Aakash returned home from the coaching centre and nine-month-old Mithran immediately crawled toward him. The little boy raised his hands, asking to be picked up and Aakash scooped up his son and kissed his cheek.
“What did you do, Mithu? Did you trouble Amma and Sarala granny?” he asked, sitting on the sofa.
Mithran grabbed Aakash’s hair and began climbing over him, making cheerful noises. Aakash lifted him onto his shoulder comfortably and Mithran smiled, showing his two tiny lower teeth to his mother.
Meenakshi picked up the toys and Mithran stretched out his hand, asking for one. She gave him a puppy toy and placed the rest back into the basket.
“He keeps us on our toes. Poor Sarala akka gets exhausted. Today I sent her early to get some rest before she resumes work tomorrow,” Meenakshi said.
Aakash brought his son down and rubbed his beard against Mithran’s cheek.
“Why am I hearing complaints, Mithu? Didn’t I say you should be a good boy? Why do you trouble Amma and granny?” Aakash asked, pretending to be strict.
Mithran curled his legs and chuckled at his father’s mock anger.
“Give him to me. I’ll give him a bath and feed him dinner early. He hasn’t slept since morning,” Meenakshi said, but Aakash stopped her.
“I need a bath too, so I’ll take care of him. You prepare his dinner,” he replied.
He removed Mithran’s shirt, trousers and diaper and carried him to the bathroom. Mithran splashed water and squealed with delight while Aakash smiled at his energy.
After wrapping a towel around Mithran, Aakash walked out. Meenakshi took over and he returned to the bathroom to bathe himself since he was completely drenched after handling his playful son.
Meenakshi stood in the balcony, showing Mithran the birds and vehicles to distract him while feeding. Meanwhile, Aakash dried his hair and made himself a cup of coffee. Soon, he heard Mithran screaming from the bedroom and walked in with his coffee.
It was another day, the same scene. Mithran refused to wear a shirt to sleep. Meenakshi struggled for a while, then gave up and let him sleep in just his diaper. She lay beside him and pat him gently singing a lullaby, yet Mithran wouldn’t fall asleep without being breastfed.
Finally, she stepped out and the house was pin-drop silent. She sat next to Aakash and leaned on his shoulder. He smiled and wrapped his arm around her.
“How are you doing? Are you happy?” Aakash asked.
Meenakshi nodded. “I’m very happy,” she replied and Aakash kissed the top of her head.
They spent an hour talking about the coaching centre, his course and everything in general, even the movie they had watched the previous night. Life felt content. Their coaching centre was doing well enough to manage expenses and they relied on their savings for the rest.
The following Sunday, Aakash was cooking biryani while Meenakshi played with Mithran in the hall. Sarala had been given the day off to rest, though she had initially insisted on helping.
The doorbell rang and Aakash rushed to open it and was surprised to see Sharmi and Rajesh with their daughter. He stepped aside to let them in, while Meenakshi greeted Sharmi with a smile.
“Come in,” Aakash said and the couple sat on the sofa.
“How are you, Sharmi? And look at this cute angel,” Meenakshi said, lifting the little girl into her arms.
Mithran immediately started crying on seeing his mother carry someone else. Aakash picked him up and tried to console him. He took Mithran to the kitchen, gave him a laddoo to distract him and returned to the hall.
“What is her name?” Meenakshi asked, smiling at the little girl.
“Riya,” Sharmi replied and Meenakshi smiled and gently returned Riya to her before heading into the kitchen to bring something for the couple. She poured juice, arranged some snacks on a plate and placed them before them.
“Please forgive me for coming here. I know you may not like my presence but Sharmi wanted to meet you both,” Rajesh said, taking his daughter from Sharmi.
“Meenu akka, Aakash mama, I have decided to return with Rajesh. I wanted to meet you both in person and tell you about my decision. I have made it clear to aunty that I will continue working and she has to support both me and Rajesh. She agreed to my words. Rajesh has been working for a year now and he has been taking care of me and Riya. I spoke to my parents and they even warned him to take good care of me, or they wouldn’t let him meet me or Riya again. I believe he has changed and we’ll be happy. I learned a lot about life by seeing both of you, so I wanted you to know,” Sharmi said, handing a toy to Mithran.
She tried to carry him but Mithran clung to Aakash and refused to leave.
“He is not comfortable around new faces,” Aakash said, smiling as Mithran playfully bit his cheek.
Aakash went back to the kitchen to check on the biryani and placed Mithran in his walker. Mithran rolled out of the kitchen, looking curiously at Sharmi, Rajesh and little Riya. Rajesh called out to him with a smile, but Mithran quickly retreated back into the kitchen and began playing with the cabinets.
Aakash mashed a piece of carrot and fed him before walking back to the hall with Mithran following behind in his walker.
“We will leave now. I just wanted to meet you both and thank you for everything you have done for us,” Sharmi said, getting to her feet.
“Sharmi, stay for lunch. We have prepared food for Mithu and you can feed the same to Riya,” Meenakshi offered, but Sharmi declined with a smile.
Aakash and Meenakshi watched them leave and smiled as Mithran babbled in single syllables.
