Keerti smiled as her niece and nephew both slept with their heads on her lap. So peaceful. So innocent. Her mind flashed with images of Naira and Karthik. So much like their parents.
She didn't know what had happened at her maternal home. Naksh had received a call from someone and he had rushed out of their house, telling her to tidy up their rooms, as he was bringing their children home. Knowing her husband to not create a fuss without reason, she had refrained from asking any questions. He would tell her once they were home.
But when she had opened the door to Singhania house, she was surprised to see all three of them in various degrees of despair. Noticing the tear tracks on Akshu's face, she had embraced the little girl. As Akshu broke down in her arms, she looked over at the men beside her. Naksh slightly shook his head and ushered both of them inside.
Although she had cleaned both their rooms, somehow they had both ended up in her bedroom, both crying, clutching onto her pallu and each other. Naksh had all but disappeared.
As she ran her fingers through their hair, she wondered what the God she prayed so much to, was punishing these poor kids for. Although she didn't know the exact cause of their sorrow, it hurt her to see their children in such a state.
A tear ran down her cheek, but before it could land on Akshu, a hand caught the wayward drop.
Naksh.
He sat in front of her, calmly brushing away her tear, and leaned in to kiss her forehead.
"What happened? Why did you bring them back from Goenka house? Why are they both crying? Did something happen to somebody? Should I call Mom?" Keerti started whispering the litany of questions she had.
"Shh.. Shh. Keerti, please calm down. Please." He pleaded. He looked down at both of them sleeping and brushed his hand on their foreheads.
"There was some trouble with Aarohi's wedding. The groom cancelled after the engagement. And I don't know the full story. Krish had called Kairav for some details about his course, and heard a lot of yelling at Akshu in the background. He called me and I left for your house."
"Why were they yelling at Akshu?"
"Not they. She. She was yelling at Akshu. The same "You killed my mother" rant. I.....I wanted to break something, Keerti. My poor baby. She....she was so alone in that crowd. Not a single mouth to defend her." He looked down at his niece and then closed his eyes regretfully.
Keerti was anything but surprised hearing her husband's words. She knew about his feelings towards her family. Shaking off her own feelings of sadness, she smiled encouragingly at him.
"We'll make it alright, Naksh. They'll be fine."
*******
Two hours later, they all sat at the dining table. Behind Naksh, photographs of his grandparents, his parents, his aunt and his sister hung in a row, with fresh garlands around them. He did not have a lot of family left, but he would be damned if he let something happen to the ones he had left.
Keerti and Krish kept up idle chatter around the table with Kairav occasionally chiming in. But his eyes were focussed on his niece. Barely eating anything, simply moving around her food on the plate.
"Akshu."
Startled, she looked up. "Eat, beta."
She nodded but went back to staring at her plate and Naksh sighed. Breaking off a piece of roti from his own plate, he forwarded it towards her. She seemed surprised again and hesitantly ate it. Smiling, he did the same thing again, and she looked at him with a few unshed tears this time, before accepting it.
YOU ARE READING
Veritas - AbhiRa FF
RomanceHow do you win a person who you know loves you but is bound by years of guilt, responsibilities and regret? Abhimanyu Birla is about to find out.