2 months later- Chennai
An agraharam
"God! I hope everything will be okay" Aadesh mumbled again as they walked towards Shreya's home
"Maybe I shouldn't come with you people if you want them to agree to the proposal" Armaan muttered uncomfortably. He is going to meet his ex lover's parents and it is going to be awkward
"You are the head of the family Armaan. Ofcourse you should be there" Janani chided
She knows it will be awkward. But it is necessary to break the ice
For Ava
Ava hadn't yet met her maternal grandparents. And Janani will try her best to bridge the gap
They knocked on the door and a middle aged woman opened the door
She didn't recognize Janani, but she immediately recognised Armaan
There was an awkward silence
"Mrs Iyyer. I am Janani Verma. This is my husband Armaan Verma and his brother Aadesh Verma. And these are my parents. We are here because we have a very important matter to discuss with you and Mr Iyyer" Janani said as she realised no one else is going to begin the conversation
There was an awkward silence once they settled in the living room and Janani saw Shreya fidgeting nervously in a corner
Armaan cleared his throat gaining everyone's attention
He first apologised for his careless behaviour with their daughter. It was so awkward. But necessary.
"Mr and Mrs Iyyer. I apologise for your loss. It was not intentional. But I admit my part in ruining your daughter’s life. I didn't understand how naive she was. She always portrayed a sophisticated and worldly image in front of everyone. And I took her at face value. I admit, back then I was a careless man. Didn't particularly bother about others feelings. But now I am a father and I understand what you must have undergone. If someone did to my daughter what I did to yours, I would definitely not leave him scot free. Please accept my apology" Armaan said earnestly
The elder Iyyer couple had tears in their eyes.
"We were very angry at you. Our precious daughter. She was ruined. Back then, we didn't understand your lifestyle. In my mind, you took advantage of my daughter’s innocence. That's why I thought. I couldn't let myself believe that my daughter would willingly get into a relationship with a man out of wedlock." Mr Iyyer said
"I understand Mr Iyyer. You belong to a very conservative community. Ishana was new to our world. I didn't realise all that back then" Armaan said
"We too are at fault. We didn't accept her when she came back pregnant. We disowned her. Forced her to get rid of the baby" Mr Iyyer said
"I didn't know she was pregnant. If I knew, I would have supported her" Armaan said
"Would you have married her, if she told you she was pregnant" Mr Iyyer asked
Armaan looked down, not able to answer that.
"You wouldn't have" Mr Iyyer said, with a humorless chuckle
"A loveless marriage would have been a disaster, Mr Iyyer. I would never have done that." Armaan said, and slipped his fingers in between Janani's letting her know that she is the only woman who owned his heart.
Mr and Mrs Iyyer nodded understanding the love this man has for his wife sitting beside him.
"Mr Iyyer. My brother, Aadesh, is in love with your younger daughter. We have come here to ask for her hand in marriage for my brother" Armaan breached the purpose of their visit and the Iyyer couple looked stunned
"But. We are from different castes. People will talk. Our society would not accept an intercaste marriage" Mr Iyyer declined politely and Aadesh's heart sank
Shreya looked down, her eyes welling up with tears
"Mr Iyyer. My daughter Janani fell in love with a man who is a father to two kids" Harshvardhan Trivedi said earning a frown from Iyyer
"People in our town talked a lot. Some even said there is something wrong with my daughter that we are marrying her off to a man with kids. Some people said we are marrying her off to him because he is rich. And if we had listened to the people and married her off to someone else to satisfy the society, my daughter would have been miserable. It's your choice Mr Iyyer. To decide what is more important to you. Your daughter or society" Harsh said politely
Janani silently thanked her father for intervening.
"I love your daughter. I will always love her. Give me a chance. I will keep her here all my life" Aadesh said pointing at his heart
"You will never regret that. That's a promise Mr and Mrs Iyyer" Aadesh added
"Please agree. Once we chose society over our child and look what happened. We lost her. I can't bear to lose another child. I can't. Please" Mrs Iyyer pleaded with her husband, with tears running down her eyes.
Mr Iyyer sighed and looked at his daughter
"Will you be happy with him dear?" He asked and Shreya nodded with tears in her eyes
Once they decided everything, Janani saw Mrs Iyyer glancing at her again and again
"Aunty. You want to say something??" Janani asked softly
"Ava. How is Ava?" She asked eager for information
"She is fine. She would be happier to know you. Do you want to meet her??" Janani asked and Mrs Iyyer nodded eagerly
"She is in the park around the corner. Armaan, can you go get the kids" Janani asked Armaan, who obliged happily
Ten minutes later Armaan walked in carrying Ava followed by Shanthi who had Advi in her arms
Armaan let Ava down and she rushed towards Shreya
"Maasii" Ava squealed meeting her maasi after a month
"Ava baby" Shreya kissed her on her cheeks
Mrs Iyyer looked transfixed at the little girl with tears running down her cheeks
Janani led Ava towards the Iyyer couple and introduced them.
"Ava baby, meet your new nana and nani" Janani said
"But I already have a nana and nani" Ava said pointing at Janani's parents
"Yes. Lucky little girls gets two sets of grandparents. And Ava is a lucky little girl" Janani said
"Like Ava has two mothers??" Ava asked raising her two fingers
"Yes baby. And this is your Ishu momma's parents. Say hi to them"