“They seem like a better couple now. More mature, after everything they’ have been through,” Meenakshi said, hugging Aakash.
He wrapped his arm around her waist and gently rocked her, while Mithran watched his parents, feeling ignored. He immediately raised his hands and began crying to be picked up.
“Your mother is right, you are a drama king,” Aakash said, pinching his son’s cheek.
They had lunch and then went into the bedroom for an afternoon nap. Mithran grabbed the AC remote, switched it on and clapped his hands in delight. Aakash lay down on the bed, pulled him onto his chest and the family drifted into a peaceful sleep after their hearty meal.
A week passed and one day, Aakash received a call from his mother. She was sobbing, unable to speak.
“Amma, what happened? Where is Appa? Why are you crying?” he asked, panic rising in his voice.
“Aakash, can you please come here for a while?” Padma said and Aakash immediately cut the call.
Fear gripped him and he assumed his father might be unwell. Grabbing his bike keys, he informed Meenakshi about the call and rushed to the parking. He drove as fast as he could and hurried inside the house, only to freeze on seeing his father calmly walking out of the kitchen with a cup of tea.
Balaram looked equally surprised and placed the cup on the table.
“Aakash, why do you look so tense? Is everything okay? Where are Meenakshi and Mithu?” he asked.
Aakash took a deep breath to steady himself and explained about the call from his mother. Balaram clenched his teeth and rubbed his forehead in frustration.
“Why didn’t you call me to check before rushing here like this? You have a wife and child at home. You should be more concerned about them instead of driving so recklessly to get here. Nothing should be more important to you than Meenakshi and Mithu,” he said sternly, then raised his voice.
“Padma “, he screamed and Padma walked out of the room, wiping her tears.
Balaram stormed toward her and slapped her hard.
“Why did you call Aakash? Why didn’t you tell him the reason over the phone instead of making him rush here in such urgency?” Balaram demanded.
Padma held her cheek and tears stream down her face.
“Why did you call me?” Aakash asked, barely containing his anger.
Just then, Lavanya walked out of the room and her eyes were red and swollen from crying.
“Her husband has sent her back and he returned to his parents. We can’t blame that man. He came here this morning and poured his heart out about what she had done,” Balaram said.
Before Aakash could process it, Lavanya spoke up.
“He is lying. Initially, we agreed to live separately, but he took me to his parents house. They made me work all the time. I was treated like a maid. He never once supported me against them. I tried my best to fit into that family. I endured everything patiently, but I’m human too and I need respect,” she said angrily.
“Stop it. So what if you had to work there? Isn’t it your family? Isn’t it your responsibility to take care of them? Your husband made it clear why he took you to his parents house. You were spending money as if you belonged to a royal family, always demanding luxuries, forcing him to take you on trips. His parents agreed to the marriage on the condition that he leave everything behind, yet you kept torturing him with your demands. And now you are blaming him?” Balaram shot back.
“He is my husband. What’s wrong if I asked for a few things? He can’t abandon me like this,” Lavanya argued and Aakash let out a bitter laugh.
“You say a daughter-in-law isn’t a maid who should spend all her time in the kitchen, but you treated my wife like one. You even called her a maid in front of your friends. You expected everyone in your house to respect you while you treated my wife like dirt. You were always demanding and greedy. Appa, Meenakshi and I warned you, advised you to change but you called my wife jealous. Everyone reaps what they sow. You forced this marriage without even caring whether your family would be present at the wedding. Now face the consequences. You brought this upon yourself,” Aakash said and picked up his keys to leave, but Padma held his hand.
“Aakash, please don’t go. She made a mistake, but we can’t let her suffer. What will happen to her life now? Please, let’s talk to her husband and ask him to take her back,” Padma pleaded.
Aakash pulled his hand away.
“Why didn’t you tell me the reason when you called me crying? I thought something had happened to Appa and drove here in panic. What if something had happened to me? What would happen to my wife and son? You only remember me when you need something. You never care about my life. Didn’t I make it clear that I’m done with her? What happens to her is no longer my concern. She brought this upon herself because she never cared about anyone but herself. Stop calling me. I have done enough for her education and her marriage. Don’t expect anything more,” he said and walked out.
“Have some shame,he has left his job and is trying to build a future for his family. His wife stands by him like a pillar, supporting him in every way. They don’t go around asking for money or help. They have earned friends who truly support them. He gave both of you an education. At least he has changed but this brat never will. She could have found a job, supported herself and lived with dignity. Instead, she chose to drain her husband’s money. Stop disturbing Aakash.” Balaram thundered, glaring at Lavanya.
Aakash returned home, still fuming and explained everything.
Meenakshi clenched her teeth and for the first time, called Padma. Seeing her name on the screen, Padma hesitated but answered, hoping Meenakshi would help Lavanya, as she always showed kindness to everyone.
Before Padma could speak, Meenakshi’s voice came through, firm and unyielding.
“Stop calling my husband for anything unless you or Mama are seriously unwell. We are living a peaceful life and every time you call him, he loses that peace. Stop being so cold hearted and let him live. Our son and I need him,” she said and cut the call.
Padma stood frozen, feeling as though she had been slapped. The last bit of hope she held onto faded the moment the call ended.
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A/N:
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