A/N and trigger alert – 3
Dear friends, thank you for reading Moonshine and sticking it this far. As we begin a new section I feel compelled to warn of highly stressful and disturbing times for Rajani (for me as an author and you as the sensitive empathetic reader).
In view of your sensibilities and sensitivities, I would suggest you not to read any further, or at least wait till Moonshine is completed and Rajani manages to reclaim her life on her terms. But that is still someway off.Β Leave me your mail ID (here or send an email to mysilverstreaks@gmail.com) I will personally let you know when things improve so that you donβt have to suffer agonies while she goes through her personal hell with no resolution in sight.
Note added on 18/04/2018
Chapter 217: Pregnancy
βThis wonβt do Rajani,β Avantika exhorted, βyou have to eat more.β She lowered her voice, βjust look at Nidhi, she looks six months pregnant and you donβt even look as if you are pregnant.β
Rajani laughed. βNothing like that Avi, itβs the dress. The cut is such that it doesnβt show.β
βNonsense.β Pakhi snapped, βItβs not a joke!β
βI know it isnβt,β Rajani said carefully, βItβs just that I donβt feel like eating much.β
βWhat do you want to eat?β Tanya asked. βIβll make and get it for you.β
Rajani shook her head and turned away. How could she tell them that there was never enough food at home? That she an educated, employed woman of the twenty first century had no access to the kitchen in her home? And that she continued to take this abuse? But never mind. It was just a matter of time. Her savior was coming.
Indeed the baby had already begun to work its magic. If her mother-in-law was becoming more and intolerant Harsha was more caring and considerate. The car which was bought with her salary and she had been convinced would be monopolized by Rekha was at her disposal. He didnβt want her traipsing around in the Metro, auto or someone else’ car. Not while carrying his baby anyway.
He had thrown a massive fit when Riteish had dropped her home that rainy day. But Rajani hadnβt been upset. She was in fact rather comforted and gratified. He cared!
These days, he called up twice or thrice at the office. And when the doctor said she was seriously underweight, Harsha made it a point to check her plate and ask about her diet at the dining table. He ordered that she eat eggs overruling his motherβs myriad taunts and objections.
βDonβt worry, Mummy, Iβll buy a separate pan for eggs and clean up the kitchen too. And eggs are not really alive.β
Rajani couldnβt help but be grateful and hopeful despite her MILβs pointed sneering sarcastic comments out of Harshaβs earshot. Besides she had her office gang to look out for her. Someone or the other was sure to get something special for her. Fortuitously Aditi had apparently joined some cooking classes and she often brought extra large portions of new exotic dishes.
βWhat have you got today Maβam?β Nidhi peered over Rajaniβs shoulder. βThai curry and rice? Wow. Looks delicious.β
Aditi smiled. βTry some. Rajani?β
βYes Maβam.β Rajani felt blessedly pampered. Thank you. She whispered silently to her little one.
βRajani should you be driving?β Nidhi asked. βMy husband would never let me drive in this condition. He says Metro is the best.β
βI didnβt know you could drive?β Pakhi said.
βEven if I did, he wouldnβt let me.β Nidhi clarified.
βThatβs not really a good thing is it?β Avantika said. βI mean you should be free to make your own choices and decisions.β
βBut here it is a question of the safety of his baby.β Nidhi said loftily.
βNot the mother? Just the baby?β Pakhi sneered.
βI like driving,β Rajani intervened, βespecially the me time with the radio blasting on full volume and singing aloud tunelessly along with it.β She giggled. βIf anybody heard me they would go deaf.β
They laughed. βLook there goes Riteish,β Nidhi nudged Rajani. βEver since he got married, he is in a different world altogether.β
They snickered. Rajani felt only the mildest of a passing twinge at what could have been. But she wouldnβt have it any other way. She was having a baby, a baby of her own, who would love her and only her. What else could she want? Good for Riteish to move on and build a life of his own. But why couldnβt she shrug off this feeling that all was not well with him? He did look as if he was in his own world but not a happy place.
βGive me a lift?β Riteish stopped by her desk. βYouβve got your car havenβt you?β
Rajani nodded. βWhere do you want to go?β
βJust half way through, on your way,β He said vaguely. βAny problem?β
Rajani shook her head.
βSo all good with you and Shweta?β Rajani asked as maneuvered the car out of the parking lot after bit of a tussle with Riteish. He wanted to drive. βYou didnβt go for a honeymoon?β
Riteish shrugged. βEverything happened so quickly. He father is still not completely recovered. She filed a case against the other guy. There are court visits. Besides, taking leave is such a big issue at the office.β
βBut you need to make time for yourselves!β Rajani exclaimed. βGet to know each otherβ¦β
βThe less we know the better it is.β He sounded bitter.
She looked at him in surprise and concern. βWhatβs the matter?β
βAct in haste, repent at leisure.β
βDonβt say that!β Rajaniβs heart broke at his lost expression.
βItβs the truth. Marriages should be banned.β
βWhat happened? You too donβt get along or what?β
βWe are poles apart. And sheβs not at all the adjusting kinds. She wants everything her way.β
βSheβs young and new. Give her some time, sheβll come around.β Rajani advised.
