Mera Hero

4 years ago

Tardis

@DreamOfEndless

"Look, it's Maya Jaisingh!" Rajeev exclaimed.

It was Rudra and Rajeev's weekly date. Rajeev was thrilled to see his favorite author dining at the same restaurant where he and his husband were spending time. Not that it was much of a coincidence. Pastaciutta, the most famous Italian restaurant in Mumbai, was Maya Jaisingh's favorite restaurant. Rajeev had wishful thinking that Maya would visit her favorite restaurant, and so he reserved a table for their date at the restaurant. If she did not come, then Rudra and Rajeev would enjoy some classic Italian cuisine.

Rudra looked glum. He was annoyed that Maya had visited the restaurant the same day as he and his husband were on a romantic date. Rajeev looked very handsome today in his printed linen shirt. Rudra didn't feel like sharing him with anyone else. Not even Maya Jaisingh.

"I can't believe you took me out on your favorite author's favorite restaurant," Rudra grumbled.

"She is my favorite author Rudra. You are the love of my life. I will go with you to a jungle; or Mars. You will always remain my hero. Stop being jealous." said Rajeev.

This was how Rajeev was, confessing his love in the middle of nowhere or in between a couple's fight, still fighting and not realizing he said he loved him. Rajeev had strange ways of expressing his love for Rudra, and Rudra loved every minute of it. Except now.

Rudra was already complaining when he and Rajeev had entered Pastaciutta. Since Maya was Rajeev's favorite author, he knew Maya's every favorite thing by heart. He spoke about Maya's favorite color, her favorite cake, favorite cuisine, her new newspaper column, her latest romance novel, all the while he was anticipating her arrival.

While Rajeev looked cute, lit up like that, and Rudra felt he would melt into mush, he was also angry because he wanted his husband's entire attention. And yes, there was no reason to be jealous because Rajeev had Rudra's favorites listed on his fingertips too. After all, Rudra and Rajeev were married for over two years, but Rudra couldn't help it.

"What do you want to order?" asked Rajeev looking at the menu.

Rudra was startled. "Don't you want to talk to Maya Jaisingh and get her autograph?" he asked.

Maya Jaisingh was sitting few tables from them, enjoying Italian cuisine in the company of her friends. Rajeev had almost dragged him to this restaurant to get one glimpse of her and ask her for an autograph. But now that she was there, he didn't bat an eye.

Rudra suspected if it had something to do with Rudra acting jealous.

Rajeev rolled his eyes and sifted through the long list.

"She is eating with her friends Rudra. Wouldn't it look rude if someone interrupts our meal?" Rajeev reasoned. "Let her get done, and then we will approach her when she is leaving the restaurant."

Fair enough. Rudra sifted his eyes through the long list, and they stopped at one place. Today's specials: Pasta Con Pomodoro E Basilico. Interesting, Rudra would love to try this. Almost at the same time, Rajeev exclaimed,

"Oh look, they have Pasta Con Pomodoro E Basilico in their today's specials. I think you will love it." Rajeev held his hand for a moment. "Btw, do you know it is Maya's favorite dish too?" Rajeev beamed at the last part.

Crap. Here we go again. Rudra facepalmed mentally.

Rudra hadn't read any of Maya's work. Even if he had read them, he was sure he would hate her to the core. Rajeev, however, was a huge fan of her books, and he had read all her books. He even had a scrapbook documenting all his favorite quotes by her. When Rajeev showed Rudra the scrapbook, Rudra was glad he didn't read any of her works as he could make no sense of Maya's long, winding, cryptic sentences. Rudra remembered only one sentence, though, from the scrapbook, only because it sounded funny. But Rudra had no idea what the story was.

Rajeev had a peculiar reason for becoming a huge Maya Jaisingh fan. In some odd ways, he found Rudra and Maya were exactly alike in their thoughts and words. Whenever Rajeev needed a piece of advice or needed to calm himself down, he would read Maya's books or talk to Rudra and pour his heart out. In most of the cases, he found both Rudra and Maya (through her books) would give him the exact same advice. Rajeev didn't know how any of this was possible. It was like she was writing the story of their lives.

To Rajeev, both Rudra and Maya showed different ways of expression. Maya's was an indirect approach, through the art of her words that hit right into the hearts of her readers. Rudra's approach is more direct, he could get angry or jealous or happy, but he would always be direct and earnest. The scrapbook that Rajeev had made from his favorite quotes of Maya that celebrated all the important moments of Rudra and Rajeev's relationship, when they fell in love, their first date, first fight, when Rudra proposed to him, when they broke up, and when they finally got married. Rajeev would read a line, and the day would come alive in front of his eyes. Rudra had no idea about this. Rajeev could keep this secret reason for some time and enjoy watching Rudra getting jealous. 

