35| Fasting

Started writing on 2nd November 2020.

Completed on 7th November 2020.

Word count : 4380 words

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- D I V Y A -

"Hey. Wake up!" A voice trailed me out from my beautiful dream. "Divya! Wake up or I'll deduct your salary." The owner of the voice patted my back.

"Why do you always have to threaten me with my salary?" I asked.

"Because that's the only dear thing for you." He said.

"Yeah. You're right." I nodded.

"So.... Don't you have a special place for me in your heart?" He asked while pouting.

"Yes. A very special place. The place of a fool." I teased him.

"Really madam? It's a sin to call your husband by these names."

"No book taught me these intellectual and spiritual knowledge. Thank you for providing me with such a meaningful thought." I said with my most sarcastic tone ever. He arched his eyebrows in a questionable manner and held his arms in air. "What? I don't want to see your arms?" I said seeing his wide open arms. He nodded in negative and directed my gaze to his palms. "What should I do with your hands?"

"How are they?"

"What? Your hands? Do I need to give a compliment for them?" I asked and he nodded. "Okay. They're muscular and big."

"Thank you for your compliments." He said and kept one of his hand on my waist.

"What?" I asked but it was already too late as he had shifted his hand inside my shirt, over my bare waist. "What are you-"

"Shh..." He whispered moving near me and started drawing patterns on my waist. Wasn't it all going too fast? "So.... You really don't have a proper place for me in your heart?" He asked for which I nodded in negative to tease him. Suddenly, he started moving his hands up and down, in an awkward way, tickling me softly.

"Wait. No..." I said but in vain.

"Only you can stop me. Just tell me my place in your heart." He said. Really? Why is he always so adamant?

"Wait! Ayaan stop...." I cried in laughter but his tickles got more harder than before.

"Your answer and I'll stop."

"Please stop. I can't..... Aaah!!" I shouted due to the pain in my abdomen, all thanks to constant laughing and he left me immediately.

"I'm sorry. Are you alright? Is it paining a lot?" He asked worriedly.

"Yeah. It's okay now." I said while getting up from the bed.

"Do you need any help?" He asked and I nodded in negative. "I'm sorry. I forgot that you're...."

"It's alright. I'm fine now." I said excusing myself to the bathroom.

××

"Dadi, you called me?"

"Yes. Sit down. We need to discuss a few things." She said and I sat down next to her, while Ayaan was sitting just in my front with a phone in his hand. "Did you get all the things for tomorrow?"

"Is there something special tomorrow?" I asked being unaware of what she was talking about.

"Don't you know? I thought Kritika would have informed you about everything."

"She hasn't." I smiled.

"Tomorrow is your first karva chauth and you don't know." Dadi said. Oh shit! How come I didn't know about it? In this situation if I say that I was unaware of it, then dadi will count me in her black list. If I say yes, then also I can't do anything as I don't know what she'd ask the next moment.

"I..... Know about it. I thought you're talking about something else."

"Good that you know. Wake up early tomorrow, around four in the morning so that you all could start your fast." She informed. Really? Waking up at four in the morning? Even the sun's not up at that time. What will I do?

Wait! Did she talk about fast? Fast and me, never!

I tried fasting for a day in my teens and ended up eating fruits every hour.

In short, I couldn't fast at all.

I am not able to.

I moved my gaze to Ayaan and saw him laughing quietly at my situation. Why couldn't he support me instead of laughing at me? "I think it's not necessary. I mean a fast can't prove our love, right?" He said smirking at me. Was he challenging me?

"It's alright. I can fast." I said in the heat of moment. And then I realised what I had said.

"Okay. Then prepare for tomorrow. Kritika will tell you about the rest." Dadi said and stood up, leaving the hall. I stood up and walked out to the car.

"Are you mad? Why did you say yes to her?" Ayaan asked sitting beside me on the driving seat.

"It's just a fast." I replied. I don't think it would be difficult as I don't feel much hungry during periods. I'll do it!

"Just a fast? You can't eat a single bite."

"I know."

"You can't even drink a drop of water."

"What?"

"Why are you reacting like you had a big shock? Don't tell me you don't know. Haven't you seen your mother all these years?" He asked continuously.

"I've never paid any heed to it. She used to fast but I never observed it deeply."

"You can step back now too. You don't have to-"

"Stop. I can. I'm able to fast."

