Tears of Joy or Sorrow Part 20 on pg 39 - Page 12

Part 10

It is Sunday morning and KM is hustling with activity. That is one day when everyone is at home so the kitchen is working overtime with all sorts of delicious smells emanating from it. Soumya is hurrying with last minute breakfast prep while Bansi kaka is getting ready to set the table. Other cooks are busy getting things ready for lunch. That is one day in the week when all Kapoors like to have as many meals together as possible. This was a tradition Priya had started five years ago and Ram has managed to keep it going till date. When Priya came to KM as a new bride five years ago, the first strange thing she noticed was how everyone ate different food at different times in different areas of the house. "A family that eats and prays together stays together", was her philosophy and she finally managed to implement it once Ram was convinced that Priya did this for better family bonding. Now with KK and Dadi in the house, everyone makes it a point to eat together at least one day a week. It was all the more important when Kush came along because he needed to see the family together.

Soon everyone is gathered around the table for breakfast. Kush and Pihu are in Sharma House and Priya misses them at the table. She called them earlier to find out if everything was okay. She is a little stressed out this morning as the doctor was supposed to come by later to check her and see how she is doing. She is hoping that he gives her a green chit as she is not used to such sedentary living. After breakfast she goes back to her room while Ram sits in the living room with the newspaper and Rishabh and Soumya are discussing a vacation sometime soon.

The doctor arrives and Ram takes him to his room to see Priya, who is getting the room organized.

Doctor: Well Mrs. Kapoor, you are looking well rested I must say.

Priya: Thank you doctor, does that mean I am now off all restrictions? I am getting a little tired of doing nothing and unless you tell them my family will not let me do things around the house.

Doctor: I think you are well enough to take care of your daily routine, but please do not over exert yourself. It is very important that you get rest when you need it or your body will accumulate the stress and you will fall sick again. I am very happy to see that Mr. Kapoor and everyone else in the house took good care of you. However, I will send the technician to draw some blood so we can complete the blood work to see if everything is back to normal. I don't think that should be a problem it is more a formality than anything serious. Mr. Kapoor, you can also send your blood for routine checks since the technician is coming home anyway.

Ram frowns and looks at Priya: Why me? I am fine doctor, it is Priya that was sick.

Priya laughs: Mr. Kapoor, this is just a routine one. Remember when we had the test done the last time everything was normal.

Ram is very silent as he is not comfortable with needles and blood work. He is thinking of a way to avoid it but knows that his ever-observant wife will make sure he is tortured. He looks at Priya and scratches his temple nervously. He walks out of the room with the doctor and thanks him for taking the trouble and coming for a house call. The doctor leaves and as he is going into his room, he sees Priya going to the kitchen.

Ram: Why are you going to the kitchen Priya?

Priya: I want to make lunch for everyone today.

Ram: I am sure Soumya is taking care of all that today.

Priya: I told her that if the doctor said I was alright I would make lunch today. So I am just keeping my word. She gives him a wicked grin and walks into the kitchen.

Ram follows Priya into the kitchen: Well, if my wife is making lunch, it is only fair that I help her today.

Priya looks suspiciously at Ram and is wondering what is going on in his mind. Bansi kaka and the others are stifling their giggles watching Mr. Kapoor in the kitchen. This is indeed a rare sight and they are all amused.

Ram: Bansi kaka, I am in a really good mood today, so I am going to give you and your staff the day off today. Madam and I will take charge of the kitchen for today. Go and enjoy your day with your families and we will see you here first thing tomorrow morning.

Bansi kaka: Thank you very much sir. We really appreciate this kind gesture, but if you change your mind, you can always call us.

Priya smiles at Ram and is happy to see Bansi kaka and the rest of the staff getting the day off: That was very sweet of you Ram. I really think they should get Sunday off every week, unless we really need them. They also have families and I am sure they want to spend time with them as well.

Ram moves close to Priya and puts his arms on her shoulders: Well now Madam, I am at your service. Please tell me what I can do to help.

