Just Friends [√]

Chapter 17 :" Stepping out"

Few Months Later

Arun was playing with his son early in the morning when Gauri walked inside the playroom looking like she had good news to share , married to her close to two years had it advantage as he do know when she is feeling is super happy and today was one such day .

" Did your parents call ?" he asked because usually it because her family has some good news to share .

" No ,I got the certificate , " She answered back,  earning a smile from him . When their son was few months old ,Gauri realized he may not be able to go to regular school like most kids and decided to train herself so that she can home school him .

While the first eleven months she had the option of studying from home ,the past month had expected her to have more of an hands on approach which meant she had to step out in to the world .

The one month internship kind of course had been both stressful and exhilarating for her , he knew she found teaching to be something she was passionate about and he realized that it gave her an opportunity to step out in the world a little bit more.

But it hadn't been easy on her to leave Rahul for the few hours ,the first one week she almost cried every time she left and since someone as to stay behind with their son ,she had taken up to drive to the class on her own as well .

" I am so proud of you Gauri , Look Rahul your mom can teach you now , " he spoke up , simultaneously to the two people he had as family . And Gauri smiled back at her son as if she finally found the key to his education .

From the time he was born, Gauri had been worried about his future . They both knew Rahuk lifestyle will be different than the one they had and Arun was aware of Gauri constant need to make sure her son lifestyle changes doesnt affect his happiness.

People see few inspiring stories in YouTube and other social sites and assume anyone can do the same as if not giving a thought how those people were able to overcome it .

    
Until Rahul was born ,he was one of them . When he first reached about his son ,the knowledge 1 out of 50 kids born into the world was shocking as he learnt one of fifty parents were like him wondering how to help their child.

      
The process of helping their son started from finding what he needs to have a better Life, a better environment to grew up and to be able to give him everything he needs to live his life the best way possible.

   
And it was why he was surprised when Gauri wanted to apply for the teaching course few months after Rahul was born ,he expected that would be his role considering Gauri reluctance to interact with the world as such .

    
And since she wanted to he let her try and Arun always knew only her maternal love for her son pushed her to step out of her comfort zone and now she had finally got what she wanted the knowledge to teach her son until he was ready to step out of his comfort zone . 

     
While Arun was still trying to find help for his son ,he had encountered other children who could be helped with financial support a fact he learned from one of his business associate Rajeev Singh when he approached him to see if he known any specialist considering the man owned major shares in few  hospitals.

       
"  It isn't easy to accept for people like us ,I was the wealthiest in the country and had contacted every specialist in the field to ensure my wife get pregnant but it didn't happen as I hoped Arun . I will help you with whatber you need of course I will

         
But i want you to know sometimes the doctors or money can't be the solution , I didn't mean to disappoint you Arun that wasn't my intention . As a friend I want you to not blame yourself if it didn't happen as you hoped . " Rajeev told him,  few months back.

      
Arun understood the wisdom behind Rajeev words as the latter went on to adopt a daughter who he loved unconditionally like how Arun loves Rahul . Still he can't stop trying not until he believed he have done everything possible.

    
Because that what being a parent is that you would do everything possible to ensure your kids grew up happy and healthy .

              ***************** 

       
        
It had been a week since Gauri had the offer ,a week where she denied her impulse to act on it . After getting the teaching certificate, she believe it was enough as her only intention of doing so was home school Rahul .

       
  But when one of the colleague she met the internship texted her about a job opening where they are recruiting more teaches as the school just opened ,she can't seem to take it out of her mind .

     
It had been immensely hard to step out of the house every day for the internship course , and as Arun always said they both had no need to work for the lifetime . Yet teaching seemed to have broken some sort of barrier in her that wanted to do it for real as a career not just to her son .

  
It was not ideal given she wasn't fully recovered to face society ,and ensuring kids safety in her hands were a tough ask because what will the kids do when she had a panic attack of her own .

But the knowledge that there was job out there for her always remained on her brain until she couldn't squash out ,she went in search of Arun because decisions like this is something she needs to take with him .

 
Not out of respect that he have to look after Rahul for more hours if she decided to work ,not out of the fact she was married to him but because he was her sounding board ,her trusted friend .

   
She found the father and son playing in sand ,it should have alarmed her if not for the fact she trusted Arun to keep an eye on their son .

   
As if noticing her presence, he lifted Rahul from the sand pit he created in the backyard for his son and gave the little one to his hand who had been more than happy to smear her face and hair with sand .

    
"Let me refresh then we can talk,  " he answered back, surprising her , he got better at reading her recently and she wished her mind didn't recollect that someone else who used to read her better than anyone .

   
She heard from her mother that he was back in town and it was also part of the reason she felt restless at home ,the man she loves still.

     
"We met at Swara birthday party , He asked after you and obviously I didn't say much except you are happy , he told me to tell you that he was happy as well but it looked like the war cost him too much .

  
Lekha told me that he lost someone close to him in an ambush attack and injured his shoulder which was the reason he was home.  But he insists on going back once the injury heals and Lavanya gave me another letter to give it to you . The girl never stops, " her mom spoke up ,  as if all the memories would make her happy given it was about the persons she loves the most and yet it always made her ache to not be with them .

   
And yet every time her mother calls she soaks up every word about them . It was given he won't quit just yet after all nothing come between Arnav determination and goals not even her love.

  
She didn't have time to wallow in what if and that why she made up her mind about the job and decided to do it . If they were crazy enough to hire her then maybe she can brave it out as well .

     
" So what going on? " Arun voice, anchored her back to the present away from her past .

   
" I want to be a teacher ,I think,  " She answered back , and she knew before he said a word that he would stay by her side because that who he was as a person and every other details they can work it out between themselves later including how she would be able to spend few hours away from her son most days .

   
As if understanding her turmoil ,her son pouty lips connected with her cheeks . He may not be able to make a sound but he had plenty of way  to tell her how much he loves her and it was her son who had given Gauri something she lost , a courage to step out and face the world .

P.S :" That it for now . Let me know your thoughts and feedbacks. Hit the votes if you liked it "

Juanita Reid