𝐅𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 [𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡]

ＣＨＡＰＴＥＲ 64

Not expecting that to happen, Laksha and Arman stared the old woman wondering what to say as Siddharth watched. That conversation was completely out of the blue.

"Well then," Siddharth said loudly and purposely clapped his hands to break the momentum of their day dreaming. "Let's sit Mother. You must be tired." Giving a pointed look to the servants he made sure that his mother's bags were in her room as a maid already begin to set them in the wardrobe.

"Ah, yes," Jagriti sighed and moved forward. "At least someone cares." She muttered under her breath among Laksha's eyes cast down for a second.

"We will talk in the evening, mother," Siddharth helped her to the room, "Rest till then." He kissed her head and smiled.

"Hmmm," she hummed in agreement. "Laksha, stay here." She said instead.

Laksha almost let out hiss when she heard that. It was coming. She nodded and turned around to stay in the room after her son and her husband left closing the door behind them.

Jagriti was standing up and she called Laksha closer with wiggling her finger towards her with narrowed eyes.

Laksha gulped and smiled as she closer only to yell when she was hit by the stick on her bum that Jagriti was using. It was made of wood.

"Ma!" She yelled in pain and ran away holding her back to avoid more hits.

But the old one was quicker and she was and she felt another blow.

Even though Jagriti was someone who used a stick to walk, she was not deterred by it and once again brought down does take to Laksha's backside.

"Do you know how many times I have answered the relatives that why my only daughter in law never came to look after me after my operation!" She had Laksha again when Laksha had jumped up on the bed. "Is that what I have taught you in those 30 years of being married to my son!"

"I was busy!" The daughter in law cried out as her back side now hurt. "I am sorry?" She suggested instead.

"Busy?!" Jagriti yelled in astonishment. "You were busy for your very own mother in law who had been operated on!" She yelled and climbed up on the bed to hit Laksha's backside once more.

She then dropped her stick and proceeded to hold Laksha's ear, pulling it hard. "Have I ever given you the impression of being my daughter-in-law? How could you not come for me?" Jagriti pulled her your ear as she conveyed her heartfelt complaints. "I have always protected you from all the other vicious ladies and here you are biting me back!" She snapped.

For Jagriti, it was one thing when the ladies were bitching behind her back and talking all sorts of things, saying that they could not say to her face. She was completely fine with ignoring them for stop but when her own daughter in law did not call or come and visit her just too even save says it did not sit well with her.

It hurt hurt her to think that lakasha was that distant that she could not even come and visit her after an operation.

Laksha tightened her lips and nudged her to sit down. Both the ladies are down on the bed facing each other. This was serious.

"I don't think it was you then who told me not to come then." Laksha mumbled.

"What?" Jagriti frowned. "Laksha, even if you came, you know very well that I would appreciate it wholeheartedly but I would never let you work. There were nurses that were with me 24/7 but I would have appreciated if you just came." She tried to ease the concerns of her daughter in law. It was not new knowledge to people that now children did not want to serve their parents and their in laws which Jagriti what had no problem with.

"I did." She revealed. "But first I had to make sure to call you so that if there was anything you needed I could bring it along but Sunita Auntie had picked it up and she does not like me to begin with which is why, I suppose, she is frankly told me not to come." She looked away as she said the next words, "She said you did not want to see me."

"Why won't I?" Jagriti sighed and patted her daughter's head. "I have never given you the expression of not loving you as my own. I have always wanted a daughter but because of Siddharth's pregnancy I could never have a child again. Do not believe these family members unless you have heard from me or your father in law directly, understand?" She chided firmly. She needed a stronger granddaughter in-law.

Laksha nodded as tears came to her eyes. "I really want to come. . But. . " Now, she felt bad. How was it that she had naively trusted the words of relatives when she knew very well how wishes they ever? This woman had been a constant pillar of strength to her and Laksha had ended up hurting her.

Jagriti pulled her in a hug. "What is done is done. We could not make sure that our siblings and their parents were considering themselves as member of this family but at least we were able to make sure that the grandchildren are  together." She kissed the top of her daughter in law's head. "Don't worry. Now tell me about this girl."

Laksha sat up immediately and grinned. "Would like to meet her instead?" She offered.