“Arre maine toh Isha se bola tha. Mujhe laga kisi ladki ko laayega saath.”

(I told Isha. I thought he was bringing some girl with him.)

Omkara’s eyes snapped to Isha’s for her reaction. He had a small smile on his face.

“Ghar ke bahar gaadi khadi hai na. Wo kya naam hai ji uska?”

(The car in front of the house. What is the name?)

Pooja asked her husband, who answered.

“Mercedes-Maybach.”

“Haan! Wo!”

(Yes! That!)

Isha released the breath she was holding. Not a girl. Omkara smirked at her visible relief. Her parents looked proud.

“Arre waah! Phir toh party banti hai bhai.”

(Oh wow! It calls for a party.)

Isha’s father said and Omkara nodded with a chuckle.

“Waise tujhe sachme waha koi pasand nhi aayi?”

(You really did not like anyone there?)

Isha’s mother asked, intending to tease. Isha frowned in irritation. Why was everyone so hell bent on knowing about his love life? She didn’t want to know. 

“Kaise aati aunty? Apna dil yaha chhod kr gaya tha na.”

(How can I? I left my heart here.)

He said and looked at Isha, whose eyes widened slightly. Her heart fluttered and she suddenly felt shy.

“I mean…aap sab yaha the. Dil toh India mai hi tha na. Waha kaise lagta?”

(I mean…all of you were here. My heart was in India. How could I like someone there?)

He said, making everyone chuckle and nod at him. Isha couldn’t help the giddy feeling in her body. What did that look mean?

Did he still love her? Why did that thought make her happy? She couldn’t be with him. She averted her eyes from him.

Omkara noticed her actions and smirked to himself. 

“Waise Mahima di kaha hai?”

(By the way where is Mahima di?)

He asked about her elder sister. Everyone got quiet suddenly. It was Isha who spoke.

“She got married.”

“Really? That’s great! Kaisi hai wo?”

(How is she?)

Omkara asked and noticed her father looking away. Even her mother looked saddened. Isha smiled slightly and said while looking at her father.

“Thik hai. Aur bhut khush hai.”

(She is fine. And really happy.)

She then looked at Omkara and said.

“Bhut jaldi mumma bhi banne wali hai. She’s pregnant.”

(And she’s going to be a mother soon.)

Omkara smiled and everyone looked at Isha in surprise. The news, unknown to everyone.

“Wow! That’s amazing. Congratulations uncle aunty. Nani nanu banne wale ho aap log ab.”

(You are going to become grandparents.)

He said unaware of the tension in the room. Nobody spoke until Isha changed the topic and asked about serving dinner. 

After dinner when Omkara and his parents left, Isha and her parents also went to their respective rooms.

Isha’s father, Naresh spoke to his wife.

“Kaise din aa gye hai, Meetu. Hamari beti maa banne wali hai aur hume khabar tak nhi hai.”

(What days have come. Our daughter is going to become a mother and we don’t even know.)

Meetu looked at her husband and said.

“Aur isme galti kiski hai?”

(And who is at fault here?)

Naresh looked at his wife and said.

“Wo aaj khush hai iska matlab ye nhi hai ki uska faisla sahi tha. Mai kal bhi iska khilaaf tha aur aaj bhi hu.”

(She is happy today doesn’t mean she was right. I was against it and I am still against it.)

“Aapki na yahi problem hai. Aapne kabhi apne bacho ko samajhne ki koshish nhi kri. Koi gunah nhi kia tha Mahi ne. Aaram se aakar apne dil ke baat batayi unse iss umeed mai ki hum uski baat sunenge, usse support krenge. Lekin aapne kya kia? 5 saal ho gye hai Naresh.”

(This is your problem. You never tried to understand your kids. Mahi did not commit a crime. She told you about her feelings, in the hope that we will listen to her, support her. But what did you do? It’s been 5 years Naresh.)

“Bas Meetu! Mujhe iss baare mai dobara baat nhi krni.”

