53| Mehndi

Started writing on 24th January 2021.

Completed on 25th January 2021.

Word count : 3920 words

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– D I V Y A –

Turning around the bed, I stretched my arms and felt the mattress beside me empty. I flickered my eyes open and looked around the room, only to see him sitting on the couch. I was about to call him but when I saw him working, I decided to leave the thought.

Pulling a pillow near me, I hugged it tightly. But still, the warmth wasn't enough! It wasn't like the one I'm used to.

Closing my eyes, I slept again while continuing the dream of my delicious food.

When I woke up I felt myself being trapped between a tight hold, not that I mind. He was sleeping without any tension on his face. But suddenly, a frown formed on his face. He tightened his hold around me and I could do nothing but stare him. I rubbed his back to calm him down until the frown left his forehead.

Moving my gaze towards the clock, I saw the time. Shit!

It was already eleven thirty!

Freeing myself from his hold, I paced towards the bathroom and took a quick shower. Walking down, I saw mom talking with someone over call.

How come I woke up this late?

"Divya!"

"Yes mom."

"How come you woke up this late? It's eleven fifty."

"I overslept."

"Did you sleep late last night?"

"Hmm... Don't you remember, party ended so late."

"I'm not talking about that. I slept at the same time. I mean, were you busy doing other things?" She teased and chuckled.

"No mom! I was too tired yesterday." I said and mentally face-palmed myself while she was laughing.

"You look so red Divya!" She laughed, "How is my grandchild doing?"

"Pretty good."

"I'll tell you. Don't eat packed food, especially those chips. They are not good."

Really?

How can I leave my classic salty-flavoured chips?

No.

"Don't eat them, okay." She said and I nodded unwillingly. My heart wasn't ready to leave my heart, my chips.

But then, I need to do it for our child's health.

"What's the matter Divya?"

"Nothing."

"Okay. Breakfast is ready, sorry your brunch. Go and eat it." She said and I nodded. Walking towards the dining table, I sat on a chair and ate my food.

As the time flew by, mom went to her room to get ready before telling me to change. I went towards her room as I wanted to talk to her about something. Nearing to their room, I heard some low moans coming out of the room.

Oh God!!

What did I even hear?

That's what mom meant by private space!

Running away from there, I went to our room and locked the door. Changing into a light coloured lehenga, I sat on near the dressing table and looked into my phone.

"What are you doing there?" Turning around, I saw him rubbing his eyes.

"Have you checked the time?" I stood up and wore my earrings. Taking red lip-tint, I applied it over my lips.

"I overslept?"

"You obviously did. Who told you to work this late?" I asked.

"How come you know it?"

"Pillows aren't that comfortable. And, I and mom are leaving for Natasha's mehndi. Eat your food on time." I said and picked my phone.

"I should be the one saying that. By the way, what do you mean by, pillows aren't that comfortable?" He asked and I shook my head before leaving. "Where are you going before answering my question? Wait!" I heard him asking while I was leaving.

I walked down and saw mom adjusting her saree plates. "You need help mom?"

"No, I'm done. Wait, you're wearing heels? You shouldn't do that. You can't take risk of tripping." She said and I nodded. Changing the pairs, I walked in flats and she smiled, "You shouldn't wear heels. Okay?"

"Hmm..."

"Now, let's go or we'll get late."

Reaching the venue I went towards the bride who was already bustling with her pre-marriage glow. "Natasha!"

"You're finally here! I was waiting for you for so long." She said and I sat beside her.

"So, what am I being today? Bride's best friend or groom's sister?"

"For now, you can be my best friend. When the preparations will start, you can get into your groom's sister avatar." She suggested and I chuckled. "I don't know why, I'm really nervous."

"It's common. Don't think a lot. Just lay back and relax. Everything is going your way, right?"

"Hmm..."

"Have you met Dhruv today?"

"Umm..."

"Yes right?" I asked and she nodded in positive. "I knew it. But don't tell anyone about it." I suggested and she shook her head.

As time went by, the rituals started and the designers started to work upon our hands. I only gave my left hand for the drawing. I really hated it but couldn't do anything. The condition of hands which you get after applying mehndi is disastrous. It's beautiful for two or three days but after that, it starts to shed off, making our hands rough.

"Divya, where is my phone! I need to click photos." Mom asked.

"How would I know it mom? It must be in your purse or where you sat few moments ago. Just check it." I said and she went back to search for her phone.

"I found it." She shouted.

"Divya. Your mumma doesn't scold much right?" Natasha asked.

And this was my time to tease her!

"She scolds a lot. She won't ever spare anyone. So, don't ever trigger her." By the time she was already scared.

"You're lying right?"

"Ofcourse not. I've lived most of my years with her. She's a Dracula." I said and felt someone pulling my left ear. Turning back, I saw mumma stretching my ear hardly.

