Chapter34

Janani walked in and locked her bedroom door after checking in on Ava and Advi.
They are inseparable nowadays. Advi simply wouldn't fall asleep in his baby cot. He needs
to be cuddled against his sister at night, though he creates a ruckus in the morning if Janani
weren't the first thing he sees when he opens his eyes.
She slipped off her footwear and crawled into the bed.
Sleep was far away.
How could she fall asleep after getting such a marriage proposal
So, how did she really feel about Armaan??
Did she want him for the right reasons? Shouldn't Ava and Advi be her driving motivation?
Is it selfish of her to think less about the kids and more about becoming Armaan's wife?
Why couldn't she think about anything but Armaan? Was she having a crush on him?
Could she happily settle for respect and consideration and fidelity?
Armaan did say love would grow?? Will it?? He had shied away from any sort of commitment
all his life.
Will he be able to love her?? And what if he falls in love with someone else. Will she be able
to bear that??
Vikram who professed to love her had eventually fell out of love with her and had fallen for
her twin. Armaan doesn't even love her so how can she take a leap of faith where he is
concerned??
She prayed hard to God to show her some sign
****
Next day - After dinner
Janani had tucked in the kids for the night and was going to the kitchen to clear it after the
dinner when she heard her phone ringing.
She saw the caller ID and saw it was her mother
"Haa maa!!"
"Janani? Had your dinner?" Her mother asked
"Yes maa. Did you and papa have your dinner??" Janani asked, with a soft smile on her
face.
"Yes. Papa had gone to bed. How is Ava and Advi"
"They are good. Both of them are sleeping now"
"So?? Anything new happening there??" Her mother asked and Janani for a moment
thought she got wind of Armaan's proposal
"What is it that you want to talk about Maa??" Janani asked and heard her mother sighing
"When are you coming back Janani??" Sharadha asked
"I might come to visit this weekend Maa. I too miss you" Janani smiled into the phone
"I am not talking about a weekend visit, Janani. I am asking you when are you coming back
for good?? Vikram dropped by this evening. He seemed very anxious about your return,
Janani. I know you love the children. But they are not yours, Janani. How long will you stay
there taking care of the children." Her mother asked
"How can I leave the kids and come Maa?"
"You are twenty four. We want you to get married and settled. And people will start talking if
they come to know that you are staying there with two young men. You know how society is
Janani." Her mother tried again
"I simply can't drop the kids and come home Maa. I love them" Janani said
"The longer you stay, the harder you are making it to move on. Not only for you ,but also for
the kids. I am not asking you to forget them entirely. You can always visit them after marriage
too." Her mother said
"I thought you would understand Maa. You loved me even if you didn't give birth to me. And
yet you think I have to give them up because I didn't give birth to them??" Janani asked and
Sharadha gasped
"That's not what I meant Janani. I am not criticising your love for them. But I am a mother. I
am concerned about your future. You and Vikram love each other. I know you two had a fight
and called off the engagement. But it's time you sorted it out. It's been two years, Janani.
Vikram wants to get back with you. Just think about it, Janani. I am not asking you to pack
your bags and come home leaving the kids tomorrow itself. Just think about everything okay.
I am worried for your future" Sharadha said
Janani walked into the kitchen still in thoughts
Does her parents think she is still in love with Vikram??
Did she make a mistake in hiding the truth of their break up from them. She didn't want to
ruin her parents' friendship with that of Vikram's family.
If she had, then they wouldn't have kept their hope of her getting back with Vikram
She can understand her mother's worries. However much we claim to move forward, Indian
society will always stick to certain norms.
Her staying with two bachelors would definitely give scope to gossips in her small town
where everyone knows everyone. Her reputation will be tarnished.
But everything will be different if she says yes to Armaan's proposal.
Her reputation will be safe.
She can be Ava and Advi's mother.
Above all, she could have Armaan for herself.
"Penny for your thoughts??" Armaan whispered huskily in her ears and Janani jerked
startled at his sudden appearance.
The plate she was soaping slipped from her finger and fell into the sink.
"What are you doing here??" She asked
"Heard the noise from the kitchen. So came to check over. What are you doing here??
Leave it here. The staff will do it in the morning " Armaan said making Janani frown
"I should leave these seven or eight utensils just for the staff??" She asked and he shrugged
"I can manage Armaan" she said and wondered whether she will be able to adjust to
Armaam's posh lifestyle
"Okay. You are the mistress of this house. It's your decision" he said and she looked at him
in surprise
"Mistress of the house??" Janani asked in surprise
"Of course. By marrying me you would have equal rights over everything I own" he shrugged
drying the plates that Janani washed with a dry cloth
"I didnt say yes" Janani frowned upon him
"A man can hope" he grinned at her making her breath caught in her lungs
Together they washed and dried the used plates and cleared the kitchen
"You don't have to do this Armaan. I can manage" Janani said as she watched him cleaning
the kitchen island with a wash cloth.
