Family of Shaows

[sexonmind]

Chapter 15 part 4

As Aruna sat at the breakfast table, casually stirring her coffee, Sunanda watched her with a sharp gaze. “Where were you last night, Aruna? You didn’t come home.”

Aruna barely looked up as she replied, her tone smooth and effortless. “I had invited everyone for Babu’s engagement, hoping to bring the family together. But since that didn’t happen, I had to explain everything to them. You know how time flies when we start talking, Amma. I didn’t even realize when it got past midnight. So, I stayed at Venu’s home.”

Sunanda took a slow sip of her coffee, studying Aruna’s face. “I see,” she said, her voice unreadable.

Aruna met her gaze with a small smile. “I didn’t want to disturb you so late at night, Amma.”

Sunanda set her cup down and looked at Aruna intently. “Even when you worked with Purushotham, you always came home, no matter how late. But that was work,” she said, pausing for a moment before continuing. “Last night was your brother’s home… I just forgot that fact.”

Aruna immediately softened her expression and reached for Sunanda’s hand. “Please forgive me, Amma. I should have called you. It won’t happen again.”

Sunanda let out a small sigh, nodding. “Alright, just be mindful next time.”

Aruna smiled, relieved that the conversation had passed without much suspicion. But deep down, she knew she had to be more careful.

Sunanda frowned slightly, stirring her coffee absentmindedly. “Speaking of Purushotham, he hasn’t called me lately. Have you spoken to him?”

Aruna hesitated for a brief moment before answering. “Yes… I did. He proposed to me.”

Sunanda’s eyebrows lifted in surprise. “Really? And what did you say?”

Aruna gave a small, uncertain smile. “I rejected him.”

Sunanda looked puzzled. “Why? You two would make a lovely couple.”

Aruna let out a soft laugh and shook her head. “Amma, I may not look it, but I’m ten years older than him. He’s still so young.”

Sunanda considered this for a moment, nodding slowly. “I suppose…”

Aruna took a sip of her coffee and then said, almost casually, “I do want to settle down, Amma, but with someone more suitable to my age. Maybe someone like Dr. Prakash.”

Sunanda froze mid-sip, her body tensing as an unexpected chill ran through her. “Dr. Prakash?” she repeated, her voice quieter than before.

"Amma, just because he's your friend doesn’t mean he’s my uncle. He’s only a few years older than me," Aruna said. "I don’t mean Dr. Prakash exactly, but someone like him—someone mature, maybe a divorcee with children, someone who can give me a family."

Aruna noticed her mother’s sudden stillness. She narrowed her eyes.

"Why did you freeze just now, Amma?" Aruna asked, leaning forward. "Is there any truth in what Babu said? About you and Dr. Prakash having an affair?"

Sunanda didn’t respond. Her lips parted slightly as if she wanted to say something, but no words came out.

Aruna's eyes widened. "Oh my God… it’s true, isn’t it?" she whispered.

Sunanda looked away.

Aruna took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts. "Amma, how can you expect Babu to act all mature and responsible when his own mother is sneaking around like a teenager?" she asked, her voice firm but not accusing.

Sunanda turned sharply. "Are you blaming me for Babu’s actions?" she asked, her tone defensive.

Aruna shook her head. "No, Amma. I’m just saying that if Dr. Prakash makes you happy, then you should do the right thing. Make it official. Even marry him if you want to," she said sincerely. "That will make Babu respect you more. And it will make him respect Dr. Prakash too."

Sunanda stared at Aruna, lost in thought. For the first time, she questioned whether she had been fighting a losing battle by keeping her relationship with Prakash a secret.

Sunanda let out a long sigh and leaned back against the sofa. "I did think about making it official," she admitted. "I even brought it up with Prakash a few times. But every time, he said no."

Aruna frowned. "Why?"

Sunanda shook her head, as if recalling those conversations. "He always had reasons. The alimony he’s still paying, the child support, his plans for a new hospital… He kept saying that marriage isn’t practical for him right now."

Aruna crossed her arms. "So, all his problems are about money," she said flatly.

Sunanda looked at her, slightly taken aback. "What do you mean?"

Aruna leaned forward. "Amma, think about it. Every excuse he gave you is financial—nothing to do with emotions. If he really loved you, would he let money stand in the way? And if finances are his biggest concern, then maybe he isn’t the right person for you."

Sunanda fell silent. Aruna could see the doubt flickering in her mother’s eyes.

