Destined to a Gangster

21 - Aayi - The Savior

Pallavi walked into the house anxiously. She had spent the entire trip back convincing Raghav that she will handle everything at home. At first he had insisted on coming in to handle Nikhil and her family. Terrified at what he would consider handling she had refused out right. In the end she promised that she would call him if anything went wrong.

Though she had convinced Raghav she would handle everything as she walked towards the house she wasn't sure what to do. What would she tell the family about her and Raghav. She couldn't tell them the truth about their deal. No one would accept that, even she wouldn't accept it if Amruta had said something like that.

On the other hand telling them that her and Raghav were in a relationship was not an option either. First of all, it wasn't true. If Aayi insisted on bringing Raghav home to talk about Marriage. What would she do then? Also, the chances of the family agreeing to a relationship itself would be a shocker. Especially if Nikhil had told Aayi everything about Raghav.

When she entered she saw the entire family sitting in the living room waiting for her. She stood looking at all of their expressions trying to figure out where to start when Aayi got up and walked towards her. Rather than questioning her she grabbed her hand and pulled her up the stairs to her room. Once inside the room she locked the door behind them.

"Sit"

She sat down on the bed waiting for Aayi.

"It seems like you left a few things out when we spoke." She was about to speak when Aayi held up her hand. "I am not done. I know that children lie to their parents all the time. Of all my children I never expected it from you. Yes, by omitting details you did lie to me."

She walked over to stand in front of the dresser. "You should have told me that your Raghav was the infamous Raghav Rao of Hyderabad. I am partially to blame too, I should have asked more questions about him."

Pallavi didn't say anything. She knew to wait until Aayi was done.

"All this is neither here or there. We need to deal with the situation currently. For that I need you to answer one question - I need the truth - got it?"

Pallavi nodded her head in agreement.

"Do you love Raghav?"

Pallavi looked her in shock. "Aayi.. You don't..."

"Yes or no Pallavi?"

Pallavi looked at Aayi for a few minutes. Then looked down at her hands. She closed her eyes and whispered the truth that she refused to accept even to herself. "Yes"

She didn't look up at Aayi, by admitting that she loved Raghav she felt as if she betrayed the family.

Aayi came to stand next to her and made her look into her eyes. "Why are you looking down. Loving someone is not a crime. Loving someone is the greatest feeling in the world. You should never be ashamed to love someone"

Pallavi got up and hugged Aayi. Tears started to fall from eyes as she cried. She cried for her past, her present and her future. All she had ever wanted was to love someone and for him to love her back. Clearly she was destined to not have love in the past, present or her future.

Aayi pulled her back and wiped her tears with her pallu. "Stop crying. Why are you crying. Didn't I just say that loving someone is not a crime. Out of all of us you were hurt the most when Mandaar left. You lost all of your happiness because my child was selfish. Because I was selfish."

She looked at Aayi in surprise. Why was she to blame for what Mandaar did. Before she could ask the question Aayi continued.

"You will not sacrifice your happiness because of this family anymore."