"Your wish. I'm not forcing you. And I'm not going to fast." He said stopping the car in front of the building.

"I haven't asked you to." I said angrily and stepped out of the car.

"Wait for me." He shouted and ran behind me. I went into the lift and he followed me inside.

"Why are you following me?"

"Am I following you? This company is mine. I can go anywhere I want." He said.

"Idiot!" I said and left the lift. Reaching my cabin I saw Maya chilling around and sipping her juice. Such a chilling life she lives.

"Divya! Finally you came." Maya shouted.

"Where would I go?" I said throwing my purse on the table.

"Is something wrong? Chill girl! I know you lose your calm easily but don't behave like this. You scare the hell out of me." Maya said.

"Then what should I do? Even I'm fed up of my current nature. I think I've talked a bit too rudely to everyone to today." I confessed.

"That's alright and completely normal. Don't worry. Just relax your mind and don't stress out on small things."

"I'll try."

"You should." She said and I nodded.

××

"How was your meeting today?" I asked Ayaan, sitting on the passenger seat while going back.

"Good."

"Was it finalised?"

"Hmm..." He said.

"Why are you answering everything monosyllably?"

"Is there something wrong with it?"

"Yes. Everything. Can't you talk properly?" I asked and he stopped the car, holding the steering wheel tightly.

"Isn't it proper? You always talk to me the same way too. I thought it's the correct manner." He said coldly while smiling fakely.

"I... I'm sorry. I can't control my anger hormones. They are always on the peak." I said and he turned towards me.

"I can always handle your anger but others can't. Try to speak politely."

"I speak politely." I said and he glared me.

"Really? Who calls me idiot, moron and what not?"

"Me. But they're not rude words."

"See. That's the point. You are not trying to understand your mistake."

"But..... Okay. I'm sorry. I won't repeat it again."

"It's good if you're ready to accept your mistake." He said picking up a bottle, and gulped it down sip by sip. The way he was gulping water, his Adam's apple moved up and down, making me gulp unconsciously. "What?"

Nothing! Period hormones!

"There's..."

"What? Where?" He asked. I leaned forward and licked the water off his lips. Shock was clearly evident on his face. Clutching his collar, I jumped over him and took his lips in a rough kiss. After an eternity he pushed me to catch his breath. "Divya... Easy..... I'm not running away."

"I... I'm...."

"Shh... It's alright. You don't need to explain. It's normal for couples to kiss. Infact a lot more is normal. Although we haven't done anything like that but-" He stopped speaking in between when we heard someone knocking the window pane. He lowered the window pane and the man, policeman started shouting continuously.

"We are developing but that doesn't mean that you could do everything out. This is a public place....."

"We are inside our car." Ayaan said and I hid my face in his chest.

"Seriously? Show me your documents." The policeman said and Ayaan showed him all the necessary documents while I was sitting on his lap.

"Enough or you need something more?"

"Young man! You must be the boss, but in your world. You're doing all these shameless things in the car. There are children out too." The policeman said. Can't they both talk in a civilised manner?

"But it's not illegal to kiss in your car."

"You!! I know you all young bloods, going out with your girlfriends at night. What is happening to this generation? One was our time-"

"Uncle. She's my wife, not girlfriend."

"Wife? Can't you do all this at your home? Giving a public show!"

"We're sorry. It won't happen again."

"It shouldn't." He said and left.

Shutting the window, he clutched my waist tightly and brought my gaze to his by holding my chin. Leaning forward he pecked my lips twice.

"We got a warning just now."

"I love to break them." He said. I thought he would kiss me but instead he smiled and kept ogling me.

"Ohh." It was the only thing I could say. He was making it too uncomfortable by starting me continuously.

"What do you mean by 'ohh'?"

"Nothing." I said while getting up from his lap. "Aah."

"Who told you to try standing? Of course you would hit your head." He scolded. I sat down, once again on him and tried going the other side, but he held me there. "Stop it. Why do you need to move so much?"

"What happened?"

"Nothing. You won't understand. Just go there in the least movement you could." He said and I nodded. Standing up carefully, I went back to my seat and settled myself there. Leaning forward to me, he kissed my cheeks for the last time and started the car.

"What was that for?" I asked.

"Do I need a reason to kiss my wife?"

