Hey lovelies!

Here is the another one! I hope you enjoy it.

Happy reading!

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Pune

November 2020

Indian Defence Station, Indian Air Force.

Quarter No. 15

Chances of getting hit by an oddball are... well, pretty much odd, aren't they? And here, we're explicitly talking about the unexpected moments that stumble into us out of nowhere, haywire our senses and twirl us like a hurricane before passing. Well, the hurricane can be either a disruptive one or the one that accompanies quirkiness. The latter one seems a rather pleasing option and something that we would choose to encounter any day, in place of the one that can shake our world.

But what no one discusses is the fact these hurricanes withhold the power to stir our very being with a plethora of surging emotions. At times, it invokes us to unveil a layer of us that has never breathed in the air. Ab taaki hum apne ehsaason ko beparda kar sake, isiliye tez hawaon ko apna rukh humari ore karna he padta hai. Shayad vaise he jaise doodh mein malai bhale nahi pasand lekin rabdi khaane par vichaar thode thode he sahi par badal zaroor jaate hain.

(The winds need to change their direction towards us so that we can unveil our feelings. Similarly, we may not like the cream on milk but even if a little bit, we might have a change of thought when it comes to -rabdi.)

[Rabdi/ Rabri- Rabdi is a sweet, condensed-milk-based dish, originating from the Indian subcontinent, more specifically the Bengal region. Rabdi is made by boiling milk on low heat for a long time until it becomes dense and changes its color to off-white or pale yellow. Jaggery, spices, and nuts are added to it to give it flavor. At times, it is even consumed with Jalebis, making it a perfect dessert.]

Wrapped up in a bundle of quirkiness and goofiness, was how Monami would define her husband. She in the dead of the night, when most of the world prefers dozing off, was here, in a dimly lit room, listening to the intoxicated, little less sensible and blabbering rants of her husband; drunk husband. Oh and at times, she was also taking equal participation.

The fact that tickled her pink was that despite being a Punjabi, he did not indulge in drinking or that he had quite a low-spirited attitude towards alcohol because, from what she had witnessed in her colleagues and the anecdotes from the same, she could have a picture which hinted at this habit. But as they say, exceptions are everywhere.

"Monamiiii." Karan whined when his hazy eyes caught the sight of his wife, quite lost in herself.

"Huh, Haan?" She came out of her mindless staring session of her husband.

"Bolo naaa kuch." He said or rather demanded.

(Say something.)

Monami chuckled and shook her head and then she took a chance to ask the question that lingered in her mind. "Karan, vaise aaj tumne mujhe call kaise kiya? I mean pehle toh kabhi nahi kiya. Mera matlab tum..." Although she wanted to ask him about who he usually called but then she got entangled in her web of words, not wanting to make him feel conscious.

(How come you called me today, Karan? I mean you never did before. I mean you...)

"Hawww Monami. Tum toh yun safed jhoot bol rahi ho. Maine tumhe kab call na-nahi kiya? Tum bhool rahi ho toh mai bata doon, ki ab-abhi bhi ma-maine he tumhe call kiya tha. V-varna tum toh apne pati ko bhool he gayi thi." Karan narrowed his eyes, went on and on in his tipsiness, hiccupped a bit, and then puffed his cheeks, scrunched his nose, and turned his head, to show his anger.

(Monami! You're outrageously lying on my face. When didn't I ca-call you? If you're forgetting, then let me remind you that even n-now, it is m-me who has called you. Otherwise, when do you even remember your husband?)

Monami didn't know how to act in that moment. Should she laugh because even under the influence of the alcohol, his drama was on point, in fact, it was above his usual level, or should she shake her head in disbelief that he even failed to comprehend what she was hinting at. Then again, his senses were befuddled too.

"Karan?" She tried but he just turned his head a little more.

