Anchored Tempest - Page 23

He felt a strange rush, his heart going swoosh swoosh when he saw “Mrunalini Ghatge” text

❤️

Let’s see how the attraction will come out in open.

Where is he gonna take mother and son for first date ?

I love that Atty is being patient but keeping steady pressure and while not pushing her too much. ❤️

Hope the entire fam goes on the ride in the Tesla

one more pleeze 🤗

Man & Wonder Woman😆

He waited in the living room flipping through the fashion and style magazines she had in a cane basket

She reappeared in 15 minutes with Jaidrith awake but not conscious

“Can you say hello” she whispered politely

“Who?” he asked

He looked at Aatreya and his entire face lit up like a 1000 Diwali candles

“Hi!” he said nervously

Aatreya went down on his knees, without a second’s hestitation

“hey lil guy” he chuckled

Jai showed him his braced up pinkie

He peered at Jai’s upper lip

“Does it hurt”

“Umm.. no” “Can I bring my dart gun?” he asked

He didn’t know how long this man was even going to be here, first things first

Smiley face darts

“Hahah… sure”

“Dhruu Tumhālā dūdha pyāvē lāgēla (u have to drink milk)

She went to the kitchen and brought out a small glass of chilled choc oatmeal milk

He began to have a meltdown

She held the glass by him and waited for the storm to roll over

“Is it soy?” he asked softly

“No oats”

“He is not allergic to oats?”

“Umm.. a little” she looked at him distracted as she turned back to stare at her kid

“May I have a sip?”

She made a face turning completely toward him “Its disgusting” she said

“HIS point exactly?” he tried not to smile

She wanted to to watch him drink the whole thing to wipe that smug smile… swoosh

Food and him were sworn adversaries just like his mother and her parents

“Then no dart gun” she said calmy

He jumped up and down and held her hand and begged and cried

Aatreya watched in shock

“Dhruuuuu… amcyakade pahuna aahet” (we have a guest)

“have you told him?” Aatreya suspected she used the word guest and not DAD

“Umm… yes and no” she lied

“No? then?” he nodded

“He is not ready” she claimed

“Aaiiiii please…”

“You are going out with him, you have to eat”

Jadrith looked at her terrified

“WHYYYY? What did I do?”

“Aapani kahee kele nahee” (You did not do anything she hugged him tght and kissed his head

“Then whyyy?”

“I am going to too” she mumbled reluctantly tucking imaginary lock of hair behind her ear

“Aaiiii dart game”

“One sip shakara?”

He grabbed the mug angrily and drank the whole thing giving himself a milk moustache, reaching to wipe it off on her kurta

She was happy about that

This was her bond

This was all hers

This little neediness, signs of dependency, she wanted it all for ever

Jai gave her a look of “I drank the milk so please leave me alone”

“Tumcha shirt badla shakara” she mumbled

She went to get him another one

Jai ran inside brought out his “arsenal” and within 3 minutes Aatreya had shot a smiley face with GLASSES

“Wwooowww” Jai was smitten

“Can I show u?” he asked softly reaching for Jaidrith’s and stepped up behind him and without touching the boy gently steered the dart gun sideways up and down to carve a face

Jai was giggling and hopping

“Dhruuu” Mrunalini appeared in a few minutes wearing a shades of blue and green geometric pattern chiffon kurta with sheer sleeves paired with a seagreen churidar

“He titled his head to look at what she was going to feed her son now

She looked like a vision in that outfit, she basically looked through him, he didn’t mean anything to her he realized

She had to be up close for him to be able to spot the tiny speck of a bindi

He had not seen her wear one with her saree or later

His mouth went dry at how beautiful she was

“Dhruuu… come change ur shirt”

Aatreya noticed the Dhru & MRu art

“Do u want to go change?” he urged the lil boy

“NOPE” he said firmly

“You can go with messy shirt” she mumbled placing it on the divan nearby

“Dhru bathroom” she urged

“Its dark MAA” he pointed tgo the window

“Its OK shhhh” she wanted to herd him before he said too much to this man

She whispered in Marathi and herded him

Aatreya tried not to stare he wondered why she was always nervous and edgy and tense

