Just Another Mother

Chapter - 30

Author's Note:

Hi All,
Sorry for the delay. I couldn't write anything for the past few days. I have updated extra chapters!! Hope you would like it! Enjoy reading!!
Thanks,
Ritu

*****************************************************************************************

"Have you seen them? Do they look like her?" Geetha, Sarada's daughter asked Lekshmy, Sachin's Aunt (Dad's younger sister), and Salini.

Lekhsmy and Salini had reached by afternoon, along with their families, while Geetha arrived only a few minutes back.

As soon as they met, Lekshmy's grandson, Appu, Salini's younger daughter, Kavitha, and Jaidy hit it off pretty well.

Lakshmi: "Yes, but they don't look anything like her. They must be adopted!"

Salini: "Oh! No aunt! Haven't you noticed how the youngest twins are? They both have her black eyes while all the elder ones have got blue eyes! Do you think it's a coincidence? They are her kids. She might have had some affair with their father and thus she had to take responsibility for all the kids. Otherwise, have you ever heard about anything like this happening? Who is going to entrust their kids with some foreigner! You are naive aunt, that's why you are believing their story." She scowled at Lakshmi.

Lakshmi: "But, we haven't seen their parents, one of them might have had black eyes!" They scoffed at her. She had always treated Meera just like Sachin. So, she wasn't interested to talk bad about Meera. But, she couldn't disagree with other's logic too, as this is something abnormal and she couldn't completely believe it!

Geetha: "I have told both Savithri and Raghu to not let her go abroad before the wedding. But no. Why would they listen to this uneducated fool's words? Now, see what has happened. We had seen lives, and with experiences we say things. But who is going to listen? After how many prayers they got her and now, it has become like this! What is the use of all this wealth, and education when they couldn't be happy? Maybe they never had the blessing to have a good child!"

Lakshmi: "Enough! Why are we talking about all that? No need to go there!" She scolded them and left the crowd. While others smirked at her.

Salini: " But Mom, these things are upon us too! Kavya is throwing tantrums to go to some London School. But we are strictly against it. We told her to get married and go wherever she wants! She has agreed to it too. How much ever the society changes, women should still be married early! After all, a family should be what is important to a woman. Take Meera's case itself! What is the point of education and career when nobody wants to marry her? We don't want her to end up like Meera!"

Their conversation got interrupted by someone clearing their throat. Seeing Padmini, Sachin's grandma, everyone went silent.

Padmini: "Enough of chit-chat, go out and lend them some help. AND DON'T bad-mouth about things you are not sure of!" She glared at them and left after shooing everyone in different directions.

Just like Lekshmy, she was also not convinced with the adoption 'story', but she likes Meera and trusts her a lot. Though the logical part of her brain prefers to disagree!

Unfortunately or fortunately, Savitri heard their talk. Almost everyone who came by is discussing the same things at different corners of the house. She couldn't handle it anymore and went to her room to cry out her emotions. Meanwhile seeing her absence, Raghu and Meera were searching for her. Raghu was the first one to find her sobbing. He didn't have to enquire as he too heard certain unpleasant things from people around him.

Raghu: "Oh dear, why are you crying? Let them say whatever they want. We cannot shut them up, and when they see you crying, they will think they are right! Come on! Freshen up. Let's go downstairs. Our daughter needs us now. Let us show them how proud we are of our daughter. Don't you want to stand up for her?"

Savitri: "Of course I want to! And I'm not sad about it... It is just I was so frustrated and angry that I didn't know how to react!" Raghu laughed at her teasingly, wiping her tears.

Raghu: "Oh my silly girl! Why do you have to cry for that? What happened to your 'warrior' mode? Or is it reserved only for me?" He asked, scowling at her.

Savitri: "I didn't want to create a scene! It's my Sachu's wedding after all!" She said sniffling.

Raghu: "Don' worry about that dear. If it goes beyond a limit, then we'll have to do it. If not, he might be the one to cause a scene! Moreover, he will be the happiest one, if we make everyone stop this gossiping! So do as you wish! Come on!" They left the room after Savitri freshened up.

They didn't notice the presence of another soul standing outside their room, hidden in the shadows, and Meera knew she shouldn't snoop into their conversation. But she couldn't help it. Though part of her did that to check on her mother, the other part wanted to know how her parents genuinely felt. She never doubted their love for her and the kids. However, sometimes we hide our pains and accept everything to make our loved ones happy. Meera wanted to know whether they were still in pain. That was a worry she always held close to her heart, and this conversation helped her to make peace with it.

Soon after, Meera left them alone and went downstairs to her kids.