Monami bit back a full-blown smile that was finding it hard not to settle on her lips. "Accha baba, I'm sorry! Maine he jhooth bola." She paused when she saw him melting a little. "Dekho maine kaan bhi pakad liye." She held her left ear when she saw Karan turning, although his eyes twitched to seek confirmation.

(Okay fine, I'm sorry. I am the only one to lie, isn't it?) (See, I'm holding my ears too.)

"Fine fine!" He nonchalantly said.

"Okay tell me something! Do you usually drunk dial to someone or is it just me?" Monami raised her eyebrows.

"Noooo naaa. Maine na kabhi kabhi bhaiya aur papa ko call kiya hua hai, lekin woh dono baap-bete har baar mujhe chidhaate hain, balki mazaak udaate hain, yeh kehke ki unke parivar mein alag he hoon mai jis'sey sambhalti nahi hai." Karan twitched his lips in displeasure. He leaned a bit forward, his face covering the entire screen of his wife's phone, and then in a serious tone, he continued, "Tumhe ek secret batau? Yeh he reason hai jiski wajah se mai aadhi baar peeta nahi hoon, not that I like its taste anyway. It's too bitter and sour for my taste buds."

(I have called Papa and Bhaiya. But that father-son duo! They always have to tease me or rather they mock me by saying that I am the oddball in their family, who cannot handle getting drunk.) (Shall I tell you a secret? This is one of the reasons why I don't drink half of the time.)

Monami's each cell in her body wriggled to be with Karan. This long distance was just so so so bad. People aren't wrong when they say that long distance is a bitch. Because it fucking is. In this very moment, she longed to be there, with him, by his side, simply canoodling with this adorably goofy mess. She would rather enjoy his inebriated chatters in an up, close, personal manner than stare at him on the screen.

She curled her lips in her mouth and nodded her head at his secret. She then asked, "Hmm. So how come you called me? I mean wasn't Faizi there?"

Though Monami tried to brush off the fact, at the same time wanted to know what Karan would say and she was kind of hoping that it would be her name only because if his first choice was Faizi, then she would definitely be jealous! As it is, that man gets to stay with her husband more than her.

"Nooo. Mai uss saand ko phone kyu karta? Usi ki team ne haraya hai aaj hume. Huh!" He twisted his lips before continuing, "Aur vaise bhi, ab toh mere paas ho na tum! Toh tumhare alawa kyu kisi aur ko dhoondhu?"

(Why would I call that ox and that too, when it was his team that defeated us?) (Moreover, now I have you, so why would I even look for someone else?)

"Accha? Aur woh kyu?" She raised her eyebrows.

(And why is this so?)

"Offo! Ab tum meri biwi ho, aur tumhare hote mujhe kahan kisi bhi dusre ki zaroorat? Ab toh peeke talli hone ki bhi chinta nahi hai, tum ho na sambhaalne ke liye, aur vaise bhi sh-shaadi mein kasam khayi thi ki ek dusre ke sabse acche saathi banenge toh phir bas! Toh aajse aapki raaton pe bhi mera haq hua! Vaise iss haq ko jataane ki permission hai na mujhe?" Karan in those nanoseconds, did not even slur for a bit. It was as if he, in his truest and most meaningful sense was conveying his feelings.

(Now that you are my wife, why would I need someone else? I'm not even afraid of getting drunk, because you are there to look after me. And as it is, we've vowed to be each other's most exceptional partners, so we must abide by it. So henceforth, I have the rights on your nights. But I hope I am allowed to emphasize this right?)

Monami watched in literal awe, with all the warmth that enveloped her. She was the luckiest, to have a partner, a companion this thoughtful and wonderful. After a few overwhelming seconds, she whispered firmly, "Tumhe poora haq hai."

(You have all the rights.)

"Mm-hm." Karan nodded and then said nothing. He kept on staring at his wife's face, first in awe and then in a way as if trying to figure something out.

Monami narrowed her eye at his endless gazing which was now knocking on the corners of her insides, in a funny way.

