Cover Me In Sunshine🌅

6. Happiness And Grief

Ram looked at Priya then at Akki who was still sitting on the floor with a tear-dried, blank face. Ram went to him and sat there holding his hand, after sometime, Akki completely broke down in his arms. Ram also started wailing.
Akki(extremely broken voice): Shivi....Shivi...chali gayi. Chali gayi. Forever.
Ram started caressing his head.
Ram(sobbing): I couldn't save my Shivi. Akki she I'm sorry. I'm so so sorry. I didn't let you say goodbye to her. I'm sorry.
Akki was crying heavily. Priya stood up and went there. She sat beside Akki. She held his hand.
Priya: Akki!
Akki broke the hug and looked at her with red eyes.
Priya(looking down, tears flowing continuously): I couldn't save Shivi. I couldn't fulfill my promise. I was there phir bhi I couldn't....uska haath nahi pakad payi main. This is all my fault Akki! All my fault.
Akki kept his head on her lap and started wailing.
Akki: I lost her Priya di. I lost my lifeline. I lost her.
Priya ran her fingers through his hair.
Priya: I'm sorry Akki. Meri wajah se yeh sab hua.
Akki(suddenly straightening himself): No! It was their fault! It was their fault! My Shivi is gone because of them! I couldn't protect her! Main usse yaha se lekar gaya. I heard that Shubham saying that he's just pretending to be in good terms with me! So I took her there. And they both! Jaan leli unn dono ne meri Shivi ki! They should get punished!
Ram: Akki I promise you they'll get their punishment. Our Shivi will get her justice.
Akki nodded then looked downwards.
Akki: You lost your child Ram jiju.
Akki looked at Ram. He nodded sobbing hard. Akki hugged him tightly and caressed his back.
Akki: You are the only one is this house who loved her unconditionally Ram jiju. And Shivi loved you too. She really really loved you.
Ram: I'm sorry Akki. I'm sorry. Maine tera haq chin lia tujhse. I...I shouldn't have done that.
Akki: You were not okay just like me. I know you did that because you love her. I'm just relieved that her last rites were performed by someone who truly loved her and not any other person who only used my Shivi. How could they do it Jiju?
Ram: This is the question I'm asking myself from hours now. And I've no answer.
Akki(tears continuously flowing): Jiju aj agar Shivi ki shaadi mujhse na hui hoti toh woh aaj zinda hoti. Marrying me took her life.
Ram: Akki tu kya bol raha hai! Shivi khush thi tere saath! She loved you from all her heart! Isiliye toh woh ghar se bhagi thi! Her heart would've been broken if she didn't marry you. Don't blame yourself Akki please. Teri koi galti nahi hai. Tune meri bachhi ko khush rakhha hai.
Priya: She would've died long ago if she didn't marry you. She was gonna take her own life! That's why I got them married!
Ram(utterly shocked): Whattt?
Priya(nodding): Hmm...Shivi was gonna jump in front of a car. That's why I promised to get them married and you know the rest.
Ram looked blank, completely blank.
Ram: Shubham didn't like Akki that's why that Anjali ka....he tried to sabotage his own sister's marriage! This is too much.
Akki looked at Priya who looked completely pale and unwell.
Akki: Di aap utho yaha se. Mat baitho niche.
Priya: Akki I'm..
Akki: No you're not fine! Aapne jo yeh kiya hai na bohot galat kia...utho.
Ram made her sit on the sofa.
Priya: I'm sorry mujhe pata nahi tha itna dangerous ho sakta hai. I thought I can save his future.
Akki: You're pregnant Priya di. Look at yourself! Agar Jiju aj na jaate toh!
Ram looked downwards.
Ram: I'm sorry Akki. I left her....
Akki: Jiju aap please lekar jao Didi ko. She needs rest.
Priya: Mujhe nahi jaana.
Ram: Priya bohot hua. Akki is right. Chalo. Mujhe aur kuch nahi sunna.
Priya looked at him sadly. Brinda came and sat beside her.
Brinda: Priya I'm so sorry. If only I let Ram meet you that day aisa nahi hota.
Priya: Brinda tum log hi toh ho jo protective ho Mr. Kapoor ke lia. Tumhara gussa jayaz tha. But ya you should've let him talk to me once.
Brinda: I'm sorry.
Priya just nodded at her.
Ram: Priya chalo you need rest.
Priya: No I want to sit here.
Ram: Priya you are not well. Please meri baat maano chalo.
Priya: No.
Ram(little annoyed): Okay. Your choice tum khud chalogi ya tumhe uthake lekar jaun!
