Chapter - 23

And when I first knew

Was when I first looked at you

And if I can't find my way

If salvation is words away

Oh, I'll be found

When I am lost in your eyes

I don't mind not knowin' what I'm heading for

You can take me to the skies

Oh, it's like being lost in heaven

When I'm lost in your eyes

I get weak in a glance

Isn't this what's called romance?

Oh, I'll be found

When I am lost in your eyes

Those words stopped 17 year old Neil in his tracks. He was moving towards the Physics lab of St. Bishops school.

He was studying at Banbury Crossroads High School. Being the brightest student of his batch, he was the top choice of his school authorities to represent their school for the Inter school Science Project which was hosted in St. Bishop's School. It was his and the other four batch mates' first day in St. Bishops school along with other students from various other schools.

Post orientation they were provided with a school tour as these students will be visiting this facility for next one month.

But the melodious voice from closed doors rooted him in his place. He was pulled by his other friends when teachers asked.

Next day, unaware of his own actions, he was pulled over by the same melodious voice at the same time near that closed door. He felt it was some young girl singing the same song.

Soon it became his routine to visit the place to hear the song. Her lyrical voice used to increase his crave to see her in person. Once he even tried to open the closed doors but he was restricted by the staff, as music students were practising for their upcoming music competition.

Each passing day, he was getting drowned in her voice, her voice became his own way to find peace. Whenever he was stressed or just wanted to relax or just did not want to do anything he started remembering her song.

One fine day, he recorded her signing standing outside of a closed classroom. He even started playing his violin along with her recorded version of singing when he was at home. Her voice could bring an inevitable smile on his face. Her voice became his solace.

It was his last day in St. Bishop's school, he waited for more than required time to just get one glance of her but destiny was not in favour of him. He crossed the main gates of school with a heavy heart unaware of his own fate which was tied for lifetime with the same melodious voice after a long struggle.

Myra looked at her husband, he was driving a car mumbling some tune on the way back to their home. She could not concentrate on his mumblings while keeping Neev busy in the back seat but her heart jerked in a moment with a familiar melody. This was the same tune of the song she sang on the musical concert night.

On that night, she was singing standing on the stage but her eyes were roaming around the crowd to find one pair of eyes. But when she could not find him, tears started rolling over her cheeks as her hope to meet him died; unknown to the hard path destiny had chosen for her to meet her with her soulmate.

Two more weeks passed, one fine morning Myra was preparing breakfast with the help of Julia. Julia was now back on her feet and was ready to help Myra with kitchen work but the latter was still hesitant considering Julia's old age.

"Myra, I am getting late." Neil shrieked entering the dining area.

"Just two minutes." Myra shouted from the kitchen.

She prepared egg omelette, toast and coffee, arranging everything on a tray she rushed to the dining area. But she slid from one of the Neev's toys which was on her way. She could not manage her balance and the tray fell from her hands making a thud sound. She was about to hit the floor when two strong arms held her firmly.

Earlier Neil was busy with his phone replying to one of his mails, when he felt Myra's presence, his eyes sticked to her but widened in a moment when she started losing her balance. He rushed to her speedily to hold her.

"Are you ok?" He made her stand on her feet.

"Yes, I am fine." she replied huffing.

"Where was your attention?" He asked.

"You were getting late. And I don't wanted you to leave without having breakfast but..." Myra saw the floor which had broken pieces of dish, glass and food.

"Just 10 minutes. I will make it again." She bent down to clear everything.

"Myra leave it, any servant will do it." He kneeled down.

"No. no it's fine."

"Myra, leave it. It's broken glass. You will get hurt." He tried to pull her hand and in that hassle glass pierced her skin in a small wound, oozing out blood from her palm.

"Ahh"

"Shit. Myra, leave it now. Julia, come here." He screamed his heart out.

"Neil, it's ok. It's nothing." She concentrated back on her work.

"MYRA, I SAID LEAVE IT NOW." He threatened in a cold and intimidating tone which captured the attention of his son who was earlier busy with his toys sitting on a high chair near the dining table.

"Dadda No." He screamed from back in defence of his mother which was conveniently ignored by his father.

"Get up Now." His tone was the same as earlier. He pulled her holding her shoulder. "You need a bandage."

"Neil, it is just a tiny wound. I get these wounds everyday... just ignore"

"Shut up Myra." She pushed him to the edge of his patience level.

"Dadda no. My Mumma." his son was screaming from the other side.

But Myra's eyes filled with unshed tears. She blinked continuously not because of the pain of the wound but the care she saw in his eyes. He held her and took towards the dining area instructing Julia to get the place cleaned up by other servants.

"What was that? Why didn't you listen to me when I asked you for the first time? Leave it. We have servants at home, you don't need to do everything all alone. But no...." He was scolding her without taking a breath. He made her sit on the chair.

"Dadda bad." His son was mad at him. He threw his plush toy towards his father to show his resentment from a recent episode.