××

I was trying to keep my mind on a file for last ten minutes but wasn't able to. Flipping all the pages, I sighed and leaned back on the couch, clutching my head. Why wasn't I able to concentrate?

"Here you are. I was searching you everywhere." The voice which-I'm-used-to-hear said.

"Why? What on earth happened?"

"Have them." He forwarded a tray with a big glass towards me.

"What is there in it?"

"See yourself." He said and I stood up to see what he had bought. There was thick bright red juice in the glass.

"See. I'm not a vampire. I don't drink blood."

"It's not blood. It's mixed juice."

"Mixture of what?"

"Carrots, beetroot and pomegranate."

"Who drink these things?"

"I don't know much but they help in making blood. Also, you're on your periods, and as you've decided to fast tomorrow, I don't want to take a risk. I don't want you to feel lightheaded and dizzy. So just drink it."

"Are you serious?"

"Do I look as if I'm joking?" He asked and I nodded in negative. "Then drink it."

"I can't. It looks so..."

"Then drink it in one go."

"I'll try." I said and drank the glass in one go. As soon as I finished it, my taste buds felt too unusual. I couldn't understand the taste. "What's the taste? It's sweet, bitter, sour, everything."

"It means you enjoyed it."

"No!!" I said and he nodded, leaving the room.

××

Next day~

It had been almost ten hours since I haven't eaten and drank anything. I gazed at my tummy, which was sad for not feeding a single bite. Never in my life I've kept this type of fast. It's too hard to remain hungry and thirsty for so many hours.

"How are you?"

"Hungry." I replied.

"You're too horny. I pity your husband." Maya said.

"Not like that. I want food but can't eat a single bite."

"Are you on fast?"

"Yep. Aren't you?"

"No. My family doesn't have this custom."

"But mine has. I can't even drink anything!"

"Why are you here in office? You should have been at home." She scolded.

"Okay, my mom. There was some work which needed my urgent attention. I can't leave work like this."

"Hmm. Be like this and risk your health." She said and left. To take a break, I went out for a walk and saw Adarsh carrying a big plate in his hands.

"Adarsh, why are you carrying such a big plate? Who's going to eat that?" I asked stopping him in mid way.

"Boss wants it." He said. I gazed the plate and saw too many dishes which were tasty enough to be left out. Plus that gajar ka halwa and gulab jamun in the plate. When did he start eating sweets? And how can he eat these dishes when his wife is on fast?

"Ohh! You can continue your work." I said and he left. I too left and went to resume my file.

Continuing my work, I spent almost an hour and got a call from mom scolding me to get back as soon as possible. Finishing everything for the last time, I picked my purse and left to the private lift. I clicked the button and after six seconds it opened revealing Ayaan and his assistant discussing about a file.

He shook his head and Adarsh left the lift immediately, leaving only me and him in the lift. As soon as the lift closed, he pulled me to him in a sudden jerk and smiled. What's with him?

"You know, I was missing for a long time." He said hugging me in a bone crushing hug.

"I missed you too. But I can't breathe like this." I said. Seeing my state, he left me immediately.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have-"

"I'm not denying you to hug me. It's just that you were too forceful. A little softer hug won't do any bad." I said and he smiled, pacing towards me. "What?" I asked stepping back.

"It's still ten floors to go. A kiss won't do any bad." He said, caging me between him and the lift. Holding the handrail for support, I stood properly and faced him.

"I wouldn't mind but I can't." I said and his face fell in disappointment. "Don't cry. I can't because I'm on fast."

"How is fast related to a kiss?"

"It's a custom. We can't kiss during these type of fasts."

"But..."

"No buts. We're already on the ground floor." I said as soon as the lift doors opened. "Bye..." I said waving my hand at him, while he was looking like an angry bull, smoke coming out from his ears and nose. It's good for him to feel like that. He was eating so many tasty dishes when I am terribly hungry.

Leaving him in the same situation, I drove fastly to mom's house and changed into a red saree.

"You're ready?" Mom asked entering our room.

"Hmm." I answered.

"Let's go. We all are waiting for you. We have to start the puja now." She said pulling me out of the room. Reaching down, we saw the ladies group sitting together, bustling around and laughing all their mind.

The puja went good. Everything was going smoothly. Just that my throat and stomach weren't in peace. They were begging for food and water, but I couldn't help them. I've already maintained this fast for almost fifteen hours, an extra hour won't harm.

