I Don't Need Love

Part 23: Thoughts

They looked confusedly at the couple. The tension in the air was lingering as both looked at each other and then at the older couple. There was so much happiness on their faces, that they couldn't gather up the courage to see their expectations broken. They were in a dilemma to share the truth behind the news.

But if not today, their hopes would be held high and when in the future they would be crushed, they would be much more disappointed. Rayaan and Meera hated being in such a situation. And all because of Rayaan's extra smart troublemaker cousin. "Actually... umm... there's a misunderstanding," gathering enough courage Rayaan tried to speak. The frown on their faces deepened as they heard him. "What misunderstanding?" Rasika asked, looking at both of them. She hoped there was not any major misunderstanding for which the new couple fought. She wanted them happy.

"Meera is not pregnant," Rayaan mumbled loud enough to be heard by Rasika. "What?" She felt all her happiness squeezing out of her body.

That's when Meera explained the whole scenario to her, how a small misunderstanding had led to all this fiasco.

Rasika facepalmed, "It's our fault actually. He is just a child and we trusted him. I should have asked you before concluding anything." Rayaan's dad nodded, "So Rayaan is not a fast player. I got it wrong. Sorry son." Rasika chuckled at his words and the tension seemed to tone down a bit.

Both Rayaan and Meera sighed in relief. Meera thought it was going to end really badly, she might have had to see his parents crying or at least upset, but they shrugged it off like nothing happened. Instead, they asked them to look at their things they were searching for, not explicitly telling that it was actually for their supposed grandchild, to make the situation less awkward. They smiled looking at the adorable mini items.

"Bhabhi, look what I have got you!" Aryan shouted, running to them with a plate full of weirdly shaped slices of vegetables.

Meera looked at him and then at Rayaan, who had a sly smirk on his face. Aryan handed the plate to her, and she accepted it with a smile, "Thank you."

"But Aryan, now your bhabhi is not in the mood to eat them. Also, the baby told her that he wants to see its uncle eating these vegetables," Rayaan was back to his sugar-coated voice, a known smile played on everyone's faces.

"Baby said that?" Aryan's brow furrowed in confusion.

Rayaan nodded his head vigorously, "Absolutely! Am I lying, Dad?" He turned to his father, who nodded along with the amusing charade.

"Oh," Aryan let out a disappointed sigh, looking at the vegetables. They were his least favorite. "Fine! If baby says so. Baby! Uncle can do anything for you!" He dabbed dramatically, taking the plate from Rayaan's hand, who was more than happy to thrust it in his hands.

The family had a good show while Aryan ate the salad, making exaggeratedly disgusted faces. All for a non-existent baby - fetus.

The racing heartbeat of Rayaan was finally at ease. His heart went into a frenzy thinking of the news.

They finally had their dinner with less chaos around. Aryan was told the truth the second he finished the salad. And they had never seen such a betrayed face. For a minute, it seemed like he was going to faint, but that was all part of his exaggeration. It was great entertainment for the entire family.

With dinner finally wrapped up and the chaos tamed, the couple retreated to their room. After completing their usual routines and changing into comfortable attire, an unspoken silence lingered between them.

Initiating a conversation was hard, but Rayaan knew that if somebody had to be an icebreaker, then it was him. "Are you fine?" he asked, remembering her menstrual nausea.

Surprised by the sudden conversation, Meera nodded,

"f you feel worse, just let me know. We will visit the gynecologist" he reassured her with a soft smile.

Meera couldn't help but return his infectious smile. Rayaan could very well feel the guarded energy from her. Being with her was always like only speaking and getting replies. There was not a conversation. Rayaan himself was not someone who talked a lot, but with Meera, it was different.

He liked engaging with her, he was curious about the new member added to his family, and her guarded replies were attracting him more to have a talk with her. There was a strong urge to know about her, about her feelings, about her taste, and everything about her.

Who knew that the 5'3" lilliput was going to attract him this much?

They prepared to sleep when Meera's phone rang. She checked the time, and it was pretty early to call it a night. It was her friend calling, her best friend Vidushi.

Excusing herself to the balcony, she picked up her call. And as soon as she did that, she heard the shrill crying of her friend.

She went alert, Vidushi hardly cried, and not all on calls ever. "Vidushi, what happened?"

Sniffing, she mumbled, "I don't know, I am feeling emotional. I am missing Mom, dad, and probably you too. I don't feel good." Her parents went to their hometown recently, and she was all alone at the house.

"Calm down. Let's meet tomorrow, okay?" Meera tried her best to ease her down. Gradually, her efforts were successful when she kept saying sweet things to her.

They had a lot to catch up on, and slowly the conversation shifted from one topic to another. From their favorite show to food to crimes in the city. They talked about everything, forgetting to keep track of time.

The conversation then shifted to her marriage, "Of course not! You know boys only want that. All the efforts, all the sweet talks, and all the gentlemanliness are for that one thing. Once they get that physical intimacy, they show their true colors. For them, women are only made to be their servants without any hopes and wishes"

She heard Vidushi agreeing with her. She continued, "They can never tolerate women achieving more than them. For them, women are a trophy, and..." She stopped suddenly when she saw Rayaan's reflection on the glass door the moment she turned around.

Her hands shivered as she looked at him gazing back at her. Her insides trembled, thinking he heard everything she said.

"I will call you later, Bye," she hung up the phone immediately as he approached her. Her eyes widened in anticipation of his next move.