Chapter 1

PenguinBaby

@PenguinBaby

[MEMBERSONLY]

A RaYa OS- Tumhara Saath

Five months. Twenty nine days. And one hour. 

They had been married for five months, twenty nine days and one hour. Priya’s head hurt as she calculated the math, realising that they would complete six months of their marriage in just twenty three hours. A deep chuckle rose out of her throat as the silliness of the fact dawned upon her.

Who was she, calculating the days of her marriage like a new, shy bride? This marriage was nothing but a marriage of convenience, that too a convenience for their siblings, their families. It had hardly anything to do for Ram and Priya, and everything for Shivina and Akshay, who were already expecting their first baby, for real this time. Shivina was two months pregnant and everyone was ecstatic, including Priya. She was going to be a Bua and a Mami at the same time, and she had already started making lists after lists for the new baby. On the other side, Ram was over the moon to become Phoopha and Mama and Priya had to literally convince him to stop booking international schools for the baby the moment Shivina had confirmed her pregnancy. 

Everything seemed to go well for everyone. Shivina was happy, her pregnancy was going well and her new business venture on fitness and health was doing great. Akshay’s debut movie had just released and he was already becoming a well known face in the industry, with quite a many offers lining up in just a few weeks. Her mother and Ram’s mom were super busy with their work along with taking care of Shivina. Sara had shifted to Delhi with her husband and son, to start a new branch of their bakery while Maitri and her husband were travelling along the country for the past few months, not that Priya cared a bit. Ram’s brother Shubham had left for London to overlook their overseas business and Ram, as always, was busy with his loads of work. 

Sighing, Priya got up from her bed and sat straight, looking onto the ocean view from her bedroom’s french windows. The sky was lit with the sun, the golden rays reflecting the silver water and for a moment, she desperately wanted it to be magic. Magic that would make her feel whole, magic that would make her not feel alone. Chuckling again, she shook her head on her silly thought and walked towards the balcony and all of a sudden, the Mumbai sky was filled with its famous grey clouds within just a few minutes.

“Ye baarish phirse? Bin mausam barsaat toh koi Mumbai se seekh le!” She whispered to herself and scowled as the cold rain drops fell on her face, dampening her mood. Stepping back, she sat on the lounge chair and took out her phone to check some messages. A message from her husband popped up and automatically, her eyes rolled back.

“Yahi batane ke liye message kiya hoga, ki aaj phir late honge! Kya Priya tu bhi, typical biwiyon jaisi harkat kar rahi hai? Honge late toh hone do, tujhe kya.” She mumbled to herself, putting her phone aside. “Waise bhi, Sandy bata toh rahi thi ki aaj subah se Vedika aur uska pati office mein hai. Vedika ke rehte Mr Kapoor ko kisi aur ki kya padi. Iss baarish mein usey dekh dekh kar apna dil dukha rahe honge!”

Completing her rant to herself, she laid back on the lounge chair and closed her eyes, feeling the cold breeze on her face. Ram’s love for his ex-girlfriend was not a secret for Priya, he had clearly told her that he loved Vedika and planned to do so for the rest of his life; not that Priya cared, she was happy with their equation as it was. But still, sometimes it irked her that he could still talk about his ex-girlfriend with a softness in his eyes and a chirp in his voice, whereas she could not even think about Neeraj without boiling her blood.

Her sisters didn’t understand but Priya respected Ram for loving Vedika even after all that had happened. To have a heart so pure was a rarity these times and Priya felt lucky to know a man like this, who could love so unconditionally, so simply. It would be a lie if she said she didn’t feel jealous, not of the fact that her husband loved another woman, but of the fact that her husband loved, that he could still love. It just didn’t seem fair, why could he love so selflessly and her love was met with a fate such as hers? Why did she still feel so alone? She was married, she had a husband, two families, a great job, good friends but still, she felt all alone in this world, a lonely woman-

“Priya? Priya!” Ram’s eager voice brought her out of her sad reverie and she opened her eyes, frowning. “Kahan ho?”

