“What? You cried for the phone. Unbelievable.” He rolled his eyes and chuckled at her innocence. Hearing her non-stop hiccups on his back, he really got scared and when his wife revealed the reason he felt relieved. Maybe if she had not cried that intensely, he would’ve felt awful for the state of his first gift but since she cried he mellowed down.
Lifting her face, he wiped the salty tears though it keeps running down like never-ending “Stop crying. It’s not a big deal.”
She looked up and slapped his chest with her soft fist angrily “What do you mean by not a big deal? Of course, it’s close to my heart. It’s your first gift that I broke.” She again travelled down into the guilty track and drew some irregular patterns on his fabric “You bought it with so much love and I …”
“Shh… Shh… I’ll buy better than the previous one with shatterproof.” He ended with a tease earning a strong hit on his torso.
She whined and pushed him away “Don’t tease me.”
He tittered at her remark and put forth his doubt simultaneously unbuttoning his shirt “So what made my ever silent wife so angry that she broke the mobile?”
Khushi’s brain stopped working, the moment her eyes followed the way his fingers making its way down and let alone she register his question. Her head automatically sagged in shyness as his fingers are done with its work.
Met with silence, Arnav averted his vision & smirked seeing his effect on her. Her lateritious cheeks & thumping chest teased his senses. Driven by desires, he took measured steps closer to her imprinting her reactions on his memory. The way her hairs stood straight on her skin when he neared her was felt by him & it created goosebumps on his own skin. He stood so close to her not touching her at all in a way letting his hot breath fall on her neck. Her whole body trembled at the effect. Her breaths quickened and her lips quivered at the rhythm. Oblivion to her, she created the same effect of him. Her hot breath danced on his bare chest making it hard for him to turn back from the moment. She didn’t dare to lift her eyes pouring oil to his already burning frame.
“Khushi.” He breathed out her name, nuzzling her neck with his nose followed by his lips.
Not able to withstand the sweet torture, she shoved herself into his body and clutched him to her dear life. His arm automatically caged her in his torso.
“Arnav…” A loud call from his father interrupted their hot moment. Unwillingly Arnav distanced himself from her and Khushi bit her lips feeling awkward to face him. She saw everything but not him.
“Huh… What your father-in-law oops father said Khushi?” Arnav cleared his throat taking an initiative to shove away the awkwardness.
Khushi raised her eyes to answer him but lowered it immediately after witnessing his bare upper half.
“I’ll bring your coffee.” She ran with an excuse blushing like hell.
Grinning, he quickly refreshed himself and reached the living room only to sigh dejectedly meeting his father's worried eyes.
“Khushi.” He yelled wearing his shoes knowing why his father would've arrived.
Khushi came running and surprised seeing him ready to go somewhere with his father. He smiled a little and gestured her to come near him. Frowned, she obeyed his words and gave her cheeks to his awaited palms.
“Don’t wait for me, I may come late. Eat at right time and sleep after ensuring all safety locks.”
“But Arnavji… Is it necessary for you to go? You already look tired and Where’ll you eat?” She muttered worriedly gripping his hands tightly as if she’s afraid to leave him.
Raj heart contented once again witnessing the love between the couple. After observing Khushi love, he has only doubts about his son. He feared his son might have married Khushi under pressure and may even carry some other girl on his heart. But the small gesture from Arnav towards his wife cleared off all his doubts. As a father, he knows his son can never get so comfortable with his wife if he carried someone else in his heart. Their compatibility and chemistry is screaming their love.
“I’ll manage. Stay safe. Take care of Meera too. And yeah I've bought you few books which is on my bag, take it.” Saying this, he pecked her forehead and shared a quick hug before murmuring on low audible voice “I know you wouldn’t have taken your dinner yesterday. Don’t do this today.”
Khushi gave a surprised look and grinned in acceptance.
“Khushi, I kept my visiting card on the table. You can call me anytime without hesitation.” Raj informed with concern and shook his head as a cue to his departure. Arnav gave a final nod to her and followed his father in his car. Khushi stood waving her hands when her Maasi arrived.
“Khushi where is he leaving? I thought I can interact after he relaxes. But…” Uma who has seen the interaction between the three decided to interrogate as she doesn't wanted to poke her nose when they're already in some tension.
“He has gone for some work. You are staying here na, you can meet him at night or tomorrow maasi.” Answered Khushi.