Priya narrows her eyes and gives Ram an impish smile: Hmmm! Let me see, what can you do to help Mr. Kapoor?

Ram: Mmm! Whatever you want me to do Ma'am. I can make Aloo Parathas, pakodas and I can assist you with any dish you want to prepare. Also I would like you to know that I have other skills too. I can be a really good husband to my dear wife.

Priya smiles at him and tries to break free from his hold and Ram holds her more firmly.

Ram: I just have one condition my dear.

Priya: And what may that be Jaan?

Ram: I need to be bribed at frequent intervals you know!

Priya looks in his eyes and smiles: And what, dear husband is the bribe?

Ram: Nothing too expensive for you, but it is priceless for me – a hug or a kiss on demand is all I ask of you fair maiden. Nothing more, nothing less.

Priya: Hmm! Well that depends on how much of a help you are going to be. She throws her head back and laughs.

Ram looks at her and smiles. He is enjoying this just as much as she is.

KK comes into the kitchen for a drink of water and clears her throat when she sees them in each others arms: Ahem Ahem! Are you sure we are going to get to eat lunch for lunch and not dinner?

Hearing her, both Ram and Priya break their hug and look down very embarrassed. Priya begins to tuck her hair behind her ear and bites her tongue as she shrugs her shoulders, while Ram is scratching his temples and gritting his teeth.

KK smiles and walks away. She goes into Dadi's room and tells her what she saw. Both of them share a good laugh. Dadi whispers something in KK's ears and her eyes go wide with excitement. KK walks out and goes to Soumya and Rishabh's room to discuss something with them. They are also very excited and keep giggling.

After a while both Ram and Priya come out of the kitchen with food on the trolley. Ram brings the mats, plates, glasses etc and is setting the table. Everyone gathers around the table for lunch and Priya and Ram are playing perfect hosts, serving everyone.

KK: The food looks and smells yummy. Ram and Priya come, sit down and eat with us.

Priya: Yes Ma, we will once we have served all of you, we will also sit down and eat with you.

Ram and Priya join them and all of them are laughing and joking around the dining table.

Dadi: Golu, did you really help Priya making lunch? Everything is very tasty.

Ram: Yes Dadi, of course I helped Priya.

After lunch Priya disappears into the kitchen and Ram wonders what she is up to. Soon she comes out with dessert.

Ram: When did you make that? I didn't see you cook that.

Priya smiles at Ram: This is a special gift for my helper. Of course everyone gets to share it with him, but since he was such a good helper, I decided to make this for dessert. She puts a bowl of Kheer on the table and dishes out single servings for everyone.

Ram takes a spoon of Kheer into his mouth eats it and shuts his eyes as he is savoring the taste: Mmm! This is the best kheer I have ever eaten. You have outdone yourself Priya. Kheer has never tasted this good, even when you made it before.

Priya looks at Ram and breaks into a wide grin: Well, I used a little extra serving of my special secret ingredient.

Ram looks down as his cheeks go pink with embarrassment. He scratches his temple and everyone at the table notices Ram blushing and they smile.

Lunch is over and they are done clearing up. Priya goes to KK and says that Ram and she are going to pick up the children and go to the Siddhi Vinayak Mandir on their way back. KK and Dadi are very pleased.

Priya goes in to change into the beautiful bottle green silk saree with a dark red border and gold work all over. She wears matching jewellery and has her hair let down. Ram is wearing an off-white silk kurta and Pajamas. Ram can't take his eyes off her when she comes out of the room and Priya is trying her best to avoid eye contact and is all shy. They get into the car and as Ram is buckling up bends towards Priya and whispers something in her ears that make her go red with embarrassment and she pushes him away.

Ram repeats it a little louder this time: You know we can always change our program for the afternoon?

Priya: Aww! Don't be silly, we have to go to the temple and I want to take the children with us so we have to go and pick them up now.

