It's past midnight. I spoke to Baba for more than one and half hour! Seriously! I never realise time, when I speak to him. I felt like the first time when I shifted to Kolkata but my parents remained in Bangalore. Though everyone would be there, none could fill in for ma-baba. Never! Guess what I saw when I he first received my call. On the other side of the screen, my Baba was sitting with a scowl and a red face. Yes, a very red face! He beamed looking at me, signalled me two minutes and left. And then he was back in his usual smug. Well, after retirement my father spends most of his time gardening, thereby spending a lot of time in the sun. Thus, a good tan, and some patches. In couple of months, my mother's friend's daughter is getting married. And my parents are going to attend the wedding. Thus a de-tan pack for my father! That red face was nothing but a tomato-red lentil pack. Which Baba didn't like at all, but when it comes to Ma, well... you guys know. Though he was scowling, I found it so damn funny. I guess, deep down he knows how much ma loves him. We talked so much. Baba was a bit upset because he didn't get to know about my, this order from me. Rather, he didn't like the fact that Rangon Baba got to know this before him! He told me about his new little carrots. Showed me one too. He looked so proud. Ma these days cooks something with his vegetables once a week, which makes him all the more happy. Baba clicks photo of each and every dish Ma cooked form these home cooked veggies. He posts them on Instagram! My! It was so much fun talking to him. Gosh, I missed him so much! I can't believe I didn't talk to him for so many days. As I cut the call, tear rolled out. No, no matter what, I shall call him every day, and make such chats every week. That smiling beaming face, all because I called him!

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My back ached bad. No more work today. Generally I had worked very hours whenever I have been out in the evenings, but today I am not feeling like it. Making a note of what to do the next day, I went to our bedroom.

Did I say 'our bedroom'? Oh! I shall never remember exactly when my bedroom became ours. One fine evening I found his stuffs shifted to my room. "Well, we sleep together these days, on your workroom mattress. So..." He looked so hopeful, I couldn't refuse. Yet, after that we used to mention it as my bedroom or Hira's bedroom.

There was he, sleeping at the middle of bed with his all arms and legs spread out! I didn't know he was a frog in his previous birth! But the frog has to move. I can't sleep in the tiny 1 foot wide place on his either side.

"Umm..." Crinkling his nose, he grumbled. I nudged him again. Rohit... please shift, you don't have to wake up for shifting. Just a bit. Move na... I pushed him harder this time and his eyes flew open.

"What.. what happened?" He was scared. I couldn't stop myself from laughing. "Look around Baban, where will I sleep? Move to the side." I chipped. He was fully awake now.

"For that you didn't need to push me." he pouted. I raised my brow. He smiled cheekily. "You could always lie on me, give me a kiss." 

"Baban!" 

"What Baban? Please, just one. It has been so many days. Please, please..." "Baban!" I blushed this time. Well, honestly, I miss the kiss too. But I can't acknowledge it yet. I closed my eyes. His hands closed over mine. I felt his grip, and... also the roughness. A hand is not supposed to be this rough. Not even a male hand. I jerked. "Ouch!" he whimpered. The moment was gone.

"What's wrong Rohit?" What's wrong with him, why is he in so much pain? His face was crumbled. "Baban.. look at me. What's wrong?" But he kept nodding his head in negation. Ugh! Why does he have to be so stubborn!

"Show me, what's wrong?" And I pulled his hands. If I say, I was shocked, it would be less. His palms we full of cuts, bruises and scars! That's what the unnatural roughness I was feeling about. "How did this happen?" Has there been an accident in his office? But the bruises weren't fresh, neither the cuts! How old were they? I continued, "Tell me Baban. How did this happen? Was there an accident? When? Why didn't you tell me?" I yet didn't recover the shock. I grabbed his hand, a touched a wound. "Is is paining?" He smiled. HE JUST SMILED!

"I am a man darling. Not a woman. I don't feel any pain." He cheeked. "Yes, that's why you shrieked like a woman when I jerked your arm." I gritted. Like seriously? What does pain have to do with being a man or a woman! Idiot! "You better tell me." I glared.

"Nothing Hira. You forget that I work with machines. It's easy to cut when there are scrapes everywhere!" Right. Just like my corns and calluses.

"But you don't seem to apply anything to them."

"Uff! If there is something major, we do have a first aid kit in the workshop. And the doctor's cabin is just a few blocks away!" He rolled his eyes. I rolled my eyes back, "First aid is not for anything major idiot! Doctor is for the major." How can a person behave so irresponsibly! "You know there is a thing called tetanus? Have you ever bothered about those?" He grinned. Idiot.

"And what about your arm? Why did you shriek like that?" 

"Seriously Hira.." He copied my tone. With that he flanked his arm and moved up the sleeve. The deep blue patch didn't look good at all. Oh my god! He has been injured this much, I never came to know? Okay, he always wears t-shirts with elbow length sleeves. But that is NOT an excuse. How could I miss this? I can't believe my eyes. How could I be this self-centered that I couldn't see his injuries? My god. 

"Baban..." my voice didn't come out. 

"Hira, everyone of us has more or less such injuries." 

"But that doesn't lessen your pain. I can't believe I have been so selfish." I shuddered. "Oh Hriddia... You are getting upset for nothing. It looks worse than actually it is. You had such a great today. Why spoiling the last few hours. Come on, sleep."

"I am sorry Baban, for not being a better wife to you. You care for me in a way I never expected anyone could! And I.." "Oh baby, you are the person I ever wanted." With that he pulled me into him.

Writer's note: Hello! I am back. Did you guys miss this story? Well, I am sorry again. I couldn't think of what could I do next with Hira and Rohit, so it took time. Hope you like it. And I just hope irregular posts are worth a bit of your patience and love. Please do tell me what do you think about this. Please to vote. 

Thank you.

Love Love <3