Relationship Status - It's complicated

Chapter 18 - ShivAnjali

Mohini

Anjali's time off from work for marriage had started a couple days ago. Us, mother and daughter were having a good time over shopping. I loved spending time with my little girl and I was feeling a little sad as well that she was going away from me. At the same time, I just hoped and prayed that she receives all happiness in this marriage. So many emotions ! I suppose the emotional rollercoaster that starts when you carry the baby in the womb never really stops. After an exhaustive day of shopping for dresses that my Anjali would take with her, I returned to the bedroom with a glass of hot milk for me and my husband. I had also given a glass to Anjali.

My husband who was lounging on the bed with a Hindi murder mystery novel closed the book upon seeing me.

"You seem very tired?" He was now putting his reading glasses away.

"Ofcourse, It's not easy these days Ji, wedding shopping was good and very simple in our times. Now a days, there are soo many choices and I want the best for my Anjali." I handed the glass of milk to him. He laughed. He had been extremely worried since the day Shiv's Dadi had put forward the 'rishta' for Anjali. He was not only worried for Anjali and her future but the expense for the Anjali's second wedding. Therefore, when Shiv's father said that he was willing to split expenses, my husband had eased up a lot. Anjali had said she wanted a simple marriage but even a simple marriage in the 21st century costed a fortune for retired families like us.

My tensed husband had slowly started to ease away as well. I began to sip the hot milk hoping it would now take away my tiredness.

"Mohini. I know something happened at shopping the other day as I saw Anjali upset. Whatever it was, I am sure you know and I trust Anjali's mother with her daughter. I hope you have handled it well." I had only known bits of what Pooja had told me later on the phone and Pooja also said that she didn't want to break Anjali's trust.

I knew the ordeal my daughter had gone through at that na-mard's home. It was something I wished nobody's daughter/sister or any woman had to go through. I was her mother and it didn't take me time to put two and two together to understand why Anjali had been upset at shopping, her past must have come back to her as she was mentally preparing herself for the wedding.

"Ji, I have handled it. You don't worry." I had to respond to my husband. He had developed high BP issue ever since Anjali's failed marriage. I was the one who sat down with him and made him understand our daughter's sufferings at the hands of Manish because of his hidden orientation and that our daughter needed separation. Shekhar had to be taken to hospital a few hours later. At that time, I only wondered how he would react if he ever came to know that our daughter had not only suffered humiliation in public but in the bedroom too. However, I was sure, he had subtly understood a lot of unsaid things.

It was hard, very very hard as parents to learn that our only precious daughter had been pushed towards a path of insanity by someone whom we trusted with her life.

"Mohini, I want to talk to Anjali and tell her that she will always have our back no matter what. This is her home and she can always come back here." I nodded at him.

"And I know that" Anjali was standing by the door with her arms crossed on her chest and tears in her eyes.

"Anjali, meri beti. Did you need anything?" I put my glass aside and went up to her.

meri beti = my daughter

"No Ma, I am sorry I heard the last part. I was coming to just sit with you two for sometime." I put my arms around my daughter.

"Thank you both. You both are the best parents for me. I would have melted away if not for your support. " She mumbled.

"No beta, come sit here." My husband pointed to the opposite side of the bed.