Chapter 7
Part-9: Anurag Surprises his wife
As Prerna reached the stairs her stomach growled again,as each day passes she's getting to know more and more about her unborn baby.Till now,she understood that her baby had a ravenous appetite and it's taste in food was predominantly Bengali, which she was fine with.Now, the baby inheriting her mother-in-law's nature that would be a real deal breaker!.For the past few days she's had an intense craving for Hilsa fish!Too bad she can't have it.She hasn't had Hilsa since her '6 BP incident' in class VI.She still remembered that day, Kakababu and her dad had taken Tapur,Anurag and Prerna to 6 Ballygunge Place' one day after work.Prerna had ordered Shorshe Ileesh.It would have been the best culinary experience of her life had a huge fishbone not gotten stuck at her throat. Things got so bad that she had to be taken to the hospital to get the fishbone out of her throat.Ever since that fateful day,she had never eaten fish again.As she reached her room the smell of Hilsa invaded her senses.She opened the door to see a thali filled with steamed rice and Shorshe Ileesh with small bowls of sweet chutney,mishti doi and papad next to it.Standing next to the food was her husband with his back towards her.Sensing his wife's presence,Anurag turned around and smiled towards her."Darwaza please band kardo",Anurag requested.Puzzled by both the food and his presence,she complied.Shutting the door,"Yeh sab Kya hai?", Prerna asked."Anupam Da ne mujhse kaha ki tumhe Shorshe Ileesh ki bohot craving ho rahi thi to Maine yeh sab arrange kiya.",Anurag explained awkwardly."6 BP se?", Prerna asked gingerly."Haan,tumhe waha ka Shorshe Ileesh bohot pasand hai na?.",he replied giving her a small smile.Swallowing hard,she nodded.It was these small gestures of his that had touched her heart in the beginning when they were just strangers.Aur ab dekho,humaara talakh hone jaa Raha hai,Prerna thought sadly.Hardening her heart,she said,"Tumne yeh sab bekaar mein kiya.Main aaj bhi hilsa nahi kha sakti.Uss incident ke baad". Although her mouth watered looking at the Shorshe Ileesh."Oh...abhi bhi.",he said recollecting the Hilsa incident from over 10 years ago.He had no idea that she had completely given up on what used to be their favorite food as kids.The next day after her staged death,his mother had taken it upon herself to look after her food.In fact,she had asked Veena Aunty in detail about Prerna's food habits.There was no way Mohini wouldn't have known about this.Yet she didn't say anything about it when he told her about his plan.A loud growl interrupted his thoughts.Stunned, Anurag looked at Prerna.Embarrassed Prerna looked down pointedly at her stomach.Looking at her belly, Anurag's expression softened.Even now,he couldn't believe that he and Prerna were having a baby!A baby that will always bind them together! A little human being that was partly him and partly Prerna-the love of his life."Waise Kya tum Paro se kehke mere liye dinner arrange kar sakte ho Kya?", Prerna requested."O.K", Anurag replied.She was deliberately being polite to him given it's her last night in Basu Bari.Also,she didn't want her baby to come into the world while it's parents couldn't even be cordial to each other.Anurag called the kitchen through the extension.The dinner still hadn't arrived from the caterers'.He was surprised!This had never happened before.For years, his mother had been hosting parties at the shortest notice,yet this had never happened.Bhagwan un caterers ko Meri ma ke gusse se bachaaye,Anurag thought looking upwards.
"Prerna!Dinner to abhi Tak aaya nahi.Main kuch starters mangwaoon?",Anurag asked.
"Nahi,mera maan nahi kar Raha.",Prerna said weakly.Her stomach gave another growl.She looked at the thali and said,"Main yahi kha loongi.Aur Waise bhi woh sab starter se zyada yeh khana humare baby ke liye healthy hai,".His heart warmed at her referring to the baby as theirs.Ever since,he had found out about her pregnancy she had been incredibly possessive about this baby.Telling him point blank that he was a disgusting man and that he had no right over her unborn child.While her decision had hurt him to no end he knew that he had deserved it and his distance was what kept her and their baby safe "Alright",he said.They sat down, as she started eating.She took each bite with relish,as Anurag watched her.Until he heard her cough.She started choking as a fishbone stuck on her throat.He took some streamed rice and fed it to her.Swallowing it,she cleared her throat."Better?",Anurag asked her concerned.He took the thali from her,
picking out the fishbone with expert precision,he mixed the fish with the rice and raised it towards her mouth.She quietly ate it."Thanks.",she ate smiling at him."My pleasure.",he quietly said smiling at her,his eyes shining with joy.
