His customary guarded smile exploded into a bright one as soon as he entered the house.
One might not notice the changes slowly happening in the house but Arjun did. Like, the
painting across the front door, he did not like it much when Sakshi initially bought it but
now it became part of the house dcor. Their wedding photograph in a golden frame on the
TV cabinet, Arjun wasn't smiling in the picture but he grew fond of it nonetheless. The
blanket on the couch that Sakshi snuggles into whenever she decides to stay up late in the
night, a few days ago he found himself wrapping it around him on a late night.
They maybe small changes, but together they make a huge difference. The house, which only
a few months ago was cold and full of misery, resonated with a warm and welcoming
ambience.
Arjun quickly but quietly closed the front door and took his shoes off before making his way
to the kitchen. His tea was waiting readily on the kitchen top, as usual.
His wife did not realise him come in, so he casually leaned on the bench top. He smirked,
mischief dancing in his eyes. He was preparing to scare the living day lights out of her when
something caught his eye. Sakshi wore the cutest expression as she concentrated on
preparing the breakfast.
He noticed, she was still wearing the light pink cotton tunic from last night. Her hair was
tied into a high ponytail with two strands falling freely on either side of her face. She had a
slight frown between her perfectly lined brows, and her tongue stuck out a little between her
lips as she beat the eggs. He couldn't help but chuckle softly at the amount of concentration
she put into doing the simple task.
Sakshi jumped hearing his hearty laugh. The palm of her hand instinctively rested on her
chest, above her heart.
"Arjun?! Dara diya na mujhe!! Kya kar rahe the?"
"Sorry, I was just..."
Arjun trailed off as the morning sun fell across her face through the window above the sink.
A strange feeling swept over him, seeing the gentle glow on her face. A feeling of joy,
warmth and something else, he wasn't sure what.
For a moment he gazed at her, and she returned his gaze. Then, deeply puzzled by the sudden
feeling evoked in him, his gaze shifted absently to the kitchen cabinets.
"Kya hua Arjun?"
"Uh...kuch nahi. Mera chai kaha hain?" He asked rather awkwardly after a moment of
silence.
"Tumhare peeche" His wife replied and then quickly added, "Aaj tum itna jaldi kaise aa
gaye? Tumhara heel dard kar raha hain kya? Is that why you came back early??"
"What? No, my heel is fine. Stop worrying!" He said gently as he hopped up to sit on the
bench top and watched her busily work her way around the kitchen.
"Mein kuch help karoon?"
"Nah, I am almost done" Sakshi said, giving him one of her bright smiles.
A few moments passed in silence with Arjun stealing a glance at his wife every now and
then. He came home from his run that morning thinking he would ask her for a lunch date.
But, what happened minutes ago threw him off guard. He opened his mouth once or twice,
but in the end stayed silent.
"Do you have something to say, Arjun?" Sakshi asked, not surprising him.
"Haan, do you have a busy day today??" He asked with purpose.
"Mmhmm. I have to prepare for the conference, parson jaana hain na. Kyun?"
"Oh, socha tha ki aaj lunch kahi baahar, saath karle. Par tum busy ho toh..."
"Nahi, itna bhi busy nahi hoon! Lunch ke liye aa sakti hoon!!" She almost immediately
replied.
"Are you sure?"
"Haan! Lunch ke waqt pick karlo saath chelenge, okay?"
His lips curled up into a joyous smile as he replied, "Okay"
~oOo~
***
Sameer smiled as he watched Ayesha bid her father goodbye, walk towards his car and sit in
the passenger seat. He waited till he roared the car out of her drive way and onto the main
road, before taking her hand in his and placing a lingering kiss on the back of it.
"Sameer, yeh aap kya kar rahe hain?" Ayesha asked but did not retrieve her hand from his.
"What? Ab toh baat official hogayi hain! Do hafton main engagement hain humari!!"
"Haan, phir bhi..." She trailed off as a light blush made its way up her cheeks.
Sameer took a good look at her blushing cheeks before reverting his eyes back on to the
road. Amusement sparked in his eyes as he chuckled lightly,
"I am never going to get used to your blushing Ayesha!!" He lifted her hand to his lips and
placed another lingering kiss on it before holding it against his chest securely.
"Are the preparations for engagement done?" Sameer asked after a moment's silence.
"Sab hogaya...except for my dress! Sakshi aur mein kal jaa rahe hain shopping karne...the
day after she is going to Delhi for the conference right?"
It was a fact that Ayesha and Sakshi hit it off well the moment they were introduced to each
other. Ayesha having no siblings and only a handful of cousins scattered around the
country, found a friend and sister in Sakshi.
"Hmmm..." Sameer trailed off thinking. He had a worrisome look on his face which
prompted Ayesha to ask what was wrong.
"Kuch nahi...it's just...They just started spending more time with each other and I feel Arjun
finally started seeing things in different light...aise main Sakshi ko dus din keliye Arjun se
door jaana..." He trailed off.
"Sameer, have you never heard of the saying distance makes the heart grow fonder?'"
"You really think that's going to work?" Sameer asked sceptically.
Ayesha shrugged, "All we can really do is wait and watch!!"
***
~oOo~
Arjun's shoulders sagged in childlike disappointment as he once again read the text sent by
his wife. He did not realise just how much he was looking forward to meeting Sakshi that
afternoon, until she cancelled lunch. He felt irritated, not because she cancelled on him but
because of how he felt after she did.
Stuck in a meeting. Can't make it to lunch, sorry! = (
He read the text again. It's just lunch! He thought before shoving aside, what he felt were
unwarranted feelings.
"Tu yeha kya kar raha hain? Tujhe lunch ke liye baahar jaana tha na?" Sameer asked,
walking into his cabin.
Arjun rolled his eyes, not looking up from the file in front of him to see his friend. This was
called rubbing salt on the wound.
"No, I am not going" He replied grudgingly.
"Why?" His friend asked readily.
"She cancelled it!"
"Why?"
"What is this twenty questions?? She has a meeting!!!" Arjun replied finally looking up, his
irritation getting the better of him.
"Oh! In that case, maybe we can lure her here somehow" Sameer conspired as he sat down
on the chair opposite Arjun. His irritation slowly ebbing away, a smile mad its way up his
lip. Leaning forward he asked,
"And why are we luring her here?"
"Apna chehra dekha? Isn't how you feel enough of a reason?"
Arjun's smile faltered as he leaned back into his seat. A frown made its way between his
brows as his best friend gave him a knowing look. The irritation was slowly returning, he
was about to respond when his phone started ringing. He snatched it off the table with his
eyes still narrowed on Sameer and answered it,
"Hello"
"Hey Arjun, I am sorry I had to cancel our lunch" Sakshi's somewhat guilty voice spoke from
the other end of the line. Arjun's eyes immediately softened as a smile crept up his lips.
"Meeting hogaya?" He asked gently.
"No, we just took a small break. I need to get back in a few"
Arjun chuckled hearing the tone of her voice, "Itna sad sound kyun kar rahi ho? It's just
lunch...aaj nahi toh kal chele jaayenge"
"Kal bhi nahi hoga. I am taking half day leave tomorrow and going shopping with Ayesha.
And then I need to come home and pack for the trip day after"
"Oh..." He trailed off. A moment of silence and then Sakshi spoke,
"I need to go Arjun. But, I will make it up to you tonight!!"
That both surprised and amused him. He bid goodbye, and Sakshi hung up. Looking up, he
realised that Sameer left while he was talking to his wife. Walking up to the large window in
his office, Arjun wondered what the reason maybe, behind the feelings evoked in him.
CID
Current Affairs
Hindi TV Shows
39