The perfect groom ||

29. Old flames

Samayra POV

The news of Ishleen staying at my parent's house was a surprise for everybody.

"I never thought of her to be someone who takes spontaneous decisions, I mean.." My mother-in-law says.

"Mom, she was in no position to interact with grandma, after everything. Plus, this was stressing her and the baby." I say as my father-in-law nods.

"I agree, It's the right decision. Ishleen needs to prioritize her mental and physical well being instead of caring what my mother thinks at a time like this. She has all her life to face my mother, but the next few months, she is the priority." He says as Rehaan had a frown resting on his face, while he kept tapping on his phone.

"Chetan?" I ask and he looks up.

"What? Now you want my stamp of approval when you didn't even ask me once before sending my wife and baby away. Let alone ask, you could have atleast informed me." He says, still on his phone, in a polite tone but clearly pissed off.

"And you would have let her go? You would not have convinced her to stay and take care of her recovering husband? And would that not mean she still has to face the woman who is responsible for the hell and existential crisis she was in, a week ago?" I ask and he looks up and back on his phone again.

"I need her." He says in a low voice and I chuckle.

"Me, Ambar, mom and dad are here to take care of you. Let her take a breather. Let her think what has changed in her life and what her next step will be. She has been acting so strong and brave, taking care of you. Now let her take care of herself." I say as he nods as Dad clears his throat.

"And you need to recover as an independent man." He says as Chetan's brows furrow.

"Your personality changed a lot when you were with... Aisha... And your name... Your World revolved around her and look where it got you." He says as mom interfers.

"Ishleen is nothing like Aisha." My mother-in-law argues as my father-in-law shakes his head.

"I'm not saying Ishleen is like Aisha. All I mean is that, you need to recover yourself and grow as an individual. You know, Self-love and that kind of Gen-Z words that you kids use. But child, you need to come out of this stronger and take charge of your family as a man. You are going to be a father and you cannot let others around you determine what your personality, your attitude will be like. Because if God forbid, the person leaves..." He pauses as I add.

"You'll turn into the same narcissistic self-absorbed person." I say as Chetan scoffs, while my father-in-law agrees.

"Set your goals and ambitions in life. Chase them like you would chase an important person. Invest time in yourself." He says as Chetan nods.

"Sooo, I get to set these goals after my hospital bills are paid, or do I need a job before I have to get my sutures removed?" he says as everyone laughs at his takeaway from this discussion.

"Take your time." My mother-in-law says keeping a hand on his shoulder as we hear Ambar's car pull into the driveway.

"She's here?" I ask as everyone nods. Mom ties her hair into a bun as I go upstairs to find a dupatta with the kurta and palazzo I was wearing.

I walk down after a minute or two as she was assessing Chetan for wounds and saying something in rapid Haryanvi, under her breath that I couldn't understand.

"Namaste Dadi..." I say and walk to her going to touch her feet. (Greetings Grandma)

"Aree.. Hone vali maa ho, aise jhukna nahi." She says, prohibiting me from bending as Ambar clears his throat and I give him a side glare. (You're a mom to be. Don't bend like this.)