"Tum itni pyaari kaise ho? Aur har samay itna pyara lagna zaroori hai kya?" He spoke in a soft voice, infused with affection.

(How are you this asthore? And how can you always look this beautiful?)

Monami's cheeks flared up. Hardly had she met anyone besides her parents who addressed her with the endearment of pyaari. This man and his choice of words for her is something she'll always cherish. Her fingers subtly fiddled with the phone as she swept her tongue on her lower lip before speaking, "Tumne itni chadha rakhi hai ki neend se just utha insaan pyara lag raha hai. I'm looking like a mess." She leaned a little to see herself on the screen and then tucked her unruly strands behind her ear.

(You're so drunk that you're finding a person beautiful after she just woke up from her sleep.)

"Pehla, mujhe yeh mess bohot pyara lagta hai. Dusra, tumne suna nahi hai ki peen eke baad insaan sach he bolta hai? Aur vaise bhi, tumhare baare mein bolne ya tumse kuch kehne ke liye mujhe nashe ki zaroorat nahi hai." Karan affirmed. "Aur teesra yeh ki agar kabhi tum zara paas mein baithogi toh shayad mujhe shabdon ka sahara na lena pade yeh batane ke liye ke tum kitni khoobsoorat ho." He cheekily yet sincerely added, although there was a clear-cut innuendo on his zara paas.

(First, I adore this mess. Second, haven't you heard that a man is extremely truthful when he is drunk? Moreover, I don't need any sort of intoxication when I have to say something about you or to you.) (And third, I might not need any help of words if you ever sit in my vicinity, to tell me how beautiful you are.)

The heat that just toned down was back on her cheeks, unveiling a wave of fuzziness in her. Her eyes fluttered, with a delicate bloom that enveloped her. Looking back at his unwavering gaze, she asked a stupid question, as she registered his last set of words. "Tum flirt kar rahe ho, Karan?"

(Are you flirting with me, Karan?)

"Haan, kyuki tum toh karne se rahi toh mai he kar rha hoon?" He said nonchalantly.

(Yeah, because you aren't going to do any such thing so I had to.)

"Aur woh kyu?" She raised her eyebrows.

(And why is that?)

"Ab apni biwi se nahi toh kya kishorilal ke padosi se karu?" He said in a duh tone.

(Now whom should I flirt with, if not my wife; neighbor of Kishorilal?)

"Ksihorilal kon hai ab?" She chuckled.

(Who is this Kishorilal now?)

"Hoga koi, mujhe kya!" This was his smart answer.

(He might be someone, for all I care.)

"Pagal ho tum, pure ke pure!" Monami's lips were curved in a full-blown smile as she shook her head.

(You're mad.)

And just the way Monami presumed, this call lasted until Karan slept or until it was a few minutes before her usual waking time. But there was not even an ounce of sleep in her midnight eyes. Her eyes or her movements held no hurry whatsoever. It seemed as if she had all the time in the world she could have. There was an alluring peace that was radiating on her visage, and it was nothing short of mesmerizing, the best part was that she could feel it.

She continued to gaze at the screen silently, her eyes filling in every tiny detail that Karan's sleeping silhouette allowed her to. She found herself getting captivated even by those little breathing moments that let his arm rise and fall as per the pace of his calm breaths.

"I'm so grateful for you, Karan! You are my most beautiful blessing." She whispered and caressed the mobile screen before hanging up.

The next two days went smoothly, with the team landing back in India. Although Karan could have traveled to Pune, considering they arrived at Mumbai but then he decided to follow what was decided, which was to travel back to Udaipur and get his tests done before heading back home if everything turned in favor.

After almost a week and almost three days before her short term ghar-wapsi, Monami came back after her routine drill, freshened up, picked up her phone, and dropped a text to her husband, an unsaid schedule that was made.

(Homecoming)

"Hey! Free for a vc?"

"Hey! Kind of, wait I'll do it."

He wasted no further time in giving her a video call, albeit after settling his hair a bit.

