Chapter 7

Two Weeks Later

Shravan and Suman were engaged in a small ceremony with just the family and ofcourse, Preeta in the Tiwari Farmhouse on outskirts of Delhi.

Suman sat in her night suit on the swing in the garden of their farmhouse admiring the ring on her finger. The moon light fell on her petite form making the diamond on the ring shine even more. She put her legs up and hugged them as she closed her eyes feeling the cool breeze on her face.

She heard someone clear their throat so she opened her eyes and saw Shravan standing in front of her clad in a white kurta pyjama.

"Tum yahan?", she asked.

"Well, tumhe mujhse kuch baat karni thi. Remember?", he replied and sat next to her on the swing.

"Shravan.. Main kaam karne chahti hoon aage. And now that we are engaged, I don't know how to go about it because in a few months we would be married and I would have to shift to Mumbai. There is no use of starting anything at the moment. Preeta doesn't want to work without me so for the time being she is doing a prt time job at Anju Aunty's Tiffin service close by.", she said in a breathe.

"Relax. You can start a full-fledged catering business once you shift to Mumbai. Preeta can shift there too. I will help you set it up.", he smiled.

"But will Nirmala Aunty and Ramnath uncle be okay with me working?", she asked nervously.

"Ofcourse. Dad has known you since you were a kid. He has know your drive to work and be independednt and Maa also supports that. Maa has an NGO in Mumbai, we can take her help in case you want to cater to orphanages just like you did here."

She nodded.  

"Hey Sumo, Hi Bhaiya!", said Pushkar as he approached them.

"Hi Pushkar!", she replied and made place for Pushkar to sit. She shifted to the centre of the swing as Shravan and Pushkar sat on either sides.

"Kya baatein ho rahi thi? Romance haan?", he asked wiggling his eyebrows and a smirk on his lips.

"Kaam ki baatein.", Suman replied not minding the teasing at all.

"How unromantic!", taunted Pushkar.

"Kya ye zaroori hai ke agar ek couple saath mein baitthe ho, to romance ho? Why can't a husband wife, or a boyfriend and girlfriend sit and have a friendly talk?", asked Suman.

"Sumo, yaar thoda to change hoti tu itne saalon mein. Zazra sa bhi change nahi aaya tujh mein!", complained Pushkar.

Suman laughed.

"Chalo! Main chalta hoon. Main to aap dono ko disturb karne aaya tha par aap disturb hi nahi hue!", he complained and got up.

"Good Night Pushkar!", she replied.

"Good Night Sumo! Good Night Bhaiya!", said Pushkar.

"Good Night!", said Shravan.

Suman laid her head back on the swing and closed her eyes. Shravan smiled and laid his head back on the swing looking up at the star lit sky.

"Kitna achha mausam hai na? Infact kitni achhi raat hai! it's beautiful. Chand aur taarey aasmaan ko kitna khoobsurat bana dete hain!", said Shravan.

Suman opened her eyes and looked towards him He eyes still admiring the sky.

"Thank you Shravan!", she said. He turned to look at her.

"Kisliye?", he asked.

"For being so understanding and supportive.", she said.

"Now as a husband, I have to understand my wife. Isn't it?", he replied.

She nodded in a yes.

Suddenly a chilled breeze gushed past them making Suman shiver.

"Tum shawl leke nahi aa sakti thi?", he asked.

"Mujhe thodi na pata tha that it's gonna be so cold!", she pouted.

He stifled his laugh and shifted closer to her and wound his arms around her shoulder. She smiled at the first time closeness they were sharing. She kept her head on his shoulders as his arms wound around her. He kept his head on her head and closed his eyes. They themselves didn't know how long they sat in that position when suddenly it started drizzling. They broke apart quickly and ran towards the main door of the house. They managed to not get drenched and laughed. There was so much comfort in their relationship and neither of them felt weird after the time they spent on the swing.