Jaidrith cracked a joke as he washed his hands and water sprayed on his shirt

She laughed uninhibited for a few seconds he noticed

She changed him behind the wall in front of the bathroom area, and brought him out

“I can get my purse”

“I can drop u home” he said

“Its OK” she nodded

“Are you going too?” Jai asked Aatreya curiously

He nodded and opened the door for the lady

Utkarsh was watching Jai explained he made a smiley face

She sat in the backseat with her kid and asked him if he had the child lock on

He nodded, pointing to the large console her face lost all blood as she imagined him driving them off someplace and shoving her out the car and running away with her kid

5 minutes into the drive she told him he should release it on her side, “I am here” she promised

He was confused

She was going to run away with him the second he tried anything funny she decided

She couldn’t put her wonder woman skills to good use, the car smelled like nothing

“Whatever bad things he does he must do it at home” she thought

Well he brought them to Mendonzas’ for Ira’s Birthday!!!!!!!!! At a spot less than 5 kms from Abhay Society Because of rains they had moved the event

Mrunalini did not really want to go there, she clutched Jais’ hand in a deathly grip to overcome her own fear

Lynn seemed REALLY excited to see Jaidrith, there were 20 kids in the community center, and that many parents….

“We were not invited” she said

“Not true” he said firmly knowing fully well Lynn had texted her and not heard back

The guy is gentle but firm.

I like it.

He doesn’t know how affected she as she pretends having not noticed anything about him.
Woo her man.

I really hope Dhru doesn't retreat into a shell once he knows Atty is his Dad. Hope he takes it well and in fact likes the fact that he now has Dad too. I really want him to find a wonderful friend in his Dad.

Mrunalini will come around. Waiting to see how Nisha does that.

When will the sparks fly Nisha? The attraction needs to come out in open.

Jai is very happy with Atty. When he does find out who he is, he might not have any problem with it.

If Atty could work out some tasty food options for Jai, he will earn his loyalty in no time.

Panic & Heroic

“Arey apna ladka ke saath CHEEPAKKK rehta hai who” Lynn whispered to Mendy

“Chup kar na yaar” Mendy shook his head

“Why wont she let him hang with the kids”

“Uska haath toot rela hai na”

Mendy don’t support her foolishly” Lynn gossiped

“Shut up yaar” Mendy was irritated “Who Ira ki friend, Misha ki mummy pooch raha tha tujhe, ja rey” Mendy tried to brush her off

Lynn looked at Mrunalini from across the room

Jaidrith played on her phone as she watched the people nervously

Lynn approached Aatreya as he left a group of men

“Tell her no? Man? Why wont she let the boy mingle?”

“Ha”

“Usko koi problem hai?”

“No I don’t think so” he shrugged looking at Mrunalini

“She is a bit odd huh?”

“U think so?” Aatreya was more amused than angry

“DUDE, she acts like I need to leave her house ASAP”

Lynn piled it on

“Next time you should just sit down and not leave” Aatreya teased

“Arey she has ZERO furniture, she is ODD man” Lynn gestured a circle with her fingers to indicate zero

“Well, she has furniture now” he shrugged disarmingly with a smile

“She is HOT I don’t deny that, but usko samjha nahi shaayad”

“Huh”

“She is obsessed over the kid… tu kuch kar rey baba”

“Well she is a single parent”

“Abhi tu hei na rey?”

“I guess” Aatreya was not upset at all

Mendy had watche the interaction and came charging for her

“Tujhe bola na mei?”

“Dude I am saying go bring ur kid, why cant she give you YOUR kid” Lynn continued to criticize

“Tera bacha hei kya? Tu guest ko sambhal, go dude” Mendy was gentle but Lynn was going to hear it from him later

“Congrats dude” Mendy shook Atty’s hand

“U said so already” Aatty laughed

“I did?” Anyway, she is just afraid yaar, abhi tu pelle pelle time laaya raha usko, she is afraid” Mendy explained

Aatreya and mendy were real close

Atty realized WHY

“Ja uske paas we don’t want her to feel left out”

“Itna jhaar raha that u uske waste gluten free pizza order kara?” Mendy accused his wife soon after

Over in the other corner

“They are going to smash the pinata do u want Jai to try?”

