How to Woo Your Bride

44| An Emotional Conversation

Don't stop when you are tired. Stop when you are done.

Marilyn Monroe

 44| An Emotional Conversation

   Riya sobbed in her mother's lap. It was Tuesday afternoon, and Madhan took his mother out for lunch during his break, so Riya could be alone with her mother. In fact, she had told him that she wanted to talk to her mom alone.

   "Mommy, how do you feel like going to the spa?" Riya asked, wiping her tears away.

   Mrs. Sharma looked at her daughter worriedly. Those were the first words she had said after breaking down. Thinking that she needed to relax, she agreed.

   Riya drove her mom to the spa next a few blocks away, after scribbling a quick note to Mrs. Roy.

   The attendants were very nice. They welcomed the Sharmas cordially and led them to a private room on request. The room was dark and had a very peaceful setting. They were sat on an inclining chair after changing into a spa dress.

   Riya and her mom were silent for fifteen minutes. She had no idea how she could bring it up.

   "Mom, we need to talk," Riya said, suddenly.

   "Do we have to? You've come to relax here." The lady behind her was adjusting the cucumbers. She was about to place the cucumbers on Riya's eyes as well, but she politely refused it. She brought her to the spa to talk. She needed to get it out of her system. Now.

   "Mom, do you think I'm happy?" she asked, once all the attendants left the room. The door was closed, and the room had soundproof walls. It was perfect, she thought. Just in case, they had a shouting match.

   "Of course. I didn't think otherwise." Her daughter was pregnant. It wouldn't have been without her consent. She was certain Riya loved Madhan. The news thrilled her to death. It wasn't only the excitement of getting a new grandchild but that Riya had moved on, and was ready to start her life. She no longer needed to feel guilty anymore.

   "Well, I'm not."

   Mrs. Sharma was alarmed. She was not happy? Maybe the stress was getting to her. "Riya, can we do this later? You really need to relax. It's not good for you otherwise."

   "The whole reason I brought you here alone was so I could talk to you," Riya fumed. Why was her mother trying to change the topic? Was it because she was feeling guilty? She hoped not. It would make her less angry at her, and she couldn't afford that. She had to be mad at someone.

   Mrs. Sharma sighed. "What is it, Riya?"

   "I told you. I'm not happy. Ask me why?"

   "Why?"

   "Because I still love Aakash."

   Mrs. Sharma inhaled sharply. "What?" She removed the cucumbers from her eyes and looked at her daughter. This was getting out of hand. She's mothering a baby, and these feelings she still has will not be good for parenting the baby.

   "Riya, baby, you need to get over him. It's not good for you," she said, softly.

   "You said everything would be better. You said everything would be alright. It's nowhere close to being alright," Riya shouted.

   Mrs. Sharma winced. "You need to give it time. It's hardly been a few months. But you've been a good wife. I appreciate that." So the baby wasn't out of mutual consent. Had Madhan pressured her? She was getting very panicky now. Maybe she should have researched about him more.