6.1.2021

Kashish rests her head against the sofa, tired. She places her feet on the table in front, crossing her legs. With her eyes closed, she begins to relax. Suddenly she feels Sujal's hand on her foot, giving her a foot massage. She immediately opens her eyes and asks,

"Arey ye kya kar rahe ho?"

"Pair daba raha hun aur kya?",

says Sujal, as if it's not a big deal for him, his eyes remain on her feet.

"Sujal rehne do. Main theek hun.",

says Kashish, trying to stop him from doing that.

"Haan dekha maine kitni theek ho.",

complains Sujal, staring her.

"Tum mere pati ho Sujal tumhe ye sub...",

Kashish trails off, frustrated.

"Pati hun isliye mujhe pura haq hai Kashish ye karne ka.",

says Sujal, staring deep into her eyes.

Kashish stares him speechless.

Sujal begins to trail his finger on her sole which in return accelerates Kashish's rate of heartbeat. Sujal enjoys witnessing how Kashish's stare on him turns possessive and dark.

Kashish rests back on the sofa as Sujal continues with the massage.

Slowly, Sujal gets down and puts Kashish's toe of her left foot into his mouth,  sucking it, staring her sensuously. Kashish's breath hitches. Her insides churn as the desire begins to fill her. She shuts her eyes tight and converts her hands into fists to control her accelerated rate of heartbeat. Her lips get apart a little, on their own accord as she struggles a little to inhale the air to breath, thanks to Sujal's act that turns her short of breath. He slowly traces the outline of her foot with his index finger, turning her all the more vulnerable.

•••••

Knock at the door drags Sujal and Kashish out of their love bubble. Kashish straightens up after giving Sujal an intimate stare. But before could remove her feet from upon the table, Sujal gestures her to relax, saying,

"Relax! Main dekhta hun."

Sujal opens the door to discover his mother standing at the door.

"Mumma!",

he says.

"Kashish guests abhi aate hi honge. Tum zara kitchen ka sambhal logi? Dekhlo sub kuch theek se hua hai ke nahi. Main Sujal ke Papa ke saath zara market ho aati hun.",

says Veena, entering their room.

"Ji Mumma. Aap chinta mat kariye main dekhlungi.",

smiles Kashish.

Sujal takes a deep breath.

"Mumma ghar mein aur bhi to log hain. Aap unhe bol dijiye na.",

says Sujal, irritated.

Kashish looks towards Sujal, feeling awkward in front of Veena by his reaction.

Veena wonders what has happened to Sujal that he is reacting in this manner.

"Kya hua Sujal?",

asks Veena, concerned.

Kashish intervenes,

"Kuch nahi Mumma. Wo bus..."

"Bus ye ke Kashish thak gayi hai. Magar wo apse kuch kahegi nahi. Apne dard ko chupa legi.",

says Sujal, unable to control his anger.

That comes as a surprise for Veena.

Walking to Kashish, Veena cups her left cheek with her right hand and asks her lovingly, concerned,

"Tumne mujhe bataya kyun nahi Kashish?"

Kashish feels awkward and apologetical for Sujal's behaviour and says,

"Mumma main theek hun.",

Kashish tries to assure her, holding her hands in her hands.

"Beti maana hai maine tumhe Kashish. Koi baat hai to tum mujhe bejhijhak bata sakti ho.",

says Veena, concerned.

"Ji Mumma.",

smiles Kashish.

"Tum kuch der aaram karlo.",

suggests Veena, smiling.

"Nahi Mumma. Main abhi kitchen ka kaam dekh leti hun. Aap chinta mat kariye.",

smiles Kashish.

Veena smiles and says,

"Agar thodi bhi tabiyat kharab lage to tum koi kaam nahi karogi. Theek hai?"

Kashish smiles and nods her head in affirmative.

Veena smiles looking towards them and says,

"Chalo ab main chalti hun mujhe late ho raha hai."

The moment she passes by Sujal, Sujal stops her. Holding her by her shoulders, he makes her to turn towards himself and says, looking straight towards her,

"Mumma! I am sorry! Mera frustration aap par gussa bann kar nikal gaya."

Veena places her hand on his left cheek and says,

"Ab tu mujhse maafi mangega?",

smiling.

"Main janti hun tum Kashish aur mujhse kitna pyar karte ho. Aur apni patni ke liye tumne jo bhi kiya, uss mein kuch galat nahi hai. To maafi mangne ki to koi baat hi nahi hai.",

says Veena, smiling.

Sujal smiles lovingly and kisses Veena's hand saying,

"I love you Mumma."

Kashish smiles looking towards them.

Veena smiles and says,

"Chalo ab chalti hun main."

Sujal walks her to the door of his room.

•••••

Meanwhile Kashish feels uneasy and runs for the washroom. Sujal hears her as she gets a sensation of vomiting. He knocks the door of the washroom in concern,

"Kashish! Tum theek ho?"

Whilst wiping her mouth with a towel Kashish replies to him,

"Haan... Sujal main theek hun."

