Chapter Twenty-Four: Ball of Moonlight

Nehmat stepped out in front of her apartment building as the driver unloaded her bags from the trunk. She turned to thank the driver, saying, "Thank you, bhaiya. Main yahan se manage kar lungi."

"Par Madam ne ghar tak aapko safely chhodne bola tha," the driver replied.

"Koi baat nahi, chinta mat karo. Aap chale jao, main theek hoon," Nehmat reassured him with a smile.

The driver hesitated for a moment, looking unsure. "Kya aap sure hain, madam? Aapko ghar tak chodne mein koi takleef nahi hogi mujhe."

Nehmat nodded, her smile warm. "Haan, shukriya. Aapki fikar ke liye dhanyavaad, par main theek hoon. Aapne pehle bhi bahut madad ki hai."

Reluctantly, the driver nodded back, giving her a small smile. "Theek hai, phir. Agar aapko kuch chahiye ho toh mujhe call kijiye, thik hai?"

"Zaroor, dhanyavaad phir se," Nehmat replied, waving as the driver drove off. She watched the car disappear around the corner before heading inside her building, feeling grateful for the kindness of their driver.

As Nehmat walked into the building, she noticed a few stares directed her way, likely because of her family background. However, no one approached her, sensing it might be awkward to do so. Ignoring the attention, she pressed the lift button and took a moment to observe her surroundings. Although the society she lived in now was ordinary compared to the luxurious lifestyle she had with her brother and sister-in-law, it felt more like home.

Pressing the button for the 15th floor, she waited as the lift ascended. In the meantime, she could hear the sounds of women chatting and children playing, a rare sight compared to her previous residence. When the lift doors opened on her floor, she stepped out only to freeze in her tracks. Standing in front of her door was a tall man wearing glasses, a cap, and a mask, giving off the vibe of a potential thief.

As Nehmat looked around and saw no one else in the vicinity, her heart raced with a mix of fear and determination. The man's back was turned towards her, but she could sense his presence looming ominously. With a gulp, she set her bags down and rolled up her sleeves, preparing herself for what she needed to do.

She cracked her knuckles, trying to steady her nerves, before finally mustering up the courage to take action. Without hesitating any longer, she lunged forward, aiming to take the man by surprise. The element of surprise was on her side as she tackled him with all her might, catching him off guard.

The man let out a loud yelp of surprise as Nehmat's fists made contact with his back. Despite his initial shock, he quickly recovered and tried to defend himself, but Nehmat was relentless. With each punch, she uttered a few choice curses, fueled by adrenaline and the need to protect herself.

Their scuffle attracted attention from nearby residents, and amidst the chaos, the man managed to remove Nehmat's hand from his mouth.

"Damn, Nehmat, it's me," he exclaimed, his voice muffled slightly by the mask he wore.

Nehmat froze, her eyes widening in disbelief as she recognized the familiar voice. She took a step back, her fists still clenched, her mind struggling to process what had just happened. Slowly, she lowered her guard, allowing her adrenaline-fueled instincts to subside.

Realization dawned upon Nehmat as she looked at the man before her, his features becoming clearer beneath the glasses and cap. It was her boyfriend, Shubman.

Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she realized her mistake. "Shubman? What... I'm so sorry," she stammered, her voice filled with a mixture of apology and relief.

Nehmat turned to her neighbours, who had gathered around, and quickly explained, "He's my friend. It's all fine." She offered a sheepish smile, hoping to diffuse the tension.

The neighbours chuckled understandingly and nodded. "Not a problem at all," one of them said reassuringly. "And since you're new here, let us know if you need any help with anything."

Nehmat nodded gratefully at her neighbours and murmured a sincere "Thank you" before turning to head into her apartment. She felt a wave of relief wash over her as she realized they had taken the situation in stride, treating her just like any other neighbour rather than someone's sister. It was a comforting feeling, knowing she could rely on the community around her for support and understanding. With a smile, she entered her home, feeling grateful for the warm welcome she had received.

