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Note:
All the incidents in this chapter take place on different days and times.
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Aditya's Pov
A relaxed groan escaped my throat as soon as I plopped my exhausted self over the bed. My body was stiff, my eyes were drooping, my neck rigid and my hands aching because of all the driving I had done in the past twenty-four hours.
My gaze shifted sideways and my lips twitched in displeasure as the sight of a half-empty bed came into the line of my vision, the view enough to sting my eyes.
Sighing helplessly, I picked up my phone to message my wife that I have reached home but before my fingers could type the message my lips curled up in a smile as her name along with her picture in the same navy blue lehnga flashed on my screen.
"I was just going to message you." I grinned soon as I answered her call and pulled that stupid cuddle pillow towards me, thus forcing myself to cuddle it for the next fifteen days.
"Why message, why not call?" She queried, a hint of annoyance palpable in her tone.
I couldn't resist chuckling at her question and hence, deciding to tease her, I remarked playfully,
"A certain someone said me once that her sleep is very very precious to her and given the fact that it's already past midnight, I thought she'd be fast asleep, dreaming all sorts of weird dreams. After all who would stay awake for so long and disturb her sleep?"
"Bol ab." I nudged when she replied in silence.
"I was awake." She mumbled, pretty much offended.
"Acha? Kyu?" I feigned oblivion and my eyes closed on their own accord as the picture of her getting all blushy-mushy flashed in front of my closed eyelids.
"You aren't as ignorant as you try to be." I could crystal clear imagine her protruded lips, complimented with ample frown lines on her forehead.
"Lae, that was a genuine question, why would I act to be ignorant." I pressed my lips to stifle my chuckle and placed the elbow over my closed eyes, my mind beginning to blank out with tiredness.
"I am not a kalyugi wife who'd sleep like a log without even confirming that her husband has reached home or not, given it's already two at night."
"Acha? Then what happened that day when we got rokafied?" I teased again, reminding her of the dialogue she threw on me after I came back home from our roka.
Silence.
"Uh, um that time we were new-new? Haan! We were new-new then, and not even husband-wife!" She exclaimed, more like asked and it took every inch of me not to laugh at her buffoonish reasons.
"Acha? And now?" I couldn't help but question in response.
"Now we are old-old!" She replied, giggling, and I rubbed a helpless hand over my face, unable to understand this antique piece, better known as my wife.
"Just in a month of marriage, we are old-old? In a year you'd be calling us retired-retired. And hence, every year, I have to remarry you to keep us new-new." I couldn't help but comment sarcastically, though it didn't affect her a bit as she giggled merrily.
"Maybe!" She spoke, while my jaws began to hurt at the innumerable times I've yawned and chuckled in the past five minutes, my body craving nothing but sleep.
"Acha sun ab, let's talk tomorrow? I am going to sleep now, and upar se I've to reach office at seven tomorrow." I managed to keep my eyes open and switched off the lights.
"Hanji hanji, go sleep. Good night." She added softly, "Today was very tiring for you."
"Hmm. Chal ab good night, I am keeping the phone." I yawned again.
"Hanji, bye."
Placing the phone towards my side, my gaze wandered around the room, settling at the empty space on the other side of the bed.
Sensing the sheer silence in the room, I couldn't help but wonder that even before marrying her, I used to be all alone in this room. But today felt different, very different indeed.
It felt immensely awkward and alien without her presence, without her mischief-laden gaze, her mild fragrance, her innocent complaints, her shy smiles, and her soothing waves of laughter.
Inhaling heavily, I snuggled closer to her cuddle pillow in the hope to find the same peace and serenity I feel when she's tugged closer to me, all wrapped around my body.
However, I shook my head miserably and chuckled to myself a second later, when absentmindedly I pressed a chaste kiss on this artificial, temporary wife of mine, her cuddle pillow.
Riya Kansal, you'll sure make me mad one day.
*********
Riya's Pov
"Good morning." Rubbing my bleary eyes, I mumbled groggily to my husband.
A hushed chuckle was what I was graced with before he remarked friskily, "It's Good afternoon ma'am. Ek baj gye, uthja ab."
"Good morning only happens when Princess Riya of Hoshiarpur wakes up." I boasted proudly, my eyes still closed, wanting to snooze for another hour or so.
"I am the one who drove almost fifteen hours yesterday, and you are talking as if you are the one who's tired. I should be the one to feel such exhaustion and enjoy such sleep." He revolted, a hint of jealousy apparent in his tone.
"Lae, sitting for seven hours in the car, using google maps, sitting on the sofa, talking with family, playing with avyuktha, and eating lots of food are a lot of challenging tasks, while you only drove for fifteen hours. Basss! Nothing much." I argued back, only to irk him.
"Impossible." He muttered helplessly making me giggle at his agitated self.
"Acha haan, hogayi meeting?" I queried, yawning for the umpteenth time in the last two minutes.
"Hmm. Just got back home from the office." He answered, yawning too.
"Fir kaam?" I questioned again.
"Baad mein. My head is aching badly, so I'll sleep now and work later." He explained while the sounds of the almirah opening and closing acted as a piece of background music.
"Yaar where's my peach t-shirt?" he asked, distracted, "Don't tell me you've thrown that too." He grumbled in annoyance, presumably rummaging the contents in the almirah.
"It isn't washed yet, wear something else. And eat some medicine for your headache, otherwise, you won't be able to sleep." I spoke, eyeing the empty space between the room window, while my fingers played with my nest-styled hair.
"Haan, I just took the medicine, when I came back home." He informed, "Because it's only after I sleep well that I can work peacefully at night." He yawned amidst his words.
"Oooooh! Night romance with your first wife." I cooed, wiggling my brows even though he couldn't see me.
At my frisky remark, he laughed heartily, "Of course, night-long romance with my one and only." He said dreamily, playing along, his voice sensuous.
Too much romance in my absence! Miss Phone Kansal get ready because you'll be getting a sibling soon, Miss Headphone Kansal.
"Tell me in advance okay when you both will get all cozy-mozy? I'll not disturb you at that time by calling or messaging you." I added, biting my lips to stifle the wide grin forming on my face.
"Naaah."He drawled with mischief,
"You can join us too. We can have you know, thr...."
"Oh God chiii Aditya! You are incorrigible!" I gasped in horror before he could complete the sentence.
"What? It will be fun, we can try." Naughtiness was evident in his tone, the cruel husband within him thoroughly enjoying my horrified response.
"Go now, sleep, you shameless man." I chided lightly, shooing him before he could extend this conversation more.
"Lae what shameless? You were the one starting it and vaise bhi we'll be discussing a lot such things one day. So let's make that one day today only, what say?" His wide, no filter mouth spluttered, least affected by my scoldings.
"Adityaa.." I whined, shaking my head in embarrassment.
"Acha acha, going, going." He answered but added almost immediately, his tone as sensual as it could be,
"You sure na vaise, you don't want to join us tonight?" He spoke the last word in a hushed whisper.
"God! Shut up and go!" I squeaked, shutting my eyes as the picture of what he intended to say flashed in the front of my eyes.
"Going going, bye." He was still laughing at my expense when I cut the call, embarrassed and petrified.
Paagal!
