Chapter 72: Chapter 72

Shravan stopped the car in the parking lot of the apartment block, where Drishti's parents live when they are in Bangalore.

He unbuckled the car seat and took out the baby bassinet, before they walked into the apartment elevator.

The elevator took them directly up to the penthouse suite owned by the Malhotras.

"Paa, Maa" Drishti called out as she walked into the apartment

"Don't scream, Drishti. He will wake up" Shravan said, peeping into the bassinet to make sure that little Dhruv wasn't disturbed by his momma's screams.

"Uh sorry. I forgot" Drishti said sheepishly

"Drishti, baby. Where's my little one?" Diya came towards them with a sweet smile on her face.

"He's sleeping" Drishti said, rolling her eyes playfully

She still gets jealous when she doesn't get the attention of her parents like before. Now their priority seems to be little Dhruv.

How cruel!

"Shravan, it's been so long" Diya said softly

"Sorry, Maa. I have been quite busy with the international deal" Shravan said

"Yeah. Vihaan told me. How did it go today?" Diya asked

"It went well. We are confident" Shravan said

"Great. Vihaan said you will be taking a small break before going abroad for the project" Diya asked

"Yes Maa. It's high time we took a vacation. Mom has also been pestering me to come home." Shravan said

"Of course. She will. How long has it been since you went and stayed with them in Mumbai?" Diya chided softly

"All mothers are the same" Shravan muttered jokingly

"So? What do you want to drink now? Tea? Coffee? Or something cold?" Diya asked

"Nothing Maa. We just had food from the mall. We came to drop Dhruv with you. We are going out for a movie" Drishti said

"Aww. Dhruv all to myself. We are going to enjoy" Diya said happily

"Of course" Drishti muttered jealously

"Aww darling. You know right, you are my special baby. The baby I longed for years." Diya said, her eyes filling up with tears remembering those long eleven years of her hellish life.

"Oh Maa. Please don't cry. I know I am your favourite. I will never forget that. I never even let Damini forget that" Drishti said with a grin.

"You just love irritating the poor child," Diya said, shaking her head in disapproval.

"It's so cute to see her getting worked up over that" Drishti admitted without any remorse.

"By the way, where is Damini?" Shravan asked

"She went out to check the colleges here" Diya said

"Did she decide which stream she wants to pursue?" Shravan asked

"She is still deciding" Diya said, air quoting the word deciding.

"Then what college visit is she doing now?" Shravan asked with a frown

"Now don't start your over protective brother antics. She is really getting furious with you nowadays" Drishti warned

"What? I am just looking out for her safety" Shravan said

"Yeah yeah. You are smothering her with this over protectiveness" Drishti said

"I didn't mean to" Shravan said frowning

"I know. It's in your nature. Shreya also complains about the same thing. I am tired of your two sisters bitching about you to me" Drishti said, rolling her eyes.

Diya chuckled.

Even if they had tried, they couldn't have found a better partner for their precious Drishti.

Destiny played a twisted game and tied their Drishti to the best man in the world.

"I will talk to them," Shravan said, making Drishti roll her eyes again.

"Leave all that. We are getting late. I don't want to miss the beginning of the movie" Drishti said

"Don't eat after the movie. I will prepare the dinner" Diya said

"Okay Maa. Love you" Drishti said and gave her mother a loud kiss on her cheeks before dropping a soft kiss on Dhruv's cheeks.

****

"Eeww. What a movie. What a waste of time" Drishti moaned for the hundredth time, on their way back to the Malhotra penthouse.

"I was there, Drishti. I know how boring it was. Stop moaning about it, for heaven's sake" Shravan snapped, irritated at the constant complaints.

Drishti huffed in annoyance.

She didn't talk to him even after they reached the penthouse.

"Okay? Why is she angry now? She was happy when she left?" Diya asked in confusion, seeing Drishti ignoring Shravan ever since they reached

"She didn't like the movie" Shravan said

"Why is she angry at you for that? It's not your fault" Vihaan said

Shravan shrugged his shoulders.

"So, Damini? Where were you in the afternoon?" Shravan asked

Damini frowned.

"Didn't Maa tell you? I was checking out the colleges here" Damini said

"Oh? Which colleges did you go to?" Shravan asked

Damini fumbled. She managed to get past her father's questioning, because her father didn't knew the colleges in Bangalore well.

Her brother in law is a totally different case.

"Some colleges jiju. Didn't find anything upto the mark" Damini said, waving her hands dismissively

"Oh. But I thought you didn't yet decide what course you want to pursue?" Shravan asked

"Yes jiju" Damini said, glaring at her sister for bringing jiju along.

Drishti grinned seeing the disgruntled look on her little sister's face.

"What were you looking for in the colleges? How did you figure out that it isn't upto the mark?" Shravan asked

"Oh for heaven's sake. Yes, I went out with my friends. What's the big deal" Damini snapped and her parents gaped at her in horror.

"You lied to us?" Vihaan asked

"I know you wouldn't allow me to go. That's why I lied" Damini said

"When have I ever stopped you from anything, Damini?" Vihaan asked, disappointed with his daughter's behaviour

"That's different. Today I met some friends I met online. I know you wouldn't let me go meet them" Damini admitted

"Online friends?" Shravan asked in horror.

Drishti shook her head.

There is no escape for Damini anymore.

"Uh yes. There is an online readers and writers community. I love reading. And I am part of that community. We met up today" Damini said with a shrug

"Damini, baby. Do you know what risk you took today?" Diya asked softly

"What if one of them you met today was a serial killer? Or a rapist?" Shravan asked

"Di can marry a total stranger. I can't even meet some online friends?" Damini asked, throwing her hands up in the air.

"Damini. Go to your room. I will talk to you later" Vihaan said

"Well, better you than jiju" Damini muttered and walked towards her room.

"Don't mind her Shravan" Diya said apologetically

"It's okay, Maa. I know. She is just a rebelling teenager. It happens. She is my sister. You don't have to be apologetic about it" Shravan nodded in understanding.

Drishti smiled, feeling lucky to have this wonderful gem of a man as her soul mate.