Manjari stood shocked on hearing Vimal’s words and saw his eyes were turning blood shot. He was clenching his fist and she noticed him gritting his teeth in rage.
Vimal: One last time I m doing you a favour by not revealing this to the family and leaving you safe in hands of your parents. I saw you moaning that man’s name every night while you stayed in the guest room. It disgusts me and wanted to throw up just imagining that I shared a bed with bloody bitch like you. Now fuck off and sign the papers and let this be mutual without any drama or I don’t mind playing dirty.
Vimal walked out and got seated in his place and smiled at everyone who were looking at him with curiosity. Manjari returned and sat in silence. Vimal placed the divorce papers before her.
Manjari: I m ready for a break and even to meet a psycologist.
Hari: Do one last favour Manjari, he is shattered and I couldn’t see him suffer any more. Let him live his life.
Vimal: Dad, why do you plead with her ? Lets meet in the court and I will produce every evidence of what she did.
Rishi: Manjari, sign those papers. Let him go.
Manjari: Bro, this is my life…
Rishi: Do it Manju, you have a family and you will be taken care of. As for the alimony, decide what you want but remember you already hold equal share in our family property so be rational in what you demand.
Manjari looked at her parents who gave a nod to do as Rishi said. She picked the pen and signed the papers. Aadhi who was seated next to Vimal squeezed his hand and inturn held her hand and shut his eyes sighing in relief.
Hari: Thank you Manjari, your demands will be fulfilled and some of the things that were in your room here are packed already.
Vimal: I will be staying back here for a while so take your time to vacate my home. I m sorry uncle, aunty.. Rishi, I m sorry, I really tried and I beg you to take care of my sister, she is..
Rishi: Vimal, she is my wife and nothing will change or ruin our life so relax and stop worring about Aadhi. I want you to take break from everything and focus on your life. Manjari is no more your responsibility, we will take care of her.
Raghavan: I think we should leave now..
Everyone rose to their feet and Vimal hugged Raghavan, grandpa and Rishi before they walked out with Rishi holding Aadhi’s hand and Raghavan and Vani holding Manjari’s hand.
Hari and Kavitha hugged Vimal and pat his back. They felt relieved that their son was finally free from the hell.
Aadhi leaned on Rishi’s shoulder and he wiped the tears from her cheeks.
Rishi: Aadhu, I would have let you to stay with Vimal for a while but it would have instilled a fear in your parents and Vimal’s mind that our relationship would be affected so stay strong and go meet him on your own some other time.
Aadhi: Though I thought this would happen, it hit hard to see they parted ways. I still remember, he was so happy and so much in love.
Rishi: You know the qoute right ? ” Falling in love is easy but staying in love requires effort, understanding, and a commitment to grow together “. Lets hope for them to heal from this and start fresh. Do you mind staying home alone for few hours ?
Aadhi: Ofcourse Rishu, please go check on Manjari.
Rishi kissed her crown and dropped her home before he drove to his parents home. He parked the car in the porch and took a minute before he walked inside. Raghavan and his grandpa were seated on the couch and Vani, Manjari were seated opposite to them. He saw his mother sobbing whereas Manjari had a blank expression.
Rishi sat next to his grandpa and cleared his throat which caught Manjari’s attention and she smiled at him.
Rishi: Manju, I know this would be a tough phase in your life but you aren’t alone. Take a break from everything if that would help you relax or you could conitnue to work if that would keep you distracted. I will arrange for a psycologist and tell me anything you want and I will arrange for you.
Manjari: I m not ready to meet anyone for the time being. I want to be home and when I m ready I will let you to know book appointments for pyscologist.
Rishi: Ok, mom, get her a new room and inform the maid to shift her things alone to her new room. Manjari, how about we go out ? We shall go to the beach and have dinner as a family ?
Manjari: Not today bro, may be next week.
Rishi: Watch movies, listen to music, go out for shopping or tell me if you want to indulge yourself in some art activities.
Manjari bobed her head with a smile and he moved to sit to her and side hugged her. Rishi stayed for a while and had a walk with her in the garden, they had a coffee time as a family. He personally check her room and made sure no things that would remind her of Vimal was in her room.
By night he drove back and bought Aadhi’s favourite dinner and reached home. He saw her alseep in the saree she wore to her parents home. He refreshed before he woke her up and Aadhi leaned on to his chest.
Aadhi: How are they ?
Rishi: hmm, better I believe. Now, I don’t want you to be stressed thinking over everthing that is happening around us and in Vimal, Manjari’s life. They are adults and though this is a very hard phase, they will come out of this eventually. We shouldn’t be crying over what happened but we should help them out of this.
Aadhi: You are right Rishu..
Rishi: Cheer up and give me a kissy smile now.
He kissed her cheek and carried her to the dining to have dinner. Aadhi stood before the vanity and looked at her abdomen. Rishi smiled and hugged her from behind with his palms rested on her abdomen.
Rishi: Couldn’t wait to see our baby grow.
Aadhi: Rishu, our baby will be between us even before he or she is born. You won’t be able to hug me so what will you do ?
Rishu: I will hug you from behind until baby is born.
Aadhi smiled at him and together they entered the closet. He tugged the pleats from her waist and undressed her. He crouched before her and kissed her abdomen before he made her wear his shirt to sleep.
Vimal was in his room deleting every picture of him and Manjari from his mobile. There was a knock on the door and he smiled on his father who sat at the edge of the bed.
