CHAPTER 55

Janaki's POV

After returning from Paradise on Earth, we returned to our daily routines. The summer was in full swing as if the sun had made an oath to burn us.

I walked exhaustedly after the hot drive and rushed to the kitchen to fetch some cold water. My throat felt like Sahara desert with the twenty minutes’ drive from ICAI to home. I picked up the lemon juice instead, mentally patting myself for being prepared and gulped it directly from the pitcher which tasted like the nectar for a dying person. And after a few minutes of chilling near the fridge, I went to take a cold shower to get rid of my generous perspiration.

I plopped on the sofa with my laptop as there was a little homework in tally from our ITT classes. After about an hour, I finished my work and started with household chores. I finished cooking earlier and was waiting for my beloved husband.

After getting back here, we decided to make Nandhini understand the importance of family and also to ask her to give Sanjeev a chance. She was always so calm with my husband. Even though I didn't like the idea of making him speak to her, I don't find any better way. She will boil in her rage from the mere sight of me. So I can't go with him which might spoil everything.

We need to do this to get rid of the deep guilt implanted in my husband's heart and also for my selfish reason to make us lead our lives peacefully without constantly worrying about whether she is plotting something against us or not. When he returned home, I was greeted with a big hug which I would never get tired of. After dinner, we settled in bed, and I decided it was about time to bring up the topic. I rested my head on his chest, and he softly stroked my hair.

"Mama."

"Yes, darling."

"When are you going to talk to Nandhini?"

 I asked him even though I knew the answer as we discussed it earlier.

"Tomorrow evening ma. I didn't speak to her yet about meeting her. Hope she wouldn't turn me down."

 I got a little annoyed at how he was so confident that she won't say 'No' to him. I hummed in reply as I didn't know what to tell and I won't lie that I am not getting little possessive over him.

"Why are you asking it now, darling? Any change in plan?"

"No, mama. I was just asking..."

 I trailed off as he lifted my chin to look up at his eyes, and he raised his eyebrow questioningly.

"Can you take Akash with you, Please?"

 At last, I asked him the thing bugging me.

"Don't you trust me? They didn't even get along so well. How did you think she would be comfortable with him when I speak the personal things?"

 I hate how he was so right. I was about to reply, but he cut me off.

"Don't tell me that you trust me but not her!"

 He challenged. I smirked as I wasn't exactly had that in my mind.

"No. I do trust her that she would do anything to make you believe whatever she tells and I don't trust you with her. And she was so emotional with her hormones and the knight in shining armour inside you will wake up to comfort her. I don't want that to happen. I don't want the last time to repeat. You can't really blame me for wanting my husband's ex to stay far away from my husband."

 I muttered the last part. He responded with a big laugh. I looked at him, annoyed with my nose flaring.

"That's not funny, mama!"

 I scoffed and turned away. He pulled me onto his lap and made me straddle him. I crossed my hands across my breast to avoid any more close proximity as it would be dangerous when we are arguing over something as my mind and body will easily fell in his trap to betray me.

"I like it when you get so worked up with jealousy. But I don't have eyes for anyone else expects you, my dear vixen."

 He stated in his husky voice, making my cheeks go red. I fake huffed to show I am still annoyed and looked at his smiling face.

"You better have those eyes for only me. Else you won't have them in its place."

 He smirked before uncrossing my hands and pulling me to a sweet kiss, letting me know that his heart only belongs to me.

The next morning I was cooking food for us while the latest Tamil songs from YouTube were playing on its own, I got a call which made me reassure I was not dreaming. Because the caller Id shows 'Nandhini.'

I re-verified whether it was my mobile and pressed the green button still in disbelief as a part of me told me that she might have called to swear me with all heavenly things in the world. I waited for her to speak first.

"Hello, Janu?"

 I am surely hallucinating because she never spoke to me in such a warm tone and even when she pretended to behave nicely in front of elders there would be an edge of coldness in her tone unlike now. Above all, she was calling me 'Janu'. I wanted to laugh hard at my dream, but why did this feel so real?

 "Are you there, Janu?"

 I was pulled back to reality from my thoughts.

"Yessss!"

 I let out the carbon dioxide that struggled to exit from my body from my unconscious withhold of breath. There was a silence on the line.

"Umm... I want to meet you. If you want to bring Prabhu, you shall. Can we meet today evening at the cafe near your home? It's very important. Please?"

