Chapter Twenty-Two Part (B)
(One week later...)
"Shraddha I need the black tie that you bought for me." I yelled out.
But there was no answer from the room.
"Shraddha!" I called out.
Once again no answer and I was baffled as I went to our bedroom and saw mom placing some our clothes on the bed.
"Good morning beta." Mom said while flashing me a smile before quickly folding some pants before she placed it in the pile of other clothes that were folded.
"Breakfast is ready, come downstairs in five minutes." She said while coming towards me.
"Shraddha?" I said confused.
Mom arched her eyebrow and shook her head.
She hit my head with her hand.
"Are you now so slow that you are losing your memory?" she said while shaking her head.
"Mom if I was I would forget how beautiful my mother is this morning." I said while winking at her.
She gasped.
"You are shameless. Is this the type of lines that your wife falls for?" Mom said while laughing and shaking her head.
I just smiled at my mother before I linked my arm around her shoulders.
"Every time." I said while winking.
She shook her head.
"Please don't no need for details." She said.
"But seriously mom where is Shraddha?" I said while looking around.
"Did you forget so soon? That Major Saab and Amrit called and asked for her to help them with the Naamkaran Saanskaar ceremony don't you remember? That is why Dhruv is not here." She said getting sad at the last part.
I smiled.
It was such a tremendous sight and feeling seeing my mother slowly opened up to Dhruv to the point they were inseparable at times.
I smiled even more.
"Sorry mom, I'm just use to Shraddha being around that I keep on forgetting..." I trailed off in thought.
She shook her head and released herself from her grasp.
"She called early in the morning." My mom said.
I looked up quickly and almost rushed forward almost tripping.
"Really? Why didn't you tell me? What did she say? Is she and Dhruv okay?" I said just as quickly.
She laughed and shook her head.
"Call her yourself and find out all the answers to your question instead of harassing me." She said in annoyance.
"Mom...why are you being like this?" I said irritated.
"Because you barely noticed that your wife is not around." She said.
"I'm so use to her being around me." I said back.
"What if one day she goes missing would you even notice?" My mom said right back.
"Of course I would. I just forgot..." I said.
My mother shook her head.
"Just horrible. Like father like son. Barely knows when their wife is not around them." She said and she headed towards the door.
"Mom!" I called after her to no avail.
"Mom! Do you at least know where my black tie is at?" I said in desperation.
*****************
"So Malika are you excited?" Kittu asked her.
"Huh?" Malika asked confused.
"Your parents are going to come for your ceremony in a few days from now and soon everywhere is going to turn into such a lively place. Have you seen mama ji and papa ji? They are excited more than ever. Especially papa ji, he is causing me to go on edge because he keeps on delaying his medicine trying to arrange for everything. Soon when we start decorations tomorrow he is going to want to handle everything." Kittu said while laughing.
I smiled at her as I began cutting potatoes and carrots at the table.
"Cut my papa a break. He is really happy and excited." I said while pouting.
"Say that now but when you and bhaiyaa have a child and you will see what I'm talking about." Kittu said.
"There is no way that is possible since he will be clashing with maa ji." I said while grabbing a potato from the small bundle I had in front of me.
Kittu laughed.
"I forgot about mom..." she began laughing harder.
"You forget when those two come into a room...
"Everything freezes over." I said finishing for her.
Kittu began laughing again.
"Plus they will argue over everything. This makes me dread getting pregnant again." I said while laughing.
"It shouldn't children are such a joy. I'm not going to lie Mithra is becoming a handful but I wouldn't change it for the world." Kittu said.
"Why are you telling me this? I have a son already; I think I'm more experienced in that department than you are." I said laughing.
"You are past the arena of infant and toddler years so I believe you are a bit rusty." Kittu teased.
I dropped my mouth and pasued what I was doing to look at her.
"Really? Hmph." I said and before I continued what I was doing I looked out the corner of my eye and saw Malika starring at the pan but not really conscious of what she was doing.
I quickly got up and went around her area.
"Be careful...you are going to let the rotis get burnt..." I said while trying to take it off the pan...but it was too late.
"Sorry...sorry Shraddha...I'm sorry...I will do it." She said trying to get the rotis off but instead she caused my finger to hit the pan and I quickly pulled it away in pain.