*******
"Riyaaa...Phone utha, massi ka hoga shayad." Maa called out from the terrace as I was busy watching television and munching chips, my forever favorite, masala flavor.
"Main ni!" I scowled, even though she couldn't see me.
"Hanji massi ka hai." I added briskly eyeing the incoming call on her phone, thus answering her unasked question.
"Utha le na. Baat kar, I am just coming in a minute." She scolded, annoyance palpable in her tone.
"No naa. You know I can't do this relative talking thingy." Frowning, I called rather loudly, thus putting forward my refusal to pick up the phone, even though it was for a minute. The next second, I heard her stepping down the stair in a rush, even though by now the phone has stopped ringing.
"Stop being stubborn all the time. Your tantrums are worse than avyuktha." She glared in disapproval, stepping inside the room with sun-dried clothes hung on her arm.
However her glares hardly managed to scare me, hence, being the Princess of Hoshiarpur I am, I kept shuffling the channels royally, songs to movies, serials to the news.
Don't worry, I am used to these types of glares, this is the everyday scene here.
"Haan didi, haanji I was on the terrace, that's why couldn't pick up the call." Maa voiced as soon as she dialed massi's number, her pitch ear-painingly high as if massi is sitting right in the next room.
"Dheere!" I whispered, gesturing her to speak slowly only to be awarded by yet another glare from her, thus refusing to lower down her loudy-loud pitch whenever she is on the call.
Nevertheless, ignoring the high-pitch elderly talk, I focused my attention on some stupid reality show, where candidates were more involved in fighting than doing the tasks assigned.
"Haan haan Riya aayi hui hai." My heart stopped beating altogether and my ears perked up in an instant as soon as I heard maa mentioning about me.
"Haan haan, baithi hai yahi." She added, eyeing me keenly.
Danger.
Without wasting a single second, I immediately got up from the bed to rush outside before the phone is handed over to me to have the age-old formal set of forced conversations with the relatives.
"Haan haan karvati hu." My steps hastened as I heard her gushing about my arrival as if she has forgotten that Princess Riya doesn't converse with anyone without prior appointments.
"Riya, le kar baat massi se." I shut my eyes in exasperation and my steps halted before I could cross the threshold of the room.
"Washroom." I mouthed, manoeuvering her with my innocent pout but one glare from her and the phone was in my hand.
Get, Set, Go and splutter hanjis a million times per minute.
Internally cribbing and grimacing at this electronic piece in my palm, I placed the phone over my ear and voiced, smiling as every other innocent child would do,
"Hanji massi, namastey."
And bye.
"Hanji hanji, kal hi aayi."
What else should I say next?
"Hanji, all well, how are you all? How are your knees?"
Good going.
"Ji ji, everyone is nice there. Nahi nahi, I've no problem there. Ji, Aditya is also good."
Say bye, please.
"Uh, hanji matlab Aditya Ji. Nahi nahi, hanji I know, it is Aditya Ji."
Saying hanji is better, because who would start an unending argument with these old generations.
"Uh, nahi massi bas aur to kuch nai, aap sunao."
Can we cut the call in between, after all, network issues?
"Hanji zaroor, aap bhi aana ghar ab."
"Haha ji ji. Lo mumma se baat kro."
Thank God.
Fretting, I hastily handed the phone back to maa and heaved a deep, relieved sigh at the successful accomplishment of this calling mission.
The next moment, I was sprawled on the bed, suddenly drained after sharing the same old set of conversations I have with every other relative, courtesy of my overly excited mother who leave no chance to hand over the phones to me.
*******
"Maa yaar how many times have I've to tell you that please stop watching these serials, at least when I come back home." Ayaansh bhai grumped as soon as he entered the room, his features morphed into displeasure.
"Why does he always come when only ten minutes of our serial is left." Maa muttered under her breath carefully, passing a glare at him with caution.
"Vaishally de remote." Standing at the edge of the bed, he extended his hand towards bhabhi who in return was busy sulking at this remote thief.
"Just two minutes please, you know this is the only serial both of us watch." I suppressed a giggle as her features turned more dramatic with her eyes flickering time and again towards the television, least interested in missing a single scene.
"No." Bhai shook his head firmly and took the remote from her hands, royally ignoring the sheer innocence swirling on my sister-in-law's features.
I wonder, why are all husbands so dusht and kalyugi?
"Repeat telecast dekhlena," Bhai uttered, settling on the bed as maa handed the glass of water to him while bhabhi was pissed enough to ignore his words.
However, before bhai could change the channel, he eyed the television carefully and exclaimed,
"Arey this female lead was dead haina? How did she get alive again?" His gaze switched to us, searching for an answer.
"She got a new birth." I answered, pressing my lips to resist the amused smile perking on its corners.
He nodded, scrunching his nose at the plot, and took a sip of water. A minute later, he extended the phone towards the television again to change the channel, but his movements halted one more time as he refused to peel off his eyes from the screen.
30 Seconds Later.
His lips twitched and his eyebrows furrowed in puzzlement as the male lead also graced the presence on the screen before he could change the channel.
"Lae, why is she treating him as her husband, her husband was someone else haina? That tall one, this one is a little shorter than him." He was baffled, his nose wrinkled in oblivion.
1 Minute Later.
"Hain? How come she has three children now, a few days ago she had none? Itni jaldi teen bacche?" He eyed bhabhi, probably to indicate that she took nine months to produce a baby.
2 Minutes Later.
"Arey, this female lead had a friend haina? That beautiful one? With that pretty blue-green eyes? Where does she go?" He beamed almost dreamily and absentmindedly eyed bhabhi in a question only to receive an offended glare from her.
"Ask her, she'll tell you." She glowered, "Beautiful one. Pretty eyes." I couldn't control my giggles when she mimicked him in annoyance, her tone low so that only I and bhai could hear. My giggles and her glares intensified when bhai chuckled, though it soon transformed into inaudible gulps after witnessing her pissed-off self.
3 Minutes Later.
"Lae batao, her great grandmother-in-law still looks so young, with only a strand of white hair on each side." He rolled his eyes in disbelief, as he watched the next scene.
"Aise hi bas, I don't understand why you people watch these shows. I can't even watch a single scene of this stupidity." He shook his head helplessly and changed the channel after the serial ended, while we woman shared brisk eye contact immediately at the hopelessness of this man who has been all curious for the last ten minutes about every single character of the show.
Men!
*******
"That's my cuddle pillow!!!" I exclaimed as soon as I answered my husband's video call to see him wrapped up with my one and only, the love of my life, my cuddle pillow.
"And that's my cuddle pillow!" He was quick to retort, pointing his finger towards me making my cheeks suffuse with color.
"Pillow-thief." I complained in a murmur, playfully glaring at him and he tightened his hold on my cuddle pillow, placing a light kiss over it just to irk me.
"Haan haan, go on and keep kissing my cuddle pillow there." I tried to conceal the offense seeping in my words witnessing him snuggling with anything but me, and added when he kissed it again,
"I am telling you, when I'll come back I'll not even let you touch me, go and kiss it then, not me." I huffed, pouting at the traitorous sight in front of me.
"Jealous?" He wriggled his brows teasingly, removing his t-shirt and getting all nakey-nakey.