Maya Jaisingh, who had finished her dinner with her friends at the restaurant, was blissfully unaware of a sweet dissonance happening between the couple few tables from her. One of them admired her to the core and another loathed her. Unfortunately, before Maya could be bestowed with her fan's sincere admiration, Rajeev got a call from his boss. Maya left the table and squinted her eyes as she saw a huge mob waiting outside the restaurant to take her picture.

Rajeev was disappointed about the timing of his boss's call. But that's how bosses were. He turned to his hero, kissed his cheeks, and asked in his huskiest voice, "Baby, will you mind if I ask you something? Can you ask Maya for an autograph on my behalf?" 

Rudra knew what Rajeev was doing. He held back his smile and grumbled a yes. Rajeev beamed at him and went to attend the call. Rudra saw that Maya was already leaving. What should Rudra do? Should he talk to her? But he hadn't read even a single piece of her work. Or maybe he should tell her that he hated her because his husband had a crazy scrapbook filled with her long cryptic quotes. Rudra took a deep breath and approached Maya. By then Maya was already by the door. As soon as the gateman opened the door, a mob of enthusiastic paparazzi engulfed Maya and Rudra in its flood.

Maya was gone. Thirty minutes later, when Rajeev reached their table finished with his work call, Rudra showed him a piece of paper. It read: 'Maan lo to Sacchi, Jaan lo to Maya. With best wishes, Maya Jaisingh.' in beautiful calligraphy-like handwriting.

Rajeev was so overjoyed that he gave Rudra a full-fledged smooch right in the middle of the restaurant. Rudra's head felt dizzy at this overwhelming public display of affection. He couldn't wait to return home. As soon as he had that thought, a bird of guilt flew around sat on his shoulder.

Rajeev hugged Rudra. Rudra smiled, but the guilt was overwhelming. He had not realized how much the autograph meant so much to his husband.

"I knew you would always remain my hero. My sneaky hero," said Rajeev. 

"Sneaky, why?" asked Rudra.

"Because I know this is not Maya's autograph," Rajeev smirked.

Rudra's smile dropped immediately. Rajeev knew this wasn't Maya's autograph, and he wasn't mad at him. Was he in trouble now? How did Rajeev know?

"Yes, you are right; it's not Maya's autograph. I didn't realize you recognized her handwriting too." Rudra sulked.

Rudra looked like a big baby sulking like that. He looked very cute. But Rajeev decided that it was the best time to out with the secret.

"Mr. Rudra Roy, I do not recognize her handwriting, I recognize yours. When I was busy with my phone call, I heard a commotion outside. After I left, you went to get her autograph. I deduce that you waited for Maya in the long queue to get her autograph. You got the autograph. Then the people outside tried to mob her even when she was reaching her car, and you saved her from an unruly mobbing. The mob damaged your autograph, and you did not get a new one as she had already left. Then you took a new paper and signed me a replica of the original one, with more calligraphy. Now tell me, am I right?"

Rudra was stumped. "Yes, you are right. I am surprised how you made such a long line of deductions. But how did you know I went to get her autograph in the first place? You knew I hated her." Rudra asked.

"Because you promised me the autograph, and I trust you. Thank you for this, Rudra."

Rajeev knew him so well. It was absurd that Rudra was getting jealous over nothing. He could get a hundred autographs like these for Rajeev.

"Thank you for trusting me, Rajeev. I love you." Rudra said and kissed his cheek.

"I love you too, my sneaky hero," said Rajeev.

Rudra became a bit sad that he could get Rajeev the autograph of his favorite author when Rajeev took the paper from his hand and put it in his pocket.

"Now, give this to me. I am going to put it in the scrapbook." Rajeev said.

Rudra was confused.

"But Rajeev, Maya didn't sign it. I copied her handwriting. You should put it in the scrapbook only if Maya signed it."

Rajeev turned towards Rudra and smiled. He said,

"You know, I might have a secret too." he paused, "I have put only those quotes about Maya in the scrapbook that reminds me of you. That scrapbook is more like a collection of our memories than Maya's. Our first kiss, our first date, first fight, first sex, our break up, when we finally got married, and now the autograph." Rajeev said.

His cheeks were pink, so was Rudra's. Of all the reasons for which Rajeev made that scrapbook, Rudra did not anticipate this.

"Really?" Rudra asked with happy disbelief.

"Maan lo to sacchai, jaan lo to Maya," Rajeev replied.

Rudra laughed when he heard the line.

"You know, this is the only sentence in that scrapbook that I remember by heart," he said.

"I know babe," Rajeev smiled back and held Rudra's hand.

A moment of bliss engulfed the two lovebirds. Rudra swore that now he would read all of Maya Jaisingh's novels, only for his darling hubby.

Beta read by oye_nakhrewaali