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***********
Aditya's Pov
"Aditya pass me that. It's there." Mom pointed towards the kitchen counter, her other hand lightly resting on the wooden dining table.
"Ji." Clueless, I strolled towards the kitchen in the direction she pointed. Alas, I couldn't figure out what 'that' was.
Knives? Plates? Bowl? Fork? Pumpkin?
Damn.
I wandered aimlessly in the kitchen, my mind swirling with thoughts as I searched for whatever "that" was. Taking cautious steps toward her, empty-handed, I spoke hesitantly, keeping a good two-foot distance as if it were a protective barrier.
"Uh mom, what exactly do you want?." My voice tinged with uncertainty. Or was it fear? I couldn't fathom.
She shot me a sideway glance, her face morphed into a threatening scowl, "Hey Bhagwaan! That square-piece thing." She exclaimed, "Kya naam tha uska?" She mumbled in urgency, "Ja ab, leke aa. It's near the crockery stand." Her tone was sharp but softened by the concentration in her eyes as she focused on deftly removing coriander leaves from their stems.
Paving my way toward the kitchen, I took a deep breath, steeling myself for the search spree for the mystery "square piece thing."
Much to my misfortune, even after minutes of relentless search, and overusing my brain cells, I still couldn't find the square thing.
Bracing myself for what felt like an impending storm, I approached my mother. My heart raced, and I could feel sweat beads forming on my forehead, making my hands clammy.
Bhagwaan, hai kaha re tu....
If history were to repeat itself, I knew exactly what would transpire next: deadly glares, murderous expressions, blatant scoldings followed by a nonstop and repeat telecast of all the mistakes I've ever committed in twenty-six years of my existence.
Nonetheless, honestly, most of the time I'm not at fault, because,
If Mom says to bring a red bucket, she would mean pink.
If she says to bring clothes from outside, then it could be the front yard, the backyard, the terrace, or the balconyâanything. And I would fail to comprehend what the hell "outside" means in her context.
If she asked for a square-shaped thing, then it would ultimately turn out to be circular, triangular, or rectangular.
If she mentions drawers, she would also mean the almirah and the space behind the bed, but she would never mention it. Because it's your duty to catch her hidden meanings.
"Mom, uh, I couldn't find it," I stuttered, my voice barely above a whisper as I tried to put on the most innocent face possible, silently praying to God to save me this time.
Narrowing her eyes, she shot me her infamous deadly glare and stomped toward the kitchen. "If I find it, Aditya, I swear I'm not going to let you off easy today," she warned, her tone laced with an unmistakable edge.
My lips worked to chant Hanuman Chalisa, seeking some mercy to save my poor self from her terror.
She rustled through the items on the counter, her movements brisk and determined, until she finally grabbed the 'rectangular' chopping board.
My eyes flew open at the sight, "Mom, this is rectangular, not square. How would I know this." I exclaimed, a mix of frustration and disbelief brewing inside me.
"Han toh?" Trust mothers to teach the art of indifference at their mistakes, "Rectangular or square, both have four sides." She shrugged nonchalantly.
"But Mom..."
"Kya Mom-Mom?" Koi toh bachao mujhe "Kitni baar kaha hai, look at the surroundings as well, but nahi, this overeducated male generation of this house will only look at the mentioned words, nothing more. They can't even do one work properly, couldn't find a simple chopping board."
The entire male generation. Humble apologies on behalf of my mother. Can't help that she loves generalisations.
"And he's getting married in a month, who's still a child in a man's frame. Don't know what a square-shaped chopping board is." She muttered, annoyance seeping in her tone.
Much to my dismay, the session continued for a good ten-minute while I obediently stood there, my weight shuffling from one leg to the other.
"Kya hai ab? Your lazy self doesn't even want to get ready now?" She glared forcing me to step back in defense, "Riya's family is on the way, they'll be reaching anytime soon. Go, get ready, and come back in thirty minutes. Roaming here and there uselessly since morning." She rebuked, her frustration palpable.
I gulped, feeling the pressure mount, and rushed toward my room, eager to escape before her tirade could fully begin.
***********
Why the hell am I so nervous?
My restless self paced back and forth in the house, as a myriad of emotions flooded my insides, resulting in my fixated gaze towards the entrance, occasionally switching towards the wall clock.
After sharing so much over the phone, the idea of finally meeting in person feels surreal and thrilling.
From our teasings and banters to our waves of laughter, us sharing our day's events to our silences, the silence between us, those intense gazes, the way our faces flushâall of it feels new, beautiful, and so incredibly real.
I can't help but wonder how it will all unfold. Just the two of us, in close proximity, free from distractions and the outside world.
