FF:Out Of Darkness *Part 29* (Pg 75) *Updated* 9/7 - Page 53

We WON the WORLD CUP!

🥳🥳🥳

************ Part 28 ************

"Radhika, can you please pass me the cheese" Dev requested his wife who flashed him a tentative smile as she reached for the cheese bowl, lifting it in her hand to pass it to him. Dev was momentarily shocked at being bestowed with such a smile from his wife…. the wife who till yesterday was scared to even show her face….

"KakiMa, yeh kya karrahi ho?" Mayank questioned holding his KakiMa's hand preventing her from handing the platter to his Kaka.

Radhika looked at Mayank with a frown not understanding why he stopped her from passing the cheese to her Pati.

"Bhul gaye? Aap unse angry ho" Mayank reminded her.

"Angry? Angry at what?" Mrinalini questioned staring at her nephew. "What did you do, Dev?" Mrinalini questioned glaring at her brother.

"Great! Just Great!" Dev muttered clenching his fingers. It did not take his sister even a second to glare at him accusingly… she was very quick to assume it was his fault.

"Kya kiya aapne, bhai?" Rahul asked in a quite whisper, leaning towards his brother and nudging him as he was sitting beside him. Dev shot him a glare which had Rahul retreating back in his chair and gulping down the food he was chewing.

"Radhika, what happened? What did Dev do?" Mrinalini asked the girl but she received no answer from her…. the girl simply sat in her chair, biting her lip as she cautiously peered at her husband. Mrinalini glared at her brother accusingly.

"Mayu, you tell me why is Radhika angry with Dev?" Mrinalini asked her nephew hoping he would answer her question since he was the one who started this.

"Kyunki, Kaka ne KakiMa ko proper morning kissy nahin di" Mayank explained to his BadiMa.

"W-what?" Rahul chocked on his food at his son's answer. He looked up at his brother to find his face buried in the newspaper. Was this why his brother had given him that deathly glare in the morning when he had stalked into the gym, glared at him, opened his mouth to say something but only growled and stalked back out from the gym… he hadn't given much thought to it at that moment but now… now it made sense…. His brother was furious with him because his son had probably interrupted a private intimate moment between his bhai and bhabhi…

"What?" Mrinalini voiced after her brother, arching her brow in amusement as she stared at Dev who suddenly decided to hide himself behind the newspaper. Interesting….

"Haan, Dad, Kaka ne Kakima ko morning kissy unke cheek per diya lips per nahin"

"Oh.." Mrinalini hummed, smirking at her brother's unease who was peeking at his wife from behind the newspaper.

"Haan, Jaise aap Mamma ko dete ho aur jaise BadePapa BadiMa ko dete hain waise toh bilkul bhi nahi" Mayank informed his father.

Rahul and Mrinalini both sputtered and coughed hearing Mayank's words.

Radhika looked up hearing the coughing sound, quickly grabbed two glasses, filled them with water and leaned over the table handing Rahul veerji the glass of water which he took with gratitude while Mrinalini smiled and waved her hand in dismissal at the offered glass.

"Thank you, Bhabhi" Rahul spoke cautiously darting his eyes in his brother's direction who even though was hiding his face behind the newspaper but was surely taking a peak into the happenings at the table.

"Aur pata hain jab maine kaka se kaha Kakima ko lips pe kissy do tho unhone nahi diya"

"Mayank!" Rahul warned his son but it was futile because his sister was encouraging him by smiling at his son and pulling his cheek with adulation. He looked at his babhi who was staring admiring the scene between his sister and Mayank. He looked to his brother who pretended to be busy reading the newspaper as he sipped his juice.

"Yeh kya, Bhai?.... can't even give my bhabhi a proper kiss?" Rahul teased his brother.

"Rahul" Dev hissed kicking his brother with his feet under the table.

"Ouch" Rahul yelped rubbing his ankle where his brother had kicked him.

"Haan, Dad, you tell Kaka to give my KakiMa a proper morning kissy nahin tho she will stay angry with him…" Mayank suggested to his father along with threatening about his kakima staying angry with Kaka.

Dev quickly looked up at his wife to find her smiling at Mayank and feeding him… he wondered if she understood what Mayank had just said… would she really be angry with him just because Mayank told her to be…. She won't stay angry with him would she?.... nah… Dev quickly dispersed that thought…. She was too scared of him to show any anger towards him…. He moved his hand towards his wife reaching out to her but hastily retracted his hand back before it reached his wife realizing his brother and sister were staring at him with full amusement….

