Page 94 of That Same Old Love

Much later that night, she called Rajeev. He picked up after a few rings.

“Rajeev, this is Mahi. Can I come and stay with you for a few days… actually, I don’t know for how long,” she said with a wavering voice.

There was a pause and then, “Do you want me to pick you up from your home right now, akka?” Rajeev asked softly.

“No. I’ll drive myself to your place. Thank you Rajeev,” she told him and started packing her things.

When she arrived at Rajeev’s place, he didn’t ask her any questions. He simply hugged her and showed her the spare bedroom.

CHAPTER 35

It was Mahi’s birthday and she was with her friends for lunch.

“Another one bites the dust… Fourth one now. It’s just all me. I’m the one that messes up each time. What’s to say… had Dinesh married someone else, maybe he wouldn’t have turned into an abusive husband. I must have driven him to behave that way. And even when I had perfectly good guys who loved me, I just dumped them. That’s what I usually do. But in Samrat’s case… it’s for his own good. You’ll see, he’ll bounce back soon and find someone to be happy,” she said with a forced wobbly smile.

Her friends were both outraged and worried.

“Mahi, don’t. There is no excuse for Dinesh’s abusive behavior, and I can’t believe that you are rehashing it again. We know it and you also know very well that it wasn’t your fault. And as with Samrat, he might bounce back and find someone, and maybe you will too, given time. But why is it even needed in the first place? I don’t believe in soul mates or such bullshit, but anyone with eyes can see that you are both good for each other and love each other,” said Jhanvi.

Her other friends nodded, agreeing with that observation.

“Speak to him Mahi, about your fears of losing another child. I’m pretty sure he already knows that, but tell him about what you went through with Aryan, for making you feel that strongly about not having any more children,” said Ashwini.

“Yes. And knowing Samrat, he will want you back in any way you let him. I’m sure if you had picked up his phone calls in the last two weeks, he would have told you the same,” said Parvathi.

“I know it’s hard Mahi, especially when you have been through so much. But life is unpredictable and you might be pleasantly surprised if you take a chance,” said Smitha softly.

After speaking to her friends, she felt even more torn. She knew that they were being practical, but she wasn’t really convinced that Samrat would be content with just her for long.

Later that night, she had dinner with Rajeev and her aunt. After dinner, Rajeev went to drop his mother at her house and was meeting up some friends.

She was at his house in the guest room. Just as her eyes were about to drift close, her cell phone rang.

It was Samrat. He had been calling almost every other hour the whole day to wish her. He was also sending her multiple text messages.

She answered his call after five rings.

“Happy birthday Mahi. I barely made it on time with just a minute to spare.”

She felt so overwhelmed and choked up listening to his voice; she couldn’t get her voice box to function for several seconds.

“This is Samrat by the way,” he said, laughing softly.

She laughed through her tears. “Samrat?”

“Yes, Mahi?”

She took some deep controlling breaths. “I’m sorry.”

“Sorry for what, Mahi?”

“Sorry for saying that I didn’t want you or love you and for not answering your calls and for hurting you… ” she said, her voice breaking down.

“I’m sorry too, Mahi. For putting you on the spot and demanding things from you when you weren’t ready for them. The only excuse I can give you Mahi… is that I was too tired after my father’s 60th birthday party and wasn’t thinking straight. So I’m sorry too Mahi.”

“No, you weren’t asking for anything unreasonable, Samrat. What you had asked was a natural conclusion to any long term relationship,” she said softly.

“I thought so too, Mahi. But there was more to your reaction that night. Wasn’t it, Mahi?”

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