"Oh Puh-lease, I have my cuddle pillow here, the ultimate original one." I boasted, draping my arms around avyuktha, who was sleeping peacefully beside me, his mouth half-opened.
"Point." He agreed before mentioning,
"But for me, you are my cuddle pillow, the ultimate original one. And we'll see how you refuse to let me touch you when you'll come back" He eyed me, a hint of playfulness and a drop of intensity adorning his features while I could only pass a teensy-tiny shy smile, my rational self unable to frame a coherent response.
"So, how was your day." I diverted the topic, playing with avyuktha's hair, careful enough not to wake him up.
"Umm...Okay okay." He answered after a brief thought, the light in his eyes fading.
"Kya hua?" I asked, suddenly tensed.
Sighing, he added,
"Nothing bas, I had a meeting with a prospective client who could pay a little better than my other clients, but I don't know, I feel it didn't go well as I expected it to be. So, I don't think I'll be getting this project." His tone was sullen, his words ending with a breathy sigh.
"It's okay." I smiled,
"Sometimes, we think that a certain thing is not going well but in reality, it is proceeding the way as it needs to be, to reach the right end. Vaise bhi, this way or that we've nothing to lose haina. If you get the project, then also it's good, if not, then also, because you'll get an experience, and a chance to improve next time." I blinked my eyes in assurance, though I wondered if it would have made sense to him.
"Maybe." He murmured, his fingers playing with the corners of the pillow.
"Oi husband, where's your smile? That dimpled one?" I squinted my eyes as if searching for it, letting him know that he was making me smile-deprived with this gloomy face.
He smiled instantly, partially fake, partially amused,
"Okay now?"
"Umm, I'll manage I guess." I dramatized, and he smiled again, a real one this time making me grin too.
"Acha han.." He spoke suddenly as if remembering something,
"When I was coming back home, there were a few coaching centers and UGC centers on my way. I have taken the picture of their boards on my phone, I'll send them to you after our call. If you want to call them from there, to karlena. Otherwise, when you'll come back to Delhi, tab karlena. Okay?"
A sudden lump formed in my throat at his concern and I nodded positively, whispering with a soft smile,
"Thank you."
"Thank you to you too." As he said these words, his eyes reflected the usual warmth and comfort I always crave for.
Next, our discussions move to all sorts of logical, illogical, random topics our minds could think of just to keep our already sleepy selves connected over a call.
And, if that meant chattering about how bitter gourd is grown, or why males are allergic to television shows or an irrational argument as to why people like/not like Maggi, we would discuss it, but in no way do we end the call until our eyes couldn't take the pressure to keep them open or our minds would be too blank to think anything discussion-worthy.
"Acha ab go now, it's already two." I tried to convince him to sleep, shifting on my side, my voice unknowingly rasp peering at his hazy self.
"Nah. Let's talk more." He voiced groggily and shook his head, his drowsy self looking even more attractive than he already is.
"Go na, you've to go office tomorrow." I manuevered, and he thinned his lips, still not refraining from eyeing me intently.
"No." He was adamant at his words.
"Aditya, Go." I admonished lightly, glaring at him when his gaze didn't flicker from my face.
Huffing in fake annoyance, he raked a reckless hand in his hair,
"Fine bye." He spoke half-heartedly, his lips almost pouted towards the end.
"Bye." I smiled in amusement and he cut the call a second later but not before wishing me good night and a complimentary kiss in the air.
Indeed, a Good Night.
**********
**********
"Avyuktha no!" I almost shrieked when I witnessed avyuktha picking up my phone from the bed and throwing it towards the other side as if it's not a phone but a playball.
Fortunately, I managed to catch the phone in time, preventing it to fall harshly on the floor.
"Avyukhtha, what is this behavior?" I chided him, my voice low but tone firm as I checked my phone from the front to the back to ensure it works fine.
He eyed me innocently with his traitor doe-eyes, but my posture remained stiff, thus not giving him the advantage to think that he can lure us with his innocent faces after he behaves wrongly.
"Don't give me these looks." I muttered in annoyance and looked away before I melt seeing his protruded lips. This little monster might not understand what I was saying but he sure understands that his boo-boo is upset with him.
"Mum-mum?" From my peripheral vision, I caught a glimpse of him waddling towards bhabhi who just entered the room. He tugged her t-shirt with his nose scrunched, lips pouted, and eyes watery as if asking for her help.
"Mum-mum, boo-boo." His gaze flickered in my direction as he pointed his teeny-meeny fingers towards me, thus informing her about me being upset with him.
"What mum-mum? First, behave wrongly and then go to your mum-mum, huh?" I scolded gently as he rolled over the bed, crawling to sit on my lap while I hinted bhabhi not to say anything to him.
"Boo-boo." His voice begin to quaver as I didn't let him do these clever antics with me, thus refusing to let him sit on my lap.
"No. I am not going to let you sit on my lap." I turned my body away and put him down from my lap which he smartly managed to sit upon.
His eyes flickered again to his mum-mum, "Avyu, say sorry to your bua." Bhabhi spoke, signaling him the sign of sorry.
This little monster didn't get what she said as he eyed me again and babbled, "Up, Up." He extended his arms towards me, asking me to pick him up in my arms.
"No." I refused all his requests, not giving him the advantage of doing anything without getting scolded for the same.
"No-no-no-no-no." I pressed my lips shut to stifle the forming smile as he repeated my words, shaking his head constantly, and raised his index finger in the air, moving it left to right in a rhythm.
Both bhabhi and I eyed each other in amusement, at this forever entertainment package in front of us.
"Say sorry first, and promise me that you won't do it again." I voiced softly, helping him hold his ears so that he learns to say sorry after he commits a mistake.
"Boo-boo." His chin wobbled as he managed to touch his ears, while his eyes began watering with unshed tears.
He extended his arms again towards me, mumbling up, up and in the next second a teardrop rolled off his eyes.
"Aaja." I picked my munchkin immediately, taking him in my embrace, and placed a tender kiss on the side of my head, patting and caressing his back before he begins to wail loudly.
Receiving my kiss, his cries stopped and he was back to normal again in an instant, showcasing his seven-toothy-smile. When I gasped at his naughty antics, he busied himself in planting his wetty-sloppy, open-mouthed kisses all over my face, only to butter me up for the stunt he pulled with my phone.
"Badmaash!" I exclaimed at his dramatic antics, tickling his stomach until his loud giggles and tinkling peals of laughter filled the room with happiness and love.
********
Aditya's Pov
"I am not having any good thoughts about dinner today." I sulked trudging towards the kitchen, my nose struggling to decipher what scrumptious meal is in for dinner today.
"Kya banaya." I asked mom as soon as I entered the kitchen.
"Your favorite." Mom answered, though her tone told otherwise.
"Baingan?" I guessed, silently hoping for a no in return, and stood beside her.
"Na." She replied, taking the aata dough in her hands, rolling it effortlessly between her palms.
"Ghiya? I am telling you I'll not eat it." I made a guess again and announced my decision in advance to not have this vegetable for dinner.
"Na." She answered, her lips twisting in a frisky smile.
