Meant to be

Chapter 21: Can't now unsee, Can't now unfeel

"Neetu beta reached?" Rita shukla enquired as she answered the call of her daughter probably to say they as a family had landed in Mumbai and were probably making their way home now. " haan mummy, bas ab I think 40 mins we will be home, waiting to have dinner with you" she cooed into the phone and signed off on the call and excitedly turned to Preeti who had gone to receive them from the airport "Preeti now his health is ok?" Neetu enquired about her brother. Though she had so much she wanted to ask discuss, the fact tbat he was so poorly ill and none of them around rankled all of the family and they were still walking on egg shells about him continuing in the show even when he clearly was struggling with his health. "Your asking about his physical health or mental health?" Preeti chuckled, before continuing after noting the fact that her sister did not take too kindly to the joke "Arre baaba
Mazaak kar rahi hoon! He is mentally strong but he is being ridiculously stretched to the limits by the other contestants. He promised mummy that he will quit if he can't handle it and we are also monitoring his food and nutrition closely and hats off to the colors team and the rules
Laid down by endemol for such things very professionally handled. So given everything yes he is going through a tough time but nothing he cant manage for now I suppose."

Neetu was pensive for a bit, suddenly she felt a surge of maternal love for her brother and she wished she could hug him tight even if it was just for a flash. She sighed deeply and was shaken by preeti when she asked "kya soch rahi hai? Your tired after the journey, What's up kya hua suddenly sad kyu ho gayi?"
"Nahin yaar just was missing the monster of a monkey, everyone is tearing at him and I caught the last few episodes on the flight, Shehnaaz also was aloof from him, knowingly or unknowingly somehow I think I was confident ke voh hai andar, bohot khayal rakhi vo uska hai na?" Neetu tentatively said, they were all at a precarious place with regards to her. And they all could sense that they could no longer treat her presence in sidharth's life lightly. She glanced at Preeti and waited for her to share where she was regarding Shehnaaz but Preeti too just looked intently back at her so Neetu continued off loading what was in her mind and said " I watched him watching her in the secret room and preeti woh invested lag raha hai emotionally. Hai na?" She asked pointedly and knew Preeti too shared that opinion because she vigorously nodded her head and then responded to neetu's queries with words "yeah bola hai usnay mummy ko ke voh Shehnaaz ka clothes Ken ko bolay co/ordinate karnay ko, he is definitely emotionally invested and you saw how that girl was lost without him? But now I a m
Worried yaar Neetu! Because you know how he overthinks everything, I don't know if I am able to explain what I am worried about, mummy you know is so rock solid calm and is now though just so zen that it is frustrating, she refuses to discuss what is going on in her head!"

Neetu could not help chuckle that was typical mummy, rock solid and certain that life would iron itself out! "Ha ha ha ha ha as always mummy for the win, anyway now that I am also here we will outnumber, tu tension mat le and tell me na what's the latest gossip in the family! Kin kin ki jalee padi hai bol na, Rita ke betay ka kartootein dekh ke!!' And both the sisters dissolved j to easy laughter and banter.

And as they walked into the house they were met with their eager mother relieved to have both her daughters under one roof, yes they were not all together but for now this would suffice and she was grateful for a great many things and for today she was happy that all her kids were healthy and happy and honest. She hugged Neetu tight and got scrambling to settle them down and beyond the obvious there was a glint in her eyes that both the daughters did not miss so preeti could not help but ask "mummy Neetu ko dekhay toh aap khush her hain that is obvious lekin kuch toh hai watsup Matashreee little mischievous smile is very suspicious?"

Rita Shukla laughed and said "yes yes bataathee hoon baba usko bhi aanay de and together will gupshuo, tere liye nimbu paani le aaon? You also must be tired na beta driving around in this traffic" saying this she got busy in the kitchens setting dinner out and preparing refreshments for her daughters, every now and then she broke into a wide grin and she could not wait for them to see the latest episode. But for now she wanted to catch up with both her daughters serve then a good hot meal and they all did just that and finally after everything was settled Neetu and preeti settled into their mum's bed room and Neetu had her head resting on preeti's lap as she has against the head board and their mother on the arm chair next to the bed and Neetu finally asked "mummy yaar now cut the suspense and tell na what's got you all giggling like this????!!!"