"Amma," Aruna continued gently, "you’ve always told me that love is about standing by each other, no matter what. But it sounds like Prakash is more focused on his own stability than on your happiness."

Sunanda sighed again, this time deeper. "I don’t know, Aruna," she said, rubbing her temple. "I’ve given so much of my heart to this relationship. I never thought of it this way before."

"Maybe it’s time you do," Aruna said softly.

Aruna continued, her voice softer now. “Amma, your love life is none of my business, but maybe you should consider Anand.”

Sunanda blinked, caught off guard. “Anand?” she repeated, surprised.

Aruna smiled knowingly. “Yes, Amma. I’ve seen the way he looks at you.”

Sunanda scoffed lightly. “Anand and I have been friends for years, Aruna.”

“That may be true,” Aruna said, “but I don’t think his feelings for you are just friendship.”

Sunanda frowned. “What makes you say that?”

Aruna leaned forward. “Because he cares about you, Amma. When Babu’s engagement was called off, everyone was obsessed with why it happened—some were gossiping, some were blaming Babu. But Anand? He was the only one who came to ask how you were doing.”

Sunanda fell silent, recalling the moment. She remembered how, while others had focused on the chaos, Anand had simply asked, Are you okay, Sunanda?

“He respects you, Amma,” Aruna added gently. “And maybe it’s time you start thinking about someone who puts you first.”

Sunanda exhaled deeply, still unsure. “I never thought about Anand that way…”

“Maybe you should,” Aruna said with a small smile. “Just give it a thought.”

Sunanda nodded slowly, lost in contemplation.

Later that night, Aruna's phone rang. She picked it up and saw Anand's name flashing on the screen. A small smirk formed on her lips as she answered.

"Hello, Anand sir," she said in a sweet tone.

"Aruna, I just wanted to thank you," Anand's voice came through, filled with excitement. "Sunanda asked me to go on a date with her. I don’t know how you did it, but you were right—she just needed a little push."

Aruna chuckled softly. "I told you, Anand sir, I always keep my promises. But just remember our deal. You keep my secret, and I help you with Sunanda."

Anand hesitated for a moment before responding, "Of course, Aruna. I won’t say a word about the past. We both get what we want, right?"

"Exactly," Aruna said, her tone confident. "Enjoy your date. And make sure you impress her."

As she hung up, she leaned back on her bed, her mind racing. Everything was going according to her plan. Sunanda was now occupied with Anand, and as long as Anand kept his mouth shut, her past mistakes would remain buried.

Anand and Sunanda met at a quiet, elegant restaurant in the city. The warm lighting and soft instrumental music created a comfortable ambiance, putting Sunanda at ease.

As they settled into their seats, Anand smiled and said, "I was afraid you might cancel at the last minute."

Sunanda chuckled lightly. "Honestly, I almost did. But I thought—why not? It’s been a long time since I went out like this."

Throughout the evening, their conversation flowed effortlessly. They spoke about old memories, shared laughs over funny incidents from their college days, and even discussed books and travel. Sunanda found herself genuinely enjoying Anand’s company. He was charming, respectful, and, most importantly, he made her feel valued.

As the evening drew to a close, Anand looked at her and said, "I had a wonderful time, Sunanda. Would you be open to meeting again?"

Sunanda hesitated for a moment but then nodded with a soft smile. "Yes, I think I would like that."

Anand’s face lit up. "Great. Then let’s plan for another evening soon."

As they walked out of the restaurant, Sunanda felt a strange sense of warmth. It had been years since she felt this way. Maybe, just maybe, this was something worth exploring.

At the far side of the city, Babu stared at his phone for a long moment before finally dialing Aruna’s number. He wasn’t sure why he was calling her, maybe he just needed to hear a familiar voice.

After a few rings, Aruna picked up.

“Babu?” she said, sounding surprised.

“How are you?” he asked.

“I’m fine. How are you? How are you managing?”

“I’m doing okay,” Babu said, though he wasn’t sure how much he meant it. “How’s Amma?”

There was a brief pause before Aruna said, “Amma is on a date with Anand.”

Babu felt his chest tighten. “What?”

Aruna sighed. “Yes. They went out together tonight.”

For a moment, Babu couldn’t find any words. His mother, the woman who had thrown him out of the house, was now going on dates? She had cut him out of her life so easily, and now she was out enjoying herself like nothing had happened?