Sujal still stands unsettled and waits for her to come out.

Finally she joins him back. Sujal notices how tired she looks.

"Kya hua Kashish?",

asks Sujal in urgency.

"Pata nahi subah se tabiyat theek nahi lag rahi.",

says Kashish.

"Tumne khana theek se khaya tha?",

asks Sujal.

"Khana? Sujal khane ki to baat hi mat karo. Mujhe ajkal kuch khane ka mann nahi karta.",

says Kashish, her face expression reflects her distaste.

Sujal stares her, trying to understand the reason for her sudden changes.

Sujal thinks further and suddenly a possibility strikes him and skips his heartbeat. He looks towards Kashish and asks her,

"Did you have your periods this month?"

His question comes as a surprise for Kashish. This time Kashish's heart skips a beat as she realises that she indeed hasn't had them. Her expression of shock; her increased rate of heartbeat brings a big smile on his face.

Sujal lifts Kashish up, wrapping his arms around the centre of her legs and rotates her in excitement.

"Kashish!!!!",

he shouts, beaming with joy.

"Sujal! Sujal main gir jaungi!",

Kashish laughs and blushes in excitement.

Sujal puts her down and Kashish reveals,

"In fact last month bhi nahi!",

she cascades her eyes, smiling, blushing further.

"Kya?!",

exclaims Sujal, smiling wide, holding his waist from either sides. His eyes twinkle as he stares Kashish.

Sujal cups her face with both of his hands. They stare each other immediately.

"I love you Kashish! I love you so much!",

says Sujal, and kisses her forehead, protectively, lovingly.

Kashish closes her eyes, feeling the warmth of the kiss.

"I love you too Sujal!",

she says, the moment he ends the kiss.

They hug each other.

"Chalo jakar subko batate hain.",

says an excited Sujal, holding her hand.

Kashish stops him, smiling at his excitement,

"Abhi nahi Sujal. Aaj waise hi sub busy hain. Baad mein bata denge."

Sujal accepts. They smile looking towards each other.

•••••

The guests arrive. Everyone indulges in conversation and enjoying the starters. Sujal makes it sure that Kashish stays by his side as much as possible even while he has the conversation with the guests.

Kashish's eyes suddenly fall on one of the kids of the guests. She smiles staring him playing. Sujal notices her and asks her,

"Kya soch rahi ho Kashish?"

Kashish turns to look towards Sujal and asks,

"Kya humara bachcha bhi aisa hoga? Masoom, shararati?"

"Wo jaisa bhi hoga, humari parchchayi hogi uss mein.",

says Sujal, embracing Kashish by her shoulders.

Kashish feels overwhelmed hearing that. Her eyes turn teary. She turns to look towards Sujal, smiling wide. Sujal smiles back at her.

The kid throws a plastic ball towards Kashish, unintentionally which could have hit Kashish's tummy had Sujal not guarded her tummy with his arm right at time, such that the ball hits his arm instead.

Kashish stares Sujal, without blinking her eyes. Smiling.

•••••

"Lo Di Mushroom soup.",

Mehak walks to Kashish and offers it to her, smiling.

As the aroma of the soup fills Kashish's nostrils she again feels nausea. Covering her nose and mouth, she somehow controls herself and says,

"Nahi Mehak mujhe nahi chahiye. Tum isse yahan se le jao."

Mehak gets concerned upon receiving such behaviour from Kashish.

"Di aap theek hain?",

asks Mehak, concerned.

"Haan tum please...",

Kashish somehow manages to say this much.

Sujal happens to notice them at that very moment and understands what must have happened. He immediately reaches them and asks,

"Kya hua Kashish?"

Kashish looks towards Sujal, tensed.

Mehak replies instead of Kashish,

"Bhaiya wo shayad Di se iski smell bardasht nahi ho rahi."

Mehak gauges Kashish's reaction.

Embracing Kashish by her waist, Sujal says to Mehak,

"Mehak tum isey yahan se le jao.",

looking towards the soup.

Mehak gives Kashish one last concerned glance and immediately walks away.

Kashish leaves for her room. Sujal follows her.

•••••

"Sujal ye sub kya ho raha hai? Kya ab main iss tarah react karungi khana dekh kar?",

asks Kashish, looking towards him, tensed.

Sujal smiles at her innocence.

"It's okay Kashish. Iss mein itni chinta karne ki baat nahi hai.",

he tries to lift her mood.

"Tumhe to khush hona chahiye ye sochkar ke tumhare ander hum dono ke pyar ki nishani saans le rahi hai. Aur tum ho ki choti si baat se pareshan ho rahi ho. Agar nahi bardasht ho rahi tumse koi smell to hum uss cheez ko ghar par layenge hi nahi, simple. Iss mein itna sochna kya?",

says Sujal, smiling.

"Sujal, abhi to shuruat hai agey pata nahi aur kya kya...",

Kashish begins to put her worry in front of Sujal but Sujal puts his index finger on her lips and says,

"Shh...!"

