Midnight Whispers (short stories collection) - Chapter 23: Chapter 23

Drishti's POV
I realized, as mature as I look, I am not! Reason? I had let a man kiss me, without being in a proper relationship with him. I mean, I trust him a lot, and I know he is the one for me, but still.... I shouldn't have let him do it.
Cherry on top? Mohini aunty saw us kissing. My face was as red as tomato as I sat on the front seat, just on side of Lakshay and Shrenu was sitting with her grand parents behind us. I fiddled with my saree, and glared at Lakshay from time to time, which he answered back either with a smile or a wink. He is just so infuriating. Only if he had not tempted me.
Mohini aunty had laughed out loud when I hid my face in his chest, denying to look at her. It was just so embarrassing for me. He had stroked my hair and sternly said to Mohini aunty --he was stifling his laugh with his cough-- to go and wait downstair. He again kissed my cheek, threw a 'waiting for you gorgeous' on me, sized me up and down, gave a compliment and went away. I did my make up in record time of fifteen minutes and went down.
Mohini Aunty wiggled her eyebrows at me. I looked away.
We finally arrived at the hotel, where the reception was taking place. I got down adjusted my saree, while Pathan uncle guided Aunty and Shrenu inside the hall. I waited for Lakshay as he talked to the valet politely. He smiled and gave him the keys. I had always known he is a good man, handsome and all, and I love him. But I had to make sure, that he won't ever do what he did in the past!
He claims to love me, and he had showed it to me without showing me! He thinks I had not seen him in my shop, late in the night, watering my plants, pulling an all nighter to buy me and Shrenu gifts or him peeking at me. What I liked most about him was he was not stopping me from meeting Kabir. He said he feels jealous! Yes, but he won't ever take away my freedom when I am not even in a proper relationship with him. He thinks I go on dates with Kabir. I don't. Kabir is my long lost brother. He came back from Iraq after completing his job as army head. We were in the same class. Kabir had some problems with his family. And he was posted in Jammu right now!
But he was sent to Psychology institute in Mumbai to be treated. He had severe anger issues. He killed thirty four terrorist in the most henious way possible. Army thinks that they would've been source of information but Kabir can't control his anger. So he was sent to deal with his anger issue.
He knows about Shrenu and loves her a lot. His all brothers are like my own brother ad they all treat me as their sisters. Kabir --although he don't know yet, but I do-- loves his that sweet assistant. His constant different approaches to make her jealous just gives away everything!
I walked in with Lakshay on my side. His smile never falling. He looked at me, I raised my brows at him, an unwanted smile on my face. His smile widened. I looked around. The room was chaotic, but not too much. The posh people won't just go on the stage to dance, will they now?
I looked at the stars of the party today. Shlok said something in Sheryanvi's ear and she blushed profusely. Ah! Must be honeymoon related. Lakshay put his hand on the small of my back, and we walked to the newly wedded couple. They turned toward us as I hugged Shreya. She smiled and kissed me. Shlok glared at her, I laughed. He is literally brother of Lakshay. Shlok pulled her to himself as we congratulated them. We both went to the family when Lakshay told me in my ear that he will be back in a moment and went to meet some of his office friends.
I sat there with Mohini aunty and Pathan uncle, Shrenu on her own chair. She already met Shreya and Shlok and after they will be back from their honeymoon, she will spend the week with them. Shreeyanvi had been a very big help to me in raising Shrenu. As much as I am the mother of her, she is the second mother to her. She deserves her time as much as me and Lakshay did!
Rathores, another big shot name in industry. They are the maternal side of Shlok and are the biggest name in the jewellery industry. They also have vast influence and business all over the world, and its also very known that their eldest son, Abhimanyu Singh Rathore is one of the most dangerous man known. Some even says he has connections with Mafias.
But that was not the reason I had known Rathores for so long. The thing was, the we all went to the same university. And one of them, his name was, Prithvi (Son of Abhimanyu's aunt) , if I remember correctly, was one of those I had rejected. His mother, Sunita devi, a devil in disguise had tried to ruin my reputation all along. She had said I needed to pay for rejecting her son. Her son, as in Prithvi, was one of the most infamous, notorious and bastard person I have came across with.
At that time, Lakshay and Shlok had it all handled and Shlok had apologised to me for his maasi's behaviour. Even the sight of them made me uncomfortable. I averted my gaze.
A few hours went by and the function was about to be over. Gladly Shrenu was already slept in Pathan Uncle's lap. And he was still swinging her. Shrenu won't wake up even if someone buzzes horn near her ear. I got up to get some water to drink when I bumped into someone.
And to my displeasure, it was none other than Prithvi. I ignored him and started walking away. But he grabbed my arm. The audacity. I gritted my teeth and glared at him, he grinned pathetically.
"Leave my hand right now!" There must be something in my voice that he did left me. I rubbed my arm and started walking away. But again, someone grabbed me. I turned around to see who was it now, only to find Sunita devi standing there. She smirked pathetically at me.