"Neev what was it?" Neil turned his attention towards his son.

"My mumma. Dadda boo.. go ... no ... no" He started scolding his father in his baby language.

"See she got hurt because your toy was there." Neil widened his eyes looking at his son. "Can't you keep your things in place?"

"My mumma." Neev took out his lower lip widening his eyes which were ready to shed some tears hearing raised voice of his father.

"Neil, why are you scolding him? He is a baby." Now it was Myra's turn to stand in defence of her son.

"Wow What a family I have! Both mother and son are fully armed against me when I hold any one of them." It was not new for Neil but he voiced it out for the first time.

Neev was still looking at him with a scrunched forehead showing his annoyance.

Myra smiled and got up from her seat when Neil asked, "Now where are you going?"

"Your brea..."

"Myra, sit down. You are bleeding. And I cannot see you getting hurt." He forced her to sit back.

Soon it was going to be 6 months for Neil and Myra's marriage. Days were passing with blink, strengthening Neil and Myra's relation, and the key stone of their bond was Neev. They were perfect as Neev's parents. But from the last few days Neil observed Myra was engrossed in some thoughts. He tried to ask her but she was always covered with lame excuses.

It was night when Myra made Neev sleep on the bed, she covered him with a comforter.

"Did he sleep?" Neil asked, stepping inside with two mugs of coffee.

"Yes, just now."

"Coffee?" He passed another mug to her.

"If you drink coffee at this hour then you might not get proper sleep. It's proven medically." She saw him settling down on a nearby arm chair relishing his coffee.

"It's also proven medically if anything is bothering you, you should share else also you will not get proper sleep." He countered with a challenging look. Today, he had decided to confront her.

"What are you talking about?" Myra tried to play safe.

"What's going on Myra?" She could not match with his soul piercing gaze.

"It's nothing Neil, just leave it." She knew the sensitivity of the topic which was haunting her from the last few days.

"I am not going to leave it unless you tell me. Is someone trying to hurt you? Your fath... I mean Ashok Sehgal.. Or his wife." He threw some wild guesses.

"No. They have nothing to do with it. None of them had called me after your threatening." She shook her head in a negative way. She was in a dilemma now.

"Then what is it?"

"I don't know how you will take it. But... Next week is Neev's first birthday." She replied cautiously trying to read his face which turned rigid instantly.

Neev's first birthday, brought back all those horrendous memories of Neil with Meera. This was the day Neil had considered the best day of life which completed his family but the very next day it turned upside down due Meera's betrayal.

Over the last two months, he was successful to forget and move on with the happiness and peace Myra brought in his life. But today, again her mention surfaced his ugly past. He closed his eyes, rubbing his forehead.

Myra knew how sensitive the topic it would be for Neil. She wanted to celebrate her son's birthday but it was the same day when Meera left Neil and her just born baby. She still had fresh memories of how Neil had reacted on the day of his supposed second anniversary with Meera.

"I am sorry." She mumbled. Her heart ached with unbearable pain seeing him still engulfed in his past. The castle of hope that she had started building bit by bit got destroyed in a single stroke.

She turned to hide her tears when she felt hold on her palm.

"What should we do Myra? It's our son's first birthday. It has to be a big blast." Neil confessed with honesty.

"Neil, are you ok?" She asked in concern. 'He is trying to cover up.'

"No, I am not because we need to prepare a lot of things for him." He covered up masking his turmoil with smile.

"You don't need to hide it from me." Myra stared back in his eyes which were filled with tears and he was trying his hardest to stop them crossing his eyelids. "I am there, if you want to share anything."

"You are there and that's why I could reach till here." He did not leave his hold over her hand.

"I will be always with you wherever you are" she spoke her heart out for the first time.

"Always." he agreed, making his first promise.

Day came for Neev's birthday, Neil's house was bustling with commotion. In the morning, Myra and Neil wished Neev happy birthday the moment he opened his eyes followed by Dev, Nandini and Niren.

Myra had baked 12 cupcakes with different frosting to celebrate 12 months. They made Neev sit inside the circle of 12 cupcakes for a cake smash. Niren was busy clicking pictures whereas the rest everyone was busy adoring the little kid.

For Myra, she was kissing Neev's cheek every now and then wishing him happy birthday. And Neev was enjoying his mother's undivided attention.

These days he was turning into a possessive son, he did not like his mother talking or paying any attention to anyone other than him. He used to scream his lungs out, or cry out with fake tears. And his favourite target was his father, whenever he saw his father talking or spending a few moments with his mother annoyed him to the fullest. Throwing his toys to his father or shouting or asking him to leave his mother or pushing him were his methods to keep his father away from his mother.

It was evening, every corner of the house was filled with baby blue coloured balloons. It was a baby mickey mouse themed decoration. Few guests from friends and relatives were invited.

