Chapter 34: Chapter 34

*Mridula Pov*

He wants us to start a family? Is he for real? I thought, frowning and glanced at Aunty and Uncle talking with Nipuna’s dad.

“I will stay here with her.” Aahil said when Aunty started thinking to stay with Nipuna.

“Ok! We will leave and come tomorrow morning.” Aunty said and started walking out along with Uncle and Nipuna’s dad.

“Shall we leave too?” Tajwar asked and then I glanced at his face, which is covered with a small smile.

“I will come after talking to the doctor regarding the food she has to take.” I replied, looking away and he held my hand for a second before leaving.

I stood still for a second before moving towards the bed where two perfect couples are there lost in their own worlds.

Informing them regarding the discharge after two days as told by the doctor a few minutes back and left the room to take care of the food arrangements for them from home.

On the way near to the entrance, I saw the doctor and asked her the instructions and then waited for the driver to come from the parking lot.

“You are so mean back there, Dileep. I couldn’t look at your father.” I heard a sound and turned to see Dileep and Amrin walking outside.

“Like he cares.” Dileep said, rolling his eyes and then glanced at me.

“So, did you meet my best friend?” He asked Amrin before dragging her to me.

“If you forgot I already met her so many times and even went to your flat with Nipuna.” I said shaking my head.

“She must have met the daughter-in-law of Vishwanth family, but not the best friend of Prince of Ivaan.” He said shrugging.

“You both are best friends, and you didn’t tell me?” she asked him frowning before moving towards me.

“Now I am telling right.” He said, shaking his head.

“You go alone. I will spend some time with your best friend.” Amrin suddenly said, holding my hand and waved off Dileep.

“What?” he asked, frowning, but she just dragged me towards the small café at the corner until we are inside it.

“First! I want to say sorry for hurting your best friend, and I hope you can forgive me for the incident.” She said settling down.

“You both are happy now, and that’s all matters.” I said, shrugging, not giving much attention to her feeling Tajwar’s words ringing in my ears.

He wants to have kids with me without even loving me while loving some other girl? Everything is just bearable, but bringing a child in all this mess? I shook my head thinking it will be the stupidest thing to do when I don’t even know how to continue and live like this.

“Mridula!” I heard her voice and looked up to see Amrin looking at me with a frown.

“Where are you lost?” she asked and I shook my head before taking a deep breathe.

“So, you both are trying for kids?” I asked looking at her.

“What? No! He was just joking. And even if he wants, I don’t think it is right to have one at my age. I even thought of postponing the wedding, but he is adamant about it.” She explained.

“What if he wishes or even stress you?” I asked frowning.

“He would never stress me, but if he does even, then it can’t happen as I am taking precautions.” She replied shrugging.

“Precautions?” I asked her frowning.

“You know, when Nipuna told Aahil that she was pregnant for the first time, Dileep accused me that I may trap him with the same thing in the future. So, I got myself on birth control.” She explained.

“But he was really stressed so he thought like that, and it was nearly at the beginning of our relationship.” She immediately added, and I got a small smile on my face thinking how she is trying not to let me think bad about him.

“So, I will simply continue to use them, and he already knows, which is a good thing.” She said with awkwardness covering her features.

I looked down and again thought about his words. I don’t know why he even wants to start the family as I fear he will leave me when he feels normal and finds someone who is suitable for him.

If I just stay away from him, then I will miss the only moments I can have with him, or he may ask me the reasons which I cannot give him properly as I don’t even know how to express them.

What if I do what Amrin did? Then I need not to think about all this right? I thought and immediately shook my head thinking he will never accept, and now it is taking too much effort not to go along with his wish.

“Anyway, I am here to talk about an important matter.” Her words again brought me out of my thoughts.

“What is it?” I asked her frowning.

“When you visited me today morning, I didn’t know what to do and just drew a painting while talking with Nipuna. I could have brought it here, but it is drying.” She replied, and I frowned nodding her to continue.