Hari: Vimal, you are free now. Don’t lock yourself and go out meet your friends.
Vimal: Ofcourse I will be fine dad, lets go to our farm house for a week.
Hari hugged his son before he walked out and closed the door behind him. Vimal continued deleting the photos and stopped on the last photo which was actually the first photo they clicked together. He shut his eyes for a fleeting moment and pressed delete.
The next day Rishi dropped Aadhi at Vimal’s home before he drove to his office. She entered Vimal’s room and saw him seated on the bed leaning on the headboard, his eyes were closed but she guessed he was awake.
She quitely got next to him and ruffled his hair. Vimal jerked on the sudden intrusion but smiled on seeing Aadhi and hugged her immediately.
Aadhi: You ok bro ?
Vimal: Better than ever in a long time. How are you ?
Aadhi: Beautiful as ever.
Vimal chuckled at her answer and before he could say Aadhi leaned onto his shoulder. She felt him visibly relax and pat his arm to comfort him.
Vimal: Aren’t you surprised or shocked after happened yesterday .. I mean about my decision ?
Aadhi: Nope, we.. I mean, me and Rishu anticipated this. We knew something was wrong and with Manjari being around us in the office got us prepared. Rishi even talked to uncle, aunty and grandpad to never stop with your decision.
Vimal: He did ? But she is his sister.
Aadhi: Yes and he tried a lot to get her mind in the right track. There was a lot of things happening and Rishi even arranged for a program at office through which she could realize her attitude and how bad she was hurting others. I just feel bad that you never shared anything with me. You could have spoke to me, bro.
Vimal: Things weren’t as easy as you think Aadhi. I never thought she would be such a disgusting woman. She is a sadist and has no morals in her life. She blackmailed for my wealth and I had no other way to give up everything to handle her. I talked to mom and dad, they helped me and dad took over business, he helped me with his friend who bought the property I bought for us. I bought a simple flat and moved into it and I couldn’t reveal anything until everything was done. She even blackmailed me that Rishi would leave you but deep down I knew Rishi would never leave you for the sake of anything or anyone.
Aadhi: I m sorry bro, it was me who requested you to give a chance or you would have not suffered all these months,. I m sorry. Are you feeling bad for walking out of your marriage ?
Vimal: Don’t be sorry Aadhi, you only wanted good things happen to me and its fate I had to endure everything and about my decision…no, never.. I never regret a bit for the decision.
Aadhi: Then why are you in the room locked up alone ?
Vimal: I m trying to find some peace Aadhi, to gather my broken self but don’t worry I will come around quick.
Aadhi: There is a way to feel relax and forget the world.
Vimal: Don’t tell me you stole Rishi’s whisky for me ?
Aadhi: Nonsense, lets go to the kitchen, you sit and I will cook for us today.
Before Vimal could get down Aadhi stopped him and rushed to his washroom and returned with the first aid kit. She placed his foot on her lap and aided his would before they walked out of the room. They stopped on seeing Hari and Kavitha smiling at them. Hari hugged both his son and daughter.
Hari: Lets all cook together, how about we do that in the garden ?
Aadhi squealed and Hari informed the maids to get everything ready in the garden. Vimal and Kavitha got settled on the couch and placing the vegetables over the teapoy they started cutting it. Hari and Aadhi wore apron and started cooking. Aadhi tried to take over cooking but Hari stopped her and picked the ladle to cook.
Aadhi signalled Vimal to join her, both sibllings scrunched their nose on seeing their father dump all the spices into the pot.
Vimal: Dad, what is that you are cooking ?
Hari: Vegetable briyani, you will love this. I just watched a video of cooking this.
Aadhi held her father’s hand when he tried to add some dhal into it but Vimal pulled her back letting his father to cook to his wish.
Aadhi: I think Rishi wanted me at home so how about you all enjoy dad’s dish and poor me will miss terribly.
Aadhi tried to sneak out but Vimal pulled her back wrapped his arm around her shoulder. Hari was smiling and trying to inhale the fragrance from the pot. Vimal pushed Aadhi to try the fragrance but she shut her nose and mouth and backed off.
Hari: Kavitha, cut some onions for raitha.
Kavitha: Are you sure ? The face of your son and daughter doesn’t seem good.
Aadhi/Vimal: Nooooooooo, mom we are enjoying dad’s cooking session.
Hari felt proud on hearing their words and pat their head.
Hari: Don’t worry, from now on I will cook often.
Aadhi: Ofcourse dad, Vimal bro is lucky to enjoy your recipes. I will sure get to know about his health end of the day.
Vimal clicked their photos together and Hari cooking, his mom cutting onions. Finally they settled on the couch and Hari served the dish to their plate with great difficult since the rice stuck in the ladle.
Hari: Rice is little over cooked but the taste will be amazing.
Vimal had set the camera to record everyone’s reaction on tasting the special vegetable briyani. They all ate the first morsel at the same time and none opened their mouth. Hari rose to his feet wiping his hands with a napkin.
Hari: I just got reminded of a meeting so you all enjoy and I will have later.
Vimal/Aadhi: Dadddddd…
Kavitha informed the maid to clean the mess and served the food she ordered for them. The family enjoyed together and Hari, Kavitha, Aadhi were happy to see Vimal smiling and being happy.
At Raghav’s home Manjari was in her new room watching a movie but her concentration was on the pictures Vimal had posted on his social media platform. She noticed the happy family having a wonderful time together.