"What?" He snapped at them biting into his omelet.

"Oh… nothing… we are just waiting for you to give your wife a proper morning kissy" Mrinalini teased her brother, her eyes dancing with amusement, her lips smirking at him.

Dev cleared his throat, fidgeting in his seat eliciting laughter from Rahul who was thoroughly enjoying his brother's obvious discomfort.

"Dad, aap Kaka ko sikhado na" Mayank suggested to his father.

"K-kya?" Rahul coughed hearing his son's suggestion. "He will certainly get me killed by bhai today" Rahul thought to himself.

"Haan, teach him or else KakiMa will remain angry with him" Mayank repeated to his father. "She won't even give him a goodnight kissy!" Mayank threatened as he munched on the sandwich fed by his KakiMa.

"Don't worry, Mayu, I will teach your Kaka everything about proper kissing" Rahul laughed assuring his son and taking pleasure in seeing his brother's embarrassment.

"Rahul!"

Rahul gulped hearing his brother's angry growl, he didn't dare turn towards him knowing fully his brother's glare would be enough to kill him on the spot… and No, he wasn't exaggerating! Nope!

"Now don't be like that Dev, I am sure Rahul can teach yo-" Mrinalini spoke only to be stopped by her brother's angry voice.

"Enough, Didi!" Dev yelled at his sister.

"Dev! That is no way to speak with your sister!" Vivek scolded his brother-in-law as he wheeled himself towards the breakfast table. He didn't know what had made Dev so angry but using such high voice on Mrinalini was not something he could excuse him for – no matter the reason.

Dev had the audacity to look ashamed for his sudden burst. "Sorry jiju"

"Not to me Dev, apologize to your sister" Vivek ordered as he helped himself to the mushroom omelets.

"Sorry Didi" Dev whispered with a grimace.

Mrinalini smirked at him.

"You know, I think maybe you need to have that talk again with your jiju." Mrinalini suggested, her eyes twinkling with mirth.

Dev and Vivek both raised their brow at Mrinalini, not understanding what talk she was referring to.

"The birds and the bees talk" Mrinalini mouthed, pleased to see the horrified look on her brother.

"NO!" Dev screamed horrified at his sister's suggestion. He was NOT going to go through that again…. but his mind was already racing back to that day when his brother-in-law had sprung *the* talk on him.

Vivek choked hearing his wife's suggestion. Oh dear lord – save me!

Mrinalini smiled with amusement as she remembered that day, more than a decade ago, how worried and terrified she had been when she had first caught her brother in a passionate embrace with his girlfriend, both kissing each other deeply. She had ended up having a panic attack after witnessing that….. for some reason she had never imagined her brother to be so physically involved with his girlfriend because to her he was still a young child….

***********************

"Mrinalini? What's wrong?" Vivek asked worriedly seeing his wife pacing the room in agitation.

"I need to talk with Dev!" Mrinalini practically screamed at her husband. "Oh… I can't believe I never thought about this… from all the things how could I forget to caution him about this! Oh I must do it… yes; I must do it right now! I will talk to him…. I will make him understand why he can't engage in such activities!" Mrinalini murmured to herself as she continued pacing the room in frenzy.

"Talk to him about what?" Vivek asked his wife walking up to her and wrapping his arm around her shoulder.

"Sex!" Mrinalini whispered.

"What?" Vivek asked her in shock.

"I must tell him he can't be having sex now! he is too young!" Mrinalini muttered to herself as she tried to free herself from her husband's hold.

"Mrinalini! You need to calm down first… here, why don't you sit down and drink some water" Vivek suggested guiding his wife to the couch and handing her water to drink.

"Now, tell me what is this all about Dev and sex?" Vivek asked after finally calming his wife.

Mrinalini looked at her husband and began recounting about what she had accidently seen upon entering Dev's entertainment room. The inappropriate position he and his girlfriend were in when she had gone to talk to him about a dinner invite.

"Mrinalini, don't you think you are rushing into this too fast…"

Mrinalini raised her brow at her husband.

"Dev was only kissing her, he is a young man now and that girl is his girlfriend…." Vivek tried to explain his wife.

"He is too young…. He is just a boy… only…. 16" Mrinalini told her husband.