"Hey! How are you? How was your day?" Monami spoke as she saw him.

"Hey, I'm good, and the day went pretty well too." He averted his eyes from the screen and concentrated elsewhere, more precisely on the TV before resuming the conversation. "You say? How was your drill?"

"It was fine, too." Monami bit her lip and paused before asking, "How is your calf now?"

But clearly, Karan was distracted as he yet again turned his eyes off, from the phone, thus missing out on what she asked.

"Ha? Sorry, what did you say?"

Monami licked her lower lip and asked again, "How is your calf now?"

"It is good now." He took another pause lowered the volume of the TV in his room and asked, "You tell me, how was your sortie today? You were supposed to fly a different plane today, isn't it?"

Monami sucked in a deep breath and said in a calm tone, "Karan, we'll talk later. Please continue with your match. And just to let you know, my sortie was the day before yesterday."

All of this literally happened in the snap of fingers. She said what she wanted to and then hung up. Karan stared at the screen blankly, before his attention went on the LED screen which was airing on the commentary of the game so far, of the IPL finals.

"Fuck!" He muttered and hurriedly switched off his oh so attention-seeking device. He then closed his eyes in disbelief. His mind reflected on the moments that happened a few minutes back and a handful of them which transpired in between them, the entire week.

"Karan beta, lag gaye tere toh." He rubbed his palm on his face.

(You have fucked up, Karan!)

He hurriedly called back his wife. But obviously, she didn't receive it. He tried again but got the same response. He kept his eyes glued to his now lightless screen and after a few minutes, he received a text, which did nothing but add to his guilt.

"Later."

Long forgotten was the match and the food seemed tasteless too as he sat with his family for dinner because he was waiting for nothing but the time he'd get to talk with her.

"Kya bhai, kya hua hai? Khaana khaa na sahi se." Param said.

(What is up with you, bro? Have your food properly.)

Karan tightly smiled and forced the food down his throat.

Once done with food, he went up on the terrace to take a little stroll when his niece tugged on his pants, after a few minutes of his mindless walk. He turned his head putting his phone in his pocket and kneeled, to match her height.

"Yes, kiddo?"

"Chachuu chalo na hot choco peene... Aapne kal bhi kaha tha." Baby pouted and complained.

(Chachu let's go and have hot choco. You said yesterday also.)

He didn't want to wipe off the sparkle in his eyes and so he said yes. Together, they went downstairs and marched to Param and Barkha's room and knocked on it.

"Bhabhi, please issey jacket pehna do, hum bas ek choti si drive pe jaake aarahe hain." Karan said as Barkha opened the door and looked at chacha- bhatiji. Well, the jacket was a must for the little Shergill as it was quite cold at night.

(Bhabhi, please make her wear a jacket. We are just going out for a short drive.)

"Karan, tum rehne dete na baccha, tumhara mood bhi theek nahi lag raha." Barkha said with concern.

(Karan, kiddo you could have refused it. Your mood doesn't seem fine either.)

"No bhabhi, I'm good and as it is, I cannot refuse my partner." He smiled in assurance.

Not wanting to probe much, Barkha let it go and soon the troublemaking duo was in the car, buckled up to reach their destination. And as bad as his timing could be, his phone went off. It was Monami.

"Hello!"

Since his mobile was connected with the Bluetooth in the car, her phone was received by Baby.

"Hiii chachiii. Kaise ho?"

(Hi chachi, how are you?)

"I'm good sweetheart, how are you? How come you picked up Chachu's phone?" The surprise was evident in her tone.

"I and Chachu are going for a hot chocoo. We are in the car." Baby informed excitedly.

"That's great baby. But very bad, you didn't even ask me nor did you wait for me."

"Offo chachi, you are there na, toh aap humare saath kaise chalte? Aur ab toh aap aane he waale ho, hum log phir se chalenge." The little kid chirped.

(Offo chachi, since you are there how could you join us? Also, now that you are coming here, we'll go again.)

