Hey everyone!

Here's the next one! I hope you'll like it.

Happy Reading!

|•|•|

May 2020

Pune

Indian Defence Station, Indian Air Force

Quarter No. 15

Isn't it strange that at times more often than not we find ourselves incapable of explaining our emotions? And the irony; we don't even understand what we are feeling in those relentlessly passing moments. It is as if our soul has transpired into some different world and it's the aftermath we are facing, by being pushed under the bus. If anything, these are nothing but the unsolicited minutes of a strangeness that holds onto us, tightly. It can be either the chunks of uncorrupted, unadulterated happiness and the bounce we feel within or simply the incomprehensible pangs of low- spiritedness. All in all, anything and everything that we fail to put in words, neither for our understanding nor for others. Aur phir har baar khud he khud ko bhi samajh jaaye, insaan itna aasaan bhi nahi.

(And a human isn't that simple that he'll understand himself at every given point.)

This incomprehensiveness was the same in both, Karan and Monami. They longed to meet each other, and they subconsciously thought about all the possible scenarios in which they'll meet each other, but once it happened, all those mindless plans took a back seat.

A slow painful groan finally escaped Karan's mouth, after holding it back for a long time to fully breathe in that full-of-life moment. Reluctantly but almost immediately, Monami pulled slightly back, still in his arms.

"Karan, tumhe chot aayi hai? Kya hua?" Monami softly inquired.

(Are you hurt, Karan? What happened?)

Although Karan tried to deny it and sneakily tried to adjust his feet, yet another whimper left his lips, making Monami sure that there was indeed something.

Karan still tried to let it go, but sensing his wife's narrowed eyes, he gave in and scrunched his nose before nodding in affirmation. "Actually pair mein muscle spasm ho gaya phir moch bhi aagayi."

Monami frowned and clicked her tongue in her mouth, "Tum bhi na, pata nahi kya kya karte rehte ho, dhyaan nahi rakh sakte the?" She carefully separated their embraced figures and balanced his weight on her frame, as she let him out from the kitchen to the dining chair.

(What is wrong with you, Karan? You could not even take care of yourself?)

Monami pulled a chair and made Karan sit on it, and immediately pulled another chair in front of his legs so that he could stretch it freely.

Once done, she stood in his slant vision and let her fingers finally find their way toward his wet hair and ruffle them tenderly. Monami's lips twitched in displeasure as she said, "Mai apne pati ko kaisa chhod ke gayi thi aur tumne kya haal kar diya hai. Tum sahi se apna dhyaan kyu nahi rakh sakte? Har baar yun mendhak ki tarah kudna fudakna zaroori hai kya? Karan tum..."

(This is so not the way I left my husband behind, you have turned the tables. Why is it so difficult for you to look after yourself? Is it so necessary for you to jump around like a frog? Karan you...)

Karan was enjoying the closeness and the warmth with his wife was scolding him. It was the first time when she, with poora haq, exercised her rights on him. If that was not enough, his half-naked body was also too aware of the distance between them and the way they both or rather she was dressed in. When it was finally too much for him to just listen, that too with oh so much space, he implemented what his mind suggested.

(With all the rights.)

Karan raised his arm and clasped his fingers around Monami's wrist and in a swift pull; he pulled her on his lap. And this made Monami senselessly attentive. Her words were cut off the moment he held her wrist and her mind bid adieu to her senses when it registered where she was sitting.

The moment Karan pulled her, her palms furled against his shoulders to hold onto something, and then she was stuck by yet another realization. The realization that her husband is bare-chested and he was so, from the moment she was known to his presence. Back then, her attention was on his presence rather than the body but now, the proximity made her feel conscious and well aware about his frame against hers.

Monami's cheeks heated up in a bashful shade of shyness. Her eyes fluttered in an attempt to maintain contact with his orbs, her lips shivered in the quivers she was feeling and her body, it was all heated up with a deep stroke of responsiveness that his closeness evoked in her. Her soul was encompassed in the charged-up air and the warmth that Karan radiated.

Meanwhile, Karan's feelings were navigating through the same path as Monami's. He could swear that he had never felt the same level of searing passion and compassion for anyone before. It was so fucking awakening. It was as if it was all he needed. It was so fulfilling.

