Family of Shaows

[sexonmind]

Chapter 11 part 3

Gita arrives home for her semester break, her luggage filled with expensive dresses, perfumes, soaps, beauty products, and makeup items. Lakshmi, noticing these unusual additions, asks Gita where they came from. Gita casually replies that they are gifts from Babu. Though unsure, Lakshmi informs Srinu about the gifts that evening.

The next day, Srinu, assuming Sunandha sent the gifts through Babu, thanks her when they meet. Sunandha is momentarily caught off guard but quickly recovers, smiling and nodding to maintain the misunderstanding without correcting it.

Later that day, as Aruna and Sunandha sat in the living room sipping tea, Sunandha brought up the morning's encounter. "Srinu thanked me for those gifts to Gita, thinking I sent them through Babu. But I know it’s his own doing," she said, raising an eyebrow.

Aruna smiled. "Babu mentioned Gita’s been helping him a lot at college. I just thought it was a nice gesture."

Sunandha sighed, placing her cup down. "Aruna, you’re spoiling Babu by giving him money. And now he’s using it to spoil Gita with expensive gifts. This isn’t good for either of them."

Aruna tilted her head, her tone calm but firm. "Amma, they’re both responsible kids. Babu’s just showing appreciation in his own way. Small gifts won’t spoil them."

Sunandha gave her a skeptical look. "Still, I think it’s too much."

Aruna chuckled and waved her hand dismissively. "Can’t a boyfriend buy some gifts for his girlfriend?" she said without thinking.

Sunandha blinked, her eyes widening in surprise. "Boyfriend? Girlfriend?"

Realizing her slip, Aruna froze for a moment but quickly recovered. "I mean... they’re close friends, Amma. That’s all I meant," she said with a small laugh, brushing it off.

But Sunandha wasn’t convinced. "Aruna, are you saying there’s something more between them?"

"Nothing serious," Aruna replied casually, trying to steer the conversation away. "They’re young, Amma. Let them figure things out. There’s no harm in it."

Sunandha sighed, shaking her head but choosing not to press further. "Just make sure this doesn’t get out of hand. Relationships can be... complicated."

Aruna smiled reassuringly. "Don’t worry, Amma. They’re both good kids."

The conversation shifted to other topics, but Sunandha’s mind lingered on Aruna’s words, a mix of concern and curiosity brewing within her.

After the break, Babu and Gita returned to their respective colleges, resuming their daily routines. Despite the physical distance, they continued their affair, staying connected through late-night calls and messages. Their bond grew stronger, fueled by their secret rendezvous during the break and the excitement of keeping their relationship hidden.

The effects of Babu's recent lifestyle began to show. The distractions of his affair with Gita, his friendships, and the carefree handling of money took a toll on his academics. Despite his intelligence, he barely managed to pass his final semester. To make matters worse, he couldn’t secure a job during the campus interviews—a harsh blow to his confidence.

When Babu returned home, it was clear something was wrong. His usual energy was replaced by a subdued demeanor, and he often kept to himself, staring at nothing for long stretches. Sunandha and Aruna noticed the change, but he brushed off their concerns with half-hearted reassurances.

Over time, the weight of his disappointments became apparent. He withdrew from conversations, avoided meeting friends, and began showing signs of depression. The once-cheerful Babu now seemed lost, unsure of how to navigate his next steps.

The effects of Babu's recent lifestyle began to show. The distractions of his affair with Gita, his friendships, and the carefree handling of money took a toll on his academics. Despite his intelligence, he barely managed to pass his final semester. To make matters worse, he couldn’t secure a job during the campus interviews—a harsh blow to his confidence.

When Babu returned home, it was clear something was wrong. His usual energy was replaced by a subdued demeanor, and he often kept to himself, staring at nothing for long stretches. Sunandha and Aruna noticed the change, but he brushed off their concerns with half-hearted reassurances.

Sunandha’s frustration only added to his burden. Her scolding words about his lack of focus and failure to secure a job stung deeply, further shaking his already fragile state of mind. "You’re wasting your potential, Babu. What are you going to do with your life?" she’d say, her words intended to push him forward but instead driving him further into self-doubt.

