Becoming Sweethearts [✓]

Part Twenty Two

Everyone present there stared at Tej Singh Oberoi with bated breath, as he finally spoke, “Maa, Swetlana is pregnant; we’re going to have a baby!” The living room fell eerily silent as the dinner plate from Janhvi’s hand slipped to the floor and broke into pieces. “Oh My Maata!” came the feeblest whisper, and in the next second, Omkara stormed up to Tej. Holding him by his collar, he growled, “How. Dare. You., Mr. Oberoi? I knew you were pathetic when you announced you were going to live with a girl who is less than half your age! But I thought you had some ounce of shame left in you! Yet, every single time you prove me wrong! You show me newer lows to your character!”

Tej held Omkara’s wrists and pushed them away. Smoothening his shirt, he said to Omkara in a loud voice, “Don’t forget you’re talking to your father, Omkara! Speak with respect!” Omkara chuckled dryly as he placed his hands on his hips, saying, “Respect? You? What for? What have you ever done to earn anyone’s respect? And how is it that you remember I am your son only when it is convenient for you? Aap jaise ghatiya, ghinone, aur gire hue aadmi ko apna baap kehne mein mujhe sharam aati hai, Mr. Oberoi!”

“Daadi!” Omkara turned around as Shivaay gasped when Kalyani almost fell back on the sofa with a soft thud. Looking at Janhvi sitting so numb, with no expressions whatsoever on her face, Omkara rushed to her. “Mom! Mom? Say something?” he pleaded to no avail as he lovingly held her face in his hands and patted her cheeks. She looked at him, and then a soft sad smile came upon her lips as tears welled up in her eyes. To think that Tej had the audacity to walk into this house and announce, in her presence, about the pregnancy only made her realize even more that he had stopped caring about her or her feelings long ago. Cupping her son’s cheek, she whispered, “I’m alright, Om.” Omkara’s heart broke looking at the tears in his mother’s eyes. Rudra sat next to her and took her other hand in his. Gauri watched the entire scene unfold, too nervous and anxious to even breathe a bit loudly.

Tej, losing his patience, said in an irritated tone to no one in particular, “Oh for God’s sake, what’s there to cry about it? It’s a joyous occasion! There’s a little baby going to come into our family in six more months! And here you’ll are mourning as though someone’s dead!”

At that, Janhvi stood up, taking everyone by surprise. “Mom” “Mummy” Omkara and Rudra murmured worried for her, standing up with her as she wiped her tears with the back of her hand.

Kalyani watched Janhvi walking towards Tej with no expressions whatsoever, but her head held high and a defiant tilt of her chin; a part of her feared the way her daughter-in-law walked towards her son in such a cold, indifferent, numb manner. Omkara and Rudra stood right behind their mother as she stood in front of Tej. “You’re right, Tej; it is an auspicious occasion!” she said, breaking the silence with her firm voice while bringing up a small smile on her lips.

Tej smirked as he looked at her; oh, she was trying so hard to stay strong. But he also knew she would break down any moment, and he would call her so-called strength a façade. Somehow, merely thinking about it gave him some sadistic joy, that while he discarded her like trash, she still pined over him; it made him feel powerful.

“Congratulations Swetlana!” Janhvi said looking at Swetlana, who smiled at her as if rubbing it in her face that she couldn’t hold onto her husband. “Third month, is it?” Janhvi asked and Swetlana nodded with the smile still intact on her lips. “Hmmm,” Janhvi responded and then suddenly broke into a wide grin. Omkara, worried about his mother, whispered in her ear, “Mom, please. You don’t have to be nice to them!” But Janhvi shook her head and looked at him, saying, “Oh, but I do have to be nice to her, Om! Didn’t you hear your father say that she is pregnant?”

Omkara’s scowl turned deeper while Rudra looked away in shame as he muttered, “Daada banne ke umar mein yeh aadmi phir se baap banne ki tayyari mein lage hue hain!” Janhvi confidently clicked her tongue as she turned to look at Rudra. “Not really, Rudra. Tej said that Swetlana is pregnant; he nowhere said that it was his child!”