Will it be as effortless as our conversations?
A noise from outside jolted me from my thoughts, and I caught sight of their car idling at the curb. My gaze flickered to Kunal, who wore a mischievous smirk at my anxious state, while my parents gestured for me to head outside.
At the threshold, we stood together in view of the car, hearts racing as we waited for them to step out.
The moment the back door of the car creaked open, my heart went into a frenzy, pounding wildly as she stepped into viewâthe very reason for my restless state.
It's a mystery how she manages to captivate me every single time I look at her.
Unlike the previous two times I'd seen her, she chose a western outfit this time. Dressed in a black and pink printed shirt tucked into wide black trousers, her loose, kohl-black hair tumbled effortlessly over her shoulders. A thin layer of kajal accentuated her almond-shaped eyes, and her neutral lip gloss added just the right touch. She looked tremendously enticing and strikingly beautiful.
As she moved past me to greet my parents, dodging my attempts at eye contact, I couldn't help but feel a flutter in my chest. She took their blessings gracefully, and I followed suit, offering my greetings to Uncle and Aunty, all the while trying to steady my racing heart.
"It's Mumma and Papa beta. You are also family now." They patted my cheeks, their eyes crinkling with warmth and admiration.
"Ji." replied, smiling as I held their hands against my cheeks.
"Arey Arey, Bhabhi! You look so beautiful!" Kunal exclaimed, wrapping an arm around Riya and shooting me a glance filled with mischief.
Dumbing down to a hushed whisper, he remarked "Mera Bhai and aapke hone waale pati is guaranteed clean bowled after looking at you. Tabhi to dekho ab kaise chup -chap khada hai. Before you arrived, he was pacing back and forth in the living room for the last thirty minutes."
Mouth agape, I shot Kunal a glare while Riya bit her lip, clearly tryingâand failingâto stifle her laughter at my expense. Thankfully, his teasing was out of earshot of the elders, sparing me further embarrassment.
I glowered at Kunal, silently signaling him to back off, and he nodded, not before giving me a cheeky wink.
"Uh, I guess Mom called me. I'll be back in a few minutes," he said, slipping away with a grin.
Inching closer to Riya, I whispered
"Hey."
"Hello," she replied, fiddling with her phone, her gaze fixed anywhere but on me.
"You know you can look at me; I'm decent enough to deserve at least a fleeting glance," I whispered playfully, leaning in a bit closer.
Her lips parted, and she jerked her head toward me, those magnetic chocolate-brown eyes locking onto my opalescent ones. A shy smile spread across her face, charming and beautifulâone that felt like it was exclusively meant for me.
Before she could respond, Kunal cleared his throat, reappearing just in time to interrupt our moment.
"Ahem, ahem." I tilted my head sideways to see all the adults looking our way, passing amused glances and teasing smiles. Kunal, ever the instigator, couldn't resist adding fuel to the fire.
"You both know you have the next three to four hours all to yourselves for all your gushy mushy talks, shy smiles, and blushful faces, right?" He wiggled his brows playfully, sending a ripple of laughter through the group. Riya hurriedly scurried away to stand with her parents, glancing around and rubbing her arms in a bid to mask her flustered expression.
"Riya beta, this is the first and last time you're coming here without officially stepping into your new home. Next time you come, you'll rightfully place your foot over this threshold," Dad said, patting Riya's head affectionately. She nodded politely, a smile on her face, though I could see the hint of pink on her cheeks.
Looking at his wristwatch, Dad turned to me, "Aditya beta, you both should head out now. And make sure to come back before five."
"Ji, Dad," I replied, but he added a little sternly, "And yes, take care of our daughter. It's your responsibility now to bring her back safe and sound."
My gaze shifted to Riya as I echoed, "Ji, Dad."
"Come, bhaiya and bhabhi ji, let's get inside," Mom said politely, smiling warmly at us as the adults headed back inside.
"Chalein?" I signaled to Riya. She blinked in agreement before we started toward the car.
But before we could take a step, Kunal piped up, "Vaise bhabhi, I wanted to tag along with you both because I don't expect much enjoyment from my brother's side. But your grumpy and overly impatient fiancé might not entertain the idea. So, I'm really sorryâyou'll have to manage with this boring workaholic for the next few hours." He jested dramatically, putting on a pitiful face that made Riya giggle. I couldn't help but roll my eyes at Kunal's antics.
I raised my eyebrows at her, and she fell silent for a moment before biting her lip and saying, "Uh, Kunal, it's okay. I guess I'm pretty used to managing with your workaholic brother." She spoke with amusement, her eyes darting between me and Kunal. I shook my head at her defensive tone, trying to suppress a smile.
