Recap: Reyansh gets panic attack and doctor advice to take care of him without any stress. Vaishu and Reyansh talk their heart out.
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Vaishu entered the room and saw Ishu babies asleep and Reyansh was lost in thoughts looking at them. Hearing the sound of her anklets he looked at her but quickly averted his gaze.
Reyansh: You had dinner Avi ?
Vaishu felt her heart ache every time he refused to meet her eyes out of guilt. Masking her emotions she hummed and placed the tablets and water in front of him on the bed. Reyansh gulped the tablet and Vaishu removed it and entered the closet to change her night clothes. When she returned she saw Reyansh was feeling all nervous holding the sheet in his fist. She knew what must be going in his mind.
Vaishu: You sleep with Ishu babies Ansh. They have missed you a lot. I will sleep on our bed and don’t set alarm for feeding them. You need rest so I will take care of them.
Reyansh closed his eyes feeling guilt for being the reason behind everything happening between them.
Reyansh: Thank You Avi for being with me and giving us a chance to get over this.
Vaishu: When did we start thanking each other Ansh ? Go to sleep. Good night Ansh.
Reyansh: Sweet d.. I .. I … nothing good night Avi.
Vaishu smiled at the way the words escaped his mouth the way they shared greeting every night. Moving over to the bed she sat scrolling through her mobile waiting for him to fall asleep. When she was him still on the bed Vaishu moved closed to him and heard him snore a little. head.
Vaishu: Please get well soon Ansh. We can’t keep going like this.
She returned to the bed and fell asleep but woke up at early morning at 4 and quickly made the bottles for Ishu babies. She saw they were cuddled with Reyansh and slowly carried them to her bed and started feeding them. When they tried to make noise Vaishu stopped them.
Vaishu: shhhhh Ishu, Ishi satham poda koodadhu appa thoonguranga disturb pannadhinga appo dhan appa ku seekiram seri agum. Apram namma naalu perum jolly ah vilyadalam adhu varaikkum appa koodave irunga. ( shhh, Ishu , Ishi don’t make any noise your dad is sleeping so don’t disturb him only then he will get well soon. Then we all four can play together until then stay with your dad all the time. He needs you the most in this healing process )
Ishi: Appaaa
Vaish: Hmm yes your appa is sleeping so lets sleep too.
Ishaan had his eyes fixed on Reyansh who was awake and looking at them. Ishaan giggled when he saw Reyansh smiling at him calling him towards him. Ishaan started crawling and Vaishu gasped pulling him back but he wiggled in her hold.
Ishaan: paaa…appa.
Vaishu saw Reyansh already standing with his hands stretched to carry Ishaan. She let Ishaan down who crawled to Reyansh.
Vaishu: I will put Ishi to sleep. You go sleep with Ishaan.
Reyansh saw Ishi was on Vaishu’s lap yawning and snuggling into Vaishu’s abdomen. He nod his head and returned to the bed with Ishaan in his arms.
One week Later:
Nothing changed except with Vaishu taking care of Reyansh with general exchange of words. Reyansh still couldn’t meet her eyes and all his conversation were always without meeting her eyes. He was more than happy that Vaishu stayed by his side and he spent all his time with Ishu babies and stealing glances at Vaishu. Mithun took care of business and home leaving Vaishu to be with only Reyansh and Ishu babies. Kajal had been a great support to the three in the toughest time. At nights Reyansh slept with Ishu babies and Vaishu slept on their bed alone. She stayed awake late night thinking of everything that had turned their life upside down.
When Vaishu woke up in the morning she saw Ishaan was sleeping on Reyansh’s chest and Reyansh was holding Ishaan with his arm around him. She quickly got ready and waited for Ishu babies to wake up. When she saw Ishaan stirring in his sleep she tried to carry him without disturbing Reyansh’s sleep but feeling Ishaan being taken away from him Reyansh woke up startled his grip tightening around Ishaan.
Vaishu: Relax Ansh, go back to sleep. Its still early. I will take care of him.
Reyansh nodded and let her carry Ishaan. Vaishu left the room with Ish babies and got them ready in the adjacent room. When she reached living Mithun and Kajal were up and having coffee. Mithun rushed to Vaishu and carried Ishika from her.
Mithun: How is Rey, Vaishu ? Did he get any pain again ?
Vaishu: He is good Mithun bro. You have been asking this almost everyday. Don’t worry we are good and he won’t get any pain. He will get well soon.
Kajal: What about his panic attacks ? Did you try touching him ?
Vaishu: No, I didn’t touch him Kaju. I won’t put his life at risk. I had gone through that and he handled me with all his patience. Now its my time to heal him and I will get my Reyansh back.
Asha started feeding Ishu babies and Vaishu let Mithun and Kajal to have breakfast while she carried breakfast for herself and Reyansh to the room. Reyansh was drying his hair after his bath.
Vaishu: Good morning Ansh. I got you breakfast but I think you should come out of the room and start having food with all of us in the dining.
Reyansh: I will have breakfast here now. May be lunch we will have at the dining. Did muffins had their breakfast ? Where are they ?
Everything he spoke without looking at her face.
Vaishu: Asha maa is feeding them. Today you take them to the play room and spend time with them.
He sat on the bed and she served the plate to him while she sat on the couch with her plate. Suddenly he choked on the food and she rushed to pat his head but stopped when he flinched as she got near him.
Vaishu: Sorry, I m not touching you. have this water and pat yourself Ansh.
