Perfect present
When the shrill ring of alarm woke up Naina in the morning, she felt she had slept just five minutes back. But checking the clock, she realised it was time to get ready for 'sargi'... the early morning feast that ladies have before sunrise prior to a day long fast of karwachouth.
Her eyes moved to her husband. He was sleeping on his stomach, one arm possesively around her waist. As always, she was mesmerised by the roughness on his chin and cheek, and the hair falling recklessly on his forehead. She wondered how he would look years later. But the image did not form in her mind. Probably, he'd always be boyish in his looks, presenting a picture of innocence as long as his eyes are closed but the moment he opens them, giving her an intense, impassioned look, there was nothing innocent about him.
Shaking her head to rid herself of these thoughts, she lightly held his hand to lift it off herself. His arm secured around her with more strength, and he scooted closer to her.
Sighing, she shook him, "Sameer, hato please, mujhe uthna hai."
"Abhi toh soye the, Naina... abhi subah nahi hui hai... tum bhi so jao." He seeked her warmth, pushing his face into her hair.
"Sameer, mujhe sargi ke liye uthna hai... mummy ne kaha tha na kal... aaj vrat hai mera... karwachouth ka." She lifted herself a bit, as much as she could manage under his grip.
His eyes flew open, "Arre haan, aaj toh humein vrat rakhna hai."
She smiled, running her fingers in his hair, "Tumhe zaroorat nahi hai. Tum so jao."
He sat up quickly, "Meri jaan khana nahi khayegi aur main kha lun... aisa toh kabhi ho hi nahi sakta."
She didn't want him to stay without food for the entire day, "Sameer, please, yeh sirf patni ko rakhna hota hai, apne pati ki lambi umr ke liye, uski jaan ki salamati ke liye."
"Main bhi toh apni jaan ki salamati ke liye rakh raha hun... achha hai na, double faayda hoga mujhe." He said brightly.
"Kaise?" She furrowed her brows.
"Meri jaan tum hi toh ho... tum mere paas rahogi toh mujhe kuch ho hi nahi sakta." His eyes turned soft.
She was left with no words.
They got ready quickly, him in a kurta and Naina in a suit.
Vishakha had already set the table with variety of eatables, including sweets and fruits. She was surprised to see Sameer.
"Tum bhi uth gaye? Tumhe laga tumhari Naina ko main theek se khana nahi khilaungi?" She teased him.
"Mummy, woh... Sameer bhi... maine toh mana kiya lekin..." Naina lowered her eyes, embarrassed to mention to his mother that he wanted to fast for her.
Vishakha's eyes went wide.
"Sameer. Tum kaise vrat rakhoge? Poore din bina khaye kaise rahoge, beta? Pehle kabhi nahi rakha tumne." She held his hand, frowning.
Sameer glanced at his wife, "Naina bhi toh pehli baar rakh rahi hai. Jab woh kar sakti hai toh main bhi uske liye rakh sakta hun... rakhna chahta hun... apni khushi se... agar woh mere liye bhooki rahegi toh main kaise khana kha sakta hun, mummy?"
She stared at her son... the glimpse of her father was unmistakable.
With misty eyes, she smiled at him, "Tumne apne nanu se bohot kuch seekh liya, Sameer. Tum mein mujhe papa ki saari khoobiyaan dikhne lagi hain. Yeh confidence, yeh personality... yeh tumhara aatmvishvaas, sab tumhe nanu se mila hai... isliye tumhara pyar bhi unke jaisa hai... pataa hai, papa bhi hamesha yeh vrat rakhte the mummy ke saath... unn dono ke jaisa hi rishta hai tum dono ka, khud se pehle ek doosre ko rakhne wala... I'm so proud of you, beta."
Sameer could feel the dampness in his eyes as she hugged him. His mother being proud of him was something that he always craved for... and one after the other, several of his recent achievements had made her say these forever awaited words, quenching the thirst of his soul. Her eyes mirrored her heart when she parted, still gazing at him lovingly.
A soft palm slipping into his hand made him see the reason. Her presence in his life had changed everything. He looked at her. A beatific smile on her lips, pride in her eyes, ebullience of optimism glowing on her face... she was an epitome of an angel in his life.
He wasn't sure if all this was real or he was dreaming about this perfect present in his life, a present that seemed to slowly overshadow the past so completely. He wondered if he had indeed missed out to see the few rays of brightness that could have been present even in those gloomy days. But one thing was definite... all that he had endured was just a creation of path that led him to her. When she was the destination, evey adversity, every impediment seemed justifiable. Dadi's hatred, hostel, selfishness of his friends in Nainital, his eventual running away to nanu... and the rest was, as they say, history.