"I know I don't have to. But I want to. If we are going to build a life together Janani, I want to
do everything together with you. I never had a happy family growing up. That doesn't means
I can never have that in the future. I know we come from different worlds Janani. But I
promise I would always be by your side no matter what the situation is. Even if it is just a
matter of cleaning the kitchen, I will be by your side" he said looking straight into her eyes
and right then and there she knew what her answer would be.
Once they finished with the kitchen they both walked in silence towards the stairs.
Armaan walked her towards the door of her room and whispered a light goodnight along with
a feather light kiss on her forehead.
He was about to turn and walk away when Janani stopped him.
"Armaan??"
"Hmmmm"
"Will you talk to my father?? Will you ask him for my hand in marriage???" She asked
looking up at him through lowered lashes
"Are you saying yes Janani??" Armaan asked smiling widely
Janani took a deep breath in
"I am. That is if my parents agree"
He swiftly pulled her into a tight embrace making her gasp
"Thank you Janani. Thank you so much" he mumbled against her hair in between dropping
kisses on her temple
"There is something you need to know, Armaan" she said and she slightly pushed him away.
She won't be able to concentrate with this proximity, so she needs keep him at an arm length
if she want to talk things through.
"What is it??" He asked frowning
"I was engaged once" she said hesitantly
"Vikram Thakur" he said through clenched teeth and she looked up at him in surprise
"You know?? How do you know Vikram??" Janani asked stunned
"Vikram Thakur paid me a personal visit when I came to your hometown to get Advi. He
came by to express his displeasure at my decision to take you with me and Advi. And he
also informed me that you are the woman he intends to marry" Armaan said and Janani
gaped at him
"He said what?? How dare he?? He visited my parents too today. And Maa was giving me a
long lecture on marriage" Janani said her anger spiking at Vikram
"You could easily tell your parents that he cheated on you Janani. They wouldn't ask you to
marry him if they know the truth" Armaan said shocking Janani again
"You know that too??" She asked
"Yes. Now stop worrying about Vikram. I will talk to your parents and charm their socks off
and get them agree to our marriage. Happy??" He asked
"Well, if you set out to do so, I believe you definitely can charm my parents" she said and he
grinned at her pulling her against him
"So much trust in my charms huh, soon to be Mrs Verma??" He whispered huskily in her
ears
"What are you doing??" She asked trying to push him away without using much force
"What am I doing??" He asked as he pressed a sensual kiss on her ears and a silent gasp
escaped her parted lips
He trailed his lips towards her cheek as he reached up to cup his hand against the silky
smooth curve of her other cheek and ran the soft pad of his thumb over her slightly parted
lips, the warmth of her breath a caress against his own highly sensitised skin. An arousing
caress that made his stomach muscles clench.
She drew in a sharp breath as he stepped closer still and she instinctively lifted her hands to
rest them against the hardness of his chest.
Janani suddenly found herself trapped between the cold wall of her bedroom and the heat of
Armaan's body, her hands crushed against his muscled chest as he slowly lowered his head
with the obvious intention of kissing her.
She knew she should protest. That she should at least try to ward off this rapidly increasing
intimacy.
And yet she didn't. She couldn't.
Instead her lips parted in readiness for that kiss, her breath arrested in her throat at the first
heated touch of Armaan's lips against hers.
Oh heavens!!
The sensual pleasure of having Armaan's mouth moving against hers, exploring, sipping,
tasting, teeth gently biting before that kiss deepened hungrily, his body hard and insistent
against hers as her hands moved up his shoulders and her fingers became entangled in the
dark thickness of his hair as she pulled him even closer.
Janani moaned low in her throat as she felt the firm thrust of Armaan's tongue enter her
mouth. Hot, slow and deep thrusts!!!
Armaan moved his hand to curve about her left breast but Janani caught hold of his hands
before he reached there.
"No" she whispered against his lips and he cursed lowly under his breath for losing his
control.
He gently touched his forhead with hers and the only sound that could be heard was their
ragged breathing.
"I didn't mean to scare you Janani. I am sorry I lost control" Armaan whispered
"It's okay" she said
"No. It's not okay. I shouldn't have forced this on you" Armaan said in a self deprecating
voice
"You didn't force me Armaan. I- I like this. I just want to take this slow. I don't want to rush
into this relationship. You understand, don't you Armaan??" She asked
"Of course sweetheart. I won't do anything that makes you uncomfortable. It's getting late.
Good night Janani" he pressed a last lingering kiss on her forhead and left to his own room.