"Hmm.. sure. I will meet you there?"

 I replied in an unsure tone. I heard some shuffling on the other side.

"Thank you, Janu. See you there. Bye."

 She spoke in a hurry and hung up before I could reply. So I replied at the blinking screen a bye and went to our room. He was working out in just his track pants. As much as it was so appealing to enjoy the view, I was so stunned and confused. He looked at my state and came near me, wiping his sweat.

"Why are you walking like some possessed person?"

 He asked mischievously while tracing the side of my face with the tip of his fingers. I unlocked my mobile and made him listen to the recorded call. He looked equally confused and said that he will go with me.

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We are making our way inside the cafe. I noticed Nandhini sitting in the table that was second to corner through the glass, but she seems to be drowned into her phone. I was so worked up the whole day in curiosity and also my mind's warning precaution. Yet my heart and intuition said everything will be alright. I trusted them as I maintained my calm composure and walked alongside him. I told Vidhu, and she just asked me to be careful and update her later.

She looked up from her mobile and smiled at us. It seems so genuine. I mentally slapped myself for being so suspicious, but precaution was never a bad thing. We exchanged greetings, and we sat opposite her. There was a little pause as we all don't know what to speak or rather waited for someone to start the conversation.

"Let's me get to the matter straight because I don't like to beat around the bush. I am here to apologise. I am trying to straighten the things that I have done in my past. We were always on the wrong foot, Janu. And I apologise for what happened to your father. Trust me, I never meant to hurt anyone in your family. I just wanted to make you feel how I felt due to your ignorant behaviour. But I was so fucking wrong to accuse you of something you never have done. Excuse my language! I am so sorry. And Prabhu, you are always my good friend and I realised we never could have been more than that. Take care of him well, Janu. He is such a gem and you are so lucky for getting him as your husband. And guys, I decided to go back to New York to start my new life there."

 She sounded so genuine, and it made me surprised and speechless. Why she had changed so suddenly? What happened to her?

"I really don't know what to tell, Nandhini. Umm... Are you... Are you really okay?"

 I spoke awkwardly and turned around to look at my husband, who was deep in his own thoughts.

"Yes, never been fine like now..." 

 She stopped abruptly, and her face lit as she looked behind us. I frowned but soon found the reason for her happiness when Sanjeev came panting and sat next to her and handed her a small paper bag. She energetically opened it and started munching the sliced raw mango. Pregnancy craving! I smiled and shook my head. So they are finally got together. Her new life includes her new family. And he might have told her the truth, and that's why she was here. Thank God! I smiled as everything fell into its place of my uncertainty.

I looked at Sanjeev, who was glaring beside me, and I found my husband giving him a bored look. What's wrong with them?

Yeah! Boyfriend and ex will never get along!

"I'm so happy you finally gave him a chance."

 I spoke happily as the things my thatha told me on the day before the wedding came in front of my vision. She deserves happiness, and I knew Sanjeev would keep her happy as he was madly in love with her. She just nodded with a smile in response.

"Hey baby, long time no see! How are you doing, gorgeous?"

 I raised my eyebrow. He sent a wink in my direction, but his voice was full of playfulness, and I realised he was trying to annoy my mama as he seemed to tense up at his nicknames for me. Before my husband could say any harsh thing, I spoke.

"I'm good, Sanjeev. Thank you for asking. How are you?"

 I asked in a formal tone.

"Yeah, I am very, very fine because the love of my life agreed to give me a chance." 

 He circled his hand around Nandhini's shoulder and kissed her forehead and looked at her with so much adoration. Her cheeks slightly turned red.

"Wow! They look so cute together. Aren't they?"

 I voiced out my thought in awe to my husband. He smiled and looked happy at seeing them together.

"I'm so happy for you two guys. But remember that she has her friend's back always. If you do anything wrong I will be there to put you in your place."

 Prabhu mama spoke for the first time. Nandhini smiled thankfully at him while Sanjeev shook his head and nodded much to my surprise.

"I will never hurt her. I did some foolish act in past but I will never let any of my actions to affect her in future."

 He spoke with determination. We fell into a comfortable silence processing everything. Sometimes what we think as a big matter will end in a matter of seconds.

"Are you guys going to order something or not? I am hungry."