βI donβt think so.β Riteish shook his head. βWe arenβt even married for a month and sheβs demanding that I separate out from my parents.β
βOh!β
βYes. My poor mother. Sheβs trying to adjust but Shweta doesnβt cooperate at all.β
βMaybe the problem is that she and your mother donβt get along?β Rajani ventured to say. βPerhaps your mother said somethingβ¦β
βMy mother could never say anything!β Riteish interjected. βSheβs the kindest soul. Shweta doesnβt want to do any housework. My mother has to do everything.β
βIsnβt Shweta working?β
βYeah. So? That doesnβt mean she wonβt enter the kitchen. That my mother should slave away while she watches TV.β
βMaybe she gets tired. Why donβt you keep a cook?β
βShweta wants to but Dad only likes food cooked by my mother.β
βThat means he won’t like Shweta’s cooking either will he?β
βBut she can try to learn from mother canβt she?β
βWhy donβt you cook?β
βI do. Sometimes on Sundays.β
βMaybe Shweta can be given certain designated days to cook. Then you can get used to her way of cooking.β
βI guess thatβs worth a try.β He didnβt sound very hopeful. βIf you could stop the car over there?β
βHere?β Rajani was surprised. βWhatβs here?β
βThanks for the lift.β
Rajaniβs phone rang. βHello Mamma. One minute.β She looked at Riteish. βWhatβs here?β
βNothing. Iβll take the bus.β
Rajani stared.
βThanks.β He got out of the car.
βWelcome. And all the best. Perhaps you should consider spending some time with Shweta build a rapport with her, understand her.β
βOkay. Bye.β
βBye. Hello Mamma.β She put the phone on speaker as she swung back into traffic.
βWhom were you talking to?β
βMy colleague Riteish.β
βStill in office?β
βNo. Almost half-way home.β
βThen whatβs he doing with you?β
βMamma please. He just wanted a lift.β
βWas there nobody else in office to take a lift from? Does he take a lift everyday?β Whyβ¦β
βOh please Mamma. This is the first time he has asked me for a lift. He dropped me home in the torrential rain that day. I couldnβt refuse could I?β
Nisha sniffed. βYou could have made some excuse. You know Harsha wonβt like it. Remember how angry he was?β
βHarsha wonβt know Mamma.β
βWhat if he does? Why create trouble for yourself.β
βOh please Mamma, donβt make a big thing out of nothing.β
βI still donβt get it,β Nisha whined, βwhy did Riteish have to take a lift from you? Isnt he married?β
βI just gave him a lift Mamma!β Rajani prayed for patience. βThat doesnβt mean we are having a torrid affair.β
βIn our culture this is as good as having an affair.β
βHowβs Papa?β
βHeβs okay. Heβs taken up a job in a private firm.β
βBut why? What about his coaching classes?β
βHe mostly takes evening classes. He says heβs free in the mornings.β
βBut wonβt that be an added pressure on him?β
βHe wants to make sure his children donβt suffer from anything.β
βI donβt need any money from him!β Rajani flared up.
βHe wants to give beta.β Nisha soothed. βHe is always stressed about you. He wants to make sure you have a safe secure future. I am constantly praying that you have a boy. Then everything will be alright. Lucky Shikha, her second baby is also a boy.β
βShikha had another baby?β Rajani was hurt. Shikha hadnβt told her! But then she hadnβt asked either. Somehow there was never any time. Or enthusiasm, she admitted to herself.
***
Click here for the next chapter: It’s a Girl
Welcome back Dhalia
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Ah thanks so much Nisha! π
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Rajani is pregnant. She is pampered by her officemates but her mother in law is not happy.Her nose is out of joint as Harsha is no more mumma’s boy( for a little while at least). I hope Rajani has a girl then she will have someone to love because if she had a boy then the MIL (and Harsha)will take over and she will hardly see him.
Poor Reitesh! He just wanted to talk. I liked the way Rajani tried to help by giving advice how to deal with Shweta.(After all, she has a lot of experience in such matters!!!!) So sad that friends are drifting apart but that’s life.
Have a good day Dahlia.
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I like your reason for wanting a girl for Rajani! Girlfriends are usually let go of after marriage for obvious reasons. But in today’s time it is feasible to stay in touch and indeed one must. Or make new friends, right Ferdi? π Have a super day
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By the way, loved the picture of mother and child, What a glorious sunset or is it a sunrise?
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It was a sunset π
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Why do I feel so sad for Rajani π€ empathy perhapsβ¦. π
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Perhaps and as all of us should dont you think?
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Hmmm π€
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Something is bothering me here… Is it because of rajani or something else can’t point out though π
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Do think over it and let me know – plijj
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Hey, good to read your new chapters! Wow, you really moved things forward in a hurry! I like the way you had Rajani give advice to Riteish, although I’m disappointed that he appears to be the same narrow minded male that has populated your pages. Ek do acche bhi hote honge in this universe, no? She’s a lucky girl to have such nice office mates, and the boss lady is really a good sort. Keeping fingers crossed- although the poor girl has no idea what motherhood is! Welcome back:)
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I took your advice and decided to skip the details, all of us I think have got the picture. Regarding achche men – sure there are and prefer to keep them under wraps, kahin nazar na lag jaye! π Cheers
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Whatβs with this different avatar of Harsha??..good for Rani anyways…
Seems like Rajani gives a day to day report to her mother too
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Oh her parents are very supportive you see. They call everyday.
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