Page 204 of The Redemption
“You need to take good care of yourself now,” she says gently. “You’re getting close to your due date. If you need anything, any advice, any help at all, just call me, and I will come. Anytime.”
“I will, Aunty,” Meher replies softly, her eyes welling with tears. “Thank you so much. You have no idea what that means to me.”
Meher doesn’t have a mother, nor does she have a mother-in-law. So, Siya’s mom stepping into that role for her, especially during her pregnancy, makes her emotional.
Siya’s mother squeezes her hand. “You don’t have to thank me. We’re family now.”
Meher nods, pulls herself together and hugs Siya’s mother.
As they pull apart, Siya’s mother turns to Baba with a contented smile.“But I must say, the event turned out really well.”
Meher immediately frowns. “It did. But it wasmybaby shower, and somehow these two brothers stole the show, looking smoking hot in their kurtas. The guests could barely focus on me whenever they were around.”
Ayaan and I look at each other before he turns to Meher again.
“Forget the guests, even you couldn’t take your eyes off me that day,” Ayaan says with a smug grin.
“He’s right,” Baba chuckles. “In fact, Krish even suggested the brothers should’ve charged appearance fees.”
Everyone laughs, but Meher fake pouts.
“It’s okay, Meher,” Siya’s mom reassures her with a smile. “‘Just wait until your twins arrive. Nobody will even ask about these two after that. All the attention will shift to the next generation of twins.”
Meher happily nods.
“Pratap and I think the same, Rukmini ji,” Baba joins in. “The next generation of twins are going to surpass their father and uncle when it comes to grabbing everyone’s attention.”
“They will,” Siya’s mother agrees with a smile. “Though, I’m surprised Pratap ji didn’t come to see me off. He had said he would.”
“He wanted to, Aunty,” Meher replies. “But an urgent meeting came up and he had to leave. He’s already asked me to apologise to you for not coming himself.”
That earns another round of smiles before Siya speaks up.
“Meher, you know what? When Mom met Kailash Uncle, the first thing she called him was‘Bhai Sahab.’But when she met your father, it was a different story altogether. Suddenly, it was ‘Pratap ji’ and ‘Rukmani ji.” No ‘Behan ji.’ No ‘Bhai Sahab.’ Nothing.”
She’s right. Even I had noticed that.
Meher and Baba burst out laughing while Siya’s mother tries hard not to blush.
“You’re right,” Meher agrees. “Even I’ve never seen Dad behave like that with any other woman except Aunty.”
“Pratap ji is a very good man. I respect him a lot,” Siya’s mother says with a smile. “And I can’t wait to meet him again.This time, it will probably be when the babies are born and he becomes a grandfather all over again.”
Ayaan then moves towards Siya, who instinctively glances at me before turning back to him again.
His eyes lock with Siya’s. “I know my brother can be impossible at times,” he begins. “He’s stubborn, unreasonable, bossy, and overprotective when it comes to family. But now that I know you, I’m sure you can handle him.”
Siya holds back a smile.
I should be frowning at how Ayaan is describing me to my wife. Instead, I have a smirk on my lips. However, I wisely stay out of the conversation.
“In fact,” Ayaan glances at me before looking back at Siya, “I trust only you to deal with all his moods. No one else.”
Siya looks genuinely overwhelmed. Then she smiles back and nods at him.
“But if he gives you too much trouble, just tell me.” Then, without warning, he hugs Siya. “Look after him… and yourself.”
At first, she doesn’t say anything. Then a small smile touches her lips as they pull apart. “I don’t think your brother lets anyone look after him. But I’ll try.”