~~At the Party~~~
Mohini walked up to the Sharma's wearing her brightest and sweetest smile."Hello Veena,Kaisi ho tum?",she said sweetly hugging the Sharma family matriarch.Sharma's,along with Mishka were stunned at her sweet greeting.Mohini glanced at the Sharma family, barring Suman none of them had worn the clothes she had gifted them."Hum toh theek hai,Mohiniji.Aap bataaiye aap kaisi hai?",Veena asked still surprised to be addressed by Mohini with such courtesy."Veena main toh bas ab din gin rahi hoon ke kab Mera chhota Onu ya Meri chhoti Prerna aayegi aur mujhe apne peechhe bhagayegi.",Mohini said her voice conveying genuine enthusiasm at the baby's impending arrival.While Mishka and Shivani exchanged an amused look when Mohini said,'Meri chhoti Prerna'."Jee Mohiniji hume bhi bachche ke aane ka bohot besabri se intezar hain",Veena said courteously.Getting to the point she said,"Waise Mohiniji Hume afsos hai ki Anurag aur Prerna ab alag ho rahe hai".Hearing this Mohini saw her chance,"Haan!Veena Mujhe bhi.Maine toh bohot koshish ki Prerna ko samjhaane ki lekin woh maan hi nahi rahi thi.Mera Onu toh usse bohot pyaar karta.Uski toh jaan basti hai Prerna mein!Mujhe lagta hai ki agar tum usse samjhaao ya uspe thoda zor daalo toh shayad-".Veena cut her off saying,"Nahi Mohiniji maaf kijiye par hum yeh nahi Kar sakte.Humne aur uske baba ne aaj Tak humare kisi bhi bachche pe zor nahi dala hai.Aur naa hi aage daalenge.Haan,Hume lagta hai ki Kam se kam apne bachche ke liye unhe apne rishte ko ek aakhri mauka dena chahiye par agar Prerna iss rishte mein nahi rehna chahti to hum uske faisle mein uska saath denge.".She looked squarely into the woman's eyes who,until a few days,had humiliated her daughter at every chance she got.It took Mohini a few minutes to recover,after which she said,"I understand Veena",she said calmly.Looking at her shoes she said,"Main jaanti hoon past mein maine tum logo ko aur especially Prerna ko bohot galat samjhaa,usko bohot hurt Kiya.Lekin ab mujhe meri galtiyon ka ehsaas hai.Anurag aur Prerna ka rishta rahe ya na rahe ek baat to sach hai na ki woh dono bohot jald parents banne wale hai.Aur main chahti Hoon ki jab unka bachcha iss duniya mein aaye woh apne chaaro oar sirf pyar aur khushiyan dekhe naa ki gussa aur ladayi."
