Hey guys!

Hope everything's fine and you are doing good.

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Just have a look on these super amazing mood boards created by my friend writerofspring.
These are really admirable.
Truly Fantastic Work!!!♥️

Also if you've some spare time,
kindly check out her
exciting books -

QAYAMAT
&
BAD BOY'S NERD

Aren't these aesthetics great???
Do tell me which one of the following two you like the most...✨

Once again many many thanks writerofspring for getting these done.

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Please give this update a try.

And if you like the story, please show some love by voting and commenting on this chap.

You may begin now.

🏵️⭐🏵️

(Any guesses who this other lady is?)

~~~

This chap is affectionately dedicated to - rajmachawaal🖤✨

~~~

"There are people who take the heart out of you, then there are people who put it back.........................."

On reaching the destination, Shaurya arduously managed to park his car at a suitable place along the sidewalk.

Manjiri roamed her eyes all around, the banquet hall's parking lot was congested. She could see numerous cars lazily positioned everywhere, that was both sides of the road.

"I suppose we are late."

Manjiri mentioned as she saw plenty of people entering and exiting the entrance of the hall. Shaurya just followed her gaze and then unfastening his seat belt, he casually stated

"Nah, this much of crowd is pretty normal."

"Oh ok!"

She slightly nodded. Though her act of rubbing her arms and pretending of appearing normal didn't go unnoticed by him.

"What happened?"

"Umm... nothing."

She dismissed unfastening her seat belt too. He gave her a brief glance before turning around, leaning a little towards her and fetching the bouquet from the backseat. Just then he heard her calling to have his attention

"Shaurya."

As a response he just raised his eyebrows whilst peering at her face closely.
Simultaneously, she distanced a little towards the window. She hated going out, and that too especially to such a place where she didn't understand her role or purpose for being out there. She literally had a lower drive to socialize. She preferred being solitary by choice or around the people with whom she felt comfort. Courtesy to her selectively social persona.

She asked masking her twitchiness.

"How long will it take us here?"

"Perhaps, until the bride's farewell."

He muttered with his unwavering gaze as he slid the bouquet from his hands to her lap. In a reflex, with utter dismay, she miserably failed in hiding her unnerved self

"Really?"

Flashing a teasing grin, he sighed audibly. Then instantly, angling his face sideways and peering at her with a soft gaze he assured

"Be at ease, it won't take long. All we need to do is greet, eat and retreat."

No sooner did he turn and open the car door to step outside, she called him yet again from inside

"Shaurya."

Hearing her voice, he just shook his head at her flurried self. Smiling inwardly, he arched peeping inside through the window

"You will be around only na?"

She asked softly. He couldn't help but simper a little. With a modulated tone, he replied whilst inspiring her to lock her gaze with his intent one

"I'll always be around... you."

As his words reached her ears, she undeniably felt happy. She felt giddy. She felt weird in a totally pleasant way. His heart-warming gentleness inadvertently always made her appreciate him.

No sooner did Manjiri get off the car with bouquet in her hands, then Shaurya locked his vehicle and walked around to reach her.

He found her struggling with the lower pleats of her saree. Not prying much, he just wordlessly gave her a minute to settle them. But then when he noticed that nothing really was wrong with the pleats, it was something near her legs in which the border fabric of her saree pleats was messily jumbled, he thought to intervene.

Manjiri was carrying the bouquet in her one hand while her other hand was briskly trying to pull out and untangle her tangled pleats off her anklet.

After carefully flipping his eyes all around the empty area of the sidewalk, he knelt down at her legs. Freeing the stuck fabric off her silver ankle chain, he implicitly helped her in adjusting the pleats at place.

Surprise filled her instantly as she witnessed him wordlessly helping her. That maybe a small thing in the eyes of many, but to her it was exceptional. Indeed, small gestures has the most profound effect. Just letting someone know that you actually think of them and are eager to help, no matter what, completely regardless of the surrounding, can really make someone feel notable.

"Thank you!"

She thanked him as he stood up. He nodded and simultaneously tugged at her hand.

"Shall we?"

She nodded offering him her soft smile. So without much ado they finally headed inside the hall.

"Come, love, make me better than I was...................
Come teach me a kinder way to say my own name!!!"

_

"Casual affection is looking in each other's eyes during a conversation........................"

The huge hall was fully crowded with people, all in fancy yet formal attires; devouring, dancing and mingling. Shaurya and Manjiri walked through the crowd, greeting some known friendly faces.

They were stopped by almost everyone. Manjiri assumed that was because Shaurya might be very popular among his hospital staff.

