Tough in Love

Tough in love

Rishabh Bajaj rarely apologised and so Prerna knew he meant it. She could feel his eyes soften and his hand move to caress her cheek and look into her eyes with a little closer. The intimacy of his eyes made her uncomfortable and she didn’t want him to know every little detail that was running through her mind at this time. She dropped her face into his chest and he wrapped her arm around her “I tried to tell you You were too busy …”

Noting her point he looked down at her.

“Agar kisi ne aap se kuch kaha..” (If anyone as much says a thing I’ll…)—-

—aap kuch nahin karenge, jumps in Prerna lifting her face to look up to Rishabh with disagreement. ‘I’ll deal with it you’ll’ aap..

There was a pause for a moment whilst rishabh waited for Prerna to finish her words but she purposely didn’t want to complete the sentence.

“Main Kya..” “I what?” He asked raising a eyebrow and looking to her eyes deeply. “

She tried to avoid his question but couldn’t.

“You’ll be too firm ..” she said avoiding his eyes. it wasn’t the first time Prerna had mentioned his tendency to be stern on matters but this time it left him in a state of contemplation. Maybe it was her tired eyes and protest at his recent ways that him think.

The elevator doors open and Prerna steps back and walks out, Rishabh pauses for a second watching her walk ahead.

Stopping at the office kitchenette Prerna Makes herself a cup of coffee seeing her chit chat with other staff members, smile, laugh reassures Rishabh.

As Prerna tries to use the vending machine and keys in the code of a chocolate bar to give her that little bit of energy to her disappointment she she sees it stuck in the machine until someone who’d approached from behind her was able to tilt the machine and handed it her. It was Rishabh.

He smiled as did she

“See you at Lunch?” He suggested, Prerna well aware that her husband was now trying to make up to her.

It was rather sweet of a him of him.

She nodded.

…

Rishabh continued to think about Prerna and her words in the elevator throughout the day, in meetings outside of meetings when he was around her and without her too.

They ate lunch together at a local noodle bar Prerna liked only it got messy which meant Rishabh ended up wiping the crumbs away from Prernas hair and she from his jawline over the table.They were no better than Sneha and Kuki they agreed the co comparisons uncanny making them both laugh.

“Try mine?” Said Rishabh holding out some noodles hanging off a pair of chopsticks,

Prerna smiled, she managed to reach over the table and eat them if in awkward pause as for when it was Rishabhs turn to try Prernas food he did it so badly that it left a big stain on his white shirt leaving Prerna in laughter that wouldn’t stop. Even though Rishabh wasn’t impressed he was pleased to see her smile, laugh forget her worries.

Naturally this meant a visit to the nearest department store so Rishabh could buy a new shirt.

Whilst rishabh tired on a fresh shirt in the department store chaining room Prerna browsed elsewhere

As Rishabh walked out to show her the fit, she agreed the new shirt fit well, Mr Bajaj however could see something in particular had caught Prernas eyes. A rather elegant looking red dress with décolleté neckline.

“Buy it”

You wouldn’t approve she said

thinking of the time he’d scolded her for forgetting to fasten the buttons of her blouse accidentally, he wouldn’t approve of the neckline.

Rishabh had yet another moment of reflection.

‘Let me me be the judge of that..” he said after a moment.

..

That evening

When Bajaj house fell quiet into the night all had retired into their rooms leaving fetched water for the night ahead George who was putting on his blazer and hat before leaving for the night had one last task.

To let Prerna know that Mr Bajaj had asked for her in the drawing room. It as an unsual ask. The drawing room was a room was not often used, it was mostly used by Mr Bajaj, potentially was the space he used to remember is mother and father, contemplate it was private but held a lot of meaning non the less for her as there as a very important memory it held for her.

..

Prerna knocked on the door of the room to be polite it was just to let Mr Bajaj know she was present. She stepped into the room to see Rishabh within his back to her in his dressing Robe. He was looking at the portrait on the wall. It was a portrait of Bajaj house something George had once painted and gifted him.

“Am I forgiven” she hears him ask as she walks to join him

“shayad ” (Maybe) he hears making him smile

“I remember the first time I entered this room Prerna George escorted me here on our wedding day before we remarried.

That was when Rishabh turned to her.

“Meine apni sharte rakhi, (I made my demands), Loyalty ,honesty and care for my children’

As Rishabh spoke, Prerna felt the same goosebumps Upon her skin and her heart beating the same way it did the day.

She agreed silently to all then, the same silence he could feel in the air now ..

“I’m too tough on you aren’t I” ..Prerna surprised he was still thinking about that looked up to to see the concern in Mr Bajajs.

She didn’t say a word her eyes however did.
A Iook that didn’t judge just accepted.

He admired the way she was able to be candid and still remain so loving in her ways

She smiled “It’s late Mr Bajaj, you should rest” she says comfortably to reassure him he shouldn’t ponder too much”

“Restful nights wont give us children Mrs Bajaj”. She heard him say as if he didn’t care for passers by in the corridor or being overheard.

“We start tomorrow”. He added

He was though in love and he didn’t realise it thought Prerna helpless for she loved him regardless.