Myra and Neil hold Neev while cutting cake. He was laughing when everyone was wishing him and giving him gifts.

Neil fed him a piece of cake, the remaining piece he fed to Myra. Myra repeated the same.

Neev ate from her hand but when her hand moved to feed Neil, her baby held her hand and ate the remaining piece as well giving a look to his father. "My mumma"

"Yes, I know she is your Mumma. Mumma's boy." Neil rolled his eyes. Hall filled with laughter from everyone who witnessed the adorable scene in front of them.

Niren fed him cake and mumbled, "good going my buddy. See, your father is jealous of you."

Nandini took Myra to introduce her with a few guests. It was not even more than 15 minutes past, Neil came to Myra.

"Myra, I cannot manage your son. He is hitting me continuously with his tiny hands." Myra saw her husband's lossend tie, his messed up hair and annoyed eyes. Her son was the culprit for her husband's untidy state.

"Mumma." He immediately jumped towards his mother.

"You did it to Dadda" Her son giggled naughtily in her arms.

Post dinner, Myra took a look over the hall but she could not find her husband. She made Neev busy with his grandmother and left to look for Neil.

"Neil, what are you doing here?" She saw him at the back side of the house in the garden.

"Ahh nothing." His choked voice told the entire story to Myra.

'He must be remembering Meera.'

Myra turned to leave when again Neil held her hand, "You will never leave me will you?"

"Neil?" Myra could not gather any words.

"Answer me." He stressed trying hard controlling his tears, "You will never leave me like her, will you?"

"I will never Neil." Myra took a step gathering her strength, she raised her hand to wipe his tears.

"Promise?" He asked innocently.

"Promise."

"This bitterness hurt me. Can you help me to get rid of this bitterness? I just want to burn every memory, forget the moments I spent with her. I wish she had never stepped in my life. I am trying hard Myra but... I don't know." Tears started rolling over his cheeks.

"Shh... it's ok. It's ok to be vulnerable sometimes." Myra sobbed as well looking at his dropped shoulders.

"I had given everything to her. I loved her. But she... she just ruined everything. It was all just a game for her. My feelings, our marriage, our baby was nothing. I just feel disgusted that I fell for her facade. I was dumb. She... she just used me. I was a piece of shit for her." His every word was bringing fresh tears from their eyes.

"Neil, listen. You were not at fault. It was Meera who was unlucky to lose a man like you. God had gifted her with the best of the best but she being a lousy woman could not understand the value of it." Neil starred in Myra's eyes, shining with determination.

"We cannot bury our memories or forget our past. It's not possible. Because if we keep on telling our mind 'I want to forget it. I want to get rid of it.' means we are remembering the same thing every moment."

"Then what should I do?"

"Accept it. Give a final closure to it. And then move on. Acceptance makes it easy to move on. Move on and embrace your future. You have such a wonderful family, your Dad, your Mom, your brother. We have Neev."

"And I have you as well." This time he shifted one hair strand behind her ear which was blocking his way to get a clear picture of his wife who was dressed in a simple mango colour knee length dress.

"Always." She nodded her head with a small smile.

One pair of eyes had witnessed the whole conversation with teary eyes.

Soon all guests bid bye, only Dev, Nandini and Niren stayed back. It was for the first time they three were staying at Neil's house on the insistence of Myra.

Myra and Julia left to make arrangements for their stay. Niren took Neil to the bar counter.

"So how are the things between you and Myra?" Niren asked his brother after two pegs of whisky.

"Means? We are great with each other."

"That I could see. But are you still with your theory that we are just Neev's parents?" Niren asked, raising his eyebrows.

"Niren please I don't want to talk about it. I am tired." Neil got up from the bar stool.

"If you don't want to talk about it doesn't mean the topic is over. You have to face it one day or the other." Niren gave a reality check to his brother.

"Ok. Me and Myra have accepted each other as Neev's parents. This acceptance is enough for both of us for life." Neil tried to cover up for the situation though his heart has started whispering to it that it was much more than what he thought it to be. But he needed to buy some time to understand these whispers.

"And Myra doesn't have any problem with it?" Niren continued with a little raised voice. "Don't forget you are her husband. And every wife has some expectation from her husband. Myra will be no different."

"She has accepted." Neil wanted to escape from his brother's questioning.

"And what about you?"

"I already told you. There can be nothing between me and Myra on husband and wife relation." His heart snapped at him at his lie, but Neil did not want to jump on any conclusions.

"And what will happen if any one of you wants more than this so-called perfect parents mode?" Niren asked finally.

Neil could not find an answer.

"Think about it Neil, soon you will have to find an answer for this. Not for me or for anyone out there... but for you... for Myra."

*************************************************

Thanks for loving this story. Let me know how you found this chapter in the form of your votes and comments.

Please feel free to share this story in your message board as a suggestive read if you think that they will enjoy this roller coaster ride.

Love

AngelTweet