"I miss my babies" The older woman sniffed and Janani tried her best to console her
weeping mother and deeply troubled father as the three of them were on a video call.
Her adoptive parents have returned back after their two week vacation to an empty home.
Janani hadn't informed them about her trip to Mumbai as she didn't want to spoil their much
needed vacation. Because she knew very well, if informed about the happenings in her life,
they would have cut short their vacation and rushed back home.
Janani couldn't let her parents do that. Not after what they went through after her twin made
a mess in their orderly life.
"Maa, Advi is Armaan's son and the poor guy has been searching for him for months" Janani
pointed out.
Janani was feeling sick with shame. Never had she lied to her parents before. Not about
something important.
They would be horrified if they knew she was pretending to be her dead sister and faking
being Advi's mother.
Nothing she says in her defense will persuade them to justify her actions
Her father is a retired school headmaster for heaven sake, and if he knew his own daughter
was a part of such a horrific behaviour, he would be heavily disappointed.
"I believe he will be a good father. He had asked me along because he knows Advi is deeply
attached to me and he didn't want him to be hurt by me suddenly disappearing from his life"
Janani added when her mother continued to sniff softly.
He will be a good father, when he comes out of hiding, whatever it is he is hiding from,
Janani thought with a huff.
"Well. That's very responsible of him" her mother conceded finally.
"How is his family responding to the child??" Her father asked
"There is not much family. It's only the two brothers" Janani said and her mother let out a
scandalous gasp.
"Janani Trivedi, are you telling me you are staying with two unmarried men at their house
alone??" Her mother asked scandalised at the very idea.
"Maa. I am not alone. There is an army of staff here and then there is Shantima" Janani
continued to inform her mother of who all are there at the house which calmed her mother a
little.
"Okay then. Where is this little cutie pie you were talking about? Show me, show me" her
mother was back to her usual chirpy behaviour at the thought of meeting little Ava and her
beloved Advi.
After the call Janani proceeded with a video call to Richa who was working in the admin
department in the nursery Janani used to teach.
Richa made her talk to her little students who were all so eager to see Advi and was happy
to meet Ava.
And Ava was equally enthusiastic
****
"You know, there is fine line between brilliant recluse and a nutcase hermit" Aadesh said
barging into his cabin making Armaan frown.
"I am not a hermit" Armaan said vehemently.
"So you agree you are being a recluse" Aadesh grinned.
"Neither am I a recluse" Armaan scowled at