Chapter 72 Her past 1

Mrs Malhotra wanted to ask her husband about her sons. She was missing them dearly and wanted to go to India. When she thought about it again, she thought it would be waste of her time as they will be busy and she will be alone there. So she thought it would be better to send Gouthami to India so that Abhi and Gouthami can spend some quality time together. She spoke to Gouthami about it but latter didn’t accept the offer saying she was busy with her patients at the hospital. But Mrs Malhotra insisted and Gouthami said that she will think of it. Gouthami is also missing Rahul very much. It has been almost three months that he went to India and he didn’t return. She missed him so much but she know if she goes to India he will know that she came for him and it will hurt her ego and pride to chase after him. She thought he was the one who went to India leaving her behind and he should be the one to apolozise first and beg for here attention. At last seeing his wife’s angered face Mr. Malhotra asked her what she want. She was so happy that she rushed to say what she wanted to say. Mr. Malhotra and his father listened to her idea of sending Gouthami to India. Mr Malhotra was not happy with it because he didn’t want to force his sons to do anything against their will. But Old man accepted it and he looked at his son and said "She is right, we have to know what they are doing there alone. Abhi should get married soon afterall he is not young anymore. Moreover I want to see my great grandchildren before I die." Mrs. Malhotra was pleased with her father-in-law’s decision but before she could express her gratitude he said with a firm voice "but Gouthami should accept to it first, you can’t force her to do it" he said to his daughter- in- law. He then got up from his seat and turned around to go upstairs. He had a vicious smile on his face and murmured to himself, "My grandsons know what to do. I don’t let anyone mess with them. I hope that big fella finds a beautiful girl for himself and that lotrle fella will be thankful to me. My last wish is to see my great grandchildren. I hope they are fast like me. tchhhhhh...." he signed deeply and went upstairs. Mr. Malhotra who was sitting on the sofa saw what has happened in front of him and he praised his father in his mind for this cunningness. He had a faint smile on his face and the smile disappeared when he looked at his wife who is fuming with anger. * * * * * * Shriya consoled her baby sister, Abhi and Rahul excused themselves from the room and then Shriya listened to her sister’s words and understood everything. She then held her sister’s hand with her one hand and she caressed Preeti’s cheeks with her thumb saying " It’s okay, It’s nothing. Don’t worry. From now on don’t feel afraid when this happens to you. It happens once in every month and it means you have become a little young lady. Okay don’t worry. Today sleep here in my room okay." She smiled at her sister reassuringly. Preeti listened to her sister carefully and tried to process what it meant as if she didn’t understand anything. She then nodded her head and was about to sleep in the bed when Shriya stopped her and she went to her wardrobe. She took out a pink coloured pack and returned to her sister and took her to the bathroom. After a few minutes both sisters came out and Shriya lead her to the bed and asked her to sleep while she left to get her sister something waem to drink. * * * * * * Abhi and Rahul came out of the room and sat on the sofa in the corridor outside the room. Abhi looked at his brother who is sitting silently beside him which is very unusual of him. Rahul can feel his brother’s gaze and looked back at him and asked "why are you staring at me?" Abhi replied with a calm expression "Grandpa called me just now and said that mom is planning to send your girlfriend here." Rahul looked at his brother and thought back to what he was talking to Gouthami on phone before going to Preeti’s room. He frowned and said "Ahhh!" and pressed his temples with his fingers with frustration. Abhi asked with the same calm expression "When are you planning to tell mom or do you want to keep it a secret from her forever," with these words the expression on Rahul’s face changed to sad ones, but Abhi continued "You can’t be irresponsible like this forever. How do you expect Gouthami to believe you and walk beside you for the entire life if you avt like a coward. " Rahul looked at his brother and said calmly "You know bhai , I never wanted to take up our family business. I just wanted to follow you in everything you do. But you know Gouthami want me to take up business all on my own." Abhi nodded and said "I know but you can’t follow me for your entire life. You have to become something in your life." Rahul shook his head as if saying ’no’, he then said "Why not ? what’s so wrong about following you and I am something, I am also a part of the company. I just wanted to help you. That’s it. I have decided what I should do with my life." He then looked in the other way. Abhi understood that he should not talk to his brother anymore regarding this matter. So he changed the topic, "how did you find that about Preeti?" Rahul looked towards the floor and said "I was on phone with Gouthami and then I saw a few ...you know.. stains on her night dress and when I asked her, she told me she was having a stomach ache. So I just guessed and when I asked her to tell Shriya, she asked me not to tell as it might frighten her sister." Abhi nodded his head and said "hmm" and Rahul said with an admired expression "She is such a cute girl". Abhi nodded his head again and said "She is". Just then Shriya walked out of her room and saw the two brothers sitting there on the sofa. She sat beside Abhi and placed her head on his shoulder. Both Abhi and Rahul were shocked and then looked at her. Her eyes were moist and tears started to roll down from her eyes to her cheeks. Abhi looked at her with a concerned expression and asked her "What happened ?" Rahul excused himself from there and went to his room. After a while Shriya straightened and leaned back on the couch. Abhi was just gazing at her and was silent for the whole time. She then looked at him and said "Sorry, suddenly I missed my mom so much and sorry I couldn’t control myself". Abhi placed his hand on her head and patted her hair gently. He then said " It’s okay. Don’t worry about anything. I am there for you", he consoled her. She nodded her head in agreement. After a while when she was stable in her thoughts he asked her "What happened to your parents?" She looked at him as if she was hesitating to tell him and he was about to say, ’let it be’, she answered him "Five years ago, we lost them both in a fire accident." She then looked towards the floor and said "At that time I have summer vacation. Preeti was in her school and I went to pick her up in the evening. When I went my parents and my brother were there at home. I went to my friend’s house first and told my parents that I will pick Preeti up from school. After picking her up, we returned home and when we reached there," she choked on her words and kept silent for a while and again tears rolled down from her eyes and fell onto her cheeks. Abhi wiped the tears with his thumb fingers. She looked at him and continued "My house where we used to live happily, enjoy everyday, my parents and my brother, nothing was left except for the ash and half burnt house.This all happened in two hours. " "Nothing was left. Everything we ever had all became ash."