Priya looked at him highly irritated and looked away.
Brinda: Priya you were in jail for 2-3 days now. Please go have some rest. Apni health ko aise kharab mat karo. And there's a little one inside you. Go.
Priya still didn't budge.
Ram: Ok I think she chose. I've no other choice.
Ram was about to scoop her up,
Priya: No no no! I'll go. I'll go.
Ram(forwarding his hand): Then come.
Priya looked at him still irritated then held his hand and stood up then looked at her siblings who were devastated.
Ram: You all go choose rooms and freshen up please. Sara di, Sandy please take care of Akki. Brinda please.
Brinda(nodding): I'll take care of them Ram. You go with Priya.
Ram nodded. Then started walking with Priya who was still looking sadly at her siblings.
Ram held her shoulder.
Ram: Don't worry. Brinda will take care of them.
Priya sadly nodded. Then she saw Ram was walking towards a guest room.
Priya: Where are we going?
Ram: Priya you should not use stairs.
Priya: No I can. I'm a month pregnant Mr. Kapoor. Stop being over-protective.
Ram: But...
Priya(sternly): I want to go to our room.
Ram: Okay. Okay fine chalo.
He walked her to the stairs then they went upstairs slowly.
Ram: Carefully.
Priya was really irritated.
Then they walked towards their room and Priya's eyes filled with tears. Ram held her hand tightly and made her enter their room. Everything went blurry for Priya because of her tears. He made her sit on the bed then locked the door and kneeled down in front of her holding her hand. Priya started crying heavily. He pulled out another tissue and started wiping her tears.
Ram: Priya please don't cry like this. This much stress is not good for you. It's okay. You are here now. Look nothing has changed in this room. Aur maine bed bhi saaf rakha hai taki tum gussa na ho. Please.
Priya wiped her tears then looked into his blue blue green green eyes then scanned the whole room. It looked the same to her. She remembered the last time she was there getting ready for Dad's birthday's puja. Then everything shattered. She chose to go with her mother.
Priya: I'm sorry for leaving you that day. She came and I went with her...I'm sorry.
Ram: No Priya. I failed you. I should've stood up for you when they started blaming you but I didn't. Meri galti hai.
Priya: I wanted to tell you about Varun that night. Trust me.
Ram: I know I know. I should've let you but I was happy that day with you. (Suddenly terrified) Ohh no no! We drank champagne that night. Is...is...
He started panicking.
Priya: Baby is fine. I told the doctor. She checked. Baby is fine.
Ram felt a little relief listening to her.
Priya: I forgot something.
Ram(confused): What?
Priya took his hand and kept it on her tummy.
Priya: An introduction.
Ram's tears started falling from his eyes again.
Priya: Hey baby! This is your Papa. I'm sorry I didn't introduce you both earlier and I'm sorry for lying to him about you. One thing I can tell you he's going to be the best papa in the whole world.
Ram was overwhelmed with joy.
Ram(broken voice): Hey lil kiddo. I'm your papa and I love you. So much. Thank you for coming into our lives. Your mumma and I love you and we can't wait to meet you. And one thing I wanna tell you, you have the best mumma in the whole world.
Ram looked at Priya with a huge smile and happy tears in his eyes who gave him a small smile. Caressed her tummy,
Ram: Priya! Thank you for this wonderful gift. I can't tell you how happy I'm. I miss Shivi a lot, a lottt. The loss is huge for me but on the other hand I'm happy for our little one.
Priya caressed his hair.
Priya: I know. I know this is very difficult. For You. For all of us. But I'm happy that we've a reason to be happy. And Thank you too for greatest joy.
They both smiled at each other.
Ram: Okay. Now lie down. Get some rest.
Priya: I'm gonna take a shower first.
Ram: Okay. Do you want to have something? Juice? Milkshake?
Priya: No please no. I've ate that croissant. I'll have later.
Ram: Priya it's just a Croissant. I'm telling Tarun to bring something. If you don't like it then it's okay. Anyway we're gonna visit a gynac today.
Priya nodded making a face. Ram stood up and pecked her forehead.
Priya: My cloths?
Ram(cupping her face) : Sab kuch waise ka waisa hai wardrobe mein.
Priya smiled a little and nodded.
Ram: Do you need any help?
Priya: No I can manage. Thank you.
Ram nodded.
Ram: Don't lock the door. I'm here only. What if you feel uncomfortable inside.
Priya: Okay.
She stood up and went to her wardrobe. Selecting a kurta, she gave a small smile to Ram and went to the washroom.