"I'll see myself." I muttered in agitation and uncovered the cooker lid to see what heavenly piece of delight she has to offer me today.
"Nooo!" An annoyed groan escaped my lips and my appetite lost immediately as gravy arbi came into the line of my vision.
I wonder, why every time I feel like eating something good for dinner, both my wife and my mom offer me these not-so-eatable tasteless pieces of vegetables.
"I am not going to eat this." I scowled, and announced my decision firmly, as my nose scrunched in distaste while my mother paused rolling the chapati for a second only to direct a glare in my direction.
"I'll see how you don't eat this." She replied in a dreadful tone, her eyebrows pulled up in a frown.
"Parantha banado." Daring to ignore what she said, I requested her with sheer hope in my eyes and added, just to add a little drama, nudging her shoulders,
"Please na, it's been so many days I haven't eaten a parantha made by you. You make them the best, and I only love the ones you make."
"Chup karke have roti and arbi. Aur haan, stop buttering me." She shook her head hopelessly, cruelty palpable in her tone.
"Banado yaar." I side hugged her, halting all her movements to roll the dough into chapati.
"No." She was quick to answer.
"Please." I requested in a whine,
"Vaise bhi you know na Riya don't let me eat paranthas at night, isliye at least now she's gone for some days, I can eat them without her constantly cribbing over it." I put forward my sad story, hoping the mother within her will have some mercy over this Parantha Man.
"Acha hai na, she keeps your bad habits in control. You men can fool your mothers, not your wives." Unfortunately, the wife within my mother decided to side her, counting the chapatis in the chapati box.
"Please, only one." I manuevered, my nose creasing at the mere thought of swallowing gravy arbi.
The corners of her lips pulled up in a tiny smile, and hence, grabbing this golden chance, I rounded both my arms around her shoulder, and joining the sides of our heads, I buttered her up with a few complementary pleases and kisses.
"Fine." She shooed me away, "You won't let me live in peace." She sighed in defeat,
"But only one." She stated firmly, and I frowned in an instant.
"Naah." I shook my head, munching biscuits from the plastic container placed at the counter.
"I'll eat two, or maybe three, that too aaloo ones."
"Adityaa..." She warned, grimacing.
"Please na, you can't keep your son hungry after a long day at work." I dramatized, kissing her cheek.
"Ek tu and another your papa, I am tired of your love for sweets and paranthas." She muttered in agitation and moved towards the refrigerator in exasperation to take the boiled potatoes out of it while I grinned in victory.
"Only today." She eyed me pointing towards the potatoes, finality in her tone evident.
"Pakka." I promised, peering at her in child-like innocence, though my insides grinned devilishly.
If my wife wants to stay at Hoshiarpur for a few days more, she can. I don't mind at all.
"Aur haan Riya ko mat batana, she'll kill me." I spoke in a pleading whisper, suddenly terrified at the thought of her knowing about this.
"We'll see." She stated, peeling the boiled potato skin, thus hinting that she isn't going to refrain herself from revealing this little information to my wife.
Offended, I grumbled, "She isn't going to say anything." And walked towards the kitchen exit not before murmuring,
"Hopefully."
"And yes, I'll be eating paranthas tomorrow as well, and the day after, and..." I called out, exiting the kitchen, the side of my face pressed on the wall, only to hear her infamous love-filled endearment copyrighted only for Junior Kansals,
"Badtameez!"
**********
"Hanji Parantha man!" My wife grinned as soon as I picked up her video call making my features ripple into an agitated frown.
Kalyugi Mom.
"Yaar, I told mom not to tell you that I ate aaloo paranthas tonight." I scowled, laying down on the bed, my palms extending to pull my cuddle pillow towards me.
Her eyes narrowed and her lips thinned in a blink of an eye as soon as the words left my mouth.
"You ate aaloo paranthas at night!" She gasped.
"Huh? You are saying as if you didn't know about it. I know mom told you, that's why you called me Parantha man." I remarked at her reaction.
"Na...I just said it aise hi. Aur vaise bhi, I had a talk with mumma only in the afternoon, not after that." She reasoned, and before I could nod in reply, the wife in her rebuked,
"Leave that and tell me that even after knowing that paranthas don't suit you at night and you remain disturbed and restless the whole night, you still decided to eat them." She admonished, her forehead creased with uncountable frowns.
"All night you stay awake, you keep shuffling on the bed due to overeating, and you still don't refrain yourself from eating them at night." She babbled unstoppably, her tone as ruffled as it could be.
"I just ate half, for taste." I tried to convince her with a lie.
"Stop lying Aditya." She rolled her lips, her gaze even more petrifying than before.
Bad move.
"I ate only one." I tried to sound confident this time when she eyed me closely.
"Acha one and a half, pakka." I restated at her unstoppable glare.
"Two,sacchi." My words were quick to change as she continued glaring at me without a blink of an eye.
"The truth, otherwise I am cutting the call right now." She threatened, knowing well I would confide.
"Two-and-a-half. Uh, and one in lunch too, I brought it from a street vendor nearby. Even mom warned me after the second one that I'll not be getting any from now on at night." I said the truth, all set to hear her scoldings.
She turned her head away, annoyance reflecting over her features.
Sighing deeply, she worded with exhaustion, "Do whatever you want to do, eat whatever and whenever you want to. Who I am to say anything to you?"
"Lae, where does this come from that you aren't anything to me." I scowled at her usual way of taunting me.
"Of course, I am nothing to you, that's why you do those things that affect you, and ultimately me." She countered shortly.
"Arey yaar, why are you taking it this way? Sorry na yaar, bas kar ab, stop scolding me now." I cribbed and she glared at me, again.
"Have I ever stopped you from doing or eating anything? Nahi na?" She retorted in offense and I stayed mum, knowing well she doesn't.
"So if I am stopping you from eating this at night, it's only because of your health. When I know, it doesn't suit you, what should I do? Sleep like a log here without considering or worrying that you'll be awake there? And in return for this tension, all I get to hear is bas kar ab. Wow." She exasperated, and added without letting me answer,
"Next time I am going to pick up all the heavy objects I could despite knowing the condition of my back and when I'll wince in back pain, then I'll see how well you react." She snorted and I glared at her, clearly disliking her stupid example.
"Fine Sorry. I'll not eat paranthas at night from now on. Pakka promise." I sighed in defeat, knowing this woman hold the guts to show me the live demo of her example just to clear her point.
"Now can we stop fighting and get back to normal?" I asked as I witnessed a sense of victory in her eyes and on those bright smiles.
"I was not fighting." She clarified immediately with a carefree shrug.
"Sure." She pouted sensing the sarcasm laced in my tone.
"I don't ask you to stop eating it, but please avoid it at night, okay?" She said, her tone soft and gentle.
What crime would have happened if she would have used this same tone earlier as well?
"Hanji." I assured, smiling just to see her smile in return.
"Hanji bhabhi, nahi nahi it's okay, you know I love it when he sleeps with me ." Riya conversed with bhabhi as the latter put a sleeping ayuktha on the bed.
"You are quite happy sleeping without me vaise." I jested, eyeing the sleeping little man who was thoroughly enjoying my wife's caresses and forehead kisses.
"Of course! She exclaimed immediately.