Kashish goes quiet immediately.

"Jo bhi hoga, hum milkar face karenge. Main humesha tumhare saath honga Kashish.",

he assures her.

Kashish smiles, staring him lovingly.

•••••

As they rejoin others, Veena walks to Kashish and asks her,

"Ab kaisi tabiyat hai tumhari Kashish? Kitchen mein bhi jab tum thi, tab bhi tumhari tabiyat mujhe theek nahi lag rahi thi. Isiliye maine fauran tumhe apne kamre mein jane ko kaha. Kaam mein fir itni busy ho gayi ke puchne ka mauka hi nahi mila."

"Ahmm... Mumma... wo... main.... main theek hun.",

smiles Kashish, finally managing to say such a simple sentence, after mentally fighting with her excitement to share the news with Veena.

Veena stares Kashish skeptically and asks, smiling,

"Kya baat hai Kashish? Tumhara chehra itna khila-khila lag raha hai."

"Ahmm... nahi Mumma. I mean... pata nahi.",

she blushes, smiles.

"Tum janti ho Sujal ki Dadi ne mujhe jab ye kaha tha, tab Sujal hone wala tha. Aur maine tab tak kisi ko bataya bhi nahi tha.",

blushes Veena, smiling.

Kashish cascades her eyes hearing that, feeling awkward.

Slapping her forehead, Veena says,

"Main bhi pata nahi ye baat kyun keh rahi hun.",

she shakes her head at her own words.

Kashish blushes further.

Veena smiles looking towards Kashish.

"Chalo tum party enjoy karo.",

smiles Veena and walks away.

Kashish shuts her eyes in awkwardness after Veena leaves.

•••••

At night, Kashish stands in front of the window of her room, letting the cool breeze to kiss her face and blow her hair. She smiles touching her stomach, looking towards it. Her eyes twinkle with the anticipation of a beautiful future.

Sujal slowly enters the room. Locking the door, he walks to Kashish, never taking his eyes away from her, smiling throughout. Moonlight penetrates through the opened window and guides him towards Kashish in the otherwise dark room. He slowly wraps his arms around Kashish's waist, careful that he doesn't put much pressure. Kashish smiles and rubs her hand on Sujal's right wrist and lower arm lovingly, trying to feel him as much as possible.

"Sujal, ye ehsaas kitna alag hai.",

says Kashish, getting emotional towards her unborn child, smiling throughout.

Sujal smiles and kisses her cheek, standing behind her.

"Mujhe to yakeen hi nahi ho raha ke ab hum do(2) nahi teen hain!",

says Kashish, excited.

"Kashish ab ye humari zindagi ki ek khoobsurat suchchai hai. Jo koi jhutla nahi sakta.",

says Sujal, lovingly.

Kashish gets excited hearing that.

"Mujhse to intezaar hi nahi ho raha. Kab subko batayenge? Kitne khush honge wo!",

says Kashish in excitement.

"Aur iss khushi ki wajah sirf tum ho Kashish.",

says Sujal.

Kashish turns towards him, Sujal still keeps her in his embrace.

Staring him with dreamy eyes, Kashish corrects him,

"Main nahi, hum hain iss khushi ki wajah!"

Sujal smiles, his heart flutters hearing that.

"Kaisa mehsus hoga jab main usey pehli baar apne inn haathon mein lunga?",

says Sujal, looking towards his hands, wondering, his excitement palpable.

Kashish smiles, enjoying witnessing his excitement.

"Kaise rok paunga main aone juzzbaatton ko behne se?",

asks Sujal, getting emotional.

Kashish knits her brows lightly and rubs his upper arm, lovingly.

"Tum dekhna Kashish main usey uss pyar ki kami kabhi mehsus nahi hone dunga jo maine mehsus ki hai zindagi bhar, mere Papa ke mere saath hote hue bhi.",

says Sujal, knitting his brows as he remembers his bitter relationship with his father.

Kashish gets sad hearing that. Feeling his emotions.

"Har kadam par uske saath rahunga. Usse kabhi akelepan ka ehsaas kya hota hai, janne nahi dunga.",

promises Sujal, more to himself than to Kashish, serious, excited.

He cups her face, staring her deep into her eyes, he conveys to her,

"Kashish, mujhe ye khushi dene ke liye main tumhara kis tarah shukriya karun...",

and before he could complete his words, Kashish puts her hand on his lips to stop him from saying further.

"Tumhe ye khushi dekar mujhe kitni khushi ho rahi hai iss baat ka andaza tum nahi laga sakte Sujal. Uss khushi ko kam mat karo ye keh kar.",

says Kashish, keeping her brows knit.

"Iss pal ko bus mehsoos karo. Humare saath ko; humare rishte ke iss naye parhav ko mehsus karo.",

smiles Kashish, staring deep into Sujal's eyes.

Sujal smiles too, staring her back lovingly.

-THE END-
(6.1.2021)