Shruti And Anuj

Part 17 - Engagement

'Who invited the ex fiancee?'. Baa said as soon as the Kapadias entered Shah House. Aadhya tensed up immediately.
'Baa!', reprimanded Anupama.
'What Baa? And you, Fruti, Shruti, whoever you are, don't you have any shame? Walking into someone's house, someone's function, uninvited like those poor people who gatecrash looking for free food..'
Shruti's mouth opened in disbelief. She had been to many events but had never seen anyone behave so rudely. After the shock came the anger but before she could reply, she heard Anuj say,
'Baa, the invitation was family inclusive and Shruti is family'.
'America has become so modern now that even exes are family?'.
'Shruti is Aadhya's mother. That's how she is family'.
Baa's shocked gasp could be heard across the room.

'Then what is your 'Anu'? And how many mothers does Choti need? First, Anupama, then Maya and now this Shruti!'.
'Enough, Baa! I will not hear a word against my family anymore'.
'You can quieten me, Anuj, but what happens when you remarry Anupama? Anupama will be your wife and Shruti will be your daughter's mother? This is not the West. Here, wife is only mother'.
Anuj pushed back his specs.
'By that logic, Kavya was Toshu, Pakhi's mother after Vanraj's remarriage. Then, why did you keep calling Anu to your house at any time, day or night, when Anu was in KM with Aadhya and me?'.
Baa became flustered.
'Aadhya is not Shruti's real daughter. An..'
'Leela, enough. I go away for one minute to supervise in the kitchen and you start creating a drama.. I said enough. Think about Dimple and Tapish's happiness like we elders should.
Anuj, I apologise on Leela's behalf. Please come in and bless our children. Aadhya beta, Shruti, I am very pleased that you came with Anuj. Consider this to be your own home'.
Shruti was still annoyed but decided to not make an issue as Hasmukh had apologised. Anuj knew that the Shahs and tamashas went hand in hand but he had not expected it from the very first minute itself. Aadhya's mood had been on a downward slide from the moment they had set foot in the Shah House, surprisingly Anupama seemed irritable as well.

A tense hour passed.
Anuj chatted mainly with the male guests, many of them businessmen, eager to learn about about the trade practices of the US. The discussions were half hearted and unfocused as Anuj's attention hardly wavered from Aadhya and Shruti.
Aadhya clung to Shruti, ready to defend her if anyone dared to speak another wrong word.
Shruti outwardly ignored the angry looks that Baa was casting in her direction but inwardly felt like creating a ruckus in the ceremony herself.
Anupama was giving needless instructions to the staff, her words carrying an edge of anger.

Dimple and Tapish took their places on the stage and Anupama stood besides Tapish with Dimple's ring. Baa handed over Tapish's ring to Anuj. Anuj was taken aback.
'Bapuji and you are the elders. It's your right'.
'Anuj beta, Dimple considers you as her father. It's time the next generation takes over from us elders now. Our blessings are there with you all always', said Bapuji.
Anuj stood besides Dimple. Tapish forwarded his hand. Dimple blushed a little as she moved the ring along his heart finger and blushed even more when Tapish reciprocated. Rose petals showered down on the stage. Everyone cheered for the joyous couple.

Shruti was clapping too but it was a bittersweet moment. Dimpy and Titu's happiness was heart warming but at the same time, Shruti's ring finger weighed heavy inspite of being unadorned. Her engagement ceremony hadn't been something she had enjoyed fully because of Anupama's presence there. She had been jealous and insecure, no doubt, but the engagement itself had meant something special. Atleast at the time. She felt Aadhya's comforting hand on hers and saw deep sadness on her face. Anuj and her wedding had been Aadhya's dream for far longer than it had been hers. Shruti squeezed Aadhya's hand reassuringly and looked back at the stage, hoping to get rid of her selfish thoughts. To her surprise, Anuj looked a little unhappy too, his thumb moving around his empty ring finger, in a subconscious gesture.