Ram laughs and drives on. They go to Sharma house and the children are ready to go with them. Kush is in Kurta Pajama while Pihu is wearing a beautiful red ghaghra choli. They all go to the temple and then go for a long drive before they head home. Pihu and Kush are tired and fall asleep in the car. Priya is lost in thought as she is looking out of the window. On and off she looks back at the two sleeping children and smiles. Then she looks at Ram and the expression changes. She looks adoringly at him. She is very happy and contented at the moment and hopes that life will continue to be this good to her. She puts her hand on Ram's shoulder and he turns to look at her briefly before he turns back to look ahead.

Ram: What is it my dear?

Priya: I want to ask you something Ram.

Ram: Your order is my command sweetheart.

Priya: Can we go back to our room upstairs?

Ram: Are you sure you want to?

Priya: Yes, I do.

Ram: It might be very painful you know and I don't know if I am ready to see you hurting.

Priya: With you by my side, I am willing to face any pain. I have to get it over with at some point right? So, why not tonight?

Ram puts out his hand and holds her face on one side: I promise to be with you for the rest of our lives dear. I am also waiting to go back to our kingdom, however, Pihu's room needs finishing touches so she will not be able to sleep in the room next to ours. I think if we can get her room finished tomorrow she can move in tomorrow.

Priya: Well, then she has Kush for company tonight.

Ram: So I see you are determined to sleep in our room tonight.

Priya smiles at him and nods her head. The rest of the journey home is quiet and both Ram and Priya are smiling to themselves. They reach home and the children are wide awake as they regale the rest of the family with their non-stop chatter about their weekend with Bua and the temple and other stuff. The house is filled with laughter and a lot of talking. Priya looks around as she goes to Pihu's room and puts away their bags and gets their school stuff organized for the next day. She goes to Kush's room and gets his things ready for school as well. She comes back and gets the children to change while she gets dinner ready for them. Once they are done with dinner they go to the room and play a quiet game. As the children are winding down, the house begins to get silent again. Ram comes into Pihu's room and is getting ready to read to them and Priya just stands in one corner admiring the scene – father and his two children are so engrossed in the book that they don't even notice her standing and watching them.

Once the children are asleep all the adults gather at the dining table for dinner.

Ram: Ma, Priya and I will sleep upstairs from tonight and Pihu will shift into her room tomorrow night.

KK throws a glance at Soumya and Rishabh and both of them hide a smile. Priya sees the exchange of glances and wonders what is going on in their minds.

Soumya: Don't worry Bhappa, I will take care of Pihu and Kush tonight.

Priya tries to make some signs to Ram wondering if he knew what was brewing and Ram being his old Golu self blinks.

Ram: What?

Priya is embarrassed: Nothing.

Ram: What were you trying to say to me?

Priya is trying to shush him, but he just doesn't get it: It's okay, nothing really.

Ram has this puzzled look on his face and has no clue what is going on. KK realizes that Priya saw her exchange glances with Soumya and Rishabh and diverts the attention.

KK: Beta, you should understand, I am sure Priya was trying to say something personal to you and you didn't get it. She winked at Priya.

Ram begins to blush and scratches his temple and has a shy smile.

Everyone is done with dinner and they sit around in the family room as is custom after dinner. Priya is touched to see that all the family bonding she wanted to see when she was there five years ago is happening now. KK gets up and says she is tired and takes Dadi with her to their rooms and soon Soumya and Rishabh follow suit. Priya and Ram look at each other and decide to call it a day. Priya goes into Pihu's room to check if the children are asleep and sure enough she can hear loud snores from the room. She looks at Ram and cannot control her giggle. Ram also looks at her and smiles.

Priya stretches her arms and yawns. Ram turns to her with an amused look.

Ram: Are you sure you want to sleep upstairs tonight?

Priya nods in the affirmative. Ram is a little nervous about how Priya is going to take it, but he holds her hand and takes her up the stairs. Priya looks into Ram's eyes as they are walking up the stairs and Ram looks into hers. They reach the landing and see a big red bow on their door. Priya looks at it and shakes her head from side to side as she looks at the door. Ram gives her a shy smile. He now understands all the miming and sign language around the dining table.

