Enjoying the warmth from the heat of the fireplace on the freezing night of December, grandma was lying on the sofa, her eyes on the bunch of red roses in the garden visible from the floor-length glass window in the hall.
The garden was illuminated with the light of the bulbs and the decorated trees.
Mr Rathores have retired for the night along with Vansh and Avni.
Lying not far away from her, doing absolutely nothing, were Mrs Rathores with their eyes closed.
It was their "me" time. .
"Our children are growing up too soon. I can't believe they will be getting married soon. " still admiring the red roses, Grandma spoke.
Yes, it was their gossip time too.
Lying in the middle of them, with her eyes closed, Mrs Shakti spoke with a hint of accusation" Yes, grown enough to hide things from us."
Yes, she was still mad at Vihaan for hiding about Shanaya.
Averting her gaze from the roses, grandma looked at Shakti with confusion. She had no idea about it.
Clearing her confusion, Mrs Chaya spoke up with closed teeth" Maa, we forgot to tell you something."
Fuck! How could she forget to tell the most important thing!
Wasn't it the main reason she had request grandma to stay with them?
Yes! It was not just some coincidence.
But, wasn't that the beauty of their relationship.
Mrs Shakti could still remember the night of their fourth wedding anniversary and also the second anniversary of Surya and Chaya.
How could she! It was the most painful moment of their life.
Especially of Chaya's life.
Grinning like a child, Mrs Chaya spoke while looking adoringly at grandma" Maa, Shana is Vihaan's past."
"What!??" taken aback by the information, it took a moment for the grandma to get over it.
"Sorry maa..." giving grandma a flying kiss, Mrs Chaya smiled.
For her, grandma was not her mother in law, rather she was her mother and father.
She vividly remembers that heartbreaking night, the night that took her mother and father from her, and the world.
"Maa....you are looking so beautiful" hearing the voice of one and half year Avni dressed in a peach barbie frock and looking all lovely, Chaya had looked at her with love and had spoken after lifting her in a hug" Like mother, like daughter." and had kissed her on cheeks.
Only to receive it back from Avni and she had burst into laughter.
She had been playing with Avni while waiting for her mother's call informing her of their whereabouts when she had seen Shakti radiating in a violet satin gown of queen Annie neckline, entering the room.
But something was not good.
The radiance on Shakti's face was not from happiness, rather it was just makeup.
And that was the first time she had noticed Mrs Shakti like that.
She was about to ask something when she had felt herself in Shakti's arm and the next second she had lost her sense.
Only to wake up two days later, with advices from the doctors, concern from the members of the family.
Advices to get rid of the depression.
Mrs Chaya came out of her world when she heard Mrs Shakti joking" Mother, it's you who has pampered her a lot."
Chaya need not guess she was the subject of the topic and she smiled a little.
Looking admiringly at Mrs Shakti, she spoke" Sissy... do not forget you too have pampered me."
After all, Mrs Shakti's sacrifice was the cure of her depression.
Laughing aloud, Mrs Shakti spoke," It's in our blood, to pamper our younger ones."
"Yes, just like Vihaan pampers Vansh. Any girl would be lucky to have him as her man. He would definitely pamper her a lot."
Before Grandma could boast for Vihaan more, Chaya spoke with sarcasm" Yes, just like Shana is dying to have him."
She continued " And he is making Vansh just like him."
Turning her attention toward Mrs Shakti, she spoke with wide eyes" Have you noticed the changes in Vansh. He does not care much about his surrounding, anymore. Sometimes he keeps smiling while on phone, sometimes he does not touch his phone at all. Sometimes he keeps gazing at nothing in particular as if something is eating him up. "
Speaking after a long time, grandma said " He is in love. But we will have to wait to know the love of his life, just like we did in Vihaan's case."
"In fact" she continued" Shana too loves Vihaan. I can sense her feelings and that's the reason she tries to ignore Vihaan."
Mrs Chaya: "Yes, we can feel it too, but the thing is, we know how strong-headed Shana is, she won't accept Vihaan so easily."
Mrs Shakti: "Yes, but I love Shana. I can't wait to see her as my daughter in law. "
Turning her attention toward grandma, Mrs Shakti continued" Mother, can't we do something to bring her back in Vihaan's life? I really really want to see them together!"
"Same here! " joining the conversation, Mrs Chaya continued" I am hundred per cent sure, she is the one for Vihaan. "
" You know" looking at Mrs Shakti and then at grandma, she spoke again" Today at the dinner, I could feel their connection, their longings for each other and I felt so good by even imagining how beautiful it would be to see them together, to have their babies calling us grandma." shutting her eyes as if it pained her to feel so good, she spoke slowly" I really want my Vihaan to be happy, maa."
"But not at the cost of Shanaya's sufferings. All I want is them to sort their issues and be together again."
Deep in thoughts, grandma spoke casually but with the tone of seriousness" They will, soon. I can bet on it. "
....................................
Enjoy reading it :)
Love to all ❤