"What did you say? I am Dracula? I scold a lot?" Mumma asked and I shook my head in negative while Natasha was laughing. I glared at her and she stopped her laughs.

"I was just teasing her. I don't really mean what I said."

"Hmm... For teasing someone, you can even call your mother Dracula! What if your child calls you Dracula?"

"It won't."

"You're sure?"

"Yes."

"We'll see in future." She said and left.

"And you say that she scolds a lot!" She exclaimed and turned to the front. "Diya, come fast. Where were you?" I saw Diya walking towards us while rubbing her belly. "Are you alright?"

"Hmm... They're causing a huge havoc inside me. It's unbearable now." She mumbled and sat beside us. Just when I met her three days ago, she was alright. But now her figure was totally changed.

"Are they kicking?" I asked.

"A lot." She smiled, "I don't know what had gotten into them to disturb their mother?"

"This was expected. They're Shrey's children!" Natasha mocked and Diya glared at her.

"What do you mean by that? Shrey is not a bad man." Diya said.

"Yes, he's not a bad man. He's worse of all. He always stole my chips in childhood. His sister is worse of all. She's a..." Natasha said but stopped in middle. I know she was about to curse Samaira.

"That was about your childhood. He's too good now."

"Yes, yes, yes his wife. He's good, he's caring, he's amazing, he's mind-blowing, he's what not! And what am I? His poor sister." Natasha said sarcastically and Diya was about to cry.

"Stop fighting. It's alright." I said and they stopped. Weren't they fighting for nothing? "Stop fighting for nothing. Even if he stole your chips, it was in childhood." I told Natasha and turned towards Diya, "You don't have to cry over these things."

"I know. I was just carried away due to hormones." She rubbed her nose with hankey and cried more, "You shouldn't badmouth about my husband! He is so good."

I rubbed her back to calm her down but instead of stopping, she cried more and more. "Diya, it's alright. Don't cry. We're in celebration."

"I'm trying." She mumbled. I took her phone in my right hand and dialed Shrey's number.

"Hey baby! Are you alright?"

"I'm Divya."

"Divya? Where is Diya? Is she alright?"

"Yes, she is. She's crying a lot. Only you can handle her."

"Give this phone to her." He said and I forwarded her phone to her.

"Hmm... I'm alright." She said after listening to him, "No, don't..... Stop..... Shrey! Don't come here.... Wait!" She shouted and I looked at her. She was blushing.

So now, everything had turned just the opposite!

Crying Diya to blushing Diya!

"What happened?" I asked and she blushed more, "Did he say something? Okay, that's your business. But don't blush more or everyone would see it." I chuckled and turned towards Natasha.

"Natasha!" Natasha's mother shouted.

"Hmm..."

"Why didn't you tell me that you are starring in an international movie?"

"What? When did this happen?" She asked her mother.

What was happening?

She didn't knew that she's going to act in an international movie?

"I saw your manager declaring this to media." Her mother said and she had a shocking face. "Aren't you happy?"

"I don't know what to say! I had an assumption about it but..."

"It's a good news. When are you filming for it?" I asked.

"As what the plans are, it must be filmed around six or seven months later. But, I'm not able to digest this news. How can I make through two good things at the same time?" Natasha said.

"For this, we need big celebrations, right?" Mumma shouted.

"Ofcourse!"

××

We came back and I entered our room, only to see Ayaan working on laptop. What has got into him? Last night too, he was busy in his laptop and work.

Wait a minute! He was in same pair of trousers last night. And now too!

"You haven't taken a shower, have you?" I asked and he looked up towards me. He nodded in negative and travelled his gaze back to laptop. I wanted to argue with him on this topic but then, I was too tired.

Shaking my head in disbelief, I removed all my accessories and went inside the closet to pick a pair of comfortable pyjamas. Changing my clothes, I walked out and saw him still working on his screen.

Tying my hairs in a loose pony, I climbed on the bed and lied beside him. "Are we going to sleep?"

"I need to see a few more things. You can sleep." He said. I hummed and pulled my phone to see the current news. A few minutes later, he left our bed and went towards the bathroom.

Having to do nothing, I checked today's pictures from the Mehndi while patting my tummy.

What was I even doing?

Gazing down to my lower belly, I rubbed it with affection. Our child was growing inside!

Whom would it look like?

Me or Ayaan?

Or both?

Who knows!

Although our baby was inside, it was really impractical to talk to it. But in few months, we would talk a lot. Just the difference would be, I will be using my mouth and the baby would be using it's kicks.

In the thoughts of thinking about our baby, I don't remember when Ayaan entered inside the room. "If you're done giving all your attention to our child, please look at your husband too."

