Budding Love!! Read online

  As expected his nagging aunty started praising how her daughter in law prepare nice delicious food, though no one paid heed, it was usual for all, they started and at the first bite everyone started praising food for being very delicious and they loved the food cooked by her. She felt relaxed. After everyone had their lunch, all gathered in the hall and were watching TV. He was in their room upstairs, he called her and as she came in he closed the door, she was taken aback by his behavior, she went to open the door, he pulled her towards him by her hand and made her sit in the chair, he went to the table and as he unveiled the plate, she was surprised, “What is this? Who brought this here?”

  He just signaled her to keep mum and fed her, “I knew you will not have food.”

  “But I’m not hungry… ”

  “Since morning you are running behind everyone… and these kids… they say, Kids are God sent, but these Kids… they are equal to devil… haven’t I seen how much you had to take trouble to feed them.”

  “… It’s all right I’m seriously not hungry….”

  “See, this is not a matter of today, you need to have energy for a couple of days, I don’t want to see you sick… so please don’t argue”

  She ate a little, but she was not feeling hungry, may be after seeing satisfied faces of everyone after lunch her heart was content. Still for him, she ate.

  Soon it was snacks time, she felt as if for the whole day she was in kitchen, as the snacks time was over it was time for dinner. Whole day she was in the kitchen. But she never showed signs of tiredness on her face; she did everything happily for them.

  By the time it was time to sleep she was completely exhausted. She went tired in her room, he was reading a book, though it was late, they spent some time in chatting about their first experience with guests!! She was very worn-out, after a while her eyes started getting heavy and she closed them and listened to him, she didn’t realize when she went to sleep, when he realized he was talking to himself, he smiled at himself, placing the blanket properly, he kissed her eyes and went to sleep.

  Next day she got up and followed the same routine she had done last day, today she was relieved from the pooja job, her MIL did that for her, some of her In laws left after lunch while others left after dinner, they were now left with her Mother and Father In Law, who they supposed will be staying for a few more days.

  After dinner all four sat for a small chat with their cup of Ice-Creams, while they told her about his childhood memories and his mischief’s’, she was stealing glances to tease him and question him how naughty he was. Soon it was bed time; when finally they got time to be together, she was getting away with her earring when a devilish thought entered her mind…

  #6.3

  As he entered in the room he saw a cynical smile coming up on her face. He looked at her with questioning eyes to which she replied… So??

  So, means? What? He said and shrugged.

  Hmmm, she continued clearing her throat, so, who is Pinky huh? Why you didn’t introduce your first love to me huh??

  Ma told you na… we played together when we were kids and nothing else…

  Really??? Ma told me something else too.. are you forgetting something? That you should have told me long back?

  What… You don’t try to pull my leg… I’m not gonna fall prey ok!! He declared

  So who use to hold her hand and drop her to school every day and bring her back from school to the auto… Ahh you had such a great caring sense when you were a kid…

  You mean I don’t care now? He got serious…

  Aree yaar, this is not fair when you ask me all mischievous questions, I’m supposed to answer them with 100% truthfulness and when I’m just trying to …

  Interrupting her, he hold her by her shoulders and made her sit on the bed… while he sat on his knees, ok… fine you want to know who is Pinky right… ?

  Yes, she said gaining back her lost enthusiasm.

  Hmm, Pinky is not my friend or love, she is more than that, she is my guide, she has been always there for me, as you know by now, we studied together in same school and they stayed a house next to ours, so being in same colony we even played together. As we grew our friendship also did! That’s it.

  Ummm and what about the proposal?

  What proposal, that was just our parents or rather my parents who thought she will be a great daughter I law…

  Don’t tell me… even you were ready, right for the marriage?

  If she would have agreed… he blushed

  Ohhh… that hurt her so deep, she was in pain… So you still fantasize about her being your wife?

  What non sense… are you Mad, out of your sense? I said, we were just friends, and I had no problem if she would have accepted the marriage proposal... Think before you speak mad lady, she is someone’s wife now. He stretched his words.

  And what before she was someone else’s wife? You did think about her often huh?

  Yes… that again hurt her, I did think, not about her, and then I thought that I’m someone else’s husband… Are you going to stop those stupid questions? Or we are planning to play a quizze show her, ok then now my turn… Did you ever feel I’m not true to you? Someone brings up some topic and you start questioning?

  Ohh, I had no intentions of hurting you; I just thought I should use this chance I got to tease you!! Why are you angry…

  And you have met Pinky… he again cut her sentence in between.

  What… me… when? Pinky?

  Preeto you remember she came here yesterday with mama mami.

  Preeto Di... she is Pinky… ?

  Yes!! Pinky is her pet name, but after marriage everyone has stopped calling her Pinky, he doesn’t like it seems, people calling her by name Pinky and she is older than me, so she had refused the proposal.

  Older and you studied in same class, She was confused now.

  When Did I say same class? Same school… We were together in same school, after she passed 10th she went for college to other city and then our communication had broken.

  Ohh… so sad… A great love story had to break in middle of making history… Things could not happen… She remarked sarcastically… you feel sad about it?

  No… Not at all, because if she would have accepted the proposal, I would have been in a great loss!!

  What loss… ??