"I love him the most." She gushed, her eyes twinkling with happiness as she peered at avyuktha in awe while my gaze never left hers.
"Who?" I asked, feigning oblivion just to gauge her reaction.
"Huh?" She eyed me in confusion at my question.
"Who do you love the most?" I rephrased a little clearer this time, my voice dropping into a hoarse whisper.
Her lips parted slightly at my question, her face turning crimson as I eyed her unblinkingly, wanting nothing but to hear what I wanted to.
"Avyuktha." She whispered softly, nibbling the edge of her lips, though her eyes didn't leave mine even for a second.
"Oh.." A tender, disappointed sigh escaped my lips, although I knew well this would be her answer.
She nodded faintly, presumably having a fair idea that this answer was not what I feigned this conversation for.
"Who do you love the most?" She queried as her teeth continued to sink into the bottom of her lips in curiosity. My intense gaze fused with her shy one and her face turned even more scarlet than it already was when my gaze flickered to her lips, settling there for a moment.
My voice refused to come out, as I kept eyeing her in admiration, and insinuation while her expressions were too complex to gauge as I tried to decode what was going on in her mind.
"You want to know?" I spoke in a knowing whisper, my throat turning dry and my heartbeats turning rugged.
A hint of contemplation reflected her features as she took a few seconds to respond, her palm busy rubbing her other arm vehemently, an action she does whenever she's nervous.
Nevertheless, she nodded almost confidently though I could crystal clear feel her rushed breathings even if she was kilometers away from me.
Our passionate, wordless gazes matched for another few seconds as she keenly awaited my reply.
As my eyes took notice of her heartwarming features, my heart skipped a beat, and my fingers itched to push that loose tendril off her eyes and tuck it behind her ears, my palms yearned to feel the skin of her waist under them, teasing it with the pad of my thumb into tantalizing strokes, my body desired to tightly embrace this woman of mine, my home and let her fervently place a kiss on my chest as she always does, embracing me back.
And most importantly, my lips longed to kiss hers in a way I have always desired to, slow, passionate, and unrushed.
I very well knew the answer, and somehow her fervent gaze revealed she knew it too. Still, I couldn't muster the courage to word it aloud as I darted my eyes away towards the side with an inaudible sigh, silently cursing my chickened-out self to have backed out at the end moment.
Shaking my head to no one in particular, I raked a reckless hand through my hair, pulling her cuddle pillow even closer to me in the hope to find a little peace amidst my frenzy beats of heart.
Wetting my lips, I glanced towards my wife again, with my gaze and voice as normal and as oblivious as it could be.
"Aur bata how was your day." She kept eyeing me and I could see a gazillion contradictory emotions stirring within those brown irises, her disappointed features hinting as if not wanting me to dodge this conversation.
Nevertheless, she sighed as well, pressing her lips together as she took notice of my normal self.
Somehow, we managed to flow our conversations effortlessly from one topic to the other. But if truth to be told, as much as we both acted that we've come out to pretty successful in ignoring the existence of this topic, we were not, because it was still lingering awkwardly in the air;
Undiscussed,
Unacknowledged and,
Unconfessed.
*********
Riya's Pov
"God Purva!!" I laughed uncontrollably as she told me her Purva Special Recipe to handle annoyed husbands.
"Aur kya! When Rishabh took the pillow in agitation to leave the room and sleep outside, I threatened him by saying, Dare you leave this room and I'll let you sleep outside for the whole life." She giggled, lying beside me.
"Bichara." I pouted, knowing well how cruelsome my best friend could be.
"Ah please, he's nowhere near bichara, it's been ten years and this man doesn't get back on the track with love and smiles, but only with threats and glares." She rolled her eyes, her fingers playing with her phone.
"Acha? The opposite is the case with my man. He won't tolerate my glares, but if I say anything softly, he would melt like a puddle and get back on the track, even he'll apologize sometimes for no reason." I giggled, the image of my husband flashing in front of my eyes.
"Two brothers, but two completely different treatments, haina." I remarked after listening to the varied differences between the two men.
"Hmmm, that's why they say na that every story is different, and not every person could be treated the same way as the other." She voiced, her eyes fixated on the ceiling.
"Hmm, and maybe that's why they ask us not to compare our lives and our people with the other. Because from afar, it looks tempting to have the same life and people, but in reality, the things and people which worked well for them might not work for us in the same way." She sighed gently, probably reminiscing the time we have wasted depressing over comparing our lives, our people, and our relationships with that of the others.
"Bilkul. Like, the way I handle things, the people I tag along with work for me but not work for you and vice versa, but still from afar the other person's treatment looks far easier and dreamier than the other." I mount my thoughts into words, absentmindedly playing with my fingers.
"Hmm. But no matter how hard we compare our lives with the other, in the end, we are always going to cherish what we've got and not what we ever desired, isn't it?" She angled her neck sideways, eyeing me in question.
I nodded briskly, "Bilkul. Even you know that I always thought that I would marry someone as mature and silent as I am, someone, who is as introverted as I have always been because I was too afraid that I won't be able to mix up with someone with any other personality than mine, and especially, never an extroverted man. But ever since I have met Aditya, I don't even want to think of any person other than him being my husband, no matter how perfect that person turns out to be."
She slanted her neck again after I finished speaking, her eyes squinting a little as if looking through me.
"Kya?" I scowled, palming her cheeks to move it to the other side. She smiled teasingly, and shook her head, her neck stiff to even move an inch.
"Nothing." My nose wrinkled, and my lips pouted in offense.
Why the hell is everyone hell-bent upon dodging my questions?
Earlier, these people would not fear me enough to take my threats seriously, and now they don't even care to answer my questions.
"Bas kar ab, stop cursing me now." She plopped her leg over my thighs, inviting a pained groan to erupt my throat.
"Oye paagal!" I made a futile attempt to remove her weight off me, "Owww...Mat kar yaar!" I sulked, as she brutally thumped her other leg over me, suffocating me under the weight of her legs.
"Naah." She giggled, shaking her head.
"I hate you!" I groaned, pushing her leg away.
"And, I hate you the most!" She was quick to retort.
"Says the one who came today from Delhi, and straightaway landed at my place after meeting her parents." I rolled my eyes helplessly.
"Kya karu, in Delhi we don't get to meet and talk much, because of all these lunches, dinners, and whatnot. This is the only place where we can reveal our ultimate original cracked-up selves and talk freely without being the responsible nayi bahus." She gushed as we chortled at our childlike antics.
"Sahi baat." I agreed, pinching her arms so that she could relieve me from her weight.
"Acha sun, gol-gappe khaane chale?" I offered, eyeing the wall clock, my mouth watering merely at the imagination.
"Chal." She got up immediately, pulling me with her, "Momos bhi." She exclaimed in excitement.
"Main ni. You know I don't eat that steamed maida." She glared in offense at my words,
"Acha fine, you eat, I'll eat something else." I rephrased.
"Eat only one, you know I can't order only for myself." She pouted, eyeing me in fake innocence.
Frowning at her adamant self, I nodded in a defeated sigh, "You won't ever let me live in peace haina?"
"Naaaah!" She drawled playfully and got up from the bed in a jiffy only to pull me into her arms for our forever non-romantic, non-rhythmic, and full of madness couple dance.
