Chapter 37

TiaMaaaaa

@TianaWrites

~37~

"May I come in?"

Mukku gave a small smile as she recognized the familiar voice. She had been expecting him ever since she saw the news that the team had landed in India yesterday. Though she never talked about him, not even to Anu... she had dearly missed him and everyday she had thought about him. The guilt now no longer overshadowing her desires, her heart had yearned to hear his voice everyday.

"Congratulations on the win, Mister... where is my treat?"

"Lunch?"

"Really?"

"Really... your favorite Italian House..."

"You actually agreed for Italian so soon...? I thought you would take me to that Chinese hut you love..."

"Oh we can go there tomorrow..."

She raised her eyebrow.

"Tomorrow..."

"What? I won the man of the tournament award and you want to settle only for one place... I have plans for a month..."

She chuckled and said.

"Awesome... let me just finish these papers... sit..."

He settled himself on the chair opposite to her, his eyes taking her in greedily. Suddenly conscious of his eyes on her, she looked up and her eyes met his passionate gaze. As his eyes refused to look away, she felt a thrill in her heart. A thrill that only he had ever been able to evoke. Her brain warned her of the consequences and she whispered his name through her trembling lips

"Aarav..."

Her whispered request brought him back from the world he had been transported at the sight of her. He shook himself.

"Mukku... I... uh... I really missed you... sorry."

She gave a slight nod and shifted her focus back to work. He kept his eyes fixed on the ground as she completed her work. 

"Done... finally... Aarav?"

He looked at her and gave a smile.

"Shall we go...?"

"Yes... uh... Aarav this is not a date is it?"

Looking at her hesitate, he took her hand in his and shook his head.

"It's lunch... but if you want it to be a date..."

"No... lunch is fine for now..."

"Lunch it is then..."

As they left hand in hand, a pair of eyes followed them out.

"This guy is turning out to be useless... I need to plan my next move... soon."

***

Anu stood at the threshold as Samar went to park the bike. Her mind in a whirl with his words ringing constantly. Part of her told he was right, the days in the Kapadia house had taught her more than any advice ever could. Seeing GK be a parent to Mukku and Anuj every minute had been an eye opener. Each day she had learnt to unlearn, the pretty little dream happy world she had built breaking down bit by bit and deep inside she knew that whatever he had just told her was what she had been thinking for the past few days. His words still hurt though. She didn't know why. She wondered if it was because this was the first time he had ever used that tone on her. Being with him almost 24/7, she knew that he did have his tempers. The temper that would flare the minute anyone dared to point a finger her. She had seen the mighty Mr. Kapadia silence great men with a single raise of his eyebrow.... still... still... to her, he has always been her Anuj. Hers.... His voice however rough would become gentle the minute he sensed her presence... but today had been different, he had continued on and on without even looking at her. The more she thought about it, the more she felt that had he told the same to her in his usual, gentle, kind way cocooning her in his arms, it wouldn't have hurt this much.

"Mummy..."

She shook her head as Kinjal ran towards her and engulfed her in a hug. Anu smiled and placed a soft kiss on her forehead while the rest of the family gathered around her exchanging pleasantries. Toshu and Sweety were not there. She knew Sweety would be at school and Toshu at work at this time of the day. She also knew even if they were here they wouldn't jump out of joy yet... yet her heart yearned to see her children. She gave a small sigh when Baa started

"Finally you came... it feels like now we are visible to her highness..."

She felt a little uneasy at the tone of her voice and was about to speak when Samar and Kinjal protested.

"Baa.. Please.."

"Baa... Mummy has work... she has been busy.."

"With that Anuj Kapadia... you know how difficult it was for us... we had guests over last week... I called you and you didn't come... you know how difficult it is for me to cook and clean..."

"You could have asked Kavya here, to do those, Baa... I did have a meeting when you called me..."

"Oh hello, excuse me... I am not the maid here..."

"Neither am I... Baa, if you want, I can hire a person to help and pay for her, after all my children stay here... but I really don't have time to come running when you want to sweep and mop the house..."

"But you have all the time in the world to take care of that fellow and his 30 year old sister who is..."

"Enough... Baa, I came here to see you people... because you said you missed me... but I won't bear it of you utter a single word against my baby or Anuj..."

"Your baby...? you gave birth to three kids... and they are yours... have you forgotten them? Of course how can you remember when that little pretend family is all you seem to care about..."

Anu felt disgusted. She opened her mouth to protest when Samar spoke 

"Baa, Mummy came here for us... now if you won't stop taunting her... I am taking her back this minute..."

"Samar... have some patience..."

The soft voice of Bapuji made her turn around. He met her gaze and smiled weakly. The smile made something inside her snap breaking the last thread of attachment that she hadn't wanted to let go.

"Anu... why is my daughter still standing... why don't you sit down...?"

Anuj's words still ringing in her ears, she finally saw the people around her for what they truly were. Weak and selfish. Her eyes wild as she felt the castle crumbling, she said

"Sit down? Why should I?"

"Huh?"

"From the time I entered you never said a word... she kept taunting me and my family..."

Baa interrupted again.

"What family? We are your family..."

"No... not you... but... the man who stood by me when you forced me out of here, the father who doesn't just give his blessings everyday but also shields me when your son dares to look my way, the girl who has always prayed for me and did not think twice to move out just for my comfort... they... they are my family... I was a fool to think you ever loved me. I am going back to my family... the next time I step into this threshold remember that I will be entering as a guest... if you can treat your guest well, then maybe I would consider staying for an hour or so... but I wouldn't tolerate my family being insulted..."

She turned and looked at Kinjal pointedly.

"Of course, my children are always welcome home... and they know my love for them... I don't have to prove it to strangers..."

Kinjal smiled and nodded.

"You don't have to, Mummy..."

She turned to Samar.

"Samar.. son... take me home."

With that she left them, wondering how her life would have been different she seen them the way she did just now a few years back.

***

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