However, she was already feeling tired of smiling by now. Plastering a constant fake smile throughout the entire time, she just wished that the present point of discussion, in which her highly gregarious husband was having a hand in along with some of his senior colleagues, come to an end soon.

Darting her eyes towards his senior colleagues' wives, she took a notice of their vibrant shimmery sarees and heavy jewellery. At then, she couldn't help but feel a little plainly dressed. Although she could clearly notice that all those aged ladies were pretending to be very happy to meet the other ones. She mentally rolled her eyes when she heard them praising each other's looks.

Manjiri, herself too received a few comments from them along with their so called how-happy-I-am-to-see-you-here smiles. She returned their overly sweet gestures with her signature artificial bright smile.

She wondered what gain do few people receive by acting so civil and friendly, when in reality, on inside, they doesn't even give a damn about others or their looks.

She tried hard but couldn't really find any purpose for pointlessly standing there with a constant faux smile.

Shaurya chuckled merrily at one of his senior colleague's remark, whereas Manjiri only stared at him with an aimless gaze as she didn't find anything amusing in that particular remark.

And just in time whilst chuckling, he spared a glance at her. Instantaneously, she gave him a look that seemed to say, 'Why cant we just move along to the next!'. He passed her a sheepish grin which she never returned.

A short while later excusing himself, Shaurya led Manjiri towards the stage, where the newlyweds were busy smiling and collecting blessings and presents.

Dr Sheena Batra grinned from ear to ear as she watched Shaurya and Manjiri heading towards her.

"So good to see you both here."

"Many congrats on your son's wedding, Ma'am."

Shaurya smiled as he extended his warm wishes. Coaching Manjiri to step beside him, he gently placed his palm against her back.

"Thanks, Dr Mohan." Dr Batra smiled and added whilst eyeing Manjiri. "Finally, he brought you to some place."

"Congratulations, Ma'am."

Manjiri tried to keep her smile, nevertheless his palm was still planted on her back.

"Thank you, child!" Dr Batra muttered with a warm smile. But before she could say anything else, an old lady called out her name from behind. Thereby, she added looking back at Shaurya and Manjiri. "Excuse me, I need to go. But you guys enjoy yourselves. And yes don't leave without having food and meeting me again."

Manjiri smiled kindly and wondered if really someone present out there would go home without having food. Like come on, nobody's so oblivious who would subside such an important element of an extravagant wedding party.

After indulging in brief conversations with a couple of individuals, Shaurya finally began walking off the stage. His hand spent a great deal of time clinging to her back. He had only let go when she reminded him that it didn't look good.

As Manjiri was following his steps down the stairs of the stage, she abruptly got crushed to his arm, courtesy to a bunch of kids insanely running into the passageway of the stage who pushed her to him.

"You ok?"

Shaurya inquired her. He utterly disliked the kids who create a havoc all around. Couldn't they just sit at a place and have a nice chat with their fellows, instead of aimlessly running all around like insanes.

"Yeah!"

Carving out a small space for them near a mirror - encrusted fancy wall, both of them stood together looking around the place. The banquet hall was dominated by wedding decor and the larger sites were covered by open bright orange and lemon yellow gazebos. The seats for the guests were also covered with the same combination. To the left was the stage and the music area, and to the right was the refreshments section. Everything looked fancy yet well thought out.

"You appear to be the conventional popular guy among his batch mates."

Manjiri remarked when she found Shaurya waving to a small group of women, standing at a distance from them near an ice-cream counter.

"Is it?"

Shaurya asked as he took out his phone from his pocket to look at the time. Abruptly both of their eyes got stopped at the notification appearing on his phone - '4 missed calls'.

Exchanging a pointed glance, she murmured

"No wonder why your phone keeps on ringing all day long."

"Well, Madam Manjiri, everyone can't afford to have a normally wary nature like you."

Stuffing the phone back inside the pocket, Shaurya playfully uttered whilst directly eying her. To which she replied instantaneously with a faint scowl marring her features

"Not done, Shaurya!
You can't be mocking at me especially when this setting is tending to bore me."

"Bore? Really?
But a while before you were all smiles while having a chat with the respective wives of Dr. Sinha, Dr. Vijay and Dr. Kashyap.
I thought you all were having a great time together."

He narrated as he stepped closer to her in a way that their arms were brushing against each other whilst their eyes were looking ahead. Putting her eyes on his face, she quizzed

"Seriously you think so?"

"Well, it appeared to me."

He shrugged. She shook her head to herself and then stated

"It appeared cause I bet 80% of the people out here are casually wearing a situationally-appropriate social mask."

"Oh! Is it?"

