“I don’t care what you say, but the arrangements will not be handled by both of us together. It will be either you or me. Mridula is best in this, so she will choose one of us to take help for the engagement party.” Aahil stated to Nipuna at the dining table while we all sat to have our food.
“Of course! You will think your crush can do a better job than me, right?” Nipuna asked, glaring at him while each and everyone at the table stilled in their positions.
“Nipuna!” Aahil uttered through his gritted teeth while she stared at each one of us with wide eyes.
“I think Aahna is crying.” Nipuna said, waving the baby monitor and moved to get up from the chair.
“We all can hear that she is not crying at all. Now, explain us what you mean by before words.” Dileep said, staring at them while I too stared back at them not knowing what to even think.
“Fine! I had a crush on Mridula a few years back, but didn’t dare to say that out loud.” Aahil explained when no one looked away.
“Why didn’t you say anything about it before, Aahil?” Aunty shouted at him making all of us turn towards her.
“Mom! Are you fine?” Aahil asked her in a confused tone, and I turned my attention to my husband who is the only one having his food without even feeling any shock or anything about the new revelation.
What else did I expect from him? I believe that it is best to let go completely without a miss and make my life easy for myself. It is time! I thought before continuing to have my food while everyone composed themselves from the shock and followed my suit.
*Premila Pov* “Where are you going, Tajwar?” I asked, still checking the letters and heard him huffing but walked near to me. “How do you know that I am leaving, Mom?” He asked, moving to my front near the couch. “I am your Mom. Of course, I know.” I replied, shrugging and frowned at the letter I am reading. “I am going back to college.” His words made me look up from the letter. “What do you mean getting back to the college? You still have an one-week holiday, right?” I asked him frowning. “I know! However, I am going to some tour along with my friends. They all are returning from their homes to the hostel, and I am doing the same.” He explained. “And when are you going to tell me about it?” I asked him with a raised eyebrow. “I am not a kid, Mom.” He replied shrugging. “You are just nineteen. You have to tell us about all these things.” I said in a hard tone. “I am not going to stay here and present for the stupid parties. I even decided to do a post graduation in another
*Premila Pov* “Don’t cry, Mridula.” I said, glancing at her, but she continued to cry but without making any noise. “I should be with my Mom and Dad.” She said between hiccups in a small voice. “Are you hungry?” I asked, gesturing the breakfast, I was preparing. “No!” She replied, glancing around and then glanced at me. I sighed, finished the preparation and then knelt before her. She looks tired with all the crying, and I brushed the tears away before holding her hands. “I know you should be here with your parents. But they trusted me to look after you. It can happen to anyone. Anyone can leave their house and stay at some other place with their parent’s trust. Now, this is not my home, but I am living here because my parents trusted your Uncle. For now, until you become a big girl, you have to live here with us so that I can take care of you like your parents asked me to.” I slowly explained, and she listened keenly. “You will be like my Mom.” She slowly whispered and then ad
*Premila Pov* “How many times do I just have to tell you not to come home like this? Next year will be the final. Do you really want to score bad?” I asked, folding my arms when she entered the house. “I will score ok.” She said, fidgeting with her hands. “You shouldn’t come home every week, Mridula.” I said in a stern voice. “I did come home only on holidays in the first year, but you didn’t take care of yourself at all.” She mumbled walking near to me. “And you can take care of me?” I asked her raising my eyebrow. “I try to.” She replied, and I shook my head. “Go and freshen up. In a few minutes, food will be served.” I said before walking away not saying anything else to her. “Mom! Dad! I need to talk with you guys.” I heard Aahil’s voice and looked up from the books to see him entering the library. “What is it?” Abivanth asked him. “Shreya is pregnant.” Aahil replied, and we both sat stunned in our places. “What?” I asked, standing up. “She is pregnant and I thought of
