Deciphering His Love

28 | The One With The Flashback: 1/2

"That's a lot to take in." Anu says after listening to Madhav explain things to her.

"Yeah especially at the middle of the night." Sivaji adds sleepily rubbing his eyes.

It was no longer a normal voice call on Whatsapp. Madhav's call of help became a video chat with Anu and Sivaji.

Anu had a wheat complexion and had the curliest hair in all of India. She had bright black eyes cradled with dark under eye circles that came from her short hours of rest. Anu despite being the batch topper at the University of Madras, decided to settle down as a homemaker in Bangalore after her immediate marriage to Sivaji.

They had a small wedding in the mandhir a week after their graduation. The marriage was an inevitable option after Anushya was declared pregnant with Sivaji's child. The news was shocking to Madhav as well as to both the families, who on the other hand followed different religions.

Joseph Christopher Sivaji was the son of a pastor. Meanwhile, Anushya Chithambaram, a Brahmin Hindu, was the only daughter of an affluent minister in the Tamil Nadu state. Madhav volunteered to take up the task to convince both the families to accept Anushya and Sivaji's relationship, after weeks of heated arguments and pleading he succeeded in his task.

Sivaji tied the knot to Anushya in a small temple in Bangalore. Her father gifted them, or rather her, with a two storied house in the outskirts of Bangalore. Seven months later, Anushya gave birth to their first son, and she named him 'Madhavan'.

Madhav, one the other hand had left to the United Kingdom, a few days after their wedding, to do his Masters.

"I'm sorry, but I had no one else to turn to." Madhav says. "I really needed to talk to you."

"Aww that's sweet." Sivaji adds.

"He meant me. Not you, duffer." Anu says rolling her eyes. She leans to Sivaji and presses a kiss to his cheek. "Don't get offended baby."

"I can't get offended even if you say something very offensive about me." Sivaji says pinching her cheeks.

"You got used to it, haven't you?" Anu cheekily adds.

"Okay, guys. Focus." Madhav says waving his hand at them.

"There's only one way to solve things. Both of you, sit down and talk it out." Anu says tying her messy hair. "Also, do us all a favour and explain why you were being such a big control freak."

"What?" Madhav whips at her quizzically. "I am not a-"

He stops as he notices Anu tweak her eyebrow at him.

"Fine. I am a big control freak. But I have my reasons. The last time I was too unprepared-"

"We know." Sivaji finishes somberly. "Devakshi."

"But you can't blame yourself, Madhav." Anu adds concerned. "You were a mere teen and you were not in your full consciousness. You tried your best to save Deva."

"You haven't told anyone about what happened to Deva that night." Sivaji murmurs. "Everyone at home, Shree too, have no idea about the horror that happened to her, isn't it?"

"It's too disturbing for anyone to hear." Madhav pleads shaking his head.

"Madhav, are you worried that the same would happen to Shree?" Anu asks and she frowns when he nods.

"You need to open up, Madhav." Anu shakes her head.

"Definitely, machan." Sivaji adds.

Anu adds "Also let the woman breathe a little. You aren't her father to tell her how to dress and what to eat."