“At present I am not doing any exhibitions, but that painting was done after I came back from coaching so it is really an important one, and I want to auction it like my teacher suggested as he loved it.” She added placing her fingers near her mouth and immediately removed it.

“What can I do in that matter?” I asked not understanding her.

“It is your painting and I need your permission to do that, and you will et a part of the money I get.” She replied in a single breath before staring at me.

“I… I don’t know!” I mumbled, feeling more than confused hearing all that.

“Please! Nipuna just became my agent a few minutes back who will in turn become yours. If the painting sells well, then we may get some projects and help more for the orphanage and old-age home organizations she works for.” Amrin pleaded, and I fidgeted with my hands.

Why is there one shock after the other waiting to hit me? I thought and frowned, thinking what should I tell her.

Maybe I should ask aunty and Tajwar! I thought and immediately felt anger inside thinking why did I never done something without asking someone.

And why does everyone know everything I ever do? I thought, remembering the truth that I can never have something special with him like all the couples.

“I will sign for it, but…” I trailed off and her expression changed from an ecstatic to confused within a second.

“What is it?” she asked frowning.

“I need your help and you should promise me that you will not tell anyone about it.” I whispered, and she frowned more before nodding.

“I… want to go on birth control and don’t know much about it. So, will you accompany me for that, and I don’t have any money with me. You can cut it from the money I may get like you are saying.” I rushed before staring at her with a blank expression not knowing what she will say.

What are you doing, Mridula? I questioned myself, but brushed all the fears and doubt thinking I told her and there is no going back.

“And I shouldn’t tell anyone at all. Not even Dileep?” she asked, and I nodded to which she frowned before sighing.

“I never thought of you in this way. Maybe I was unable to when I met you a few times before. Fine! But I am not just doing this for the acceptance. I know you want it and I am helping my fiance’s best friend. However, think again because it doesn’t seem that you are sure.” She mumbled, and I closed my eyes in relief that she accepted and blocked everything that is coming in my head.

I didn’t do anything wrong. I don’t think it is good to have a child without love, and I am not strong enough to deny his wishes directly. I just need to take one pill everyday, and that’s all.

I continued to talk to myself in my head after coming out of the hospital along with Amrin. She stopped at the car and opened her mouth before closing it.

“You need not to accept the painting auction.” She offered.

“No! I just realized that I never have money with me for any kind of emergency. This little money may help me if I need to buy anything urgent.” I said shaking my head.

“Little money? I think you are under a surprise like me to at the beginning.” She mumbled and walked away waving at me.

For two days, everything was upside down, taking care of the arrangements to welcome the baby and no one said a word about the test making me frown.

I never thought Uncle, and Aunty would be this happy calling the baby as their granddaughter even though I expected the love from Aahil.

“They are here.” I heard Aunty saying and turned to walk near the main door from the kitchen holding the aarthi plate.

“So, did you think about the matter?” I heard a voice and looked up to see Tajwar walking near to me.

Maybe I should talk to him about my decision and regarding what had I done! I thought and opened my mouth to say, but Aunty called me due to which I rushed as I forgot about them.

After some time, Nipuna presented the test which she got without Aahil’s knowledge and to my surprise, Aunty didn’t want to read it too.

Nonetheless, we are talking about Nipuna here. So, she made Amrin read the letter saying something about her help she made for Amrin.

Later she informed the name for the baby, and everyone smiled hearing the beautiful name. I felt longing, thinking maybe I can think about babies, but immediately shook my head remembering the different relation between Tajwar and I.

“So, after a week I am thinking we should do an engagement party for Amrin and Dileep, and the baby will also be named properly with rituals the same day.” Aunty suddenly said, and we all stared at her.

“One week?” Amrin mumbled in shock and glanced at Dileep, who is grinning.

“Do you want to change your mind regarding your decision to marry him? You can do it if you want.” Aunty said, shrugging and Dileep immediately glared at her.

“No, no! I love him.” Amrin said hearing, which Dileep cooled down.