*Premila Pov* “We will find him, Mom.” Dileep said holding my hands. “It’s been one week, Dileep. He didn’t even go back to his work as he already gave his resignation. I don’t know anything about that girl except her name.” I said, trying to hold the tears. “Each and every police is searching for him for the past two days.” Aahil said nodding at me. “They should have been called on that day itself.” I said, glaring at their father who is talking on the phone. “He left on his wish, Mom. He is twenty seven. They wouldn’t have treated the complaint with correct effort.” Dileep said rubbing my hands. “Shall I call Mridula here? She will be there with you.” He added taking out his mobile. “No! She has exams this week. Let her concentrate on them.” I said, stopping him, to which he sighed. “Premila! They found him.” Abivanth said, hanging up the call. “Found him? He is fine right?” I asked him getting up. “We need to go.” He said, holding my hand and walked near to the door. “He
*Mridula Pov* I continued to smile even after entering Aunty’s room thinking finally we can be normal with each other unlike in the past nearly two years. “What is it, Aunty?” I asked her and released my smile when I saw her having a serious look on her face. “Will you do something if I ask you to?” she asked, folding her arms making me frown. “Of course! What shall I do?” I asked back. “Marry my son, Tajwar.” she replied and I immediately stepped back, not believing her words. “What?” I asked her thinking she may have said something else, and I heard it in this way. “Marry Tajwar!” she repeated and I shook my head. “I don’t understand! Why do you want me to marry him, Aunty?” I asked her frowning. After a few seconds of silence, she mumbled “I think you are exactly what he needs in his life. I want him to be happy, which can happen because of you.” “Me? I don’t know anything about him, Aunty. How can there be even one percent of a chance for that to happen by me?” I asked h
*Mridula Pov* I heard another shout and immediately rushed near to the bed coming out of the shock. However, when I reached near him, I stopped not knowing what to say and how to say anything. Along with that another question entered regarding with what identity should I call him. I shook my head, letting go of all the questions and slowly placed my hand over his forehead when he continued to tremble shouting some words which I couldn’t understand. “It’s ok!” I whispered slowly while kneeling near the bed and brushed his forehead along with his hair reluctantly hoping this would ease his nightmares. He slowly calmed down and blinked his eyes while I switched on the bedside light. He frowned, looking up and I immediately removed my hand. “What are you doing here?” he asked and then coughed. “Have some water.” I mumbled pouring some in a glass, and then gave it to him. “What are you really doing here? I thought I said you have to sleep in the other room.” He said sitting up and I
*Tajwar Pov* “I will cook something and bring here before you get ready.” Hearing the words suddenly, I got startled when I was on my way to the cupboard. I turned back to see my so-called wife getting down from the bed while rubbing her eyes. Can’t she leave me alone in peace? “What are you doing? Why did you wake up?” I asked, frowning to which she smiled a little. “Yesterday, I got to know that you leave for work at five itself. So, from today onwards I will try to wake up at this time to be able to make some food for you.” She explained yawning. “Look, you do not have to do any of this. I actually have food from the canteen near to my office.” I said, trying to use the patient tone as much as I can. “Don’t worry! It is not at all a problem for me.” she said smiling before walking outside the room while I stared around to hit my head somewhere. What tone should I take to make her understand what am I actually saying? I thought, rubbing my forehead and walked inside the washr
*Mridula Pov* “I don’t want to learn this.” I stated, gesturing at the glasses' in front of me. “You should, Mridula. What if some guest asks you to bring something or even your husband?” Aunty asked, sighing but I just frowned at the glasses. “But for each party, you are the one who always takes care of such things right? What is the need for me to do it now?” I asked, not liking the smell and different names for even the type of the same look alike liquids. “Now, you are next to me. After me, you should take care of all these things and even guide my other daughter-in-laws when I will just take some rest.” She replied folding her arms. “You? You will just take a rest?” I asked, not at all believing her words. “Fine! But I really don’t want the headache of teaching them when I am not close to them.” she replied smiling a little. “Whoever they are, they will be better than me.” I mumbled frowning already feeling confused with his distant behavior no matter what I do. At least,