Karan's eyes did not, even for once fail to capture the subtly changing expressions of his wife. He could feel her realization of the things she was previously unaware about when she gulped seeing her hands resting on his unclothed chest. His mind had locked this memory forever when her eyes clumsily tried to play hide and seek with his. Her coyness, her being so delicately timid in those initial seconds of sudden intimacy, left him charmed and how.

Finally, after the painfully slow seconds and racing heartbeats, Karan leaned and rested his forehead against hers. His warm breath whispered against her face and especially her lips, as he said, "Meri jaan, mai theek hoon. Bilkul theek. Yeh sab bhi 1-2 din mein theek ho jaayega."

(I am absolutely fine, my life. All this will be fine too, within 1-2 days.)

Karan pulled back a little and cupped her face with his right hand, as his left was secured firmly against her waist, where her uncovered skin was teasing his fingers, oh well it left the same tingles on his partner. "Aur phir meri biwi ke hote kisi dard ki itni himmat ki woh zyada din tik jaaye?"

(And no pain in this world is strong enough to face my wife.)

"Monami", Karan whispered after a few seconds of silence.

"Hmm?" Monami raised her eyes to look at him.

"I missed you." Saying so, he started to lean again without averting his midnight orbs from the same set of another pair and took a pause. Once assured, he leaned and rested his head in the crook of her neck.

Monami's fingers trembled ever so lightly on his chest at the sensation she just felt. Karan's damp hair against her neck left her with a sweet jittery tingling and his breath felt like a feathery flutter on the contours of her skin. Hesitantly, she skimmed her fingers from his chest to his nape and caressed her hair feebly.

"I missed you too." She uttered in a way that almost felt unreal.

Karan felt a wave of electrifying sparks wherever her nimble fingers traced his skin, it was tantilizing. It was like a tender caress; a soft brush of her skin against his.

In the cocoon of her warmth, Karan dared and gave into his feeling to kiss the junction where her neck met her shoulder. He waited for a withdrawal if any, but he felt nothing of that sort. Rather, he felt her delicately firm fingers on his shoulder blades, tightening their hold.

The last few chunks of sanity that were there in Monami, left her the instant she felt his lips on her skin, a place where his mushes touched her for the first time. Her body, her soul, and her heart, everything in those intimate moments belonged to her husband and she could not even counter it.

Karan paused after the kiss and then again pulled back to look into her eyes. When Monami sensed the emptiness, she opened her eyes and looked into his.

"Monami, may I take another step and make you feel a little more cherished?" Karan sincerely asked.

Yet again, Monami could swear that one should or rather she should trust her husband to make her feel respected, cherished and yearning for more at the same time.

"You can, Karan." Monami affirmed in a whisper and not because he asked, but because she wanted. She felt the need in her to feel in the way he spoke about her.

The aftermath of her words was the unleashed look of longing, desire, and a feeling to become untamed in those hardly tamed moments of propinquity that exchanged between them.

Monami traced the path from his nape to Karan's face and cupped it, before pulling him down and placing a kiss on his forehead. This was the purest form of affection and there were no second thoughts about it. Karan's lips wore a smile that his wife's gesture gave him; unadulterated and pure.

Karan reciprocated the gesture and then lowered his face, before captivating Monami with him in their bewitching world. It was the touch, the gentle brush that they both craved and unlike other times, it was filled with gentle strokes of searing and consuming passion. Instead of sparks, they felt a mystifying force that fused and engirdled them. Every cell of their body came to life in that vulnerable moment. Their hearts were racing in a syncing pace of wilderness; their fingers never ceased their tender caresses, their toes curled up in the uncorrupted and uninterrupted pleasure that flowed in their veins.

After the deliberately subtle and tender touch, the flame in them ignited with full intensity as their breaths mingled in the most ardent manner. It was everything inexplicable, indescribable, something that words could never do justice to, but it was everything that belonged to them and everything they felt.

The breathlessness they felt, forced them to pull apart. They held onto each other to relish the moment that just transpired between them. With their noses against each other and swollen lips brushing against each other from time, they took in the much-needed oxygen.

Tilting his head, Karan yet again bent his face in the crook of her neck and as it dipped, he inhaled her oddly familiar fragrance, which quilted him in warmth, in the essence of home, his home.

