Chapter 99

Rishi walked out of the washroom and saw Ridha was crawling on the carepted floor. On seeing Rishi she showed her hands for him to carry her and Rishi immediately carried her in his arms, he kissed her cheek and Ridha started biting his cheek. She was babbling and playing with his beard and Aadhi was watching the father daughter duo with a smile.

Rishi: Aadhu, did you have your food ? You haven’t had anything since last night.

Aadhi: I was waiting for you Rishu.

Rishi stretched out his hand and Aadhi rose to her feet holding his hand. They arrived at the living and saw Vani and Raghavan lost in thoughts. Rishi called the maids and informed them to set the table for everyone. He called his parents to have food but Raghavan denied him so Rishi passed Ridha to Aadhi and sat next to his father.

Rishi: Dad, grandpa was the most loved person by everyone of us and the void he left would remain forever in our lives but sure he won’t be happy to see us starving and drowning in pit of sorrow. you know right, he only wanted his family to be happy and smiling always. He worked for years to get us to what we are today and he lives with us through the memories.

Raghav bobed his head as a drop of tears rolled from his eyes. Rishi wiped it with a smile his thoughts reminding to the day when his grandpa talked about his grandma’s demise and how the family stood without shedding a drop of tears.

Aadhi passed Ridha to Vani who started smiling and babling as usual.

The family moved to the dining table and Rishi had Ridha on his lap. Manjari arrived and sat next to her mother, opposite to Rishi but her eyes were fixed on Ridha whom she was seeing for the first time since Rishi succesfully kept away through out the funeral.

Ridha stood on Rishi’s lap and started biting his nose holding his hair. Manjari continued watching Ridha’s every cute antics in a frozen state until the maid broke her trance and served food onto her plate.

Manjari: Whats her name ?

Rishi and Aadhi looked at her in a daze since that was the first time they were hearing her voice ever since the day she was arrested from their home. Aadhi came out of the shock and cleared her throat.

Aadhi: Hridhaya and we call her Ridha.

Manjari: Besutiful name for a beautiful baby. Congrats to both of you.

Rishi made Ridha sit on the table facing him and started feeding her baby food. Ridha pushed his hand away and tried to crawl over the table to grab the food from Aadhi’s plate. Rishi distracted her giving a piece of vegetable from Aadhi’s plate and continued to feed her.  Aadhi finished eating and carried Ridha to clean her while Rishi started having his food.

Rishi: Ridha is not used to stay nights out of home so I will be leaving Aadhi and Ridha at home. I will stay here for the day and return by night. You know, Ridha would miss me and Aadhu would feel tired  after taking care of her through out the day. I can’t stay away from Aadhu and Ridha for too long so..

Vani: Rishi we would be fine here so go back home and sure we would call you if we need you.

Rishi: No mom, Latha aunty would be there to help Aadhu so I will stay for the day.

Raghavan: Rishi, we will be fine and you can visit so go back and take care of Aadhi and Ridha.

Manjari: Are you leaving because of me ?

Vani: No Manjari, Why do you even think that ? Ridha would turn fussy to stay nights at new places. She isn’t used to stay away from her home.

Rishi returned to the room and saw Ridha dressed up and Aadhi was combing her hair. Rishi stopped Aadhi and brushed Ridha’s hair with his finger and Ridha immediately stood over his lap and smiled holding the collars of his shirt.

Rishi: My princess is the cutest isn’t it baby ? daddy loves you a lot.

Aadhi: Rishu, I think you should talk to Manjari. We would only push her for the worse by avoiding her now. Give her a chance Rishu, who knows, she might have changed in all these months.

Rishi: But I don’t feel that she might have changed Aadhu, I don’t want to risk.

Aadhi: Giving love to a person will sure help them heal and Manjari might change if we give a chance to her. Did you watch uncle and Aunty’s face, they would be alone now and we shouldn’t be giving them more pain.

Rishi: I will try, end of discussion.

Aadhi: Such a hot headed man you are Mr. Rishi

Rishi: Not for you and our princess. Now pack Ridha’s things and we are going back home. I have already spoke to mom and dad.

Raghavan and Vani kissed Ridha before Aadhi got seated in the car holding  Ridha on to her lap. Rishi got in the driver seat and drove away to their home. Manjari who was in the balcony watched Rishi and Aadhi leave before she returned to her room.

Vani and Raghavan entered her room and Vani sat next to Manjari holding her hand. Vani expected she would yank her hand like always but Manjari stayed calm but she did not look at Vani.

Vani: Talk to us Manjari, we want our daughter back. We want everything to be fixed and see you live a happy life. We will support you Manju, please try to understand that we are doing everything for your own good.

Manjari: Rishi wouldn’t talk to me.