(Enough Meetu! I don’t want to talk about this again.)

“Baat ko samajhiye Naresh! Agar aap issi tarah zid pr ade rahe toh ek din Isha bhi aise hi dur chali jaayegi-”

(Try to understand Naresh! If you keep being stubborn like this Isha will also leave-)

“Meri beti aisa kuch nhi kregi! Mujhe pura bharosa hai uss par. Wo aisa kuch nhi kregi.”

(My daughter will never do anything like this! I trust her. She will never do such a thing.)

Meetu feared the look in his eyes. She knew her husband was completely against all this. And she feared the future. 

The same night, Naresh entered Isha’s room.

“Papa?”

She was surprised to see him in her room. He had rarely ever entered her or Mahima’s room after they grew up.

“Baith baith!”

(Sit sit!)

He said and sat at the edge of her bed. Isha looked at him carefully, trying to understand why he was here suddenly.

“Teri…Mahi se baat hoti hai?”

(You…talk to Mahi?)

He asked. Isha sighed and nodded.

“Haan. Di ka call aa jaata hai. 2 din pehle hi baat hui thi.”

(Yes. She calls. I talked to her 2 days back.)

He got silent for time. As if gaining courage to ask more.

“K-kaisi hai wo?”

(H-how is she?)

Isha smiled and said.

“Khush hai wo. Bhut khush hai papa. Jiju bhut achhe hai. Bhut dhyan rakhte-”

(She is happy. She is very happy papa. Jiju is a nice man. He takes care of-)

“Bas! Maine uss aadmi ke baare mai nhi puchha.”

(That’s all! I didn’t ask about that man.)

Isha flinched at his sudden interruption and got quiet. A minute later, he got up and patted her head.

“Mujhe tujh par pura bharosa hai. Tu kabhi wo galti nhi kregi jo teri behen ne kari. Kabhi apne papa ki izzat ka mazak nhi banne degi. Haina?”

(I trust you. You will never do the same mistake your sister did. You will never let your father’s image go to ruins. Right?)

Isha felt her heart break. Another reminder why she and Om could never be together. She nodded with tears shining in her eyes.

“Haan papa.”

(Yes papa.)

The words sounded so heavy. The trust he claimed felt like a burden on her chest. He trusted her. More like he wanted her to give up everything she loved just so he could stay happy making decisions for their lives.

He patted her head and left. Isha broke down and hid her face in her pillow. She cried, praying for a miracle and a change of heart for her father.

She didn’t see Omkara for the next three days. It was on a Saturday, she was meeting her friend to celebrate her belated birthday with her when she encountered him at the flower shop near their house.

“Tum yaha kya kr rhe ho?”

(What are you doing here?)

She asked him. He chuckled and said.

“Wahi kr raha hu jo har insaan flower shop mai krta hai. Bouquet le raha hu.”

(I am doing what everyone does in a flower shop. Getting a bouquet.)

She looked away embarrassed and asked.

“I meant kiske liye aaye ho? Something special?”

(I meant for what? Something special?)

“Ummhmm. Someone very special. It’s her birthday today.”

Isha clenched her fists. Omkara smirked at her reaction and leaned in naughtily before saying.

“Meri mami ka birthday hai.”

(It’s my mami’s birthday.)

Isha looked at him surprised. But oh oh! Big mistake. Because he had leaned in, their faces got close. Too close.

Omkara wanted to test something so he looked behind her for a moment and said.

“Arre uncle!”

Isha gasped and sprang apart from him.

“Papa wo-”

She stopped when she saw no one. Omkara burst out laughing and said.

“Tu abhi bhi uncle se darti hai.”

(You’re still scared of uncle.)

She looked at the flowers, feeling embarrassed at being caught.

“D-darti nhi hu. I just….”

(I am not s-scared. I just…)

“Achha? Darti nhi hai toh bol uncle.”

(Really? If not scared then tell him.)