THE STORY OF LIFE | A 21ST CENTURY RAMAYANA

BAILED

"Hello?! Can you hear me? No, listen to me carefully. I said, fees not cheese... I said check the fees status..Hello? OH god, Ill just send you a mail, please cut the call."

Urmila thumped the phone down as she walked over to the dinner table.

"The network is so bad nowadays," she said as Lakshman passed her a plate.

"True, Ive been trying to do a lot from work from home but, it so difficult," Ram added, glancing over at Siya. "We have the monthly checkup tomorrow, Ill wake you up a little early if its okay?"

"Sure," Siya nodded.

"Aww, so sweet," Shruti said as she gushed over the two. "Look at how he remembers every little thing about you Di. So touching."

Siya blushed a little, acknowledging the same whole heartedly.

"And also, her first trimesters over! By god, time flies," she added.

"I know right." Shatrughan said, fumbling with his handkerchief.

"By the way," he began, mirroring a hidden smile on Lakshmans face. "How late is Bharat Bhaiyya today?"

"Stop it now," she whispered.

"Only 15 minutes and..10 seconds now, my dear brother."

"Who are you telling to stop Shruti," Urmila chuckled. "The real mastermind is here."

Lakshman nodded as they all had a little laugh, only to see Bharat and Maanvi coming down hand in hand, a bright smile on their faces.

"My, my, Will you be willing to share the joy you have with us as well?" Lakshman joked.

Bharat turned to Maanvi, who took a deep breath in.

"Okay, so, everyone.. theres a little something we have been wanting to tell you for a little while."

All sat up straight, slight guesses forming in their minds but, waiting to confirm their best desires from their mouth itself.

"Maanvi had been feeling a little tired lately and, a few days ago we had gone to the doctors. The result has come back and... she is.."

"SIR!"

The tension that had piled up turned to the door, where Pawan stood, panting and red, such an expression moulded all over his face that suddenly the warmth of the room turned stale, and they felt a cold grim brush by the nick of their skin.

Ram got up and rushed over to him, Siya sensing something and Making Maanvi sit down before she could hear anything else.

"Pawan, are you okay? What happened?"

Pawan looked up stricken, tears unlike any other forming in his eyes. They were tears of pain,fear and something Ram had never seen before; of guilt.

"I.. I am a failure Sir. I am, so sorry. It is all my mistake, I should have been more careful.."

"Pawan, what.. what are you saying? Calm down, please, and tell me."