"Don't be such a conservative lady now…. it was just kissing" Vivek pointed out to his wife.

Mrinalini scowled at her husband, angry at how lightly he was taking this. "Kissing can lead to 'other things'…. and Dev is just too young for those 'other things'…. god forbid if I had not interrupted them then they might have already be doing those 'other things' right now!"

"Mrinalini, Dev is a young man now…. he is old enough to make the right and wrong decisions!..... you need to stop interrupting his personal life…" Vivek scolded his wife.

"He is only sixteen, too young to make the right decisions….you know better than me how one thing can lead to another…. especially with young teenage boys!"

"Honestly, Mrinalini. Dev is a mature boy and if you are so concerned about this…. Then let me talk with him about se-" Too late, he saw the trap now

Mrinalini beamed at her husband's words…. it had taken some time but she had finally cornered him….

"NO! Wait! I didn't mea-"

"OH, Vivek. You are such a darling!" Mrinalini gushed hugging her husband.

Vivek bolted up on his feet, shaking his head wildly. "I take it back…. I take it back"

"You can't take it back!" Mrinalini screamed. "You volunteered for it and you must do it!"

"Mrinalini, Love, I don't thi-"

"I will hear none of your excuses! You will have the talk with him!" Mrinalini announced interrupting him from completing his speech on why he is not the best candidate for the task of having 'the' talk with Dev.

Vivek swallowed hard. He should have known better! His wife was not like the typical dotty wives nor was she as oblivious as she pretended to be…. It was obvious…. Very very obvious – he had fallen into the trap his wife had crafted so thoroughly….. no amount of protests can get him out of this situation….

"Vivek, you must speak to him soon… before he leaves for the camping trip this weekend" Mrinalini told her husband…. almost feeling bad for having played such a trap on him….

"Mrinalini, please, I don't think I can do this…" Vivek pleaded giving one last feeble try.

"Now, Now… don't be thinking so little of yourself, love." Mrinalini soothed her husband, giving him a quick kiss to pacify him.

Vivek looked at his wife's glinting eyes and knew right then that he was completely trapped – the whole conversation, her panicked look and worry, everything had been a sham – her way of getting him to agree to do what she was going to make it happen one way or other. The whole time he had thought he was comforting and trying to make his wife see the point when in reality the manipulative sly wife of his had been inwardly gloating at her success while he dug himself deeper and deeper. How could he not spot this sooner?.... knowing how devious his wife was when she wanted things done her way….. he of all people should have spotted Mrinalini's manipulation from the start!.....

**************

Dev fidgeted in his seat, he looked up at his Jiju to find him reading a case file. Why had he called him to the study saying he needed to talk to him? He had been sitting in the chair for the past fifteen minutes and his Jiju had yet to speak to him. Dev had already raked his brain thinking about all the things his Jiju might want to discuss with him about but couldn't figure out…. Maybe his Jiju just needed some company while he read through one of his case files?..... he thought back to the times when he was younger and how he always insisted on completing his homework in the study while Jiju worked on one of his cases.

"Dev, Sex is bad for you, very bad!"

The paper weight Dev had been holding dropped to the ground. Did he and Jiju start a conversation when he was reminiscing about his preteen years? "Pardon me?"

"Don't have sex. It's bad for you"

"Uh…. Er….. ummm" Dev trailed off. He could not believe this. Did his jiju really just spoke the word "sex"? He watched as his Jiju went back to reading the case file – hiding his face – was more like it. Dev continued staring at him, trying to figure out what had just taken place few moments ago.

"Any questions, Dev?" His jiju asked hesitantly lifting his head from the file having had enough of his staring session.

"No…. yes… I mean…. I…. did you just tell me s-sex is bad for m-me?" Dev stuttered his question. Please.... say no... say no..... Dev fervently prayed to himself..... he cannot be having *the* talk with his Jiju - not now, not ever!

"Yes, I did."

"b-but…why?"

"Because it is. Sex leads to babies"

Dev gasped.

Vivek cleared his throat, preparing himself to finish this talk. "I understand you now have a girlfriend… so obviously you will hug her and kiss her… but you shouldn't do it"

"Wh-what?"

"Kissing leads to sex and sex leads to babies" Vivek stated giving a serious look to Dev. "So kissing is also very bad for you" Vivek added as an afterthought.

Dev blinked, and blinked again. "I don't see why you need to have this talk with me?" Dev questioned.