I looked up and saw him wearing only his trousers, with a towel around his neck. Seeing water droplets falling down from his hairs, traveling straight through his chest and finally disappearing into his pants, I gulped hard.

"What happened?"

"Nothing."

"You're smitten by my hotness, right?"

"No, who told you."

"I know this." He whispered and sat beside me. "Come here." He said while patting the space between his legs. "Divya please!" Now, how could I disagree him? Just when I sat between his legs, his pulled my hands and rubbed them with his. "How do you feel?"

"Well."

"Let me find my name in your hands." He said while looking keenly towards my left palm.

"Why do you think I've drawn your name in my palm?"

"Let me see it myself." He said in a determined voice and searched his name in between the designs. Searching it for eternity, he sighed and shouted, "I found it. I told you right?"

How could he?

I never told the designer to write any name!

"But how could you find it? I never asked the designer to write it. I just told to make simple and clean patterns." I said and he signed me to look at my palm. He touched my palm with his finger, instructing me to see his name written on my hands.

It was there!

"Then how is this possible?"

"Maybe someone else told her to draw it."

"Ohh!"

"How was your day?" I said and leaned back, resting myself on his chest. He hummed before kissing my cheeks.

"Not that good. I had to finish all the files."

"But why so fast?"

"Do you think I would be able to have a look at them in between these celebrations? It's just too tiring."

"Relax. It's not that we're going to lose it. You're capable of handling everything. If you need any help, I'm always here." I said and hummed. He leaned forward while hugging my waist and kissed just below my ear. "Ayaan!"

"Enough!" He said in a voice which sent shivers to my body.

What was that?

"What's the matter?" I turned to face him and asked. He shook his head in negative and pulled my nose. "What are you-" I asked and he shut me up by his kiss.

Why does he have a habit of interrupting my words with his kiss?

Pulling me on his lap, he nuzzled his nose in my neck while his hands travelled to clutch my hips. "What are you trying to do? You moan my name like this and expect me to stay back without touching you?"

When did I moan his name?

"I just called you. I never moaned."

"Really?"

"Hmm..."

"We'll see." He said and pushed me on the bed. Hovering over me, he kissed my lips lightly before pulling us in a long and hungry kiss. That one kiss was enough for us to pour all our emotions.

Leaving my lips, he kissed my earlobe before travelling down to my neck. As his tongue touched my skin, I couldn't help but moan his name.

"What's my name?"

"Sheila!" I said while controlling my laughs and he looked at me weirdly.

"I guess this isn't the time to joke."

"Hmm... But I couldn't help at that."

"I see..... But my name is Ayaan, not Sheila." He said and broke into laughter, and I joined him too.

××

"Ayaan!" I shouted while seeing our room unorganised. "Ayaan!"

"What's the matter?"

"Can you see the room. Why can't you keep everything in its place?"

"Cool down. I'll do everything. Now go and change. We need to leave for their Sangeet." He said and I went inside the closet to pick my dress for tonight.

They were finally going to get married!

Natasha and Dhruv were finally going to get married!

Wearing my dress, I walked out and saw him struggling in his kurta. "Need some help?" I asked and he nodded. Helping him in wearing kurta, I buttoned all it's buttons and sighed. Before I could step back, he pulled me by my waist and lifted me in air.

"Leaving your husband without kisses is bad."

"And always sticking to your wife is bad too."

"You always have an answer for me."

"I need to, or this husband of mine will make me mad too."

"Are you saying that I'm mad?"

"I guess so!" I said and he dropped me on the floor, before leaving out. "Wait for me!" I quickly paced out and saw mom and dad coming out of their room after getting ready.

"It's good that you're already ready. Let's go." Mom said and we sat inside the same car. While the driver was driving, mom and dad were sitting behind us, and Ayaan and I were sitting in the middle row.

"Ayaan..." I called him while he was busy in his phone. Instead of talking to me, he just hummed and went back into his phone.

Useless trash on earth!

I quickly turned towards the window and looked out while wiping tears from my face.

Atleast the environment is better than him!

When we reached there, I was the first one to walk out of car. Pacing inside I felt mom calling my name from back, but I decided to walk without stopping. Reaching the restroom, I ran into a toilet and closed the door from inside.

Crying my heart out, I walked out and looked myself in the mirror. My goodness! I was looking like a ghost all this time!

Washing my face, I dried it quickly and applied makeup all over again. I stepped back and sighed after looking at my hardwork.

Walking out, I looked around and saw Ayaan surrounded with girls. Not just one but many. That too models and actresses.

I'll kill Natasha!

And Ayaan too!

I took a deep breathe to control my anger and walked towards one of the rooms to find Natasha. And the sight I saw was Natasha and Dhruv kissing each other. Why am I the only one to witness these things?

Having no interest in watching my brother and best friend kissing, I left the place and walked towards the only area waiting for me.....

