Page 92 of That Same Old Love

She loved him a lot, but she would never take chances towards losing another child or feeling the pain and loss all over again.

The doorbell rang and she knew it was Samrat.

She put her album back into the shelf and opened the door.

Samrat looked tired and a little annoyed. “Why did you leave the party without letting me know? And why aren’t you answering your phone?”

“I let your parents know that I was leaving. You were quite busy and I didn’t want to disturb you. And my phone is getting charged.”

Samrat rubbed his eyes and yawned, pulling her closer to hug her. “My mother and father enjoyed the party tonight and they were very excited with our gift—” he broke off and moved a few inches apart to look at her. “What’s wrong Mahi? What happened? Did anyone do or say something to upset you?” he asked when she was being very quiet and unresponsive.

She shook her head and pulled him closer to hug him back. “No. Nothing happened. I’m just really tired, since it was a working day and we danced for a long time… I’m glad the party was a success.”

“I wish you hadn’t changed into your night clothes from that Sari. But then, if you hadn’t, I would have started my seduction and probably been asleep halfway,” he said, chuckling sleepily.

She wasn’t in a mood to reply back with a teasing remark. She was still consumed by guilt since that evening. “Samrat… your parents want you to marry and have children soon. I think they want that desperately, and I saw how good you were with that toddler at the party. You would make an excellent father again someday.”

Samrat smiled. “I do like children… especially their minds. It’s pretty fascinating how they think and reason when all the rules and society influences haven’t molded their minds yet. Anyway, you would be an excellent mother again too, Mahi,” he said rocking them slightly.

She looked up at him, “I don’t have your similar fascination towards small children, Samrat. I was never the kind to run towards a stranger’s kid to chat them up or to play with them. I’m not very maternal by nature, and the only kids I loved were my own son and my nephew. And Rajeev too, since he was born in my house and I was there during his first eight years.”

Samrat laughed. “Thank god you lovedsomechildren… you’ll love our children too then,” he teased and then groaned. “I’m too tired to start anything now… but is this talk about you letting meknow that you would want to have a baby with me someday? Did seeing my married parents happy, make you see reason finally?”

She didn’t reply.

Samrat’s smile widened. “And here I thought, I will need to waste my wish to ask you to marry me. And then after a decent period of time, when I’m very bored of you, you would have my baby,” he teased.

She didn’t return his smile. “Samrat… I will never marry you and I will never ever have your child or anyone else’s child in my lifetime.”

Samrat’s smile froze and he looked stunned at her matter of fact tone. “What?” he stared at her and then his arms dropped from her when he realized she was being very serious.

Her mouth began to water and her lips tingled, but not in a sensation for wanting to kiss. It was because she was getting the urge to lash out and say something extremely hurtful.

Dropping her arms from around him, she moved away to lean back on one of the walls.”Did you think you were so special that you miraculously healed me? And made me change my decision about marriage or babies since the last year?” she asked, knowing very well that she was being deliberately hurtful.

She wanted to make him angry. Angry enough to lash out at her and then to storm out from her life.

Samrat looked at her coldly. “Actually yes. I did think that I healed you. Healed you enough to maybe make you change your mind about marriage and children. Because you healed me, and changed my mind.”

She scoffed, even though her heart was breaking. She lashed out in another attack, which was her defense to hit him where he was the most vulnerable.

“Good for you then. Replace your dead wife and kid with another set. Preethi and her son are waiting. You can get two birds in one shot and later make several little add-ons to expandyour family. And if you don’t like that choice, then go buy yourself a bride who will breed your children. You still have your looks and plenty of money to pick from the best available stock.”

Samrat looked furious and reached out a hand towards her. She automatically flinched and covered her head using both hands in a protective gesture.

Samrat froze in the act of reaching for his house keys on the wall peg above her.

When Mahi realized that there was no oncoming blow, she slowly looked up at him.

Samrat looked both shocked and furious. “What the hell did you just do?” he asked, as quietly as he could.

She felt foolish. Over the past year, even though she drove him crazy sometimes, not once did he raise as much as his pinky finger towards her in violence. And whenever she pushed him too hard, at most he yelled at her and she yelled back at him. Now, she felt stupid and didn’t know what to say to him about her reaction.

“I-I was just… just—” she broke off not knowing how to distract him.

Samrat looked at her intently. “Your ex-husband. Did he hurt you?” he asked in a controlled tone.

Mahi was embarrassed, especially since she put on such a deliberately brave and cocky front in front of him. It had become a natural persona since the last year, and she had always been that way most of her life except during her marriage.

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