“Yahan hoon main, balcony par!” She answered loudly, sitting up as her husband sauntered towards her, with a grin on his face. “Aap itni jaldi kaise aa gaye aaj?”

“Arey, kaisi biwi ho tum? Tumhe toh khush hona chahiye, pati jaldi ghar aa gaya!” He laughed loudly at his own joke and Priya chuckled, shaking her head.

“Khushi toh ho rahi hai, aap jaldi ghar aa gaye aur office mein der tak kaam kar ke apni tabiyat nahin kharaab ki. Lekin sawaal yahi hai, ki aap itni jaldi kaise aa gaye?” She asked again, wondering why he was here while Vedika was there.

“Itna achha mausam ho raha hai, socha akele kyun enjoy karu, right?” He said and removed his coat while admiring the weather.

“Akele? Kyun, office mein log nahin the kya?” She asked and he looked at her.

“Log toh the, par tum nahin thi na, kaise maza aata?” He shrugged. “Aajkal mujhe tumhare bina kahin maza nahin aata!”

“Bas bas, kitna makhhan lagayenge? Subah parathon par kam tha kya?” She said and he suddenly laughed, surprising her. “Has kyun rahe hain?”

“Tum bhul gayi, aaj parathon par extra butter tumne khaya tha, maine toh fruit salad khaya tha!” He said like a kid and got up. “Par wo compensate karne ke liye main kuch laaya hoon, wait haan?”

Saying so, he almost ran back inside while Priya wondered how this kid-like man was one of the most successful businessman in the country.

“Ye dekho!” His voice came back again and she looked up, as he walked with a huge tray in his hands. “Mujhe pata nahin ki tumahara favorite kya hai, toh har tareeke ke banwa liye!”

“Kya?” Priya frowned as he sat down, putting the tray between the two lounge chairs, on the large coffee table.

“Pakode, aur kya!” He said and rubbed his palms excitedly. “Humare paas hain aloo ke, pyaaz ke, mirchi ke, paneer ke, moong dal ke, baingan ke aur bread pakoda bhi, along with meethi chutney, hari chutney and even mayonnaise and ketchup! Toot pade?”

“Itna saara?” She gasped and looked at him with wide eyes. “Ye sab kab bana?”

“Arey maine tumhe message karke pucha tha, ki tumhe kaise pakode pasand hain? Par tumne message dekha hi nahin toh maine bola, koi nahin, sab banwa lete hain!” He smiled and offered her the pakodas, and she silently took a piece. “Batao kaisa hai?”

She nodded as she chided herself for not opening his message and dipped the pakoda in the chutney and quickly took a bite. Flavors burst in her mouth as the spicy chilli pakoda warmed her soul and a smile adorned her face.

“Amazing!” She said and inadvertently took another, while her husband munched on with a grin on his face.

“Haina? Baarish mein pakode mil jaayein, aur kya chahiye!” He said and she looked at him. “What?”

“Sach sach bataiye, aap jaldi kyun aaye? Ghar pe kuch kaam tha?” She asked and he shook his head.

“Kaam nahin, biwi thi. Aur haan, apna samaan pack karlo, hum 3 din ke liye Manali jaa rahe hain!” He said and stuffed his mouth while she stared at him, shocked.

“Kya? Manali? Kab...kaise...kyu-

“Kab? Kal subah! Kaise? Flight se aur kyun, kyunki kal humari wedding anniversary hai!” He said and got up, wiping his oily hands on his expensive pants. “Chalo chalo, packing shuru karte hain! Utho utho!” 

Saying so, he held her arm and took her inside their bedroom, opening the wardrobes and taking out suitcases. For the next few hours, she stared at him as he animatedly took out their clothes, wondered out loud which footwear to take, debated with himself how many medicines would he require and what not. His excited voice had filled the room and as Priya sat silently on their bed, she realised something.

She didn’t feel that alone, after all.