“Then it is settled.” Aunty said, smiling and everyone nodded to her.

“You both go and take some rest and give my granddaughter some rest.” Uncle said, smiling at them before walking near to me and I stilled before taking a step to move away.

“I am sorry, Mridula.” He slowly mumbled before walking away while I frowned.

“Why is Uncle apologizing to you?” I heard Nipuna’s voice and turned to see Amrin, and she are standing near to me.

“Anyway, sign this. I am really glad that you accepted for this because the painting is speechless, and you will have many fans after that.” She added when I shrugged, and I signed where she asked me to.

“Dileep! Drop Amrin and shift to this house today.” Suddenly, Aunty said making everyone look at her in confusion.

“Why?” Dileep asked her like she had grown two heads.

“It is not good for both of you to stay together before marriage when it is getting fixed.” She said folding her hands.

“But…” he mumbled and stopped seeing her stern expression.

“She really knows how to make someone do something.” Amrin mumbled in a shocked tone, and I accept that statement.

I always did what she asked, and she really knows that. I shook my head and started taking care of lunch arrangements, which will be done in their own rooms but not at dining area.

“Why do you have to do so much work?” Tajwar asked, frowning when I entered our room holding the lunch after giving it to everyone.

“Because my best friend is so amazing.” We heard a voice before I could say anything and turned to see Dileep walking inside the room holding his tray.

“I am bored! So, I thought of having lunch with my best friend.” He added when Tajwar frowned at him.

“So, how is work?” Tajwar started the conversation breaking the silence making Dileep smile at him.

“It is good, Bhai. How is yours?” Dileep asked, and they both started talking.

I don’t know why but even with all the thoughts in my head, I am feeling happy for Tajwar that he is now becoming close again to his family.

But… but I know with those all people to talk with him, he will have no need for me. I took a deep breath brushing off the thought and finished the lunch in silence.

Next day, in the evening, Aunty started talking about the arrangements. Nipuna too joined us today, unlike yesterday feeling tired after placing a baby monitor near Aahna.

“I am so excited about the engagement party. I will suggest so many things and no one can prevent me. Amrin told me that because of me, Dileep realized his love.” Nipuna said, putting her hand on the table.

“Yeah, right! Even tell them that Amrin met me only because of you.” Dileep said rolling his eyes.

“Maybe I am!” she mumbled raising her eyebrow.

“I want my best friend suggestions, and that’s all as I really want a peaceful party.” Dileep said smirking at her.

“Wait till I ask Amrin, and then you talk like this. What will you do, if she chooses me?” She asked smirking back.

“And Aahil will not put his leg this time.” She added when Aahil stared at her with a raised eyebrow.

“I don’t care what you say, but the arrangements will not be handled by both of us together. It will be either you or me. Mridula is best in this, so she will choose one of us to take help for the engagement party.” Aahil stated to Nipuna at the dining table while we all sat to have our food.

“Of course! You will think your crush can do a better job than me, right?” Nipuna asked, glaring at him while each and everyone at the table stilled in their positions.

“Nipuna!” Aahil uttered through his gritted teeth while she stared at each one of us with wide eyes.

“I think Aahna is crying.” Nipuna said, waving the baby monitor and moved to get up from the chair.

“We all can hear that she is not crying at all. Now, explain us what do you mean by before words.” Dileep said, staring at them while I too stared back at them not knowing what to even think.

“Fine! I had a crush on Mridula a few years back, but didn’t dare to say that out loud.” Aahil explained when no one looked away.

“Why didn’t you say anything about it before, Aahil?” Aunty shouted at him making all of us turn towards her.

“Mom! Are you fine?” Aahil asked her in a confused tone, and I turned my attention to my husband who is the only one having his food without even feeling any shock or anything about the new revelation.

What else did I expect from him? I think it is best to let go completely without a miss and make my life easy for myself. It is time! I thought before continuing to have my food while everyone composed themselves from the shock and followed my suit.