To make matters worse, his relationship with Gita began to falter. The once-thrilling bond they shared now felt strained under the weight of Babu’s mood swings and dwindling self-confidence. Their conversations became fewer, their arguments more frequent. The distance between them grew, and Babu felt increasingly isolated from the one person he thought he could rely on.

The weight of his disappointments seemed too much to bear, leaving Babu lost and uncertain about his future.

Rachana organized an exclusive women-only get-together to celebrate the success of the firm and its recent expansion. The event was carefully planned, and the guest list included her mother, sister, sister-in-law, Rekha, Aruna, Vani, and other female employees of the firm. The true reason behind Rachana’s decision to make it women-only, however, was to avoid Venu attending. She didn’t want him to discover that her father had lent her the money to set up the new branch office—a secret she intended to keep.

During the party, Rachana gave a heartfelt speech, expressing her gratitude. "I want to thank my dad for his support, Rekha for giving me this incredible opportunity, and most of all, Aruna for planning everything so meticulously. Without her vision, we wouldn’t be where we are today." The room erupted in applause, and Aruna, visibly touched, gave a warm smile.

Feeling particularly happy and proud, Aruna allowed herself to let loose a little, indulging in a few drinks—a rare occurrence for her. As the party wound down, Vani noticed Aruna’s unsteady steps and gently suggested, "You shouldn’t drive home, Aruna. Let someone pick you up."

Agreeing with Vani, Aruna called Sunandha, explaining the situation. Without hesitation, Sunandha sent Babu to pick her up.

When Babu arrived to pick her up, Aruna got into the car, her expression a mix of weariness and embarrassment. She hesitated for a moment before saying, "Babu, don’t take me home. Let’s go to Purushotham’s house instead."

Babu raised an eyebrow, surprised. "Purushotham’s house? Why?"

Aruna sighed, leaning back against the seat. "I’ve had a few drinks, and I don’t want Sunandha to see me like this. I need to freshen up before going home."

Understanding her concern, Babu nodded and started driving toward Purushotham’s residence. "Alright, but you owe me for playing chauffeur tonight," he said with a teasing smirk, trying to lighten the mood.

Aruna managed a small smile. "Fine, but keep this between us, okay? The last thing I need is Amma giving me a lecture about being responsible."

Aruna emerged from the washroom, her hair damp and wrapped in a towel. She paused when she noticed Babu sitting on the edge of the bed, his head bowed, and his eyes glistening with tears. Concern flickered across her face as she approached him.

"Babu," she said softly, sitting down beside him. "What’s wrong? Are you upset because I asked you to pick me up? I’m sorry if I bothered you."

Babu shook his head quickly, wiping his face with the back of his hand. "No, it’s not that, Akka. I don’t mind doing anything for you. You’re my sister, after all."

Aruna placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, sensing there was more. "Then what is it? Tell me."

He hesitated, his voice cracking slightly as he finally continued. "It’s just... when you called and Amma told me, ‘Make yourself useful and go pick up your sister,’ it hit me hard. It felt like... like she sees me as useless."

Aruna’s heart sank at his words. She took his hand gently, her tone firm yet comforting. "Babu, you’re not useless. You’re going through a tough time right now, but it doesn’t define you. Amma can be harsh with her words sometimes, but it doesn’t mean she doesn’t believe in you."

Babu looked at her, his eyes filled with a mix of vulnerability and frustration. "I don’t know, Akka. It just feels like I’m letting everyone down. I barely passed, I didn’t get a job, and now..." He trailed off, unable to finish his thought.

Aruna squeezed his hand. "You’re young, Babu. You’ve got your whole life ahead of you to figure things out. Don’t let one bad chapter make you think the story’s over. And as for Amma, leave her to me. I’ll talk to her."

Her words brought a small, grateful smile to his face. "Thanks, Akka. You always know what to say."

She patted his shoulder. "That’s what sisters are for. Now, let’s get you home before Amma starts worrying."

Continued in next part