Meera

Episode 14

Raghav rushed out of Mumbai Central and as was in search for his Ola cab, he received a call. It was Jhanvi.

"Tell me beta! I've reached the station. I'll be home in 45 minutes."
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"A surprise? For me?"
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"Ok. I'll be there. I'm boarding the cab now. See you at home beta. Bye!"

The traffic at Mumbai seemed a little above normal. Throughout the cab ride, his thought was on Vedant. He was wondering why he felt he wanted to meet him again. He was also eager to know what the surprise was, which Jhanvi just told him over the phone. 'Could that be an award at office? Could that be something to do with her sports? Could it be an approval for her IFRS course? Or has she prepared a special dish for me? It isn't her birthday today. It isn't my birthday either. What could it be?'. It was almost an hour when he had finally reached his apartment. After settling the cab, he quickly entered the lift and all the way to the 10th floor, he was still wondering what it could be.

Just as he opened the door, he saw Jhanvi waiting to have lunch. He was anxious to know what the surprise was.

"Beta. You told me you have a surprise. What is that?"
"Papa. Surprise is a surprise. First get yourself a shower and come over for lunch"
"Just 10 minutes. I'll be here. I'm excited to know what my princess has got for me"

Exactly at the end of 8th minute, he was there on the dining table. Jhanvi served him food. Though he had eaten in the train, he was feeling a bit hungry, so he started having it. The taste of the food was so peculiar that it took him in a time travel to the past. He was sure that only one person could ever make the dish in his taste preference...

"Meera!" chanted his lips.
"Is that you?"
...
"Meera!"
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"Are you here?"
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"I know it's you. I could sense you here."
...
"Meera!"
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"Iniyum olinji dhaan irukkanuma!? Please veliyila vaa Meera. Meera..."

These words were enough to bring Meera out from Jhanvi's room.

Yeah! She was there. His Meera was back. He couldn't believe his eyes. He couldn't believe what was happening. His eyes were wet.

"Meera! Nee enkitta thirumba vandhutta! You're back!"
"Rags!"
"Mee...ra..."
...
"Enga poitta Meera? Where have you been all these years? Enna vittu eppdi..., how could you ever imagine leaving me alone!?" exclaimed an altogether surprised Raghav, hugging tight the love of his life, after almost 18 years of separation.

"Am sorry Rags! I misunderstood you. I didn't believe you. I deserve this separation. Anniku nee airport la en pinnadi odi vandhadhu enakku theriyum. Aana I was still upset with you. Enakku theriyaadhu Raghav what you went through all these years. I failed to think from your point of view. These 18 almost years have been tough for me without you. I blocked your mails. I distanced myself from all my known people. Un mela irundha kovam dhan Raghav. Aana what you have been doing is a big sacrifice da. I pity myself for not having understood you. Ippo kooda I wouldn't have been here if not for Janu. I don't deserve your love nu dhaan I refused when Jhanvi proposed this idea. But iva dhan insist pannina. Seeing how you have lived so far in life, I understood you da. Our daughter made me understand you. I won't leave you da. I love you... I love you so much Rags!"
"I love you Meera!"

After almost 18 years, their lips finally met. It was like a flash flood in a dried up basin. Their lips spoke with each other for minutes and their eyes were pouring out . The world wasn't visible to them. Finally two voices broke their intimacy.

"Ahem ahem! What you both are doing is a crime! How could you behave like this before your children!?"

They parted their lips. They blushed. Raghav was surprised to see Vedant standing by the door besides Jhanvi. He looked at Meera with a question in his eyes.

"Yes Rags. He's our son. Vedant! Vedant Narayan Raghava Narasimhan, Jhanvi's little brother."

Raghav felt overwhelmed with joy seeing Vedant, as he started speaking...

"I was not sure what was going on here when I came in until Jhanvi told me that this was the plan she had told me yesterday. I was so excited to see my dad from the moment Jhanvi told me the plan. I never thought it would be such a surprise when I meet him. I had infact been travelling with him by his side since the morning without knowing he is my dad. Finally, I found you, Appa...!"

Raghav broke into tears as he heard his son call him so for the first time.

"Meera. How did this all happen? How did you find all this? How was this union ever possible?"

Yes. How did all this happen?