"Look! Look! If it isn't the beautiful fairy like Drishti!" She commented so loudly that the few people which were left behind made a circle around us, probably enjoying the scene. The whole Rathore squad, Shlok and Lakshay were nowhere in sight. Lakshay told me they had something to discuss. Point is, I am all alone to deal with these shit people.
Pathan uncle and Mohini aunty along with Shrenu came to me, and stood near me. Maybe not that alone!
"Can't believe I wanted to marry this girl off to my little boy, Prithvi." She said and then turned around to her little boy. "You dodged a bullet son!" She continued. Everyone laughed around us, enjoying it. I let her say it all.
"I mean what can we say about a girl who had a child of herself in one month of marriage and then divorced her husband. I think the child was already before wedlock and she was just trying to hide it." My eyes widened. How does she knows about our arrangement. I held Pathan Uncle's hand so he won't jump on her.
"And look at her, pretending all high and mighty now!" She said. I still did not retorted. I did not want to create a scene but she was getting overboard. They says you should always treat your elders with respect.
Sorry but I don't believe that!
I believe respect is something that is earned, it's not something which is given. If she'd respect me, if she has ignored me, I'd respected her but she don't deserve it!
"And that illegitimate chi...."
"Shut the fuck up before I cut your good for nothing tongue!" Laksay's voice boomed in the hall before my words can.
"You think you are high and mighty by saying these things about a child you bitch!" I added , my eyes, I was sure, red by now. Lakshay came and stood beside me. Sunita's eyes widened. And to everyone's surprise no one came forward to help her out.
"And what did you said, your son dodged a bullet? Tell me how he dodged it when this fucker begged me daily to date him and I was the one who denied him every chance I got!" I asked. She opened her mouth but before that Lakshay boomed.
"This shit little boy of yours, haven't he ever told you about his playboy reputation, and how he once got drugged and was about to rape some girl!" Lakshay added. " And you think my Drishti will accept someone like him. This pathetic shit!"
"Like mother, like son!" I added flipping my hairs. She deserved this! " And about the divorce, its my choice when I get married and when I get divorced. And since your characterless mouth was asking about my character, here" I pointed at Lakshay "He is the I love and he is the father of my child, and he is the one I divorced!"
"Oh! SO why are you with him?" She asked as if she is my mom! Bitch!
"First, its none of your business, and second that's because I am going to marry him..... again!" I said. Lakshay head snapped to me, but he looked back to the subject in question.
"And even if she did not marry me, who are you to question her huh?" He shouted. I looked at him. He did not wanted me to feel pressurized by the crowd and agree to marry him. "Wait, wait wait, are you saying she is characterless because she is a single mother!" He said, narrowing his eyes.
"But let me ask you aren't you a single mother too."
Sunita devi's eyes widened as she looked around. She looked at us, threatening us to keep our silence. But we did not!
"But you know the difference?... I never cheated on her, and I had always loved her, and will love her all of my life, unlike someone else!" He commented on her. I know it was a low blow but she deserved it. I was silent until it was on me, but as soon as she dragged Shrenu in this, she knew it was game over for her.
"How dare you?" Sunita devi raised her hand on me, but before she can hit me, three men came to my saving. Lakshay turned around and hugged me, to save me, Kabir stood in front of us, and Abhimanyu Singh Rathore held his Bua's hand!
"That's enough drama for a night, isn't it Mrs. devi!" Abhimanyu's low and deep voice rumbled through the silence of hall. His voice was inevitably warning her to back off.
Sunita devi went off with her coward son Prithvi. I held Lakshay hand for support and hugged me even closer. Abhimanyu and Kabir went away. Not before Kabir patted my head and Lakshay glared at him. I laughed.
Everything went to normal in an hour and I told Lakshay to come with me. We stood a foot apart in the garden which was dimly lighten.
"I" I tucked my locks back. "I was serious about what I said inside." Lakshay head snapped at me. His eyes turned teary as he took a step and took me in his arms. I shrieked and laughed as he twirled me around.
"I am sorry, I love you, I am sorry, I won't do anything like what I did ever again. I will make mistakes, I know, but nothing which might hurt you my love, my Drishti, my vision." I hugged him tightly as he held me closer. Still sobbing in my neck. I kept my hands in his hairs.
"I know you won't I made sure of that!" I said and he nodded. He looked up at me. "I love you" I whispered to him. He kissed me on my cheek. He slowly came up and kissed near my lips, before he put me down and finally claimed my lips. We kissed for a long time. We broke off and he kept his forehead on mine, and rubbed our nose.
We were lost in each other until we heard little whispers.
We looked in the direction to see Shlok, Shreeyanvi, Pathan uncle, Mohini aunty with Shrenu in her arms, Kabir all standing and smiling at us.
This was my family. These were the person who stood for me all through my ups and downs. These were the people who showed me, that to be a family you don't need to be blood bounded. You needed to be bounded my heart.
This was the city I lived in.
This was the street I lived on.
This was the place where I settled.
I looked at the person who had given me this family, who had stood by me, who had done so much for me, never expecting anything...
And of course also the man who had hurt me once, but for my own good whatsoever and learnt from his mistakes.
Finally I found him.... finally I found the person who successfully.......
Unravelled my heart