Song of the Firebird

Forty Three

Jay was not comfortable with his smartphone on one of his hands, while the other unpacked his baggage in his place in Bunna town. June refusing to move from his legs, added more to his discomfort. He was glad that she hadn't been angry at him, rather, she welcomed him with sloppy kisses. It had not been forty eight hours ever since his arrival at Natasha's temporary place, and oh boy, he missed her ever since she left the morning after his proposal for her work. He could only complain that he also had to do the same thing as her, the next morning.

Natasha poured in her side of the story while Jay delivered her the blessings from his family, shortly after he gifted her the saree and jewellery. He could now be able to paint a picture of the current mess and not once he had the thought of rejecting what that had been following her. That time, he decided, it was his duty to save his damsel. Even his broken ribs and healing shoulder were not able to stop him from his decisions.

While June did not want to part his side, he put the phone call on loudspeaker. An exuberant Jeeva could be heard from the other side.

'That's why, I told you that you should listen to Mandhira, just in case. I bet Natasha would have loved it the moment she set her eyes on the silk saree.'

Jay chuckled, 'She did. But I did choose the colour.'

'Gosh! What is with you and Mandhira, competing for simple silly things? I am glad I didn't have to deal with you both on those matters.'

'Watch before you speak, Jeeva. Mandhira's acoustic senses have the capability to penetrate even the lead walls.'

Jeeva snorted. 'As if. Have you reached your place? You told me that you were staying with Natasha for a couple of days? Is everything okay with her? Mandhira was quite concerned.'

'Well, erm– where should I begin with? We have an appointment with the doctor to take a good look at the baby. To think of that, I did actually arrive on time, for once.' Jay smirked as he expected Jeeva to reply for his revelation.

As he suspected, Jeeva did not speak, let alone breathe for a long time. Clearing this throat, the elder brother muttered, 'Bastard! What have you done?' Jay could sense a minute gasp and anger, instead of surprise, lacing his brother's tone. 'It is totally not like you and I thought you would have waited till your wedding.'

'We– Well, it sort of happened. The first time she paid a visit to our farm was the first time she came to know about our background. H-hold on! In what world are you living in? We kind of hit off and we both are happy about it.'

'B-but-'

'One more word to judge me or my fiancée, Pratap, I will tell Mandhira about your activities near the river under the pretext of visiting father's old study!'

'You will not!'

'So, do you!'

The brothers could sense both their inaudible swearing, beyond the silence of words exchanged between them. Warily, Jeeva said, 'J-just stay happy and be there for each other, both of you, at this time.' After a pause, he continued, 'Man, who would have thought you complaining about my wife's pregnancy tantrums, would be rewarded with your own!' Jeeva rolled into laughter at the position that his younger brother was in. 'Serves you right! Get your mind and wallet ready, Paari, you are yet to experience peculiar stuff from now on. And don't spend too much for the baby, like setting up a room or buying toys and clothes. You will have plenty of time later and some of the things you will have to think before you set them up in your list.'

'Speaking of them, how is little Kavin? Crying through the night, still?'

Jay could hear Jeeva drop a sigh. 'He is driving me insane! Leave that crying part. He will smile for everyone except me! His own father! He cries at my touch and will pull a long face or ignore me, no matter how many times I try to make him smile. He is a momma's boy, giving away toothless grins only to her. I even learned how to bathe him and he would screech whenever I try to bathe or clothe him! How could he behave like that when I was the one who tells him bedtime stories every day, before and after his birth! Ungrateful brat!'