He pat his head and gulped the water which made him feel better. Vaishu tried to hide her tears and turned away from him still he didn’t fail to notice the hurt on her face.
Reyansh: I m sorry Avi. I know I m hurting you but … but I m trying Avi. I can’t see you crying anymore. I love you Avi.
Vaishu: Ansh, relax and I know you will never hurt me. Like I said we have a lifetime and all I want now is you to have a peaceful mind and don’t let anything stress your mind. This is the first step to heal you. Everything else can wait. Will you do this for me, for us ?
Reyansh: Anything for you Avi. I love you.
Vaishu: Next time when you say that you love me make sure you look at me Ansh. The only thing that hurts me more is when you don’t look at me. I m still your Avi and you will never be able to heal unless you get out of this guilt.
Reyansh raised his head to look but Vaishu left the room with the tray she got breakfast. The staffs got back to their work as usual in the manor and Reyansh was in the playroom with Ishu babies.
Reyansh: Ishaan say amma .. listen to me where is Vaishu maa ? Call her amma…
Ishaan: Appa
Reyansh embraced him kissing his cheek as he continued teaching them to call Vaishu as amma. He wanted to witness Ishu babies calling Vaishu as amma and that day would complete his dream.
Mithun and Kajal were in the garden as she was talking over to her father in a serious conversation. Once she cut the call she turned to Mithun holding his hand.
Kajal: Mithun, I should return home. Dad is all stressed about the election. I need to be with him for moral support. I don’t know what is happening all of a sudden.
Mithun: You don’t worry and I will speak to him immediately. We had information that uncle’s party would win this election.
Kajal: Even dad said the same but looks like something is going wrong. Will Vaishu be ok if I leave now ?
Vaishu: Kaju I m completely fine. You need to be with your father now so go get ready. Also keep us posted on what is happening.
Kajal nodded and left to pack her things and Vaishu looked at Mithun.
Vaishu: Mithun bro, didn’t you give money that was needed for the elections ? What is the problem ?
Mithun: I haven’t focused on the elections since Rey is not well and I was worried about him. I will get back to office and check on it. Just a week is left for election and I will have to get a survey done and even the party will do a survey to analyse their winning probability.
Vaishu: Lets not involve Reyansh in any of these. We can’t let him stress for even a minor problem. Please handle everything and even I can help you in anything you want.
Mithun: You take care of Rey. I will handle everything and still if I need some help sure I will come to you.
Vaishu: hmmm now got look after Kajal and check if she needs something.
Mithun returned to his room and Vaishu sat on the swing thinking over everything she heard from Kajal and Mithun.
Vaishu: What will happen if the ruling government lose in the elections ? Will that make any impact on Ansh’s business ?
She entered the play room and saw Reyansh was running and Ishu babies were trying to catch him moving in their walker. She left without disturbing them and quickly prepared lunch. She called everyone to have lunch together before Kajal left and Mithun hugged Reyansh as he saw him smiling.
Once Reyansh finished his food he got to leave for his study but Vaishu stopped him.
Vaishu: Reyansh, Mithun bro will take care of business so you will not touch your laptop and mobile nor you will enter the study until I permit you. Now get back to room and I will get your tablets. You need to rest and may be you can go for a walk in the garden in the evening with your son and daughter.
He smiled hearing the last part and ruffled his hair.
Reyansh Mv: Your son and your daughter… They have always been my son and daughter.
He nodded his head to her and returned to his room. Once Kajal and Mithun left Vaishu informed Asha to take Ishu babies to the room for their nap time. She entered the study and sat on the couch with the laptop on her lap.
Vaishu: Where do I start now ? Vaishu you can do it for your Ansh… Come on..
She spent the whole afternoon doing research on the ongoing politics and elections with the little knowledge Reyansh had fed her when he worked on it. She felt her head aching from the continuous staring at the laptop so she closed it and reached the living rubbing her forehead. Closing her eyes she tried to relax leaning back on the head rest. A few minutes later she heard Reyansh calling and she opened her eyes.
Reyansh had a cup of coffee for her and smiled at her.
Vaishu: Ansh, I thought you were sleeping. When did you wake up ?
Reyansh: Just came in search of you and muffins. Asha has taken them to the garden and you seem to have a head ache so I thought why not prepare coffee for my Avi.
Vaishu took the cup from the tray and they sat opposite to each other. Vaishu closed her eyes feeling relaxed.
Vaishu Mv: If everything was fine between us then I would have curled into chest seeking for your warmth.
Reyansh Mv: Only if I had been good then I would have hugged you and massaged your head running my fingers through your hair. I m sorry Avi.
Vaishu: This is the best coffee I had ever.
Reyansh: Then I will make sure to get a coffee every morning and evening.
Vaishu hummed and looked at him hesitatingly as she thought he would not meet her eyes but he was looking at her and he did succeed in his step.
Vaishu blinked a few times but he was still looking at her which made her smile wholeheartedly which he felt from the spark in her eyes. He looked at her from head to toe and his lips curved to see her wearing his favourite red chiffon saree he got her after their wedding night in kodaikanal. She had pinned in single pleat just like he would love.
Reyansh: Azhaga irukka Avi. ( You look beautiful Avi )
Vaishu chuckled and continued sipping the coffee thanking Reyansh in her mind for taking baby steps and succeeding in it as well. After all he was her Ansh and he would do anything for her.
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A/N:
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