He asked as he turned to look at her with an amused smile. She answered to his question with a straight face and animated eyes

"Of course!
And you know this mask enables all of them to show all the correct and expected social behaviours in spite of reflecting actuality."

"You're no exception then..."

He remarked friskily as he flicked her shoulder with his. Mirroring his actions, she did the same as she retorted

"But at least I'm not indulging in false flattery like you."

"Excuse me? Did I?"

He probed, completely turning to face her. She argued

"Yes, you did.
How can you crack up on that silly, lame joke of Dr Vijay?"

"It was actually hilarious."

He lied despite the fact he too didn't find that joke worth his chuckle. But at times, he was supposed to behave that way out of respect. His work demanded him that, he couldn't help it.

"Of course it was. Speculate the extent of it's lameness when his own wife too had rolled her eyes in response."

She plainly replied on meeting his eyes. He expressed his dissatisfaction after taking a soft audible sigh

"Ahh! All these wives are same."

"You sound as if you have got many. As in you are a very experienced husband."

She asked him with a low giggle. He smiled looking at her giggling face. Raising an eyebrow he tried to jest

"Well, you never know."
He said and then added whilst making her face the mirror - encrusted fancy wall.
"Lemme show you my first wife as of now."

"Get a chance to see us as the world does."

He murmured as he bent his head to her ear. He would have shouted over the music but he chose instead. His words and the feel of his breath against the side of her throat made her look straight. Their eyes caught a glimpse of their reflections together in various mirrors altogether. And she had to admit that it wasn't a bad sight at all. She blushed when she found that his eyes weren't ready to leave her through their reflection in the mirrors.

"Where are rest?"

Turning around, she inquired him.

"Huh?"

"Rest of your wives."

She explained. He thought for a second, then answered in a playful tone.

"Uh, they... They all are out of town."

"Where?"

"Chandigarh!"

He replied making her lips curl up instantly. She remarked

"No wonder why you keep rushing over there every once in a while."

"Still you see, I give you more of my time than them."

He muttered looking straight into her eyes. To which she exclaimed

"Thank you for your grace. But from now on, give your super precious time to them only cause I don't require it anymore."

"Really? Think about it properly. There shouldn't be any regrets later."

He responded whilst eyeing her intently. All of a sudden, he heard someone calling out to him from behind

"Looks like you guys don't get much time to romance at home."

Hearing a known voice, Shaurya turned around right away.

"Aarif!"

Shaurya shook his hands with Dr Aarif. Whilst their wives exchanged smiles and greetings.

Manjiri was glad of Shaurya's that habit of acknowledging any greeting whilst taking the names of the individuals. It literally helped her in not making a fool of her if someone ended up asking her, 'Did you recognize me/us?'.

She brightly smiled at the little angel dressed in rosy pink fairy dress, resting in her mother's arms. She found that the little baby's eyes were scanning all around the place anxiously as if wondering where her parents had brought her.

"You're late, got caught in traffic?"

To Shaurya's question, Dr Aarif clarified looking at her few months old daughter

"Nah! Now we are inevitably demanded to leave for any place as per her sleep-wake cycle. So yeah we left for here a little late."

"What a cutie pie! What is your name, baby?"

Manjiri couldn't able to contain her excitement of meeting a baby, so she ended up asking that. The baby's mother, Dr Alishba, replied with a sweet smile

"We call her Shifa."

"Pretty name!"

Manjiri commented as she extended her arms towards the baby to check if she was willing to come to her or not. Shaurya shook his head at his wife's elation and eagerness. Nevertheless, he looked on smiling softly at her.

"Shifa, would you like to go to Auntie?"

Before the baby's mother would even able to finish her say, the little baby wholeheartedly jumped into Manjiri's arms, making Manjiri smile widely.
The little baby's parents exchanged an utterly surprised glance. Dr Aarif smiled and remarked

"That's unusual. She hardly goes to anyone's arms other than Alishba's. But there you see, she eagerly hopped in Manjiri's arms."

"Yeah, at times she doesn't even acknowledge Aarif's hold upon her."

Dr Aarif's wife, Dr Alishba, agreed and expressed her astonishment too. Shaurya chuckled as he stated

"What a pity, Aarif! Your own daughter disowns you."

"Alishba said at times, not always."

Dr Aarif reasoned looking pointedly towards Shaurya. Dr Alishba glanced at his husband and started saying

"My baby goes by the saying 'out of sight, out of mind'. You avoid oscillating between here and Chandigarh so often, she too will include you in her long term memory."

The men chuckled hearing that. Then Shaurya spoke aloud his thoughts

"Seems like this complain is more from your behalf, Dr Alishba."

