Suman woke up early to chirping birds and a beautiful dawn. She peered through the curtains to look outside and gave a satisfied sigh. It was a perfect morning to enjoy her freshly brewed coffee and read the crisp newspaper before the latter would be strewn mercilessly by her rogue husband. She was still a tad miffed with him for allowing her barely a couple of hours of sleep the past few nights.
She had fallen in love with this farmhouse of theirs since the day Shravan bought it for them. It served as a perfect get away on most of the weekends, when Shravan would whisk her off to spend some quality time with her. The farmhouse had witnessed a string of blissful mornings of theirs along with some steaming hot passionate nights, thinking of which made her go crimson again.
She had her coffee in peace, loving the solitude the place offered them. Living in a joint family , as interesting as it was, was also time consuming and more often than not, the arrangement usually left them craving for each other due to the time constraints it provided. There was a huge family to be attended to and to add to that their respective professional commitments invariably left them extremely exhausted by the end of the day.
Sumo then walked a bit in the garden before going back to her bedroom to check on her lazy husband. As expected, she found his whole huge self ducked under the covers with only his right leg protruding out of them. Sumo stifled a chuckle, before she proceeded to move away the covers from his face to ease his breathing.
She was greeted by Shravan's gorgeous visage making her breath hitched . She could never get enough of him in her life just as he could never stop reaching out for her..never ever on both the counts.
So sudden was the surge of her love for him that she bent down to kiss his forehead, instantaneously regretting that move of hers. A pair of deft hands, well skilled enough to put Ninjas to shame hauled her over him as she landed with a thud next to him. Shravan barely gave her a second to gather her wits, before he rolled over to what was his favourite position, having his sumo pinned under him. He loved to stare into those molten chocolate eyes of her at this level of proximity , even after all these days of loving her , being married to her and claiming her completely innumerable times, there was a part of him still couldn't stop yearning for her.
"Uff Shravan, tum ne martial arts bhi seekha hai kya? Kamar tod Di meri tumne , Chashmish kahin ke."
He was snapped out of his reverie by a fire spitting Sumo beneath him, "Ab kya din bhar ghoorte hi rahoge? Hato bhi! Apna pura wajan mujh par daalkar laat sahab aaram farma rahe hai. Gym jaakar body banane ka yeh matlab thodi hua ki aadmi feather light ho jaata hai, uske kisi aur par girne se, us doosre insaan ko chot phir bhi lagti hai ,samjhe."
"Sumo, baby, bolte waqt beech mein saans bhi liya karte hain. Bachpan mein yeh seekhna bhool gayi thi kya? Waise Sumo, kuch zyaada nahi bolti tum" Shravan had a pronounced smirk on his face.
"Bachpan se" said a visibly riled Sumo as she started wriggling under him to move.
"Ab Hato Shravan. Mujhe neeche jaakar breakfast bhi banana hai. You go and freshen up while I whisk up some yummy breakfast for my darling husband." She was hoping that he would take the bait and release her.
"Nope, I prefer my yummy breakfast served on my bed" Shravan winked at her before proceeding down to capture her lips. There was no way he would let her go unclaimed .
A couple of hours later, tired after their torrid rendezvous, they both finally descended to have a proper meal. As she flipped his omelette on the pan, he came into the kitchen after attending a call.
He encircled his arms around her waist from behind, and kissed her on her left cheek. She leaned back further into him with a big smile.
"Sumo, yaar Tuesday nikal jaaunga main Rishabh ke saath for Bangalore. I will try and wind up everything at the earliest, but jaan, I don't think I can make it back before 3 weeks" Shravan mumbled into her shoulders where he had dipped his head.
He felt Sumo stiffen in his arms for a couple of seconds before letting out a big sigh.
She turned back to him flashing her biggest smile.
"Koi baat nahi Patidev. Yeh baat toh tumne pehle hi bata Di thi na? Tum aaram se jaao. I will be fine."
Shravan could not help but feel proud of his wife. Suman, he knew, thrived on his nearness , as much as he craved for her contiguity.