Ram moves forward and removes the bow and unlocks the door to their room – their private palace filled with so many memories, some casual, some not so nice yet others unimaginably beautiful. As they walk into the room both of them fail to notice that the room is all decorated like a bridal suite. Ram closes the door shut behind them and both of them walk in.

Priya looks around the room and her eyes are filled with tears ready to overflow on to her soft cheeks bringing the kajal from her eyes down with them. The room looks just like it was when she left it five years ago. The same colors on the walls, the same pictures, furniture, linen – everything is as is. It feels like time just stood still in that room and all memories come flooding down along with the tears. Ram sees the pain in her eyes and is holding her as close to him as possible. He has his arm wrapped around her shoulder as she stands and surveys everything around her.

She walks past the couch and immediately goes into the past to the night of their consummation:

Mr. Kapoor aaj ke baad is couch pe koi nahi soyega – na mein, na aap!

She looks at the chairs beside the couch and again the past flashes by when she is massaging Ram's aching head when he is having withdrawal from stopping tablets:

Ram: Aaah! Priya, that feels so good. I love what you are doing to me and it really is taking away the pain from my head. Your hands have magic in them. Thank you thank you.

The words resonate in her mind and she looks at Ram through the tears. Ram looks at her and closes his eyes and shakes his head from side to side.

She looks across the room at her dressing table and goes back in time when Ram was in the US and was trying to have a video chat with her:

Rishabh, please tell me when you get connected. I will be there in a few minutes.

She looks at Mr. Kapoors chair and remembers when she came home during the making of Lalaji's statue, when Ram was upset that she was late:

Mr. Kapoor, I can tell you the reason why I was late tonight, but then I will miss seeing the joy and delight in your face when I show you the surprise tomorrow. You trust me don't you? Give me just this one night and I will tell you everything tomorrow morning.

When she goes near the bed there is a medley of scenes that keep running through her mind:

Mr. Kapoor I hope you remember we are married, why do you behave as if we did something wrong last night?

You know the prince of my dreams is now real, he is tall and dark, he is handsome and as a bonus he is delightfully plump. He argues, fights with me but also loves me a lot. Do you know his name? Raam!

A few months before we were married I was in the wash room of this restaurant when a stranger shared with me his deepest secrets unknowingly and I can't believe that the stranger was none other than you, Mr. Kapoor. This means destiny had planned for us to be together a long time before we even met.

And so the medley goes on and on while Priya is weeping continuously. Ram is disturbed seeing Priya in this state, but doesn't stop her as he wants her to bring it all out now and not hold back and keep thinking about all the bitter moments at a later time. He wants to start life afresh and to do that he wants to wipe the slate clean and not push everything under the rug for it to surface later on. Seeing Priya this way is really difficult for Ram and he is also weeping with her.

Ram: Shall we go to the dressing room and change up for the night?

Priya looks at him and smiles weakly through the tears that don't seem to show signs of stopping. Both of them are so engrossed in the past that they do not notice the flowers and candles in the room. The room has been very beautifully decorated (I am sure this was what KK, Rishabh and Soumya were giggling about during dinner). Priya holds on to Ram's hand that is on her shoulder as they walk into the dressing area.

Again she remembers the evening of Natasha's birthday when Ram and Neha danced to fulfill her wish.

Mr. Kapoor, can you please send Neha or Ayesha if they are downstairs, I need some help.

Ram: They are nowhere to be seen. If there is any way I can help, please tell me.

Priya hesitatingly: I mmm I aaa I am having trouble with the hook of my blouse.

Ram: Do you want me to come and help you?

Priya: Okay.

She opens her cupboard and is surprised again to see all her sarees hanging neatly and her night clothes, jewellery and other accessories just the way they were when she left KM. She turns to Ram and buries her face in his broad chest and weeps like a little child. Ram draws her as close as he can and shuts his eyes as his tears flow like two streams from both his eyes.

