Once again, I found myself waking up early in the morning, determined to avoid any more conflicts within my family. I quickly began packing and headed straight to the nearby hotel where my paternal family was staying. My granny, Iravati, who always rises early, was already awake, but the others were still sleeping, especially my dear baby cousin Ankit. Before anyone else woke up, I took care of settling the hotel bill and preparing breakfast. I also made sure to arrange some snacks for their journey back to Sambhaji Nagar.
Granny Iravati and I were engaged in a pleasant conversation until Uncle Suresh and Ankit joined us, and then we all enjoyed a smooth breakfast together. As the meal concluded, I turned to Uncle Suresh with a request, "Uncle, would it be possible for me to take Ankit and Dad home in my car?" Uncle Suresh raised an inquisitive eyebrow but eventually agreed. Then, with a teasing tone, he added, "So your dad owns his vehicle. Are you planning on presenting your Jaguar to your mother?" I responded with a smile and said, "Well, why don't you let Dad drive both of you? Then I can just take Ankit with me." It suddenly occurred to me that neither of them knew how to operate a car, and Ankit was not yet eligible for a driver's licence. My dear uncle and granny had arrived in rented cars, and now, My father, who had just approached me from behind, was glaring at me with a look that seemed to convey the message, "You have deceived me." I could sense his disappointment and disapproval.
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At around 8 am, we all settled into our vehicles and embarked on our journey towards the highway. It was at that moment when Ankit, visibly relieved, turned to me and said, "Bro, I apologise for Radha Di and myself accidentally disclosing your secret." I comfortingly patted Ankit on the shoulder with my left arm and replied in a calm and composed manner, "It doesn't matter anymore; it's better that they found out sooner rather than later. How about we make a stop at Radha Di's house first and then head back to ours later tonight?" A sense of gratitude gleamed in Ankit's eyes as if I had rescued him from a potentially dire situation.
Radha Di, the eldest in our generation, is the daughter of Suresh Uncle and Anita Aunt. She is two years older than me, while Ankit is only 16 years old. The journey was an enjoyable one, filled with laughter and conversation. We shared jokes and gossiped throughout the entire trip. My dear brother entertained us by imitating everyone's reactions and recounting the entire story of what had happened behind my back. The news followed a specific sequence: it originated from my dad, then passed on to Anita Aunt, then to Radha Di, and finally reached Ankit.
As we arrived at Radha Di's residence, I couldn't help but reminisce about her early marriage. At just 18 years old, she had tied the knot with a high school educator. Fortunately, my brother-in-law possessed a progressive mindset and wholeheartedly encouraged Radha Di's aspirations. Fast forward to today, she has become a highly accomplished doctor and skillfully manages her gynaecology clinic.