They conversed for a few more minutes until Monami said, "Okay now! I have to go and sleep baccha! I have my drills tomorrow."

And somehow, even before Karan could say something, the call ended, albeit Monami waited for a few seconds for him to say something.

In the silence of night, when Karan was slumped against the headrest, his mind traveled across the knitted web of events that took place in the last few days. And this time, more than the distance, it was his fault.

After the drunken call that night, they had hardly conversed properly. As it is, during the entire IPL, they had to work out with very few calls in between, and before that, it was net practices. But somehow they managed. Yet, the moment he landed back on his soil, somehow it seemed that the universe had conspired against their favor.

Regardless of his abrupt schedule, this time Monami made sure to put in all the extra effort that was needed from her end and she was successful. But after coming back, Karan was so caught up with his own shenanigans, that he barely got time to reply to her messages, let alone calls. He was distracted with literally what you call mundane tasks. He was busy catching up with his sleep and travels and tests and the time he got in between, he sincerely invested in chatting with his friends or bonding with them over online games as if he was never going to see them back. And in this entire ordeal, he had successfully missed catching up with his wife's latest achievement and her presence altogether.

Well well, did Karan curse their long distance? Oh, so many times more than he could remember. Did he hate it? He does now, more than ever. They had dealt with the long distance very maturely, but he had to jinx it when it was about to end. And although he was at the receiving end this time, he for sure was not ready for her silent anger. Silent anger? Yes! That's what he had termed it as Monami instead of screaming, chose to express her anger in a very calm manner; it was a cold calmness that could make anyone feel aloof and bad.

Sighing helplessly, he made a firm decision to make it up to her, for them, before her homecoming. Though he wanted to go to bed after resolving their differences, he'll do just that the first moment he'll get with her the next day. But for now, a message will do.

"The first thing you'll be doing after reaching back home, is seeing my face. With dher saara maaf kardo written on it!"

(Asking for a lot of forgiveness.)

"I'm sorry na!"

Finally after getting miffed with the slow working of time, cursing their lock distance, endless pacing in his home, messing his hair countless times, and with almost the entire day of dil aur dimag kahin aur who khud kahin, it was the most awaited moment of his day. It was 6 in the evening, the time his wife returned to the quarters.

(With him being somewhere else and his heart and mind somewhere else.)

True to his words, Karan's incoming call was the first thing she saw as soon as she stepped into her home and switched her phone on after changing, also there were 3 missed calls already! Talk about impatiently sincere commitments!

Karan almost immediately spoke as soon as his eyes caught the sight of his wife. But seeing her in front of him, with little wet baby hair and hair tips and a similar pair of midnight orbs glancing back at him, he failed to utter anything. He was seeing her in this manner after a prolonged period of time and honestly, he missed this and now he missed her more! Why couldn't she come early? He thought grumpily.

Monami walked, holding her phone, and kept it with the support of the dressing table mirror whilst she wiped off the little remaining droplets of water from her face and dabbed her damp hair. All this while, she was well aware of his unfaltering gaze but she made no effort to speak anything beyond a simple "Hi".

Once done with her work, she settled down on the bed. She noticed that the whole time; when she was occupied with her stuff, he didn't even initiate something. So she inhaled a deep breath and asked in a soft voice, "Karan, kuch kehna hai?"

(Do you want to say something, Karan?)

"I'm sorry!" He said quietly.

Monami gulped and nodded slightly. "Umm, kuch aur baat hai?"

(Is there something else too?)

Karan deduced that she was really upset and not angry and that she did not even want to talk, at least at this moment but she was doing so, because he was holding up the conversation, although he failed to find the right words and partly because, at the end both of them know that communication is the key. But what added to his guilt was the fact that even after his actions, she had not even raised her voice at him whereas had he been in her shoes, he would have definitely screamed.

"Tum- Tumne kabhi mujhpe gussa kyu nahi kiya jab maine aise stupidly behave kiya?" He questioned.

