23. Mothers-in-Law Unite

I slam the door shut. I was shocked to the core.

How in the world did she know where I was?

She knocked the door again.

"Open the door, Naina. I need to talk to you." I heard her voice, slightly muffled by the closed door.

I checked my robe once again and it showed no signs of a bump. I sighed and opened up the door again.

"Come in." I said and lead her towards the sofa set which was across the hall from the bedroom where Shiv was asleep.

"Can you wait for a minute? I have to brush my teeth. There is tea in the kettle if you want. I will be back." I told her and excused myself into the bedroom. I shut the door and latched it.

I shoved his body harshly trying to wake him up. It didn't work so I took a pillow and bashed it straight on his head and continued till he woke up.

"What the-" he started but I closed his mouth with my hand.

"Shh...mom is here." I whispered.

"So what? She knows about us, why are you being secretive?"

"Mine. Not yours dumbass." I said.

"Oh. How did she know where you were?"

"I really don't know. I have to brush my teeth before she starts banging the door again." I said and made my way to the attached bathroom. I quickly brushed my teeth and walk out.

"Why is she here?" he asked me.

"I guess I will have to find out. My bump doesn't show right?"

"It doesn't. Just hold a pillow when you sit."

I nod and start walking.

"Please, don't come out till I tell you to."

"I am not gay." he said with a smug smile and I threw the pillow kept on the couch near me at him. "I am joking. I will not walk out of here till you tell me to. Fine?"

"Good."

.

When I walk out, I saw her holding a cup in her hands, sitting on one of the chairs.

"Tell me." I said. I kept standing, I didn't want to take the chance.

"I have to tell you this. I can't let you ruin your life."

"Tell me what?"

"This engagement is just a deal your father made. I don't want you to rush into it." she said.

"I know." I said in a small voice.

"You know? And you still got engaged?" she sounded concerned.

"Yes. And why are you so worried. You weren't worried all these 24 years. Why now?"

"Can you sit down. I need to explain a lot of things to you."

"Fine." I sat on the sofa furthest to her and covered the bump with a large pillow which rested on the sofa.

"So, our group went to an orphanage the day before yesterday. I saw all those children deprived of parents. They had nothing. I felt pity for them but then I realised that even though you and your brother had all the luxuries, you didn't have actual parents who cared for you and spent time with you."

"Where are you going with this, mother?"

"I want to apologise, I was a really bad mother. I have realised it and I want to make it up to you."

"Make it up to me?" I huffed. "24 years is a lot of time."

"I know. That is why I told you about this deal. I don't want you to spend your life like I did. I was married off to your father and I barely knew him, I don't want that hell of a life for you. I want you to do what you are happy with."

"I-" I started. "I don't know what to say, mom." I said and she gasped.

Tears rolled down her cheeks.

"What's wrong?"

"You have never called me 'mom', you always call me 'mother'." she said, still in shock.

"I always called you mother because you were just that to me, a birth mother. Today, you have shown me that you can be a mom."

I wiped my tears away. This was all I had ever wanted, a real mom.

"So why did you agree to marry him when you knew this was a scam?" she asked me.

"I didn't. The pictures were fake, we weren't engaged. We just did that to get you off our backs." I shrugged.

"So why did Ashwin tell you this? His company held profit by this deal." she was confused.

"Um...this isn't my place to say anything, but he is gay." I said and her eyes widened with shock.

"Really?"

"Yes, you never wondered why he was doing so much back and forth to New York?"

Her eyes widened as realisation hit her. "Vivan!?" she was utterly shocked.

"Yes. But you were always against him." I said.

"I wasn't a bit concerned at the starting but then your father got into my head and told me how bad it was. Now, I am actually happy for him." she smiled.

"Woah. Who are you? And what have you done to my mom?" I said and we both laughed.

It was the first time that had happened. We never just sat down and talked and laughed.

"Why are you sitting with that pillow?" she asked next.

Shit.

"I- um..." I said but then and idea struck me. "Do you really want to make it up to me?"

She nodded.

"Are you sure?"

"I am very sure. I am tired of always listening to your father giving me commands on how to treat the both of you. I want you to be happy." she stated.

I stood up and opened my robe to show her the bump. I was wearing Shiv's T-shirt and my pyjamas inside which showed my bump prominently. I heard her gasp loudly.

"Naina-" she started but I cut off her sentence.

"I know. Before you say anything, I want you to know I wanted this and I am happy with this. When I got to know, I wanted to keep it because I didn't want to be like you. I wanted to care for my children. So if you want to make up for it, you have to accept this and stand by my side through this." I completed.

"Oh my God! Yes! I will be here through all of this." she said and I released a breath I didn't know I was holding.

"Really?" I asked.

"Yes, really. I didn't get a chance to be a good mother but I will try my best to be a good grandmother." she smiled which I returned.