"Ah..." I said clutching onto my fingers in the other hand.
"Shraddha are you okay?" Kittu said while stopping to stir what she had in the pot.
"Shraddha I'm sorry...quickly..." Malika tried to move my hands to the sink but I stopped her.
"Its okay Malika. It's a minor burn. Look...I will make the rotis...why don't you check on your baby. He must be hungry by now." I said reassuringly.
Dread crossed her face and I arched my eyes in confusion.
"No its okay Shraddha I can help you..." She tried to say.
"No need Malika. If your mind is wandering off like this, you will burn all of breakfast." I said trying to make her laugh.
Instead she looked worried and the dread in her eyes intensified.
"No Shraddha let me..."
"No Malika. You are worried about something and it won't do for you to burn yourself." I said with concentrated sternness.
She stared at me and she was reluctant in leaving and Kittu was just looking between us confused.
"Is there something going on that I should know about?" Kittu looked confused as she looked between us.
I sighed.
I came to stay over since yesterday night, around Thursday, to help with everything; Malika was still in the same position as she was in the hospital, yet even worse.
"I don't know what to do? He is crying every single second. Once I change his diapers, he will stop and then he will continue so I try to feed him but then he cries again. I'm afraid and I don't know what to do? Why is he crying? Why is he always crying when he is around me but when he gets around Ishaan he quiets down? Why is he always so calm and even playful when Ishaan is around him? But when he is around me it seems as if he hates being around me?" She said.
She was looking terrified, frustrated, and stressed and was a far cry from the bubbly and goofy Malika that I knew who was excited on becoming a mother.
"There is nothing going on...Malika just help me finish cutting and I will take care of this." I said smiling at Malika.
She nodded and she moved towards the table.
"Is something going on? What's wrong?" Kittu asked confused once I started to get to clean the mess and started preparing the rotis all over again.
She handed me the flour and I grabbed the container, opening the lid, pouring some of it on the plate I was working on.
I looked at her and smiled.
"It's nothing." I said smiling but in the back of my mind, worry started to build up even more for Malika.
But it's just the first week, she just needed time to adjust.
Right.
Right.
Right?
I was right, right?
I truly hope so.
*****************
"So you finally remembered me?" I said.
"No...no...it's just that..." He said.
"Just what? Your wife leaves and I bet you even forgot that I left. Forgot that I told you that my mother and father called for me to come home and help?" I said.
He seemed to be at a loss of words and I was waiting with a held breath at his next breath which was going to be a lame excuse.
"Sorry Shraddha. I forgot that you told me that you were leaving. I still thought you were at home and called for you to help me find my tie." He said sulkily.
I withdrew my cell from my ear.
It was night time already and I was tired after setting up everything.
I was busy laying down in my old room, with Dhruv passed out on my lap and I carefully ran my hands through his hair and leaned down to kiss him on the forehead as he started to grumble in his sleep.
He shifted around some more but calmed down as I continued to glide my hands through his hair.
What is wrong with him...he is being awfully honest...
I brought my cell back to my ear and smiled.
"What is this? You are being honest for once?" I said smiling to myself.
He sighed.
"I miss you." He said huskily.
I felt my smile disappear and I was left befuddled on what to say next.
"Shraddha...are you still there?" Kunal said.
"Yes...yes I'm still here." My voice came out nervous and I shook my head.
"So how is everything over there?" he asked.
So he says something like that and expects to just throw it under the rug as if he never even said anything.
Making me feel so happy for no reason.
"Its okay...we are almost done...the ceremony is starting in a day from now...I hope you didn't at least forget that." I said warningly.
He chuckled over the phone.
"Sorry I forgot that as well but mom reminded me. Plus she told me you called earlier but you didn't ask about me." He said and I could hear the pout in his voice.
"That was in the morning. I asked about you but you were still sleeping. Plus I just wanted Dhruv to talk to your mother as he was missing her...so no it was not partial towards you." I said.
"So you don't even care about me? What if I was sick?" he said.
"You fall sick in less than a day?" I said confused.
"It's possible." He said.
I arched my eyebrow at that.
"The one's who's as strong as a mule?" I questioned teasingly.
He chuckled again.
"So you are using what I said against me?" He said while laughing even more.
"You do the same." I said with amusement.
He paused and for a while I thought he hung up instead he spoke up.
