Darkhaast

~ 37 ~

"Hand me a twenty," Faiz collected his debt from Meghna, the hospital administrator, once they caught sight of Abhimanyu and Mahi traversing blissfully through the hallways. Their interlaced fingers danced buoyantly, matching the spring in their step. The last time they recalled seeing Abhimanyu so complete was when he talked about his kids. Like when Ayra was born, he showed everyone who'd look at photos of her in Roohi and Abhir's hands, fawning over his three kids with such pride and immeasurable joy.

Meghna sighed.

Faiz and Meghna, like many of the hospital staff, placed bets on how long it would take the two to get together. It wasn't much of a gamble, seeing it as an inevitable union rather than a mere possibility. While they were unaware of the specifics of Abhimanyu's two-month challenge, they weren't strangers to the fact that Abhimanyu openly adored Mahi and would often steal her away with chocolates or cheesy pizza that he wouldn't be caught dead with before with his strict diet.

So, Aarohi okayed it as a bonding exercise, preferring it over other gossip and meddling in her love life.

"Badi Mumma, aap yahan?" Abhimanyu was shocked to see Swarna at Mahi's house.

Mahi raised her eyebrows at the sight of the Goenka Matriarch on her doorstep before quickly scanning the house exterior. It looked like her home, simple and quaint as opposed to the magnum opus that was the Goenka and Birla villas. Her welcome mat, a black cat, asking, "Did you call first?" was there. Yet, her door was opened by a mouth her salary does not feed. Bizarre.

Swarna's narrowed eyes flicked between their shocked faces and their intertwined fingers. Swarna moved aside, making the rest of the Birla, Goenka, and Mehra clans visible. Nayanthara, Jai, and Faiz were there too.
Like a fortress, everyone stood tall and resolute, arms folded across their chests and hands on their hips. Their eyes were like vultures awaiting their prey.

Gone was the rosy honeymoon period Mahi and Abhimanyu spent their day in.

"Mahi, andhar aao. Tumhari hi toh ghar hai." Gurpreet invited the frozen couple in.

"Is it?" It was a tough crowd as everyone stared blankly at her joke.

"I'm sorry, I just didn't know my house could fit so many people. If I knew, I'd buy more groceries." Gurpreet rolled her eyes at Mahi's snark while the kids bit back a laugh. "Or buy a smaller house."

Though she added the last piece under her breath, the room was silent enough that it reached everyone's ears. Abhimanyu tossed her a glare, telling her to read the room.

Mahi raised her hands in surrender. "I'll just-" she motioned to zipping her mouth.

"Abhi, tu kal raat kahan tha?" Manjari inquired.

"Hospital," Abhimanyu answered curtly like a child during roll call.

"Aur tum, Mahi?" Sanjeeda asked.

"Hospital?" Something was fishy. 'Why would Tayi Ammi ask when I texted her and Mumma about my whereabouts in the morning?' Mahi thought.

"Tum dono ek dusre ke saath thee?" Mahima questioned, her voice stern and severe, like a disappointed headmistress.

Abhimanyu and Mahi shared a glance.

"Ji, woh-" Mahi was torn between the truth and plausible lie they'd buy. Although the couple came home intending to announce their relationship, the tension in the air made her hesitant.

Abhir and Naaz broke first. Their laughter was contagious, cutting through the grilling session and inviting everyone to join and mock the couple. Their laughs were hearty, some snorting, others giggling, but in unison, it sounded like a symphony of people they adored.

"Huh?" Abhimanyu looked around, trying to find the joke they were laughing at, the one that went over their heads.

"Budhu," Manjari playfully tapped her son's forehead and pinched his blushing cheeks while Swarna did thu thu at the jodi.

They realized it was a surprise party, not an ambush for prey.

Abhimanyu couldn't recall the last time his loved ones threw such a celebration for him.
Perhaps when they brought Ayra home for the first time? No. Manjari mourned in the corner of that party, wishing Akshara and Abhimanyu's relationship blossomed faster than Abhinav's child.

Was it when Abhimanyu and Akshara announced they were having twins? Yes.

Eighteen years ago, he saw such vibrancy and care for himself in everyone's eyes. He'd only shouldered burdens and pain in this time, for he reserved happiness for his children.

The spotlight felt foreign after so long.

Ayra pulled Mahi and Abhimanyu into the middle of the living room before encircling them in a Badhaai ho Badhaai dance with Roohi, Naaz, and Abhir. Abhimanyu joined the children, popping on black shades and trying to follow the newest TikTok dance trend.

Mahi plastered a smile, trying to ignore her heavy chest. Her heart pounded so loudly that she couldn't hear the song everyone was dancing to. Everything around her just felt like white noise.

Nayanthara pulled Mahi into an embrace and whispered, "It's okay. Just breathe."

Mahi's eyes were blank. Nayanthara rushed them into Mahi's room, citing a change of clothes for the party. Once inside, Mahi bolted to the washroom and locked the door.

Shaadi.

It was coming.

They were building up to the proposal, layering it with the song and then having all of them over - the whole army of them in her small little world. There would be a thali full of gifts soon, trying to turn it into a tilak. It was coming too soon.

"Shit!" Mahi hissed.

It was coming too fast.

She needed time.

In a way, this is sort of an open-door chapter. It leads the way to another storyline, one that delves into the complexities of marriage and really resolves the dynamics at play. I couldn't really leave the story in a cookie-cutter place where they're in love so they'd be married the next day because that seems too rushed (Abhira, Akshnav, Neirohi - I'm looking at you and your drama). So I had to add this in.

In other ways, you can consider ~36~ the ending because it is a happy resolution to the big arc and Ik happy endings make for happy readers.

Really depends on your feedback and my motivation to continue.

Happy Holidays!