Karan didn't shy away from peppering kisses along the channel of her neck which was alluring him in a way that seemed to let him go of all his self-control. He was aroused and so was she, but the difference was she could feel his arousal and it made her squirm. Sensing the moments, unknowingly Karan's palm that was holding the other side of her neck to keep them intact, shifted to her nape as he gripped her dark tresses along with the neck, as his lips nibbled at the places which were earlier getting showered with kisses.

A little scrape from his teeth and Monami's lips parted open to let out the moan she was stifling since she felt his nose traversing on her neck. Her fingers furled in a fist on the tuft of his hair, as she felt the waves of gratification touch the shore of her soul.

Karan's hand that was holding her waist traveled upwards and held the collar of her t-shirt or his t-shirt on her and grasped it. Slowly and steadily he dragged the clutched piece of fabric down from the length of her shoulder to her upper arms. His lips continued with its pecking, sucking and nipping to whatever access it had.

Having enough of the sensual torture, Monami finally pulled Karan back and fused her lips with his, giving in to her soaring desires. This kiss was like a burning flame, heated and fiery. Once satisfied, she kissed his cheek, biting it a little as she wished for a long time and then moved to his neck, as she placed delicate pecks along his stubbled jaw and throat.

She pulled back and gazed into his similarly blazed orbs. She didn't avert her eyes from his until she got the answer to her silently asked question. Karan nodded in confrontation and gave her a quick unrushed peck.

Monami's lips advanced to his neck and smeared the soft kisses and then slightly progressed in a bold move to drop little bites here and there. This raw touch invoked a plethora of ineffable emotions in him. This moment was so wholesome, so thrilling, and just so theirs. They crafted it, they were in it and they lived it.

Monami could not move further from a little nibbling as the boldness again took a back seat with a newfound diffidence and so she wrapped her arms around his, hiding in his warm escapade. Karan too, held her close to his heart, closer than she already was.

After a few moments of regaining their composure, Monami recouped her senses and then when she realized that she was on his lap for quite an eternity now, she wriggled a little in an attempt to break free from the moment.

Karan was bemused at this and why wouldn't he? His all-time high on confidence Officer Sahiba, was now replicating an enchanting mess of breathtaking bashfulness, as she refused to meet his eyes. Albeit the amusement which Karan felt was just a little because even his insides were churning, recollecting their electrifying moment time and again.

To dissipate the fidgety air between them, and also to hold Monami in place so that his excitement does not flare up, he said, "Relax. Tum meri goud mein he baithi ho."

(You are just sitting on my lap.)

Monami looked at him, her eyes widened at his blatant display of shamelessness. "Ka-Karan, tumhe kabhi bhi kuch bhi bolna hai na. Chup karo aur uthne do mujhe." Monami said, after pulling up the masquerade of confidence in her.

(Ka-Karan, you do not even think before saying anything, do you? Now shut up and let me get up.)

"Arrey lekin maine toh tumhe sirf apni goud mein he toh rakha hua hai, isme kya?" Karan feigned innocence as he put emphasis on goud and then his lips quirked up in a little mischief which Monami knew would do no good to her. "Aur phir maine konsa tumhe lap dance dene bola hai mujhe, jo tumhe itni jaldi hai." He then leaned a little and dropped a quick peck on her jaw, making her turn her head and then he continued, "Although it is quite early for us, I sure won't mind it."

(Lap.)

(Hey, but I am just holding you on my lap, what's the big deal in this?) (Moreover, what is the hurry? It is not like I have asked you to give me a lap dance.)

Monami's closed eyes snapped open and she turned her head in such haste that he feared about her getting a whiplash. She gulped a huge lump of shock to wet her suddenly dry throat. Sweeping her tongue on her bottom lip, she asked, "L-lap D-dance?"

"Haan toh? Ab tum apne best friend ki advice bhi nahi maanogi? Haalanki usne toh tumhe stra..." Karan started to give an impeccably innocent explanation but was cut off by Monami's palm on his mouth.

(Yes, so what? Now you won't even act up on your best friends' advice? Although she asked you to stra...)

"You heard it?" She foolishly asked, even after knowing he did.

Karan bobbed his hand down, his mouth still covered by her hand.

"When did you even come?" Monami asked in disbelief and removed her palm from his face.

"A little before Sidharth said about you implementing their ideas on Mr. Bean." Karan bit his bottom leaf to stop his full-blown laughter that was peeping to come to life.

