Another Half Of Me - Chapter 20

For the first time in his life, Siddha was nervous and scared. Finally Roshni would be meeting his family. Although he knew that there was nothing to be nervous about, but still the constant reminder of Sandhya returning to Delhi was bothering him.

He did not want anything or anyone to become a barrier between Roshni and him.

Siddha sighed and rested his head against the headboard of the seat wondering what Roshni would be going through right now. It had only been 1 week that they had found that she was pregnant.

An overwhelming feeling of love and happiness spread over him when he thought of Roshni being pregnant with his child. Siddha knew that she would be a very good mother to their child. Smiling, he closed his eyes and let the blissful feeling of having Roshni in his life spread to every nook and corner of his body and mind.

Roshni tried each and every single dress in her wardrobe, but nothing made sense. Where is he? Why hasn’t he reached yet? Roshni thought getting pissed every single second on Siddha. Throwing the dress in her hand, she sat down on the bed exhausted. Touching her stomach, she said, “I am fine sweetheart, but your daddy is late and he would get a whacking from me when he arrives.”

Siddha stood near the doorway and kept looking at her tenderly. She is so beautiful, he thought. Clearing his thoughts, he spoke in deep teasing tone, “Well, I am here and you are not ready. And, you can come in what you are wearing now.”

Roshni looked at herself. All she was wearing was a spaghetti top and shorts. Gritting her teeth, she looked at him angrily. Then, hurriedly picked her saree and rushed to the bathroom, when Siddha stopped her.

“Slow down mommy,” he said lovingly, placing his palm on her stomach.

**************

Shanker Singh Rajput, Siddha’s paternal grandfather paced up and down the room while Thakur Durgesh Singh, his childhood friend and Siddha’s maternal grandfather looked on and smiled.

“Why are you raising your blood pressure?”

“Why does he want to meet us all? What is it that he wants to say?”

“You will come to know, Shanker, when he arrives. Now, please sit down before your pacing raises mine too.”

Shanker Singh Rajput sat down but his creased forehead clearly gave away the tension and questions zipping in his mind. Siddha was the apple of his eye. He turned towards the wall behind him and looked at his son Chandrakant’s picture. Siddha looked exactly the same now. Tall and handsome with his father’s sharp features and his mother’s black eyes.

Today, Siddha was more a son than a grandson to him and he did not want anything bad happening to his child.

Sighing he looked at his friend and saw Thakur Durgesh Singh looking the same way. “You know I always see Subhani when I look at our Siddha,” he said. Shanker Singh Rajput nodded, nostalgia hitting both friends.

*************

The two were still chatting about the past, when Siddha walked in. He had left Roshni in the car. This time he wanted to tell everyone everything before he introduced her.

Everyone had gathered for his big announcement, he could see that. Sid raised a thumbs up to him and winked. Amit, Prashant, Karan and Sudha stood at one corner trying hard not to smile.

Looking at no one but both his grandfathers, Siddha said, taking a deep breath, “I am not getting married to Sandhya.”

The room was silent for a minute or so and then suddenly his uncle, Bhawani Singh Rajput got up and said, “Babuji, it’s time for you to pay.”

Shanker Singh Rajput looked at him with an ill face and took out a 500 rupee note, and gave it to his son.

Not at all understanding what was going on, Siddha looked at his maternal grandfather with questioning eyes.

“Your grandfather and uncle had a bet about whether you will get married to Sandhya or not,” he said with a mischievous smile.

Shaking his head and clearly not understanding the scene in front, Siddha said in a nervous tone, “I am in love with someone and I want you guys to meet her.”

Suddenly everyone erupted with uncontrollable joy in the room. His uncle and aunt hugged, and congratulated him while his grandfathers smiled at him like school buddies sharing a stolen treat.

Siddha looked at the pandemonium in front of him and gestured his friends and Sid to get Roshni. That will stop this maddening mayhem. 


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