Part Time Lovers!

12. Before the storm

Sharma Niwas was bubbling with laughter and joy as Kuki ran around the house with both Shivani and Suman chasing her. Veena peeked through the kitchen time and again to make sure the girls didn't bring an earthquake down with their fun banters, but more than them, it was the sight of Prerna sitting on the living room couch, hogging the halwa and moaning in appreciation that warmed her heart. That and well the sight of Mr. Bajaj sitting beside Prerna and watching her with soft eyes, and a constant, subtle smile on his face as he watched her having the time of her life eating all kind of delicacies, and making so many appreciative faces.

One month had gone by in between. Prerna was in the begining of her fifth month of pregnancy. Because she had always been too skinny, she had been able to hide it away with her loose kurtas and open drape sarees, but obviously it couldn't go on for too long. The glow on her face and the fee extra pounds she had put on - it was clearly visible.

Rishabh had been content to see Prerna quickly learn the basics of buisness in the last month. She would accompany him to office and learn from him and Mr. Mehra both, sometimes bug them consistently with her larger than life doubts, but she had a sharp mind if she actually concentrated which was why she had easily grasped a lot of nitty-gritties involved and Rishabh had been satisfied with her progress so far. Also, her bank account had been set up, the fund for the child already deposited and also a decent sum in her name. It was time for his next step, he sighed as the thought crossed his mind.

"Prerna we need to leave, it's already late and Kuki has to sleep early, she has school. And you need rest too, it's already past eight", Rishabh urged softly, but Prerna turned to look at him, her face pulled up in a frown.

"Offooo Mr. Bajaj, ghadi k hisab se pata h kon chalta h? Robots. Mai toh apne dil k hisab se chalti hu, aur abhi mera dil Maa k hath k ladoo khana chahta hai", Prerna beamed at him, grinning and picked up another sweet, putting it into her mouth.

Behind her, Veena had paused as a smile made her way onto her face. It had been ages she had seen her Priyu in this Prerna who had been forced to loose her chirpiness along the way in the past few months.

Falling in love was supposed to brighten up her life - but it had on the contrary pushed her down to the ground. Anurag's public humiliation, followed by a one on one fight with Komolika, and then a ton of issues created by Mohini Basu that gnawed at her own as well as her family's self respect before their re-wedding and then Anurag's arrest before everything went haywire as she ended up marrying Mr. Bajaj- Veena recollect with a wince the events as she realised somewhere in between Prerna was lost and only a certain Mrs. Basu had remained, who later became Mrs. Bajaj.

But now, she could clearly see Prerna coming to life again. She was smiling more, glowing more and being her usual ball of sunshine than the gloomy cloud otherwise. And she didn't have to think twice to know it was a lot to do with Rishabh's efforts. The man could be a douchebag for the world but he loved her daughter and respected her individuality just as much.

Shivani shaking Veena brought her out of the trance.

"Maa, where are you lost?", Shivani asked as she followed her mother's gaze that was fixed on a giggling Prerna who was tickling Kuki.

"Just realizing that they say it right. It's better to be in a marriage with someone who loves you that being with someone you love", Veena's words made Shivani flinch for she quickly understood the meaning behind them.

"But Maa, Anurag loves Di just as much too, maybe more", she quickly defended. No matter how much Mr. Bajaj tried, Shivani was fiercely protective about Anurag's feelings for her sister.

"I am sure he did, or does Shivi, but Prerna has been more respected and cared for by the Bajajs then the Basus and you know that too", Veena dismissed her younger daughter with one gesture and walked back into the kitchen without another word.