Monami was embarrassed. "You should stop with your eavesdropping."

Karan chuckled. "Hey, it was unintentional okay." But then he reminisced about a sweet memory and said, "It's like a déjà vu, right?"

Monami too joined him, her lips wearing a smile he gave her.

"Toh kya karne waali ho tum? Lap dance or..? Karan raised his eyebrow in sheer divertissement.

(So what are you going to do?)

Monami smacked his upper arm and shook her head, heat crawling up her cheeks. "Shut up. Tum... tum na bilkul he besharam bante jaa rahe ho. Now let me get up." She fake reprimanded him and then muttered.

(You...you are just becoming shameless.)

"These were not your words a few minutes back, sweetheart." Karan teased with a clear innuendo in his voice, making Monami blush profusely, as she shook her head.

They kept sitting for a couple of minutes in their comforting silence which allowed them to relish their closeness and affection.

Soon after, Monami finally got up and helped Karan to walk to their room and settled him on the bed, and then gave him his clothes from the cupboard.

Karan grabbed them from her hand and attempted to tease her. "Do I really have to comply with these? Can't I have my clothes back?" And this earned him a smack and an eye roll and no reply.

Ordering her husband to rest, Monami went into the kitchen and cleaned the slab, and then pulled a curtain. She then took a few wet wipes and a cloth and went out into the living room to clean her boots. Once done with this, she made her way back to their room where she found herself to be the center of attention of Karan as his eyes refused to leave her frame. She shook her head at this man and went into the washroom to take her now damped clothes from the washing machine and went into the living room to hang them to dry.

Finally done with all her chores, she went back into their sanctuary and settled on the bed beside him, half leaning on the headrest and half facing him.

"Tumhe chot kaise lagi? Aur tumne pain relief spray lagaya? And what about the painkiller, did you take it??" Monami went on with her question express.

(How did you get hurt? Did you apply the pain relief spray?)

"Shaant meri fighter pilot, shaant." Karan said and briefed her about the dramatic events that happened to him. He further outstretched his arm and entangled his fingers with her in a silent request of reducing the space between them. He then answered the questions that were shot at him, "I applied the pain relief before sleeping and even now." His lips twitched in displeasure as he added, "It was the after-effect of the painkiller that I was literally dead asleep."

(Easy there, my fighter pilot.)

"Hmm."

"You tell me officer, how was your mission?" Karan feigned the sharpness in voice, to change the mood.

"It was all fine, Captain. We did it." Monami played along with him.

They both then indulged in the talks of what all happened in their absence. Monami also told Karan about how their niece addressed her as "Fighter Chachi", which erupted chortles from both sides.

"Aur tumhe pata hai kya? Papa na bilkul papa ke jaise hain." Monami concluded about the conversations which took place with both their fathers earlier.

(You know what? Father is just like father.)

"Hain? Toh papa nahi toh aur kiske jaise honge?" He dumbly asked.

(Uh? If not like a father then who will a father resemble?)

"Seriously Karan?" Monami deadpanned. "What I meant was that your father in so many ways is like my father. And it is endearing." She elaborated with a soft smile.

Karan felt touched and overjoyed when his wife in the simplest of words conveyed how much his family was hers now. It was a big thing since this acceptance is equally difficult for men as it is for women; to consider and then embrace your partner's family as your own.

It was somewhere around 6 in the evening when Monami asked, "Karan, can we take an early dinner? I mean if you want to take it later then no issues but...?

"Oh no no, not at all. It has been a long time since I've had properly spiced food. I have used all my cooking skills in making the food these days and trust me when I say this, sometimes the salt was less or more, and other times it was the chilies. In a way, I'm famished to have homemade food." Karan rambled in his overly dramatic tone.

Monami felt a twinge in her heart as she heard him. He was someone who just had learned the basics of cooking and each time when he was the one handling the dishes, she always made sure to be there by his side but all these days he had to manage all alone.

Monami tumbled his hair a little in affection and said softly, "Don't worry; now since I am here, I'll make sure to feed you the right amount of healthiness. Phir tumhe jaldi theek bhi toh hona hai taaki tum apni cricketing skills ka trailer dikha sako mujhe."

(Also mister, you have to get well real soon so that you can show me a trailer of your cricketing skills.)

