Chapter 6

Here comes part 5. Next few days will be busy , so thought will give you this one so as to compensate future delays ..this for me was a lil emotional...but I felt it was needed...hope you all will like it.

PART 5


I sat on the sofa waiting for her. She soon came with a tray.

"Black tea with very less sugar and Britania's Nice biscuits to go with it

"Naina, how did you know that I like black tea and this biscuit? Did mom tell you about it ?

She looked at me and said "Nope , aunty didn't tell me and nor did any of your close friends.

"Then ??

"I leave it to you to find that out. Now you watch TV and have this. I have some work in the kitchen, since all of them have gone out and Dad will need dinner.

"So , he didn't go with them ?

"No , he said he had to meet someone.

With that she went to the kitchen. Even though , I pretended to drink tea and watch the TV . My eyes were on her and my eyes fell on her hand which had dark pink glass bangles between her pearl bangles.    I had heard Nanu telling, that watching your wife make Chappathi brings in peace to a man's heart. Especially when she flatten the dough with the rolling pin , as her hand moved front and back, the tinkling sound that comes out of her glass bangles is the most enticing thing. I had laughed at this but today I had to agree, because that's exactly what I felt. I wanted to go and be with her. Sit on the kitchen slab while she eased around the kitchen , making food . I restrained myself as this house was not mine, it belonged to another man and his family. I had to respect that.

I stretched my legs wishing it was my house . By now , I would have gone and freshened up. Hmmm..It took exactly 47 mins for her to be back in the living room. I was waiting eagerly for her to sit next to me. She took the empty cup and tray and then commented "You look as if you want to freshen up. Why don't you go and freshen up

"You are forgetting , I don't have cloths to change.

She smiled "I will give something to change , don't worry. Come along

"Naina, I don't think its right. I mean what will people think. They might talk bad about you. Some of them has seen us entering this house together and then if I go out in another attire it wont be nice. Besides , Arjun might not like me using his cloths.

"I am used to people talking about me , so you don't worry about that . And I am not going to give used cloths . This is something that I had bought for you two weeks back , when there was some cloths fair at Preethi's college.

Well ..its not the usual branded ones that you wear. For the moment it would help you to relax for sure.

"Fine then, you think the size will be right??

"What do you think??

I like a kid followed her to her and Preethi's den, their bedroom. I had been here once when we came to ask her hand but had not noticed the details. Room was big, there were two writing tables , two chairs, two cupboards , a beautiful cozy sitting area and my eyes fell on a brown light brown teddy bear. I couldn't believe it , she had it kept it safe till date.

We had Arts and craft fair at our school . At that time there were so many stalls. One of them had toys kept as prices ,if we manage to shoot 5 balloons in one stretch. She wanted this teddy. Both She and Preethi had failed. I noticed it and had got it for her. But I never thought , I would ever see it again.

"Is this one that I had won for you at that fair??

"Yes !! you remember ??

"Yeah , but its been so long ..you kept it safe. Not even a speck of dirt on it.

"Well , this is the only gift , I had got from someone outside my family...from someone who I could call as a friend ..and the only time when someone had helped me get what I wanted , even without asking them. So I kept it safe , to remind me that , world is not bad as we think. There are people with a good heart

Saying so , she moved to her cupboard. I saw her opening it and taking out clothes that she had brought for me but my mind was still stuck with the words she had spoken about the incident. I felt so bad and hated myself to have ignored her so much during the school days. I didn't know how to move from there . That moment was so confusing because it was the best and the worst moment of my life. Best because she had always seen me as her friend , her only friend , a friend with good heart. Worst because , I knew I was never nice to her. I didn't know how to react . My eyes were brimming with water, it had gone red but I couldn't show her this face. I was a man . Men never cried, so I quickly walked towards the attached Toilet in her room.

"Naina , I need to use the toilet, you leave the cloths on the bed. I will take some time.

"Alright Sameer

With that , I rushed to toilet. Once I was sure that no one could see me or hear me. I cried . I couldn't believe what I heard. I wondered, was I that blind as a teenager? How could I miss such a beautiful soul. She had never harmed anyone. Whenever homework's were given , the next day she would come early and share it with , me , Munna and Pandit. Sometimes even Sanjay would copy from her book. Not even once did she deny sharing her notes or homework.

Now , I understood why Munna and Pandit never teased her. They were always nice to her and would stop others from teasing her. They hated Sanjay to the core. They used to tell me that they knew her from younger days and she is a gem. It was always the other boys who would tease her , behind her back. I had never teased her , but never stopped others from doing so. In fact , I had joined them in their laughing sessions. Cant believe how cruel I was. No wonder, Kamya ditched me. I needed to learn my lessons in a hard way. But I am glad she did , if not , I would never have got Naina as a life partner .

I splashed water on to my face as if it would help cleanse my sins . People might say I was young back then, but I knew , I did that at an age when I knew what was right and wrong , so I cant escape with any excuses. I looked in the mirror, I was a grown-up man now and she was going to be my wife. Whatever happened in the past, cannot be undone. But the present and future is in my hands. I will compensate for every action of mine. I will keep her happy and safe. I will give her the best life that I can afford for her.. above all I promised to myself that I will be devoted to her.

I thanked god for making me realise my mistakes and bringing her back into my life. I walked out of the bathroom with an intention of starting my life afresh ...with my beloved Behanji...yes MY BENHANJI!!

PS: Hope you all will like this one...do let me know your thoughts...eagerly waiting for your comments.