"Would you prefer your sister to have this talk with you?" Vivek questioned raising his brow.

"NO, Please don't" Dev said quickly, he should be thankful it was his Jiju who was having this talk with him; if it had been his sister then she would for sure convince him to take the path of celibacy with her manipulative words.

"But must I have this talk?" Dev grumbled.

"You need to know about this before you make any rash choices" Vivek stated calmly but a frown formed on his forehead. "You haven't made any rash choices… right?"

"No!... of course not" Dev squeaked out realizing what his Jiju was really asking. "I have not had sex…. the thought didn't even enter my mind" He confessed momentarily wondering if he could be swallowed by the ground beneath.

Vivek sighed in relief hearing Dev's confession. He closed the file he had been pretending to read. "do you love the girl, Dev?"

"No, I don't think so…. I really like her… but can't say I love her" Dev said as he finally picked the fallen paper weight – a ruse to hide his red face from his jiju.

"Very well, if you ask my opinion, I think you are too young for love. I believe you should wait till you are at least 25 before you have sex" Vivek stated hoping Dev would follow his suggestion.

Dev looked at his Jiju blankly.

"I think it is best if you and your girlfriend take things slow… don't even think about sex"

"But…. We haven't done anything other than kissing" Dev protested.

"Kissing leads to sex, so it's better you stop with the kissing too" Vivek replied to his protest.

"So you basically want me to stop kissing my girlfriend and wait till I am 25 to fall in love – without kissing and then I can have sex?" Dev asked trying to make his Jiju understand how lame and unfair his suggestion was.

"Yes, I am so glad you finally saw my point" Vivek said turning to his file and resuming his reading believing the conversation to have ended remarkable well.

"That is not going to happen! I can kiss, and touch and can have sex with my girlfriend if I want to!" Dev declared to his Jiju "especially now that you have me thinking about sex" Dev finished cheekily before he left the study leaving behind his horror stuck brother-in-law…..

*****************

Dev and Vivek looked at each other for the longest time before bursting into laughter; both thinking about the day when they had the most awkward conversation.

"What is it? What am I missing?" Rahul asked staring at his brother and Jiju.

"Nothing Rahul, nothing" Mrinalini said between her laughter.

Rahul stared at the laughing forms of his brother, jiju and now his sister. He looked to his son who also joined in the laughter riot without having an idea as to why the adults were laughing. He looked at his Babhi to see her watching everyone with great interest.

"Will someone please tell me why you all were having a laughing concert?" Rahul asked once everyone ceased their laughter.

"Nothing you need to concern yourself with Rahul" Dev told his brother, there was no way he was going to tell his brother about his experience of the talk. Rahul would leave no opportunity to tease him about it.

"Now let's go. I am getting late for my meeting. Rahul?…. Rahul! let's go" Dev snapped at his brother who seemed to be glued to his chair.

"Bhai… you go ahead…. I don't feel so good right now… I think I am getting sick" Rahul moaned his lie, holding his stomach for a convincing affect. He knew he was going to have a very busy day after all the teasing he had done with his brother.

"Acha… not feeling good…huh?" Dev arched his brow at his brother, took hold of his forearm and pulled him up from his seat. "Come, I will set you right" Dev threatened as he dragged his reluctant brother from the dining hall.

"Bhabhi…. bachao" Rahul screamed in a vain attempt.

Radhika watched the happening with keen interest, scared for Rahul Veerji who was forcefully being dragged out of the dining hall by her Pati. She had trembled at the loud growl that had escaped from pati when Rahul Veerji uttered something. Radhika could not help but be scared of the anger that had emitted from her pati, he hadn't even glanced at her throughout breakfast and neither did he bid her goodbye before leaving; something he had been doing every day since she came to live with him. She twisted her fingers in worry; did she do something wrong?.... was he angry at her for not speaking to him at breakfast?..... She remembered the early morning where he had expressed his like towards her and had gone so far as to say that he liked her smile and wanted her to speak with him.

"Arre! Yeh Dev bhi na… always in a hurry!" Mrinalini said shaking her head as her eyes stared at her brother's phone forgotten on the table. She leaned over and grabbed the phone deciding to go hand it to him but one glance at Radhika had her change her decision. "Radhika, can you please go give this phone to Dev" Mrinalini requested handing the phone to the girl who looked a little too eager to do the task - which pleased Mrinalini…. Finally, things were moving forward!