It was nothing but her sheer will power to see him succeed , that had brought him to the pinnacle of his profession. She was selfless when it came to his success. He did try to emulate this trait of hers and encouraged her enough to surge professionally as well, but he lacked her dedication for it. He would cringe letting go of her even for a few extra hours than the usual caf timings. He felt his heart surge with respect for her.
He turned her around to cup her face with his palms and placed a warm kiss on her forehead.
"Jaldi aa jaaonga Sumo, I promise. I love you Sumo."
"I love you too Shravan." Sighed Sumo as she rested her head on his chest.
Shravan was having his coffee, while Sumo served him his favourite breakfast of muesli, spinach omelette and toasted brown bread. She loved to see the glee his face would have at witnessing even the slightest act of care and warmth.
"Shravan, do you know, Seher didn't have even the slightest inkling about you guys leaving for Bangalore for a 3 weeks long trip. She literally paled when I informed her about the same"
"Hmm, they are newly wed Sumo, obviously they wouldn't want to part even for a couple of days.
Ab apne aap ko hi le lo Sumo, kitna chipakti ho tum mujhse"
"Sirf main hi chipakti hoon Mr. Malhotra?"
"Nahin. .mein bhi chipakta hoon janu. Tum kitni chipcable ho"
Shravan leaned towards Sumo, but a deep glare from Sumo was enough to bring him back to his original seating position.
"So what did you girls talk about that night Sumo? I could see varied emotions fleeting through your face."
"We talked about everything Shravan, from how you were when you entered London to how you were when you left that place and everything in between." Sumo's eyes welled up again. No matter how happy she was with the love of her life, she could never get over the guilt of abandoning him when they were kids.
Shravan got up and took a giant stride towards Sumo, literally yanking her off her chair and pulling her into his tight embrace.
"Uff Sumo, bhool bhi jaao na sab."
"Hmm"
He cupped her face and made Sumo look directly into his eyes.
"Sumo, we have been through enough darling. We can't possibly erase the memories, good or bad, but can we make a conscious effort to make new memories baby?
I cannot bear to see you suffer so badly every time you are reminded of those dark days.
It's over Sumo, finished, Kaput.
Let's turn our faces to the sun Sumo, let our shadows fall behind. Please"
"I know Shravan, I become such a mess at times." Sumo immediately hugged him, she wanted to be everything he wanted her to be. She would never flinch thinking about those days if her actions pained him.
"I want to see you happy Sumo. It keeps me going in life.
Anyway, so you girls discussed my London life?"
"Hmm"
"And?"
"And, I told her things that you would have liked to tell her before you could say no to her."
She had realised much earlier that you had never felt for her, it was your silence over the reasons that haunted her. You never explained your goodbye to her, and that stayed with her albeit as a very faded memory, but it stayed.
I told her our story, our life with and without each other, and she understood us so well Shravan.
She is a fantastic lady , very mature, very serene and very much in love with her husband." Suman looked visibly impressed with Seher.
Shravan let out a long sigh. His face cracked into a tranquil filled smile.
"I thought as much. Thanks Sumo. I feel free now. I had never ever given her any reason to feel anything more than friendship for me. In fact Sumo, I was not even a close friend of hers .
Still , I hurt her. That feeling hurt me. I remembered her much later, only once I got you. You gave me my reprieve Sumo, Thanks baby."
Sumo looked up smiling at him, he bent down to kiss her forehead .
Suman Malhotra was a content woman today, there was nothing that weighed on her husband's conscience and that deliverance of his liberated her as well.
...
"Seher , please. ..we have gone through this many times wifey. I honestly don't have the stamina to argue any more." Rishabh Khurana ran his fingers through his hair letting out an exasperated sigh.
His wife was definitely giving him a tough time over his impending trip to Bangalore.
She sulked and shouted at him and sulked a little more. He had to leave that night for Bangalore and there was no way he could leave her looking so morose.
"Seher, please sweetheart , those builders are into this multicrore scam and are swindling money out of the poor people from my constituency. I need the support of some top businessmen to unearth this scam. Shravan is such a top lawyer, but he is not charging me a dime for his time and efforts.
This is for a larger cause Seher. Be with me in this sweetheart. I hate staying away from you too.