Veena gave a long look to Mohini before giving her a small smile and saying,"Aap theek keh rahi hai Mohiniji.Hum bhi Shekhar se yahi keh rahe the ki yeh humare Ghar ka pehla bachcha hai Hume uske swagat mein koi kami nahi rakhni chahiye.Hai na, Shekhar?".Suman rolled her eyes at this,she was tired of her sisters' in law constantly taking precedence in the family inspite of their scandals.While she was always asked to shut up and do housework.If her husband and mother in law had only paid attention to what she said,they would've understood the mistake Prerna Didi was making by leaving Anurag!Hume toh samaj mein nahi aa Raha ki Prerna Didi ko Anurag se shikayat Kya hai,Suman thought angrily,sundar hai,raees hai aur unse kitna pyaar bhi karta hai.Kabhi kisi bhi cheez ki kami nahi hone dega inhe.Agar apne baare mein nahi to at least hum sabke baare mein sochti, she thought touching the diamond necklace Mohini had gifted her, Basu's ke status se hum sabko kitna faida hota.She heard Mohini ask Shekhar,whether he still worked at Willock's finances,"Ji Kakimoni",her husband replied politely."Tumhare Company ke CEO Mr.Dasgupta,unse Meri aksar baatein hoti rehti hai.Too bad woh party mein nahi aa paye warna main tum dono ki achche se Jaan pehchaan-".She was cut off by Veena, who said,"Mohiniji,hum aapke bhaavnao ki kadar karte hai lekin humara beta bohot kabil hai.Hum chahte hai ki uske office mein uske boss ke Saamne woh apne kaam ke wajah se jana jaaye naa ki kissi ke rishtedaar ki hasiyat se.Aap please bura mat maniyega",Veena finished, folding her hands.Stumped for the second time,Mohini gave an uncomfortable smile before saying,"Arre bilkul nahi yeh tum kaisi baat Kar rahi ho Veena.Maine kaha na tumse ab humare beech pehle jaisa kuch bhi nahi.Ab hum daadi aur naani banne ja rahe hai, main toh chahti hoon ki tum bina jhijhak apne Dil ki baat mujse kaho.".Veena smiled at this.Realizing,it was too much too soon for them,she said,"Achcha ab main zara dinner ke arrangements dekh ke aati Hoon". Saying this Mohini headed towards the kitchen."Maa aapne unse aisi baat kyu ki?Woh to yaha aapse sula karne aayi thi bas iss liye woh Shekhar ki madad karna chaah rahi thi!",Suman asked angrily."Suman-",Shekhar was about to tell her off,when Veena stopped him.Looking at her daughter in law she said,"Suman tumne woh sab toh suna jo unhone kaha lekin tumne woh nahi suna jo unhone nahi kaha .Haan,Suman, hum yeh sab jaante hai.Yeh Shekhar ki madad karna chahti thi lekin iske badle mein Hume Priu ko yeh rishta todne se rokna hai theek jaise loan chukane ke badle mein Priu ko Uss Naveen se Shaadi karni thi.".
As Mohini was heading towards the kitchen, Moloy stopped her saying,"Mohini,abhi Tak khana kyu nahi laaga? Humare kuch guests to bina dinner kiye chale Gaye". Looking annoyed, Mohini said,"Haan, woh Mr.Bajaj ke liye humne especially Rajasthani cuisine mangwaya tha ek authentic Rajasthani restaurant se,toh unloge ko humare ghar ke address ko leke kuch confusion hogaya that's it.Woh log ab kabhi aate honge."
"Kya!You mean unhe Basu Bari ka address nahi pata.Aur tum phir bhi itni shant ho?", Moloy asked amused,"Tum sach mein badal gayi ho Mohini.".Before she could retort back an answer, Moloy barked a laugh, turned around and left.As Mohini entered the kitchen she saw Paro and Rivu Kaka, Basu's two domestic help."Paro?",she asked questioningly. "Abhi kuch der pehli hi dinner ke liye Onu da ka phone aaya tha boudi."she replied."Aur tumne unse kya kaha?",Mohini asked.
"Yahi ki Caterers abhi tak khana nahi laaye.",she parroted back.Mohini smirked at this.She turned towards her other loyal servant and said,"Rivu da,aap aur Paaro dinner ko store room se nikaalye aur uske baad waiters ki madad se khana serve kar dijiye.".
Before leaving she reminded them,"Aur haan,agar koi bhi aapse puchhe to aap kehna ki khana abhi abhi aaya hai.Got it?".They nodded back at her.