(Why have you never been angry with me, especially when I behaved this stupidly?)

She kept mum. Taking this as a chance he gulped the lump in his throat and said to her, "I am sorry for prioritizing the stuff over what should be my priority. Although it was unintentional but then too, when I reflect back... I could have managed to give time to you easily but I chose otherwise." He chuckled mirthlessly before continuing. "As it is we crib about the limited time we have and then I go on to behave this reckle-"

Seeing him taking the load of their emotional burden solely, Monami interrupted him. "Karan! It's okay. It happens. I am sorry too, for not understanding that you might need time too... with yourself and with settling down."

"Still in no way I should behave like that."

"Calm down baba! It was the first time, I'm sure we'll get better." She blinked her eyes in assurance.

"I know we will, but this time what I forgot was the fact that we are married, and your life partner needs attention like no other. Just the way each member of the family needs it differently." Karan said thoughtfully.

Monami simpered a bit.

"Lekin Monami, tumne toh baazi maarli. You kept us going amid this abrupt schedule and insufficiency of my efforts. Efforts is baar 200 percent thhey aur tumhare he thhey. You kept us holding and I failed!" Karan's genuineness reflected in his words.

(But Monami, you bowled this time, and how! This time, it was your efforts, 200 percent and solely yours.)

"Oye! Aisa kuch nahi hai. You've given when you could and vaise bhi shaadi and partnership is not about 50- 50, it is about being more when the other needs it. It means balance. You've been my rock since the very beginning and this time I just made a little effort at it." Monami smiled.

(Hey, it's nothing like that.) (Moreover, marriage...)

Karan smiled, and his heart fluttered at her understanding and appreciation. If this is the way reserved people behaved, he was glad for her nature.

After a few sneaky seconds, he repeated the first question he asked in the beginning and this time rather curiously, "But tell me, why don't you ever show your anger? Why do you behave in this extra calm manner? Don't you feel like screaming?"

Monami's lips curved in a small smile as she answered. "It has been years since I've last screamed at somebody in anger. You know when we began our defense training, we undergo a lot of challenges, and controlling our emotions that can cause reflexive impulsiveness becomes a necessity. Also, staying calm helps you to unclutter your mind and think in perspective that is required and not in the way you think it should be." She paused before adding cheekily, "Aur iss sey BP bhi nahi badhta!"

(And this keeps BP in control too.)

Karan saw her in awe. In awe of the person she is, the maturity and understanding she holds, the grappling perspective of her, and the ease that radiates out of her.

They talked for a bit more before Karan got a call on his phone.

"Okay now, I have to go! But come soon yaarrrrr, I miss you! It's been a long time already!" He clicked his tongue in his mouth.

Monami chuckled. "Calm down! It's hardly two more days and then we'll be together. And I miss you too! Go now, take care."

"You too."

And just like that, this hour of their conversation and this period of resolving their brimming differences turned into the golden moments in the odyssey of their companionship. Not like the golden hour after the hurricane but the golden hour after the initial moments of the sunrise when the sunlight is diffused and drapes a warm quilt of serenity. It took them a step closer to their mutually shared affection and fondness and it blossomed like the sunflowers in the sun.

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4.6k+words

Hey all! First of all, I'm sincerely sorry for not following what I said. But lately, life has been busy. I've started with my masters and there's this internship training which is not letting me breathe. But I promise to be on track, after I get hold of things.

Now coming back, please do tell how was the chapter? The argument scene was a little difficult for me to think and write so tell me if it came well?

Also, with a lot of gratitude in my heart, I thank each and everyone of you for your immense support that we've made it till here. We'll be hitting our half centuy in the next one! So tell me, if you want me to do something special, now that we're in the final chapters of the story!

Okay now, there's something I want to ask that even after getting adequate reads, why do we lack in votes? A little tap on the star button would mean a lot to me.

Please vote, comment and share!

Love,
Nehal.