"Good Night Sumo!", he said.

"Good Night!", she replied with a smile and made way to her room and Shravan went to the guest room which he was sharing with Pushkar.

--

Sumo sat in her room reading a novel. It had been three months since the two had been engaged and it had been a ride knowing each other. They would bicker, enjoy a friendly conversation, flirt and at time be lovey dovey like a couple in love.

Suman's phone rang distracting her from the novel.

"Hello Mister! How was your day?"

"Was good. I missed you. We haven't spoken in 2 days.", he complained.

"That was because you have been working really hard on this case and I did not want to divert your attention.", she replied.

"You can divert my attention anytime.", he said with a smirk playing on his lips.

"Nirmala Aunty called Maami ji today. They have fixed our wedding date for 3 weeks after.", she informed.

"And are you happy with it?", he asked.

"I am. Why won't I be?", she smiled.

"Then I am happy as well.", he replied.

--

Suman lay on her bed fidgeting with her ring. Just 2 weeks more and then she would be in Mumbai. She smiled in mixed emotions when her phone rang. She picked it up without even seeing the caller's name sure of who it was already.

"Hi Shravan!", she asked.

"Sumo, Bhaiya nahi, main!.", came Pushkar's voice.

"Pushkar! Kya hua? Any problem?", she asked in concern.

As soon as she asked her phone beeped and Shravan's call was on waiting.

"Ek minute Pushkar! Hold karo!", she said and put Pushkar's call on hold and picked up.

"Shravan main tumhe thodi der mein call back karti hoon. Pushkar is on the other line.", she informed.

"Pushkar? Usko kya hua? Subah se mood kharaab hai uska.", informed Shravan.

"Main baat karti hoon. I'll call you back.", she said and ended Shravan's call and retrieved Pushkar's.

"Kya hua Pushkar? Sab theek hai?", she asked.

"Sumo, mujhe lagta hai main iss baar exams mein pass nahi hounga!", he said with a prominent sulk in his voice.

"Of course you'll do well. Ab hua kya hai tujhe? Kal tak to mujhe keh raha tha ke iss baar bohot achhe se padhaai ki hai tu ne. Ab kya hua?", she asked.

"Aap logon ki shaadi ki khushi mein ab suddenly darr lag raha hai.", he confessed.

"Pushkar! Tere sirf do exams hi to baaki hain. Aur waise bhi mere aur Shravan ke shaadi ko ab 2 hafte hain. Iss hafte tumhare exams khatam ho jayenge, to kaisi pareshaani? Just relax. Sab theek hoga.", she said calming him down.

"Thanks Sumo. You're the best. Ab main phone rakhta hoon. Tu aur Bhaiya apni unromantic baatein karo!", he chuckled.

Suman shook her head at his stupid tries of pulling her leg.

"Good Night!", she said.

"Good Night Sumo!", he sang and cut the call.

She smiled and called Shravan and he picked up in a few rings.

"Hey! Kya hua usse?", asked Shravan in concern.

"Exam Tension. All sorted!", she replied.

"Just 2 more weeks!", he stated.

"Jaanti hu!", she replied.

"Tum khush ho?", they asked each other in unison.

They laughed.

"It's just that Arranged Marriage hai and you know.. So I thought I should ask you!", he said.

"To kya hua? Arranged Marriages mein pyaar nahi hota kya? Pyaar to hote hote ho jata hai chahe wo kisi bhi tareeke ki shaadi ho.", she replied.

"To tumhe mujhse pyaar ho gaya hai kya?", he asked.

She giggled, "Nahi. Abhi saath mein rahenge, ek doosre ko aur jaanenge, ek doosre ki lifestyle ko apni lifestyle mein adapt karenge, ek doosre ko apni zindagi ka hissa banaenge, tab dheere dheere pyaar bhi ho jayega!", she said.

"Tum sach mien bohot achhi ho!", he said.

"I know!", she laughed.