My food!

Taking dozens of macarons and donuts in my hands, I stuffed them inside my mouth.

Everyone on this Earth is idiot!

Except my food.

"Hey!" I heard a voice calling me. Turning back, I saw the same man who flirted with me when I went to meet Natasha on her set. "You're alone? Or was that husband of yours fake?"

Who invited him here?

"What do you want?"

"A dance."

"Why do you think-" I was about to give my answer but when I saw Ayaan laughing with girls, I changed my decision, "Yes."

"Let's go then. Celebrations are already started. Women like you shouldn't sit alone." He said and pulled me onto the floor. Such a flirt he was! "I am sorry for my behaviour that day. I really want to apologise. Let's start afresh. I'm Ayush." He said while dancing with me.

"I'm sorry but there's nothing to start."

"Really? But your husband is busy dancing with someone else. Or, he's not your husband?" He said and I glared. "I don't want to tell this to you but nowadays, most of the men cheat behind their wife's back. But here he is, shamelessly dancing with other women infront of his wife."

Don't cry!

Don't cry!

Don't cry!

"Are you alright?" He asked and I nodded.

He was acting good, but not genuinely and I really felt that.

That's why I say that all humans are idiot and useless!

But I am a human too...

Nevermind.

As the song changed, the partners changed too. But this time it felt different and I knew who it was. Without meeting my eyes with him, I looked everywhere but him. "What's the matter?" He asked and I shook my head in negative. "So you're not going to tell me?"

"Why do you even bother?"

"Why shouldn't I?"

"Be busy with girls."

"You're jealous."

"Angry!" I said and stepped on his toe. He winced in pain and I pushed him hardly before walking out. Going out to breath some fresh air, I sat down on a chair and took a deep breathe. I felt him coming and sitting beside me. Averting my gaze to the other side, I wiped the salty water running continuously off my eyes and looked at the sunset.

"Look at me Divya! Do you think I would cheat on you? I was just talking with them."

"You were smiling and laughing with them."

"Do you want me to talk rudely with everyone? I was just chatting with them. And it was not me who went towards them. I was searching for you but then those girls stopped me in between and started talking to me. I can't just decline rudely, right?"

"You were dancing with a girl without any hesitation!"

"It was you who went first with that man. Do you think you are the only one who's jealous? Moreover, I consider every other woman as my sister."

"But they don't."

"I'm not a child who would listen to them. I love my wife with all my heart. And, I pledge that I would never cheat." He said and I looked at him, "Also, you promised to chop my private parts off, if I ever cheat on you!" He said and I started to cry more. Hugging me tightly, he rubbed my back while patting it continuously, "Divya relax. Don't think much."

"I-"

"Shh... Relax." He said and lingered his lips over my forehead. "Don't ever bring these type of thoughts in your mind. I love you more than you know. And I was just teasing you for calling me mad. I never knew that you'd be this angry on me." He said and I hit his chest hard.

"You're mad, you're idiot, you're stupid to play pranks on your pregnant wife. If you ever do this again, I'll leave you." I said and he nodded before pulling me in a kiss. Holding his collar tightly, I deepened the kiss while he cupped my face.

Pulling back I joined my forehead with his while he wiped my tears. Looking straight into my eyes, he kissed me again and tangled his fingers in my locks.

"I love you and I don't need words to say that."

"Hmm... I'm sorry for misunderstanding."

"It's alright, but if you do it again, I'll be angry with you for days." He warned and I hummed before going inside. Using the restroom, I again did my makeup and went out to see everyone enjoying. I walked towards Ayaan and sat beside him. "Wanna sleep?"

"Seriously? Even if I want to, I can't. It's my brother's wedding."

"Then enjoy." He said and I settled my head on his shoulder. Dancing and enjoying on various songs, the celebrations finally came to it's end.

At last, a projector showed all their pictures and memorable moments.

Dhruv and Natasha were looking so cute and adorable!

But, in between it showed our picture.

It wasn't our Sangeet right?

It was Dhruv and Natasha's.

And in the photo, I wore the same dress which I was wearing currently. We both were sitting out and kissing. And I was looking like a joker in that teary face.

Who the hell clicked that picture?

That too when we were kissing?

And then I saw the main culprit, my cousin's son who was busy with the projector and his phone. I saw that seven year old running everywhere and clicking photos just few moments ago.

Idiot!

"You look adorable." He said while looking at the screen.

"So, I look adorable while crying?"

"Not that! You're adorable when you're jealous and angry." He said and I rolled my eyes, "Let's frame this photo in our home. Our child will grow, looking at them."

He's an idiot too!

*****

TIED TOGETHER BY LOVE 💍

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Anyone who loves to watch baby shows?

Or is it just me who enjoys watching little children playing and fighting?