So here comes the most awaited chapter for my readers... And this chapter holds the gift for my lovely reader.
What is that? ---> You will get to know once you reach the end.
Ruhi:
I woke up early before Ekansh. He was sound asleep when I returned from the bathroom. It's good that he is still sleeping cause I don't want any interaction with him.
I wore a long, light green ethnic dress for that day. I have already removed my anklets so there will not be any unnecessary noises that may disturb him from sleeping. But I couldn't leave the room without glancing at my new attraction, my husband.
Instead of taking the elevator I strolled down the steps and reached the living room. Last night Maa informed me that I will be leaving for Ludhiana with my family. It's a part of the ritual and has to be done.
"Ekansh is still sleeping?" Maa inquired as I hugged her and took her blessings.
"Yes, Maa. I didn't want to wake him up."
"But did you inform him, that you are leaving?" I nodded my head lying. I wanted to avoid unnecessary interactions with him. However, my absence will not bother him. Who knew even today he has a plan to meet his girlfriend?
I sat with Dadu in his car while my other family followed us in separate vehicles.
"Ladoo, are you happy with Ekansh?" He inquired, with his pale hand on top of my head.
I smiled hiding my hurt. "I am, Dadu!" I lied. I don't know, how he will react after I divorce Ekansh. But he will understand that this relationship is meaningless.
It took us 2-3 hours to reach the Ludhiana. We had lunch together then I went to my room to rest.
After I took some rest, I went through my books. As I couldn't control my curiosity, I checked my mobile for once.
I received his other angry text, which was a few hours ago.
Ekansh: Hume bhi ignore karna atha hai, Ruhi. Bina bathaye chali gayi Aap, iski saza milegi Aapko. (Even I know how to ignore, Ruhi. You left to Ludhiana without informing me. Now I am going to punish you.)
Hume divorce dekar ap bhut badi saza ke intezam toh kar rahe hai, Ekansh.
You are already planning my punishment by giving a divorce to me.
I didn't reply to him but checked the mail notification from my university.
My heart thundered in my chest.
As expected the college will shut down and I will be shifted to a new hospital. After I saw the name Special Life University, I sat with a thud on my bed.
No. This is only a torture. I will be studying in the same hospital as Ekansh's.
I huffed. I will not tell him about this. I will hide it as much as I can. However, we will be going in separate cars. But we will live in the same house, which will be quite uneasy.
After I packed the books that I bought a week ago to study. If I am involved with Ekansh and his girlfriend I don't think, I will concentrate on my studies. I am in my final semester now, and if I fail this exam my career will be over.
I sighed and went to the backyard garden to check on the plants by intentionally leaving my mobile in my room.
Did he have sex with her the other day?
There is no doubt about that. They were together for 3 years and I came a few days ago in his life. My presence will not affect him.
Ruhi. Just stop thinking about him. It never started to continue. We will leave each other one day and I hope that day should come soon.
After I plucked some fruits to take them to Amritsar tomorrow, I went to my room to freshen up.
I opened my room door and moved to the dressing table. After I sat on the chair I undid my braid to put some oil on my hair.
"Dil bhar gaya Ruhi apka ya kuch aur din chahiye aapko aapki narazgi dikhane,"
"Do you feel contented now, Ruhi? Or do you need more days to show your anger," as soon as I heard Ekansh's voice my heart skipped a beat? Then he appeared behind me and stood glaring at me.
I tried to control my smile. Did he come for me? "When did you come?" He crossed his arms and continued glowering at my reflection in the mirror.
"As if it matters to you," he said and whirled.
"You are right, it doesn't matter to me," I replied, mocking him and resumed applying oil to my hair.
"Fine then I will go!" He said and raised his brow. I laughed.
"Stop overacting, Ekansh," I said shaking my head.
He sat down on my bed, "I am not overacting. You have been ignoring me for two days, Ruhi."
I huffed, and whirled staring at him, "What are we doing, Ekansh?" He furrowed his brows before he blurted anything stupid, "Ekansh there is no destination for our relationship. Then why we should bother each other? Instead of worrying it's better we focus on our aims." I explained.
"You are just 22 but your words are way more mature than me."
I matured more than 10 years of my age when I lost my parents in front of my eyes. I trained how to stay away from getting emotionally connected to others. But I think I will fail in the case of Ekansh.
"I have to protect myself, if you keep showing me your care, I might get addicted to it," I whispered, now combing my hair end.
I thought he would argue with me. But his reply broke all my newly born hopes. "I understand," he spoke nodding his head. "I will not worry about you." He announced and I apprehended that we are nothing from this moment.
Nodding my head I stood up, "I have to take a bath."
While I approached the door, "Ahmm .. your cousins were planning a campfire tonight, we will probably have dinner over there."
"Ok. You can rest on my bed if you want."
A shower is known to be the best place for my tears to flow out without any fear of anyone noticing it. I sat down under the shower and hugged my knees.