*********
"Pata ni yaar, I am tired of her changing statements." Anisha, my close friend from school voiced in exhaustion as she discussed her sister's changing statements regarding the career line she intends to choose after 12th.
"Kyu, what is she saying now?" I queried in concern, extending the tea-tray towards her.
"Bas vohi, whenever she hears any of her friends talking about a fancy college far away, or some fancy course, or a trending career line she insists on going to the same college, the same city, and taking the same course." She sighed inaudibly, picking up the teacup from the tray, and I couldn't help but ponder over how difficult the situation turns out to be for the teenagers while deciding their careers.
"Ab dekh, a few days ago she was forcing us to let her send to Mumbai for this interior designing course and now she is asking us to send her to Noida for fashion designing. And a month ago, she was asking us to send her to Chandigarh at some university as according to her she wants to become a psychologist." She shook her head, rubbing her face in exhaustion while disbelief was palpable in her tone.
"And you know our condition, we can't afford the fees of those universities and those hefty hostel expenses, especially when she is herself not sure of what she wants to do." Her voice quavered with each word she spoke and my heart dropped empathizing with what her family might be dealing with.
Patting the back of her hand assuringly, I vocalized softly,
"Try to make her understand that career decision is not taken this way. From the course we choose to the career line we intend to adopt, all should be based on our interests, our passions, our skills, the required research over different careers and our family limitations, and not under the influence of what our friends are taking or where they are going."
"We have explained to her the same, but in return, she blames us that we are not willing to set up her career or see her grow. She is hell-bent upon taking the same course and going to the same place where all her friends are going." My throat constricted imagining how complex times of career decisions could be, both for the child and their family.
"Ab dekh yaar, when everyone in our group took commerce or science, I was the only one out of you all who opted for humanities after 10th. I didn't run behind what all of you were taking in the name of friendship because I was confident enough that I don't want to take commerce or science, that's not me, nor my interests. Our streams and careers were always different, but till now we are connected, haina? Good friendships are not lost despite the distance." She put forward with a deep sigh and I nodded faintly, my mind drifting back to our school days.
"What else should I do?" Anisha's questionable whisper drifted me back to reality.
"I guess, instead of you explaining her these things, let someone else do it for you." I worded after a sincere thought,
"Like, sometimes children get adamant over the fact that no matter what their parents or siblings say, they are not going to abide by it, no matter how right they are. And hence, they tend to misconceive each word their family says."
"Hmm, she always misunderstands whenever we try to communicate with her. She always takes our words as if we are against her and we don't want her to be successful in her life." She agreed, gulping the last sip of tea, the inner turmoil vividly reflecting on her face.
"Hmm, isliye make her randomly talk with someone close to her, someone who she listens to more. Let the conversations flow freely between them without you disclosing it to your sister that you've intentionally called over the same person for discussing that issue with her. Let everything flow naturally, and hopefully, she'll be able to confide her inner turmoils. I am sure she'll get more clarity about her life after this. And most importantly, make her believe that you are with her, not against." I assured, at least tried, patting her arms gently.
She thought for a considerable time before voicing out,
"My sister admires and respects our other cousin, she is working in some corporate nowadays, I think. I'll call her today and ask her to come home or call her this weekend. Fir dekhte hai, what happens."
"Don't worry, it's just a phase. Like every other phase, this will pass too." I smiled, blinking my eyes and she smiled back positively.
"Chal I'll go home now, Let's see what another tantrum of hers is in-store today." She chuckled, presumably to conceal the worry mirroring her features, and got up from the bed.
I nodded, having nothing to say in response.
"You'll leave next week?" She asked as we descended the stairs.
"Haan, most probably Sunday. Usse pehle ek baari aur aana." I expressed firmly, walking along.
"I'll try pakka." She agreed, moving towards the room to meet maa and bhabhi before leaving.
"Haan. Also, tell me once what decision did you all and your sister take." I patted her back, hugging her.
"Pakka." She blinked her eyes in a promise and left after meeting maa and bhabhi. Although she might have left, her words didn't and I couldn't help but wonder,
Careers, under the influence of peers or under the pressure of the expectations of our families, both are detrimental to the professional, personal, and mental aspects of a child's life.
Be it a teenager taking up a certain stream because of chasing a certain friendship or the other teen choosing a career line just because his family wants him/her to become an engineer/doctor/chartered accountant, both the situations are equally destructive and equally disturbing.
But truth to be told, while taking these unthought decisions, one overlooks its long-term repercussions in terms of depression, disappointments, dissatisfaction, and insecurities a child might go through while taking or being forced to take such career lines.
There are inestimable moments when I have encountered teens and parents forgetting that careers are not built over friendships or trending jobs, instead, they are built over hard work, dedication, interests, passions, and the resilience to keep working hard.
***********
"Oye, it's been almost two weeks, and every night when I come back home from the office, you are plopped up here on the bed, at the same place, in the same pose, with some or the other useless thing stuffed in your mouth." Ayaansh bhai hit the back of my head, snatching away the remote from my hands, and adjusted himself on the little space at my side although the whole bed was vacant at the other.
"Kya hai? It's my home too. I can do anything I want, sit anywhere I want." I huffed, glaring at him,
"Jao udhar baitho." I pointed towards the opposite side and tried to push him away.
His teeny-meeny-hulky body didn't budge a bit as he remained seated at the same place, changing channels at the speed of light.
"Where's Vaishally and mom?" He queried, mindlessly ruffling my hair, knowing well that I hate it to bits.
"Don't touch my hair!" I shrieked, covering my head with my palm which went royally ignored by him.
"And bhabhi is upstairs making avyuktha sleep, he was crying a lot, and maa went with paa to buy groceries." I answered in a groan as he still didn't refrain from messing with my hair.
"Acha." He replied, and patted my back rather harshly, "Ja fir paani leke aa."
"Na. Bring it yourself." I shook my head immediately, shrugging my shoulders rapidly like that of a kid.
"Le aa yaar. I am your elder brother." He scowled, pushing me towards the side, plopping himself comfortably over the bed.
"I am your younger sister too." I reminded him,
"But three days before my wedding, I asked you to bring water for me. You did? Nahi na? Now, I'll also not bring for you. Tit-for-Tat." I glowered, my heart aching even reminiscing that day.
His features morphed into hopelessness as he parted his mouth quite a few times to word out anything coherent,
"I still can't figure out how you woman manage to remember all this nonsense. The same is with Vaishally, she still taunts me for the things I said her during our courtship." He shook his head, sighing helplessly.
"You deserve it." I got a threatening glare after the words escaped my mouth.
Did I fear his glares?
No way because Princess Riya of Hoshiarpur doesn't fear anyone.
"Ja na ab leke aa paani, I am very tired, sacchi." He nudged me, pinching my arm rather harshly.
"I hate you." I cribbed, almost crying, and got up from the bed half-heartedly.
"Same." He smiled in amusement, least concerned of what I spoke.
I knew, no one loves me.
"Child labor is a crime, paap lagega." Brooding, I stomped my foot on the floor before exiting the room.
