𝑪𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒆- 𝑾𝒂𝒓 𝑶𝒇 𝑳𝒐𝒗𝒆

𝟓𝟑. 𝐇𝐎𝐌𝐄 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐆

Author's Pov

Later that day…

Mridha entered the flat with a small royal entourage, helpers lining up neatly around Vidya, each holding silver plates covered with red velvet cloth.

“Maa, ye sab kya hai?” Mrityunjay asked, shutting the door behind them.

“Gifts,” she replied softly, walking toward Vidya and pulling her into a gentle hug. “Maa banne wali hai meri beti, itna sab toh banta hai.”

She kissed Vidya’s forehead with warmth.

Vidya smiled shyly but protested, “Par maa, itne taam-jhaam ki kya zarurat thi?”

“Beta,” Mridha began, her voice calm and reverent, “ye sab aane wali pooja ke liye hai. Tumne hume itni badi khushi di hai… isliye humne Maha Mrityunjay Jaap karwane ka socha hai. Ye sirf Pooja nahi riwaaz hai.”

Vidya lowered her eyes. “Par maa...”

Mridha cupped her cheek tenderly. “Pooja agle Somvar ko hai. Hum jaante hai Jay, tum waha nahi aana cahate… par hum ab tum dono ke bina wahan nahi reh sakte. Ab toh yeh nanhi si jaan bhi aane wali hai. Iske liye hi wapas aajao.”

Her voice quivered as she turned to him. “Apne baap ke karmon ki saza hume aur ise mat do. Wapas chalo, beta.”

Mrityunjay straightened, his calm facade cracking.
“Nahi maa,” he said firmly. “Hum pooja mein bhi wahan nahi aa payenge. Aap yahi karwa lijiye pooja. Hum apne bache par unki soch ki parchhai bhi nahi padne dena chahte.”

His tone had a tremor — anger mixed with old hurt.

“Jay…” Mridha’s eyes welled up. “Har raat sabke so jaane ke baad wo mandir mein baithkar rote hai… kal toh haste haste ro diye jab khabar mili. Beta, wo… wo badal rahe hai.”

Mrityunjay’s voice sharpened. “Wo kabhi nahi badal sakte, Maa!”
His fists clenched, veins visible on his neck.

“Par beta,” she pleaded, “pooja hum apni haveli ke mandir mein hi karwa sakte hai. Ye maa aur bache dono ki salamati ke liye hai. Samjho baat ko.”

“Hume kuch nahi samjhana.” He snapped, stepping back, his voice trembling.

Vidya’s voice cut the air, stern and breaking at once.
“Jay, you know how much this means to me,” she said, eyes brimming. “I don’t want to take any chance with our child. Agar maa keh rahi hai ki pooja humare liye hai, tab bhi tum wahan nahi jaoge?”

Silence filled the room. Even the ticking clock felt loud.

“Wahan se sab kuch chhod kar hum tumhare liye aaye the, Vidya,” he said finally, voice cracking. “Tumhare samman ke liye. Ab hum us jagah wapas kaise ja sakte hai?”

Vidya stepped closer, holding his hand. “Jay,” she whispered, “humne kal sirf apne papa ko nahi, tumhare papa ko bhi maaf kar diya hai. Kyunki hum apni zindagi ki nayi shuruaat bina nafrat ke karna chahte hai. Tum bhi try karo… asaan nahi hai, par mushkil bhi nahi.”