Chapter 50

Vimal and Manjari sat by the shore and watched the waves for a while before he pulled her for a walk along the shore. He noticed her face no longer carried any excitement since the moment he poured his heart. He stopped in tracks and turned her to face him.

Vimal: Manjari, I have been genuine with everything I spoke to you and I expect the same from you too. I don’t see you enjoying and you don’t even initiate a conversation. Tell me what is running in your mind ?

Manjari: Very simple, I thought we are over everything happened in our life but seems like we just started.

Vimal: No you are wrong, we are here and trying to fix only because we are over the past. Just few days or months Manju, we will come back stronger. I want to feel the love, the one we felt before everything went wrong and that doesn’t happen over the night. I just need some time to be intimate with you. Would you be happy to have sex without love ?

Manjari: I m over the past and if you need time than I m ok with that so lets not talk about this please. And if you think we should talk then I feel that sometime being a little intimate would help us bind us emotionally and bring the spark back but I see your thoughts are different so let it be.

Vimal sighed and watched her return to the cottage. He stood rooted and watched the waves and just like that his heart too was racing to reach its destination.

Aadhi and Rishi arrived at the plot which was now clean and ready to start the construction of their new home. Rishi had his hand around her shoulder and explained her exactly the plan. Aadhi was already imagining their future in their new home, she with her Rishu and their two little children running around the garden, enjoying their time in the pool and Aadhi watching Rishi teach their children to ride a bicycle.

Rishi showed the exact place where their kitchen would be and Aadhi smiled imagining them in the kitchen baking a cake and Rishi being naughty with her. Rishi held her hand and dragged to another space and pointed as that is where their bedroom would be. Aadhi blushed and felt Rishi’s lips on her cheek.

Rishi: Did you imagine what we would be doing just like you were doing in all other spaces so far?

Aadhi was shocked on hearing his words and looked at him bewildered. Rishi held both her hand and stood facing her with a smile.

Rishi: All the while when I was explaining I saw you smile, blush and bite your lips. Your face looked as if you were admiring something when I pointed the space for the pool and garden so it wasn’t difficult to guess that you were imagining everything. Say, I would be happy to join your dreams Aadhu.

Aadhi: Rishu, I.. I .. you know.. I imagined us….our family here. We are so happy with our little ones. I was admiring you teaching them ride a bicycle, us having a fun time in the pool. You and me in the kitchen and you as always being naughty. Our dreams will come true, isn’t it ?

Aadhi hugged him and closed her eyes savoring the moment.

Rishi: Ofcourse Aadhu, our dreams will come true, our happy little family.

Aadhi: Please tell me I m not dreaming and all this wouldn’t disappear when I open my eyes.

Rishi cupped her face and kissed her eyes gently, wiping the tears from the corner of her eyes.

Rishi: Open your eyes Aadhu, nothing you see is dream. Everything is real, surreaal.

Aadhi opened her eyes and smiled at him. Together they clicked photos and returned to the car to leave. Aadhi posted the photos on her social media accounts about their new plans and tagged Rishi in it.

Rishi: Lets start the work immediately Aadhu, can’t wait to see dream come true.

He winked at her and Aadhi leaned on his shoulder. He drove to the roof top restaurant, the one they had dinner before Aadhi left Rishi. Aadhi squealed and felt a gush of air when Rishi hoisted and twirled her.

He sat close to her and together they served each other and also fed each other chatting about everything in general. Aadhi chuckled when Rishi leaned and pecked her nose. They did shopping and spent the day and returned home only at night.

At the cottage, Vimal walked out of the washroom and saw Manjari sitting leaning on the headboard and scrollinng through her mobile. He sat next to her and watched her like and comment Aadhi’s post.

Vimal: Where are they ?

Manjari: Looks like they are planning on constructing a new home for them. She posted the pic of them from the land.

Vimal: Do you have any wish like we should have a home of our own ?

Manjari: I do have a lot wishes Vimal but the question is would you be able to fulfill everything ?

Vimal: Manjari, I m not denying you anything except for the time I wanted. I did stand by you and bought everything you wanted.

Manjari: Shall we move out and live separately ? May we would find a happily ever after like Aadhi and my brother.

Vimal: If that is what you want then sure but not immediately, give me atleast a month time to find a better place. Sure we won’t be able to construct a home in a month so I need to look for a ready to occupy home for us and that would take time. I need to talk to my parents.

Manjari: What if they don’t want us to leave ?

Vimal: I will handle, atleast now I want you realize that I m trying and not giving upon us and I m expecting the same from you.

Manjari smiled and he wrapped his hand around her shoulder. He laid on the bed and cuddled her to sleep.

On Sunday Rishi and Aadhi arrived at his parents home and saw his father in the garden reading a newspaper. They greeted him and entered the home with Raghavan following them. Grandpa hugged them and  Vani just nod her head. Everyone got seated and Rishi didn’t beat around the bush.

Rishi: We have planned the pooja for our new home construction this Wednesday. We will be happy to have you all on the day.

Grandpa: Sure Rishi, we will be there and we are so happy for you both. Wish you all the best.

Rishi: Vimal and Manjari are on a short trip for the weekend so I have invited them to have dinner tomorrow. I will talk to Manjari and invite her too for the pooja.

Vani bobed her head and immediately Rishi rose to his feet and gestured Aadhi to follow him. She was shocked that he decided to leave immediately.

Vani: you just came Rishi and you are leaving already ? Have you planned to disown us ?

Rishi: I wouldn’t have been here inviting you all if I had any such thoughts mom. We got some works to be done and we are running out of time. We shall meet very often mom.