  I would have missed you in my life… he said and he hugged her. In his arms she forgot everything… She softly replied to his hug, “I know you love me a lot!!!”, looking up to him in his eyes, she continued… “I can see that in those twinkling eyes…” to which he just smiled and kissed her forehead!

  Promise me, you will not ask such questions again… you won’t doubt my love again... you won’t hurt me like this again… he has a series of questions.

  I never doubted you dear, I was just teasing you, but I can’t promise I will never do it again... now whenever I will see Preeto di... she paused releasing herself from his arms, she continued these questions are going to come in my mind!! she grinned and ran to the other side of bed.

  After running for a while behind her, he was able to get hold of her, both gasping for breath “Shhh… don’t forget Ma and Papa are also there in the house…” she laid her head on his shoulder and after their breath regained normal speed she took his hand and said, you know I was very hurt when you said you were ready to marry Preeto….

  Why?

  I don’t know why… may be the realization that I was not your first choice was hurting me…

  It is the main drawback of arrange marriage you know, he said pressing her hand, You have to reject so many before selecting the one… But… Hmm… Madam… Mera man ek kora kagaj tha… jispe bhagwan ne tumhara naam likha hai.. (My heart was a blank paper on which God has written ur name) and now it is no way going get erased…

  She was content with his answer, no questions left in her mind!! But he had something store for her… He pulled an envelope from the pillow and handed it to her,
she looked at it surprised with perplexed eyes, as she opened it, two tickets to Singapore popped out of it…

  Wow!!! She exclaimed as she had never imagined she would be there even in her dreams…

  She questioned him what is all this… ??

  This is my treat for you for your today’s accomplishment... for treating and caring for my family like yours!! I hope you like my treat. The trip is in next month as this month is a bit hectic and me getting leave is not possible.

  She had never expected something like this would be in store for her, she was overwhelmed, It was very big thing for her, tears started flowing and she could not speak a word, she was full of emotions.

  She just cuddled into his arms and made herself comfortable, though the day was hectic, she was not feeling sleepy, and she had so much to share with him, ask him and so much to create memories to cherish them throughout their life about these couple of days which had brought with them bundle of joyous memories.

  Chatting, thinking, knowing more about each other, planning for the Singapore trip, somewhere they went to sleep. 

  #7

  I came exhausted back home, the day was really tiring, determined to get some sleep after getting fresh I opened the main door lock, the first thing that came to my view was she, but what happened? How and why? All questions started rising in my mind, she was sleeping on the sofa, head on his lap, he was trying to console her? She looked comfortable with him, my heart was beating faster and every move that his hand made through her hair brought pain to it. I was standing still there… I was tired and exhausted but jealousy and anger had overcome the feelings by now, they didn’t even realize my presence in the room, the sound of the door opening, he was busy caressing her hair. I wanted to shout at that moment. It was not bearable for me to see her so comfortable in other man’s arms. Was I being possessive? But then am I not supposed to be? My heart squeaked in affirmation, but I could not do anything.

  While caressing her he took a casual look at the door and saw me standing there, he gave a smile to me, but that smile clearly conveyed me his message

  “I win…!!” I too gave him a helpless smile and tried to make myself comfortable, I removed my shoes as I sat on the sofa, while I eyed their every move.

  Soon my MIL brought a glass of water from me from the kitchen, I looked at her and pondered, “Whole family seems to be here… ” as I sipped water, she enquired me how my day was and all sort of questions that were listed in her questioner. I answered them and went in my room to get fresh. I don’t know what was happening to me, I didn’t even enquire, what had happened to her? Why they came here? Why she was sleeping? I was not able to get out of the view… she being comfortable in his arms. I think I did not like the idea that I’m not the only man in her life, I was denying the truth that she loves him too. I washed my face and wiped it with napkin, as I looked in the mirror I questioned myself again was I being selfish? Is love defined? Can’t we love two people equally? After all she has right to love her parents with whom she has been for past 25 years, I know she has the right but why am I not able to accept this? May be this is for the same reason why my mom can’t see me happy with her without her in our life? May be this is exactly what she might be feeling, jealous to see her Son happy with some woman who came into his life just a year back? Somewhere in the question answer session that my heart was playing I went to sleep.

  My sleep got disturbed when she came and cuddled herself in my arms, making pillow of one of them. I opened my eyes and watched her innocent face glowing in the street light that was falling on her face; she was so innocently sleeping in my arms. I moved her hair from her face and kissed her forehead, I then realized she was burning with fever. Forgetting everything I got up and brought her medicine to which she politely replied, “I had them, dad gave it.” I sighed in relief and then placing the blanket properly across her I sat beside her while she tried to sleep, her face glowing in the dim light. When I realized that I love this feeling,

  I love playing as her Father and care for her when she is not well and always

  I love playing her Brother to resolve her issues and stand by her side always

  I love playing her Friend to share all her secrets and keep them locked in me

  I love playing her Kid to get pampered by her.

  I love the most playing her better half and watch the pride grow in her eyes for me.

  I know I’m selfish, I want all her love, I don’t want to share it with anyone, and I want to be the only one in her life to get all her love. I’m jealous of her to know how much love she has in her life apart from my love, but I know I can do anything for her for that one word she utters for me “Darling!!”