As the door closed behind her, Nehmat felt a gentle push, and she found herself pressed against it. She gasped softly as Shubman removed his mask and glasses, his lips brushing against hers as he whispered teasingly. "Can't recognize your boyfriend?" His words sent a shiver down her spine, and she couldn't help but blush, her breath catching in her throat.

She couldn't resist teasing him back, her voice playful as she replied, "Well, you did look a bit like a suspicious character standing there, you know."

He couldn't help but chuckle at her playful response, pulling her closer into his arms. "Ohh really? What an excuse for not recognizing me," he teased, his voice laced with mock indignation.

Nehmat playfully rolled her eyes, a smile dancing on her lips as she replied, "Well, you know, sneaking around in a cap and mask doesn't exactly scream 'boyfriend waiting for me at the door'." She leaned into his embrace, enjoying the familiar warmth of his presence. "Also you were about to leave for Chandigarh; what else was I supposed to think?"

Shubman grinned, his arms tightening around Nehmat as he chuckled. "Fair point," he conceded, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. "I suppose I should have given you a heads up." He looked down at her, his eyes softening with affection."Also, you told me you were shifting. I could lend you a hand." 

Nehmat laughed, feeling a warmth spreading through her as Shubman's arms enveloped her. "You're right," she agreed, a playful glint in her eyes as she looked up at him. "A little heads up wouldn't have hurt." She leaned into his touch, savouring the gentle kiss on her forehead. "And you offer to help? That's just another reason why I'm so lucky to have you," she said, her voice filled with gratitude and love.

She reached up to cup his cheek, her thumb tracing the line of his jaw. Feeling a rush of affection, Nehmat stood on her tiptoes and pressed her lips against Shubman's, the moment charged with a mix of passion and tenderness. As their kiss deepened, Shubman ran his fingers through her hair, sending shivers down her spine. Nehmat held onto him, her grip firm yet gentle as she clutched his collar, her heart racing with the intensity of their connection. At that moment, amidst the soft glow of the hallway lights, they lost themselves in each other, the world around them fading away as they shared a moment of pure bliss.

Breaking apart from the kiss, which Shubman seemed reluctant to end, Nehmat took a step back, playfully evading his attempt to recapture her lips. "You can do all of that after we arrange the house," she teased, a smirk dancing on her lips.

Shubman couldn't help but let out a mock whine, his disappointment evident as he buried his face in Nehmat's neck. She giggled softly, feeling his warm breath against her skin as she affectionately patted his head.

Nehmat and Shubman set about arranging Nehmat's belongings, their playful banter continuing as they worked. Every Now and then, Shubman couldn't resist stealing a quick kiss on Nehmat's cheek, eliciting giggles and playful swats in return.

Nehmat took a deep breath and sighed with satisfaction as she placed the last piece of clothing in the cupboard, having finished setting up the entire house. Meanwhile, Shubman lounged on the bed, looking content. "Finally, it's done," he remarked, causing Nehmat to narrow her eyes at him. "You've done nothing except all the lovey-dovey stuff," she retorted with narrowed eyes.

Shubman grinned in response. "But you know, it was an energy booster for you to set up your house," he teased, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

Nehmat leaned over Shubman, causing him to stiffen slightly, a smirk playing on her lips. "Fine, my energy booster. Now, order some food for me," she teased, her tone laced with amusement.

Shubman smirked back at her. "Well, your food could be under you," he replied cheekily, his eyes gleaming with mischief.

Nehmat rolled her eyes and playfully slapped his chest. "You pervert," she scolded with a laugh, shaking her head at his antics.

*******

Both of them cuddled in each other's arms, the glow of the TV casting a soft light in the room. A movie played in the background, but neither Nehmat nor Shubmanseemed particularly interested. Instead, they were lost in their own world, their attention focused more on each other than the screen.

A large box of pizza lay on their laps, forgotten as they talked and laughed together. But as they reached the last piece of pizza, a tug-of-war ensued. Shubman grabbed it, and Nehmat retaliated, both of them vying for the last slice. They both had serious looks on their faces as they threw their arguments.

