Sweetener
#1 Hero
Ram had been acting weird around her, she is used to his silliness,childlike innocence, sweetness and even his awkwardness but for the last few days he has been quiet, reserved and even distant. At first, she thought maybe it was due to his new project, but he acted normally around the others.
Priya was certain he was upset at her for something, he had barely reacted when she told him she would make butter chicken for dinner. There is still things Priya is learning about her husband, but she had known his love for food since their first date. Priya bit her lip; the idea of her husband being so upset at her that he did not care for one of his favorite dishes bothered her immensely.
Her old self would have mocked her, but she refuses to listen to that part of her because deep down she knows that Ram would have been bothered as well if she was upset and do anything to cheer her up. Both had agreed not to expect love from each other, but they had started to become friends who had slowly started to be vulnerable around each other. So, it hurt when he was pulling back, instead of sharing with her what was wrong.
Priya was determined to fix things between them, so what if they can’t love each other like that. They can love and care for each other as friends, confidants, and family.
Priya was so lost in her thoughts on how to make her husband admit what was bothering her that she did not notice that he had arrived from the washroom looking dapper in a blue suit matching with his eyes.
Ram cleared his throat making Priya snap out of her thoughts, she turned her attention to him and gasped slightly as she saw him. It was not how handsome he looked that caught her by surprise, he always looked dapper, but it was the lack of smile and twinkle in the eye she had gotten used to see.
“I’m attending Mr. Mehta ‘s party so don’t stay up waiting” she heard Ram say curtly, he did not bother to wait for her reply as he rushed outside of their room. Priya frowned, that he did not even bother ask her to be his date.It might be obvious that she hates parties and elite social gatherings, but she would have attended for his sake.
Maybe he doesn’t want you to be there
Priya felt her heart clench as the insecure thought popped in her head,could it be that. Maybe her husband had finally had enough, maybe he realized how plain she was, and their different personalities had finally torn them apart.
“Or maybe you said something that hurt him or forgot something important maybe it has nothing to do with you Priya and he is going through something.But whatever it is instead of sitting her feeling sorry for yourself, get up and find out”
Priya got up from the bed and walked towards her dressing table with a new determination.
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Ram ignored his friend’s question about where his wife was and went towards the bar instead. No one missed Priya more than him, he wished she was here so they could make fun of all those couples together, Ram wanted her to be here so she could laugh at his bad jokes and scold him for eating unhealthy food, but then letting him steal food from her plate. Somehow her plate always had his favorite food along hers.
Ram poured himself a glass of vodka, things had been going so good between them lately. Ram felt like he had found someone who was trying to understand him better, it’s not that his loved ones did not understand him, but he knew his family loved the luxury and comfort he provided them, and his friends love was pure, yet the loneliness would sneak up on him. At the end of the day,he would go to the bed without having someone to say good night to, to tell someone about his day. He longed to be in the arms of someone who loved him, enough to share their whole life with him and no matter what storm life threw towards them would choose to stay with him, to choose to cherish and understand him.
With Priya, he saw someone trying to understand him, to care for him even if all she knew was against the very notion of letting him in. He had never seen someone so torn and fighting their own self just for his sake.
When she had called him hero for umpteenth time some days ago, he felt the need to build walls around his heart because had she truly not understood why he goes more and beyond for his people. It hurt that after all the time they had spent, every meal they shared, every laugh every smile had not made her understand how hurtful her comment would be. It was not the word itself it was the tone, as if she was mocking him and making fun of him for wanting to fix everyone’s problem. Did she not understand that he feared if he would not solve everyone’s problem, they will leave and have no reason to stay?
“Ram are you okey?” he heard a familiar voice, but it was not the voice he longed to hear but rather the voice of a past he was trying to leave behind. A person who had chosen someone else over him, no matter how much he pampered her it had simply not been enough. He had not been enough. Ram’s hand clenched to his glass tighter, as his eyes darkened and all he felt was bitterness as he took a sip from his drink. Maybe this was his undoing?
“I’m not your problem anymore, Vedika so leave me to my own misery, which should not be something difficult for you, it’s something you have mastered ”he said, his voice cold.
“Excus….”
“Vedika, his wife is here to worry about him, you can go back to enjoying the party.”