"Certainly, Dr Shaurya. And I'm sure Manjiri would second that."

Dr Alishba replied looking towards Manjiri who was busy freeing her hair from little Shifa's fingers.

Few individuals were literally obsessed with her hair, that too, way too much...

_

"I'm much more me when I'm stuck with you............."

"So is my first wife still regretting coming out with me?"

Shaurya asked his wife in a low voice as he found her making soft gurgling sounds similar to little Shifa, in order to make the baby laugh.

Shifa's parents were busy greeting Dr Sheena Batra and congratulating the newlyweds on the stage. The music playing over there was way too loud that it could make their daughter alarmed. So they just asked Manjiri and Shaurya to look after her till they come back to them.

"No, I asked her she isn't anymore."

Manjiri replied to him making the baby's head rest on her shoulder. Shaurya nodded, his smile widened. She added returning his smile

"But too bad, Dr Shaurya. In spite of having so many wives, you are stuck with your disinterested first wife."

"Well Miss, there's a fine difference between being stuck and choosing to stay. And I've chosen to stay with her for a lifetime.
You want to accompany us?"

Shaurya asked her as he crossed the distance between them. He smiled shaking little Shifa's hand to gain her attention. But he ended up making her wail aloud. He immediately backed off feeling guilty, he wondered if he really was a rare breed cause kids never really acknowledge his presence as much as they do with others. His own sister's son, Vaidik, was more close his wife than to him. Did he really look scary?

"Kindly excuse cause I'm not much interested in accompanying you and your first wife for a lifetime.
Even Shifa isn't interested, right baby?"

Manjiri curtly replied whilst slightly swaying the crying baby in her hands to hush her up.

Shaurya questioned Manjiri whilst wriggling his eyebrows to a passing lady who waved at him. Manjiri assumed her to be his colleague and didn't read much into it.

"Why I find that hard to believe, Miss?"

"Probably, you can go and ask those women over there to accompany you. They might be more than willing."

She instantly spoke, feeling a little stupid after speaking though. Why couldn't she let pass that, he might have thought that she felt jealous or something when he waved at other woman.

"Yet I'm still here with you."

He murmured, sounding as if it was a revelation even to him. On that she opened her mouth to speak something, but then shook her head to herself and kept mum.

He smiled on being thoroughly entertained. He had never thought that one day they could even have a sheer directionless conversation like the one that they were presently having. He noted that she had started conversing with him more. Sharing, smiling and laughing with him more. He was more than happy to watch her slowly and steadily coming out of her shell with every passing day.

Their little sweet yet chucklesome moment abruptly got disrupted by a feminine voice calling out to Shaurya.

"Shaurya, you're here. I was looking for you everywhere......"

Manjiri instantly turned around recognizing the voice. The person's smile contracted on seeing Manjiri's face

"Oh! Hey Manjiri, you too are here. I didn't expect you to be here. I mean I'm surprised."

"Hey Priyal!"

Manjiri greeted with a small genuine smile. She noticed her wearing a stylish grey and black sequin saree, her wavy hair was in a fancy updo. Her lips were chapped in a deeper shade of red. In all, she looked pretty.

In past few months, she had grown to realize that Mohan family has got a close friendship with Priyal's family. Courtesy to his father in-law and Priyal's father being college mates. Then she also knew that Priyal's elder sister, Minal, was her sister in-law's, Shreya's, bestie.

Though she was yet to form an opinion on Shaurya and Priyal's friendship. She was yet to scale the level of their bond, the dimensions of their familiarity confused her at times. There were a few times when they appeared best of friends whilst having a chat over a phone call reminiscing their school days. And then there were times when she overheard them having ugly arguments over voice calls on few of their matters.

Nevertheless, she knew that Priyal had started working as a nutritionist about four months ago, in the same hospital where Shaurya worked. It was Shaurya who had informed his schoolmate, Priyal about the vacancy at his hospital.

"Nice to see you both... together."

Priyal added looking at Shaurya who smiled and nodded after being forced to release Manjiri's gaze.

For a moment it appeared to Manjiri that her legal husband was a little displeased over the fact that Priyal interrupted them.

"All okay, Shaurya?"

Priyal asked on feeling that Shaurya looked distracted.

Manjiri saw a opening there, stifling her laugh she added

"Actually he was in need of a few recommendations."

"What for? I would love to help. Shaurya, you need some?"

Priyal instantly asked. Manjiri looked at Shaurya with a teasing grin and added

"Yes please, help him out. I just come."

After uttering, Manjiri walked away towards Dr Aarif and Dr Alishba to hand over their daughter as she saw them descending down the stage and looking towards her.

