Chapter XV:
note: i merged two chapters in one soo its kinda long(hope u dont fall asleep)
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It's four o clock in the morning, when Prena woke. Or rather, resurfaced like a swimmer in mortal fear of drowning. She hears herself sobbing and gasping as she remembers her new destiny. She begins to softly cry, placing her head against a pillow, her body curling up in despair. As much as she tried to remain composed and calm last night, today's new ray of sunshine brought a helpless sensation of atrocious pain on her chest .An awful nightmare of her dad haunted her the entire night. Fortunately, Nihaal isn't there, not witnessing her breakdown. With an enormous effort, she makes herself stop crying. She pushes aside the suffocating bedclothes and opens the window, letting the cold dawn's air drench her with chill. Only when she is truly shivering and the nightmare heat gone, she slowly closes the wide glass. Staring out through the darkened window at her own reflection, she sees a frail and pale girl with burning red eyes. Leisurely turning away from her own shattered reflection, she enters to the balcony. Undeniably, the view from here is majestic. She witnesses the dawn letting place to a foggy morning. Prena sees the entire Garewal entrance and the numerous birds nesting in the garden from her place.
Step by step, she sees herself approaching to the front. Deep down, she knows exactly what to do. Yes, if she just lifts to the bar, close her eyes and let herself fall; her burning sensation would be quenched at last. As she slowly climbs to it, Diviana arrives to the balcony.
-Diviana: Prena tum yahan ho. I need ur help.Common jaldi jaldi. And oh yeah in case you are wondering how I figured out ur name,I spilled it out from Nihaal before he left. Imagine what people would think of me, a mother in law who doesn't even know her bahu's name. They would think I'm crazy.
Prena fakes a smile,trying to hide her pain.
-Diviana: aab challo come with me
Prena could still feel the lump of pain swelling on her throat.
-prena murmurs: haaan ..mein abhi ati hoon
She goes inside and takes a deep breath before dialling her dad's number.
-anurag in a broken voice: yes
Prena tries to utter a word,but no sounds comes.
-Anurag: what is this joke, if you don't want to talk, don't bother calling at my house.
-prena almost like a whisper: dad
-As soon as he recognises her voice: u dare calling me again and u will find my dead body
And he hangs the phone.
Tears start rolling at Prena's face and she runs at Diviana's direction.
-diviana: kya huwa Prena,..anyways I want to show u something
Diviana holds Prena's arm and takes her inside in front of the humongous closet of Nihaal.
Diviana tells her to open it.Prena who isn't in any mood to deceive this cheerful lady, leisurely unlocks. At her surprise,rows of saris and salwar kurtas were there along with Nihaal's cloths.
-diviana:dechka!these are all from the new collections
Prena is stunts by her kind behaviour.
-diviana: prena wheres ur manglasultra,did u lost it
-prena:voh,actually I feel very uncomfortable wearing a necklace when im at sleep, that's why I took it off. mein abhi jakey par leyti hoon
Prena opens the cupboard and brings it out. In the meantime; Diviana unlocks the closet once again, in search of something. Suddenly a couple of albums fall down. Prena arrives at her side to help cleaning up.
-prena :hey kya hai
-diviana mischievously: these are all Nihaal's childhood's albums. I'm sure he never told u how super active he was when he was a toddler ...always running and making mess everywhere. Your dear Nihaal sure knew how to make everyone go crazy on him. But I think u already know that.
Prena ignores her gaze and looks away.
-diviana smiling: Lo phir sey itni red .Ok ok let just talk about his dark dark past. I remember vardhan use to push Nihaal to convince me to let them go play outside .Hence, he use come running with his wide angelish eyes and grasp my sari.He was soo stubborn, im telling u, he didn't let me go until he gets his permission..And ..Ohh yeah after a few years, just after his 4th birthday, Mr nihaal went to the ''rock star phase''. He started dressing up in a Dracula outfit and wear black kahol in his eyes. Beleive me, some of my friends were literally afraid of him because he use to oblige them to attend ''his rock star show ''in the living room.
Unconsciously, Prena starts smiling.
-diviana:aur tumhein toh pata hi hai how possessive he can be with his stuff. Voh toh kuch nahin karta magar baki saabh sey bohot expectation karta hai. Mister was 5 years old when he use to cry and drool on the floor if his stuff wasn't organised as he wanted.
Both begin laughing.
-diviana:challo go take ur bath.. and I'll send a maid to pick these albums.
-prena:nahin,I'll pick them up
Diviana sights and Prena understands that she should just go take her bath.
****
Prena comes back wearing a vey simple black anarkali. When she comes back she sees a maid running to the room.
