Chapter 44: Chapter 44

*Mridula Pov*

When the car stopped, I looked through the window mirror to only frown at it. I turned towards the driver and saw him grinning at me.

“Whose house is this?” I asked him frowning.

“Yours!” he said smiling more before getting down from the car and opened my door.

I got down and looked around to see everything is changed and there is not a single clue that proves that this is my parent's house.

He took my bag and rang the bell of the house. When did my parents’ house start having a bell? I thought, frowning and suddenly felt uncomfortable.

I turned around to walk away, but the sound of the door opening stopped me. I stilled in my place not knowing what to even do.

“Did Premila came for a visit this late?” I heard a lady's voice asking the driver.

“No! She sent someone to visit.” He said in a happy voice.

“Who? She didn’t call… Mridula?” she suddenly said and I slowly turned around to only take a step back feeling all this as a dream.

“Mridula! Oh god! Mridula! Our daughter is here, Hari. Our daughter is here.” She shouted and suddenly a man walked near to the door in confusion only to see his expressions change like the lady.

“Mridula!” he said so affectionately that I felt something struck near my throat not making me able to say a word.

“She will be staying here, and you can talk as long as you want, but at least let her come inside.” Driver said and they slowly nodded without glancing away.

“I always came to visit here along with Premila madam. Your parents are really kind and made me close to them.” He added to me, and I gave him a small nod without turning away from them.

When I slowly stepped inside, they immediately pulled me into their hug while I still stood with a stilled posture. They removed me from the hug before caressing my face with tears falling from their faces.

I stepped back from them saying, “I shouldn’t be here! I shouldn’t be here!”

“Mridula! What happened, dear?” they asked, but I felt everything closing around me, and I held the door for support before covering my face.

“Mom! Dad!” I slowly whispered after staying like that for a few minutes pushing away their words and everything.

“Mom! Dad!” I mumbled again before removing my hands to see both kneeling before me.

“Mom! Dad!” I called them again, crying and suddenly hugged them repeating the words continuously.

I don’t know for how long we sat there, but I slowly moved my head, and Mom immediately started brushing my tears away.

“We are so sorry, Mridula. I know it is too late, but we couldn’t be able to give any good things to you.” Mom said and started crying.

“We think everyday how useless we are to not even able to take proper care of our daughter. We didn’t want to hurt you.” Dad said and I nodded crying, holding their hands to my cheeks.

When we three calmed down from crying and looked around to see my bag near the door, but there is no sign of the driver.

“He must be in the room we have for him to the side of this house.” Mom explained understanding my confusion.

“We have so much to talk, but for now take some rest. You must be weary from traveling. Did you eat anything?” Mom asked when we stood up.

“Why are you asking her? Go and prepare something. She may not cook some tasty dishes like you, but she is developing.” Dad said smiling at me.

“My cooking?” I asked them frowning.

“Yes! Many times while coming here, Premila always brings the food you cook.” Mom explained.

“I am not hungry!” I said, shaking my head still feeling the shock of their words sinking in but very slowly.

“Let’s show you your room. I hope you like it.” Mom said excitingly, and they both dragged me to some room.

When did this house start having rooms? When I used to sleep in the small place in the only room, we had along with them.

The moment I entered the room, I felt like I am standing in a little girl’s room with the whole walls covering with pink and a bed with lots of princess stickers.

And on top of that there are so many stuffed animals around the room with a small desk. I frowned and turned to see Mom and Dad looking at me with big smiles.

I again glanced at the things and frowned slightly before realizing what are they. I remember many of the items, I kind of wished whenever we used to go to a market and buy small things.

“These are…” I couldn’t even say, and they nodded.

“Yes! We tried to find as much as we can remember your silent wishes.” Dad said smiling at me.

“This house? Where is the field?” I asked them.

“Behind the house! Premila first gave us so much money after a year, saying our old house may fall anytime. We slowly started this with each room during each year. We saved a little money every month so that we could buy all this for you and bought each item each year.” Mom explained and I slowly leaned on the door.

“She is so tired. Let’s talk tomorrow and let her take some rest.” Dad said holding Mom.

Before they left, they hugged me once more and closed the door behind them while I stood in this room with everything still sinking and just sinking.

Did I really meet them? Am I really standing in their house? I continued to ask before sitting on the bed. Aunty was here a lot of times and said things about me? I shook my head before lying on the bed.

Maybe I should just sleep and wake up to see whether all this is real or not. I nodded to myself before closing my eyes and drifted off into sleep with all the tiredness.

“All this is real!” I mumbled to myself the moment I woke up and looked around.

“She is here! Cook the breakfast.” Dad said the moment, he saw me stepping outside the room.

I saw a very small table with three chairs and slowly sat on one with dad smiling at me. I gave him a small smile and looked around to see no other furniture except a few chairs.

Then I remember no bed in the room which seems to be theirs when I saw walking here. I slowly cleared my throat getting ready to say a few words.

“Why didn’t you buy other furniture?” I asked him in a low tone.

“We will get money in a few months with this time harvest, and then we will buy another item.” He replied smiling.

“But… the money Aunty was giving you?” I asked him frowning.

“We stopped taking it from the time you got married, forcing her to accept our wish not to send any.” Mom replied walking outside the kitchen.

“Until that moment, we took it as my brother’s money, but after that it is your In-laws money.” She added when I looked at her frowning.

“And we already bought the things we wish to buy for you. So, we didn’t need any more money at all.” Dad said when mom took one bite from my plate before placing it near my mouth.