*Amrin Pov* “Dileep! He is my baby too.” I said whining and leaned back to the headboard sighing when he didn’t even glance at me or acted like he heard me. “Here! He is crying.” He said passing me my baby, and I immediately held him in my arms before glaring at Dileep. “He will not come to your arms again, no matter what, and if I need anything, I will ask your Mom or Nipuna.” I said before smiling at my baby. “I was just playing with him.” Dileep said in a confused tone. “Really? You are giving him to me only when he needs to be fed or his diaper to be changed. I am not leaving my stand.” I said, shaking my head and started feeding. “Stop shouting at me, Amrin. Everyone said it will stop once the pregnancy is over as your hormones become normal.” He said frowning at me. “I am shouting now not because of my hormones, but because of your doings. You are not even going to the company for one whole week from the time we returned from the hospital.” I said frowning back at him. A
*Mridula Pov* “Now, we need not act at all.” Amrin said, sighing in relief when I entered the kitchen along with them. “Now, we really need to learn properly.” Nipuna said in a sad tone. “What are you talking about?” I asked them frowning. “It was a simple plan of ours to make Aunty bring you back home. We all know that you 're well practiced with all the work in the house. So, we both started making all the mistakes as much as we can and started saying we are not Mridula to do it correctly.” Nipuna explained in a whisper. “Actually, I was the one who was making mistakes wontedly, but she was doing it without her hand in it.” Amrin said to which Nipuna slapped her shoulder, and I laughed shaking my head. “It is ok, Nipuna. I will take care of arranging things.” I said, assuring her. “And I will take care of cooking.” Amrin said nodding at her. “And I will order you both.” Nipuna said grinning. “Then I will have no work left.” We heard another voice and turned to see Aunty wal
*Tajwar Pov* I slowly started stepping outside the room without making a sound, but suddenly felt someone’s breath behind me making me turned around only to jump back. “You startled me!” I mumbled glaring at Dileep. “Where are you going, Bhai?” I heard the sound, but his lips didn’t move and glanced behind him to see Aahil sitting up and not sleeping like I saw a few seconds back. “Into the lake for a bath. Do you both wish to come?” I asked in a whisper, to which they both rolled their eyes. “Fine! Whatever you do, we want to wish you the best of luck.” Dileep said forwarding his hand. “She shouldn’t be hurt.” Aahil mumbled and I sighed, nodding before successfully walking outside the room and walked near to the fields nearly running. I rubbed my hands feeling cold and started waiting for her as it is past ten minutes of the time I told her to come here. Maybe she couldn’t wake up! I thought, frowning, but decided to wait for five more minutes. Then I saw her walking near to
*Mridula Pov* I continued to walk or I can say that I let them drag me wherever they wish to and explained whatever they wanted me to still in shock looking at all of them. “What are you all doing here?” I asked as I couldn’t stop myself. “Why haven’t you called us?” Nipuna asked back raising her eyebrow. “I forgot!” I replied and stared at four of them who are looking at me with shock expressions. “Are you not happy that we are here?” Amrin asked frowning at me. “Of course not! She just hates us and never wants to see us again.” Nipuna said before I could open my mouth. “Mridula! You don’t want even your best friend? Leave Nipuna bhabhi aside and think about three of us.” Dileep said frowning at me. “This is my old school.” I immediately said when Nipuna and Dileep started their usual fight. “If you want, we can leave.” Amrin asked in a whisper while everyone is busy with looking at the building. “I am only thinking about the arrangements and then still shocked seeing all o
*Tajwar Pov* She slowly opened her eyes and blinked for a second before closing them again. Then she leisurely turned around before giving me her back but didn’t remove my hand around her. “Do you still think this is a dream?” I whispered in her ear remembering how she continued to mumble that everything is a dream. “No! My leg is paining.” she mumbled back and pulled my hand more to her. “What is the connection?” I asked, frowning at that reply. “My leg is paining, which makes sure that I fell into the water and me sleeping on the floor is possible with this pain only when you helped me. So, you are really here.” She explained, and I turned her around smiling. “And?” I asked, remembering how I confessed even though thought of doing it today as she was hurt but couldn’t stop myself hearing her question. “And we need to wake up. My dad will have his breakfast now before leaving for the fields.” She replied and moved a little to get up. “That’s it?”I asked her frowning. “Yeah!