At one moment, Shaurya watched Manjiri walking away and at next, he met Priyal's questioning gaze

"That's no big deal, I don't need any help. She was just... By the way, you were looking for me for?"

He asked turning to her completely. She smiled whilst telling him

"For nothing.
A while back I got to know from Dr Kashyap that you are here, so I was just surprised cause when I had called you yester night you weren't sure about today."

"Initially I wasn't, but then I couldn't really say no to Dr Sheena."

Shaurya asserted making her agree with him

"I know, she checked on me too this morning. Then I too had to come."

_

Filling eatables in their plates, all were gathered around a semi-large refreshment table. As they bit by bit savoured the delicious food placed in front of them, nearly everyone took turns in telling something or the other chuckle some connected recitals.

Shaurya angled his neck sideways when Manjiri nudged him. At then, he was tempted to make fun of her. He noticed that a few spots of pasta's sauce had smeared her chin and neck. Though, it was clear that she had used her tissue to wipe it off but some remnants of that artificial food-colour added sauce were still marking their presence on her skin. He might have overlooked those spots if he wasn't seating close to her.

He leaned a little towards her to whisper in her ear

"I guess you too require a baby bib like her."

Manjiri followed his gaze when he gestured towards baby Shifa who had a bib tied around her neck as her mother was feeding her fruit custard.

"That same baby whom you're comparing me with has done this to me. Thereby taunt me later, and hand me your handkerchief for now."

She replied to him maintaining her smile. He took out the piece of cloth from his pocket but not before mocking her

"You know, you should carry your own."

She couldn't help but gape at him. She was correct that he gained sadistic pleasure each time in mocking her. When he very well knew that she wasn't carrying anything with her except her phone, which too she had handed over to him to keep it, a while back when they had just seated for the dinner. Then why he had to mock her each time?

She did her best to not go mad at him, and softly retorted with an artificial faint smile as they were seated among a few of his close friends and their families

"Unfortunately this saree doesn't have a pocket, and if it had I would have certainly carried my own."

On hearing her Shaurya's lips formed an amused smile. He noticed her moistening his handkerchief with water a little and then rubbing it against her skin.

"Ok?"

She asked him to confirm. He slightly shook his head in negative.

"No, still there."

But before she could rub that slightly damped piece of cloth against her skin again, Shaurya swiftly took hold of her hand to guide it to where the needful was yet to be done.

Each time when he wordlessly cared for her, she felt good. Although she couldn't understand why it felt good to her except the fact that it did, it really did.

They were nearly seated in the corner of the table and all had busied themselves with something or the other. But still considering that they were in the presence of a dozen of individuals, it felt like that they were in their own little bubble.

Unfortunately, that little bubble quickly bursted up when Priyal sat on Shaurya's other side after practically shooing off his one of the close friends to her original seat.

Manjiri wouldn't lie that she noticed Priyal doing so. Anyway, she let herself ignore that considering the fact that Priyal must have got something very important to discuss with Shaurya urgently.

Though, it somewhat bothered her when she noticed Priyal tugging at Shaurya's arms and busy making a small talk with him, thus completely avoiding his wife's presence over there.

Shaurya acknowledged his friend coolly but still Manjiri somewhere felt like a third wheel. Thereby, she tried her best to avoid looking in that side as often as she could.

She couldn't understand why she felt a little jealous of Shaurya's long-term friendship with Priyal. Perhaps because Priyal knew Shaurya in ways she probably never could.
Or was there something else in the scene?

The kind of feel which she was experiencing at then was something she had never ever felt. Was that feeling - a resentment or an insecurity?

"The meeting of two personalities is like the contact of two chemical substances:
if there is any reaction, both are transformed.........................."

_

"Where's she?"

Dr Sheena Batra probed Shaurya in between their discussion. He asked her confused

"Who?"

"She is talking about your better half.
Right, Ma'am?"

Dr Aarif interjected whilst shaking his head at his friend's dubiousness. He passed an amused glance to the lady standing beside Shaurya. Though Priyal didn't really like the abrupt mention of Manjiri, nevertheless she returned him a faux smile.

Dr Sheena Batra turned her neck towards Aarif to ask

"Yes, and what about yours, Dr Aarif?"

"Both are there. Actually stage's music is too loud for Aarif's daughter so..."

Shaurya asserted as he gestured towards the fountain area. But before he could complete his say, Dr Batra took an opportunity to complete it.

"So your wife is giving company to Dr Alishba and her daughter."

Dr Batra found Manjiri lovingly rocking the little baby Shifa in her arms whilst the mother of the child stood nearby them, busy attending an important phone call.

