"Mr. Kapoor, what is done is done. Now, we need to help Vedika with her future. She is your friend and would appreciate you being there for her," Priya advised.

Why was she like this? So pure and kind. He couldn't hide it anymore. Priya deserved the truth. He gulped and apologized to her in his mind before he weighed his next words carefully. 

"Priya, Vedika isn't my friend... I mean, she isn't just my friend. We dated in college, and I proposed to her in my final year. Shashi had asked for her hand in marriage to her father, so she got married to him,"

Ram said and looked at Priya, who was shocked. It looked like she wasn't breathing and was just a statue, her mouth slightly open, her clothes in her hands, and her eyes wide with shock. 

"I tried to tell you, but we decided that our past was our past, and then I had to be quarantined. I wanted to tell you this thing face to face, but you got Vedika in the house, and we fought," He rambled, trying to explain to her.

Tears pooled in Priya's eyes. 

"I am sorry Priya, I really am. I know you will hate me for this, and I am ready for that,"

"You judged me and my family for being in contact with my ex, but you were doing the same. Heck, you took me to her house for dinner and didn't tell me then. What is wrong with you?!" Priya snapped and pushed him away. 

"Priya... I can explain..."

"No, Mr. Kapoor, you had your time to explain. Now you don't get that back, I... I feel as if someone just hit me so hard that I cannot breathe and can't understand what is going on. Why... Why would you do that to me? I understand that your past is your past, and I told you I didn't want to know, but you saw me getting attached to Vedika. I was trying to be nice to her because she meant so much to you, but you... I wanted to understand your world, be a part of it, and is this what I get?" Priya started breathing heavily. Tears trickled down her cheeks. 

She watched as the sun slowly set to west from the window. The silence in the room was deafening, but she couldn't bring herself to go out of the room and look at his ex. He too, hadn't left the room. The two had just sat in the room for about 20 minutes, looking everywhere, but at each other.

"Do you still love her?" She asked finally. She wasn't sure what she was going to do with the information. It's not like she could stop him from loving someone or throw Vedika out of the house. Maybe, Priya could leave him and move out. She had always felt an outsider in his world, and maybe this was why she felt that way.

Ram looked at her, and that's when it hit him. He had stopped thinking about Vedika since their marriage. How quickly he had moved on from the woman he had loved for almost his whole adult life. Why? He was proud of how loyal he was to the people that he loved, but now, he never felt more loyal to the woman in front of him. It was just her, Priya.

"No, I don't love her anymore. She is someone else's wife, no matter how Shashi treats her. And if I have to be honest, I was upset that you got her here, but knowing the reason, and knowing you, it now makes sense. " Ram said softly. 

"Priya, my past cannot and will not affect my present. You are my present and future, and that's what I want you to know. Whatever happens next is your call, and I won't say anything against whatever you decide about us," He said. Though he hoped she would forgive him and, if not forgive, at least not leave him. 

"If I told Maa this whole thing, she would ask me to forgive you, but I won't. I won't go against my instincts anymore. I am hurt, Mr. Kapoor, and I want some time," Priya sobbed.

He nodded and thanked her. He extended his hand to hold her, but she turned and left for the washroom. He looked sadly at the wooden door and sighed. 

But he felt so much better. It was as if someone had been punching him in his guts and had stopped now. Priya was a mature woman, he kept telling Adi, and he would trust her to take the right decision for them, as she had always done. 

~*~

In heaven, Angel 22 was disappointed. They were expecting more drama, but Amarnath was smiling. He had always known that Priya was the one for his son, and seeing the maturity in the new Kapoor daughter-in-law, he knew that his legacy was in the right hands. Though he felt guilty of using the spell, he hoped that Priya would set things right, like she always had.