Rishi held Aadhi’s hand and walked out with a smile on seeing Aadhi’ face. As soon as they were in car he pat her cheek to break her trance.

Aadhi: You were extreme Rishu, I really felt bad for them. We could have stayed for an hour atleast. Your mom must be missing you.

Rishi: We shall spend time Aadhu but not now. A lot of things had to be changed before we spend our time with everyone.

Aadhi rolled her eyes and he bit her cheek once, before he started driving. Glaring at him, Aadhi wiped her cheek while Rishi only chuckled at her antics.

At the same time Vimal and Manjari returned home since she didn’t want to be in a hurry to office the next day but Vimal knew the real reason that she didn’t want to spend the time anymore at the cottage or may be with him.

He fell asleep tired of thinking over everything happening in his life. By noon he woke up when Manjari shook him. He rubbed his eyes and sat leaning on the head board.

Manjari: My mom and dad are here, come out quick.

Vimal quickly washed his face and arrived at the living. He saw his mother serve coffee to Raghavan and Vani and a deadly silence prevailed around them. He noticed Manjari fidgeting with her fingers and looking at them with yearning.

Vani: How are you Manjari ?

Vani pat the space next to her and immediately Manjari rushed to her and engulfed her in a hug. Vani caressed Manjari’s back gently and Manjari felt another pair of hands on her. She raised her head and saw her father smiling at her. She immediately side hugged him sobbing onto his chest.

Raghavan: Stop crying, how are you ?

Manjari: I m fine and now I m so happy. I missed you all so much. Thank you dad, thank you so much.

Vimal finally felt relieved to see her with her parents. He greeted them and sat opposite to them.

Vani: We are here to invite Vimal and Manjari to stay at our home for a while. We missed our daughter a lot and wanted to spend some time with her.

HariPrasad: We never stopped them from visiting you.

Vani: We miss our son too but he is very busy with his life.

Raghavan: Vani, we were here to invite Manjari and Vimal so stick with that alone. Lets leave now.

Vani: I m not complaining.

Kavitha: Even we miss our Aadhi and its been so many months that she has spoken to us. All this would have not happened if we had trusted our daughter.

Vani: Rishi and Aadhi visited us today to invite us the pooja of their new home construction.

Raghavan: We wanted them to be back with us to live together but they have different plans. They are grown up and get to decide their life.

Vani: Could you please talk to Aadhi and convince her to live with us. I miss my son so much.

Raghavan: Vani, stop it. This is not Aadhi’s decision alone. You couldn’t convince our son so stop pulling Aadhi into this. If that is what they want then let them be.

Vimal: Actually I had plans to visit you uncle and aunty but I thought of talking to my parents first. Now that you all are here, I would like to reveal a decision Manjari and I have made for our life.

Hari: What is it Vimal ?

Vimal: We have decided to move out and live our life. I have informed a real estate agent to look for a ready to occupy home for us.

Hari and Kavitha were shocked on hearing his words. Even Vani was speechless on hearing their decision.

Hari: But why this decision all of a sudden Vimal ? Is there a problem in living with us ? Are we being a problem to you ?

Vimal: Dad, please don’t assume things. We need some space and we both have ben through so much and I feel a change in place would make things better for us. Please dad.

Before anyone could speak Rishi and Aadhi arrived surprising everyone. Kavitha immediately rushed to Aadhi and hugged her.

Kavitha: I missed you so much Aadhi, I m so happy that you are here finally.

Aadhi looked at Rishi who was just smiling at her. Kavitha invited them and Rishi gestured Aadhi to look at Manjari who was seated between his father and mother.

Hari: I m happy that you both are here finally. Thank you Rishi and wish you both a happy married life.

Rishi: How are you Manjari ?

Manjari: I m fine bro. How are you and wish you both a happy married life. You both looked made for each other in all the photos.

Rishi and Aadhi thanked her and Rishi informed them all about the pooja for the construction. Vimal pulled Aadhi in a hug and wished the couple for their new begining.

Rishi: Vimal, Manjari do you mind going for a walk in the garden ?

They shook their head as no and Rishi held Aadhi’s hand and walked out followed by Vimal and Manjari. They all got seated in the garden with Aadhi next to Rishi and he was holding her hand.

Rishi: Manjari, I heard you have started working in your friend’s office. Both our family run business so why didn’t you join one of our business ? You can join my office and there won’t be any problem. Infact you have rights in the business of both family. You could be an important person in running the business so why did you decide against it ?

Aadhi: Manjari, your brother will be very happy to have you in his office and the same goes to my brother too so please think over.

Rishi: You can join from tomorrow and I will make all arrangements to welcome you.

Manjari: No bro, I m good at the work I m doing now. I want some space from everything and interact with people so please don’t force me. I have no idea on how long I will be continuing with the work so let it be.

Rishi: Why do you want to quit ? I wanted you to work and focus on future to be independent.

Manjari: Vimal doesn’t have a problem in me working my friend’s office and I don’t think he would be worried if I don’t work for a long term.

Vimal: I won’t force you Manju but Rishi has a valid point. Just think over it and decide whatever you wish to do.

Manjari smiled and Aadhi was about to speak but Rishi squeezed her palm stopping her from doing it.

Rishi: Alright then, we will see you on Wednesday.

They returned to their parents and Rishi and Aadhi took leave and following them Raghavan and Vani left from there. Hari and Kavitha felt bad about Vimal’s decision but they didn’t stop him. They didn’t want to risk the life of their son after everything happened in Aadhi’s life.