Dr Batra used to feel an emotional connection with Manjiri since the time she met her in the hospital. She remembered Manjiri letting out all her panted up pain and helplessness in front of her.
And at that very moment, Dr Batra couldn't help but compare that day's Manjiri to the one who was in front of her eyes with all smiles. She actually felt relieved on looking at her bright smile.

She added looking at Shaurya

"She seems natural with the kids. Isn't she?"

"Yeah, she instinctively has a more caring attitude towards children."

Shaurya replied on stopping his gaze on Manjiri. He had to agree that she was glowing with immense joy at then. It was so nice to see her like that, she indeed enjoyed in the company of juvenile humans.

Whereas he didn't like kids as a species. According to him, kids were loud and very messy. He really couldn't stand a child, even for a minute, whose bodily fluids would be dripping out of his every orifice.
He was never drawn to kids in anyway, more like repel from them for that particular mentioned reason. Just because of it, he would rather prefer to encounter any mini human after he had learned to walk, talk and rinse himself on his own in a washroom.

But in all honesty, at then, he felt the vicarious satisfaction surfacing his insides on seeing his wife holding a baby in her arms. Seeing her so content ignited a sudden whim within him.

A whim to start a family with her. He wondered how would it be to see her hold his baby, their baby one day.
Would it be the same or would she be more contented?

Although, he wasn't really fond of being around young ones but at then he was thrilled to think about having one or some of his own someday.
He had liked to watch him/her/them completing his and Manjiri's life on some level. He would definitely like to experience his own baby's kind of innocence second-handily and also to give back a little of his own. He wanted to give values and influence his/her development, also to shape, form and ultimately watch him/her to grow resembling their parents in few or many ways.
Perhaps his newborn whims were taking him too far!

Without a doubt he knew that his wife's sentiments were hyper introverted, although he wouldn't deny if in future somebody comes up and tells him that his feelings for his baby are microscopic next to her feelings. As he was very certain of one thing that - if she could shower her unconditional love and care upon other's children, then someday, she would definitely invest more of her emotions in her own children, their children.

"What's up with this wide grin on your face, Dr Shaurya?"

Shaurya was abruptly brought back to the reality from his fantasy world. Before he could even think to provide Dr Batra a suitable fabricated reply, he heard his friend, Dr Aarif, speaking out his mind whilst chuckling

"Looks like his paternal instincts just kicked in, Ma'am."

"Yes it seems so. Then behold your future's image nicely, young man."

Shaurya's skin got more tinted in a deeper shade of pink on hearing his senior's jesting wisecrack remark. Camouflaging his blush, he tried to deny that whatever those two individuals were perceiving, it wasn't like that

"Ma'am, it isn't..."

Before he could even speak anything in his defence, Dr Batra uttered stifling her giggles

"Relax! Take it easy.
Though, we aren't kidding because you eventually gonna have a small family of your own someday.
What say, Dr Priyal?"

Priyal nodded. A smile tugged at the corner of her lips but it seemed blank and it didn't even reach her eyes.

"I hope one day we can forgive each other for not being what we wanted each other to be......................."

_

"I'll manage, Shaurya. Don't bother yourself please."

Priyal spoke as she stood at the entrance of the banquet hall along with Shaurya and Manjiri.

"It's late, Priyal. I'll drop you. Look at the weather..."

Shaurya didn't seam convinced with the idea of leaving Priyal on her own. The hall was situated in the exterior regions of the main city where cab facilities weren't that reliable and frequent.
He peeked a glance at Manjiri, he was hoping that she too would request Priyal to come along. But there, he found her aimlessly dancing her eyes all around, she had been yawning too from time to time. Well, she wasn't at fault though, as it was already past 1 at night. And they would need another one and a half hour to be back home.

"No, it's fine. I'll take a cab. I really don't want to disrupt your privacy."

Priyal spoke looking at Manjiri, only to be shut by Shaurya's say of finality.

"Don't act stupid, Priyal. You're coming and that's final."

"Alright! Hope Manjiri doesn't mind me joining you both."

Priyal said peering at Manjiri closely.

"Why will I mind? Please don't overthink and join us."

Manjiri replied to her as they followed Shaurya towards the car. He sat inside the vehicle. Manjiri saw Priyal going ahead of her. She was about to open the door of the passenger's seat absentmindedly when abruptly she turned around and apologised

"Oh I'm sorry! I almost forgot that this seat is so rightfully yours."

"It's nothing like that. I can take any of the back ones too, you sit here."

Manjiri shrugged. But on feeling a little ashamed, Priyal said as she moved to the back seat

"No, you sit here comfortably. I'm going to seat there."