"Madam if you've forgotten then let me remind you, I have shown you a complete live match." Karan boasted and then questioned, "And by the way, how am I supposed to show you any kind of trailer here; in this space?"

"That's for me to know and you to find out." Monami smugly said and then with an evident prod in her voice she added, " Vaise tumhe pata hai agar mummy hoti na toh mai unse kya kehti?" By mummy, she meant, Karan's mother.

(You know if mummy would have been here then what I would've said to her?)

"Kya?" Karan raised his eyebrow in discernible curiosity.

"Yahi ki... mummy aapko apne bete ko rasoi mein thoda paseena bahane dena chahiye tha." She leaned in his direction and bopped his nose before pulling back whilst stifling a chuckle.

(The fact... that mummy you should have let your son know about the works of the kitchen.)

Karan flicked his nose as his lips curved up in a sheepish smile at her undisguised mockery. "Aur tumhe pata hai mummy kya kehti?" he continued after getting her eager nod, "Yahi ki beta ji, iss khottey ko pehle meetha churaane se fursat milti toh he kuch karta. Lekin ab kyuki tum bhi ho toh hum dono milke isko bilkul sarvagunn sampan munda bana denge."

(And you know what mummy would have said?) (My dear child, this brat surely would have done something if he would have got some off time from stealing sweets from the kitchen. But no worries, now that we both are here, we'll transform him into a gentleman endowed with all the good qualities.)

Monami's head bent backward as she ensued after hearing him imitate his mother. It was equal amounts of funny, sweet, and adoring. Whilst seeing her like this, talking about his mother in such a casual way as if she knew her since long flared up his heart with an unmistakable pull towards her. It was more than just an attraction, far away from infatuation but closest to what you call a tender yet earnest, love. This also made one thing clear to him, that he should not trust her when she says that she does not know the art of expression, because if she does all of this unbeknownst to the way people express then what she would have done had she known this; this realization blew his mind.

After calming down, Monami shook her head to compose her insides and then dashed towards the kitchen to bring their dinner, when she heard him scream about setting one plate between them because according to him, this was the least she could do in this time for a person who is not well.

Karan's eyes glittered in glee when he saw the contents in the plate after she kept it on the newspaper which he spread on the bed. It was Dal Chawal, a food that was equivalent to home, for him. They did their dinner with some little chit-chat here and there and then Monami did the remaining work.

Once free from everything, Monami sat near Karan and then video-called at her home, which was received by his mother.

"Monu, bacche. Kaisi hai? Theek hai na?" Juhi's concern was unmissable.

(Monu, kiddo, how are you?)

"As you can see me, Mumma, all well. How are you? How is your diabetes? I hope it is in balance?" Monami said.

" Monu mai ghar par he thi aur abhi bhi ghar he hoon toh basically I'm absolutely fine. By the way, I am your mother, not you. Huh, har samay khadoosiyat naak pe chadha ke rakhti hai." Juhi scrunched her nose in chagrin.

( Monu, I was at home only back then and even now so basically what I mean to say is I'm absolutely fine.) (Why do you have to carry this grumpiness on your nose, every time?)

Karan turned the phone in his direction and teamed up with his mother-in-law, "I agree mumma." Oh well, this earned him a pinch on his thigh, which made him grumble in pain.

"Mumma, she is pinching me." Karan complained like a kid.

"Monu, don't do this. He is my sweet child, and he didn't say any lies." Juhi shook her head in disapproval.

Monami's jaw dropped at this duo and she huffed in disbelief. Before she could open her mouth to ask about her brother, Vedant appeared on screen.

"Monu Di?" Vedant said and paused and after a wordless eye-to-eye communication between the siblings, he added, "So good to see you back. I hope those nonsensical pests did not have to face you."

Monami chuckled. "No, they didn't."

"Kaise hain aap saale sahab?" Karan asked after slightly turning the phone in his direction and slightly getting closer to his wife.

(How are you, my dear brother-in-law?)

"Main toh theek hoon jeej. But from what I can see, Majnu bhai ko apni Ishika mil he gayi, kam se kam yahan toh." The tease was flowing like sand from the hand from Vedant's mouth and this immediately tinted Karan's cheeks.

(I am doing fine jeej. But from what I can see, Majnu Bhai finally got his Ishika, at least here.)

