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“Put down your defenses, Jaan. You don’t need them around me.”
And just like that, all my defenses bow down as he pulls my face to his lips. He’s still in a semi sleeping position with half of his back glued to the bedrest.
“Aarav,” I whisper, smoothing my hand up his chest. Why is everything that Aarav says or does so utterly intoxicating? Before I close my eyes thinking he is kissing my lips, Aarav places a wet kiss on my forehead.
“Mommy, I am ready.”
Aarvi’s voice breaks our stupor and I instantly pull away from Aarav. Here I was thinking of keeping my distance from him, but just like every other time, he fails my plan. His gaze, touch and voice are enough for me to lose my presence of mind. I walk to Aarvi and carrying her in my arms, take her down to feed her chocos. It’s strange how quickly and swiftly I’ve managed to take over the role of a mother. Never thought I would be so flexible in looking after a baby.My baby!!
*************
I am overwhelmed seeing Aarav’s grandmother, his stepbrother Mohit and his wife Sophia at AR Mansion. They have come to see Aarvi and are also glad that she is doing well. Though I had met Daadi with Jaya the other day in the shopping mall, this time when I meet her, she is even more ecstatic. She hasn’t left me alone for a single moment and has been holding my hand as I sit next to her on the couch. It’s new to me. This feeling of having a family around. Mohit is a little neutral and knowing I still don’t have my memories, he is keeping enough distance and not letting me feel burdened that I was going to be his wife had Aarav not threatened me to marry him. Daadi literally tells me the entire story that had happened. How a few years back when I came to India to marry my childhood friend Mohit, Aarav faked Jaya’s abduction and forced me to marry him instead. She tells it so normally and even Mohit now laughs over it but this doesn't go well with me. I glance at Aarav who’s very proud of what he did and I want to smack his face for that grin.
Rudra had told me how Aarav had married Jhanvi..me..but now that I am getting to know it in detail, I feel horrible. Aarav was always like that? Dominant and making sure to win everything he wanted in life? I wonder how I fell in love with him? Not the present me. I am talking about the past version of Jhanvi. Maybe just like I am attracted to him now, even then I couldn’t resist his charm.
“Jhanvi, thank god you are back.”
Daadi’s voice breaks my stupor.
“You have no clue how broken Aarav was in your absence. He had forgotten even to smile,” she adds. “Now all I pray is that you both get you happily ever after again and this time forever.”
She cups my face and kisses my forehead. I don’t know what to say but their expectations of me are rising.
“Daadi,” Mohit interrupts. “You too didn’t take less stress during the last two years. Jhanvi was closest to you. If Aarav has missed her so much, so have you.”
Daadi’s eyes tear up as she nods in acceptance and then pats my cheeks.
“I’ll pray to God your memories come back soon and you fulfil the promise you gave me when you were fine.”
“What promise?” I ask her. Anything and everything they have to offer me about my past is like a boon to my knowledge.
She glances at Aarav who is equally confused which means whatever promise I made Daadi two years back, he too is unaware of it.
“You wanted to convince Aarav for a second child.” Daadi chuckles and my heart skips a beat.
It’s so embarrassing to discuss this when me and Aarav have so much unsorted between us. I happen to look at Aarav and the intensity of his teasing gaze makes my stomach flutter. Did I really want a second baby with him? How was I supposed to convince him and why convince? Didn’t he want the same? Only the old version of me knew the answers.
“Daadi, you are scaring my wife.” Aarav finally speaks seeing my puzzled expressions.
“I was reminding her what she wanted earlier, Aarav. You both have seen a lot of ups and downs. I want you to have a stable life now. Just you, Jhanvi, Aarvi and the plans of your future baby. That’s it.”
I am so nervous right now that my palms begin to sweat. It’s just now that I’ve started accepting the reality that I am married and have a daughter too and now the expectations of Aarav and his family are scaring me the most. I don’t think I’m prepared for any of that.
“Ask Mohit and Sophia if you want more grandkids. My wife has a lot to take care of before we give Aarvi a sibling.”
Though Aarav takes my side, it still doesn't ease my nervousness. I rise on the pretext of serving them snacks while Daadi teases Mohit about when he’s planning to start his family with Sophia. As I stride to the kitchen, I feel Aarav’s gaze tingling the skin of my back. I know he’s getting ideas already and I’m not prepared to face that demand from him if he makes one anytime soon.
*************
It’s been four more days that I am staying in the AR Mansion and it’s been bliss. Since Aarvi is a little better now, Aarav decides to go to work and finish some important deal signing that he couldn’t do because of working from home the last few days. We are still having breakfast when Aarav speaks.
“Did you put your resignation at the RS group?”
His query puzzles me.
“Who said I am resigning?”
Aarav puts his fork down and stares at me with an unpleasant expression.
