"Good morning Mahesh!" RK says as a tall and fair thin man walks into the family dining room the next morning.

"Good morning sir!" Mahesh says giving RK a red pendrive. "I checked the CCTV footages of last night."

"What did you find?" Madhav asks eagerly. 

"Nothing." Mahesh lies.

"Did you check properly?" Shyaam asks sitting down next to Devi.

"I did. Twice." Mahesh replies. "I didn't see anything or anyone before and after the incident. Perhaps an object in the room scared your daughter."

"It's that picture of that guy from that gossip show on Star World!" Yashoda says as she serves the masala dhosai to RK. "I told you that man looks like the devil! Get rid of that man's poster and everything should be-"

"Hi everyone! Good morning!" Shree greets walking in. She was wearing a pink Ralph Lauren tee-shirt with a pair of sweatpants. 

Shree was carrying Madhu. "Say good morning to everyone, Madhu!" Shree whispers as she caresses Madhu's pigtails.

"No!" Madhu says softly and buries her face on Shree's shoulder.

Madhav walks to Shree and takes her into his arms. "Baby, it's okay. I talked to the security uncles. They said nothing was seen on the CCTVs."

"So it wasn't the Boogeyman or an Asur with horns and a tail  and big teeth?" Madhu asks as Madhav makes her sit on the chair between his and Shree's.

"No baby! Nothing came last night to scare my little princess." He says kissing her head. "I made masala dhosai and Kerala mutton curry for you. That should cheer you up, right? Isn't that your most favourite food in the whole world?"

Madhu nods.

"If you smile for me, I'll make you a bigger dhosai." Madhav says. He leans closer and whispers. "And, I'll make you some samosas in the evening."

"I want ice cream milkshake." Madhu whispers into Madhav's ears.

Madhav smiles. "Done. Don't tell Mumma."

"Our little secret!" Madhu whispers back giggling.

"What did you tell your Nanna?" Shree asks Madhu.

"Can't tell you." Madhu says.

"Why not?" Shree asks lifting an eyebrow at Madhu.

"It's condifential." Madhu says smirking. "Nanna made me promise. He said he will never ever ever ever talk to me if I tell you."

"Keep your Pentagon secrets to yourself!" Shree says as she looks at Devi who was seated opposite to her.

"Karma has got you akka!" She says smiling. "Remember how you and Nanna had little secrets amongst yourselves? And you both refused to share it with me and Amma?"

"So what, you and Amma still have secrets that I don't know of!" Shree says. 

"Is it wrong to do so?" Devi asks quirking her eyebrows. "It's not my fault that you aren't a fan of the hottest gossips of the town."

"That's it?" Shree asks amused. "You and Amma gossip together? I hope you aren't joking because that's so-"

"Whoa, whoa!" Madhav says as he comes into the dining room with a platter full of masala dhosais. He keeps one dhosai on each empty plate and sits on his seat. "Too much chatter, ladies! Less talk and more eating. Is my wife annoying you too much, little sister?"

"Yes, ever since the day I was born." Devi says.

"Says the person who has been a pain in the ass for twenty four freaking years!" Shree smirks.

"Now do you see what Lakshmi Aunty has been dealing with for all these years?" Shyaam whispers to Yashoda with a playful smile. 

"I do! And don't talk to me!" Yashoda whispers and swats his arm. 

"Ma, I am sorry! But please, stop ignoring Devi!" Shyaam whispers. "She's devastated! You have been cold to my wife ever since we told you and Pa about the baby! Please talk to her! You know how much she loves you!"

"I will talk to whomever I wish to. It's none of your business, Shyaam!" Yashoda whispers. "Be thankful that I chose to sit beside you for breakfast this morning! I was about to sit beside Madhav and-" 

"Okay, everyone! Can we please stop the side chatter?" RK says. "Tonight, I need all of you to be at the living room by 7 PM sharp!"

"What for dad?" Shyaam asks as he chews on his food.

"Well, Appa and I have decided that we will be getting a private jet for the entire family!" Madhav announces.

"OMG that's so cool!" Shyaam and Devi exclaim.

"That's wonderful news!" Shree says.

"Exactly." Madhav nods. "The jet is almost ready. The interiors will be furnished soon and the manufacturer has sent us a catalogue to pick the seats and the other facilities that we hope to include."

"Can we have the seats recline real flat?" Shree asks. "I'd really like to lie back and sleep."

"Can we have a desk space? So we can actually sit down with our laptops and get some work done?" Devi asks.

"I want a mini-bar!" Shyaam says.

"A big LED TV with cable connection!" Yashoda adds.

"With Paw Patrol! PAW PATROL!" Madhu shouts excitedly.

"Yes, yes, yes, yes and we can most certainly do that Madhu baby!" RK says. "What else?"

"Can we have a wine cellar?" Madhav asks and leans closer to RK and whispers. "And a smoking lounge. - for you and me?"

"Absolutely my boy!" RK whispers. 

* * * * * 

"Hey wifey baby!" Shyaam says cheerfully as he waltzes into their room. Devi pushes her glasses up her nose as she types something important on her laptop.

"Shyaam, I am busy!" She sighs as he sits on the table.

"How about you put all this aside and let me cuddle you up?" He whispers into her ears.

"Tempting offer, dear husband!" Devi says pressing a kiss to his nose. "But I have to work on this case"

His lips brushed across her soft lips in a feather-light caress. Devi clutched at his shoulders.  His hands seemed to be everywhere, on her breasts, around her waist.

His lips left her mouth, trailing down her neck to the soft hollow above her collarbone. She moaned at each touch. She cupped his face in her hands and caught his eyes with hers.