Vani: He will talk to you Manju, he needs some time. He must be scared afterall he had gone through so much.

Raghavan: Life has never been easy for us after you were taken to the asylum. We are trying to fix everything between you and our family. I agree we were at fault to some extent and now we are regretting it. Just like Rishi, we want you to have a family and live a happy life. Please give us and yourself a chance.

Manjari: hmm, can I have a mobile until my stay ?

Raghavan: I will inform manager to get you one before end of the day but you won’t be able to leave our home. That is one of the condition the doctor and court agreed upon.

Manjari hummed and Vani caressed her head in hope that she would understand and get back with the family. Vani was happy that finally Manjari spoke to her after so many months.

At Vimal and Chaitra’s home she was sitting leaning on the headboard and Vimal was giving hot water massage to her swollen feet.

Chaitra: Vimal, would you be ok if I stayed with mom and dad for a day ?

Vimal: What happened all of a sudden Ira ? Did I do something that upset you ? Am I not taking care of you ? Please tell and I will do everything you ask for Ira.

Chaitra: You are doing everything Vimal, even things that I haven’t asked for. I know you couldn’t live without me and the same goes for me too but I m missing them and though mom hasn’t said, I know that she is feeling bad that she couldn’t take care of me. Parents would want to have their daughter at home specially when she is pregnant. We have already decided that I will not staying with them after the baby shower so I thought I would stay with them for a day. They would feel happy but if you don’t want me to leave then I won’t.

Vimal: I m so sorry Ira.. I have become so selfish and only think about me and my feelings that I forgot to think about you, mom and dad.

Chaitra: Honey bear, it was my decision too that I would stay with you.

Vimal: Still, I should have thought about them and let you stay with them for some days. How many days you would stay with them Ira ?

Chaitra: Not long honey bear, just a day. Drop me in the morning and pick up me the next morning. Even I can’t stay away from my baby.

Vimal hugged her placing his face on her bosom and Chaitra kissed his hair caressing his back.

Vimal: I will miss you baby girl.

Chaitra: I will miss you too honey bear. Go to office and try to distract yourself and return home on time to have good sleep before you pick up me the next morning.

Vimal: Promise me, you will stay in a room in the ground floor and you will take care of yourself. Watch every step and let me remind you that you don’t have 2 but 3 babies to take care of.

Chaitra chuckled and hit his arm when he bit gently on her bosom.

The next morning Vimal packed her vitamins, his shirt, her maternity gown and her favourite plush for her to hug in his absence. Chaitra glared at him as she watched him pack the chocolates and snacks.

Chaitra: What is the use in me going there if you are going to pack everything ? Let dad have a chance to spoil his daughter honey bear.

Vimal pouted when she pinched his cheek and pulled out all the chocolates and snacks. He helped her to the car and got in the driver seat.

Chaitra: I will be fine and safe, I will stay in a room in the ground floor, I will watch every step and I have informed mom and she made sure the floor is mopped even before we reach there. Dad or mom will hold hand when I take a walk in the evening. I will not eat too many ice creams, I will sleep wearing a comfy cloth, I will call you after every meal, I will video call you when I take my vitamins. I will call you before I go to sleep.

Vimal smiled but Chaitra only gave him a deadly stare.

Chaitra: you have been repeating these since I woke up in the morning. One more time you start with this and we are going back home and you will get the couch for the next one year.

Vimal: No baby girl, I won’t .. please stop threatening me with the couch or I will throw all the couch out of our home.

Chaitra: your loss hubby, what would you do when you wanted to take me from back ?

Vimal: Where there is a will, there is a way and Vimal would find a thousand ways to take you in any position just wait for our babies to be born.

Chaitra: Pervert..

Vimal: There is only 15 days left for the baby shower so I will take care of all the arrangements today. Call me if you want changes in the plan or something to be included.

Chaitra: I can’t wait for the day honey bear, it has always fascinated me to wear a lot of bangles and its like my dream will come true in 15 days.

Vimal: You will look beautiful Ira, even I can’t wait to see you dressed up in the saree we have chosen and with all those beautiful bangles. We shall click a lot of pictures.

Chaitra: Hubby, shall we have a maternity photo shoot ?

Vimal: Ofcourse Ira.. anything for my baby girl. After the baby shower or the next day we shall have a baby shoot. Tell me if you have a location in your mind for that.

Chaitra bobed her head quickly and kissed his cheek. Vimal picked her hand and kissed her knuckles continuing to drive. He dropped Chaitra at her parents home and drove to his office.

As soon Vimal’s car drove off Malini walked out of a room and hugged Chaitra.

Malini: Ready to execute the plan baby girl ?

Chaitra: Ready as always Malu, lets rock it.