Chapter 43: chapter 43

Mowri groaned as every muscle in her body ached. She had played the fool when she had accepted Arnab 's challenge for rock climbing. The bugger had known she didn't exercise so all her muscles were practically unused. Though she had slept off in the car and he had carried her to their room and covered her with a light blanket but in the morning when she couldn't even get up from the bed he had practically rolled on the floor with laughter. She had had to throw a pillow at him not that it had helped but she had felt better when it had hit the target. He had then brought her a cup of coffee and asked her to take a hot bath to soothe down the soreness. She had reluctantly gotten off the bed and though her legs had protested she had taken that bath Arnab had suggested and it had made her feel better. Then she had gone downstairs and had breakfast.She found an envelope on the table addressed to her. It was the letter of interview from the local college and she was thrilled. Though she had liked the little break she had taken from work she found she was getting bored too as Arnab left for work every day and with nothing much to do she had thought most of her time was being wasted. Though last four days had been busy what with Arnab getting injured and then them going to Kasauli. She thought about her trip. Slowly she was coming to believe Arnab wasn't a fake. He was trustworthy and a beautiful human being. Not even once did he make her feel awkward. And the hug he had given her on Saturday when she had tried to talk about her past she had felt his warmth long after he had released her. He was such a giving person. It was in his nature to ask for nothing in return. While she had become bitter and angry and more stubborn in her ways he had probably become quieter. How had he dealt with the pain of losing the person he had loved? She knew how. He had taken the blame, the guilt on himself. How much more selfless did one have to be? And thiswas when nobody acknowledged it about him. She wondered why Nishacouldn't hold on to a person like him? Though from whatever she had gathered from others it seemed Nishawas a selfish woman full of herself without a care for others but still since she didn't know her personally or hear what had happened between her and Arnab she didn't want to draw any conclusions. But she had to agree it was getting difficult.And what about her? Her reaction to her husband was getting stronger by the passing day. She liked him more each day and she wondered if it would result in her falling for him. How would he take it if that ever happened? Would he be able to love again? She knew he had loved Natasha. Enough to marry her and be satisfied with whatever she did even if she did not reciprocate as strongly. Would he be able to let go of his old memories and build new ones with her? Or would he continue being just a great friend? When would she know she wanted him to be more than just a friend to her? She frowned. This was so not her cup of tea. These emotions, feelings left her baffled. She knew she cared for him that if something was to happen to him she would be in pain too but what did that mean? Was she only being a good wife, a good friend or something more? She bit her lower lip as she pondered over her predicament. This would lead her nowhere.She looked at the letter in her hand. Her interview was scheduled for this Thursday at ten in the morning with the Principal and head of department. She would get the job. She knew it. At least she will have less free time and that would mean she would think less. For now she decided to let things take their own course. She wanted to be his best friend too. Maybe they should just leave it at that for now. If ever she felt she had more than just liking for him she will just let him know. If he reciprocated then fine if not then...the phone rang. She quickly came out of her thoughts as the incessant ringing kept on."Hello," Mowri said."Mowri," it was bijion the phone."Hello beeji," Mowri said wondering why she had called."How are you doing?" bijiasked in her usual manner."Fine," she replied politely, "how have you been?" she asked."Fine," bijisaid but Mowri could hear her voice seemed strained, "Kulraj's engagement has been fixed," she said.So that was the reason why bijiwas sounding strange. But she she should have been happy why did she sound otherwise?"When?" Mowri asked refraining from asking for reasons."Coming weekend on Sunday evening," bijisaid thoughtfully."Isn't it a little too early," Mowri asked after all she had gotten married about two weeks ago and now her cousin was getting engaged. She didn't have a problem with it only it was going pretty fast. But she had gotten engaged and married in three weeks too though their reasons had been different. Kulraj was still young why was she in a hurry?"Tell me about it," bijisaid unhappily, "but Nimmi and Nihal have been after my life ever since not to mention suddenly the boy's parents are just as eager. You just got married and I was telling them to at least wait for a month but..." she paused as if wondering if she should give her all the details, "you know how Nimmi gets once she has something stuck in her pea sized brain," she said sarcastically.Mowri knew what bijiwas talking about. Nimmi was the drama queen of the house. If she didn't get what she wanted in the first go she would make sure she got it one way or another and she wouldn't let up till she had her wish. She smiled. Her aunt wasn't a bad person just childish. And getting Kulraj married was her biggest dream ever."Aren't you happy beeji?" Mowri asked carefully."I am," bijisaid hesitantly, "it is just that I am not sure if it is a good match. What if Kulraj is unable to adjust after marriage? Though Sameer seems to be a decent boy and there is nothing wrong with his family either but you know Kulraj," she said, "she is a sweetheart but she is still very immature. I don't know if she will be able to find a balance between her lifestyle and theirs," she said slowly.Mowri knew beeji's fears were not out of place. She remembered how Kulraj had spoken about keeping her head covered. Pretending to be someone she was not just to gain approval from Sameer's family and him supporting her on her little charade. She wasn't sure about it either. But at this point one could only say so much."Beeji, I understand what you are saying but there is only so much you can say or do," Mowri said trying to ease beeji's worries a little, "Kulraj is very adjusting and you know that, I am sure she will be able to find a middle ground," she said."I hope so too," Bijisaid on a sigh, "anyway I just called to give you a heads up, formal invitations will be sent across soon and I will personally call Arnab and his parents to invite them too," she said, "speaking of which how are you and Arnab doing?" she asked casually."Fine beeji," Mowri said as she rolled her eyes she knew fully well where bijimight take this conversation to."Good," she said and smiled, "I did tell you everything will be alright," she said."Yes beeji," Mowri agreed even as she shook her head, "we are working on it," she told her."So you still haven't told him everything?" bijistated shrewdly."Not everything," Mowri replied, "but yes, we have slowly started talking about things and I did tell him a part of it," she said."You cannot keep him in the dark for long Mowri," bijiadvised, "I know it isn't easy for you since you kept it all to yourself for so long but bachche you know the more you keep it in, the more it is going to hurt when everything finally comes out. You do know you are building pressure inside just like earth and then you will burst like a volcano one day and that is going to cause more damage than anything else," she said wisely.Mowri knew and understood what bijiwas saying. And she didn't know why it was so difficult. Maybe it was not. Maybe she was making it. What would he think? Would he understand? Would he be able to see things from her perspective? She couldn't face shame again. She knew that much. She took in a deep breath."I know beeji, I am trying," was all she said."Good," bijisaid with a smile, "see to it that you have told him things before you get here," she said, "and take care," she said and put the phone down.Mowri put the receiver down as well. She knew bijiwas right and she should tell him everything. What happened? Who was responsible? How she had felt? Why she had changed? Everything. She sighed. Only she knew it was easier said than done.Sometimes destiny did provide ways to get to where one really needed to be only they may not be easy roads to take. Would she talk before destiny intervened and made her, was what remained to be seen.**********************