Then she pulled his mouth down to hers, kissing him with a sweet innocence that set him afire.

"Shyaam Ramakrishna, I have all the time in the world to spend with you!" She whispers. "But not now. I'm working on a really important case and I need to focus. I'll be done by the evening. We can cuddle and watch something together?" 

"I like that!" Shyaam says and nods.

"Make some popcorn and some of those mini hotdogs too!" Devi says as she looks at him with twinkling eyes. "And some lemonade. And get some nachos too, please!"

"Is that all?" Shyaam asks. "What else does my baby girl want?"

"Some ice cream and-and..... some grapes?" Devi adds with a small smile. "Get me a hot water bag also, Shyaam! My feet are slightly swelling!"

"Yes, your highness!" Shyaam says kissing her forehead.

"Shyaam! Shyaam!" Devi calls out to him. He sits next to her. "Shyaam, do you think, I don't know, if your other mother- Rukmini Ma or your sister were alive, do-do-do you think they would have been fine with our marriage?"

"Why's that even a question?" He asks with a smile. "I really don't know the answer because I was never fortunate enough to meet and get to know them personally. But they would feel happy knowing that I got married to a very wise and well educated young lady."

"Do you think your own mother is happy to know that I conceived- and that too before marriage?" Devi asks. "I get some cold vibrations from her every since we told the entire family. She hasn't properly talked to me Shyaam! This was not how things were between her and me!"

"Devi, don't waste your time thinking about this." Shyaam says soothingly. "I know she is disappointed that we made a child out of wedlock, but trust me, she can't be mad at us for too long! I know her. As soon as she sees the beautiful baby girl we made, she will forget the reason why she was upset with us."

* * * * * 

Devi knocks twice on Yashoda's door that evening. Yashoda opens the door and peeks out. She quickly tried to slam the door shut when she saw Devi out.

"Please don't close the door!" Devi pleads. "Please don't! I need to talk to you. I need your advice on something."

"Come in then!" Yashoda says and lets her inside.

Yashoda takes a seat of the leathered armchair and asks Devi to sit on the one beside her.

Devi sits down, adjusting the tee-shirt she was wearing.

"I am not ready to have this baby!" Devi says and notices Yashoda's blank expression. "I feel it's too soon. I don't feel ready. I just got a proper permanent job and I just started my married life. We haven't even gone on a honeymoon or got to properly live the life of a married couple! I haven't properly settled down at my new house. It's too early for me and a baby would only make things complicated for me and Shyaam!"

"You and Shyaam should have thought about all those dynamics when the two of you were high on the tide of pleasure!" Yashoda says. "There's nothing that can be done now. You have my blessings and I shall do what I must as a mother-in-law and a grandmother, Devi."

"There is an alternative!" Devi says as tears well in her eyes. "I want to abort this baby."

"What is it with you and your sister? Aborting a child is not the answer to your problems!" Yashoda exclaims shocked. 

"It is! It is the only way!" Devi says. She gets off the chair and comes towards Yashoda. She sits on her knees and holds her hands. "Perhaps that will be the only way I can make you talk to me. Isn't that the reason you are avoiding me for all these days?"

"Devi, my dear child, let me clarify this. Everything around me is changing so soon. It's back to back changes and I am unable to digest them all! Madhu is no longer a baby - she's going to kindergarten now. Madhav and Shree will be celebrating their fifth anniversary soon. It's been five years since they married! Can you believe that? Now, you and Shyaam have married! Your father-in-law will turn seventy next week. I am growing old and I have moved into menopause very recently! Everything is changing and perhaps the news of your pregnancy just added to me plight!"

"Devi, everything around me is changing!" Yashoda whispers. "I don't know how to react. I am happy to hear the news of your pregnancy and I don't mind whether the baby was conceived before the marriage or not! I am afraid because everything is happening so fast and at this stage I don't want things to go fast. The faster time flies the faster our time together ends."

"I agree with you! I can understand what you are going through." Devi says. "Menopause can take a toll on our emotions. Also, change is inevitable and yes, time does fly and sometimes like a falcon. Instead of worrying, we can learn to accept the changes and live the moment. If we waste away all the time we have by worrying, then we will regret one day. Can we please live the moment like the good friends we were? If this the news of this pregnancy is too much to handle then I can-"

"There's no need for that!" Yashoda says. "I want you to have this child, Devi. Give me sometime to absorb all the changes that are happening around me. I am happy for you, and let there be no more doubts on that matter. 

Devi quickly wrapped her arms around Yashoda's neck. 

"I love you Devi. You are the one person who I love the most." She whispers caressing Devi's head.

* * * * *

"What did you tell them? What did you tell them?" Shiv asks eagerly as Mahesh walks into his tiny apartment.

"I told them that nothing was recorded on the CCTV." Mahesh replies as he slumps on the couch. He keeps a polythene bag with two aluminium foil containers on the table. "I got you dinner."

"You know that I hate Madhav because he sent me to prison. Because of him I lost my job, my entire career, my fiancée left me, and my family cut me off. But do you know what I am most curious to know?" Shiv asks as he devours the chapathi and the kurma. "You! What has that lowlife done that you hate him the same way I do?"

"Madhav is the reason that I don't have a family." Mahesh says as he looks at the framed picture of two brothers. "My parents died when I was very little. The only family I had was my brother. He was my entire world. I was five when I saw Madhav lure my poor and drunk brother to the railways tracks and tricked him into standing still until a train ran over him. Madhav killed my brother Aravind."

To be continued....

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