"Of course! After all, we have a twenty-five-year-old child and a fourteen-month-old man at home." He answered back, sarcasm dripping from his tone.
"Dusht!" I grumbled, stomping my way to the kitchen.
**********
An uncomfortable feeling crept within me as my gaze remained fixated on my husband's name on the phone.
It was already four in the afternoon and apart from a good morning text from him, we didn't share a second of conversation with each other.
All the three calls I made in these few hours remained unanswered, and all the messages were rendered unseen.
"He might be occupied with some urgent work today." I murmured silently, toying with the television remote.
"Riyaa.." I heard maa's voice from the kitchen.
"Hanji?" I responded, sauntering towards the kitchen.
"Kahin jana to ni Purva ke saath? Your bua is coming home in two hours."
"Achaa! Nahi nahi, I am at home today." I answered, randomly rummaging through the kitchen cabinets.
"You don't look fine?" She eyed me keenly, trying to decipher my sullen mood.
"Haan vo bas, my periods are about to come na so maybe that's why." I assured, though my insides swirled with conflict as to whom did I assured,
Her or me?
************
"Humne? We made paneer and daal in the afternoon, voh bua's family came today. Aapne?" Settling the bedsheet, I conversed with mumma.
"Aaloo gobhi. And, today Kunal is going to crib over this sabzi." She tsked in disbelief while my gaze kept flickering over the wall clock anticipating my husband's call who has not called or messaged even once since morning.
"I can't understand what should I make that all these people eat that sabzi without brooding over it. Your papa doesn't like paneer, Kunal doesn't like kadhi and aaloo gobhi, and ye Isha, Aditya doesn't like anything except paneer and rajma. These all will make me mad one day." I giggled as she grumbled in a sigh and the sound of steel plates rattling behind could be clearly heard.
"Idhar bhi maa was saying the same, sabzi sochna is yet another tough task at home these days." I voiced, trudging towards the balcony,
"Dinner hogya wahan?" I asked eyeing the night sky, leaning against the balcony railing, my one arm settled over it.
"Na, your papa hasn't come yet." She replied, and added a second later, "Aur Aditya to late hi aayega aaj."
My eyebrows frowned at her words as I queried, "Kyu? Office ka kaam?"
She paused for a brief moment before replying,
"He has gone to Damdama lake with all his college friends since morning." My heart dropped immediately hearing her, and without me realizing, a few teardrops rolled off my eyes that he didn't even care to inform me while I have been restless all day at his unanswered calls and messages.
"He didn't tell you?" Mumma questioned at my silence, concern palpable in her tone.
"Nahi nahi mumma, he told me in the morning itself. I thought he would have come back by afternoon to finish his office work." I made up a lie in an instant.
"Acha." She voiced gently after a momentary silence, "Chal I am keeping the phone now, your papa is calling."
"Hanji."
"Talk with Aditya, okay?" Her voice was soft yet concerned.
"Ji." I gulped a ball of nerves and cut the call before she could notice my faint cries.
I breathed heavily as my gaze flickered around to ensure no one has witnessed me crying.
Hearing bhabhi's call for dinner from downstairs, I flicked my tongue over my lips and wiped away my tears before rushing inside.
***********
My insides trembled with disappointment and anger shone into my cores when my eyes zeroed to Aditya's incoming video call. Silencing the phone, my eyes switched to the wall clock to see it was already eleven at night.
Switching off the room lights, I blankly stared at the ceiling and fiddled with my fingers, discomfort, and agitation seeping into my guts.
I angled my neck towards the side as hardly a minute would've passed and the screen began to flash again with his video call.
"Why now? When you didn't think of me the whole day." I whispered faintly to no one in particular, my eyes beginning to sting with unshed tears.
My fingers fidgetted with one another as he called yet again after a few minutes. Picking up the phone from the side, I gawked at the screen, contemplating whether to answer or not to answer the call.
Gulping inaudibly, I blinked my eyes rapidly to refrain the tears from falling and answered his call, even though I had no heart to share a second of conversation with him.
It was only because of the concern laced in mumma's voice when she asked me to talk with him and partially because of the rule we made for us that forced me to pick up his call.
"Oye busy wife, where were you?" His grinning face came into the line of my vision as soon as I answered the call.
"Uh, the phone was on silent, so I didn't see your calls." I spoke, my tone neutral.
He eyed me closely for a few seconds, his eyes squinted and lips puckered before he remarked,
"You cried."
My eyes begin to water at his mere statement as I shook my head vehemently. My mind was blank, and my heart was at unease, the only thing churning within was that, forget about caring to inform me or pick up my calls, he didn't even feel the need to have a word with me the whole day.
"Is it because of the job?" He frowned, perturbation reflecting on his face.
"No. I want to sleep, let's talk tomorrow." I said in a hurry before I could lose my temper on him.
"What happened? Why are you so upset?" He asked softly, his lips set in a thin line.
"It's nothing, just headache." I managed to act normal, while his frown got deeper hearing my reason.
"Have someone said anything to you?" He added politely, ignoring my words.
When I failed to reply anything, he said, "Bata na yaar, you are making me tense."
"Stop acting that you care for me when you don't, not even a bit!" I snapped, irritated by his constant nudgings.
He eyed me closely, his temper neutral as if deciphering what was going on in my mind,
"Stop looking at me like this now." I exasperated, pressing my lips tightly,
"Since morning, I have been calling you, messaging you, awaiting your call, awaiting your message, only to get to know from mumma that you're with your friends since morning. The whole day I have been restless because of your unanswered calls and messages and there you were enjoying the time of your life at Damdama lake, without even caring that you have a wife who you are responsible towards." I cried out in frustration, "Did you not think about informing me, even once?.
"I messaged you." His brows were furrowed, lips twisted in a straight line as he eyed me in a haze.
'Stop lying, You didn't." I gasped at his audacity to lie, and without giving him a chance to answer, I continued,
"I don't mind you going out with anyone, but what would have happened if you've called me simply or sent a single message informing me that you will be outside for the whole day? Is this so much to ask Aditya?" My eyes swam with unshed tears, my voice dropping to a whisper.
He ignored my words and I could see him busied into doing something on his phone. A few seconds later, he shut his eyes and rubbed his face in exhaustion.
Wetting his lips, he voiced apologetically,
"I messaged you but I don't know how I forgot to press the send button. I had the impression the whole day that I had informed you. In fact, Abhishek took everyone's phone so that we don't immerse ourselves in work or in phones instead of enjoying, because it has been so long since we all met. I swear yaar, I messaged this thing as well that I won't be able to talk to you the whole day." His reason didn't satisfy me at all, since, I nodded, my mind disturbed enough to have a decent conversation.
"I am sorry." He voiced softly after a brief pause, eyeing me keenly.
"It's okay. Let's talk tomorrow, I am tired." I sighed not wanting to converse with him, my head already thumping with wild madness.
"What now? Why are you still mad? I just told you the whole scenario, and I apologized too." He scowled, glaring at my indifference.
"I am not. I just said that it's okay." I countered immediately.
"I can see that very well." I commented, sarcasm evident in his tone.
"Think whatever you want to then." I clipped.
"Just tell me are we getting back to normal or not?" He asked straightforwardly, raking a hand in his hair, fatigue reflecting on his face.