“I… I can eat.” I mumbled gripping the table.

“Just once.” She pleaded, and I opened my mouth accepting her wish.

Taking the bite in, I started chewing and felt my tears welling up, but I brushed them away before opening my mouth again to which she gave a cheerful smile and fed me the whole breakfast.

After some time, when we three sat calmly I looked down remembering yesterday’s events. Then I glanced at them deciding to ask them.

“Do you know any Udhay?” I asked them.

“How can I forget him? Did he do anything to you?” Mom asked in a panic tone.

“No! His daughter is Aahil’s wife, and he asked me to give you his apologies. What did he do?” I asked her.

“I fell in love and married your dad against my father’s wishes. He was angry, but at least allowed us to stay in the house, ignoring society words regarding it a little.” She started saying, and I looked at her in surprise.

“Your Uncle too got into a love marriage at the time when his marriage was about to fix with Udhay’s sister. However, Udhay’s father already informed everyone regarding their marriage due to which they had to go through the humiliation, and that family became our rivals.” Mom explained.

“And? It was not Uncle’s fault, right and how did you guys get moved out of the house?” I asked her still not understanding.

“Udhay’s sister ran away, and the humiliation increased for their family. He thought it was all your Uncle’s fault. Udhay was always waiting for a chance to hurt your Uncle in some way. So, at that time itself, we got married, and he started talking so much about me and Vishwanth’s name. My dad got angry, and your Uncle lost the chance to be in the politics.” She replied looking down.

“Her father threw us out, and her brother didn’t say anything as he was in his dream loss.” Dad added.

“Are… are you both angry at Udhay uncle?” I asked them not believing all this had happened.

“No! We have the energy to be angry at ourselves.” Dad replied, making me frown.

“For getting married?” I asked out loud.

“No, Mridula! For not being able to stay near you all these years.” He replied sighing.

“You missed me?” I asked fidgeting with my hands.

“More than you know. We were waiting each day just with a wish to meet you.” Mom replied smiling at me.

“Uncle asked you to forgive him.” I suddenly said remembering his words.

“What? Really? You mean he is not angry at me?” Mom asked with shock and happiness.

“Yes! Dileep got recently married, and he may visit after a few days.” I said normally hoping she will not detect my doubt at my words.

“I am so glad, Mridula. Why did Tajwar didn’t come with you? I saw him growing up for a few years, and he was such a cute baby.” Mom said holding my hand.

“He is busy with work.” I said after staring at them for a second.

“I want to meet your husband, but I am glad you are only here. Otherwise, we may not get this much time to spend with you as we both would be busy with trying to make him comfortable.” Dad said jokingly.

I gave him a small smile and felt everything crashing inside. To this second, I didn’t think about him with everything that is going on, but now I miss him making me feel stupid for myself.

“Can I go and see the fields?” I said getting up suddenly.

“Ok! However, be careful around and I will cook your favorite food for lunch.” Mom said smiling at me.

“Did your favorite food changed?” she immediately asked frowning.

“No, Mom! Nothing is changed.” I replied, smiling before walking towards the back door and stepped outside to see our fields.

Did someone give him his carriage? I thought, frowning and hugged myself before walking into the fields.

*Tajwar Pov*

“Dammit!” I cursed myself removing the third shirt and threw it away before leaning my head on the cupboard.

Why is each shirt losing its button when I start to wear it? I thought closing my eyes and shook my head.

I took a deep breath and picked the one I got near to my hand and wore it before moving near to the mirror.

I didn’t ask her to leave! I thought, glaring at the mirror and remember how she just did what Mom asked her to do.

Mom asked and she just left even after hearing forever word? If she just wanted to meet her parents, then I would have taken her near to them, and she just had to ask once.

But no! She will sit if Mom asks her for and stands if Mom asks her to only. Then how did she do the precaution decision? I thought and immediately felt the pain remembering her thoughts about me.

I am not suitable to be a father! That’s what she thought, and it is still stinging deep. On top of that she didn’t say anything regarding, she didn’t mean those words or anything else.

Whenever, I have talked about anything stupid or when I got to know that I talked stupidly, I always said to her regarding my actual intention or apologized.

What she did was not only saying the words that hurt me but also deceiving me in a way when I was always honest to her except now.

I should have confessed about my feelings, but how could I when I got to know what she actually thinks about me and how she is staying in this marriage just because she didn’t want to disappoint my Mom as her Mom not asked her to.

When I started stepping outside the room, my hands automatically moved towards right expecting some lunch packed box and immediately moved my hands away remembering the change.

I walked downstairs to see Amrin waiting at the table holding my carriage. I frowned at her not understanding what she is even doing.

“So, you haven’t confessed your feelings to her?” she asked when I reached near to her.

“So, you are here to know some information from me?” I asked back taking the box.

“I am asking to know it from your mouth otherwise I can already see the answer.” She replied sighing.

“You don’t know everything.” I said, shaking my head.

“All I know is you love her, but didn’t tell her, which is the major information.” She said shrugging.

“And that is the last carriage for you because tomorrow onwards you are not getting one until you request me.” She added before I could say anything and walked away.

Great! Everyone is there to say whatever they wish and just walk away, but I am the stupid who is listening to them.

She is with me all this time not to disappoint my mom for god's sake. I cursed myself before leaving the house, seeing that I am getting late.

Is she missing me? I thought and immediately slapped my forehead focusing on the work I have to do at least for some time today.

What did you do to me, Mridula? I mumbled myself before concentrating on the work knowing well what she actually did.