"Divya." Mumma called me, pulling me out of my dreams.

"Yes mumma, I'm coming." I shouted and ran to her. She was sitting with mom and around twenty other ladies. "You called me?"

"Sit here." Mom said, freeing up some space for me on the couch. I sat beside her, and got ready for the upcoming drama.

"Your daughter in law is very beautiful Mrs Chauhan!" A middle aged lady said. Thank you for telling me that I'm beautiful, I never knew!

"Oh, thank you! I know she is. She's my daughter." Mom replied.

"She is beautiful indeed! You know Kritika, Randhawa's daughter in law got pregnant, just after two weeks of her wedding!" Another lady said to mom. Why do they need to gossip about her life? "Today's generation is too fast. What about your daughter in law, Kritika? It's been months they're married. Is there any good news?" She asked. Really? What does she want to do with my life? We haven't even done the deed yet. How can I be pregnant?

"Uhm... It's their choice, whenever they want to conceive. They're today's generation, we can't force them to make babies. Wherever we get the good news, you all will be the first one to be informed." Mom said, handling the situation in the best way possible. I never knew she has this side too!

"It's been seven, where are these men?" Mumma said diverting the topic.

"I'll call them." I said getting up from the crowd. After calling dads and Ayaan, I sighed in relief and lied alone on a couch to relax.

I want food!

Everything is out there.

I can sneak into the kitchen and steal some food and water.

But I couldn't as I can't let my struggle of being hungry for a day go waste.

"Hey! Piggy!" A voice shook me out of my dreams.

"Hmm." I hummed while opening my eyes.

"See. You yourself believe that you're pig." He laughed.

"What do you want?" I asked being irritated.

"You."

"Huh?"

"I mean the moon is out. Don't you want to break your fast?"

"I want to. Let's go." I said and quickly got up, dragging him up to the terrace where everyone was already present. I quickly took the plate and did everything needed. Taking aarti of him felt too funny. I wanted to laugh but couldn't.

At last he took the glass to help me drink water, but as it was too slow to reach my throat, I took the glass from him and drank water to my content.

"Are you planning to fill your stomach by drinking water?" He whispered and I nodded in negative. Dragging him to the food place, I took a plate filled with food and sweets, enjoyed them to my fullest. "I'm hungry too." He said.

He had already eaten so many delicious dishes in noon, still he's hungry!

"I was hungry for fifteen hours straight! While you are making an expression as if you haven't eaten anything from three days. It's just been six hours that you haven't eaten." I said shrugging my shoulders.

"You really think that?" He asked and I nodded. "I haven't eaten or drank anything since morning and here you're doubting me of cheating!"

"Don't lie. Today I saw Adarsh carrying a big plate filled with food."

"And who told you that I was going to eat it?"

"Adarsh!" I said.

"Did he say that I was going to eat it?"

"No. He said that you want it."

"There's a difference between wanting and eating. I asked for the Indian cuisine because there was an international client who wanted to taste it. I can't say no, right?" He said.

"Really? That means that you haven't eaten too?" I asked while smiling.

"Nope. Now feed me something and break my fast."

"Yeah sure!" I took a bowl of kheer and forwarded it to him.

"I asked you to feed me." He said while pouting. I nodded and made him eat whole bowl. After eating everything to content I sighed and sat back on the chair.

"How are you Ayaan beta?" The same aunty who was enquiring about my pregnancy asked, coming towards us.

"I'm fine aunty. How are you?"

"What would happen to me? I'm always fit, you see. Well, when are you planning to be parents?" She asked, which made me choke my drink. Really? Why is she so adamant of knowing about my pregnancy? My child won't be her grandchild, then why is she so interested?

Ayaan caressed my back and forwarded the glass of water to me. I looked at him and saw his ears red, clearly indicating that he was blushing. He immediately moved his gaze from me and slid his arms around my waist. "Aunty, we think it's too early to become parents. Wherever we feel like it, we would surely give the good news."

"Oh! Okay! I'll get going." She said leaving the place.

"She's a headache." I mumbled.

"How?"

"Earlier, she was asking me the same thing."

"About you being pregnant?"

"Hmm..." I hummed settling my head on his shoulder and slept. I don't know what he was saying to me when I slept, so I just kept humming in response.

