The Journey from Ms. Sharma to Mrs. Who [✓]

Chapter 48.

Chinmayi's POV:

As we pushed the door to Dhaadhaji's room, I saw him lie on the hospital bed, with various medical devices connected, that aid in monitoring his vitals. He slowly tried to blink and move his right hand as if to call Deepak and me towards him. We immediately rushed towards his side. His tired eyes still tried to smile at us. I slowly wrapped my arms around him.

"Dhaadhu!", I whispered.

Deepak gently rubbed my back to calm me down.

"Chinnu-", he replied back.

A sense of calmness jolted within me.

I looked into his eyes and he still maintained his buoyant smile.

"Deepak ji?-"

"Ji-Dhaadhaji-"

"Will you take care of my granddaughter?"

"Yes, with all my heart and to the best that I can"

"Do you really love her?"

Deepak paused for a second. He turned towards me and boldly took my hand in front of my grandpa.

"Dhaadhaji, I know that the man I was on the day you met me for the first time was a different one altogether. Even I am not really proud of him. But the man who is standing in front of you is built from scratch by your granddaughter. She has imparted the values of culture and family and so, this is really on her.

I love her with all my heart. She is my best friend, my partner and she is the one whom I'd want to spend the rest of my life with."

"Okay then, I know that my Chinnu has already given her heart to you. You have my blessing..."

Tears whelmed my eyes.

"Dhaa-"

"No my dear, you really don't have to say anything."

A small knock was heard and we turned to see that Eeshwar ji and my sister were at the door side.

"Usually it is just 2 visitors at a time, but I think I can make an exception", joked Eeshwar ji.

Veera gently nudged him as we chuckled.

"How are you doing Sharma ji?", asked Eeshwar ji.

"Very happy, Jamaai Saahab!"

Eeshwar ji and Veera were flushed with a sense of shock.

"I want my grandchildren to be happy. Eventually that's all we want. So, let's all just set our differences and opinions aside and let us try to grow, for the better! God has given me a second chance and so I want to do this right. May God bless you."

The feeling was surreal and we absorbed it all in silence. As I looked at Veera, she caught my gaze and beamed at me. I mirrored her expression. Deepak gently put his hand over my shoulder. Eeshwar ji smiled at all of us.

"Ahem-", choked Dhaadhaji.

All of us looked at him.

"Is my wife here?", he blushingly enquired.

The overloaded cuteness was too hard to miss. I told him that everyone's on their way.

A sense of satisfaction seem to spread within him as he drifted off to sleep.

We slowly stepped out of the room unable to believe of what just happened.

***

Hours rolled into days, as a week culminated running to and fro the hospital. My grandpa was recovering and so did a sense of calmness spread amidst the family. The daughters-in-law of the Sharma house seemed very apologetic around each other and everything seemed extremely genuine. Well, this is the elasticity extended by family; through thick and thin, we extend warmth and love. However, there was one person with whom I had to have the talk with. It was of course, my brother, Charan.

"Charan, are you angry with me?"

"No Chinnu-"

"You are just not comfortable around Deepak, why?"

"I feel guilty and I feel overprotective. But that is not on him, it's on me."

"Charan why are you guilty?" I asked with the sense of surprise echoing through my words.

"I feel I am the reason for Dhaa-"

"Charan, no stop it. It wasn't you, okay? To be honest, we all had our contribution to what had happened. But aren't we trying to mend our actions? Please stop feeling guilty."

Charan just looked into my eyes and chose to say nothing.

"Charan, you really can't consume yourself in guilt. Stop troubling yourself that way. See, you are not talking to Megha properly and that's not right. She is your responsibility. As much as we are a family to her, it is your presence that she is comfortable with the most. Please don't do this to yourself and her and in return to all of us. We love you both very much and we want you to be happy. Please shed these unwanted thoughts and come home Charan."

Silence once again befriended him.

"Charan, your approval means a lot to me. Deepak is not bad-"

"I know-"

"Then-?"

"I just can't accept the fact that my little sister would be married off-"

"Charan-"

"Yes-?"

"That is the same for Megha as well. Even she will miss her family-"

"But, Chinnu what are you talking about? "

"Charan, every girl feels bad to leave her mother's place and even the vice-versa happens too, like how you feel about me. I understand that what happened to her is not fair, but I feel you should try to bear the peace flag Charan. I think it is time to put the bad memories in the past and move on Charan."

"How is it that while talking about Dhaadhaji, us and Deepak, did you nicely bring the topic of Megha's family? "

Damn, this guy is smart!

"Well,-", I chuckled.

"One conversation and 4 things, girls are girls!"

"Well, this is called efficiency."

My brother smiled.

"You have grown up, haven't you?"

"Well, I don't know about that. I thing I do know is I love my brother."

"Well, yeah, he loves you too!"

"Oh, good to know!"

"Chinnu-?"

"Huh?"

"I'll talk to Deepak and Megha. I know I haven't been myself, but I'll certainly set things straight."

"Thank you!"

We warmly hugged each other at the hospital corridor.

"Ahem-"

We turned to see it was Joshi uncle.

With guilt spreading within, we gently turned to look at him.

He smiled and turned to look at his son.

Eeshwar ji bore a wider grin on his face.

"Well, Dhaadaji can be taken home!"

***