Ram turned around as he heard her. There she was standing in a black saree with her hair open, she looked like a sin. She was barely wearing any jewelry rather than her mangalsutra and his mother’s kangan. Ram closes his eyes; he doesn’t want to overthink and misunderstand these gestures. He had truly married the most confusing and maddening woman in the whole world.
“Priya, he is my friend” Vedika said bothered by how Ram was looking at his wife
“That might be, but I’m his wife and like he said this is not your problem “Priya said simply as she took a seat next to her husband.
“I would like whatever that you are drinking” Priya said after Vedika left with a visible frown on her face
“I don’t think Vodka is your usual drink, Priya” Ram answered looking at her with raised eyebrow
Ram almost groined when he saw her bit her lip, did she not know how maddening she could be at times.
“Wearing black designer saree that probably coast more than what I earn in a year and being in an elite party is also not my usual cup of tea Mr.Kapoor.” She said softly and before he could say something she took the glass from his hand and took a shoot.
“PRIYA ARE YOU INSANE” he said horrified with his wide eyes
“Bad idea, these tastes horrible how can you drink this Mr. Kapoor” she said disgusted
“Why the hell would you do that?” Ram said as he took her hand and pulled her far away from the bar
“I don’t know, I never really had a friend be mad at me before so this whole thing is new to me” she said
“I’m not mad at you, Priya”
“Yes, you are. You leave to work before I’m awake, you stopped making jokes and being awkward around me. You did not care about my butter chicken.You came to this party without asking me if I wanted to come”
“Well, you are here now aren’t you” he whispered as he pulled her to the corner so no one could hear them bickering.
Priya moved closer to him with sad big eyes, her coconut shampoo filled his senses. He was not going to melt no matter how adorable and attractive she looked at the same time.
“I just want to fix whatever is wrong” Priya said softly
“Like a hero, right?” he asked her sarcastically
“Is that what ‘s bothering you?” she asked him
“It’s not the word, it’s the tone as if you are taunting me. For someonewho likes to point out that I like being a hero, you do know that you also have the need to fix things at least for your family.”
He stared at her as she looked down, lost in her own thoughts. Ram felt his annoyance grew, why does he always have to be the patient, loving and caring one?
“I’m sorry for using that tone, for bringing out your insecurity when I know personally how terrible that is. I’m sorry. I will make sure the next time I call you a hero, is because I mean it or it’s during our nok -jhok not in anyway to taunt you.” She said as she played with the kangan on her wrist
Ram felt some of his annoyance fade, remembering the one time she had told him that love made you uncomfortable. Ram smiled a little, because the strict Priya Sood was standing in a party wearing an expensive black saree with her hair open and apologizing. He can’t remember the last time someone was willing to get uncomfortable just to get his forgiveness and his friendship back.
“Thank you” he says, hoping she would understand he is not only thanking him for asking for his forgiveness but also for getting uncomfortable, for not give up on them.
“Be patient with me Mr. Kapoor, being someone’s friend is not something that comes natural to me. I will stumble sometimes and mess up. Just tell me, talk to me don’t ignore me.”
“Deal” he said offering her his hand to shake
“You are impossible, Mr. Kapoor” she said shaking his hand
“Whatever, I did the impossible I made the great Priya Sood my friend”
“I go by Priya Kapoor now actually”
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Years later when a little girl who looked a lot like Priya Kapoor would ask him when he stopped searching for happiness, he would tell her about a stolen conversation in a party when the puzzle was finally starting to come together. Because that night he had realized that he had not only found someone to share a meal with, bed with, laugh with but someone who would ask him about his day, worry when he will get upset to that point that when he pushes her away, she pulls him back. He found the person who will fight her own demons to stay for him, and in his books well that made her his hero.
That little girl will ask her mom if she believes in heroes, after watching spiderman for the fifth time in a week with her father. Her dad will shake his head and tell her that her mom’s heroes are writers, female geniuses,and freedom fighters. Her mom will carry her in her arms, and whisper in her ear “Your dad he is the hero I believe in, because he is kind and everything good in this world so we kind of have to team up to protect him”
Pari Kapoor will nod and smile at her parents before kissing her mom’s stomach, excited to tell her brother how silly and in love their parents were.
A/N : English is not my first language, so sorry for any errors or grammar mistakes. Would love to get some feedback and thank you for reading. Also I have written Ram and Priya like the way I have interpreted them, but any constructive criticism is more than welcome :)
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Cricket
