Married To A Stranger

SREESHA POV:

“Sreesha we’re having a guest over for dinner. Guess who?” Mom said a little excitedly.

When is she not excited?

“Jayanth Thakur,” she said proudly.

Wait! I heard this name somewhere.

“You mean Tej’s boss?” I asked her hesitantly.

“Yup,” she said doing a happy dance on the way to the kitchen.

“God! Does she really behave like this all the time?” Niya asked me, looking amused, I nodded smiling.

“Really? If she is like this at this age, I feel pity for uncle for dealing with her at a young age. I bet she must be a fireball at our age” she added looking at the way mom just disappeared.

“Tell me about it!” A familiar voice put a break to her mouth.

There stood dad with a grin on his face at the edge of the stairs.

“She was indeed a handful, but I love her the way she is,” he said with a dreamy look on his face, plastering a permanent grin on his face.

I wish my married life would be like this in the future. Maybe even more? Until I die…

“I’m sorry, uncle, I didn’t mean to say all those things but-” He cut off her apology waving his hand.

“It’s nothing dear. But I suggest you to never get on her bad side, she will never think straight when she’s mad” he suggested with a smile on his face.

I remember the day she warned Mrs. Sharma. she was indeed scary when she uses her cold voice. I looked around and spotted mom leaning on the wall folding her hands.

Shoot! She must have heard his words.

I was about to warn dad, but she gestured me to not to let him know that she was here.

I don’t mind another show for now.

Hey, don’t judge me okay? Their banter was more than entertaining than any reality shows.

“I wouldn’t dare” Niya mumbled.

“I feel proud of myself that I dealt with her these many years you know. Once she dyed my hair pink just because I raised my voice at her the before day. I had to use a wig for a while until the color fades away. And the other time-”

“Are you trying to scare them Vinay? ” listening to mom voice dad stiffened.

Poor dad!

“Hi honey, w-when d-did you came here? I-I was just telling them how much I’m in love with you” he shuttered a little.

“Yeah, yeah I heard everything now, but I’ll not say anything now. Guess why?” She said smirking. He thought for a while and looked at her wide-eyed.

This must be something really bad!

“Don’t tell me it’s what I think it is ” dad begged her. She smirked and shrugged.

“Yup. Karthik invited Jayanth bhai for dinner. Just wait until he arrives here. I wanted to see how he’ll react when he comes to know that you’re hurting his little sister” she said emphasizing hurting.

God! She’s evil!

“FYI you’re the one raised your voice at me and you know I just want to get back at you by playing a little prank. Of course, it’s not a good view to look at you with all pink hair, I was the one who suffered by that prank” she added huffing.

Maybe I should learn how to play pranks without getting caught. My husband always gets to know about my every silly prank and give me his so-called punishment.

It’s not like I don’t like the ‘punishment’ because I do. But I want to prank him without getting caught at least once in my life.

“Tell me which mall I’d to take you this time,” he said shaking his head. She acted like she was in deep thought.

“This time it is jewelry shopping. Umm… I don’t mind a diamond set for now” she told looking straight while raising an eyebrow at him.

“Jewellery shopping?” He said frowning. One look is all it takes for him to change his words.

“Oh, why not? I’d love to accompany you. I’m so excited” he said faking excitement while mumbling something under his breath. She nodded and left the living room… a little sassily if I might add.

Niya and I burst into laughter which we’re holding from the moment she entered here.

“Glad you’re not like her. My son is lucky” he said shaking his head.

“Vinay, add saree shopping too for what you just said” we heard her voice from the kitchen.

We laughed, even more, this time like literally rolling on the floor. Niya was having a tough time getting a hold of herself. Who wouldn’t when she just added another shopping spree to her tomorrow’s schedule? I winced when remembered the day we went shopping. If I feel this way what will dad do?

An image of him holding lots and lots of shopping bags in his hands while the following mom flashed in my mind.

The next thing I know I was on the floor laughing my butt off. When I shared what I imagined Niya joined me on the floor while dad started chanting ‘you guys are mean’.

A knock at the door pulled us to the real world. I went to answer it but mom beat me to it.

‘It’s just Veni’ I thought when I look at her.

A wailing of a baby made me look at her again.

She’s not here alone, she was standing there with a baby in her hands.

A very cute chubby baby!

I love kids!

“Umm actually, I agreed to babysit her for a while. Her father has an emergency and asked me to take care of her. I went to my home, but my parents were not there, and I forgot to take my keys with me. So it left me no option than to bring her here. Do you mind if I bring her inside? I really don’t want to bother you guys, but I had no other choice-” her ramble was cut off by mom.

“Nonsense! Firstly, come on in. Secondly, why do you think like that? Who wouldn’t want a bundle of joy in their home even if it is only for a few hours?” Mom said leading her to the room we’re hanging out.

“Look we have a new member here,” mom said excitedly. Both Niya and dad look at us and shocked when they saw a baby in Veni’s hands. Niya was the first to recover from the shock.

“Aww. Whose baby is she Veni? God, she’s so cute and look at those chubby cheeks. I want to pinch them” she said and was about to pinch but I slapped her hand away.

What? It might hurt the baby if we pinch her.

“Veni, can I hold her? Please” I used my infamous puppy dog face.

Don’t judge me! We had to use it sometimes to get what we want!

“Sure” she mumbled while handing the baby to me. I sat down on the couch in Indian style while taking her in my arms. My in-laws and friends were gushing how it looks.

It looks like I was having a baby. My own blood. Karthik and I’s baby. The symbol of our love.

Love?

No! We’re not in love. At least he doesn’t love me. I know I was on the way of falling in love with him but…

Do I love him?

It gets me nowhere thinking about it right now. I started playing with the baby. She’s adorable. Her parents must have one hell of a gene to create a baby like her.

She looks like an angel.

I fall in love with her instantly. I played with her making baby faces and mumbling with her. Her body was so tiny, so fragile and so soft.

I want a baby girl just like her. Maybe a boy first, so he would protect her from all the evils in the world just like Tej did.

My train of thoughts ended when someone whispered in my ear

“I don’t mind having loads of kids, maybe an 11? so we could create an Indian cricket team?”Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.