 Nandhini asked with a frown. This is so unlike her, but I like this new Nandhini. She didn't change. She is just opening up and expressing herself better.

We placed our orders and spoke about our future plans, and it was really very pleasant to spend time with them. Sanjeev enjoyed annoying my husband by calling me with few nicknames, but Nandhini didn't seem to mind them as she looked so calm and relaxed. Her eyes filled with contentment which I never have seen before. And I am so happy for her.

We reached home after an hour after inviting them over the weekend for lunch. They agreed, and we immediately invited Akash, Vidhu, Ajay, and Zihan to have small 'youngsters get together'. We don't need a reason to be happy. We can choose to be happy always, and likewise, we can create occasions to celebrate. It's gonna be fun!

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At last, the weekend arrived, Vidhu came home with me on Friday to spend time with us as usual. I marinated chicken a day before as per my mama's advice. We decided to turn it into Biriyani day! No one can say no to Biriyani! I arranged large utensils to cook for everyone. Zihan came early as per my demand to make him get comfortable with Vidhu and mama first. Zihan opened up with us quicker than I expected and he stuck with mama and keenly watched his every move. We all shared our chores to get our menu cooked. Today Prabhu mama prepared Biriyani, I cooked prawn gravy and Vidhu fried chicken and helped with chopping.

My poor monkey got stuck with the manager need some files because he was flying to Delhi for some seminar for which Akash prepared his paper works and now he needs his assistance. We easily finished preparing chicken biriyani, prawn fry and chicken tandoori along with gulab jamun and my special ice cream sweet beeda before others come.

Ajay came an hour before the time we actually invited him which we didn't complain. Then Akash arrived. The home filled with awkward silence when Sanjeev and Nandhini arrived. Zihan, being unaware of anything, spoke with Nandhini about her pregnancy. He listened to everything in awe, which eased the situation, and Sanjeev started to make conversation with Ajay and Akash. They seem cool, and Vidhu got comfortable soon with Nandhini's presence as she still had her suspicions. Akash and Nandhini were the first people to bring the topic of lunch.

We decided to clear the furniture and sat in a circular form in the living room. Sanjeev looked puzzled, but Nandhini pulled his arm to sit next to her. We self-served the food and enjoyed the yumminess with lots of crazy talks. After the great lunch, we decided to play cards with the minimal bet in single digits just for fun to decide who was winning. One by one they withdrew from the game, and the final round was between Nandhini and Akash. The final winner was Nandhini. She said that she mastered the game by playing it online often.

We then played dumb charades, and it was very fun as Zihan, Vidhu, Nandhini, and I teamed up on one side, while the other men were on the opposite team. We managed to give them the dumbest movie name, which they claimed was cheating. We had coffee for the evening while watching Avengers infinity war to brush up the memory before going for the Avengers endgame movie.

Nandhini and Sanjeev left first, and I asked mama to drop Zihan while Ajay took Vidhu. I knew they would roam for a while and they would have dinner together before Ajay drops her at the hostel. Nandhini thanked me personally telling me that she had lots of fun with us today and Zihan was equally emotional to that pregnant woman and promised to come home often. Ajay and Prabhu mama were bonding nicely.

Akash and I had our alone time, and we talked about turns in our lives. After Prabhu mama's arrival, he left telling he didn't want to watch another live porn remembering our little moment at paradise. Yeah, I decided to call that place Paradise as it was just similar to that.

My husband seems to be in a very happy mood as I got showered with lots of kisses as soon as I locked the door after bidding bye to Akash. His guilt might have gone. He has realised that Nandhini would really have her happy life with Sanjeev as we saw today his care for her as we noticed Sanjeev watching Nandhini's every move and was so careful to provide anything she needed. It was so cute that your partner doing everything without even uttering a word. Their long friendship and love seem to be created a deep understanding and bonding.

I walked into the balcony and looked at the clear sky. The twinkling stars were smiling at me, knowing that I was so happy today. Everyone is happy today, and I just sent a prayer to God to keep us in peace.

Life is like a roller coaster. It has its ups and downs, but it's our choice whether to scream or enjoy the ride.

I decided to enjoy my ride irrespective of whatever happens. And I walked back into the bedroom to find my sexy husband laying there in nothing but boxers. I smiled smugly and started to make my way towards him who was displaying his hotness to me. I have a long night ahead, and I'm gonna love every second of it.