*Mridula Pov* “Mridula! Stop doing all that and come here.” I heard Dad’s voice and turned to see him standing near the door along with Mom looking at me frowning. “I am just helping.” I mumbled stepping outside the kitchen near to them. “You can help me as much as you want, but you need to take a rest too.” Mom said with a worried look. “I am just bored.” I again mumbled and started walking away from them. “Don’t go outside and start cleaning there, Mridula. I know you are angry at us and just say anything you want.” Mom asked in a pleading tone. “Yes! I am angry, but at the same time I can understand the situation, Mom. I am really bored with this little work.” I said, lying a little about my restlessness missing so many people and mainly him. “We both know about all the work you have to do at your house. Premila madam said so much about how you handle everything and how proud she is. We always felt proud hearing her words.” dad said smiling at me. “I will take a small walk.
*Amrin Pov* “This is such a heavy work.” I heard the comment and glanced to my side to see Nipuna holding a few plates. “I can totally see that.” I mumbled placing the dishes on the table controlling my laughs. “Don’t you dare laugh at me, Amrin. For the past one week, I have been trying to do all this work.” she said glaring at me. “But still it is being done like the first day. How many days should I continue to teach you?” we heard Aunty asking while walking near to us. “We are not Mridula.” Nipuna said, shrugging as per our plan, and she stilled in her place. “And that is why I am helping you both.” she said and walked away without stopping for a second. “It is getting so difficult to act like everything is being difficult.” I said, sighing and this time Nipuna grinned at me. “I need not necessarily to act like all this is difficult. Now, as we are trying to take her name every day, and I am sure Mridula will not be kept away from us forever.” Nipuna said assuring me. We
*Mridula Pov* When the car stopped, I looked through the window mirror to only frown at it. I turned towards the driver and saw him grinning at me. “Whose house is this?” I asked him frowning. “Yours!” he said smiling more before getting down from the car and opened my door. I got down and looked around to see everything is changed and there is not a single clue that proves that this is my parent's house. He took my bag and rang the bell of the house. When did my parents’ house start having a bell? I thought, frowning and suddenly felt uncomfortable. I turned around to walk away, but the sound of the door opening stopped me. I stilled in my place not knowing what to even do. “Did Premila came for a visit this late?” I heard a lady's voice asking the driver. “No! She sent someone to visit.” He said in a happy voice. “Who? She didn’t call… Mridula?” she suddenly said and I slowly turned around to only take a step back feeling all this as a dream. “Mridula! Oh god! Mridula! Our
*Mridula Pov* I contemplated for a second before entering the room and saw him staring at the mirror lost in his thoughts. He suddenly closed his eyes and shook his head before opening them. When he started passing me holding the briefcase, I gave him his lunch which he took calmly and walked away. During breakfast, it didn’t feel like a new bride entered the house, and we were all happy just a few days back. I sighed and thought before mumbling “Maybe it will be good if Amrin makes some sweet dish for tonight.” “Are you ok with it?” I asked her before anyone could say anything. “Yeah!” she replied, nodding, but didn’t glance at us. “Even Nipuna can assist her as she missed the chance.” I tried to joke, but she just nodded before getting up and walked away. I glanced at Aunty to see her giving me a small assurance nod before leaving the table along with uncle except Dileep and Aahil. “What happened to them?” I asked both. “I don’t even know how to fix it. I mean for before m