Okay, please let me make it up to you. I will take you on a 3 weeks holiday as soon as I get free.
You choose the destination. Deal wifey?" Rishabh was surprised at his own ability to speak so much as he extended his right hand to her for a handshake. He usually had a very reticent image of himself.
"Hmm, deal" Seher sealed his offer and accepted his handshake .
Rishabh immediately tugged her hand with a quick force crashing her into him.
His hands went down her waist as he pulled her a tad more closer,while he bent down to whisper in.her ears "That calls for a celebration , what say gorgeous?" He pecked her lips softly.
"Oh, so there's a reserve of stamina for certain activities, it's only talking to me that causes a definite depletion of your stamina isn't it? In sab mamalon mein toh battery charged hi rehti hai Kyon?" Seher smirked as she tried to wriggle out of her husband's grip.
"These activities provide pleasure as well honey, so I am okay for hard work it entails. And please don't tell me you don't enjoy these activities. Your screams scare me at times."
"Shameless"
"Liar"
Seher opened her mouth to retort with equal fervour, but Rishabh was too quick for her.
He slammed his lips against hers so hard that she had no choice but to give in.
That evening as Rishabh was getting ready to leave, he could see his wife quietly packing his stuff .
He went over to her and took her hands in his while resting his forehead on hers.
"I will miss you."
"Me too."
"Shravan must have left for the airport darling. I better make a move too."
"Erm ..Rishabh. .woh kuch kehna tha"
"Bolo Seher."
"I have known Shravan since I was in college."
"Yup...I know that. He told me about you guys knowing each other the first time we met itself. So?"
"There's more to it. Actually, there was a time when. .."
Rishabh placed his palm on her mouth before she could complete.
He then led her towards the bed and made her sit there.
"Look Seher, you are mine. My present, my future. And I am yours too, till I live. And that's all thar matters to me. Don't let this beauty that we share be marred by the shadow of some teenage infatuation. Everyone has them. I have had a fair share of infatuation or crushes and relationships myself.
They were good till they lasted and when they ended, they ended amicably.
You might have liked someone, but back then, you were not my wife Seher, so you are not answerable to me for those feelings. It's natural to like or crush over someone growing up. As natural as breathing. This is your life, your story, don't ever be apologetic about any experience of yours.
Shravan told me his story once we came closer, and that's when I could realise that the guy could never for any one else but his wife. He never loved anyone but Suman. She is the centre of his universe.
Just like you are my sun Seher.
The bottom line is that I trust you. I love you and I belong to you.
You are my wife, and that's the only truth of my life.
Chalo, now I am really late. I better leave sweetheart."
As they got up, Rishabh could see tears in Seher's eyes, but they carried immense love and pride for him.
She hugged him tight as he kissed on her head.
Seher Khurana was a content woman today. She had bared her soul to Rishabh. He had healed her with his care and faith. He had filled her life with with immense happiness and that love of his liberated her as well.
...
The courts were jam packed today, and Seher was finding it difficult to manvouer her way through the crowd.
Just then her phone beeped alerting her of a new message on watsapp.
Good Morning!
Good morning Madam , free home gayi aap?
Arre kahan, lots to be done. Listen kal mein free hoon. Wanna meet up?
Sure! !
Great! Spa, movie, lunch, shopping and drive. What say?
Perfect. I am game. I will drive.
Done. Seher, I choose the movie.
Arrgh. .romantic rona dhonaaa. .chalo Done. I chose the restaurant.
Angrezi khaaana. ..yuck. ..OK done. I chose the spa treatment.
Hmm..Done. I chose the mall.
Mehenge malls. ..Chalo Done. I drive back.
No.
Yes.
Your driving is pathetic.
I drive so smooth.
No
Yes Yes Yes
Arrgh. .OK.
Aww. .you are so cute. Kal milte hain. Take care. Goodbye Seher.
Seher shook her head in amusement as her close friend finally ended the chat. She was smiling widely while typing back to the girl who had become a very close friend of hers now, her soul twin.
See you ..Goodbye Suman!
Bade Achhe Lagte Hain
CID
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