-Maid:sorry mem im late mein abhi utah leti hoon
Prena tells her that it's totally ok and that she will pick them up herself.
As she bends, Prena cannot help but peek into his albums. Nihaal looks soo cute doing all his crazy magic acts and a smile reappears on her face. Then she goes downstairs to see Diviana but a maid tells her that she is busy talking. Still the albums in her hands, she notices the garden from the kitchen's window. Her eyes lays on the swing placed near all the trees.
She goes there and starts turning the pages.
****
It's night when Nihaal's car enters the Garewal's threshold. While parking, he notices Prena in the garden, comfortably installed, reading something.
He gets out of his car and joins his mom in the kitchen. Hugging his mom from the back, he closes his eyes.
-diviana:Nihaal,tu aga ya.Beta go call Prena from the garden.Its been hours she is there swinging all alone. I bet she's having a great time looking at your baby pictures.
All of the sudden,Nihaal's eyes are about to pop out.
-nihaal:KYA..MY BABY S ALBUMS
In a second releasing his mom, he runs to the garden. In the meantime, Prena is also about to leave and both bumps into each other.
Prena with a stern look on her face avoids Nihaal and he remains there with mix emotions.
****
Next morning, Prena wakes up and like yesterday Nihaal has already left at his office.
Likewise, like the day before, her entire daytime goes very quickly.
At 7 oclock, Diviana comes to Prena's room.
-diviana:u know Prena,I always waited for the day when my daughter in law arrives. Im telling you, having only boys has lots of disadvantages such not being able to gossip about celebrities cuz im telling they just fall asleep .Or you cant go shopping, buying jewelleries and cosmetics and the list goes on. But thank God, my prayers have been answered and God gave me such a piyari daughter with whom i can share my passions!!..Oh yeah talking about passion.. are u interested to watch horror movies with me...horror movies are the best!
Instantly remembering her dads and her dad ritual of doing so, Prenas chest aches in pain. Hence, she politely refuses faking that she has a migraine.
After a couple of minutes Prena feels bad for her lonely mother in law. She goes to her room and tabs in the door.
-prena: can I come in
-diviana:haan Prena common in
-prena: aap abhi bhi deckhna chahti hain
-diviana smiles and advises to go in the living room
-prena: mein change karkey ati hoon.
Diviana excitedly goes downstairs to close all the light. While Prena goes to her room and wear her new pjs.
****
Its night and both of them are still glued in front of the TV. It's their third horror movies they are watching in a row, and they are still so concerned and biting their nails. Diviana yawns and tells Prena that she will go to sleep as Prena holds both of her legs tight.
-diviana:Prena don't stay too long ,finish the film and go to sleep
****
Nihaal is very tired. He struggles to keep his eyelids fully open. Despite his exhaustiveness, he is also beaming with joy because his dad's case in heading in the right direction. He comes home in front of the entrance and sees everything dark. From far, he observes someone sitting in the couch. An evil smile appears in his face, as he prepares to make his mom jump in fear. He slowly approaches to her ears and hides her eyes with his hand.
-nihaal:BOOOOO
Petrified Prena is almost about to have a heart attack. After watching 3 horror films, she couldn't think clearly and starts screaming. Nihaal realising it's his wrong victim tries to talk to her but Prena begins hitting him with the cushions. As he tries again to hold her mouth, he falls on to her in the sofa, because she is moving too much. Horror-struck Prena stops agitating while Nihaal's face is buried on her neck. Nihaal, who is extremely tired, is breathless and slowly starts moving his chin near her cheeks. As he moves, Prena could feel his lips brushing under her cold skin, sending a thunder of current through her heart. As much as he tried to ignore, Nihaal couldn't resist inhaling her sweet perfume, the same scent that drove him besotted when they first met .The same touch that unhinges him captivated to her, even more.
-Nihaal whispears :mein hi toh hoon Prena
Instantly, he could feel Prena releasing a sigh of release.
Gradually, prena moves her head and faces Nihaal. Accidentally, both keep gazing at each other when the lights switch up.
Nihaal swiftly moves before the doorman comes in, at Prena's rescue.
-dorrman: mem aap think to hai
Prena nods as Nihaal leaves.
****
In their room, both are asleep after a couple of hours. Suddenly Prena starts screaming and sits down in her bed. Instantly Nihaal wakes up, confused and sits down as well, totally panicked.
-nihaal with red eyed: KYA HUWA
-prena panicked: voh ..voh
Nihaal holds Prena's cheek and Prena is clutching his other hand. Realising that they were holding each other they both unleashes themselves and slowly turn away.
Edited by noha450 - 15 years ago
Anupamaa
193