××

While sleeping peacefully, I felt someone playing with my hairs, which I don't like at all.

"What do you want to do?" I shouted.

"I want to help you. Do you want to sleep in a bun? Let me untie your hairs." He said. I closed my eyes while he was opening all the pins from my hair. "Get up and change your dress."

"I don't want to..." I said sleeping peacefully.

"Do you want me to change your saree?"

Ya sure!

"No. I'll change by myself." I said and got up from the bed after stretching my arms. Walking into the wardrobe to change, I came in front of the mirror and saw that my neck and ears were bare and all my jewelleries were removed. Did someone steal them when I was sleeping?

Quickly changing into my pyjamas, I paced out to the room and saw Ayaan sleeping without any tension.

Should I wake him up?

Of course! It's the question of my jewelleries.

"Ayaan. Get up." I said shaking him up from his sleep.

"What happened? Is there an earthquake?"

"No. My necklace and earrings."

"They're kept on the dressing table. Check yourself and let me sleep." He said shifting in his position. I checked the dressing table and everything was kept there. He must have removed them when I was sleeping. "What are you doing Divya? Come here and sleep." He whined.

"Coming." I said and lied beside him. He pulled me tightly to him and slept, nuzzling his nose in my neck. Oh God! What is he trying to do?

Control Divya, control!

I can't lose my sanity. Atleast not now.

I tried to get free from his grip but instead he came over me, trapping me between the bed and him. Without even opening his eyes, he touched his lips with mine for a soft kiss, later turning into my wildest kiss ever.

Leaving my lips he kissed my cheeks, following down to my neck. Suddenly he sat back and pulled me on his lap, pulling my shirt strap down and continuing his work.

"Ayaan..."

"Hmm."

"I'm feeling dizzy." I said as I wasn't feeling well. Really? Why do these different problems come in these times?

"Have some water." He said giving me a glass. "Is it alright now?"

"Hmm..."

"Let's sleep." He said.

"Huh?"

"By sleep I mean sleep. No double meaning talks." He chuckled and made me lie on the bed beside him. "Sleep." He said and chuckled once more, before giving in to sleep.

×× ××

- N A T A S H A -

"What the hell is wrong with you?" I yelled.

"What's wrong with me?" Samaira asked.

"What happened girls?" Nani asked, while coming towards us.

"She ruined my dress." I said to her and turned to Samaira. "The dress that you tore is mine!"

"I told you, it was a mistake." She said like an innocent child. This expression of her irritates me to hell. Give me a knife and I'll cut her tongue!

"Okay." I nodded and nani left seeing us stopping our fight. "What do you want from me? Stop being the villian of my life." I said while glaring her.

"Oh really? But your name suggests that you're the official villian." She whispered.

"What?"

"Yeah! Samaira is a good name, one or the other protagonist occupies this name. But Natasha is the synonym of antagonist. You would be knowing right? You do movies and soap operas." She chuckled.

I want to cut her tongue so that she won't be able to speak and smile wickedly like that!

"But reality is far away from this. Infact, it's the opposite. Just learn some morals and ethics." I said.

"Oh! You're the one talking about morals when your own mother ran away with her lover-"

"Stop there itself and don't dare to speak more. My mum has done the best thing by marrying my dad and I respect her for that. Atleast she was legally an adult, not like you who ran away just at the mere age of sixteen." I glared her while she was clenching her teeth. Without saying a word, she left.

She's the worst person I've ever seen!

Utha lo ise bhagvan!

Sighing, I sat on the sofa and closed my eyes. I need to go back to my house.

"Natasha beta, have it. It's a new sweet I tried to make today." Mami said. She's so sweet, while her daughter is such a bitch!

"Sure." I said taking the bowl of sweet from her hand. "Mami, what would you name your grandchildren?"

"I haven't thought till now. It's the bua who would name them, right? So, you and Samaira should decide it together." She said. Who would tell her that we don't get along? Why did a good person like her got such a villian daughter.

"Sure." I smiled and continued eating the sweet.

*****

TIED TOGETHER BY LOVE 💍

Question : Any song which is going through your head all the time this week?

I'm obsessed with the song in media box (Saari raat). It's just all over my mind this whole week from the time I heard it.

Thank you!

❤(◍•ᴗ•◍)❤