“Where are you staying now?” Aruna asked, breaking the silence.

“With my friend Jean,” Babu said, still processing what he had just heard. He gave her the address, though he wasn’t sure why. Maybe he still wanted to believe that Aruna cared about him, that she wasn’t just like Sunanda.

After the call ended, Babu sat on the edge of his bed, his mind racing.

"Amma has forgotten me," he thought bitterly. "She’s moving on, enjoying her life, while I’m here, trying to figure out how to even exist without my family."

He had always known that Sunanda was a strong woman, that she had the ability to stand on her own. But to see her move forward so quickly, without even looking back at him, felt like a betrayal. She hadn’t just sent him away—she had erased him from her life.

Babu let out a deep sigh, rubbing his face with his hands. He didn’t know how much longer he could keep pretending that he was okay.

The next morning, Sunanda sat at the dining table, sipping her tea as Rathnakumar placed a thick stack of documents before her.

“It’s all done, Madam,” he said, sliding the papers toward her. “Everything is in order, just as you wanted.”

Aruna sat across from her, watching intently. She kept her expression composed, but her heart pounded. This was the moment she had been waiting for.

Sunanda adjusted her glasses and picked up the pen. She hesitated briefly, glancing up at Rathnakumar. “This transfers the properties to Aruna, Venu, and Vani, correct?”

“Yes, exactly as you instructed,” Rathnakumar confirmed.

Sunanda exhaled slowly. Then, without another word, she signed the documents, one by one.

As she placed the pen down, a strange silence filled the room. Aruna’s fingers curled slightly against her saree as she suppressed a triumphant smile.

“It’s done,” Sunanda said, leaning back in her chair. She looked up at Aruna, her gaze lingering. “I hope this brings you all not just wealth but peace and stability.”

Aruna reached out and clasped Sunanda’s hand gently. “Thank you, Amma,” she said softly, her voice filled with emotion.

The next morning, as Sunanda sat in the living room reading the newspaper, Aruna approached her, dressed in a crisp cotton saree, her handbag slung over her shoulder.

"Amma, I wanted to tell you something," Aruna said, sitting beside her.

Sunanda lowered the newspaper and looked at her. "What is it, Aruna?"

"I'm going to Guntur," Aruna stated. "Now that the paperwork is done, it's time to sell our properties there. I want to invest in Venu's business and help it grow."

Sunanda's brows furrowed slightly. "So soon? You just got the properties transferred. Do you really need to rush into this?"

Aruna smiled reassuringly. "Yes, Amma. The market is good right now, and Venu’s business has great potential. If we delay, we might lose valuable opportunities."

Sunanda sighed. "How long will you be gone?"

"A few months, maybe," Aruna replied casually. "There’s a lot to handle, and I need to make sure everything is settled properly."

Sunanda nodded slowly, absorbing the news. "Alright, but take care of yourself, Aruna. And keep me updated."

Aruna squeezed Sunanda’s hand. "Of course, Amma. I’ll call you regularly."

With that, she picked up her luggage and walked towards the door. As Sunanda watched her leave, a strange emptiness settled in her heart.

Aruna stepped out of the auto and walked toward the narrow corridor leading to Jean's rented room. Her heart pounded as she reached the door. She hesitated for a moment before knocking.

The door creaked open, and there he was—Babu.

His eyes widened in shock and relief at the sight of her. "Aruna!" he whispered, almost not believing she was real.

But Aruna could only stare at him. He looked nothing like the confident young man she once knew. His hair was unkempt, his beard had grown out, and his clothes were wrinkled. His face, once so full of life, now carried exhaustion and sadness.

Tears welled up in her eyes. "Babu..." she choked out before rushing toward him.

Babu barely had time to react before she wrapped her arms around him, holding him tightly.

"I really love you," she whispered against his shoulder, her voice breaking.

Babu stood frozen for a moment, overwhelmed by her sudden embrace. Then, slowly, his arms came around her, pulling her close.

"You do?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

She nodded against him. "Yes. I love you, Babu. I can't stay away from you anymore."

Babu closed his eyes, holding her even tighter, as if afraid she might disappear. For the first time in weeks, he felt warmth in his heart again.

Aruna pulled away slightly, looking into Babu’s tired yet familiar eyes. Her heart raced, and before she could stop herself, the words escaped her lips.

"Will you marry me, Babu?"

End of Chapter 15