The more Manjiri tried to figure out what kind of a girl Priyal was, the more Priyal ended up confusing her senses. .

Taking a sigh she got settled inside the car and fastened the seatbelt.

As the car started moving on the empty road, Shaurya and Manjiri time to time stole glances at each other. None uttered a single word, but soon he caught her smiling to herself whilst looking at the rose stem kept on the dashboard, which he had given to her.

Priyal kind of felt awkward in that sheer silence. Soon she tried to start a conversation

"So Manjiri, did you have a great time?"

"Yeah, I did."

Manjiri turned her neck and mumbled with a smile.

"You must have felt a little out of the place too, right?"

Manjiri blinked hearing Priyal's words

"I didn't get you."

"I mean nearly everyone there were medical professionals.
Did you notice or not that Shaurya's each close friend's wife is a doctor, be it Dr Alishba, Dr Kiran, Dr Zoya or Dr Netra..."

Priyal tried to explain. But unusually, Shaurya answered to her in place of Manjiri

"That's doesn't matter.
And eventually, she too will be Dr Manjiri Mohan."

"What? I mean how?"

Priyal seemed confused. To which Shaurya plainly stated focussing on the road

"Soon after finishing her post graduation this year, she will enroll for PhD program."

"Oh! That's great. Good luck, Manjiri."

Priyal exclaimed smiling.

"Thanks!"

Manjiri mumbled whilst maintaining her smile. She wondered if Priyal was indirectly mentioning to her that she was a misfit in Shaurya's life or was it only her own overthinking mind trying to make her notice that.

"You aren't even a postgraduate yet. God! Suniti Auntie and your sister, Adishri, should have waited for a year or two.
Things would have been so much better for you.
You would be happy that way."

Manjiri stiffened at Priyal's words. She didn't appreciate her commenting on her personal life. She was Shaurya's friend but she wasn't hers, then who gave her the liberty to pass needless judgements and interfere in her life. She did her best to not answer her rudely

"I'm happy this way too, Priyal."

At that Shaurya couldn't help but glance at her. He intently searched her eyes, he was needing the assurance that whatever she had just said was true. And he got that when she met his eyes.

"I know, but I'm saying that you would be happier that way."

Priyal attempted to reason. And that was when she looked at Manjiri, who broke into light giggles as she opened her mouth to enunciate

"Don't tell me that you're into chronomancy as well."

"What's that?"

Priyal asked confused, a reflection of giggling Manjiri's was evident on her face too. Shaurya was surprised that Manjiri, herself, took the opportunity to lighten the situation, which was highly unusual.
He was even more surprised when Priyal also joined in his wife's attempt to dissipate the sudden tension flowing around.

"Chronomancy is divination of the best time to do something, the determination of lucky and unlucky days you see."

Manjiri explained making Priyal chuckle aloud.

"Now you're making me look stupid, Manjiri."
Priyal said and then taking a pause, she added looking towards Shaurya.
"Shaurya, now I had to agree with Sheena Ma'am that Manjiri is indeed quite a catch."

Shaurya pulled the corners of his lips to form a smile whilst responding to her

"Your memory seems weak, she said something about me too, you forget that."

"Umm... I don't remember it actually."

Priyal uttered taking a fake shallow sigh while stifling her chuckle. Shaurya warned

"Priyal!"

"Such a jello you're, Shaurya!"

Priyal remarked and Manjiri smiled.

Putting on a warm proud smile, Manjiri glanced at Shaurya and started muttering

"She said that he's a keeper and..."

She stopped in the middle when he matched her gaze with his intense stare and heart stopping wide grin. And at then, he took the opportunity to complete what she left unsaid.

"And you're quite a catch."

Priyal abruptly interrupted them asking

"By the way, when's Adishri Bhabhi due?"

"Feb, early Feb."

Tossing a smile at Priyal's way, Manjiri replied. One look at her and one could easily tell that she was eagerly waiting for February to roll in front of her eyes super soon. She couldn't wait to take her nephew or niece in her arms.

"It can be January end as well then. How has she been doing? Is she following a proper meal plan?"

Priyal questioned smiling. Manjiri's smile instantly contracted a little when she begun telling

"She has been doing good so far. But her dietary intake is contracting these days."

"Oh! But anyhow she needs to consume at least 347 extra calories per day. And these calories should come from calcium and protein sources, not from fatty additives or sugar.
What about her caffeine intake?"

Priyal asked concerned. To which Manjiri replied

"Not too much. She hardly takes it."

Shaurya inwardly smiled as the ladies kept on freely discussing on a topic of their interest. It stunned him with how they both were managing to hold up a conversation with each other.

