"Armaan? All okay?" Janani asked, seeing her husband going pale all of a sudden.
Armaan looked at Janani blankly, non comprehending what she was saying.
Janani looked at her husband in worry.
She had never seen him like that before. He looked as if he saw a ghost for real.
"Armaan?" Janani gently shook Armaan and he snapped out of his thoughts.
When he looked again in the direction where he spotted the girl before, he didn't find
anyone.
Did I imagine her? He thought to himself.
"Armaan! What is it? Why do you look so worried?" Janani asked
"Nothing Janani. Just give me a moment. I will be back" Armaan said
"I will also come with you" Janani said
"No no. Finish up the jewel shopping quickly. I will wait for you all outside" Armaan said and
walked out of the jewel shop with long heavy steps.
"He looked disturbed" Richa said, watching Armaan walking away.
"Yeah. Let's just finish this quickly and go" Janani said and Richa nodded.
They quickly finished the shopping and walked out of the jewel shop.
When they reached the car parking, Janani turned to Richa and Aadesh.
"Can you look after the kids for a while? I will go with Armaan for a drive" Janani said
"Sure bhabhi. Go for your romantic long drive. We will manage" Aadesh, who didn't witness
his brother's mood change, said teasingly.
Janani smiled faintly and kissed both the kids before walking towards the car. She got into
the car and saw that Armaan had reclined the driving seat and was leaning on it, with his
eyes closed. He didn't even realise that she had gotten into the car.
"Maan!" She called out softly.
He opened his eyes and she sucked in a sharp breath when she saw the agonised look in
his eyes.
What had happened to bring such pain to the man she loves?
"What is it, Maan?" Janani asked, taking his hands in hers.
Armaan shook his head and closed his eyes again.
"Take us to your apartment, Armaan" Janani said
They need to be alone now. She will wait patiently until he feels ready to tell her what caused
this pain suddenly.
*****
It has been an hour since they reached the apartment. Armaan was silent ever since they
reached.
Janani made coffee for both of them and sat next to him.
"Aren't mothers programmed to love their child, Janani?" Armaan asked, his words laced
with all the hurt he has buried deep inside his heart.
Janani's heart went out for this man who never knew what a mother's love is..
"Maan!" She pulled him into her warm embrace
"Today I saw someone" Armaan said
"Your mother?" Janani asked, remembering how pale Armaan had gone seeing something at
the jewel shop.
"No. Not her. But a young girl. But she looked like a Xerox copy of my mother" Armaan said
"Oh!"
"Seeing that girl brought all the terrible memories back," Armaan said, lying on Janani's lap.
Janani gently combed her fingers through his hair.
"Maybe you should let it all out, Armaa