Finally after what seems like eternity, Priya breaks the hug, closes her eyes, takes a deep breath and exhales slowly. She opens her eyes and sees Ram's tear-stained face, his eyes looking into hers with so much love and compassion. She holds his face with the palms of both her hands and wipes his tears with her thumbs. Ram does the same to Priya and both of them smile at each other.

Ram: Priya, I promise to fill the rest of the days of our lives with so much happiness and laughter that you will never remember the pain of separation, anger and hatred.

Priya: Thank you for being with me through this journey tonight Ram. It was very important that I put this behind us as we move ahead and look forward to a bright and happy future. I don't know what tomorrow has in store for us, but I do know that whatever happens, I will be by your side always holding your hand through thick and thin. This is my promise to you.

Ram: Phew! That was some roller-coaster we went on and I am glad it is over now. Do you want to go and change first or can I?

Priya: I will go after you are done. And she goes into her closet looking at her clothes. She is so surprised that the clothes have all been cleaned and preserved as if they have been used regularly. She smiles and shakes her head from side to side. In spite of all the pain and sadness that I just experienced, I feel so happy and content to be back in our own space, back where we began our life's journey together, back where I look forward to growing old with my man, my hero, my Ram.

Ram comes out of the wash room and is amused to see Priya lost in thought looking at her clothes in her cupboard. He holds her around her waist from behind and rests his head on her shoulder. The ten thousand butterflies that suddenly seem to flutter in her tummy brought her out of her thoughts in a hurry. The very touch of his skin against hers sends waves of tiny pins and needles all over her body and she goes pink in her face.

Ram: If you are done dreaming, you can go and freshen up and meet me in our room.

Priya: Okay, I will be there in a few minutes, she says shyly not making eye contact. She takes her clothes and vanishes into the rest room.

Ram walks into their bedroom and NOW he looks around at the candles and flowers all over the room and wonders how they got there. Were they there when they first got to the room? How come I didn't notice them? I wonder if Priya noticed them, because she didn't say anything about it. I am sure this is the work of Soumya and Rishabh. Wait till I get them tomorrow morning! He smiles shyly and puts his hand against his cheek and is keenly observing all the decorations in the room. He shuts his eyes and bites his lips as he is thinking about Priya's reactions when she comes out of the rest room.

Priya comes out of the rest room and stands at the entrance to their room and looks with her eyes wide open, at the decorated room. She blushes and covers her face and before she realizes, she can feel Ram's breath against her body. Ram holds her by the shoulders and turns her to face him, while she still has her face hidden behind her soft hands. Ram takes her hands in his and slowly peals them away from her face exposing her bashful expression.

Priya: Did you do this?

Ram: No, even I didn't notice this when we walked in. I guess this must have been Soumya and Rishabhs work while we were out at the temple. Anyway, the room looks beautiful, not just by the ambience, but your presence in the room makes it come alive and beautiful.

He holds her chin with his left hand and lifts her face so that he can take a look into her beautiful eyes that are shut at the moment. He leans forward and kisses her eyes gently and as if that was the cue, she slowly opens her eyes and is lost in the love emanating from his eyes. He narrows his eyes as if he is taking permission from his lady love, asking her if it is alright to move on or ….

She smiles and blinks her eyes and immediately his face lights up and rejoices. Looks like he has gotten what he has asked for and he draws her into a hug and kisses her on her hair. Priya seems to sink into his chest and has a contented smile on her face.

The room is filled with music – a silent romantic music of the heart – two hearts conversing with each other after a break of five long years. The two love birds have finally gotten together and we should leave them in their world to make up for the long separation. Let us leave them as they begin their life afresh – let the music of their heart play on as they are in complete sync with each other.

I will leave you to your imagination as Ram and Priya are lost in the world of their love for each other. That's it for now and do let me know what you think.