"I haven't eaten since morning, and you know how much I love pizza," Nehmat argued, her tone firm.

Shubman countered, "But I paid for it, and you've already had more slices than me."

Nehmat frowned, crossing her arms. "That's not fair. I saved you the biggest slice earlier, remember?"

Shubman shrugged a playful glint in his eyes. "Yeah, but I'm still hungry, and I really want this last slice."

Nehmat, folding her arms and pouting, said, "Fine if we can't agree, let's settle this like adults. Let's play rock-paper-scissors."

Shubman with eyes narrowed at her suggestion, nodded in agreement. "Alright, let's do it," he replied, a pout spreading across his face.

They both extended their fists in front of them, ready to play. With a simultaneous count of "one, two, three," they revealed their choices. Nehmat's hand formed a rock while Shubman's formed scissors.

"Yes!" Nehmat exclaimed, a triumphant smile breaking through her pout. "Rock crushes scissors, which means the last slice is mine!"

Shubman chuckled, conceding defeat gracefully. "Well played," he admitted, reaching for the box of pizza and handing the last slice to Nehmat. "Enjoy, my victorious opponent."

Nehmat picked up the piece of pizza, holding it between her teeth in playful triumph. But as she glanced at Shubman, she noticed his amused smile at her childish antics. Determined not to enjoy the victory alone, she gestured for him to take the other end of the slice.

Shubman's smile widened at her gesture, and he nodded, leaning in to take a bite from the opposite end of the pizza. As Shubman took a bite from the opposite end of the pizza, their lips met in the middle, sharing the slice between them. A moment of shared laughter passed between them as the slice dwindled down, their lips coming close with each bite.

But as the last of the pizza disappeared, their laughter faded into a moment of shared intensity. Without a word, their gazes locked, an air of love passing between them. At that moment, the playful atmosphere shifted into something more intense, more intimate.

Nehmat's heart raced as Shubman leaned in closer, his lips meeting hers in a passionate kiss. The warmth of their embrace enveloped them and they could taste the pasta pizza in each other's mouth, their connection deepening with each tender touch. Lost in the moment, they surrendered to the sweetness of their kiss.

As they separated, Shubman held Nehmat close, his arms wrapped around her with a tenderness that melted her heart. "How could Paaji let this ball of moonlight go away from him?" he asked softly, his voice filled with a mixture of admiration and incredulity.

Nehmat rested her head on his chest, taking comfort in his embrace. "Because he loved me and supported me in being independent," she replied, her voice tinged with a hint of uncertainty. Deep down, she knew she wasn't being entirely truthful, but she couldn't bring herself to admit it.

This time, Shubman wasn't willing to let her off the hook so easily. "For once, can you please tell me the truth, Nehmat?" he pleaded, his voice gentle but firm, his eyes searching hers for honesty.

Nehmat blinked away tears as she looked up at Shubman, her heart heavy with the weight of her unspoken truth. "This is the truth," she insisted, her voice wavering with emotion.

But Shubman's patience was wearing thin, his concern evident in the urgency of his plea. "For God's sake, Nehmat, please tell me the truth," he implored, his frustration bubbling to the surface. "I am not blind and dumb. I can see that there's more to this than you're letting on. If you truly wanted to be independent, you could have just shared the money. But no, there's something else going on here. And it only adds to my doubts when a crying Vamika calls me secretly, telling me to take care of you."

Nehmat's emotions boiled over, and she shouted back, her tears now flowing freely down her cheeks. "So what do you want me to do? Tell the world that I'm not..." But she stopped abruptly, her voice catching in her throat as she struggled to find the words amidst her overwhelming emotions. She gulped, her breathing heavy as she fought to regain control of her trembling voice.

Shubman's expression softened as he reached out to gently cup Nehmat's face in his hands, his own eyes glistening with empathy. "Nehmat, I don't want you to do anything except be honest with me," he said softly, his voice filled with love and understanding. "I just want to know what's really going on so I can help you. Please, trust me enough to tell me the truth."