{Majnu Bhai and Ishika- This is a couple from a Hindi movie, Welcome.}

"Huh?" Monami was confused.

"Oh ho di, actually..."Before Vedant could spill his secrets, Karan interrupted in between.

"Veddd, why are you being so emotional?" Karan plastered a saccharine smile and then he looked at Monami, "It's nothing. You know na he is mad like that. Ignore."

The sibling duo narrowed their eyes at Karan, and so he instantly corrected himself, "Just kidding guys, chill out."

They talked for a bit more and then Monami dialed Barkha's number. Karan, who was peeping into her phone, snatched it the moment he saw whom she dialed.

As expected, it was received by the youngest Shergill, whose face sparkled up in such an uncorrupted and contagious glee that it made both Monami and Karan smile in delight.

"Chachuuu, hiiii. Kaise ho?" The little kid chirped.

(Hi Chachu, how are you?)

"Chachuu ka baccha. Mai bilkul theek hoon, aap kaise ho? Shaitaani toh chaalu hai na?" Karan greeted then asked in the most serious tone he could utter.

(Chachu's kiddo. I am fine, what about you? I hope you're carrying on with your mischief.)

"Aye aye, Captain." Baby mock saluted.

"Hi, baccha. What is this hairstyle that you have made? You are looking super cute." Monami took the phone back and said in the softest tone.

"Hello, fighter chachi. Mumma made it, after doing a lot of twisting in my hair." Baby explained.

Then Param and Barkha too appeared behind baby on the screen. Param pulled baby on his lap and Barkha sat beside him on the sofa. They all exchanged some greetings and pleasantries. And then how could Param miss the chance to embarrass his sibling in front of his wife so slyly biting his lower lip and said, "Vaise Majnu Bhai, aapne welcome kaisa diya?" He pulled a fake concerned expression and averted his gaze towards Monami. "I hope he left no stone unturned in your coming back!"

(By the way, Majnu Bhai, how did you welcome your wife?)

"Huh?" Monami was confused at this repeated denotation that she was hearing for her husband and she looked at him, only to find his cheeks a little tined which made her amused.

"Bhaiya, not you please." Karan mumbled embarrassed.

"Oh is it? But why should I keep it hidden when you did no courteous thing in front of Barkha." Param was fueled up to make the scores equal against his brother.

"If we have to see, then Karan, Param isn't wrong." Barkha joined her husband, enjoying the flushed face of her brother-in-law.

"Okay now, I need to know what it is." Monami firmly said.

"Kuch nahi, devrani ji, bas Karan aapko itna yaad kar raha tha ki iska muh phule huey gubbare ki tarah phula hua tha aur mann toh phir kahan he lagna tha. Toh bas aise he baton baton mein papa na iska naam Majnu Bhai rakh diya." Barkha elucidated making Monami's eyes wide and Karan's cheeks heated up and then with an undisguised tease in her voice she asked, " Vaise Monami, tumhe kya bulana hai? Majnu bhi ki ishika ya Majnu ki Laila?"

(Nothing, my dear sister-in-law it's just that Karan was missing you so much that his face was puffed up like a bloated balloon and then obviously since his heart was with you, how could he focus on any other thing? So that's why Papa just renamed him Majnu Bhai.) (By the way Monami, what should we address you as; Majnu Bhai's Ishika or Majnu's Laila?)

{Laila- Majnu- A couple who exemplifies love.}

Monami's eyes fluttered as she tried to control the blush that subtly grazed her cheek and she said quietly, "Bhabhi, I am fine as Monami."

They all talked for some more time with some light banter here and there before they called it a night. The couple slept quite early too, surrendering to their exhaustion.

Isn't it beautiful? How just a few tiny sneaked-in moments of love, affection, and happiness can make your day a remarkable one. Ironically, these little tad bits of stolen and stored nanoseconds are the ones that help us go and let us crave the urge to create more such moments to fill up our box of memories.

|~|~|~|~|

5.1k+ words.

How was the chapter guys? I hope the scenes were right and not forced. I would love to know your opinion.

Any thoughts on Majnu Bhai? Or his Monami?

P.S ~Also, this will be the update schedule, once in 7-10 days.

Please vote and comment because these are the only source of motivation!

Much love,
Nehal.