• Second Chances •

19. Worth The Wait

"Let's all have dinner?" Nandini smiled at everyone in the room. She rose up and invited them towards the dining table. "Please come." 

Seeing this, Sandy piped up. "Shouldn't we wait for Jiju?"

She bit her tongue and sheepishly looked at Nandini. "I am sorry. I hope I can call him that." 

"Of course!" Nandini waved her hand. "You can."  

"When is Ram coming back?" inquired Meera.

Nandini had no answer to that question. She had never called him to ask such stuff. He came and left the house on his free will. "Well, I have no idea when Ram will come home. He is always late. We should just eat. You all must be hungry." 

Nodding, everyone quietly settled on the lavish dining table. The servers hurriedly served everyone the first round of appetizers and they all got busy eating. 

After a few quiet moments, Akshay cleared his throat. "Shivina, I know you have decided everything but what about Ram Jiju?"

Shivina frowned. "What about him?" 

Akshay blinked. He slowly spoke and emphasized, "Ram Jiju's choices? I mean, if he wants something?"  

"Oh no. He is not fussy at all. He likes whatever I do..." dismissed Shivina. 

Shubham huffed. "Yeah. And signs all her cheques."

Shivina punched his arm. "He does that for you too." 

"I know, he does..." Nandini cast an adoring look in her children's direction. 

Then keeping the smile on her face intact, she turned towards Priya's family. "I have to tell you people this. Ram isn't my son. I mean, he is. But he is my stepson. His father and I, we got married when Ram was seven years old. Ram was two years old when his real mother passed away. But it has never gotten in his way. He really loves us all."  

Meera listened to everything attentively and nodded. But Priya didn't react much. What was she even supposed to do with such information? Did she feel bad? Yes. It must have been tough to not have a motherly figure in the formative years. However, how did one express their emotions or whatever they felt? 

"Priya Di!" Shivina excitedly called her out. "What are you going to wear for the wedding Priya Di?" 

Priya blinked. Just moments before, they were talking about something that was super sensitive. She was expecting someone to taper the conversation out, conclude it more delicately. But Shivina had pushed it aside like it meant nothing. 

She took a deep breath. "Just a saree." 

Shivina looked mortified. "Why?" 

Enjoying the look on her face, Priya smiled. "I don't like anything fancy." 

Nandini smirked and looked at Shivina. So did Shubham. He remarked, "But Shivina loves fancy. Think about it Akshay. You will need to sell your soul to afford Shivina." 

Akshay's face turned grey. He didn't miss the snark and superiority complex in Shubham's words. But he didn't want to start an argument so he remained quiet. 

"Shut up!" Shivina yelled at Shubham. "Akshay can afford me." 

Akshay smiled. "I can. And even if I can't, we both will figure out a way." 

"Yes, that is true!" added Nandini. Her thoughtful eyes rested on Priya for a long time and her smirk deepened. "I have to say this though. Ram's lucky. He got a good one. Priya seems to be low maintenance."