Naina's POV
"I will buy a gift for Mom and then I will drop you home,” he told me.
"What will you buy for Mom?" I asked.
"I don’t know. She is not crazy for jewelery, saree. I gave her jewelery, purse, sarees on her previous birthdays but she was not that excited,” he said.
It felt so normal.
As if we were never separated.
"Can I give a suggestion?" I asked and he looked at me.
"You don’t have to ask permission from me to say something Naina."
"I think…I mean it’s just a personal opinion. The people in the organization are close to her heart, so cut a cake in the organization with everyone and then take everybody for lunch,” I said and he looked at me surprised.
"I mean I know it will cost a lot to take everybody for lunch but it will make Mom and everyone happy,” I continued.
"And then in the evening, when you come back home, cook something for her and I know we both don’t know how to cook but open YouTube and try to cook her favorite dishes. It will make her happy and then spend a night in her house and next day go to office from her house,” I suggested and he stopped the car.
"Thank you. Thank you so much. You are the best. I love you,” he said making me shocked and then he looked at the other side as maybe he realized what he said.
"I mean thank you. It's the best gift. Thank you for showing me money and expensive gifts cannot buy happiness. Can I ask for another favor?" he asked and I looked at him.
"Please spend the day with Mom and me tomorrow. It will make Mom happy and everyone in the organization will also be happy to see you,” he said.
"Before you could say something I want to tell you Mom doesn't know about our divorce. I didn't tell her anything,” he said.
He does not know that I told Mom everything.
If I go tomorrow it will make Mom happy on her birthday.
"Okay. I have to inform my students that tomorrow I will take a leave.”
"Thank you. Thank you so much,” he said once again and then started the car towards my house and put on the radio.
A small smile escaped my lips as I remembered how he took care of me while walking, how he was so jealous when the shopkeeper was complimenting me.
Does he still love me?
No.
He can’t love me after he came to know everything.
He wanted the divorce.
There’s no way he still loves me.
Then, why did it felt like he still loves me?
As we reached in front of my house,
My house.
This didn’t felt like my house anymore.
As we reached Dad’s house he got out of car and opened the door for me and I got out of the car.
"So tomorrow I will pick you by 8 a.m.,” he told me and I nodded in a yes and was walking towards my house.
I turned around to see he was looking at me.
Without saying anything I went inside the house and locked the door but before locking the door I saw he was still standing there leaning against the car.
*****
Next day I woke up early and got ready in a white salwar suit and did my minimal makeup.
"Where are you going so early?" Dad asked as he served me sandwich for breakfast.
"I am going to attend a birthday party,” I said and Dad looked at me but didn't say anything and went back to having breakfast.
It's not that I was trying to hide it from him but me and Dad have a formal relation.
I never felt like sharing anything with him.
He was there with me, but he was never there for me.
I took my purse and bid goodbye to Dad, wore my sandals and went outside and was waiting for him.
I had told my students that I have taken a day off and asked them to come tomorrow.
The students have became a part of my life now.
As I was in my thoughts I realized a car standing in front of me.
"Let's go,” Ranveer said as he came to my side and opened the door for me and then he closed the door and went back to driver’s seat and sat in the car and started driving it.
"Mom doesn't know we will be there. Today I didn't even wish her. She must be upset thinking that I forgot her birthday,” he said and there was a smile on his face.
The smile which makes me weak.
"Thank you so much for this plan and coming with me. Aunties in the organization will also be very happy,” he said.
"Its okay."
"And thanks for coming with me and making Mom happy,” he thanked, again.
"She is my Mom too,” I told him.
I was doing it to make Mom happy who has a special place in my heart.
"Sorry,” he apologized and then we both were silent.
We reached Mom's house.
"Let's go,” I said and was opening the car.
"Wait...wait..." he said and pulled out a tiffin he had kept at the back seat.
"I have seen YouTube and made veg cutlet for Mom. Taste it and tell me how it is?" he asked opening the tiffin box.
I took a bite.
Umm...
I mean...I mean...
"How is it?" he asked excitedly.
"Ranveer...I mean it is delicious...really...it is so delicious that I decided to have it all,” I said as I snatched the box from him.
"Really?" he asked.
"Yes I want to eat it all,” I said and finished one cutlet.
"But what we will give to Mom if you finished it. Anyways eat it if you like it so much but let me taste one at least. For the first time I prepared something,” he said as he snatched the tiffin from me and took a bite.
I closed my eyes as he realized that he had added too much salt in it.
"Ranveer both of us are horrible at cooking. It is not our job. Let's buy her veg cutlet from nearby snacks shop,” I said as I looked at the snacks shop across the road.
He started laughing and then I joined him.
Forgetting about everything we were enjoying the moment.
"Then how we will prepare dinner today?" he asked.
"We will taste it from time to time so that salt and spices are perfect. It will make Mom happy if two people who are worst at cooking prepare something for her,” I laughed and he joined me as he kept the tiffin box on the backseat and we both went to buy snacks.
*****