Page 98 of That Same Old Love

“I’m sure he feels the same way, Mahi,” said Parvathi.

Mahi smiled sadly. “No. I know him very well. He will growl and push me away at first. I hurt his pride and made him beg, only to reject him. I told him that our love didn’t amount to anything.”

“Samrat is a practical person, he will understand your fears, when you tell him why you acted that way,” said Smitha.

“I really hope so. It’s going to be so hard waiting for him to come back to the house across mine,” said Mahi.

Sidhu had regretfully pleaded with Mahi, asking her to not come down to Samrat’s parents’ village. Ananya and her mother were still shaken up and Sidhu wanted Samrat to spend some time with them exclusively without Mahi interrupting them.

Mahi had agreed with Sidhu, even though she was anxious to see Samrat as soon as possible.

After breakfast, Mahi insisted that her friends get back to their families.

“Are you sure Mahi? I can wait until Rajeev gets here at ten o’clock,” said Jhanvi.

“No Jhanu, I kept you guys with me for long enough on a Sunday morning. I’m sure you have plans with your families. And I do need an hour to shower and look a little decent before Rajeev gets here to pick me up. I promised Kamala aunty I would spend the day with her,” said Mahi.

They helped Mahi clear up the table and prepared to leave. She hugged and thanked them again.

“Thanks guys, I love you all. I don’t know what I would have done without you all here with me last night.”

“Don’t be silly Mahi, that’s what friends are for. You would have done the same for any of us,” said Jhanvi.

Mahi smiled and waved them goodbye, before going inside to get ready and wait for Rajeev.

* * *

Mahi ran her fingers on Samrat’s picture on her wall.

“Come back soon, Samrat,” she muttered, missing him like crazy.

It has been two weeks since the missing flight episode and she was getting a little frantic. Samrat was not answering her calls and wasn’t back to his parents’ house in the city. And when she called Sidhu, he told her that Samrat was still at the village. And also that Samrat asked Sidhu to convey the message that he didn’t want to see or talk to her.

She knew that she had to give Samrat some space and probably wait until he was ready enough to talk to her. And to distract herself, she had been clocking in nearly fourteen hours a day at work and came home to simply crash on her bed.

On one of the nights, she received a very surprising call from her former mother-in-law. The call left her both disturbed while also happy.

“Mahi, my son has been arrested and is released on bail. My daughter-in-law has a restraining order against him along with some other charges for which he might be implicated soon,” her former mother-in-law said frantically.

“I’m sorry that you are worried. But how can I help?”

“My son said that it was some man you know who set him up by speaking to my daughter-in-law. She has some incriminating evidence against my son that can put him in jail for domestic violence. Please help me Mahi. Ask that man to speak with her,” her former mother-in-law begged.

Mahi knew it was Samrat, who must have done something and felt her love for him increase tenfold. “I’m sorry. There is nothing I can do. And if Dinesh’s wife has some concrete proof of abusing her and hurting her, then she must have suffered a lot to go to those lengths,” she said softly before hanging up.

She wanted to hold Samrat badly. She wished she could storm to his hiding spot, and cling to his leg, and then refuse to let go. But she didn’t know where his village was located.

Sighing, she realized that she didn’t have anything planned for the day. She wanted to have a heavy brunch and probably catch up on some sleep. Just as she sat down to eat her vegetable pongal, the doorbell rang.

When she answered the door, she was shocked seeing Ananya.

“Did I catch you at a bad time? Can I come in?” asked Ananya.

Shaking her head, Mahi stepped aside hurriedly. “Yes. No. I mean… yes come on in and no, I’m not busy.”

Ananya walked inside and looked around. She saw the pictures on the walls, some single framed pictures of Aryan, some huge collaged pictures of Mahi with her friends, family and even some with Samrat. “Your son?” she asked. “My brother mentioned him to me.”

Mahi nodded. “Yes. That’s Aryan. He passed away nearly two years ago. That’s why I moved here,” she said quietly.

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