"I am normal." I said shortly and his features revealed a flash of irritation.
"I can't understand why are you so worked up regarding this issue. Vaise bhi, fir kya hogya even if I didn't call or message you about my whereabouts, I am not a five-year-old that I need to take permission from you before going anywhere. You're hyping this up unnecessarily." He opposed with offense, and frustration inundated my mind at his mere statement.
"Sure." I flinched at his words, and blinking the tears stinging my eyes, I spoke,
"Say the same thing when I forget to or decide not to inform you whenever I go out for a long time, or maybe when I don't care enough to answer your messages and calls for the whole day. I'll see then, how well would you take the difference between asking for permission and informing someone." I worded each word with impassivity, his words powerful enough to let hurt creep my insides.
"And yes..." I begin blinded by anger, though somehow, I knew I am going to regret what I'll be saying next,
"In this one month, you couldn't spare a single day to take me out, but you sure could leave your work today and take a day off for your friends. And, this is exactly what shows who you are more concerned about." The words were out before I could stop them, and he sat there on the bed, eyeing me unblinkingly.
My gaze matched with him, and I could visibly feel the pain flashing in his eyes as he peered at me dumbfounded.
Each word I spoke was false, I knew that too. These words were just thrown out on him in fury and offense to let him feel what I felt the whole day. But isn't this what we humans do all the time? Hurl hurtful remarks over the people we care for, only to hurt them when they hurt us in the first place?
*********
Aditya's Pov
I was dumbfounded at her statement, still, ignoring the pang in my chest which I felt because of her words, I asked faintly "Do you really think that....."
The call was cut mid-way.
Intentionally.
My eyes zeroed to her name on my phone for the next five minutes, still not believing she intentionally cut the call while I was speaking.
"Fine." Leaning my head against the headboard, I closed my eyes, rubbing my face with sheer aggravation.
Peace was nowhere in sight as I kept tossing and turning on the bed, blindly hoping she would call again, or maybe would send a message to settle things back to normal.
She didn't.
Blanklly eyeing the ceiling and being restless for almost half an hour, I picked up my phone again and called her to settle things, knowing well she would be awake like light.
The phone rang for a few seconds, and when I almost decided to cut the call, believing she won't answer it, my wife's face flashed on the screen.
The fury with which I had called her, and the list of arguments I thought I would be hurling at her begin to wash away witnessing her morose face. My heart dropped immediately eyeing her swollen eyes, tear-stained cheeks, and dry lips.
Gulping the ball of nerves, I started after a momentary silence, "This was the first and last time you've intentionally cut the call on me." My gaze darted to her face to see her reaction, but she sat still, wordless.
"I swear on you, the next time you do this, I am not going to call you back until you decide to call me back." My voice was gentle but my tone grim.
She scowled immediately and opened her mouth to retort. Nevertheless, she nodded lightly after a second or two, presumably noticing the graveness mirroring my features.
"Did you really mean those words Riya?" I questioned in a defeated murmur, "Do you really think, I don't care for you enough to go out and spend time with others but not you?" It took every effort in me to stabilize my tone without revealing the sheer disappointment I felt hearing her mean remark.
Her lips quivered as she stared blankly to the side and a few teardrops ran down her cheeks uncontrollably. Breathing steadily, she spoke with a quaver in her voice,
"Sorry." Wiping her eyes with the back of her palm, she eyed me apologetically, "I didn't mean it, sacchi. I said it in anger, just, just to irk you."
"I know." I whispered gently, knowing her well enough in these few months, "I shouldn't have said that permission wali baat too." I apologized as well, my fingers itching to wipe her tears,
"I should have called you to inform you about my whereabouts. I am not justifying, but with mom, this never happened, maybe she is habitual of my flexible work timings, my outings, and other things. While, it's new for you, for me, for us. " I put forward my situation as gently as I could,
"But this won't happen again, pakka." I made a genuine promise, while she sat still, her eyes downcast, her occasional sniffs being the only sound amidst us.
When she didn't speak anything, I tried to jest, "You want me to hold my ears now?" She raised her head immediately and my heart eased to an extent when a teensy smile began to grace on her lips.
She shook her head, still smiling meekly, and rubbed the side of her eyes to brush away the remnants of her cries.
"I don't like it when you cry." I voiced, a sudden sense of discomfort swirling my insides at the mere thought.
"I don't like it when we fight." She was quick to reply, a scowl marring her features towards the end which made me chuckle at the speed of her transforming expressions.
"I don't like that you are so far from me that I can't even hug you, or give you my sloppy, messy, and breathless kisses." I smiled with mischief, awaiting her reaction.
She giggled briskly, and mumbled, still sniffing, "I also don't like being away from you. I am coming back in three days, you can take the compensation for all your deprivations." She spoke with pure innocence, while her cheeks suffused with color at her insinuation.
"Oye hoye! That's my lottery." I exclaimed with a grin, as she beamed widely at my words, her eyes still shining with tears.
"Acha chal ab tell me are we okay now?" I asked to ensure that this matter won't come up again the next time we converse.
"Hanji." She nodded, weariness evident on her face.
"Dekhle, we can discuss it now if you have anything in your heart." I offered again, knowing her enough that she keeps things in her heart and later overthinks it for a considerable time.
"Nah." She shook her head and after a brisk pause, she began,
"My bua came today..," She wetted her lips and added,
"After lunch, the conversations moved to how spouses change after marriage, how people leave because of looks, lack of commitment, boredom, and all those things. Upar se, the whole day you were not answering my calls and messages and when I got to know that you were out with your friends, fear burst within me that you will also leave me one day and you're bored of me now that I am away from you. So, I thought, you didn't intentionally feel like informing me." Fear reflected in her words, as she spoke each word fiddling with our wedding ring,
"I can't even think of living without you." She whispered meekly, fighting back her tears.
"I won't leave you." I whispered, "I don't even want to think of it." I couldn't mount what else I could say to convince her of my loyalty and commitment towards her and our relationship.
"I know." She murmured almost inaudibly, her gaze occasionally switching between me and her ring finger.
"Bas ab come back home now, I miss you." I confessed after taking a deep breath, thoroughly disliking the look on her face.
"Three days bas, I'll come back then." She voiced feebly, smiling a little, and added a second later,
"Aur haan vaise bhi you can't leave me, you've promised a lifetime with me." She narrowed her eyes at me as if challenging me to defy her.
I chuckled at her energy to dramatize despite her mood being glum. Nevertheless, I affirmed with a soft nod, admiring the sight of the woman of my life,
"A lifetime with you." I whispered with a soft smile and she repeated the same in a silent whisper, adorning the same beautiful smile I crave all day,
"A lifetime with you."
********
Heyaaa Dear ones!
I tried my level best to inculcate every aspect in this chapter, romance, family time, sibling bonding, humor, fight, career discussions, something inspirational. I genuinely hope that it was worth a read for all of you.
Also, how was the chapter? Please comment kar dena yaar, vaise bhi I am asking this question after so so long. Hence, I am genuinely looking forward to your views on this chapter, as this is the only and the ultimate motivation for me to write.ð
Until Next Time,
Lots of Love,
Râ¤ï¸
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