Page 145 of The Redemption
Raghav doesn’t even look up from his plate. “I know you can, but I’ll still monitor it.”
Ayaan scoffs. “If you were really worried about this family’s safety, you should’ve reconsidered your impulsive decision before dragging everybody back into your mafia crossfire.”
Meher closes her eyes. Even Kailash Uncle hurriedly pushes the bowl of chutneytowards Ayaan.
“Did you try the mint chutney, Ayaan?” he asks, trying to distract him. But Ayaan ignores him.
“You don’t get to act like the saviour after creating the mess, Raghav,” Ayaan says sharply.
Raghav finally looks up. “You think this is funny?” he asks quietly.
“Marrying a woman by blackmailing her wasn’t funny either,” Ayaan shoots back.
The entire table goes silent. Mom stiffens beside me, and my fingers tighten around the spoon. Despite sitting next to Raghav,I can sense the muscle ticking in his jaw without even looking at him.
“More dosas?” Kailash Uncle immediately interrupts, but neither brother pays any attention to him now.
“You done?” Raghav asks coldly.
“No,” Ayaan says instantly. “Not even close.”
The tension between them is so thick that it feels like there’ll be more physical blows like yesterday again.
But just then, Meher winces. A sharp breath escapes her lips as her hand flies straight to her stomach.
Both brothers freeze instantly. Raghav and Ayaan stand up at the exact same time, their chairs scraping loudly against the ground as they push them back.
“What happened?” Ayaan demands sharply.
“Are you okay?” Raghav asks at the same time, already moving towards her.
Huh!
Just a second ago, they were glaring at each other, and now the anger disappears from both their faces, replaced by concern and pure panic. Raghav immediately crouches beside Meher’s chair, while Ayaan is anxiously checking her forehead.
“Why are you sweating, baby?”
Watching both of them panic over one small expression on her face, I instantly realise that no matter how furious these two brothers are with each other right now, their love for this family runs deeper than their anger.
“Should I call the doctor?” Raghav asks seriously, already reaching for his phone.
“What do you mean,should I?” Ayaan shouts immediately. “Call him. Now.”
“No. I’m fine,” Meher insists, but neither brother listens to her.
“It must be the cramps, Meher,” Ayaan argues. “Let’s not take any chances.”
“Yes, we can’t ignore it,” Raghav agrees.
Meher looks at both of them as they hover around her and sighs dramatically.
“Oh God,” she mutters. “I said I’m fine. Both babies just kicked at the same time. And I think I know why.”
Both brothers frown in unison. “What?” they ask together.
Meher points tiredly between them.
“I think the babies are already traumatised by seeing their father and Uncle behave like sworn enemies every five minutes.”