"I miss you." He said again.
I arched my eyebrow in confusion.
"Did you forget, you just said that?" I said laughing at him in amusement.
"No you are not understanding...I miss you." He said and his tone got deeper and I could hear the sexual innuendo from a mile away.
I sighed and shook my head.
"Is that all you need me for?" I said shaking my head but secretly laughing.
"That is not true but its been a while since we spend some time with one another." He said.
"What are you talking about just two days ago..."
"That was two days ago." He said.
"You are a freaking horn dog." I said while laughing.
"No...just that I want you." He said.
I smiled despite myself and could feel my face becoming red and I stopped running my hands through Dhruv's hair.
"There is no possible way as I'm at my parent's home." I said smiling.
"You can still do something for me." He said huskily.
"What?" I found myself asking despite everything.
"Kiss me." He said.
At that I was puzzled.
Kiss him...how?
"I think you are just sleep talking...it's not possible to kiss you right now. Remember I'm at my parent's home." I said skeptically and in amusement at his statement.
"Kiss me through the phone." He said huskily.
At that statement I blushed, hard, and I was left speechless.
"Through...through...through...thro-ugh the phone?" I said confused.
"Yes." He said.
I blushed even more shook my head.
"No way. It doesn't make any sense..." I said.
"Please..." he whispered and it caused chills and goose bumps to spread throughout my body.
"This is ridiculous." I said sighing but I took my phone away from my air and held it in front of me.
"Shraddha..." Kunal said over the line and I bit my lip.
Sheesh!
I puckered up my lips and gave a quick kiss sound before quickly placing the phone back on my ear.
"See there. I gave you a kiss. Can I now go to sleep?" I said feeling myself blush even more.
"I didn't hear it...I didn't feel as if you really wanted to kiss me. Try again." He said.
I opened my mouth in shock.
This...this...this idiot!
I grunted but I took a deep breath and took the phone away from my ear, placed it in front of me and puckered my lips up once more.
Why do I tolerate and go ahead with his madness?
Don't you know? You are mad yourself.
I shook my head and I slowly made kissing sounds through the phone until I thought it would be enough to annoy him instead.
I finished and placed the phone back towards my ear.
"There you go, was that enough?" I asked.
"Thank you Shraddha. That was perfect. I love you." He said with mischief in his voice.
"I don't love you..." I grunted in annoyance.
He laughed through the phone.
"I don't believe that for a second...whose going to be the one that rushes up for a hug and say you have been gone for far too long and I miss you. I will never leave ever, ever, ever again." He said.
"Definitely not me." I said seriously.
"We will see Shraddha." He said.
"We won't have to, because it won't happen. Good night, sleep tight, and make sure you stay completely far from me."I said.
"Not possible and is not going to happen. I will never ever leave you alone." He said.
At that images of the accident, of his slumped, bloody body, crying agony, pain, so much of it...gone...
"Don't make promises you can't keep." I heard myself saying without thinking.
"Huh?" He said confused.
"I meant you can't say that since I'm alone right now and you're not here right now." I said.
"No fair." He said while pouting.
I laughed.
"Go to sleep I will see you a day from now...goodbye." I said before cutting the call.
I placed the phone on the nightstand and gently placed Dhruv on his side of the bed before I gave him another kiss on his forehead.
"Goodnight." I said to him before drawing away and Dhruv motioned himself closer to me as soon as I said that but he didn't wake up from his sleep and I smiled.
"That idiot..." I said to myself as I recalled our conversation.
I sighed and was going to lower myself to fall asleep until I heard my phone buzz off.
I grabbed it from the nightstand and saw that I had a message.
I opened it and a picture popped up of Kunal with his eyes closed, in fake sleep.
I looked at the message underneath.
"Such a meanie. 😛 I love you and miss you Good nite."
At that I smiled and laughed even more.
I found myself staring at the picture of his sleeping face on my screen and my smile disappeared.
I stared at the picture, gliding my hands across the screen of my phone to gaze at his pale face, ruffled hair that was covered on his forehead, eyelashes, and lips that were half open.
I felt myself edge further towards the screen, pressing my lips against the cold screen, and drawing it away.
"See that is a real kiss through the phone." I said while sticking out my tongue at his picture.
*****************
CID
Web Series