“He is hurt no?” she explained not letting go of him

Jai looked forlorn as if he wanted in on the fun

“Just let him go walk around

“What if they push him?”

They did that in his school, the bullies did, multiple times in Grades 2 and 3”

“I can watch him or trail him” Aatty promised

“There are too many kids” she said unconvinced

“May I hold his hand?” he asked politely

She looked up at him

In the chaos and noise and chatter, for a brief second she was reminded of the same chaos poolside 10 years ago

He had pretty eyes

“I can walk with him

Jai tried to pry his hand free

She gently let go whispering him to stay with her as they weaved through the crowd of face painting artist, juggler and magician

Lyn caught up to them

“What can he eat? I will order” she put her phone on hold and plugged her right ear

“Oh.. I have to be specific so don’t worry” Mrunal smiled fearfully

“You cant be afraid every time na? U have to tell me” Lynn turned bossy

“I can eat” Mrunal made peace

Lynn turned to Atty and gave him a meaningful look

“Tu kuch bol rey” she stage whispered

“Umm” Atty was cautious, he didn’t want to gang up on Mrunal

“I usually carry a besan sweet in my purse, I have dinner at home for him its Saturday so I made lots”

“OK” Lynn left in a huff

“Aai… face painting?” Jai pulled her arm and whispered in her ear

She asked the man about the dye and finally let him get Avatar the last airbender arrow in his forehead

He was really happy

Ira giggled when she saw him

“Wish her Happy Birthday Dhruuu” Mrunal urged

He just waved instead

“When is his birthday?” Aatreya asked

“August 1” she said quietly

“thanks” Aatreya looked at Jai’s face intensely

Mrunal let Jai watch the balloon animal maker and stepped back from the crowd and lingered by a wall

“Did u have a normal delivery?” he asked

“No, C section” she said reluctantly

It was too personal

But he was the father… now

“You don’t have kids?”

“None beside him” he repeated

“Hmm”

“Do u really have a snack with you?” he asked

She was carrying her phone with her driver’s license and a credit card on its back

“He just had oat milk” she insisted

“Do u have any allergies?” he asked softly

They had spent the whole entire night feasting on each other to worry about silly things like food

“NO” she said vehemently afraid he was trying to blame her

After a long pause she turned to him and asked him the same Q

“Just sesame and peanuts” he said with a smile

“OHHHH”

MADE SENSE

MY Jai got it all from YOU

“That’s not something I wanted to give him Mrunalini” he said with a smile

As if he read her thoughts

“He is a sweet boy, its OK” she said haughtily in a “oh u don’t have to worry I AM taking care of him”

“Do we want to talk about care schedule tomorrow?”

She felt the bile rise up slowly

She knew she was going to get a panic attack

“To YOUR house?” she asked horrified

“I think so”

There was a good 20 minute of silence where both watched the chaos

“I haven’t told you are the Dad” she argued

“Yeah you can let him know of course” he nudged gently with words

“You have established parenthood, WHY do you want him NOW” she asked the most stupid question with the most innocent face looking into his eyes earnestly

“You proved nah? Then why do u need him?” she asked

He didn’t know whether to laugh or to be livid

“Because I want to be part of his life” he said calmly trying not to smile

“Can I ask for your back ground check?” she challenged

“Sure” he nodded amused by her naivete

“Everything police check and all” she nodded

“Sure”

Her face was flush with color as she fought her panic while trying to be heroic

“You cannot be alone with him” she said

“Hmm”

“He is very innocent, he doesn’t know anything” she lamented, hugely distressed

“I understand”

“… I never hit him or shout” she turned to him fully took a step forward and spoke into his eyes

“I promise I will not… either” he whispered

Those large blue pools looked like shimmering topaz to him, the air between them charged and electric…. they stood inches from each other, he was seconds from being aroused,

She on the other hand could be talking to a bank or store clerk… there was absolutely no awareness in her eyes

Atty for now she is preoccupied in worrying about her son.

Once she knows that you are not going to snatch him away from her and that your presence in his life would be for good then she would be at easy with you. Till then apne bache ke sath santosh karo.