Straight talk

"I could send you away for a week or two to my extended family in Almora Himachal. But it will be impossible to hide from him"
Khanak shifted uncomfortably, quickly getting up to go retch
Dadi stared out the window, at the challenge she had been entrusted to handle for the girl. She would do anything for her in a heartbeat.
The stoic image of her with the faraway look in her eyes, when she met her at Pune at the Foundation office tore her heart.

She hadnt seen that look ONCE... since her grandson started pursuing her.
Infact it was replaced by a soft, self conscious, embarrassed acknowledgement of the attention he paid her...
"Dadi is here" she had heard the young girl whisper many times, as she entered the rec room or their suite..The frustration and and thrill in her voice unmistakeable... frustration at having to constantly fight his advances... and thrill at being aroused by it...
Khushboo and Akshay were different... they obviously dug each other a lot... but Shaan and Khanak shared a very electric chemistry...
"Dadi" she would complain... in ONE word... at the breakfast table many mornings... not saying anything more...
At being late for an appointment or missing one or missing dinner or failing to show up at an event...
He would have whisked her away for something fun or kept her in the room..
She still spoke very less when the family was around... she would point to things in a magazine or the TV and comment to him softly...
Smile at something he would point...or she would give him a look of "U have to be kidding" "NO, NOT NOW" "I am not leaving the room with you"
Her face would turn red trying to free her hand from his, under the plush velor throw...he would drink and eat with his left or maker her do it with her left until Sunil would notice and publicly embarrass them...
"Hes not letting go" she would blame him hissing... Sunil and Janaki would exchange a knowing happy look...
Extremely shy... she would avoid going anywhere near him most evenings....if he was late to the family "hang out" as he almost always was, she would make sure she seated BY someone... so the spot next to her was taken...
He would ASK to sit by her and start getting frisky....
She returned... tired...
"We cannot have you disappear to someplace where there is little or no medical arrangements. He will KILL me if we risked your or the baby's life"
He doesnt want the baby" she croaked.
That doesnt mean he would destroy its life" Dadi spoke to her as if Khanak was an idiot.
Khanak leaned back and closed her eyes...
Sleep knocked her eyelids shut...
Sonali, Kaka her finances all melted away...
"You could be at your parents for a month"
"If you quit your job it might make it easier"
Dadi's plot ideas were deliberately grandiose...
"I cant quit Dadi... Sanjay has agreed to "give me time off until I get better" Thats it.
Your committments to your family HAVE TO BE ADDRESSED beta Dadi appeared distressed
"Because I am having a baby I cannot stop helping them... they are not THEM.. they are mine" Khanak opened her eyes to look at Dadi with a guilty plea.