Why are you making it so difficult for me?
You just had sex with her last day and now you showed up like everything is normal.
After a long moment, I received a knock on the door. "Ruhi! I want to use the toilet."
"Coming." I off the shower, and tied my hair with a towel. After I put on my pink fluffy bathrobe, I reached the door and pulled open it.
I stepped out, and his eyes landed on me and we stared for a couple of seconds. Next, he walked silently inside the bathroom.
I grabbed my clothes and moved to the small changing room, made of wooden walls in my bedroom.
Then we both walked out of the manor. The backyard path leads to a small field where we usually hang out or celebrate Lohri. My cousins and their partners were already present over there and were setting the campfire. There was a small grill arrangement with soft and hard drinks too.
"Look, the newlywed couple is here," Akriti di announced alerting others. This would be my first time hanging out with everyone. I was a little excited too.
"So what are we doing today?" One of my cousins asked Akriti di. As she is the elder one, she is the only one to plan things and we follow it.
"We will sit in a circle, then spin the bottle. To whom it will target, he will have only one choice; to select dare. And I made some tokens for girls and boys. Girls tokens are in a pink box, boys in blue one," She explained and showed us two boxes. "We have to do the dare performance according to the token statements. So, shall we start now!"
We sat on the ground in a circle. Iklav Jiju started to spin the bottle and it stopped, pointing to Akriti di. Everyone roared except Ekansh, me, and Di.
"Fine!" She took the pink box and gave it a shake before pulling out a four-fold paper.
"What's in it?" My second bhabhi asked, grinning ear-to-ear.
"I have to stare into my partner's eyes for 2 minutes without blinking."
"Wow. It's quite tough for Di." I commented. Then I stared at Ekansh, he was smiling and enjoying the play. "You seem to enjoy it?"
"We all...I mean my siblings and your cousins have played the same game two years ago..." he stared at me, "you were in Delhi at that time." I nodded my head.
The show of staring started and in only 30 seconds, Di lost the game. "Di," my second bhabhi shared her sadness, "You could have been better."
"If you keep yourself in my place, you will understand it," Di said to her and blushed. Iklav Jiju is a notorious man. He might have done something that she lost.
Once again the bottle was spun and it stopped pointing towards my second cousin. Di handed him the blue box after shaking it for once.
He took a paper out and announced, "I have to make my wife stand on my feet and walk for 3 minutes." He stared at the second bhabhi. And warned her, "Don't put your whole weight on them." Poor lady, since her delivery, which was a couple of months ago, she put on some weight.
Bhai made her stand on his toes and held her close to him by hugging her tight and walking straight. That scene looked way more intimidating.
Holy crap! What will Ekansh and I get? I hope they won't be this intimidating.
Bhai could hardly make it for 20 seconds and gave up. We all shouted loser to him. And he agreed by lowering his front. "I am a loser."
Once again the bottle began to spin and for some reason, everyone started to yell my name. I stared agape at them. And to their jinx, it stopped towards me. My jaw dropped. Ekansh laughed from beside. Di handed me the pink box. I shook it and took out a paper.
After I read it I crumbled it, shaking my head. "Can I take another one?" I requested. My second bhabhi who sat beside me pulled the paper and went through it.
"Uff!" She exhaled and added, "Our Ruhi got the most romantic slip. She has to lip kiss her husband for two long minutes."
I shook my head. "I can't."
"Then agree to be a loser," Di announced.
Nodding my head, I was about to stand but Ekansh held my wrist. "You can, Ruhi." He encouraged and leaned forward, "All you have to do is place your lips on me. Then I will take care from there. Okay." I shook my head, disagreeing with him. "It will just be a skin-to-skin contact," he dragged further. Everyone started calling me a loser, already. I bit my lip and nodded.
We angled our faces. My eyes were shut, tightly. "So the time starts now!" Di announced and I placed my lips on my husband's lips. To begin with, they were not so soft or rough but in the middle. He was warm and smelled like sweet, maybe he had lassi. I only did what he said, to place my lips on his. But the moment he grasped my upper lip in his mouth I opened my eyes widely.
It's my first kiss.
He sucked it softly between his lips and left to suck my lower lip in the same way. I waited and controlled myself from kissing him back. But I was so attracted to him that I couldn't deny the urge to kiss him back. Our lips moved in sync, in rhythm. We angled our heads by sucking our lips softly and deliciously.
Neither of us felt like stopping. But the beep voice of the timer pulled us back to reality. I pulled away halting my actions.
"That was amazing," my second bhabhi commented, "and Ruhi tum toh badi chupa rustam ho." She giggled and everyone started to laugh.
I felt so embarrassed that I was unable to make eye contact with anyone not even with Ekansh.
I stood up and announced, "I want to go." And I ran away away. Though everyone called me to stop, I didn't.
***
So a cute little moment. Moreover, Ekansh is falling for Ruhi.