~~Anurag-Prerna's room~~
As Prerna took another bite of the Mishti Doi,she closed her eyes savouring it's taste."Mmm..",she moaned.Watching her with a contented smile,was Anurag Basu.This is exactly how he had pictured her enjoying his surprise.But seeing it for real was so much better than his imagination.It had always been like this with Prerna, sharing the simplest things with her brought him the greatest joy.Like singing old songs ,while returning home from work.Even then, when he wasn't aware of his feelings,while singing with her he had thought for a split second if he could be lucky enough to have this everyday in his life."Waise yeh saree Tumpe bohot achchi lag rahi hai."Anurag said
"Thanks.Saree ke liye aur iss suprise ke liye bhi"She said sweetly, looking into his eyes.Gone was the awkwardness which had been there when she entered the room.Somewhere in between his feeding her and their sitting together so close with his arm around her, as she ate her dessert, the tension between was forgotten.Prerna was happy- incredibly happy.And she had no idea why.I guess,iss hi ko mood swings kehte hai, she thought,as she placed the now empty bowl of mishti doi in the coffee table.Lookimg into his eyes,she took his hand and intertwined his fingers with hers."Tum mera itna khayal kyu rakhte ho? Abhi tumhe apne naye investor ke saath hona chahiye tha aur tum yaha Mujhe apne haathon se machli khila rahe the.Kyun?",she asked trying to make sense of his actions."Main yeh sab tumhare liye nahi apne liye karta hoon.Tumhari zarooratein poori karne se,tumhe khush rakhne se mujhe Khushi milti hai.(Touching her face)Tumhari ek smile paana mere liye karoro ki deal haasil karne jaisa hai.Main zindagi bhar tumhara khayal rakhna chahta hoon.".They look into each other's eyes for many minutes.Until, Prerna breaks their eyelock, remembering the hurt he had caused her in the name of taking care of her.Getting up,she quickly takes her medicine.Alarmed by the sudden change in her demeanor, Anurag got up and asked her,"Is everything ok?,as Prerna finished an entire glass of water in one gulp.Putting the glass down, she said,"Woh Mujhe abhi abhi yaad aaya ki mujhe packing karni hai.", looking away.Crestfallen,Anurag replied,"Oh.Achcha theek hai.Main neeche Hoon in case you need anything-".
"Haan,of course.",she said still not looking at him.
___________X_____________
As,Anurag was walking down the staircase he thought of the moment they just had.Once again,their past issues had ruined their present.Prerna loved him just as much he loved her.They just had some past issues to work out.Ever since, Komolika was jailed,he's been trying to talk it out with her.But Prerna had remained adamant about the divorce.She was incredibly hurt by his decision to ditch her and marry Komolika rather than confiding his problems in her.It's like usse ab iss rishte main vishwaas hi nahi raha,he thought sadly,Aur iske liye kaafi hadd tak main zimmedar Hoon.Lekin phir bhi main haar nahi manoonga.Main usse iss tarha gusse mein koi decision lene nahi dunga.Agar woh apne self respect ke liye Mujhe chhorke jana chahti toh woh apni jaga sahi hai.Lekin humare pyaar ke khatir mera usse rokna bhi to galat nahi hai.Just then,his Mother approached him,she said,"Kya hua,Onu?Prerna ko tera surprise kaisa laga?". Anurag replied,"At first toh usne manaa-Ek second Ma kya aapko pata tha ki Prerna ab fish nahi khati hai.Veena aunty ne yeh baat aapko bataya nahi Kya?".Feigning shock Mohini exclaimed,"What?!Mujhe kaise pataa-Oh wait!Haan,ab mujhe yaad aaya,Veena ne mention to Kiya tha uss hilsa incident ke baare mein lekin main bhool gayi.I am so sorry Onu.Toh kya Prerna ne abhi tak khaana nahi khaya?Dinner ready hai tum kaho to main kuch bhej Doon?",she asked concerned.He smiled at her concern,and said giving a shy smile,"Nahi ma phir Mujhe usse apne haathon se khilana para.By the way aaj dinner itna late kaise pohocha?".He asked surprised."W-Woh naye caterers hai na beta iss liye.".She quickly changed the topic,"Toh Prerna kahi nazar nahi aa rahi.". Mohini thought,Maine itni planning ki,apne kuch bohot hi prestigious guests ko bhooka ghar jaane diya, you better tell me Onu ki ab koi divorce nahi ho Raha.
Instead of answering,her son looked down at his shoes,"Onu? Everything's fine now right?",Mohini asked already fearing the worst.Blinking away some tears Anurag replied,"Woh apna samaan pack kar rahi hai.".His voice broke a little. "Oh...aur ab tum Kya karne wale ho?",Mohini asked concerned. "Mr.Mukherjee ne mujhe text kiya tha.Since humari shaadi ko ek saal bhi nahi huwa hai toh court hume chhe mahine ke liye saath rehne ka order dega,agar court mein maine usse divorce dene se inkaar kiya to."he replied quietly. "And?",Mohini asked with bated breath.
He gave her a small smile his eyes shining with determination,"Maine already usse chhorkar ek baar galti kardi,ab main yahi galti usse nahi karne dunga Ma."
Mohini smiled at this.
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