MAUSAM
All eyes turned to me.
The nanny looked annoyed and was about to shake her head.
"Why not?" The voice cut through the air.
And we all saw ,
Armaan ,
Dressed in white shirt and black trousers with his tie and balzer descending Stairs.
"And since the Sunita has other work ,
You will make Aru's hair in car.
Get ready.
You can't go out in such clothes."
He said.
I stood frozen.
He narrowed his eyes
And in a second he was standing in front of me.
His fingers playing with his tie,
I was transfixed by them.
"Go, or do you not want to?"
He mocked.
I blinked.
" No, I .. I',ll change."
Saying that I dashed upstairs.
Opening my closet ,
I was momentary stunned with all the nice clothes.
Wow ,
I had such a nice figure.
But I scolded myself,
Focus , Mausam focus.
This was your chance,
Otherwise Armaan would divorce you.
I picked a lond flowly white dress and donned it.
My hair was silky and wavy
I hurriedly brushed them and went downstairs.
They were all ready.
The uniform complete and already were leaving for the door.
"I thought you had run away,
But you showed up."
He taunted.
"I said I would."
I hmmed.
He scoffed.
" Give me a comb and pin and hairties.
You make 2 ponies right."
I asked the nanny.
"No, it's too chomu like,
I make one pony."
My little girl said.
And when my eyes fell on her,
She becomes shy and looked down.
I smiled and said" okay."
In the car,
I made her a pony.
I was sitting behind with her,
And my son and Armaan was sitting in the front.
I knew they both kept stealing glances at me,
It made me feel self conscious.
I tried to look away,
Otherwise the guilt would drown me.
I was having a hard time
Doing this,
If my children questioned me
Why I was sudden doing this
I might sob and cry.
Aru was sitting quite stiff all the while
I made her hair.
I realised her hair type were like me,
And made me smile.
After that I saw the way to their school,
After a while a grand structure of stone came into view.
It was like an olden castle.
And it was the school.
We parked the car and for off.
When I stepped down they looked at me weirdly.
As we made our way,
People looked our way.
I tried my best to ignore them.
I held Aru's hand and her bag and just kept walking.
As the kids went inside
I waved my hand,
And they looked at me like I was an alien.
Arav without saying anything went away
While Aru shyly smiled.
Maybe Arav was more like me,
I realised,even though be looked like hai father.
Or maybe because he was older.
I waved cheerfully until they both went out of the view.
While I felt Armaan's stare at me all the time.
" Oh , is it Mrs.kapoor, aap aaj bachcho ko school chhodne aayi he?
Aapko tabiyat ab kesi he?"
A man said
And I turned toward him,
I had always refused to attend social functions,
And The rumour was that because I was very sick.
No one knew that I hated my husband and children
Wanted to marry Reyansh.
Kapoors and Khanna's were a big name and they wouldn't let anything that would tarnish their image.
I smiled at him,
He was a handsome man in his middle thirties.
" Hello , Mr.Mehra." I greeted him,
He was a famous lawyer and even I ,
Who lived under a rock knew him.
He looked shocked that I recognised me,
But then masked it well.
" Wow , you know my name,
It is such a pleasure that such a preety woman is aware of me."
He said with a confident smile.
Involuntary I blushed.
I knew I wasn't very attractive,
I was passbale at best.
And the guys who flirted with me
Could be counted on fingers alone.
So when he complimented me,
Even if I knew it was because he was just being polite,
I felt warm.
"Who wouldn't know you,
Really , you are so famous."
I returned with a smile.
He shook his head," surely you exaggerate."
I was about to sya something,
When Armaan pulled me towards him, with his hand on my waist.
" Really , Kunal , trying to take praise,
When you know it's not possible for anyone to not know is, such a pathetic act. Have some shame."Armaan drawled.
And I stiffened.
I looked at awkwardly at him and Mr.Mehra.
Even I knew it was so rude to speak like that.
What was this man doing?
That too with a man who is so powerful and whose children goes to same school as ours.
What if in future his children and our fall in love ?
It would become an obstacle in their love story!
I forced out a laugh.
" Stop joking , Armaan." And looked him meaningfully.
I hoped he would understand what I am saying.
But he was in a staring contest with Mr.Mehra.
And then Mr.Mehra said," have a nice day, Mausam."
And pivoted on his heel.
And we made our way to the car.
He started to drive.
" Don't ever talk to men you don't know." He gruffed.
I frowned.
" I don't know any men except family members."
I said.
He nodded.
"Exactly, don't talk to any man who is not fmaily."
" Look , is it about Reyansh then don't worry , I am done with all those childlike fantasies, now I have decided to only focus on our marriage and children."
His hands on steering had tightened.
And his jaw clenched.
His eyes on the road didn't meet mine.
But in strained voice he said," that is what you say , but how am I to trust you?"
He was getting angry .
So I blurted," because you are more handsome than him."
And he suddenly stopped the car.
And I screamed.
We were going at slow speed and it was morning so the road was not busy.
Otherwise we could have gotten into an accident.
" What happened? Why did you stop?" I asked breathlessly.
He turned to me," what did you say?"
Huh,
" What did you say?" He repeated.
" Why did you stop?"
I sudd uncertaintly.
" No, before that." He appeared frustrated
"Umm, what happened" I whispered.
He shook his head ,
"No before that."
I blinked my eyes.
"That you are more handsome than Mr.Mehra."
He stared at me.
I felt self conscious.
Why was he looking at me like that?
" So why did you like Khanna?
Did you find more handsome than me?"
He asked gruffly.
I was left speechless.
I knew I would be asked this at some point.
I sighed,
And tried to look as stupid as I could.
" Vo to he was nice to me
That's why.
But I mistook my feelings of gratefulness as love.
Now that I am older I know better."
I answered and looked into his eyes.
The air was filled with tension.
And then his eyes undergo some intense change
And he grunted and started the car.
Updated on -8/2/24