He had no grudges anymore.
When Vishakha went to the kitchen to get juice for everyone, Naina noticed his lost look. His plate still lay untouched.
"Sameer, kya soch rahe ho? Ki poora din mere saath bhooke rehna kitna mushkil hoga?" She shook him out of his musings.
With a relieved smile, he picked up a bite and took it to her mouth, "Soch raha hun ki poori zindagi tumhare saath rehna kitna sukoon bhara hoga."
Peering into the kitchen, she quickly fed him one bite from her plate, then flicked her eyes to the food in front of him, asking him to eat.
Once they were done, Vishakha asked them to go and rest.
"Aaj na koi kaam karna hai na kahin jaana hai... toh aaram se neeche aa jaana. Ab thoda so jao... din bohot lamba ho jaata hai agar kuch na karna ho toh." She advised them.
Changing back into comfortable clothes, they laid down in bed. He slipped one arm under her head, making her come against him.
"Sameer, koi badmashi nahi. Aaj vrat hai na. Aaj yeh sab nahi chalega." She tilted her neck to give him a stern look.
"Main toh sirf tumhe tumhara takiya de raha hun... jisse tum aaram se so sako... yeh nahi chalega kya?" He pouted.
She couldn't help but smile.
His eyes changed in a second, "Tumhe kya laga, kya kar raha hun main?"
Her cheeks flared up at the glint in his eyes. Hiding her face in his chest, she placed one hand on his eyes. He slowly removed her palm, placing a soft kiss on her fingertips. There was a pleasant smile on their faces as they drifted off to sleep once again.
The day went by smoothly. Dadi remained confined to her room, still shaken from the events of last night. Vivek called a doctor, who prescribed a few anti anxiety pills, saying that probably a nightmare had resulted in some kind of hallucinations. Deepika chirpily ran around, coming up with interesting questions about the fast every now and then. Rohan was impressed to see his brother fasting along with bhabhi.
"Yaar Sameer, tumse seekhna padega. Jab mera number aayega toh mujhe bhi kuch tips de dena." He munched an apple, looking at Sameer.
"Sabse pehli tip toh yeh hai ki aankhen khol ke rakho... number aane ka raasta toh banne do... koi milni chahiye na pehle." Sameer winked at him, making him blush.
"Agar aise sharmaoge toh ho chuka tumhara kaam." Sameer couldn't help teasing.
Rohan made a face, "Ab ek din mein toh tumhare jaisa nahi ban sakta na... dheere dheere hi seekhunga."
The words hit Sameer again. All his life, Vishakha wanted him to be like Rohan... and today, Rohan was trying to become like him. The equation had actually turned upside down.
"Tumne toh bhabhi ko ek din mein bol di hogi apne dil ki baat, haina? Intezar karne walon mein se lagte nahi ho." Rohan misinterpreted his lost eyes to be reminiscence of his initial days with Naina.
Throwing his head back, Sameer laughed aloud. If only Rohan knew how long he had waited... for everything.
"Mujhe do saal lag gaye, Rohan... Naina se apne dil ki baat kehne mein." He revealed.
Rohan's eyes went wide, "Do saal? Tum do saal tak bas dekhte rahe? Agar bhabhi kahin chali jaati itne time mein toh?"
Sameer took a deep breath, "Hum dono hi chale gaye the... ek doosre se door... aisa humne socha tha... lekin pehli baar hamari kismat ne hamara saath diya... ghar se, ek doosre se door jaane ki koshish hi humein paas lekar aayi."
"Uff bhai. Ab iss suspense ke saath rehna toh bohot mushkil hai. Please suna do na apni story. Main bhabhi se nahi kahunga ki tumne mujhe bata diya hai." Rohan pleaded in a low voice.
Sameer pulled his ear, "O mister, main Naina se kuch nahi chupata... aur na uski baat ke khilaaf jaata hun... samjhe?"
Rohan grimaced dramatically, "Ahh, samajh gaya, samajh gaya."
The moment Sameer left his ear, he leaned back chuckling, away from his reach, "Joru ke ghulam ho tum."
To his surprise, Sameer smiled fondly, "Haan, woh toh hun... aur hamesha rahunga."
Rohan was astonished. He had seen men getting offended when called so, but Sameer had accepted it as a proud attainment. He prayed silently for this bliss and happiness to stay in his brother and bhabhi's life till eternity.
So here's a question for you all
Let's see who can answer it
What do you think would be special in the evening update
Hint : Something definitely is 😊
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