"Oye hoye! Already so used to him?" Kunal exclaimed, wiggling his eyebrows, and Riya's face turned scarlet as she whined, "Yaar, Kunal bhai, please, not you at least! You promised to be on my side. Remember?" She pouted, which made us both chuckle.
"Acha, sorry sorry! Now you both should leave before your fiancé kills me with his deadly glares for wasting your time," he said, feigning an apologetic tone.
"Good," I commented, turning my attention to Riya. "Chalein ab?"
She nodded in response, passing a smile to Kunal, and together we settled into the car.
I revved the engine and drove across the street toward the main road. "Somebody was laughing way too much at me being called boring and grumpy. Huh?" I remarked, keeping a straight face.
"Acha? Who? I don't remember," she replied, feigning innocence, her wide eyes making it hard for me to hold my serious expression.
I shot her a sideways glance, squinting at her as she effortlessly masked her laughter with a puppy dog face. "You need to stop making those faces, you know. I can hardly feign annoyance when you stare at me like that," I said, amused, shaking my head. She laughed heartily at my comment, and it warmed my heart.
"Acha, where are we going?" she asked, curiously peering out the car window.
"Um, honestly, I haven't decided yet. But first, let's get some lunch. You've been traveling since 5 am, and I doubt you've eaten anything early or on the way," I answered, glancing over at her.
She bit her lip, looking sheepish as she replied, "Hmm, I'm really hungry since I can't eat anything so early in the morning or during travel."
"Expected. There's a decent restaurant on the highway; let's go there," I said, changing gears as she nodded, engrossed in the scenery outside.
Silence crept inside the car, as we sat quiet, lost in our thoughts. The destination was half an hour away, as even the nearest places in Delhi may take thirty minutes to an hour of travel.
To break the deafening silence, I finally spoke up, "Riya?"
"Hmm?" She turned to look at me.
"You look beautiful today," I said, smiling warmly as I took a quick glance at her outfit, "It's the first time I've seen you in Western clothes. The last two times, you were all clad in traditional wear."
Her cheeks flushed slightly at the compliment, and a shy smile crept across her face. "Thank you," she said softly, her eyes sparkling with warmth.
**********
Riya's Pov
Suddenly, his words struck me, and I asked, confused, "Hey, you saw me in a kurta when we met last time? When was the other?"
"Arey, at Rishabh and Purva's wedding, where you wore that navy blue lehenga," he replied nonchalantly, his focus solely on navigating Delhi's traffic.
"When did you see me at Purva's wedding?" I asked, bewildered, furrowing my eyebrows as I tried to recall any incident where we might have crossed paths.
His eyes widened a bit at my question, and he spoke hurriedly, a hint of fear in his voice as he avoided my gaze. "Uh, the photo that came to me on WhatsApp was of you in a navy blue lehenga. And Mom saw you there, so she told me it was from Rishabh and Purva's wedding."
"Um, okay," I replied, still puzzled by his explanation. He drew a breath and flashed me a somewhat constipated smile.
Why was he so nervous? Strange.
"Bhaiya and Bhabhi didn't come?" He prodded.
"Avyukhth had a little cold yesterday, so they decided to stay back."
He nodded in understanding.
After a brief pause, I added with a hint of amusement, "Isha called yesterday; she was cribbing about not being here with us today."
"Aur kya, she was after my life on the phone call, annoyed that we were meeting without her," he laughed. "You know, she even went so far as to confidently state that I intentionally planned this whole thing after her departure to the hostel, just so we could have some peace without her." He shook his head, a smile lingering on his face.
"She's sweet. She knows how to keep herself entertained and others entertained, too," I beamed.
"Yeah, She's the sunshine of our home, always radiant, gleaming, and cheerful." His eyes twinkled with happiness as he expertly maneuvered the car through a sharp turn.
"You love her the most, don't you?" I stated, settling back against the window and turning slightly to sit across from him so I could see his face without tilting my head.
"Hmmm. The most," he replied, his voice warm with affection. "Being the youngest has its advantages, I guess. She has us all wrapped around her finger. But while I spoil her the most, I'm also the one who scolds her the most," he said animatedly, his grin growing wider with every word, transforming into that dimpled smile I was starting to love.
"You get lost quite often, don't you? Or is it just when I'm around?" His teasing voice pulled me from my reverie.
"Huh?" I said, a bit muddled.
"You've been grinning ear to ear for the last two minutes, with your eyes fixated on me. You didn't even reply when I asked about your college," he stated playfully, his eyes focused on the road as he struggled to suppress his laughter.