"Thank you mom. This was all I ever wanted." I said and hugged her.

When we pulled away,

"Who is the father?" She asked me.

"Um." I said. "Wait here."

I walked towards the door to the bedroom and opened it to see a sleeping Shiv on the bed, sprawled out on the bed. I rolled my eyes and called for my mom.

She walked over and looked at the figure on the bed.

"How did this happen?" she asked but she wasn't shocked.

"I will tell you but why are you not shocked?"

"I am your mother, doesn't matter shitty or not. I saw you looking at him when you first met." she said and my mouth opened up in shock. "Okay, now tell me everything."

I did. We sat down, drinking coffee and talked. I told her everything and saw her expressions turn from happy to sad and to happy again.

"I am glad you are happy." she smiled when I finished the story.

"So, when do you have to go back? And who told you I was here?"  I asked the mystery question.

"After I called you last night and you hung up, I called Sanjana and told her that I wanted to apologise to you so she told me that you were staying here and I came by the first flight I could find. I haven't bought a return ticket so I am here as long as I want."

"She always ratted me out to you. This time, she finally did it for something good." I said and chuckled. "You should stay today. Shiv's mom is coming over today, we were going to go shopping, you should come."

"If you want me to stay, I will."

"Okay. Can you wait for a minute? I have to wake him up, he has a meeting in fifteen minutes." I said with an eye-roll and she laughed.

I walked into the room and used the same technique as last time. He groaned before finally opening his eyes.

"You have a meeting in 15 minutes. Wake up." I said and glanced at the watch. "Well, 10 minutes now."

"Why didn't you wake me up earlier?" he said as he hurriedly put on a formal shirt from his suitcase.

"I did! You weren't supposed to go back to sleep."

"Damnit!" He wore his socks and shoes before running to the bathroom to brush his teeth.

"Hurry up!" I yelled as I walked out when I heard the door bell ring.

I opened the door and saw a familiar face standing there. Shiv's mom.

"Come in." I said with a smile as she engulfed me in a hug.

Shiv walked out of the room in a hurry and gave me a confused glare when he saw my mother and she smiled at him.

"Hello, mom." he said and kissed her cheek. "Bye, mom." he said as he rushed out of the suite.

Before I walked over to shut the door, he entered again and pecked my lips slightly causing my face to turn red. I shut the door and turned around with a smile.

"You both are so cute." Both the women in the room said in unison.

.

I introduced both of them and in no time, they both became really good friends.

I just went to shower and when I returned, I saw them laughing and having tea and biscuits together.

"Ready to go shopping in Paris?" I asked them when I entered the room.

"Yes! Let's go." they said with a smile.

We walked out of the hotel and took a taxi to the market. We passed by the tiny shops and cafés but they got larger as we neared the market.

"So when are you both getting married?" my mom asked as we walked down the market.

"I don't know. I have this bump now and we don't want people to think that we got married just because I got pregnant."

"You might also have another problem." my mom said nervously.

"What problem?" Shiv's mom asked.

"Her father is arranging a wedding for her and Ashwin in a year. The preparations have started. That is why I was expecting you both to get married before that." she said.

"What!?" I asked a bit too loud. "But he thinks that we are engaged and will get married when we want."

"Yes, he did but Ashwin's father insisted to do it sooner. That is the reason why I came here to warn you."

"In a year? The babies will be just 8 month old by then. What will I do? And I can't marry him, he is gay." I blabbered.

"Calm down, Naina. We will do something." Shiv's mom said. "Let's just go and relax for now. Okay?"

I took a deep breath nodded and we started our shopping spree.

.

"Hello gorgeous." Shiv entered the suite and wrapped his arms around me, snuggling into the crook of my neck before realising that we had some motherly company. He pulled away faster than the speed of light and I tried my best to hold my laughter.

"Enjoyed shopping today?" he asked after clearing his throat.

"Yes, we did, son." my mom said.

He looked at her and then at me with a confused expression. I explained everything to him.

"So, shall we order dinner now?" he asked.

"No, I have a flight in two hours. Your father booked one for me." my mom said.

"And I have to go back to my place." Shiv's mother said.

"It would've been better if you stayed." Shiv said innocently.

"Oh, honey, we all know how much you want us to leave so you can get all cuddly with Naina." his mom said and both the ladies laughed.

"We should go." my mom said.

"Okay. But you will visit soon, right? I want you there for the baby shower." I asked her.

"Of course. I will visit you in London very soon." she said and hugged me.

I moved towards his mother.

"I will be coming to London with the both of you. You need someone there to take care of you. I am not letting this stupid boy be all alone with you." she said and hugged me.

"That's not really needed mom, I can take care of her on my own." Shiv said.

"Sure." she said with an eye-roll. "I will still be there."

And they left the room leaving the both of us all alone.

"We have a problem." we both said at the same time as he closed the door shut.