Chapter – 9

Third Person's POV

Aditya was massaging Jeevika's body and telling her about his day when an angry voice from his mother startled him.

NANDITA : Aditya Chauhan, what is going on???

Hearing the loud voice Ayush also woke up from his slumber.

Ignoring his mother Aditya came near Ayush and tried to make him sleep again. But… Ayush had no intention of sleeping anymore.

Nandita got angrier when Aditya ignored her completely. She started calling Gita's (the nanny) name loudly. Hearing her shout Ayush who was in Aditya's arms started quivering.

ADITYA : Mom, you are making Ayu scared. Please don’t shout.

Nandita was going to say something right at that moment Gita entered the room and behind her Mr. Adiraj Chauhan, Aditya's dad also entered.

NANDITA : Gita! What is this? Isn’t it your job to take care of Ayush? If you don’t know how to do your job then you can leave the job! Why are you wasting our time and money?

Aditya shouted at his mother to stop but when Ayush started whimpering he realized what he did. After cooing Ayush, he made him sit on the bed with some toys and ordered Gita to look after him for some time.

Then he came into the living room and his parents also followed behind him.

ADITYA : Mom, what is your problem? Why were you shouting at Gita aunty? What has she done?

Nandita and Adiraj were a little surprised to hear the way Aditya addressed Gita. But Nandita didn’t give attention to that as she had more important things to say.

NANDITA : Forget about her…what is your problem, Aditya?

Aditya didn’t understand what his mother was talking about. He looked at his mother confusingly and asked him what she is talking about.

NANDITA : Mr. Ahuja cancelled his company’s deal with us! Why? Because he wanted to talk to you about this deal face to face but you didn’t go to meet him!!! Can I know the reason for your ignoring Mr. Ahuja's request?

ADITYA : Mom, I was not ignoring him. I sent my assistant with a detailed plan of the project and talked with him via video call but he was still demanding to meet with me. So it is his choice to cancel this deal for such a small reason. I can not do anything about it.

Aditya said very casually and sat down on the sofa. His parents were shocked to see his indifferent behaviour regarding a business deal. They didn’t understand what happened to their son.

ADIRAJ : Why didn’t you meet him? What was more important than that deal?

Adiraj said in his authoritative voice. Though he was angry he still maintain his composer and didn’t shout.

ADITYA : Dad, Ayu had his speech therapy session…how could I go?

Both his parents got shocked. They could not believe that for such reason their son ignored such an important client. Nandita who had already lost her composer shouted at Aditya again.

NANDITA : Have you lost your mind? For such a nonsense reason you missed the meeting!

Hearing his mom's words Aditya got angry. How could his mom say Ayush's speech therapy session a nonsense reason? He stood up from the sofa.

ADITYA : Mom! How could you say that? You know how important every speech therapy session is for Ayu!

Nandita immediately retorted back.

NANDITA : I didn’t say, it is not important for Ayush. But Gita could have taken him there. You didn’t need to go!

ADITYA : Yes, I needed to go. I had to observe every exercise so I can help Ayu practice it later. You don’t understand.

NANDITA : No, I don’t understand and I don’t want to understand. You are being unreasonable. You have stopped going office for so many days. What happened to you? How did you become so ignorant towards work?

Aditya was going to say something but his father stopped him .

ADIRAJ : listen Aditya, this is business, not a game. You need to be serious. We will not tolerate so much negligence towards it. Don't force us to take action.

Before Aditya could ask what action they are talking about they left the room without saying anything anymore. When they were leaving they noticed Granny was at the entrance with her caregiver, Priya.

They didn’t even exchange pleasantries. Adiraj wished his mother but Granny ignored him and indicate Priya to push her wheelchair. Adiraj sighed and followed his wife.

It’s been many years since his mother started giving him cold should. He knows very well that his mother and wife are not in good terms from the start of his marriage. His mother had chosen a girl for him but he and his father agreed his marriage with Nandita because it was beneficial for business. The girl his mother had chosen was his mother's friend's daughter. Due to the cancel of marriage the relationship between two friends broke. Nandia was never the kind of person his mother likes. Nandita is a completely career-oriented woman. Except for her career, she never gives attention to anything which his mother hates the most. His mother never had a very good relationship with his father also. Because he was also the same. In his life except for business nothing was important. He still had a good relationship with his mother. But the distance between him and his mother started when he sent Aditya to a hostel to study. His mother protested a lot about that decision but his wife wanted that. He had nothing to do.

Seeing his Granny he went near her and squatted down in front of her. He was going to tell her what happened but his Granny interrupted him saying she has heard everything.

ADITYA : What will I do Granny?

Aditya was very confused. He didn’t understand how he will handle his life. His was already on the verge of breaking. He was already very tired. Every night he goes to sleep with the hope that his wife will wake up the next day but alas! His wife has no intention to make him happy about it.

Granny caressed Aditya's head for some time and said very gently…

GRANNY : This is life, my dear…life is about balancing. Nothing excessive is good. You need to learn how to balance everything in your life. Don't break down so easily.

Saying this his Granny went inside the bedroom where Aditya's wife and son were. Aditya didn’t follow her. He was just quietly sitting there. He didn’t know how will he manage everything but he knew he has to.