"It always happens when I'm around, doesn't it? You seem to lose all your senses in the vicinity of your fiancé." He wiggled his eyebrows, grinning deviously, and I shot daggers at him, feeling annoyance bubble up inside me.
How do I always manage to make fun of myself when he's around? Always embarrassing myself with my buffoonish antics.
Such a silly-bean I am.
"You never miss a chance to tease me," I huffed. "That's why I call you cruel." I frowned, straightening in my seat and crossing my arms over my chest, my gaze fixed firmly outside the window while he chortled heartily at my expense.
"Hmmm, laugh away. You've gotten free access to tease me for a lifetime," I mumbled, my frown deepening with each word.
"Acha, sorry, sorry! No more teasing, pakka. Now look at me at least, and yaar, sit the way you were before," He requested, but I blatantly ignored him, still focused on the humongous buildings outside, suddenly finding them far more interesting than my devious fiancé.
"Vaise, there's something for you on the backseat. At least spare a glance at it," he whispered. I turned to glare at him but then quickly redirected my gaze to the windowpane.
"No," I stated firmly, tapping my foot indifferently.
"Please," he said softly, his voice low and a bit hoarse.
"Uff. Fine." I huffed and turned around to look at the backseat. The moment my eyes landed there, my frown disappeared, and my mood brightened like Diwali firecrackers in an instant.
My heart swelled, and a smile spread across my face as I took hold of Me Before You, gracefully wrapped in transparent gift paper adorned with intricate red designs and tied with a red ribbon at the left corner. A little note was stuck on top, and my curiosity piqued as I read it.
Happy Reading Dear Wife To Be,
Yours,
Aditya.
My heart fluttered as I reread his note, my gaze fixated on the signature: Yours, Aditya.
Each time I had a conversation with him, each moment I spent with him, or each second I simply met his gaze, this unknown yet unnamed feeling in my heart overpowered all my senses. It was a feeling that was irrevocably overwhelming yet incessantly terrifying.
The more I look at his charmingly positive face laced with his soothingly calm smile, it enthralls me. And this feeling gets deeper with each second passing second.
As cliché as it sounds, his presence calmed me, tranquilized me, and instilled a certain level of confidence within me that I had never experienced before
The novel he gifted me was the same one I had wanted to buy for ages but hadn't been able to due to delivery issues in Hoshiarpur.
"How did you...?" I drawled, thoroughly overwhelmed by his gesture.
"You talked about it once, when we were on a call. So..." He trailed off, half shrugging. "Did you like it?" His eyes sparkled with hope as the car screeched to a halt in the restaurant parking lot.
"I loved it," I gushed, a myriad of emotions swirling inside me at his thoughtfulness.
"Thank you. It means a lot," I whispered softly, and he smiled, blinking his eyes as if savoring the moment.
A few days ago, I had casually mentioned this novel during a conversation about our likes and dislikes in movies, series, and books. I had shared my disappointment about not being able to read it due to delivery issues, and here he was, surprising me with it.
Him gifting me this novel assured me of how beautifully he valued these little joys in life, how carefully he absorbed every word I casually uttered. True to his words, emotional investments mattered most to him. His efforts, thoughtfulness, and commitment to our blossoming relationship, especially at this stage, revealed just how passionately he was dedicated to making this work.
"It's okay," He murmured gently, turning towards me, his gaze intense and unwavering.
In that moment, I felt a rush of emotionsâgratitude, admiration, and something deeper that I couldn't quite name.
A wisp of loose tendril came undone from my ponytail and recklessly settled at the side of my face. But this moment, with those opalescent irises, and his intense gaze boring into me, piercing my insides felt so terrifically beautiful and impassionate, that I didn't even bother to tuck it behind and ruin the intimacy of this moment.
The moment his gaze flickered towards the unruly strand, his face contorted into indecisiveness, and his fingers clasped and unclasped restlessly as if he was contemplating something. However, his actions did indicate how miserably his hands itched to tuck it behind, and how arduously he was controlling it.
Shutting his eyes, a breathy sigh escaped him. After a fleeting moment, he opened his eyes and raked his hands through his hair, aimlessly looking outside. When he turned towards me again, his gaze was warm and affectionate as he mumbled hoarsely,
"Come let's go inside. You must be famished."
*************
Ahem! Rii and Adi met again.
What is the one thing that you love about yourself, and one habit you would want to change in you?
Also, what small yet overwhelming gestures you've experienced (if any) in your life? Can relate to family, friends, significant others, or anyone.
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Until Next Time,
Lots of Love
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