THE HALF OF IT

Part - 26

It's been two weeks since that dreaded morning when everything fell apart. I know it was all my mistake. I am the sole reason for my suffering but that day I let my fears over power my happiness and everything is just screwed now.

That evening as promised when Karan came to take Ruhi for ice cream, he asked me to tag along as we usually do but me being the most stupid person and trying to maintain distance, denied the offer.

Since I have made up my mind to not take things further so I decided to make a new routine and seems like I am the one suffering. Karan has taken Ruhi to his parents house and I am missing them now. Each time Karan and Ruhi did something together, he asked me to join but I always denied and end up feeling lonely but I can't help myself.

I don't want to give him wrong singles and we need to act as two people co-co-parenting a child rather than a one happy family. I do miss his warm hugs and our cuddles at night. I miss our conversations and I miss seeing us as a family doing all things together but I have made the decision and I need to stick by it.

The ringing of door bell caught my attention and I thought Ruhi and Karan are back although it's early for them to return but as soon as I opened the door I found my one and only neighbor/friend standing on the door.

Shruti came in and settled herself on one the stools near the kitchen counter.
Looking at hee expressions I can sense this is going to be a long talk so I made coffee for both of us and settled beside her.

She too the cup and after have one sip she said, " You know I don't like beating around the bush so I will directly come to the point. What the problem Teju?"

I was taken a back for a second from her tone and got confused with her question. "Umm... What do you mean" I asked.

Taking a deep breath as if calming herself down she said, " What happened between you and Karan. I have seen Karan taking Ruhi to walks and all alone. Why are you not around. The look on your face tells me you ain't liking it, so what's the issue, isn't Karan interested in real realtuonship?"

Her questions took me by surprise and I knew I can't lie to her so I told her the truth,"Actually, he is interested in realtuinship, it's me who have been avoiding him. He said he loves me and I freaked out and pushed him away. You know I have to think about Ruhi and ensure she doesn't have to face everything I have faced so I choose to keep things simple."

Shruti doesn't liked my reply and I could see anger surging through her, she shouted, "Shut the Fuck up Tejasswi. You and me very well know who you are trying to protect and its definitely not Ruhi. You are being selfish here and just thinking about your damn self. You and me very well know that Karan will never ever hurt Ruhi. More than me, you know that Karan is best father ever and he will do everything to keep her happy. He will die before hurting her and Ruhi too loves him. She is more happy when you three spend time together as family rather than being with one of you and coming to you, you fucking know it and he will never hurt or leave you. It's your damn insecurities which are not letting you see reality. You need to give him a chance and accept the truth. Stop acting coward and selfish and destroying all the chances of you and Ruhi having a happy family. Get your shit together and open your eyes before it's too late."

Saying this she got up and went to door, " I am your friend and I too love Ruhi as my own daughter and just want to see you both happy. Please Teju think about it and choose happiness over fear. She added softly after her outburst. She went out closing the door behind and I kept sitting there stunned playing her words in my mind.

Honking of car made me look out of the window and I saw Karan's car parked there. Ruhi and Karan came out, and Karan hugged and kissed her making me think why is he doing it now, isn't he coming inside and all my doubts got cleared when a woman came down from his car and waved Ruhi bye. Ruhi too said bye and came running to the gate while the other two remain standing beside the car. When Ruhi rang the bell and I open the gate and I saw how close that woman and Karan were standing and I felt a pang of jealousy hit my heart but I ignored them, took Ruhi inside and hurriedly closed the door. I heard his car going off and at that moment I took a sigh of relief. 

I took Ruhi to her room to give her a bath and I so wanted to ask her so many questions but at the same time I can't confuse my little Valentine. So I very casually asked her,"How was your day sweetheart?"

Listening to my questions her eyes lit up and she started blabbering all about her day, "Dadi made yummy food for me and Dadu took me to park, ww enjoyed a lot, we even played game and she went on."

I am really happy knowing her day went well and she enjoyed it but my little innocent baby is telling me everything accept the one person I so want to know about. I can't complain though. Once she was done I choose to ask her subtly again as my curiosity got better of me, "Ruhi, who was the woman with papa today?"

She looked at me as if I have asked the most stupid question ever and said,"Mumma that's Jessica Aunty and she is soooo nice."

If Ruhi stretches so it means she liked her too. Have Karan already moved on and is it too late really ?

Ruhi now started talking about this Jessica without a break, telling me she is a friend of papa and how she played with her and I felt like crying. I can't let my daughter away from me and thought of Karan being with someone else is killing me too. I made Ruhi sleep and went to my room but sleep was far away from my eyes, my thoughts kept getting messier and images of Karan and that woman start hounding me. Tears start flowing down my eyes and when sleep overcome me I didn't realize.

***********

This was supposed to be the last update but while writing it, I had some more ideas and could see story going ahead and Thanks to ShreeWrites__ for patiently listening to all those and helping me out.

So yeah, there will be few more updates before I end this.

I know it's a super late upadte but I was taking time as I was writing the last chapter but since things changed I will try update early.

Ignore the mistakes please.