**********

Radhika hurriedly walked out to the hall hoping to catch her Pati before he exited from home. She saw his back which was moving towards the main door.

"Pati!" She called without thinking and watched as his steps faltered from moving forward. He turned so swiftly upon hearing her voice that it had Radhika taking a step back from where she had stood.

Dev had stopped in his steps when he heard his wife's call…. "Pati" the word that thrilled his heart, she had called him that… He had never really given a thought to what his wife would call him… he would have expected her to call him "Suniye" the traditional word most women used when calling their husbands…. But his wife….. his wife called him Pati….. he had heard her call him that before but only when she was deep in slumber.

"What happened?" Dev asked as he walked up to her.

Radhika lowered her head and lifted her hand that held his cell phone, outstretching it towards him for him to take it.

"Oh…. Thank you so much" Dev said taking his cell phone from her. He turned to leave only to turn back again to stare at his wife's bowed head.

"Is something the matter?" Dev asked seeing her peer at him cautiously. He frowned seeing how she kept biting her lip in fear.

"What is it, sweets, You know you can speak to me" Dev spoke to her softly, his hand cupping her cheek, his thumb caressing her jaw line.

Na jao saiyan chuda ke baiyyan

Kasam tumhari main ro padun gi…

Haan main ro padu-

Dev looked over his shoulder sending a scathing look to his brother which abruptly stopped his loud singing session.

Radhika looked past her Pati, staring at Rahul Veerji who had suddenly gone pale when her Pati had turned towards him.

Dev turned back to his wife after shutting his brother only to find his wife cowering away from him.

Radhika took a step back, scared at seeing the hardened gaze of her Pati. He had been so very nice to her just moments ago, his eyes filled with warmth and care when they had gazed at her but now when she had looked into his eyes they terrified her… they were the same dark eyes but now they were hard and filled with anger….

"Radhika? What happened? Won't you tell me?" Dev asked moving forward to close the sudden distance between them.

"I…. is…. is P-Pati angry at Ra-Radhika?" She asked stuttering through her question as she lifted her eyes to peer at him only to drop her gaze upon meeting his.

"Angry at you?" Dev queried frowning at his wife's question.

Radhika nodded her head in affirmation.

"I am not angry at you" Dev whispered moving more closer to her, his body almost touching hers. He watched as his wife widened her eyes at the sudden closeness. Dev smiled as he held her chin between his thumb and forefinger and lifted her head to gaze deeply into her eyes. He wanted her eyes on his when he spoke to her, he didn't want her covering away or avoiding his gaze all the time. He had enough of that!

"Radhika, did you hear me? I am not angry at you" Dev stated to his wife. He rolled his eyes hearing a loud whistle from behind him. "but I am angry at him" Dev added pointing at his brother behind him who stood leaning against the wall, hands in his pockets as he watched them in pure amusement.

Radhika stared into Pati's eyes, breathing a sigh of relief at Pati's words and his smiling eyes. She glanced past Pati at Rahul Veerji who winked at her upon meeting her gaze. Radhika quickly turned her gaze back to her Pati who had seen the little scene. She watched as Pati's lips curved into a smile – he was smiling at her.

"Now how about you give me your beautiful smile before I leave for work?" Dev requested once again caressing her jaw with his thumb.

Radhika gave a shy smile, her innocent eyes sparkling with happiness at her Pati's sweetness. She liked her Pati, he was so very sweet to her and he even liked her smile!

"Ah! How I love your smile" Dev whispered kissing her cheek as he traced the dimples that formed on her cheeks.

"Bye, my wife" Dev said leaning forward to place his warm lips softly against his wife's temple before leaning back and stepping away from her.

Radhika instantly leaned forward, rising herself high on her toes and pressed her lips on Pati's temple giving him the kiss in the same manner he had given her just moments ago.

"Bye, Pati" Radhika whispered, her eyes lifted to meet with her Pati's. Something warm spread through her as she met Pati's sparkling gray eyes with her own brown ones. Her Pati smiled brightly at her, and she could not help the smile that spread across her face at the happy expression that was plastered on his features…..

************ Angel ************

Firstly apologies once again for not posting any updates for such a long time.... really sorry..... I had the part ready but I just felt something was missing.... just wasn't satisfied with it hence kept delaying in updating the part.....so, yah.... I am blaming it on my severe compulsiveness....