If in the initial months of his marriage he were asked to let those two meet and chat, he wouldn't have ever agreed to it, not even in his wildest dreams. But now that he had noticed a swift change in Priyal's attitude towards him, he was at ease. He firmly believed that she had moved on. She had promised him so. And by now, he was kind of certain about his friendship that it would never disrupt his lifelong commitment with Manjiri in any way.

_

"The most poetic thing in this world is the need to express a feeling but the inability to do so........................."

No sooner did they dropped Priyal at her residence, then Shaurya noticed Manjiri immediately getting rid of her heels and dangling earrings.

Dashing those earrings on the dashboard, she tied her hair up in a bun and adjusted herself in a cross-legged posture.

"Drained?"

He asked as the car slowly made it to the main road from a locality zone. To which Manjiri leaned her head against the glass of the closed window and replied taking a yawn

"No, I'm drowsy."

"Oh hi Miss Drowsy! Nice name, I must say. Pretty antique!"

Instead of providing a suitable answer to his frisky remarks, Manjiri chose to ignore his words but not before passing an agitated glare towards his direction.

Amused by the exhausted glare she threw at him, he added with a hint of easement in his tone

"Don't fret! Just hardly 30 minutes more and then we will be home."

A few seconds later, he put on the FM Radio. Travelling and music were connected for him. He had always found traveling very boring . However, it was a different story with his preferred music playing in the background.

As he focussed his gaze on the road, a tune started playing. His lips curled up on recognizing the number, it was his favourite playback singer's.

Ho... Kaise bataun tujhe, ki, dil mera kya keh raha?
Rahe na faasle ye, jo, hain apne darmiyaan...

As Shaurya absentmindedly hummed along the song whilst driving, Manjiri in the meantime fell asleep.

He wondered if he had played a cradle-song when in the meanwhile his gaze abruptly stopped at her. Shaking his to himself he continued humming along whilst peeking a few glances at her from time to time.

Tere kareeb main ho sakoon, de de tu apni raza;
Paas bithaun, ye zulf sawaroon,
Aur baahon mein le loon tujhe main;
Hai dil ki ye khwahish, ki sun le guzaarish...
Aur de de tu khud ko mujhe!

(ooo oo oo o, ooo ooo o)

"I'd like to walk around in your mind someday............................"

_

"And gradually I am becoming you..............................."

"W... What happened?"

Manjiri woke up from her slumber with a sudden jolt as Shaurya pulled the brakes in front their house gratingly.
Keeping the volume of his yell down to nominal volume, he hushed her unfastening the seatbelt

"Shhh! It's hell of a night and you're shrieking like a fool."

"Don't scold me. You should have gone easy with the brakes. You frightened me."

She whined not wanting to let her eyes be opened and snuggling more into the car seat.

"Alright I'm sorry, now come out."

Unwillingly she got off the car on his continuous hest. He locked the car and began walking behind her.

If sleepwalking had a mascot, then it would definitely be Manjiri's face. He mentally chuckled thinking of that.

"Shaurya, wait. I forgot..."

She abruptly turned making him stop on his track. He assured interrupting her speech

"I'm having your phone, don't worry."

"No, not that. Let me unlock it!"

She mumbled as she took the key of the car from his hand. He watched her picking up her earrings and that same rose stem from the dashboard.

With a sly smile, he turned to move. Manjiri locked the car and then followed him with her slightly parted eyelids, which resulted her running into his back. She heard him taking a sigh before reprimanding her

"Watch where you're moving, Silly Head. Open your eyes and walk."

"Do people walk with their eyes these days? I was under the impression that legs are used for that purpose."

She sulked. Not in a mood to argue with her drowsy self, he let pass her silly comment and kept mum.

On reaching the room and after performing tedious tasks of getting out of a saree and undoing the hair and make up, Manjiri finally climbed up the bed calling it a night.

As she laid down facing him, she observed him laying flat on his back.
As soon as she was about to close her eyes, she heard him calling out her name with his eyes shut

"Manjiri!"

"Hmm."

She responded baffled. Was he really awake or was he sleep talking.

Her confusion cleared off the very next second when he squinted at her, gesturing towards his arm whilst extending it in her way.

"Over here."

She contemplated a little but then getting rid of her diffidence, she scooted and immediately got nestled in the crook of his arm. And in response, he spooned her more to him and let her head rest on his chest in a way that she was able to hear his heartbeat and slow breathing as she drifted off to sleep.

"She didn't know whether she was running away from something or running to something, but she admitted that deep in her heart she wanted to go home............................"

~~~

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