N I K S H A N T
I glanced at my watch and saw that it was 6 pm, so I quickly left the room.
I can't keep her hungry for too long.
I headed towards the terrace, and once I reached there, I waited for her to come so she could perform the Karwa Chauth and break her fast, and finally eat something.
I gaze at the sky, which was completely dark, and I could say that I was waiting for the moon to rise so we could break the fast.
I heard the sound of anklets jingling from behind, and I knew who it was.
I turned back, and my gaze stopped on her.
It felt like a part of me that had gone cold and numb finally thawed. Like my heart, which had been beating in my chest like a dead thing, suddenly came back to life. Likeâas if I was alive again, seeing her in this red saree that perfectly enhances her beauty. Her slow steps, the way she lowers her gaze whenever she catches me staring at herâit does something to me every fucking day.
She finally stood in front of me and looked up; my gaze lingered on her as if I were seeing her for the first time, with so many emotions passing across my face, my mind, my heart.
âYou look like a bride, like my cherry, like my wife,â I said absentmindedly, my voice hoarse. Her face flushed at my words.
She looked down, feeling shy at what I said, and I realized what I had just said.
Damn, did I just say the nickname I gave her in my mind?
I could feel warmth spreading across my neck and earsâI had totally embarrassed myself in front of her.
To avoid the embarrassment, I looked up at the sky to see if the moon had risen, and I think luck was on my side, as the moon appeared just in time to save me from my awkwardness.
I cleared my throat and said, âLook, Aaravi, the moon has appeared,â and she looked up to see that it had indeed come out.
She pulled the pallu of her saree over her head, lifted the sieve to the moon, and then slowly brought the sieve to my face.
As she finished with the sieve ritual, I quickly took the water jug and brought it to her lips, and she drank the water, breaking her fast-and mine too.
She bent down to touch my feet, but I held her shoulder. She looked up and IÂ shaking my head.
She doesn't need to touch my feet just because I'm her husband; I think it's ridiculous. Why should a wife have to touch her husband's feet every Karwa Chauth?
Anklet.
Yes, an anklet. I had to give her a gift for Karwa Chauth, so why not give her the anklet I bought for her at a street store a few days ago but hadnât been able to give her? Now itâs finally easier for me to give her that anklet.
So, I just dropped on my knees, took her foot, and rested it on my thigh, and a gasp escaped her lips.
"Nikshant ji, what are you doing?" she tried to pull her leg back.
"Don't move," I said sternly, taking the anklet from my pocket. I slipped it onto her ankle, and what I did next was unexpected-I kissed her foot, my lips brushing against it and lingering there for a few seconds.
I don't know why I kissed her feet; it's just that my heart told me to do it, so I did.
I lifted my head and looked at her face. Her gaze was fixed on the floor, and I couldnât see her face because of her pallu. I was desperately wanting to see her face. I can say with certainty that sheâs a blushing mess now, and I wonât lieâI love the effect I have on her.
"Aaravi, look at me,"I said softly, and she slowly looked up at my face as my hands gently caressed her ankle.
"You might be hungry after fasting all day. Letâs go and eat something." I gently placed her foot on the floor and stood up.
"Go and change into something comfortable; it must be a struggle for you with this heavily embroidered saree," I said, noticing how heavy it was with all the embroidery.
She nodded, and we left the terrace. I went to my room, and she went to hers.
I changed into casual clothes, left the room, and headed to the kitchen. I served food for us, took the plates, and brought them to the dining table. Just as I placed the plates down, Aaravi arrived and looked at me in shock, her eyes wide as if sheâd seen a ghost.
"You donât have to do all this, Nikshant ji," she said sweetly, and her voice sounded like a melody in my ears.
"Itâs okay. Besides, you kept the fast, so you must be feeling a little dizzy," I said, a small smile forming on my face. She gave me the sweetest smile in return, and my heart skipped a beat.
Control my heart.
Be in control.
"As if you didnât keep the fast," my annoying subconscious mind mocked.
"Yes, I did keep it, so what," I replied, gritting my teeth.
Why canât this subconscious mind of mine stop poking its nose into my business? I just hate it.
"Nothing, I was just reminding you that you also kept the fast, so you might be feeling a little dizzy too, right?"my subconscious mind taunted me.
"Iâm used to it, and I donât feel dizzy. Now stop poking your nose and let me have my dinner in peace,"I replied, then looked at Aaravi and saw she was still standing, watching me. Here I was, just arguing with my subconscious mind, and it was embarrassing.
"Why are you standing? Sit down and have dinner," I said, trying to hide my embarrassment.
She nodded, and we ate our dinner in silence, as if there was nothing to talk about.
I wiped my mouth with a tissue and said, "Tomorrow, weâre going to India, so pack all your belongings." I left the dining area, went to my room, entered, lay down on my bed, and placed my hand on my forehead.
All the things that happened kept replaying in my mindâfrom the sargi to applying mehendi, to saying those things to her, kneeling down in front of her, making her wear an anklet, and kissing her foot.
I grabbed a pillow and pressed it against my face, feeling embarrassed or maybe even shy.
"Why are you feeling shy now, Nikshant? When you said, 'You look like a bride, like my cherry, like my wife,' where was your shyness then?"I pressed my face even more into the pillow.
I canât believe I said all those things to her. And why did I say them? Was it just because she kept a fast for me, or was it something else? Why does everything become so complicated when it comes to her?
Oh god.
I removed the pillow from my face, placed it beside me, closed my eyes, and soon sleep took over.
A A R A V I
Itâs probably been a month since we came back from Greece. Every moment I spent with him there was the best, something Iâll never forget. But what hurts is that heâs acting strange again. He talks to me less, and whenever he does, he speaks to me rudely. I thought that maybe... maybe we had gotten a bit closer in Greece, but it turns out it was all just an act, and it hurts so much.
I sighed, grabbed my bag, and left the room. I descended the stairs and went to Mom and Dadi.
I took their blessings, went outside, climbed into the car, and headed toward my college. Iâm going to college after a month because I couldnât go because mom was unwell, and I couldnât leave her alone in that situation. Even though Aahana was there, I still couldnât bring myself to go to college, so I stayed home to take care of Mom. Now that sheâs feeling better, I thought I should go to college since my practical exams are coming up, and I need to attend the practical classes.
"Madam, weâve reached the college," Driver Uncle said. I got out of the car and entered the college. I walked toward my classroom, entered, and headed to my bench. My eyebrows frowned when I saw a flower bouquet there. I went to my bench and picked up the bouquetâit was a bouquet of red roses. I noticed a white envelope, took it, placed the rose bouquet down, and opened the envelope. Inside was a letter, and I opened it.
"Enjoy your honeymoon, sweetheart, because now you wonât enjoy a bit, because I will cage you in my life forever."It was written in blood, it's looking fresh, as if someone had just written it now, the letter fell from my hand as fear gripped me.
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