THE LEGAL BIND

Chapter: 18 - Their Happiness.

Revika Shastri

I was shocked at Mr. Rajput being concerned for me; I am really sus about him now. What does he want from me? He has helped me with a lot and now he is being a soft-hearted guy all of a sudden? I’m sure this is all just a way of using his charm to woo me, not like I’m going to fall for it. I mean he is a businessman he could just ask for what he wants and have a favor in debt for me. Honestly, for whatever reason he might have done whatever he has, I’m happy Aakash is no longer in power of his company, let him rot in jail for all I care.

I am concerned of how Mr. Rajput is breaking my walls. RO has been my best friend for years, but I have always managed to mask my feelings, my guard has never been down, but the minute Mr. Rajput asked me if I was okay, I couldn’t help the tears in my eyes. I felt my throat burn and my eyes brimmed with fresh new tears, I couldn’t look him in the eye. I have never cried in front of anyone. Crying shows them I am weak, and they just walk all over me the next minute. So, I learnt to be strong, I learnt to hide my tears, I learnt to show them that I don’t care.

The next moment, I was being teased and my mood took a whole new turn, with him it’s like I am not me, I am whole new girl, carefree, emotional, bubbly and funny, a girl that likes to joke and rile others up. But the others being only one – Mr. Vardaan Singh Rajput. I don’t understand what is it with his presence that makes me act out. I was always the quiet, non – social girl. My “friends” at law school were just the people I worked with for my professor. They had to include me in some of their plans out of common courtesy, I never went though.

My trail of thoughts was interrupted with the sound of the door, RO walked in and sat beside me. “Kya kehna tha uss khadus ko tere mangetar ke baarein mein? Bada aaya “personal talks” karne wala,” he said with a grumpy face, I laughed at him and told him all that had happened in vivid detail. He was angry at my so-called fiancé but, I got him calmed with the fact that he was nothing but a waste of time and now also a beggar.

We continued to talk for a while and then the visiting hours were over. RO asked to stay with me but I told him it was better if he got some rest and that he should come back with homemade food tomorrow.

Vardaan Singh Rajput

As I drove home from the hospital, I was consumed by the thoughts of everything that went down today. I was worried about Maa too. I arrived at home in no time and rushed in. I saw everyone sitting together in the living room, Ishani and Raunak were fighting for a tub of chocolate ice – cream, Chhoti Maa was yelling at them while Chhote papa was trying to calm her down. Maa and
Daadusa were engaged in a conversation least bothered by all the commotion. It was pretty much the everyday kinda thing.

I walked in further just to have Maa call out my name, “Vadu beta, come have a seat na, Daadusa has something to say to you,” Mom said excitedly while Daadusa glared at her accusingly, mom gave him a mischievous smile, a playful glint in her eyes. I knew something was going to be wrong, but I didn’t realize I will be the one wronged. I took a deep breath and placed the coat – that previously hung on my fore arm – onto the hand rest of the couch. I asked a house help to get me water and asked Daadusa to spill the beans already.

“Woh Vardaan, Bete, Tumhari Daadisa ne na.. unhone, *coughs* tumhareliyeekladkidekhihai” He said it with hesitation and with such speed that I wasn’t able to grasp the meaning of his words, “Daadusa, aap kya kehna chahte hai, kya hua?” I asked him once again, but he just glared at Maa. She huffed and looked towards me, “Daadisa ne tumhare liye ladki dekhi hai, bahut bade business family ki ladki hai, ek baar mil le na uss se, hmm?” she said to me, with hope and excitement flooding her eyes, I couldn’t say no to her. I just hummed and nodded.

The minute I nodded the entire living room became quiet, all the attention was on me, Ishani was wide eyes while Raunak was looking at me with his hands on his mouth, I rolled my eyes and left for my room, they are all so dramatic. It made me happy though, my family was happy and that’s all I needed. As soon as I changed and walked out of my closet, I saw Maa sitting on my bed lost in thought. I went and sat next to her and pulled her into a side hug. She looked at me and caressed my face, “Beta, tu khush to haina? Humare liye sab kuch karne ki zarurat nahi hai, only if you want it too,” she said to me lovingly.

I shook my head and kissed her palms, “Maa aap bahut zyada hi khush mat hoiye, maine milne ke liye haa ki hai, shaadi ke liye nahi,” I said to her playfully, she chuckled slightly and then pulled my head to her lap, I relaxed as she brushed her finger through my hair, “Achha chal bata, kisse milne hospital gaya tha, mein jaanti hu dost nahi hai, bahut hi zyada tension mein tha tu,” She said to me, as it is said, moms know everything, I closed my eyes and told her everything about Reva, everything I knew of her life and why she was in the hospital.

Maa was teary – eyed by the time I finished. I only knew her mother passed away at early age, her father remarried and both the parents were abusive towards her. She went through law school with much difficulty and is still paying the student loans. “Woh phool si bachi, koi pehli baar milke keh hi nahi sakta uske saath esa kuch hua hoga, she carries herself with so much grace, aur woh uss Aakash se shaadi kar rahi hai? Tch tch kya hi hoga bechari ka, mein usko milke samjaungi kal, Aakash se shaadi na kare, in fact Vadu, abhi hi chal, hum sab usko milne chalte hain,” she said worried for Reva, like she is her own daughter.

I smiled, “Maa, aap pehle shaant hojaiye, visiting hours khatam ho gaye hai, kal subah chal lenge sab, aap nishchint hokar so jaiye, Reva thik hai,” I said to her, I realized that the nickname slipped out of my mouth like a habit and mom had a teasing smile on her face, “Reva haa? Ohoho Vadu, itna pyaara naam to humein bhi nahi mila,” She teased me. Gosh what is wrong with me. I ushered her out my room all the while she kept teasing me, I shut the door after she left and shook my head, I chuckled at her antics, she’s like a bubbly kid. I knew all of my family was going to meet her tomorrow, they are so invested in her ever since I carried her home.

I am sure Maa will tell them about the nickname too, I am not ready to face all those teasing smiles and comments that are going to be made. I slept with relief though, she was okay, my family was happy.

“Hasta Rehta Hoon,Tujhse Milkar Kyun Aaj kal..."

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