The Second Bloom • 18+

7. Night walk (Malini's POV)

"Bahut jubaan chalne lagi hai, Malini."

My mother-in-law taunted as soon as I served her dinner.

Are all mother-in-law's typical, like this?

"Maaf kijiyega, Maa-ji. Woh hume... Hume thoda gussa aa gaya tha uss samay."

She rolled her eyes, "Gussa aagya toh pati par hath utha dogi ab? Aise baat karogi?"

I gulped, "Nahi Maa-ji. Woh.... Woh.. hume ehsaas nahi hua, hum kya kar rahe the."

"Kisi din yeh 'ehsaas nahi hua' ke chakkar me humare bete ka katal kar dogi tum toh."

Oh God.

"Nahi Maa-ji," I watched her eat, "Aaj ke baad dobara nahi hoga kabhi."

She nodded her head, "Sabji do hume aur."

I stood up only to serve her a little more vegetable gravy.

"Sabji pasand aayi Maa-ji?"

She ate another bite,

"Sab jaante hai hum gatte ki sabji kyu banai hai aaj. Aise nahi milegi humari maafi."

"Aapke pasand ki hai, Maa-ji. Itni mehnat se banai hai humne..." I tried to butter her a little.

She looked up at me, then let out a soft laugh cutely, "Mashka lagane ki zarurat nahi hain. Agli baar hua toh maafi nahi milegi tumhe. Samjhi?"

I smiled, "Ji, Maa-ji."

I sat there until she finished eating.

After dinner, when she was about to resign to her room, she paused infront of the door.

"Kuch chahiye, Maa-ji?" I asked knitting my brows.

Surprisingly, she placed a hand over my head,

"Hasti raha karo, acchi lagti ho."

I nodded my head as she left me alone, realising I've been smiling all this time.

Since morning.

Strange isn't it?

I should have been sad. Knowing that my ex-husband betrayed me. But I am happy. Happy that, I was free of that relationship. Happy that I have someone, to stand by my side. To support me. To care about me.

I am feeling happy, and grateful, to my in-laws, and my father - even though there intention was something else, but it did good to me.

It gave me him. The one who truly understands me. And even if we've differences, distance, HE is trying to mend it.

Someone knocked on the door.

I knew it would be him, so I rushed towards the door to open it.

As soon as I opened the door, he was standing there, smiling, and rubbing his palms,

"Kafi thand hai bahar."

I moved aside to let him in, then shut the door.

"Maa-babu-ji ne khana khaya?"

I gave him a nod, "Aap kapde badal lijiye, hum khana laga dete hai."

After a few minutes, we sat down together to have our food. Dinner was silent. After finishing our dinner, he sneaked inside the kitchen,

"Aapne kaha tha bahar chalengi humare saath? Shairr par?"

I nodded my head, "Do minute na, bartan dho le hum bas."