“No way I'm going to stay here Khushi. You know your brother right. He needs me for everything and his boards are also starting day after tomorrow and I need to be there. So I'll wait till damadji returns, he have to come at night na.”
Khushi pouted and aimed a feign glare at her “You’re bad maasi.”
Uma got hold of her ears and twisted it “To handle a bad daughter, mother should be equally bad and smart.”
“My arnavji is going to chop your fingers for plucking my ears and calling me bad.” Khushi threatened childishly rubbing her paining ear.
Uma laughed at her words “Lemme see how he's gonna chop his mother-in-law fingers.”
Khushi in a flow countered back “You probably won't get that choice tonight.”
“What?” Uma turned serious getting confused by her words.
“Haan. Yesterday also he went like that but only came by morning.”
“Aren't he stay here at nights?” Uma asked shocked by the new revelation, apparently disturbed by clouded thoughts.
“He's stuck with some work.” She muttered in low voice uncertainty. Until this question is raised she doesn't really cared about the important work which keeps him busy from yesterday night.
“This is not right Khushi. You both are newly married and he should be spending time with you. Look I'm not doubting him but staying away from home at night is extremely dangerous. You should be careful.”
Khushi exhaled not liking her maasi advice “You’re worrying for nothing Maasi. I trust him. If he says he's busy then he's busy. I don't want to imagine unhappening things & worry myself unnecessarily. And you too stop giving overload to your brain and help in dinner preparations.”
Saying this she didn't wait for her reaction and dragged her to kitchen forgetting the third occupant on their home who's happy with the loneliness she got.
*
Meera locked the door & quickly took her mobile. Since khushi was awake yesterday night just in front of her room, she couldn't speak to Abhay.
Dialling his number, she waited anxiously and the second he attended she spoke in a single breath “Abhay I'm going to reveal our love to jiji. Akash bhai already know about us. He may tell it to Jiju and Jiju will tell it to Jiji. I can't take risk when we're already facing pressure from our paternal family.”
“Don’t take unnecessary tension Meera. It's not time to reveal. Let's keep it as a secret for another year till I become little stable in my life. I'm already on my final year and preparing myself for placements. Understand baby.”
“But…”
“No if's and but's. I'm getting late for my work so I'll call you later. Bye. Take care.” Abhay disconnected the call leaving Meera perplexed on other side.
*
“Between, What has gotten on you Khushi? Everyone is shocked by your behaviour. As far as the Khushi I know never raise her voice against anyone let alone hit someone.” Uma raised her suspicion who was also shocked by her boldness.
Khushi stopped whisking the dal and met her eyes fearlessly “It's not that I changed in a blink Maasi. From the start itself, I never liked their approach towards us. But I had to keep my mouth shut and obey their rules & act according to their limitations. If not, either I would've been married to their stupid ill-mannered relative or they would've forced Meera to quit school and work under them. It's my good luck that phuphaji himself denied me for his nephew else god knows how many children I would've given birth till now.”
Uma pressed her shoulder in comfort and Khushi continued “I would say each and every girl who took birth in this world is strong and bold than they could ever imagine. Few bring their full strength out but many are forced to constraint their real capability and many have no idea that they're actually strong but the surroundings suppressed them under patriarchal norms making them puppets in their hands. And I was second of that kind. I kept quiet thinking for Meera future. But the Khushi you're seeing now is of first kind. She has her backbone and this time she has nothing to fear and nothing to compromise. Her husband gave her wings to fly. He's there to hold if her wings gets impaired. He's there to encourage if she's down. He's there to wipe tears and scold her for being a cry baby. He gave me full freedom Maasi. I will never misuse it and live myself up to his dream.” Khushi spoke with determination, unknowingly easing off her Maasi doubt on her husband forever.
“Stay blessed my dear.” Uma kissed her forehead. Her heart reached tranquility. Now she has full confidence that her sister's daughters are in safe hands.
“Thank you Maasi. And mind you, you should come here once my brother gave his boards else…” She meanced showing his index finger.
And her Maasi interrupted her sentence “Else you'll complaint to your husband saying your Maasi infringed your order.”
Both glared at each other and burst into fits of laughters next moment. There couldn't be a better day than this day for Uma. She eventually took her leave and the sisters bid bye to sun, welcoming night without his presence. Though sleep evaded Khushi, she forced herself to sleep as being ordered.
No comments:
Post a Comment