Mine

Chapter 31

When his father-in-law said Ridhi might know about Nidhi's whereabouts, he didn't waste a minute to go to Bengaluru as Ridhi was ignoring his calls. It totally irked him. He doesn't want to be anywhere around Ridhi, but right now, he doesn't have other options and he doesn't want to entertain his ego. All his concern was Nidhi. He departed to Bengaluru with his driver as he was advised not to drive for 3 to 6 months. Once he reached Ridhi's place, he was welcomed warmly by the housemaid who was hospitable. Ridhi came half an hour after his arrival. She was happy to see him there, but the look on his face clearly shown how much he despised being there. Abhimanyu least cared about the hospitality. His priority was to find his wife and reconcile with her. The moment he saw Ridhi, he didn't wait for a second, he shot the question straight away. 'Where is she?' 'Whom are you asking?' 'Playing innocent, are we?' 'Stop acting and spill where is your sister. I know that you exactly know where she is. So, don't waste my and your time.' There was dead silence. 'well, if that's what you want, I drag your whole family for jeopardising identity confusion and caused me physical and psychological stress while I was visually impaired. And I have all shreds of evidence to prove your whole family is guilty. You should have known by now that the lion is back with its dangerous strategies.'

She flinched at his top-notch voice and revelation so she decided to tell him about her sister's whereabouts. 'She is in Kullu Manali with one of her friends, Asfandyaar. She is working as a playschool teacher in a special needs school... If you wanted to go by law you can do whatever you want to my sister as she deserves that. Don't involve us with this. After all, she made our whole family ashamed with her filthy act.' He clenched his jaws and knuckles listening to that, but he just needs to be patient with this bitch for badmouthing her. And all he said was 'says an ungrateful slut.' 'Watch what you're saying, Abhimanyu!' She warned. 'Why? Was I wrong to say that as you conceived out of wedlock for the second time? Or are you by any chance expecting me to congratulate you?' He retorted back. She was taken aback by his questions. But she couldn't keep her mouth shut, 'why are you desperately looking for her? Don't tell me she warmed your bed before running away.' He was at the edge of losing his calm, yet he stood composed saying, 'I seriously feel like killing you brutally, but I don't touch filthy whores who act sassy, like you. Well, to your question, yes the babies she is carrying are mine and she is my wife for a year now. At least she wasn't desperate like you who couldn't keep your filthy hand from getting tainted... So Ms Sharma, you better keep your filthy mouth shut before I make you regret ever being born.' And he walked away from there. He stayed a night in Bengaluru and booked the earliest to Manali.  

He is now in the car all the way to the airport to go to Manali. His thoughts wander reminiscing his life from two years back. Everything seems to be fresh. Their meeting, the engagement, the accident, their marriage, the pain and the loss. He knew when he was in the hospital and when he was in Kerala, he was visually impaired and he couldn't see her... but he felt her. Her every touch her enchanting fragrance, her melodious laughter and her warm embrace were his heaven on earth. He truly lived his life... He was utterly contented and he felt whole with her mere presence. If only he had not entertained his insecurities at their best, they would have lived happily together enjoying every phase of the pregnancy now. He would have confessed everything to her and make it up with her. She would have been in his arms resting and cuddling. He regretted his halfwit behaviour which let them both separated now. Although he knows no point in brooding over the issue other than repenting, he still couldn't help but be angry at himself.

Once he gets a hold of her, he will make it up to her for the rest of his lifetime, even if has to be a slave. He chuckled at his very own thought. His thoughts again wandered on his wife when he saw a pregnant lady on board. He started to wonder how would she look now? Is her stomach protruding out? Will it be big? Is she glowing? He couldn't help his lingering thoughts about her. Somehow he managed to reach Asfandyaar's regime and waited for him. When Asfandyaar saw him, he immediately acknowledged Abhimanyu and gave him a brotherly hug. 'How are you, Abhimanyu? Nidhi misses you very much.' The simple pleasantry brought tears to his eyes. Abhimanyu fought back his tears and asked, 'how's my wife doing?' 'She is alive for the sake of her babies. I was very much angry with you when Nidhi came to us stranded, I wanted to find you and kill you, but I know sometimes we would be put in such circumstances where we will opt for unwanted decisions. Until now I don't know why you both ended up in such a way because Nidhi wasn't ready to speak about it. But I understood one thing; you are her happiness. And seeing you, I know she is your happiness, too. Go to her clear your issues. She will be happy to see you... Here, this is the address of her workplace. Just tell them you are here for Mrs Chatterjee. They will guide you to her.' Abhimanyu stood there motionless for a while and then he grabbed the address and flee from there to see his Pari.

Once he reached there, he went to the receptionist and inquired about his wife. She has gladly led him to the library where she was sitting on a bench. She was looking enthralling with her baby bump and she was humming whilst rubbing her stomach. He sat next to her without any commotion, but when a familiar smell hit her nostrils, she mumbled, 'Abhimanyu.' He lost it the moment she said his name softly. How much he missed her voice. He hugged her tightly as his life depended on it. He cried and cried hugging her as he was unable to form any speech. When she called his name again in tears he kissed her forehead and lips multiple times and said, 'never ever pull these kinds of stunts again... I swear biwi... (wifey) I swear I will lock you forever in my room and will never let you out.' He kissed her lips hard this time and let them go when he heard her whimpering. She was thoroughly shocked when she felt his presence near her. 'Dharaathiya tumne. Marjaatha main agar tumhe kuch hoja tha tho... Aisa khabhi mat karna, Nidhi... sach mein marjaaungi main...' (You scared me... I would have died if something had happened to you... Never do that again, Nidhi... I will really die...) She couldn't come out of her astonishment having her husband here. Involuntary tears cascaded from their eyes and Abhimanyu didn't bother about the prying eyes on them. He was over the moon upon seeing his wife after many months. The rest least cared.